Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-12


on each bucket and TO keep the buckets In some
public place in the house and in good repair,
under penalty Of 81 for each neglected bucket
The mayor was directed to appoint annually
four persons in each ward to be called staff
men, whose duty was TO preserve order at fires
TO form the lanes, to direct the places from
which water was to be brought, see that the
buckets we're regularly served and returned. to
extend or contract the lanes and to
order on duty every person not other
wise usefully employed The staffmen
we're given full power and authority to seize
and compel every person to labor and assist in
sxunguishing a fire. Upon refusal to SO assist
citizen could be fined IS for each offense.
The constables Of the corporation were re-
CURED to enter every house and examine the
state OF the IRE buckets and to see that every
house had its complement Of buckets The
same ordinance directed the mayor to cause
Vie engine Of the town to be placed in the east
ward under proper cover, and appropriated
go for repairing it June II, 1906, $50 was
appropriated for the purchase of fire hooks
axes and ladders. to be kept in safety at or
near the engine house.
The PUBLIC Chimney SWEEP.
september 3. 1907. as q precaution against
nre, . chimney sweep was appointed by the
mayor to sweep all the chimneys in town Of the
fireplace used In cooking and for general pur-
poses OF the family once in three months from
April to October, and once in two months from
october 70 April On refusal Of the occupant
70 have the chimney swept the fine imposed
vas 20. and should the chimney catch fire the
tine was increased to sIO. Ali fiues of Chin
neys were required to be fourteen inches
square
In those days the town did not possess the
luxury OF water mains. fire plugs and hydrants
- NE water mains were not laid until 1853
The hand engines in use we're worked by
levers with long wooden handles, and when
one set OF men became exhausted a new set
took their places The water with which the
engine was supplied was conveyed from the
nearest clstern or pump by the hremen form
ing two lanes and passing the buckets from one
70 the other until the engine was reached and
the other lane returning them. These lanes
we're formed and presided over by the staff
men, who carried a trumpet and a white staff
nve feet long. This method of filing the en-
CINE with water by hand was abandoned when
ne suction engine made its appearance. To
We engine Q hose was attached and placed in
We nearest cistern or we'll The engine and
hose carriage were not drawn by horses but by
hand, and 10 the hand tongue was attached a
rope about loo feet in length. with which the
nremen and citizens dragged the apparatus to
the scene of IRE.
How The FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS BORROWED,
As m all communities the town hal its share
81 borrowers and lenders. Many persons were
In the habit OF borrowing the hooks anu lad
Gers OF the IRE department. and. like most bor-
rovers. failed to return them. The number OF
buckets and ladders decreased at each fire
nntn nnally the engine and hose were the only
remnants OF the IRE department left Nav g.
1919, al ordinance passed imposing pen,
atty OF go, one-half to the informer upon any
person who, directly or indirectly. borrowed !
hook or ladder. May Is following four fr,
companies were directed to be organized II
was ordered that the IRE company first to ar
rive At nre should receive a reward of IS
Tor the purpose of procuring ladders, fire
hooks. axes and erowbars to replace those Dor
rosed the sun OF ESQ was appropriated anC
sln 20 place the two engines and apparatu
fAsn owned, or which might thereafter b,
owned, under cover. The companies then il
existence were the Potomac Fire Company
organized Isis, aud the Vigiiant, 1917. 0thel
IRE companies were afterward organized, a
foiows The Mechanical Fire Company 1918
columbian Fire and Hose Company, 1927
Eagle FIRE Company. 1871. Western Star Fir,
Company. 1881. and Potomac Hose, 1864.
| February "a, 1871. all the fire engines
hooks. ladders, DC, owned by the corporation
we're placed under the charge Of the mayor Z,
be put In complete repair and readiness fo
use and kept under proper cover at con
venient stations in the town. Two superin
tendents Of tEe engines were appointed, at ,
salary OF s2j per annum each, TO regularly in
spect the engines, hose. &c, and report on tn
FIRST Monday in each month to the mayor
April Is, 1887, one superintendent was ap
pointed in place Of two and she salary increase
70 go per annum- When the fire companie
elected their officers they were to report to tn
mayor the names Of president and vice presi
dsnt The mayor at the nrst meeting OF tn
corporation communicated the names for rati
hcation or rejection, and when ratified . Ger
tfests was given the officers chosen and
Ssoord Of the same kept by the clerk Afts
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