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June 2, 1909

To Captains of Companies,
San Franciso Fire Department

You are hereby ordered to instruct your drivers and acting-drivers, that, when responding to an alarm of fire, in going to which they will meet heavy grades, they shall save their horses as much as possible, so that the horses will not be exhausted before reaching the grade. You shall also warn your drivers against the brutal and unnecessary use of whips under these or any other conditions. A whip should be used, with judgment, only when a horse is lazy or refuses to pull, but under no circumstances on an exhausted horse. Drivers should be competent to judge whether their teams can make a grade or not, and after trying if they find the teams cannot do it, then immediate use should be made of the lead bars and teams double up.

By Order,

P. H. SHAUGHNESSY
Chief of Department


See History Index for more about the San Francisco Fire Department.

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