FIRE AND WATER ENGINEERING

FIRE AND WATER ENGINEERING

An effort seems to be making to oust Chief Frank Reynolds from the Augusta fire department. Whatever may be the merits of the case, so far as can be judged it looks like vindictive interference on the part of wily politicians who aim to get rid of a competent fire department head merely because he retards the progress of their schemes by refusing to join the "ring." Surely it could not he because Chief Reynolds is not an efficient department head, for he stands with the foremost chiefs of the country, and the fire department of Augusta is a shining attestation to his skill. His successor might prove to be a very able chief, hut unless he has been tried and his efficiency demonstrated, the city is taking great chances in making a change. One of the best indications of the efficiency of a chief is the esteem in which he is held by the underwriters as a fire-fighter, and it is understood that the insurance companies propose to increase the rates if Chief Reynolds is deposed. It does not therefore seem possible that the citizens of Augusta will deliberately do something that they know will injure their city.

As will be seen by the readers of FIRE AND WATER ENGINEERING, the building department of this city has been subordinated to the fire department in so far as concerns the important powers exercised over the construction of new buildings. The decision of the assistant corporation counsel makes it plain that the fire commissioner and not the superintendent of buildings is vested with the power to dictate whether hollow tile or concrete shall be used. The ruling has been made for the purpose of clearly defining the duties of Fire Commissioner Johnson, who was in some doubt how far he could proceed along these lines in executing the new fire prevention law. Apparently the new law creating the Bureau of Fire Preevntion supersedes the charter provisions defining the duties of the building superintendent. From the standpoint of the best results to he obtained, it would seem that the meaning of the law as it now stands is for the best interests of the city, and will prevent any serious friction between the two departments here mentioned.