The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-07-24
Is Portland Secure?

TO The Editor Of the Press.
The recent conflagration In Montreal and
the large fire In Lynn last Friday night, nat
urally suggest this question to the minds Of
those who have the welfare Of our city at
heart. According to statistics, published some
time since, Portland ranks as one OF the most
compactly built cities in this country, and
should have, therefore, the most careful at
tention given to its fire department.. water
supply and fire alarm systems.
That we have an active and efficient set of.
men, as members OF the several companies
of the fire department, goes without saying,
and that we have nearly one-half as much
hose on hand as has the city of Boston, with
her forty engines, is also true, yet Portland
owns but four engines with a capacity of
more than 500 gallons of water per minute,
and one of these is about to be rebuilt. which
will require some three months for its ac-
complishment. 1t should aforementioned that
it Is the unanimous opinion of the fire COM
missioners and chief engineers Of all the
large cities, ably set forth in papers read be-
fore that notable convention in the city of
Lawrence last fall, that engines of not great
er capacity than 500 gallons per minute are
adequate only for suburban SERVICE" be-
cause small streams at a hot fire will vapor-
lie before they reach the flame, as was the
case at the Lynn fire before referred to. The
city authorities of Lawrence, recognizing
this fact, last fall ordered two engines Of
700 gallons capacity, and Mayor FOgg In
formed reporter OF one Of the Boston pa
pers that those engines had paid for them
selves many times over. on the night of the
18th.
Now let us look for moment at our water
supply for fire purposes. That there is an
unlimited quantity Of water In Lake Sebago
Is fact that needs no demonstration, but
that there are sections Of our city very mad
eouately supplied, and that there are dis
tricts that have no supply at all, will be a
surprise to many tax-paying citizens of our
city.
Take for example, MuDjoy Hill, built al
most wholly of wood. 1t is a rare thing to
find 20 pounds water pressure on the hill,
and when there is a heavy drought water
cannot be drawn above the collars. This
does not appear to be the case at the other
end OF the city, where the elevation Is about
the same. Again. take the section bounded
mercial streets. There is absolutely no wa
ter, except two old reservoirs, and 1t is
doubtful IL anyone knows whether they con-
tain any water or not. Should fire occur In
this section, IL would have to be fought at
long range, from Middle and Commercial
section below Portland street, toward the
Back Bay, lying between Preble and Green
streets, embracing, as it does, Kennebec
street, with its numerous woodworking es-
adjustments. This district contains but q
single hydrant, consequently fire has to be
fought through long lines of hose and fewer
Of them than If the district was we'll sup
piled with MIGRANTS. Then, look for mo-
ment at the valuable district on Commercial
street, between Union and Pearl streets, and
adjoining wharves. This district has but
four hydrants. 1t is gratifying to observe
that while so much needs to be done before
Portland can rank with many other cities in
the matter Of protection. much Is being done
to improve the fire alarm service. Nearly
all OF the old signal boxes have been replaced
by mountaineering boxes of the latest pat
tern, and the fire alarm office has been sup
piled with new apparatus which ensures the
department against confusion Of numbers
when the alarm Is given. as has sometimes
occurred in the past. Shall we not hope
that steps may be taken to give us an ample
water supply, and more large engines. Then
we can boast of ample protection against
the greatest danger that threatens American
Cities ft