Evening star., 1901-04-03
CHIEF PARIS TO RETIRE
EXPECTS TO QUIT ACTIVE SERVICE
FIRST OF JULY NEXT.
Says Thirty-Three Years With Fire
Department is Enough for
One Man.

There is but little doubt that there Will
be change in the Office of chief of the
District fire department on the 1st of July
next, for then the present chief, Mr.. Joseph
Paris, will ask to be retired, after serv-
ice of over a third of a century in the
department. That this request will be
granted is a certainty.
BY the provisions of what is known as
the police reorganization bill, enacted at the
recent session of Congress, the Commission
ers are authorized to retire the chief en-
gineer of the fire department upon month
Iy allowance not exceeding 500, and it is
believed that Commissioner Macfarland,
who has immediate supervision of the de-
partment, will recommend, when Chief Par
rs asks for retirement, that he be allowed
the full amount authorized by the recent
act, in view of the chiefs long and faithful
service. Whether the report of Mr.. Paris
intention is true not the Commissioners
have no personal knowledge, but there is
said to be no reason to doubt it 1t is un-
derstood the great majority of the members
of the department believe the chief will re-
tire, and his probable successor is being
discussed by them. The men most promi-
nently mentioned in this connection are
First Assistant Chief VIM. T. Belt and
Third Assistant Chief Frank j. Wagner.
Both men are spoken of very highly, and
it is claimed by their friends that either
Chief Paris.
Native of Washington.
Mr.. Paris is a Washington boy, having
been born in the old first ward West End
in December. 1885, and received his educa-
tion in the schools of that section-public
and private. While learning the trade OF
plasterer he became a follower of the old
time fire companies, running with the old
Union of W no haoane n
member when he reached the required age,
and subsequently he united with the old
Western Hose Company and was for years
one of the most active of the volunteers.
In April, 1861. he enlisted in the Henderson
Guards, Capt. G. j. l.. FOXwell, serving
the Union in the three months service.
April l. 1867, Mr. Paris entered the rssu-
lar service of the District fire department,
then consisting of but three engines and
two trucks Tor hook and LADDER companies,
with but three men exclusively employed
on each, and six extra men, who were priv
ileged to work at other business when the
department did not require their services.
He filled the position of driver of No. l
Company, of which Mr. w. w. Goddard
was foreman, for about a year, when he
resigned and returned to his trade. In less
than two years he re-entered the depart
ment and in 1870 was made foreman of
No. j. Upon the retirement of Chief
Cronin, in May, 1885, Mr.. Paris was
placed in charge of the department. 1t is
present time, save to say that in all the
important fires since that date he has been
a conspicuous figure, giving intelligent
direction to the improved methods of fire
fighting introduced since he was a mere
runner in the excitement incident to the
fire alarms of old. He will have the satis-
faction, ere he sewers his connection with
the department, of being in command of
force of fourteen engines six trucks and
three chemical engines, with over 25O men.
There are also in the department four fuel
wagons, two supply wagons, two reserve
engines, two reserve hose carriages, four
buggies Zone reserve) and 126 horses.
Enough for One Man.
Chief Paris says that thirty-three years
of his life, in which he has devoted his best
efforts to bringing up the department to it's
present efficiency, is enough for any ordi-
nary man, and he will leave it with many
regrets.
Little did we think" said he to reporter.
when we went to school and as boys help
ed drag run after the simple two-wheel-
ed hose carts and the primitive engines of
the day that should ever see here the
apparatus now in use. But the order of
the day has been progress, and people now
adayS are surprised when they see the old
time apparatus of the veteran firemen and
wonder how it was possible to extinguish
fires in those days. Old boy, we have seen
hand power give way to horse and steam
power, and l would not be surprised to see
In the near future electricity applied to the
propulsion and work of fire engines.