Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-10
IRE DEPARTMENT.
~ HousIS AND NEW EORSES COSTEM-
PLATED.
Mating Of he Council Committee Last Night.
Ssms Changes and Improvements
Contemplated.

improvements in the department, chief
Z which was to consider the prelimin-
nv plans for the new Vigilaat Engine
House in North Wheeling recently
burned.
The plans were submitted by archl-
3ect c. 2. Hamilton who was present to
kxplain the designs as was also Chief
3Iealy. The proposed new house will
h aotwO-StOry pressed brick structure
with mansard roof, and is modelled
lter the ideal engine house, No. IA, in
Rttsburg. The new engine house
kVil cost $500. The new
house will have 33-foOt front, all Of
(which will be utilized for entrance,
rreatly facilitating the movements of
The department. There will be four
HStallS, 81 by 9 feet, all of modern de-
Is!gn. The house will contain tower
(which will be so feet high from the
Icellar, and will be located on one side Of
1.-The house. The building will have stone
trimmings and metal ceiling, and the
STRUCTURE will be known as showroom
sbuStiOn building, a plan of building now
Nquite generally used for this purpose.
THE cellar will be 615 feet deep. One
80i the improvements Of the new house
will be side tower, where the hose
will be hung in full view after being
washed in the cellar. There will also
be an improved vehicle arrangement,
whereby the engine and hose carriage,
(which now are placed tandem, can
stand side by side, ready to De hitched
luD and sent out almost at the same
thine. The building will be rs feet
deep. The plans were adopted.
| Architect Hamilton expects TO have
1.-THE final plans ready by next Monday
morning, when proposals for bids will
be inserted in the daily papers.
ATLANTIC ENGINE HOUSE.
The next matter under consideration
Twas improvements to the Atlantic en-
Ngine house, new floor being sadly
Nneeded. The committee went down to
view the house last night, and il was
mot long before they were convinced of
1.-The prOpriety of the request. In sever
8al places the boards in the floor are
Iworn, or rotten to such an extent as TO
Imake it unsafe, especially for the heavy
Eengine horses liable TO go through at any
thine, endangering their lives.
Il Another change that will likely be
tmade is in the matter OF doors. The
NAtantic engine house is situated in such
8cloSe proximity TO the railroad track
THAT the department is often greatly
Wandered, especially in time OF fires. On
the occasion of fire few days ago a
long line of freight cars was hung up
in front of the engine house, and the
men were delayed some five or eight
minutes before they could get out of the
ldoOr. The cars completely blocked the
door, and this same thing has happened
several times.
To obviate this difficulty it is now
proposed to change the main entrance
10 the EOff street side of the house
where there would be nothing to OBJ
8struct the engine in case OF fire. The
idea is to do away with the present
#Stalls, build small annex TO the east
side OF the building, and with large
and ample entrance on EOff street the
house would then be admirably ar
ranged. The cost of changing the
u doors will be about $500 or $500. The
improvements will probably be adopted,
is LACy Sbtul Wei LuuNAA ANSNN~-
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.
Certain matters pertaining to the
Hook and Ladder were also brought up
at the meeting. 1t is proposed to
change the bath room and water closet
from the first to the second floor, and
also TO make some alterations IN the
stairway. the cost of which will prob
ably not exceed S1O9. There was con-
siderable discussion on this matter,
when Councilman Bailey agreed to let
the matter rest for the present until
other more imperative charges were
fattended to. IL was voted TO allow the
representative of that ward to purchase
IA companion horse 10 the one now used
b the Hook and Ladder, the cost not
Itg exceed Sis.
1t was also found that a wooden floor
waS needed in the Seventh ward engine
4house, as the brick floor which is now
ibelng used was very hard on the horses,
Iupon which they frequently slipped and
Endangered themselves especially when
making a sudden start in going to a fire.
The Councilman of the Seventh ward
was allowed To contract for wooden
floor TO cost 500.
II was also voted to receive bids for
whitewashing such Of the engine houses
aS required il.
There was also some discussion on the
|inatter OF new horses needed by the
department The department at the
present appears TO be crippled to the eX-
tent OF some six horses, But few or the
horses In the department are in first
class condition, but where the horses
are urgently needed is at the Niagara,
Vigilant, Atlantic aud Hook and Lad
der. Chief Healey is also in need Of
sound, live horse for personal use at
fires. The committee will probably
Recommend the purchase Of the same,
although no definite action was taken
Ia night.
PTrTSBURG POINTERS.
Chief Hea'y has been ever at work
studying improvements in the Fire De-
partment, and there is no question but
that he is making rapid strides toward
undermining the system. \ short time
ago Chief Healy received letter from
s. PittSburg inQuiring about the memoir
able "SilSby" engine that used TO be
4 here, In regard 70 her tests. Such data
as vas desired was forwarded, and out
of this correspondence grew the follow
ing letter, which will be interesting to
the readers
ALLEGHENY, PA, July S, 1891.
Chief Hcdly:
Your letter of June % was duly re-
ceived, bat too late 10 be Of use 10 me-
However, am obliged to you for your
trouble. heard through the papers
you we're in PittSburg 10 get pointers
on running frst-clasS fire department
with second class material. Had you
been here 10 see one certain AmosKeag