Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-02-20
A FIRE ALARM.
War I'm the Committee Room.

The subject OF a fire alarm telegraph
has been almost literally written to
DEATH" still it becomes necessary to
again take up the matter, inasmuch as
the real agitation has commenced,
The Fire Committee met at the city
! building, last night, to consider the
matter and the prospects are that a
pitched battle will come off, at the next
session of Council. For a better I'M
derstanding of the case, 1t will be
necessary TO refer to the effort made by
Eccles to divide the city into districts,
and by IN arrangement with
the telegraph company call out
n or more engines as their
services were required. We have already
published how this failed. Still the
useless wear and tear on the engines,
horses and apparatus continued and Mr..
Chairman Handlan cast about for a new
idea. Incidentally he learned that
GAINESVILLE had a very complete n sat
isiactory arrangement and alarm system
and he wrote for particulars. The re-
ply came, stating that the Union Alarm
Telegraph Company OF New York, had
done the work, at reasonable rates and
in the most satisfactory amer
MI. Handlau wrote to this company,
enclosing the GAINESVILLE letter. Instead
Of a reply, Supt. c. III. Pond came here
himself, reaching the city n week
ago to-day. The Fire Committee gnd
the Mayor were summoned and Mr..
Pond made his statement. Messrs.
Handlan and Sweeney were divided on
the issue, the former fsvOring the pro-
posed and the latter the present alarm
system. Thus matters stood when MIR.
4. b. A. David, OF Pittsburgh, came 10
the city. He is president Of the District
Alarm Company, owning the present
system. Both sides being represented
and championed, Mr.. David was invited
to attend the meeting OF the committee
last night
At 1880 o'clock the committee met, a
full membership present, and the
scene took on the appearance OF a
field OF battle, with all OF the
forces in position and with skirmish
lines engaged. Mayor Sweeney, Mr..
David and Chief Eccles were stationed
on the TANKS, all three being wstchful,
while Mr.. Handlan appeared deeply
engIossed in his proposition, which is
briefly as follows: The Union Company
will put up 80 signal boxes, 10 miles OF
wire, ) sixteen-inch signal gongs for en-
CINE houses and an automatic bell striker
for the Capitol. This is to cost 5000.
Mr.. Handlan elaborated and dilated
upon the merits Of the proposed system
in a fluent and eloquent manner
Mr.. David had no proposition TO
make. There was their present alarm,
the cheapest which could be devised,
and all without any investment to the
city. What more could be- wanted? As
for the arrangement TO call out the en-
gines as needed, he had not understood
what was desired when he had refused.
1t was the simplest thing imaginable
and could be done in an hour.
The Mayor added his say, also. He
was in favor OF the present system as
the cheapest, best and by far the most
desirable. Mr.. Handlan differed and
thought the Mayor had n say so, what
ever, before a committee, and he argued
strenuously for the system to be the
city's own. But the odds were against
him and he vas compelled to yield. 1t
was the opinion OF the majority Of the
committee that ii would be best to con-
tinue the presentsystem and Mr.. Handlan
Was instructed to report TO Council. He
will, however, submit q minority re-
port, which will contain all the infor-
nation and Arguments which can be
brought TO bear on the subject
In the meantime, the change viii be
made in the present wires, 30 that separ-
ate signals can be sent TO the engine
houses. Mr.. David aysit can be quick
ly and easily done, and in Q perfectly
satisfactory manner.