National Republican., 1884-11-06
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.


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The annual report of Chief Engineer Cronin
has been submitted to the commissioners.
There were during the year i46 alarms OF FIRE,
OF which l27 were for actual frcs aggrcgating
loss Of si5j, ,957, upon which there was $780, ,8S1
insurance. The loss for the last year was
s9,iU6 more than for the previous year, but
81, $50 less than the average for tho previous
ten years At the end of 1898 thcro were l1,l13
brick and liI1! frame houses, and 6,Oi2 brick
aud 33l frames have been added since, making
the total 35,826. The total cost Of maintaining
the department was 81 liza.
The report suggests that the fire marshal be
appointed u deputy inspector OF buildings.
During the year nav engine house was pro.
yided for No engine company, During the
last session OF congress provision was made
Tor the purchase Of ground and erection OF an
engine house In the northwest section Of the
city, where an engine house was very much
needed. The report recommends that the
bcliry on No. . engine house be raised to a
height Of at least 90 feet from the ground, to
same time provision should be made to raise
| the large bell now In IL. This bell Is one Of
| I've best In the city, and II raised thirty feet
/ above It's present position could be heard all
over tho eastern section OF the city known rs
| capitol Hill and the Navy Yard. Tho growth
OF trees there, the engineer says obNructs the
range OF vision in every direction OF Our patrol
| on the streets In front of engine ana truck
houses, and will prevent In many instances
| the carly discovery OF fires. lie therefore
earnestly recommends that steps DO taken TO
! place lookout towers not only on No. 3, but on
ull the other houses
| The estimates for the next fiscal year amount
toSll6, 7lO, including the salaries for tho mem
bers of q new engine company. Chief CrOnln
recommends the system ifauguratcdby by Public
/ Printer Rounds among his force for cxtinguish.
ing fires,
Attention is called to the necessity for pro.
| vision to be made for the pay Of tho required
number of officers and mon to man tho new
company In the northwestern section OF the
city, aud recommends that a new company bc
located in the eastern part of the city at All
carly day, II Is earnestly recommended that
q law be framed TO compel owners OF theatcr'
TO provide adequate and better means for the
extingushment OF fires, should any occur IN
thoir buildings. He calls attention tot the urren
necessity for the erection Of fire escapes and
standpipes on hotels, manufacturing establish
ments, mercantile houses, aud thcaters, re
marking that except In n few cases no dis
and dangerous buildings to provide and cree
these appliances, so essential 10 the savings %
lille and property. Attention Is called to thu
necessity of iron shutters on buildings in tn,
business portion OF the city, and of providing
by law against the erection of highly imam
mable roofs upon large And high buildings IL
the built up, portions of the city. Legal re
combustiblc materials and the sale OF lnierlo
grades OF petroleum. lie calls attention 4
the need OF larger water mains and more fir
plugs in the business portion OF tho city II |
recommended TINT two Cisterns each, b
'located at Mount Pleasant aud Anncostia u
both suburban district. are not suficlentl
supplied with water in the event OF fire. TIL
expenditures for the year amounted to sl0]
900, including s5,i0i for building tho ne'