The evening times., 1899-12-06

| Oauses OF COnm0EratlOne-Negle
of Chimneys and the Careless Use
| of Gasoline Recommendations.
The annual report of the Chief Of the
| Fire Department Joseph Paris, which
was made public today, shows that there
were 1893 alarms for fire, and 274 local, or
department, making a total of 667 calls
for fire during the year. This is an in
| crease Of so bell alarms, and a decrease of
| 81 local alarms. as compared with the pre-
ceding year. Seventy-four false alarms
were turned in during the year. and the po-
lice made a number Of arrests. Such
alarms occasioned many useless runs, and
incurred large unnecessar- expense. The
offenders who were captured and tried in
the Police Court were given the extent
Of the law in nearly every case, which is
. fine not to exceed $40. with the aitern-
ative of a term in Jail. This amount of
penalty, 1t is said, is too small to meet
the ends OF justice in many instances. es-
pecially where the offender is OF mature
years. I'm this respect" said Chief Paris.
lit is my opinion that the law might be
amended SO the penalties imposed will
have the effect Of correcting the evil.
Causes of Fires.
Concerning the cause OF fires, Chief Par
ris says: with the proper care and at
tention on the part of citizens many dis
astrous fires might be prevented. During
the fail Of every year many fires result
from the filthy condition of chimneys.
While many of these fires are trivial. some
prove disastrous. The cleaning of fiues at
regular intervals would obviate all this
trouble 1t is unnecessary for me to state
that improperly constructed fiues cause
large loss from fire.
The careless handling and use Of gaso-
line is also responsible nfos. much damage.
Fires from this cause not only damage
buildings, but frequently result in loss Of
human life, and II II were possible regu-
lation should be made governing its use.
which might prevent many fatalities.
During the past year there were forty-
three alarms OF fire from this cause.
Improperly constructed electric light
wires have proved the source of many fires.
Too much care in placing these wires in
stores where there is so much infiammable
material cannot be taken. The department
which overhead electric wires, especially
those running close TO buildings, are strung.
Not only do these wires endanger life, but
they obstruct the firemen in the raising of
ladders and reaching places where they
can best fight the flames.
The condition OF the cellars OF many of
our business houses is serious drawback
to the department when endeayoring TO
extinguish fire which hmay have occurred
therein. This difficulty has been expert
creed on numerous occasions during the
past year A regulation should be enact
ed requiring merchants 10 keep their cellars
free from Debris. and to provide suitable
openings, thus giving the firemen free in
gress and egrezs. In addition there should
be rigid inspection. with view Of secur-
ing a rigorous enforcement of the regula-
ton" r.
ReprOOf for Wheelmcn.
Continuing. the report states: "The con-
duct of wheelmen in responding to alarms
of fire and obstructing the vehicles of this
department has not improved to any extent
during the past year, although their at
tention several times has been called to the
trouble they cause. 1t seldom happens
that drivers of the department are not an
poyed in this way when responding to
the part of the wheelmen- interfere with
the movements of the fire, companies. but
it is also source OF much danger both to
the riders of wheels and pedestrians.
Something should be done to put stop 10
the nuisance. In this connection it is sug-
gested that an amendment TO the present
regulation covering the matter complained
Of be made. Such regulation would be
Of assistance to the department, and might
in Of
The necessity for an increase in the
number of fire alarm boxes has been fully
set forth in my reports for previous years. |
Last year only eleven new boxes were add
ed making a total now in service of 243. |
1t is apparent that at least 100 more boxes |
should be provided throughout the Dis |
trict. With the present number in opera |
tion the loss of much valuable time is often |
made necessary because of the nearest box |
being SO far distant from the scene of the |
fire. The loss of this time at the breaking |
out of a fire frequently results in the de- |
struction Of thousands of dollars worth of |
prop9ty that otherwise might be saved, |
and / earnestly hope that the nmber will
be materially increased during the coming |
stoned by such delay would often defray |
the expenses of erecting a number Of |
boxes.
The Pension Fund.
81 have the honor to renew my recon-
mendation of former years." Chief Paris
stated, that the present law providing
for the payments Of pensions granted for
deaths or disease contracted In the line of
duty. be amended. so as to authorize the
payment Of such money as may be re-
quired to supply any deficiency which may |
occur in this fund, out Of the revenues of
the District Of Columbia instead of from
Police Court fines. 1t Is self-evident that !
the fines collected in the Police Court will
not be sufficient in a very short time to
meet the demands that will be made upon
1t, and such an event would work hardship |
upon those who have spent the best years |
of their lives In the service, at the same
time depriving the widows and orphans
of the means provided for their mainten-
ance. l am also Of the opinion that the
law providing for the fremen's relief fund |
should be amended as follows:
''That the chief engineer, assistant chief
engineers, foremen, engineers. fremen,
hostlers. and privates of the Fire Depart
ment. when incapacitated by age, or SO
disabled by injury received or disease
contracted in the line of duty as men