Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-06

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for eating and sleeping. and with the great
est efficiency and herolsm. TINS occasIou'
when 1t was necessary for the CHIEF engi,
IRE fighting for more than forty eight hours.
showed strilIingly what u constantly oo-
served In the regular work OF the depart
ment, that It should have super1ntenasn.
corresponding in his duties to the superin-
tendent Of the police department T0e
chief engineer, who must respond to alarms
by night as well as by day, has neither the
time nor the strength to perform the ao-
ministrative duties Of q superintendent Tor
a fire department now large and constantly
growing. with property valued at over q
million dollars In moro than twenty-nve nre
stations scattered all over the District OF
Columbia. Constant, systematic, thorough
business management by man who has
nothing else to do is imperatively required.
The work cannot be properly done by q
Commissioner having supervision OF the fire
department. any more than such WORK coulo
be done for the police department by 9
Commissioner having supervision OK tnat
department.
The fire department needs more stations
and apparatus, one Of the old stations
needs to be rebuilt, and extensive repairs
are necessary in all the older buildings. But
the Commissioners have not felt that, pend
ing permanent settlement OF the Districts
finances. they could ask OF Congress al!
that the department needs. The District
of Columbia has been very fortunate In the
matter of fires, but soner or later there Will
be two or more large fires at the same time.
and then 1t will be found that the depart
ment Is not large enough to cope win
them 1t Is doubtless as efficient as any
other fire department In proportion TO It's
size, but 1t ought to be much larger and II
ought to have much better reserves than
1t now has.
The Commissioners renew their earnest
recommendation for the installation OF spe-
cial water mains, in order to estapIsn a
high-pressure fire protection service for the
heart Of the city of Washington, at an esti-
rated cost of $750, 600, which would greatly
in prove the fire protection and probably
reduce the rates of insurance.
The Commissioners invoke special con-
sfderation for their recommendations for
increased pay for the subordinate members
of the fire department, who are underpaid
not only as compared with the hremen OF
other places, but as compared with the
members of the police department OF the
District of Columbia Of equal rank.
The annual report of the fire department
invites attention to the records OF fatan-
ties and devastation of property caused by
fire during the fiscal year 1904 throughout
the country. and states that the Dlstrlct
OF Columbia was particularly fortunate in
being spared from any great fire disaster
in which there was great loss OF lie OF
destruction of property.
The annual report for the fiscal year 19O4
shows total estimated loss from fires in
the District Of S25O924, or an increase over
The largest fire during the year was occa-
stoned by the burning of the Daish grain
elevator. which caused an estimated loss OF
$S5 600. The total estimated loss for the
year was fraction over 10 per cent of the
total insurance on the property, s2.O71.37o.
Truck company g was placed in commits
sion April %. 1904, on Sth street between u
and E streets southeast.
The fire boat will also prove a valuable
adjunct in the matter of protecting the
river front and property lying near there.
The department consists Of IA engine
companies. 7 truck companies and ehem1 emf
opin IN,
the department received and placed in
commission combination chemical engine
and hose wagons. A 65-foot aerial hook
and ladder truck was also received ana
place in commission at Truck Company
e The departments first size Clapp &
Jones steam fine engine was rebuilt during
the year and placed in commission at NO.
1 engine house.
Chemical Engine Company No. 1. D street,
near Twelfth, Is now being converted into
an engine company, and the plans Will pc
completed not later than August !. 1904,
when the company will be installed. The
addition Of the engine company In the CEN
ter of the city will add materially to the fire
protection in this congested portion of the
city.
The building for No. Ii Engine Company,
now in the course Of erection, has been COM
pleted, and about October /, 1904, the engine
now being built for the house in Brookiand
will be delivered and the truck being built
for Congress Heights completed. Arrange
ments are also being made for the construc-
ton Of the engine house recently provided
for In southeast Washington. When these
apparatus are built and the new houses
placed In commission the department will
consist of the following companies: Eight
cen engine companies, truck companies,
chemical-engine companies, and 1 combina-
ton chemical and truck company.
Attention is invited to the condition of
several OF the engine houses of the dapart-
ment.
Engine Company No a, located on Vir-
ginia avenue, near Four-and- a-half street
SW., is in dilapidated condition, and 1t is
deemed inadvisable for this reason to ex-
pend money in trying to repair 1T. In its
estimates for the next fiscal year the de-
partment asks for an entirely new house for
this company. There are other houses in
the department that are in bad condition,
and it has been found that the limited ap-
preparations by Congress are insufficient to
improve them as should be done.
The conduct of the members Of the de-
partment for the past twelve months has
been In general excellent.
During the past fiscal year II fires have
occurred as result of the use of gasoline.
The department has insisted that rigid in
spections be made of the premises where
this dangerous fluid is stored and kept for
sale. Several casualties have occurred dur
ing the year as result of its use and 1t Is
earnestly recommended that some regula-
ton be adopted that will insure greater pro-
lection to persons using highly inflammable
oils
The inspection of mercantile houses has
been continued, with good results, the fire
marshal, VINO makes Such inspections, rarely
ever reporting that he found the conditions
other than good. The theaters were also
inspected at least three times week and
strict compliance with the regulations en-
forced.
There are now 46 pensioners on the rolls.
Members Of this department, with the ex-
ception of the chief engineer, are all pen
stoned alike. The officers receive the same
pension as is paid private. This, it is re-
spectfully submitted, should not be. The
members of the police department, who re-
ceive pensions from the same fund.- are paid
in the matter of the amount of pension ac-
cording to the rank of the man retired; but
not SO in this department. The foreman
who has served the department for years is
entitled, under the existing law, to no more
consideration than the private who may af-
ter a few years service become disabled in
the line Of service. The work Of fireman
Is as important as that OF policeman the
hours assigned to him are a great deal
longer, and he faces danger twice as often.
and 1t Is respectfully submitted that some
regulation should be adopted to increase the
pension Of the departments officers.
Sealer Of Weights and Measures.
The sealer Of weights and measures, who
has supervision also OF the inspectors Of
lumber wood. flour. steam boilers and of
the District markets and market masters,
reports the fiscal year 1904 one of the
busiest in the history OF the Office. While
improved conditions obtain throughout the