Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-11-30
THE DISTRICT FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Annual Report Of the Commissioners
Some Important Recommendasions.

The twelfth annual report of the Board of
Fire Commissioners of the District of Co.
lumbia, now In the hands OF the District
commissioners, shows expenditures for the
placing the new hre-alarm telegraph in
working order, and including the purchase
of eight new horses. The report refers to the
removal of the office OF the board and chief
engineer to q more suitable room In Column
bia building, and to the occupancy of q room
in the building adjoining the old fire alarm
alarm telegraph. The condition OF the en-
CINE houses 10 next referred to, and the re-
moval of No. engine to their new house on
which is compsetely fitted out, and is adj
mirably adapted for the purposes for which
NEEDED REPAIRS TO ENGINES.
Extensive changes and repairs have been
made to No. boiler, engine and pumps-the
only repairs needed In i've years service.
report says:-"The boilers Of engines I, 2 and
3 are completely worn out by the hard SER
vice they have performed during the past
eleven years. and must be replaced by new
ones. Otherwise the department will only
have two reliable steam fire engines in SER
vice This is very serious matter for your
consideration, and unless immediate atten-
ton is given Ii, the results may be disaS-
trous. These boilers have been repaired from
time to time, but cannot be depended on for
duty, and must be discarded"
OTHER APPARATUS.
The running gear has been kept in that
frst-class condition so necessary. Printy's
automatic relief valves and shut of nozzles
nave been placed in use with all the engines,
and have proved servicable by reLucing
damage from water. Heaters which keep
the water in the boilers at boiling point have
been placed on engines /, 2, 4. and 5, reduc-
ing the time required to put them in use, and
new suction sleeves have been placed on all
the engines. The hose carriages require no
considerable repairs. There are two old
style hook and ladder trucks in use which
run TO all fires In the District, aud cOnse-
flx-0 IN nfrc hnv
sary to keep them in service. The truck is
most valuable piece Of apparatus, and is
required in nearly every case of fire, Eight
horses baye been purchased during the year,
and with few exceptions the stock of the de-
partment is in good condition. No new hose
has been purchased, but considerable guam
tity is required in addition to that on hand.
The Board urges the increase of the number
of fire plugs, and noting that some have
inch and others 10 inch outlets, urge that all
be fitted with the 10 inch outlet.
DANGEROUS.
They call attention to the storage of large
quantities OF gaseous oils and alcoholic Ii
Inhabited parts of the District, in utter dis
regard for the safety of property. Also to
the frequent alarms of fire occasioned by ac-
cideutS from the use of coal oil. The low
price at which an inferior quality of coal oil
is furnished is q temptation to the poor es-
pecially to use it, Many careless persons
curreDce of contiagrations and frequent
losses of life. Some stringent law regarding
these matters should be enacted"
TWO NEW FIRE COMPANIES AND ANOTHER
TRUCK COMPANY NEEDED.
The fire commissioners state that they
would be derelict in their duty did they not
earnestly urge that two additional engine
companies be completely equipped for SER
welcome in the northern and the other in
the northeastern section of the city, and that
an additional hook and ladder Company be
equipped with the best modern improved ap-
paTatUs, in the western part of the city. In
support of these recommendations they call
the improved portions Of the District within
the past eight years and the considerable
number of rows of houses erected and in
course Of erection, with
MANsARD RooFS,
which are not only very dangerous in char
acter, but have heretofore been almost I'M
needs of the District no addition has been
made to the number of engines, but on the
other hand there are not so many in service
as formerly. Eight years ago. in addition to
our present force, the government steam fire
engines responded TO alarms with their ap-
paratus and aided to extingulsh the fires.
Experience here and in other cities shows
the necessity of having full, at least a suf-
fcient fire force 10 provide protection not
only against small fires but extensive con-
fagrations. With our present force we could
fires widely distant occurring siInultane-
ously. or the one Immediately succeeding
the other; or large fire in thickly built
portion Of the District during heavy storm
of wind.
THE ACCOMPANYING REPORTS.
The board note the fact that the report of
fires to have been greater than that OF last
year and the losses less, affOrding the best
possible proof of the efficiency of the officers
superintendent Of the fire alarm, showing
that the new automatic apparatus (placed
in service September e9th) readers excellent
and also endorse his recommendation for an
additional operator.
ESTIMATES.
The board submit estimates for the wear
ending June 30th, 1871, as follows:-Salaries,
s5i,I33; rebuilding steamers 1, and 3, 80 600;
repairs to other apparatus, 50 600; rebuild
houses, -, 500; horse feed, $500; supplies,
miscellaneous, So 500; fuel and gas, $780,
harness and repairs to same, $500; horse
penses of fre-aIarm. 5000; new hose and
couplings, $4,000. Total, sos, 433. Also,
estimates for the proposed additional COM
panies-twO engine and one hoOk-and lad
der-fOOting Sf3,0I5.
THE REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER MARTIN
CRoNIN
shows:-Number of alarms, 1878 false,
volved a total alleged loss of S67 800, with An
insurance of s39, 900. This shows an increase
Of q alarms over the previous year, and,
years, of 80. The alleged loss shows q de-
crease of So, 400 as compared with last year,
and with the average of ten years, S62. 500.
NC Snicl urges tuc eStaOliSuIueut Oh auul.
tional companies; refers to the condition of
the houses, apparatus, stock, &c; states
that the force consists of a chief, assistant
chief, and f1fty-nine officers and men; and
compliments the force on their success, as
"the fires have never spread, notwithstand-
ing the worn out condition of the appara-
tus;" and refers to the assistance rendered
the department by the metropolitan police.
Appended Is a statement showing the num-
Der of fires and losses for the past eleven
years, averaging 50 fires and S141,9B per
year.
THE REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
OF THE FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH
(Nr. III. X. Miles, is appended. He states that
the total cost of maintaining the telegraph,
exclusive OF the salaries paid its commits
stoned officers, has not been $1,000, but does
not include fitting up the new Office or taking
down the old wire, but only the legitimate
expense of repairs, maintaining batteries,
DC. For the ensuing year, owing to the in
creased amount of battery, (about four-fold,)
and fully double the quantity OF wire to be
kept in repair, 50 coo will be required. He
asks that an additional operator be provided,
stating that no two persons can perform the
labor imposed on the operators without i'm
pairing their health; and as a measure OF
relief he had detailed q repairman OF suf-
hcient skill for duty in the Office, and had
done the largest share of rppairjpQ him salf