The times., 1899-11-03
ReDIy Of the Commissioners.
The reply Of the Commissioners, under

Reply of the Commissioners.
The reply Of the Commissioners, under
date of October 4, is as follows:
Mr. Charles C. Lancaster. President Citizens
Northwest Suburban Association:
Dear Sir: IN response to your communication of
the 22d ultimo, asking that steps be taken 10
build the engine house IN Wisconsin Avenue,
am directed TO inform YOU thar the plans for
this enEiuc-house have been reduced TO the lowest
limit consistent with efficient service It Is
not believed that further notifications can be
made without materially interfering with the Gf-
Gciency of the Fire Department.
The Commissioners believe that it would be
very poor policy TO construct the house in the
manner you desire, for, while it would be a gain
IN time OF four or five months, the structure
would be u such character 10 handicap the
Fire Department as long IL continued TO exist.
j Is possible that the price Of building material
VIII decline 10 some extent during the next few
months, II Il does not, * Is believed that an ad-
citional appropriation can be secured from Con
gress 10 permit the building to be constructed
as Il should be-
WAl TTNDALL, Secretary.
Prof Hill called attention 10 the fact
that the lot was purchased in one part Of
town, but that bids were asked on specifca-
tions that named a site in another. He be-
lieyed the District Commissioners were
working against the building Of the en-
gine house. II they had gone to work he
said. as soon as the appropriation was
made, the amount would have been suf-
acient. as building material was 80 or so
per cent cheaper al that time than it is
now.
The Resolutions Adopted.
Prof. Hill then moved that committee
be appointed to draft resolutions and TO
present them TO the Commissioners, insist
ing that the work on the new frehouse be-
gin at once This action was at once
agreed to, and a committee consisting of
c. c. Lancaster, Prof. George A. Hill, A.
Z. Shoemaker L. p Shoemaker and VIII
liam ". Brown was appointed. This COM
mittee viii wait upon the Commissioners
today and present the following resolu-
ions.
Whereas the citizens Of Tenleytown have long
worked 10 secure needed fire protection for the
village and surrounding sections; and
Whereas, through the efforts Of the Northwest
Citizens Association al It's last session Congress
appropriated the sum OF 81, 500 for the purpose
Of erecting an engine house and providing an
engine in TeIleytown; and
Where's the Commissioners Of the District Of
Columbia have neglected 90 carry out the eX-
pressed wishes Of Congress and the earnest de-
sires Of the citizens Of Teuleytown; and
Whereas the destructive fire Of last Sunday
night emphasized the unprotected condition OF the
buildings Of the village, when il made ap-
parent that had there been an engine Close by,
q
the flames. therefore be- It
Resolved by the Northwest Suburban Citizens
Association, al meeting held on November 2,
1899, That the action OF the Commissioners Of
the District Of Columbia in deciding not 10 build
the chemical engine house provided for is uHwar-
TaGted and their reasons unsatisfactory. We
therefore earnestly request that the Honorable
Commissioners cause TO be built said engine house
Crane II necessary within the limits OF the
appropriation now available without further de-
lay.
Address by Major Armes.
Major C. A. Armes was the first to ad-
dress the meeting, and his words IN denun-
citation OF the Commissioners were particu-
! larry positive He said that in his opinion
Captain Beach and Commissioner Wight
were both hardly qualified to be in their
present positions. II was the duty Of the
4 association 10 insist upon an investigation
being made by the proper authorities in
regard 10 their management Of District
affairs.
Mr.. Lancaster next related his experience
with the Commissioners in the matter Of
the new engine house and denounced their
attitude as being far from open and honest.
He referred especially to their reply which
had just been read, and said It showed an
absolute lack of interest on their part IN
the welfare Of that section Of the District
Their only contention. he continued. is
that il viii interfere with the convenience
Of the Fire Department II the new engine
house is not built according TO the first
and only specifications which have been
drawn.
The Apparatus Needed.
Mr.. Lancaster declared with much
emphasis that all the residents of TenIey-
town wanted was apparatus with which to
extiHguish fire That there was stin S13, 500
OF the amount appropriated for that pur-
/ pose which was now in the Treasury ready
10 be used. and he contended that If such a
/ building as the first plans called for could
not be erected for that amount, that a
\ frame building should be provided.
! Secretary Chapel said he had been in
| formed from a reliable source that the
| citizens Of Cleveland Park were interested
/ in delaying the erection of this engine
| house with the hope that it's location
might be changed so as 10 benefit them.
/ This he denounced as an unwarranted ag-
| gression on their part II was the work
/ OF the citizens OF Tenleytown IN getting
| the appropriation through Congress- and
/ there was absolutely no doubt about the
necessity OF having the house located