, 1873-04-23
OUR FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.

The Most Complete System i'm tho
uJal1tcl Etatcs--Ehc New Machinery
Put in Working Order Yesterday.
:. But for IN occasional alarm of flro,, and q
casual mention in tho annual ostimato Of tho
city's expenses, the general public would never
know Of the existence of tho Fro Alarm Tee-
graph Department. It is ono Of tho moRt iln-
portant, and yet least obtruaiyo, branches Of the
municipal government, always minding its own
business, und doroting no time to tho affairs Of
others. Tic Police Commissioners arc sup-
posed to lave control of it, but tho fact ia, they
know but littlo OF it's workings. Fire engines
can DO purchased, patrolmon appointed and dis
charged, md bills nulitcl with short prac-
tice, but understanding how to utilize md
diroct tho electric current is difforout kind Of
work altogether. Polico Commissioners emit
got tho hang Of 1t, md accordingly they laro
aenHe enough not to bother their heads nhont it,
any further than to pay tho necessary oxpensoH.
Q ur Fire Alarm Telegraph ollico is conducted on
TIL principle. Tile Oommigsioners never ontor
1t except when they want to ASCERTAIN tho cor
rect titno. or bo astoniBhod by some now and
marvellous piece Of machinery. Aftor the latter
ia fully explained to them, tl,oy walk Off, know
ing no moro about it than thoy did before. At
tic present tinao NO havo the most complete fire
telegraph aystom Of any city In tho country.
Yesterday $4,000 worth Of new aud improved IN.
strumonts wero put in place, and aro now IN
perfect working order. ':rla reader, unless III
the electric business himself, would not lln-
leratantl tho most accurate descrip-
ton Of tlaonl that could bo written, md Huch
description would necessarily inyolyo an no.
count Of tho uBea to which thpy are applied,
anl how, when, and by whom it wes discovered
that tho telegraph, in conjunction With tho i'll
tricnto pieces OF MochnElEln known az hro-nnrm
boxes wns I'm Indispensable object for hoipina III
oxtnguishing tircs in large cities. Our now
machinery cofnea from the manufactory OF
Uamowol[ Il Co., New Yolk nnl IL o highly or
namoatal accumulation Of marblod s!ato, rose-
wood, uilyor-pated motal, bright hteal, and
brighton coppor. T will yet Off i suitable room
III tho now Clty-Hall with great otfoct. Tho
people cnn rest assurod Of ono thing, that unless
aud wires, tho location Of liroB will be promptly
aud unerringly indicated ovory tlmo. GIr. j. B,
Chandler is tho Suporinson2ont Of tho Depart
ment, mud tho only ono 1t over lad. 1io onjoya
al onyimblo reputation for his practical knowl.
edge Of every branch Of lolegraphy, Tho Chief
Operator, Mr. John Darrott, ip another practical
man who understands lH business thoroughly.
Tho assiptant operators, MeBsrB. ", J. Brown
md Frank Stevens, arc In evory way lifted for
the responsible positiopa thoy occupy. Ilroo OF
four ropairerH Aniall tho liat Of employees, Tho
! expenBo OF running tho ilro alnrM o.ico IL 81
small, when compared With itn importance, TINT
It hntf boLtor not 10 mentioned Yot 1t IL safe tc
Bay TINT two Or thrco Ignorant Aldermen, whit
i,nagino tAoy eau hnyo parcolB 1ont by telegraph
nld ulnpluy iley lpborurs to ruin tho machinery,
! will enl!eaYor to chs down tho appropriation fol
noxt yogr.