Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-07-20
The FIRE DnpARrxsxr Aso F,R.-AL.Ex

1RE FIRE DBPARrNsNr AND FIRB-ALA.N
TELEGRAPH DJFYICuLTY.-Mr. arcombe the
new Superintendent OF the Fire. Alarm T.l..
graph has published card In regard 20 at
tempts 20 obstruct him In the performance o:
his dntirs thai seems 10 res nire some expisrs-
ton on the part OF those eliminated He saws.
On Friday, June 10. 1858, the Boards or A.
dtrmen and Common Council in CONVENTION
hono1ed me by elec'Ing me TO the position or
superintendent OF the Fire Alarm Telegraph
i learned Immediately tha; an organize at
tempt was TO be made 10 obstruct me- IA the
performance OF the duties OF me Office Tar
reorlng Superintendent had influenced his as
sistants 10 vacate immediately upon my ap-
pearance. Every mark indicsting the course
OF the Electric currents and the connections
throughout the Office was oblitsrated The
characters indicating The box numbers wa. noi
communicated 10 ne, nor was a single item of
office routine. The batteries were In a yery
bad condition and almos; useless; mauy OF the
connecting screws in the office Were slackened
so that they might drop apart and break con-
Decton. as some of them did; in fact, every-
tnlng connected with the working of the line.
and the alarm bells was so left a. almost GER
AMY 70 get out OF order with the slightest
touch or Jar, and thus embarrsss the operator
and give him hours OF searching for the cause
oi difficulties " hich Were sure TO occur.
From the disposition manifested by those
VINO had previously been superseded in city
offices l was prepared to expect all thus. anu
was not in the least uneasy in view 81 il. l
entered upon my duties alone-no assistant.
having been appointed, and the acting assist
ans refusing 10 remain. / found j. utterly
Impossible TO obtain any one who would be
Ine "a me and 10 the public welfare that was
instructed in the duties OF the position, and
nave mad 10 secure and instruc: men for the
purpose.
immediately upon my election, every paper
I'D thp city III the interest OF the disorganiZinC
anu-loyal factions opened upon me tneir bat
teries OF falsehOod and misrepressnta. and
nave continued day after day To fill the publ,
ear Win fals" ana exaggerated statements
nav" ever made IL a rule OF nv life 10 let
such things pass unnoticed, and so deS .gEed IN
ms case As they are no more than are "a ba
expected from such a source. I an led. how
ever nv cons ideration for the feelings and any-
'rtIes OF others interested 70 make tins ernst
ana, having maOe it. severely TO let them alone
As 10 The statements regarding nv InConp.-
tency, hundreds OF the best electricians of The
country VIII certify 10 nv ability rs an elp.-
uIcI;tn, and l can refer 10 an active life o,
seventeen years deN oted 10 the profession. dur
ing nine OF " hich hao the superin,endence OF
telegraph lines
As ~ the working OF a fl re-alarm telegraph
III coETaalstnctICn Ia that for transmission OF
dispatches. can AXE any intelligent lad O,
sixteen years II age. and IN a few hour. in
Sluct nm SO THAI b., readily receive and
sound a fire alarm.
IL insurance companies hesitate abOut tax
inS rlsks III Washington. il il only tn. natural
Consequence Ut the false statements which
these obStrUc:iyes ha put forth. / shall NOT
hereafter pay any attention TO anything that
may pmanatr from them