The Washington herald., 1908-07-08
CHIEF BELT HAS SOLUTION
mcfarland Backs Him I'm Proposing
High Pressure Service Mains for
Free TO Protect Outlying Sections,
Congress APnthetic in Matter.

fore any part OF the fire department
could have given aid, according to a
statement made by Chief William 7.
Belt, of the fire department. last night.
When the entire department was fight
ing downtown. the outlying, thickly set
tied. and valuabl ereSidence district was
absolutely without protection. Had fire
broken out then IL might have swept on
unhindered and caused thousand OF dol
lars worth Of damage.
The reason for this condition Of affairs
Is that the force and equipment OF the
District fire department is not OF suf-
hcient size 10 cope with all contingencies
which might arise. Chief Belt has at his
command at present IS steam engine
companies. s trucks, chemical engine
companies, and l fire boat with this
small array he is obliged 70 protect the
whole Of the city and suburbs, wherein
are involved the lives OF some 3l5.OO0 peo-
pie, and millions OF dollars worth Of
public and private property
Firemen Had Hard Fight.
Owing to the fierceness OF the three
fires on Monday night, every fire company
was called out to aid in the hght. II wes
only with the greatest difficulty and hard
work by the hremen that they were able
10 down :hese fires, which, fortunately,
were not far apart.
The solution Of the problem. which
will give protection 10 all parts Of the
residence section in all emergencies. and
far better service In the business district
where the greatest losses are sustained in
case OF fire, Is the installation Of the
high-pressure water system.
Chief Belt said that with this system
he could give a demonstration that would
show that with it he could do away with
the use Of engines within the prescribed
area Of high pressure. could distribute
the engines for the best protection of the
residence section, and give better protec-
ton TO the business center.
Congress Let Bill Die.
For the introduction Of the system the
Commissioners prepared bin which was
introduced in Congress some eight years
ago. and have fought for IL ever since.
but without avail. The plan IS 20 law
35-inch bigh-pressure water mains. con-
nected with the reservoir at Fort Reno, IN
a district approximately bounded by First
street. street. Eighteenth street. and 3
street northwest, within the limits Of
which lies the valuable business section
and many public buildings.
With the pressure thus obtained. the
HN4f fnf hoe N.
as eighty streams Of water within an
area OF 700 or 500 feet. and could make
one fire plug do nearly the work Of eight
engines.
Thus the business interests would gain
far better protection. and the engines
taken out OF that section would go TO
protect the outlying parts of the city.
which now. In the case Of any large
contiagratiOn, are practically left helpless
Chief Belt was very positive IN saying
that the District badly needs better fire
protection.
object Lesson, Says MacfarIand.
The Commissioners are heartily in favor
Of the plan of the chief Of the fire de-
partment, and Will continue to do all that
is in their power u have Congress ap-
proprlate the necessary funds for the in
stallation Of the new system. On the
subject. Commissioner. Macfarland said
yesterday:
We had a striking object lesson in the
three fires Monday night OF the impera-
tive necessity for a high-pressure special
Interpretation service for the heart OF the
city which the Commissioners have been
recommending to Congress for the past
eight years. and which would cost only
$750.000 I wish every member OF the
Congressional appropriations committees
could have seen the conditions last night.
and hope that all the tax payers will
earnestly support the Commissioners in
pressing the matter next winter.
The plain fact is, that II another
large fire had occurred anywhere outside
Of the center Of the city, the fire depart
ment could not have coped with II. and
we should have had q great confiagra-
tion, with loss of life as well as OF prop
erty The whole strength of the depart
ment was engaged. and at the third fire
both the men and the horses were at the
limit Of their powers.
Horses Were Worn Out.
I saw the horses come in with the ap-
paratus. nearly exhausted. All the rest
Of the city and all the suburbs we're un-
protected; nothing else could have been
done. The work Of the fire department
was. as usual. of the best character. But
we cannot protect the life and property
of the widespread District of Columbia
without high-pressure special protection
system Of watermains. which would be
equal 20 forty engines.
from the Fort Reno reservoir. AS feet
above sea level and seven miles from the
heart Of the city. which would give us
gravity pressure to throw water from the
hydrants over the highest buildings.
would be the chief cost. the maintenance
being comparatively small Our people
have not been fully alive 10 the necessity.
Monday night showed, fortunately
without loss of life or great loss Of prop
erty. that not only the business men in
the heart of the city. but every citizen
throughout the District Of Columbia is
directly interested in having the high
pressure fire protection service. Else
where II is being introduced, and we
ought mott to lag behind.
Where Congress Is DereIict.
THE only reason we have not secured
the system is because so many other large
improvements have been making. and
Congress has not adopted the Commits
sioners' plan Of distinguishing between
improvements and current
expenditures and appropriating for all the
former separately. but each year instead
has limited the appropriations by the rev.
enues of the year, Jumping together the
extraordinary and the current appropria
tions"
su2, IN A,nonoI,s ona Rc,u-D