The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-08-17
State Men Witness Rigid Try-out
of U. S. Automatic Fire
Alarm System; Record
Runs Are Made.
TAKES 40 SECONDS
TO REGISTER ALARM
Trouble Car Arrives in 60 Sec
onds; Department in rs;
Company Host at Ban
quet Last Night.

1t was Just 40 seconds from the
time a match was applied to
wheel barrow full of excelsior in
Nebergall's blacksmith shop on Kan
sas avenue until the transmitter OF
the United States Automatic Fire
Alarm system, located in the shop
registered the location of the fire
at the company's central office
1t was just 60 seconds from the
time the alarm was registered in the
central office until the trouble car
of the company arrived at the scene
of the fire, practically four blocks
away
1t was just rs seconds from the
time the transmitter registered the
location of the fire at the central Of
flee. until the fire department was
on the job at the fire. In few sec
Onds thereafter the fire was extin-
guished by chemicals and there was
fully one-third OF the excelsior left
unburned in the wheel barrow.
All this occurred yesterday after-
noon during the test of the appara-
tus before state officials These Of
ficials were.' A. l.. Welch, stale in
surance commissioner; G. T. Ingalls,,
representative of the state rating bu-
raau. G. 81 Hqmmoi M fire
H I
marshal, antl c. w. Spokesbrom. Al
so, members OF the city council as
well as city officers and representa-
tive business men were present to
witness the test.
Especially good was the time maze
by both the fire department and the
trouble car Of the company. Both
ran a distance of about four blocks.
In the case of the trouble car the
machine was compelled to slow down
for two turns thus adding several
seconds to the time as compared
with what il would have been on a
straight run. Also both the fire de-
partment and the trouble car made
the last block through a crowded
street, again adding to the time.
The slower time of the fire depart
ment was due to several facts.
First, the moment the alarm regis
tered on the tape at the companys
office, the trouble car got away. In
order for the fire department to get
the alarm and the location OF the
fire, it was necessary for the opera
tor at the company's central station
to phone this information to the fire
department. This was done, how
ever, in a few seconds over the COM
pany's direct phone. Second, the
heavy truck of the fire department
of necessity made slower time than
the trouble car.
The company's trouble car carries
two chemical cans and in this in
stance could have had the blaze
smothered by the time the depart
ment arrived. This car is on the job
at the company's central station at
all times and answers all calls COM
ing in over the system wires. Car
rying the chemical cans, it would be
a small matter to hold under control
any blaze that might get under way,
figuring the time at yesterdays test
as basis.
1t was pointed out at the test that
the blacksmith shop in which the
test was made offered at least fair
setting for the performance. Double
doors were open at the front and
rear and side windows were also
open admitting Of considerable
breeze. This fact was compared by
q officials Of the company with condi
tions that would exist in tightly
closed room where no air currents
would be admitted.
The workings of the system com
prise the simple application of Ger
tain tried and proven" principles
applied to well known public service
enterprises. First in use is the prin
ciple of the thermometer This com
pares with the thermostat used by
the system. Said tb@nostat lOoki
like tiny electra light bulb and il
fastened 10 the calling. 1t contains
mercury and when the fire heats th'
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