The Washington times., 1901-07-16
THESALARIES OF FIREMEN.
Chief buttons Estimates for tie
Fiscal Year 1902-1903.
The Establishment of Six New Com
panics Dcsircd-ENpenscs Aggre-
eating SJ7O.aG0-Mnny Bettcrments
for the Department Proposed.

!
| Robert w. Dutton, Chief Engineer of the
Fire Department, yesterday submitted to
| the Commissioners his schedule of esti-
mates for the fiscal year ending June 30.
| 1903. MIR. Dutton estimates the total eN-
pense of TIE department for that year. in
cluding the establishment of six new
companies, at S570.260 This, he says, is
/ an excess over the expenditure of the
present fiscal year of s24.340. the differ
ence being that of the total estimates sub
mitted and the amount provided in ap-
propriations for the current year. The es-
Inmates add something TO all salaries of
the department and thirty four new pri-
Yates of the second class are provided
for. With reference to the schedule, Mr.
Button says:
The largest item of increase. $4,000,
represents the sites, houses. and furni-
ture for the six new companies and the
school of instruction The site, house,
and furniture of one of these. that at Con-
gress Heights. have already been provid-
ed for, and only the apparatus and men
for that one remain to bc secured. These
additional companies are badly needed
In fact, the District Fire Department is
just about half the size it should be. The
department covers territory of sixty
nine square miles, and counting the
Brookland company, which will be estab-
lished this fall each company averages a
district to be covered by it of 2.S71R square
miles, almost double that covered by a
company in New York and Philadelphia:
three times greater than a company's ter
ritory in Baltimore. Buffalo, Cincinnati
or New Orleans: four times larger than
those of Milwaukee and Louisville COM
than the districts covered by San Fran
cisco company, and about seven times
greater than Boston company covers.
of the additional companies asked for
the one most badly needed is the truck
company proposed to be located in the
southeastern section of the city. In all
this section there is but one truck COM
pany. Truck A, located on North Capitol
Street between B and c. In this part of
the city and District are located st. Eliza
beths Insane Asylum. Providence Hospi-
tai. the Naval Hospital, the German Or
phan Asylum. jail, and many public
schools. all dependent upon single truck
company on first alarm.
THE next company in point of desirable
ity is an engine company in the south
western section of the city, in which sec
tioG, despite its extensive territory and
the presence therein of many valuable
structures, there is but one engine COM
pany located. There should be another es-
tablished in this portion of the city at the
earliest possible day. An engine company
in the northeastern section of the city is
perhaps the next company most badly
needed. and hardly less badly needed is
an engine company between Seventeenth
Street and Rock Creek and south of II
Street. Finally a chemical engine compa-
ny In Good Hope
THE appropriation of S. 600 for school
of instruction is earnestly recommended
There is no such school here, and men
appointed TO the department enter il
rule without any instruction whatever in
fire fighting duties. In several of the
larger cities of this country such schools
have been established with most desira-
BILE results The establishment of the pro-
posed school would. it is believed. add
very greatly to the efficiency of the de-
partment
ITO carry into effect the desire of the
honorable Commissioners that the head
OF the Fire Department shall be an ex-
ecutive officer the position is designated
in the estimates submitted herewith as
Superintendent. and their suggestion that
this officer shall receive annual salary
of not less than 1900 is adopted The
making of the chief officer of the Dis
trict Fire Department, which has develop
ed into a great and constantly growing
business concern, purely executive one.
is in harmony with the course pursued
by other leading cities of this country,
and is really no new departure here as
several years ago the business affairs of
the department were transacted by a
Board of Fire Commissioners.
The Senior Assistant Chief Engineer of
the District Fire Department has been
since the retirement, May l. 1901, of Chief
Paris. its fire-fghting head This officer
II is proposed to designate as Chief En-
gineer, and the salary recommended
s., 400 per annum, would it is respectfully
submitted be but fair compensation for
SO worthy and competent an officer
IAN additional Assistant Chief Engin-
eer is asked for. and it is recommended
that the salaries of these officers be in
creased from s., 200 to 81 500 per annum
1T is recommended that the salary of
the Fire Marshal be increased from 81 600
to 81 500 per annum. This officer is one
of the most important and necessary in
the service of the municipality. He oc-
cupies position Of great responsibility
and should be man well acquainted with
the construction of buildings, of ripe ex-
perienee. and energy.
An assistant 10 the Fire Marshal. at
81 .2p per annum, is recommended. 1t has
been found necessary to provide the Fire
Marshal with an assistant. in order that
the laws and regulations made for the
prevention of fires could be properly en-
forced. private in the department having
been detailed for the purpose