The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-09-13

new companies thereby, in measure.
Gripping the efficiency OF several other
| companies and during the time interven-
ing bet tween the time the appropriation
shoaId become available and the compile
tion of the houses the men could be assign
ell Co the various companies, aud while they
were being properly traued and drilled the
department would have tn benefit of their
services, giving usB stronger companies,
which might. perhaps. enable the depart
men; Ia render mose effective service
There is nothing that could lie derived
from this manner of making appropriation
except that would beilG great benefit to the
service, audit is earnestly hoped that in the
future some little attention viii be given
To the matter. III. on the other hand, the
Congress will not listen,to this plea. it is
hoped that il VIII at least provide for the
men ~ he available within six months after
the appropriations become available for
the houses, 80 that a. som as the houses are
completed and ready fDr service, We may
get the use Of The companies. which are 80
badly needed, without-any useless delay.
The following incrsasesin. the number OF
companies is recommended:
There is a great necessity FOR an in
crease in the number OF fire hydrauts now
in service. For a number of years an
increase has been earnestly recommended
by this department This is a matter OF
vast Importance, not only To the depart
men, but 90 the property holders of our
city. Ii has been the experience on many
occasions during the past year that the
department has responded To alarms or
fine. and on reaching the scene ii WAS
found that the h ydrants We're so far reno
that il was necessary TO lay out 2,0tJ
or more feet OF hose in order to re ach the
fire. This impedes the working OF the
department. causes "a loss OF valuable time.
and results in much unnecessary damage.
During the past year nifty new hydrants
We're erected, making a totalof .S07 now
in service in the District OF Columbia. IL
can readily be und erstood that with an
area OF sen enty-two square miles. this
number OF fire hydr ants is entirely made
quate The erection OF 200 more IS recon-
mended and it is sincerely hoped that this
recommendation win not only receive pass
ing attention, but that the MIGRANTS will
be purchased and erected in the most ad-
vantageOus localities.
The question of fire alarm boxes is also
absolute necessity. There are sections
of our city where ii is necessary to 20
eleven or lively, blocks before a fire
alarm box can be reached. Such state
OF affairs should not exist. 81 being
compelled to go such distance from the
scene of a fire much valuable time is lost,
not only by the time consumed In reaching
the box to send in the alarm. but as all
Companies respond direct TO the box, per
haps in n direction entirely different to
that in which the fire is located, a fter
rea ching the box and learning Of the 10
cation of the fire, there is loss OF, time
that rIeans much to the citizens whose
property is burning.
Our department responds to an alarm
OF fire with all possible speed consistent
with safety, but as long as the fire alarm
boxes are located so distant from eacn
other, 1t cannot be expected that the de-
partment VIII be able TO keep the losses
down To figure that 1T would be posi-
BILE to if We had more fire alarm boxes.
1t is sincerely hoped that during the next
year many more boxes Will be put in
service. so that 1t will be possible Tor
our citizens to receive better protection
from fire than is offered at the present
time.