Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-02
ANN UAL ESTIMATES
Chief Belts Requests in Be-
half of Fire Service.
INCREASE OF S28l,630
FOUR ENGINES AND TWO TRUCK
COMPANIES WANTED.
Chemical Engine and Hose Wagon and
Police Boat Included-Ad-
vances in Salary.

The estimates for the fire department for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1904, were
presented to Commissioner West today by
Chief Belt. The estimates show an in
crease of $2s1 $50 over the appropriation for
the present fiscal year. and, in addition to
the usual recommendations for the raising
of the salaries of various officials requests
that appropriations be made to provide for
four additional fire engines, two additional
truck companies one chemical engine and
hose wagon combined and a fire boat. This
last recommendation is by no means the
least important, and has had place in the
estimates of not only the chief of the fire
department, but also of the superintendent
of police for several years past. The i'm
mense stretch Of water front of the Dis
trict is without protection of any kind ex-
cept that furnished by the fire companies
from the shore. From the river side this
property is at the mercy OF the flames and
the need of a properly equipped fire boat
has been felt here for many years. The
boat might be used not alone for the fire
department, but by the police department.,
and could be used in enforcing the laws Of
the District as they relate to the harbor.
Chief Belt asks that $63 COO be appropri-
ated for this purpose, anu states:
This fire boat 1s needed to protect the
valuable property along the river front. In
the past sixteen years the department has
responded to many large fires In that sec
4ion of the city, some of the fires gaining
such Roadway that they travelled several
blocks from origin, the fires gaining such
Roadway being caused by the departments
inability to fight the fire from the river side,
it not being equipped for such service. In
order to subdue fires of this character it has
been necessary to call into action every
piece of apparatus in the department.
thereby leaving the entire city without fire
protection for the time"
Location Of New Engines.
The new engine companies recommended
are to be located as follows: One engine
company to be located on ground owned by
the United States government in the south
eastern section Of the city: one combination
house for an engine and truck company to
be located in the section Of the city north
of Florida avenue, west of 18th street and
east Of Rock creek: one truck company to
be located in the northeastern section of the
city; one engine company to be located in
the section Of the city south Of Pennsyl-
vania avenue and west of 18th street; one
chemical engine company to be located at
Benning, D. G. cLg.f
It is the intention Of the chief to place
one of the new engines asked for at the
house now occupied by chemical engine
No. 4, in Brookland. - This suburb Is re-
mote from any steam engine company, the
nearest being located ct North Capitol and
Quincy streets, and at certain seasons OF
the year it is stated to be almost impossible
for this company to reach boxes in the
vicinity of Brookland on account of the
bad condition of the roads.
The new combination chemical engine
and hose Wagon Is asked for to be placed
in the New engine house already provided
for by Congress in South Washington. One
of the trucks asked for iS*to be used as a
reserve truck and the other is to be placed
in Congress Heights. In connection with
the recommendation for the purchase OF q
truck for this place Chief Belt states that
the buildings Of the Government Hospital
for the Insane are located within the ter
r1tory covered by the engine company now
stationed at Congress Heights and should
a fire occur in any Of the buildings of the
the 1900 inmates of the place some means
of egress from the buildings.
Salaries Of Assistants.
Chief Belt has asked that the salary OF
the first assistant chief engineer Of the de-
partment be raised from 8. 200 to $500
The inchease is asked for ON account
of the responsibilities Of this oficer. He is
called upon to act in the place Of tho chief
engineer when that officer is absent or
otherwise engaged, thereby assuming the
responsibilities of the head Of the depart
ment. ~
It is also asked that the salaries Of the
assistant chiefs be raised from 81 200 to
81. 500 and that an additional assistant be
provided for. A recommendation is made
that the salery Of the fire marshal DO