246 ROAD, TRACK, AND STABLE. 



ing from 950 to 1,050 pounds, employed by the engi- 

 neers in their light wagons. These horses, especially 

 such as are used by the chief engineer, get more 

 practice in running to fires than any others, and they 

 become very clever in picking their way through a 

 crowded street, breaking into a gallop whenever they 

 see an open space before them, and pulling up promptly 

 to avoid collisions. The tough, intelligent, short- 

 stepping Morgan is excellently adapted for this pur- 

 pose, and one of that breed has been used for eight 

 years past by the veterinary surgeon connected with 

 the Boston department. Another, used by a district 

 engineer, is of about the same size and pattern, and of 

 the same gamy disposition. 



The protective (insurance) Avagon steeds, though 

 not, strictly speaking, belonging to the fire depart- 

 ment, should not be disregarded in this account, 

 They show more " quality " than fire-engine horses, 

 weigh less (about 1150 pounds), stand higher in pro- 

 portion, and look like powerful coach horses. There 

 are two protective wagons in Boston : one in the heart 

 of the city, which weighs, with the men, about 7,800 

 pounds ; and the other, which is much lighter, at the 

 South End. One or both of these wagons respond to 

 every alarm of fire in the city, so that the horses 

 attached to them do a great deal of work. On a cer- 

 tain Fourth of July, one of these companies was 

 called out on nineteen different occasions in the 

 twenty-four hours ; the horses not becoming cool 

 enough throughout that time to be fed, and being 

 supported by draughts of oat meal and water. 



The arrangements in the protective houses differ, 

 for the worse, from those of the fire department. The 



