The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-04-08
THE WHEELING DAILY INTELGENCEB

FIRE ALARM TRlnoRAPA.-Mr. o. q.
Pond, OF New York, representing the
Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Com.
pany arrived in the city yesterday in re.
Spouse to an invitation OF the Committee
on Fire Department, to exhibit the practi-
cal operation OF the fire telegraph.
The apparatus was put up In the Coun-
Gil Chamber, where Il was in operation
last evening, and where II will remain
for two or three days In order TO give all
who desire an opportunity to see II. The
American Fire Alarm System owned by
the Gamewell Company was the first one
introduced in the United States, and for
long period had no competition what
ever. It has been proved to be reliable
by It's successful use in nearly one hum
dred OF the leading cities OF the Union dur
ing the last quarter OF century. While
IL Is the father oil FIRE alarm telegraphy not
only in this but in foreign countries, 1t Is
not 30 old IS to fail to procure every posi- |
BILE Improvement which advancing science
suggests for greater efficiency.
The company aim TO make each success.
sive system they put in superior to all
previous ones. The alarm which they
now offer Wheeling is Of the most simple
construction and Is so arranged that even
the unskilled cannot fail to give proper
alarm in case OF fire, A fire occurring in
any part Of the city is instantly made
known to the entire department by sim
ply pulling brass hook in the box
door. The apparatus connected with the
Capitol bell strikes the number Of the box
where the fire is located and any one in
hearing Of that bell can know precisely
where the fire is. At each engine house
Is placed q beautiful electro mechanical
apparatus constructed so as TO give the
| fremen in the house the alarm upon
large gong bell simultaneously with the
alarm upon the bell in the Capitol tower.
The alarm system Is entirely in the
hands OF the fire department and the chief
marshall can summon or dismiss the
various companies as the emergency may
require. By the aid OF an effective tele-
graph alarm, valuable time Is saved in
getting to the fire and often 1t is the case
that little promptness at the commence
ment Of q fire will save q large confagra-
ton.
The Committee last night requested Mr..
Pond TO give an estimate for constructing
the entire system, including the necessary
line, &c.
II the committee agree upon recon-
mendation TO make to the Council there
! will probably be special meeting con-
! yenel TO act upon the matter while Mr..
! Pond is here.
, The Union Company, who made the
, city proposal some weeks ago, is pre-
vented from going on with the business,
owing to the decision OF the United States
Il Oh tnFF hn NaI Uanh n.
| emit, and which patent the Union and oil
! Others iniringes, except the damewell
. Company who have an exclusive right for
: municipal purposes. While this decision
gives the Gamewell Company monopoly,
. we are informed that that company pro-
,, pose dealing with the public In the most
, liberal manner. Instead oil increasing
7 their prices as some short sighted corpora
. tons would, 1t Is rather the policy to re-
! duce them. II Wheeling wants a fine tele-
q graph, the time has now come to procure
one for the prices named are much below
any ever made by the Gamewell Company.
The following members OF the Commit.
, tee on Fire Department met last night at
the City Building to examine the system
9 that Mr.. Pond represents: Handlan,
. chairman, Ankle, Criswell, Cracraft and
e Caldwell. A box and gong had been
y put up in the First Branch chamber and
connected by wires, and with these Mr..
Pond gave most satisfactory test, ex.
Q posing the machinery in the box and
g astonishing all by its extreme simplicity.
z In response to the question OF what II
will cost, Mr.. Pond said that he would
|. put up IS boxes In different parts of the
9 city at SO each; five gongs In the engine
!; and hose houses at Sl20 each, or 5000; one
s bell striker for the Capitol clock, with a
IS pound weight, throw OF 40 inches,
n and so arranged that each blow or tap
!. will be distinctand clear, for $3.50. and q
I circuit repeater, II necessary, for $500, and
]. all extra boxes required at $40 each. All
1 these delivered on board the cars for ST..
i 0l0 net cash. Mr.. Pond readily answered
0 all the questions asked him by the com
/ mittee, aud made most favorable impres.
Q sion on them in his remarks in favor Of
4 his system.
The Committee adjourned after request
ing Mr.. Pond to make a tour Of the city
: and ascertain how much wire and how
y many polesit will require for the putting
U in Of his system, and then how much II
!. will cost the city ready for use. Through
the courtesy ofthe telegraph companies in
= this city we shall have very few poles to
erect as their poles run all over the city,
The contract could be completed and
|. ready for use, Mr.. Pond says, in about two
i months.
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