The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-11-05
Proposition Presented for an
Automatic Box System Call.
ING In PatroImen by Desk
Sergeant.
A FLASHLl0HT SYSTEM
EXTENDING OVER CITY
These lights Placed in Boxes
Which Also Contain Tele.
Phones for the Officers to
Report Over.


STEPS toward more eficient police and
nre protection In Richmond 10 now
under consideration by the board Of
works. II II the 'patrol nashlight"
system manufactured by the Dean
Electric company OF Elyria. o. BY
tn1s system = series of boxes are plac-
a over the city. several in each dis
trict. Inside the box. behind power
ful red lenses. 10 an electric light.
which may b. seen from all parts OF
the police district.
At police headquarters there 10 q
switch board operated BY the desk
sergeant. This switch 10 In direct
connection with all the police boxes
and BY pushing the button OF any
box number the sergeant turns ON
the Hight. calling the patrolman Of
the district to the telephone which 10
inside the box. BY . proper arrange
mont Of boxes. the central headQuar.
tess ID In two minute connection With
every oalcep on the force, even In the
furthsst districts Of the city. In case
Of Q riot when all the officers are
wanted. every district 10 given the sig
nal
Can oe Held 20 Reserves.
Thus the entire police force on act
i've duty may also be used ~ q re-
serve force. and the necessity Of hav.
ing bicycle men at headquarters to
answer emergency calls, q matter
which has been carefully considered
By the police commissioners. 10 abol.
ished. Also In case Of emergency
calls the patrolman notified 10 always
within Q short distance Of the trouble.
Besides the emergency call. these
boxes are used for the regular hourly
reports OF patrolmen. for which the
regular city system Of telephones 10
now used, and for Are alarms. The
system 10 considered very compact
and Il II believed BY its promoters.
will make an innovation in police
work In this country.
William Bailey Of the Richmond
Home Telephone company. presented
the proposition in an informal way to
Mayor Zimmerman. President Homer
Hammond and City Engineer Charles
In the boards Of works chamber this
morning. The expense Of Installing
the system. Mr.. Bailey believes, will
- reasonable. considering the extent
and careful labor required to install
It.
May y Too cestiy.
"It would be . mighty Ane thing" !"
Declared Hammond this morning. ''but
II afraid the expense Of Installing It
Woula b pretty heavy for Richmond.
u Win b taken under careful consid-
eration. after Mr.. Bailey submits his
exact ngures."
Mr.. Hammond also said that he be-
lieved Richmond 10 large enough to
n6ed such . system II it, installation
10 poeslhle from financial standpoint.
The system of reports now In vogue
10 unsatisfactory. but for emergency
calls the system 10 not % satisfactory.
Theeo are two rcd electric light bulbs
hung across the street at the corner
q Dlghth and Main streets. which
oaD be seen at practically any place
O. Main q Eighth street. This 10
uoo1 W1on a o0cer % desired quick.
y. uoWever. on many occasions the
patSptmeo % not notice the Hight and
lt = oo0o time before they get In
co0municat1on with headquarters.
TAe present fire alarm system 10 Civ.
ing satisfAction.
N win not bo many years before
Nic1nond win necessarily either have
70 establish such system or keep .
AuDbee Of emergency call men with
1ooycleo. IN automoblle or notorcy.
eleo q Aeaaquarters. The number Of
cain ID. oncsrs on account Of bur.
Glns1es. o. ether trouble are becoming
0oGo and more numerous. a. Rich
0oo1 10 gradually expanding from Q
~ town 10 city. Nowhere can this
change - noticed % much a. at pol.
ioo heoAquArters.
What me Mayer Thinks.
Mayer xlmmogman believes the
syuesa wuald b rather expsnsive for
RichmoDA ana he fears that the citi-
sene would object 10 . raise Of the
tax rate .foe ~ Installation. The police
anpastmsnt. Il 10 undsrstood. approves
tho method although q has not been
(Cootinned On Page six.)