Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-27
FIRE COMMISSIONERS REPORT.
they Say They Cannot Recommend
Reduction In Expense Accounts.

OF Fire Commissioners IN response TO
the request Of the Committee on Re-
tronchment and Reform for a statement
as to how tho expenses % the Depart
ment could lie curtailod. and which was
sent 70 that committee on Friday night
Richmond Va. Jun 10, 1881.
To the City Council.
Gentlemen. We herewith In pursuance
OF your joint resolution, return an item
iZcd statement Of our expenditures in full
o June !. 1881 The charter under which
this commission operates also requires
this except Il fixes the date July LIST,
which viii be done again at that time.
While it is plain that the Legislature
anticipates your resolution. yet It is one
OF the chief desires Of this department TO
furnish you with information promptly
and cheerfully. The pay-rolls of this de-
partmeut will demonstrate by compari-
son that the force works Tor much less
than similar departments or equal stand
ing through the country, and while the
payroll has increased. n was done by
your honorable body upon our recommen-
dation. and ~ IN every sense essential
with the growth Of the city. and while
the numerical force IS precisely the mini
mum that the charter requires, yet me
number of permanent members have IN
creased winch OEtAc4DllfQ INC uilfiNhNN
In expenses.
We would further state that IN July,
lS4 there was a 6.ncral cut OF about III
lfper cent. throughout the permanent force
i which difference was applied 20 placing
more men IN the houses. until now we
have nineteen permanent hcscmen' re-
ctlNng so per month Tor Their ehtlfe
services day ard night. Tor these rea-
sons we think that there cannot De a
reduction I'm the pay roll. unless the Legs
laiure could be induced 10 reduce the
minimum about l3l men, which would, III
our judgment, place Tire city IN jeopardy
q MS applies as well TO the Flre-Alarm
Department
no INCREASED APPROPRIATIONS.
The expense account of the Fire and
Fire-Alarm departments IS tie anne as
was given TO those departments ID loSoi
and much less than was appropriated lh
1886 and 1851. Yet we have never, we ne
licVe, exhausted our account but in one
special year returned TO the city about
5000 The department. then had 70 pe
practically rebuilt. We discovered tho
Immediate need Of all kinds OF supplies,
horses. engines hose-carts, and every
conceivable kind Of supplies for the eN-
tnction OF fires We discovered that the
city was renting property at 500 per an
mum totally unfit for the purpose, with
only hand-rcd stored therein. \ Iot
ard r~C.nC-lOlEf. NTH engine, nose
wagon. horse, and Infinite additions. IA
10 be added. which cost near $1,000, all
propration besides the additional pur-
chase of five new engines all new wa
CONS. three new Tr-.Ie-housos. including
The ~. -nificent Central headquarters. we
ne-u at this juncture a lot and engine
house for the comfort OF No. ., Brook
avenue and Marshall streets We further
need at least three new engines 10 take
the place Of machines which are nearly
The costs Of maintalng a department
exactly 80 l-3 per cent larger than Was
transferred TO us by the committee IRON
the Council at a smaller expense shoulu
not be expected. unless you are prepared
10 extend additional appropriation or be
content with an. inferior service.
CANNOT REDUCE EXPENSES.
The gas consumed by this department
heretofore was not charged 10 its appio-
priation and though we have endeaNorcd
10 reduce The dow of gas until the engines
are inefficient, the amount that VIII De
deducted will unless we can eject a
cheaper substitute. take from our eA-
pense appropriation 5000 per annum.
The board, therefore. rciterates That me
immunity Of this corporation from de-
structive and cllamitel5 fires shall be an
argument that &c is not wise 10 reduce an
appropriation already too small, and whhe
the Fire King has within "A very few
months caused frightful loss not ony
through this state. but principally IN the
tier of southern cities That While we nav
had dangerous fires. yet perfect equipment
and LOYALTY TO duty by the force have
prevented IT, So anything saved by I'M
perfect service Will be met with greater
loss by increased insurance rates.
The board desire. in conclusion. TO say
that they viii not If possible exhaust their
appropriation, but as heretofore, endea-
VOr TO return as large q balance as pos
sible. and they trust that in the near fu-
tUre they can build up the waste place,
and therefore. not need the entire appIo-
priation but a. this time they have many
contemplated improvements in view, iully
cognizant that Teproach for weak. inefh-
cient fire department is ineXcusable.
For these reasons we cannot recommend
any reduction I'm the expense accounts.
STATEMENT OF EXPENSES.
Trusting that it will present itself TO
you I'm that light. we herewith present the .
following statement Of our expenditures:
Fire Department
Account. Apron. Expended. Balance
Pay-roils ......S 1920 % $28043 u $50 81
Expense e.. COO. l71S0 90 3l16 lG HOS Of
Fire-Alarm Department.
Account. Apron. Expended. Balance
Pay-rolis ......S $500 90 5 Lac 90 2'lSi %
Expense o.. Gee. 2oO9 % 4i9 80 Loo 70
Construction e. 1.5e0 90 10 81 l'SS5 10
These expenditures are sustained oy pro- !
per vouchers. which are at al times open
10 your inspection, on file In the Guy
Auditors Office and in the ONCE or the |
Board of Fire Commissioners.
All Of which IS respectfully submitted.
JOHN n. FRISCHKORN.
President Board Of Fire Commissioners