The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-11-18

SEMI.ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE RICH
MoED FIRE DEPARTMEST-ITs EFFICIENCY
TESTED, &C.-Last evening about O'Clock
the rapid striking Of the fire.alarm gong at
the eDgine-house on Broad street (Washing-
ton HalI, and the hurrying Of the tre-hoys
in hitchlng up. attracted quite crowd of
spectators, all anxious TO know the cause.
Upon inquiry it was ascertained that the
Fire Department was undergoing its semi
annual inspection at the hands of
Chief Engineer George A.'Ainslie and the
following gentlemen of the Joint Commit
tees on Fire Department of the Common
Council and Board of Aldermen
Messrs. Talbot, Barganin, Klein, T. Wiley
Davis, and Spapgenburg. The inspection
consisted OLA test of the efficiency Of the
various companies in hitchipg up and get
ting ready for start, and examination of
the apparatus, stables, sleeping apartments,
&c.
The inspectors commenced their round at
the Broad-Street house, occupied by Com
pany A (steamer), Captain NJ. L. Phillips,
and Company + (Hook.and-Ladder), Captain
G. r. Minor. AT given signal the gong
was sounded, the men jumped to their work,
and in an almost incredible short space Of
time the drivers of both machines. together
with the hose-carriage, were in their seats
and ready to be off, The time taken by the
Hook-and. Ladder "bOyS" was sixty Sc
conds, and that of the steamers men was
one minute and Il quarter.
The inspectors then examined the different
departments of the house and expressed
themselves highly pleased at the order and
neatness which prevailed everywhere.
The committee and Chief Ainslie next
proceeded TO the house of Company D, Cap
tain G. w. Sublett, on Brook avenue, where
similar test of efficiency was had. The re-
suit there was indeed highly creditable, as
from the time OF the sounding of the gong
to the time that everything was in readiness
for start, ii was found that only thrty-fiye
seconds had elapsed. A second test proved
still more satisfactory, time being called at
the end of thirty-four seconds.
The inspectors next visited the house of
Company B, Captain S. Fl. Herndon, on
Third street. Here the time occupied by
two tests was forty-tiVe seconds each. They
then proceeded to the Eighteenth-Strect en-
gine.house, Company C., Captain B. A.
Purks, where the final test Was had. The
tiremen Of this company were not in the least
behindhand, as the time made was as good as
that of the other companies, considering all
disadvantages, only sixty seconds being con-
sumed in getting ready. The disadvantages
referred to, while they apply to all the COM
panies, are especially applicable to some OF
them in greater degree than to others. We
mean the cramped condition Of the engine
houses, which were built before the intro.
duction of steamers in this city, and the uil-
favorable location of the stables.
The house of Company F, on Twenty.htth
street between Broad and Marshall, was not
visited by the committee, that company not
yet being provided with an engine. new
steamer, however, is now being built for
Company at the machiEe-shops of Messrs.
Ettenger Il Edmond, and when completed
Captain G. w. Taylor and his boys" will
10 effective service in the Department.
After the inspection was concluded, the
committee. together with several city Off
cials who accompanied them in their "grand
round" partook of the hospitalities Of Cap
tain AinsIie, the efficient chief.