Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-04
A SPLENDID RECORD.
Good Work Of the Fire Board. Regard
less Of It's Unauthorized Account.
SALES OF BOXES AND GoSGs.
Clear Profits from Them Amount to
~, 5O4.OS-The Books Turned Over to
the City Accountant by the Com
mittee ON Finance.

man Hardwicke. of the Committee on
Finance the books containing the speciai
account OF the board. having reference to
sales of old material, OF gongs. fire.
alarm boxes, etc. and disbursements OF
minor character, yesterday requested
that gentleman to present these DOCKS 70
the Committee on Finance. ana through
that body to the City Accountant at It's
session last evening.
The chairman had intended to do this
as soon as Captain Mccarthy. the Ac-
countant. had completed an inquiry into
a set OF books he is now examining.
When the Finance Committee convened
Chairman Hardwicke explained the ma
ture of the request Of President F'risch-
korn. and the accounts were placed in
the hands OF the Accountant, and VIII
be gone over at once.
Some time ago President Frischkorn
asked the City Attorney. Mr.. Z. V. Mere
dlth. for his opinion as to the legality
of the manner in which the account was
kept. The Attorney stated, In substance.
that all proceeds OF sales OF old pro-
perty should be turned over to the City
Treasurer, through the Auditors office,
but that the board had the right to DO
what Il chose with the funds derived
from the sales of fire-alarm boxes, and
from the putting up of gongs for private
parties, in view of the plan under which
these features of the department were
conducted.
The account referred to was carefully
gone over by Dispatch reporter, and
Ea ,aaOnitCHnt show
ing so far as the business judgment and
economical policy Of the board for the
past seven years Is concerned. The total
figures of sales, receipts from boxes.
goncs. etc. are s9.5936s while the sum
paid out for all Incidental purposes Is
50. 1895. leaving a balance In bank to
the credit of this account or sl20.Iz. In
view of certain recent comment TO the
effect that part Of these funds had been
extended in refreshments and floral de-
signs. the news gatherer overlooked the
account and took therefrom items for
refreshments for the seven years referred
to-from August Is, 1888, to July q, ie'o-
amounting to 1888. while the poaro
trial balance shows that that pody ek-
pended the sum OF 1919 in turkeys, wnich
were years ago given TO the statlon-men'
who were on duty at the engine-houses
".
nense to which those inclined to criticise
might raise objection, appears to be
sS5N 20 which sum was allowed to the
Chief Engineer of the department to de-
fray his expenses to five conventions or
the fire-chiefs. that he might keep posted
as TO all matters pertaining to his de-
nartment. All the items referred to make
up sum total OF s52l.H, thereby leaving
still a clear profit Of nearly 400 as
result of the superior management OF ina
Board of Fire Commissioners.
Speaking of the criticism passed upon
the manner in which his board had car
ried on this feature OF It's business, prtsi-
dent Frischkorn yesterday said he hoped
that the work OF the board wouli be
fully ventilated. The President, IN con-
nection with this matter, made the foi-
lowing statement;
1.-THE records Of the Fire Department,
known az the private account demon
strates what 1t IL possible TO Accumulate
IN the salvage OF such department. inc
balance sheet accompanying the DOCKS
show that the board has managed the
affairs OF the department with marked
ability. No corporation. public or pri-
yate. ever made a better showing In mat
ter of detail and carefulness. The board
discovered outlets for WORKOUT hose. ana
sold II at good prices. They did the same
with unfit horses. gathered every scrap
OF old Junk. and by an ingenious scheme
provided at small expense and profit
our leading manufacturing plants with
q private fire-alarm equipment. reducing
their insurance far beyond the cost or
the box, assigning larger number OF en-
gines at those points. thereby often pre-
venting large fire loss. This practical
- LAx. IAr,1fy q Of m
ers Is why Richmond Is known as the
city having more alarm stations than any
other in the world per capita.
1.-THE old rule was a resolution or the
Council asking for appropriations from
the contingent fund. and II found the city
with only sixty stations. twenty-five being
of the original installation. Now there are
about I55. % being added In eight years.
From the profits OF this fund. which the
city never pays for, all this work has
been accomplished. Radical changes In
the houses have been made. hose wagons,
buggies, horseS and every conceivable
equipment have been added TO the de-
partment. Floral designs were ordered
twlce-one for the Hon. W. f. Boswell
and their lomented secretary. +. II.
Fisher. The Chief Engineer was sent TO
1--WE conventions at an average cost of
ABOUT ~ u tIlD, anu heAN
ordered at a Joint celebration of the fire
and police several years ago. while the
board themselves have never spent 81 for
their personal comfort
ENTERTAINED A GOVERNOR.
only a short time ago the Governor of
Connecticut, while passing through the
city. and evlncing great interest in the
department, was shown around the city
no no
ing to the expense OF hiring one carriage
for a few hours. In this connection men,
bers of the commission have promptly
paid bills rendered them for private work
done. and the records show this. while
the Superintendent has paid the cash in
purchasing small trifies for private use.
The board as before stated, made a net
profit OF over 1880. which the city had
no possible claim to. and they have de-
voted every penny to what they consld-
cred the development Of the brigade, and
letters and kilograms are received con-
tinually from Texas to Georgia. inquiring
into their department. attention having
been attracted from every quarter by the
standing and success of the Richmond
Fire Department.
WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT.
"To explode another statement that this
fund was discovered by accident It was
well known by Auditor Turpin and his
successor. or the chairman Of the Finance
Committee, and every member OF the
board, from its organization. and regu-
larry ordered by motion, and rather than
having a desire for concealment. IL was
the boast OF the commissioners that SO
much money was available where hereto
fore nothing existed. Whatever technical
violation of the law was committed. this
,s an assured fact-that for honest man.
agement In detail and careful husband
ing Of every resource this department
shows a wonderful and unequalled re-
cord"