The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-22
PROTECTION FROM FIRE.
What Old Fireman Thinks About 1t.

To the Editor of the Press:
At the late fire on Widgerys wharf it was
generally supposed those having the power
would set to work and bring our fire depart
ment up to proper standard and others, as
well as myself, have been patiently waiting to
see what movement would be made. Thus far
the committee on fire department and the in
surance adjusters have met and decided that
we do not need a fire boat but can get along by
making some arrangements with the tug boats
in the harbor. Any such arrangements, if
made, will work similarly to the hiring horses
from the street department to haul our fire en-
gines. 1 am in favor of the city having fire
boat, providing the city is able to support it
aud have control of the same at any moment
that they may require it.
think this committee should investigate
the workings of the whole department. Let
this same committee ascertain if there is a
doubt of single engine in the department,
failing to work if called to perform such duty
as was required of each one at the late fire.
Then the matter of hose should come next.
Then it should be seen whether the horses are
ready, at moments notice, to take the APP
paratus to the fire. After arriving at the fire
all of these precautions will be of little use if
there is no water available, and here let me
say if this committee will look back but two
years into the working of the department they
will find illustrations enough to convince them
that they and the citizens may expect serious
fires at any time from the lack of water. The
engines seldom connect with the hydrants but
what the water pipes burst and in SO doing
cause more or less delay which sooner or later
will cost some of our citizens many thousands
OF dollars.
At other times TO make necessary repairs
the company is compelled to gate off large dis
tricts of the city, which must subject the prop
erty in them to great risk and this risk is in
creased by the department not knowing when
ordinary bursts occur III they were informed
and a fire should ncenr, it would prevent lay
ing their hose in these districts, thereby saw
ing the confusion caused and time lost by the
neadway the fire may may get at such time.
have brought up these points, and now
will take the liberty to suggest to this commit
tee to see that every engine is as good as
money can make it, or supply its place with a
new one. Let the fire depar ument own its
horses and use them for fire purposes only.
Let the water company notify the department
whenever it becomes necessary for them to
gate off any part of the city. Let the depart
ment make arrangements with the water COM
pany to place in Commercial street, ten or
twelve inch iron pipe in the place of the one
they now have, this new pipe to have gates SO
that in case if any one of the supply, or lead
pipes, burst they may be shut off. Then, from
the large pipe. have four inch pipes run down
our wharves with hydrants connected everP two
hundred feet, and to prevent the small pipes
from freezing, they would only need valve
at the head of the pipe so that the water could
be let on only when needed At the lower end
of the wharf have drain valve in the last n.y.
drant SO that when the hydrant is closed the
water will drain off.
With this lay out / think the department
would be able to cope with fires on our
wharves with nearly as good success as a fire.
toat for it would be but little work to take
two or three lengths of hose across any of our
docks The hydrant on Central wharf, be-
longing to Mr. Woods, has twice shown us
what value hydrants could accomplish on the
wharves. At Mr.. Meals rigging loft this hy-
drant saved many times its cost, and at the
late fire l would not like to estimate the value
of the service rendered.
The large pipe in Commercial street would
furnish protection to property on both sides OF
the street, as far up as Middle street, and
when once in would be but little expense af-
forwards. After we get this iron pipe into
Commercial street let us have a small pipe on
the back side of the city and also one through
the centre. But who will pay for this pipe?
The water company. And if they are not
able now, let the city lean them the money at
low rate of interest, for the city should do
something to supply herself with a more relia-
BILE water supply for fire use, and every citi-
zen shonld interest himself and do something
to attain better protection from fire than we
now have. OLD FIREMAN.