Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-05
THE CHICAGO WATCH.BOx.
Explanation of n Peculiar Feature
of the Police System.

Explanation of n Peculiar Feature
of the Police System.
tChicaso Correspondence Of the Cincinnati En-
quirer
Chicago Is ahead OF all cities In the Union In
one respect. and that is In the employment Of
what are here called ''watch-boxeS" They
were invented here and have been In use but
a very short time, yet they have so demon
how they ever got along without them. They
are made Of wood, are either square or sex
tsgonal In shape, are about three feet In diam
eter and feet high, and are provided with a TEL
phone locked 10 box through slot In which
runs telegraph alarm lever. Each box Is
provided with door that Is kept securely
locked: The square boxes are usually fastened
TO telegraph pole, while the sextagocal or
newer form take the place Of a lamp post at
Inc corner OF street, the lamp being placed on
us apex. Every member OF the police
keys to the doors of the watch boxes, and
also with keys TO open the boxes containing
the telephones. Any responsible citizen who
desires can procure key TO the doors OF the
W9tch-b0XeS upon making application at the
Police Headquarters Each key Is lettered and
numbered, and register OF the names and
residences CT the parties to whom they are FUR
nished is kept. The boxes adjuncts are trim
built wagons, each drawn by two good horses.
They are stationed at convenient intervals
throughout the city. Each wagon Is manned
Dy a driver and two policemen. We will sup
pose a citizen is passing along the street late az
night when he encounters gang OF drunken
rougbs who assault him There is no policeman
within call TO assist him, so the gang, after
pushing and jOstliDg him about, go on their
way. The citizen goes TO the next cor
! eT, takes out his key and opens the door
OF the Matchbox and pulls down the lever Of
the telegraph alarm. Each watch ooX has
It's number and location recorded, the
same aS are flre-alaTm boxes. In less than
three minutes, and often In minute
the wagon is at his side with two p)-
uceInen TO assist bin. the citizen meanwhile
mas his key remaining In the box, for While Ii
throws the lock-bolt back the same motion Sc
IL out until IL is released by a special key, which
is only carried by police aud firemen. II the
citizen Is badly injured the wagon takes him to
his home or the hospital, while the police 60 In
search or the rufflanS who have mOleSted him
This is only one or the numberleSS ways I'm
" hich the box can be made useful, IL Is also
USED oy the police TO ave drunken or obsire-
peiOuS prisoners taken TO the station houses
without causing the patr0lmen to leave their
beats, &C. Said a lieutenant of police to me yes
teIday: Il would sooner have fifty men In dts
t1lCt well provided with watch boxes than sew
ty-nVe men In district unprovided with them
/ could take Iar better care OF IT. They not
only assist IN the capture or criminals, but by
making ttelT capture more easy and certain
IMAM Formerly, they prevent many OF
them from committing depredation5. In
case OF riot or time or great need a pecu-
liar alarm Is sounded on the englne-h house
bells, when every policeman In the city goes to
The nearest Hatch-b box on his beat and receives
instantaneous telephone orders telling him
These watch boxes only cost 500 set up ready
for use.