The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-12-21
A NEW FIRE ALARM.
Official Test Made This
Afternoon.
Gamewell System Worked Perfectly
"a List of the Box Locations Which
Free Press Readers Should Paste i'm
Their Hats.

Inc new GameWell Fire Alarm SyS-
TEN was officially tested this after
noon and found to be complete and in
perfect working order.
The three alarm systems-at the
city hall, Chief Phillips livery and
Wiltgen's livery were tested in turn,
and the apparatus worked like charm
in every detail.
There are fifteen fire alarm boxes,
stationed at convenient points through
the business part of the city. Follow
ing are the box numbers, together
with their location:
12-Front and Elm.
14-Second and Vine.
16-Fifth and Rock.
19-Third and Washington.
25-Front and Plum.
27-Third and Walnut.
29-Fifth and Mulberry.
32-Fifth and Hickory.
35-FrOnt and Cherry.
37-Third and Warren.
39-Van Brunt and Carroll.
43-Clark and Center.
45-State and Marshall.
47-RecOrd and Fulton.
63-West Side.
1t will be important for the citizens
to remember the above locations, and
they should be cut out and pasted
where they can be seen when needed.
There will be no more calling of wards,
either by the bell in the city hall or
the new steam whistle to be placed on
the water works pumping station. In
stead, the box numbers will be blown
and tapped off on the bell. Box num-
Der 81 may be used for an Illustration:
The bell will first tap three times-3.
There will be an interval of four sec
onds, then two laps-2, making box
number 80. Then comes another in
terval of fourteen seconds, then the
operation is repeated twice more,
making three distinct calls. The
same alarm is simultaneous at the
two hose wagon stations, and it is I'M
derstood that the new fire whistle will
be worked under the same plan for
the benefit of the fremen and the
general public. When the alarm is
sounded turn to your list, note the
box number and the street corner fol-
lowing, and-there you are. After a
short time you will be familiar with
the numbers as well as the location,
and instead of a ward alarm covering
perhaps half square mile you have a
box number and street corner within
block or two of the scene of the con-
flagration.
The bell at the city hall is struck on
the rim with a hammer so delicately
counterbalanced with clockwork that
an electric key on the first floor
touches it off. The machinery re-
quires winding on the average about
once after every five fires.
Keys will be found within easy
reach of the alarm boxes. Any citizen
has the right to use them upon the
olSOONOly VI q LII liz CAdCU Dldu VI
the arrangement of the keys is not
yet known, but it is believed they will
be hung on nail in small box with
glass door just above the alarm box.
The glass has previously been cut
horizontally with a diamond so that a
gentle tap will break it and the key
can be easily obtained. Once the
alarm box is opened simple pull at
the lever instantly turns in an alarm,
and where minutes were required to
get an alarm under the old irresponsi.
BILE system of telephoning it can now
be accomplished in as many seconds.
1t is understood that the Creamery
Package company whistle will also be
used to sound fire alarms on the same
principle as the bell in the city hall.
John t. Stack, of Chicago, put in
the system, and he has done his work
thoroughly and well.