The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-22

| Duector OIL PuDilc Safety IF. L.
| Hitchcock. in a conversation with a
| Tribune man yesterday, expressed him
seif as being very sanguine of securing
| a sufficient number of men from the
volunteer force to fill the positions of
bunk and call men, in addition to the
permanent men provided for in the re-
organization ordinance.
OF course" said he. "the great ma
jority of the men who have made ap-
plications for positions and who have
Deen examined desire to he permanent
men, but L believe that when / have
appointed the twenty-five permanent
men provided for in the ordinance that
almost enough men to fill out the re-
CURED quota Of bunk and call men will
be willing to accept those positions.
Il shall give those who will accept
positions as bunk and call men my SOL
emn assurance that just as soon as any
more permanent men are to be ap-
pointed they shall be promoted to that
rank, no matter who else applies. I
believe that next year we will be in
such shape as to provide for an entirely
paid department. and that those who
are appointed as bunk and call men
Will only have twelve months to serve.
"A city OF Scranton's size should
have, and must have, a paid fire de-
partment It's something that's in
evitahle. and feel that the members
of the volunteer department realize this
and will not refuse to accept places as
bunk and call men,
The colonel was asked If he would
appoint the twenty-five permanent men
Just as soon as it was officially certified
to him that that number had passed
the mental and physical examination.
and he replied at first that he would
do So The reporter pointed out that
the reorganization ordinance provides
that the volunteer department shall be
disbanded just as soon as these men
are appointed, and suggested that if
this was done before an adequate num-
Der of bunk and call places had been
filled the department might be seri-
ously crippled.
II haven't given that question much
thought he replied. but I will say
that shall take care to do nothing
that will even for a. day tend to cripple
the department. That would be inim-
lcal to the safety of the vast property
interests of this city. / think the in
tent of the ordinance is that the volun-
teer force Shall not be dsbanded until
a complete reorganization has been
made, or until bunk and call men, in
addition to the permanent men, shall
have been appointed
He limited that if he discovered that
there was any possibility of the volun-
teers going out of existence as soon as
the permanent men are appointed, he
might withhold the latter's appoint
ment until such time as the bunk and
call places We're all ready to be filled,
too. This would solve the problem. He
secuted the idea set forth by a morn
ing paper yesterday that the volunteers
were boycotting the department. and
might not respond to an alarm in case
of a big fire.
The number of applicants for the 116
places provided for in the re-organiza-
ton ordinance who have successfully
PASSED the mental examinations con-
Quoted by the board of examiners cam
not be learned, but it is understood TO
be over eighty. Not a very large pro-
portion "funked," which is creditable
to the intelligence of Scranton's VOL
unteer firemen.
DR.. w. q. Fulton. the police surgeon
who has been directed by Director
Hitchcock to conduct the physical eX-
aminations, began that work Friday
This will consume several days and it
Will probably be the end of this week
Ecfore the actual number of men who
have successfully passed both exam
nations can be accurately announced.
The doctor has been instructed to
guide himself in conducting the physl-
cal examination by the regulations
provided for admission to the United
States regular army. The minimum
height under this regula ton is s feet
and Az inches and the minimum weight
is l29 pounds.
1t Is understood that Director Hitch
cock has unofiicially announced that
there will be few if any of the pres
ent force of thirty permanent men
dropped from the rolls when the re-
appointments are made. II any are
dropped, he is said to have made up
his mind it will be for refusal in the
past to be amenable to orders or for
general unfitness and for no other rea-
son.
The several times postponed inspec-
tion of the various hose houses
throughout the city is to be made
this week by Director Hitchcock and
Superintendent Zizelman. The needs
and requisites of each company in the
way of repairs to apparatus, new hose,
etc, will be carefully listed for refer
ence and use as soon as the appro-
priation ordinance is passed,
There are some who are contending
that the water mains on Lackawanna
avenue and some of the other streets
in the central city are entirely too
small to properly supply the new first
class steamer which II Is proposed to
buy, with water. A well known local
fireman who is a practical student of
applied mechanics and hydraulics stat
ed to Tribune man the other day
that the new steamer will he OF no
more use on I.ackawanna avenue than
either The Nay Aug or Crystal steam
ors. 1t Will have the pumping power,
but there will not be sufficient water |
to supply 1t, he said