The Washington times., 1894-09-12
Fire Department Cannot Fully Pro-
tect the City from Conflaqration.
A GREATER RESERVE NEEDED
Health Ordinances to Be Extended to Ten
nallytown-Final Maps for the Extension
Of Highways-Care Of Street Trees
Action Of the Excise Board.

response 10 Il Seuorhl dlaIuli d Soconu euiA-
mons for help, prompted by the excitement
at the new Raleigh Hotel building was sent
in, which could not be responded to, and then
it was that this city was confronted with q
startling situation.
1t was shown that with the present facIli-
ties the department, excellent as it is. would
be wholly powerless to cope with two de-
structive confiagrations occurring at the same
time. The query was and is what should be
done to meet the possible exigency.
Commissioner Ross said to a TIMES re-
porter yesterday:
1.-The matter of maintaining adequate fire
protection was never more forcibly brought
to the attention of District people than 1t was
yesterday In cases Of great emergency, such
as could occur, 1t would be a serious prob
lem. / shall consult with Chief Paris about
it, and the board will doubtless urge upon
Congress the great necessity for additional
facilities. Why, this city should have re-
serve force for protection of the government
property alone. Under ordinary circum-
stances the force can be divided. certainly;
but should two great confiagrations break out
in this city at points distant from each other,
/ realize that 1t would be impossible to ade-
quatelv provide for both. We have splen-
did fire service, and it has the confidence OF
Congress. l believe we may succeed in get
ting at least a small reserve force provided
for We shall make the effort"
Chief Paris was asked what he would be
able to do with the force now at his command
in case of two or more destructive fires
occurring at the same time in sections remote
from each other.
tWhy, in that case. the fire that first started
would get all the engines until such time as
we could spare some of them"
GREATER RESERVE FORCE NEEDED.
'Is there not necessity, in view of such a
possibility, for greater reserve force?" he
| was asked.
Undoubtedly" was his emphatic re-
| ioinder THAT is what l have been striving
for years, through the proper channels, to
| have Congress understand. II two or more
! big fires should break out we should be prac-
tically helpless "a to all but one. With fifteen
engines in service we should be able TO meet
any emergency. l think it would afford US
| a very fair reserve force. l hope Congress
will see the importance of giving US that
many"
Commissioner Powell said it was matter
! that did not come properly within his juris-
diction, though as a member OF the board he
was of course in favor Of insuring the public
safety.
| Concerning the claim of the Center Market
! Company for reimbursement for the expense
| OF constructing the iron bridge extending
! from the intersection of Pennsylvania and
! Louisiana avenues to the market house, the
attorney for the District, in an opinion filed
/ with the commissioners. says:
at seems to me that the claim of the mar
| ket company that it should be reimbursed
! the expense of erecting this bridge and for
| damages for being deprived of it is inadmissi-
/ BILE. In 1878. when the market company re-
/ leased to the District that portion of the res
eryation within the iron ratings upon which
! the erection of municipal building was
! contemplated there was no reservation of
| any right on the part of the market company
| to erect the bridge in question.
1.-The erection;ot the bridge, it seems to me,
was temporary, and that il must have been
the understanding and agreement of the
| parties at the time, that should the District
/ require the space at any time for municipal
! purposes, the market company would remove
| the bridge without claim for compensation or
| damages"
| NEW DISTRICT BUILDING.
The matter OF providing a new District
| building having been under consideration
! sometime ago, the Commissioners asked
President Ordway. of the Market Company,
| to submit his views upon the proposition TO
! locate the building on the ground directly in
| front OF the market house. He did so. citing
certain agreements entered into at the time
the ground was released to the District, and
among other things suggesting that the COM
| pany should be repaid for the outlay in the
| construction OF the bridge. The papers
were submitted to Attorney Thomas and the
| foregoing reply upon that point was made.
Health Officer Woodward had conference
yesterday with President Ross, OF the Board of
| Commissioners, upon matters connected with
! his department Among other suggestions
! which DR.. Woodward has made is one that
the health ordinances of the District shall be
made as soon as practicable 10 apply to Ten
nallytown. AS they now read these ordinances
are TO be enforced in Washington, George
| town and the more densely populated su-
burbs but no formal order has ever been
issued to include Tennallytown within the
scope of their operations.
DR.. Woodward said yesterday that the ap-
! plication of the law to Tennallytown was very
much needed, but that it was the purpose of
the Office to do no injustice by instant action.
There are persons in the town who cannot
Immediately conform to the new regulations,
and care would be taken to do no injustice by
arbitrary enforcement.
Final maps are being prepared for the e1-
tension of highways, and Commissioner
Powell gives two hours each day to consid-
Grafton OF the details. He referred again yes
terday to the difficulty experienced in obtain
ing names for the short and cross streets that
will not conflict with those already employed
and said there was a great necessity for re-
naming many of the city streets, especially
those designated as "places." New names
can be readily secured for entirely new streets
in the suburbs by naming for cities and rivers
and towns, but many designations are being
and have been inconSiderately given to streets
that have no sgniflcation and do not serve as
a guide to their location. He is looking up
the authority of the Commissioners to make
needed revision of the street names.
CARE OF STREET TREES.
The parking commission has made
a report to the District Commission
ers OF a set of rules for the care Of
street trees, and say that while the trees
are mainly under the care of the commission
citizens may at their discretion attend tc
watering. removing weeds, lime washing and
removing insects. Pruning should not be
done by others than those employed by the
commission, except to remove interfering OF
superfiuous branches in parkings. During
the period Of active growth, from middle Of
April to Aug. 81, water may be applied freely
at the roots and sprayed among the branches
Caterpillar webs may be removed by clipping
oil small twigs, but should never be burned
Building permits were issued yesterday rs
follows: S. A. Reeves, for residence on Sher-
man avenue. Mount Pleasant, $2,900; J. b
Bellinger, for warehouse, No. 210 Second
street northwest, $4,000; John Noonan, for
private stable in alley rear of lot Z square 81
$500. Permits for improvements were also
granted yesterday: To William Hughes, agent
for two-story back building. No. 496 Mary
land avenue. $1,000; E. G. Cutter. three-story