The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1904-01-13

Recorder Favor Action at Once.
Following the numerous small blaz-
es that have occurred 10 town during
the past few weeks, Chief OF Police
r. b. Price made 40 inspection ~ the
hose hsuses, hose and other fire fight
ing equipment yesterday. He found
the condition is some Instances Moth
ing less than startling. Negligence
has in some cases been almost crimi-
nal and the city authorities are thor
oughly aroused 10y bis report.
The conditions 10 the Fourth ward
arc worse than elsewhere. At The
bose house on McLane Avenue, lot
of the old Ajax hose. which is not fit
fo- use was foucd on the reel. Earth
had washed against the doors and
frozen and they could not be opened.
On Beechurst Avenue, the doors OF
the home could not be opened on ac-
count OF the earth against them. The
officers could get them apart just far
enough to creep ia. The building Is
of corrugated iron, and 1t would
have been next to impossible to have
taken the reel out in case OF fire. Here
the greatest part of the good hose be-
longing to the city was spooled on
reel. 1t was so heavily loaded the
men could not have pulled IL up the
hill To a FIRE. The nozzle had become
rusty and could not tie pulled apart.
A LOT of worthless AJAX hose was
found piled up in corner.
,E4 L. a -.
the Fourth ward have moved away
from town, and there are not more
than five or six to be found who are
ready fer duty. Some OF these have
got out OF the habit OF going TO fires.
Over 10 the first ward, reel full Of
hose was found. Last fall. some con-
tractor took it without authority and
used IL in his work on the streets. 1t
was put back without being properly
dried, and was injured more or less
thereby. There are four or five good
firemeh 10 this ward.
In the third ward, the supply of
hose is short. Five sixths of the fire.
lighting is done with the equipment
at the city hall, and by firemeu living
in this ward. The equipment there
ought TO be perfect and IN perfect
condition all the time.
There is no hose In the Second ward
and few water plugs. All the protec-
tion to that section OF the city must
come from the Third ward.
There are about thirty-ave Hremen
on the pay roll of the city. or these,
dozen or fifteen do ninety per cent
OF the work They are found at every
fire, and are never idle spectators.
The rest respond to an alarm leisurely,
II they go to fire at all, and do moth
ing when they get there.
Last week, under the direction Of
council, Andy Frost made thorough
inspection of the fire-plugs of the city.
He found all in good condition except
two. These could not be opened un-
til oil was applied to remove the rust
and loosen the nut
The present hremen will be paid
February First. At that time the
department will be reorganized. No
organization has been made for two
years when Ed Hayes was elected
Chief. A number of new men will be
put on the roll and many OF the old
ones will be dropped. Some definite
steps will be taken to increase the de-
partplent's efficiency.
Mayor McGrew said this morning.
1.-THE city ought TO purchase horses
and hose carts for the department
Immediately. l have favored this for
years, and for years property has been
endangered by the delay. Some Que
should be employed to look after the
herses and equipment, and keep 1t in
perfect condition all the time. When
four or 6le men drag hose reel to
a fire at the upper end of town, they
are out of breath, and not able to be
OF any use in fighting. l am in favor
Of providing such equipment at once".
Recorder Sisler, who was present con-
ours in this plan.