The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-26
WITH FIRE CHIEFS
SUPT. MAGUIRE TELLS OF THE
GATHERING IN NEW YORK.
DEPARTMENT IN SAVANNAH
COMPARES FAVORABLY WITH ANY
SEEN IN THE EASTERN STATES.

4 Ladder Hose That VIII Convert
Local Truck Into n Water Tower
Mt Small Expense one of the New
Appliances That the Superintend-
ent Would Like to See Introduced
Into SavannRh-Why Croker Was
Elected President of the Fire
Chiefs ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Roy
ally Entertained by New York
Department..
Superintendent of the Fire Depart
ment John f. Mcguire returned yes
terday afternoon from the convention
of fire chiefs of the United States and
Canada. He was accompanied by AL
dermen Garfunkel and Canty, who
have been in New York for a few days
The convention, says Supt. Mcguire,
was the largest yet held, there being
762 chiefs on hand when the sessions
opened on the fourth floor of the Crys-
tai Palace in New York. The ex-
hibits were on the lower floors, and
occupied a great space, the number of
new and improved devices for fighting
fire being greater than ever.
One whole day was given up to show
ing the chiefs what these were and
how well they worked. In some in
stances the appliances are not yet on
the market and were shown just to get
the opinion of the experts on their
L.. - "a -.
be. The day was not long enough to
properly display all, and another half
day might have been probably con-
sun1ed in looking at what was there on
show
Liked New Apparatus.
The superintendent was greatly i'm
pressed by one or two things that he
hopes to soon introduce in Savannah
One of the greatest needs for some time
past, he says, has been a water tower
and he saw there something that Will
give the department one at a low cost.
1t is called a ladder pipe, and is a
simple arrangement by which the truck
at present in use could be converted
into a tower that would answer all
purposes. 1t is put on the regular lad
der truck and can be coupled to two,
three or four streams, as may be de-
sired, enabling the placing of perfect
deluge of water upon any desired spot
in the upper stories of buildings. It's
cost is only about $500, while a regular
water tower would cost many times
as much.
Another thing that he was impressed
with was a new, improved coupler that
would help the efficiency of the de-
partment If installed in Savannah
though it's need is not so urgent as
that of the tower 1t has, however,
not yet been put on the market, and
the patents for 1t are yet pending. In
a few months, though, it will be regu-
larly introduced.
Savannah Department Compares
Well.
The superintendent said, in answer
to a question, that after looking at
the great system in the metropolis and
inspecting whatever came in his way
he was proud to say that the Savan-
nah department compared favora bly,
comparatively speaking, of course, with
any of them. In some respects, notably
in equipment, there is room for i'm
nah department is in excellent shape
The system is good, and the only trou-
BILE seemed to him to be in some little
shortcomings in modern appliances.
The most interesting thing to the
general public, Supt. Mcguire says,
was the election of Fire Chief Croker
of New York as president of the as
ISOLATION. Some time ago the New
Yorker had been allowed to go away
on a vacation, and coming back be-
fore his time was up, he wanted TO
go back TO work. The commissioner
wanted him to stay off for the full
time, and when Croker insisted. he
was suspended, and now rests under
the ban. The assembled fire chiefs
recognizing his ability as fiFe-fghter
and feeling that he had done a great
deal to remove politics from the de-
partment, elected him to the presi-
dency as a mark of confidence Croker
is making a hard fight for his place,
the Savannah chief says. He is fight
ing the case in the courts, and even
if the politicians get the better of
him and lay him off for good, the
law will probably reinstate him Then
he may be retired for physical disa-
bility as he has some weakness of the
eyes.
The entertainment of the delegates
to the convention is described as mag
nificent. There was a little too much
of it at first but some of the wiser
heads got together and remedied this.
but always there was a good time at
hand for the man who was looking for
it.
The next convention will be held at
Atlantic City at time not yet decided
upon. 1t will probably be a little earli-
er in the year. as it will have to be
held before the hotels close, as Allan
tic City is a summer resort. The date
will be announced by the Executive
Committee. 10 whom it was left to de-
eide.