The Republican journal., 1886-11-04
The Lessons of the Recent Fires.

uC dOSSUuS VI UuG h6GGuG I lTGS,
A PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH POLICY.
1t is stated that the insurance rates were two
and one-half to three per cent. in Pennington
before the fire. This high rate was caused by
the lack of fire apparatus. In Eastport the
rates were as high as from four to four and
one-half per cent. for the same reason. With
good fire department and engines they would
have got insurance at rate as low as two per
cent. Now the business men of Pennington
were paying three-quarters of one per cent.
more for insurance than they should have paid
had the village had good fire department.
The property lost, on all of which they did or
should have carried insurance, is estimated at
quarter of a million of dollars. The people of
Farlnlngton, If they were well insured. prob
ably paid rates on about two-thirds of this valu-
alton, or $1S1 800. The three-quarters per cent.
excessive insurance paid on this amount by the
people of Pennington must have amounted to
fully S14O0 yearly. In Eastport the amount
paid unnecessarily for insurance was much
more. Eastport people estimate their loss at
81 100000. They We're or should have been in
surcd for at least Sl50,000. Because of their
lack of a suitable fire department they We're
forced to pay an average of at least one and
threc-quartcrs per cent. for insurance more
than necessary, or the handsome sum of $4,000
or $4,000 yearly. The amount paid to insur
ance companies out of the State would have
purchased engines and maintained an efficient
department. Eastport had an efficient volun-
tecr fire company and they have in every town
meeting in recent years pleaded for il steam
engine. But no notice was taken of them.
These two examples ought to convince the pco-
pie of other villages which still adhere to the
penny wise and pound foolish policy of Farm
ington and Eastport. that parsmonv is not
economy. Portland Press.
DEFENCE AGAINST FIRES.
htir .I, ,J,, I,,te .I,,
and ut great cost, that cities and towns which
neglect to provide means to fight fire etfectllal-
lN are foolishy parsimonious. Every few days
we find accounts in the papers of destructive
contagrations which might have been prevent
ed but for the lack of water. sufficient appara-
tuS to eNtinguish fire, or organized companies
to fight the destroying element. Cities and vii
lages that it has taken many years to build are
swept out of existence in few hours and
hundreds and thousands of people that had
comfortable homes. are obliged to depend up
on public charity for clothing, shelter and food.
One of the best movements in our cities for
protection against fire is the Introduction Of
abundant water supplies on all their streets.
Since reading the account of the burning Of
Eastport, the people of this city and Others
where water has been or s about to be intro
duced by reliable and sufficient systems of wa
ter works, congratulated themselves anew upon
the protection against fire which will thus be
afforded them If EastpoTt had contributed
Sllltll traction Oh Wllal Illc IRE mas cost
her people to provide suitable means to con-
tend with the devouring monster. the town
would not now be black with desoation and its
people dependent upon the charity of other
communities. Those towns and cities which
have been wiser than EaStport are to be com
mcndcd for their prudence and economy. We
hope their example will be followed until every
city and village will see to it that they have
ample means to fight fire. kenncbcc journal.
WARNED IN SEASON.
In its issue of Thursday, October u, the
Pennington Chronicle said:
The fate of Ea>tport it would seem, ought
to be Il warning to Pennington. That fair city
has been laid in ashes for the want of adequate
water supply am. the means to use it. Our
beautiful village takes the same hazard every
day, and we fear that if our citizens do not
wake up to our danger the devouring flames
will lay our homes and places of business in
ruin 1t will be remembered that the Chronicle
has repeatedly warned the people of this place
of their peril from fire. and we again call their
attention to this important matter"
Forty-eight hours had not elapsed after the
publication of this when the Chronicle office
and the best part of the village We're heaps of
ashes and backcned ruins. The warnings of
the Chronicle have been reinforced by an OBJ
ject lesson on great scale. Portland Adver-
tiSer.
LOCK THE STABLE DOOR BEFORE THE HORSE
Is STOLEN.
The disastrous fire at EaStport should awaken
the people of that town to the Importance of
sclf-protectlon in the shape of an efficient fire
department. Two years ago the town was near
~ wiped ont by contlagration, and yet the fire
of Thursday found them with simply two hand
tubs and no adequate means for using these,
even. BY their neglect they practically invited
the destroying element. Of course liberal Of
ferS of assistance will be extended to the Suf
ferers aS is Just and right, but after the imme-
diatc distress caused by the fire is relieved, the
donors of money would do well to stipulate
that one or two good steamers be purchased.
with the necessary outfit to make them efec-
tive. 1t is not unlikely that there are other vii
la@e> in this state in quite a> detencele>S con-
dition as Eastport. TO put lock ON the stable
door costs less than to replace a stolen horse.
Biddcford journal.
\ POTENT ARGUMENT.
There is no argument which can be made in
favor Of towns and cities providing good faCi-
ties for eNtin@ui>hing fires, that is quite po-
tent as the burning up of Il large amount Of
property where they are without efficient lire
departments and good water supply. In Bel
fast. where it seemed as if the people would
never wake up to a sense of their danger, they
have been 50 wrought up by the fires that have
swept Eastport and Pennington that on Tues
day they voted by an overwhelming majority to
secure system of wafer works without delay.
In Dover and FoXcroft where they have two
Old hand engines. frequently out of order, and
no organized fire companies, a movement is on
foot, we are glad to hear, for better facilities
with which to cope with the fire tiend. Ban
@or Commercial.
WILDCAT INSURANCE COMPANIES.
1t is said that Eastport had about Sl00.000 in
surance in wildcat companies not dollar of
which Will probably be collected. Insurance at
the lowest premium isn't always the cheapest
by any means. If those at Eastport who do
not get their insurance would publish the names
of the companies, it might save somebody else
from getting caught in the same way. And it
is barely possible that some agent has laid HIM
self liable, by doing business for companies not
i'll this state. The matter ought to be Ventiat-
ed. People are liable to lay the faults of poor
companies upon the good ones as we'll. Gar
diner Home Journal.
TWO HAND TUBS.
On Thursday Il fire broke out in Ea>tport
The only appliances in Ea>tport for lighting
fire are two old hand tubs, poorly handled. As
natural consequence an important portion of
Eastports business center is in ashes. Preven-
ton is always better than cure. IIouton, Bel
fast, and we hope EaStport, have learned the
truth of this 1t is with feeling of >atisfac-
ton and Il sense of security that WaterVille
men realize that our town has modern appli-
anccs for taking care of fires and IA fire depart
mcnt that for efficiency cannot be surpassed in
this State. Wateryille Sentinel.
A COSTLY WARNING.
1t is to be hoped that the lesson of the East
port fire is burnt into the minds of every COM
munity i'll the State which is to-day tempting
the flames to another equally ruinous visit by
niggard sticking to old hand tubs or to none at
all. Such warnings as this at Eastport are too
costly for frequent repetition. 1t should be
made the most of now throughout the State.
Portland Express
TIE RESULT OF CRIMINAL NEGLECT.
Unhappy Eastport had criminally neglected
to supply modern appurtenances for fighting
fire, though this is the third time she has suf
fered seriously. [Bridgcton News.
To Erect Monuments at Gettysburg.