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OW that coöperation is rapidly becoming the keynote of industrial and commercial life in America, it is not surprising to see it manifesting itself in new phases in our city governments. At Spokane, Wash., there is being developed a system of coöperation between the fire department and other municipal activities, probably more extensive than in any other city in the United States.

Under the direction of Commissioner of Public Safety Charles A. Fleming and Chief A. L. Weeks, the Spokane Fire Department has been transformed from a mere aggregation of men and apparatus for fighting fires into a live, constructive force

having a part in many of the tasks undertaken by the city. The most important developments of the new activity of the department are in its increasing coöperation with the Public Works, the Public Utilities and the Health and Sanitary departments of the city. In the construction of its own equipment the Spokane Fire Department has also made wonderful progress.

When the people of Spokane in the fall of 1913, through the initiative and referendum, passed an ordinance placing the Fire Department on the two-platoon basis, there were those who feared the city would be saddled with an additional burdensome expense, with no compensating advantages

except the boon to the fire laddies. Some of the most gloomy of these doubters, however, are now of a decidedly different opinion.

As the result of the splendid inspection work done by the department since the inauguration of the two-platoon system, the fire losses have been so reduced that application is being made at the time this is written for a reduction in the level of fire insurance rates, which in itself will counterbalance the additional cost of the twoplatoon system.

An Efficient Inspection System

The inspection work is nothing more or less than a campaign of education in which the firemen personally visit every residence, business and factory structure in the city, making the most careful examination and talking with the owners and tenants about possible danger from fire. In addition to this close inspection and personal counsel, the firemen distribute literature designed to influence citizens to guard more carefully against fires.

To insure the greatest efficiency in this work, a card system has been installed to record the progress being made in the education of the public. Every building in the city is indexed in this system, which is made up of red cards and yellow cards. When a building is recorded on one of the red cards, it is an indication that faithful precaution is being taken to prevent fire. A yellow card, however, indicates that the

owner or tenant needs further education, that he has not taken advantage of every means to reduce the fire risk at that particular place. The object constantly kept in mind by the Fire Department is to concentrate on the buildings recorded on the yellow cards, and get them in such condition that they may be registered on the red cards.

While pursuing this weekly inspection work, the firemen coöperate with the Health Department by reporting unsanitary conditions; with the Public Works Department by reporting defective streets, alleys, sidewalks and sewers; with the Water Department by reporting water leaks, etc.

The Construction Shop

It is in the assembling of auto equipment for its own use and for other city departments, however, that the most striking example of the new coöperation is seen. Already the department has constructed for its own use one auto hook and ladder truck, one combination auto hose wagon and chemical and three auto hose wagons. By purchasing the parts and constructing the machines within the department, a considerable saving is effected.

"Some of this equipment has been in service a year, and we have not spent a cent for repairs," said Chief Weeks in discussing this feature of the work of the department.

The manufacture of apparatus by the men of the department was started on a

small scale in 1913, before the two-platoon system was voted in, a shop being established at one of the fire stations. With the inauguration of the two-platoon system the operations have been greatly extended. Plans are under way to construct a central plant for work of this kind. Among other things the shop will take over the work of the city garage, caring for and keeping in repair the automobile equipment of all the city departments. In order that the men at this construction shop may be available for fire duty at all times, the place will also be fitted out as a fire station and equipped with auto fire-fighting apparatus.

Commissioner Fleming says:

This

"One of the great advantages in having the men of the Fire Department build all the auto fire apparatus as well as other city fire equipment, is that it makes possible the standardization of all city automobile parts. saves both time and money and increases the efficiency of the entire city equipment. We are always certain to have repair material on hand, since the same kinds of parts are used in all machines constructed. Even when a machine is no longer serviceable for general use, some of its parts will still be available for repairing other machines. This would not be possible if we should be fitted out with many different makes of machines.

"We are just beginning to see the possibilities of coöperation between the Fire Department and the other city departments. We are at this time building two trucks for the Water Department, and arrangements are being completed to build 20 auto sprinklers for the street division of the Department of Public Works. Although we save about one-half on

all equipment constructed by the department, the most far-reaching effect of this coöperation between the Fire Department and the other divisions of the city activity is upon the men and women who work for the city. It has furthered a spirit of unity, mutual interest and sincerity among all the municipal employes."

Chief Weeks, who has the actual supervision of the construction of auto apparatus in hand, believes one excellent feature of the plan is that it gives the firemen an opportunity to do machine shop work and thus learn a valuable trade. He has always had more applications for this shop work than he has been able to fill. Most of the men are anxious to get into the shop. As the work is done at the stations, it does not interfere with the fire duties of the men, and those who are engaged in shop work receive a slight additional salary allow

ance.

In addition to the equipment for the Public Utilities and Public Works departments, the Fire Department plans to construct five pieces of fire apparatus in 1915. This will mean an estimated saving of $12,000. Largely as a result of the development of the shop system within the department, Spokane will soon be completely equipped with auto fire apparatus. Chief Weeks estimates that the cost of operating horse-drawn equipment in Spokane is $1.76 a mile, while the cost of operating the auto equipment is only 10 cents a mile.

THE

HE city of Jamestown takes pride in the distinction of having the cleanest paved streets of any city in the United States. This is due mainly to the fact that the municipality has utilized the fire department for street flushing purposes, and in doing so the city has succeeded in eliminating, to a very large extent, the element of waste which is common in all cities in which paid fire departments are maintained. And in the elimination of the element of waste in the non-employment of firemen, there is a correspondingly large degree of saving in the expense for street flushing purposes.

In third-class cities there is an average of only one fire per week. This means that the firemen are kept in the hose houses in idleness and confined in various stations, during the time that elapses between fires, without rendering any service to the community, while waiting for fire alarms. This is not only an expense to the community, but a detriment to the men themselves.

In Jamestown this problem has been. solved. There are 40 paid firemen, and the total expense of the maintenance of the department is in round figures $45,000 annually. There are six companies, with six stations in various parts of the city. Three of these companies are alternately employed three hours each day in flushing the streets, with a separate line of hose for that purpose. An auto-driven apparatus engine is kept constantly in close touch with the firemen who are engaged in flushing, so that when an alarm is given they are quickly conveyed to the scene of fire from the place at which the flushing is being done. In this manner the efficiency of the department in responding to alarms is not in the slightest degree impaired; on the contrary, the men, by reason of exercise in the open air, are rendered more efficient as fire fighters, precisely as fire horses are rendered more efficient by being constantly taken out for exercise upon the street at intervals between fires.

When the proposition to utilize the firemen was first proposed, there was considerable objection offered by some of the firemen, as well as by some of the politicians.

and the insurance companies. The insurance companies objected upon the ground that the firemen would not be able to respond to fire alarms as promptly as they Idid while stationed at the various fire houses. This argument was met by showing that, since the fire apparatus was in constant readiness upon the streets where flushing was being done, and within easy access of the firemen, no delay was entailed in making the run to the fire. On the other hand, the politicians maintained that it was contrary to the civil service laws to require firemen to perform any service except that of putting out fires. The same argument was advanced by certain politicians when it was proposed to utilize the army engineers in building the Panama Canal, on the ground that they were engaged simply for war purposes and not any other purpose. All these objections have had little effect in the face of the public sentiment which has developed within the last few years in Jamestown and elsewhere in support of the new science of government, which means that every department of public service shall be utilized for every purpose possible for the good of the community as a whole. And it is the recognition of this new school of thought that has made not only the street cleaning method, but all other branches of the public service in the city of Jamestown, a success, not only from a standpoint of economy, but in the matter of service to the citizens.

Since Jamestown owns its own water plant, the cost of water for flushing the streets is practically nothing. In addition to the municipal fire protection and water service, the city owns its lighting plants. This, like the water plant, is entirely selfsustaining, and by means of it electric current is furnished to the citizens at 4 cents per K. W. H. A municipal hospital, a municipal public market, municipal parks, municipal paving and sewer construction are also among the successful public undertakings in which the city is engaged. In the conduct of all these utilities the element of partisan politics is absolutely eliminated and efficiency and service are made the basis of control.

T

HE deterioration of hose is usually caused by neglect of the hose surface. After every fire this cover fabric is bound to be water soaked and filled with sand or mud and foreign matter. The sand insidiously works its way into the fabric, its sharp particles cutting the strands of the covering. The accumulation of grains of sand soon causes that fuzzy appearance which predicts early weakness of the fabric and often results in a burst hose.

Of first importance, therefore, in the care of hose, I consider the hose surface. After each time of use, the hose covering should be thoroughly washed and scrubbed and then dried. If the hose is put away without first drying out all surface moisture, disastrous results are bound to follow. The hose is immediately attacked by fungus, and mildew results; then rotting sets in, and within a very short time the hose is worthless junk.

Avoid friction on the surface of the hose fabric when the hose is in use. Be sure especially to arrange that the section nearest the fire plug is not being chafed by the vibration at the point of contact with the ground.

As fire will immediately ruin a hose, so also will the direct rays of the sun. All stored hose should, therefore, be kept away from hot sunshine, as within a very short time the rays of old Sol will act like fire on a cotton hose covering. I might add that very hot, dry air has similar effect, though to a lesser degree.

In the opinion of the writer, there is little choice as to the external fabric of the fire hose, as the object of this outside fabric is simply to give sufficient strength to withstand the water pressure. The inside lining of rubber is of the greatest importance and should be of pure rubber of the finest quality.

For a long time an old idea prevailed that it was disastrous to leave any particle of

* From a paper read at the last convention of the South Carolina State Firemen's Association.

water inside the hose after having been in use. The experience of my department, coupled with the experience of others, has convinced me it is unnecessary to drain a hose thoroughly after use. The inside surface had better be kept damp or moist. Moisture has no effect or bad influence on pure rubber, and therefore need cause no fear in the minds of the department using first class equipment. Pure rubber has, however, one real enemy. Oil of any kind is ruinous. Avoid all oil as you would a pestilence. I am of the opinion that it is quite unnecessary to oil hose couplings. Others, however, disagree with me on this point. If you do resort to lubrication of couplings, avoid all leakages; do not permit any of your lubricant to get into your hose. If through accident this does happen, no time should be lost in thoroughly wiping out and cleansing the part which has been oiled. Acids and other chemicals, iron rust, sulphur fumes, etc., are also injurious to hose, and contact with them is to be avoided.

Hose, like horses or like man, suffer from lack of use. If you permit your fire horses to stand in their stalls without exercise they are sure to stiffen up and become worthless; so also with your hose. Handle it, keep it soft and pliable, do not allow it to remain in its cart or on its reel indefinitely without pulling out or unwinding it. It should be a fixed rule in every department that all hose must be taken from the trucks at least twice a month. The hose is then worked over, brushed and thoroughly wet inside. It is then reinstalled, the men being particular to see that the bends in the hose come at a different point from the one they occupied before. Avoid short bends in your hose when stored away. Severe cold causes deterioration of rubber, and freezing temperature tends to crack the hose. Under the exigency of fire fighting, no preventives for these troubles can be suggested. Usual care and a thorough draining of hose is the best that can be done.