The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-10-09
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

~
Sc. the difficulties under which the
present Are department labors, and
urcss the erection OF Fire Alarm Tele-
Graph. The writer is one Of our most
intelligent and photographed citizens !;
one who takes deep interest in city
affairs and who has also valuable
property exposed to city taxation as
we'll as to the ravages OF FIRE. His views
are therefore entitled to respectful con-
sideration, and should have some weight
in influencing the action Of the city
Council.
By some strange good luck
the city Of Wheeling has
been heretofore exempt from
severe confiagration. There is scarcely
smother city OF this size in the United
States that has not suffered more than
We from destructive fires. Our immunity
10 this regard has not been because OF
our greater precaution and watchfulness
nor because OF the greater efficiency OF
our Fire Department. We have been
content with the country village style
of extinguishing fires because, from
some strange good chance. We have
never felt the need OF better system.
1t is the part OF wisdom. however. to
lock the stable before the horse is stolen
rather than after the loss has occurred
and, as we have no guarantee that our
present immunity from fires will con-
,iuue, it is well enough TO provide for
the worst while still hoping for the
best.
There can be no doubt that tsle-
graphic alarm, communicating instan.
taneously with each of the engine and
hose houses in the city, will be vast
Improvement upon the pressut method
Of spreading the information OF danger
The fire companies have heretofore dis
played very commendsble promptness
in bringing their engines to the place
as soon as possible after the reception
Of the alarm but in the means Of COM
municsting ipfor nation from one en-
ains-house to smother there has been q
lsmentable slovness.
1t is 10 remedy this defect that the
telegraph is proposed. 1t has been
talked OF during several years past but
has not yet received that consideration
to which the merits OF tho project may
properly lay claim. When it WAS pro-
possd . few years ago. Messrs. GAME
WILL aud Company. propr!etors Of the
American Fire.Alarm Telegraph"
offered to lay the requisite wire. estab-
Iish the necessary stations. and put
their Instruments in operation here, for
The round sum OF $1,000. The offer was
rejected at the time, but the Company
COW asks for the same service $4,000.
Why TIE extra 81, 500 is added we do
not know and. as we stated few
weeks ago. we are opposed to its pay"
ment. We believe that the city needs
the telegraph and that the risk OF de
struction of property BY FIRE will be
greatly lessened by it's establishment,
bnt We are not prepared to sanction the
payment of the eIorbitant price de-
mandsd by GAMEwELL and Company.
With this view We have opposed the
adoption Of the resolution now
before the City Council, and
re suggest that it be so
modified as TO permit the Conn
mittee on the Fire Department to con.
tract with the lowest responsible bidder
for the establishment oia Fire.alarm
Telegraph in this city. Messrs. GAME
WE'LL i Co. 8 invention is not the only
one in use. In Cleveland and several
other cities another and cheaper system
u in vogue. The committee should be
left free to receive proposals from the
Cleveland com pany and thus make the
best terms consistent With the efficiency
Of the sppsratua We trust that the
Frat Branch Of Council will give the