The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-30
TOWER BELLS MAY
 HAVE TO 60 SOON
Little Bells Give Alarms Faster 10 Those
 Connected With Fire Department.
HOW SYSTEM IS ARRANGED

Many persons have expressed curios- ity over the time that elapses between the ringing of the small gongS in the fire engine houses and the tower bells. In several instances recently the fire apparatus has been several blocks away from the fire before the bells in the towers were heard. This loss of time is accounted for by the fact that the tower bells are no longer on the circuits connected with the alarm boxes, but are operated by a manual system.
 When the fire commissioners wanted the alarm system speeded up in order that the box number might be record ed as soon as the horses were hitched Supt. Barnes said he could speed up all Of the small Eorgs in the houses, but that it was impossible to raise and lower the hammers on the big bells any faster. In order that the big bells might not hinder the small bells any longer the commissioners ordered the big bells disconnected.
 Fireman Edward Wheeler, one of the veterans of the department, who has been supply wagon driver since he was Injured a few years ago. is the bell ringer of the department in the day time. He is stationed at fire head quarters in Middle street twelve hours day. When an alarm comes in on the small bell he secures the number and sends in the alarm over the circuit operating the tower bells. The second round of the box is being struck on the small bells before the alarm can be transmitted to the line operating the big bells.
 At night Edward Mahoney and Arthur Platt. the department linemen, alternate in standing watch to operate the tower bells and remain on duty until MT. Wheeler relieves them in the morning. The warning horns at Fairfield avenue and Main street and the small bells in the police station and the homes of firemen are all on the sDeeded service so that everyone who has to do with the fire depart ment is underway before the public is aware there is fire.
 It will probably be only short time before the question will be raised as to whether Bridgeport will want to continue the tower bells at all. Their only use at the present time is to fur nisn a warning to about 36 callmen and to the chief as he makes his daily visit to engine houses and per forms his worl. as fire marshal. With the call service abolished and a change made whereby the chief or assistant chief will be constantly on duty there will be no need for the tower bells.
 In New Haven, when the tower bells were abolished. the citizens of the place did not like it. They wanted to De dDpTdlSeu OI the lOcdllOn O1 IreS when there were any. Their demand for the restoration of the big bells was granted to that extent that the alarm is sounded from fire headquart- CTS on a tower bell in the same man. ner as it is in this city.
 The question is whether Bridgeport will be willing to get along without it's tower bells. The ringing of the bells. from a box in the neighbor- hood of ones home results iny< many muhication with home as soon as pos sible. NThe big bells bring hundreds of excited children and almost as many adults to fires to make work for the police and get in the way of the fire men.
 It will be sometime before the tower bells will not be needed and then it will be decided whether or not Bridge port will be willing to do what New Haven wouldn't depart with it's fire bells