El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-08-23
POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS
GIVE FL PAS0 AMPLE PROTECTION
Officers Well Paid and Giving Efficient Service Civil
Service System Prevails In Service; Notable De-
crease In Arrests Since the Prohibition Law
Went Into Effect In Texas Last Year.

CONTINUED
men. but the detectives work in great
er numbers at night.
We have two speed men and siz
mounted officers.
We have three motorcycle men pa
trolling the north side Of the track
Tor the purpose OF apprehending
proWiers- Inspector Reese also makes
frequent visits TO the north side
Mounted officers cover the parts OF
the city where Il is impossible for the
motorcycle men to go with their ma
chimes
The beats Of the men are so ar
ranged that they cover completely the
most essential parts OF the city. The
patrol now in.force has had the effect
OF reducing burglaries. We have not
had burglary in two months.
II Is the policy Of chief Montgom-
cry TO transfer men from one beat to
another. This is done for the purpose
OF acquainting the officers with the
work IN the several sections OF the
city. and TO give them a chance TO
meet people who live on OF visit the
different beats We have what are
known as preferred positions" at the
s-alonss such as 1ail0rs, side car Of
Icers and the like. called central sta
ton officers. These assignments also
are rotated among the men as a re-
ward Tor meritorious service on the
more difficult beats
The members of the Fl Paso fire
department are the best paid Of any
Ilremen in the state. The departme 1ir
consists OF 81 men, ranking as fol-
lows Chief. assistant chief 10 cap
Ialnsi 10 neutenantss five engineers,
three operators one electrician. sec
rotary, and 50 firemen. Their length
OF service dates from various periods
from 1905 up to this present year.
chief John W Wray was appointed
august % 1913. BE has been in the
fire service IS years. Starting in
Memphis, Tenn he worked on the
Insurance fire patrol. then went on
the lire department as private.
Later he was made hose carriage
driver, then fire engine driver, and
finally lieutenant In 1900 ne was
appointed captain on the Memphis de-
partment, where he served with vari-
Gus companies until ne came to saEl
Raso four years ago as chief
Fire marshal ". II. Williams is a
practical fireman He was formerly
fire captain. and has had long years
OF experience For a number Of years
he was connected with the Galveston
fire department
The department apparatus consists ]
OF one aerial hook and ladder. two
s--rice hook and ladders, one 1000
gallon pump Of Seagrave make, three !
$50 gallon pumps Of La France make, :
and one La France steamer. tractor I
chemical companies. the chiefs car
and assistant chiefs car.
Six Substations.
Besides the central station, there
are six suhstariOns. The assistant chief /
IS stationed at No. Z
On April / the double pIatton sys-
TEN was installed. The shifts are
changed twice each month, so that an
equal amount OF duty is performed By
each fireman each month. The two
shifts are divided into an equal num-
Der OF men. the captains having
charge Of one shift and the lieuten-
ants the other. The captains are
divided, some On one shift and some
On the other Ine day shift works
10 hours, and the night shift IA. both
without meals The change is made
on the 18th and last day OF each
month, thus giving each shift an
e0ual amount Of day duty and. night
duty.
Taree operators working eight
hours each The chief and assistant
chief work q hours as in the past,
allowing three hours for each meal
The assistant has one day of in five
Buildings INSPECTED.
In 1917 we had Az alarms. AT the
Of the following year, fire
". H Williams and the
Of each company made a
.
their respective districts with the sole
AIN Of lessening the causes OF fire
As a result Of their work, the num-
Der Of alarms for the year 1918 was /
reduced 10 3O1s a decrease Of III. Of ,
his number 81 were false alarms
and % we're outside the city limits.
The total valuation Of property in
TOlyed in the fires OF 1913 was I
5. SIS. 1855; Total insurance, Sz.617,- z
rs; estimated loss S2l1,69O.19. {
The FL Paso fire department was
he first in the state to be completely
motorized all apparatus being pro- I
1eled by motor power since 1916. FL
2aso was the first city IN the state
% get the IS cent key rate, which
Tas the lowest in the state Of Texas
Intl January 70, 1913. when two other {
titles had their rates reduced 10 Is
.ents. The FL Paso department was I
he first in the state TO install the 9
louble platoon system The FL Paso 7
ire department is keeping up with s
he timess and compares favorably
With any department Of a city OF this
lie in the United States.
We have a 90 pound water pressure !
n the downtown district.
Efficiency Recognized. I
The efficiency Of the e. Paso de-
iartment has been recognized all over
he land, and is often commented upon
n the fire journals and technical pub
ications. The fire chief is constantly -
eceiviaE letters from departments OF 4
.ther cities inquiring into our b
Methods OF running the department.
setters come from as far west as 8
Washington, and as far east as South il
,arolina- n
one OF the important things which n
-oes to make the FL Paso fire depart p
aent efficient is the system OF fire v
revention inspection. Once a month n
he captains 90 out and inspect the Il
and premises IN their res &
ective districts. and make a report
n a blank form prepared by the chief Il
he amount Of detailed information s.