New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-28

and distribution. which has in a large
measure been overcome by the establish
ment of the high pressure service. and
inefficient engines have been improved,
in other particulars there has been no
change" said Mr.. Smith, and this is
notably true OF the fire. alarm telegraph
service.
Tho fire always has the handicap.
The fremen start from the scratch. The
amount Of handicap is fixed by the time
Il takes the f~emen 70 reach the fire,
and this time is chiefly determined by
the promputude with which they re-
ceive the alarm. Therefore the proper
tons which fire may assume are de-
pendent partly upon the condition Of the
fire alarm telegraph sery ice which gives
the alarm The FIRE alarm telegraph SER
vice on which the Fire Department now
depends" said Mr. Smith. was put In
operation in 1869. Changes in It have
been SO few and unimportant that Il is
to-day, in design and construction. as II
was then. r. a district comprising
about three quarters OF the area Of Man
haitian south Of seth street fire alarm
boxes are dependent for operation upon
a cable which three years ago was found
10 be in such precarious condition that
il might have been destroyed at any one
Of scores Of vulnerable points.
II the Cables Were Injured.
, IF this cable should be put out OF
commission the consequences would he
the financial chemical. printing, leather
/ and wholesale drygoods districts would
he left without fire alarm service In the
machinery district only FIVE boxes would
be available In the wholesale grocery
district only ten boxes would he avail
Z able The East Side tenement house and
manufacturing districts. with their un-
equalled building congestion and dense
population and their inherer- confagra-
ton hazard. would have only four boxes
the retail mercantile district would have
only four boxes. and the theatre and
/ hotel district only four.
"On Manhattan Island south Of 59th
street there are between I0D and 600
boxes. OF these 3G3 would be uselc-s
should this one cable fail 70 operate.
The region dependent on this single
cable contains the most dangerous con-
I fagration hazards IN the city
! This cable and al o. the cables en-
tering the central Office are run in such
( 2 manner. according 70 Mr.. Smith, that
| they might be completely interrupted by
small fire there or by accidents Of
various natures that might occur at any
| time
| He emphasized the necessity for the
| installation Of automatic sprinkiers IN
all buildings over five stories nigh Used
| for mercantile or napufacturing pur-
poses.
In a modern sprinkler equipment
said Mr. Smith. the moment sprink-
| Ter opens and the water starts % flow
through the pipes p fire alarm Is auto
matically sent in bells ring continuously
| at such or in as many places as they
NAV be located. and if desired, the FIRE
! Department is al the same time and by
the same means called 70 the scene OF
! distur bance.
This feature is considered b. under
81 riters to he Of the greatest importance,
/ for no matter how good the watching or
patroling system IN large plant may
be cost necessarily regulates its eff
/ cheney 10 large degree When plant
is equipped with automatic sprnklers
/ fire discovers itself. and calls 20 the
scene Of danger instantly.