The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-07
MAY go OUTSIDE
The DEPARTMENT..
Varied Requirements Of Fire
Chief May Make 1t Necessary
to Do This.
NEW PROJECT is OUTLINED
Chief Would Be Executive OF
ficcrsand Respond Only to
\ Important Alarms.

When the Board of Fire Commits
lsioncrs meets next Monday night 1t
in likely that the election OF a asllu-s
$ccssoi to Chief Engineer Fuller VIII
8ht deferred ana that Assistant Chief
Shaw, or some other officer, will be
designated us acting chief until uhchiefs
70 finally selected, While tho incm-
3bcrs OF tho bonrd generally are not
discussing the situation, there Is said
to be u movement on the part OF one or
more to select for the head or the
department. n man cIninently qualified
tn executive ability, clerical work nna
ilre-flghtlng for the varied and ro-
sponsble duties of that position, and
that the city will bc divided into two
nrc districts, with an assistant chief
IN charge Of each The real chief Will
attend Important fires. and will exor-
else general supervision OF Tho work
OF tho department, under tho pnn
which has been tentatively considered
md which Will probably be urged.
Tho plan. said to be In contempln
ton Is to have the chiefs office. as
before. in the No. 5 ongsne-housc, or
central station, where he viii have:
Ills books. records and data. and Will
lie in touch with tho operations ofSthc
entire department. He Will not be
required to run to every small fire on
first alarm, and may use his discretion
very largely, but whenever he goes
To fire he Will Of course outrank
any subordinate, and will take COM
lLand. Such u plan is said to have
been informally discussed. but has
never been acted upon by the board
In the opinion of, some Of the conl-
missioners, a man Of liberal educa.
ton and OF sufficient versatility to
| discharge the executive duties and at
tend to the necessary clerical work.
| and who combines experience and 5udg-
ment in directing the attack ON fires,
is demanded by the situation. Whether
any of the candidates for the position
measure UP to this high standard is u
natter which the board must deter
nine for itself, with full and init
rate knowledge of the requirements
| before them
tsiIn the event the board went outside
lpthe present department to secure a
! chief, there would be no necessity for
| nIy other changes or promolions. and
! with the exception OF the new head.
1.-the department would remain substan-
lstinlly rs 1t Is now. Captains Joynes.
Atkinson and Wise are said to be the
Heading candidates for promotion to
! til. position now held by Acting Chief
| shaw, but their candidacy is cons
| tlngent upon his promotion. Captain
1 Raffo Is said to be favorable to the
1 cardidacy Of Captain Joynes
Meanwhile, the board Is saying Moth
/ ing. but Is biding It's time until next
4 Monlpy night when the anxiety 81
|attspirnnts Will be relieved. either BY
! the selection OF chief or by the post
i ponement of action. Those who favor
! some other man for chief than any
4 Of the aspirants Will probably urge that
| there is no necessity for hurry; that
1 Captain Shaw has been acting chief
i for several months with satisfaction
i and that he may continue to act un-
4 iii the board has had ample oppor-
tunity to inquire into tho qualihca-
tons Of the candidates and possibly
to consider Others