Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-28
Allegheny's Public Safety Chief Will
Have All the Police Patrol
Wires Rearranged.
RUINED BY ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.
He Will Immediately Ask q Transfer Of
Sufficient Money From the Con-
tingent Fund.
GERMay-AMERICAN DAY is POSTPONED.
Eswsy Gossip Of the Sister Cities Picked Out From the
Odd Corners

AIlegheny's police patrol system is to be
placed in first-class condition. At the next
meeting of Councils Chief Murphy will ask
for the transfer from the contingent fund to
his appropriation of sufficient money to re-
model the entire system of police wires
Over a wear ago Chief Murphy said he
was going TO have this work done as soon as
the various traction roads had arranged
their wires. In the estimate for
this wear, therefore. it was intended
TO include sufficient funds to cover this ex-
pense but iust at the time when the APP
preparation ordinance was being drafted a
deficit of over 100000 was discovered.
The cry of poverty and balloon ascension
rate of millage was raised and almost every
thing but the salary list was cut out of the
estimate. The completion of the p. A.
& NJ. together with the discovery of a
mere 500, 600 that the city did not know
ANYTHING about, has revived the subject.
BOXES SPOILED BY ELECTRIC ROADS.
Chief Murphy saws he does not know any,
thing that is more needed than the perfect
ing of the police system. Ever since the
Pleasant Valley Company began opera
tions with its electric road the
Allegheny patrol boxes have been practl-
cally rendered useless save to record patrol
wagon calls. In daylight in some parts of
the city communication could be held with
the men, but of late the induction has been
50 great that even that was impossible.
When the city light towers were erected
matters became worse, so that now the only
way of sending information to men on their
beats is bv the captains and lieutenants
visiting each one personally.
1t is claimed this defect would have been
remedied long ago, but as several new cleo
rric street railways were in course OF con-
struction, it was thought best 10 wait until
all the wires were strung Some different
arrangement could be found for the police
wires bv which all trouble in the future
could be avoided.
CAN BE HEARD ACROSS THE ROOF.
As it is, at present when the telephone
connections are made, the hum from the re-
ceiver can be heard at a distance of Is feet
and when placed to the ear it is perfect
roar.
When Chief Murphy was interviewed
last night, he said: 'The present condition
of our police telephone is disgraceful. Now
that the city can afford it, the defect should
be remedied There will be no more cleo
tric wires of any account put up for some
time and now is our opportunity to make
the change l do not have sufficient funds
in the appropriation to make the change,
but as there is an additional 100000 in the
treasury, there is no place where part of
il can be better used than in this work In
our appropriation for next year the amount
would have TO be included anyway, and
WHY deprive the city of this additional
protection when it can be done Just as well
now
CANNOT YET FIGURE THE COST.
''I will ask for transfer from the con-
tingent fund at the next meeting of Coun-
ellis do not know how much the repairs
will cost. and do not know whether it will
he necessary TO get some improved style of
wire that will be free from induction. 1t
NAV be possible that the old wires can be
arranged in such a shape as to give satisfac-
JiOr. will put men TO work at once to
ascertain the changes that will be needed,
and what the cost Will be.
/ hope by the middle of the
winter TO have the wires in good shape and
have each patrolman call up every hour 1
also want to divide the districts so the men
can report to the different station houses in
stead of TO the main Office. / do not antici-
pate much trouble in securing the transfer,
for everyone will readily understand the
necessity Of the improvement. of course,
will examine into all the various improve
mentS for preventing induction before any
move is made believe the Public Safety
Committee will aid me in this and assist in
putting the police bureau on an equal foot
ing with any in the country"