The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-11-06
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT
Additional Points from chief Cro-
minis Report.


Additional Points from chief Gro.
Minis Report.
The annual report OF Chiot Engineer Gro.
min, In addition q tho synopsis published yes
terday, contains the following Information
and recommendations:
!. 4 table shows that during the year there
| were 1f0 alarms, OF which 100 were for actual
| nres, thirteen for chimnoys ablaze and Tor
false alarms. Tho aggregate OF the reported
losses was S55,057, upon which an insurance
existed Of S3O,332 ..---..
second table gives the number OF nres and
amount OF loss from tho organization OF the
department to the close OF the present fiscal
year. ny this It will DO seen that, while there
were six alarms less,:an whlo tho number of
same, the losses wore $O,A00 more than for
that period, and s21,5SO less than tho average
for tho previous ten years.
With the exception OF two cascs, one
story frame sheds, the fires were confined In
the buildings In which they originated.
The greatest number OF fires In n single
year was 1852 and tho greatest loss S250,000
The report calls attention TO the necessity for
provision TO bo made for the pay OF the re-
quired number OF officers ana mon 70 man tho
new company In the northorn section or tho
city, appropriation having been made at the
new engine house for that section OF the city;
and II Is recommended further that new en-.
CINE company be located In tho eastern part OF
The city at an carly day as possible, This To-
cality is being rapidly built up, covers largo
area OF surface, and some OF the bullt-up por-
lions are remote from any fire engine station,
especially so is this the case with Anacosta
The services Of this new company when
| organized would DO absolutely needed In the
event OF a large IRE In any portion Of the city
or IN case OF two or more ilres occurring nearly
| simultaneously, which IL now OF frequent Oc.
| currence In our growing city, which requires
additional fire apparatus necessary for It's pro.
lection.
| 1t is earnestly recommended that Law DO
| framed to compel owners Of theatres to provide
| adequate and better means for the extlnguish-
gf m
ings.
Attention is called TO the urgent necessity
for the erection OF hre.eecapes and stand
| pipes in all hotels, manufacturing establish.
ments, mercantile houses and theatres.
Except IN few cases no disposition has
| been shown by proprletors OF large and dan
| gorous buildings TO provide and erect these
appliances SO essential to the saving OF life
| and property.
| this subject are removed.
Attention is called to tho necessity OF Are.
| proof shutters ON buildings Ia the business
| OF wood, faced with heavy tin on both sides,
and should BIO placed upon the roar OF all
| buildings facing narrow streets or alleys, and
| should be so constructed as not to Interfere
with the Tree access and action OF nromen
when at work.
The building laws should at least be ade.
quatc TO prevent tho erection OF highly In.
| iiaminable roofs upon large and high build.
| ings In the built-up portion OF the city, aud
unless the only safeguard Is adopted In pre-.
| venting the construction and erection OF large
and combustible structures, parts OF this city
| will prove no exception to the terrible dis
| asters which have befeilen sister cities with
| larger departments than our own.
Legal restraint should be thrown around
| tho storage OF large quantities OF combustlble
| materials In tho business portions OF the city
| and the sale OF Inferior grades OF petroleum
| or coal oil should be prohibited, as 1t IS not
only dangerous 10 human life, but causing a
| great number OF alarms.
For tho first time In the history OF tho Flro
Department the basis for firemen's relief
| fund has been established In behalf OF those
who at any timo may become disabled 10 the
line OF duty.
Before concluding my report, desire to
| return my acknowledgements TO tho Hon. 3.
p. REFUNDS, Public Printer, for the complete
system inaugurated among his force for the
extinguishment OF fires which is worthy OF
emulation by oil heads OF Government de-
| partments and tho owners OF buildings, whore
| large bodies OF persons are congrogated, aud
which was the means OF saving the Govern
| ment Printing .Onlce from destruction by fire
| on the Goth OF December last"
Organizations.
| The Department, as now organize1, Is com
| posed OF officers and members as follows
| one chief engineer, one assistant chief engi
neer, acting as IRE marshal and inspector OF
| combustibles, one secretary, two foremen
acting as assistant chief engineers, six fore
men, six engineers, elk nremen, two tllemen,
| eight Holsters, ntty-four privates, three watch
| men and one veterinary surgeon.
| the houses In use by tho Department are
eight In number. All OF them excepting En-.
Cine HouSs No. 4, which requires extensive
repairs anu alteration, arc In fair condition
| andwill only need the usual incidental re-
Rpiing the year Engine Company No. b
| been provided with new and commodlOus
Fters on M near Thirty.fourth street, West
Georgetown, the old Town Hall OF Georgetown
having been purchased, rebuilt aud lifted up
under the able supervision OF Mr.. Thomas ID.
Entwisle, Inspector OF Buildings. The old
house formerly occupied by this company has
been turned over to It's purchasers, the Wash
ington Georgetown Railroad Company,
| During tho last session OF Congress provls-
ion has been made for the purchase OF the no.
cessary ground and the erection OF an engine.
| house In tho northwest section of the city,
| which was very much needed IN that locality.
Engine house No. . was designed and built
the d bS hS 81 Mr. EdSra Gars
nine years ago, and was the fret flre engine.
house built In this city, with many new I'M
proyements, and the great advantage OF hav.
Ing the horses In proximity and facing tho
apparatus TO allow OF tho rapid movements In
responding to an alarm. This house has re-
| quired but very little for repairs Blnce II was
built, having been constructed OF the best ma
terial obtainable, by the most competent me.
chanics, and Is model In design.
| The several other engine and truck.hous ca
have since then been rebuilt and fitted to con.
form to the plan adopted at No. house.
The apparatus OF the department consists OF
eight engines, six OF which are In service and
two in reserve; eight hose carriages, ak II
service and two in reserve; three hook-and
ladder trucks, OF which two are In service and
one In reserves one fuel wagon, one wager
for Chief Engineer two wagons for Acting As
sisiant Ohiet Engineers and ono wagon tor Act
ing Fire Marshal.
Five OF the engines are In good condition
one Of them having been bHllt and exchange
for an old Amoskeag engine, stationed at No
b engine-house. The other three engines, one
OF which Is stationed at engine-hous No.
with tho other two In reserve, have become
useless for this department on account o
length OF service, and are to be replaced by
new oIee, Congress having made the neces
sary appropriation for that purpose.
The hose in use by the Department consist
OF 1900 feet of "Paragon" IRE hose In goot
condition; $500 feet OF fair quality and 00t
feet OF bad and unserviceable material. Thl
| Is distributed among the different companies
as shown by the detailed reports OF the fore
| man.
During the year 1850 feet OF old unservlcC
able hose wero turned over TO the Property
Clerk OF the District for disposal.
| Tho stock belonging to this Department con
siste OF forty-two horses, thirty-four OF whic
| are In active BervlCe-the remaining being II
tanned as substitutes In case OF accident o
sickness. During tho year one horse died an
seven new ones were purchased. Tho averag
cost OF maintaining each horse amounted I
81 cents per day.
Hwy Your Election H0is ut Francs
corner Seventh and d, the only strictly one
| price hat and gents furnishing store m thi
| city.
Grand lodge, i. d. q. Il.
The annual session OF the Grand Lodge, L. {