The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-12

sequence to lay at least two lines of hose from a steamer and our largest | steamer is provided to handle! four lines of hose, and it is, therefore ob- vious that where more than one line of hose is laid there will not be suffi- cieht men to handle same. This fact to be taken into consideration after 8 men have been added to the de- partment.
 .The double platoon system plans to put on 4 8 men, making a, total of 175 men, not including chiefs, signal men, etc. One half of these men will be on service continuously (which means that it will be a 10 hour stretch on one shift and a 14 hour stretch on the other between breakfast and supper with no time off for din- ner. Dinner will have to be eaten in the fire house) making a force of 87 men as compared with 110 for IS hours at the present time and B for g hours at the present time. In oth- CT words, the, force is reduced 23 men for Is hours, and is increased T 4 men for hours. The average hourly available force per hour at the pres ent time is 96 men. Under the pro- posed plan it would be ST men,. In view of the above facts, we do not think it good business to put the city to an additional expense of $48,000 per year Git will be 57,60O when the new men have completed 3 years ser vice) with not only no increase in efficiency but ain actual decrease.
 'sWe think that when the f1remen themselves realize that at the pres ent time they have 54 days a year they so desire. and that under the pro posed system they will have practical ly no time off except when they are asleep, they will not be as enthusias- tic for the double platoon system.
 ttIf we are to spend more money on the fire department, spend it first on an up-to-date fire alarm system which will not be put out of commission by a storm or fail to record an alarm on account of two alarms being rung in at the same time, as happened recent ly.
 tsSecond, on two or three new engine companies or men to make the force efficient under present conditions, and not decrease it's, effectiveness in spite the commissioners have asked for more men and the increase has been denied by the. board of apportion- ment.
 FLAMES G. LUDLUM.
 MT. Ludlurn said the manufacturers think that if more money is to be spent on the fire department it should be spent on an up-to-date fire alarm system or on two or three new com- panies to increase it's efficiency. I MT. Wheeler, who opposed the measure. said he. would not have ap- peared had he known the sentim entail side Of the question was to be dis cussed. A. W. Burritt did not think the hreman's lot is very hard one, especially as so many men are ap- plying for positions in the depart nent George E. Crawford, for the Chamber of Commerce, asked that another hearing be held so that the chamber might have opportunity to take a vote on the matter
 It is likely that another hearing will be called before the: committee makes its recommendation to the council.
 At a meeting of the directors of the Chamber of Commerce held in their rooms last night. consideration of the two platoon fire system in this city was discussed at full length So ad- verse were the opinions of members of the chamber that it was decided to place the question before every mem Der of the allied ganizations for his personal vote. Through Secretary George Cove the ordinance committee -of the common council was notified of the consideration of the matter by the Chamber of Commerce.