The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-02
THEY ARE PLEASED
INSURANCE MEN EXAMINE WIOH-
ITA'S FIRE ALARM sYSTER.

Every Detail IL Explained and They Vote
the City as Being Protected Not Only
With the Best System In the State But
the Cheapest-Bou the Alarm Works
Oniy Ten Seconds Time Required From
the Time the Alarm Is Given Until
Electrician Stewart Complimcnted.
Fire Chief Walden was showing a,
party of insurance men through the
city yesterday and the splendid sys-
tenn of fire alarms in use here was the
Subject Of commendation Of the men
and was the means of sending all the
men away as strong advocates of the
system in use in this city; which is low
er in cost than that of any other city
and yet pronounced by the insurance
agents as equal to the best.
The city in use in this city is largely
due to the work of George Stewart, the
city's electrician, who has, by his study,
bropght the sytem UP TO a perfection
which is simply wonderful, and probab-
ly not dozen persons in the city Of
Wichita are aware of the protection
which is thus thrown about them at
night.
In the city there are some IS fire alarm
boxes and by the simple turning of the
crank the alarm is sent to every fire
house in the city, to the chiefs head
quarters. to his residence and on tapes
the number of the box is recorded, and
no time is lost in reaching that point
Aside from this the horses which are
Id in hal xtolI lie
ed and at once jump into their places
where the man on watch lets the har-
ress fall upon them, the harness are
snapped together, the doors are thrown
open, every fireman is awakened and in
ten seconds from the time the person
touches the crank at the fire box every
thing it ready for start, which is made
by the department in whose district the
fire box is located, but the rest of the
departments stand ready to respond up
on a second alarm being turned in.
There can be no mistake made, as to
the location. as the electric instrument
at all the places record the number OF
the box. Say, for instance, it is box
No. 142, record is made as follows:
:. and this number is re-
peated twice. The little crank in the
fire box turns loose at least dozen
gongs and the alarm IS thorough.
Aside from this Mr.. Stewart has plac-
ed a burglar alarm in all the leading
stores in the city and it is impossible
to-open door, window or cross the
floor without the alarm being recorded
at the office in the city building and i'm
mediately the boy who is on watch
turns in an alarm at the police headquar
tiers which shows the officer on charge
exactly where the building has been en-
tered. 1t is impossible to cut any OF
the wires either Of the burglar alarm
or fire alarm without the fact being
made known at headquarters.
Often the proprietor of the store finds
IT necessary to return to the store after
he has closed his doors at night, but he |
is always meet by a policeman or two
within few mniutesaf ter he enters
the store. The alarm is not made In |
the store which is entered but at head |
quarters in the city building a dozen
bells are turned loose which make as |
much noise as Gabriel IS supposed TO |
make on the last day, and they keep |
on ringing until the boy in charge ans
wers the call and shuts them off.
Aside from this Mr.. Stewart Is making |
several electric inventions and expects
within a few days to have an instru-
ment perfected for taking X rays. and
making other electrical experiments.
1t is an interesting place for any per-
son TO spend an hour in this city build |
Ing and learn how perfectly the city Is |
protected not only from fire but from |
burglars as well. Wichita is said to |
be up TO any city in the country with |
to its fire alarms.