Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-02-20
'F|REMEN RESENT
BOARDS CRITICISM
Large Gathering Last Night
in Rooms Of Chamber
of Commerce.
MEET UNDERWRITERS
Fire Conditions in Alexandria Not
Believed to Warrant Insurance En-.
gineers' Recommendations.

The rooms of the Chamber o
Commerce were packed last nigh
with members, city officials, mem
bers of the Retail Merchants AS
sociation, firemen and other repre-
sentative citizens who had accepted
the invitation to meet the Nationa
Board Of Underwriters for the pur'
pose of considering present condi-
tons in this city in regard to pro
per water supply and the condition
of the city's fire department.
James Duncan, president OF the
Chamber of Commerce, called the
assembly to order and explained the
objects of the meeting. Messrs. j.
M. Waller, George B. Jennings, F.
j. Mccarthy, U. o. Michaels and NJ.
Travers, all of Richmond, composed
the Board OF Fire Underwriters.
The meeting was in session over
an hour, and although there were
earnest colloquies at times between
Alexandrians and members Of the
board concerning the city's fire de-
partment, everything was carried 'on
in the best humor.
j. NJ. Waller, chairman of the
board, was the first speaker. He re-
ferred to the visit of fire engineers
to Alexandria in August, 1913, and
the report they submitted at that
time. They found, he said, made
quate supply of water, the fire de-
partment in bad shape and the water
works unsatisfactory. He said moth
ing had been done in the way of
bringing about improved conditions
and the mission Of the board to this
city on this occasion was to further
the matter to see if some start could
not be made toward bringing about
conditions in accord with the recon-
mendations of the engineers. Con.
ditions, he thought, should be reliev-
ed. Mr.. Waller referred to the size
of the mains on Cameron and Union
Streets, which the engineers had de-
clared inefficient: for the locality
where so many business houses were
situated.
Councilman John Leadbeater, a
member of the Columbia Fire Com
pany, wanted to now in what respect
the engineers regarded the fire de-
partment as being in bad shape.
The city had an extra steam engine
and reel. together with one. thou
sand feet of new hose. The companies
were working in the most harmonious
manner.
Mr.. Waller aisclaimed any at
tention of criticising the Alexandria
Fire Department. He was merely
quoting from the engineers report
which stated that the city was sadly
lacking in apparatus.
1t had also been thought that Alex.
andria should have paid fire de-
partment, ire trucks instead of those
operated by horses and a fire alarm
system. The board had come to Alex
andria for the purpose Of holding a
conference with officials and citizens
generally in order to ascertain II
something could be done towards car
rying out the recommendations of
The engineers as submitted in then
report.
Councilman Albert Bryan suggest
I'D that recommendations for an I'm
proved service did not necessarily
mean that the present system of tn
city was inefficient.
Mr. Waller, continuing, asserted
that volunteer firemen were not al
ways ready to respond to alarms
They generally had their private
business to attend to-. while the pait
men were ever on the job. Henc,
the inefficiency Of the volunteer sys
tenn.
Councilman Harry Burke said tn
firemen were early at the scene on al
occasions. Thy never had over hal
mile to 60 no matter in what SET
tion of the city FIRE occurred. 4
believed volunteer system was MOI