Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-03-09

is certain that the last six years has
witnessed vast addition to the build
ings Of the city, both for residence ana
business purposes, as Is attesteo
by the returns or the ReValua-
tion Commissioners appointed oy
the State, who report an increased Vaiue
in realty during the past ten years, Tor
assessment purposes, OF sixteen hundred
thousand dollars. The real increase, in
buildings alone, has been much more
than that; last year our newspapers re-
ported that million dollars was ex-
pended for new buildings, and each sue
ceeding year will witness an increase In
this particular.
"With this situation before us, we
beg to call the earnest attention OF
Council to the fact that the real avail
able strength of the Fire Department Is
no greater than it was fifteen years ago.
! There is the same number OF hose ana
engine houses, manned by the same
number of men, and ii is doubtful
| il the department, as whole,
notwithstanding the purchase OF
one steam engine, one chemical engine
and one hook and ladder truck, is not
to-day weaker than it was ten years
ago, in 1882 The Niagara engine, pur-
chased about eight years ago, replaced
| an old engine; the hook and ladder truck
replaced an old truck, and the chemical
engine was only acquired by dropping
| hose company. These additions barely
kept the apparatus in the three houses
| in which they were placed, in an ell
l., 81 Nf.f1 nd =
lantic engines have gone on from bad to
worse, until to-day they are so utterly
unreliable as TO be scarcely worth emu
merating in any review of the Depart
ment. Both these engines have seen
over twenty years service, and should
be replaced as speedily as pos
| sible. With two new engines
the old ones might be shipped away TO
the shops, and al an expenditure of say
| 81 900 each, be made to do duty for
some years; but in the absence OF new
engines, your Committee hesitates to
run the risk consequent upon the ao-
sence Of even one of the old machines.
We feel that with all Of the present APP
paratus at hand the community is run
ming a grave risk, and should fire once
escape the limits of the building in
which it originates, especially in the
business portion of the town, the depart
ment would be entirely unable 10 cope
with it. This may easily happen,
through the breaking down Of either
the Vigiant or Atlantic, and the liabil-
ity OF such calamity is increasing
monthly. Your Committee feel that
they would fail in the discharge of their
duty did they not bring this menacing
situation to the attention OF the Coun-
ell.
"Outside the business part OF the city,
both the Eight ward and Island are en-
titled to increased fire protection as a
measure Of precaution. When the pres
ent hose company was established on
Island, the population there was but
about two thousand, and the value Of
buildings has increased three hundred
per cent. The same thing is true, only
in less degree, of the Eighth ward. AT
present there are but four full paid fire
men in the two wards TO watch
over the homes of eleven thou
sand people and check possible
fires in property worth upwards
OF IlT6e mllllOnS. An buglno III tdCu VI
these wards would very materially
strengthen the department, possibly
prevent disastrous contlagration, and
give an opportunity, without increasing
the present large element OF danger, Of
having the Atlantic and Vigilant re-
built This done, the department
would have five steamers-none too
many for city of the size and wealth
OF Wheeling, where new buildings of in
creased value are constantly going mp.
Believing 1t is policy to lock the
stable door before the horse is stolen,
rather than afterwards, your Committee
recommends these considerations TO the
earnest attention of Council, and in
doing so submit, with all Difference,
that the adequate protection Of prop
erty is one of the first duties of mu-
nicipal government.
The Committee on Fire Department,
81. HAPPY,
Chairman.