Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-11-02


The project of establishing Fire-alarm
and Police Telegraph, was first broached
about a year ago; but it did not at that time,
receive The attention from Councilmen that
il should have done. It certainly is a
magnificent thing, or q magnificent humbug;
if the former, it should be put into opera
tion here, and if the latter, it should be ex-
posed. 1t has, however been found to work
well elsewhere, so that it can harily be
termed an experiment.
The subject has again been brought before
the public, and it is probable that the in
strument afterhaving been pretty thoroughly
criticized, will be put in operation here, and
its merits or dement's thoroughly tested.
The whole system is complicated, yet
easily managed, and its chief excellencies
are, that if a fire occurs, or n crime is COM
mitted anywhere in the city, the firemen or
policemen, as TIE case may be, can be almost
instantaneously notified, and all delays
avoided. The propristors ash $4,000 for
the instrument and the city rigbt $40, 600 to
be paid in cash, and the balance IN one and
two years.
1t contemplates having a central fre and
police station, at which there will be one
selfacting eleeraphic-TegisteriDg apparatus,
with at least 10 pen-leavers and local mag
nets; "a relay magnets, marble base; 29'tele-
graphic keys 10 electro magnetic bell calls;
] fire district board, arranged, for IL in
dependent circuits; 10 fire districts, sound
ing general alarms, and giving the return
signal. One signal station keyboard, ar
ranged for IL independent circuits, and tap
ping the station-number in all the signal
boxes ] bell-register, to indicate at least loo
blows on the alarm bells; electr c-telltale,
or watch clock, with the tests arranged to
require the attention of operators once in
every fifteen minutes, day and night; IL
galvanometeTs and register tubes or coils;
all the lightning-arresteTs necessary for the
proper protection of the foregoing apparatus;
all the weights, cords and paper-recls per-
tanning to the apparatus Besides these,
necessary batteries, switches, taoles, ETC.,
! will be furnished.
The way-stations will contain every
thing necessary TO keep up ready com
| munication with the central station, by
simply turning a crank, and will also con-
tain key for police purposes, engineers
signals, &c. 1t will likewise contain bell
to provide against false alarms. These sta
tons are to be securely fastened on'wals, Oh
buildings, when practicable, or on poles
when not; the hight of the elevation being al
least four and one-half feet. Each station
will be numbered with its own number, and
that of the fire district in which it is To-
rated, and to contain plainly-lettered di
aections for procuring the key of easies
cccess in its vicinity. As with those at the
central station, these wires are to be amply
protected from lightning
The alarm bells are to he movedby electro.
magnetic machines, of sufficient power to
give full and clear ring, and to answer
all necessary purposes.
The police wires llbe elevated to high
of at least twenty-five feet, either on house
or poles, and be amply secured, and so ar
ranged that all messages can be kept strictl.
private.
These specifications embrace ninety sta
tions, from which an alarm may be Instant
sounded. by any authorized person, pointin
out the exact locality in which the fire ex
lists. In addition to this there are twelv
stations for the sounding of q general O
special alarms, and also for striking tn
hour of the day, thereby securing uniforr
time throughout the city, without causin
any additional expense.
Theive re ular police stations are so place
in communication Geographically, that an
policeman can send messages to the centri
points; making, in all, about lis or Il
places in which alarms can be given, direct
ing either policemen or firemen to the exaC
spot at which they are needed.