Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-06-19
ALARM SYSTEM|N
CONSTANT JEOPARDY
CONTINUED From First Page]

is I'm jeopardy from fire in the
present hazardous housing of the
headquarters equipment. The ques-
tion of its removal depends upon
the building of fireproof city
hall and courthouse"
Mr.. Hoyt in discussing the situation
in this city with a Telegraph reporter
said:
City in Grave Danger
Harrisburg is in danger at all times
of losing thousands of dollars by fire
in case its fire alarm system is thrown
out of service. And according to Mr..
Diehl a fire in the present quarters in
the old Board of Trade building is
likely to occur at any time. This
would put the alarm system out of
commission for at least several weeks.
If during the period that the system
was out of commission, a fire should
occur in any part of the city, a vast
amount of property might be burned
before the firemen could locate the
blaze"
The report of Chairman Hoyt in full
is as follows:
This city was visited by Engineer
j. H. Rowland. May IL to IA, 1914,
for the purpose of discussing with city
officials and interested citizens the find
ings in our report of December, 1918,
and of advocating the adoption of the
recommendations, especially those con-
sidered most urgent.
Work to Be Done
THE water department intends to
have all services metered in another
two years. of the mains given in the
1914 report as contemplated, none has
been laid. but the IL and 16 inch in
Front and Market streets and 12-inch
line in Nineteenth and Sycamore
streets are authorized for installation
in 1914. The further STRENGTHENING
OF the distribution system along the
lines recommended will be considered
as soon as the necessary funds can be
provided. Slightly improved protec-
ton is contemplated for the pumping
station. 1t was stated that the prac-
tice of opening closed valves on con-
nections to force mains for all second
alarm fires would be considered and
adopted if considered feasible.
The sentiment of those interviewed
was favorable to the installation of a
full paid fire department, although no
action has thus far been taken on this
recommendation. A bond issue of
$4,000 has been authorized for pur-
chasing four automobile chemical and
hose wagons and two tractors, two or
three pieces of which are to be pur-
chased this summer. Ground has been
purchased and the erection of a new
fire station at Derry and Twenty-first
streets is planned this year. An auto
mobile tractor for the large aerial lad
der and the esta ablishing of a driM
school are improvements advocated by
the commissioner and the chief
Need of City Hall
The superintendent of fire alarm
appreciates that the system is in
jeopardy from fire in the present haz-
ardous housing of the Headquarters
equipment: the question of its removal
depends upon the building of fire.
proof city hall and courthouse. A new
lO-circuit repeater was installed in
April, 1914, and appropriations were
stated to have been made for the re-
naming recommendations for head
quarters equipment, as we'll as for the
gong circuits and Encouragement of
house instruments recommended. The
installation of department telephone
switchboard is being considered. A
few new boxes are about to be in
stalled, but these are not of the sue
ceSSive type as recommended A lib
eral extension of the underground sys-
tenn, with red lights and posts along
Market street. and the Standardization
of wiring in fire stations are improve
ments contemplated for the present
year.
1T was stated that the council was
considering the drafting of modern
building code, including provisions for
extending the fire limits, which they
hoped to have adopted by another
year. Regulations covering explosives
and inflammables, together with the
adoption of the national electrical
code, were matters that were ad-
mittedly essential and 1t was stated
would receive consideration at an
early date.
Corporations Sought
THE cooperation and support of
the Mayor. members of the Council
and heads of departments, president
and secretary of the Chamber of Com
merce. one of the leading newspapers
and others were solicited through per-
sonal interviews The following rec
concentrations were particularlyurged
Placing the fire department OIL a full
paid basis and establishing a drill
school, removing the fire alarm head.
quarters equipment to a fireproof
building and the adoption by ordi-
nance of modern building code"
The report is signed by the follow
ing committee on fire prevention: Geo.
w. Hoyt, of New York. chairman;
Edw. Milligan, J. A, Kelsey. G. A.
Ludlum. r. d. Harvey. III. A. Smith,
r. w. Sergeant. j. B. Morton, e. T.
Campbell, E. w. West and Lyman
Candee.
THE TOP NOTCH.
OF unexceiled pianos and nIavars for