Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05
me FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Number of Engines Inadequate for
Protection of District.

Reference Was made in the last annual
report # The Commissioners &, ,he made
gia-e number uf ire companies for the pro-
r.--l1u 0f Tire District Much stress was
Itii upon This fact. and the Commissioners
appeared 10. f,r. the committees Of Congress
and urged an enlargement 0f the depart
mrHt- Although Congress did not give the
F.u number asked for. II did provide for
-rr additional -rIck companies. one to be
l..lteI ia N,rtneas, Georgetown and one
tn Mount Ti-asaUt ard q chemical com
asay- o. re lJaaJeI i'm Tgul-ytpwH.
Following its recent custom, no provision
was made for tn, men To man these com
r..ui.~, .- being considered by Congress al
...SsfrI" 20 wait until the buildings were
erected, and he men are needed for actual
service before providing them.
As soon the bill was passed steps
We're at once taken "a make study OF
'ru,k house in other cities. plans and SpeCI-
Erd,IuUs We're prepared and bids advertised
Tor The erection of the three houses. Tn
fortunately, building material increased in
price. and the cost Of building was so much
advanced that the bids received We're in
excess of the amount available after the
pGrl base Of the sites The plans for the
buildings Were modified and reduced as
much IS possible consistent with good serv-
tre. new bids were invited, all of which
proved higher than the first bids. and
some of the houses no bids We're received.
This was a serious disappointment 10 the
the virinlties where the new companies
are 10 be locdted. 1t was. however. I'M
av0idable. and nothing apparently remains
To ne done except To ask Congress for adj
Itrirual amounts that will make the avail
able moneys sufficient 20 erect these build
.nEs- This Will he done as early a 5 pos
sthi@ after Congress convenes, and when
the money is appropriated he buildings will
"- very rapidly put to completion.
Needs but Partially Supplied.
adj of
making a total Of twenty-three companies
while very much appreciated. is only
part Of what is actually needed in order to
properly protect the District, especially the
outlying portions of it In the estimates
already submitted the Commissioners have
again made an urgent appeal for a number
Of new fire companies. some for the center
If the city, especially III the southern part
and some TOR outlying suburban places. 1t
facts IN order to secure the apprOpria tons
such, however. IL not the case. \ state
ment II the facts. strong. earnest and con-
tEuous appeals have failed to secure the
relief sought There seems only one thing
to be done-ContiHue persistentiy urging
This much-needed increase of the fire de-
parrment until the city is sufficiently sup
piled with companies and apparatus
The record for efficiency which this de-
Iartlnent has earned in the past has been
maintained throughout the last year While
there have been no extraordinarily serious
''nIidETatpns. there have been a large
number Of fires in all Of which the de-
IarJmeut has rendered prompt and efficient
service, the records showing that not only
has IL saved much property, but many
lives
The various engine houses have been
Kept in excellent condition, and a visit to
any one Of these would well repay the
citizen who would take the time to inspect
them They are always neat and clean
and u the men who work so hard during
fire. but pass much idle time waiting for
an alarm. an Intelligent and interested
visitor il always welcome.
Fire Alarm Headquarters.
Under the direction Of the electrical en-
@sneer Improvements are constantly being
made I'm the fire alarm Headquarters and in
JHe system Of receiving and transmitting
alarms. every device known as Of value
u..Ug used 70 prevent errors and TO add
Co the efficient equipment Of the depart
ruent-
Attention - again Invited to the n4cos.
sly " an additional stable, where sick
ana disabled horses Of the department may
be- treated. Al present there is no prG
vision at all by the District for such treat
Dl-ut u horses but each year with an adj
titi'nal number Of horses. the necessity for
q sta BE - more and more apparent The
appropriation i again asked for. and II
Is hoped that this year it viii be granted
Telegraph and Telephone Service.
Provision having been made by Con
gress for an extension Of the telegraph and
telephone system of the police and fire de-
partment under the efficient direction of
ne electrical! engineer great improvements
have been made in This particular branch.
Many u the overhead wires which We're
81 dlsHgCrtng To- the city. have been placed
Underground. thus doing away with I'M
signify poles and wires an entirely nsW
y stem Of switchboard and the receiving
ana transmitting of messages has been in
aCSGFated. and the central Office Is now
maintained IN the rooms Of the new fire
a-arTn headquarters. where there has been
installed metallic circuit switchboard with
a capacity Of 30 drops, al which two oper-
.At'fs are cons tantiy engaged. serving eight
hours Tor each trick Of duty. All the tele-
phones u the District government other
'han those connected with the telephone
company central Ofice are now connected
With this District central office affordinZ
d most complete and effective service.
Much care and attention is given to the
maintenance OF such lines as are still over
mead an additional appropriation is asked
Win which u continue the good work Of
"'rylug the wires. also for further equip
ping the service by complete telephone con-
i-etlous. which viii increase the efficiency
L. every department.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
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