FIREMEN’S TOURNAMENT.

FIREMEN'S TOURNAMENT.

Chief Benner, of the Chicago Department, proposes to have a Firemen’s Tournament in that city in September next.! Our Chicago correspondent alludes to the matter in a letter published in other columns of the JOURNAL. The fact that Chief Benner undertakes the management of the affair, and that the public spirited business men of Chicago lend j their countenance and support to the enterprise, is a guarantee of success. Mr. Benner is one of the best known and most efficient Chiefs in this country. lie makes a study of the best means of extinguishing fires, and aims to reduce the business to a science. His enterprise and ability have done much to give Chicago an exceedingly effective Fire Department. Ho believes that much good will result from the coming together of the Firemen of many cities, comparing their machinery and methods of working, and studying the characteristics of each. The time has passed when suclfgatherings are regarded as holiday sprees, designed for the exhibition of the rowdy element that used to be so prominent in the fire service. All that has changed, and instead of the wild and reckless volunteers who knew little of tho restraints of discipline, we have now the staid and quiet paid Firemen, who make a business of j fighting fire, who glory in their work, and try to make the name of Fireman as much respected as is the name of any other regular businessComing together for the purpose specified by Chief Benner, they will gain much valuable information, which will be of use not only to them, but to the communities they serve. As the manufacturers of fire apparatus are invited to ho present, and exhibit their various appliances, much competition may be expected, and scf important tests of fire machinery may be looked forward to. This of itself is an important feature, calculated to be of great benefit to communities that are required to spend largo sums for fire apparatus. We wish the tournament every success, and shall keep our readers informed regarding it.

Chief Benner, of the Chicago Department, proposes to have a Firemen’s Tournament in that city in September next.! Our Chicago correspondent alludes to the matter in a letter published in other columns of the JOURNAL. The fact that Chief Benner undertakes the management of the affair, and that the public spirited business men of Chicago lend j their countenance and support to the enterprise, is a guarantee of success. Mr. Benner is one of the best known and most efficient Chiefs in this country. lie makes a study of the best means of extinguishing fires, and aims to reduce the business to a science. His enterprise and ability have done much to give Chicago an exceedingly effective Fire Department. Ho believes that much good will result from the coming together of the Firemen of many cities, comparing their machinery and methods of working, and studying the characteristics of each. The time has passed when suclfgatherings are regarded as holiday sprees, designed for the exhibition of the rowdy element that used to be so prominent in the fire service. All that has changed, and instead of the wild and reckless volunteers who knew little of tho restraints of discipline, we have now the staid and quiet paid Firemen, who make a business of j fighting fire, who glory in their work, and try to make the name of Fireman as much respected as is the name of any other regular businessComing together for the purpose specified by Chief Benner, they will gain much valuable information, which will be of use not only to them, but to the communities they serve. As the manufacturers of fire apparatus are invited to ho present, and exhibit their various appliances, much competition may be expected, and scf important tests of fire machinery may be looked forward to. This of itself is an important feature, calculated to be of great benefit to communities that are required to spend largo sums for fire apparatus. We wish the tournament every success, and shall keep our readers informed regarding it.