Morning journal and courier., 1889-10-12
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

In Use on the Consolidated Railroad
- New Haven Inventive Gsnius-
Probable New Industry For New
Haven.
The Kelsey bridge signal has now been in |
highly successful operation for over year
and half by the Consolidated road on the
big Air Line railroad bridge and drawbridge
over the Connecticut river from Middletown
to Portland. It is perfect safeguard against
drawbridge disasters like that terrible one,
for instance, at Norw ak years ago. 1t il q
wonderful invention, and not complex nor
intricate, but simple, yet most thorough and
effective. With 1t the drawbridge cannot be
opened until the danger signal Is set-s red
semi-fore6rm appraised by day and q red
light by night. The iron-work attachments
prevent starting the draw without frst set
ting the signal. Before he can stir the draw,
the bridge-tender must move long lever
which operates to display the danger signal
and free the draw. Then, by means Of the
other mechanical arrangements, the draw
cannot be tempered with. The danger sig-
malls at either end of the Middletown bridge
are 900 feet away from the drawbridge and
stout wire connects them with the signal
mechanism ct the bridge. Another strong
point In that not until the drawbridge is back
In place can the signal fall to indicate calls
we'll" The action of extremes Of either heat
or cold on the wires is also provided against
by heavy iron weights attached by q
chain over loose pully which regulates the
expansion or contraction perfectly. "Jack
Frost" is thus cleverly cireumvented, and
the intense heat as we'll. The bridge tender
moves the lever when presto, the signal hies
either up or down, for danger or safety, as
storm is on, or dense fog, and the engineer
cannot see the signal, no sooner does his en-
CINE wheels touch the spot over which the
signal stands when bangl bang! goes big
gong. The gong is worked by simple
but highly effective mechanism which strikes
hammer against the gong, which is at
taehed to the signal pole. If the sig
nal is .,d Get a.. for safety the train
The owners of the patent are Senator Ora
ham, ]. O. Peck of the Chapel street Arm of
]. @. Peck & Son, and F. N. Kelsey, the ac-
complished inventor of the signal. A joint
stock company is soon to be formed for the
manufacture Of these signals. It is an inven-
ton which can be applied with equal success
to switch crossing stations and block signals,
and many thousands Of them are wanted all
over the country. The Air Line railroads
efficient and able superintendent, VIM. A..
Waterbury, says Of the signals In use at the
bridge at Middletown, "They work to q
charm" Vice President Reed endorses them,
saying, "one has been used on the Consoh.
dated for eighteen months giving satisfaction
during all of that time and thus far requiring
no alteration or repairs. w. II. Hayward
chairman of the board of railroad commits.
sioners of Connecticut says after careful and
watchful examination of the signal; 'Tt hal
filled the bill in every particular"
| A joint stock company Is soon to bt
formed for the manufacture of this admira.
BILE signal and our Chamber of Commerce
may take some action in regard to securing
the industry for New Haven. The Bridge,
port Chamber of Commerce is enauirine
with reference to securing it for Bridgeport