Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-24
STATE HOUSE NOTES.
Fresh Air for Lawmakers-Teache
Institute-An Ingenious Warden
Governor Appointments.

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quent cases of pneumonia among our lay
makers during the winter session, to sa,
nothing of the discomfort caused by tn
constant breathing of impure air, long sine
made the necessity of better ventilation sp
parent. In former years, several attempt
at better state of things have failed ON &C
count of the lack of appropriation. At til,
last meeting of the State Board of Healtl
it was voted 10 authorize the firm of b. +
Sturteyant & Co., the well known manufac-
turers of hot air ventilating apparatus to ex
anime the building and make at their Owl
expense estimates of the cost of introducing
their system. Accordingly Mr.. A. T
Barnes, an experienced sanitary engineer il
the employ of this firm arrived in the city
Monday and is at present engaged in copying
portions of the plans of the building. In al
interview with Mr.. Barnes he said: at i,
combine ventilation with heating. In fact
to toventilate at all We must have hot air
Should the system be introduced fues will
be placed in the walls with regi ters opening
into every room, about seven feet from the
floor. An enormous rotary fan, which could
be located in the basement, under the rotun-
da, would drive large quantity of fresh air
probably fifty thousand cubic feet per min
ute-into these tlues. This air driven into
the rooms, would of course displaco an equal
quantity of foul air, which escapes through
what the expense would be, couldn't say.
1t would be much more difficult to v,niilate
an old building of this sort than any other
The system cannot be introduced till the pro-
posals are accepted by the Senate, and no
attempts at better ventilation will probably
be made before next summer, MIR.
Barnes has been requested to examine
the court house with reference to putting in
a hot air apparatus. The Sturtevant Com
pany have ventilated many public buildings,
among which are the National Capitol and
the Massachusetts, Institute of Technology.
The Secretary of the State Board of Health
reports that Notwithstanding the wet and cold
weather during the fall, the present year has
been less productive of contagious diseases
in Maine than any other since the formation
of the board. The decrease in the number
of cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria has
been especially marked. Most of the local
boards of health have strictly obeyed the law
requiring all cases of contagion to be prompt
y reported. Several, however, either
through ignorance or negligence, have disre-
garded this requirement.
The deeds conveying the States interest
in wild lands which were recently sold fol
taxes are being sent out. The largest pur-
chaser was Isaac X. Clark of Bangor, who
bought nine different tracts aggregating
81 900 acres for Sl35 60, a little over third
of cent per acre.
The Piscataquis teachers institute will
be held at Foxcroft instead of Abbot Village
In order that teachers may be able to leave
on the Friday boat the institute at Boothbay
will be held one day earlier than scheduled.
Androscoggin, Cumberland Franklin Ken
nebec, Somerset, Waldo and York have not
yet decided where their Institutes shall be
held The Kennebec institute will probably
be held either in this city or Gardiner
The report of the superintendent OF
schools is nearly completed. The table OF
the appropriations of school money to the
various towns for the next year will probably
be made out soon. Owing, to the increase
in the Savings bank tax which is used for the
purpose, the apportionment to each scholar
will probably be about five cents larger thar
this year.
Adiutant General Gallagher went to Port
land yesterday.
The unhealthy condition of the State
prison at Thomaston, recently brought tC
the notice of the governor and council by
Warden Bean, is due largely to the water il
deserted lime quarry which for many
years was worked by the prisoners. The
pool is nearly forty feet deep and as it ha
for long time been the repository of al
odor. The experiments which have beer
made for the purpose of draining this cisterr
have given some interesting illustrations Of
the laws of hydraulics, and have led to al
invention which, though it may not be of
great practical benefit, is certainly a re-
markable example of the ingenuity
of Warden Bean. One week age
Monday large siphon was put into the pool
For a while it worked well, but it was fount
that after time the air bubbles contained il
the water collected in the bend of the siphoI
and stopped the flow of water. TO preyen
this an ingenious apparatus was devised b,
which these air bubbles escaped into an up
per chamber come :ted with the bend of th
| siphon and their place taken b,
water. During the week the siphoi
| has lowered the water over six
teen inches. As the basin grows smalle
towards the bottom it is calculated that be
/ fore winter the pool will be lowered severa
/ feet As not even a slphon can induce waite
to run up hill more than twenty-eight feet
when the water has reached that depth be
low the surface some other method of remov
ing the remainder must be found. II is pro
posed to build tunnel, either from the out
side, or by building coffin dam from tn
inside. 1t is hoped that when this obnoxiou
pool b removed the sanitary condition of tn
prison will be much improved.
The Governor and Council left yesterda
for their annual official visit to the Perkin
Institute for the blind and the School for tn
Feeble Minded at South Boston. They ais
20 to the School for the Deaf at Hartford
Conn. They will probably return next Nor
day.
Governor Marble has received an inyits
ton to attend the second annual drill and ba
of the Coburn Cadets to be held at the TOW
Hall, Orono, Nov. End, next, but on accoul
of previous engagement at that time,
obliged to decline the invitation.
Gov. Marble has commissioned the folio,
ing ministers of the Gospel to solemn;
marriages II. w. Abbott, Rockland n.