Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-26
MORE FIRE APPARATUS
WHAT A REPRESENTATIVE SAYS
Is NEEDED.
His Deductions From Recent Blazes-
Congress, He Thinks, Should
Act at Once.

81 witnessed the fire on 18th street the
other day, and afterward took occasion to
investigate the two other fires in the bust
ness section Of town. which occurred al
most at the same time" remarked a rep
resentative who has always taken a great
interest In the welfare OF the city, land
was surprised to observe that the claim
which has been so earnestly made for more
f1re-fghting apparatus and men is we'll sub
Stimulated.
I'm fact, will say that If the appropria-
ton committee of the House does not at
tach an emergency appropriation as rider
to some bill so that three or four new
steamers may be Immediately provided for,
whatever consequences may result in this
city from CONGREGATIONS may be laid at the
door of Congress direct.
1T is very serious. indeed, this matter.
The emergency appropriation should De
passed at once. 1t. is within the power OF
the appropriation committee to do this. and
it should be done. / would declare with all
emphasis, after the recent fires, that the
residents of Washington would be justified
in the calling of citizens meeting to
compel Congress to act.
"And l would suggest that such meeting
be called If Congress as body lies dormant
in this matter of life and property. There
are individual members of Congress who
feel friendly to the District. and who would
but they not in the position to do so,
as was shown when the District bill was up
for debate.
"To see If the fire department officials
could relieve themselves Of responsibility IN
the event of disastrous conf1agration,
repaired to the office Of Chief Dutton, and
upon perusing his last annual report,
found this recommendation:
Weakness of the Department.
Attention is respectfully invited to the
annual report of the senior assistant chief
engineer of he department, In which he
refers to the weakness Of the fre-fghting
force. AS he we'll says, it would be prac-
tically impossible for the department 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 unques-
toned efficiency, but more to good fortune
for 1t cannot be denied that there are many
buildings here the destruction of which 1t
would be practically impossible to prevent
should a fire in them get we'll started before
being discovered or should the fire occur
during the prevalence of high wind.
Should one Of these buildings take fire
while the department is engaged at large
fire, or while it Is divided up between sew
eral small ones, not only would the structure
be destroyed, but its destruction would
probably entail the loss Of many others be-
the senior assistant chief engineers recon-
mendation that the fire-fighting force be
materially strengthened meets the approval
Of the department..
Congress Should Act at Once.
This recommendation seems to have
been made to order to fit existing conditions
on Thursday. Certain 1t is that if WashH
ington be partially swept by fire the people
who suffer will know where to place the
blame, and it will not be upon the fire de-
partment.
Here is the official statement Of the chief
of the Washington fire department that
that department is incapable of attending to
two good fires at once, and Congress is at
this very time sitting in elaboration of the
affairs Of that city, and offers no relief.
THAT a whole section Of the capital has
not been swept by the flames Is a matter Of
good luck, and not by reason Of any precau-
tionary measures on the part Of Congress-
The fallacy Of cheeseparing as to the Dis
tricts finances, SO strongly, yet so una
vailingly adverted to by the friends Of the
District on the floor Of the House during
the last debate on her finances, was never
so vividly shown by ocular demonstration
than the other day, a day Of intense cold
when the firemen went around coated with
Ice, and the best part Of the city was I'M
protected because Its legislative body will
not provide enough apparatus to meet just
such an emergency as then arose"