Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-04
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Annual Report Of Chief Parris-Im
portant Recommendations.

The Annual Report of Chief Parris-Im-
portant Recommendations.
The Commissioners have received from Chief
Paris of the fire department his annual report
for the fiscal year ending June &c. 1889. In his
port he calls attention to the necessity for more
adequate means for extinguishing fires and
saving life, and recommends that suffi-
Gent money be appropriated for the
purchase of ground and the building
of truck house to accommodate the chemi-
cal engine. He suggests that this house be
located in the neighborhood of the principal
hotels, theaters, lumber yards, planning
mills, &c. He repeats his recon-
mendation that the salaries OF the
foremen and engineers be increased from
for the promotion Of ten privates to the
rank Of assistant foremen at 5000 per
annum each and ten privates to the
rank Of assistant hostlers at a salary of $40
each. He further recommends the purchase of
two aerial turn-table trucks at a cost of $1,000.
For the efficiency of the service he says it is
desired that
NONE BUT STRONG MEN
should be employed There are at present two
who he recommends be provided for as watch
two additional privates be appointed to each
company and one to each truck house.
In reference to the relief fund he says that at
present all members have one dollar month
deducted from their pay, and the pension roll
amounts to S1l0, leaving one dollar to be in
vested in bonds each month. The surplus in
the United States Treasury amounts to 1880
invested in bonds, and - cash on hand.
After deducting from the above figures S75
for funeral expenses when occasion demands
the surplus will soon be exhausted and
no prospect for the men who at
present pay one dollar per month ever
receiving any benefit. In connection with the
above he favors the Recommendation of Auditor
Petty in refere nee to the application Of a GER
tain amount Of the fines collected for violating
ordinances for the benefit Of the firemen's re-
lief fund.
During the year 40 applications for positions
were received, II of which received appoint
ment. The report of Mr.. C. b. Robinson, the
veterinarian of the District accompanies the
rapport, and shows that OF the 81 horses ON
that his pay be increased to 81 900 per annum.
SUBURBAN WANTS.
The sections known as Mount Pleasant Lin
coin avenue and Anacostia, he said, are sadly
in need of water facilities, for in case
Of fire from the infammable nature
of the building, it would be
next to an impossibility for the department to
render any assistance. In connection with the
above he recommends that water
mains be extended out Lincoln ave-
nue., 18th street and over the
be included in the fire alarm circuit. He also
recommends that water mains be extended out
SD street for distance of four blocks.
During the year there were 255 alarms the
loss entailed being $40, 953,
covered by an in insurance Of s7s,5s4
trict at present is 1852, which he says
is insufficient for protention from fire and
should be increased at least 500. The ex-
penses for the department for the year were
Sl24, 989. 50. The report of Fire Marshal Drew
also accompanies the report
For the coming fiscal year an appropriation
of Sl33, $40 is asked for. In conclusion Chief
Paris recommends that the salary Of the fire
marshal be increased to 1900.
Report of Superintendent Miles.
Superintendent Miles of the telegraph and
telephone service has also submitted to the
Commissioners his twenty-fifth annual report.
He says that the fre-alarm telegraph covers
Washington and Georgetown somewhat gener-
ally, but has not as many signal boxes within
the city limits as are needed-only 142, whereas
200 should be employed.
He refers to the unprotected places Of Mt.
Pleasant LIE Droit park, Unontown and the
entire heights north and northwest of the city
against fire, and says he thinks 100 ad-
necessary. He says that it is his
impression that signal boxes should be placed
SO conveniently and be SO numerous as to be
quickly reached from every cluster Of houses
where fires are likely to occur.
THE POLICE PATROL SYSTEM.
Next in importance comes the police patrol
system. The total number of street stations at
present now number 65 He refers to the
work done by these call boxes
has demonstrated the usefulness of the patrol
system az an adjunct to the efficiency of the
of the police service. He says that the law pro-
hibiting the erection OF additional
OVERHEAD WIRES
for telegraph and telephone purposes in the
absence of the necessary funds for putting them
underground has become and will continue
to be very embarrassing. He says
he is unable to see very clearly
how the efficiency of our telegraph and tele-
phone service can be fully maintained without,
ton or, on the other hand, by far the better plan
of liberal appropriations for putting all the
District wires underground.
He says that he thinks the time has come
for commencing the good work of putting the
wires under ground and requests that an ap-
preparation OF 81, 900 be asked for in this CON
nection.
During the year there were 2S3, 0S7 messages
sent over the patrol system. The expenditures
for the year were s16,7S7.16. For the coming
year he asks for 81, l60.
UNDERGROUND WIRES.
He recommends that general plan for an
underground system be adopted and that an
appropriation for that purpose of S25O,O0O,
which shall include the enlargement of the
tire-alarm system, be asked for.
From Wall Street Today.
NEW YORK, Sept. 4.-The stock market was
again very active this morning, but first prices