Evening star., 1877-11-15
Our Fire Departments.

lafee quantity OF hose. repairs OF engines
and 6rgine houses. The estimates for the
next yesTsmoGDt to SIS $50. The report calls
attention TO The chief engineers report, espe-
clally that part which refers TO the increase
Of The department. and the statement show
ing The population OF cities apprOXfmattng
ln size to cur two cities, with the number OF
engines and hook and ladder companies, and
the recommendation OF the superintendent
of The fire alarm telegraph looking to an ex-
tens on OF n e telegraph system so as TO give
more prompt il formation of the existence of
IRE IL the more remote portions of the ID s.
tTiCt ard for the Increase in the employees of
ms CfiicF, all of which they approve. Also
a sT'cisl estimate of the chief engineer of
the cost Of 6quirping and maintaining for
ore Year three sdditiOLsl steam fire en- gine
o'mI anits ard Que truck company.
ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF AN INCREASE OF
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The report ssys:-"Realizing more than
ever cur great responsibility TO you and
70 the public in our management Of
his iIGI ortant trust, we feel we would
be GeTelict in duty If we did not again
carr tkfIy impress upon you the absolute ne
CfsSity for an increase OF the force of the fire
department. Its fficiency Is shown almost
daily in the prompt suppression of fires
which, II not checked. would result In dis
astIOUs cor fiagratiODs; fact generally and
thankfully acknowledged by our citizens.
It's efficiency was especially exhibited at the
recent FIRE al the Patent Office, and was fully
recognized by the Secretary of the Interior
and ether government officials; but its nu
merical weakness was also shown on that
OCCASION. Two or more fires occurring
simultaneously in thick ly-settled portions of
the District cities. with our present small
force. might be at ended by most Iamentab bic
consequences. The department should be
reinforced 1 Y the addition OF al least three
more steam engine companies and one more
truck company. Tcis would only raise the
force tO its numerical strength previous to
1Stg. as in thEt wear the fCdeT6t govern nmeut
diEhaEdTd the three steam fire. engine com
Panies ii bad Ors3g zcd here for the prOtac
ton of government property during tine war.
IL pust be Temem bered, TOO. that our pop
present decade, aud that since 1863 new
tuildirgs have been erected In the District
cCStil 2 about SO 600, 900 These new DuiId-
iBgs lave FS'eIdsd tire bulit-up portions of
WashIT gtOn eastward almost 10 the Eastern
branch, and nOr'hward beyond the BOuad
aTy, while In TIE northwest section of the
city the expansion is equally noticeable.
Large areas Of open commons, in ali these
sections, have been covered by houses. The.
style of building, too, has changed, and in
stt Gd OF the Prevails between houses we
have lOTg rows of buildings separated by
hin partitions and covered by one mansard
roof open from end 10 end of the row, so that
fire ir one house threatens the destruction OF
all. While the building property in the city
north Of + street has risen 10 many millions
In value. that portion containing some OF the
finest residences in the District has not with
III lis limits one engine company. The growth
OF The fire department must In some mea ,ure
a. least Etep pace with the expansion OF the
city, or we cannot properly be held RESPONSE
ble for the serious consequences which may
eBEue.
II rpust also be reDembered that the inves-
tigations following upon the recent fire at
tie Patent Office developed the fact that not
ore OF the federal buildings here is consid-
cred fire proof by competent authority. ex-
c6pt the nCw state department building.
Cur fire department has already saved mil
lions of dollars worth OF government prop
eTty here by the suppression of fires at the
Navy department, Arsenal, green house and
else els, D Hhere; An examination OF the ruins OF
flames. If they had not been fought back,
would have extended into the 7th and r
street wings of the building, and done as
much damage as to the other wings. The
fire had already forced its way into the Tth-
street wing among the roof timbers above
Tire ceiliT z ard charred the cases on the floor
below. when IL was arrested.
The facts mentioned are potential reasons
why the federal authorities shoull bear their
share of toe maintenance of the District fire
department. ard In our opinion ffty per cent
OF the cost should be borne by the national
gCveTnn ent. 1t is so manifestly unjust that
the citizens OF the District Of Columbia
81 Culd pay for the protection Of property OF
the gel eral government that no argument
should be n'cessary on that point.
THE FIRE ALARM TELEG RAPH.
The improved fire alarm tele graph cor
Stlucted by your direction continues TO work
IL the most satisfactory manner, and II Is
safe 10 say thst the expense incurred has
airs ady been saved many times over 10y its
Ce'eTity and certainty OF operation, ell.
abiing the tremen TO get almost i'm
mediate Information OF the discovery of fire
The same factS.which show the necessity for
an increase of the force of firemen snow also
that an increase of the number OF fire alarm
foxes is equally necessary. The large areas
built up within the last few years. as men
toned elsewhere, are deficient Ia this prOtec
ton. In cases Of serious fire In such lOcali-
titles much valuable time would be lost be-
fore an alarm box could be reached. We
would recommend that the system be ca
lerEed ard forty additioral boxes be added
10 the present number. We would further
suggest that each large government building
in The District, the navy yard, the marine
barracks, and other places where govern
neDt property is at risk, also the public
school buildings, ought to have at some
easily accsssable point fire alarm box.
Had there been one In the Patent Office and
the alarm promptly turned in ON the dis
covery CT fire. 1t is safe to say that the loss by
that fire would have been trivial.
DISABLED FIREMEN.
We would call attention to the fact that no
provision is made by law for members OF the
department. who are unfit for active service
OF duty. We are compelled to carry these
men on the rolls as active members or else
dlsct arge them from the force, broken in
healh and ur able to make living for them,
selves or families. We would recommend
That provision be made for such men in other
ETaLcEes OF the public service suited to their
physical condition. Where men are SO far
blCken in health or aimed by accidents as
TO he totally unfit for any duty whatever
they should be retired upon pay sufficient to
Keep item comfortable during the cOntin-
TLcn row in he department that will never
be able TO Ter'orm active duty as tiremen-
and some pTOvis lon should be made for tsem
al once.
IN conclusion, we take very great pleasure
in bearing estImony 10 the faithful and eff
Ciert manner in which the chief engineer.
Martin CrOnin; assistant engineer, w. Q.
Drew; and superintendent OF hre-alarm tele
graIh n. X. Miles; and the men under their
con mand, have discharged their duties at
all hours, and at times under very trying
circumstances. They have never failed il
the pei Torrance of duty, and deserve well
the good opinion OF their fellow citizens
wEcm they so fully and care fully serve.
IRE REPORT CT THE CHIEF ENGINEER
OF the fire department, Martin Cronin, shows
that tie total number Of alarms turne Ia the
Iast year was 163; actual fires 131, showing
an increase Of 10 fires over last years report
ard compared with an AVERAGE Of the ,xr m
YeaIs an Increase vi g. Tie aggregate al
'seu io-- IEis Year as compared with last
chOws an increase OF SEQ, 600, and as COM
pared with the average losses of the past tea
years decrease of S31 900. This loss does
rot include the loss by the recent Patent
Cff:Ce fire.
TIE report says: "There are now in the
District as fire plugs placed in the different
sections, ard all jim good working order.
Many or those, especially those in the buSi-
less portion of the city. which were first
I..al l. Il - ~