New-York tribune., 1916-01-18
Commissioner Names Spe-
ciaI Squad to Repair
StOrm-TOrn Wires.
EMERGENCY MOVE
TO PROP OLD SYSTEM
Civ Still Faces Danger Whiie
Work of Rebuilding Telegraph
Lines Is Going On.

Convinced that if New York we're at
tackled by a big wind or snoVstorm TIE
city would be at the mercy Of con
hagration through its antediluvian hre
alarm system. Fire Commissioner Ad-
amson Yesterday announced the ap-
pointment Of tho emergency fire alarm
telegraph squad Of seventeen hremen'
The duty Of the men will be 20 ge.
out at times Of storm when the telc-
graph wires have been blown down or
made useless in other ways. climb poles
and patch up wires 20 keep the do
oartment connected with the fire alarm
b)Ees.
From thc time Nh Adamson was ar
pointed head of the Fire Department
he has been fighting to have the alarm
system rebuilt. lie has pointed out
time and again that the department
depends solely on overhead wires.
which every storm tears down 20 a
greater or less extent. leaving the city
AT the mercy OF fire. Three, four ard
sometimes seven days were needed TO
get the wires in shape, to await wreck
ing by the next storm.
In the summer. Mr.. Adamson warned.
this condition was bad enough, but then
there vas somr one about to give an
alArm. In the winter there were
few people about. and this, combined
with the difficulty encountered by the
companies in getting to II fire through
snow cluttered. ice covered streets, in
creased the hazard = thOusandf0ld.
Squad Saves Time.
During his campaign TO arouse the
city to action Mr.. Adsmson. in the
storm Of 1915. was compelled 10 estab-
Il h relay system Of alarms. lie
stationed fireman in front Of every
freboX. and when "a person arrived to
s-nd IN an alarm the fireman would
dash 70 a police box and notify Police
Headquarters. the police ~ould then
by telephone notify the companies due
Mr.. AdamsOn seized this opportunity
10 point out that while the fire alarm
system was practically useless the tele-
phone system OF the city was unham-
pered. since the telephone wires were
in underground conduits. Finally the
Board Of Estimate took the Commis-
sioner's recommendation dnder ad-
/ viscment and recently voted a big ap-
propriation TO begin rebuilding the
/ system.
However" Theodore Stitt. Mr.
Adamson's secretary. said yesterday
until the new system has Oeen I'M
stalled New York Is face TO face viii
/ the dangers Of the past. It is 90 orfset
/ that danger that the Commissioner ha,
appointed the special squad.
Last winter. and even during me
recent heavy storm" Mr.. Stltt con-
! tinued. "it was necessary 20 send IRON
company to company a call for volun-
teers TO repair the damage TO the
wires. Obviously. valuable time was
lost. The new squad Is made up OF men
who responded 20 that call. and now
when needed they will know exactly
what is expected Of them
When the services OF the squad are
needed the officer in charge Will send
what will be known a. the "l3-l3' sig
nal. which will be followed by .]e num-
Der of the alarm box where the ser
vices are required The members OF
the squad will leave the companies to
which they are assigned and report at
that alarm box
Members Of the squad are: Chisholm
and McCoubrey. Hook and Ladder II;
Van Steenburgh. Hook and Ladder "a;
Halloway, HOOK and Ladder p; Gal
lagher, Hook and Ladder y; Golden
Hook and Ladder -; Rathien, Hook
and Ladder 3: Niece, Hook and Lad
der 1Og. Worrell, Ioos and Ladder IS;
Hunter. Engine 2s8; Wurth. Engine
257: Tillotson, Engine 23l; Carroll, En-
cine 234: Langan. Engine 220; Abrams,
Engine 226; Franzreb, Engine 195, and
stanton, Engine 80.