The herald., 1896-05-31
THE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Subject Of Chief Moore's Interesting
Lecture
The Members Of the Y. n. c. A. Treated to an
Entertaining Exposition Of How Fires
Are Discovered and Extingulshed

The stage in the auditorium of the
Y. M. G. A. building was converted into
a regular fire station last night on the
occasion of Fire Chief Walter s. Moore's
lecture before the young men of the
association on the subject of the city fire
department. There was on the stage
a formidable array of apparatus for
fighting fire, including large coils of
hose, big nozzles, chemical eXtinguish-
ers, axes, hooks, joints, couplings, alarm
boxes, bells and everything almost but
an engine and horses. The purpose of
these was to illustrate the chiefs talk
as he proceeded.
Previous to the lecture brief mus
ical program was rendered. Mr.. Nc
Mullen opened with n delightful piano
solo, after which Charles Valentine con-
tributed a most enjoyable number on the
violin, receiving hearty encore. A
vocal solo by Mr.. Cogswell of the U. s. c.
was so we'll received that an encore was
given.
Chief Moore was then introduced and
received q most hearty greeting of ap-
plause. Mr.. Moore went directly at his
subject, beginning with few remin-
isances of the experience of the early
fire department, which, as he said, con-
sisted Of a bucket and sand brigade. In
those days, said he, there was not so
great need of a department as now.
Only small number of scattering
houses, mostly one story high, consti-
tuted the principal part of the town, and
a fire could not have been very disas-
trous had it broken out. The chief then
told of the first voluntary fire company
organized by ex-Mayor Tom Rowan and
others, of their experience in hauling
their heavy engine through the sand,
and their failure to setere an appropria-
ton from the city council and the conse-
quent disbanding of the brigade. The
speakers review of the succeeding COM
ranies which were organized was not
OrlU &c interesting.
of sparkling humor
1t was not until 1885 that the volun-
tary companies We're succeeded by a
regular paid department, which has
grown until now it is one of the most
important and expensive parts of the
municipality. He then gave general
discourse on the organization of the de-
partment, the training of the men, the
method of promotion, etc, explaining IN
detail the workings of the system. His
portrayal of the life of the fire fighter
was full of interest and vivid descrip-
lions of the dangers encountered.
Afterwards he explained with great
many witticisms how it is that the Los
Angeles department. always taxes ions.
err to get to the fire than ours did at
home" 1t is not matter of hitching
up, said the chief, but of knowing where
to go.
Suppose a fire breaks out in the night
No one discovers it until the policeman
the sky. 1t then takes some time to get
to the alarm box and send in the mes
sage How that is done will be ex-
planned by Ira ]. Francis, the electri-
clan of the department. Mr. Farncis
then came forward and by the use of the
electrical apparatus on the stage illus
trated the method of transmitting
alarms from distant point to the CEN
trail office. His explanation was in
tensely interesting and made plain the
intricate workings of the electrical ma
chinery All of the details were care
fully explained so that anyone might
understand.
Speaking Of the fire alarm boxes he
said: 1.-The old alarm box which is a
very simple arrangement, is good
enough in a small town where there are
but few boxes, but in a city the size Of
this great confusion would result from
the turning in of alarms from different
points at the same time. The nom
interference succession box, however,
obviates this difficulty by allowing
alarms to come in one after another,
even though they are sent simultane-
ously." Mr.. Francis showed the diff
ference between the two kinds of boxes
and explained the mechanism of each.
AT the central Office in this city are
eight signal circuits. The essential part
Of the repeater, which Is an instrument
for taking the signal from one circuit
and transmitting it to another one.
There are two kinds Of circuits. One
connects fire alarm messages and the
other connects with the engine houses.
With few general remarks Mr.. Fran
els concluded his portion Of the lecture
Chief Moore resumed the subject at
this point and told in clear manner
how the department goes about extin-
gushing fire. He used the various
pieces Of apparatus to illustrate the Diff