Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-02
INCREASE OF FACILITIES
ANNUAL ESTIMATES FILED BY
CHIEF BELT.
Asks for Total Appropriation Of $780,
79O-New Engine Houses In
cluded-Salary Increases.

William T. Belt, chief OF the local fire
department in the annual estimates for his
department for the fiscal year beginning
July 1, 1903. which he submitted to the
Commissioners yesterday for consideration,
the substance of which was printed in The
Star last night, made provision for seven
new fire engine companies, half dozen
new fire engines and number of other
less important Improvements to the fire
service.
AS result Of these extraordinary" ex-
penses for the betterment of the service he
Will need total appropriation of 500
which is an increase of more than $4,000
compared with the appropriation allotted
his department for the present fiscal year.
OF this total appropriation requested $751;
$50 is for salaries. $124SGO for miscella-
neous expenses and s340,7J0 for an increase
in the department.
OF this amount to be used for 'miscel-
lancOus" expenses Chief Belt proposes to
use SfoOD for the purchase of a site and
construction and equipment of a new en-
GIN louise in the northwest section of the
city in the vicinity of nth and II streets
H explained that this house is neces-
sary because of the numerous Office build
ngs and business houses that have been
erected in that locality within the last
few years, and this locality is not pro-
vidad with proper fire protection. He in
tends to devote $4,000 for the pu chase
of site and construction and equipment
of engine house in the vicinity of 52d
and r streets northwest: 10000 for the
new house in the vicinity of Rock Creek
Church road and Brightwood avenue: 500
900 for new house for No. engine
company. The present house having been
built in 1870, is dilapidated and almost I'M
fit for use.
New Apparatus Wanted.
The chief Is also anxious to purchase
some new apparatus for his department.
He has named in his estimates a sixty-hve
foot aerial hook-and ladder truck to cost
81, 800; two second-size steam fire engines,
So, 500 each: one fourth-sze steam fire en-
CINE to be located at Brightwood in lieu
of the chemical engine now at that point,
$1,000, and one combination chemical en-
CINE and hose wagon, $3.50
The sum of $4,000 is asked with which to
establish a new engine house in the vicin-
ity west of 17th street northwest and south
of Pennsylvania avenue, the sum of $3oOOo
for a new house for the vicinity OF North
Capitol and Rhode Island avenue and $50
600 for a new house for the vicinity of Sd
and II streets northeast. The latter house
is desired principally for the protection of
the government printing office. the new
union station and the Senate and House
office buildings and the other large build
ing which are now erected and about to
be erected in the vicinity Of the new sta
ton.
The chief is also DESTROYS OF establishing
a repair and storage building where the
apparatus Of the fire department, when out
of commission. can be kept and repaired.
He thinks $1,000 will be sufficient with
which to build and equip this building. The
chief says that should this appropriation
be granted the District of Columbia will be
saved many thousands of dollars a year.
The repairing at present Is done at No. 8
engine company house.
District Fireboat
The sum of 5000 is requested for re-
pairs and maintenance of the District fire.
boat $4,000 for contingent expenses,
which Is an increase Of 5000 over the
present appropriation: $500 for rent, and
s25,OoO for forage. which Is an Increase
of $1,000. due to the increased number of
horses. Ie says that in order to keep
within the present appropriation 1t is nee
essary to limit the fire horses to army al
lowance and that experience has shown
that this allowance is too meager for the
class of horses used by the fire depart
ment.
The sum of $4,000 is requested with
which to purchase new horses. Thirteen
thousand dollars appropriated for the
present year for this purpose.
Other items included in the 'miscellane-
ous'' expenses are: Fuel $4,000; for pur-
chase of hose. $4,000: for repairs to ap-
planes, including horseless engines,
wagons and other horseless vehicles. $13.-
600: for repairs and improvements to en-
CINE houses and grounds. $4,000, and
horseless vehicle for himself
Automobile Item.
Chief Belt made this request for an au-
tomobile last year. but the Commissioners
did not approve 1t. In asking for it this
year he said:
vided with a horse and buggy with which
to reach all fires of Importance which may
occur in any locality of the District of
Columbia. 1t is manifestly impossible for
the chief to reach remote points of the
District in time to properly direct and
supervise the work of the department.
Again, too, the various houses Of the
department should be visited and inspected
at regular intervals, and the time con-
sumed with horse and buggy renders this
impossible a. the pre- sent time These diff
ficultes would be Obvtated II the chief
engineer were provided with q fast-trav-
cling automobile equipped with certain fire
appliances, such as are now carried on a
hose wagon.
"All the large fire departments of the
country are now provided with these We
backward in this regard
ION several occasions the chief engineer
has responded from his office and home to
alarms of fire from Brightwood Chevy
Chase. Tenleytown and other suburbs only
to find upon his arrival that the buildings
were entirely destroyed and his horse COM
pletely exhausted.