National Republican., 1875-12-02
rrar connrssIonxRs
Meeting Of the Beara-Nsv Engine Company
To bs Northumberland pusinsss-

FIRE coKMfseI0zKRs.
Hsstinr Of the Board-Nsw Engine Company
to bs Estahiishsd-Gsnsrsl Businsss-
The Board Of Fire Commissioners met last even
ing. Commissioner Morgan in the chair Present:
Commissioners TAFT, Bacon, Collins, Reed, Hume
and Thomas; also. General J. H. Ketehum, OF
the District OommissIoners. The secretary. M
Reed, read the minutes OF the last and sper AL
meeting. which were approved.
Chief Engineer Oronin submitted his U .ou.hIy
report ~ follows:
CHIEF ExeIsxKR's nEPoRr.
OyTIcE CHIzF EseISEER FIRE D kpARrxusr.
WAsHIseros Dec /. 1875
To the Board Of Fire Cor:miss.oners,
GKSTIENEs: have the nonor to submit the
following report for the rxonth Of November:
There were nineteen alarms for fires, which In
volvsd an estimated loss to property Of Sl7,loo,
wiih,sn insurance on ssms Of sl42so.
One offhere fires occurred on the 5th instant, at
1s75 p. m. 1t was occssioned by the explosion of
Q acoal-oil lamp In frame house situated In an
alley between Sixteenth and Seventeenth and L
and N streets northwest. When discovered the
fire had gained full hesdway, and resulted in
less 10 property Of $780, and the burning to death
Of three children.
The department promptly responded to the
elerm on this occs son, but was unable to prevent
tns catastrophe, owing to the Indammsbie nature
carriage Of engine No. met with Q very serious
accident on the morning Of the 14th ultimo while
responding to an alarm OF hre from box No.125,
corner Of Seventh and streets northwest. Tne
accident occurred on X street, between Eleventh
and Twelfth streets, and was not caused by care
lessness or insttention; but, from the statement
Of the foreman Of the company, who was on the
seat Of the carriage with the driver at the time t
was due entirely to the slippery condition OF the
concrete pavement One Of the horses has 50 far
recovered IS to be now in service, and the other
is In fair way Of recovery. Fortunately, none
efthe men were hurt, and the carriage was only
slightly damaged.
The several foremen report the supply of hose
as becoming Short aud I recommend the pur.
chase Of 200 feet.
Five new horses we're purchased during the
month, and are now In service.
Charges have been preferred against John NJ
Moore, engineer Of Company No. 4; also against
Foreman Lowe, OF Company No. 3. John O'Neil,
a temporary private on Engine 90. No. 4, tender
ed his resignation. Commissioner Hume appoint
ed John W. Robinson TO fill the vacancy, and Mr..
Robinson has been assigned to duty on Company
No.k.
recommend that all the orders which have
been issued or may be hereafter issued from this
board, or any Office to the officers and men Of this
department be printed before promulgatlon, and
also, that you request the honorable Commission
ers Of the District to issue order that one be
allowed TO open or use fire plug during the win
ter months except in case of fire.
The several foremen report the conduct Of the
men during the past month good.
MARTIN CRoSry,
Chief Engineer
Amer which the report of the superintendent Of
the hre-alarm telegraph was read.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT MILES.
OFFICE FIRE TELReRaPH,
= WAsHIEeTor, ID. u, December 1st, 1876
To the Board Of Fire comnfsstoners:
GEETLEHES: have the honor to report the
correct Transmission, during the month OF Novem-
ber 1875, Of nineteen alarms the wires Of the
1re-alarms through our automatic system-one
through the agency OF the American District teie-
graph and one over the police wires and thence
office repeater. The lines. batteries and maohfn-
cry are all in good condition, and work to my en-
with great respect, gentlsmsn. remain your
obedient servant, HENRY X. MILES,
Superintendent.
The following Communications were received
from the District Commissioners relative 10 the
fire department:
1Ew ENGINE COMPANY.
OFFIoE OF THE COMMISSIONERS
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
WAsHIEGToN, November 80, 1876.
To the Board Of Fire Commissioners:
GENTLEMEN: am directed to request that
you will promptly report to the Commissioners
your opinion will be best calculated for use In the
IRE department.
Very respectfully,
GEo. A. CAswELL, Acting Secretary.
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
WASHINGTON, November "A, 1875
To the Board of Fire CommissioRers:
GENTLEMEN: Referring to your oommunica-
ton Of the 4th instant, requesting that the names
srrat CT Il NHyS @
geon, be placed on the regular pay-rolls / am d.
rected to transmit herewith copy of the opinion
of the attorney ID. O.
Very respectfully,
Wx. TIsDALL, Secretary.
OFFICE OF THE Attorney
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
November =. 1875.
To The Commissioners Of the Disirict Of Co.
return herewith the letter of the secretary Of
tho fire department, requesting that the names
of certain persons may be placed upon the rolls of
the department I'm the capacity. respectively of
repair man OF the nresalaIm telegraph and veter-
missioners have authority to contract for and
maintain services such as would be rendered by
surgeon; but, in my opinion they have not au-
thority TO create these positions as permane mt
A municipal ordinance stilI In force prescribes
what persons and positions shall compose the fire
department. I am, therefore, Of the opinion that
the names required cannot be placed upon the
regular rolls OF the department
Very respectfully,
EDWIN L. STANTON,
Attorney for ID. @.
Commisrioner Thomas moved that The secretary
OF the board be authorized to communists with
the different manufacturers Of steam fre-euxfnss
with view to ascertaining the cost OF the engine
referred TO In the report Of the Commissioners but
Commissioner Collins offered substitute re-
ierrinS the matter 70 the eommittss on sppars-
A letter from DR.. Tindsll, secretary to the Dis
triet Commissioners, 10 relation to lighting the
lamps nearest to ire plugs and the cost OF keep
ing the red lights In repair, was read and laid on
the table for the present.
Applications for positions In the department
we're received from Walter s. Jones and W. z.
Schneider. 81 :
MEMBERS CONFIRMED.
Commissioner Thomas offered the following:
ResoIred, That all persons who have been act
ing for sixty days or longer as members of tho
fire department Of the District Of Columbia are
hereby confirmed as members thereof
Which was adopted.
BY vote of the board, Assistant Chief Enoi-
neer Drew was relieved from the duty Of present
ing judgments for debt to members Of tho force
and the secretary was instructed to communicate
with the party against whom the Judgment Is
rendered, notifying them to pay or resign.
The charges against Foreman Lowe and Private
Moore were dismissed.