Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-18
POLICEMEN IN DANGER.
The Unsafe Station House In the George
town Precinct,

II NAY TUMBLE INTO TIE CANAL ONE or THESE
DAYs-AAJoR MOORE HAS RECOMMENDED NEW
BUILDING, But IT WILL BE SOME TINE BEFORE
An APPROPRIATION CAN BECOME AVAILABLE
The police Of the seventh precinct do not
like the idea Of remaining in their present sta
ton house any longer than possible, because
they consider it unsafe. The building is an
old brick structure on High street adjoining
the canal, where the watch house of old times
a small frame building formerly stood In
those days the magistrate system was in vogue
and Squire Buckley was for years the town
magistrate. About 1870 the cell and dodgers
rooms Of the present station were erected
They are now in the rear of the main building.
The officers used the dodgers rooms as sleep
ing apartments for some time. The old main
bnilding was then torn down and the present
structure erected. The old poplar tree which
now stands in front Of thebuilding was planted
by the late Lieut. Essex.
WHAT scAREs THE BLUE COATS
The present building is considered by the
officers to be dangerous, as the walls are cracked
on the side and in the rear. The ground floor
is about thirty feet from the canal, and should a
portion Of the wall fall out some one will be
given bath, together with q chance of being
killed. Some OF the officers are so alarmed
that they will not sleep anywhere near the wall
on the canal side of the building.
There is one advantage the officers in this
station have over those in other precincts.
They can sit on the porch in the rear of the
station house and catch fish as a pastime, be-
cause they have no gymnasium such as some
stations have to amuse them. This advantage
has drawback, and that is that the sluggish
water of tho canal has {opdaneu ko aio b.
ness among the officers.
Major Moore has asked for an appropriation
for the erection of a new station in some other
locality, but should the appropriation be made
it would not be available until the beginning OF
the next fiscal year, so that the officers will
least one year.
THE PATROL SYSTEM.
Next week workmen will begin to erect q
stable for the patrol wagon which is now being
built for this precinct. It has not yet been de-
cided whether the Gamewell or the Boston
municipal patrol system will be adopted here.
The establishment of the patrol sys-
tenn will add greatly to the efficiency
of the force The station is at present in the
lower section of the precinct, and arrests made
On the outskirts take too much of an officer g
time off his beat going to the station. Then,
again, the precinct extends up the river to the
Chain bridge, and it takes almost half an
officers tour of duty to bring in prisoner and
return to the country end of the precinct
WHY HE RESIGNS.
Policeman Shanks of this precinct has ten
dered his resignation, to take effect December
l. He resigns on account of ill health. Dur
ing the past year he has been sick several times
and he thinks that sleeping in the
station near the canal adds to his trouble.
Over the rear door of the station is a mule
shoe, as an indication of good luck. at may
indicate good luck, remarked Policeman Cot
ter, "but did not think so some time ago. when
two mule shoes came in contact with my back
The only luck it gave me was to put me on my
head"