New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-10-21
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
ABOUT WORN OUT FIRE HORSES.
Former Commissioner Suggests How to Dis
pose of Them.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: My attention has been called to article
IN one OF your recent issues headed Selling Old
FIRE Horses The writer OF it protests very
earnestly against the custom which exists In this
city Of selling at auction the horses which have
ceased to be capable OF drawing our various heavy
forms Of apparatus. AS a former commissioner
of the Fire Department for four years sympathise
with the feeling his letter conveys though not with
the somewhat extraXagant expressions he uses re-
garding what he assumes be the open and recog-
nized inhumanity Of the custom The fact Is that
these animals thus DISPOSED OF in obedience to
law as he briefly suggests at the close OF his
article.
The charter Of New York City provides that all
condemned useless property of the Fire De-
partment shall be sold at public SALE under the
orders OF the Commissioner, and the proceeds Of
SUCH sales shall be added TO the Firemans Pension
FUND This applies not only to horses, but to
broken or used up apparatus, hose and miscel-
laneous property OF all kinds. The charter does
not permit such property TO be given away by
the Commissioner, the able commission which
formulated the charter undoubtedly and rightfully
felt that such power should not be bestowed upon
any official. from the danger that It might be
abused.
The people Of the city admire and value their
Fire Department and practically all that belongs
to IT 1t fully deserves such admiration, and
our people would probably indorss and approve
unanimously legal provision by which horses that
have served faithfully until they can serve no
longer should be separated from other condemned
property. and should have the remainder of their
lives provided for in practical and humane
way From the economic Standpoint very little
argument can be presented for selling these anil
mails at public sale for two reasons-drst because
they bring trivial price and thereby add only
Insignificant sum to the principal Of the Pension
Fund, and. second, because the city Is committed
by law 70 appropriating each year OF such
as In addition to the income from the invested &C
cuInuiatlons will make up the amount which Is
necessary for disbursement TO retired men and
their families under the statutory provisions.
In other words, the requirements OF those de-
pendent upon the Pension Fund would not be in
any way endangered by change in the law re-
ferred to. and the only loss would be 70 the COM
munity arising from the appropriation Of the few
hundred dollars more Of tax funds
One OF two things should be done Either a pro-
could be maintained during the remainder Of their
lives at such light work they are capable OF
doing, or else the Commissioner should be author
izad to have them humanely put 10 death by the
Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty TO Animals
or some other responsible organization The former
of these two alternatives seems TO me quite pos
sible. There certain fields Of city work IN
work usefully for number Of years, and believe
If this authority was given to the Fire Commits
sioner and a similar authority conferred upon
other departments Of the city to accept and use
such animals, that the officials in charge Of these
departments would speedily work out a humane
and satisfactory solution OF the question. We owe
this matter some thought and some labor In view
four-footed servants OF the public.
THOMAS STURGIS,
EX-Fire Commissioner
New York City, Oct IS, 1905.