Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-10
CITY "A FLAIR ..

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Cry 7CoUNcn-At called meeting of the Council
last evening, contract ordered to be entered into
with Mr.. Henry Exa, for the execution of the tank,
stack and buildings and for the work for the same,
and the brick walk to the TANK his bid being lower than
any other by the sum of 1878. The Council also au-
thorised the Engineer to contract with Mr. S. Down, of
New York, for station METER to register 100000 cubic
feet OF gas per day to be delivered in this city be-
fore the lst day Of September next to cost $780, cash
posed by the Engineer of the Gas Works. and the plans
OF the buildings in the street. the stack lamp posts, gas
holders retor benches and of the retor house. submit
ted by him. were approved by the Council and reso-
adopted by the Council to add line OF pipe on Ca
pitol street, from 18th to 9th street.
On motion of MIR. DENooN, it was
Maury and Col Wythe Munford, be appointed with
power to them such of them as may be present. to
represent the City of Richmond at the meeting of the
Company, to be held at Charlotte Court House, the
18th OF May, 1850.
To the President and Members of the Citu Coun-
Gil Of Richmond.
The undersigned appointed committee for that pur-
pose by the Board oil Directors of the Richmond Fire
Association, beg leave respectfully ask of the City
Council an increased appropriation for the support and
encouragement OF the tlremen, IN performing the
sponsible and arduous duties devoved on them.
They ask the attention of the Council to few facts
and suggestions due consideration of which, in their
po w PROVE Re E
citation formed in 1887 for the purpose of securing
energy and efficiency in preserving our property from
the devastating effects Of fire. The Engines, hose
and apparatus then belonging to the city placed
in charge of the Association, for the OF the fremen
organized under its charter in carrying out the design
OF its formation There were five Engines only one
OF which was valuable, the others comparatively use
less account of their age and antique construction
The previous Fire Department had always been a
source oil annoyance and expense to the CITY, its oganl
cation being defective and inefficient In order meet
the expenses the Association in managing the Fire
Department. the sum OF one thousand dollars was ap-
pfopraed by the city in 1885, and the amount has
been appropriated annually to the present time; in addi-
ton to this the city has paid the necessary expense OF
building and repairing engine houses except that several
years SINCE the Association erected building at cost
OF S2bO0 out OF its own funds, in which three fire
panes have been accommodated, free tcharge the
city. Since the passage OF the ordinance in 1887 the
city has expended nothing for Engines apparatus,
cept for Hose The Association has purchased five new
Engines, Hose-reels, &c, at cost OF about So 800
which, added to the of the building, makes Sc 100.
expended OF the funds OF the Association, in providing
Engines, Apparatus and Engne-houses for the cy be-
sides large amount in preserving, improving, and keep
ing in repair the Engines originally received from the
CITY, We now have six good and two ordinary Engines,
and seven Hosereels. The city in the meantime has
pended &C. 23l 4S for Hose, and 1924 II for building
and repairing Engine houses which with the annual
appropriation tor expenses makes the whole cost to the
city, since the present organization, 2025365 OF an
average OF ST. 6S9 97cents per annum.
The committee respectfully state, that with the growth
OF the City in extent, and in the number OF its build
ngs, the number of fires has greatly increased and the
engines and apparatus being about three times
large and effective then expenses have greatly in
creased, until during the last year, they exceeded by
$1,000 the amount received from the city and the
Mutual Assurance Society combined The service per-
formed Is aborious, dangerous and expensive one;
and wefeel assured that any member OF the Council
will agree with that in consideration OF this lncreas-
ed outlay torengnes and apparatus and expense IN the
management Of the Fire Department, there ought in
Justice to be an increased appropriation on the part OF
the city. 1t the design of the Council, in fixing
the appropriation at thousand dollars per annum,
pay the necessary expenses OF the Fire Department and
the spirit OF the ordinance demands increased appro-
praon as by the growth OF the city and population,
our expenses are increased
The committee cheertuy refer to the orderly eff
cent, and successful management of the Fire Depart
ment in city, compared with many other places,
evidence OF the zeal and fidelity Of the hremen,
who volunteers and likely to continue et
cen it encouraged by such appropriations the part
OF the city, requisite to preserve and keep in
perform their duty 1t should be remembered too, that
the city is actually receiving by taxation, from agencies
OF foreign Insurance Companies located here,
annually nearly equal to the regular appropria
hontor the support and encouragement OF our own De-
partment.
The Committee have obtained from some other cities
the amount of appropriations for this object, and beg
leave to refer to them.
In the city of Baltimore from 1915 1919, inclusive
say five years, $500 per annum. .$42 800
Extra tor Engines, Apparatus and Houses u, l33 SO
S63 633 SO
Or $l2,726 70 per annum according to population at
the same rate, this city would expend about $4,000 per
annum.
In the city of New York, for two years. the annual
has heen $40 and allOwin