The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-07-19
AN INTERESTING pooumENr.
Report OF tho statistician OF tho Virgin
State Eirenaen,s Association

Report OF tho Statistician OF tho Virgin
State Firemen's Association.
The following interesting report was
presented at the meeting OF the State
Firemen's Association at Harrisonburg,
by MIR. Llewellyn Lookabill, Of this
city, statistician of the associations:
mir. President and Gentlemen: 1 have
the honor to submit to you my fifth
annual report as your statistioian.
We find Virginia keeping pace with
the States of our Union, but she can and
must do more toward handling the fire
fepd that comes among us when we
least expect 1t. It is the duty OF every
city and town official to see that his
town is properly protected, as the sur-
roundings may require. II he does not
he will be Nero mot Jonah), for it Ia
recorded that Nero fiddled while Rome
was on fire, but later record says that
Nero hlmself WAS "fired" shortly after
wards by that portion Of the people who
were not burned out. The time has
come when those who wish to build
either homes or places Of business in.
variably inquire, What are the fire
facilities Of your town."
The fire departments Of ancient his
tory, IL any existed, appears to have
been beneath the notice of the historian,
80 that we have scarcely any mention
Of the service Of olden times. The
sipho OF the Romans Is referred to by
Pliny, II, A. D., in letter to Trojan,
inswhich he states that the people of
Nicomedfa were "too lazy" to put out q
fire in that city, and that they had no
sipho. II Pliny had lived in this coun-
try at the present day he could have
truthfully written just such letter
about good many towns here in Vir-
GINA, except, instead OF the expression,
"too lazy" he could probably use the
words neglect" ond careless" as to
making proper provisions for fire pro-
lection.
The architect OF the bridge of Trojan,
ACROSS the Danube. mentions the sipho.
Its construction seems to be unknown,
but 1t ID supposed to have been generally
used to extinguish fires. This ARCHITECTS
recommended q leather bag OF water,
with hollow canes with discharging noz.
zles. The prevailing opinion eeems to
be that they had few fires in ancient
times, and very few departments and
appliances. We will now return to Vir-
ginia: The first regularly organized fire
department. was perfected at Alexan.
,dris, which Ia in existence this day with
improved apparatus. Geo. Washington
is said to have been very fond OF this de-
partment, OF which he WAS G member
This service has gradually increased
throughout the State until we find in
Richmond one of the finest departments
OF modern times, manned by men we'll
paid for their services.
Looking around again we find Ports
mouth and Roanoke with volunteer de-
partments unequaled in our land; still
there are cities, towns and villages
among US that need our attention. Those
in authority owe 1t to the people. The
following cities and towns have fire
protection Paid-Richmond, Norfolk,
Lynchburg, Danville, Staunton and
Petersburg. Total. 6. Volunteer-Ro
noke and Portsmouth have paid drivers;
Alexandria. Winchester, Buena Vista,
Bedford City, Ashland, South Boston.
fredericksburg, Farmville, Gordons-
Vile, Berkeley, Manchester, Salem,
Wytheville, Bristol, Goodson, Old
Point. Lexington, Charlottesville, Suf-
folk, Hampton, Leesburg, Shenandoah,
LuraY, Basic City. Vinton, Radtord,
Chase City, Cape Charles and Harrison
burg. Total, 80.
The following towns have no fire pro-
lection at all. Rocky Mount, Glade
Springs. Fincastle, buchanan, Chris
tiansburg. Pulaski, Front Royal, Frank.
lin, Abingdon, Rural Retreat, Waynes-
pOiOi h11rtiusVliie, IOrHtpWn, WOOQ.
stock, Strasburg, Berryvllle, warren
ton, Culpeper, New Castle. New Market
Burkeville, West Point, Blacksburg,
Covington. Clifton Forge, Marion. Oman
cock, Tazewell Court House, Graham,
Pocahontas, Dublin, Newberry. Floyd
Court House, Elkton and Grottoes.
Total, IS.
The total number of men engaged in
the fire service Of Virginia Is about l.
700. The amount expended for fire pro-
lection per annum Is roughly estimated
at Sis. 900.
will again call attention TO my
recommendation before the Danville,
Portsmouth. Charlottesville, Stauntou
and Portsmouth conventions. en-
deavored to give the association more
complete report, but found the same
old difficulty. no replys from those who
were requested to assist me with such
infor nation ss required. after having
kept my report open until the last
| moment.
LLEwRLLYN E. LooKABILL.