The Portland daily press., 1890-02-04
MORE FIRE APPARATUS.
Nearing Before the Fire Department
Committee.

The committee on fire department of the
city council gave hearing yesterday alter
noon on the petition for additional fire ap-
paratus on Commercial street Chairman
Shaw presided.
The petition is signed by S, A. & j. 81.
True and 149 others, mostly Commercial
street firms. About dozen gentlemen were
present besides the committee.
Mr.. Eben Corey was the first speaker. lie
took the ground that in view of the dlsas-
trous fires liable to occur the de-
partment should be strengthened by new
steamer now, and probably by another later,
with the necessary houses, carriages and
other apparatus belonging to steamer, 10
be placed on Commercial street, ana II this
was done the property holders would cheer
fully bear the tax burden therefor.
1t was stated that by the petition in qnes-
tiou it was intended to OBJ ain fre-boat, not
steamer. Mr.. A. T. Laughlin, with W. &
| c. r. Milliken, and ex-president of the Com
mon Council, said he didn't believe In more
| flre-boats. If another was needed harbor
| boat could be hired and fitted up for the
| purpose. He said his firm, Messrs. w. q Z.
| r. Milliken, when they signed that petition
understood that 1t meant new steamer.
| Councilman Murphy said he was asked to
circulate petition for fire-boat and get
signers. The petition presented was the one
| in question, and he understood that all but
| two of the signers understood fire-boat was
asked for. Messrs. Tucker of the Maine
| Central, Wescott of the Rochester, Smith of
the Grand Trunk and McClutchy of the
Boston & Maine, all understood that 1t was
petition for a fire-boat. Mr.. Corey and one
other gent eman wanted an engine. BE
didn't see how line of hose was to be car
ried from steamer down the wharf. You
could get stream from a hydrant down the
wharf but not from an engine.
Alderman Thompson asked Mr.. Murphy
If Mr.. Wescott was aware of the time II
would take ire-boat to get round to the
Rochester property on Back Bay If need.
ed.
Mr. Murphy said Mr.. Wescott said nothing
about it, He said they always had more OIL
less cars on Commercial street.
Mr.. Corey said fire-boat in winter was
liable to be blocked by ice, and Mr.. Murphy
replied he hadn't known such case for q
years. Mr.. Corey said that only two years
ago his clerk couldn't get across the harbo
because the boat was prevented by drift
ice.
Mr.. Murphy said he stated that fire-boa
was what was asked for when he circulated
the petition and that was what was called
for; that the idea he had in his mind whei
he was asked to estimate the expense wa
that a fire-boat. now for sale, could be hat
for $1,000. The harbor master could be mad
captain, thus utilizing his salary, and tn
crew could be harbor policemen. Such
boat would throw nine streams. or two
thirds as many as the whole Portland de
partment. He further said those who signe,
didn't care so much what they get, provide,
they received better and ample protec
tion.
Mr.. Corey then said getting fre-boat fo
Portland was like putting an engine OF
snow shoes. 1t would do we'll enough one
at wharf, but 1t was apt to be distanc
off and with low tide or ice, kept from goin
where it was wanted. GIVE us two new en-
gines. he said, and their apparatus, some
thing our skilful chief engineer can handle
How often does Boston need a fire-boatP
A question was asked the chief by MI
Murphy as to the demands of the depart
ment, and the chief answered that the boar(
of engineers had voiced their opinion in
report that had been presented to the fir
committee to be handed to the city govern
ment
The hearing then closed.