Evening star., 1903-10-24
NUMBER TEN WINS
ENGINE COMPANY WITH BEST
RECORD FOR YEAR.
Award Of the Macfarland Flag - The
Committees Report
What It Means.

iC AsAoSiuA Adhu Lkopuy hdS AdS oCCiA
awarded by the committee on inspection to
fire engine company No. 10 as the company
making the best record during the past
year and the best showing upon inspection.
This company will hold the flag for one
year from November 4, the date appointed
by the Commissioners for the annual re-
view OF the police and fire departments.
The trophy IS now held by truck cor pany
c. In 1902 it was held by engine company
No. II. and the previous year the prize was
captured by engine company No. S.
The committee appointed by Commission
er Macfarland to make the inspection of
the fire department and to award the flag
consisted of President Clement W. Howard.
Vice President c. F. Nesbit and A. N.
Hamilton, contract manager of the board of
fire underwriters of the District. The re-
port of the committee was submitted to
Commissioner Macfarland today.
This annual inspection Of the fire depart
ment was instituted by Mr.. Macfarland
when he came into Office and presented to
the department an American flag to be
awarded annually to the company making
the best record during the year and the
best showing upon inspection Each year
committee of prominent citizens has made
this inspection, without notice to the fire
department stations.
This year, as heretofore, the committee of
inspection has given several days to this
work in public-spirited way which is high
ly appreciated by the Commissioners. 1t
mad to visit twenty-five stations scattered
all over the District. 1t is regarded as an
important duty. stimulating the members of
the fire department to zeal and faithfuness.
The fact that the record of cases of dis
cipltne during the year is taken into ac-
count In the award of the Macfarland tro-
ply flag has its effect upon the behavior Of
the men throughout the year. The policy
OF doing everything possible to prevent
fires upon which Commissioner Macfarland
has insisted ever since he came into Office
and took supervision Of the fire department,
with the increase Of inspection of private
aided by the work of the annual committee
of inspection.
Commissioner Macfarland thanked the
committee heartily for it's services
The Report.
The report on the inspection and award
to Commissioner Masfarland is signed by
each member of the committee, and reads
as follows:
Pursuant to your request Of October 10,
1903, the committee started Monday morn
ing. October 10. and made personal inspec-
ton Of fifteen engine, truck and chemical
houses in the District of Columbia, and on
Tuesday, the Goth instant, inspected the ten
companies remaining, witnessing at each
house drill of the men, thereby ascer-
tanning, as nearly as possible, the efficiency
with which each company is able to re-
spond to an alarm of fire, by sending the
men to their dOrmitories and timing them
from the time the gong was rung by the
foreman until the last man had mounted
the apparatus.
I'm awarding the Macfarland flag this
year we take into account three general
considerations First, the care and atten-
ton to the premises; second, the appear
ance and condition of men, their activity,
discipline and the speed with which they
were ready to respond to an alarm; third.
any charges preferred during the past year.
We assumed IS for the first; 40; for the
points. The task Of deciding which COM
pany should have the prize was not an easy
one. owing to the fact that some companies
occupy old buildings. some badly located
as to dust, smoke and dirt, as for instance.
engine company No. 4, located on Mary
land avenue directly facing the railroad
tracks, while some companies have modern
buildings. situated in quiet and clean sec
tions Of the city.
AFTER careful and thorough inspection Of
each building from cellar to roof, weighing
the points taken into consideration, we
unanimously award the Macfarland flag to
engine company No. 10. under command of
Foreman G. E. SchrOm, located on Mary
land avenue, between 18th and 14th streets
northeast. and while the committee are
unanimous in this decision, if We were to
give second award, 1t would be almost
impossible to determine the second best
from among engine company No. 49, Ana
costa; No. 6. Massachusetts avenue: No.
~ SiIcct, tIuCh u 14tu street, Truck
Whitney avenue, and chemical engine No.
4. Brookland.
1--WE wish to express our appreciation Of
the honor you have conferred by calling
on us to make this inspection and the
award of the Macfarland flag this year.
We think you are entitled to the thanks
Of the citizens OF Washington for thus
recognizing in definite way efficiency and
discipline and stimulating among the vari-
Gus companies an honorable and inspiring
rivalry