The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-08-18
Due to Good Fortune as
Well as Good Man
agement,
REPORT OF CHIEF DUTT0N
Asks for a Larger Force and Says That
Department Would Be Practically
Helpless With TIVE Big Conhagra-
tions-OtheI Recommendations.


port Of the operations Of the department !
during the hscaI year ended June 30
last The report deals with the number I
of alarms answered, II IN all, being I
an increase of s. over the previous year, !
Forgive of the alarms were false. OF
81 less than during the previous year /
The total fire loss was S134.5O4, or al
average Of SIS5-26-
Chief Dutton introduces a statement
showing that the fire loss for the fiscal
year was considerably less than for any
like period since 1891
lie also shows that 245 alarms we're
received between the hours Of noon and
S O'Clock in the evening, 239 between
that hour and midnight, = between mid
night and o'clock q. m. and $50 between
that hour and noon. The smallest num-
Der Of alarms was received in the month
of September-SSSS- Sand the largest num-
Der in the month of November-93.
" The report refers to the Installation
Of chemical engine company No. /. in
Brookland. in the month OF January, and
states that the present strength of the
department is "A companies, OF Il
steam engine companies, 6 truck and
four chemical companies It is stated
during sae year by the purchase Of sew
eraI appliances, including lifenets, light
CT chemical extinguishers and other ap-
plianCes, as far as the appropriation for
the purpose would admit
Twenty-Five horses were condemned
during the year, or Il less than during
the previous year Three were killed by
accident. Forty-thTee new animals we're
purchased for the department, at an av-
erage OF $3.50 q head
Chief Dutton says that the health OF
the men has been better during the year,
the surgeons having made Y less house
visits and having attended to 50 less
visitors at their Offices There were
several cases of serious illness, but none
resulted fatally
Thirty-eight persons we're placed On
the pension roll entailing a monthly
payment Of 81 ,245-
Changes in the department involved
the appointment OF a Third Assistant
Chief Engineer, one foreman two
drivers, eight priyates, sixteen watch
men, and a Iab0reT. twenty-niEe in all
Ten members resigned, eleven were re-
moved, and six retired, and as their
places were filed there were flfty-six
appointments during the year.
After discussing several subjects, in
Guiding the annual parade, the flag COM
pany, and the frequency of fires from the
use OF gasolene Chief Dutton has this
10 say about the weakness OF the de-
partment:
Attention is respectfully invited to
the annual report Of the senior Assist
ant Chief Of the department, in which
he refers to the weakness OF the fire.
fighting force. As he well says. il would
be practically impossible for the depart
ment TO successfully fight two large fires
at one time. The fact, therefore. that
the loss during the past year was the
smallest for twelve years was due not
alone to the strength Of the department
or its unquestioned efficiency, but more
TO good fortune. for 1t cannot be de-
MED that there are many buildings here
the destruction OF which II would &c
practically impossible TO prevent should
fire IN them get well started before
being discovered or should the fire oc-
cur during the prevalence OF a high wind
Should one Of these buildings take
IRE while the department is engaged at z
large fire or while Il is divided up be-
tween several small ones. not onIy
would the structure be destroyed, but
Tits destruction would entail the loss o.
many others before the fire could be
stopped Therefore, the senior Assist
ant Chief Engineers recommendation
that the fre-fighting force be materially
strengthened meets the approval of the
department.
The report refers TO the INSPECTION o.
buildings Of semi-pUblic character
during the year. resulting IN the add
ton OF numerous fre-escapes, and il
otherwise making large buildings safer
FTbe report refers TO the caEeIessnes
and neglect Of people intrusted viii
the care of buildings.
IL
dren PLAYING With matches, by smoker
cropping lighted matches and burnini
cigar and cigarette stumps. by over
cheated stoves and furnaces, and by nu
meFoUs similar causes. Chic Duttol
says the public should be more careful
along these lines and that such ear
would result in fewer fires and Ia les
loss Of property and life He intimate
that the taxpayers owe il TO themseIve
10 exercise intelligent care as well q
10 support a large and efficient FIRE de
partment
Chief DuttoC repeats his former rec
ommendation for the high pressure va
ter service for the use Of the depart
ment in the business section Of tn
city. He makes plea for shorte
hours OF service for the men OF the de
p2rtment and for better salaries.
Chief Dutton calls the attention 0
the Commissioners 10 the Improvement
fnauguratec in the matter of maxim
the Office records OF the department
ready for reference. and closes his re
port as follows:
THE department takes great pleas
ure in stating that from its officers. an
men 1t received at all times during tn
past year ready and hearty suppor1
end to their support and efficiency tn
community is in no small measure ia
Gebted for the comparatively small los
suffered BY fire during the year jus
closed. This debt OF the community
especially due 10 the hre-fghting hea
OF the department. Senior Assistan
Chief Engineer William T. Belt, a ma
of progressive ideas and one who's
abilities and success as a fre-hghte
lave given him much more than a mer
local reputation"
All one width Flooring, sI-45