The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-21
The COUNTY
SURF RI.S' ( E D
What itThinks OF Fire Depart
lnent's Action. .sI'
GET READY TO FIGHT FIRE I E
And viii Then Fight Annexation as as,
Warmly as Ever-Mr. Pollard's
cpinion-Mr. Leckys
Resolution.
GET READY TO FIGHT FIRE

There Is disposition on the part OF
ccrtain Of the prominent residents OF
Henrico county TO look upon the pro-
posed action Of the Board Of Fire Com
missioncrs Of Richmond as q retaliatory
measure. suggested in view Of the, oppo-j
sItion presented by the county to the
extension Of the city limits g65ty b n
The greatest surprise was manifested
on nil sides when 1t became generally
Ienown that the commissioners were ens
PERTAINING a proposition to withdraw IRE
protection from those thickly settled sec
lions Of the county making UP the
suburbs Of the city. Various opinions
we're oxpressed, and one Of them was that
above Indicated. There was feeling
that the city was now expressing us
d,spleasure Mt the position taken by the
county whenever q measure for extension
Is suggested
we'll known official and property
owner of IIenrico was questioned yester-
day about the matter. He said, III erect:
."rhc county, so far as know. mas
never asked the city for fire prooectioh.
The assistance they have given JUS mas
been voluntary. Whenever there was u
t,rc in a nearby section In the ScouhtS
tile city sent its engines and gave Us
tho use OF their department Regularly
the Board of Supervisors Would ses p,,.s
FOR damages to hose, etc.. while the ap,
=, "a fms was at work In the country, ana
tbev we're always paid promptly. Ihere
vas never any question raised, me
richmond department was very kind 10
-. and we recognized and appreciated the
kindness.
mNov we hear that the Fire Comnis.
s,oners are considering the proposition or
y,,th drawing from us this protection
,rhev undoubtedly have the right TO 40
40 II they care to-. I don't know "het''er
the county will make any 1no movement ~
protest it. The proposition seems 70 ms
to be Inspired BY pique we h Ft,s Up .
posed annexation, which me i3ci'y o. :,
ardently desires, and we are noW ", Ds a,t,,
,,,d hacx for doing 1t. Perhaps the CITY
homes In this way to whip us into line.
We didn't hear anything OF TINS ne"
-, oye until the annexation matter was
gup in the Legislature. ,,,.,on
"JPlthe Board concurs IN TINS res sei wv
vo shall in all probability proceed 70 20
Tt,hl,sh chemical stations IN the thlcN'y
settled .narts of the county, and pc pre-
nnrea 10 fight annexation as Vigorously
&c ever re We were included IN the CITY
wo couldn't get thorough fire service tor
many years to come. There are no s"itter
mains. There are not enough OF them
In Richmond itself YET
f@l SUPERVISOR TALKS.
Mr. T. p, Rose, II well known member
Of the Board of Supervisors, was also
seen about the matter. lie expressed
great surprise ut the proposition before
the commissioners but declared that ne
had not given the NATTER much thousn s.
He too expressed the belief that IN
the event that the city withdraWs llre
protection from the county the latter latter
will establish o chemical system IN some
Of the thlckly settled portions Of Henrico.
Mr.. Robert Lecky, Jr., member of the
Board Of Fire Commissioners, who Of
fered the resolutions putting into effect
the opinion Of the City Attorney In re-
lation to the city sending It's fire nppa-
ratus to the county. feels that the public
does not understand the purport of the
oninion and his resolution, asd therefore
rives both the opinion and his resolution
to tho public
MR.. POLLARD'S OPINION.
Mr.. Pollard City Attorney, says:
Richmond. March a. 1903.
Board OF Fire Commissioners. city:
Gentlemen,--1 am 1t receipt or cOnllnu-
Mica ton from your clerk dated the l4th
Instant, In which you ask my opinion as
to whether your board have the right
TO send the city's fire apparatus,o ut Of
the city In response to requests for as
sistance. :" In response to this request
have to say that 1t is provided by suDa
section Of section LXLlIl Of the city
charter that "the Board of Fire Com
missioners shall have and exercise fully
and exclusively all powers necessary for
the government, maintenance ana dec
ton OF the fte department of the city and
the premises and property thereof" and
by the same subsection 1t Is further
provided that your board shall take any
all such action In the premises q. O., 10
accomplish the purpose of which the de-
partment was organizedD rs 1t may deem
to be reasonable, necessary and proper.
In view of these very comprehensive
powers conferred on your board am
of opinion that wherever FIVE occurs
| outside of the city limits, which Woulc
render 1t reasonably probable that me
| fire would be communicated. or misn'
| be communicated to buildings or struc
tnres within the city limits. that IN sucf
cases you would be authorized 70 re-
spopd TO calls to aid In the exttnguish
ment OF the fire beyond the city limits
hut where such conditions do not eNlst
you are not authorized, nor should you
respond to calls beyond the limits OF M
city, and in order that there may pc NJ
misunderstanding or confusion slg
gest that the board after inspection o