The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-18

tions with apparatus. and others intended
TO make exercises compulsory which they
have since done.
Apparatus was put into all OF the po-
lice stations In this city: and for time
the officers and men took some form OF
exercise. They have been daily using
the setting up exercises provided by the
United States army regulations; but use
OF the chest weights dumb bells. trapeze
bars etc, has long since been abandoned.
and the result Is seen in the physical
proportions of some OF the members OF
the department
A number Of them are naturally large.
Capt Constant s. Horton weighed 24O
pounds when he entered the department
nearly 30 years ago and weighs only 26s
now. He has the necessary height ana is
not al all out of proportion 10 his weight
in chest or girth measurement.
Perhaps the heaviest man on the force
is Sergt. Smith. Sergeant Potter Is an
other heavyweight and Capt. Mowry OF
the Second station weighs in the neigh
borhood Of 240 pounds There are prob
ably so men on the force who weigh more
than 200 pounds and some Of these are
In excellent condition physically ana
mentally Some others have been forced
within the past six years by the police
commission 10 make heroic efforts 10 rid
themselves OF surplus avoirdupois and
succeeded for time. only 10 become even
heavier than they were before.
When DR. Griffin was asked today what
he thought OF the idea OF having muni-
cipal gymnasium for police and firemen.
he said: II see nothing against II be-
side the difficulty I'm obtaining an appro-
priation IL is an excellent Idea and mas
been tried I'm other cities with signal sue
cess. There cannot be the slightest doubt
that II would operate 10 increase the
efficiency OF the police and fire depart
ments In n marked degree and be Of the
great test value to the city generally
we using now the dFtA and set
ting-up exercises provided in the United
States army regulations and no man Is
excused except by the police surgeon
That does not apply. however. to the
officers.
THE commissioners have paid some
attention 10 this subject and some years
ago sent number of men to me because
they were rather large; and one was re-
tired on that account. When an ofhcer
gets so very stout. there can be no CUES
tiop -tsat his efficiency is-correspondingly
decfeased, and the police board recos
nizes that fact.
II would advocate plenty Of exercise
baths and diet You'c be surprised II
Won knew what appetites some of the Of
ficers have as a result OF their duties w
the open air and how rapidly they pu'
on fish. -
n appears that the conditions under
which men are admitted TO the police de-
partment of this city are more rigorous
than are those of the United states
army as no man is accepted IL this city
unless he is at least feet inches high
and weighs, stripped. 1855 pounds. There
, is 10 maximum weight. or height. how
ever that being left TO the discretion
and discernment OF the examining ply
sician. who follows the life Insurance
standards.
As men do not acquire big abdomens.
as rule. until they are beyond 30 years
the maximum age for admission 10 the
police force. no difficulty Is encountered
at the ouset. The trouble comes after a
man has been on the force about 10
years.
Few of them fail to put on considerable
weight in that time, and some OF them
while arms and chest grow correspond
ingly weak. II is this class that the mu-
Continued on page Six.