Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-26
CITY HALL AFFAIRS.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD
OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS.
Changes in the Department During
the Past Twelve MOnths-NewS "'
the city Hall Courts '""
Committee Meetings.


deal of valuable information cohcer"'"s
that important department. Inc ieP'''
has the following to say:
ION July LIST two vacancies were me"
T. II. Sheppard. Esq. whose time eSpireu'
was returned from Jackson Naru' WN"'
l.. c. jenkins. Esq. was eiec'eu ''o"'
cIov Ward 10 succeed Frank L. BURKE
Eco resigned. In these two Instances
v,ur honorable body selected gentlemen
who had served in the ranks OF thc
department for many years anu "e''
frllv acquainted with the duties OF the
pcs,tlons. while their judgment ana eN-
perience are Of great value TO inc c''g'
"rhere WAS also added 10 the force
phvslcian-paid by the voluntary asses
mont Of the Decentralization was
fornd necessary In order To protect bo'h
the force and the city. Dr. El""lu -''
Carthy was elected to the POSITION
FIDELITY AND HEROlsM.
Nothing could exceed the hdellty'
heroism aud patience or me rtP't
nent. from the chief Engineer to the
rark and file of the force. and with rare
executions every command. both general
and snecial. has been obeyed ana ihteiH-
gently executed. Ill.
"Tbe reorganization Of the force july
1891. which in large measure Hia
all central companies 1uil pald, mas i"iiS
met every expectation, ana We ""'1
await a sufficient increase OF pd'-I''i
90 ,rerga the entire force into perIha-
nent organization, as the neuopoi',""
character and enlarged territory OF ms
capital city makes call iorce pauiu'
The board desires to ahd that III oiuci
IN hiring about the present enlarged per-
,~,ront fcrce without any increased APP
propriation ii was necessary 10 eihpioS
from IT'S force members at an entirely IN
ADEQUATE price. and while no appeal or
comnlaint has come from these, yet the
board. always mindful Of them ana 'heir
condition. ask for them such generous
go, sideration as will enable them AN III
crease. -
THE EXPENSES.
There is an idea prevalent among some
few I'm authority that because this depart
ment has made large accessions In every
direction, and improved both In detall
and extent until everything in use Is
practically new. and that we are sup
porting four companies created since the
REORGANIZATION, that our appropriations
are too large. This idea will be reiuted
at a glance by comparison with such
cities as have an approximate department.
and will demonstrate that II Is the n"sI
economical in the country, equipment anu
efficiency considered. ami rnU "ut ~.
an appropriation now reduced TO Sl3."o
for current expenses We have undertaken
to build q central quarters. combln'n&.
according 10 the plan now III manu. an
elegant and convenient tre-statlOn, WIN
Offices for the general officers and board
tg..l s1as.f frrn
arrangements will be made whereby
nearly all of our work (on the new CEN
trail quartcrs) can be done by our present
force which comprises almost everything
necessity for our character OF Work. Inc
chemical engine, which Is now supported
at a cost of $500 from the annual eN-
pense-account OF this department. mas III
every way justified the promises ildue
YOU at the organization, ana there shoulu
be one added TO both the eastern anu
western sections of the city-particularly
since Lee District has been incorporated,
and we have weak water-pressure Al
those points. A simple glance at the enor-
nous increase OF frame buildings In the
above section. as well as in the northern
part known as Jackson Ward, makes IL
important to supply them with these
quick acting machines.
THE question Of our water supply Is
the most serious obstacle that conironts
the department. and our most prollilc
supply-the basin and CANALS rapidly
being lost to US by the filling OF sald
supply by its owners. who have little use
for il. our streets are honeycombed with
finch mains, which Will about supply one
engine; and at those points where our
largest factories are located. in many
cases. our weakest water-point Nothing
so discourages the department as TO be
confronted with a dangerous fire ana
weak supply Of water; and yet We feei
grateful to the honorable Committee on
Water for their kind cooperation AT all
times, though they are unable always TO
afford relief. We were required at the
Hardgrove factory fire, where tobacco
factories abound. 10 pump water from
the dock. one quarter Of a mile away,
while two engines got n scant supply
from the Main-strect main. II We could
secure cisterns at the intersection OF
our principal blocks, supplied from the
MAINS we could. at a great saving OF
hose and machinery, concentrate AT
fire. and, perhaps, speedily extinguish H.
while at present we are often required
to force water 800 feet. the entire hose
equipment Of an engne-company.
STREET DISTRACTIONS.
eve again recommend that a suitable
ordinance be framed requiring all street
Instructions TO have signal-lights-pre-
venting accidents and suits; and this
board further believes that there should
be an ordinance requiring all hotels and
places where persons are lodged to sup
ply facilities for escape in event OF fire,
and electrical methods for awakening
guests. In the light Of recent hOtel-iires,
such action should be prompt, as the
ordinary traveller can hardly acquaint
AN important feature has been added
to the system. whereby the Chief Engineer
al intervals orders an inspection through
out the commercial district, not only re-
curing tenants and owners TO keep their
premises free from inflammabe rubbish.
but acquantng the individual members
with the construction of said buildings,
facilitating very largely the department
in emergencies.
"Your earliest attention Is again called
10 the multiplying OF wires overhead
fruitful in creating fires. and a standing
menace to our brave men while working
al fires; and conduits are the only pro-
per method. We sincerely trust that in
the early future these will be built.
AS TO WINDOWS.
The board further recommends that
there should he an ordinance requiring
All DullulUSS tNdl nave WluIONS anu uOoIS
ironed or timed to be so arranged that
they must be made TO open inwardly. or
so constructed as will enable the firemen
easy access from without. At present it
is well-ngh impossible TO batter these oh
structions down from the ladder. and the
fercest fires are permitted to destroy all
contents of such buildings while the de-
partment Is utterly pOwerless.
The fre-alarm and pOlce-telegraph
continues in a high state Of perfection.
and we have passed through the year
without any serious trouble. The Offices
are most complete, and remain the centre
OF attraction in our new City Hall, while
the skilled employees Of the system aid
very largely in keeping down our ex-
.penses for repairs of all kinds, having a
well-equipped workshop for the delicate
work necessary to be done.
THE thanks OF the board are due TO his
Honor. the Mayor. and TO your honorable
bodies for your patient and generous
consideration always granted the de-
partment. and their thanks are specially
due TO the honorable committees whose
kind cooperation has so materially ad-
van God h.. Of ha no.