The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-01

much as tho gas you burn. as much as
the atmosphere you breathe. This gas
IS produced by the roasting of the intlam-
ma BILE substance, and in order to put it ouf
you must smack 1t with water the sans
as you would smack your handkerchief to
put 1t out If that were on fire. The mere
cutting of water on the fame does not
auench the fire; 1t simply intensifies it by
the generation of steam
Further on Mr.. Lecky said:
Now we come face to face with the
resent needs of the Department. There
is nothing you can do to improve the SER
vice of the Department unless you take
with it the Improvement of the other de-
partments which are most vitality CON-
nected with it In the progress OF the
city OF Richmond. in the development OF
our other municipal affairs. she seem-
ingly has not kept the Water Depart
ment and the Fire Department up to her
needs. Richmond is not an exception In
that particular. The cities of Pittsburg.
Philadelphia. New Orleans. Chicago and
Buffalo have undergone exactly what
Richmond is now called upon to undergo.
and that is to revamp what was OF SER
vice and what was of size twenty years
ago and replace it with what the pres
emit day demands. The American Water
Works Association. of which Mr.. Boiling
ha; the honor of being president. and tho
National Board of Underwriters. like alt
other similar national associations. are
on most intimate terms. and when We
| come to water supply we get just a few
figures from them which are OF everyday
service to and which are based upon
technical knowIedge. + do not myself.
nor do the insurance fraternity generally.
understand the science of hydrostatics.
We do not know that 300 feet OF hose is
the ordinary fire test. and that il you
t,.{, yr-it n dc. -
pressure 500 feet of hose reduces the pres.
sure about one-half."
Mr. Lecky then filed the report OF In
spector Johnson. of the Rational Board OF
Underwriters. formerly chief of the fire,
| department of Philadelphia. which report
| makes several suggestions and reconmen-e
d. tons in regard to the needs of tho
Richmond Fire Department. He said
| that the printers proof. which he had.
was all that was nbtainahie at present.
but that the finished report would prob
ably be issued before the committees con-
| Guided it's deliberations.
OTHER SPEAKERS.
Mr. W. r. Mccarthy. of the VirSinfa
| Fire and Marine Company, was invited
| to address the committee at the concitl-
sion of Mr.. Lecky's remarks.
MIR. Lecky has so fully covered ths
ground said Mr. McCarthr. 'tha {
! have nothing. to say. T agree with what
| hs has said. and concur with hint IN fis
/. various points,
/ Mr.. r. Lee Traylor who was very ac-s
| tive in instituting the movement looking
! toward the investigation. said he had no
| st,eech to make. He did not think himself
| competent to offer any suggestions TO tho
! committees, but stood ready to reply TO
! any question the committee might see
| fit to ask He thought the building laws
should be enforced, and that the dues-
| ton of high current in houses with 10"
| current wires should be closely watched.
| Another matter that should be looked
| into by the committee was the clsanlt-
ness of the city.
| The ulle.yS should be carefully watched
| for infiammable material. None OF this
| stuff should be allowed to accumulate.
| Tie thought a practical test of the Water
and Fire Departments would result in
good. and the tfirenien should be instruct
ed to inspect the alleys.
t Mr.. L. r. Warren. OF the Phoenix Com
! pany. of London spoke briefly along the
the line of the prevention of fires. Fle
/ thought the city should frave an expert
electrician. whose duties it would be to
test all wires and equipment. fIe also
thought the Chief of the Fire Depart
ment should he given police power to Il
limited extent so that he might pre-
gent as far as practicable the throwing
OF matches ana cigar ashes into barrels
i and waste baskets. His main point was
4 tliat all citizens should unite in doing
their utmost to prevent the beginning:
of fires.
The committee at 1i:3O o'clock adjourn-
ed to meet next Tuesday night at
o'clock, when the Water Department
will be heard
I.