Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-01-27
LOCAL NEWS.

TIE REPORT OF THE CHEF ENGINEER OF
THEFIRE DEPARTMENT.-Thet twelfth monthly
report Of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Depart
ment was sent to the Common Council on
Monday night.
The apparatus is in about the same condition
as last reported, with the exception that the
house, and an appropriation is asked to pur.
chase the same amount Tor each engine COM
pany.
Immediate erection of fire alarm telegraph
and tha purchase of steam fire engines and
states that the fire on the 1lth instant on Cap
itUl Hill, fully proved the necessity Of steam
engines on the high grounds Of the city; besides
it is impossible to get men to work hand engines
The same fire proved the necessity for the erec.
tion Of fire. alarm telegraph, as 1t was quite II
not more than fifteen minutes after the fire was
discovered before the alarm bell OF the Colum-
bia was rung, although the engine house was
but three squares from the fire and police
station midway between the engine house and
became general, il it ever became so, as only
five Of the eight companies were on the ground.
Since the last report there has been eight
alarms; four false and eight actual fires, as
follows: The first at six p. m. on the 1st inst,
in the house owned by Daniel Kealy and occu.
pied by Mrs Clum on Virginia avenue between
Sth and 9th streets east, caused from q burning
chimney-damage slight; on the morning of the
11th inst, in the frame stable at the southeast
corner of Sd street east and Pennsylvania ave-
nue., which spread to the two-story dwelling Of
3. owned
by DIR. Bates, involving a total loss Of about
&6,0GO on which DIR. Bates was insured for
5000 in the Mutual Company-cause incen.
diarism; on the 18th inst, at half past eleven D.
m, which destroyed small frame dwelling
owned and occupied by Mrs. Shea, on 2Uth
street, between and L-loss about $780, cause
incendisrism; on the 18th inst, at four o. m,
on Maryland avenue destroying a small guam
tity Of hay belonging to the United States Gov
erpment.
The false alarms were all caused by the
ringing Of church bells. which are the cause
of nearly all alarms, owing to our not having
a proper system of alarms. The fire bells
should be hung stationary, and rung quick
the direction OF the fire from the engine. house
giving the alarm to be struck at least ten min.
utes after the alarm becomes general
During the year ending December both there
were 121 alarms, OF which 73 were for actual
fires; Al Of which required the ser vices of some
portion of the department; were from bon
fires, 8 from burning chimneys, 81 were false,
from fireworks, from fires beyond the city,
I from q tar-pot, from a tar barrel. and rom
lime. kilns. The loss Of property amonntea TO
$l3l, ,212 Is; amount of insurance on buildings,
Sl4o,3CO amount paid by the insurance com
panies, Sol, ,2O7 IS; showing saving of $79,-
US2 IS TO the insurance companies. Inc loss to
our own citizens above insurance was 5000
as Sl5OOO was Government property. OF these
fires o, were incendiary; supposed incen-
diary, and unknown, making 3S which could
he set down showing that more than one. half
were the work of incendiaries: Tnere has been
but one fire OF any note at which the chief or
assisiant er eineer was not present as prompt
ne nossible. The companies have also been
nronpt. The chief has been ont to 26 alarms
and 81 actual fires, the assistant to g alarms
and SO nree; The Coiumbia has been out 70 times
and in service 20 times; the Union out i6 times
and In service z; the Anacostia 81 times and IL
times in service; the Franklin tH3 times, in SER
vice " times; the Perseverance, 1Oi times, ia
service ~ times; the Western Hose IS times. In