Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-03
THE RICHMOND DIsPATCH--TUEsDAY. MARCH s. 1891.

OF buildings with reference 10 fire protoc-
ton alone would result in the saving of
much valuable property and sometimes Of
life ITSELF
The general efficiency of the department
would be greatly promoted by the increase
OF the number of men on the permanent
force. The Chief regards this as necessary.
since all tho hosemen and laddersmen are
members Of the call force and, IL frequently
happens, get TO a fire when there is no one
there 20 take charge of the hose or put up
the ladders. The addition Of even two or
three men at each house would add mate
rally 10 the effectiveness Of the depart
ment.
The fire-alarm telegraph, under the ex-
cellent management of Superintendent
w. III. Thompson, ia in good order and has
worked perfectly during the year. The
department now has in operation one hun
drod miles of wire. of which fifteen miles
were added during the year. IL ~ very i'm
portant that all dead wires should be re-
moved from house-tops, and that IN
consequence of the difficulty experienced
IN handling fire apparatus all the wires on
our principal streets ard ALLEYS should be
stretched on the poles at a distance OF not
less than thirty-fve feet from the ground.
PUBLIC CHARITIES.
The total amount appropriated by
the Council on account of charity
for the year was S4S, 1925, of
which amount S36.647 was expended
under the direction of the Committee of
the City Council. and the remainder
81 ,496.25-was appropriated to the ladies
of the City Mission, X. L. Lee Camp, Con-
federate Veterans. Richmond Male Orphan
Asylum, and various charitable institu-
tons
The almshouse, under the care of Super
intendent X. w. Carter, is we'll conducted.
At the commencement of the year there
were 2S7 inmates, which, with the 804 admit
ted during the year, makes atotal of l ,09l IN
the institution during tho year. OF the
293 remaining at the close of the year, 100
are whites and 1863 are colOred.
The total number of patients treated
during the year was COS. of which 349 were
cured, 60 relieved. 80 died, and 4S remain in
the hospital.
There were $50 ambulance calls during
the wear, of which ga were to white per-
sons and SOC to colorod persons.
There were issued TO outdoor poor 4643I
cords of wood. 2j,275 bushels Of coke, 5,08l
bushels of neal and l,775 prescriptions,
which were compounded at the city dispen-
saries exclusive of the Medical College.
The colored almshouse is entirely too
small TO accommodate the applicants for
admission and should either be repaired
and enlarged or a new building erected.
PROUD or THE POLICE.
Major John Poe, Jr., Chef Of Police, re-
ports his force in excellent condition. The
efficiency of the force would be greatly in
creased by tho introduction of the tele-
phone-signal and patrol-wagon system,
which | strongly recommend The loca-
ton OF twelve or fifteen signal boxes at
points in the city removed from the sta
tiOn-hOuse3 would afford much additional
protection to the outlying districts, for
by means of the signal policeman can
call quickly for assistance, and by the
wagon il can be speedily sent him. con-
cur in the expressed opinion Of the Chief
that the introduction OF this system would
obviate for years 10 come any increase in
the number of men on the force. We have
botn in personnel and in point Of efficiency
q police-force of which any city might well
be proud.
HEALTH OF THE CITY GOOD.
The health Of the city continues good.
The total number of deaths IN 1890 was
2,31s, OF which 1894 were white and 1924
colored. The greatest mortality was In
the month of May and the lowest was In
November.
The Board of Health in their annual re-
port calls attention to the absence of any
provision for the record OF births and
earnestly recommends the passage of an
ordinance requiring all births to be reported
to the Health Office. The board also makes
an urgent appeal for the establishment OF
city hospital.
DESIRES CBEMAToBY.
would renew my recommendation for
the erection Of q crematory for the destruc-
ton of the garbage of the city. The use
of crematorles in other cities has given
great satisfaction.
submit herewith the annual reports of
the several departments OF the city govern
ment. They contain much valuable in
formation and many important recon-
mendations that deserve your careful con-
sideration.
Proud of our past and hopeful of our
future. let rs endeavor so to administer
our city affairs as TO make the year upon
which we have entered one of the bright
est in the annals of Richmond.
j. TAYLOR ELLYSOH, Mayor.