New Britain herald., 1917-01-08
SPEAKING OF NAGS,
 DON'T MISS THIS
Safety Board Discusses the Fine
 Points of Horse Flesh

! for discussion at Saturday night s
 session of E. G. Babcock's kinder
 garten class in subjects related, to | metropolitan police and fire depart
 ment efficiency. While it was expected
 that the appointment of additional men to the fire department's perma-
 nent force, as provided for in the recent passage of an amended ord1- nance by the common council, would
 the principal business, it paled into
 significance when the subject of 1 "horses" was mentioned by Comm1s- [ sioner Frank J. Moran. The relation l ship of horses to fire department
 efficiency as applied locally, was dls- i cussed from all angles, in all tenses and from history as we'll as clalrVoy- | antly looking into the future. About as much harmony prevailed as does when alien dogs get into a hock ol peaceful sheep, the discussions poi- dering closely on wrangllng at tlHles. Mentor Babcock was on one side, ms opinions being openly questioned and opposed by his colleagues. In Valn' he tried to illustrate that two pooles cannot occupy the same place at the same time and emphatically declareo that there as no room at headquarters on Commercial street for the one pa1r of horses owned by the department and additional apparatus. lie sa1o there is no doubt that the demands of efficiency are as well met by quarter ing the horses and department supply wagon at No. 4 house, as has been the rule. Commissioners Moran and Howard M Steele refused to conceed their point, demanded that the change be made but finally, in response 10 Chairman Babcock's earnest request, agreed to table action until the next meeting.
 The question came up when Com missioner Moran, acting as temporary clerk in the absence of Clerk El1red E Magnell read a. bill of $4.5O for horse hire in hauling the big aerial truck to the Hotel Bronson and Ladd nharmacv fires. The bill was read and was the signal for verbal fire works, a flood of questions and much open opposition to present regulations of the horses now owned by the de- partment. At the close of the dlscus- sion, Commissioner Moran admitted that he was as puzzled as at the star1 but intended to get at the root Of the matter ana kHOW HUI V dOoU~ t-N nartment procedure before he gets through. Both he and Commissioner Steele were advised by Chairman Babcock to know their subject rom nersonal observation, rather than from hearsay
 They're Off.
 Commissioner Steele entered the motion that the pair of grays no" stationed at No. house be brought to the Commercial street headquarters and stationed there in the future. lie said that it would mean they would be instantly available, in case the big truck is needed. Chairman Babcock objected. favored the present arrange ment and explained it in detail. He said that there is room at head quarters with the present apparatus stationed. there and there is problem of added importance when the pro- posed flying squadron" is added | Under the present procedure, he sald. i no time is lost and the horses will oe as speedily on the scene as if stationed at headquarters.
 According to his explanation, an l alarm brings them from No. house, down a straight-away course, in charge of an expert driver and l hitched to the department supply wagon containing extra hose and oth- | CT equipment. They are on the scene, 1 he said, before the first round of the alarm is through ready to take the l supply wagon to points needed or to l be the motive power of the aerlal truck. The belief was expressed that having the supply wagon available is just as important as perhaps a minute |
 ;,, hitolo6 q the | aerial, which has only been used two 1 or three times in two years. Doubt was expressed as to accommodations being found for the supply wagon on l the floor space at headquarters.
 Chairman Babcock further ex- plained that there are two men con- nected with No. 4 Company who are | experts in the handling and care of horses, are first class f1remen but l have reached the age when they do ! not care to handle motor apparatus, 1 excepting in case of emergency, They have several years of good service yet, he said, and will make extra good men to care for the apparatus at the , proposed fire house in the southwest ern part of the city. when that Is es- tablished Chairman Ba}ocock said that he is not only looking out for the present but attempting to lay a substantial foundation for the future growth and efficiency of the depart ment. He expressed the belief that it will be economy to keep the horses as horse drawn apparatus will do for a time in equipping the proposed fire l station.
 Commissioner Steele said that he believes all of the men in the depart {o r., 1 Ia tJ,o motor driven apparatus and had been l informed by Chief Robert M. Dame 1 that this instruction is being given. /! xl ,l1,a,s