The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-05-12
Fire Department, submitted the annual re-

Fire Department, submitted the annual re-
port Of Chief Engineer Charters, from which
We extract the following paragraphs
! The organization consists of eighty mine
officers and men, nine horses, two steam
fre-engines, two hand-engines, one hook
and ladder truck, and all the appurtenances
| incident to and necessary for said appara-
tus. % E 81
g There have been seventy seven alarms
fyof FIRE during the year. The damage to
property amounted to s5e, ,772, on which
there was insurance to the amount of $685.
180. The amount Of damage to property
within the old corporate limits was s32 ,602,
and in the addition to the city s27, ,170.
The largest amount of loss by one FIRE was
S22 $50, caused by the burning of wooden
distillery in the addition to the city and
beyond the reach Of the city water
The Chief Engineer next calls, for the
second time, attention to the condition of
the engine houses ON Third and Eighteenth
streets, which he represents in leaking
condition. He also asks that another horse
be purchased, toreplace one disabled. He
then continues and concludes his report as
follows:
"0n the night Of the 25th of last month
the bell on the Third-street engine-house
was cracked while ringing the alarm of fire,
which renders it necessary for me to make
application for another bell. We have on
hand 1861 pounds of broken bell-metal,
and recommend that this be recast with
additional metal sufficient to make bell
of ], 900 pounds. The cost of the same will
be $3.50. There are SO many small bells
on Shockoe Hill that it is impossible to as
certain whether bell is ringing for fire or
for other purposes. Consequently, false
alarms are created and delay occasioned in
properly communicating the alarm to other
parts of the city. Besides, it will be eco
nomyto procure large bell, as they are
not 80 easily broken as small ones.
"We have but very small working
force, and it is necessary for the proper ef-
fciency of the department that every man
should be promptly at his post on the occa-
sion Of an alarm of fire. This, of course,
can only be accomplished by enabling them
to get the alarm promptly; and l think it
due to the men that all the appliances ne
cessary should be furnished them.
1.-The officers and men have worked with
that spirit and success which has gained for
the department the confidence of the citi-
zens; and so long as the membership con-
tinue tolhold that pride and exercise that
energy in the discharge of their various du-
ties, so long, in my judgment, will the
same beneficial results be apparent.
Respectfully submitted.
CIVILIAN A. CHARTERS,
"Chief Engineer"
The report was referred to the Commit
tee on the Fire Department.
applicants for Office.
A number of applications for Office were
laid before the Council. For the Office Of
City Auditor the names of John Viles, A..
T. PEBBLES, Harry L. Hartshorn, and Will
liam H. Alderdice, appeared as applicants.
On motion of General Milford, the
further reading of these papers was dis
pensed with, and the city tax bill was
taken up.
The Tar Bill
was taken up, and after being read was
ordered to be printed.
1t was also decided that when the Coun-
Gil adjourn it adjourn to meet on Thurs
day afternoon Mt 5 O'Clock.
Wood Measuring.
Mr.. Mulford offered an ordinance repeal
ing chapter 3Sth Of the City Ordinances
concerning the measuring of wood. The
ordinance was passed through its several
readings and adopted.
The Council then adjourned until Thurs
day afternoon at S o'clock.