Show FIRE ALARM BOXES the mechanism that summons in case of fire charles T hill contributes an article entitled an alarm of firo by telegraph to st nicholas describing the firo alarm system of new york concerning the firo alarm boxes mr hill writes this box forms part of a lamppost the post being so constructed that tho box is inserted in the middle the box is painted a bright red and the lamp at night shows a red light thus making it easily discernible either by day or eight tho wires from the bos are conveyed down through the center of the post to conduits buried in the street and thence on to fire headquarters white letters on a red pane of glass in the lamp over the box give directions how to send an alarm the same directions in raised jetters are found on the face of the box if we turn the large brass handle on the outside as far as it will go a loud gong will ring inside this is not the alarm but simply a warning bell to notify the policeman on the beat that the box is being opened andio prevent the sending in of malicious or false alarms of fire an offense that is punishable in new york state by a fine of and one years imprisonment turning aliis handle as far as it will go opens the outer door and we find inside another door with a slot at the left hand side and at the top of this slot a hook projecting by pulling down this hook once and releasing it we set at work certain clockwork mechanism inside and this sends in alie alarm when the first officer arriving at a fire discovers that it is of enough importance to warrant his sending for re enforce ments ho opens this inner door and with the key sends in second third fourth fifth or sixth alarm as the case may be or a call for any special apparatus that he may need the inspectors of hoses can also carry on in the morse alphabet with the operator at headquarters on this key and sounder |