The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-09
POLICE PATROL SYSTEM
,xnnowIrrsroBn WORKED HERE.
a..,hinr About the Various systems
Some Of the Members Are Opposed 10
chasing Untn They Have the MONEY

oh
TIL. most important Of the subjects ccnsid-
,ved by the Board Of Police Commissioners at
,bsir meeting yesterday afternoon. was tho
,,olice patrol and telegraph system, which in
che near future they intend 20 institute IN
this city. The board met at o'clock IN
Major Poes Office with the following presents
hon J. TAYLOR Ellyson. ohairman Messrs.
] w. Ianbe Charles G.. Bosher, L. G. Ficg'
charlie. Phillips, James Is. Welsh and
l. i. Jacob. Mr.. Edgar White acted
in his capacity as clerk. Major Poe was pre-
vented by indsposition from being present.
After routine business. Mr.. Bosher suggested
4hat the committee adjourn TO the beadquar,
ters Of the Fire Department. where patron
s,.ten, on "A small scale had been erected so
as 10 demonstrate the workings OF the sys-
TENS 10 the board -,
This MAS done. and upon the arrival OF the
board Mr. W. II. Thompson, the electrloAn
u the city. showed TO them tue WorhInEs %
both the Gamewell and Munlclpal SYSTEM
NE former is manufactured IN Boston "hie
tho latter IL production of New lork.
The f3ameweu box which seemed 70 oe
The decided favorite OF the boHIu, 10
most complete and 10 tne uD' ~ 49,
IL or,Dearauce resembles. TO consluefAoIe
.v+ent the usual 6re-slarm box, ana It's WORK
nos are similar. only considerably more CON-
vIicated II citizen wishes 10 cali the aViol
,ragon the KEY is inserted 10 hole, known hs
80 citizens' key-hOle. The door Is not open
FL however. but as soon As the KEY is turned
fbs machinery IS set In motion, and II Will be
INT a few moments later when the patrol
wagon arrives If everything Is working IN
order.
THF POLICE KY.
policeman has q somewhat similar key.
for bis kew can be used in the locg used by
the citizens. and it can also be inserted IN
another lock. and this latter opens the irOnt
door of the box. AS soon as the door IS
opened is exposed telephone ana
"a dial. which bears the toIowlhg'
each ia one division. Fast wagon. SLOW
wagon. - ambulance telephone, reports
liza" The dial hand has only 70 be moved
in fr0nt of any division OF the dial. the lever
puled down and the central ONCE Is IN
formed as 20 what is needed.
For instance II policeman wishes 10 talk
70 the station. the dial hand IS placed IN front
NJ telephone" The lever IS pulled down
and the ringing of bell In the box tells him
that the station ia ready 20 listen 10 MN. IL
hs is reluired 70 report. say at Midnight ana
ever the figure Il, 90 he is only required TO put
the dial hand over the figure one, pull down
the lever and his work Is completed. II after
receiving that order SAY az o'clock. the cen
trail Office desires TO talk 10 him at midnight
they set a piece OK mechanism 20 work ana as
soon as the officer az midnight sends IN his
report the telephone bell in the box rings. and
IL signifies 10 him that the station wishes 10
speak TO him.
TKLEGBAPHIc ky.
Resides all this there is a telegraphic key
in the box. which for each tap rings bell
This could therefore be used for private sig
mails The machinery the citizens key sets IN
10 ton is merely a call for the fast patrol
wagon and the key does not open the box 50
that the intricate machinery cannot be
handled OF used by the novice.
The Municipal box from Boston Is very
similar in construction 70 the GameweH
Company and will perform the same work,
but the committee and Mr.. Thompson are
both more favOrably inclined TO the New
Work box. and as Mr. Thompson has long
dealt with the Gamewell people he seems TO
think that their box is the best the committee
can furnish. Mr. Charles q: BosheT, who
Las made the subject a study, has also
leaning for the Gamewell production ana
when the boxes are purchased II IS not al ali
unlikely but that the committee VIII pur-
chase them.
TIE SYSTEM.
A soon as a thorough inspection OF the
workings of the boxes had been made. the
board through the courtesy OF the Board OF
Fire Commissioners. held a meeting in the
beadauarters Proceedings were opened by
Mr. Bosher. who made an elaborate and intel
lgent report on the patrol system. lie. with
Mr.. Figg. Major Poe and Mr.. W: II.
Thomson. made visit 10 Baltimore, Wash
ippton. New York and Boston 10 inspect the
patrol systems Of those cities. and IN the be-
ginning Of his report spoke OF the many cour
tesies the committee had received; especially
was such the case in Boston and New York,
where the police authorities rendered the
Richmond delegation every courtesy.
( O.
tailed account Of the cost OF the two
systems. computing all Of his items
with the fact in view that there
would be ten patrol boxes. That num-
Der was agreed upon some time ago
by the board as the necessary number-at
least for a cOmmencement-and Mr.. Bosher
took that fact into consideration in all Of his
calculations.
When Mr.. Bosher had concluded Mr.. Ely
son spoke in reference % the matter, and was
OF the opinion that the board at the present
time was not in q position 70 erect the patrol
system In this city. He said that there was
not enough money now to the credit OF
the board 20 pay the entire cost OF the enter
prise and that he was totally opposed TO going
into debtor the system.
MI Bosher argued that by the time the
tystem was erected and ready for use the
m ney would be forthcoming. and stated
that the Gamewell people were ready TO give
such terms as the board desired.
Mr. Welsh was OF the same opinion as MI.
Bosher. and cited in support OF his argument
su instance where the board purchased re-
so vers Tor the police when they had not the
money % pay for them.
Mr. Ellyson and Mr. Laube were opposed
% the purchasing of the system until the
money was ia the the treasury to pay for 1t,
aud Mr. Ellyson said that one of the worst
evils with which the city government had TO
contend was the spending of funds, or author,
ling their expenditure, and then waiting until
tie next years appropriation was made be-
fore the work was paid for
II being plain TO al present that decision
could not DO reached at the meeting 1t was
decided 10 adjourn until next friday evening
atsoclock. which was agreed TO.
CHARGED WITH STEALING,