The sun., 1909-02-07
BIGGER MEN TO FIGHT FIRES
uILL ne NEEDED ON HIGH
PRESSURE LINES.
,lil service Reform Yields . Point TO
C-9ker-Will II Consent 70 More
practical Examinations, and Shall
There He Trial boards, Army style.

PracWchl EXAMINATIONS, anu snail
mcre He Trial Boards. Army style:
Iuera was Joy among the responsible
officers Of the Fire Department few days
ago when word came from Albany that
hereafter bigger men must be found for
anpointment TO the uniformed force.
The State Civil Service Commission do
creed that no man under feet inches or
lighter than liO pounds would be eligible.
to,,u a!ding an inch to the required stature
ard tive pounds TO the weight.
Chief George Farrell. master Of the
school Of Instruction and philosopher in
general Of the department, expressed
The common Judgment OF the service
when some one asked him II q good little
man wasn't ell right.
Eyes, he answered. "a good little man
is all right. but a good big man is just so
much better
Chief Farrell ought to know. He has
trained more than half Of the depart
inent as il exists to-day and has studied
'nom man by man.
Il j. the Judgment of another chief after
ivenIy-eight years OF experience in fire
lighting that, other things being equal.
efficiency increases with height and
Weigh, up TO about feet 1917.
After that" said he, -there Is too much
ofthcm above the waistline, and they are
likely TO break amidshps.'
The action of the State Civil Service Com
mission is a tardy response to complaints
which have been growing more and more
insistent for the last five years. Time and
again Chief Croker has protested against
the physical untitness Of many Of the
mon who have got by the civil service
Examiners and the surgeons.
Lately the pension list has begun
~ give emphasis to Chief Croker's argu-
ments. Look over the roll and you will
find an increasing number Of compare
lively young men retired on about $500 a
yoar for disabilities not incurred In the
'ue Of duty. That means usually that
narrow chested man has collapsed
iuier the strain Of ordinary fire fighting
an, las been laid on the shelf with one
rhirl pay instead OF the half pay that Is
rIe lawful due OF every fireman who
r,Iircs after twenty years or more Of
s'rviC"
The wear and tear on a fireman is ter
rife. Take the single item Of lost and
lrokcn sleep. A continuous nights rest
IA thing almost unknown. The arrange
,rcnt of the wire circuits is such that
tie gong will ring many times when some
of the companies which IL awakens do
not respond to the alarm. Unless the
rev recruit can learn to take his sleep
~ irs,alinents he is doomed to failure.
Then there are long days and nights
# battle when bedtime and mealtime
never come at all, times when the water
G,,.ezes over rubber coats and boots and
b, Imrts till their wearers are clad In gar
,urnts of ice. times when for hours together
zen must breathe smoke and gas till
throat and lungs and stomach are in
famed and their heads feel as II they
.rrr clamped in jackscrews. No won
Drr then that the man OF frail timber
wnikens. No wonder that Croker keeps
,allng for stout ribs and strong limbs
well as brave hearts
The Introduction Of the high pressure
,atrr system within the last year Is an |
!d;ionsl reason for demanding more
..wer'I men. When the gauge shows a |
.rdrnd pounds pressure TO the square |
urh ., the nozzle it takes four or five
l en - keep the hose line steady; and |
ho-o line that gets away Is devil un-
oarrd
As soon rs it strikes the floor it begins
- thrrsh and writhe like a giant snake
md the nozzle flies back with kick that
may easily Kill a man il 1t hits him in the
head SO far, through good luck. it never
Ia, aotualy struck a fireman dead, but
II h., broken many leg and many
shoulder end there Is one skull pieced out
With silver plate in the place where IL
ludcd
lust noS the high pressure area extends
My from Chambers street TO Twenty
tuird street. but il is TO be extended to all
zoe closely built parts of the city. AS II
,pread, the need of abler bodied men will
increase proportonately. not only be-
caI~e high pressure lines are harder TO
tWGe hut also because fewer companies
Will be called out on each alarm and there
viii he more " ork for each man to do.
Firemen regard this recent action Of the
state Civil Service Commission as con-
ces-ion 10 professional opinion. but 1t
j. only a partial concession. Profess
slonal opinion has demanded a great deal
more. and 50 far has demanded In vain.
The officers Of the department are quite
certain that the whole system OF examin-
ing men both for admission TO the ranks
md for promotion TO the higher grades
could be improved along practical lines.
Chief Croker has said 80 In all bis annual
reports and in many other appropriate
ways. Hugh Bonner, chief and commits
sioner the lion of the department was Of
tho same opinion. This is Chief Croker's
Attest communication on the subject:
i would recommend a conference
'etween the Fire Commissioner, chief OF
department and officials OF the municipal
civil Service Commission with view to
changing the method Of examination for
appointment In the uniformed force and
Promotion TO higher grades, as under the
n'eSent system Of promotion men who by
i"asou Of experience in the department.
40" particularly well fitted for advance
m"it are outclassed by the younger men,
with whom they are unable success
n!y to compete In examinations as at
present conducted and as result OF which
condition the department is prevented
from promoting me mbers who would
make first class officers
The present system works too much in