The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-01-23
FIRE TELEGRAPH.
Superintendent Speicher
Points Out Its Serious De-
feCtS and It's Needs.


meeting of the Fire Commissioners yes
terday was the reading of the report Of
Superintendent John Speicher, Of the
Fire Alarm Telegraph system. for theyear
1890. This was Of great interest because
the superintendent recommends radi-
cal reform Of the system, beginning with
the establishment Of q central office.
The wires. he says. are at present IN a
very bad condition. Circuits Nos. /, 8. 4,
:. 8 and are badly rotted. and it is diff
cult to transmit an alarm over them.
Nos. l, 8 and in particular. he says, are
very bad. and IL not attended to win fall
to pieces-become entirely useless. To
rebuild these circuits, about forty-flve
miles of wire would be required. He
recommends that number ten insulated
copper wire be used, as it would prevent
difficulty from crossing wires. The 645
poles. with the exception of "A on West
Newark avenue from the Five Corners TO
West Side avenue, are in good condition.
Out of 90 boxes, "A are OF the improved
kind. The other IS should be changed.
All of the boxes need painting and some
Of them require new locks. The three
iron bell towers need painting as The rust
Is eating them away.
The wooden tower on Newark avenue
needs q general oyerhauling. The striE-
ing apparatus Is worn out. The two
four-circuit repeaters have been out Of
use for three years, during which time
the city has been using the transmitter
on which Mr.. Speicher holds patent.
These were constructed at the personal
expense OF the superintendent. but to
date he has received no remuneration.
AT his own expense the superintendent
has taken out the old rusted iron wires
running from the pole tops into boxes
Nos. IA, 10. 81. %, "a, ~, 30. 81. AZ, AZ. 81
copper insulated wire. He also supplied
the wires connecting Engine Company
No. with the fire alarm system.
The superintendent says IL has been his
ambition TO make his end OF the depart
ment credit &c this and a model for
other cities. but be is becoming disconr-
aged His salary Is not so large but what
he could do better at some other employ
msnt Hereafter he says he viii do as he
should have done o long time ago;
namely, do everything possible with the
means at his command and when they
are exhausted await a further supply
The appropriation made BY the Board Of
Finance, he says, has always been in
adequate for the needs of the department.
he thinks that If the Legislature were
appealed to it would offer some relief.
Inc trouble of the crossing of the tele-
phone wires occurs three or four times q
week. Whenever this happens, the only
communication headquarters can reach
is the battery room on the B loop and No.
4 engine on the A loop. He recommends
that the Board compel the New York and
New Jersey Telephone Company to use
No. 12 insulated copper wire. IL this were
done, the telephone system would work
fifty per cent. better. ana the wires would
not be crossed twice in year.
l. naffx Il far IA ind fhae Ina
and recommends the erection Of three
gong circuits, which would be independ-
ent OF the box circuits; these could be
operated by the repeater and transmitter
now in use. He SAYS twenty-five addi-
tional boxes should be purchased. espec-
Tally for the hill section. He estimates
the cost OF the central Office system as
follows:--
Central office. $500 90
Three circuits, Is miles Of wire for gong
circuit. ....------.--..s-. l-3J0 W
To renew the 10 miles Of wire with cop
per wire. .........--...+.....-...-. 43O0 %
twenty-five new street boxes..-...--.- 3,l25 90
Total. ........................s1 .s122s 90
Such a system, he contends, if properly
built, would last for forty years. In
conclusion he says:-"Considering the
amount of territory we have 10 cover and
the rotten condition Of the fire wires, it is
very essential that l should have horse
placed at my disposal at all times. l have
wagon, but no horse"
On motion of Commissioner Henderson
1t was decided TO purchase a horse al q
cost not to exceed $500.
The following resolutions were read
and unanimously adopted
That the Board Of Finance be re equested to
transfer the sum Of one hundred and sixty dol
lars from salary account TO credit general ae-
count
That the Board of Finance be requested to
make a special appropriation of five Thousand
dollars for the purpose OF rebuilding the IRE
alarm telsgraphy.
That the Superintendent Of Telegraph to the
Department oe directed 10 notify the New York
and New Jersey Telephone Company to forth
with furnish the necessary material for the
maintenance Of the wires Of the fire alarm sys-
tenn. in acco rdsnce with their contract OF Febru-
airy IS, 1880.