New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-06
nti FIGHTER of Flames Is John Kenon New Yors Noted Sme[
uh..h.r Attacking the Fire Demon by Land by Sea His
Record Is One of Consistent Bravery and Ability,
and Valuable improvements in Methods and
Apparatus Are Due to His Work

result was an almost immediate rcsto-a.
ton OF the pressure.
When deputy chief Of the Marie
division of New York's Fire Department.
Admiral kenlOn stepped from the New
Workers. deck 10 enter berth ashore 10
left the most completely equipped and en-.
cient marine fire fleet IA the world The
ten boats were run under regular orders
and so complete in every way that when
San Francisco desired to install Ere fee.
she sent her fire board direct 70 New
York TO study the system under John
Kenlon. The territory under the control o,
the feet covered al miles OF waterfront
in five boroughs, exclusive Or that part OF
the New Jersey shore stretch which is IN.
cuded in the territory covered by the feet.
Besides this, the feet is AT the call " ary
ocean liner coming into New YORK which
is near enough for the feet 10 reach with
out endangering the city by It's aosenc.
Chief KenIon is as high an authority on
fighting fires from the land as ne Is On
egbttnx them from the water. His recen,
standing in the civil service partly proves
his abilities in this regard. but hi,
knowledge is further displayed In the fact
that he is the dean OF the city's IRE COZ
leRe. where he is in charge Of the officers
school and OF the engineers school. is IN
structor in general fire fighting, marine
fres hydraulics and hydrostat.cs and
teaches the subjects OF engines and boilers
and high pressure. Already he has aided
IN graduating one hundred and fifty men
from the fire college. Even when going
the rounds among his men he always stops
10 explain anything which they do not IN
derstand II is no uncommon sight 70 see
him sitting in fireboat pilot house or az
card table in an engine house with pen
oil and paper figuring out before puzzled
firemen why such and such thing should
be- as Il is Moreover he has encouraged
the study OF higher mathematics among the
men Of the Fire Department on grounds
that il IL Of aid 70 all fire fighters Of the
present era. uhkh demands not so much
nhvaicai strength as a knowledge of how
and why things are done.
The advice that was earlier given 10
rhese men 10 study mathematics and the
WINS and wherefores OF the IRE ngnting
business was excelently placed a. ths
new order that company commanders must
herceforth pass a stiff examination has set
tho entire department on its toes. u
man IS henceforth 10 get anywhere Jon he
Now York Fire Department he must earn
his laurels by showing that no knows me
,echnical end Of what Is growing 20 be
an exceedingly technical department OF ne
citv's institutions. By next Marcn tners
will probably be ore hundred ana lttY
uieces OF automobile apparatus N COM
mission in the department Fire hsnung
machinery is becoming more and more
conplex and therefore more accurate
knowledge OF technical mechanics is re-
n,,ired Of the men who manipulate T.
The fire college has developed ine per-
sonnet among the men Of the department
and il has raised tho standards OF me
New York fremen higher than tneT-sTe
anywhere else in the world.
Tho ultimate result Of this increase IN
the departments efficiency vii Do de-
crease in its needs, for with men know
ing how 10 use the apparatus FEWER men
will be needed the city grows. Al''-
mobile apparatus viii reduce the expense
| of horse keep. study Of ire prevention IN
conjunction with this other ought soon
/ n out in two the $4,000 which repre-
| SCENTS New Yorks fire loss FOR last year
These changes, however. mean tnat
new era has dawned Tor fire hShierS ~
New York. The man who heads inc De-
partment must needs be a technician'
nechanician. a mathematician and withsl
a brave. experienced and scientific fireman
who understands fighting fires among ihs
$4,000 buildings in New York. a numoer
which does not include the tenement
/ houses. He must, moreover, have the cen
fdence. the cooperation and the support
of the 1850 uniformed men who are under
/ his command
! Who that man is remains 20 be seem ou'
from mis- past achievements and present
ability il looks az though john henion
the man to hold down the Job.