The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-20

Respectfully submitted
"RO. r. BRIGGS.
''R. s. BROCK. JR,
JOHN NJ KING.
Committee
Nv r. CUTsHAW.
City Engineer"
The report was adopted by unanimous
vote
THE BOXERS.
Inc question OF the condition Of the
boilers IN the City Hall was then taken
under consideration. The reports OF the
inspectors of the insurance conr.anv
whose policies the city holds were read
They showed that boilers Nos ! and .
We're IN good condition a; the last in
sPection, IN March. while the guage cocks
on NOS. and were in bad order in that
they could not be shut off tight.
Inc committee had other Information
10 the effect that boiler No. leaked and
charges were made that the INSPECTOR
sent by the Insurance company had not
done his work properly
MI. Berry a coal passer. was the first
witness examined. In reply to questions
propounded by ;he committee. he said
boiier NO. had been leaking ever since
he had been working at the CITY Hall.
II had been used for nearly twelve
months; he had never seen an inspector
20 into the boiler but he had gone into
No. for Inspector Saville at the last in
spection. When Mr. Welsh was employ
ed at the city Han he had N one time
gone 10 sleep. When Mr.. Disney. the en-
gineer discovered this ne turned on the
water. and IL was five minutes before IL
showed up in the gauge. The boiler had
never leaked before. but began to do
so the next day. At this point Mr. Berry
acknowledged that great deal OF his in
formation was received from others. He
said he was a boiler maker OF long ex-
perience. The gauge cocks on Nos. and
4 had been out Of order for some time
He had called attention TO the defects
before the coal passer's position was
referred TO by the Retrenchment and Re
form Committee
Some time was passed In a discussion
regarding the admissibility Of questions
which Mr. Hartley the agent OF the in
surance company wished 20 put 70 Mr..
Berry TO ascertain whether he was COM
petent to give an opinion. 10 was final
ly decided to hear Mr.. Baker. the fire.
man Mr. Disney. the assistant engineer;
Mr. Calder the engineer. and Inspector
Saville in the order named.
STUCK IN THE MANHOLE.
Mr.. Baker was present at the last
boiler inspection: he thought Berry went
into No. g. lie Baker found leak
al a rivet In 40. and reported il 10 the
proper authorities. The inspector tried 10
20 in No 4 bat stuck in the manhole ana
had 10 be pulled out. The leak had NOT
been repaired as far as ne knew but IL
had stopped.
MI Calder was present part or the
leak i'm No. T. but such leaks amounted
asleep he (Mr Disney Immediately drew
The fire stopped the elevators, and pur-
.,oa the same course that any other
,-,chanfc1l engineer would have followed
under tbe same circumstances. The leak
~. seen q week later. No. had not
boen used regularly on account OF JUS
i,couvenicnt situation. but u had been
Gred rr within the past few days ih
orde- to rcpair brick work In other b'l-
crs. 1900. 90 tho
AR Coulder was present part OF ,.
linn. during the inspection on March iH'h
and saw the inspector getting out Oh ,N'
ors-t,nv Of No. o. He considered MT.
savil!e a competent man. ....,r...
MR. sANlILE TESTlFlES.
~. c,,.ule said he had reported
-, he,1 bei,g off in boiler No. . las'
year In this lie was subSl1li'l',',' ~"
members OF the committee lie ulN l0'
think there was any danger WIN t"e
boilers under Investigation. BollaE LEAKS
will often take up" while caulkng Will
sometimes start other leaks. The iact
ma, a gauge drlps little is Of little
moment. He was q United States boiler
Inspector for twenty years and engineer
in the navy for two years.
Mr.. Alexander Delaney superintendent
of the city pump-house, was present. ana
II the request o. the committee took the
stand. lie had been making boilers lot
forty wears. He was satisfied that Mr.
Saviue understood his business. it was
not necessary for the inspector to go into
the boiler. but II he could not do so he
usually got some ono else to go Tor MN
and the substitute worked unoer the m
spertor's instructions.
on motion OF Mr.. Rountroe Mr.. Berry
was fully exonerated OF any wrong IN
tent and the insurance company was
cleared Of any suspicion OF neglect OF