Evening star., 1902-08-13
Value of the Contents.

1.-The contents of the buildings which l
have included in this table are placed at
entirely too low a valuation, and to the
total above an addition of 800, 900 900 may
be joined and still be within reason, making
in all, say, $500, 600, 900. In fact, the con-
tents of these government buildings are
really and practically above valuation; they
are in most instances above money price,
and could not be duplicated for money. For
example, the contents of the old Winder
building, which building 1 have not in
cluded specifically in the list, could not be
duplica ted, consisting of army and navy
records of the civil war beyond price, yet
lodged in building affording no protection
against fire.
THE same is true as to the structure and
contents of the old Ford's Theater build
ing, which I have not included specifically
in the list, while the building and the rec
ords of the pension office, which are abso-
lutely above a money valuation, and could
not be duplicated If destroyed, l have
placed at only $3,00O,OO0. For example,
were the pension office, with its priceless
records, destroyed by fire, 1t Is safe to as
sumo that it would cost the government an
inestimable number of millions of dollars
to restore that branch of the government to
a working basis And the same Is true Of
all the public government buildings in
Washington, particularly the Treasury and
Interior departments.
''Were all of these structures destroyed In
that the total valuation of approximately
5000, ,0O0,0O which l have given Is too con-
servative. Yet the situation may be viewed
only in this light. The destruction of one
building, with loss of contents, would an
swer the question in a limited way, the
same the destruction of the entire lot
Thus, were the Treasury Department to be
destroyed, the government would not erect
upon the site building to cost less than
$5,O0O,OOO. 1t, would more likely cost over
IS. GOO, 900, as the site is large and a mod
ern building would not be erected thereon
for less than the last-named sum. In the
table, however, 1 have placed this building
and its contents al only $5,00O,OOO.
Government Rate for Protection.
1.-THE question, therefore, resolves itself
down to this: What does the government
pay in the nature of an insurance premium
for fire protection of it's incalculably valua-
BILE property?
1T may be said to pay this year a
premium of $17S445 on total valuation Of
100000, coo, less than 1 per cent, or to be
exact, .0S7 per cent l pay per cent in
surance premium on my house. and 1 OBJ
tain no more protection in the sense Of be-
ing safeguarded from fire by the fire de-
partment than does the government, who
pays less than 1 per cent.
'These facts are not fully appreciated at
the Capitol when the needs of the District
fire department are laid before Congress-
The new steamers did not increase the
number of steamers, some have sup
posed, but replaced old apparatus, the total
number of steamers undergoing no change
the increase being in efficiency and water
throwing capacity
ITO increase the fire department of this
city fifty per cent it would require seven
steamers, three trucks and two chemical
engines An increase Of 50 per cent would
not bring the department up to it's full
measure of responsibility. but an increase
of 100 per cent would. In other words
bearing in mind the peculiar conditions of
the situation here regards government
property and valuations, our department
should be increased that much Instead of
fourteen steamers We should have TWENTY
eight and six more trucks and four more
chr-~'co' eroines
AHe departments Efficiency.
We were very glad to get the new truck.
which will be stationed on Capitol Hill. At
present Truck A covers territory in that
section which extends from Shepherds Point.
Nd. opposite Alexandria, north to Mount
Vernon Square, and by irregular lines be-
yond the race course at Benning. and 4,
must respond to alarms therein Think of
one truck covering territory In which are
situated the Capitol. the navy yard, with