Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-02-06

Extent nnd Character Of tho Ina
proyen,snts RocenIIy Made 20 tho
system.
che Wilmington police and fire alarm
aystem was established in the spring OF
1881, with but two circuits, one on tho
east side of Market street and one on the
west, and 1t continued to be operated
with only two circuits until few days
ago, when important changes and i'm
provemants were completed. The re-
striction of the system to two circuits
was fraught with two sources of danger;
one was that the circuits had too much
work to do, and the other was that if
anything happened TO circuit 1t threw
out OF eeryicp all tho alarm stations oper-
ated by that cirouit until the break was
completed As SO FIRE alarm boxes, be-
sides the engine house gongs and
indicators were in service on the two DIR
cnits, the danger became too great to bs
longer ignored.
In his last annual report Superin-
tendant Aydon, of the fire alRrm telegraph,
urged upon Council the necessity OF
dividing the line into at least six circuits,
and tho work has just been completed,
under his supervision. A contract was
awarded the Gamewell Fire Alarm Tele.
graph Company for the introduction of
an improved Gamewell six circuit re-
pester, which Is now in place in the bat
terry room at the city hall. The repeater
is beautiful piece Of mechanism and il
kept covered by handsome MCKEE
mounted glass cane. The work of
dividing the system into six cir
cults was performed BY j. NJ.
Gardner OF the Gsmewell company
assisted by Robert Kane, chief lineman
OF the Baltimore fire. alarm system, and
was successfully accomplished. Tho bat
terry room was also shsathed all over with
pine flooring to prevent threatened pos
sibility Of the plastor falling upon and
playing havoc with the apparatus. With
the new system also arc seven galyonom-
eters for testing the cirouite, a fine new
switchboard and lightning Rrrester and
two new battery stands. When some
painting and polishing now in progress
is completed, the room with its valuable
contents will be a handsome an well as
an important addition to the admins
tratiye department of the city govern
ment.
The manner in which the system Is
divided into six circuits il as follows:
No. cireuit-Box IL, city hall; gong
and indicator in Washington engine
house; box 81, p, W. Il b. railroad sta-
ti0n; box Al, Warmers wharf; boz IS.
Second and Shipley; gong and indicator
IN Fame Hose engine house; box 35,
Harlan u HollipglwortE Oompany's
yard; box "a Front and Justison; box 80,
Sixth and Tatnall.
No. q cirouit-Box "a, Fourth and
MnAigN1, No. A
40, Eighth and Broome boz SD, Second
and Hawlsy, Bilvetbtook box 81, Front
and Ssarles; gong, indicator and tower
striker In Wecoacoe engine house box
80, Maryland avenue and Cedar street;
box 70, Maryland avenue and Linden
street; box rs, Second and jackson.
No. oircuit-Box q in front Of
Masonic Temple; gong and indicator in
Friendship engine house box 3, Tenth
aud Orange; box 81, Thirteenth and
Washington box 81. Middle Depot; box
45, PennsylvanIs avenue and Van Buren,
street box IS, Ninth and Madison.
NO. olrcuit-Box so, Thirteenth and
Glnymon'; box l6, Eleventh and Church;
box ., Tenth and Walnut; gong, indi.
Gator and tower.striker at Pbmuix engine
house; gong In residence OF Chief En-.
glneer McOracken, No. 1887 Walnut
street; box 40, Fourteenth aud Walnut;
boy Q, Twentieth and Market; boz Is,
Thirteenth and King.
No. circuit-Box IS, Fifth and
French; indicator and gong in Delaware
truck house; box IA, From: and Pc lar;
Indicator and gong in Reliance engine
house; box AZ, Heald and Lobdeil; box
n, Third street and Railroad avenue:
gong IN res dence Of First Assistant En-.
glneer Kane, No. AIS fpruce street; box
10, sixth and Spruce; box 81, Seventh
street ana kalroaa avenue; gong in resi-.
denoe o. Second Assistant Engineer Hem
Erickson, No $50 East Seventh street.
No. circuit-rhe CITY hall tower
striker, the Indicator in the battery room
and private police call bcx in MAYOR
harrington's office, second story OF the
city hall
This police box will take the place of
The No. police call, on the fire alarm
card which has never been found prso-
ticable. II will strike IL conaerutiye
blows on the city hall striker, and will be
used only ia the event of q grave emer.
Rency. When sounded il Will indicate
that the MAYER desires all of the poIics
iorce within sound 10 proceed PROMPTLY
10 me city hall,
Another important improvement is the
use OF fusil strips for MI the wire connso.
tlonh at the battery rooms. la the event
OF the wires o. any circuit being burned.
either BY lightning or contact with cleo.
trio light wires, these fusil strips will in
stantly mel and thus break the cirouit.
rms will prevent the deadly current from
reaching and burning out the repeater
abd other valuable apparatus in the ba.-
terry room
Ihese improvements, which cost about
~, auO, co1pyife the first material add
ten 70 the tire alarm system since its in.
tIodncuon The system is nov In first
GLASS condition md will accommodate
new boxes on the various circuits aud last
~ years without any further alteration
or enlargement.
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bEPpOtRE SHIEynp