Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-07-21

merate The Fire Department is subject to the
police, but has its own m anagers. 1t at present
consists of hand engines only, with few ladders
and is in no way efficient. This week the city is
| trying two imported Steam F ire Engines of Amer
lean manu- facture. These are the first Steam Fire
Engines, drawn by horses, that have ever been
tried here, all those here being hand" engines
drawn by "hand." Fires are never very des'ruc-
tive here owing to the great precautions taken ana
the supply Of water in front of each house, winch
can in two minutes time be thrown over or in any
part of the building. The precautions are in part
these: Every house when bu lit must first refer the
plan to the proper department on the police board.
II good, it is allowed TO be built under the inspec
ton of experts belonging 70 the city department.
No stove can be placed in q house without the
place being first inspected by the city experts.
Stoves belong to houses in Germany and always
remain, till worn out, where first set up. Besides
system Of telegraph alarms, persons are sta
toned in all the high towers to watch for any in
dicaton of fire. ! cannot give detailed account,
having only acquired some general informal ion
from one of the fremen.
The educational system is much too strict. The
rents and entirely assumed by the State. Chill
dfen must attend school from the age Of six till
fourteen; after that all male children must become
soldiers for time which varies, according to the
education, Collegiate less and whether one pays
his own expenses or not, from one to three years.
Then he is allowed to do as he pleases till war
comes. when he must go, no substitute being al
lowed As for the m ilitary system, il is fine, but
no nation could stand the expense of such an
army, unless bent on immediate conquests. Ger
many is nov rapidly bat quietly pelfecting her
military in each and every way, ADD it is uuiyer-
sally expected here that war must soon come
again with France at least No immediate trouble
is anticipated with regard to Russian com
plcations. The three Emperors Of Russia, Ger
many and Austria, have formed friendly ALI
ance, and at present the Interests Of the three
Empires are in many respects co-equa The gen
eral feeling il that Germany will not long
remain quiet; in fact il is rather hard to do so
now but they aie low and sure, and when ii docs
come they will have at least good chance OF sue
cess before them, for more cautious people |
never saw. The war with Russia and Turkey
must first end, then comes Germany into position,
but not while Russian plans are working so favor
ably for ker.
The German people are slow, plodding and
what call "numb". In such a science as chem
istry, where careful, slow and accurate observa-
ton and work is absolutely necessary, you will
find the Germans masters. Where quickness of
thought is needed, ready understanding in
short vigor of mind, then you never should seek
. -, e., ,l,a 4. oho I N
900. They are very slack, and in the preparation
Of their estabes decidedly dirty; slow in adopt
ing improvements, greatly conceited, but very
kind hearted.
Next time in Berlin and Potsdlm. 5. IIW.