The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-10-29
FROM FARMINcToN.
a move Towards Building a System
of Water Works.

FARMINGToN, Oct. 2s.-The underwriters
engaged in sadjusting the losses incurred
during Farmington's night of terror, met in
secret session at the parlors of the Stoddard
House. The meeting resulted in the adop-
tion of the following:
Fdrmington, Me-, Oct. 27. 1856.
Inc underwriters interested in the adjust
ment of the recent losses at Farmington.
Me, after careful consideration of the pre-
sent unprotected condition of the property
In said town, are of the opinion that thor
ough system of water works with water
mains IN the streets and suitable number
Oh hydrants will furnish the only adequate
protection Believing that such a system is
NOT only available, but practicable, they rec
ommend that the companies either SUSPEND
business In the town of Pennington, Me-, or
raise rates OF premium to an adequate basis
untli such protection has been provided.
fendlng such action the rates viii be ad-
vanced 90 per cent on present tariff rates on
an property located within the corporate
limits OF the village of Pennington. This
actlon to take effect ON and after October 28.
1885, eA 30
This meeting was followed by mass meet
ing OF citizens at Music Hall to consider the
advlsability of making some immediate
move towards securing water iworks. Last
L.
Frank II. Russell, d. W. Austen, Esq, DIR.
John +. I.inscott and Phillip w. Hubbard.
Esq, organized themselves into water
company by choice of Capt. G. w. Keyes as
president, and p. W. Hubbard, ESQ.,, as sec
retary, and took the necessary legal steps to
ask the Legislature for charter. This COM
pany now Offered to proceed at once with the
erection of the works provided the town of
village corporation would give the needed
encouragement.
The meeting was called to order by DIR.
Frank FL. Russell and Major s. Clifford
Belcher was invited to preside Z. o. Green
leaf, ESQ.,, was the first speaker. He detail
ed the prompt and decided action and said
that the company to give the town the need
ed protection was already organized and
were composed of men of wealth and respon-
slbility. Their intention had simply been at
first to furnish water for domestic purposes,
but If they could be assured that ian annual
rental of $50 each per year would be paid for
forty hydrants they would Immediately be-
gin the construction of an elaborate system
Of works probably costing in the nelghbor-
hood of one hundred thousand dollars. Sur
veys had already been made and an abund-
ant and never falling supply of water had
been found. He closed by giving full ac-
counts of what the company proposed doing.
u. ID. Greenwood, Esq, read the action of
the underwriters.
c. W. Tallcott of Woonsocket, R. l., was
introduced and explained in careful detail
the workings and advantages of water
works. Capt. Charles w. Keyes, was the
next speaker. Capt. Keyes for years has
urged the necessity of better protection from
fire through the columns of his paper, the
Pennington Chronicle, and in the last issue
Wednesday, before the fire on Friday, Iwarn
ed the people against repetition of the
Eartport horror. Capt. Keyes developed
the point that unless some action was taken
he feared many might not rebuild, and also
that many who desired to locate here might
be deferred from so doing