The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-18
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
The Telephone Question, Street and
Sewer Matters.

The board of public works yesterday af-
ternoon received from the general manager
OF the Bell Telephone Company a long
communication in regard to the use of
telephones as an auxiliary to the fire
alarm system. The communication was in
reply TO complaints that had been made by
the fre department of the faulty workings
of the telephones in Use in the department.
The general manager of the company had
given the subject careful investigation
and set forth In detail reasons why the
service could not be rendered satisfactory.
The engine houses were all on one circuit,
and the heavy wires suffered severely
from induction, so much so as to
render the telephones frequently
useless to the fremen in case of fire alarm.
The only remedy for the evil, it was stated
IN the communication, was the main
tenance of separate and exclusive tele-
phones in each engine house, to be used
only for the purpose of giving an alarm
and under no circumstances to be used for
the transaction of any other business.
This plan would enable the telephone COM
pany 10 give good effective service. as
each telephone would be on separate
circuit and in direct communication with
the central office. In case of nre the per-
son sending the alarm would send it to the
central telephone station, from whence it
would be turned in 10 the different engine
houses. To make the changes necessary
would entail an expense to the city of sos
This system is the one employed in nearly
all large cities, apd is the only one that the
telephone company will recommend. The
matter was referred to the city council for
action.
Mr.. Houghton, of the firm of Houghton
& Saunders, the architects of the new
engine house, called on the board relative
to the alterations of the bell tower The
repairs are being made under the super
vision of the superintendent of buildings,
wharves and bridges, and the architects
desired TO suggest the manner in which
the alterations should be made 1t was
agreed by the board that Mr. Houghton
should furnish the superintendent with
specifications fer the alterations.
committee was appointed to examine
the accounts of Mr.. Preston, the retiring
superintendent of the water works, and
release that gentleman from his bond
u. l.. Manning appeared before the
board and in behalf OF residents and prop
erty owners in the north end of the city,
asked the board to have Water street
graded, and to open West street between
Stewart and Pike, following the east line
OF West street. At present citizens living
IN that end OF the city cannot get off West
street without going several blocks out of
their way. The matter was referred to
Major Rinehart for investigation.
Mr.. Shepard's bill for $500 for services
rendered the city in connection with the
water-works, was passed and ordered paid.
The secretary was instructed to have
prepared notices TO serve on property
owners whose sidewalks were covered with
dirt or debris
The proposition of King county regard
ing a sewer ON Seventh street was not ac-
cepted.
The application of Contractor Quiglev
to have his Stewart street work accepted
was referred to the city engineer. as was
the contract on South Twelfth street.
The sidewalk application of \. s. Peter
son, Seventh and Stewart, was reported as
favored.
Complaint of water draining into the
Scheuerman building at Front and Cherry
streets from some point beneath the sur
face, supposed to be from defective street
sewer, was referred to the superintendent
of sewers.
The secretary was instructed to notify
Mr.. Branagan, the Division street con-
tractor, to stop work on that thoroughfare.
The board ordered that the portion OF
the Banner street bridge, which forms a
continuation of Depot street, should not
be included in the extension of cost OF
grading Banner street.
Parties interested in the condemnation
| OF South Ninth and Charles streets We're
ordered notined TO appear before the board
| tomorrow afternoon at 3 O'clock