The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-08-08
+ RE ALARM TELEGRAPH
Il VISIT no THzE OPERATORS ROOM I'm
THE CITY HALL,
and mn, interview with the Chief EugfneeP
5S of the Department.

and am interview with the Chfef EugfneeP
of the Department
Some few days since there appeared in the
Ioea1 column Of the DEMOCRAT brevity to
fhe effect that the fire alarm telegraph
seemed to be out of order. This notice was
f,alised hv the fact that an alarm of fire was
sounded the night before and the bells Seemed
f1 be so badly mixed that it was almost I'M
Dpssible to tell where the lire was, and 1t was
only after q somewhat lengthy delay that
they sounded 80 as to be ineligible. Belev-
Ing that the chief engineer OF the tire depart
ulent could give information In relation to
the workings Of this department which would
be- of interest, O reporter Of the DEMOCRAT
aalled at the Hall to see Mr. O'Connor on the
subject. Proceeding to the operators room
Che reporter found Mr. OConnor seated in
flis private Office and entering, said: 'Mr.
6J'Connor, mention having been made OF the
fact that the bells Of the fire alarm telegraph
were out Of order, called to see you in rela-
lion to the matter, and to get all possible in
formation in regard to the matter.
Mr., O'Connol-I am happy to see you, and
will be- pleased to give you all the information
4 have relative to the workings OF this depart
ment. But, before proceeding, [ must say
that the frequent complaints which have ap-
peared in the papers from time to time in re-
lation to the ringing of the bells and workings
Of this department have not only been incor-
rectly reported but they have done us great
Injustice
Rep.--You ought to know, Mr.. OConnor,
that newspapers resemble public officials
somewhat; they are not always infallible, but
pray proceed.
Mr.. OC.-Among the important interests
connected with the city government, there is
none which is more in need of the strict atten-
zion oil the city authorities than our system
0f fire alarm telegraph,
Rep,-What Is the system III use In this
city? =, .... :.
ti1e old one adopted in 1859, and while the city
mas kept up in many things moderately well
with the march OF improvements, our tele-
graph system remains unchanged, and even
iile greater part of the material on hand is
old and has not been renewed since the COM
Rgnencement Of the system.
Rep--Have you any improvements in the
lire alarm boxes
y Mr.. OC.-Ihe fire alarm boxes In use arc,
.fn the majority of cases, the old crank boxes
In the most Of these the interior works are
worn out, and from this fact inconveniences
and, what is more dangerous, delays are ex-
Sperienced in receiving alarms at this office.
Mn. o'C.-I might say that it is Incumbent
upon the city authorities to place this depart
n1ent on such q footing that we can always
avoid public injury, serve the purposes Of the
system and manifest proper sense OF its i'm
uortance in the management and sending OF
n Rep.-Haye you been able to keep the out
side apparatus of the fire alarm In good
81 Mr.. O'C.--No. The striking apparatuses in
tine bell towers have not been renewed or re-
paired to any extent since they were erected. |
Rep.-How are the instruments in the Of |
aice2
Mr.. O'C--All the machinery and instru- |
YnentS are old and are liable to get out OF |
order at any time as they have not been
changed since the system was inaugurated. !
Ss p,--When was the fire alarm system first |
inHugurated2
Mr.. O'C.-In 1859.
Rep--Has the way of now ringing the
alarm always been in practice?
Mr.. O,C.-No, sir. In the old times the
number Of the district in which the fire was
was only struck on the alarm bell, but In ea2h
senuine-house there was gong which sound |
9xsd the station at or near which the fire was |
Just III the same way that the gongs In the en-
s8ine-hOuSe do now.
Ran@1so our system of alarm different from
that of New York?
Mr.. O,C-This fire alarm is entirely differ |
emit from that of New York, Baltimore and
other cities. There Is no comparison between
them from the simple fact that those cities |
have expended large sums OF money to per-
feet their fire ALARM to keep pace with tne
march Of improvements in that line and their |
whole system has been remodeled two or three |
times since it's first Introduction. New York, !
for instance, has just expended over 100000
On her telegraph. Boston, within few years,
mas expended $4,000. The city Of Baltimore
has Just rebuilt her telegraph at q cost of
oy,lT haG
last two years in the same way.
. Rep.--Do you think these improvements
& Mr.. O'C.-Tne great advantage III these I'M
Drovements would more than pay for their |
cost in time saved in receiving and transmit |
htng alarms.
! Rep.-Mr. OConnor, what condition was
This department in when you TOOK charge, |
and what improvements, II any, have you
made? .
Mr. OC-The department generally was in
a very bad condition when first took charge; |
the need Of tools and supplies was sadly felt;
many OF the bell strikers in the towers were
ont OF order; since that time have succeed
ed In obtaining the necessary appropriations
Tor supply ying tools, etc; in this way | have
been enabled to repair the various STRIKING
apparatus, to extend the wires about ten
miles, and have also erected TWO new alarm |
boxes,
Rep.-How does the number OF alarm boxes
compare with the size and population OF the
city
Mr.. O'C.-They are entirely inadequate in
noint of numbers. We have in all eighty-two
alarm boxes, sixty Of which are the old crank
boxes. These I have referred to before as
being worn out in their interior workings.
Rep.--What is the number OF boxes required
fora city of this size?
MIR. O'C.-Judging from the amountof terri
tory covered by the four original city districts,
starting from Toledano street to the Barracks,
q think there should be not less than two
hundred and fifty alarm boxes. Since the
adoption of the fire alarm telegraph, the city
has greatly extended in all directions. There
are now whole miles Of thickly settled sec
lions where not an alarm box is to be found,
and the dangers consequent on such state
pf things, as we'll as its injustice, should re-
eeive the attention of the proper authorities
were ordered to be erected. but the hundred
Derplexities incident to the financial condition
of the city prevented the consummation 0
this design. In my opinion no part of the