Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-14
Burning Aircraft Affects Chief
Watson's Report on
Years Efficiency.
MARYLAND JUST ELUDES
$500, 900 GlEsB0Ro LOSS
Total for District in 1929 Fiscal
Year Shows Reduction From
Previous Mark.

A difference Of 100 yards at the
Maryland and District line added
100000 to WaShington's fire loss record
for the 1929 fiscal year ended June 80,
last, 1t was disclosed yesterday, when
Fire Chief George S. Watson began
the preparation Of his annual report
for the Commissioners.
The 100000 represents the value Of
naval Seaplane destroyed by fire last
November near Giesboro Point, Just
far enough from the Maryland boundary
to cause Fire Chief Watson to denounce
his fates.
Proud Of Low Record.
Now it must be explained that the
fire chief is proud of Washington's low
fire loss record. And he Is constantly
striving to lower 1t. So when a
5000, 900 seaplane burns in the District
when it might just as well have gone
100 yards further into Maryland to its
destruction. then Chief Watson has
cause to wall.
II the plane had burned across the
line. Chief Watson said he would have
been little prouder Of the 1929 record,
for Maryland fire records would have
been charged with the 100000 loss and
the Washington record would have been
materially lower.
Anyhow, Watson figured that the
total fire loss for the District in the
1929 fiscal year decreased $12,355 under
the preceding 12-month period. despite
the destruction Of the plane and q
large increase in the number of con-
fagrations. The total damage caused
by all fires amounted to $l.08S,8 09. In
the 1928 fiscal year the total loss was
$l.101, 164.
The department answered Abs
alarms in the IL months, compared
with 3,704 in the preceding year. In
only three months-November, January
and February-did the damage exceed
SPLITS. The losses in these months
per cent of the total for the year.
Disastrous Store Blaze.
The disastrous fire in Dulin & Mar
tins former store on F street con-
tributed to the major portion OF the
large fire loss in January. which totaled
s455,6ll. The fire marshals estimate
of the damage to this establishment was
placed at 1851 1892.
The large loss in February was caused
primarily by two serious CONGREGATIONS.
one In St. Dominick's Church. which did
damage estimated at 95,758, and the
house at 1921 M street northeast. the
damage having been placed at $7S,30O.
There were 2S2 fires in this month.
The total damage from all OF them was
estimated at $219,1o3.
Damage caused by fires in the other
months were as follows: July, S17.673:
August, $20.477; September, $l0,345:
october. $16.395: November, $224.278:
December. $35.9l2: March, S27,9os:
April. s2s,175; May, sl7,443, and June
$15,4S9.
Fire Chief Watson said he was elated
over the reduction in the fire loss for
the year, since it reflected the efficiency
Of the department.
1.-THE increase In the number OF
alarms. coupled with the new build
ings which have been erected with the
growth Of the city," he declared, shows
quite impressively that the department.
has been prompt in responding to
alarms and quite as effective in putting
out a fire. Otherwise. the flre loss
would have been greater"
It is the aim of Fire Chief Watson
to bring Washington'S annual IRE loss
under $5O0,00O He has been striving
toward this goal ever since he took the
helm of the department in 1920. At
that time the per capita loss from f1re
was SOS, and in the 1928 calendar
year 1t was $1.39.
Fire Chief Watson explained that the
$l,oSS. 800 loss in the last fiscal year
may be further reduced by the Board
of Fire Underwriters, since 1t makes
a deduction for all Salvaged materials.
The salvage at a number Of fires, how
ever, never will be known. he said
since some property owners fall to carry
fire insurance.