Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-08-12

national embargo on exports has
thrown New York harbor into un-
kempt disorder. Long rows of tramp
steamers, freighters and ocean lin
ers crowd the docks and block the
channel The wharves are piled with
idle cargoes; the city warehouses are
bullying with merchandise that was to
have gone to Europe. and every hour
or two another line OF freight cars ar
rives bringing many more tons of such
goods.
This crowding of the harbor has in
creased the city's fire risk about 70
per cent Much of the cargo is ex-
tTemely inflammable stuff. some of it is
munitions and shipments are arriving
lso fast that there is no time to sort
the goods Furthermore, several small
fires have occurred on the upper river
as the result of collisions, it being diff
ficult to navigate through the mass of
craft
The city has nine fire boats for the
control of fires in the harbor, and
these are now inadequate, and the
railroads and steamship companies
along the wharves have had to form
their own fire brigades, as well as to
appropriate 143 tug boats to guard
their cargoes. New York itself, OF
course, also shares this new fire risk.
It's safety depends more or less upon
the wind If a large fire broke out
upon the wharves and the wind hap
pened to be blowing landward, the
hazard would be great, especially
since numerous munitiOn plants and
high explosive factories would lie in
its path.
In normal times New York is one of
the greatest fire risks in the world. On
an average of thirty-five fires day, or
LOO fires a year occur. The greatest
accumulation of wealth in the world
must be protected, the highest sky
scrapers and the lowest slums. Hence
the New York fire department is one
OF the most efficient in spite of being
the most overworked fire department
IL existence.
There are $40 fire companies, en-
ploying 5000 men. They are distrib-
uted through thirteen fire districts, all
Of which are responsible to one chief
executive in charge of the whole or
ganization. F'ire-fghting is different
problem in each district, some of which
lie in suburbs of clean detached houses,
others in crowded business districts
and congested foreign quarters. The
new physically fit recruit after suffi-
Gent training, is placed in company
in the worst section of the city, for
here the work is so strenuous that
only the men in best physical trim
and with the greatest enthusiasm for
their work can make good. And even
these cannot stand the pace very long.
After three or four years they have to
be removed to easier districts.
New York has recently made some
important Improvements in its fire de-
partment. 1t is replacing its horses
with motor apparatus for one thing
a change that has brought benefit not
only to the city but to the firemen
themselves. Housing conditions are
much better The fremen no longer
have to live in a stable and spend the
greater part of their time in perform
irg the work of a groom. A garage
does not require nearly so much room
and in all the stations having the new
apparatus the extra space has been
used for handball court. Firemen are
required OF do a certain amount of,
gymnasium work every day.
Handball is extremely popular. The
men do not have to be coaxed into
playin7 it and it appears to do them
more physical good than anything
else.
From the city's standpoint, the up
keep of horses is a financial loss. In
these days of high food prices, it costs
81 500 year to maintain the horses
of one station, while the maintenance
of motor apparatus for the same sta
ton costs just $500. There does not
seem to be any difference in regard to
wear and tear The fire department
thinks that horse-drawn apparatus
breaks on its way to fire as often, If
not more often, than the motor-drawn.
The motor-drawn apparatus typihes
the fire department of today. 1t is
thoroughly modern and up-to-date in
every respect Moreover the fireman
himself has changed. No longer do
you find him, large-waisted and dou~