Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05
streets anA Il private and Government


installed, connected to the District system,
besides 45 additional ones In the various
public schools.
Seventeen patrol boxes were added to the
system and all the defective circuits re-
wired and placed In good condition.
The net increase in street lamps was
Naphtha, 1856; Welsbach, S57; incandescent
electric, lis: arcs. s. street destination nasa
posts. 10, and on plain gas posts. o.. making
total OF ut. The number OF gas lamps
was reduced by 153. making the net In
crease in street lamps 564
The total number OF lamps of all kinds in
service July /, 1905, was II, PAT.
Protection From Fire.
No extraordinary demand for the services
of the fire department occurred during the
year, but 1t showed by what 1t did it was
useful as ever. Its inspection work. in con-
nection with that Of the electrical depart
ment, carrying out the policy OF the Com
mssioners to do everything possible TO pre-
vent fires. has been diligently done. The
chief engineer Of the department. who must
personally make many inspections besides
those made by the fire marshal and his as
sistant, has q constantly increasing burden
of duty and should be relieved as promptly
as possible from all responsibility for the
business administration of the department,
SO that he can confine his attention to the
direct work of inspection and fire hghting.
The Commissioners renew their recon-
mendation that the fire department be given
a superintendent to perform It's administra-
tive duties, corresponding In his functions
to the superintendent of the police depart
ment and to similar officers elsewhere II
is impossible to administer the business al
fairs of this constantly growing department
with property valued at over Slo0o,Uu0 IN
thirty companies, scattered throughout the
District in a systematic and thorough man
ner except by man who has nothing else
TO do Provision will be made for such an
officer together with the reorganization of
the entire force of the fire department, IN
a bill which the Commissioners VIII SUBMIT
to Congress and which they hope Will be en-
acted, since 1t would secure better admin
istratton for the fire department ana more
adequate compensation for its members.
Of late years no very large fires have oc-
Cured in the District of Columbia, but TINS
fortunate condition can not be expected 10
last The Commissioners are very deslrous
that the fire department be so increased
and equipped as to be ready for any emer-
gency. The spreading of the population
over the higher ground outside of the city
Of Washington greatly increases the GAN
ger that two or more large fires may occur
be found that the department Is not strong
enough to cope with them. 1t is able to DO
as much as any other department of Its size.
but no more, and It's territory Is peculiar
in its extent and in the importance Oh TIE
buildings II contains.
Therefore the Commissioners would nave
been glad to approve all the recon-
mendations of the chief engineer for the
increase of buildings and apparatus, ana
confined their approval to the most press
ing only because of circumstances. they
put first, as most important, the PROPOSE
ton to install special water mains In or
der to provide high-pressure gravity nre
protection service for the heart OF the city
of Washington, at an estimated cost OF
S75O000. according to the recommendatIons
which they have heretofore made. ms
-tr hnr L
ment in the city of Washington and would
release apparatus for the protection OF the
outside territory.
The protection of the river front, 1nclud-
ing the navy yard and the buildings OF the
war College and engineer barracks, has
been improved by the addition of the FIRE
boat, named the Firefghter ana by the III
stalIation of No AZ and No. IL engine COM
nanies in southwest ana southeast WASH
ington respectively. which also serves TO
increase the safeguards Of the rest OF the
District. ,t
The older buildings Of the department
ouate repairs fund, and several OF tnehl
are in such a condition that they ought 70
he rebuilt, while the repairs fund shouio
he Increased for the benefit OF others.
The general conduct Of the men or the
denartment has been excellent, although
the maintenance of discipline mas re a ,e.,
the punishment of a small proporlion ~ ~
dismissal or otherwise ch1ehy because VI
intemnerance in the use OF liquors An
Improvement in the training OF recrui. s. rs
made possible by the erection or a to-Ioot
Harris training tower, long Gu, au
for which means were not before avail
abla mon which all kinds Of practice work
can be shown ,,ro J,ra On
1a05 according to the report or the chleI
"i,aer there were 564 bell alarms ana
a1e local alarms The total estimated loss
amounted to 1921. 1872, or 10 per cent OF uns s
total insurance, a decrease aoa as tn total
ost;n,ated loss was S250924. The hlghest
amount in the estimated loss IN the nscai
uaar 1903 was $50 600. In the case Oh bo"-
neys livery stable. ,,,e so,a bv
CONSTANT inspection Of theaters hotels'
APARTMENT houses, mercantile anu niana
facturing establishments, and other places
where large numbers OF peop n9 s sale Of in
oils and other compusupies.
cnacial inspections were also mace Oh pun
,ic buildings and charitable institutions. III
all cases where 1t was necessary ms w ~
eiars we've given as to the employment OF
mode and apparatus necessary TO III.
nrove the fire protection. IN the case "
The theaters, on the recommeioaliUii "
the chief engineer, In addltion ~ az o,,1
~ th,s rasnact a special requirement was
- that they should install standplpes
suficient to provide all the water h Se.s
sary for fire-hghting purposes me re- w I'M
rnnritv from large fires enjoyed ouI ,lis
the mast five years is due to the more lis,t t
and thorough preventive WORK Oh 'ii"'
period. ,,.n+ has been made for
~ nrotection of public school pullolhss
en9 nc buildings of the District munlclpai
or;ties by means of telephones connect
,aer with fira-alarm headquarters, each
i inS being given the character OF hre-
49,, Station with a number or It's own.
I,ba department machinist, who continues
.. do admirable work, renews recon-
,oandatIon. which the chief engineer APP
nro'yes for a suitable department repair
~ Resides ISL emergency repair JOBS
snne bv the machinst, 14S cases had 10 De
t.Ten 70 outside shops, involving delay as
Ill a extra expense because the machlnlSt
IA not have the facilities to make the re-
pairs
examination by the National Board of
Underwriters.
The National Board of Fire Underwriters'
.hropeh a. committee Of experts. made an
axanination of the fire risks and fire pro-
lection in the District of Columbia in the
,,ontb Of May last. and transmitted to the
"Reminiscences a detailed report on the gem
arai conditions In the municipal depart
ments dealing with fire prevention ana nre
nrotection, with recommendations, the most
ihmnortant of which had already been sub
mitted by the Commissioners to Congress