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Show FinEMCN ON DICYCLCS. Motel IpptUnrea Inlrmlurrtl ,j tat iVaatilnalon lira lirpartnirnt. District Commissioner Wight Is la-prrrrlng la-prrrrlng the Washington (D. C) Crt department, eaya a Washington iV patch to the Ilaltlmore Sun. Several months ago the old fire-alarm syitm was replaced by a new one with kif leaa boxes Mr Wight waa then la-preeael la-preeael by the useleaaness of harlsf all the firemen In the city called eat of their beda when only a few wtrl needed, ao he Introduced a nolielt" alarm eyalem. At each engine hoi a watchman Is on duty day and ulght at a desk where fire alarms are i-nounced i-nounced on an Indicator. If the wateb-man wateb-man sees the alarm la one to wtikb hla company must respond a switch l turned and the next rail cornea oa a large gong. Otherwise the flromii have undisturbed repose. Commission er Wight next decided to mount a fireman fire-man at each engine house on a blcyclt. who, whenever hla company la callrf out. shall precede It to a fire. It U estimated that the mounted flrerou should be able to reach a fire several minutes before their companies etl bo able to accomplish a great deal before be-fore tho engines can arrive. Kadi bicycle bi-cycle fireman will be equipped with small chemical fire extlngulaber. Tin latest Innovation la a megnphone.whlcl will be efficiently wielded by Aaalstalt Klre Chief Hell. Mr. Wight had noticed no-ticed that on many occasions It u almost Impossible for the firemen U understand the ordera of the cblets. and each was therefore compelled to act almost entirely on his own respoi Iblllty. The megaphone Is ntteti Inche In length, and through Its ml there ahould be no difficulty In dli-tlngulahlng dli-tlngulahlng orders, It Is expected that each of the foremen and probably tit bicycle firemen will later bo cqulppel with a megaphone It Is Intended alio to Introduce automobile fire engines. |