Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-10-27

| cees, near fHteenh street west, to Third
street west, by removing the north wall t.
| within sixty.four feet Of the south wall, ex.
| teldiDg the sewers, shortening the bridges ex
casaung the reduced canal, Gsixty feet wide,)
50 as 10 nave at least four feet of water therein
| a. all times, as required by the act OF Congress
OF May 81, 1862, and filing the space conse-
| qaent on said reduction to the established
| grade OF B street north.
| The following bills from the Board OF Con, /.
| mon Council were referred, viz: An act 10
| take up and relay the cutters on B street north
ton Of instruction to the committee to represent
| he interest OF the Corporation before Congress.
| The following We're passed. Bill to grade F
! street north from 9TH to 7th street west; and
NIL to repair LIST street, from Maryland avenue
| tothe canal.
The Common Council resolution, extending
Welcome to the Russian officers, was also re-
eeiyed, and Mr.. Pepper moved to lay it on the
table.
F Mr.. Lloyd hoped not. The act might be mis-
Mr. PEPPER argued that they could not mis-
construe it. Almos. as soon as the board met
tnls evening, he {Mr. p. had introduced a res
olution OF the same import, and 1t had been sent
70 the Board o: Common Council, and yet the
one their own. This thing had been done often
before this, and he was opposed to allowing the
lower board thus to do as they pleased in these
matters. He Mr.. P.l did not desire to figure
prominently in this matter, but he thought the
question was one OF courtesy and etiqu uette He
was in favor Of honoring tie Russian Govern
ment, lor 1t was the only nation that had showed
us any favor in our struggle but the resolution
ground. E5.a
Other members OF the Board expressed their
appreciation OF the course of the Russian Gov
frnment. but also thought that the Common
council had, by their action, overstepped the
bounds OF courtesy.
Mr.. Brown moved to amend by extending to
visitors cordial welcome, but striking ont
that part rendering them banquet, and the
resolution passed as amended.
Mr.. Utermehle introduced a resolution which
was adopted, requesting the President OF the
hoard OF Aldermen to have the Alderman's
Chamber properly fitted up for the exclusive
use of the Board, and that alspeciai privileges
for the use OF the room be rescInded.
Mr. Tnrton introduced q bill TO trim and
gravel II street north, from 18th to 24th street
west, which was referred. and the Board ad-
iourned.
was received from the Mayor transmitting the
tenth monthly report OF the chief engineer Of
the Fire Department.
All the apparatus is in working order except
the Metropolitan Truck, whi ch needs a general
overhanling. He suggests that some one person
should be appointsd.to keep the apparatus in
order, or make it the duty Of the chief to have
1t put in order.
Mr.. Thompson the assistant, reports all the
tour-way plugs he was able to get at, except
the one at the corner Of + aud Sixth streets, In
order; some have lost the caps. The following
will be difficult to use by reason of the streets
being filled up, covering The openings or leaving
great holes in which the water settles:-Third
and Z, 9Th and /. f and /, ith and Indiana av-
enue, 18th and /, and 18th and /. Some are
covered entirely, and in some cages there is a
foot or more Of water over them, and during
the winter they will be frozen so as to be Of no
At the hre- on Sun inst , on New Jersey
aVenne, there was from five 10 ten thousand
dollars worth of property destroyed, which
could ha we been saved il the engineers had had
entire control Of the depaI tment and police.
At the fire cnsthe 18th instant, in the Monu-
ment Square, the inefficiency of our fire de-
psrtment was SO c0mpleuely shown mp that he
would have been ashamed of it had he not
known it was not to blame. But the whole
volunteer department is radically wrong The
whole department was out and did not number
over fifty men. There was not an engine on
the ground except the Franklin's and there
TO work them, and the whole cry was no ater,
when the canal is within 600 feet with plenty
OF water in it, and the whole department was
directed to 60 home except the Columbia, who,
with their hose, had q stream of water from
one Of the Government engines, and the Frank
lin remained with their hose at the request Of
Col. Beckwith. Eight mon Of the Columbia,
and /. dozen of the Franklin, never left their
pipes except for few moments, at the request
Of Mr.. Dixon, Chief Of the Government depart.
ment, ter about ten hours. Between nine and
ten an alarm was rung for the Hook and Lad.
der Companies, and when the American ar.
rived they were so completely exhausted that
tan had but few hooks to work with, and no
men TO work them. He expresses his regrets
that Al this fire there was much disorder, the
Officers appearing to have no control over their
men, showing but little respect for their OH GERS
The Chief was obliged TO interfere, and says
that he will report all that. he can identity 10
the department, and ii the proper action is
not taken, he will report 10 the Councils. The
members of one Of the companies were nearly
all drnAk. At the fire on the 2lst stant there
was no attention paid to his orders except by
a lew. He ordered all the water to be stopped
except one straam from the franklin, When
some neighbor~ brought ont refreshment, and
they all left the house excepting one man, who
was afterward joined by three or four, who
assisted to move the hose, aud left again. When
the wafer was ordered of, mo one could be
found 10 do it, and the Assistant Engineer had
lie invites particular attention TO this part
OF his report, and states that we have the poor.
est and most expensive department of any city
of like size in the Union. He asks what right
work for nothing; getting ont of their beds At.
all hours of the night, or leaving their business
orpleasuIe9 When they 80 to q fire they work
untiithey get tired and then stop leaving the
house to burn. What right have we TO compel
them TO work, when there are hundreds stand
ing around, who have just as much interest in
the fires. and who would let the fire burn with
the nremen in II, before they would lend a
helping hand, although they are always giving
their advice and interfering with the men He
again urges the purchase of q steam hre en-.
dependence is to be placed in the hand engines.
lie thinks that with an appropriation OF 4l,000
some arrangement can be made by which we
could locate fire when it occurs, and thereby
save much valuable property.
Since his last report there has been eight
alarms, seven actual, and one caused by camp
or bon fire. The first occurred ut OK O'clock on
Septe mber 30th, in the two. story brick building
owned and occupied by +. Butler, on Four
teenth street, near Pennsylvania avenue. Loss
about Slo0; tully insured in the Liverpool In
suranee Co.: supposed incendiarism The
second occurred on the eth inst, in the three
story frame dwelling, No $50 street north.
Damage trifiing; supposed incendiarism. The
third occurred on the 9th inst, on New Jersey
avenue, between B and streets north, and
destroy ed tw o one and one two.story buildings.
which were completely destroyed. The cause
OF the hre is unknown. The loss is about
$1,000, and were owned and occupied by
Messrs. Lester, Morgan, and O'LeaIy. The
fourth occurred on the ,lith inst, on I. street
north, between Second and Third streets east,
which destroyed small quantity OF hay be-
longing to the Government The nth occurred
on the 18th inst, at 3 g. M, and destroyed
large frame shed with contents, on the wash
ington Monument grounds, owned by the Gov
ernnent, and used AS store house for feed;
cause unknown. The sixth occurred on the
same day as the last, in the frame stable Of
bonse 39l sonth Il street, occupied and owned
by Mrs. Vanhorn. Loss about $25, incendlary.
u tt>ns sNrc %