The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-09-08
Appointment
Board Pledges
To Meet Deficit
Fire and Police Boards Have to
Exceed Appropriation For
Burying Alarm Wires

The joint work of the fire and police
boards in installing an underground
system for their fire alarm and police
signal wires for which there was al
lowed an appropriation of $4,000 will
before the end of the year bring about
probable deficit of about $4,000. To
| secure the word of the members OF
the Board of Apportionment to pledge
their support to meet the deficit, Fire
Commissioner F. L. Cogill and Police
Commissioner c.. D. Miller met last
evening with a majority of the mem
bers of the Apportionment board, who
were in informal session, giving rea-
sons why they made their request
The board members agreed to pledge
their support Mayor Buckingham,
City Attorney Cullinan and City Au-
ditor Heating also were present at the
| meeting as were Commissioners Jack
man, Vincent, Goodsell, Loewith, Phe-
Ian and Mcneil.
Commissioner Cogill in unfolding the
plans of both his board and the police
board showed how the joint commits
sions were working in perfect unison
to meet not only the present needs OF
the city, but needs for many years
to come. Commissioner Cogill clearly
pointed out the immense value OF the
work started this year and to be push
ed onward year by year.
When President Phelan opened the
meeting ne GXp1dlIl6O Ulldt Ill0 SSSSlOi
was called because of the fact that the
two commissioners had found the cost
of the new system would be in excess
Of the estimates and they desired to
know for the contractors what assur-
ance would be given them should they
continue the work. The excess ex-
penditure had been brought about by
doing added work so as not to disturb
the pavement just laid. AS the meet
ing could take no legal action it was
desired that the members pledge them
selves by their personal word.
Commissioner Cogill explained that
the wires in the center of the city
would be placed underground first. At
this time $4,000 for cables alone had
been contracted for, $1,000 for drawing
the cable and $500 each for the con-
struction Of conduits in Barnum and
State street to avoid tearing up the
new pavement.
At this time a number of laterals
were needed to run from the side
walks to the manholes as we'll as suit
able manholes. This was needed to,
make the system complete and TO
permit work. to be done properly for
the future, the cost for this work be-
ing estimated at $4,000. The best
cable procurable has been secured,
the commission believing 1t to be the
cheapest in the long run. Iron posts
for the running Of the wires to the
this to protect the wires from mois-
ture, this costing about $4,000 more.
With all these expenses 1t was fig
ured that an outlay of $4,000 would
be needed this year. while but $4,000
was available. "a
Commissioners Cogir1 thought that
$4,000 besides the $4,000 probable
| deficit would be asked for next year,
and the same amount year later.
He considered $4,000 would be the
entire cost of the system when COM
pleted.
The commissions would meet with
| a little outside financial help that
from owners of private boxes having
secured from them assurance that
they would pay for the extension of
Commissioner Vincent stated that
| he has talked with Commissioners
Cooper and Mackenzie who were un-
able to be present, the two giving
| their assurances that they would fav-
or the paying of the deficit.
All this time Mayor Buckingham
was an interested listener and could
| not constrain himself to remark how
well these two important boards were
working for the future interest of the
lefty.
| The remarks Of Commissioner Co
gill brought out the fact that next
year the fire board intended to in
stall the manual system of fire alarmc
and intended, to ask for $4,000 for
| this purpose. He declared that the
new system would give far better
protection. He also stated that some
Of the alarm boxes now in use were
almost useless as the desired results
could not be secured from them. The
board at present was testing out
number of new boxes and were plan
ming to utilize the wires for telephone
purposes so as to avoid the necessity
of hunting up new phones. At the
end Of his remarks, Commissioner
| Cogf1l was extended q vote of thanks
| by the commissioners