The Washington times., 1902-01-17
POLICE BOXES
OLD AND WORN.
Engineer W. c. Allen Asks
Aid From Congress.
IMPROVEMENTS BADLY NEEDED.
Present Appropriation of $4,000
Not Sufficient TO Cover Running
ENpenscs-Noncy Needed for the
Rebuilding: Of Lines in Majority OF
Precincts.

Mr.. Walter C. Allen, the Electrical
Engineer, has submitted to the District
Commissioners a report upon the work
inss of the police patrol system, of which
certain criticisms have appeared in The
Times.
The matter was called to the attention
of the Commissioners by letter from
MAYOR Sylvester. complaining of the
working of some of the police patrol
boxes.
History of the Service.
Mr.. Allen enters into cn exhaustive
history of the service. showing when the
boxes in the several precincts were es-
tabiished, and reciting the efforts of the
department TO keep them in working or
der. He states that a number Of these
boxes in various parts Of the District are
old and worn. and that an appropriati tion
should be made by Congress to replace
them.
Mr.. Allen explains that the police pa
troll service was placed under his charge
In July, 1898. He then gives a summary
of the number of boxes and the charac-
ter Of the circuits On that date and the
changes and extensions that have since
been made.
Many Ancient Boxes.
In the First precinct there were IN
1888 fourteen old-style booth boxes, all
connected to enc grounded circuit. Dur
ing the fiscal year ended June 30, 1860
al the boxes except the cne at Fifteenth
anc Streets, were replaced BY the latest
improved wall boxes, the cne grounded
circuit was removed, and the boxes con-
nected 20 two separate fcur-wire circuits.
lwo boxes were also added.
lhe Second precinct, in 1898 had six
teen wall boxes and one old booth box
connected to two grounded circuits Al
thouSh several boxes have been added
IN tne last two years, no changes have
becn made in the character of the cir
cuts The precinct now has eighteen
good wall boxes and one old booth, with
two circuits in lad condition
The Third precinct had sixteen old
booths connected on two grounded cir
cuts. There are now three good boxes
ana seventeen old ones: one good four
Wire metallic circuit and one grounded
one.
Two Grounded Circuits.
The Fourth precinct. in 1898 had four
Teen old booth and three wall boxes cen
hectea on two grounded circuits These
wires are greatly interfe-ed with by in
ouctlon from the telegraph wires of the
s;eam railroad lines, and from the over
head electric arc light wires OF the
chlted states Electric Lighting COMPANY
en- Maryland avenue, from Sixth to Four
teenth Streets. They are also in had
condition IN other respects. The precinct
now has three good wall boxes. one wall
f1f
booths; the two circuits are still ground
ed. and In bad condition.
Inc F1ith precinct. in 1888 had fifteen
wall boXes connected to TWO three-vire
metallic circuits. During the fiscal wear
l699 one box was added; during 1901 TWO
were added. The precinct now has
eighteen wall boxes in fair shane and ty,c
me'aillc circuits in good condition.
Circuits In Poor Shane.
The sixth precinct had thirteen coed
wall boxes connected to two groun5ad
circuits. During the year 1900 one old
box vas added, and during the year 1901
two new boxes were added The precinct
now has fifteen coed boxes, one old one
and two grounded circuits in Door com
dition
The Seventh precinct in 1898 had four
teen old wall boxes and four good ones
connected to three circuits, two grounded
and all in poor condition The urecin,.t
now has four good wall boxes, twenty old
boxes and booths, two good three-wire
metallic circuits and one very poor cir
cult.
The Eighth precinct in 1898 had four
teen good wall boxes and five with teIe-
phones only all connected on four cir
cults. two of which were three wire me-
tallic circuits. and two grounded. On ac-
NJ hn cl,-
ms precinct now has only fifteen good
wall boxes, one old booth and two good
three-wire metallic circuits
The Ninth precinct had thirteen old
booths and six good wall boxes connected
TO four grounded circuits. The precinct
now has six good boxes, sixteen old ones.
one good three-wire metallic circuit. and
three poor grounded circuits
Lines Entirely Rebuilt.
During the present fiscal year the Tenth |
precinct has been established and the lines
rebuilt. The line to which were connected
the five telephone stations of tho former
Eighth precinct was rebuilt as a three
wire metallic circuit as far as Takoma
Park. new three-wire metallic cir
cult was also built to connect with the
boxes in Brookland and a new three-wire
metallic circuit built as far as Twenty
second Street and Massachusetts Ave
nue.. This precinct now has ten good wall
boxes, six old booths, and three good |
three-wire metallic circuits.
Mr.. Allen calls attention TO the fact |
that the appropriation is wholly made |
quate for the bare running expenses of |
the department, and shows that there |
have been the following deficiencies: Year |
ending June 30. 1899. 81 4S0.Sl; year end
ing June 30. 1900. S2.396.05; year ending
June 80 1901, s1,478.13; year ending |
June so. 1902, S2,57O4s
Ar. Allen estimates that Il will require |
ninety new boxes at s135 each, or s12I5O,
with $4,000 for rebuilding the lines be- |
fore the patrol service can be placed in |
proper shape.
It is impossible TO pay for any of this
work of improvement from the genera!
appropriation Of s12, 600, as the above de-
feiencies show II TO be insufficient for
the running expenses alone.
Turns I'm False Alarms.