Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-08

With Chemical Outfits Consid-
cred = The Annual Tour to Be
Made Thursday Afternoon.
The Council Committee on Fire De-
partment, Chairman Mcclure presiding.
met last evening with Chief Klieves,
and devoted about two hours to gem
eral consideration of the condition Of
the department and its needs. Bills
to the amount of S277.75 were recon-
mehded for payment, and it was order
ed that the annual tour of all the en-
glne and hose houses, to examine into
their general condition and necessi-
lles' be made on Thursday afternoon,
starting from the city hall at o'clock.
ihls trip is the usual one, prior to the
compilation of the annual estimate.
mere was a long discussion over
the general condition and distribution
OF the fire-fighting force of the city,
which opened by statement by Chair
man Mcclure that the local insurance
people had intimated rather strongly
tnelr desire to have the Headquarters
Vi the department transferred from the
Atldntlc TO the chemical house, so as
70 De nearer the business heart of the
city.
w III the insurance people donate
enough ground to build a new engine
house on Eleventh street, or such
mousse asked one member. No one
oouio answer the question, but there
was a general smile.
announcer member asked what the fire
loss mad been, in this city. the past
year. The chief responded that he had
not completed his report as yet, but
would nave it ready by the next meet
ing. 1t was lntimated however, that
the loss was very small, and had been
Tor three years past.
ana yet" said a committeeman.
insurance rates are advanced. and the
local Board of Underwriters are driv-
ing our people TO insure in foreign
companies. Even our concern, which
IS a fire proof structure, was charged
the same rates as other inflammable
buildings, and we were forced to 20
to outside companies for our insur-
ance"
Ihls introduced in a general way the
subject of chemical engines, and the
necessity for one or two more such
machines, and the talk, while interest
ing, was very general in it's nature 1t
'transpired that proposition had been
made to equip four Of the present hose
wagons. the North Wheeling reel being
included, with a 50-gallon chemical
tank, with two short ladders. capable
of being spliced thrown in for each
rig. at a cost for the whole considera-
bly, less than the cost of the present
Island combination outfit, and in this
connection the advisable of putting
such a chemical outfit on the hook and
ladder truck also came up, as did the
idea of new chemical company in the
East End, another on the Island, and
the expediency of keeping the Island
company out of town in all but times
Of especial emergency, for the reason
that the distance it had to go was
usually too great for the chemical APP
paratus to be Of much service, while
its absence from the Island left all
that isolated portion of the city I'M
protected. From these matters the
talk drifted to new chemical solutions
for engines of that sort, and the latest
plan OF using simply a strong solution
of brine or similar preparations, for
chemicals, the same to be thrown by
air pressure, to be kept up by a pump,
and it was stated that partial con
tract had been made with the Board Of
Education for stationary plants OF this
sort for school houses, and also for
one or two private establishments.
Chief Klieves thought that While
the air pressure idea was good enough
for stationary plants, 1t would not
work in the case Of apparatus drawn
through the streets by horses, on ac-
count of the liability to breakage, and
he explained his objections I'D detail,
On the collateral question OF water
pressure in the business portion OF the
city, the Chief said the pressure now
was Just what it was twenty years ago,
because, although the water depart
ment could give high pressure, IT was
reduced by regulators TO about the ola
limit
All these things and many more
were discussed, but no decisive action
was taken, and the whole subject VIII
probably come up at special session
in the near future.
Council this evening, in regular SEES
sion.
At this evenings session of Council
the annual message Of Mayor John K.
Butts will be read.
The Council Committee on Real Es-
tate is called for this evening. before
the session of Council.
The "White Wings" were hard at
work on the streets yesterday.
The Committee on Accounts met last
evening and examined the books of
the Clerk and Receiver.
The Committee on Ordinances met
last evening and agreed to recommend
an ordinance giving Mr.. 3. f. Rowland
a site for the proposed reduction plant
on the summit of Wheeling hill adj
Joining the present crematory. This
is in line with previous publication
Tho Rowland 10