Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-02-19
FIRE COMMISSIONERS.
Fisk's Charges said to be Without Foun-
misunderstanding Meeting.

/ commissioners WIS Ilct,i last C'N'i'-S7' -
the purpose of investigating certain charges
which were preferred against the manage
ment of the fire-alarm system by IL. A.
Fisk. before the Board of Trustees. on Mon
dav last. The Trustees referred the matter
to the Commissioners. Mr.. Fisk was no
tilted by letter and personally by the Sec
retarv to be present, but he failed to put in
an appearance The meeting was called Tor
O'Clock, but was not called to order by
the President until s, i'll hopes that the
gentleman who preferred the charges
would be present.
The charges filed with the Trustees, and
which were printed in this paper ON Tues
day morning. were then read by the Score
tary.
Chief Engineer Sullivan said that within
the past few days, hearing that various re-
ports were being induStriously circulated
regarding the efficiency and management
of the fire-alarm system, he had taken Mr.
Z. A Beardslee, gentleman well known
in this community, all over the system,
and he had inspected 1t most thoroughly:
He was an electrician OF twenty-five years
experience, and his opinion as TO its work
ings, conditions, and management should
have some weight in the matter Mr..
Beardslee was present and he would like
for him to state to the Board the result of
his inspection.
Mr.. Beardslee said he had looked over
the system carefully, and could see no
chance, so far as he went, for any improve
ment. All the boxes he found to be in
good working order, and all looked as
though they were well taken care OF. lie saw
a few minor changes that could be made,
! but they would not make the system mate
! ha
shape 1t is clear line the limbs of trees
are trimmed so far from it that there can
be no grounds made by them during
stormy or windy weather He saw mo
place in all his examination where he
thought there was waste of fluid, or what
! is called a ground, which is made by the
wire coming in contact with trees, house
tops and other objects. Tie only change
he would suggest at present would be the
connection of the boxes with the ground
with a larger copper wire. He had
examined all the boxes most thor
oughly; all were in tirst-class work
| ing order, and he saw no reason why
they should not respond Immediately.
| He said he never had any direct
experience with a fire-alarm system, but
had a similar experience during life de-
voted to telegraphy. There is nothing
! intricate about the system, or that cannot
be learned by anyone in 4 short time. On
the contrary, it is q very simple system
The battery. lines, boxes and gongs, which
is all there is of it, are easily kept in repair
In conclusion, he would say that the fire
alarm telegraph system of this city was III
most perfect order From conversation
with the Chief Engineer and questions
asked him, am confident that he is in
every way competent to take charge of the !
system"
Noble Fisher, who has been employed to
repair the gongs since the resignation of Mr. |
Fisk in July last, says he found the instru- |
ments in a very bad condition. He said those
who had charge of them before his time
might have been good electricians, but he
was certain they were poor machinists. He |
then described how some of the gongs had |
been almost ruined by persons endeayDring |
to make repairs who did not understand |
their business
H. Buckrath Foreman of the Hose Com |
pany at Nineteenth and L streets, said the |
gongs work better and give them less |
trouble since the management Of the sys-
tenn by the ChiefEngineer. Thesystem has
worked better this winter than any winter |
since It's establishment.
John Hollingsworth, Driver of Engine No |
/, testified to the same thing, saying |
that there had been less trouble with the |
alarm system since it came into the Chiefs |
hands than before.
Frank Daroux, Engineer Of No. ,,
and NJ O'Meara, Jr., both testified to the |
same state of facts, agreeing that it was 4
much better system, more effective, and |
less trouble since Fisk's resignation.
Henry Burnham, eX-Chief Engineer, |
said he thought the system was well and |
properly cared for, and working as well |
now as when he was at the head of the De |
I H. 1
the charge.
Chief Sullivan said he was very sorry |
Mr.. Fisk was not present to answer some |
questions he would like to PROFOUND. He |
then took up the charges one by one, and |
answered them specifically. He explained |
one of the alarms referred to in the |
charges, by saying that two boxes were |
turned in at the same instant which |
created a confusion unavoidable. In speak |
ing of another specification regarding an |
alarm from Seventh and n streets he said |
some malicious person cut the wire between |
the box and the ground. If Mr. Fisk |
was here this evening, | would like to ask
him the plain qucstion-Who cut that
wire? - He gave satisfactory explanations |
OF all the charges He then took up the |
report OF the last six months of FiskS |
administration, and showed the Board that |
during that time there was a very large |
number of boxes turned in that gave no |
alarm. and the reasons for the same had
never been satisfactorily explained. He |
said Mr. Fisks son put In a bid to the |
Board to maintain the system for 800 per
month the city to furnish the material
This meant $50 per month. The Beard |
falling to take notice of his cOmmuniCa-
ton. he put in another bid offering to do
all the work and furnish all the material |
for S75 per month. The Board failed to
take any notice OF that communication
also % hence all these tears" He, continu-
ing, said q" ! draw the $40 per month.
and pay it out i'll keeping the system in
the best possible condition and there is
not Il dollar for extras Last year we had
to pay $3.50 extra for trimming the trees.
This year the same work was done all in
side Of the SO. During the last month the
money was expended as follows as the
vouchers on file Will show; Huntington,
Hopkins & Co. SO so Smart, for labor
so Hahn, for potash. SO; kiune for
repairs, 81 bottle OF oil. 30 cents That
Just makes the So. When the hose house
was built it had to be connected with the
system which necessitated the building of
short line The Board did not wish 10
incur any more expense than possible, aid
] was instructed to ask for bids, spoke.
to Fisk about il, and he seemed to be 81
putting up the line, whereas | got il done
for So. The man who put up the line put
up the gong and completed the circuit, all
for $50. and he did not lose money on the job
either. Fisk would have charged $40 for
putting il the gong alone. Losing that Job
offended him, and he resigned. | am of
the opinion that | know as much, if not
more Of the system than does Mr.. Fisk.
There is about twenty miles of wire
throughout the city, and it is impossible to
keep them from coming in contact occa-
Sionally with wires of the telephone and |
Telegraph systems or the metallic roof of |
some buildings over which they pass. |
have made many useful and material inn
proyemcnts since the system came under |
my charge have put new ground wires in |
nearly every box up town, put new wires |
inside the boxes. ard am satisfied that to- |
day the system is III better condition than |
ever before
The Commissioners called on several per-
sons for their views, and all agreed from |
what they knew of the system that it was
as nearly perfect as could be, and was well |
managed.
The following resolution, offered by |
Commissioner Jones. was adopted unani- |
mously:
Eeso'rcd. That the charges and specifications |
preferred by Il. A. Fisk and fled with the /
lsn4~fI of fVir,- reraas raFagt{ur r,,nt, Of