Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-18
What the Water Tower Does,


The character of the buildings in the bust
ness section of Washington, as well as in
the northwest residential portion of the
city especially, has in recent years under
gone such transformation in the erection
of tall, eight-story and over office buildings
hotels, business and apartment houses that
one feature connected with them has not
been FULLY considered, and that is the ability
of our fire department to successfully
handle fire in one of these structures
These buildings are of the modern fire.
proof style of steel and brick or granite
composition yet any building is liable to
burn or be damaged by fire. So the cues
ton Is, how Will the fire department handle
such fire in the event of it's happening?
The main instrument which will be used
In the fighting of fire in these tall buildings
is the curiously shaped, huge piece of appa-
ratus housed in the home of truck c. known
as the water tower.
Washington fought hard for years to oh
tam the appropriation for the purchase of
this indispensable addition to our fire de-
partment, but 1t was secured at last and il
is upon this great, complicated vet easily
handled combination of modern fire fighting
apparatus drawn by the three powerful
horses shown In the photograph, the people
of Washington rely when 1t comes to get
ting at fires in the upper stories of our sky
Scrapers
The Importance of the water tower is not
generally appreciated, and was not at all
cause its mechanism and use are not fully
understood. and because it has not vet been
called into requisition to exhibit at a great
fire the wonderful efficiency and possibili-
ties of which Sit is capable. Nevertheless
it stands as a great barrier as It were
between our people and our big buildings
and fire. and ii safeguards interests and
property valued at tens of millions to saw
nothing of human life which might be sac
riticed in confiagration but for its pres
ence and power to throw through its SIAM
csc nozzle thousands of gallons of water a
minute to a height of 175 feet with the
force of battering ram, and to "eat up"
water as fast as twelve engines can pump
at full pressure. T. d. Stanton is the fore
man of the water tower.
Efficient Fire Department.
The fire department was never in better
condition generally, It's efficiency higher
and its discipline more perfect than at
present. While we need more annsratus
and men, the former not being nearly in
proportion with that of other cities of A like
population. and the latter being underpaid
we have as an entirety a most excellent
fire department. The addition of three new
steamers of the latest and most powerful
type will raise the efficiency very much.
and give renewed protection to the center
of the city where they will be placed, and
where are situated the new tall buildings
which have been erected within recent
delivered.
Chief Engineer Dutton, his able assist
ant chiefs. and the worthy and efficient
force of men under them are entitled
to receive the confidence the public be-
stow upon them. Our fire department has
always been hampered by insufficient APP
preparations, our appeals to Congress to
increase 1t to its proper size being but par
TALLY needed. Nevertheless, 1t has thus far
successfully met the tests demanded of 1t,
and will shortly be in better shape than
ever. Its needs have from time to time
been pointed out in The Star, and it is hoped
that it will not be long before the recon-
mendations of the District Commissioners
regarding our fire protection will not be
cut. but instead will be added to. The re-
building of Washington demands an aug
mented fire force, and this fact will be one
or the cogent reasons urged upon the Dis
triet and appropriation committees in both
houses OF Congress at the proper time by
our citizens.
The Scouts" Of the Department.
There goes the chemical" is a remark
frequently heard upon the streets of Wash
ington, especially in the down town dis