National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-29
AGAINST ADJOURNMENT.
FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH 2
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
H. r. MILES.


H. r. MILES.
Mr.. II. R. Miles, superintendent Of tho Fire
Alarm Telegraph, in his annual report recently
transmitted to Governor Shepherd, Says:
Since the first day Of May, 1873, to date, there
have been one hundred and thirty alarms Of ilre
struck by the IRE alarm telegraph, to which the
IRE department responded.
During the past year the condition Of the tcle-
gIaPh nSs Sse as Sn re- ga ~ repairs
tho housetops cannot be mado reliable by patch
ing up, no more money has been expended for
to keep the wires in reasonable working condi.
ton, for the reason that all expenditures above
that requirement would be waste Of money.
the year. exclusive Of salaries paid to the officers
therefor, has been something less than q, 800,
which, considering the age OF the lines and the
amount Of repairs made, shows that rigid economy
has been praeticed.
The superintendent requests that In future ap-
Preparations for the support Of the re department
a specific sum Of money be designated as O fund
for the maintenance Of tho fre-alarm telegraph
The law, he says, makes IL the duty of the SUPER
iRtendent to keep the telegraph lines and The in.
order and in thorough repair, but strangely
ment Of such repairs, thus making the telegraph
for liz Srs SepsTsmsHt. OWING to IL want Of
specific appropriation It has been extremely din.
procure the Necessary supplies for ths repairs re
quIred, and hence It Is urged that appropriations
be MADE SlrsHt WA SSgs By the late govern
The superintendent next alludes to the neces-
sity of having kn additional operator appointed,
alleging that In view Of the fact that some one
must be in the Office night and day constanty, It
is more labor than two men can endure. As an |
act OF humanity the superintendent performs, In |
addition to his regular duties such the Ia Dor OF
On operator one sixth Of the entire time. But In |
doing so he 10 often numbered and delayed se- |
riously in making repairs with that prornptness
which the service requires. He asks, therefore, |
as act OF justice to the over-worked operators,
we'll for securing greater efficiency, that one
additional operator may be provided by law. He
also reuews the request he mnde last year for au-
thority to appoint an experienced and competent
and that when so employed hs name
may be placed upon the pay-rolls OF the fire de-
partment, and his salary paid at the same time
and manner that the firernen are paid.
To facilitate the ef1clency Of the fire depart
ment and render doubly certain the means OF
to all the engine-houses Il Is recommended that
the several engine-houses and the office Of the
chief engineer be connected with the FIRE alarm
once by means Of the magneto-dial system OF
By this method ell Irregularities
could be reported rs soon as discovered and In
creased efficiency secured throughout the entire
department. The report closes by referring to
the urgent necessity Of rebuilding without delay,
the entire fire-alarm telegraph, discarding the
superannuated System now in use, and adopting
Instead thereof the latest improved system.
Exclusive OF salaries the superintendent asks
for appropriation OF 5000 to defray the ordi-
nary and contingent expenses OF the telegraph
for the ensuing year.