AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS.
Among the papers read at Pittsburgh, Pa., before the recent convention of the International Associatian of Municipal Electricians was one that was of particular interest to all connected with the fire service. It was entitled “Automatic fire alarm systems”—the author being Charles Burgher, of Boston, manager of the Boston Thermostatic and Automatic Fire Alarm company. In it he gave an account of the development of thermostatic protection, after which he insisted that the merit and value of such a system could hardly be overestimated. I am speaking now (he said) of a system which is practical in its construction; a system in which due care has been exercised in arranging its several parts in a manner suited to the numerous conditions met with indifferent classes of property to be protected; a system over which the care and supervision have been placed in proper hands—in the hands of one who realizes that simplicity in arrangement, durability, excellence in construction, and frequency and faithfulness in inspection are absolute essentials. In such a system there is almost absolute certainty that any rise in temperature to a point of danger, at any hour of the day or night, will be communicated instantly to the proper persons and the firemen, advised by such signals, not only of the particular building or property, but also of the exact floor or section location. They start out with perfect knowledge of the precise point to attack, and with the assurance that they iiave but a small fire to contend with if it is promptly reached.
Mr. Burgher conservatively estimated the value of property protected by this system in New York before consolidation, Philadelphia, New England (omitting Boston). Brooklyn, New Orleans,Chicago, Baltimore, Cleveland, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Washington, and Detroit, at $625,000,000, besides $29,000,000 worth in Milwaukee. Cincinnati, Louisville, and St Paul—making a grand total of $700 000 000 worth, exclusive of a large amount of government property in Washington. He added that, as the chances of these automatic thermostatic fire alarms failing to act had been reduced to a minimum, their use should become more general, and, after quoting former Chief Bonner's words that “in fires seconds count both for life and property,” concluded his address thus:
If you are a current subscriber,login hereto access this content.
If you would like to become a subscriber, please visit us在这里.
