The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1914-06-19
SOMETHING ALARMING.

Inc Telephone company mas peer
receiving congratulations because 6
few nights ago, on the occasion of 6
fire in the northeast end of town, the
general alarm sounded by telephone
employee was distinctly heard in all
parts of town,-an experience per-
haps unique in the history of Moscow
fire alarms.
This Is definite gain in making
more efficient the city fire protection
system; but something important re-
mains to be done and should be done
at once. Now that we have a bell
loud enough to wake everybody, it is
imperative that we should have. some
that every citizen may determine at
once in exactly what section of town
the fire has broken out.
Moscow should be divided into con-
venient and easily learned districts,
and a definite alarm should indicate
the intersections Of stated streets, so
that the region of the fire might be
fairly closely limited. The system
of selective ringing should and could
be made so simple that even a child
would understand it and be able to
tell for what neighborhood an alarm
is being sounded. In the business
district the series Of alarms should
be rather numerous, perhaps includ-
ing special signals for the intersec-
lions of four or five of the most i'm
portant streets. In the residence sec
lions, the selected alarms could be
less numerous, a wider territory be-
ing included for each signal.
Without going too much into detail
here, we can clearly set forth our
point by some illustrations. One long
ring of the fire bell might be made
to signify the intersection of First
and Main street, and those awakened
by the alarm would know that the |
fire was in that immediate territory. |
Two long rings might stand for the |
intersection of Third and Main; three |
long rings for the intersection of Sixth |
and Main. Ono long ring followed
by short one might be useful to in
dictate the intersection of the two
streets that mark the beginning of the
first residence fire district mapped
out by the council. Numerous varia-
tons and combinations up to four
long rings followed by four short
ones would cover all parts of Mos
cow and announce definitely enough
the location of the fire. The main
thing is to have the districts care
fully outlined and their several alarms
given wide publicity.
The present system of mountaineering
Ind general ringing of an alarm is al
ways inconyenient and confusing and
nay at some time prove very costly
t is not often possible Except in the
,ase Of spectacular fires where
lanes leap high to find out where
he fire is until one has either run
own town to the central fire station
r been able to call the telephone
irl. The first scheme is a waste of
lme and energy, and in the second
cheme the telephone girl is too busy
ummoning firemen to answer null
tude of calls.
The other night man living OPP lo
osite the scene of the fire, not OBJ W
CRYING any sign of fire in his neigh Il
orhood, (the garage in which the fire Ice
riginated being concealed from him Sc
y the dwelling and the fire being Ide
onfined almost entirely to the inter- ig
r of the garage) ran the intervening la
alf mile to the central fire station, at
lily to find, of course, that he must al
trace his steps up the hill and that tic
s services were needed within a er
inbred yards Of his own house. ed
Other instances of waste of effort, re
So OF time, and needless confusion
ght be given ad infinitum. If, on the
casion mentioned, a well-understood
NAL Qet US say three long strokes
lowed by two short ones) had been g1'
ZEN, the man suddenly aroused from Ito
mber would have known at once bill
It the fire was in his own neighbor- ye'
I'd and would have arrived on the res
ne in two minutes and in time lic'
lend valuable assistance. vel