Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-11
FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDS.
The Improvements in Buildings and
Equipment That Are Necessary.

The Committee Made It's Annual
Tour of Inspection Yesterday,
Preparatory to It's Preparation of
the Annual Estimate for the De-
partment-Most Of the Buildings
and All of the Apparatus Are
Clearly and in Good Order.
The needs of the fire department in
the way Of improvements to build
ings and equipments, were revealed
Yesterday to the Fire Committee OF
the City Council. The committee made
always precedes the making of esti
mates of the expense Of conducting the
deparement. Messrs. Mcclure, Nesbitt
and Baird represented the committee,
and Chief Kleives, Clerk Nolte and re-
porters, made up the remainder of the
party. The smart city trap, generally
used for conveying offenders to the
lookup, and from the lookup to the
hill, was pressed into service for the
journey.
All the houses and apparatus were
found to be scrupulously clean. and
everything was in good order. Con-
trary to expectation, none Of the de-
mands from the houses included dom
inc tables, but almost every other ar
ticle usually found in the list. AT the
Atlantic, which was first visited, Chief
Klieves showed the new switch board
and its workings. 1t enables him to
locate any trouble with the wires, in
any one of the six districts into which
the city is divided for the first time.
He also demonstrated to the salts
faction Of the committee that the re-
placing Of the old wires with new ones
will save a considerable sum each
year.
The buildings are in good condition,
all things considered. The Vigilant
house is a model of its kind, and the
best in points of construction and
equipment. in the city The Atlantic
mousse is LOO sinai ICI lSi loi
the department. while the lamentable
lack of room at the Chemical and
Hook and Ladder houses has so fire.
quently been dwelt upon that it is
subject with which every person in
terested in the fire department is thor
oughly familiar Each requires large
expenditures for repairs every year.
At the Island house the tower is shaky,
and it was stated that the last wind
storm threatened to lift it bodily and
deposit it in the street. AS it was,
several yards of tin roofing were torn
loose.
Most Of the houses were in need of
chairs, stair carpets, and bedding.
Some of the firemen handed the COM
mittee written lists OF the needs Of
their houses. The items will be found
in the following list:
Atlantic-Floor for engine room;
exercise wagon, to cost $50; new roof,
and repairs to ceiling.
Chemical-Half dozen chairs, stair
carpet, oil cloth, paper, white wash,
and general repairs to building.
Vigilant-Repairs to retaining wall
in rear, repairs to chimneys, repairs
to mat.
ISland-New exercise wagon, new
wainscoating, repairs to tower and
roof, new conductors, four pillows, six
sheets.
Hoow and Ladder-Painting truck,
repairs to roof. whitewashing. carpet
for stairway, bed clothing. oil cloth,
crow bar.
Niagara-Six new chairs, mattress
ses, comfortables, blankets, 30 yards
towing. sets bed springs, new floor
in stable and repairs to stable doors,
new pole mat, 10 bed spreads.
Eighth Ward-Repairs to first hoor,
wall paper and whitewash through
out, mattresses, u pillow slips, 80
yards toweling.
The exercise wagons asked for will
undoubtedly be included in the com
mittee's estimate. They can be Sc
cured cheap, and their use will save the
apparatus. At the Island building,
the men have promised to erect a wa
gon shed in the rear if they secure
wagon. The exercise of the horses
without a truck or wagon is too llght.