Evening star., 1896-09-19
Chief htris Wants More Engines and
\ Houses.
DEPARTMENTS ANNUAL REPORT
NeedsPN the Companies and Bet
taI IPay Recommended.
A N A4asTIA NEGLECTED

for next year, which are $1OG.51S in excess
OF the last appropriation.
The items Of increase are as follows: Two
assistant chief engineers at $3.50 each: five
foremen at 81 $50 each; four engineers at
1860 each: four hostlers at $966 each; thir-
ty-one privates at $500 each: one machinist,
in charge of apparatus, $1,2OO; one laborer,
In charge of hospital, $3.50; repairs. to en-
gine houses, $1,000: repairs to apparatus,
1880: purchase of hose. $1,000; fuel. $1.OOO;
horses, 1900 contingent expenses, $4,1O;
one aerial turn table truck to exchange old
style truck. $500; two new engines at s4,9U
each; two new hose carriages at &SO eacn;
hose, lot and furniture.3or engine company
to be located in Anacostfa, $4,000.
House, lot and furniture for one engine
company, to be located in the section bound
ed by 9Th and 10th streets. u ana "a streeIs
northwest, $35OtW
Hospital for horses. to be located in she
rear of No s engine house. North Carolina
avenue between 9TH and 1th streets south
east, 5000
Increase of Pay Asked.
Chief Paris again calls attention to the
necessity of an increase In the pay OF the
men in his department.. The men are re-
qrired to reside in the locality OF the en-
gine house, and these localities as rule
command high rents. He lays great stress
full complement of strong, able-bodied men
in the partment. The men, he says. take
advantage of the first opportunity TO De
appoir ted to other brlnches Of the District
&c vernment, where larger salaries are paid
and the risk Of life and limb considerably
Iessened. He says the men do not receive
the recognition due them for the hard.
trying and perilous duties imposed upon
them, and he earnestly urges an increase.
He also invites atteation to his estimates
for two additional assistant chief engineers,
which he thinks absolutely necessary for
the better management OF the department
and the protection of lives and property of
the citizens of the District. The increase OF
five foremen. four engineers. four tiremen.
four hostlers and thirty-one privates Is
asked. he says. to place in service the two
companies allowed by the last session of
Congress. tho two companies asked in the
estimates the transfer of chemical engine
company No. from Its present quarters
in the house of truck G to the old house OF
engine company No 2 and the equipping of
a hose carriage to be located in the chem
ical engine, house at Brightwood
Chief Rarris renews his recommendation
of former years asking for one machinist
to take charge Of the repairs to apparatus
This officer. he says. would be great ad-
dition to the department and save the Dis
trict much time and expense.
More COmpanien.
Chief Paris. In his recommendation for
more companies. says:
apparatus more companies and more men.
While Congress at its last session, provid-
ed for a house, lot, furniture. engine and
hose carriage for one engine company. to
be located tn the vicinity of North Capitol
street and Florida avenue, and a house and
lot and furniture, to DE located in the vicin-
ity of Bright wood to accommodate Chem
ical Engine, Company No, 2, now located at
Mt. Pleasan at. they, failed to provide the
mep necessary to place these companies in
Ia mo nf 81, -
our needs has always proved very unsatis-
factory. for when the houses are COMPLETED
ana the apparatus place therein there are
no men to occupy them. Quite a delay is
then experienced in getting the men, and
even after they are appropriated for, they
being all inexperienced men. 1t is necessary
| to make detail from the various other en-
| gine house to man these. This, as l have
before stated. Is very unsatisfactory and II
compels US to, weaken three or four COM
panies for the sake Of attempting to place
one company in service.
such an experience was had at the time
truck company D was placed in service. on
| the 1st day of last March. Everything
was IN readiness to call on this company
months before the appropriation became
available and when at last the long-looked-
! for act was passed by Congress, and the
money became available. 1t was found nee
essary to cripple in measure three other
| state of affairs should not exist and 1t Is
earnestly hoped that it will not again be
| repeated.
! Even with last years increase and the
| present years increase, the city OF Wash
| tngton has Outgrown its fire department
| To place this department in condition to
| meet the demands that may at any time be
made upon 1t. 1t should consist Of at lea st
| twenty engine companies and eight truck
| companies. with the requisite number of
| officers and men.
. Reserve Force.
| Il desire to call attention to a condi-
tion that should not exist. and that should
| receive attention. Shoul1 a very large
! fire occur and general alarm be sent in,
there would be no reserve force to protect
the lives and property Of the citizens left
| unprotected by the necessity of calling
out all companies to work at one fire. A
| forcible example of this was had at the
| recent fire on Louisiana avenue and B
| street. between 9th and 10th streets north
| west large fire started about y O'Clock
| in the evening and in less than ten min
utes 1t had spread to such proportions
| that 1t was absolutely necessary 20 call
| upon the entire fire department to subdue
| the flames. The fire occurred immediat civ
after severe electric storm. and had
another fire started in any section of the
aid from this fire. AS it was. with the
| entire department doing service at this
one fire, the greatest difficulty was ex.
perienced In contning the flames. and no,
]
orally gutted was the fire gotten unde,
control. Had there been ten more com
panies at that fire they could have beer
used to the best advantage.
1.-The great success that has followed this
department. in the past in handling fires
seems to have led some of our Legislators
to believe that it is impossible for a fire t.
get away from it. but this is not the case
as at any time. with our present force WI
are liable to sustain losses that will par
TALLY paralize the business of this city
In addition to the property owned by tn,
citizens of.x Washington. the department
has to contend with the many government
buildings and their valuable contents
which are being increased year by year
Another thing Of Importance to the depart
inent which makes the extinguishing o.
| fires In fN4s day a hazardous and perilou.
tndertakAnaE and is disc q handicap is tn,
manner IN (which business and DWELLING
houses are erected. Houses are now erect
| ed in row after row, and, instead of beinJ
two stories. as In former times they go ul
four, five and six stories. These fact
make the needs Of the department eve,
more apparent.
Anacostfn's Needs.
ITO alleviate our needs in a degree
have asked for an engine company, fully