1862-63 Halpin’s Chicago Directory.
City Fire Department
No. 1—North of Madison street and east and south of the river.
No. 2—South of Madison street and east of the river.
No. 3—West of the river and south of W. Randolph street.
No. 4—West of the river and north of W. Randolph street.
No. 5—East and south of the river and west of North Clark street.
No. 6—East of North Clark street and north of the river.
Central Station—LaSalle, south-west corner of Washington streets.
First Precinct Station—Armory building, cor. Franklin and Adams.
Sub-Station First Precinct—Cor. 26th and State street.
Second Precinct—West end of West Market Hall, Randolph street, opposite DesPlaines street.
Third Precinct Station—North end of North Market Hall, Michigan street east of Clark.
The alarm of fire is given by rapidly striking the number of the district, and after a brief pause giving eight strokes of the bell. Thus, if the fire is in the fourth district, the bell will strike four, and immediately after, eight.
Chicago Tribune, September 9, 1864
Chicago, at the present time, is the scene of two, to her, novel and interesting enterprises. In the first place a tunnel, which promises to be, ere its completion, the greatest bore in the world, is expending its length beneath her length, while a network of wires destined to save the lives and property of her citizens is environing and entwining her streets. The first subject—the tunnel has been thoroughly and systematically discussed, but the equally important Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph has never been methodically placed before the public. At this stage then our citizens are lookimg with “great expectations” for its completion, an account of its theory and practical application may not be inappropriate.
Its Mode of Action.
The fire alarm telegraph consists primarily of two parts—the signal apparatus and wires by which the presence of a fire or other cause of alarm is telegraphed to the central office, and the alarm apparatus by which the alarm bells in different parts of the city are struck from the central office by the operator there stationed. Distributed over the city are signal boxes, one of which should be within two or three hundred yards at most from every house in the city. These boxes will be cottage-shaped, of heavy cast-iron, and fastened to the side of a house or post. They will be placed as often as practicable at the corners of streets and in the vicinity of lamps, and will communicate by insulated wires with the signal circuits overhead, while a conductor or “Lightning Arrester” will convey atmospheric electricity collected by the wires to the earth. Every box will necessarily be locked, but will be provided with a sign stating where in the immediate locality the key will found. A key is also to be in the possession of every policeman and member of the Fire Department. Well, now for the modus operandi: The individual wishing to give the alarm, will open the nearest box, and turn a crank contained in it. This action communicates the number or sign of the box to the Central Station, and the longer the crank is turning, or rather the more frequently the operation of turning it is continued the great number of repetitions of be number of repetitions will be gives at the station. These signals are registered at the central office by one of the usual telegraphic self-acting registers, and at the same time the attention of the operator is attracted by the striking of a small bell in the room or some other simple device. His duty them is to release the mechanism of a “Repeater” and communicate the alarm to every bell in the city, by allowing the electric current to proceed along the alarm wirer. The striking apparatus of the bells is under the action of an electro magnet, and the number and frequency of the strokes are regulated at will by the operator at the central office. It is also in his power when he considers it advisable to only signs a portion of the department to disconnect by means of “switches” any of the alarm circuits, upon which circuits the bells will remain silent. By this means the correct location of the conflagration can be given from every bell in the city within a few seconds after its discovery, and the Fire Department can be on the spot before the combustion is many minutes old. One fact which we have omitted is this: The operator at the central office does not only by a stroke of his hard sound the alarm on the various fire strikes the number of the box from which be alarm is given in every signal box in the city. Each box is also furnished with a separate telegraph key for Police purposes, by which a policeman, by the adoption of some simple set of signals, can communicate from any part of the city with his Chief, or at least with the operator at the Police Headquarters. Riots and other disturbances may thus be nipped in the bud, often almost before their commencement.
Regarding the disposition of the respective circuits we need say but little. They are represented by wires extending from the central office to every signal box and alarm bell in the city and returning again to headquarters. In this manner the Fire Alarm differs from ordinary telegraphs. Usually the electric circle is completed not by returning wires, but by attaching the opposite ends of the wire to the earth and using it as the conductor. In the Fire Telegraph, however, the circle is completely metallic; if any breaks occur, or any connections with the earth, it is the result of an accident and will immediately be signaled to the operator on only by the ringing of a small bell. The utility of this arrangement is very apparent. With the simple wire, if a break occurs all communication is suspended until the circle is again completed. Now, with the two wires, if a break happens in either of them, by simply attaching a ground wire—a wire reaching into the earth, the earth virtually becomes the return wire and there is no suspension of communication.
When now we state that everybody knows that the wires will proceed over the roofs of houses, and be attached by insulated brackets we have completed a brief history of this wonderful modification of one of the greatest inventions ever made by the brain of man. Perhaps after all though, the necessary information to the house-holder is contained in this one sentence. At the slightest indication of a fire in your house, run to the nearest signal box and obtaining the key from the specified place, open the box and turn the the handle or crank as often as you please. Your work is then concluded. The magic wires which encircle the city like a network will be instrumental in effecting the rest, and ere you are aware of it the alarm bells will be ringing and the mighty fire engines under the direction of those noble servants of the public—the heroic firemen, be hastening to the spot. An explanation, however, of this action is deemed necessary, for man is a thinking animal and requires to know the “why and the wherefore” of everything. Therefore we write.
The Telegraph In Chicago.
Knowing then that all these statements are facts, proved from long experience in other cities, and recognizing the great need of an improvement upon our present system, the City Fathers of Chicago at length determined to adopt the improved system of Messrs. Kennard & Co. for the city, chief among its advocates and supporters was our energetic and able Chief Engineer, U. P. Barris, of the City Fire Department, who still watches carefully the laying down of the wires. As is already known to our readers, the work is being hurried forward with all possible dispatch. Men may be seen on houses in various parts of the city, laying down the circuit wires, and ere long the signal boxes will be stationed in places selected for their reception. Already about thirty miles of wires have been laid down, wholly in the South Division, and they will soon be connected with the future Central Office—the Cupola of the Court House. The signal boxes are in course of construction, and will be placed in position in about a month.
South Division.
The following is the route of the Signal Circuit wires in the South Division, the positions of the Signal Boxes and Alarm Bells. The Alarm Circuit inn every instance simply connects the various engine houses with the Court House.
First Signal Circuit—Fromthe Court House to Clark street, thence to 4th Avenue, to Archer road, along Archer road to the Bridgeport School, on the corner of Deering street; then returning to the Court House via State street.
Second Circuit—Court House to Clark street, then follows the South Branch to 16th street, and returns via Clark.
Third Circuit—Court House to corner Wabash avenue and Madison street, on Wabash to 14th street, from 14th the wires strike diagonally to Prairie avenue, then on the Cottage Grove avenue, as far as 35th street. Returns via Cottage Grove and Prairie avenue to Michigan, down Michigan to South Water street, and home.
Alarm Bells.
Besides Gongs at each Engine House, the following bells will be in communication with the wire.
Bell on Court House.
Bell on Clark near 12th.
Bell on I.C.R.R. Car Works at Carville, on Cottage Grove Avenue near 26th st,
North Division.
The laying down of the wires in the North Division will be commenced next week.An interesting feature in the system of this Division, will be an entirely novel arrangement at the Waterworks. In the office will be an electric clock connected by wires with the reservoirs, so that every twenty minutes the level of water in each reservoir can be ascertained.
First Circuit.—Court House to Kinzie street, then to Lasalle, on to corner of Indiana and Wells; on Wells to Chicago avenue, then diagonally to corner of Market and Whiting, up Market to Division, then on Clybourne avenue to Larabee street, up Larabee to Willow, thence to Orchard, down Orchard to North avenue, diagonally to corner of Clybourne avenue and Weed, down North Halsted to Division, on Division to Penn, across Penn to corner of Larabee and Branch, thence to Chicago avenue to Market, and from Market to the Court House via Kinzie.
In every instance where the river has to be crossed, the wires will run along the bottom by nests of cables.
Second Circuit—Court House to Clark, across to corner Michigan and Wolcott, thence to corner Clark and Ontario, on Ontario to Chicago avenue and Clark, across to corner of North Wells and Oak, along Oak to Granger, and thence to Sedgwick, on Sedgwick to North Avenue. Along North avenue to Clark, down Clark to Schiller, on Schiller to Wolcott, thence to Oak and on to Green Bay Avenue to Rush street. From Rush street across to Pine and Michigan and on to Court House.
Alarm Bells—Besides the gongs on the Engine Houses, there will be in connection with the wires the bells on the North Market Hall, and one on Larabee street near North Avenue.
West Division.
First Signal Circuit—Court House under the River to Canal and on to corner of Lumber and Jefferson, on to Jefferson to Wright, thence strikes corner of Halsted and Maxwell, and on to corner Blue Island avenue and 12th street; returning, it strikes engine house corner of Blue Island avenue and Halsted street, then to Harrison, corner of Jefferson, and straight home.
Second Circuit—Court House along Jackson to Morgan, then diagonally to Aberdeen and Madison. Along Madison to city limits, returns on Lake to Carpenter, then diagonally to West Madison, to the engine house, corner of Clinton and Washington, and thence to tbt Court House.
Third Circuit—Court House to Lake, along Lake to Jefferson, then diagonally to corner Halsted and Fulton, thence to Carpenter and West Indiana, on Indiana to Paulina, then on Reuben to Chicago avenue, on the corner of North avenue and Elston Road, returning on Noble to Milwaukee avenue, then to Kinzie, along Kinzie to Canal, Canal to Randolph and home.
As before, the Alarm Circuits connect the engine houses with the Court House.
Alarm Bells.
Gongs on the several Engine Houses and connected bells.
On Union near Randolph st.
On Third near Milwaukee Av.
On Blue Island Av. near Harrison st.
Police Telegraph.
The Police Telegraph wires will communicate with the several boxes and police stations. Sentences will be expressed by numbers, which will be communicated by a simple system of keys.
Magnitude of the Work.
When completed, the Chicago Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph will be the most complete and extensive in the world. In New York it is only partially carried out, the extent of the enterprise being the connection of the Engine Houses and Bell Towers. In Chicago there will be 116 Signal Boxes. Philadelphia has only 70; Boston, 61; New Orleans, 63; St. Louis, 70; Montreal, C. E., 50; Charleston, 35; Baltimore, 50.
It will be noticed that while there are only 116 boxes in our city, they are numbered up to 164. The reason of this is that many numbers are missed to avoid confusion. For instance, among other omissions, there is no box number 11, for there world be little difference from telegraphing 11 and 1 quickly, which would probably mislead the firemen.
The contracts for this great enterprise expire in May, 1865, but Mr. Kennard hopes to be finished by April. The Chamber of Commerce and one or two other uncompleted buildings have slightly delayed him, by impeding the laying down of the wires. When the Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph is concluded, Chicago in one more particular will “beat the world.”
Chicago Tribune, April 21, 1865
The great Fire Alarm Telegraph—in which Chicago will in one more important particular lead the world—is now virtually completed. Its network of wires encircling the city at every point and intersecting our every street, will ere long be connected with the subtle electric batteries, whose magic chemical machinery will send to our people messages of safety and deliverance in times of peril and danger. The wires through whose medium the dreaded cry of “Fire” will be silently but surely carried with lightning speed from every part of the city, are completely laid down and connected in the three different divisions of the city, by cables under the river. These cables, five in number, are conducted trough the pipes or mains which supply the city with water. Two cables connect the North Division with the South at State street, and three unite the West with the South at Adams street. The two former were laid down on Tuesday week last, and the latter were placed in position yesterday afternoon. The manner of their deposition was decidedly ingenious, and excited much curiosity in the minds of spectators. When everything was ready, the mass of the water under the river was let off, leaving only a sufficient quantity flowing, to float a cork attached to a cord, through the pipe. By this means the cable was quickly drawn into position. At the extremities of the main, where the cable connects with the wires, it passes through a stuffing box, similar to that through which the piston rod of a steam engine passes which the piston rod of a steam engine engine passes into the cylinder. This will allow free passage for the electric fluid, without causing a leakage in the water pipes.
The wires from every part of the city concentrate in the vicinity of ike Court house, all connecting with forty-four larger ones, which enter the cupola at equi-distant points. These wires are so tightly strained that to say one were to be suddenly relaxed it would require ten or twelve strong men to hold at in position. The reason of this extreme tension is that it tends to steady the cupola, the vibration of which in windy weather might interfere with the action of the electric clock or other magnetic paraphernalia. This contingency is one of the objections to the selection of so elevated a building, for the central office. The four alarm bells located, respectively, on the North, Market—on a tower in Union street, in the rear of the Second Precinct Police Station—on the corer of Blue Island avenue and Halstead street, in the rear of the engine-house—and on Larrabee street, are all fixed in their proper places and ready for connection with the electric wires.
The general alarm will be given from the Court House bell, which, from its superior size, requires much larger apparatus than any other one in the country. This bell is the largest that has ever been struck by electricity. It weighs nearly eleven thousand pounds, is struck on the outside by a hammer one hundred and fifty pounds in weight, and possessing a stroke, or leverage, of thirty-six inches. The weight attached to the striking apparatus is twenty-four hundred weight.
The alarm boxes, one hundred and eight in number, are also all placed in position in the various parts of the city. The forty in the South Division have been fixed for the past two weeks. A similar number in the West Division are also now placed in position, and the work placing twenty-eight on the North Side was completed several days ago. The whole of the electric machinery is in the city, and simply requires to be connected with the several circuits of wires, so that in all probability the alarm of the first fire after May day will be given by the great telegraph.
The apparatus to be used in the Central Station—the cupola of the Court House—is of a very perfect character. The registrar, by which the alarm is telegraphed to the operator, is of unusual size, being sufficiently large and powerful to register, simultaneously, four different alarms, if ever such an emergency should arise.
The whole of the wires in the city, are divided into thirteen circuits, each of which is connected with a “Galvanometer,” in the cupola, ere they are connected with the registrar. There is also a larger “Galvanometer” in the connection with the whole of the circuits. The use of these instruments is to test the strength of the electric current, and indicate breakages in connection. They consist of a dial with an electric needle, resembling in external appearance a common mariner’s compass. The needles vary in position according to the power of the electric current, and in case of a break in connection, will instantly fly to the North or zero. Supposing one of the wires in some part of the city becomes disconnected, the needle of the large galvanometer will immediately indicate the fact, when, by an examination of the smaller or circuit instruments, the operator will be immediately enabled to discover in which circuit the fracture occurred. He would then dispatch an assistant some distance along the circuit to connect the electric wire with the earth, making that the agent of conduction. If by the use of this ground, or earth, wire the current is established to the office, it is evident that the break is at some point further along. If, however, the current continues broken, the point of fracture will be between the ground wire and the office. By this means the break will soon be discovered and repaired. One of the duties of the central operator is to test the strength of the current every twenty minutes, when, if the operator neglects to make the requisite test, an ingenious contrivance will record his defalcation. This consists of a dial covered by a circular disc of paper, and provided with a pencil which, by connection with the clock, moves regularly round the inside of the circumference of the circle, marking its track on the paper. If at the proper moment the operator fails to test the galvanometer, and adjust this instrument, the pencil will continue to mark the paper, but in a different direction. These papers are taken off every twenty-five hours, marked with the name of the operator and piled away for examination at the end of the month, when if unusual neglect is apparent, the operator is allowed to seek some other situation more suitable to his tastes and habits. The apparatus for use in the various Police Stations has also arrived, and is ready for connection with the wires. It is constructed on the most approved plan—beautiful from its very simplicity. No operator will be required to manipulate it, the messages being perfectly legible to any one who can read. It consists exteriorly of a dial plate twelve or fourteen inches in diameter with n needle and having two circles inscribed round the circumference—the insider the other—each enclosing a space about one inch in breadth.
In divisions on the outer circle are inscribed the letters of the alphabet. Inside, in similar divisions, the several numerical figures are printed.
The needle is connected with the electric wires, and also with circular keys corresponding with the divisions in the circle, and moved by pressure like the keys of a piano. By pressing either of these keys the needle on the dial of the instrument touched, and also on the one connected with it, moves to the direction of the key touched, so that words and sentences can be spelled out and read with ease on either of the other instruments. So much in explanation; now for the manner of working. In the outside circle are five spaces with corresponding keys, which we have omitted to mention. One of them is to indicate the termination of a word, another to mark the conclusion of a sentence, a third is marked “Fire,” and would be used to report the presence of a fire in the neighborhood of a police station, and the other two have arrow heads, one pointing outwards and the other inwards, engraved on them. When en officer at any station wishes to send any message to another office, he switches off connection with all others, and calls the attention of the operator he wishes to communicate with, by ringing a small electric bell. When the call has been answered, if he wishes to send a message; he touches the key connected with the arrow head pointing outwards, when the needle on the other instrument will fly round to a similar mark, telling the reader that the communication will be given on the outside circle, with letters, i. e., spelled out. The officer transmitting the message then rapidly touches the keys opposite letters which compose his sentence, the same letters being indicated by the needle at the receiving office. If he wishes to transmit any report regarding fires, &c, in numbered districts, he commences by pressing the key opposite the engraved arrowhead pointing inward, when the receiver will know that he must read from the inner circle. The conclusion of words in the message and of the message itself are indicated by touching the keys mentioned above for that purpose.
There are six of these beautiful instruments in the city, to be placed respectively in the Central Police Station, in the Armory on Franklin street, the Second Precinct Station, on Union street, the Third Precinct Station, in the North Market, and in two sub police stations, proposed to be erected in the South Division, at Bridgeport, and near Carville. These will soon be placed in position and completed by connection with the wires.
The Armory & Police Court
SW Corner Adams and Franklin Streets
Chicago Illustrated
September 1866
The work of the operator in the Court House cupola has already been described in the Tribune, and needs but brief recapitulation. On receiving intelligence of a fire in any district he will by means of an elaborate yet simple instrument “switch off” connection with all engine houses, except those whose machines he requires to attend the fire. If these are insufficient, he will establish electric connection with other steamers and telegraph orders to them to attend the fire. In the case of a large conflagration he would of course give the general alarm, when all fire engines would turn out. This “switch” contrivance will effect a great saving in labor and expense to the Fire Department, it often being the case when the alarm is given from the Court House bell, that the whole department turns out to a fire which only requires the services of one engine.
To prevent false alarms being given, a heavy fine will probably be attached to the perpetrator of he “sell.” As the keys to the alarm boxes are only kept at certain houses, it will be easy to discover the person who gave any particular alarm.
The work of completion is progressing with all possible rapidity under the superintendence of the Messrs. Stevens-two gentlemen whose experience and ability have quite identified their names with that most beneficient application of natural phenomena—”The Fire Alarm Telegraph.”
Chicago Tribune, June 28, 1865
FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
A list of the Stations of the Fire Alarm Telegraph, with directions to key holders is just published. These books can be procured at the Engine Houses, and at the Police Stations. Everybody should have one and keep it for reference.
Chicago Evening Post, January 10, 1868
Fire Alarm boxes have been increased by 32 in number. There are now 146,-51 in South, 60 in West, and 35 in North Division.
Chicago Evening Post, January 14, 1868
CHANGE IN THE FIRE ALARM.
Addition of New Boxes—Important Changes.
The appended list of the fire alarm boxes is given as they now stand after the addition of several new boxes. The additions were very necessary, but the changes in numbering are excessively blundering, as the numbers in the old list ran for each Division in regular rotation; whereas, in the new, they jump from one Division to another, without any regard to numerical progression. For instance, in the old way the boxes from 1 to 52 were in the South Division, from 52 to 124 in the West Division, and from that number to 164 in the North Division. In the new they number from 1 to 62 in the South Division, from 68 to 124 in the West, then to the North Division with Nos. 126-6, 7 and 8; thence back to the West Division for 129, then to the North Division again from 130 to 175, and finally back to the West Division to the last box, No. 262. It is to be hoped that the next alteration will make it as it should be, in proper progression.
Chicago Evening Post, January 15, 1869
FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
New List of Boxes—Total Number One Hundred and Seventy.
The numbering of the fire alarm telegraph boxes has hitherto, for some time, been very much confused and inconvenient, the figures jumping about with a perplexing disregard to regularity. This fact, and the addition of twenty four new boxes, made a re-numbering desirable and it has now been completed. The 146 boxes have been increased to 170, and the arrangement, which takes effect to day, is as follows:
Chicago Tribune, June 2, 1871
FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
A communication was received from the Board of Fire Commissioners, with a communication from E. P. Chandler, Superintendent of the Fire Alarm Telegraph, calling attention to the fact that no estimate had been made by the Finance Committee for the necessary expense of the fire alarm telegraph for the current year. The communication further set forth that a reduction of the repairing corps by one man was unwise, and undesirable.
The report was referred to the Finance Committee, with instructions to report why no appropriation had been recommended.
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