The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1867-10-16


| DEPARTnsr-THs Orr CouscH Fms Gov.
nrrrEns PRnsnEr.-Lsst evening, st o'clock,
the Board Of Fire oon missionsrs met 10 their
room In the west wing OF the City Hall, and, BY
invitation, Aldermen Tsit, Larman, and Noye',
the two arst-named Of the Committee on the
Fire Depsrtmsnt) and Common Councilman
Knight and Il. ID. b. Miller, (the 6rst-nsmed OF
the 0ommittee on the Fire Department., a.
sembled at the room, a. well as Frank Rives,
esq, one OF the proprietors OF the Congresnonaf
| Gaoos, and tho reporters Of the REPuBLIoAs. In.
fehgeneer, and Star VI the Board Of Fire Com
missionsrs there were present Msssrs. O. ]. Can.
held, j. W. Thompson, j. T. o. Clard, and Chief
Engineer John bessford.
IL was announced that two vehicles were at
the door for the purpose Of conveying the party
| around TO the Inherent engine houses, that the
hre department might DO inspected by those
present.
The hrst point visited By the gentlemen was
the nre alarm telegraph ONCE. Here the polite
and accommodating Pop did the honors by
explaining to the visitors the workings Of his
IRE alarm apparatus, how the alarm was trans
mitted to the Office, and how II was struck on
the large bells and engine house gongs. He
also made known the wants Of the establishment
to the councilmen, which We trust they will
appreciate In an appropriate manner.
| This Office has not room enough here, and the
City Councils should arrange for II to DO ao
| #
Having examined all Of interest here, and
Mr.. Larman, tho practical member, being sstit.
| ned oil the proper working OF this branch Of the
department. We took Eats In the vehicles, and
soon found ourselves, engineered BY Chief Set7-
lord, on our way to Columbia engins.house, No.
., on Capitol Hill Here M. James Lowe the fore.
| man, showed US through the house, and pointed
out, among other natter, the fact that they are
hampered for want Of room enough to make them
| comfortable because OF the fact that the old
volunteer oompany-Columbia engine company
Of which Colonel TAFT was, for many years, pres.
ident-still occupy q couple Of the best and
handiest rooms for their own use.
This state Of Affairs should not exist when an
appropriation OF the small sum Of $500 will
buy the entire right and title to the house. One
OF the committee made an examination Of one Of
the hremens beds, when ho discovered that the
piilow.oases were filled With whalebone shavings
instead OF feathers, they projecting through the
ticking, making q rather uncomfortable resting
place Tor the head These are part Of fraud
perpetratsd on the department by one Of our
auction establishment', and may be. for aught
| We Know, part OF the yellow fever goods brought
70 TINS city BY the celebrated REBEL Dr. Black
burn
Inc apparatus was oil found In good condition
and excellent order.
The Columbia Library Association still have
their library In this house. This Is an associa.
| 'a-N "e9 " Nohb'oeo whuy yodiE
since.
Among the curiosities We observed In the hall,
Is a list Of the old membership Of Columbia Fire
Company, presented to that body by the Pioneer
| Hook and Ladder Company OF Baltimore, Nd.
II has attached the name Of Mrs Edward II.
Pendleton, highly priSed patron Of the CON.
pany, now deceased. A cast of her bust now
adorns the room but 1t will soon be Transferred,
We learn, to tho Smithsonian Institution, in the
care Of Prof. Henry.
We hero saw a sorrowful memsnto Of the
noble and ree-hearted friend, DeDjamin Grcnup,
who was killed twelve or fourteen years since
by being run over by the engine as It passed down
Capitol Hill. Tho memento referred to Is the
clothes in which no was killed. It will b. 70.
collected that the 6remen erected over his 70.
mains, 10 Glonwood cemetery, fitting monu.
mont. Some Of tho surroundings to this monu
ment are yet to DO provided II any funds are
left, after these paid for they will DO applied
for some benevolent purpose. There Is here,
also, q select cabinet Of minerals that are worth
beholding The horse stable was visited next
which was found In proper trim
All hands seated themselves again In the car
rage, and Chief Sessford piloted US to the
Metropolitan Hook and Ladder Company q house
on Massachusetts, avenue, between Fourth anC
Fifth streets.
Mr.. John T. Chancsy showed the folks around
and they expressed themselves well pleased with
parts. This house Is very much too small fol
the purpose now used; and II is hoped an nd
joining lot osn be purchased soon on which e
extend the building, SO that the horss.stablO
need not be In the house and under tho noses OIL
the fremen continually We noticed here that
the beds were furnished with the same class oil
pillows used at No. 8 house. There were other
defects pointed out here, which We hope the
Committees on the Fire Department noted, and
will act accordingly.
From this point We jostled along I'D Massa.
ohusetu avenue to X street north, and thence
to the new engine house at Seventeenth street.
This house Is progressing finely, and II Is be-
lievsd Engine Company No. / can move into II
by the 10th Of December next.
The party did not halt here, but made their
way to Union Engine House No. l. In the First
ward. Here they alighted and entered the
house, we were about to say-shed occupiod by
the fremen. This Is not only an uncomfortable
place for aremon, even. 10 inhabit, hut IA A al.
grace to the Fire Department, and not only To
Il, but to the city itself. Notwith ,tandipg this
| encouraging state Of affairs, the dremep, under
the able and gentlemaniy foremanship of M
VIM. Goddard, had everything In apple pie or.
der. We trust they will get into their new an.
gins house before tho cold weather sets In,
The party went down the Avenue to Frank.
| lin epgipo. bou,e No Q mart and tbsy var.