Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-04-05
F|RE-P0L|CE
ALARM ACTION
City Electrician Points Out
Need of New Equipment
for Systems

A series of recommendations hav-
ing for their objects the placing OF
the city fire alarm system and the
call system on a more effici-
ent basis were submitted to the
Board of Aldermen through the po-
lice and fire committees last night.
Jay B. FRANKIE. the city electrician.
notes that both systems are anti
uuated and low in efficiency as they
now stand and points out the neces-
sity for the call systems TO keep
pace with the modernization of the
fire and police departments in other
branches.
The recommendations submitted
are these:
Alderman John ]. Clark.
chairman, Fire Committee.
Dear Sir:
II wish to draw your attention TO
the condition of the fire alarm sys-
tenn. In view of the fact that at the
present time every effort is being
made to bring the fire department
up to the highest point of EMERGENCY
by motor apparatus and better
equipment the fact should not be
lost sight of that the fire alarm is the
most essential branch of the fire de-
DdIllIlt&lls
reliable fire alarm system to hrst
transmit to call for fire the most eff
eient fire department is almost use
less for it is the first few minutes at
a fire that count most. Our present
fire alarm system is in as good a
condition as possible with h worn
and old equipment that we have IN
use. No changes have been made In
this system, except to install a very
few boxes and one new whistle, IN
a good many years. At the present
time / do not think Il fire alarm
system as reliable as it should De
for the following reasons:
THE repeater at fire alarm head
quarters is very much worn and is
too small. Same can not be relied
upon and is only. used when 1t is
absolutely needed. Some OF the hre
house indicators are so worn tnat az
times they do not work properly.
These indicators have been obsolete
for the past few years.
'"The speed system is entirely too
slow but 1t is as fast as is PRAGUE
able with the worn equipment that
has to handle the alarms
THE city is in very bad shape as
to the number of fire alarm boxes
and their locations. some OF tne
boxes have too high numbers, tax
ing too long to transmit same. AS
Won know. this is nothing new IN re-
cards to this system, as / have had
the same matter up with previous
boards of aldermen. but could never
get the work done. know that you
as chairman of the fire committee,
are as anxious to have this system
in first class condition as l am, SO L
therefore respectfully submit the 1oi-
lowing recommendations;
First-That a new six-circuit re-
heater be installed in fire alarm
headquarters.
Second-That the present house
indicators be replaced with a ten
inch gong and punching register
Third-That twenty or more nre
alarm boxes be installed.
Fourth that the present high num-
Der boxes be changed to lower or
three number.
FIfth-Entire system to be speed
ed up to two second time.
Sixth-All old boxes with brush
break contacts be replaced with sii-
yer contacts.
seyenth-That all boxes in the
business section be placed on two
circuits. each box on an aiternat
circuit"
concentrations here are h same as
made by the underwriters in their
report Of 1914. I would be glad at
any time to go into this matter In
detail with you oil the entire COM
mittee."
.Trusting that these recommends,
lions will meet with your approval
and that of the Board of Aldermen
and that they can see their way
clear to have these improvements
made.
MI. Franke's letter on the police
call system situation is as follows;
March 16, 1922.
Albert G.. Waters.
Chairman of the police committee
Sir: -
II wish to draw your attention
at this time to the police call sys-
The present system was In
about fifteen years ago n
was h first and only one OF Its
ever built and installed. Inc
system. to my knowledge. was
lever satisfactory. At the present ume
have about three recall bells To-
at different parts OF the city
call the patrolmen- These peils
not be heard over zoo feet. The
of a recall system was taken
I'D about two years g but was
lropped.
asTo put our police telephone sys-
EN- in an ~up-to-date and efficient
condition I would respectfully rec
,mmend the following:
THAT a recall transmitter be In
ssThat twelve horns be installed