Evening star., 1902-02-05
MORE STEAMERS WANTED.
Representative Roberts Interesting
Talk on the Subject.

Representative Roberts Interesting
Talk on the Subject.
1.-THE big fire In Waterbury, in which the
business section Of the city was practicaiiy
wiped out. and many people rendered home
less forcibly called to my mind an edi-
torial read recently in The Star begging
Congress for three new steamers to replace
those which have been worn out In the ser
vice" said Representative Roberts of Mas
sachusetts this morning.
''On that terrible night, with the wind
bowling through the trees of Franklin
SQUARE. within hearing of the Hamilton.
where / live, tearing along at the rate ol
sixty miles an hour, and with the tnel
mometer down to % degrees, l couiu ~, pui =
consider what Z frightful visitation is Wou-d q
be to Washington were fire to Dreak OUT
on that awful night. with the elements IN
full control.
II witnessed the last firemen's parade
here. and while 1 was much gratified at the
appearance of the men, the horses ana ap-
paratus, l expected to see more machihes
and trucks. 1 afterward learned that some
of these were on reserve, but fully snare
| in the opinion expressed in The Star that
the fire equipment of Washington certainly
needs strengthening, and that there shouId
| be no question as to supplying II win as
| much apparatus and as many men as tne
| Commissioners may in their good judgment
ask for.
| ..It is not only right and just to the citi-
/ ZenS ana the business iheh VI w
that, whatever else they may not get, they
| must have properly equipped hre depart
/ ment, and good material to handle 1t. L
| is an imperative necessity. In fact. l an
| surprised that the public press are con
| strained to plead for what should be giver
the city without the asking. A steame
| costs only about 1 think. 5000, perhap
| less, but what is five times this amount 10
fire fighting apparatus, and the necessar!
| yearly appropriations for their mamie
| nance, when the horrors Of fire and the at
tending loss of money and property ar
considered2
Nothing at all. Economy of this kind
almost suicidal. 1t is the falsest kind
| retrenchment and saving. A hundred thou
| sand dollars a year in additional appropr1a
tions for the fire department, compare
with the greater efficiency and protection
afforded is not to be considered In the sam
| breath. Yet, for reason I am not pre-
| pared to explain in many cities the author
tiles seem reluctant to meet the demand
| of the department, only to go after an e2
| tensive conf1agration to the other eXtrem
and give more than is asked.
I'm some Of the New England cities tn
water pressure In the mains is so gres
attach the hose directly to the hydrant an
throw q stream as high as required. In
| city like Washington, where the pressure
none too good, large mains are needed an
| plenty of steamers to pump the water o
| the flames at the shortest notice.
81 am sure that 1 stand with the Cit
| Zens Of Washington In the devout tru!
, that their supplications may be needed b
the appropriation committee, and that, II
stead Of three new steamers being adde
| to those in use II recommended by the Di
trict Commissioners. as many more, and a
else that may be necessary to make tt
fire department thoroughly efficient ar
| complete and without delay.