The Washington times., 1903-09-06

ment was changed from the Washington
| city Fire Department, TO the District
of Columbia Fire Department. thus TAX
! ing in the Georgetown company. An
other company was added in 1876. when
third class Silsby engine was or
dered. and after several tests accepted.
An additional fire company was formed
| In 1877, when a truck OF what was con-
sidered the best type. a Babcock. was
ordered Two new engines, which be-
came known as seven and eight. two
hose carriages and a truck, B, were
bought the year following. Two high
compliments were paid the District fire.
men at this time. In 1879 the Fire In
dervriters rated the District Fire Ser
vice as Arst class. An officer Of the
Swiss government was sent to inspect
the fire departments OF the United
States. and reported that the Districts
was without exception the finest and
best equipped IN the world Engine
Company No z went into service on
January %, 1885.
Departments Condition Now.
The history OF the District of CoIum-
bia Fire Department from 1886, when
Joseph Paris was appointed chief en-
gineer. TO the present day. is one long
record OF superb battle against fire. Few
cities OF the size OF Washington can
show so many fires during an equal
period. Chief Belt can tell you about
them all. the fire at Barbour Hamu-
tons store. Of the feed warehouse OF
Gait & Co., OF the FIRE Of 1888 on X
Street, OF the great Tracy fire OF Febru-
ary 8, 1890, OF the burning of the Chapel
OF the Covenant. and the fire which did
so much damage to the building in
which The Times is housed at present,
and the huge blaze of the power house.
In all these great fires the fireman OF
today has shown himself a worthy son
Of the men who worked the goose
necks" and passed buckets when the
Treasury Department was on fire at the
beginning Of the century. Higher praise
than this they cannot receive and they
are well aware Of the fact.
Chief Engineer Joseph Paris was one
OF the most popular officers the District
ever had at the head of its Fire Depart
ment. There was not a boy in Washing
ton during the period when he was in
charge who would not rather have worn
his crossed trumpets and driven that
horse than been President He attended
all the large fires IN the city for man7
years
Chief Belt is considered By eyeryone
a capable successor to the men who have
preceded him. Under his management
the Fire Department is being brought to
even a higher degree OF efficiency than
ever before. At the present time there
are 30s men on the pay roll of the de-
partment and every one is the man for
the position.
The staff.
Chief Belt is assisted by the following
officers OF the District OF Columbia Fire
Department:
Fire Marshal, Sidney Bieber: assistant
chief engineers. f. J. Wagner. James
Keliher. Andrew ]. Sullivan; acting as
sistant chief engineer, John Sherman:
clerks. F. Donnelly. R. J. Griffin. Percy
c. Lowe, A S. Haight and William Cole
man; T. NJ. Robinson, machinist-
Foremen-P. J. Hollohan, No. 1; John
Darlington, No. 2; c. B. Proctor. No. 8;
A l. Grimm. No 4: c. A Kreamer. No
8; W. F. Lanahan, No. 6; c. F. Beers,
No. 7; c. r. Kuhns, No. s; P. d. Mar
tin, No. 9; c. E. Schrom, No. 10; P. R.
Davis. No. II; II. W. Wright. No. IL; J.
W. Smith. No. Il; c. W. Hopkins, No.
Is; J. E. Hooper. Truck A: Timothy
Donohue, Truck B: W. A. Dixon. Truck
C: P. W. Nicholson. Truck D; J. T.
Young. Truck E: A c. Buscher. Truck
F; c. E. Harper, Chemical l; T. J.
Brown. Chemical 2; Thomas D. Mclean.
Chemical 8; S. r. Henry. Chemical 4;
William Luskey, Chemical 5.