Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-10-30
ADDITIONAL REPORT
I
Sa tional Board of Fire Underwriters
! Made Survey of Alexandria
| Last August. EI,l.ai

city have issued the following sup
documentary report:
This city was visited by Engineer
!. II. Rowland, September y 10 %
1914 for the purpose of discussing
with city officials and interested CIT.
zens the findings in cur report u
August, 1913, and Of advocating 'ne
ldoption OF the Recommendations
especially those considered most Ut
gent.
IN spite Of the fact that the wa
ter supply is entirely inadequate
particularly for the high value mer-
camille and manufacturing dls'fic',
the water company has not carrie"
out anv Of the important recomihe"-
dations made in the 1919 report. III
stead Of 12-inch, as recommended
G-inch pipe was laid in place c1 ,"s
old 4-inch along Union street DC
tween King and Wolfe streets; lew
scattered short lengths Of 6-lnch ana
one block of 4-inch pipe has oeeh re-
Gently laid in outlying sections II
is expected that the large dam Doing
constructed on Holmes Run, -
miles above the pumping station ana
impounding about GOO,OOO,OOOO ga'-
1,,1. &c ,,.o+or nj an overflow cleva-
lion Of POS, will be completed early
in 1915; this Improvement will pre-
vent any shortage Of water In pro-
tracted dry periods, but VIII not
otherwise affect fire protection. Al
though a few additional hydranlS
have recently been set. mostly N
outlying districts, the city has az
/ complished nothing towards improv-
No the spacing and type Of hydrants
as recommended.
The officials CT the water COM
2any claim that their charter does
not obligate them TO furnish the city
any more water than is at any time
available from their system, ana
shat they are not required to furnish
an adequate supply for fire pro:ee-
ton purposes. 4 special committee
Of the City Council, appointed in the
spring Of 1914. and recently rcor@an-
lied after the election OF i new
Council. were to meet carly in De-
toebr for the purpose Of investiga-
ting questions as to the adequacy
and reliability of the water supply
the rates charged and the advisaoli-
.ty Of taking steps to bring about
improved conditions.
A new and modern fire station, with
space provided for a double company,
is nearing completion next to the Old
quarters OF the Relief Ladder Com
pany on Prince street. The tuil-pald
fcrce in the fire department has beer
increased by one man, who fills II at
she different tirestations where most
needed. The 450-gallon reserve fire
engine has been put in service at the
En!iance station, while the 550-gal-
ion regular engine is away undergo
in~ repairs. Except for the recent
purchase of 1000 feet OF new , IL
inch hose and cellar pipe. no fur
ther fire department improvements
have been made. The purchase OF
the recommended automobile aerial
ladder truck is contemplated for the
near future.
The question Of installing the rec
commended fire alarm system WAS
considered, but not authorized be-
cause of insufficient funds.
The recommendations under build
ing department. explosives and in
rlamlnablcs and electricity, have not /
bcea complied with.
Interviews were had with the sec
rotary Of the Chamber of Commerce, .
officials of the Alexandria Water
Company, presidents Of the Board Of .
Aldermen and the Common Council, ,
four members Of the fire committee ,
Of Council. two members Of . special .
committee Of Council. the city engi- (,
neer and fire chief and the editor Of !
the Alcxaniria Gazette. In each
case the carryingg out OF the follow
ing recommendation were especially
urged: The reinforcement Of the
water distribution system, especially
by the laying Of the 16-incn main
down Cameron street and the l2-inch
main the entire length Of Union
street, and tie improved spacing
and type of hydants, fu!l-paid double |
company with automobile truck and
automobile combination hose wagon
FOR the new fire station, the fire
alarm telegraph system and mod
arn code OF building laws.