Evening star., 1900-08-01
SYSTEM NOT AUXILIARY
FIRE ALARM COMPANY's REQUEST
NOT COMPLIED WITH.
Recommendation Made by Mr.. w. G.
Allen, District Electrical Engineer,
Approved by Commissioners.

The Instantaneous Fire Alarm Company
of which Mr.. George B. Williams is presi-
dent, was recently ordered by the District
Commissioners to remove from the street
fire alarm boxes of the municipality all of
its attachments. In reply Mn Williams
transmitted a plat showing certain changes
in the arrangement of the company's wires,
made necessary by the Commissioners or
der. and asking permission to make such
changes. The matter was referred by the
Commissioners to Mr. w. c. Allen, the
District electrical engineer, who has in
formed them that the system connected by
the company's wires. as shown on the plat,
is entirely Independent of the District fire
alarm system and cannot be considered as
auxiliary thereto.
In an opinion rendered October 81 1898
states Mr.. Allen, the then attorney for the
District held that If the companys instan-
taneous fire alarm connections should be
removed the company would have no right
TO string additional overhead wires in order
10 MAINTAIN its service. This position says
MT: Allen, was recognized by the company
IN its endeavor to obtain legislation grant
ing II this desired permission. Mr. Allen
mas therefore, recommended that the Com
missioners notify the company that per
mission to string these wires cannot be
granted, and that recommendation the
Commissioners have approved.
Must be Done by District.
Mr.. Allen has also informed the Commits
sioners that in removing the attachments
OF the company from the District fire
alarm boxes it is quite necessary that the
work shall be done by employees of the
/ electrical department, so as to avoid any
question as to interference with the sue
cesSiuI operation of the municipal system.
Each box, he explains, now auxiliarized
contains attachments which must be re-
~,
atterward- Mr. Allen estimates the cost
or this work to be $50 and he recommends
that the company be requested to imme-
diately deposit this amount with the col
rector or taxes, with the understanding
that II the cost of the work exceeds this
sum an additional one shall be deposited
TO make up the deficiency. and that any
balance will be returned to the COMPANY
This recommendation the Commissioners
nave also approved.
Certain Of the departments of the general
government are now connected by means of
the auxiliary system of the comnany wit n
street boxes of the Districts fire alarm
system. and Mr.. Allen suggests that these
departments be notified that the company
mas been ordered to take out its attach
hlentS TO the boxes but that If the deDart-
ments decide to retain the auxiliary at
tachments in their offices it can best be
done by purchasing outright a fire alarm
pox from the electrical department of the
District
In that event. Mr.. Allen says. his depart
ment will connect its system with the gov
ernment departments. or the government
can require the company to furnish such
boxes. which will also be connected with
the local system The cost OF such boxes
| Is Sl25 each. and the cost of the installa-
'ion or each amounts to about $40. II the
various government departments purchase
such boxes they will be operated without
cost TO them. and will only be pulled In
case of fire in the respective offices
ihese offices are as follows: Maltby build
ing connected with box at New Jersey
| avenue and B street: fish pond building
monument lot. connected with box on 1Tth
street between F and G.: government print
ing chice warehouse. connected with box
| at North Capitol and l. streets; bureau of
education, connected with box at 9th and
| streets; civil service building connected
| with box at 9th and + streets: government
printing office stables. connected with box
/ at North Capitol and F streets, and weatn-
| er bureau, connected with box at 34th and
/ NJ streets.