The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-11
BOARD REFUSES
TO LIMIT SPEED
Rejects Proposal to Restrict Ap-
paratus to Twenty Miles
an Hour.
FIRE CHIEF AGAINST. 1T
Chief Joyncs and President lay
lor Lead Attack on Chairman
Lecky's Report.

BY vote OF to the Board OF
the report or the special committee
on the speed Of motor apparatus which
recommended among other Things that
twenty miles an hour be fixed as the
maximum speed for any piece OF APP
paratus responding to an alarm The
decision was reached after an hour
OF warm debate in which Chief Joynes
and President Charles F. Taylor look
a decided STAND against any fixed
limit
The committees report was present
ed by its chairman, Robert Lecky, Jr.
1t provided a maximum speed of twenty
miles an hour except in cases where
the fire WAS more than two miles dis
tant from the nearest station or where
the alarm was turned in from private
boxes in hospitals and asylums. The
report recommended also that the
tires of all motor apparatus be equip
ped with chains to prevent sllidding.
Favor No Speed Limit
President TAYLOR, of the Fire Board.
took firm stand against the adoption
Of the report. He was supported by
Chief Joynes and members OF the
board, who Joined in n general attack
TO place a speed limit upon its fire
apparatus. they agreed, would make
Richmond the laughing stock among
the cities OF the country, and expose
the department to the censure OF those
VINO suffer fire losses who even under.
the most favorable conditions raise
the cry that responses to alarms arc
tardy
President Taylor called attention to
the fact that To fiX definite speed
limit would I've to invite damage suits
and endless litigation. In case of in
jury to pedestrians any number OF
witnesses could be secured who would
swear that tho piece OF apparatus at
fault was going faster than twenty
miles an hour, and was there fore
culpable and liable for damages under
the s,tirc Boards own ruling
The tendency to overcstimate the
speed OF motor vehicles, 1t was point
ed out. is common. One member OF
the board quoted a citizen who said
he was willing 10 swear that the new
motor truck on q particular occasion
was making between sixty and sew
cnty miles an hour, whereas as n
matter Of fact. its makers state that
IL cannot do better than thirty-two.
The committees report was put to
vote and rejected. ; TO 3, tho mem
bcrs voting as follows: Noes-W. a.
Nhcat" oou, w. ~ ffankHn. Ch3rleS
Keppler. John Mann, Jr., and Charles
f. Taylor; ayes-1. c. Jenkins. Robert
Lccky, Jr.. and S. B. Tyler.
Elect New Fircmcn.
The board elected from the eligible
list the following new men to posi-
tons as fremen, Grade Is: w. Il.
Brown, John j. Grace, Il. t. Chandler
T.. y. Gam, w. j. Mcnamara, G. r.
Priddy, ]. II. GUST. G. G. Richardson.
S. s. Sharpe and b. l.. Brown.
March G was fixed as the date for
opening the new station in South
Richmond. AT Tenth and cambridge
street which will ne known as Truck
Company No. D Lieutenant w. c..
Matt. OF Engine Company No. :, was
promoted to be captain OF the new
station. r. L. Milliken. of Truck
Company No. l. and George w. Lee
OF Engine Company No. =. were as
signed to the new station as tiller
and driver respectively.
y committee composed Of Messrs
Franklin. Cheatwood and Lecky was
appointed by President Taylor to pro-
mote sixteen men at present on the
call list 10 Grade r. and make all as
signmcnts and transfers arising from
the shifting, incident TO the establish
ment Of the new station.
The following men We're placed on
the eligible list: c. y. Simms. l.. ~
Ciucci. j. X PasedaC and G. II. Chaun-
cey The resignation of +. j. Sites,
Grade Is. Of Engine Company No. l.
was accepted and a. L. Davenport
OF the eligible list. was elected 10 the
vacancy.