Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-05-17
COMMUNICATED.

COMMUNICATED.
The RINGING OF THE ALARM BELLS. y our
local of Saturday is calculated to produce u
misunderstanding oil the question at issue be-
tween the Hydrauion Steam Fire Engine Com.
pany and the Board of Fire Wardens, as the
resolutions adopted by the company, though
perfectly Ineligible to all the parties couc.rn-
3D. does not sufficiently explain the matter
to the general public. Allow me small
portion of your space TO do SO.
By the Code of Virginia, a governing body
is created for the regulation OF the FlEa De-
partment 10 each city, consisting of the Chief
Engineer and Fire Wardens, elected by the
City Council, aud the Presidents Of the fire
companies To that body, by an ordinance Of
the city (see new city Code, page l02 and 1927
is committed the power Of prescribing rules
steum. and hand engine, fire companies at fires
aud elsewhere, IN all matters not provided tor BY
existing laws BY the same ordinance (sectioDs
aud 3, page 1857 the principal Fire Wardeus,
or a majority of them, "bave power to employ
such persons as shall be necessary for the sue
cessful operation OF all steam FIRE eng iucs aud
apparatus belonging to the corporation, aud
to graduate the pay of the said employees upon
such steam fire eugioes, and 1.-THE direction of
all purchases aud expenditures on acc 'unt Ut
the fire companies, or The Fire Department, iu-
GLIDING the hand engine companies, aud they
may direct the manner OF CERTIFYING the same
for payment.
AT fires it issimply the duty of each Warden
(unless he shall be acting as Chief Engineer "a
the absence Of that officer, ITO aid aud asassJ
in procuring supplies Of water for such Of she
engines as the principal engineer, or Warden
commanding 10 his absence, may direct HIM TO
attend, to prevent the hose from being tzoddcn
upon, aud to keep all idle and suspected per
sons at distance from the IRE and its vicinity"
(See section T. page 1913
2 Thus it will be perceived that he Fire Ward
ems, neither Individually nor collectively, have
any control whatever over the fire G. mpaules,
very ample powers in that regard being be-
slowed however, Oh the Board Of Dir, ctors of
the Fire Department, of which they are meni.
bers, by the 9Th section Of tie ordinance.
FROM the extracts l have giveo it will be
seen that the system devised by law is an tx
cellent one, aud that no collision can take place
if each one keeps to tie letter aud spirit of
the law. The Board sfWardens regulates the
expenditure and appoints the paid officials !;
the Board Of Drecl0rs, in which the companies
are represented, is the law making aud direct
ing power the Chief EDgiueer is the ,x,cu
tive officer at fires.
Ga several occasions disputes have arisen
through the giving of orders at fires by indi-
vldual Wardens, and refusal to obey them by
members OF companies. Some months ago the
Board Of Wardens forbade the drivers Of steam
engines to 70 to fire at a pace greater than "a
fast trot.' This called forth a protest from
the Hydrauon Steam Fire Engine Company.
which deuied the right of the Board to pass
any order, but as the drivers were removable
by the Board, their command WAS obeyed.
l0 the present INSTANCE the obj ctlon is not
to the striking of the alarm before leaving the
house, (though the direction that it shall be
done by 40 officer who ought to be 90 his en.
CINE and on the way to the fire as speedily as
possible, does not seem to be very wise ene,)
but to the admission Of the principle that any
Wardens, while there is DO ~ emp ", rtd by
law to rule the department aud its officers, paid
or unpaid. The rope attached TO the hammer
of the triangle WAS removed about year ago.
because the striking of it Jared the house, and
bad caused portions of the ceiling of the hall to
fall several times. The engineer, on the re-
ceipt of the " ardens order, replaced it, AID
the company, asccrtaiuing that fact, had both
it and the hammer removed, lest the engineer
should obey the order, or be held responsible by
the Wardeus' for disobeying it.
By the 18th section of the ordinance. it is
made the duty of the Captain, or Lieutenant
of Police on duly at the time to have the great
bell 90 the market building rung whenever
FIRE occurs, and if that is done there will be no
need of any further alarm.
AN OLD FIREMAN.