Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-17
DESTROYED BY FIRE
RESIDENCE OF j. C. STATS IN
KENsINaToN BURNED.
The Loss Estimated to Be About IS, 500
Contents Saved-Mayor Eek
hardt's Comment
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
KENSINGToN. Nd. February II. 1904.
The home of Mr.. ]. c. Stats. located On
the north corner of Prince George ave.
nue. and Kent street. was totally destroyed
by fire this morning The loss incurred
will approximate $500.
The alarm which summoned the citizens
of the town to tho scene was sounded at z
am. few moments before that hour.
however, the fire was discovered In the rear
portion of the attic The rapid progress
of the flames indicated that 1t had been
smoldering there for some time. When
the first residents arrived with extinguish-
ers almost the entire roof was a sheet OF
flames. All attempts to reach the attic
were baffied by the dense volumes OF smoks
and the intense heat. and when 1t was seen
that the structure was doomed the atten-
ton of all was directed to removing the
furniture and other household effects
Mrs Stats and her child had been con-
veyed to the neighboring home of Mr.. w.
b. Lewis, and medical aid was summoned
to her. she suffered greatly from the
nervous shock. Her husband had left home
on the G:45 electric car for Washington
where he is employed In the bureau of en-
craving and printing. He was notified Of
the disaster and Immediately returned.
A stiff west wind famed the blaze into
fury and ii was only by hard work that
the contents of the house were finally
saved, as in less than thirty minutes the
entire structure was mass of flames.
Fortunately the direction of the wind re-
moved all danger of any of the neghboring
houses catching fire.
1t was the opinion of those present that
the fire originated in the attic fiue. The
house, 1t is stated was entirely covered by
Insurance. but the furniture practically all
OF which was saved and Is In good condi-
ton, was not insured.
Lack of Facilities.
When Mayor Eckhardt was seen this
morning, after the fire. he stated that in the
absence of adequate .fire-fighting facilities
and water 1t was impossible to save even a
portion OF the Stats house. and this, he
said, emphasizes the necessity for prompt
action in establishing a water system for
the town. To let matters rest as they are,
he stated, would be criminal, and for one
ne does not propose to submit to mo-
ments unnecessary delay In bringing about
the establishment of such system.
The town is growing fast" said Mayor
Eckhardt, and the close proximity of the
houses in some of the districts, in case of
hre among them, would mean almost the
entire destruction of the town. l believe
that large majority of the property own
ers are in favor Of bonding the town for
this purpose. few weeks ago 1 prepared
bill to establish a water, sewerage and
electric light system for the town. which
was submitted to the council and approved
by that body. This bill have today sent
to our delegate at Annapolis. Walter A.
Johnston. with the request that same be
introduced at once and its passage urged
at an early date.
THE bill provides that the mayor and
council of the town OF Kensington shall be
authorized to construct a system of water
works and sewerage and. If the funds are
sufficient, electric lights, for the use of the
town. and to redeem all bonds of the town
issued under previous acts, the sewerage
system to be constructed on such plans as
shall meet with the approval of the state
board of health.
ITO pay for the cost of the work the
mayor and council are authorized and en-
powered to issue bonds in the name of the
municipal corporation to an amount not
exceeding the sum of s50, 900. or so much
thereof as may be necessary In denomina-
lions of 800 each. payable fifty years after
date to bearer, redeemable, however, at the
pleasure of the mayor and council, or their
successors, at any time after the expira-
ton of ten years from their respective
dates, and shall bear interest In the mean
time at the rate of not more than B per
centum per annum, payable semi-annually.
Redemption of Bonds. $
For the redemption of these bonds the
mayor and council shall have the power
and authority and required to annu-
ally levy all necessary taxes upon the prop
erty within the taxable limits of said cor
poration for the payment of interest, as
well for the establishment of sinking
fund for the ultimate redemption of the
bonds.
provision is however made that the act
shall take effect from the date of its ap-
prevail by two-thirds of the property holders
of the town of Kensington at an election to
be held for such purpose after three weeks
notice.
THUS you will see," said Mayor Eckhardt
ia conclusion, that the proposition is up to
the people themselves, and their failure to
adequately protect themselves from loss of
life or limb and destruction of property will
incur censure, not on the administration.
but themselves absolutely. AS mayor of the
town 1 stand squarely for the proposition.
even though my taxes he tripled. The loss
of a member of my family is by far more to
me than dollars and cents stand for. and
am sure l voice the sentiment of not only
the other members of the council, but of
every serious, sober-thinking citizen of the
community"