Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-25

cordance with such plans as may receive
the approval Of the commission vested by
existing law with discretion as to plans for
said building.
Resolved. further, That this board will
take action toward securing the necessary
appropriations for and the erection of such
municipal building at the earliest date
practicable"
Behind the Times.
A brief discussion followed the reading
Of this report, but there was no need for
much debate, as the sentiment of the meet
ing was unanimously in favor of the recon-
mendations. Then came the report of the
committee on insurance, consisting Of
Messrs Saks, A. L. Lothrop, w. s. Knox
and II. l.. Biscoe. 1t dealt with the needs
for an increase in the fire department Of
this city and showed that we are way be-
hind in this respect as compared to other
cities of similar size and Importance. Chief
Paris Of the fire department was present
and after the report was read he added
few remarks in its favor and also answered
a number of questions propounded by men,
bers of the board as to what steps should
be taken to increase the efficiency of the
department He said that in his opinion
unless the equipment of the department
was greatly increased and without delay,
a great confiagration would certainly occur
sooner or later, for as 1t Is now, when a
large fire breaks out, the entire force Is con-
centrated upon that and no considerable
reserve can be maintained to guard against
a fire breaking out in another section of
the city The full report of the committee
was follows:
Facilities Needed.
"Your committee held a meeting for the
consideration of this subject Of so vital
Importance, at which, in response to the
committees invitation, Chief Engineer Par
ris of the fire department was present,
when the equipment of the department in
all its phases was fully discussed. That
there is immediate necessity for action in
this matter admits OF no doubt. While our
fire department is all that could be de-
sired in fidelity and efficiency, its size is
not commensurate with the area and the
value of the property to be protected. In
the last report of the chief engineer, that
for 1893 the situation is well summarized,
as follows
I've need more apparatus. The city is
growing rapidly, and the calls upon the de-
partment are more numerous than ever be-
fore. The area to be looked after Is i'm
mense, and with the present outfit at times
large districts are left entirely without pro-
lection. When fire of large proportions is
in progress, the whole department may be
concentrated to handle the same. In the
event of an equally large confagraton oc-
curing in a locality far distant from the
first, and where it may be impossible to
send but one company, which is on reserve
in that vicinity, the result must necessarily
be disastrous
.'rhe entire District at present has only
nine engine companies and three truck
con panas. There is urgently needed the
following additional equipment. which, in
the opinion of your committee, should be
lo Gated in accordance with the recommended
ton of the chief engineer, about as follows
One engine house, site, engine, company,
etc, for northeast section. at Florida ave-
nue. and North Capitol street; one engine
house, site, engine, company, ETC., in Ana
costa one engine house. SITE engine, COM
pany, etc, between 18th and Goth and e
and f streets and New York avenue north
west; one engine house, sit, engine, COM
pany, etc, Market space and Sth street
northwest: one engine house, site. engine,
company, ETC., between 10th and 18th and
b and G streets southwest; one chemical
engine company in Tenleytown, five addi-
tional in all. One house, site. truck, COM
pany, etc, between New Jersey avenue and
9TH street and NJ and n streets northwest;
one house, site, truck. company, etc, reser-
walton Virginia avenue between Sth and 9th
streets southeast; one house, site. truck,
company, ETC., Georgetown, between 3lst
and 35th streets and q and T, three addi-
tional in all.
KeyIess Boxes.
your committee also strongly recon-
mends that the board of trade urge on the
honorable Commissioners the ACCESSIBILITY
of substituting keyless fire alarm boxes in
the business portions of the city for those
of the present design. The keyless boxes
are now in use in corresponding portions
of most of the large cities of the country,
resulting in the saving of valuable time at
a critical moment, which Is now lost in the
effort to locate and secure the key of the
alarm box. Chief Paris has expressed him
self warmly in favor of the proposed
change.
Fully impressed with the necessity of
prompt and energetic action in order that
our fire department may be placed in the
condition imperatively demanded by the
enormous interests at stake With the least
possible delay, your committee presents the
following resolutions, embodying it's views,
una nimously adopted at a meeting of the
committee, which it hopes the board of
trade will see lit to approve:
Resolved, That the Washington board of
trade urges upon the honorable Commits
sioners, and through them upon Congress,
the pressing necessity of an immediate sub
stantial increase in the appropriation for
the extension of the fire department Of the
District of Columbia, to the end that great
er protection from fire may be afforded the
lives and property of our citizens;
Resolved, further, That the honorable
Commissioners be requested to cause key
less fire-alarm boxes to be substituted for
those now in use in the business portion
of the city"
Regarding Manufactures.
The resolution that gave rise to the most
animated discussion of the evening was
included in a report of the committee on
commerce, consisting of .Iessrs. II. l..
Briscoe, Levi Woodbury. and II. c. Win
ship. The report was as follows:
1.-The board of directors having referred
to the committee on commerce for report
the subject of the establishment of manu-
featuring plants and the encouragement of
manufactures in the District of Columbia,
we have duly considered the question, the
Importance of which needs no demonstra-
ton. Within the last few months the board
of trade has received a number of COM
munications from parties desiring to locate
manufacturing establishments in the Dis
trict, seeking information as to it's adj
vantages for their purpose and as to what
Inducements, If any, would be offered capt.
tai in order to secure its investment here
in the form mentioned.
Not deeming 1T wise to attempt to go
into detail on so extensive a subject in a
first report thereon, based on a necessarily