Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-22
Condition and Needs Of the Fire De.
partment.

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
The report of the Commissioners of the Fire
Department, sent to the Legislature yesterday,
covers the period from April 1, 1872, to March
81, 1873. New engine houses are asked for COM
panies Nos. and 5, the former on account of
tne extension OF the Capitol grounds, and the
latter an account OF its untenabe condition and
uhftness for the use to which il is devoted. A
new engine company in the northern section of
the city, and new book and ladder company at
the west end, are urgently recommended.
The reconstruction and extension of the fire
alarm telegraph Is also urgently recommended.
HE report says; Saving of valuable time by
The use OF the electric fire alarm effects the
rescue of millions of dollars worth of valuable
property from the flames every year; without il
the best organized force is comparatively in
efficient; with il, the usefulness of the depart
nent Is increased in a ratio which makes the
expense Insignificant in comparison. Our city
was one of the first to adopt the fire alarm tele-
graph, but that was many years ago, and now
large portion OF the most valuable property i'm
Washington and Georgetown is outside of the
Limits or the area guarded by the wires. This
may result at any time in a disastrous cOnia-
grafton. Worse than that. is the fact that the
area covered by the system is very ineffi ciently
protected, ard misplaced confidence in the
than the absence of the telegraph.
The turing In OF wrong number by these old
boxes, by which the departments mlsled mig ht
quired to do the needed work"
The following are the estimates of expendi-
lures Tor the next fiscal year:-Salaries, S5s 100;
repairs 10 apparatus, 40 600; horse feed, 30 900:
supplies OF all kinds, %, 900; repairs to houses
5000; nre-aiarm telegraph, 2,5Oe; repairs to
harness. 500; washing, 5000; fuel and pas
$40; horseshoeing $500; eight thousand feet
new hose, Sl2,S0; six new horses, =, loo; re-
building houses for companies No. 3 and s.
$4,000; deficiency for 1872, Sl4.6I6: deficlencv
for 1873, 5000; total, sl36, SIC.
The commissioners ask the passage of an act
BY the Legislature requiring the construction of
hre-walls In all rows OF buildings. Especial at
fennon Is called to the necessity of making the
penses, and to pay the Indebtedness already in
CURED, as one OF the causes which 20 to swell
the cost OF running the department is the fact
Inat dealers who furnish them are compelled To
wait for yea for their money. The hose of
the department is stated at about 4.OO0 feet
most Of whichis well worn and not able 10 stand
the pressure.
The chief engineers report shows that the
whole number of alarms during the year were
152, Of which 9 were false, from chimnevs' and
3 test alarms Total alleged loss by the other
13o nres, S162 100; insurance, SIS ,OOo of this
the loss by the fire at the National Theater and
at the G street wharf is put down at SIPS 600
leaving the loss by the other 13i fires but $50 100
The number of fires as compared with the aver
age OF the past eight years shows an increase of
20, and the losses az compared with the same
averages show an increase of $4,000.
The superintendent Of the alarm telegram
recommends the reconstruction and extension
of the telegraph and the substitution of 100 au-
tomato for the % crank-boxes now in USE He
estimates the cost of the work, including 3 new
bell-strikers, tnIee-dial repeater, 100 auto
matte alarm-boxes, 5 g0n2s roi e.Sine-houses,
switch board, 100 cells additional battery $50
miles or line, poles included, insulated wire for
boxes and othce, at $50 aeQ