The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-20
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.


Oh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Board Of Fire Commissioners,
since their organization in July last, have
Kept many Of their acts from the public,
believing II 10 bee for the best interests Of
the department which they manage that,
FOR the present at least, they should SIT
with closed doors Their good work,
however, is beginning TO tell, and by de-
glccs The Improvements which they nave
already wrought. rs well as those IA con.
temptation, are leading out
ale fact it, they arc in a position 20
90 more for The ire department than the
committee, because The law gives them
greater liberty and freedom from un-
friendly control, and as the Board -
composed OF young and progressive
men Who are also large property owners
Who have "a personal pride and interest
in The department, IL is not unreasona-
Bile That % should be improved
This improvement is. of course, grail
flying 90 property and insurance
men alike. and even those who were OPP
posed 90 putting SD important an arm of
ile ci,y service as the Fire Department
under the control of a commission are
beginning 90 be convinced That Il was q
Wise measure.
The runners of the department
have, until recently, answered alarms
from the city bells only Ihesc men,
many OF whom work OF have business 90
Tie noisy parts of The city, have often
missed alarm. in the day Al night they
are called by the police The Board rc-
galded the hearing as well as the @ ling
often uncertain, and they have, there
fore made an arrangement by which this
risk of missing alarms is reduced 20 "a
minimum. The men. or many OF them,
have purchased Qongs and had them
placed ia their residences or places OF
business, and the board bears the expense
of keeping them up during the year This
Is one OF their first, and is regarded a. Il
great improvement 20 the service.
The Superintendent Of Fire Alarm IS
now having wires strung throughout the
CITY. under direction OF the commits
sioners, in order 90 connect the several
engine houses by telephone. These
phones are rented ~ r small figure and
viii give quick and easy method OF
communication hy the Chief Engineer
and his officers with tho department, and
adds safety and value TO the service.
our citizens are entitled 10 be inform
cd Of these changes and Improvements,
and the inns is the first paper ia the
city to announce them Nearly every
engine-house in the city has been inn
proved For instance. the quarters Of
fnginc Companies ], ?, a. 8. and g, and
Hose Company 80 .. have been greatly
altered and value increased by ceiling
painting. and other betterments.
This work is done under the direct
supervision Of one or more members OF
the Board, and the cost reduced 20 a
minimum
The rebuilding Of Engines 3 and 3 at
the locomotive works in this city, was ec-
complshed early In the fall and winter
and these machines are now nearly as
good as new
The Board are also endeayoring 10 Sc
cure an appropriation from the Council
sufficient 10 pat in am extra house-man,
in order that ihe present station-men may
be- relieved one day In the week Besides
this they are contemplating certain
changes i'm one of their W est-end engine
houses by which they will be enabled 20
quarter Truck Company No 3, which
company they hope TO be able to put into
service at an early day.