The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-25
CAN'T BLAME ANYBODY
FOR CITY HALL FIRE

how the slightest listing or settling OF
pore might cause wires to sag mate
rally. The school telephone circuit
passed through several school houses
in the East End. where no damage was
done save to the telephone instru-
ment. raising the question whether the
city Hall switchboard was provide ed
with proper safety appliances Mr.
thompson thought IT was, though not
by any means as good as the Bell
Telephone company uses.
Storm on Night OF Fire.
MT. Trafrord testified that there had
been a severe storm the night OF the
IRE, the first severe storm since many
OF the city plant poles had been set
SO that some settling would not b,
surprising The city ordinance govern
ing overhead wiring he described as
a"iuily antique" saying ,ha; many
Oh me conditions had never been oh.
served by anybody; in fact stande I'D
equipment. such as cross rms. dcas not
come according to measurements spec.
ifcd
Foremen for the city electric rlant
Tor Contractors Storms & Co. and 70,
| the Richmond and Henrico Railway
{ company testified that the wiring al
the point in question had been prop.
eriy done, and that the sagglng OF tnt
OIL the unavoidable accidents of over
head construction. liable to occur a,
any time. and which did occur with
| some frequency. though usually doing
little or no damage where proper fuses
or safety devices are installed.
Defective InstaiIution.
inspector Fitzpatrick, who made ali
inspection of the school Board room.
after the lire, said that the sNy,.ch.
! board had been destroyed, but that tne
paranne conduit had been burned sixty
ieet' carrying the fire that far into
lie garnet, and lie did not consider
that the wiring complied with the ordi-
nances for inside installation. Mr.
Thompson showed in reply that when
the ordinance for inside Installation
was adopted existing wiring was ex-
eepted' unless condemned by city in.
spector after due examination
AIR. Trafford closed his case by ad.
hitting that there was cross. an
accident, which had supplied the match
W mere safety devices were Installed in
inc various schoolhouses, no fire en-
sued where combustible material ana
naa insulation were placed handy in
the City Han. fire did ensue.
me committee finally shut OF debate
between the two department heads
which promised 10 be internlnablc by
clerk was instructed 10 draw a repor,
showing that no direct negligence had
been shown, but that the fire prob
ably occurred from the accidental
crossing of two city wires in the over
mead district, possible accident
wherever overhead installation of a
multiplicity of wires is allowed MIR
Thompson and MIR. Trahord later ex-
planned that their antipathy was no,
personal, but that there always existed
friction between superintendent ugine
high-powcred wires and ono using
lower-power current on the same
poles The lion and the lamb cnnno,
lie down together" quoted Mr. Thomp-
son. We are always scrapping with
each other"
Members of the committee predicted
that one result of the inquiry would
be an appropriation for tho rewriting
OF the entire City Hall, both for light
ing aud telephone purposes. Tho
building is at present lighted by gas
the electric installation being admit
tedly very defective. so much so that
IT will probably have to be entirely re-
placed.