New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-16
Our Astounding Fire Lo,..,
Which the Commissions
Hopes to Lessen
Coney Island Perils.


Of persons congresate for any pa,tn..
whether IT is places or empoymen, !,
amusement or other sorts % building,
while I am no aiarmIsi. yet MAJ a..
that the public does not realize the y,...
danger 10 which II is su0iec, ed pars.,
larly at places Of amusement at sea,h,,.
resorts. because Of the lack Of exits IL.
DreamIand fire at Cone Island g..
weeks ago suggested the necessity 9, :.
curing into the lack of fire exits in s,s.
amusements resorts here in New York !,
Europe the construction OF nimsy build,r,.
such az at Coney Island and elsewhsrs 4.
not permitted. In my opinion, the A..
limits as 10 construction should be a
extended as TO include such places arovr,
New York.
at times there are more than 1900 p.o.
pie at the island. Imagine the situatIony
a fire should start in some OF the larr,,
amusement places there on such d,y
with a strong wind blowing directly sro,
the sea and with no means Of exit eYcs,.
the main entrance. which is a condIi;n,
which exists at certain places down th,n
vertable holocaust would follow. ns
alone because OF the Are, but because hu,.
dreds OF people would become psnlcstrick.,
and either trampled 10 death BY Others A,
/ terribly injured and burned 70 death h.
cause unable to save themselves. The-s
are innumera ole instances where terrib.
disasters have followed panics caused W
! fire"
The Commissioner paused for Few M.
ments TO sign number OF imoor,snt "a
pers brought by a messenger, and resumed
| Another means which have in yiev
for the probable saving OF life. as well 4,
the saving OF immense sums Of money rep.
resented in property. IS the plan 10 sup
plant every piece OF apparatus IN TIE Nsr
York Fire Department now drawn by
horses with apparatus propelled by sass.
lene or some such means. In other words
we hope to have an automobile Fire Dc.
partment. The department has been Do.
yeloped into an excellent system for ns
eytinguishment OF fires. II IS no, only IRA
largest of its kind In the world. but | an
firmly convinced. end II il the genera
opinion of the public everywhere. that n.
J. Fire Department OF greater New York
) the best in the world
do you agree with the views Of 81.
! Chief Edward +. Croker that too many
men in the New York Fire Department Al,
not physically ft for their jobs-that moe
beef and muscle are needed and less Civil
Service requirements"
; "Of course, the physical standard Of FIRE.
men should be as high as possible" an
syered the Commissioner. dextrously, ~.
we are getting excellent men. When ri
obtain men who combine mental and rhys.
r zeal qualifications there is nothing more |,
[ be asked"
You are a strong believer. II 10 sad.
T in the drawing OF the line between the I'd.
e ministrative and executive branches Of tho
e Fire Department"
9 THAT is true. / have TO sit here and ~
] that the affairs OF the department AZ
s nroperly conducted. the apparatus kept W
and also properly cared for; various bulb
n ings kept in repair, etc. This IL purely d.
ministratve. In good truth. the Fire Con-
: missioner is really the business manage
e Of the Fire Department, outside OF his d.
culinary duties The uniformed fUa
o does not have to pay any attention 70 !"
I Commissioner or receive orders from bin
y because he is simply present IN bushes
way.
y "Of course. h. is supreme in all dsd'
y pIinary measures as TO the force, suenr
conducting trials OF delinauents' etc. III
policy here is to permit the men TO :"
i fire. as possible and untrammelied ar 'o's
: as they do their duty. but 10 be As se'e'
q as Justice requires and the aw perm"
= when they do not The result Is tha' w
II have comparatively few trials n 'ne "
rartment. not nearly as many as Va n'
. case some years ago"
els the policy of Mayor Gayno' y
promotion actually adhered TO!
:. There can be no question as 10 'n'.
% Men are appointed 10 the Fire Dapaf'n"'
6 on certification by the Civil SerVlS WV
;, mission. II was only day or '"O
:, tina, appointed twenty-sx men on '".-
;. merits-on their percentage ratins -
70 the Civil Service rules. NO huhe" 49, ,.,.
9 interceded for them or urged tne'' Aps''
W ment.
le "The same rule exists in the ,as"
re promotions in the department go.
ir Knows that he Is bound to receive ao'''. a
"a ;,s,ice he is proud OF the ser''e' !.
m IiLos IN work in IT, He knows ''a' -.
in line for promotion. and to"' w. ..l,.
H., ,ime comes he will receive IT, ms 49,,
m him in his work. That rs the
IT. here" --S