The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-03-09

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hFIREDEpARTSIENT NEEDS
Presented by the Fro Committcc-Scw
Engines Absolutely Necessary.
The estimate OF tho committee on fire
department was referred to tho finance
committee. The total Of tho estimate
had been changed TO S30,UOS 81, the
committee having, in view OF tho fact
that tho estimate could not be passed
before May, deducted from tho sum
total tho salary for five months nj tho
additional iremen recommended by
them. Tho following eloquent prcsen-
talion OF tho needs Of the department
was received and fled:
To the Mayor and Council Of he city Of Iphceling.,
GENTLEMEN:-Your committee on fire
department, i'll submitting the annexed
estimate for. the fiscal year 1892, desire
to lay before Council and the public the
present unsatisfactory condition OF the
fire department of the city, and the i'm
pcraLivo need for the renewal OF some Of
tho present almost unserviccablo appa-
ratus.
The city OF Wheeling has OF late years
made rapid growth in population and
our newspapers unite in claim, appar-
only q proper ono, that we have a
population OF forty thousand people. 1t
is certain that the last six years have
witnessed 6 vast addition TO buildings OF
the city, both Tor residence and bust
ness purposes, as is attested by tho re-
turns OF tho rcvaluation commissioners
appointed by tho state, who report an
increased value in realty during the
past ten years, for assessment purposes,
OF Sl,60O,000. Tho real increase, in
buildings alone, has been much moro
than that. Last year our newspapers
reported that half million dollars was
expended for new buildings, and each
succeeding year will witness an increase
in this particular.
With this situation before US. we beg
to call the attention OF council to the
fact that the real available strength OF
the fire department is no greater than
1t was fifteen years ago. There is the
same number OF hose and engine houses,
manned by the same number OF men,
and it is doubtful ii the department as
awholc, notwithstanding the purchase
OF ono steam engine, one chemical en-
ginc and one hook and ladder truck, is
not to-day weaker than it was ten years
ago, in 1852. 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 addi-
tons barely kept the apparatus in the
three houses in which they were placed
in an efficient state, while tho Vigilant
and Atlantic engines have gone on from
bad to worse until to-day they are SO
utterly unreliable as to be scarcely
worth cnumcrating in any review OF
the department. Both these engines
have seen over twenty years SER
vice and should be replaced as
speedily as possible. With, two new en-
gincs they might be shipped away TO
the shops, and ct an expenditure OF,
say 81 900 each, be made to do duty Tor
some years; butin the absence OF new
engines, your committee hesitates to
run the risk consequent upon the ab-
sencc OF even one OF the old machines.
We feel that with all Of the present ap-
parGtus at hand tho community isrun.
nlnga grave risk: and should a fire once
escape the limits OF the building in
which it originates, especially in the
business part OF town, the. department
would be entirely unable to:properly
cope with it. This may very easily hap
pen through the breaking down OF eth
or the Vigilant or Atlantic, and the lia-
bility OF such q 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 Council
Outside the business part of the city
both the Eighth ward and the Island
are entitled to increased fire protection.
When the present hose company was
established on the Island, the popula-
ton there was but about two thousand;
now tits over five thousand, and the
value OF buildings has increased 800 per
cent. Tho same thing is true, only in
less degree OF tho Eighth ward. At
present thore aro but four full-naid fire.
men in the two wards, to watch over
the homes OF eleven thousand people,
and check possible fires in property
worth upwards OF S3000,0Oo. An en-
CINE in each OF these wards would ma
terially strengthen the department,
possibly prevent disastrous connagra-
ton, and give an opportunity, without
increasing the present large elemcntsof
danger, OF having the Atlantic and Vigi-
liant rebuilt. This done, tho depart
ment would have five steamers, hone
too many Tor city OF the size and
wealth OF Wheeling, where new build.
ings OF increased value are constantly
going up.
| Believing it is policy to lock the stable
door before the horse is stolen, rather
than afterwards, your committee rec
ommcnds these considerations to the
earnest attention OF Council and in do
ing so submit, with all difference, that
tho adequate protection: OF property is
one OF the first duties OF municipal
government.
TIE COMMITTEE on FIRE DEPARTMENT.
/. HAPPY, Chairman.
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Terminal Directors.
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