Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1853-02-10
A Boston Notion.

so full of matured systems, useful contfl-
yances and odd conveniences as this same
Boston. The city maxim seems to be,
that "there's q best way of doing all
things" In public and domestic affairs
the solid men of Boston are not content
with simple achievements, but they must
have achievement by the best methods.
The latest illustration of this is their
scientific way of giving fire alarm, and
calling out and guiding their fire depart
ment. A very simple matter, one would
think, to raise the window sash and shout
fire two or three times, and leave the "a
larn1 to spread. Every villager knows
how to pull asbcll-rops, and ring till he's
tired. Every New Yorker knows how
to count the booming strokes of the big
bells as they tell off the district number.
A very simple thing! One way just as
good as another SO long as rousing a.
larm is started.
By no means. These Boston men have
found out best way.
If your house takes fire, and gets past
domestic control, and you feel it necessary
to appeal to the municipas authorities for
help, do not be at all excited or alarmed.
Do not make yourself red in the face, and
hoarse with shouting. Put on you hat
and run to yonder corner where you see
that little iron box fastened up against
the wall; step into the store, ask quietly
for the key, adding, "My house is on fire" "
by way Of an apology for the intrusion
now unlock the door, and, remembering
that tie longest way is sometimes the
shortest way home obey the inscription
and 'turn six times slowly" Your re-
sponsibility is ended. You've done all
you need to. Boston will take care of
your house. Shut to the little door
Hurry home or the engines will be there
before you!
Every bell in the city and several more
across the water are telling people where
you live, and that your house is on fire. In
other parts Of the city men with glazed
hats and brass trumpets may be seen run
ming to these same little iron boxes they
seem to whisper mument, then they lis
ten, and then they look very knowing, and
slap the door to: and here they come pell-
nell to your help. How much time has
elapsed since you needed help' Perhaps
three minutes. There is best way of CIV
ing an alarm, that's fact.
But how was it doue
That little iron box you opened was a
telegraph station; you can see the wires
where they come down through those two
iron pipes into the box. The crank you
turned is merely contrivance that ena-
bles the grinder to play one tune well, e.
ven though he be no organist. You turn
turned it six times. Once would have
been enough, but SIX times over, and ev-
cry time tue same number, there would
be no mistake. The central Office knew
in an instant of your distress.
Yes, but how did that make the bells
ring all over the city and East Boston too?
Do they keep sexton at every bell rope
all the time ready to pull when any body
telegraphs!
No. That would be full as bad as the
New York plan of keeping watchmen up
in the fire towers, on perpetual look
out. That would not be scientific enough
for "BEsT' way But you know a
church clock strikes the hours without
any help from the sexton except to wind
it up. Just SO the bells are rung for fire;
in every steeple there is machine like
the striking train Of clock. These ma
chimes will strike several hundred blows
each with their heavy hammers by being
wound up once. When you sent off your
dispatch, it went direct to a third story
room on Court Square and was read by
a man whose business it is to attend to
such messages. From the same room he
can, by touching key, send by another set
OF wires current of galvanism to every
steeple in the city. If you look you can
see these wires entering every steeple
that holds good bell. When this gal
vanic current passes into the several stee-
pies, it circulates in each around bar Of
soft iron, which instantly becomes pow
erfnl MAGNET strong enouoh tn lift the