The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-10-01


IMPROVEMENTS RECOMMENDED IN The
/ RICHMOND FIRE DEPARTMENT. 81. ]. I.
The Fire Department Of the city willbe
thoroughly inspected this afternoon at
O'Clock on Broad street in front OF the
Council chamber. There will be no alarm
calling out the men aud apparatus as in case
Of a fire, but by direction OF the commit
tee the entire department will be assem-
bled, in order that the committee may make
d thorough examination OF all the apparatus,
&c., III order to ascertain the needs OF the
department. The men will appear in their
new oyercoats, and the exhibition will no
doubt be highly creditable. The present
committee, with the exception of two MEN,
mined not only to acquaint themselves thor
oushly with the department Of which they
have charge, but as far as may be in their
power to make it second to none in the
United States. ..L
Sometime during the early summer the
Council made small appropriation from
the funds Of the Fire Department to de-
sravthe expenses Of a committee composed
of Colonel LIoydJ. Beall and the CHIEF En-
gfneer) to Chicago, where the National
Tournament OF Flremen was held, With
view OF obtaining useful information 10 re-
gard to improvements in fire apparatus, the
means OF preventing fire losses, the modes
OF preserving life by tire-escapes and such
other information rs might be OF benefit TO
the Fire Department OF this city. This CON-
mittee has very recently returned, and at
the last meeting of the committee Colonel
Beall submitted very interesting and
lengthy report OF the information gained
by the committee during their visit.
The report begins with recital OF the
three great fires in Chicago seven years ago,
whereby $500, 900, 600 worth OF property was
destroyed, 1000 houses burned, and over
200 persons were killed. This awful scolrge
aroused the minds OF the authorities to the
necessity Of adopting measures TO avert llke
calamities in the future, and the city oi Ch-
cago now appropriates more than million
dollars annually for the maintenance OF its
Fire Department and 80 perfect now are
all the arrangements of that department and
Of the fire organization, the committee say
it would seem impossible for fire OF any
magnitude to prevail IN that city.
The objects OF the National Tournament
OF Firemen at Chicago were the collection
OF information concerning the practical
working Of different systems OF organizn-.
tion, examination and test OF the various
kinds Of fire apparatus in use. the rapld!ty
with which the same can be put to practical
work, its reliability and durability, its con-
structioD, and the ease with which it can be
repaired when out Of order. The valuable
premiums offered by the State, private COM
panies, and individuals, brought together
ynst assembIage OF organizations and per-
sonages connected with the tire depart
ments Of most Of the leading cites in tue
Noithand W est. The States from Vermontto
Colorado, and many from Massachusetts to
Texas, were represented. Iii procession the
entire line extended three miles, embracing
one hundred visiting companies besides the
Chicago department.. 1t would therefore
seem that Chicago before the occasion re-
ferrcd to was we'll adapted for obtaining the
know ledge the committee was in Searcli' OF.
The con noiusions arrived at by the commit
fee are based upon their own personal OBJ
| scrva:ions and The experience OF officials
| frosn cities that have suffered greatly by the
destruction OF life and property by fire, and
whose aim now /, the prevention OF recur'
renee OF sRch terrible disasters.
| The committee next proceeds TO discuss
| in their report the improvements in steam
| fre-epwreS hOse-cartS and reels, hose,
hook-and-lal,ler trucks, fre.plugs or hy-
drants, fire. escapes, horses, stab!lng, trc-
| alarm system, salvage corps, prevention Of
wafer losses, organization and discipline,
and the use OF chemical engines.
The coDlinittee, in concluding their re.
port, make the following Recommendations
Tor the improvement Of our Fire Depart
ment:
i. ReUreanize the Fire Department ac-
cording 10 the plan foresilaGoWed Iii fl!s re-
| port, doing away with the board OF control
and commanders, leaving only Il foreman at
/ the head Of each company. Add three a.
sistent engineers, TO be known as the firsE.
second, and third assistant engineers, who
sbal! reside in separate fire districts, and ac-
cording to rank eXeIrse all the authority
and perform ali the duties OF the Chief in
his absence. This change in the organize
ton will effect saving 20 the city or l.0OG.
Promotion to vacancies to be the reward
OF faithful and daring performance OF duty
| in all cases, nnIa$s to the manifest injury UI
the service. Il !,
3. Retire one OF the steamers, holding it
in reserve, ready for service ii it should be
required, and supply its place with chcmi-
cal engine, thereby efectins great SAVING
to the city. =
8. When addtiopal hose is required let it
| be or the very best oak-tanncd leather-sar,-
pies to be furnished before the purchase is
made.
4. Adopt the providence hitch" and
apply it to all one-horse vehicles used in the
service. ..,
| 5. Wherever it can be done without much
inconvenience let the horses be so placed as
to be- near the apparatus to which they are
to be attached, and standing facing the front
| door Of the house. Let the sides of the stalls
be of smooth plank, without any projec-
tions, and the floors of compact clay. The
stalls should be open in front.
6. AS matter OF economy we recommend
an increase of fre-hydrants, each to have
two outlets, when it is practicable, for at
tachng hose. And we recommend that the
owners OF all lofty buildings be advised TO
provide them with stand pipes arranged
with cross bands as fre-escapes.
z. We recommend for adoption the noz-
zle to hose-pipes furnished with the appli-
ance for cutting off the water at will.
8. We recommend that the unWiedy for
ty.foot ladder belonging to the department
he broken up. and the material used, so far
as it will answer, in constructing lighter
one, the deficiency to be supplied by pur-
chase.
0. We recommend that there be estab-
lished at or near the most central engine
house an Office to be known as the Head
quarters of the Fire Department, for the
preservation OF the records, correspondence,
and other papers OF the department, and
| for placing on exhibition models and draw
ings OF improvements in machinery and
49, hot m. yr,y1t. ~ ycot tSns