The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-07
GROWTH OF CITY
CREATES NEEDS
Fire, Health and Police Depart
ments Present Annual
Budgets.
ASK FOR NEW STATION HOUSE
Smallpox Hospital and Motor
Fire Apparatus Among the
Demands.

| were the demands made on its excheQ-
uer by tho three departments-Fire.
Police and Health-which appeared
yesterday afternoon before the Finance
Committee TO explain their needs and
ask for appropriations for 1914. Each
! asked for large increases, representa-
tives of the departments explaining the
need for additional and more efficient
| equipment. and demanded improve
| ments which the eXigencies Of tho day
have made necessary.
The Police Department asked spe-
| officially for $4,000 with which to build
new police station ut Smith and Mar
I shall Streets. In place of the one which
is now old and dilapidated and SO con-
gcsted that often seven or eight pris-
oners are crowded in one cell.
Would Eliminate Call Men.
Tho Fire Department asked for an
appropriation of S11,6i2.40 to change
! sixteen call men to station men, thus
making the entire department sta
toned; s26,750 with which to continue
the work of ''motorizng" tho depart
ment; $17.5oo to establish II new COM
pany in the West End of the city, and
SS,416.4S to pay the officers and men of
tho proposed new company. In CON
nection with the Fire Department. City
Electrician w. IL. Thompson asked for
$4,000, with which to install new CEN
trail fire alarm apparatus in the City
Hall.
The Health Department asked for
$4,000 for new buildings at the Small
poN Hospital, so that white and col
ored patients may be separately housed.
Part of the general expense account or I
the Health Department is to he usen
specifically as vaccination account,
and an increase of $500 is asked. The
department also asks that tho salary
of the Chief Health officer be increased
from $4,000 to $4,000 year. as favor
ably referred to the Finance Committee
by the Administrative Board.
What Police Want.
The claims of the Police Department,
first to he heard, were presented by
Commissioner Il. w. Thomas. He called
especial attention TO the need of new
station.
The payroll Will amount to $780,
$3.50. increase of $3.50 over the
payroll of last year The increase re-
qucsted is for the salaries of two jan
itors at the new police headquarters
and n hostler. The police expense ac-
count amounts to s19,24S.30, an in
crease of about $4,000 over what was
appropriated last year. For the i'm ,
provement and enlargement of the |
signal system tpatrol boxes and wir- |
ing), $4,000 is asked. increase Of
about $500 over the 1918 appropriation
The total appropriation asked is S244.-
1920.
President w. T. Oppenhimer, OF the !
Board of Health. asked for n total APP |
priation OF $4,000, itemized as follows: |,
Payroll, S27,O5Q; general expense ac- /
count, Sl7,500; special vaccination ac- !
count. $500; new building at Small
pox Hospital, $4,000.
The sum OF $4,000 for expense ac-
count was in the budget for 1913, and /
$500 additional is asked for 1914, the !
department desiring especially that |
this be separated into two ltems-S17,- |
$40 for all expenses other than small |
pox and vaccination, and $4,000 for |
smallpox and vaccination account.
New Smallpox Hospital.
In its appeal for new building at |
the Smallpox Hospital. the Health De- |
partment stated that the building for
mcrly used for colored patients has |
become entirely uninhabitable, and the |
only habitable building which the de- !
partment has is used for white and col
orcd cases alike. Fortunately, it did /
not happen that white and coIored !
cases had to be handled at the same |
time during last year.
The estimate OF the needs of the Fire /,
Department. AS explained by l. H !
jenkins, chairman OF the Board Of Fire |
commissioners, covers several pro-
posed improvements. chief among which |
is the gradual installation of motor an |
I.,
firc Board. impressed the Finance Com /
mittee with his view that the motor
ization Of the department would prove |
10 be the cheaper policy in the end |
as the quick moving automobiles would /
90 away with the necessity OF estab- /
fishing new outposts for fire protec-
tioh ana prevention, and by their !
proved efficiency would be generally ,
less costly TO the city. He said that in |
the event of great cOnllagration in /
7 r. 4.
least before help could arrive from |
either Washington or Norfolk. tho two
cities nearest to Richmond, and that |
during thia time such confagration !
could get entirely beyond the control |
of the local department.
Motor Fire Apparatus.
For new motor apparatus S26,750 is
needed. itemized az follows: motor |
tractor for Truck No 9, on Grace
| street. between Eighteen and Nine
teenth streets. 1880; motor pump and !
motor combination chemical and hose |
wagon. $4,000; four chassis to |
change four horsc-drawn wagons |
10 morton machines. $4,000: ten !
motorcycles with vans attached. car ,
rying two men with hand chemical ex-
tlnguishers. crow-bars and axes, at !
$500 each, $4,000. These motorcycle
vans have been proved to be Of eff
hcient service In combating fire in it's
ihcipiency. thus relieving and Keeping
IN t"'i 'ets ior larger hreS the heavy
ana regular fire apparatus.
new company is needed in the
/ west End, according to the depart
! ments statement. and the purchase OF
lot and house, Il motor combination
chemical and hose wagon. other equip
mcnt and salaries for men would re-
/ qulre total OF t25.9l6.iS. Tire esti-
I mated payroll. including the change
OF sixteen call men to station men
/ would be s204.50s.92. For general ex-
! pcnscs $4,000 is asked
I The pNy-roll Of the Fire Alarm De-
/ partlnent liz $Io.054S0 estimated cx-
/ pcnseS. $500: fire alarm construction.
$1,000; replacing central fire alarm Of
| hco equipment. now antiQuated and
| worn, 100000; additional equipment for
! fire alarm service. s3,375, and extern
! sion OF the underground system.
, sll,8O0.
/ The committee will meet again at
| o'clock Friday night tn hear .n1.r.