New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-31
FIRE ALARMSIN OTHER CITIES
THE COMMISSIONERS RETURN FROM A
TOUR OF INSPECTION.
WASHINGTON AND BALTIMORE vIsrTED-T

WASHINGTON AND BALTIMORE vIsTTED-To
LESSEN THE EXPENSE OF PRIVATE SERVICE
Fire Commissioners La Grange Ford and Shelf
field went to Washington Sunday evening and
spent the better part of Monday examining the
auxiliary hre-a,arm system In use In the Govern
ment buildings in that city. Commissioners Ford
and Sheffield returned TO NewYork together yeser-
day morning. while President La Grange waited for
a later train and expected to make short stay
in Baltimore where the fre-alarm system
as that used in Washington IS being tried. Mr.
Ford said. upon his arrival at Fire Headquarters
early In the afternoon. that the Commissioners had
been studying the plans for auxiliary fire
alarm system for this city. and they wanted to see
for themselves how some of the systems worked in
practice.
The New-York Fire Departments chief system Of
fire alarms that by which alarms Of fire trans
mtted to headquarters by wires from the signal
boxes in the streets and from Headquarters to all
of the engine-houses by another set OF wires, has
already been supplemented by three other systems
the special building system. the automatic system
and the thermOstat system--each Of which has a
separate set OF wires 10 convey the alarms 10
Headquarters The three auxiliary systems now In
In the city are expensive on account OF the
special circuits required but the expense falls upon
the persons corporations who use them and not
upon the city. Those who pay for automatic and
thermostat systems supposed to save the ex-
fire breaking out in such building would imne-
diately set off the alarms The use OF such alarms
Is entirely voluntary. and persons who use them
willing 10 pay for them.
The special building system. however is required
by law All owners Of theatres obliged by law
to make use OF the system by which alarms OF nre
can be transmitted directly from the theatres. ana
to pay the charges OF the company which MAINTAINS
the special building system Of alarms. SO also are
the owners of large factories and stores in which
many persons are employed. The expense FOR each
building in which the signal boxes Of the system are
placed is $40 a year There are about 20 such
buildings in the CITY, and that means yearly reVe'
nue. Of s2s 900 for the company. Commissioner for'
said yesterday that the law had the effect to levy
blackmail upon some Of buildings IN me
city. The owners had complained OF the great COST
OF maintaining the special building alarms but they
told that the expense was not eNcessVe pecaue
1t was necessary for the company 10 naln'aii. =
separate set Of wires connect the signal boxes
with Fire Headquarters. ,,
sioners are examining is one by when the alarms
of are transmitted from buildings 10 the stltc
signal boxes and then by the boxes TO heai1Ha,
ters thus saving an extra set OF wires to Head,
quarters. Under such system the cost o. spe.la
building alarms for single building wouIa ., ohlt
so a year instead OF $40 year. me ADOPTION o.
such a system probably would be followed 10y llSt
increase in the number OF special building alarm
stations. as many persons wouin wan, l" ,r -.
means OF sending alarms from their stores OF private
dwellings when the expense was silRfl'- !, i
Commissioner Ford said yesterday mat ne an
the other Commissioners were perinti"d, 70 srll
| alarms from box in the Patent Office In Nashing
ton on Monday. and they were much iinpi'ss.H ~
the apparent perfection OF the system In use tAsre
| There was an explosion in the Patent ONCE Re-"
| DAYS ago which might have caused an enormous 'os'
| by fire but the alarm was sounded nan ml.u''
| in time to keep the flames from spreading beyont
| the room in which they started