Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-01
PROTECT OUR HOMES.
OUR SUPERB FIRE DEPARTMENT
MAKES A SPLENDID RECORD.
REVIRW OF The YEARS WORK.
Good Number of Alarms, hut Few
Large Fires-FOrtunnte In h"FihS
Few CnsunIties-splendid Service
of Fire Alarm and Police Patrol.

The record Of the Fire Department Tor
the year 1895 is highly satisfactory n
large number of alarms have been receiv-
ed. but In no case has the brigade allowed
a fire to leave its starting place.
The department is noted for its energy
and modern push, is we'll managed, and
up-to-date in every respect save IN the
matter of not having its entire force paiu
to remain at the houses.
The number OF alarms OF all KINGS re-
ceiyed during the year and transmitted
through the central office was "a" ana
the percentage of correct alarms was %
per cent. None of the fires were eNteh-
sive or serious i'm results.
The department consists OF one chief
engineer. one assistant engineer, twelve
captains, hfty-one permanent men, ana
saventy-seven runners and substitutes
who are controlled by the following gen
tlemcn. known as the Board OF FIRE COM
missioners: John II. Frischkorn, presl-
dent, and Messrs. l.. c. jenkins, Joseph
+. Levy. James K. Sheppard, Charles Il.
Taylor. and q. w. Taylor.
They have maintained in first-class or
der the equipment Of all kinds, besides
the purchase and remodellins OF the ire
station located at the corner OF Brook
avenue and Marshall streets making 1t
indeed a handsome and comfortable nome
for the men. and placed in new double
combination chemical engine and hose
wagon on Church Hill, besides the addi-
ton of several thousand feet Of new hose.
They will also turn back to the city seve-
raj thousand dollars unexpended
The Improvement marked of Tor the
new year will be new fire station in the
lower part OF the city besides many CON
tcmplated changes in the fire-alarm sys-
TEN.
This commission meets twice a month
and i'm ten years has not failed 10 have a
quorum.
The annual inspection in frort Of the
City Hall met with the usual success, and
was witnessed by large number Of rep
resentative people.
FIRE-ALARM DEPARTMENT..
This department, as previously stated, is
under the control Of the Board Of Fire
Commissioners, and is well managed by
Superintendent William II. Thompson,
with the following corps OF employees: L.
G.. Randolph. c. l.. Gullett. II. 7. Taylor,
and l.. A. Umlauf, each OF whom alter
mates as operator The work Of these
employees has proved more than salts
factory TO the board, showing as it does,
that they are fully capable 10 take charge
of the important ana delicate duties in
trusted &c them.
The office one of the finest in the build
ing, is always open. and Is visited daily
by hundreds OF persons, who praise very
highly the beauty of the machinery and
appointments. one of the employees re-
ports at every fire for the purpose OF re-
moving, as far as possible, the danger Of
live wires, etc. The system comprises
twenty-five sets of telephone instruments,
one in each engine and officers house;
1872 fire-aarm stations. seventy-seven OF
which are private; one repeating still
alarm box, 250 miles of aerial wires, thirty
five electro mechanical gongs, one set of
testing instruments, two volt metres, two
ampere metres two siX-circult non-ln-
terfering repeaters. one eight-cIrcuit local
repeater, ten automatic trips for releasing
the horses, nine three-number indicators;
twelve large bells. weighing from 800 10
LOO pounds one ]. 800 and one 1lOJ-pound
bells worked electrically from the Office,
with 90 cells of storage and 20 cells Of
open-circuit battery for furnishing the
power for the general working Of the
system. The hours are struck electrically
on the bell at the Brook-Avenue house.
There has been one new box placed in
position, that at the Home for lncuraoles,
No. 42. There have been 27 alarms du-
ring the year.
There are about G,S)l poles and 5000
miles Of wire belonging to the various
electric companies in the city, all of which
has been inspected and looked after by
this department.
POLICE PATROL.
This system, which, electrically. is I'M
der the control of the FireAlarm De-
partment, continues to give general salts
faction.
The system comprises twenty-three
street stations. four relays. one S-inch
electro-mcchanical gong, two direct act
ing gongs, four galvan0meters, one ope-
rating desk, one lOurpen and one one
pen register, twcnty-four sets of telephone
instruments, thirty cells of storage and
forty-hye cells Of Samson battery, and
about fifteen miles OF copper wire. There
have been 1,137 wagon and 2.gOl telephone
calls sent over the wires during the year.
The central office is located at the
Second Police Station. under the charge
of Captain J. b. Angle, with Sergeants
Tallcy, Brooks Cc-lv and Allen acting
alternately as operators.