The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-19
ROANOKE, VA, OCTOBER 10, 1897
Yesterdays RE.

The serious fire on Commonwealth
avenue will call vigorous attention to
several matters which need l.. There
is no immediate blame to attach to the
Gas and Water Company. Their two
engines will pump 100000 gallons OF
water daily. The daily consumption is
2,70O,0 gallons, high average, and
one which indicates extensive waste
One engine was smut down for repairs
and the supply was necessarily limited
to the capacity of one pump, or 2. 1000, 900
gallons a:day. Consequently from nine
O'Clock at night until five the next
morning, water has been cut off and
notification properly given. The com
pany has expended large sums of money
in extending it's plant and mains, but it
might iudiciously double the capacity
OF its reservoir which now holds only
short days supply. But the public
should economize on water in emer.
gencies.
The second point is either the new
steam fire engine was not in order, or
its tenn porary engineer was incompetent
to handle It. Council passed an ordi.
nance some months ago that the engi-
neer or the ono in charge of the fire
engine should pass an examination and
board was appointed to conduct the
examination. That was the last of it.
No examination has teen held. Tho
engine is said 10 have leon clogged
with dirt. Why was it not cleaned outo
Whose place was it to clean the engine?
Whose to see to it that he did his dp.y?
Is that the way to treat an expensive
~engiue. leave it clogged with dirt and
useless It the precise moment it is
needed?
Inc te'. phone operator at central was
asleep when he was rung up when the
nro department tried TO get the puup
house and order water turned on. Tes.
timony on this point seems full beyond
dispute. The TINES has the same COM
plant to register. Central goes to sleep
on duty on an average OF twice week,
and there are not enough calls on the
switch. board to wake him when he does
We speak from two years of suffering
endurance. Instead OF putting o care
less, irresponsible boy in charge of the
night office, the telephone company
ought to put in some one who can be
depended upon.
The principal Is the same wherever
the FIRE started. Butsuppose that Salem
avenue had been the place OF conflagra-
ton? We call attention to the follow
ing extract from the New York Com
merclal Bulletin OF October 6. which is
interesting in this connections:
RECKLESS ROANOKE.
THE ROANOKE TIMES of Roanoke, Va, in its
Issue OF Scptem Der 29th, Is authority for the
statement that the building shown on Sanborn's
Map, at No. 20 First avenue g. w , has been OH
IRE six times in the last eighteen m0ntbs. This
building ia In the frame to which We have
referred several times as being endangered, from
an insurance point OF view, by Bumbcf OF
cement fiues. One building haa I've OF thcsc ilucs
and the building mentioned, which IL now In ,
somewhat demoraliZed condition, rcioiccd II
having four.
No comments are necessary, but Roanoke 10 Il
be congratulated In possessing alert fire depart
mcnt so lar IL has prevented connagetion II
n section wnich hae sucn favorable condition
for extensive and expensive fire. Under
writer's who have paid frequent claims in thi
vicinity wonder from what poll inspections ar
made by their agents and the field men who Civ
such favorable reporte to make risks In thi
row seem desirable. a good locality from whic
Ito inspect would BIO the Henry street bridge. an,
. special agents especially ars recommended L
hereafter make their observations from tha
point. Anew interesting fentnres,not discoverabl
by hasty buggy drive In front or the buildings
Will be OBJ erved.