The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-28
THE FIRE ALARM
System and It's RsconStrRotlon Tho
GSmewslI Experts Report TO the Coun-
ell Fire Department Committee.

SyHA0m AHu
Gamewsii Experts Report 10 the Coun-
ell Fire Department Committee.
The Gamewell expert here inspecting
the fire alarm system has completed his
report. but the council committee on the
fire department has not yet completed
its labors In connection. The expert, C.
f. Maulen, advised new wires for this
side OF the river, those on the Island
being In good shape The boxes cleaned
by Chief Rlieves are In perfect order,
but 1t was advised that the remaining
boxes be cleaned. This report is u
strong vindication of the chief, who all
along claimed that given new wires he
could set the alarm system right,
About twenty miles OF wire Is neces-
sary, making n cost Of probably 5000
The three circuits now mny Joe changed
to five, and a switchboard will likely
be ordered by the committee, which
was authorized by council to spend
1880. Piping Of all the wires on the
poles will also be recommended. At
present the wires are piped only part Of
the way up the poles. The wires will
be insulated.
The council fire committee met last
night, and concuFred IN all the sugges-
tons of the expert. His report was
then turned over to the sub-cOmmit-
tee previously appointed for that pur-
pose. The latter body which Is COM
posed of Messrs. Baird, NesbItt and
Gartley, meets to-day, and It Is assured
that bids for new wires, poles, etc, will
be considered. Among other things
last nights deliberations resulted In
was the ordering Of the purchase OF
three hundred feet OF three-fourth inch
hose at thirty cents per foot, and three
feet Of one inch hose at thlrN five
cents per foot, from the Fire Extin-
gulsher Company, OF Chicago, Its bid
being selected from the others.
The experts report in full was as
follows:
To the Hon. Fire Committee.
GBNTLENIEN:-Th following is my
report Of the true condition Of the fire
alarm system, as found by me since
the commencement OF my inspection
last Friday, October n.
commenced my inspection by exam
lining the battery. found the entire
set OF batteries in excellent condition,
the solution showing n specific gravity
of 20 min. on the standard hydromcter
The line gaivanometeT which shows the
quantity Of battery passing over the
circuits, stood at 30 min. which Is the
standard for all fire alarm systems
throughout the country,
next inspected the fifty-six street
boxes and found that out Of the entire
number abOut-one-ha Of them need
overhaullng and repairs, such as your
carc-taker Is competent OF making,
Judging from the condition In which
found those which had been renovated
by him recently. l wish to say, how
ever, that the old style boxes should all
be- exchanged for new and improved In
stFuments which contain the latest
safeguards and improvements, prevent
Ing burn.outs and other destruction
frequently oCCuslOned by the line wires
accidentally coming In contact with
electric light and trolley currents, A
very important aud valuable feature "
these boxes being one which prevents
interruption and MISUNDERSTANDING In
case two or more boxes on the same cir.
cult are pulled at the same time The
Gamewell Company make allowance
for such exchanges
~ for the FIRE house gonEa md indt.
Gators, I win state that they nro all
nntlqu0tcd and worn out and should be
exchanged for new and Improved ones.
only one of the Indicators are now In
service, the balance If them needing
repairs badly The gong part, however,
has been 20 adjusted as to receive
alarms correctly and win probably do
service for while longct
The tower he'll STRIKER I found prop.
crly adjusted ana In COCA condition