The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-07-04
Broken CiSteTns.


fact that the cisterns formerly used for
fire purposes in this Village are in con
dition bordering closely upon useessness,
aud the statement has been made that
half dozen of them are sadly in need Of
repairs. that the small quantity of water
contained in any one of them would. in
case Of lire, last but short time. This
IS a serious state Of things, If there is
lie l'cruEtE has at different times
contained illusions To the danger from
fire aud the exposed condition of proper
ty III our village, but we have refrained
from stating the matter in its strongest
terms, for the reason that it might cause
considerable alarm among property own
ers and really do no good. But the time
has come, now, when the true state of
things should be known As there i rem
edy at hand, and the citizens Of skowhe-
gan village will De guilty Of gross. Grim.
inal negligence II they do not adopt it.
We have the facilities at hand to make
this village one Of the most thoroughly
protected villages from destruction Of
property by tire Of any town or city in
New England We have good steamer
in good working trim, which Is well As
far a. 1t goes, bat the water supply for
the steamer Is entirely Inadequate even in
the central portions OF the village. and In
the outlying portions there Is practically
no supply whatever unless the hYdrants
of the Water Works are used
The force pumps on each side of the
river we think are an addition to our fire
service covering limited space, but it is
a significant fact that insurance boards
in making rates have given US little OF no
credit for these pumps. They take no
stock in them.
The remedy alluded TO is the renting OF
the seYenty-tiye hydrants that are put in
by the Water Company. These hydrants
cover every part of the village, are in
good working order, have been proved
so only few weeks since by test that
saw the exhibition. These bydraIts are
of capacity and have a pressure sufficient
to drown out any possible fire at any
stag The hydrant and hose system
of IRE apparatus is the one system adop.
ted in every city or town of any size in
our State where it can be obtained, and
no village the size Of Skowhegan has a
moral right to be without this the best
security known to modern engineering
Through the courage and energy and
hard work of some fifteen of our citizens
voving the going down deep into their
pockets, these gentlemen have completed
this system and it is now in good work
Ing order. They are prepared to make a
contract with the Skowhegan Village
Corporation for hydrant rental for fire
purposes.
In other places the hydrant rental has
been obtained Of cities and villages be-
fore the works have been put in, but in
this case the Company had confidence in
the citizens sufficient to go ahead with
the project, believing, that once they saw
the workings Of the system and realized
its value to the village, they would rent
the MIGRANTS without delay.
1t is too late In the day to use any ar.
gument as to the desirabiity of this sys
TEN. 1t has got beyond that stage. The
fact that every city and considerable vii
lage in New England have either secured
water works or are securing them as
rapidly as possible is sufficient proof of
the fact that this is the one and only ade-
quate system Of water supply for ex-
tnguishment of fires.
The property owners of the village
have certain rights that the Village Cor
poration are bound to respect. They
have their money invested in mills, shops,
houses, stores and stocks of goods. 1t Is
necessary to carry insurance upon this
property, No business man can afford
not to. Our merchants must compete
with the merchants of other towns, they
must not only buy their stocks as cheaply
AS merchants in other towns but must
carry them As cheaply or they are at dis
advantage. III the insurance rate is %
per cent higher than at Waterville, Ban
gor, Augusta or Fairfield, our business
men are ut just that disadvantage. This
applies not only to the stocks in trade
but to the stores the mills and the resi-
dences. The business of the place In
some form pays this extra rate ON all the
property in the village and is hampered
to just that extent when compared with
competing towns.
Not only this but the safety that comes
from the best possible security is one of
the greatest factors that enters into the
healthy stimulation of business. Extra
ordinary fire hazard is one of the great
est detriments to the establishment OF |
business enterprises, and a town that
subjects Its business to such odds Is pur-
suing very short-sighted policy.
The cities and towns of Maine that
have water works and hydrant service
contracts, have got an advantage of from
20 to 30 per cent In the reduction of fire
insurance rates Skowhegan will be no
exception to the rule. This reduction In
rates will come very near paying for the
hydrant rental and If the feeling of Sc
curity could be committed in cash, 1t
would far exceed this amount.
By renting the hydrants we shall not
only make saving of about 25 per cent
n the premiums paid, but we shall make
, much greater gain in the quality of the
Insurance. In other words we get &C.
,urity, instead of indemnity iu case of
oss, between which conditions there IL
vide difference.