The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-13

The council committee Oh fire depart
ment met last night, and as usual bad
long session. There was a lot of rou-
tine business transacted, and 1t was Ia
terspersed with some breezy discussion.
The members present were; Mcclure,
Baird, Hahne, Nesbitt, Gartiey, Otto,
and zwicker. Chief Klleves was pres
ent, also,
over an hour was consumed in look
ing over the immense pile OF bills piled
up by Assistant Clerk Nolte. They to-
tailed ;2,O65 50, Of which $1,000 was for
new fire hose, and repairs at the Eighth
and Sixth ward houses, amounted TO
about $3.50,
Chief Klleves submitted his report oil
changes made since his last report.
They were as follows:
william B. KlIeves, engineer OF the
Niagara, transferred to engineer at tho
Atlantic. vice Joseph Nlegenfelder, dis
missed,
William McCulley appointed ladder
man AT the Hook and Ladder house, Vice
George Kemple, dismissed,
Edward Carr appointed engineer pro
TEN at the Eighth ward house. vice
Winiam Boylan, dismissed.
Joseph Whlssen, appointed plpeman,
pro TEN. Vice Neal McNaughton, dis
missed.
The two latter appointments being on
ly temporary appointments, there was
difference OF opinion as to their names
being placed on the pay roll The matter
was Strengthened out by recommending
to council the confirmation OF the tenn
porary appointments.
The painting at the Vlgilant, was
awarded to Ross t. Chew, at his bid OF
$50 so. The pspering at this house was
left over for the chief to investigate.
Chief KlIeves reported the roof OF the
Atlantic as being in very poor condi-
ton, and Sundays rain had caused the
men considerable discomfort. He was
instructed 10 get estimates for the re-
pairs.
The mlx-up In the fire alarm system
then came up. Chief Rlieves said the
cry raised was unnecessary.
Mr.. Gartiey said the scare raised
about the refusal OF the striker In the
capitol clock to work, originated 10
some extent. from the local office OF the
Western Union Telegraph Company.
The speaker said that the work done to
the boxes by the chief was great cav
Ing to the city, and that the Western
Union wanted to do the work. He stat
ed that Mr.. Tracey was interested In the
hubbub that had been raised.
Mr.. Nesbltt also supported the chiefs
position. He said that the sensational
articles published In a morning paper
were without foundation.
Chairman Mcclure claimed to know
nothing of the working Of the alarm APP
paratus. but thought IL the necessary re-
pairs are needed, they should be made.
The chief then stated that those who
were doing the greatest kicking were
men who know nothing OF the fire alarm
system,and did It to wreak out spites, or
throw hindrances In his path. He blam-
ed o man in his employ for being the
originator OF the trouble. This man
tried to run things, and after being dis
charged, created the cry about the boxes
refusing to answer. Continuing, the
chief went into an explanation OF the
apparatus. and said that the old boxes
had seen theft best days, and he advo-
Gated new boxes, OF the mountaineering
kind.
Captain Otto In reference to the pur-
chase OF new boxes. suggested that the
money received by the city for attend
ance at fires in outside towns be turned
into a fund, the fund TO be used for the
- IL ftHn
fund 20 be especially devoted to the
FIRE department. incidentally. Mr. Otto
spoke Of the few boxes In the extreme
northern part of the city. and he refer
red TO difficulties experienced by the
firemen IN reaching fires In that local.
ity
The committee by this time had gotten
away from the false alarm about the
working NJ the striking apparatus. Chief
Klleves had explained that there was
nothing wrong; the fact Of two boxes
being pulled at once, which caused so
much talk, was made n mountain, when
there was mole-hlll The committee
also agreed that the question should be
dropped.
Captain Otto's suggestion TO devote
the money received from outside towns
for assistance Mt hres, to the needs III
the fire department, was favorably re-
celved. At present from this source
there Is due the city over $1,000.
Mr.. Nesbltt moved that all money
hereafter collected for services of the
fire department be given to the commit
tee ON fire department, to expend for
the Improvement OF the Are alarm sys,
TEN. The fund 80 formed wlllalso be used
for the purchase Of rubber coats, etc.
The motion was adopted.
The chief stated that the alarm sys-
TEN at present Is all right and he de-
MED that the boxes were "speeded" so
that they couldn't strike. This state
meRt Was satisfactory to some of the
committee. who thought that there was
hitch somewhere.
The committee on police and city prls-
on met last night and ordered paid bills