The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-08
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
nyc1worD CAN DE,ERysDL1 DE-
PROUD or ITs EyFiCfESc1.
Recommendation Mads by the 20"
sfoners-A Number Of Improvement
Nssdsd-Last Years fires.

| 1853 The report biNtS wy
chewing as 10 the efficiency Of the Rich
n,ond n:e ladies. ami It pracieiHy
reiterates what every resident OF TINS
city already knows. tha, the fire DEPART
nlent Of the capital OF the Ola Comnio'i-
| wealth is inferior to some IN TINS COUNTY,
President John ii. F'rischkorn on De-
| half CT the board embraces u hdti'Dvi u
valuable suggestions and recommends
tions in the report. among wnich are
tie following.
The board renews its request TO place
| al their disposal The quarters oil the lh.Iu
| Police station for the comfort OF NO. .
| Engine Company. II it was not a re-
corded fact mat this entire properly
would revert back to private owners. II
hot used tor IRE purposes, eh-dil4i5 d
complete loss to the city, this bodId
vouid as early as possible secure otner
accommodations. inasmuch as the incon-
yeuiences make ii dangerous 10 tne
health Ok the msn puaitered there ana
tue necessary noise in aud around
police staten, deny the station men
proper rest.
A complete reconstruction Of the quar-
tiers of NO 3 Engine Company and No.
Truck combined are also important ana
with the permission Of the city Council
will be done, If this building Is allowed
for exclusive fire purposes without any
demand for extra appropriation not only
10 give the men comfortable sleeping
apartments, but 10 provide Tor Chemical
Engine No. l, which will be placed there
These changes and all past construction,
wherein radical changes have been made
and new engine houses built and lots
purchased, have been done with much
increased department and an approprid-
ton exceeding but little the appropria-
ton made In 1885, when no comparison OF
the strength of the department can be
made which result has been brought
about by close attention to every detail,
by each individual member of this COM
mission. All other quarters are comforta-
bic and sufficient.
IEE VALUE OF CLINICAL ENGINES.
All Of our engine companies have been
supplied with improved hose wagons and
a contract has been made for d double
tank sixty gallon Hoiliway Chemical En-
CINE. TO be placed in the centre of the
city, and, ii is hoped. that at an early
date the extreme sections OF the city
can be supplied with similar machines.
Their value is demonstrated in quickly
supplying a stream of carbonic acid gas
to incipient fires, subduing them often
without great damages by water. The
Board az an early date hope TO place In
service another Aerial truck.
one of the most fruitful hindrances TO
the eXtinguishing of fires are the diner-
ent wires that hang everywhere and are
daily multiplying. They not only produce
fires but strike terror TO the hearts or
our brave men, when they expect any
moment to encounter that Invisible foe
that without warning falls and carries
death with them, and though at the
Leftwich fire men and animals were
struck down, yet not man faltered' so
admirable was the discipline.
The Board Of Fire Commissioners have
introduced the first subway in this State,
which is successful in every way, and
It is very advisable for every company
TO place their wires under ground Tor the
better protection of life and property.
DRY cIsTERNs RECOMMENDED.
The Board earnestly recommend the
construction Of dry cisterns on the prih-
cipal streets Of the city. one Of these
can be placed In each block Of the busi-
ness districts and as many as four en-
zines can concentrate at that one spot;
and on their arrival at the fire, water IS
turned on and they are ready for work.
The advantages are: Full supply OF water
and short lines Of hose, stronger streams,
greatly lcssened work for the men and
great saving in hose. These cisterns are
now universally used North and west.
We renew our request 10 make 'he
Central Companies full paid, the ad-
yantages Will make themselves manifest
upon consideration and add greatly TO
the strength of the department.
II IS further suggested that the City
Council frame an ordinance requiring
contractors and builders 10 arrange to
place signal lights upon their oDstruc-
tons in the streets. Accidents have al
ready occurred and great injury to the
men and property Of this department is
likely to occur at any moment, besides
expensive suits against the city.
REPORT OF rAr CHIEF EyGrSTfR.
Chief Engineer C. W. Puller, of the
fire department. furnishes in his report
to the Board of Commissioners detailed
statement in regard to the number OF
men, apparatus and other property OF
the department and speaks in very high
terms Of the efficiency Of the men. The
following is condensed statement OF
the valient points OF his request
The permanent force of the fire depart
ment consists of one chief. one assistant
chief. eight engineers, ei6ht helpers eight
hOsticrs OF engine companies, tnfce tiet-
men, three hostlers of truck companieg,
eleven extra station men, making .Otil
Of forty-three men. The call force of the
department embraces one assistant-chieI,
eight captains OF engine companies. eight
lieuienants Of engine companies. three
captains of truck companies, forty-three
hOscnen, twenty-three iaddernen, TWEEN
ty-twO substitutes, making total of III
in the call force, and a grand total with
the permanent force of loi.
There are eight engineers in active SER
vice, three trucks. seven hose-wagOns,
ana one two-whceled cart TWO wagons
have been added since the last report,
one cart TO companies 5 and 6. Engine
company No. ,, which now alone has
two-wheel cart. viii soon replace it by
wagon. One sccond-siZe Silsby engine.
purchased in 1851, formerly known as
NO 3, is stationed at the quarters OF No.
I, as reserve apparatus; there is also a
four-wheel hose-reel kept in reserve. The
department. has also three officers bug
gies and three fuel wagons.
There are forty horses In the depart
ment, including the two used by the
fire alarm department. With Few excep-
tons, they are in good condition, and
Weil-suted for the service. -Four were
purchased during the last year. giving
in part payment. four unit for service.
The department has in its possession
1880 feet OF 2l2 inch cotton hose, about
one-half of which Is in frst-class comb.
ton, while the rest has been in Use for
some time, and is not reliable There il
none In reserve, and each company has
only one change. For this reason, the
chief engineer recommends the purchase
OF 1900 feet of hose.