Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-02
BLUE GLAD FIREMEN
NOTABLE IMPROVEMENT n
NAVY YARD DEPARTMENT.

Notable Improvement in the fire depart
ment building OF the Washington navy
yard will be made in few days, when the
combination structure near the main north
gate Is completed. This structure, as pre-
v1ousay described in The Star, win be used
as naval prison. telephone exchange,
headquarters for the watchmen and fire de-
partment quarters.
Inc omcers OF the navy yard are proud
OF their fire department and Its efficiency.
The fremen are blue.clad marlnee. with
Uncle SANS sailormen as auxtliaries when
occasion demands On the occasion OF re-
cent fire drills the department has made
the record time OF reaching the scene Of
supposed CONGREGATIONS in three ana a half
minutes.
fire station will include two chemical en-
gines, one hook and ladder truck, two reels
with hand fire grenades or ext1ngushers
IN the several shops and other buildings.
The fre-aaarm system in the navy yard
embraces q feature which recalls the Are
"alarumS" described so wildly in Poe's
poem, Tho Bells"
Sounding Of the Alarm.
When blaze is discovered in the estab-
lishment the number of the box ia sounded
from large bell on tho roof OF the gun
shop. Then another bis bell, which will be
located In a tower over the new combina-
ton building, will be Changed loudly and
continuously to call the marines and others
TO fire quarters to man the apparatus. When
the members OF the marine guard and the
sailors that may be at the yard hear the
violent ringing of the last named bell they
are required by orders to drop whatever
they may be doing, unless they are on
guard, and repair quickly to the fire house.
A test Of the efficiency OF the navy yard
hre department was given few days ago,
when flames were discovered In the car
fridge case shop. The blaze was extin-
guished without calling upon the city de-
partment, and before very much damage
had resulted.
When a marine sentry discovers a fire IN
the yard he is required to discharge his
rifle, which. being heard by the corporal OF
the guard, results In rne fire bells being
sounded. 1t is said several improvements
in the navy yard lire system are contem-
plated when the apparatus IS installed in
the new building.
New Structures Designation.
The new structure, which Will take the
place of the ancient wooden Matchbox
near the main or sth street gate, will be
known as "the fire and telephone station
and naval prison building" appropriated
by Congress, under act, March J, 1906 The
building will be fifty feet long, thirty feet
wide and about twenty-efght feet high not
ing the tower and slope of roof 1t would
be about thirtyeight feet high.
The tower on the roof will contain the
bell. which will ring the hour of day anu
also the alarms.
This yard has about ten fire alarm sta
tons in different parts of the yard, divided
to suit the different buildings and resi-
dences.
The second floor of this building will con-
tain the prison cells, about ten in number:
prison lavatories, telephone switch boards
end one or two bed rooms for the guards
on watch at the telephone switch boards.
The first floor will have the post office
for the navy yard, and also room for two
chemical hand engines, two hose reels ana
one large hook and ladder truck.
The engines and reels take about eight
men each, while the hook and ladder truck
takes about twelve men more.
The hook and ladder truck is Of the lat
est pattern, having raising ladder which
will reach nearly the top Of any building
in this yard
The building cost about $4,000, built by
yard labor The brick in this building was
bought from Ohio, and cost about $50 per
diana and is called Indiana blue stone.
The building will be equipped with the
latest style fittings throughout, and will be
the first thing visitors will see upon enter
ing the yard on their right.
This yard has been very badly In need OF
such a building, and it will be used to the
best advantage.
The captain of the yard will be in charge
of the fire department, while officers of the
Marine Corps and navy will assist in carry
ing out his orders.