The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-10

Box 80 will be placed temporarily at Littlefeld &
Wilson's planning mill, on York Street. M al
Gongs will be placed at the residence of the
Chief Engineer, and at Engine Houses Nos. l,
2, and 5, and at the Police Station. There
are three duplicate keys to each box, one of
which is to be kept in the building to which the
box is attached, and the other two left with
private watchmen and police officers ON the
beat; and for the present a general alarm will
be given by striking the number of the box
near which the fire originates, on the bells Of
the First Parish and Central Churches. slT
The person discovering fire will at once
proceed to the nearest box, and after obtaining
access to it win pull the lever oaly once. This
VIII set the internal machinery in motion, and
the alarm will be instantaneously given on the
gongs, the number of the box being struck sew
eral times in succession. Printed cards, con-
tanning the numbers and locations of the boxes
and directions for giving the alarm will be
printed for general distribution. sS
By referring to the above list the reader will
observe that the numbering of the boxes begins
with Il; and that there are several omissions
Of numbers, as 70, p, 50, &c. The explanation
OF the first is that system of private signals,
orders, &c, has been adopted by the Chief En-
gineer and Board, which require The use of
eleven numbers. To explain the second let us
suppose that q tire broke out near box No. g.
The alarm is given as directed, and the gong
at the engine house is struck three times, and
after an interval of fifteen seconds it is struck
five times more: 3-5; meaning 80. After
lapse of thirty seconds the alarm is repeated
and SO on i'll succession. Now if we should at
tempt to give an alarm No. D. the firemen
might perhaps be misled, from the uniformity
of the two parts OF the signal. 1t might be q
private order, or he might be led in wrong
direction with his engine. Again it will be OBJ
served that ten blows convey all the signals:
for example, 46 is the largest combination of
figures, and together they make ten. So il will
be perceived that it is difficult for any misun-
derstanding to occur at the engine houses Q! s
The interior machinery OF the boxes is very
simple, but very accurate. The movement Of
the lever winds up and sets in motion the in
ternal mechanism. A disc, with indentations
on its circumference corresponding to the num-
bers on the box breaks the electric circuit and
strikes the alarm at the other end OF the WIRE
There is no possibility of q mistake here. avn
We think our description and explanation.
though imperfect will convey an Intelligent
idea Of the working Of the system, and show its
entire reliability and great saving of time in
giving an alarm. Add to this the slight cost of
keeping 1t in repair, only $50 to $50 per annum
to supply the batteries, and we have no doubt
that the taxpayers will cordially endorse the
wisdom OF the city authorities in purchasing.
1t is by far the simplest and most perfect meth
cd of electric fire alarm now in use in the
United States. The line will be tested twice
each day, at noon and at T. NJ, to secure its
continuous operation. l a.rf
The patenters of the 8, stem are Messrs
Gamewell, kennard & Co., Of New York; and
the construction has been under the superin-
tenaence of MIR. H. A. Hill, who has, to 81 APP
pearance, performed his duty with great fideli-
ty,-StQr, 7y