Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-01-23
THE RICHMOND SYSTEM.
Nan Hunfcation From W. f
Graggs 70 the Council.

Oon Aunfcatiom From W. +
Graggs 20 the Council.
Tho following communication was
handed to the Fire Commissioners
Saturday:
To the Honorable City Council, Fire
Commissioners and Board of Un-
dsrscriters of the city Of Los An
geJes.
GENTLEMEN: In the spring of 1886
the Council of the city of Los Angeles
advertised for proposals to furnish this
city with fire alarm telegraph sys-
tenn.
In response to the above the Game
well Company, OF New York city, and
the Richmond Company, of Indiana,
submitted their proposals to the Coun-
Gil.
The Gamewell Company was ably
represented and championed by w. S.
Moore then Chief Engineer OF the Fire
Department. The Richmond was rep
resented by w. f. Griggs of this city.
The Council called to its aid all the
available expert electricians, and after
a long and thorough investigation
awarded the contract to the Rich
mond Company with but one dissent
ing vote.
Chief Moore had charge of the
locating of the signal boxes By a
careful look at the city map, any one
can see how ridiculously the thirty
five boxes were distributed. There
appears but one signal box on Main
street or Spring street north of Ninth
street. The Plaza Engine Company
has not signal station within three
blocks, and the Hook and Ladder
Company has signal station about
one thousand feet distant.
During the construction of the fire
alarm system, l was hampered and
annoyed by various parties. My
wire was cut from the poles, tools and
materials were stolen, and, in fact,
every obstacle was thrown in my way
to prevent the completion of the sys-
tenn. A special committee of the
Council, including Chief Moore, met,
tested and inspected the system in a
most thorough manner. The said
committee reported favorably to the
City Council and the City Council
accepted the Richmond Fire Alarm
System. The keys, 145 in number,
were turned over to Chief Moore for
distribution, who was instructed tc
keep an account of all keys given out
A careful investigation Of CHIEF
Moore's book, now in the hands o.
Chief Moriarity, fails to account fo1
half of them. During the incum
bency of Chief Moore, he failed to
protect the fire alarm and disregarded
the intentional and malicious inter.
ference by various parties who caused
false alarms.
Chief Moore has always been preju
diced against this system, and has
openly boasted that he would have i
thrown out and rejected. After the
forced resignation of incompeten
Moore, and the appointment of Chic
Thos. Strohm, the Fire Commissioner
tested the fire alarm by having diff
ferent signal box turned in every day
at noon. During the entire test there
were no failures of the system, 81
further testing was abandoned.
During the past year the fire alarm
system has, on numerous occasions
been maliciously interfered with
The wires have been cut and broker
down, the poles dug up, the instru
ments put out of adjustment ant
broken in fact, every means taken t.
make the system imperative.
On several occasions Chief Strohn
has notified the Department that b
would, at a certain hour, turn in
signal for them to respond. Whe
the time arrived the Chief found tina
the system had been tampered with
and no signal could be sent.
On investigating it was found tina
some one had intentionally opene,
the circuit, SO that they would not b
compelled to answer the Chiefs sum
mons.
On another occasion one of the re
corders was found to be so smes re-
with ink and the instrument put ou
of gear that it would not do its work
Certain members of the police fore
have turned in false alarms withou
the slightest reason therefor. Th
guilty. officers have had no motto
taken of their acts. Whenever tn
big bell on the hill struck number {
unintelligible taps, there was alway
to be found some one to tell the re
porters of the press that it was a falls
alarm, when the true cause was tina
some person was maliciously interfel
ing with the wires. On several occa
sions parties have been arrested 10
tampering with the wires. They hav
been convicted and fined nomina
fine, thereby discouraging and demon
alizing the fire department, and a
the same time making a farce of tn
law.
On reviewing the above facts an
considering the unnecessary hostil
feeling here, it is wonderful that th
Richmond Fire Alarm system ha
done its work thoroughly.
In conclusion let me challenge dc
NAL of the facts that at no time sine
the system has been in operation, an
there was an occasion to sound a.
alarm for fire, that the various engin
companies did not receive the sigma
promptly and reliably, whenever tn
signal came from the signal box. Th
allegations and assertions containe
in this letter 1 am prepared to sui
stantiate fully when the time comes
Asking your careful consideration
the matter contained herein, l am
Respectfully yours,
WIN. F. GRIGGs.
50 Enfp