Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-04
MONDAY. APRIL 4, 1921.
NAkT A GOOD START.


Nv the provisions of tho bill for the
creation ot "a Paid Fire Department for
wilmington. passed by the Legislature
At ts recent session. tho effective work
ot mnkinr tho change will devolve upon
tie prcsrut Police Department. which
.rter the trst of May will become the
department of public Safety. Upon
80, counet wiu deyclvc the duty Of
.rpvidius Tor tho expense OF the new
and important undertaking.
while /, laav seem very easy to many
.ersons IN tho authorities % change
osr present hro nghting force into an
effective branch " the local administra-
tom. those who have given tho matter
any thought well know that Il viii be a
task of much difficulty. The change to
he brought about must be radical. With
on ro-nr into the details of our pres
eut and iorr continued system. il is
sani,ieut - .as that It is vastly differ
from What i ouEh, 20 be and from
what the n,.lle viii expect from an in
satuftar vr.,h VIII he costly IN both
trtroduc,ion and operation. and from
which tin, should 10 assured q tho
hest results Present methods of fire
nchttrr VIII have % he rcvolutionizcd.
,1 mo lash, csFentiaI will be the in
reduction ~ tho most effective meth
.a4 that have becn devised hy the ex-
.sri,uec ~ Tho cities that have admit
t.d, good systems. with irc fighting
la..e composed ~ men capable Of max
.nr ne best use OF them.
i.rst IS Importance viii be the selec-
tor II chlof OF the Paid Fire De
t.rtn.,a. be- should bc an experienced
aspah s man No other kind
v answer for tho great work Of pro
lne M city with an efficient de-
aa,.t
<cw York cry It i generally con
c..a has tho hest and most effective
af. department. ia the world. It's work
4. times marvellous. Il has been
butIt AM 4, Years of hard labor and the
mpl0yment II sound business prin-
elrIcs ana practices. II is not impaired
Is tle dominance az partisan infiu-
..ress rs working force, from tho
chtef o. tho employees lowest in rank.
IS composed az men Of experience and
acknowledged efficiency IN fire fight
ms. It's ranks are kept supplied with
men who first receive thorough train
i,e hefore they are advanced 70 the po-
st,ions of regular members OF the force.
A~vcns who has ever seen the firernen
- ~ew York cry fighting threat
srinr blaze realizes the difference be
tween n, work Of a real fire depart
msnt and ~ one composed OF men who
have not reccived the benefit o: prac-
tea. consistent and rigid training.
rhe suggestion has been advanced,
and il seems sound and promising. that
the best initial move that could be made
here would be 20 secure If possible. the
reryiccs OF one OF the assistant chief
engineers Of the New York City Fire
Department 20 come 10 Wilmington
and take charge Of the work OF estab-
lishinr a paid FIRE department here. II
i probable such an official could secure
IRON hts superior authorities a leave
81 absence for period OF time suffi-
e,cni for the purpose. That he could
md among our volunteer hremen prom
SINS material Tor transfer into prac-
tica. and ehicient IRE fighters Is very
probable.
the Paid Fire Department Will cost
our people a large sum Of money, both
in erection and operation. They should
b. gwen the best results Of the expendi-
ture. Here Is suggestion that at
least seems worthy Of serious consid-
GRAFTON. and certainly sounds promis-
tng. n any OF our citizens have other
suggestions. we shall be pleased to hear
from them.