The times., 1898-08-09
THE DISTRICT TELEGRAPH.
superintendent Miles Submits His
Annual Report,

te!eBfdDN ana telepnone service Oh thS
Distric. Government, submitted his an
nual report to the Commissioners yester-
day. 1t is in part as follows:
Many improvements were made. in
cluding the renewal in part of the patrol
system in the frs, second. third, fourth,
seventh and ninth precincts; new office in
struments and twenty-eight new signal
boxes were put in service, and vast
Improvement effected in the wiring. The
service in these precincts has since been
very good.
I'm the nine precincts there are only
152 boxes from which reports can be made.
OF these go are booth boxes; 73 wall boxes
of the Gamewell pattern; II of the NUM-
cipal -ye of wall box and telephone
call boxes in the county
THE limited extension OF the fire alarm
telegraph under the insufficient appro-
priation for that purpose is only begin
ming of the work which should speedily
cover many unprotected localities within
the city limits, as well as vast areas of
the suburbs. where good water supply
has been provided, but no provision made
for calling the fire department when
| needed At least 100 additional boxes
VIII be required for that purpose.
On the twelve signal circuits now con-
structed there are distributed 235 fire
| alarm boxes These circuits ought TO be
| increased to twenty and the boxes TO 335
! as soon as possible. There are now only
SIX alarm circuits constructed and in use
/ These should be increased to ten, SO
as to provide for the additional five COM
panies which will, no doubt, be estab-
Iished very soon.
During the year 1895, upon the urgent
request of many good citizens, ten key
less doors were put in service on that
| number of fire-alarm boxes in the central
! and business part of the city, but upon
| long and fair trial ii was found that very
many false alarms were given through
| these doors. and. after proper deliberatlon
| by the Commissioners IL was decided the
2lst of January, 1898, to abandon the use
| OF the keyless doors, going back TO the
plain doors. These are fitted with lock
| and key, and a key guard protector with
| glass face, so that trapped key may
! be lett in each lock. When a fire occurs
this glass may be broken. the box un-
! locked with the trapped key. This plan
has given such good results that during
the Spring months of the present season
100 additional key guards have been pro-
cured and put on the old boxes-and all
new boxes purchased are fitted with key
guards. Thus far but few false alarms
have been given through the boxes which
have these key guards.
The sum of 5000 was appropriated for
the renewal Of portions of the patrol syS-
tenn. and in View of the fact that owing
10 The ineffciency of former appropria-
| tons to keep the system in good repair
and hence the necessity for beginning the
good work. this item was made availa-
Ole on and after the Tth Of April, 1897 The
work of renewal was begun almost i'm
nngdiafais- a hat fa-a Il
forward as RAPIDLY as possible. and the
following apparatus purchased:
Six desks fer support of instruments.
seven improved registers for station
house. twelve 100 Ohm relays for sta
ton house boxes, thirty-eight new latest
improved patrol boxes; total cost. 5000.
The sum of 81. so was appropriated for
extension of the fire alarm telegraph. and
was expended as follows: tn rty-five new
Boxes. with latest improvements; poles
for support of wire EXTENSION extra labor
for construction OF lines. cross arms and
.nsulators. wire for extension OF lines,
two eighteen-inch excelsior gongs for
, engine houses; total cost, $500.
These extensions covered portions o.
the Georgetown Heights, as far 10 the
north as Tenleytown. from Mount Pleas
ant to Brightwood and Brlghtwood Park
Takoma Park and Brookiand Neither
pace, however, is sufficiently supplied
with fire alarm boxes. At least double
that number could be and should be
. placed within the bounds mentioned. Sew
eraI other suburban localities are in
great need OF protection. as well as many
places In the city, so that at least lOt
new boxes Will be required. and the pur-
chase and erection of those ought 10 be
provided for in the next appropriation
bilI. and will be recommended by me al
the proper time and place.
About 100 miles of new No. y hard
drawn copper wire has been put up dur
ing the year in the fire alarm telegraph
in lieu of that length of the old No. iror
| wire, which was put in service during
.Ie year 1915. This greatly improved the
service. Some confusion was experienced
during the year by the frequent pulling
. of two or more boxes on the same cir
cult for the same fire. as sixty of the old
= style of boxes which were put in service
twenty or more years ago are not strict
lv mountaineering This defect Will, II
a short time. be entirely obviated by re
| placing these old-style boxes with new
5 ones.
THE new central ONCE Improvement
= which are soon 10 be made, together Will
the new boxes just mentioned. WILL
, trust. insure an excellent service IN tn
- matter OF receiving dIiu 1IdHSHiittiiiS q.
alarms for fire.
There are now only twelve metalli
signal circuits on which are located %
signal boxes. There are also six metaili
5 alarm circuits on which are distribute
i the several fire companies and alarm bell
No l circuit running to engine house
Nos I. IL and 13; No. circuit has truc
4 company A. Assistant Chief Belts resi-
n dence, No. engine company and NO ]
: engine company; No. 3 alarm circuit ha
on it chemical engine company, NO
Evening Star office. Riggs Insuranc
Company. Arlington Insurance Compan
and engine company No. 8; No, circui
has truck company C, No. engine com
pany No. / engine company. truck coz
many b and No. engine company; NJ
: circuit has engine company No. 6. res
dence of Chief Paris truck company L
engine company No. u and large gon
az fire alarm office; No. 6 circuit has er
CINE companies Nos. 4. and IA.
.our switch board and repeaters hav
provision only for the limited number c
circuits mentioned. and hence 1t is pro
posed to put in a new switch board wit
capacity for thirty signal and ten alari
circuits and to increase the alarm circuit
of the present manual repeater to te:
which will enable US to add from tim
TO time such improvements may b,
come necessary. 1t is also proposed
substitute storage batteries in lieu of tt
gravity batteries now in use.
i I'm the pa.rol service of the police dt
a partment there are 152 stations frol
J. whence reports and calls can be mad
Eight of the precincts urgently need mo,
{ boxes