Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-17
POLICE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM
Subject of a Report by Mayor
Last Night.
C0MPANYS PROPOSITION
Action With Reference to Back Taxes on
Church Property--That fwenty-frst
Street Bridge.

a regular session in the city han last
night, with the following present:
Mayor VanIIoose and Aldermen Ward,
Harrington. McCartin, Enslen, Pearce,
Jackson, Kettig, Gillespie and Mcknight.
Clerk a. ]. Camp read the minutes of
the previous meeting, which were APP
proved.
Mayor VanHoose then submitted the
following report in reference to a police
telegraph system:
Police Telegraph System.
| beg leave to lay before you and to
recommend to you for investigation and
adoption measure which is of so much
importance that it is specially submitted
in writing.
You viii remember that this board,
early in 1885, induced by the urgent ne
cessity Of additional police protection,
UNANIMOUSLY agreed to adopt and put
Into opera ton the system known as the
GameWell Police Signal Telegraph"
provided the legislature passed the nee
esSary bill TO aid in doing so. This was
not granted. | then endeavored to pur-
chase the plant and equipment on time
from the company, with such terms of
payment as would justify this board in
making the purchase. This | was unable
TO obtain The company insisting upon
cash ON completion
now have proposition from the COM
pany Offering to construct and put into
proper wording order the system with
twenty boxes for the same sum hereto
fore named, namely: $4,000, possibly
little less, and to take in payment the
cltys notes at one, two, three and four
years time, with per cent interest.
The present system has been materially
lmprot ID since We first agreed to adopt
ii. and is now - designed and arranged
as to furnish not only improved and m
pie facilities to the police department,
but as also SO improved as to practically
give the tire department twenty addi-
tional fire alarm boxes.
According 10 the best estimate [ can
make. the city will be a BILE to meet these
payments as they fall due. Situated as
Birmingham Is. on the intersection of the
great iron highways, leading from the
north and northwest to the south, and
Jefferson county being SO largely the
dumping ground of convlcts, the condi-
tons force us to maintain strong po-
lice force The present force is too small
to properly protect life and property. The
proposed system is estimated by the va
rious chiefs Of police where it is in opera
ton TO be equivalent to from ten to TWEEN
ty-five additional officers.
When TO his is added, as is now ar
ranged for in the proposed system, twen-
ty additional fire alarm boxes, in which
emf duty to earnestly investigate the
advlsabtity of its erection and purchase.
Reference Is asked to the finance com
mittee. as II seems one mainly of finance
with the earnest hope that they will after
investigation concur in the recommended
ton
Follow Ing is the proposition from the
Fire ana Police Telegraph company:
The Proposition.
September II, 1896.
Hon J. 4. VanHoose, Mayor, Birmingham,
Dear Sir: At your instance | beg to
submit for my company the following
proposition:
We Will furnish your city with twenty
latest improved police telegraph boxes
one central office cabinet complete, one
stable outfit complete; all of the boxes
and apparatus To be equipped with tele-
phone conneetions The telephones them
selves to be obtained from the Bell Tele-
phone company; fifteen miles of No. II
insulated copper wire, the necessary
goneS and battery to operate the system.
The city to furnish the poles on which to
erect the wire circuit. The above to be
constructed and installed so as to con-
stitute an efficient police telegraph sys-
tenn to be built complete ready to oper-
ate for the sum of $4,000, on the following
terms:
Equal annRal payments to be made in
of acceptance and completion of the
w rk; 6 per cent interest on deferred pay
ments.
The police boxes are so constructed
that n number of signals may be sent
over each among which are ambulance
calls. report calls, citizen calls and fire
alarm calls. There are five or more keys
distributed i'm the neghborhood of each
box, and if in the judgment of the proper
authorities Il be deemed best the keys
may be intrusted to police officers and
responsible citizens, which will give them
access to the inner pechanism of the
boxes and enable them to send any call
above mentioned.
We believe this system will greatly in
crease the efficiency of the police depart
ment. besides being found valuable
auxiliary to the fire department. Respect
fully submitted,
C. A. RAY,
President of Fire and Police Telegraph
Company, Louisville, Ky.
The matter was referred to the finance
committee af# ..=
General Proceedings.
The recommendation to allow the men,
bers OF the fire department seven days
leave of absence each with full pay was
referred to the fire committee.
The last lot of hose ordered for the fire
department was accepted and the mayor
authorized to settle for same by notes.
ferred to Proper committees.
Monthly bills were read and ordered
paid.
officer A. A. Gambill made a PROPOSE
ton to prepare for the city a street and
poll tax record book for $50. The propo-
sition was accepted.
A communication from Officer Gambill
was read, in which he stated that he had
fulfilled his contract with the city in COL
Letting $4,000 street and poll tax, on
which he was allowed 8 per cent. He
proposed to collect S21 900 and asked if he
did so to he allowed the additional l per
cent at first proposed to be paid him.
The proposition was agreed to.
The mayor was instructed to confer
with proper persons in charge of church
property in this city and inform them
that if one-siXth of the amount due
the city by them be paid and the balance
in monthly installments, all to be paid in
six months. no harsh steps would be ia
ken, but unless this be done process
Will be taken as against other property
Alderman Enslen from the street COM
mittee reported the Twenty-first street
bridge in an unsafe condition. The
chairman of the committee and the city
engineer were instructed to secure es-
Inmates as t. cost of repairing same.
alderman McC'artin brought nm. tha