The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-10


and hopes Of his recovery were entertained.
Harper's Weekly and Bazar for this
week, and No. 73 Lakeside. containing
Tennyson's last poem, I" Harold" !" received
from j. T. Ellyson, 1112 Main street.
Protest Against Reduction Of the Fire
Brigade.
The following petition will be circulated
for signatures to-day:
TO the Honorable the President and Board
of Aldermen Of the City of Richmond:
The undersigned, underwriters, agents
Of insurance companies, and citizens OF
Richmond, beg leave to present their views
of proposition recently acted on by the
Council in reference to disbanding portion
OF the fire brigade The proposition to
weaken in any way this indispensable arm
OF the public safety is Justly calculated to
enlist the anxiety of the people, and prompts
us to make this appeal to you to spare the
Fire Department from the least impairment,
as an organization that should not De in
cluded among those thought to beIiable to
retrenchment and reform. 1t strikes us
that our Fire Department will compare IA
vorably with any other in reference to cost
to the city; and while its efficiency, consid-
ering its numbers, is commercially good,
we could, with constantly growing city,
rather look for its gradual enlargement than
otherwise. .......
Some Of us are familiar with the circum-
stances attending the institution OF the pre-
sent paid department. It was the result OF
a great struggle between those who favored
character, experience, and discipline at fair
compensation, to the reckless and irrespon-
sible rivalry OF youths without pay. The
department under the present system has
given general satisfaction, and we doubt II
any one can be found now to favor the old
volunteer plan. The fremcn should be gen.
tlemen, having the instincts Of honor and
chivalry, that would guarantee to the fami-
ly driven from its home by the flames in the
dead hour OF night the safety of its pro.
perty-the return to the mother and daugh-
ter every article Of jewelry and family
treasure that could be saved. 1t is this
character of the fireman, added to bis
bravery and skill, that endears him to the
citizen and makes the department so much
the idol Of public admiration; and to this
standard they should be kept by excluding
all who fail to maintain it. Considering the
perilS, exposure, and hardship they endure,
the compensation paid them would appear
small. Next to the preservation OF life it
self is the duty to save property from the
devouring elements. and as the risk of fire
is ever impending, we cannot take steps at
short notice commensurate always with it's
proportions. After it shall have reached IN
area OF destruction calculated to defy the
eXertions and skill OF the whole force it may
pursue its course Of desolation until the
city is laid in ashes. And how often has
this sad spectacle been realized? It be-
hooYes us, therefore, to take warning OF
the past experience. The great value of
the fire brigade rests in its efficiency to
promptly arrest the flames in their incipi-
encY. To do this abundant-yea, what
would appear superfuous-means should
always be at its disposal. The rule should
be to crush out in detail the feebler fires by
the exhibition OF not only adequate but
overwhelming power. Pouring water on
the smouldering ruins Of vast structures
or city is Of little use; for OF what avail
would the department be in such conf1a-
grafton as that Of 1865 in this city, or in
that OF Chicago or Boston? Twenty-Five
per cent. additional force in the beginning
of these fires might have averted these great
losses, and thus paid for additional eXpen-
diture for an hundred and fifty years to come.
1t is easy to fall into the error Of supposing
the force of a fire department excessive.
The machinery stands for days, and weeks,
and months without action, until the need
of it seems to have become useless; but,
like thief in the night, the great destroyer
comes upon lis, and without that sup
posed superfluous force we are LETT to the
mercy Of the flames, and then to disconso-
late remorse at beholding the inadequate
means of our defence. It is the
timely aid Of the reserve that turns the
hard-fought conflict Of the veterans to VIC
tory. The whole secret OF defence lies in
the presence Of such superior force rs to
supersede the necessity OF its use. Ger
tainly no one institution OF the city for
public safety should exist in such conscious
ness of power, such majesty OF resources,
such ample store OF reserves, as the Fire
Department, and we may reasonably expect
the city government to do everything that
vigilance, pride, and comfort OF our depart
ment in the discharge OF its duties-a de-
partment Justly Gas we belieye) enjoying the
approval Of the citizens.
| In point OF force, in numbers OF men and
engines, it is now smaller than cities OF
similar population in this country, and we
may instance Memphis, Charleston, and
New Haven as possessing advantages in
these respects over our city, whilst ours has
greater irregularity OF surface, and conse-
quently requires, indeed, proportionately
more force. We learn the proposed re-
trenchment is expected to lessen the ex-
pense, by disbanding one company, by
about three to four thousand dollars-a SUM
the saving of which appears to US triding
when compared with the exigencies OF peril
which the displacement Of q single engine
may occasion to the city. And, In conclu-
sion we beg to say that should the proposed
disbandment take place the large district
south Of Broad and west Of Ninth streets
will be left without adequate protection !;
and the plan Of keeping the engine in the
care OF one man In working trim, to be
sent for by a detail from the force in action
at fire, will prove abortive; and the, idea
OF manning it when brought into action
from the bystanders must have received lit
tie, il any, reflection, and is, we suppose,
| without parallel in the management OF
eucl, denartments anywhere,