The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-04

notice that the community In genera
stand in continual danger every momen
! of their lives. The smallest adjacen
cities look with establishment at m
apathetic position OF our city In this di
rection, and our repeated reminders ar
done for the purpose Of laying the re-
| sponsibllity upon shoulders other thar
| ours.
Scores OF instances can be produced
where II was impossible TO raise ladders
and even the contact with streams o.
water and live wires. shocked and IN
| iured our frcmcn.
Little notice was taken where n live
wire. December 10Th. fell on dumb ami
| NAL corner Twenty-third and Maii
streets. and killed IL instantly. which 4
| liable any moment 10 occur TO any citizen
We are OF the opinion that the grantin
| Of wooden building permits. which YOU
body desires us 10 attend TO. Is properly
placed. and. in view OF our frequent meet
ings. and the aid OF the general officer
! can examine into and report. speedil!
upon all construction. aiding materially
both the builder and the owner. and II
| this connection we further trust that al
an early date. you may define and cloth'
| this department with the duty of ap
| pointing a general inspector Of all build
4
submit plans and specifications to this
officer. including locality and character oil
material.
buildings are erected all over the city
and We are not aware OF the fact. and
| Outlines when under roof. Il IS discovered
! that by neglect. division or fire walls arr
not constructed. and the owner and build
or are put 10 great inconvenience and ey
pense to correct the mistake Besides. Il is
important that the department should
know the iDterOr Of every building pos.
! sible
FIRE ALARM DEPARTMENT.
This department remains highly ef-
| fcient and improves daily under the adj
mirable management Of w. II. Thompson.
superintendent, and his assistants. Messrs.
A. Stephan. foreman Of construction: =.
| G. Randolph. G.. J.. Gullett and II. r..
! Taylor. lincmcn.
As an evidence OF their remarkable
skill and fidelity You are invited 10 ex-
anime the modern switch board. princi-
pally designed and constructed by them.
by which at least s2.O00 was saved 20 the
city. The storage battery. which was
pioneered by our superintendent has
proven successful and paid for itself. The
Office is n marvel OF beauty. and was Wis
tied last year by 1856 registered persons.
This department is now using about 200
poles owned by the Southern Bell Tcle-
graph and Telephone Company on
these poles we have over one hundred and
fifty miles Of wire. some OF which IS
rotten and unfit for such important work
and being unable 10 renew any Of this
wire on account Of legal questions now
pending between the Bell company and
the city. and I'm view OF the fact that the
ordinance known as the conduit ORD.
nance would 20 into effect in June lN' u,
we were Of the opinion that II would be
unwise TO spend any money in this iiroc
tion. hence We have been compefed 10
postpone this work and will return about
81 900 OF the hre-alarm appropriation back
10 the Treasurer.
For details of this department your at
tcntion Is respectfully called 10 the SUI
perintendcnt's report.
VOLUNTARY SERVICES.
The Board reelected Or. Edward Nc
Carthy July /. 1897. for the term Of three
wears. which involves no expense on tie
CITY. hut IS contributed by the force. for
value received. end is voluntary. An *
animation OF the physicians monthly re-
ports will show the importance - This
office. II supplies a protection both TO
the members and the city alike. and the
necessity Of this Office is now considered
Indispensable.
The thanks Of the Board are due 10
His Honor. the Mayor and 10 your hon
orable bodies for the patient and gem
erous consideration always granted the
department; and our thanks are espe-
cially due to the honorable Committee on
Water. the honorable Committee on Cfs,
and Board Of Police Commissioner
whose kindly cooperation has been or
such great assistance.
The following tabulated statement OF
appropriations and expenditures is in
complete. inasmuch as many of the out
standing obligations Of 1881 have not yet
been audited.
Accts Appr'tu. Exp'n'd Bal
Fire Department.
Expense -. .Sl71S000 Sl6.lS21 SGl.l3
Pay roll ..... 67.25000 6l.2i5.O 40
Fire-Alarm Department:
Txnense .. .... 10000 1.i2SI Sl9
Construction. 10000 10000 1880
Pay roll o.. .... $4,000 36ll0 1900
Amount returned TO treasurer
from sale Of old material .....- 'ooi6
Amount returned from treasurer
from nre-alarm special OIL. ........ 40