Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-13
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
MAfTVRS OF PUBLIC INTEREST DISCUSSED
LAST NIGHT.
The New Engine House Cellar Full Of Watsr-Th'
Atlantic Rspairs-Ths Police Committee Dis
eussing Important Matters

The Council Committee on Fire De
partment met last night, and had LONG
wrestle with the affairs OF the depart,
ment. The leading items Of informa-
ton evoked were that the cellar OF the
new Vigilant engine house, In North
Wheeling, has about foot or more OF
water in it; that the Atlantic engine
house job is not very satisfactory, in some
respects, and that the committee is run
ming short of money for the payment OF
general bills, and will have to go slow
the rest of the year.
After paying bills to the amount OF
S4962S, the committee brought up
against a bill of SIS for changing the
extension apparatus from the big lad
ders on the hook and ladder truck to the
next smallest ladders. The big sixty
five foot ladders are very heavy and
make the truck a big strain on the
two horses drawing it, and as they
have been used but once since the
truck was purchased, that being at the
Court House fire, where it took fourteen
men about fifteen minutes to raise the
ladders, it was deemed best by the
committee, at a former session, to make
the change, especially as 1t was said 1t
could be done at very slight expense.
When it came TO actually making the
change, however, it was found COM
plete new set Of hOisting apparatus had to
be purchased and this ran the cost up.
After big kick all around the bill was
ordered paid. A bill for plumbing at
the Atlantic, amounting to S54.33, was
referred TO the Chief for examination
and report
This brought the Committee to a
recommendation from Architect Hamil-
ton, that Wilbur Jacobs, the contractor
for the Atlantic repairs and changes, be
allowed $500 on account. The Chairman
OF the Committee and Chief Healy gave
notice that they had been spoken to by
parties furnishing labor and material
for the job that they expected the city
to look after their claims, and the mat
ter was accordingly laid over. In this
connection ii was stated that some Of
the work at the house was not up to the
Specifications, and the Chief said that
the contractor had the specifications in
his possession and had refused to give
them up at his request. A sub-commit-
tee, consisting of Bailey, Happy and
Horstmann, was appointed TO look into
the matter and report.
The architect then recommended that
the sum of 81, 156.25 be paid Wilson "
Chapman on account Of work and mate
rails at the Vigilant engine house, after
deduCtiug twenty-five per cent, and
this was allowed. 1t was stated that
there was about foot or more of water
in the cellar Of the new building, and
that there was every prospect that it
would continue to run in. The Chair
man and the Chief stated that there was
a fear that the water might cause the
walls to settle, and that syphon had
been put in. Some permanent arrange
ment, either SyphOn or a sewer, must
be provided. As sewer would cost
from $500 to $500, and the committee
was short of cash, it was agreed That the
water would have to be removed by a
syphon, for the present, until some
other arrangement could be made. P.
L. Eckhart sent in bill Of ST. for re-
moving about thirty-two loads of vault
stuff from the excavation for the house.
The committee kicked on paying the
bill and it was referred to the Chief and
architect for settlement.
The Chief reported that under the
new arrangement OF coming out of the
Atlantic engine house, the engine and
wagon were liable to get stuck in the
mud on Eoff street, and asked the COM
mittee to do something in the direction
Of having the street paved from the en-
CINE house as far north as Sixteenth.
The committee has no money, and as
the Board of Public Works is broke,
the street will have TO remain as ii is.
1t was reported that the Niagara en-
CINE needed repairs to the running gear
TO prevent her breaking down.
Various other department matters
were discussed and acted upon.