The Washington times., 1894-10-25


was adopted.
NEEDS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Secretary Wright read the report of the
committee on insurance relating to the needs
of the local fire department. 1t is briefly as
follows
"While our fire department is all that could
be desired in fidelity and efficiency, its size is
not commensurate with the area and value of
the property to be protected. In the last re-
port of the chief engineer, that for 1898, the
situation is well summarized, as follows:
"'We 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 immense,
and with the present outfit at times large dis
tricts are left entirely without protection.
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 coniiagration occurring in a locality
far distant from the first, and where 1t may
be impossible to send but one company,
which is on reserve in that vicinity. the re-
suit must necessarily be disastrous
1.-The entire District at present has only
nine engine companies and three truck COM
panies. There is urgently needed additional
equipment, which, in the opinion of your
with the recommendation of the chief engi-
neer.
''Your committee also strongly recommends
that the board of trade urge on the honor
able Commissioners the advisability OF SUBJ
stituting keyless flre-alarm boxes in the busi-
ness portions of the city for those. OF the
present design"
The committee in conclusion presented q
resolution that the Washington Board of
Trade urges upon the honorable Commis-
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 Dis
trict Of Columbia, to the end that greater pro-
lection from fire may be afforded the lives
and property of the citizens; and further, that
the honorable Commissioners be requested TO
cause keyless fire-aarm boxes to be substi-
tuted for those nowin use in the business por
tions of the city.
CHIEF PARIS ADDRESSES THE BOARD.
At the conclusion of the reading of the re-
port Chief Paris spoke from experience on
the needs of the fire department. The de-
partment is entirely too small, and for the
past eight years he had been endeavoring to
secure an increase and had failed. AS a last
resort he appealed to the board of trade
for aid
Mr.. John II. Magruder asked the chief
what effect water tower would have had
on the Stumph fire, TO which Mr.. Paris re-
Dllcu llldI lut DullNllR tOulu lOk nave bcCu
saved by the use OF a tower. Mr.. Magruder
thought there was urgent necessity for an
! immediate increase in the apparatus, and
| also thought there should be an additional
number OF fire. alarm boxes.
There was considerable discussion of the
report before it was unanimously adopted.
Secretary Wight read the report OF the com
mittee Oh commerce relating to the develop
ment of manufactures in the District and ad-
/ iacent sections of Maryland and Virginia.
| Substantially, it is as follows:
within the last few months the board of
! trade has received number of communica-
! tions from parties desiring to locate manufac-
! turing establishments in the District. seeking
| information as TO its advantages Tor their pur
| pose and as to what inducements, if any,
| would be offered capital in order to secure
/ its investment here in the form mentioned"
Not deeming it wise, the report states, to
attempt to go into detail on so extensive
! sub iect in first report thereon, the commit
tee contents itself for the present with sub
mitting the following resolution indicative of
the proper position. in its judgment. to be as
sumed by the Beard OF Trade:
| Resolved, That in the opinion of the COM
mittee on commerce, the board of trade
should do all in its power to promote the de-
! velopment of manufactures in the District and
in the sections of Maryland and Virginia ad-
| jacent thereto. in such localities and under
! such conditions as will not detract from the
| beauty and comfort of the National Capital as
| q city of residences especially
| by urging the subject upon the attention of
our citizens and further by acting as far as
may be practicable as a medium of communi-
cation between them and those investigating
the advantages of the District with reference
to the establishment OF manufacturing plants
| therein.
DISCUSSION OF THE QUESTION.
Tr
turing plants should not be established in the
city limits. Mr. Levi Woodbury. said that that
was not the intention of the committee
Dr. A. P. Pardon favored the report OF the
committee. The prosperous cities of the
| world, he said, are those in which the wheels
of factories whirl in constant action. There
| is enough water-power and land in this city,
/ II they are properly utilized to make the city
as great as Manchester or Birmingham.
I'VE need more brains of practical busi-
ness men in this city. There is no room for
| the young men of Washington except in the
| departments or in real estate Offices" He
! was heartily in favor of building up great
! factories in the Capital of the United States
Washington needs a liberal spirit to make it
agreeable for wealthy manufacturers to
come to this city and build up prosperous
| enterprises.
Dr. Fardon's remarks were heartily ap-
proved by Mr.. John H. MaGruder, Gen. John
| y. Cotton, and Secretary Wight.
Gen. Cotton said he had no fear that diver
| sifed manufactures in the District would
| work TO the disadvantage of the community.
Regarding the facilities for the factories, Gen.
! Cotton said if there is no power at hand there
can be no manufactures. At present there is
only steam power. with its accompanying
smoke. But there is power within fourteen
miles of the city which can be brought here
with comparatively small cost.
He said the manufacturing interests can in
no way affect the water supply of the District.
! Statistics show that on an average there are
! only 106 days in the year when there is not
! water flowing over Great Falls amounting to
! 90. 900 horse power. In his opinion there was
the power for the District to point out to
| gentlemen who want to engage in manufac-
! turing.
THE SPIRIT OF ToADYIsM.
President Warner said there is lack of
enterprise in this city. The spirit of toadyism
in the District has retarded Industrial pro-
! gress in this Capital city. He would awake
the men of Washington and release them
from the lethargy which they have inherited
and rouse them TO their responsibility.
"We want self-development here instead oil
Government aid. This power should not be
delegated to some one else, and the men OF
Washington should stand shoulder to
shoulder and not rely on social relations for
| their success. If these industries were built
| up here no one would want to move away,
and the factories would attract numbers oi
the most enterprising business men to the
Capital"
motion of AIr. Lancaster to strike out
the portion of the report relating to Mary
land and Virginia was lost and the report
was adopted as presented On motion of Mr.
| Levi Woodbury. it was decided that the presi-
dent appoint a committee of seven, whose