Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-14

that of Washington as compared TO the
standards in other municipalities. Taking
into account the increased area the local
department has to cover, the case be-
comes even more striking. Washington
ranks No Is in the list of cities regarding
population. Minneapolis ranks NO. ~, and
vet in Minneapolis there are twenty-five fire
engine companies, compared to fourteen In
this city There are ten chemical engine
companies in Minneapolis and three in the
District. The expenditure for maintenance
OF the department in the District is also far
below the average OF cities OF similar ana
smaller size. The expense of the depart
rnent here on a per capita basis Is o3 cents.
In other cities it ranges: Newark, JIG; AL
bany, S1.45; Atlanta, Ga, 81 %; Jersey CITY,
81 90: Providence. s199; Indianapolis, 81;
Kansas City. 81 IS: st. Paul, Sis; Roches-
ter. 81 O5: Paterson, S1.13, and so on.
These figures, Mr.. Macfarland declares.
clearly evidence the fact that the local de-
partment has been neglected. In speaking
of the immediate needs of the department
Mr. mcfarland said first of all Congress
should provide for four new engines OF
modern type and two new fire stations.
One of these should be in South Washing
ton where at present there is but one COM
pany located. There should also be addi-
tional chemical companies and an addi-
tional truck company to be stationed IN the
southeast. There are other needs that
could be enumerated without difficulty, Mr..
Macfarland declared, but the apparatus
noted above has especially been called to
the attention Of Congress, and the Com
missloners have hope that the senators and
representatives will see the need of this in
crease and allow 1t the coming fiscal year.
Amount Required for Increase.
The amount required for the immediate
increase is not large. The four engines
could be bought for $25, 600 and they would
be the most expensive portion Of the fire
department budget. The Commissioners in
urging provision for the high-pressure ser
vice down town have pointed out that If 1t
were provided some OF the companies in
the central portion Of the city might then
be scattered farther out and Increase the
fire protection all around.
The Commissioners especially call atten-
ton to the disgrace which might come upon
Washington If a fire Saturday afternoon
last should have broken out in one of the
foreign embassies in the city. No appara-
tus from the scene of the waterfront fire
could have been got to the burning embassy
until 1t would have been too late to be of
any service. These facts would necessarily
become known throughout the world and
the capital city of the American nation
would come into unenviabie notoriety.
Entire Department Twice in Service.
1t is interesting to know, said a District
official today, that between sol o'clock
Saturday afternoon, when box 415 was
pulled for the fire on the river front and
10:03, when box 81 10th street and Penn
sylyania avenue was pulled. just five hours
and two minutes, practically the entire fire
department was twice engaged. At $50 the
sixth alarm was pulled for the fire on the
river front, and for more than an hour az
ter that time every steam engine and truck
company In the department was either at
work there or In the vicinity or returning
to quarters. Had fire occurred during
that time in another section OF the city It
would undoubtedly have gathered such a
Roadway before companies reached 1t as
would have prevented it's extinguishment.
For instance. had one of the large hotels
or apartment houses caught fire, or had an
asylum or hospital been so unfortunate,
not only would the destruction Of the build
ing followed. with more or less loss Of life,
but other structures would have been de-
sIrOyed-
At 7:50 o'clock Saturday evening box $50,
21sr and s streets. was pulled. At that
time six steam engines and four trucks
were in quarters. In addition to the four
chemical engine companies. To that box
two steamers and a truck company re-
sponded, and iour minutes later box BIT,
18th and X streets, was pulled. To that
box two steam engines. chemical COM