Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1939, Part 4

Author: Attleboro (Mass.)
Publication date: 1939
Publisher: The City
Number of Pages: 248


USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1939 > Part 4


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Fever


Typhoid


Fever


Undulant


Influenzal Meningitis


Fever


Scarlet


Measles


German


Measles


Bite


Dog


Tuberculosis


Pulmonary


Pneumonia


Lobar


Cough


Whooping


Pox


Chicken


Deaths.


Cases


Deaths


Cases .


Deaths


Cases


Deaths


Cases


Deaths


Cases


Deaths.


Cases


Deaths


Cases


Deaths


Cases.


Deaths


Cases


Deaths


Cases


Deaths.


Cases


1


1


1


1


1


4


2


4


3


1


11


January.


1


2


1


1


2


3


6


3


February .


1


2


3


4


1


14


5


March


1


1


2


2


4


1


1


8


6


April.


5


13


2


4


1


3


4


May. .


1


June. .


2


3


22


6


2


3


1


July .


1


1


3


4


10


August. September


2


4


1


7


October .


1


1


3


1


3


1


1


November


4


2


December


0101


1 1


0 11 0 3 0 11 0 54 21 52 6 13 0 45 0 33


TOTALS


53


ANNUAL REPORT


5


1


4


2


4


4


1


13


54


DEATHS BY AGES


Total


Female


Male


Under 1 year


1-2 years


2-3 years


3-4 years


4-5 years


5-10 years


10-15 years


15-20 years


20-30 years


30-40 years


40-50 years


50-60 years


60-70 years


70-80 years.


Over 80 years


January.


35


12


23


1


2


2


3


9


10


8


February


29


9


20


3


2


5


1


3


1


April.


20


00


12


2


14


10


1


2


2


1


2


6


3


3


4


May


26


17


9


N


1


1


2


1


2


4


S


5


June


21


00


13


3


2


1


1


4


4


11


8


6


40


17


23


3


1


1


1


1


5


10


4


4


September


25


14


=


3


3


1


4


8


4


2


October


22


10


12


N


1


3


2


4


3


November


16


6


10


1


December


30


15


15


1


1


2


1


3


1


00


=


2


TOTALS.


320 142 178


19


2


3


5


19


14


18


49


69


75


47


Stillbirths excluded.


32


12 20


3


1


2


1


1


4 8


8


4


1


4


2


7


10


4


6


March .


24


1


5


2


00


2


July.


August.


ANNUAL REPORT


55


ANNUAL REPORT


CAUSES OF DEATHS


Totals


January


February


March


April


May


June


.July


August


September


October


November


December


Accident-Auto.


8


1


1


1


1


2


2


Accident-Fall


1


1


Anemia .


1


1


Appendicitis


2


1


Arterio Sclerosis


41


6


8 22141


5


3


4 1 4


Asphyxia


1


1


Asphyxia Neonatorum


1


1


Atelectasis


2


1


1


Birth Injury


2


1


1


Bronchitis Acute.


2


1


1


Cancer


21


3


3


2 3


1


2


2


2


3


Cerebral Haemorrhage


21


2


1 2 2 2


3


1


1


2


1


1


3


Cholecystitis .


1


Cirrhosis of liver


2


1


Congenital defect


1


Congenital heart disease


1


1


Coronary embolism


1


1


Coronary Thrombosis


19


121122141


1


Diaphragmatic hernia


1


1


Diverticulitis


1


1


Embolism


1


1


Empyema .


1


1


Encephalitis


1


1


Endocarditis chronic


3


1


1


1


Fracture of femur


1


1


Gastro Enteritis.


1


1


Gastric ulcer


2


1


1


Heart disease.


46


3 4 7


6


2


82333 5


Hydrocephalus


1


1


1


Influenza .


1


1


2


Intestinal obstruction .


1


1


Intestinal toxaemia .


1


1


Lung abscess .


1


1


Mastoiditis


1


1


Meningitis Influenzal


1


1


4


1


1


1


1 2 5 2514


Myocarditis chronic


28


3 2


1 2


1


1


2


1


Nephritis chronic .


13


1


4


2


2


2


1


1


Patent Foramen Ovale.


1


2


1


Perforated ulcer


1


1


Peritonitis .


5


1


1


1


1


1


Pernicious anemia .


1


1


Pneumonia broncho


7


2


4


1


Pneumonia hypostatic


5


2


1


2


Pneumonia lobar


6


3


2


1


Prematurity .


3


2


1


Prostatic obstruction


1


1


2


2


Diabetes mellitus .


1


Hypertrophy of Prostate.


1


Intestinal haemorrhage .


2


Nephritis acute.


4


1


Peptic ulcer


1


Perinephritis Abscess


1


1


Myocarditis acute


1 1


1


1


56


ANNUAL REPORT


Prostatectomy


1


1


Pulmonary embolism .


4


1


1


1


1


Pulmonary tuberculosis


21


2


122224


2 112


Sarcoma .


2


1


Senility .


3


2


Septicemia


13


2


1


5


1


2


Strangulated hernia


2


1


1


Suicide


2


2


Syphilis


1


1


Traumatic Shock


2


1


1


Uraemia


1


1


Totals


333 32 37 31 21 24 26 21 45 26 22 16 32


DEATHS UNDER 1 YEAR


Total


Male


Female


Under 1 day


1-2 days


2-3 days


3 days-1 week


1-2 weeks


2-3 weeks


3-4 weeks


1-2 months


2-3 months


3-6 months


6-9 months


9-12 months


January


3 2 1


1


1


February


March


April


2


2


1 1


May


1


1


1


June


2


2


1


1


July .


3


2


1


2


1


August .


3


1


2


2


1


September


3


2


1


1


1


1


October


1


1


1


December


1


1


1


Totals


19 11


8 7 2 2 1


1 1


111 2


Atelectasis .


2


1


1


1


1


Asphyxia Neonatorum


1


1


1


Birth Injury .


2


1


1


2


Broncho Pneumonia


1


1


1


Cerebral haemorrhage


1


1


1


Congenital defect.


1


1


1


Congenital heart disease


1


1


1


Diaphragmatic hernia


1


1


1


Gastro Enteritis


1


1


1


Hydrocephalitus .


1


1


1


1


1


Intestinal toxaemia


1


1


1


Lobar Pneumonia.


1


1


1


Patent Foramen Ovale


1


1


1


Prematurity


3


3


1 2


Totals


19 11 8 7 2 2 1


11111


2


1


1


1 2


1


Stillborn


Influenzal meningitis


1


November


57


ANNUAL REPORT


REPORT OF THE


INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS


Frederick L. Briggs, D. V. M.


December 31, 1939


Dr. R. P. Kent Health Officer


Attleboro, Mass.


Dear Doctor:


I herewith submit my eighteenth annual report as Inspector of Animals for the year ending December 31, 1939.


I have inspected the following animals and the conditions under which they are kept on 148 premises.


Pure Bred


Grade


Cows. 95 Cows.


774


Swine 668


Young Cattle 31 Young Cattle 200


Sheep 12


Bulls. . 3


Bulls . 21


Goats. 7


I have made 151 calls to various parts of the city to examine, quarantine, and release dogs, that had bitten people, as a preventative measure against Rabies in Humans.


Respectfully submitted, (Signed) Frederick L. Briggs, D. V. M., Inspector of Animals.


REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING


December 31, 1939


Dr. R. P. Kent Health Officer Attleboro, Mass.


Dear Doctor:


I herewith submit my tenth annual report as Inspector of Slaughtering for the year ending December 31, 1939.


Slaughter House and Field Inspection


Carcasses stamped and passed for food 13


Hogs


12 Calves. 1


No condemnations as unfit for food.


Respectfully submitted, (Signed) Frederick L. Briggs, D. V. M., Inspector of Slaughtering.


58


ANNUAL REPORT


REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING TO THE HEALTH OFFICER Dr. Ralph P. Kent


Sir :


The following is a report of work performed by the Inspector of Plumbing during the year 1939.


There were 215 permits granted.


Number of permits for plumbing granted 215


Number of new buildings. 39


Number of water closets installed 198


Number of sinks installed 140


Number of laundry trays installed 16


Number of lavatories installed


181


Number of bath tubs installed


137


Number of shower baths installed


8


Number of urinals installed .


2


Number of sewer connections installed


19


Number of water coolers installed . 1


Number of work changed by inspector. 10


Number of floor drains


3


Consultations with Owners 6


Respectfully submitted


(Signed) J. W. Bullock.


59


ANNUAL REPORT


FIRE DEPARTMENT


BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS


William E. Sweeney


Hayward H. Sweet Chairman


Alfred J. Laliberte Clerk


Report of Board of Fire Engineers


Fred A. Clark Chief


MAYOR John W. McIntyre


COMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON FIRE DEPARTMENT


Bradford E. Tyndall, Chairman Herbert C. Lavigueur Harold W. Cole


BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS


Hayward H. Sweet, Chairman William E. Sweeney


Alfred J. Laliberte, Clerk Fred A. Clark, Chief


60


ANNUAL REPORT


PERMANENT MEN Located at South Main Street Station


Chief Fred A. Clark


22 Hayward St.


Assistant Chief Joseph O. Mowry


5 Second St.


Captain Hiram R. Packard.


8 Hope St.


Lieut. Herbert E. Knight.


15 Angell St.


Barney, Frank E.


681 Park St.


Barrett, Francis J


3 High St.


Cassidy, Harold.


52 North Ave.


Caswell, Gilbert F.


5 Emory St.


Demers, William A.


27 Holman St.


Dieterle, Clifford E.


496 Newport Ave.


Fielding, Clifford E.


492 Thacher St.


Gay, Charles I.


155 Park St.


Godfrey, Peter.


116 Wilmarth St.


Gorman, Herman F


706 So. Main St. 373 Thacher St. 23 Bushee St.


Morris, Harry E.


57 Fenton Ave.


Paton, Edward M.


176 Pleasant St. 32 Hebron Ave.


Powers, Harold T.


56 Carpenter St.


Riley, William E.


96 Park St. 240 1-2 So. Main St.


Stewart, Charles E.


Wheaton, William A.


66 Emory St.


Located at Union Street Station


Lieut. Herbert E. Brown


9 Franklin St.


Lieut. William F. Ahern


567 Thacher St.


Claflin, Joseph 1 ..


70A Hazel St.


Hearn, Joseph W.


53 Thacher St. 6 Benefit St.


Lees, Nelson B. . .


61 Adamsdale Ave.


Paradis, Delphis J. B.


35 Baker St.


Parker, Herbert C.


163 North Ave.


Pelletier, Adrian J.


21 East St.


Thurber, Herman M.


38 Park St.


Located at South Attleboro Station


Captain Roy M. Churchill.


1536 West St.


Lieut. Albert N. Knight.


408 Washington St.


Andrews, Albert W.


12 Olive St.


Charon, Henry E ..


46 Hodges St.


Duigmedgian, Manuel .


105 Parker St. Brown St.


Leedham, Thomas R.


Lees, William J.


31 Adamsdale Ave.


Moore, Frederick W. S.


54 Brownell St.


Smith, Joseph A


454 Newport Ave.


Located at Hebronville Station


Walton, Newell C. 27 Lafayette St.


Greve, Leo A.


Hatfield, James W.


Peets, Herbert E.


Hopkinson, Ralph L.


61


ANNUAL REPORT


To His Honor, the Mayor and Municipal Council :


We have the honor of submitting the annual report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 20, 1939, together with such recommendations as we think necessary for increasing the efficiency of the Department.


Organization


The Department consists of :


4 Engineers 44 Officers and men


Fire Stations and Apparatus Central Fire Station, South Main Street, No. 1.


1 Ahrens-Fox 750 gallon Triple Combination


1 Ahrens-Fox 500 gallon Triple Combination


1 Ahrens-Fox City Service Ladder Truck


1 Chief's Car


1 Assistant Chief's Car


1 Supply Car


Union Street Station, No. 2


1 Ahrens-Fox 750 gallon Triple Combination


1 Seagrave Tractor Drawn 75 foot Aerial Ladder Truck


South Attleboro Station, No. 4


1 Ahrens- Fox 750 gallon Triple Combination


1 Seagrave City Service Ladder Truck


Hebronville Station No. 5


1 Ahrens-Fox 500 gallon Triple Combination


Emergency Apparatus at Central Station


1 Trailer with portable lighting, foam and mask


1 Trailer with boat, grappling irons and inhalator


APPARATUS


5 Ahrens-Fox Triple Combinations


3 Ladder Trucks


1 Chief's Car


1 Assistant Chief's Car


1 Fire Alarm Truck


1 Supply Truck


2 Trailers


The Department, including all companies, has laid 51,150 feet of hose, raised 3,051 feet of ladders, used 51 gallons of chemical, 580 water cans, 23 pyrenes, 10 foam and booster tanks 166 times.


The Department has responded to the following alarms:


Alarms from boxes 79


Assembly 3 Still alarms 379 Total 461


62


ANNUAL REPORT


Classification


Autos.


32


Automatic sprinkler


1


Bridge.


2


Brush and grass.


193


Buildings.


54


Chimney


27


Dump and rubbish


41


Electrical appliance and wiring


3


False .


22


Flooding lot


1


Flushing street.


1


Gain entrance.


11


Gas leak .


3


Inhalator.


2


No fires.


32


Oil burner and stoves.


18


One pipe heater.


3


Rescue animals


9


Rescue persons


3


Rope in flag pole.


2


Sawdust.


1 Total 461


We have been out of the City once to North Attleboro, Rehoboth and Seekonk.


FIRE LOSS


Value of Buildings at risk.


$ 550,423.00


Value of Contents at risk


1,235,075.00


$1,785,498.00


Insurance on Buildings


654,660.00


Insurance on Contents


1,222,025.00


$1,876,625.00


Loss on Buildings


27,853.15


Loss on Contents


18,756.39


46,609.54


Insurance paid on Buildings


26,453.15


Insurance paid on Contents.


18,416.39


44,869.54


Loss not covered by insurance


1,740.00


LEARN THE LOCATION OF YOUR NEAREST FIRE ALARM BOX


We have been successful in keeping our fire loss at a low figure for the year.


IMPROVEMENTS


A new trailer was built by the men at the Central Station to carry the lighting and emergency equipment.


A new Triple Combination, 500 gallon pumper, was put in service.


RECOMMENDATIONS


1. We recommend that pumping engines Nos. 1, 2, 4, and ladder 3, engines and mechanical parts be overhauled as it is many years since they have been checked. The pumping units have been checked but we have not had sufficient funds to check all the engines in the above pumpers and ladder truck.


63


ANNUAL REPORT


2. We again recommend the installation of an oil burning furnace in the Central Fire Station to replace present one that is unsafe and not dependable. This furnace is in such bad condition that it does not heat the building and has been in use since 1910.


3. We recommend that the salary of the Chief and Assistant Chief be restored to original amounts prevailing before cuts in salaries were made.


4. We recommend the purchase of a small truck for handling supplies for each station. Present one is of 1922 vintage.


5. We recommend that an ordinance be passed requiring a low water cut off on every steam or hot water furnace equipped with oil burner installation, after passing of ordinance. We make this request because of several bad fires we have had the past few years and believe if this safety device had been on the oil burner no fire would have occurred. The recent fire on South Main Street, loss $10,000.00, is an example.


6. In case of sickness in the Department and at vacation periods the Department is undermanned and we would recommend that as soon as possible the addition of six more men be made.


APPRECIATION


We wish at this time to thank His Honor the Mayor, the Municipal Council, the Committee on Fire Department, and the Police Department for their assist- ance; also the officers and men for the able manner in which they performed their duties.


We wish to thank Dr. R. P. Kent for his attendance and services rendered to our men injured at fires.


We thank the special Fire Police of Box (9) Club for the efficient manner in which they have handled traffic conditions at fires.


Respectfully submitted, BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS, Hayward H. Sweet, Chairman Alfred J. Laliberte, Clerk William E. Sweeney Chief Fred A. Clark


64


ANNUAL REPORT


Report of Superintendent of Fire Alarm


William S. King Supt. of Fire Alarm


January 15th, 1940


To the Board of Fire Engineers, Attleboro Fire Department, Central Fire Station, Attleboro, Mass.,


I herewith submit my annual report of the activities of the Electrical Branch of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31st, 1939.


During the past year considerable work has been done toward cleaning up troubles and weak points in our line damaged by the hurricane of 1938. Many feet of damaged wires has been replaced and together with line wire run for new box locations, a total of 46,210 feet of line wire has been installed during the past year. Roughly a total of 462 new cross arms have been installed to carry this wire.


For the first time in a number of years new boxes have been added to the system and located in strategic locations. A new Fire Alarm Box No. 712 has been located on Pleasant Street near the Norton line and has proved its value a hundred fold because of the fact that within one week of the completion of its installation, a thunder storm of terriffic intensity arose and property in the vicinity caught on fire from a bolt of lightning. All telephones in this area had been placed out of service by the lightning and a driver of a passing car noticing the fire sounded an alarm from the new box, his attention being directed to it by the red skirt-shade installed over the box. (This type of marker is recommended by the National Board of Fire Underwriters to be installed over each box. This makes it possible for a stranger to fine a box location in quick order.)


Upon recommendation of this department the Board of County Com- missioners caused to be installed one master fire alarm box No. 654 at the Bristol County Hospital with six interior remote control stations located in the various sections of the institution. This installation released the old box No. 615 on the front of the building and it was moved to a new location half way between the Hospital and Locust Street in front of house No. 336 on Oak Hill Avenue.


Through funds being appropriated for this purpose, new line was constructed on West Street from North Avenue to the Corner of Mechanic Street and Norfolk Road and a new box No. 322 installed at this point. A red marker shade being installed over this box.


Also a new line was constructed from the junction of North Avenue and Deantown Road thru Deantown Road to the junction of Clifton Street at which point a new box No. 323 was installed thereby giving this section of the city better protection. Another new line was constructed along Newport Avenue from the junction of Newport Avenue and Highland Avenue to the corner of Newport and Randolph Avenues and at this point a new box No. 132 was installed.


65


ANNUAL REPORT


A new underground fire alarm service entrance has been started in to Fire Alarm Headquarters in the Union Street Fire Station. Approximately five hundred feet of three inch creosoted wood duct being laid in from the manhole in Union Street to a new manhole in the station yard. The members of the Union Street companies doing the excavating thereby saving the city considerable cost in the amount of labor used in doing this work. Cable of a size sufficient to take care of our regular growth has been pulled in these new ducts and at present we are getting ready to place this cable in operation. When completed, this work will do away with a multitude of unsightly wires entering the Union Street side of the Station. The present aerial wires on the poles have been in use many years, and lately have been causing trouble in a number of instances. With the exception of a distance of approximately three hundred and fifty feet on Capron Street from Union to South Main Street, all of our wires in the immediate center of the city will be underground. We are planning to extend this underground thru Capron Street sometime in the near future.


On October 16th, at 12:38 P. M., an incorrect alarm was received by the department from Fire Alarm Box No. 23 located on South Main Street in Dodge- ville. This being the second time that trouble was experienced from this box. Upon inspection this box was found to be in good working condition, this being substantiated by an engineer from the Gamewell Company whose report may be found on an attached sheet. This box is at least fifty years old and along with many others of its type in our system should be replaced in the future. Out of a total of one hundred and twenty four boxes in the system we have approximately sixty one of this type that average fifty years of service. Many of these being original boxes installed in 1886. We, at this time would suggest that steps be taken to eliminate these old boxes.


Along with new construction and replacements our time has been taken up with general repairs, moving of line construction and upkeep of the system. During the year a number of boxes have been damaged by various types of acci- dents, in the most cases by contact with motor vehicles. Box No. 67 was knocked from the pole and was placed back in service at a small cost. Box No. 213 was struck by a car skidding on the icy road, a small amount of damage being done. Box No. 53 together with its supporting pedestal and cable terminal box was totally demolished by a truck on the morning of August 28th. Restitution being made to the city in the sum of $262.00 by the driver.


Upon recommendations for the coming year, along the lines of efficient Municipal Communication we suggest that serious thought be given to the pur- chase and installation of a complete two-way radio system to be used jointly by our police and fire departments. The two-way radio in the past number of years has become the greatest weapon that can be placed in the hands of these departments for use in their every day pusuit of crime and protection of life and property. This is bourne out by perusing the reports of the departments in the various cities of the country who are equipped with two-way radio communica- tion.


A bulletin released by the Federal Communications Commission recounts the results of police-fire radio as reported by some fifty different cities for a specified interval of time. 155,656 emergency calls were transmitted-the average time required to transmit the call was one minute, two seconds-12,676 arrests were made-$387,000 worth of property was recovered, not including 280 stolen cars. These fifty cities used a total of 2,555 radio equipped cars-they served a total population of 32,500,000 people over an area of 28,200 square miles. Such figures, of course, do not include the saving of life and property which might other- wise have been destroyed, nor do they tell of the reduction of crime in radio equipped cities, from which the less hardened criminal leaves rather than run the chance of apprehension by an efficient police department.


66


ANNUAL REPORT


The radio would be of great assistance to our departments because of the large area of our city demanding police and fire protection. Under out present setup, we all have to depend entirely on telephone for our departmental communi- cations and in time of disaster this means does not afford the best in protection and efficiency. With radio installation, the efficiency of our various emergency departments would be greatly increased, direct contact being possible with all cars so equipped at all times.


Various incidents have arisen locally in the past where radio would have been a great factor in the saving of life. Several times we have responded to alarms expecting to find fire and upon arrival at the scene have been faced with drowning tragedies where in an instance of this kind, the Chief or officer in charge would have been immediately able to summon the necessary rescue equipment from head- quarters with very little lost time. Most accidents of this type occur in remote sections of the city and much valuable time is lost in locating a telephone. If, at any time, the Chief or Assistant Chief were out on inspection or other depart- mental duties they would be thru the use of radio in constant touch with head- quarters. A radio would be of wonderful use in the matter of multiple fires, forest fires, lost persons and many other incidents that arise in our work.


As of former years we recommend that the time of our alarm system be speeded up to at least one second or possible 3-4 second time. We are now running on 2 1-2 second time which is very slow. This would entail the speeding up of all fire alarm boxes and instruments and would necessitate the installation of a speed transformer to take care of the air whistle in the central station. A change in the system as outlined above would enable the apparatus to be out of the station and on its way before the public would know of the alarm. The alarms from the boxes would be received in fast time and then sent out automatically thru the transformer by means of the whistle, the whistle operating on slow time.


As in the past year of 1939, more new box locations should be made and present lines be made to extend to the fast growing sections of the city. During the coming year, we would like to start a program of installing red glass markers on the street lights located over each fire alarm box in the system.


The School Department has abandoned the City School in South Attleboro and we would suggest that use be made of the Box No. 151 located at that point by changing its number at a very small cost and relocating it on the Farmers School on West Street, thereby giving the children and school property better protection. This is a closely built up area being half way between Boxes No. 35 and No. 39 and would serve a double purpose of protection. Moving this box would not take any existing protection from the Newport Avenue section as it is already covered by Box No. 14.


Listed below is a copy of our budget figures as submitted:


Salary and Wages


Salary of Supt of Fire Alarm


(1)


$2,000.00


Salary of Asst. Electrician


(1)


1,916.25


$3,916.25


Maintenance of Equipment


Maintenance of Fire Alarm


(2)


2,000.00


Maintenance of Motor Equipment.


.(2)


250.00


New Fire Alarm Boxes


(2)


1,000.00 3,250.00


Other Expenses


Light and Power


(3)


198.00


Phone.


(3)


70.00


Incidentals


(3)


25.00


293.00


Under the above heading, I would respectfully request that the salary of the Superintendent be established at the old rate of $2,190.00 per year.


67


ANNUAL REPORT


In conclusion of this report, this branch of the department wishes to extend its sincere thanks to the Board of Fire Engineers, the officers and men of the Fire Department, the members of the Police and Public Works Department and all who have cooperated in the operation of this department during the past year of 1939.


Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM S. KING, Superintendent of Fire Alarm Attleboro Fire Department, January 15th, 1940.


THE GAMEWELL COMPANY Fire and Police Signal Systems Newton Upper Falls, Mass.


October 31. 1939.


Mr. William King, Supt. Fire Alarm, Attleboro, Mass.


Dear Mr. King,


We have investigated the Excelsior fire alarm box number 23 which recently sent incorrect signals to the Fire Department, and I am enclosing a copy of our engineer's report.


Even if this box was in perfect operating condition it is probably at least fifty years old and should be replaced.


Some of the inherent disadvantages of these old boxes are listed below:


If the door is not closed and a blow is sent over the system the box cannot be operated until the box door has been closed and opened again.


If the box is pulled and the door then closed, the signal is cut out. This apparently has happened several times in your city.


The box is not of the successive type. If two of these boxes are pulled at approximately the same time, one box will send its signal but no signal will be received from the second box.


The insulation between current carrying parts and the case is relatively low, rendering them more susceptible to damage from lightning and high voltage currents.


If a box of this type in which either the non-interference or tapbell magnets are disabled, is pulled for a fire, the fire alarm circuit is opened and a signal can be sent neither from this box nor from any other box on that circuit, until someone closes the box door.


We respectfully submit the above report for your consideration.




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