New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-11-25
THE POLICE AND FIRE ALARM TELE-


egraph in Philadelphia has proved not only conve'
nence to the public but great auxiliary to the au
thores in suppresing riots and rows, and enforcing
the city ordinances generally. Bicknells Reporter
published in Philadelphia, speaking of this telegraph
and its great convenience, says:
There are two distinct sets of wires, spreading all
over the city The first is the police telegraph, con-
Meeting the various police stations with the central
Office The instrument is the most complete in use,
and yet so simple that child can be taught operate
with it in few minutes and it is used for all kinks
of business connected with the police The fire alarm
telegraph is entirely distinct from the police, consist
ing Of number of wires radating from the central
office, and connecting with the alarm stations distribu
ted throughout the city, at distance Of two three
squares apart The apparatus in these stations is so
arranged that the simple pushing Of button from
right to left sets it in motion, and the precise locality
Of the fire is transmitted with unerrng certainty to
the main or central station from which it is con!mu
nicated instantly to all stations in the city.
By the police telegraph, the mayor can issue MS
orders to any part of the city, assemble his officers at
any point at the shortest notice. or receive informa
ton of riots accidents, fires or any other cause
needing his attention, without the delay of sendinga
special messenger. By it the coroner is summoned to
all parts Of the city, at great saving Of time and
expense, and often in where such time IS val!-
able. By it the police Of district can notify their
comrades of another to be on their guard against
parties going from one to the other. and n general
understanding on every particular subject can be had
at moments notice.
Through the telegraph, strayed and stolen ami
mails are daily recovered. Attic time we entered the
Office, the operatives were engaged at their nstrI-
ments. One was transmitting to the various wards
that horse had been stolen and giving description
by which he might be identified; d second was re-
ceiving an account of a man falling dead, and re-
quirng the presence of the coroner; the third was
asking description of lost child at one OF the sta
TONS while the mother anNousy waiting the re-
suit of his inquiries The description given OF the
boywas in accordance with that given blythe mother,
and when satisfied that it was her darling boy, she
hurried away to claim him.
We urge the foregoing upon the attention OF the
two Boards Of Common Council Of New Orleans 1t
is subject for municipal legislation. We do not be-
leye they could act upon matter, in just spirit OF
liberaty which would be more beneficial to the cor
poration at large, or more conducive to their own
credit as the duly constituted guardians Of the cltys
welfare and interests.
There is not 3 city in the United States which
needs a Police Telegraph, Or Fire Alarm Telegraph
as much as New Orleans. After little explanation
an intelligent man cannot be found who will dispute
either the correctness of the proposition or the neces
sty for its being carried into practice. Let US glance
at the geographical area Of the city for a moment
in order to illustrate the utility Of the proposed Police
Telegraph. The corporation of New Orleans cxer-
cses jurisdiction over immense surface OF territory
population being taken into consideration. We have
a river front Of six or seven miles and the ctytha
is its terrtory-extends back to Lake Ponchartrain,
in distances varying from toul to five or six miles.
1t is true considerable proportion Of this ground is
not now inhabited, and the mores the pity, for law
breakers and depredatos upon other peoples property
are thereby enabled to reach asyuns from the officers
of the law which they could not reach were the city
built up compactly from the River to the Lake.
Owing to the condition Of the finances of the city the
Common Council have deemed it ineNpedent, at the
present time to increase the police force. The chief
executive officer only has under his control some two
hundred and fifty men with which to guard metrop-
oils of the magnitude above described and protect the
property of citizens from thieves burglars and plum
derers. The inadcquacy of this force must strike
every mind at once and the wonder is how the
officers OF the corporation have succeeded in accom-
pIishing 50 much. Then look at the way necessity
compes the different dctachments to be located.
Suppose disturbance occurs III the Third District
which the police of that District are unable to queil.
Before information could be sent to the First and
Fourth Districts and assistance brought to bear, an
ordinary disturbance might swell to the dimensions
Of riot, which the whole force of the city would he
| unable to arrest without aid from the military or
clti2cns-Whcn II there had been Telegraph, such
as they have IN Philadelphia, news OF the outbreak
could be lnstantaneously communicated from the
nearest station to the central oce, and thence com
municated with the same CELEBRITY to all the other
police stations throughout the city. 1mS concen-
traton Of intelligence IN the nrefest possible space
OF time would enable the chlet magistrate 70 centre
all his force upon given point with 50 little delay
that any disturbance coulo Ne hPpcd III the pa, ana
the prhcpal ACTORS lheFeh secured 10 await the re-
qWremeh'9 OIL Tue a'at'e appl'caoie 10 Such cases
we advocate The eslao'SAhieht Oh ponce te!egfiph
lines on grounds set loltl or4ehy ABOVE We also
advocate 1t Oh tle score Oh economy We pehtVe Ii
would be great saving 10 the fnnhc1pa treasury as
1t IS our deliberate convection mat SUch telegraph
as tlcy ENJOY IN fhiaaepAla would render our po
nee department more eheci'eta one hundred alio
hity aud'tlohal olcels were added 10 H. Inc pay Oh
such h'Inper OF oIlcerS "oniu amount 10 al !eas
f'oooo per ahh''lh' Inc iFsV cost o. Inc teeSrapt
svsfar, would moi no moro than goa nO0 and II ,ynll
last for years.
The ufiIitv and necessity Of A Fire Alarm Trln
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