Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-06-03
The Fire Department.

NIGHT
The Board Of Fire Commissioners met last
right. President Williams i'm the chair, w.
=. Reed secretary. The report Of Chief En-
gineer CIouiI for May was real. showing
that during the month OF May there were Is
alarms OF Ere. estimated loss. $500; insur
ance, $500. Or the 3lst ultimo engine COM
Iany No. removed from the temporary
quarters which they had been occupying
since last November into the new house on
Delaware avenue. Richard Reyes has been
transferred from company No To company
No. 4: j. T. Norris transferred from company
No. To company No. q Lew Ioling APP
NJ Moore. suspended; r. III. Myers appointed
"A temporary fireman, vice MoliDg, promoted,
and Morrison Coombs temporary private,
vice Myers. promoted. On motion of Mr..
Collins the request of Chas. Merriilatt, fore
man Of engine company No. 2. that he be re-
dUced TO the ranks, was acceded TO, and the
chief was empowered TO appoint temporary
successor.
The report of the superintendent of fire
alarm telegraph was submitted, stating that
the wires and instruments under bis charge
were in as good working condition as can be
attained. considering age, system. &c.
Applications for POSITIONS were received
from Edward Hoy, Theodore Scriber, and
Jacob w Hutchinson and filed.
MeSsrs. Reed, Morgan, and Collins were ap-
pointed committee TO draw bill TO he pre-
sented TO the next Congress. for enactment
into law, on the subject of stOrag 90 of eXplO-
sive oils. &C., in this District.
a communication was read from G. Lindt.
u
Having obtained information to the effect
that your department is one of the best man
agpd in your cOuntrv, il would be very graft
Tying To me to procure some more detailed
and accurate account of the organization
and the working thei eof." sc. The secre fary
was dire cted TO furnish the Information asked
TOR.
THE ANNUAL REPORT.
The annual report OF the Board of Fire
Commissioners TO the District Commission
erS, just printed, after speaking of the eff
n n.~T,-.
keep the standard of the force TO the highest
possible point. says THE Commissioners
deem il their duty 10 again recommend the
necessity of providing at least two more en-
CINE cOmpanieS-One to be located in the
northern and the other in the northeastern
section of the city; also, one new hook and
ladder company for the western section of
the city. In support of this request i'd is but
necessary to call your attention to the in
crease in the size OF the city within the past
eight years, with no corresponding increase
IN the number OF engines, &c, within the
same period"
The report recommends increasing the num-
Der of fire-plugs, and that they all he fitted
with ten-inch outlets. some now being less.
TIE very frequent alarms of fire Occasioned
by accidents from the use of explosive coal
oil is referred To, and the report says 1.-THE
low price al which an inferior oil is fur
nished is temptation to the poor especially
Ia purchase and use IL. Some regulation is
very much needed for the sale of this inferior
quality of coal oil, which will cOntine its use
IOTtll
the sale Of il for family use, and thus pre-
clude the recurrence of fires occasiOned from
its use by incautiOus parties"
THE REPORT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER.
accompanying the above, is very full and
comprehensive statement. in detail, of the
number of fires, the losses and insurance;
also, full and complete lists OF the officers
ard pTivateS attached 10 the depart-
mfnt, and an inventory of all property
held in charge by the several companies on
the ist day of April, 1875. An annexed tabu-
lar statement shows that the whole mum her
Of alarms during the year TO March 3ISt, 1875.
was l59; and 1872 were FOR Fl. rs which involved
q tOtal alleged loss To property of SOS .0}0,
with an insurance on same of ~39101. The
number OF fires of this year compared with
that OF last wear shows On increase of % over
the former and compared with the avera ge
OF the past ten years. an increase of 81. The
total alleged loss of this year compared with
that OF last year, shows q decrease of S31, 80
and compared with the average loss per
year, of the past ten years, a decrease of
efficiency OF the department.
The SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE-ALARH
TELEG GRAPH
reports mat ''the entire telegraph OF Wash
inefOn city. including the central Office ap-
paratuS, and Instruments, is defective In
system. and owing TO old age is rapidly
going 10 decay. This portion of our tele-
graph was constructed in 1864, and but par
italy covered the then limited area of this
city. and as but slight extension has been
made since its first Introduction, ii follows
that large percentage OF the present limits
Of Washington is now without that prOtec-
ton which should be secured by fire tele-
graph 10 every species of property i'm the
city. Nothing short of a new telegraph, in
Guiding new and improved central office in
Struments. and new signal boxes throughout.
can afford the security required in this SER
vice"