The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-31
rar rr.E Alarm TELEGRAPH.
Record of Ito Work and That Of the romeo
Patrol system.


The Fire Alarm department Is also
under the direction and control OF the
Roard of Fire Commissioners, who have
done all in their power TO make 'ae
system the effective handspring 10
Ricbmond's well-organized fire DEPART
ment. At.
dcps rtment the first three serying IN
regular turn as operator In the central
cffice: -
w. III. Thompson. superintendent; q.
u. PAINTER. ant-superintendent; A.
Stephan. foreman OF construction; 1. w.
Bcwry, llnenan and messenger
There have been six new street ana
forty private stations and ebout twenty
direct actirg Taper gongs added during
the year.
The system has been completely re-
organized by the addition OF new
elk circuit repeater. switchboards. gal
yanorneters. and about forty miles OF
new No. 10 copper wire TO lessen the
burden on the old repeater. new
trunk line of poles has been run down
Broad street TO the New City Hall, cables
run from pole on Tenth street under
ground and through the building 10 the
operating room which will be on the
fourth floor. All the instruments, wires,
etc. in the present central office have
been so fixed as TO be able TO cut them
I'm on the wires running to the Hall at
short notice.
The Council during the year very kind
" appropriated the money, and private
fire alarm boxes have been put In all
the public schools and charitable insti-
tutions Of the city.
The system now comprises 16 set tele-
phone instruments, 1877 stations, 6S OF
which are private) y still-alarm boxes,
over 175 miles Of aerial wires % cleo
tro-mechanical gongs, 145 direct acting
Taper gongs, set testing instruments,
two six-circut repeaters. eight automatic
trips for releasing horses, Y large bells,
weighing from eight hundred to thirteen
hundred pounds, with go cells gravity
and go cells Samson battery for furnish
ing the eectro-motive power for the
general working OF the system.
Record OF Alarms.
The record Of alarms show that 1O3
first alarms. second alarms, II still
alarms, and special calls were received
at this Office and transmitted to the fire
department during the year. OF the
first alarms q were received between
midnight and A. NJ, 20 were received
between a. NJ. and noon; 26 were re-
celved between noon and =. NJ, and
80 were received between =. NJ, and
midnight.
The Police Patrol.
During the year this department erect
ed the Police Patrol system, for the
Board Of Police Commissioners and now
has the care of this system added to
its regular work. This system com
prises 10 street-boxes, about twenty miles
OF No. 10 hard drawn copper wire, and a
central office outfit. located at the
Second Police Station, under the charge
of Capt. j. b. Angle. with Sergeant
Cosby. Shinberger. Brooks, an Allen,
acting alternately as operators. The sys-
tenn has recorded Lap messages during the
year and there has been nine boxes
added. Each box has a complete tele-
phone set so that regular conversation
can be held between central office and
officer on his beat. The system is
relayed through the fire-alarm office.
through which all signals pass. and is
looked after electrically by that depart
ment.