The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-05-27
AT THEFLAMES MERCY
Washington's Dependence For
Protection From Fire.
MANY MILLIONS ENDANGERED.

A HerculeAn Task-Compi,ation OF Mes
scges, Proc.smations and Other State
Five Years.
WAsHINGToN, May 26.-[Special. THE
recent fire in this city 10y which four fire.
men lost their lives In a gallant struggle
with the flames has served TO call atten-
ton TO the fact that the fire department of
the national capital Is woefully made
quate. 1t il outfitted with only nine steam
engines, and the force consists of but 20
men. The insurance men say that many
cities OF half the size Of this have better
fire departments. Congress has been asked
time and again TO make more liberal APP
preparations for the Washington fire de-
partment but without result. The gov
eminent property In this city Is valued at
$3.50, 900, 600. No valuation could be placed
upon the records and archives which are
kept in the great departments. The gov
eminent has no fire department of its own,
not even volunteer fire corps. 1t depends
for protection wholly upon the city fire de-
partment, which is sadly inadequate.
Very Little Protection.
The vonflagration in question was not a
very large one. SO far rs property loss is
concerned. The value of the property de-
stroyed was about $500, 900, and no other
lives than those of the firemen were in
danger. Yet IL was necessary To send to
this fire every engine hose cart and hook
and ladder truck in the city. All the pub
lie buildings, the White House and the
capitol itself were left without any protec-
ton in case fire had broken out, to say
IL
sections of tie city. Washington covers 40
or so square miles of territory and is "A rich
and prosperous city Yet these nine fire
engines are expected to furnish protection
against conflagration throughout this
whole region.
The complaint Is often made by the
people OF Washington that congress does
not treat them fairly in the matter of APP
propriations. Many congressman from
the rural districts come to the capital, find
many of the people living in elegant homes,
with smooth paved streets, fine carriages,
bicycles by the thousand and other evil
dences of wealth and luxury. Then these
rural statesmen say to themselves: mo
wonder this is a thriving city. 1t lives off
the government, and the government even
pays one half of its taxes" The natural
consequence of spirit like this is that
when appropriation bills for the District
of Columbia come up for consideration
there il nearly always a captious, hyper
critical opposition. 1t has become a tradi-
ton that local appropriations have to be
pared To the lowest notch in order TO get
them through.
A Shortsighted Policy.
While it is true the government pays
one-half the taxes for support Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, the government owns
property here of enormous value. Besides,
control of local affairs was long ago taken
out of the hands of the people of the city
and placed in congress. The national leg
islature is the common council for the city
of Washington and IL ought to treat the
people with more fairness and justice. 1t
is at least shortsighted policy To keep an
inadequate fire department in the federal
city.
Representative James ID. Richardson of
Tennessee has taken on his shoulders a
pretty serious responsibility. There has
long been demand for "a compilation of
the messages proclamations and other
state papers of the presidents of the United
States Mr.. Richardson, who was for
long time the energetic chairman of the
committee on printing, conceived the hap
having them printed by the government
for the use of congress, the departments
and public libraries
Congressman Richardson's Task.
Possibly if Mr.. Richardson had realized
the magnitude of the task, he would not
have been willing TO undertake it. But
congress having authorized the publica-
ton of the work, Mr.. Richardson set to
work. For months he has labored with
characteristic energy and skill, without
compensation and through pure love for
the work. The result promises to be q
most valuable contribution to American
history. The first volume Of this cOmpila-
ton Is out, book of 800 pages, contain
ing numerous engravings and portraits on
steel. 1t contains the inaugural addresses,
messages and proclamations of four presi-
Washington, Adams, Jefferson and
Madison Washingtons papers fill $50
pages, Adams nearly 100 Jefferson's
nearly $50 and Madison's 1875. Every one
Of the presidents sent veto messages to
congress, the first one being sent in by
President Washington Feb. 2S 1897, stat
ing his objections To a bill concerning the
army.
1t is estimated that five or six more vol
umes will be required TO complete the COM
pilation, which is to be brought down to the
close of the Cleveland administration, thus
comprising 105 years. Six thousand copies
are authorized to be printed, of which
1000 copies are for the use OF the senate
and 4, ZOO for the use OF the house. The
whole work will cost about $50, 900, but 1t
is hoped the bulk of the copies will be sent
TO libraries and thus be of value to the
people. Mr.. Richardson deserves general
thanks for his labors which have been
most onerous, requiring research in the
archives of congress and the state depart
ment besides the examination of biog-
raphies and histories in great number.
WALTER WELLMAN.
Lighting the Gas.