The times., 1899-12-06
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Advance in Building Material
Richards intended ImnrONemcnts.


The Advance in Building Material
RetRrds Intended improvements.
Reference was made in the last annual
report of the Commissioners to the made
protection of the District Much stress
was laid upon this fact, and the Commits
sioners appeared before the committees
of Congress and urged an enlargement Of
the department. Although Congress did
not give the full number asked for it
did provide for TWO additional truck COM
panies, one TO be located in Northeast
Georgetown, and one in Mount Pleasant
and a chemical company. to be located in
Tenleytown. Following its recent custom
no provision was made for the men TO man
these companies. it being considered by
Congress allowable to wait until the build
ings were erected, and the men needed for
actual service before providing Them
As soon as the bill was passed steps
were at once taken to make a study OF
truck houses in other cities. plans and
specifications were prepared and bids ad-
Yertised for the erection of the three
houses. Unfortunately, building material
increased in price, and the cost of building
was so much advanced that the bids re-
ceived We're in excess Of the amount avail
able after the purchase of the sites. The
plans for the buildings were modified and
reduced as much as possible consistent
with good service, new bids were invited
all of which proved higher than the first
bids, and on some of the houses no bids
were received. This was a serious dis
appointment to the Commissioners and to
the people living in the vicinitles where
the new companies are TO be located. 1t
was. however, unavoidable, and nothing
apparently remains to be done except to
ask Congress for additional amounts that
will make the available moneys sufficient
to erect these buildings This will be done
venes, and when the money is appropriated
the buildings will be very rapidly put to
completion
The addition Of these three companies.
making total of twenty-t three companies.
while very much appreciated. is only
part Of what is actually needed in order 10
properly protect the District, especially the
outlying portions of it, In the estimates
already submitted the Commissioners have
again made an urgent appeal for number
Of new ire companies, some for the centre
of the city, especially in the southern part,
and some for outlying suburban places 1t
would seem only necessary to state the
facts in order 10 secure the appropriations
Such, however, is not the case. state
ment Of the facts, strong. earnest, and con-
tinuous appeals have failed to secure the
relief sought. There seems only one thing
10 be done-continue persistently urging
this much needed increase of the Fire De-
paTtment until the city is sufficiently sup
piled with companies and apparatus. The
record for efficiency which this depart
ment has earned in the past has been
maintained throughout the last year While
there have been no extraordinarily serious
. COntiagratiOus, there have been a large
number of fires, in all OF which the de-
partment has rendered prompt and efficient
service, the records showing that not only
has 1t 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 cit
lZeu who would take the time to inspect
them. They are always neat and clean
and 10 the men who work so hard during a
. fire, but pass much idle time waiting for
an alarm, an intelligent and interested Wis
itOT is always welcome. Under the direc-
tion OF the Electrical Engineer improve
ments are constantly being made in the
/ fire alarm headquarters and in the system
/ OF receiving and transmitting alarms every
device known as Of value being used 10
prevent errors and TO add to the efficient
equipment Of the department..
Attention is again invited TO the neces-
sity OF an additional stable. where sick and
disabled horses of the department NAV be
/ treated. At present there is no provision
( at all by The District for such treatment
Of horses but each year with an addi-
/ tional number of horses, the necessity for
a stable is more and more apparent The
appropriation is again asked for, and IL is
/ hoped that this year il viii be granted.
/ Provision having been made by Congress
! for an extension OF the telegraph
and telephone system of the Po-
/ lice and Fire departments under the
efficient direction of the Electrical En-
I gineer great Improvements have been
/ made in this particular branch Many OF
/ the overhead wires, which were so dis
/ figuring 10 the city. have been placed un-
/ derground thus doing away with insight
! " poles and wires; an entirely new sys-
/ TEN of switchboard and the receiving and
/ transmitting Of messages has been inaug-
uratod, and the central office is now main
/ tanned in the rooms Of the new fire alarm
headquarters where there has been install
( ed q metallic-circult switchboard with a
| capacity Of 200 drops at which two oper-
| ators are constantly engaged serving eight
| hours for each trick Of duty All the tele.
I phones Of the District Government other
! than those connected with the telephone
Company's central Office are now connected
/ viii this District central office, sGordine
! q most complete and affective service.
Much care and attention is given 10 th,
maintenance OF such lines as are still
overhead; an additional appropriation 1,
! asked with which to continue the goo(
work Of burying the wires. also for further
! equipping the service by complete tele
phone connections, which will increase lht
| efficiency in every department