Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-12
D. C. FIRE LOSS CITED
TO SHOW NECESSITY
FOR HIGH PRESSURE
Continued from First Page

tCOnunueO IFOIn F1I5t Td6e.t
past during which The Star has per-
sistently appealed on behalf of the
best interests Of the citizens of WASH
tngron for this very necessary service.
II have already expressed the be-
lief that through a united effort the
desires of the community for the es-
Establishment of this service can be
realized. 1t Is most gratifying. there
fore. that The Star has undertaken
this work, and / trust there will be
no let-up on the part of The Star and
other tnStrumentalitfeS until success
is had"
Backed by Cans.
Isaac Cans, president of the WASH
ington Chamber of Commerce, was
equally praiseworthy for The Star s
efforts to secure high-pressure water
hydrants-
81 have felt that Washington ought
to have a high-pressure water sys-
tenn long ago" said Mr.. Cans. Every
big city has such a system now. 1t il
really a. necessity in a city of this
size. and I heartily commend The
Star for its interest and support in
the past and present movements.
Engineer Commissioner Bell said
today that he has not yet had an OPP
high pressure plan. but indicated that
he Is following closely the public dis
cussion on the subject. Maj. Bell has
been busy since his arrival in Wash
ington, about ten days ago. familiar
izing himself with his new work, but
he will tackle the high-pressure
problem with Commissioners Ru-
dolph and Oyster before the esti-
mates are completed.
Several Years Needed.
With the trade bodies of the city
presenting a united front in favor of
Its installation as soon as possible. 1T
Is practically certain that the Com
mendation to be submitted.
Even If the budget bureau and Con-
gress pass the initial appropriation
In the next District bill 1t will be
pressure. hydrants could be put into
service.
AS announced yesterday, the first
request would be for 100000 or
$500, 900. which is one..third of the
total cost IL, II the is madS ay yske
three years to get the necessary
amount.
Believe Need Shown.
The first move of the Commission
ers after getting the initial appro-
priation would be to engage the serV-
ices Of an expert on high-pressure
installation.
While the water department has al
ready mapped out the business area
to be covered by the mains and the
approximate location of the pumping
station on the water front, an author.
ity on the subject would be needed
to work out the engineering details.
Records Of the fire department
showing the increased fire loss bear
convincing evidence of the fact
that high pressure is needed for the
protection of government buildings
as we'll as private structures. 1t Is
said. Within four months of the last
calendar year two fires occurred In
the Treasury building, which is in
the proposed high-pressure district.
resulting in a total damage of $751;
000 These Treasury fires do not
figure In the loss for the past fiscal
year.
Many Fires Cited.
On February s. 1922, a blaze was
discovered on the roof of Uncle Sans
main money house. doing $4,000
damage. On May Of the same year
another fire occurred in the same
part of the structure and had caused
25, 900 loss before it was put out.
The fire at Boiling Field aviation
station in March of this year caused
s750.OO0 damage. While this Is out
side the high-pressure section, 1t
shows that a we'll equipped fire de-
partment in Washington is important
to the federal government as well as
to local property owners.
The water department will endeavor
to get in the next District bill an au-
thorization to lay q larger service
main in Anacostia that will afford
better protection for Boiling Field.
There were several big fires in the
high-pressure section during the past
fiscal year that helped to swell the
total fire loss.