The Washington times., 1902-08-19

ticular these laws and regulations had
been respected.
THE reports and the recommends
tions made for the better protection of
the buildings and their inmates We're
forwarded to the Inspector of Buildings,
and he has assured the department that
il most cases those in charge of or
owning the buildings have complied
with the instructions given them for
the betterment of the conditions found
to exist.
Attention is invited to the absence
of fire escapes on most of the public
school buildings. and also the fact that
it would be simply impossible for wo
men and children to descend many of
the escapes now in place on the District
school buildings. Every school build
ing of more than ordinary height should
not only, in the opinion of the depart
ment, be equipped with fire escapes,
but also directly connected by wire to
fire alarm headquarters, so as to in-
sure through this connection instant
response by the department in the
event of a fire occurring in the schools.
Result of Carelessness.
Probably nine in every ten fires are
due to carelessness or neglect. For in
stance. during the past year there We're
3S calls made upon the department as
the result of dirty or foul chimneys. 20
fires were caused by children playing
with matches. rs We're due to defective
fues. 81 caused by the dropping of
lighted matches. II by curtains being
ignited by gas jets, % by overheated
stoves, by children playing with fire.
90 by lighted cigarettes or cigars, 10
by hot ashes, and 25 were due to spon-
taneous combustion. a cause which can
by care be prevented.
zone of these fires, that on the river
front, April IL, 1902. which resulted in
a loss of about 100000, is believed to
have been due to lighted cigarette
thrown or dropped in rubbish by care
less boy or man. This fire was not only
the most disastrous of the year, but for
a time threatened the destruction of
practically the whole river front. and
yet, SO far as the department is inform
ed. there is no law or regulation in
force in the District today under which
person guilty of such thing can be
punished.
Recommends Strict Penalties. :.
There is said to be law in force
in one OF the European cities which re-
quires a person causing a fire by his
or neglect to not only bear
the expenses of the fire department in
extinguishing it. but also renders that
person liable to damages for loss suf-
fered by others as the result of his
carelessness or neglect. While the de-
pa-tment does not recommend the en-
actnlent O. so severe a law here, *
does recon mend the enactment of such
a law as would through the penalties
provided by 1t insure greater care, for
it believes that If there prevailed such
a law in the cities OF this country,
would not in the annual loss
Of about 5000, 100000 from fire and the
sacrifice of hundreds of lives lead the
world as it has for years in the loss OF
life and property by fire.
THE department trusts the effort TO |
secure the installation in the business
section of the city of a high pressure
water service will be successful. There
is need of larger mains and larger out
let's on fire hydrants for use by the
steamers of this department, especially |
in the business section.
Benefits for Men.
1.-The members OF the fire. fighting |
force OF the department are the most |
closely confined of the District employees. |
'or they are compelled to remain on |
luty in quarters five out of every six |
lays. The officers and men form the |
poorest paid body of ire-fghters in this |
1t is recommended that Con |
sress be asked to make the pay of a |
private In the Fire Department not less |
han that of private of class one of |
he Police Department. 5000 per annum |
)ut of the small salaries received by |
he officers and men of the department |
hey are required TO provide their uni
orms, at an outlay of about s25 year.
often these uniforms are ruined while
n service at fires. and then they must |
De replaced. In view of these facts, it |
eems but fair that either the members
If the ire-fghting force OF the depart
nent should be allowed $25 annually for
informs. or that uniforms ruined while
he men are engaged in actual fire duty
should be replaced by the District.