s
filled with hot water, and the furnaces are supplied with wood which
burns at the touch of a match. It requires but fifteen seconds in the
day and but one minute at night to be ready for action and on the way to
the fire.

Scattered through the city are lofty towers, from which men keep a
constant watch for fires. They are thoroughly acquainted with the
various localities of New York, and can tell at a glance the exact
neighborhood of the fire. From their lofty elevation they see the first
cloud of smoke if it be day, or the first red glare if at night, and the
next instant the alarm is sent over the city on the wings of electricity.

All signals and messages connected with the Fire Department are
transmitted by telegraph, and for this purpose there is a distinct line
through the city for the use of the department. By means of this line
the various engine-houses are brought into communication with each other
and with the central station and police headquarters. As the
station-houses alone, however, would not suffice for the prompt
communication of alarms, signal-boxes are scattered through the city at
the most convenient points. These boxes are so situated that they may be
reached from any point in a few minutes. They are several hundred in
number, and are being multiplied as rapidly as possible. The engraving
accompanying this chapter shows the appearance and mechanism of the
signal box.

The box is attached to the telegraph pole, and is about twenty-four
inches high, by twelve inches wide, and five inches deep. Every officer
and member of the Fire Department, every officer and member of the Police
Force, and every officer of the Fire Insurance Patrol is furnished with a
key which will open all the boxes. A key is also deposited with the
occupant of a building near the box, and a notice showing the location of
this key is always placed in a glass case at the top of the box.
Key-holders are cautioned not to open the box except in case of fire; not
to give an alarm unless sure of a fire; not to give an alarm for a fire
seen at a distance; not to pull down the hook more than once in giving an
alarm; to be sure, after giving an alarm, that the door of the box is
securely fastened; and not to let the key go out of their possession
except when demanded by proper authority.

[Picture: FIRE ALARM SIGNAL-BOX.]

The engraving referred to will show the manner of giving an alarm. There
are tw