Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-09-26

the Fire Alarm Tcicgrapin-A Fire
Ebcapo Ordinance.
Council met in regular session Thurs
day evening, President Farre presiding,
| and the law committee made favorable
report on Plumbing Inspector Ksne's
communication Recommending certain
changes in tie plumbing inspection or
dinance. Adopted.
| Inc city treasurer reported q balance
in bank of $lS6, 1887, and receipts fol
the week as so;lows Board of Water
Commissioners, interest on water bonda,
| 50, 900; Tax Collector Moody, 50, 2,s69.15.
| Tax Collector MGalay, S72J.
| Mr.. Baugh presented @ communication
from the Washington $. F. e. Company,
olsining that the fse alarm telegraph
apparatus in their engine house has not
been working correctly for the past sir
months and asking that the matter bs
attended to. Il was referred to tbs com
mittee on fire companies.
The following annual report Of the
| superintendent of the fire alarm tale-
graph was presented by Mr.. Baugh, reGl
and referred to the committee on fEe
companies.
y To the President and Members of he
Council t-GESTLEMEK l herewith submit
my report OF the operations OF the police
and fire alarm telegraph for the past year.
The work OF the year comprises the
Introduction Of a tos ser striker and bell at
the Wecoacoe engins house; new FIRE
alarm box Oh Market street opposite the
Masonic Temple; this extension CT tho Are
alarm service to SllveIb-ook; the erection
| OF 100 new poles, and the Introduction OF
four miles OF iasulstsd wlr4. Ths latter
! work was done for tee purpose OF Sot.tnga
thoroughly iasulate3 line along those
streets lined by shaia trees 7itnDut beiag
under the necessity OF cGttlng the trees.
Despite the prevalence 0l much stormy
ana untevofabls weather. during the gr5htar
portion Of tho year. tas sybten has Sogked
Admirably and nearly every fra elgrm
sounded was PROMPTLY and accurately
transmitted to the difer2nT engine hous es
OF the ire department ami 10 Inc central
station IN the basement OF the city nall.
at pcaient tho dcn sls.rll aystSm ut tie
city, embracing 32 alarm o1G5J, comprises
only two circuits, be weeu which the alarm
boxes are about equally divided. No. 1
| Cltcuit includes all tnaS portion OF the city
east Of Market etreer, aud No. circuit all
of that portion Of tho city west Of Market
i street. Experience has ong since demon
strated that two eifcul.s are not enough for
: the thorough and satisfactory operation of
( tbs system, aud Is open 10 4 serious aud
, dangerous objection. kpv foul OF obs!ruc-
!. ton upon the wires Of ora of these circuits
Affects all the fire alarm boxes OF this cir
| cult and throws them out OF service until
the foul OF obstruction 10 rsGA0ved. Ihus,
q singla Interference with the wiros de
prlveS one-haif OF the city, for the time, OF
prcper protection agaiasr IRE. Thus far,
constant watchtulnesU and p-olnpt attan-
u tlon 10 all distractions on The line has
b avoided serious trouble, but the
i danger will continue rs long as the
!, present system remGins 10 operation. [
! | respectfully recommend tho iitro3rction,
v ut an early date, of an eignt-grrnf ro.
: pel.er, and the division oi riIO = iAl, ti .4'0
0 eight complete circuits, as Il tia .Hs 81 d
!, the hre-nlarm system OF IN, oi,y o! Bead
. ing, Pa. With eight circuits, foul or Trcuole
!, on any one of them would iut-rfare with
. only small number OF nlarn boxes, in-
= stead OF fully one.half us at present, and
- thus greatly feci!irate tho operation OF thn
z system and afford additional fire Urotsc.iou
Il to .ha entire city. The cost cf this change
n Including this repeater, wire aud nrha,
% necessary appuctouanees vii! be- fEom
II 1880 to 1850, but the rssIits obtained
n will fully warrant this reasonable exnenai
= tufe. The appropriation for the currel
I expenses OF th9 fire department Tor TIL
4 present year ie ample 10 allow o. this Gx
q peuditure .nf there saemI - ba no good
teason why this important and EFeetl'
y needed Improvement should hot 10 efeet5G
% without delay.
a The subject OF underground wires, I,
II
- ell ysar ago, has since h7en brought Il
the sttGltich o. tha General Assembly, bu
unfortunately the attempt 10 secure the en-
r t.Ctmsnt OF Il law C0mpeilin: the placing o
,s all wires uodev grouad lid not succeed.
g. Is not necessary now 70 rsnite the c't:um
a | stances tnat led to this result, pas Clurri
m performed its duty ia the premises by pte
a pe.lng and end15sing q law hNving thi
AZ gbi ct in view, but the General Assembly
iu its wisdoGi, saw at 70 refuse its Sanction
10 the measure. The subject, however,
still prominent In the public mind, az
:. there Ia every reason to believe tlsg pGb!l
III sentiment will continue to demand rhG
the wires shall go underground. nh
O. nGtsauce and positive danger arising fr0I
le overhead wires is constantly on the IL
a crease, and as Il has been dem 1nsrrAte
M thgt underground wires cln baRuecessiull
- ana economically operated, there Is u
y valid reason why the corporations control
2 Ing the telegraph and telephone line
as should not be compelled to bury ths wire
ee beneath the surface OF the streets. Il Is
G. be hoped that another attempt Will
II naIe at the next session OF the aeaers
~ Assembly and that 1t Will result SUGGEST
ia fully. Respectfully submitted.
rs j. W. AYpos.
ss Supt. Police and Fire Alarm Telegraph.
40 ie Mr.. Baugh offered an ordinance in re
=, latiob TO tire escapes. 1t provides tina
~ the buiidins inspector shall, whenever b
=. ue6lE8 IL HeseBb3By Ior LHs saEoEy VI Ja
81 inmates, to or Ger the erection uf O fr
y escape upon any store, school, manufsc
- turing establishment or otneE larg
ne building, al the expense of the owner
thereof. Said order shall be in Wri.ipl
It and failure to comply vita it shall b
y punishable by o fine OF S25, but owner
y may appeal 10 City Council within 10
70 ~ days after receiving notice from th
VI building inspector. The ordinance VIZ
y read twice.
ss Mr. Baugh presents IN ordinsnc
y, amending the plumbing inspection ord
~ nance by increasing the fine for yiolatin
- its provisions from 85 toE the first ofenc
OF snd $40 FOR each subsequent offence
=. o. Sl5 and S25, respectively. Also by adj
10 ing a fac of $25 for each day that in
proper work condemned by the inspector
is allowed TO remain, 1t was read tTio'
,al o.ders: James Cotton. $50 ST; Hanna
ks Wood, 81; Daniel Hasgerty, $3.50; r.
.. Griffith, -.