Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-04
FALSE ECONOMY.
Some Of Uncle Sans Figur-
ing to Save Are Amusing.
Government Buildings at Capital at
Mercy Of the Fire Fiend.
Living in Constant Dread Of a Connagration
A Pressing Demand.

|
's'"S '''"A"''
washington, Jan. S.-(SpeclaD.-U Uncle
Sam. like MANY other pkrsons. Is some
tiwcs o,tooother too econom,col He saye,
A.. -. 49,, -. =. a.. .,;,,o.
az .'.o 'oa.No'o "a .os'' ~ .ts pc
'us' nv" 'i'o "''o"'.on VI oonsie'' - D9'"e
called 10 serious danger whlch hehaces
! the great government buildings IN this
city. The people Of the United States have
invested in palatial structures in this cap
ital something like $3.50. 900, 600. These
nrh,ic bp;,d;n,s srch .s tho c,n;to, the
p :, ,:,~ g. ~ ,o.+
n"''o".'. ADi''' ."o Pe''0n' o.no'' 'Ao pos0
oiiice' 'ie war; s.uUo un" navy pu'u'us'
the treasury the hatiohai museum, 'he
Smithsonian ihseitn!'9h, ana many o!nerS'
con'a,n recer"s anu &n'ocC'ons VI ino"i-
cnlaple vine. lt would seem thao IL any
city III tho y itod States is 20 nave amps
pro'ectioh against liro IL shouio 10 'iie La
tiohal capl'al.
A Narrow Escape.
A few nights ago fire broke out IN the
| center OF Washington but a block from
the treasury and the department or justice.
1t was in furniture house, and, OF course,
made fierce, quick confiagration. Spec
tators were amazed at tho slowness OF the
tire department. 1t seemed ages before a
stream was playing upon the blaze. final
~ one hose nozzle was aimed at the hre'
and 1t was long time before there was
another. Meanwhile surrounding build
ings were taking fire, and there was serl-
Gus danger OF q general confiagratlon
Fortunately there was no vino, ana after
| an hours light the firemen succeeded In
combining the blaze to the building In
which II had started. 1t there had been
high wind blowing toward the treasury,
j. might have been impossible to save that
great pullding from aestrncslon.e az. .
AS ustai III such cases, people were qa'os
TO criticise the iire department Ior us SLOW
work But when tho acts were iosrhea
all blame was taken from the nre nghters
and put upon congress IL chanceo tnas
there We're three alarms almese smuitano-
ousiy That highe Ihey were ID Wideiy
separated parts OF the CITY, ana they drew
the enginesaway. from the pointof danger.
Before ehey could be returned 10 neip tho
twoQr three engines when were heid IN
reserve I'D the centrai part OF the 1own' ana
wnlch were early upon the scene the hre
had secured great headway. NOW 1t turns
out that washington has a poorer nro
equipment thah any other Guy OF equai
size IN the country @e=4+5'i.'
Ihave nefore calied ascention 70 Gne par
slmony OF congress III perMlt6ing tnis ma
tlonal capitai 10 go along Win only ten
engine companies, ana 1 am giad 10 haVo
TINS opportunity again 10 press upon con-
gress the necessity which exists Tor lncfeas-
ing the nre hgheing machinery OF WASH
lneton. IL mase DO remembered tna0 III
comparison with ITS popuiation the ma
tional capital covers greater area than
inost citles ,s 1,f-9ss. .ses5t
A Few Companions.
Washington covers about 40 square miles
OF ground, not including the outlying sub
urbs, which depend upon the city fire do
partment for protection. New York COW
ers only 65 miles, Cincinnati only 30 and
Pittsburg only %. 1t is almost incredible
that there are only ten engine companies
to protect all this great city from the de-
structiveness of fire. have had a.talk on
this subject with CHIEF Paris OF the local
hre department, In which he gives some
very interesting figures concerning the fire
fighting forces OF various cities. -
Our fire department. Is altogether too
small, y said Chief Paris, land live in
constant dread lest confiagration get into
some of the big public buildings. do not
know what we could do in case a great
fire were to sweep the flames into such
buildings as the treasury, the war, state
and navy building and other government
departments we nave not sn1lcient
force OF men 70 cope with soch an anair'
nor engines nor Appliances enough. am
AFRAID the LOSS would % very heaSy. linen
snere would oe great QUERY. ana we
snouid nave Dig appfoprlatioh ZOE new
engines one tnaS would % locking the
door aiter the morse was s'oieh. 900
Our nre a6pascmehe cohsisos oi los
mempers' WIN ~ engine conpahles,
NOOK ana LAUDER colnpal, me ano ewo c.lein-
icais, ana 'here are I'fo. hfo piugs scao-
teieo tnrougnout 'ne Guy. oClhParins
1nis lorce WIN o1her cIeles, We l lhu 'n .,:
We nave scarce,y more 1nai' naIl 'he iacii,-
Ties Snas are el,en elsewnore W oupo GOV mi'h
nrss; Vur popu , IS n 1870. soo'ooU
an Now Or,eanss sor inseanoo, mherc
sne popu1a'lon 10 sfS,voo' e,'o,o are 90 GU
slne colnpanios, noo1 anu n.., is o.a ooi.-
paHies "nu Ss1o.s, WY" M.a. go .non .., uh
sno iosoo eco ano .~ SssDs, ~, ".' ,a;," po.s.