Evening star., 1901-05-17
F RE COMPANY WELCOMED
THE HONORS.
Opening Address by Mr.. Charles s..
Bundy and Response by Com
missioner MacfarIand.

The formal exercises of welcome planned
by the citizens of Columbia Heights in hon
or of the members of Truck Company f Of
the fire department were held yesterday
afternoon at 4 80 o'clock at the handsome
new truck house on Whitney avenue be-
tween 18th and 14th streets. The fine Amer
lean flag donated by the Columbia Heights
Citizens Association was presented by
Charles S. Bundy. The response on be-
half of the company made by Commits
sioner mcfarland. Commissioner Ross
also made a few remarks. Chief Engineer
Dutton and First Assistant Chief Belt were
present.
There was a large audience gathered in
front of the truck house when Mr.. Bundy
mounted the improviSed stand erected on
the parking. He spoke of the early history
of Mt. Pleasant and Columbia Heights aud
of the present conditions on the hill. In
concluding he paid a tribute to the District
government of today. The flag was then
presented and hauled to the top of the tall
staff rising from the roof, where it fiut-
tered throughout the afternoon.
Commissioner MacfarInnd's Response.
Commissioner Macfarland, in responding
for the company and department, said:
The Commissioners appreciate the lntar-
est of the citizens of Columbia Heights in
ton against fire. 1t is most fitting that
citizens should take constant and inteli-
gent interest In the fire department. which
is their means of defense against insld-
iOus and powerful enemy, always ready and
often endeavoring to destroy their lives ard
property. The herOism, silent, unassuminS,
but constant, of the men who take their
lives in their hands daily and nightly to
defend you and yours touches every gen
erous heart like the heroism of our soldiers
and sailors. 1t draws forth general in
terest in the department and a general de-
sire for its welfare, but 1t is astonishing
how little most of citizens actually
know of the department and it's deeds and
needs. The old .olunteer fire department
seems to stand in many minds instead of
the modern fire department, which is as
different a locomotive from stage
coach. 1t is a big business machine, built
on scientific principles and demanding ad-
ministrative ability of a high order. The In
genuity of our land of inventors has pro-
duced marvellous apparatus for instant and
accurate fire alarms, and great variety OF
remarkable apparatus for fighting fires, and
| for their effective use a large body of tram
ed men under Semi-military discipline and
under strong central direction is required
We have In the District the finest fire
alarm system in the world.
Best Firemen in the World.
I'VE have some of the best firemen in the
world. We have few modern houses and
some of the best modern apparatus, al
lHOuRn we nave lIOL Olle VI lilS IiShCol
| type of fire engine We have just made a
great gain in getting at the head of the
| fire department a man who has the eXecu-
| tive ability to manage II enectlVely as a
whole. who knows 1t through and through
| and who knows how to suggest improve
ments in it. This makes the twenty-second
| fire protection station In the District OF
| Columbia, and we shall open another in
| few days at TenleytoWn. We have au-
thority for building two others We ought
| to have at least three more within the next
| two years. We ought to have some of the
| old houses rebuilt or extensively repaired
| We ought to have more and better appa-
ratus.
above ALL we ought to ave more Off
| GERS and men and better salaries for them
| all. 1t is ridiculous to pay the man who
| is to manage this big business only 50 900
] a year, when men who manage private
| businesses much less extensive and impor-
| tant easily command two or three times as
| much And the assistant chief engineers,
| including the first assistant chief, who Is
| now to lead the actual fire lighting, re-
! ceive but $1,000 a year; the foremen of com
| panies, with all their responsibilities, only a
| thousand dollars year; the fire marshal,
| who has such important functions of in
| spection and insurance investigation, re-
| ceiVeS only a thousand dollars year,
| while the subordnates equally under
| paid. Congress- upon the recommendation
| of the Commissioners, gave the subordi-
| mates some increase last session, but much
| remains to be done for them for the
| others.
| Cause of Tardy RecOgnitiOn.
| II feel sure that this state of affairs Is
| due partly to the fact that the department
| has developed gradually and has done
| its work quietly that the citizens gener-
| ally have not known how great both it
and its work had become. l feel sure also
| that all citizens will now unite to sup
| port the Commissioners in their application
| to Congress next session for such appro-
| priationS as will make our department in
| all respects the finest in the world
| Commissioner Ross, when called upon,
| said he was not present in an official ca
| pacity, but as a resident of Columbia
| Heights. and spoke Of the advantages OF
| the section.
| Chief Dutton directed the members of the
| truck company to give an exhibition drill,
| which was well done and keenly enjoyed by
| all those present. The company went into
| active service last Monday evening.