The Washington critic., 1890-02-10
PROTECTION OF HOUSES
ALARMS OF FIRE WILL BE GIVEN IN
A BRlEFER TIME.

Inmates the Preseuce of the Deadly
Flame.
There will soon be in operation in
this city an improved automatic fire.
alarm system, which will be designed 10
surround business houses and priva'e
residences with greater degree of pro
lection from sudden contlagrations
than ever before enjoyed. II is
a maxim among tircmen that the
first five minutes of fire are worth
the next fifty. Statistics show that the
ma ajority of fatal or unusually destruc-
tive fir, s were thus fatal and destructive
from the fact Of their gaining such II
start before being discovered as to make
extinguishment difficult; whereas, if
The presence of the fire had been known
earlier it could have been checked.
For years electricians have been eX-
perimenting with systems to automati
cally betray and announce the presence
of fire breaking out in an unfre-
queDted part of a building, or
at time of the night or day when
it would have to be under terrific
cry. A fire may break out in bust
gain headway impossible to check
before the blaze or smoke becomes visi-
BILE to the patrolman or watchman go-
ing slowly over his beat. Washington
has unfortunately had too recent and
terrible instance of fire in q private
residence raging and gathering fatal
force unknown to the inmates until too
late 10 prevent a catastrophe.
Ecippca nf IN dau furnishac a cl1htlt
watchman, ever.alert, omnipresce1t
and effective, in the shape of an electric
current, which will almost instantly de-
tect the presence of fire and an
nounce its existence instantaneously
to the inmates of house
and 10 the Fire Department. This
scientific fire detector is called ther-
mostat. 1t is a piece of thick porce-
lain about three times the size of sill
yer dollar and hollow. The face of it
is covered with thin piece of a copper
sensitive to expansion and contraction
by heat. In the centre is sensitive
metal needle nearly touching the copper.
The thermostat is fastened to the cell
ing or the wall of a room. Electric
wires are connected with it in such a
manner that when the copper covering
touches the needle an electric circuit
is Immediately established, and by
means of an electrical appar
atus sounds series of signals
as will be explained. Say that the
system is put in operation in this city.
Take for instance, roomin the fourth
story of the Boston store. There are
several thermostats placed in the room
on the ceiling and walls at intervals of
twenty feet. The normal temperature
of the room when naturally heated is
about 20 degrees. 1t never under
ordinary circumstances gets over
| 100 degrees A fire breaks out in that
room. AS soon as it starts it affects the
temperature of the room. 1t will burn
but short time to raise the tempera-
ture to 1870 degrees. AS soon as this
heat is developed the copper covering
| of the thermostat, which has been eX-
! panding as the heat increased, touches
/ the needle and circuit is established.
Gongs ring throughout the building.
A dial in little box outside the front
| door shows the fire is on the fourth
floor. AT the same time an indicator in
the central Office Of the city fire alarm
shows that a fire exists on the fourth
floor of the Boston store. This
fact is also communicated to
every engine-house in the city. The
tiremen dash to the scene. There may
lie no outward indications OF fire.
The big building is silent and deserted.
The gas turned low throughout the
store and all seems well. But the fire
men know that fire exists
on the fourth floor and is rapidly
eating its way through the walls
and licking up the infiammable
material near, until when it does break
through the windows or roof it will be
sweeping volume of flame. While
the reel is unwinding the hose
and the steamer is making con
nection with the fire-plug, the
foreman of the engine company
and one or two men run hastily up
stairs with an eXtinguisher and go
straight TO the scene. No time is lost in
locating the blaze. They take in the
situation at a glance and can act &C
cordiDgly.
This is the operation of the system
There are other details connected with
it, such as providing technical methods
of preventing false alarms and commu-
nicating with the central office of the
system, which take cognizance of the
slate of things. ascertains if the Fire De-
partment has been correctly notified
and also send trusted man post haste
TO the scene to be of general utility.
The company which will inaugurate
the system in Washington has an Of
flee at 1923 f street, with Mr.. r. Il.
Cullom in charge. They are en-
deavoring to complete an ar
rangement with the Board of
Fire Underwriters binding all the
fire insurance companies, by which the
after will allow rebate upon the in.
surance premium in all buildings where
the system is placed, which re
bate the company will accept as
rental for their system, the occupant
paying the cost of putting In the sys
TEN. For rented houses, where the oc
cupant carries no insurance, small
rental will be charged.
1t is intended to make the cost 50 low
: that everyone can provide themselves
with this safeguard against fire. The
l system will use the wires of the Mutual
! District Messenger Co., already existing
| In 900 houses and business buildings
5 so that there will be need of LAYING
but few wires through buildings. TIL,
: system has been favorablv recon
: mended by the chiet of the fire
alarm system of this city ant
7 the company is only awaiting tn,
&. answer of the Board of Underwriters
| to the rebate proposition. The CRIT,
man was told to-day the board was ia
I vorably considering it.
: Lawyer Moss Gets Hit.