The daily gazette., 1880-12-13

-~ N'FJt tho teSOIu bnOWIuk L0t 0um-
Der Of the box from which the alarm Is
sounded and thus indicating the exact
locat ion of the fire. This Is the whole
fire alarm system, although description
OF al the telegraphlc appliances In op-
eration might require columns of Words.
Othef cities have the same kind Of fire
alarm, bus Baltimore's Is considered
uu' quslled In regard to Its prompt aud
unorrlng operation. IL is the 6amewell
pateut, and was put in very cheaply, at
cost 2f $55 900. The fire department,
Comprising l3 steam engines and three
hook and ladder trucks, costs obout
$l7O,DoO per year, being less than the
coat Of the Washington department with
only eight companies. In Baltimore,
however, the system is only "halfpay,"
the men being r. quired TO be on duty at
the engine houses only half time, allow
Ing II 10 man opportl nifty offollowlDg their
usua avocstlons. They are divided in
TO oanads, aud relieve each other, so
that constant service at the engine
houses Is always secured. Telephone
service is also used, to connect the en-
gne houses and police stations with the
central station.
TESTING THE FORCE.
Under charge Of Chief Engineer of the
Fir1 Department John NJ. Hsnnick,
the visitors were next driven to engine
housss Nos. 2, 8, 10 and 13, tests In pre-
pairing for service being given at each
house. The visitors we're familiar with
this kind Of service, having frequently
seen the Wilmington flrsmen show their
efficiency in this respect. The tests re-
suited az follows:
No. q, from alarm to the time
tho drivers were la addle.... 4 seconds.
No. ., from alarm to the lime
the drivers were In saddle....H
No. ~, from alarm to thr time
the drivers were in seddle.... Z"
NJ. 10, from alarm to the time
tho drivers were In saddle.... -
In Ne. 10 house, where the time was
remarkably short, the stalls are located
on each side Of the engine, 80 the
hor- -es can step right to the pole, as
soou as the gong is sounded. All the
houses are well constructed and fur
nish ed with parlors, reading rooms
and comfortable sleeping apartments.
Instead of using the stairways in case
of an alarm at night, the firemen de-
seeud by means of an upright iron pole
running from the first to the second
floors, sliding down with the agility of
monkeys. A number OF the visitors
tried this mode of descent, and accom-
pliA he'd the journey very successfully.
DINNER AT THE EUTAw.
After these visits of inspection the
visitors were returned to the Eutaw
House, aud entertained with hand
som dinner. Later, in the parlor,
Cou ncilman VIM. H. Blake, Of Will
mihgton, chairman of the Committee
on Fire Companies, who was mainly
instrumental in arranging this visit,
made short address, stating that the
desire Of the City Council Of Wilming-
ton was to have the system explained,
and 10 secure the advice of experts as
TO the cost Of such improvements. In
reply, George F. Morrison, chief engi-
neer Of the hre alarm telegraph, OF
Baltimore, said it would requil e about
fifteen street signal boxes with fifteen
miles Of wire. There would be no ne-
cessity for the heavy machinery in use
in Baltimore, and all that would be ne
cess sary, would be the caring for the
batteries, and it would only cost from
81, 900 to $o,0oO. The system in Bal
timore, he said, was the best in the
world tnat its inception began in
1875, and it only cost $55, 900. Wash
ington has system which cost $75 900.
Philadelphia, and in fact all the large
cities in the country are provided with
them, but they are inferior to the sys
tenn in use in Baltimore. After others
had given their opinions, the gathering
dis persed with the understanding that
they we're all to meet in the pal lors
that evening at 10 o'clock, to witness
the practical test Of the fire alarm.
HOW RHE ALARM WORKS.
By a complete schedule, the 1874
alarm boxes are so distributed among
the respective companies, as TO secure
promp ut and efficient service when an
alarm is sounded. To illustrate, if an
alarm was struck from box Il, it
wou uld notify every company in the
city, and engines Nos. l, 3, 4, y and y
and truck 1 would at once respond,
willie Nos. 2, 8, Z and 10 and truck 2
vauld be hold in readiness for half an
hour. in case of second alarm. And
40 with the rest OF the boxes.
A. 1890 o'clock test alarm was
sonnded from box 1874, at Concord street
and Eastern Avenue, City Auditor
Underwood being given the honor OF
oressiuR the key. Instantly came res
nunse from the city hall aud engine
= - h.IIo and aeon the familiar sounds
announced that steamers were on the
wAy. Engine No. 8 responded in 1.3u
minutes, No. truck In s minutes, No.
engine 10 4 minutes, No. 2 engineid 4:st
minutes. No. 8 truck in minutes, No
& engine in $50 minutes, the Salvage
Corps in Q minutes, No. 9 engine in OIL
n Inutes. No. IL in $50 minutes. No. y
euoine is located about one-third OF
mIls from he box, and No. o over
mile. The .fremen. .cameIupfully expecting
| 10 10 into service, as they had no IDEA II
was merely 9 test alarm aud the police
of the district also responded promptly
When the fire was dropped from The
snpines fire extipguishsr was prompt!
| applied 10 the embers-s preeaution
would be well for the Wilmington nre
men to represent. The visitors wer'
highly pleased with the success OF th'
test. De-;
dent street station where most OF took th
me IL. 80 train for Wilmington.
i A half dozen or so of the visitors re
IN nained over Sunday, and were aecorde