Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-02
ALLEGES UNJUST CRITICISM
Commissioner Wight's Response to Com
plant of Tenleytown Citizens.
Appropriation for Chemical Engine
House Too Small In View of
Advanced Prices.

The District Commissioners feel that they
have been unjustly criticised by the people
of Tenleytown for their failure to proceed
with the erection in that suburb of a chemi-
cal engine house authorized by the current
District appropriation act Speaking of the
matter today, Commissioner Wight, who
has immediate supervision of the fire de-
partment, said:
THE Commissioners fully appreciate the
Importance of providing Tenleytown and
that vicinity with additional protection
against fire and they agree with the people
of that section that 1t is poorly provided
with fire-fghting apparatus. Therefore the
Commissioners gladly and promptly assisted
the people out there In their efforts at the
last session of Congress to obtain the chem
ical engine company. CongI ess. In provid-
ing the sum of $4,000 for the purchase of q
site nd the rection thereon Of a house for
the company, appropriated, as the Commits
sioners at the time believed an ample
amount. The unlooked-for advance in the
prices of building ma ter1als, which advance
occurred subsequent to the appropria ton
however. has convinced the Commissioners
that the sum not made large enough
for the purpose.
After celebrating for a reasonable time,
the Commissioners determined that, every
thing considered, the site purchased by
them would be the most satisfactory one.
fOr II tney PAID $l,5UV, out mad they pOr-
chased the site which some Of the people Of
Tenleytown seem to have preferred 1t would
have cost even more than that amount The
purchase of the site finally selected left the
Commissioners the sum Of $4,000 with
which to erect the house. provide the neces-
sary furniture and otherwise equip It, The
sum of 81 600 is usually required to provide
the furniture for each house of the fire de-
partment so the Commissioners really had
but $4,000 with which to construct the
house and equip 1t with the necessary elec-
trical appliances.
Bidders Decline.
Bids were duly invited through adver-
tfsements in the local newspapers, but not
single bid was received in answer there
to- and upon Investigating the matter it
was discovered by the Commissioners that
the builders who were expected to submit
bids refused to do so because. in the opinion
Of these men, the house could not be con-
structed with the funds left available for
the purpose.
The plans for the house were made as
simple and inexpensive as the requirements
of the fire department would permit, never
theless the builders believed that it could
not be erected by them with profit to them
selves VITA the funds left the Commission
ers. and the builders, in explanation of their
refusal to submit bids, pointed to the great
advance IN the price of building material
since the adjournment of Congress last
March.
The Commissioners Dfsappofnted.
Naturally, the Commissioners were
greatly disappointed to discover that it
would be impossible to erect the house with
the funds left them for the purpose. and,
after full consideration of the matter.
they decided to postpone further proceed
ings until Congress meets. They will then
explain the case to that body and ask an
additional sum with which to construct and
equip the house. The same action has been
decided upon by them in the matter of the
truck houses in Columbia Heights and
Georgetown, which localities stand in as
much need for additional protection against
fire as does Tenleytown. Then too the
people of Tenleytown should understand
that for the same reasons the Commission
ers have been compelled to POSTPONE the
construction Of several public school build
ings until they obtain additional funds.
Another thing that should be remem-
hered by them is that, even had the Com
misSfoners been able to proceed with the
erection of the house. q further appropria-
ton would have been necessary to permit
them to man the company, no provision
having yet been made by Congress for this
purpose. The Commissioners feel assured
that the required additional funds will be
promptly provided by Congress. also funds
for manning this and the other companies,
and that they will probably be placed in
service by next fall, at the latest