[LB061551], Letter from Thomas Alva Edison to West Orange (N.J.). Township, May 18th, 1895
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB061551
Transcription
May 18th, 1895. Fire Committee, Township of West Orange, N. J., Dear sirs:- In regard to the placing of your fire alarm apparatus, whistle, etc., in my Laboratory, I desire to say that we carry on our Boilers in the neighborhood of sixty pounds of steam from about 6 A.M. to about 1 A.M., and from about 1 A.M. to about 6 A.M. the steam pressure drops down to about thirty pounds, with the exception of Sundays and holidays. During the summer months, on Sundays and holidays, the fires are banked, and no steam is carried. In order to keep up a sufficient pressure of steam, not to exceed thirty pounds pressure, to blow your whistle during this period, the expense would be twenty-five ($25.00) dollars, and I will undertake to carry this pressure, you to reimburse me this amount for so doing. At all other times we carry a pressure of at least thirty pounds, which I understand is sufficient to blow your whistle. In addition to this I reserve the right to shut down my boilers for the purpose of making repairs, examinations, cleaning, etc., which is of course necessary from time to time. The entire apparatus, necessary, etc., requisite to properly install and operate this whistle, to be erected at your expense, upon plans to be approved by me, and all responsibility as to the installation, or proper working of this apparatus, is vested in yourselves, and I am to be in no way held liable. I am willing that the mechanism to properly operate your whistle shall be located on the third floor of my Laboratory building at the rear end, at the point agreed upon between us, same to be enclosed such a way that it cannot be tampered with by any of my people. I also reserve the right to order the removal of the entire apparatus, on two week's notice, in writing, the expense of such removal to be born by you, and my premises to be placed in as good condition as they were originally. If the above meets with your approval, will you kindly signify your acceptance in writing, when the work of placing the apparatus can be proceeded with at your pleasure. Yours very truly, Thos A Edison [R?][andolph]