Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-17
FIRE CHIEFS REPORT
His Annual Statement of Operations
the Past Year.
INCREASE IN EQUIPMENT SUGGESTED
Recommendations for Higher Sal
aries and for Improvements.
THE REASONS THEREFOR

Mr. Joseph Paris. chief engineer of the
+ District fire department, touay submitted
to the Commissioners estims1 \. of the
amount required for the conduct and sup
port of the department during the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1902. together with
report os it's operations during the past
fiscal year.
In submitting his estimates Mr.. Paris
asks for total appropriation of S5S6,S54, an
increase of S2S06:s4 over the amount pro-
vided by the current appropriation bill. Mr..
Paris suggests an increase in his own
salary from 5000 to $500 per annum. He
asks for four instead of. now two as
s.stant chief engineers. and that their salary
be increased from 81 233 to $3.50 year
He also recommends that the salary of the
clerk be increased from $1,000 to S1,200;
that of the fire marshal from 81 900 TO
Sl.1oo; mach:nist, 5000 to Sl2bJ; foremen.
$1,000 TO 1.150; engineers, $1,000 to S1110;
hremen $40 to $500: IiierEien, $50 to 5000;
hostiers, $50 to 5000; privates, $500 to $3.50.
and watchmen. $500 TO $3.50
Increase II: Force.
The following increase in the force of the
department is recommended by Mr.. Paris:
Two assistant chief engineers, 1 foreman,
j hostler, "a privates, 16 watchmen and
laborer, the latter az $3.50 per anHum.
The other increases recommended axe as
follows: Repairs to engine houses. $500: re-
pairs TO apparatus and new appliances, $500.
hose, 50 90; fuel, Sl.W0; horses. $500: for
age, SlVOo: contingent expenses, 5000; 4
engines, at 81 30 each, S16,S00: 4 hose ca..-
rages, at Sl,1uo each. Sl,4O0: = trucks al
a5,ooo each. $1,000; house, iGt and furniture
for an engine company to be Local ed in
Southwest Washington. S25,00o; hj,tIse lot
anu FURNITURE for an engine company to be
located in the northern part of West Wash
n n M ff,p
an engine company TO be loCa ed in the
vicinity of 2o:h and F streets northwest
$1,000; house, lot and furniture for an en-
glre company to be located in the section
bounded by 18th, 18th. and 2 streets
northwest. $4,000; house, lot and furniture
for truck company 10 be located in
Southwest Washington, $1,000; house lot
arc furniture for truck company to be
located in Southeast Washington. 50 1000;
house. lot and furniture to be located in
the section bounded by 18th, It'll II and X
streets northwest, to accommodate Engine
Company No 6. now located on Massachu-
sets avenue between 18th and 9Th streets
northwest, $50 90: additional stable to be
erected in the rear of No. engine house.
North Carolina avenue. between 9th and
1th streets southeast. 5000
The Actual increase.
While says Mr. Paris 1.-The increase.
as above chown. amounts to Si2l ss3l. the
actual incre2~e over the appropriation for
the current year IS $"So.G3 af.er an allow
ance is radt OF SilG3o. appropriated by the
last session Ct Congress for flags and hal
yards, for additional amount for house and
furniture for chemical engine company in
Tenley;GWn. fCT additional amount for house
and furniture for It truck company in Column
b a Heights, for TWO combine ton chemical
and hose wagons fer q Georgetown and Brook
land, for one va ter tower for house lot ana
furniture for comb nation chem cal and
hose wagon to be located in Bro1kIand for
q chemical fire engine to be located at
Cleveland Park
creased salaries, Mr.. Paris states that the
sa.aIy of the higheS;-pa.d member of n
company IS bat sl.G9o per annum, which
averages 81 per month and that n con-
servative estimate Of his living expenses.
such az house rent. food. cl1:hinc for him
self and family "n1 m:sceliane items
should alone be SufGc.elt TO encourage the
increase that has been recommended II
can be readily seen, he believes that in
order 10 I've within his means 4 member of
th.s department has to partake of the very
pa.nest necessities Of life
Members are always using" saws Mr.
Par-!i, every possible means of obtaining
positions in other branches of the District
government, where the CONDENSATION is
greater and the hours of confinement much
less than in this department. and many OF
our very best men who have resigned
would have remained had the rate of paw
been sufficient to attract them.
Poorest Paid Department.
fhis Is the poor -t-paid department un-
der the District government and / cannot
conceive why such should be the case The
salary does not compensate a man for the
great risk % life and limb while going to
or performing service a Il fire. Should the
demands for this increase be ignored it will
be only question of ti:J.e when it will b,
a matter OF serious thought how to obtain
ana retain good, reliable. able-b0d Ell men
Inc increase amounts 70 only S31 SIS. ana il
is my eal rest pea that every en11avor will
be used to obtain the sane"
In eApaAit!on Of the increase in the force
Mr.. PARIS says that when The department
was composed OF only nine companies It
was necessary to have two assistant chief
engineers and that now, when IL numbers
t"enty-fCur companies, or nearly three
tunes as many. he thinks il 10 more than
just 'hat the number Of assistant chef en-