Electric Fire Alarms. 53 



apparatus at each sending box, this system appears to be 

 very good ; it is reliable, and perfectly automatic. I do not 

 propose entering into the details of fire stations, which in 

 some of the large cities in America contain very elaborate 

 means of recording and communicating with other stations, 

 and, as described by Mr. Carpenter here some time back, 

 "placed the harness on the horses, liberated them, and dropped 

 the firemen into their clothes and boots, and on to the seats 

 on the engines, all being effected by electricity!" 



Several systems are now under trial in England — one very 

 similar to the American; but the transmitting signal is sent 

 by pulling out a small knob. This winds up a spring, which, 

 on being released, acts on a train of wheel- work as before 

 described. Another system consists of the transmitter being 

 composed of two small inclined metal rails, having insulated 

 pieces inserted at irregular intervals. A metal ball or 

 ring running down the rails forms or breaks the circuit, and 

 thus transmits the alarm. The ball is held up by a spring, 

 and is released by pressing a knob. Several sets of rails can 

 be placed in the box, the ball rolling down one and then 

 falling on to the next, and so on, thus repeating the signals to 

 any extent required. The signals are received on a bell and 

 Morse instrument, and the alarm is notified as having been 

 received by the fire station ringing a bell placed in each of 

 the sending boxes. A similar form records its signals by 

 ringing a bell and throwing up a number in an ordinary indi- 

 cator. This necessitates a pawl and ratchet arrangement, a 

 method that does not appear reliable for quick work; for even 

 the Wheatstone ABC instrument, one of the most perfect of 

 its type, often gets out of adjustment. 



Another form introduced in Glasgow, and known as 

 "Bright's system," depends on balancing the resistance of the 

 boxes, in which are placed artificial resistances. A description 

 of this system appears in the Telegraph Journal of 15th 

 February, 1880, and a plan that I now propose might 

 be adopted here is based on its principle. I do not think it 

 better than the American system; but it is simple, cannot get 

 out of order, and could be constructed at very little expense. 

 I propose first dividing Melbourne and its suburbs into, say, 

 ten districts. These might consist of Richmond, Prahran> 

 St. Kilda, Emerald Hill, Carlton, Collingwood, Fitzroy, 

 Hotham, East and West Melbourne. 



Each of these districts would have a station, that might be 

 either the fire or police station, providing an attendant 



