Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-09-20
THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
or THE SUPERINTENDENT.

A short Session of City CouncII-Amend-
ing the Plumbing Inspector Ordi-
nance-one introduced Regarding Fire
Escapes.
Last evenings meeting OF City Council
was short aud harmonious. Adjourn
ment was made few minutes after
o'clock.
The Law Committee presented report
on the suggestions Of the plumbing in
spector received at the last meeting Of
| Council. The report recommended that
the ordinance be amended as follow: The
penalty for the first offense or violation
Of the ordinance, be raised from 5,t) $l5;
for the second offense from $40 to $50;
that provision be added providing that
all work not executed according 20 the
provisions OF the ordinance be removed,
at the inspectors order. within forty
eight hours, under penalty OF fine OF
| $25 for every twenty four hours it Is
permitted TO remain after that time.
The city treasurer reported balance
in bank to the credit Of current expenses
Of klS6. 73s 81; park fund, S7,000.04; re-
ceived Of Martin J Mealey, $725; e. p.
Moody, So, s09.15; Board Of Water Com.
missioners, for interest on bonds No 81
and 32, due October 81, 900
A communication was received from
the Washington Steam Fire Engine
Company, stating that the alarm in their
engine house was out Of order, and had
not struck right for six months. Re
ferred 10 the Committee on Fire Com
panies.
The Fire Alarm system.
The following communication was read
and referred TO the Committee on Fire
Companies.
ITO the President and Members Of
City Council: Gentlemen herewith
submit my report Of the operations Of
the police and fire alarm telegraph for
the past year:
1.-The work Of the year comprises the
introduction Of new tower and bell at
the Weccacoe engine house, new fire
alarm box on Market street opposite the
Masonic Temple, the extension Of the FIRE
alarm service to Sileerbrook, the cree
: ton Of 100 new poles and the introduce
; ton Of four miles Of insulated wire.
1.-The latter was done for the purpose
Of getting thoroughly insulated line
along those streets lined by shade trees
without being under the necessity OF
cutting the trees. Despite the prevalence
Of much stormy and unfavorable weather
during the greater portion Of the year
the system has worked admirably anC
? nearly every fire alarm was promptly anC
Q accurately transmitted to the different
engine houses Of the Fire department anC
to the central station In the basement o
the City Hall
: eat present the FIRE alarm system o
d the city, embracing thirty-tw boxes
comprises only two circuits, between
9 which the alarm boxes are about event
d divided. No circuit includes all tina
4 portion Of the city east Of Market street
u and No circuit all of that portion q
q the city west OF Market street. Exps
r rience has long since demonstrated this
the two circuits are not enough for ii
he thorough and satisfactory operation I
IS the system, viz Any foul or obstru
j, ton upon the wires Of any one Of the
Q, circuits affects all the fire alarm boxes
that circuit and throws them out
@ service until the foul or obstruction
removed Thus, single interfering
I'd with the wires deprlves one half OF u
u. city for the time of proper protectio
I'd against fire. Thus far constant watchfu
J. ness and prompt attention to all obstru
~ ton on the line has avoided seriol
70 long as the present system remains
P operation. | respectfully recommend II
introduction, at an early date, of 3
IS, eight circuit repeater and the division
L the system into eight complete circui
lie ae Is in the case with the fire alarm sy
r tenn Of the city Of Reading, Pa.
OF with eight circuits, foul or troub
on any one of them would interfere wit
To- all tn- -
stead of fully one half as at present, an
thus greatly facilitating the operation
the present system and affording add
81 tional fire protection to the entire cit
~ The cost OF this change, including II
no repeater, wire and other necessary a
~ purtenances. will be 81 800 20 81. 500, b
~ the result obtained will fully warrai
10 this reasonable expenditure, The apr
-, priation for the current expenses Of q
ne Fire Department for the current expens
~ ~ Of the present year is ample TO allow
'.e this expenditure, and there seems TO
,gs no good reason why this important al
- greatly needed improvement should n
W. be affected without delay.
40 1.-THE subject of underground wires
-, which invited the attention Of Coun
- year ago has since been brought to II
80 attention Of the General Assembly. b
~ unfortunately the attempt to secure I
u enactment Of law compelling the pls
" ing of wires underground did not 81
:, coed. Il is not now necessary to reel
-. the circumstances that led to this resul
70 The Council performed its duty in q
" premises by preparing and endorsing
\, law having this object 10 view, but {
~ General Assembly, in its wisdom, saw
= to refuse its sanction to the measur
Es6o The subject is still prominent in d
~ public mind, and there is every reason
'rs believe that public sentimentwill contin
= to demand that the wires 60 undergroun
n. The nuisance and positive danger arisi
.{ from overhead wires is constantly ON
~ increase. and as il has been demonstrat
II that underground wires can be succe
NJ fully and economically operated there
-, no valid reason why corporations contro
rs ing the telegraph and telephone lii
- should not be compelled TO bury tn
~ wires beneath the surface OF the stree
Ia IL is to be hoped that another attem
~ will DO made at the next session OF |
~ General Assembly and that 1t will resi-
~ successfully. Respectfully submitted
% -. W. AYD0E.
Superintendent Fire Alarm TIE
graph.
lar New Ordinances.
ar Mr.. Baugh presented an ordinance
he relation to fire escapes, which was re
1 G..