The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-08
LOSS BY FIRE
THE PAST YEAR.
It Appropriated Seventy-Fiye thou
sand Dollars.
MUCH BELOW FORMER YEARS.
The Interesting Report OF the Fire De-
partment's Work During 1878
New Fire station Projected
Some Suggestions Made.
MUCH BELOW FORMER YEARS.

BOARD OF Fire Commissioners, at the last
meeting Of the Common Council pre-
scented the following interesting report OK
the work o. the department during 1898;
Richmond, Va. Jan. ?, 1899.
To tho Honorable the Mayor and city
Council OF Richmond Va.
Gentlemcu,-lu obedience 70 the law,
the Board Of Fire Commissioners submit
their eleventh annual report OF the FIRE
and Fire Alarm Departments Tor the
year ending December 81, 1898.
During tnat time ~ alarms were re-
cehcd and transmitted TO the FIRE De
partment, with loss approMmaluis
S45.OJOOu. which makes inc damage huCH
below former years, ana indicates prompt
and effective service. in both the FIRE ana
Eire-Aarm Departments.
The notable nrcs were those OF thg
Baughman printing establishment anu
the Richmond Paper Mill. ana Doth "ete
restricted upon the premises lhousH INC
loss ON stock was considerable.
The violations of discipline were, hot
numerous and the punishment lnhicteo
where the rules were violated We're lot
OK "a serious character. There were no
dismissals during the year
DEPARTMENT LARGE ENOUGH.
There has been no increase IN the 9e-
partmcnt. either ln the force hhihtt tsfttg
or by additions during the year, ana lue
Board are OF opinion that the department
il. -ufnclontly large ANA we'll distributed,
and trust while maintaining everything m
good shape. making AN merited acqulsl-
lions 90 the rolling stock keeping iuiy
NO 90 the standard, to return 10 YOU
honorable bodies handsome surplus
wear hy year. The past year. ln addluon
t0 transferring TO the Police Department
SD 10000 expanding on the recent conn
bincd police and engine station nc bIoyn
avenue and Marshall street nearly
ST. 100000 and The addition OF new tpllpi-
I'd. d rrgur for tho East HUn.
besides "a large quantity OF hose, always
extensive they anticipate returning from
aU sources at least 8.500N-leaNine
everything as FAR as possible In perfect
There should be a large increase Of The
nermancnt force which the Board VIII
doubtless do should your honofaole uogy
give a sufficient increase I'm the pby-foli.
payroll whereby Chief Engineer Fu.lef'
Assistant Engineer Shaw ana tne elFl
teen valuable permanent hosemeu cpulu
have their pay increased ,s -
ornnlovine the services OF Chief Iuler
he lends 20 the department cohscleh-
ff1us heroic service which cannot aiWd4a
ha obtained. and his integrity Is leta5u,,
through the Gre world. ana ne suouiu pr
rfchlv COMPENSATED. Assistant Engineer
shaw. e. also inadeQuately paid, and since
hts election TO the important once h4
holds has given perfect satistactiOn ana
has come 20 he considered oy Nhie'
Puller a valuable lieutenant
I'm the Fire-Aiarm Department. super
intendent Thompson and his assisla iil.
arc fneufcfcutiy paid. Mr.. Thompson lta
had increased duties imposed upon lii,il
and are constantly increa-lhs, ii'le
theoretically and practically ne slalu5 ai
the head ~ his profession, ana sno"i"
DE rec0nzod substantially. ..--.r.
A NEW ENGlNE-HOtSE-
The BOARD desires 20 erect a ne" IIe
station I'm lieu Of the one now occuplt..
br Engine Company 80. ., located ON east
Ni MA ss1,,rronrdines Of this property have
virtually made q uninhabitable. Tor lhe
men and horses. and PERSONA z,.,
ti1u on your part Woulu qul. ~ -
strate b.. To Is In tact ,,t C,,ii,
NOT he improved. You are respeC,le ~
,,rrel no allow ~ 20 purchase 10Y IN
mat section out Of the appfopIldtivll,
regularly made The present quarters 1,li,
be- utilized for the storage or -. Z.
reserve apparatus. besides converting II
into a veterinary hospital, when we
Hs ,rS. ordinance FOR the erection q
,,.l(ien buildings having been transferred
~ this department has pe'n on $50,
benefit 10 our huildeIS Hlu - 20 orfr
,iroa offarr Increased protection 70 our
1rtizons Thls should be followed ia gu
f,.J~r,onf bv an ordinance putting VIC
l-,fffetration of au laws goNtrinh 5
,i@ctrioitv wires inside and outside OF
bru5ines. I'm the hands Of this boar = l Tot
tha following reasons; Inal you lrr
IN. mon the cltv payroll your supeiin-
toudent o. AN city wires. "ucu ~
ln axucrfcnced electricians. ..i,.,.,
VI 80 should be framed guafuiH5
...f,s+ danger 10 the citys property
s-or, oiocfrolvsis from imperfect con-
.-~,,c+ion and other cases electrically am
b,sad i,pon the best information OBTAIN
allie which this department has easy ac-
o,.s fo. We regard 1T as the duty oil inc
r,rrcu 10 make an laws and rules ana
h.id fhie department and the city Elec-
trician responsible for their fuhhiiieh''
since these same conductors are promo
causes OF fires and since the hremeh
,bo,oaalvas are combating against an IN
visible foe besides the lives or our 'l'i-
7ars I'm general ~ IS. we think. proper
that the responsibility should De p'aoeU
here
you are referred 10 the Chief En-
CHEERS ren0rt for detailed statements.
The physicians report viii give you
interesting details concerning his duties
and is well worthy Of perusal
FIRE-ALARM DEPARTMENT..
The Fire-Aiarm Department continues
~ perform the very best service con-
sfstent with overhead wires. and though
these sad conditions OF things cause end
less trouble yet the alarms are received
promptly with few exceptions which is
AN brought about by the untirlng zeal
of the Superintendent and his faithful
employees. Improvements are made alrs SO
daily by the department. ard the Office
continues 10 be the central attraction I'm
the city Han TWO Of the largest bells
arc now struck electrically. and the Board
will as rapidly as possible have all fire
stations struck similarly.
The necessity Of having all wires nm
derground. except trolley wires. has been
brought 10 your attention so frequently
that we think it needless 70 repeat them
here
You are referred 10 the Superintend-
ents report for detailed information con-
cerning his department.
The thanks OF the Board are due 10
his honor the Mayor and TO your hon
orable bodies FOR the patient and gem
erous consideration always granted 10
the department. and our thanks are es-
peciaiiy due 10 the honorable Committee
on Water. Committee on Gas. and Board
Of Police Commissioners whose kindly
cooperation has been of such great as
sistantce. Respectfully submitted.
JNO. n. FRISCHKORN.
President Board OF Fire Commissioners.