Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-25
DISTRICT FIRE DEPARTMENr.
Annual Report Of the Com mission.

Annual Report of the Commission
The report Of the Board of Fire Commission
ers-Messrs. Collins, Bacon and Hume-for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1879, bas been SUBJ
mitted to the District Commissioners. 1t states
that the total expenditures for the period named
amounted to ST. ,062.54. This Included the ex-
penditures for the purchase OF lots and for the
erection of and furnishing two new houses, pur-
chase OF two engines and two hose-carriages,
one new truck and the hose, horses, &C., neces-
Sary to equip the same; also, the rebuilding OF
the old truCk-house and extensive repairs on the
house OF No. Engine Company. The estimates
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1851, amounts
to $144.573 In his report the chief engineer sub
mitS suggestions and estimates for certain per-
manent improvements, all of which are necessary
and the appropriations should be made. The
buildings and rooms occupied by the department.
are as follows: Office for the Board of commissioners
and chief engineer, room g. Columbia Building;
central Office fire alarm telegraph, corner Penn
sylvania avenue and ~ street; six fire engine
houses and two truck houses. The recOmmen-
datiOns of the chief engineer for the erection OF
a new house for Company No. s. and a new
house In the northern section Of the city are APP
proved. The apparatus now In use Is all in good
condition, but the AmoSkeag engines which
have been In service long time require constant
attention and repairs, and cannon be expected
to last much longer. Before they get entirely
worn out, it would be an economical measure to
exchange them for new ones. The suggestions
OF the Chief engineer that the old truck be re-
built at an expense of 81 900 is proper and time
getting out OF order the service would under
present circumstances be crippled. There are
now thirty-four horses in the department, six Of
which are worn out and should be replaced with
serviceable ones. The horses purchased during
the year were Of the best character and under
ordinary circumstances will last several years.
The fire alarm telegraph branch Of the service
continues to work in the most satisfactory man
ner, but 1t is necessary that some additional
boxes should be erected in n. several ,ar, sec
| the report Of the superintendent. We also ap-
| prove his recommendations for the appointment
OF repair man. and another telegraph oper-
atOT and that the clerical error in the appropri
alton bill by which the pay Of the operators
was reduced from 81 200 to 81 900 per year should
be rectihed, and the pay restored to 81 200. At
tenton is again called to the necessity for chang
ing the nine-inch outlets Of the old fireplugs to
| the standard size of ten inches. The water sup
ply isnot what it should be in the business sec
be taken to utilize all OF what there is. In the
remote sections additional plugs should be
erected at every opportunity. we again call at
tentton to the fact that no provision is made by
law for the members OF the department who are
UNIT for active service by reason of disability
incurred In the line OF duty. We are compelled
| to carry these men on the rolls as active men,
bers or else discharge them from the force,
broken in health and unable to make a living
for themselves or their families. We would re-
commend that provision be made for such in
other branches Of the public service suited to
| their physical condition. Where men are
so far broken in health or manned by accident
| as W nc UOldly uillU lOI any uuUy WltGcfti,
they should be retired upon pay sufficient
to Keep them comfortably during the continu-
ance of their disability. There are several men
now in the department who will never be able
to perform active duty as riremen, and some pro-
vision should be made for them at once. We
heartily thank you, gentlemen. for your SUP
port and encouragement of us in our efforts
to promote the efficiency of the fire de-
paTtment and the welfare and comfort Of its
members. The good discipline of the force and
its success in preventing the spread OF fires, is
faithful and intnIijUpnf
vision of Chief Engineer Cronin, and the Jealous
aid of Assistant Engineer Drew. The company
officers and men OF the department are warmly
commended for their cheerful compliance with
the rules, prompt obedience to orders, faithful
service at fires and general good conduct. Su-
perintendent OF Fire Alarm Telegraph Miles has
performed his duties In very intelligent and
satisfactory manner.
THE REPORT OF THE CHEF ENGINEER.
Martin Cronin, shows that there were during
the year 1873 alarmS+114 for actual fires.
The fires involved an alleged loss of $sl 400,
with an insurance OF $62.2I5 He states
that one hook and ladder truck is so completely
out of repair to render it absolutely worthless,
which should be rebuilt. Two new fuel wagons
are also needed, While all the engines are rated
as "gOod," it should be mentioned that the
Amoskeags No. /, 2, 3 and have been in service
ever since the organization Of the paid fire de-
partment, and while in fair state of repair, he
| recommends, as a matter OF economy, that they
beeXchaDged for new and improved apparatus as
was done with the No. 4, SiSby engine. He recon-
mends that all the engines be fitted with the i'm
proved relief valves. All the houses are reported
| In good condition except that occupied by No. 5
company, Georgetown He urges that as soon
| as possible new and proper house be erected
| for this company on an eligible site. The de
partment has now two reserve engines, and in
order to bring it to proper standard, he asks
| that a new house be erected and a new company
| equipped for the northern section of the city.
| Should this be done no additional force will be
necessary for years to come. There are now Il, $50
feet of fabric hose in good condition. 1000 feet
in bad condition, and $3.50 feet of old unservice-
Loot 6l1r nf
is three and four years, and in or9aI to guard
! against emergencies the purchase OF a quantity
| is recommended to be made annually: There
| are now In the department thirty-four
| horses, of which twenty-six are in good
condition, and the others should be re-
| placed with servicable ones OF the water
supply the chief engineer calls attention to the
fact that in the business portions of the city the
| present supply of water and water fixtures are
Inadequate to the proper working OF the full
| force OF the department In the event of large
| fire. The proper remedy would be either In
| larger water mains, or in reopening the old and
construction OF new cisterns In several sections
of the city, which can be done at comparative
ly small cost. 1t Is useless to ask the erection of
additional fire plugs along the line of six or four
| inch MAINS for those now up cannot supply
sufficient water for our engines working at
high pressure and for this reason he urges either
| cisterns or larger MAINS The old plugs with
inch outlet should be at once altered to 10 inch,
cases insurlng a larger flow of water.
| He calls particular attention to the Government
Printing Office. In addition to the large number
OF persons employed there day and night, 1t con-
| tains much valuable property. The building Is
old, lily reconstructed and although crowded with
| infiamable material, was constructed without
| any regard to safety from fire. In its vicinity
there are but three fire plugs and those con-
nected with small MAINS He asks that the
number be increased and that at least two ciS-
terms be const ucted In that locality. There are
several hundred buildings In that Immediate
section, built in rows, many OF them without
even brick partition walls, and all OF them
liable to rapid destruction In the event OF fire.
He-again calls attention to the necessity of fire
escapes in all large buildings where large num-
bers of persons cOngregate, and In addition to
fire escapes, he recommends that in all govern
| ment buildings and hotels iron ladders reaching
from the ground to the root, be constructed, and
/ kept in position at all times Such ladders can
be placed against the inside or courtyard walls
| of public buildings and In the Others suitable
places can be found to avoid interfering with the
eyte,nal appearance OF such edificeS. He ex-
presses reo,.s+ that many Of the merchants have
been to upon tine tops Of t o. 9he II
buiiHtnps large sign-boaras, ~. Vi +.%e o. as IN
wood. This Is a most dangerous pra.,. ''' -.
the event of large fires they are liable to Dc
lifted by the heat and In this burning condition
carried squares distant, to the danger of other
property. In concluding, he states that during
the year the members OF the force, with rare eX-
ceptions, have performed their duties with
fidelity and ability and that in discipline and