Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-10-25

Last evenings session Of the Council
Committee On Fire Department was
an important one, and was largely at
tended. Mr.. Baird occupied the chair
in the absence of Mr.. Mcclure, who
was billed to lecture at one of the Re-
publican mass meetings which didl't
come off.
The most important item Of business
was the proposition to equip the hose
wagons in the First and Eighth wards
with ladders and fifty gallon chemical
apparatus, for the better protection Of
the extreme ends of the city. This
matter was to have come up at the
last meeting, but there was no quorum
of the Committee. The argument is
that the two chemical companies are
located too far away from the First
and Eighth wards to render any ef-
fective service there, and there are no
ladders in the department save those
carried by these chemical companies
and the regular hook and ladder truck.
1t is therefore claimed that for a small
fire, probably reported by still
alarm, in either the northern or south
ern ends of the city, ladders are not at
all available, and that the only re-
source of the firemen is to lay line
of hose, whereas a short ladder or two
and a small chemical outfit would per-
nit the extinguishing Of the blaze
with a minimum of effort u the de-
partment and of less to the victims
of the fire. The department is In
shape to expend the necessary money
out of its own funds. and after a gen
eral discussion of the matter passed
resolution, to be submitted TO Coun-
ell this evening, authorizing the Com
mittee to eXpend one thousand dollars
Of it's own money in making the I'M
provement. Chief Klieves has writ
ten to nine manufacturers of this sort
Of apparatus, and expects to have BIDS
in a few days. When these arrive the
Committee will be called in special
session, in case Council acts favorably,
as is to be expected, and the contract
will be awarded. 1t will probably take
about five or six weeks to fit UP the
wagons with the new apparatus.
While this matter was under consid-
Grafton last night Mr.. Nesbitt called
attention to the fact that the hook
and ladder truck, in the Fifth ward,
ought to have a similar outfit, as there
was no fire-fighting apparatus in that
ward. He cited, as AN example, re-
cent instance where the ladder COM
pany got still alarm, but ON reaching
the fire found it could do nothing, and
box had to be pulled. If they had
had a fifty gallon chemical tank, the
blaze could have been put out.
Bills to the amount of S371.37 were
recommended for REGIMENT. OF this
amount. nearly one-half was for the
recent improvements at the Eleventh
street chemical company house.
Chief Klieves submitted his report
for the month of September. He re-
viewed the progress of the work at
the Chemical house, suggesting the
painting of the west wall of the
building, reported the new Vigilant
heating apparatus ready, and that he
had but one sick horse in the depart
ment. The painting of the wall Of the
Chemical house was discussed, and
while nothing definite was done. the
Committee appeared to favor the
cementing of the entire wall, giving it
a smooth surface
The ancient gum-coat question, re-
garding which the Committee took
what was thought to be definite fa-
vorable action about year ago, was
resurrected, and the matter was re-
ferred to the purchasing committee, on
motion of Otto
The Chief reported that one of the
piers on the east side Of the Atlantic
house was in danger of coming down,
and recommended that it be rebuilt
He also recommended the PURCHASING
of supplies for the bath room at the
Atlantic and Chemical houses, and
these matters, together with new
blinds fer the front of the Chemical,
mittee.
A number Of other matters Of
minor importance were discussed be-
fore adjournment.