Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-08

u put tneIn III proper shape. ~hlie most
of these houses are In good condition, and
two or three are practically new, there are
at least three which are so old and inSani-
tary, and altogether unfit for the purpose
for which they are used. that they ought to
be condemned. One of these is that oc-
cupied by chemical engine company No. /.
D street near 18th; another is that Of en-
CINE company No. 4. Virginia avenue be-
tween Az and 9Th streets southwest. and
the third the one in which No. 6 engine
company is Quartered. Massachusetts ave-
nue. between 4th and 9Th streets.
The house occupied by chemical company
No. l was once the home Of a volunteer
fire company. organized in 1927 and it has
been standing for SO many years that most
people have forgotten when it was built.
Its exterior has recently been touched up
by coat of paint, but its general insani-
tary and unfit condition has not been
otherwise improved. All articles, including
coal and other refuse, must be taken in and
out of it's front doors, and 1t Is otherwise
without the improvements and conven-
fences of fire house for city the fifth
OF the size of the capital. The house of
engine company No. 6 is in almost as bad
condition, while that occupied by engine
company No. is practically beyond re-
pair. These three houses are unhealthful
and unfit as places of abode for men.
Representative Citizens Views.
In the inspection made in 1901 by ex-Com-
mssioners Myron NJ. Parker and George
Of the District board Of fire underwriters, a
committee to determine the truck or engine
company entitled to the mcfarland trophy
flag, these gentlemen had an excellent OPP
portunity to judge of the condition of our
engine houses as really existing. In dis
cussing the matter with Star man this.
morning Col. Parker said:
The general efficiency Of our fire de-
partment is excellent, and some of the
houses are in good condition, but there are
others which demand the urgent attention
of Congress, as they not only a refiec-
ton upon the capital. but they are entirely
unsuitable and unsafe for the use to which
they are put In fact. l would not stable
my horses in chemical engine house No. l
on ID street, nor in the house of engine
company No. on Virginia avenue south
west. go
These insanitary structures should be
RACED and new ones erected without delay;
indeed, they should have been demolished
long ago. 1t is cruelty to keep men con-
fined in such quarters, and especially so
as regards firemen, who cannot, under the
regulations. leave the premises. Both Of
the houses are in very important locations
in town, the apparatus and men therein
being very frequently called out for duty.
and they ought to be housed in the best
possible manner.
THE appropriation for new quarters for
both of these companies would be COM
paratively small when the valuable and In
diSpensable services of the men and appara-
tus are considered. 1 sincerely trust that
the session will not be allowed to lapse
without some action being taken which will
result in the demolition of these buildings
and new ones erected in their places, or new
sites for new buildings chosen
Mr.. Henry Wells said that he sincerely
hoped there would be the least possible de-
lay in housing our firemen in suitable
abodes.
1.-The least the city can do for these faith
full employees" he said, is to keep them in
xrhi oh nod fon
Neither of the two crews in question Is in
a house fit for human occupancy. Both
houses are insanitary in the extreme mis-
eraby ventilated. shut in, old, and alto
gether inadequate and unsuitable.
Il will say that some OF the newer truck
and engine houses are all right, but as re-
CARDS the two houses it is sought to replace
1 freely concur in the general sentiment
that change is imperative. 1t is wrong to
require men to remain in such places, for,
aside from their insanitary and unhealth-
full features. to live in such quarters twenty
two hours out OF the twenty-fou must,
and unQuestionably does, have a bad effect
in general upon the men
Proper Surroundings Necessary.
'In our tour Of inspection the crews OF
these two houses were rated as moderate
as regards the general standard OF eff
cheney and their quarters at low rate;
but in justice to these men, who were an
ute 1t mainly to the result Of their environ
ment and to the generally depressing fea-
lures of their quarters. am satisfied that
the same crews in suitable houses would
have raised their percentage to an equal
with other crews in new houses, where
every feature Of their surroundings served
as stimulant to their endeavors."
Former Commissioner Truesdell concurred
In the main with the other members of the
committee. and earnestly expressed a hope
that In making the appropriation Congress
would take into consideration that q fire
house. like other public buildings, should
be built In advance Of the present, as 1t
is to stand. like a school house. for an in
definite number OF years.
Chief buttons Views.
IT regret to say said Chief Dutton,
when questioned. that several Of the
houses occupied by the District fire depart
ment are hardly fit for human habit ation
One of these, that in which chemical engine
company No. l Is Quartered D street near
18th. is so dark. cramped and poorly vent,-
lated as to render 1t not only unfit for the
abode OF men, but even unit for horses. The
house. like that occupied by No. engine
company, massachusetts avenue between
4th and 5th streets, has no alley In the
rear. and the same Is true Of several other
houses OF the department. That in which
engine company No. Ia stationed Viz
ginia avenue between ~ and 9th streets
southwest. Is not only improperly located,
but il a miserable makeshift. uncomfortable
and constantly in need Of repairs Indeed,
the repairs on It are so extensive that II
would be waste OF money to make them.
Not one of these three houses Is modern In
either design or construction, and they
should be vacated at the earliest possible
day, and the companies now quartered In
them should be provided with commodious
and moderniy equipped and constructed
houses.
Engine company No. s. NJ street be-
tween SD and SD streets. occupies what
was once. am told. the old town hall of
Georgetown. Whatever 1t once was, 1t is
now anything but a modern fire house and
that company should be Quartered In a new
house, more conveniently located. The
house Of No. engine company. K street
between 18th and 18th streets. Is much too
small for so important a company, and a
larger and better equipped house Is much