National Republican., 1878-04-26
The FIRE DEPARTMENT.
An Interesting Tour Among the En-
Oine- Houses.

A Senatorial Inspection Psrty-Fast Time
Made by the boys in "Hooking-Up,'
Ready for q "Run"-A Drive Through the
Streets Of the City.
On invitation OF the Board Of Fire Commission.
ers, Senators Dorsey, Spencer, Banum,. Rollins,
and Harris, Of the scratc District Committee, and
District Commissioners Phelps and Dennison-Mr
Bryan being absent from the city-accompanied by
Fire Commissioners Reed, Bacon, Quantrell, and
Tait Chief Engineer Cronin, Assistant Chief En-.
glneer Drew, aud others, started from the Arlington
Hotel about halfpaN nine o'clock yesterday to In.
spect the Fire Department OF the District; and as
the Senate committee had also been requested to
examine the condition Of some OF the streets and
doing so.
Alter leaving the hotel they proceeded. Commis.
01sT 10 phss Sa deSSg pp efn Snsc iS. :,
thoroughly inspected and were shown the work.
ingS Of tie establishment Suddenly the alarm he'll
struck and the horses rushed out OF their stalls
| and took their places at tho engine and hose car.
riage. IL required only six seconds for the mon at
their posts OF duty TO hook up ready to start aud
only ftcen seconds for those In their beds asleep
TO get to thek places, ready for run. The nspcc.
tors then repaired to the sleeping APARTMENT, a
thirty wide, which was exceedingly neat and in
perfect order. The floor was covered with Brussels
carpet framed pictures were hung upon the walls
| aud everything necessary 10 make comfortable o
sleeping apartment was conveniently arranged
about the room.
Amer leaving the Union engine house the party
resumed their Carriages and proceeded along X
shire aycnue, dtt New HAMPSHIRE avenue 70 p
street. along street east to Thirteenth, down Thir
| teemth TO o, along o to Fifth, down Fifth TO New
York avenue, along New York avenue west to
gi Eighth street down Eighth & to g. along it to Sew
Eighth 10 r, along + west to Tenth, up Tenth to O.
along to Thirteenth, down Thirteenth to Penn
| sylVnnia avenue down the Avenue To Twelfth
street. thence to the Franklin or No. engine
house, which they also thoroughly inspected, be-
Ing shown the same operations as at No. house
| They again resumed carriages and proceeded d.
rectly to the fire-nlarm headquarters, where they
were given an exhibition Of the workings Of the
machinery used exclusively for sounding fire
alarms.
Mr. Drew stated that the machinery was in per-
feet running order; that mistakes never thought
Of as II Is next 10 impossible to make one that
this machinery is much superior to tho old, which
made mistakes frequently. AMER spending con
branch Of the department the carriages were re.
.umcd The line Of procedure was then along
Louisiana avenue TO Indiana avenue, to street,
Jersey avenue to C street. along G street TO Della.
ware avenue, and along that north to the Colum
b!a or No. engine-house. This house was thor.
ouIhly Inspected and another opportunity given
OF witnessing the marvellous rapidity Of the opera
tiOns Of the men and horses. The party sguin took
to FInh northeast viewed the Green statue. pro.
cecdcd along Flith 10 u street northeast along Il
to Third, up Third to East Capitol, thence to the
Capitol where the party disbanded.
! The most striking features about the houses were
the extreme neuncsi and perfect order IN which
everything was kept. The horses ure unhitched
and the stall doors saIe uniastened by electricity,
acting simultaneously with tile striking OF an alarm.
The hor'es are kept harncsscd at all times, and
when the alarn strikes aud the fastenings are un.
done they rush out and take their places ready to
LC hitchcd up, which is Immediately done by the
men as so1n rs their places are reached.
The Senators took dccpin In oil the work.
ings OF the department, and were highly grhtfed
At the neatness and order Uf the houses and the
cellent management and manner Of getting ready
to start. They regretted ve.y much the rickety
condition Of No. house, which was built In 1856,
and then used by a volunteer company. IL is 70
inhrm that when the ten men asleep at the sound
Of nn alarm, pOuncc OH the floor, all at once the
building shakes from its very foundation.