The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-28
AN EXPLANATION.
The Fire Department Heard From in
Answer to TRAMP"

The following letter of explanation with
regard to the Alert Fire Company, of
which we spoke in The Times OF May
| Goth, speaks for itself and should prove
satisfactory to any.oi these persons who
may have criticised their method of hand
ling their team. Not only this, but it
brings to the public notice II fair instance
of the complete system OF co operative
work by which our fire department. seeks
| to preserve the safety of our city. We
| trust that the same good spirit in which
| this reply Was written will always prevail
when we may see fit to voice the senti-
ment OF those around us. Under no cir
cumst ,nces will we allow personal inter
est enter into our column.
| To the Editor of the Roanoke Times:
Your issue of May 26 contains an article
written by the TRAMP" concerning the
fire department of this city and from the
tone of the same seems to cast some re-
Election on the driver of the Alert team.
The "Tramp'' says that it is information
that he is after. and shall endenvor TO en-
tighten him somewhat concerning that
particular company Before doing so,
however, must thank him for his kind
words regarding the firemen of the city
in general. The fire department board,
acting in conjunction with the chief of
the department., have after great deal of
study and deliberation laid down certain
rules and regulations for the government
of the different com panies composing the
file department.. and if accidents were
not liable to happen to apparatus in go.
ing to fires, then the company spoken of
could remain ut their Headquarters until
needed, but rs accidents are li,lble to hap
pen at any time, then-it is necessary to
have that company as far on the way rs
possible, SO as to take the place of'another
company that might be temporarily laid
up by an accident. Furthermore they''are
brought to the center of the city for the
purpose OF having them handy in case of
an alarm being turned in while the other
companies are on duty somewhere else.
"Tramp" says that they come to the
headquarters blown and heated, caused by
being hammered over the road or by
coming that distance under the whip.
Whoever gave the Tramp" that part
of his information was sadly at II loss for
facts, for those horses have never been
hammered to town and 1 am in Il position
to know that what say in that regard is
true. appreciate the fact that TRAMP"
does not wish to criticise the fire depart
nent and ouly in justice to the firemen of
Alert Company No. do make this en-
PLANTATION and hope it will be satisfactory
to my friend. the TRAMP" Very re-
spectfully, FRED i. ZERBEE,
President Fire Board.
May 81, 1897.
There seems to be something radically
amiss with that department. of our city's
management under which the enforce
ment of the sanitary regulations should
belong. The alleys in some sections of
the city are not receiving the proper at
tention. They are not being cleaned, nor
ale they being lined, although this latter
was the subject of an especial notice
placed in the papers by our mayor. This
is a matter of vital Importance, especially
at this time. and viii! surely he the cause
of sickness if not looked into. There is
an alley between Seventh and Eighth
avenues southwest which is in such n
condition from neglect that some of the
people in thai vicinity are really uneasy.