The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-21
NOT kEPIP ACE
WITH OUR GROW TIL.
This is Why Richmond Suffers
From Fires.
AN EXPERT GIVES HIS OPINION
sir. johnson Tsl.s The Mater oycr via he
Fire commissioners, Niio Ask for
Honey 10 Lnlarsc Equipment
and Department.
AN EXPERT GIVES HIS OPINION

The Board Of Fire Commissioners heio
q long conference last night "llh Mr.
William H. johnson, genera! inspector Oh
the National B&lrd OF Fire InderWritcrs.
vho is in the city Oh ar Official visit. lie
Was sent mere BY his board because of the
many disastrous fires which have recently
occurred in this CITY.
lIr johnson came here tcom DanTilie,
where he had been sent for the same TeI-
son tha. he was commissioned to come
here. All yesterday he drove over the
city with Chief Fuller. OF the Fire iHe-
,,artment He was able 4lso to see IRE
with u practicaF demonstration of inc
ability of the men ana the apparatus.
This was on West Cary Street. But the
fire was small and not a great deal OF
watei, was needed lie and tie chief were
the first on hand
ENTIRE SITUATION TALKED OVER.
The entire situation was talked over
last night i'm the conference lie had with
the department Mr.. Johnson SAID the
Richmond department was inadequate.
More men were needed and more ma
chimes lie could not speak as to the wa
ter supply as he had not yet seen super
iatendent Boiling, Of the Water Depart-
ment. From what he had heard about
t:,, size OF the mains ne thought the city
was also behind N this respect, Cblei
Fuller agreed With Mr.. Johnson In his
opinion regarding the needs of the depart
ment and the commissioners did alSo'
so the meeting was the most harmonious
possible.
Al tho members of the board were pres
emit All of the members piled Mr.. John
son with questions. lie made to them
this significant statement: The city has
5,, ,iSi |
was here in 1885. while there has not beer,
anything like a proportionate increase
in the citH's ability to handle fires
LONG AND SHORT OF II.
This seems to sum up the situation as
neatly as il can be done Mr.. Johnson
was here in 1885 for the same purpose as
now. He said he found tho city with
twelve companies then. She has but
eleven now. This would look at first
blush as if the city was falling off i'll
1ire-fighting strength, but the conlbina-
ton is different, and the Fire Depart
mont is enthusiastically stronger than il
was at that time. But IT was the belief
of all that the city needs more men and
more engines Chief Fuller said it was
his belief that two new second-size en-
cines should be gotten, TO be put IN the
heart of the city, and that two of the
smaller. engines should be sent out to the
West End and Jackson Ward. He
thought also that each of the companies
should be increased by two men, nat-ins
twenty-five in all. There are us men now
in the Department
President Frischlkorn and all the mem
hers of the Board asked Mr. Johnson
any number of questions and explained
to him the situation.
At the conclusion of the conference
the Board decided to ask for the appro-
priations which are indicated elsewhere.
Mr. johnson is stopping at Murphy S.
he will be in the city until Friday he
will spend this morning with Chief Pul-
Ter going over the city. Later he will see
superintendent Boiling. He will forInu-
late his report upon his return to New
York The leading insurance companies
are represented on the National Board
of Underwriters. When this board de-
cides that city is poorly protected from
fires the insurance companies steer clear
of that place. Tie board depends upon
The reports of its inspectors for their
information, so now it is easy to see how
important is his visit to a city.