Evening star., 1900-05-19
AMENDMENT STRICKEN OUT
OMISSION OF PROVISION FOR ASSIST
ANT CHIEF ENGINEER.
Disappointing to Members of Fire De-
IArtment-Difiiculti in Way of
Public Construction.

Among the amendments made to the
pending District appropriation bill by the
Senate was one providing for a third assist
ant chief engineer of the fire department
By the agreement reached by the confer
ence committees on the bill this amendment
was stricken out, much t. the disappolnt-
ment of several foremen in the department
who had formally applied for promotion to
the proposed position. 1t is understood
that. according to reported remark of a
member of the House committee appro-
priations. it was finally concluded by the
conference committees that it will be much
easier TO provide for this officer of the fire
department hereafter than it has been to
secure the erection of the three houses for
the department provided for in last years
appropriation bill.
The bill providing for these three houses.
truck house in Georgetown one in Column
fa Heights and chemical engine house in
Tenleytown. was approved March 3, 1879.
and the money became available the first
of last July. Sites were promptly secured
and proposals asked for the construction
of the houses. but because of the high
amounts named in the bids they were re-
jected. and new ones asked for, the plans
being meantime altered so as to secure. II
possible, bids within the amounts remaining
available for the erection of the houses.
These subsequent efforts to obtain salts
factory bids were unsuccessful save in the
case of the truck house in Georgetown.
which is now in course of construction.
The pending appropriation bill contains ld-
ditional appropriations for the construc-
tion of the other two houses for the fire
department and 1t is expected that these
will be completed by the 1st of January.
Public Schools.
The Commissioners have been even more
unfortunate in securing their erection Of
school houses. In the District appropria
ton bill approved June 80, 1888, nearly two
years ago. the sum of. $S7, 500 was provided
for public school building and site in the
northeast section. s45,500 for a site and
building in the southeast section, $4,000 for
rebuilding the Lovejoy school and $4,000
for a site and toward the construction of
a manual training school for the first eight
divisions, the total cost of which was not
to exceed S125.G90. Bids We're invited last
year for these buildings, and were rejected
because they exceeded the amounts availa-
BILE. and their construction has yet to be
commenced. The appropriation bill ap-
proved the I'd of March. 1889, provided the
sum of SiI,I1o for site and school for the
seventh division 100000 for a school in
Eillsdale. $4,000 for one in Takoma Park,
Sfc1,G0 for completing the manual training
school provided for the year previous, and
SjO,GD for a site and toward the construc-
ton of manual training school for .he
ninth, tenth and eleventh divisions. the
total cost of which was not to exceed $780,,
600.
But One Erected.
OF these buildings. but one, 1t Is stated,
that for the seventh division, located in
Columbia Heights. has been erected, and
on the others, it is further stated, nothing
has been done SO far but the purchase Of
the sites Additional funds are provided
for in the pending appropriation for COM
pleting those buildings which the Commis-
SIC ners found they could not erect with the
funds previously provided, and IT is hoped
by them that in a very short time after
the bill becomes law the work of con-
structing them may be commenced. The
plans are said to be ready, and 1t is under
stood that the inspector of buildings and
his force are busily engaged in preparing
the specifications. preparatory to advertis-
ing for the proposals.