The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-07-08

ton OF tho Fire Department, virtually
admits all we said about lis inettlclency.
1t rrpcnts with much emphasis that the
tlremen performed their work well Mon'
day night ailer they got TO work. Very
well; nobody has asserted the contrary.
The fault we pointed out was TINT they
were TOO slow getting to work. Such de-
lays rs occurred Monday night, after the
engines were on the ground, would, cx-
cept in rare cases, be very disastrous
These delays appear to arise from want
OF executive capacity, system and
skill on the part of the firemen
and their officers. The Register has
not convinced us OF the contrary.
We do not doubt that the men con:
nccted with the Department honestly and
earnestly do their best; and in some cases
they have done verywcll; but their ability
to do, evidently needs increasing; and
besides, to make tic Department efficient
ind reliable 1t is necessary they should
be able to do well always: The indtca-
lions ore that there is a lack Ofthat systemi-
eaton OF the various parts 10 be performed
thut is so necessary, and n lack of the
requisite skill in handling the engines and
apparatus. For example the Atlantic
came on tie ground Monday night at
twenty minutes before one; Without fire
under her boiler, and as we are
informed without (at least d sutliciency %
fuel. The deficiency was supplied al tile
expense Of market street'grocer, by the
consumption Of q large pine box worth
81 90. WeAear q MUM street merchant
lost q box in the same way to furnish fuel
for the engine stationed on Main street.
Thcn, in the case oFthe Atlantic, Nobody
in the crowd having q match,;a light was
procured from the gus lamp and q fire
kindled. Our readers are aware that the
well regulated practice with steam fire
engines requires that the furnace be filed
with ktndling ready to he lighted at mo-
ment's notice, that this Is lighted immedt-
on the alarm, md that il there is any con-
siderable distance to 60, steam is up ready
for work Dytnc time-the engine is on the
ground-thL motion adding TO the pro-
gress Of the fire in the furnace The
neglect of these regulations was, doubt
less, the chief reason why the Atlantic,
Monday night, threw no water Tor thirty
minutes after its arrival on the ground.
We mention these things to illustrate
whit seems to be n fact, that the Depart
nilcnt is not under sufficiently vigflapt and
rigid regulations. Another little incident
may serve us II further illustration; which
is, as reported to us, that some months
ugO, when an alarm was sounded and the
engines turned out, 1t happened that the
horse which drew the reel Of the, United,
when wanted, was some six or eight miles
down the river, whittier he Ind been
driven in m express wagon after load
of horse radish by o gentleman who made
business Of vending that delcctablc
relish in market. There is good deal Of
fire about horse-radiRh; but 1t is Mt least
an open question whether the transporta.
ton Of the article Is quite the proper bust.
ness Of Fire Department under pay.
New rs to the matter OF skill, We
are informed that ono Of the fire.
men undert ok to make an attachment
to a plug Monday night, and after
repeated efforts TO turn the water on
refusing to allow anybody to show him
how, he gave II up, declaring the plug
was "foul and that no water could be got
out Of it. Just then the porter OF a
Main street grocery house came along IA
good deal the better fireman Of tho two),
and insisted that the plug was all right
He took hold and turned the water on at
once, when It appeared the fireman Ind
been turning the screw tho wrong way,
and shutting off tho water tighter all the
time. Now, wo submit II the opening Of
u firc.plug isn't about tho first thing fire.
man ought to learn3
The Registtr, being unable to answer
them. thinks our remarks very " unkind'
and uncallCd for" and Is even pleased to
attribute them toa malignant" purpose
on our part This Is very silly, not to say
unjust. We cannot have any motive OF
wish to deal unfairly by the present Fire
Department. Wecarc nothing whatever
about tho political composition oft. The
administration OF tho city being Demo
cratic we do not expect this or uny Other
fire organization 10 be Republican. We
favored from tho first n steam and paid
department, so as TO have the best thai
was practicable, believing It real economy
for the city, as for everybody else, to "get
tho hest" 1t Is our wisAto encourage
the present iiremen or any Others
who can give us such q department, and
ont ofabundsnt"k indnfss"we hAvorefrain'
ed from criticism which would long
since have been pertinent, At the same
time We have some regard for the inter
ests Of our citizens who arc not in the De
partment, who have contributed their
,I..,,,,I Cor tee