Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-22
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
improvements That Are Imperativcly De-
manded for the Public Good.

To the Editor Of he Dispdtch'
Your complimentary editorial article on
our Fire Department recently represented,
think, a very general opinion and was IN
every sense true. It has progressed rapidly
under the care of the Commissioners. Since
they have had charge two new companies
have been organized, q new englne-hOuse
built. and other decided improvements
made. and no increased appropriation has
followed. But the system is all wrong, It
matters not how well things are managed.
Until we get rid of what is known as the
call-force or runners the system cannot APP
proach perfection. The town ls too big tor
such primitive laws, and the writer IS Will
ing 10 affirm that one half OF the call-torce.
10 do the work demanded of them in De-
cember and January last through the year.
They would be totally unfit 70 go to their
daily yOcAtiOns and of course, could not
live on Sl5 per month.
We want a full paid department. for in this
respect we are behind. They are dis
pensing everywhere with the call force.
Atlanta has paid force and pays her chief
engineer 81. 200 a year. 1t cost $3.50 to
rn5 her department in 1880 and the depart
ment Is one half as large az Rlchmonds.
We have a chief the equal of Atlanta's or
anv other city, and he is satisfied with
81 500. but he cannot be satisfied when ne
knows that while his machines, horses, and
permanent force are unequalled yet when
thew reach fire they are Obliged to wait
for the runners.
Int the driver of q truck can't leave his
horses. so he must wait, unless some mex
perienced citizen helps. The writer has
seen a driver of a reel go to hre, Jump
from his hose-carriage, wrap his hose
around plug, and with his horse so wei
trained that he would run of towards; the
fire stretching the hose as 1t went along;
There would be nobody at the pipe until
some runner arrived out of wind, exhausted
on the start,
The worst feature about the call system
Is the natural want of discipline and drill.
Had the department permanent captain
ond men thew could be drilled daily, or
ranized into patrols TO report intiammable
bindings; perfect themselves as hte-
saving corps, and save the city thousands
of dollars in repairs and construction.
No reflection IS intended on the personnel
Of the Richmond call force, more cor
rect and gentlemanly number OF men can
hardly be picked out, which IS due 10 the
care exercised in selection 10y the CommlS-
stoners. but they are required TO follow
fleet horses. which is impossible.
Our Fire Commissioners invited MIR.
GameWell 10 examine our hre-alarm sys-
fem recently and his principal deduction
after discussing our needs, was that we
should have primarily a full paid depart
ment. Every other condition OF the FIRE
Department was frst-class, but we have
outgrown the call system.
understand that the entire force can
he re6rganized and paid the good wages
they deserve for the additional sum OF q
few thousand dollars, and, if our people
who highly appreciate the department
could express themselves, we would soon
have the appropriation. - 1870,
1t will not do to say let vel, enough
alone Large, high, and costly buildings
are going up all around US, and We need
prompt, well-organized action at fires, be-
cause in the first few minutes millions are
lost or saved, OBSERVER