Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-30
THE POLICE SIGNALS.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE PATROL
TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.
Places visited by the Boards Special Com
mittee-To submit u Report July
sth--Tethods In Use, &c.

Tho special committee consisting OF
Major John Poe, Chief of Police. Mr. W.
II. Thomson, Superintendent OF tho
Fre-Alarm Department. and Messrs. l.. Z.
Figg. g. G. Bosher, members of the Board
OF Police Commissioners, appointed TO
visit the northern cities and view the
operations of the various police-patrol
systems in use, have fulfilled their mission
aud will soon be prepared to submit a re-
port giving the result of their investiga-
tons.
While away these gentlemen visited the
cities of New York, Washington, Baltl-
more. Philadelphia. Newark. and Boston,
and in each OF these places the police
telegraph signal service employed was
critically examined. Two concerns have
these systems established at the places
named, viz. the Municipal Signal Com
paDy of Boston and the Gameweu tlre-
Alarm Telegraph Company OF New hork.
The latter system is being used IN New
York. Baltimore. Phlladelphi. Pittsburg.
Brooklyn. and other cities. The Munici-
pal Company has also introduced IT'S me;
thod in Boston. Newark. Someryille, and
other places.
IERFoEN THE SAME FUNCTIONS.
As matter Of fact the two systems per-
form practically the same functions
through different machinery. The Game
well aiarm-boX. which the committee Will
probably recommend for adoption mere, Is
about the size OF a fire-alarm box and very
similar. being distinguished by its differ,
ence IN color The Richmond boxes Will
be placed upon 2the telegraph poles, anu
Tor the present only about ten VIII be put
up. Each station contains telephone,
rrltt,fs tIa haaInTfuTtgFs
just as other phones do. On the dlal IN
side the iron easing are seven points, o.
follow: Fast wagon. low wagon without
gong and practically nOiseless), amou-
lance, teieuhOne-l. ,, 3.
HOW THY ARE oPERATED.
By moving pendulum and pulling,
lever either Of those are recorded az the
Central station. IN case Of street hght
the fast wagon would be called, but n
a bank robbery were going on, the slow
aud nOlseless wagon would be wanted. II
man were badly hunt III an accident OF
row the "ambulence" would be sum.
moned. To move the hand 10 the word
telephone and pull the little steel
knob down would cal. q man to the phone
at the other end, and so on.
The figures on these dials also indicate
certain things. In order 10 illustrate. II
Officer kedfJrd at Eighth and Broad
streets desired 20 report on his beat at Il
VI he would simply pull in one; but
| If q riot were going on On Church Hi ana
| ten OF twenty men We're needed the police
| man on duty at lwenty-tfth and MAN
wOuldr ring three
Keys 10 the boxes are given to the pa
| trO.men OF the district. Locks are uni
| form throughout the city. and one key
| will open any station. Keys are also gwen
| 70 responsible citizens with which they
can operate the signal boxes inside IN call
| ing tor help without opening any door.
FOR psrvATE pHorEcIIoN.
An effort will also be made to introduce
| i'm tho lanks. business-louscs, and resl-
| dencos OF KchmOnd what l. called the
| "prlyate-protoctioI' box. which is not
| near so large rs those G.ei in the police
| service. when one OF these signal-cases -
| p.acei in an establishment or dwell
| .ug the key 10 the house IL left at
tho station under seal. ln case the occu-
| pants have occ sion 10 call for the assist
ance Of the police at any time they can do
| So by simply pulling the lever attached 10
| the box. and they en- also indicate the
| nature Of their want b. usiug any OF the
! different signals-tLat r.. they may
| indicate burglars drunken servant,
fire, ere. When call is made
the occupants Of house can,
/ n fD-irtli.lf, ltAAitlA qua. ~ III tAN4A
| bedrooms, while the policeman answer
| ing the call takes the v OF their house
| from its place. and. having reached the
! house. steps quietly IN 40 the front door
| 20 heutter surprise OF the thieves or bur
: gia4s. who find themselves absolutely
| trapped.
| The above explanations apply practi-
cslly as well 10 The municipal as 10 the
Gamewell machine.
10 REpOlT To TuR rOAED.
The special committe. will draw up a re,
| mort and submit u 60 tie Board OF Police
! Commissioners at their next meeting
winch IS 10 be held Thursday. July 7th
| The details for the establishment OF the
| patrol and telegTaph-servlce here have
| been under consideration for some time
! though the only matter which has been
| decided upon is the handsome patrol
| wagon. the contract for winch las been
| awarded 10 David 4. Ainshe.
Both the Municipal and oiamevell Com.
/ panies have sent boxes 20 Richmond and
| they are now IN the Office Of Superintend-
ent Thomson, OF the flre-Alarm Depart
| neut. They will be fitted up. properly
| connected, and placed in the Office OF the
| Chief of Police. where they can be IN.
| spected by the members ot the board and
| the public generally.
The Gamewell tire-alarm telegraph sys
tenn is the one in use IN Richmond at pres
out