The Fire Alarm Circuit That Left a Third of Seattle Uncovered

Chief Hunt, of the fire department, has completed his annual report, showing a very large diminution in expense compared with 1893, and has also made an inventory of the equipment of the entire fire department, which, set forth in tabular form, shows the whole to be worth $81,000. He does not, however, include the real estate or the horses used for fire purposes.

The report details expenses, salaries, and disbursements during 1894. The total is less than that for 1893, the saving having been made principally in the reduction of the force and salaries. The report of A. R. Pinkney, superintendent of the fire alarm, is also submitted.

Mr. Pinkney says that since his last annual report he has added wire to the system. During the year there were only eight box alarms, all of which were transmitted over the system correctly. In his report of property under his charge, Mr. Pinkney shows that the value of the entire plant aggregates $15,000. The report gives the location of the 136 fire alarm boxes now on the system.

Mr. Pinkney urges the necessity of a new six-circuit repeater and of new boxes and signal stations. He says he is now operating three circuits with fifty-six miles of wire and fifty-four boxes, though ten miles of wire and fifteen boxes, gongs, etc., are all that can possibly be operated on a circuit with good results. 'With every possible attention,' he says, 'it is impossible to avoid open circuits or grounds, and while they are being repaired one-third of the city is left without communication with the department through the fire alarms.' He thinks it not practical to run the risk for so small a saving of expense.