Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-15

stopped. II Ia absolutely neceesary that We
| should either construct new holder OK cise IN
troduce some means for the moro rap1o eene,a-
tion OF gas II VIC are to eypocs the pcst tesuiss
latest sppliances:for the msnufacture and dis
1 tribution OF gas.
The new ordinance reducing the price Of ga: ga:
from e1.50 10 eI25 per thousand cup'c ieo'
| went into effect March LIST.
| A CITY ELscrRrc PLANT.
The city has recently entered into contract
| for two years for the lighting OF her streets ana
| public parks with electricity, BY wnicn sne Is 20
| have 500 electric lights OF 2,OOO-candie-poser
| 1 most earnestly renew my Recommendation
OF the citys ownership or an eiecsrc-hknt pisnt.
| 1be amount 10 be expended oy Us during tns :
| next few years under the present conuacs Wouid
more than pay for plant that would iuiiy sup
ply electric lights to all Of our streets and public
parks IL We are TO continue 70 support our gas
| works with profit, then We should own an electric
plant, 80 as TO be able 20 supply consumers WIZ
either gas or electric lights Every reason tnas
urges us TO continue municipal control OF our
| gas-works applies with equal force TO the CITY
ownership OF an electric-ight plant
Tue FrRE-FIGHrKEs.
There "a no department OF the city govern
ment whose affairs are more tudctously man
aged than those OF the Fire Department. The
duties OF this department have been very ardu-
ous during the past year, but II has met prompt
ly every demand that, has been made upon it,
and n0ter the supervision OF the DOaEu VI Iuo
Commissioners and ChietW. q. Fuller, continues
10 enjoy high degree Of efficiency.
The department. nov has on Its rolls 131 onh-
cers and men, Of which 40 are permanent ana
ol call members. There are now seven engines
10 service, Ave hose-wagous, and three two
wheeled hoee-carts, besides three hook-and-
ladder trucks
have been placed Ia service and another will
soon DO added. Engine Company No. 3. located
in Fulton, has been further equipped, and now
has an engine In irst-class order, with horses
and other equipments. l would recommend
thar an appropriation be made for the employ.
mcnt Of an engine-man and helper, which viii
mako this most excellent hose company iuii
engine CON uany. well prepared 10 protect tne
fre interests OF the district In which II IL ocated.
The three central Recommendations Companies
Nos g. q and and Hook-and-Ladder truck
Company No I-should be put upon inli paid
basis, giving TO each Of the three engine COM
p,nlss seven station men and 70 the truck COM
pany eight station men. This would enable
these important companies TO respond 70 hrts IN
their districts fully equipped and manned.
One OF our greatest opstacles tnst tess, a.is i
the efi,iency OF the Fire Department is that the
outlets OF tho fre hydrants measure lts inches
whilst the hose Ia 2Ip inches. Ihis discrepancy
exists because when the nre nydrant5 were es-
tabshed he diameter OF the ieather nose then
10 use and the outlets were the same, but we
now use tho standard hose, when requires
much larger outlet. To make the needed change
would involve an outlay Of 81, 700, when should
bo made for that purpose.
sUSDRY MATTERS.
I would renew the Recommendation made last
year for the appointment OF an inspector OF
buildings. such an officer would annually earn
his salary many times over by tho Saving III nre
losses that are the result OF faulty construction
and the careless accumulation on inuamulaple
materials In the cellars and Easements OF our
business houses. .
The fire-aarm telegraph system, under the
excellent management OF superintendent w. III.
| Thompson, Is In good order and Is working weil
| The system now comprises elghty-six street STA
| tons, eighteen OF which are private and Twelve
still-alarrn boxes. and 12i miles OF aerial wires
| Tho SUPERINTENDENT recommends that steps Do
taken to have all dead wires removed from
house tops, and he suggests that there should Dc
| ordinances regulating the indiscrfminate con-
| struction OF electrical and mechanical wires
within the city limits, especially those which
| enter buildings
| Major John Poe, Jr., Chief OF Police, reports
| his force in excellent condition. The en1cioncy
| Of the force would be greatly Increased by the
introduction Of q telephone system and patrol
wagon system. The Introduction OF these sys-
! TENS would obviate the necessity OF making an
| increase In the number Of men on the force.
| Unless this "a done IL viii be necessary 10 buy
! horses and mount men 70 do duty on the eastern
and western extremities Of tho city, as our beats
arc 20 very large that with the force now at our
command IL Is impossible 10 give satisfactory at
| tention 70 those sections OF the city.
submit herewith reports OF the several de-
partments Of the city government They cortan
| much valuable information to8ethor with many
| important recommendations, wklch shOuld nave
your careful consideration before the annual sp-
| preparations for the current year are made.
j. TAYLOR ELLYSOs, Mayor.