Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-10-16
The Washington City Fire Department.


Council, last evening inspected the Fire De-
partment Of this city There was present
Aldermen TAFT and Larman, OF the Alder
men Fire COMMITTEE Alderman G. S. Noyes
| s. Miller Of the Council Fire Department
COMMITTEES Fire Commissioners Charles i
Garfield, J; r 9. Clarke, and Jno. w. Tnomp-
| son; Chief Engineer John H. Sessford: Franz
| Rives, proprietor of the Globe, ard several
representatives Of the Washington press. TIE
gentlemen above named assembled a. the CITY
Hall At haif-past7 O'clock, where the ambu-
lance OF the union Engine No. 1 and the Uhief
Engineers wagon were waiting to convey the
ONO ais TO the various engine houses. The
nrst pace visited was the Central Office OF the
ere alarm and Police Telegraph, at police
headquarters, opposite the City Hall The
visitors were received by the polite aud gen.
tlemanly Superintendent, A. s. Talcott, Esq.
who Immediately proceeded to explain the
workings Of the Instruments; first explaining
the street boxes, in which there is a plate with
inches therein, and By turning the crank to
sound the alarm OF fire the circuit is broken by
these inches, which are close together to form
dots and wide apart to form dashes. When a
street box Is touched, small bell in the Office
gives notice, and the operator Immediately
| adjusts the machine and receives the alarm by
dots and dashes which are recorded bv the in-
strument on strip of paper. There are three
different circuits which extend to different parts
OF the CITY. And the wires connecting with the
alarm boxes are separate from those by which
the large bells are struck. Upon receiving the
alarm at the central office. the operator
the bells. and by pulling q small knob strikes
the bells. In the sleeping room al the centra
office there is a large gong, which is wound ur
at night and the very moment that a street box
is touched starts the gong, which makes noise
enough to wake up fifty persons. Superiu
tendent Taleott has for his assistants Messrs
George H. Noyes and Lewis p. Seibold, two
gentlemen, who are well qualified for their
po.itions. About the rooms there is an appear.
snce OF neatness. the ins.ruments-whicna are
OF the FIRST class-are kept in excellent order.
Mr.. Talcott and his assistants are ALWAYS
pleased to receive visitors and show them the
workings OF the instruments. The officials
last evening having spent some time in exam
lining theinstruments. and they beIng explained
by MIR. Talcott. expressed themselves highly
pleased The party were then seated in the
conveyances and proceeded to No. Engine
house, Columbia on Capitol hill, upon ar
irving there they were received by Mr. James
Lowe. foreman. who escorted them through
large heavy reels built by Ives L Co., in Bal
timore. at cost of 500. They are much
crowded at the engine house on accoant o the
two rooms on the second floor being occupied
by the Columbia Library Association, which is
chartered by Congress. This property for
merly belonged to the Columbia Engine Com
Pany, ana tney Ie1ained these rooms tor their
use, but now propose to surrender all their
right to the property fer the sum OF $500, IN
addition to $500 already appropriated for
tne purcnase OF the bell there, which
also belonged TO the cid organization The
library here is fitted up in excellent style and
furnished very handsomely. Should the Cor.
poration accept the offer OF the Association and
take the rooms. the members propose TO turn
over the books to some literary organization,
and the money realized from the sale OF the
furniture with any surplus funds in the treas.
poration, will be given to some charitable in.
stitution The Library Association also own
valuable cabinet OF minerals and curiosities,
among which is bottle of holy water from
the Pope, brought here by the late Mrs PendIe-
ton. The clothes of the lamented Ben (4ren
up, being the suit he wore when killed by the
engine running over him, are at the engine
house enclosed by glass case. The
third story Of the building is occupied as
| The sleeping room for the members and is fur.
nished with ten single bedsteads, all kept neat
| and clean. Attached to this room there is q
| large bathroom, with washstauds, &c.
large number OF pictures which have been
purchased by the members of the company
adorn the walls. The handsome banner which
! was presented to the old Columbia BY Mrs
| Pendleton Will be presented to the members
OF No. 3. Col. James A. TAFT was president of
| is much esteemed by all the members 1t is
| TO be hoped that the corporate authorities will
purchase the right to all the building, which
can be done with an additional appropria-
ton OF hve hundred dollars, and thus give the
members OF No. 81 steamer comfortable q uarters.
The pictures owned by the old Columbia will
also be presented TO the members of No
The visitors having been shown through the
building, next visited the stable, in the base.
menf, which is fitted up very neatly 10, the
large Newfoundland dog who constantly rms
with the machine. was about last evening, and
went through with the visitors, always taking
the lead After thorough examination the
omclals expressed themselves highly pleased.
and left for the truck house on Massachusetts
avenue. Upon arriving here, Mr.. John T.
Chancey escorted them through the building
The first examination was Of the hose carriage
built by Messrs. Nc Donald and McDade. Of
this city, at cost OF $3.50. THIS carriage
| Is SAID to be fully equal to those
| cost much smaller sum. The truck was neg
examined. and much praised. This also is O.
piece OF washington mechanism, having been
| built about eight months since by Messrs' Hall
| Langley. OF this city, at a cost of 81, 400. In
| the rear part OF this room are the hort es. and
| they attracted much attention, being large and
sleeping apartments on the second foor-a
| large hail, with a number OF neat and clean
single beds. The floor is carpeted, ana the
walls ADORNED with many pictures, all Of
| set alone costing SIS. The bath and washing
| room and stting-room were also examined
after which the visitors proceeded to the
Union engine. house, At the corner OF 2st street
ana pennsylvania avenue. This is raiser.
able frame building. entirely unfit for an en-
gne-nouse Nevertheless. there was an ap-
pearance OF neatness a5out the place, and the
members seem determined to make the best out
| OF a bad building. The large bay horse sSan, .
said to be the finest horse in the department,
| was much admired: This company also has
q reel built by Mcdonald & McDade, OF this
| city. The new engine. house for the Union,
on n, near l7th street is rapidly approaching
| SoAAP ouu IL IL iuOuRut Will De ready for
| occupancy about the first of December, am
| when they get possession they will soon have
| 1t ntted up in handsome manner The sleep
| ing room here is on the ground floor. and very
| email, but looks as comfortable and nea. as
possible After thorough inspection
| the party again took their seats in the
| ambulances, and proceeded to the Franklin
| Engine House, on ID street. Here thew were
| received by Mr.. Goddard, foreman, and es-
| corted through. After examining the appars.
tus, stables, horses, DC. they were invited M
| stars TO the sleeping apartment which is very
| neat ana comfortable. The floor is carpesd
and the room furnished with ten single beds,
all neat and clean. The walls are adorne ed
with numbers OF pictures, all Of which were
| Parcnased oy or presented TO the company
AT the END OF the room there are number Of
wardrobes, imitation Of oak, each one bearing
| NUMBER. The sitting room. adjoining the
Sleeping room, Is also carpeted. ana the walls
| thereof adorned with pictures, among
which Is large one containing the pho.
tograpn OF each member OF the com panv m ade
by John Golden, Esq, the whole enclosed in
massive gilt frame, emoellshed with repre-
sentano0s OF hremen- The engine house is Ger.
family very comfortable one. an with a small
appropriation to repair the roof can be M ada
the best In the city. Having spent some time
here the visitors were about to return 70 thar
ambulanees when general alarm of FIRE was
sruck nom box 80, at the corner of 7th street
west and ID street south, (Island) The alarm
was seanded At i've minutes before 10 o'cIocK
ana In just 20 seconds the horses were hitahea
mp and the engine and hose carriage out The
omefals took their seats in the ambul nees and
followed. and m n TO h~f IN o,,,s.tS