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

Hi'hN ~ I'kHlu 10 INC Itla't ''ihihioot'h-
| crs. and the Council cJncurred.
The annual report OF the President OF
I the Board OF Fire Commissioners. giving
statistical Information. and showing the
department TO be In a fiourishing condi-
| ton was received and read TO the Council
| as follows:
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ONCE Board Of Fire Commits toners
city Han.
Richmond Va. Jan. ], 1888.
| TO the Ucnorables Mayor ana the 'ouh-
ci Of tho City Of Richmond:
! Gentlemen. This the tenth annual re-
port of thc Fire and Fire Alarm DeoaIt
mcnts IS submitted as required ana w
sincerely trust wifi b. as gratifying y
! your honorable bodies. as % ~ TO those
who arc intrumcd WITH the response
lility az tie duties. There has beeh
great Of accidents during the past year.
ami The losses have been eXceedinsy
small. though the alarms Of fire received
dasing the year have kept well up WIN
the average Hv way Of comparison
there were received FOR the year previous
10 the organization OF the Board, ITO
alarms. with loss Of SoiO'.9N' "h'c
there was Tor the past year 20 dlaI MS
with a loss not exceeding NprpYp' many
OF these fires were dangerous IN lhtH
beginnings but 10y prompt ana eneclud'
means. we're quickly suDducd we were
p,ovlded then with 80 sigral stations.
while now there are in position loV SIBilai
stations. which naturally gives the oe-
purfmcnt d great advantage. BY way OF
further comparison. but in no sense 20
Elective. we are called upon 10 MAINTAIN
engines. trucks and ! chemical engine.
drawn altogether by Al horses WINE AT
that time there were IN operation On
HHFIU
gncs. trucks and hose companies
drawn bv q horses which you VIII per
ceive should make the percentage OF cN-
penrcs SO 1-3 per cent. more Cor malhleh-
anco thouah the appropriations were,
for the year lsSS $1,000 more. Inc bo"iu
arc of the opinion that the appropiia-
ton for maintenance ard known as the
sxnenec account. which was susses'-n
10 Tho Leeislatufe. Is not too large "H'u
coneido,cd that we have this increased
o.afrrent upon which the wear ana
tear is excessive. although we nave ie'n
enabled &, so strengthen the ucp"i'l'C"'
i'm AN Of It's various details until now we
are in "a proper position TO meet az
emergencies
IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED.
There are many improvements needed
for thc fiscal year of 1898 and we trust
al an early date to bee able 90 return TO
your honorable bodies large uneN-
pended approuriaticn. because we arc
I'm thorough touch with you upon the i'he
of economy and desire TO assist you 10
the fullest extent Mindful however
that YOU will not be satlshtd WIN "n
inferior service i'm so important bIalch
which has for it's mission the pIsAei va
ttou of life and property. I'm the past
vcsr We have lived Within the approrria-
tions and have strengthened the depart
mont am along the line. and viii return
hack TO the treasury about S2OuO WhicH
includes -tho sale of old material. exc
Your honorable body saw tt TO Jay
upon the table the resolution appi"F''
bv tho Finance committee au1hoiI"lne
the Board 10 purchase lot ON WhlCh ~
erect now FIRE station for Engine no d,
located az Brook avenue ana Marsha"
streets. We are sure If you knew 'ile
conditions there YOU would not hesitate
II is truly barbarOus 20 require Z men
90 sleep in a room II by II feet WIN no
possible way 10 relieve them. and hish-
jv detrimental 90 their health THESE
men and the permanent force In genera
have hard time. and tn, Board mas
stretched IT'S limitations 10 the iuHe71
point. 10 give them reasonable comforts.
Nowhere i'm the domain of mun'cipai
government is there any comparison Dee
tween tho services rendered by them
cd by The city government
CUT OR TEN PER CENT.
They received cut of 10 per cent. IN
1891. when no other public servant was
affected. until now they are ON duty night
and day for pay ranging from $50 TO go
per month.
Deprived OF every home comfort Inn
pi isoned in a. sense. cOntending win every
extreme. knowing no night undlsluiDcd'
required TO Doe in jul uniform day 10y
dav. 90 pee suddenly driven into some
cellar TO fight fire and poisonous gases.
and IL delivered alive TO ana hlmse'I
dirGcured and his clothing ruined.
The majority have families and bare
Is MANAGE TO keep the wolf from lhe
door. and cannot provide for tneir loNeu
ones. because no regular life insurance
companv We understand. will toucn
them. ana it is only Cue TO generous
community that has no parallel. tndt
they have substantial relief luna 10
take care of them when they are distress
sd. You will pardon this reference To
this devoted band of life and property
savers We recommend that you APP
propriate sufficient amount to enable
aus 90 increase the rag of the pcrman' mt
hoscmen. Is i'm numhar from their pres
cut pay of $50 per month 10 $50.
During the year additional and perhaps
just burdens have been placed upon the
department. which have curtailcd the exc
pense account by several thousand doll
lars. but we were mercifully exempt from
serious fires. which have enabled MS 10
progress satisfactorily. Charging NJ for
gas. cost us. with the most stringent
economy 5000. besides the investment
of another $1,000 FOR furnace heaters,
which require $50 tons Of coal Annually TO
enffIefDuffr nDlf 9ur fire oUuiuGe THE !
PROBABILITIES are always against a depart
mcnt of this kind. from the fact that
everything must hurry. and while an APP
preparation may Dee more than sufficient
this year. 90 series of accidents would
make the same appropriation too small,
ana ordinary legislation may cause de
yastating fire before We are ready.
NOT MUCH CHEAPER
Except i'm horses. the products used in
this department are not much cheaper
than they were in 1857. and lSSS. when
we assumed control. and since. by your
acts YOU have increased our forces so
materially Il is hardly reasonable TO sup |
pose we can maintain for less than the !
amount now received.
The board. for the reasons assigned. |
continue TO request your consent 20 allow |
them 90 purchase some suitable site TO |
pany No. q. cut Of their regular appro- |
priauons.
We further desire 20 establish a COM |
bination chemical hose wagon at the |
quarters of engine No. I, Church Hill.
and. I'm order 10 complete our equipment |
We should provide the department with |
q water tower
This machine. while inexpensive 10 |
maintain, involves the necessity %! the |