The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-04-05
The Fire Department.

ANNUAL REPORT OF CHIEF TAfLOR-LOS>ES
SUSTAINED AND INSURANCE PAID DURING
THE YEAR-STRENGTH OF THE DEPART
MENT-NEw TRUCK AND HOSg-THs EN-
GINES AND THEIR yALUE-NEw APPARATUS
NEEDED-THE DEATH.LlST - INJURIts TO
FIREMEN, &C., &C.
The annual report OF the Chief Engineer OF
the Richmond Fire Department, Captain g..
Watt Taylor, has been forwarded to his
Honor the Mayor. He says the entire force
of the Department consists OF | chief en-
giDeer. 3 assistant engineers, ! foremen, )
enginemen, 3 helpers, / tlIlcrpan. 6 hostlers,
and 65 hose. aud Iaddermen. For the lat
ter he recommends that the salary be in
creased from Sl.2j to 81 50;' and even then
their wages would be but small compensa-
tion for the valuable services rendered, &c.
Since his last annual report he notes the
purchase OF an additional truck and 5000
feet OF new fabric hose. He urges agan
that the new truck be fully equipped and
put into service at once. He also suggests
that a reserve supply OF hose be purchased
and placed in the extreme eastern and west
ern parts of the city, to be used should a
fire occur in those localities while the De-
pariment is in service at fire elsewhere.
There is now in use in the Department
200 feet first quality and LOO feet second
quality Of hose.
The Chief next refers 10 the want oil
horses. Many are very old, and will soon
be unfit for service. Some in service are
borrowed. lie recommends that six good
horses he bought. During the year two
have died and two have been exchanged.
He next refers TO his introduction OF the
swinging harness into the Department, and
: Ia ho ~ a N ha
the entire Depariment.supplied with it. He
urges an INSPECTION of the engine-houses by
the Committee on Grounds and Buildings,
and ne again calls attention to the sad con-
dniOn OF the engines (Which has several
times been reported TO the Council by the
| committed, and asks that they he repaired,
and that a new one be bought for Steamer
Company No. >.
The ID partment was called TO respond 10
seventy five alarms for fire and one false
alarm. Loss involved by fires. Sl5l ,S0i.lO,
upOn which insurance TO the amount OF
SSS. .346 33 was paid. In addition To the
ABOVE seven still alarms were reported, the
fires being put ont by the station.men or
policemen. Loss, $3.50.
He puts down the value OF the apparatus
OF The Department at S2G, 155. He recon-
mends that the upper part OF the street
lamps in the immediate vicinity OF fire.
alarm stations be fitted with red glass, and
the lamps kept burning during the entire
night, so tnat persons having keys may
easily discover the location OF the tire-alarm
boxes. He recommends the purchase OF 4
chemical engine, 10 be located in the centre
of the city, 50 as to eXtinguish incipient
fires without the use OF water. They have
proved Of immense value and been very
successful in other cities. and prevent I'M
necessary loss by water.
He mentions IN fitting terms the death OF
Hosemen George w. Moore, OF Steamer
Company No. l, and w. II. Paul, OF Steam.
er Company No. 2.
The casualties during the year were a
cut received by Hoseman Reynolds, OF
Steamer Company No. /, on the head and
hand from slate falling from the roof OF Mr..
James Leigh Jones's burning factory on the
8, of December; TilIerman Lee, OF Truck
Company No. 1, was thrown from his seat
while answering fire.calI from Station 20
on February 1ith-he sustained fracture
OF the arm and other bodily injury, which
rendered him unfit for duty for four months I;
Joseph Heffiy, acting driver OF Hose'Car'
rage No. 3, was thrown from his seat While
answering a call from Station "a. inluring
him so as TO be unit for service Tor SIX
ueaks