New-York tribune., 1878-04-18
SPEED IN SENDING FIRE 1LABMS.
IMPROVEMENTS IL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TELE
GRAPH.


IMPROVEMENTS IL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TFLE-
GRAPH.
From ten to fifteen seconds is all the time
now required by NewYork hrc company IN its prepara
tions to leave the engine house after an alarm ls
sounded. In that time the horses rush out OF their
stalls their places In front OF the engine the hremen
run down stairs putting their fire suits a. they go;
there is a clashngo of harness springs, and the driver
mounts to his seat and shouts ready 1t has been the
constant aim Of the Fire Department to diminish the
time between the discovery OF fire and the arrival Of
the en- nes AT OF the conhdgratiOn. To this
end the number of rcaarm boxes has been increased
from time time, and several Improvements have been
made In the telegraph arrangements for receiving ana
transmitting the alarms The great number OF fire
alarm throughout the city makes 1t necessary TO
have all the alarms received at central station hrst
otherwise confusion might arise in the event OF more
than one fire occurring IN the city at the same moment
II has been necessary heretofore TO have these alarms
received by operators In attendance at the Department
Headquarters in Mcrcerst and aferward sent out to
the various engine houses by means OF separate nstru
ment This has involved delay OF several seconds The
operator had to receive the alarm and note down the
situation of the alarm box then pass to another part OF
the room and send the alarm the engine house
wires
receiving and transmitting the alarms have
been changed at the Fire Department Head
quarters IN such manner that delay no
Ond floor OF the building and the wires have been placed
I'm new positions under the direction OF superintendent
limerick and his assistant Mr. Smith As soon IA key
il turned any of the hrealarm boxes, annunc
the OPERATOR and tells him the line on which
the box situated. By moving lever, the operator
can al place the wire from the box IN communlca-
tiOn with all OF the engine houses ia the city, Each box
Ia made to indicate separate number by means OF taps
bell and the situation OF the box when an alarm IL
thus be read at all of the engine houses at the
moment. The arrangement OF the wires
lessons greatly the time needed by the ure-
men TO reach a fire. Fifteen seconds after a
key Is turned In re-aarm box. the engines which are
to the call their way to the fire. In
two more alarms struck ut the same time the
operator allows only Othem To 70 direct Ia the engine
houses and sends the Others afterward by means OF
separate instruments
The new arrangement also furnishes means OF COM
municatng by signals between the hre-aarm boxes and
the Department Headquarters When the operator III
tne telegraph turns the lever which con-
meets the wire from any box with those OF tue
engine houses new and more powerful set OF batteries
is added to the line, and the sound Ol the bell In the
alarm box Is increased This not only enables the per
son announcing the fire 20 tell tnat the alnrm Is being
received and transmitted, but also makes IL easy To dis
tngsn any taps the bells I'm the boxes, produced Oy
currents electricity sent from the Mercer-st building
Lucmen sent out 10 repair wires can now De governed
IA their operations by means OF signals received AT any
of the ire-alarm boxes.