The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-12
REPORTS
ON FIRE HAZARD
Says Eighty-Two Acres in Con-
gestcd District Are in
Danger.
COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE
Joint Conference Will Discuss
Plan for Improving Water
Distribution.
COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE

An area of eighty-two acres in
Richmond'c congested value district,
according to a newly compiled report
OF an expert fire protection engineer.
is inadcquately protected against con-
Migration. because of tho absence of
an efficient water distribution system.
The report, which was prepared In
the interest Of underwriting com
panies doing business In this city, goes
In considerable detail into local con-
ditions.
Coming as II does on the eve Of q
council conference on the nre hazard.
the statement presented By the FIRE
expert Is especially significant The
citys shortcomings in respect Of wa
ter distribution wero noted in the
recommendation tho Council Commit
tee on Public Buildings. Properties
and Utilities has appointed n special
subcommittee to confer with delega-
tons from the Administrative Board
and the Board OF Fire Commissioners
upon q plan to remedy conditions. The
committee will hold its first meeting
! tomorrow night.
wnter Supply.
A condensed abstract OF the fre
experts report on local conditions
follows:
Except for increasing the pumping
capacities in connection with the high
service supply. tho laying Of dupli-
cate force main and small portion
OF the necessary reinforcement of tho
distribution system. very little has
been accomplished along the lines re-
commended IN the national boards re-
port Of 1906. No particularly import
! ant improvements arc authorized or
contemplated for the near future sup
ply works are ample and reliable. ex.
cept for thu high service. but low pres
sures and an inefficient distribution
! system result in very inadequate
| supply for fire protection.
Fire Department.
The department has been placed
more nearly upon n full paid basis,
forty call men having been replaced
by paid men and forty-four men hav-
Ing been added to the fire force. Four
new fire stations. one replacing an old
station. have been built and a repair
shop has been provided. Four new
engines, two being automobiles with
reciprocating pumps. three horse
drawn combination chemical and hose
wagons. two automobile aerial ladder
trucks, three automobiles for chiefs.
three fuel and supply wagons.
$500 feet OF three-inch and $500 feet
of ? l2-inch hose and much minor
equipment have been purchased. 1t is
stated that the fire department is to
be placed upon fun paid basis next
year by replacing the call men with
ment Is q we'll organized. efficient and
fairly strong force. in charge of ex-
perienccd officers.
Fire Alarm System.
An operator and lineman have been
added TO the force, sixty-four public
No =, al eI
sixtyseven OF the old boxes provided
with double point key breaks and nine
teen with keys attached under glass
guards; money has been authorized for
providing key breaks and keys at
tached under guard for all street boxes.
The overhead construction has been
largely rebuilt and underground cir
cults materially extended. The con-
struction force has been provided with
an automobile. Other improvements
are contemplated. Fire alarm system
fairly well maintained, but or insult
able type; headquarters equipment
mostly obsolete and unreliable. Tele-
phones are largely used for alarms.
building Department.
Building code enacted in July. 1908,
created the Office of Building Inspector
and prescribing fire limits, which were
extended in December. 1911. Laws, how
ever. are deficient in many important
points. although their enforcement is
good. Structural conditions in the
| congested district are weak. particu-
larly in the older buildings. Within
the district there are fifteen fireproof
buildings. ten of mill or semimill con-
struction, and thirty operative sprink-
Ter equipments Frame construction
covers about IS per cent Of the total
area occupied by buildings. This later
report outlines a somewhat larger con-
gested district. and also an important
mercantile district along Broad Street
| Laws and their enforcement regarding
explosives and inflammable and also
| electricity, remain about the same, and
local conditions are generally good.
| ConHnGrntion Hazard.
In the congested value district, which
| has an area of S2.S acres. or about .l3
| OF a square mile, construction is main
| ~ weak, much of the district Is con
gested, some of the blocks are large.
most of the streets are narrow. high
winds are frequent, sprinkler equip
ments are comparatively few. there are
many confiagration breeders. the water
supply is inadequate. and. although the
fire department Is efficient and fairly
| strong, fires beyond It's control are
probable, and such fires could easily
involve considerable portions Of the
district
The Broad Street mercantile district
| Is OF similar construction and likewise
subject to bad fires, but Broad Street
is wide U1S feeD. blocks arc small.
| the district is narrow. and fires should
! be local.
| The residential sections nre largely
brick or detached frame dwellings, with