Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1908-02-18
Bell Striker Rusty and Dirty Whistle Machines in Bad
Condition; Two Of Fire indicators in Poor Shape
Several Boxes Not Right Cleaning Needed
ADVISE CHANGE.
Aldermen Order Copy Of Report
Sent TO New York & New Jsr-
sey Telephone Company,
With Instructions to Put
System in Condition.

The fire alarm system has been
very much neglected, according to a
report submitted by the Gamewell
Fire Alarm Company to the fire COM
mittee of the Board of Aldermen,
which was read last night The city
clerk was directed to forward copy
of the report to the New York & New
Jersey Telephone Company, with in
structions to put 1t in condition, ac-
cording to contract.
The Gamewell people have ordered
fire alarm box transm1tter and have
added break wheel No. 5, by which
the five tape for police call can be
easily sounded. There will be no
further charge for this. The report,
according to the company's engineers,
was, in brief, as follows:
The battery plant is in good condi-
ton; SO are the lines, with a few ex-
ceptions, where slack should be cut
out; the bell striker is rusty and
dirty; the whistle machine at the
Ceramic works is SO rusty and dirty
that 1t is completely out of service
and should be cleaned; the whistle
machine at the terra Gotta works Is
dirty and rusty and has loose con-
nections in the wires; the machine
should be cleaned and the joints in
the wire soldered and taped; two of
the i've indicators are in bad shape;
NO. engine house Indicator was out
OF adjustment and out of service on
this account; 1t was adjusted and will
probably work; 1t Is very dirty from
smoke of a turnout and should be
cleaned; No. 4 house Indicator is
dirty and rusty and requires clean
ing.
The boxes, with some exceptions.
are in fair condition; the lines lead
ing to box 26 are In trees and are
dangerously close to other wire; box
80 line is slack; 54 has no pipe cap
and the wire is loose from lower
cross arm box, and needs cleaning;
63 line is slack; 65 has been burnt,
and needs repairs and cleaning; the
automatic repeater has been touched
with a heavy current and its opera
ton impaired; the company will re-
pair 1t Iortly; the telegraph line
part should be put in first class con-
dition; all apparatus should be put
in good order.
The system has not received the
proper care, according to the report,
and the company advises that some
one be appointed who can be held re-
sponsible for its condition at all
times, and, unless this is done, sat-
isfactory results cannot be expected.
At the time the system was installed,
the Gamewell company used gravity
or chemical battery. Now they re-
commend storage battery, which re-
qufres controlling switchboard The
latter costs considerable at first, but
the company believes 1t would pay
for 1t in the long run.
Two Apply for Alarm Job.
Thomas Baker, ex-chief of the fire
department, offered to keep the
alarm system in order for five years
at $400 yearly. He offered to pay
his own expenses and go to the Game
well company and learn the points he
does not understand. In that way,
his letter stated, the only expense to
the city would be for supplies and to
pay for repair work, such as fixing
wires, etc. He would also make an
inspection monthly and see that all
alarm box keys were in the proper
place am near at han1. The COM
munication was relerred to the fire
committee.
V. P. Christoffersen offered, for
81 900 per annum, for period of
five years, to take care of the fire
alarm system. He offered to move
the striking apparatus to city hall or
other place provided and to put the
system in first class order; to in
spect all boxes and lines, testing
them at least four times year; fur
nish all material except that needed
for extensions, and parts of Game
well boxes; keep record of all keys
and see that they are placed in boxes
ready for use Immediately after each
alarm. His communication was re-
ferred to the committee on fire.