Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-04-20

Editors of the Kennebee Journal:
At the meeting If The Village School
District, held Saturday afternoon, the per-
mission which the city hiss hitherto en-
| JOY ed Of voting at elections in the Grove
street. schoolhouse was Withdrawn. Briefly
stated, the history Of the matter 10 this !:
For q number Of years the elections wers
reau' arly held 10 the school building. Cen
sid srable objection being found to this, the
dire c.trs refused further permission, and
after some wrsngliag the late Gardner
Phllips' carriage shop became the voting
place, until the school district, some two
or thee years ago, sgsin gave permission
to vote in the present building. After il
bad been voted Sa.utday to build New
schcolhou,e, it became the sense OF the
meeting that this permission should BE-
withdrawn, AID it was-u1aLimously.
This Incident gave rise to the natural
question, where the polling places under
the Australian system would be pisced
There is no doubt that, 90 the ci.1 viii be
re- districted, one will be placed in the Grove
str eet scho othouse ysid, But there must be
| accommodation for ct least one more for
Ward one and is it not true that q hose
house, which could be used as a polling
place, should be bailt somewhere in this
rart OF the city?
am not given to looking on the gloomy
side Of things, but no car did person can ex-
anime the facts and say tnss the south end
Of Augnsta HIS the slightest protection
egsinss Are, and yet in this unprotected
district are six churches. the State and
couGty bulldogs and all their valuable rec
o,ds, by far the largest portion Of the tax
able properly Of tue city, and the greatest
number Of residences. am referring eu-
tireiy to the portion Of the city wet Of the
river and below Bridge street. In that en-
tire area there is not siugle FIRE engine,
hose csrrisge, aud, with the exception of
the State House, and possibly the county
buildings. not single length of hose or u
nozzle. In the new district of Stapleton
there are no less than 80 residences, and
the nearest hydrsnt is at Mr.. Blaine's
house.
1t will be admitted, I think, withou.
further argument that the grester part of
the buildings are Of ipflammable material
and such as would burn rapidly. fire
member rightly, besides the hose cart a.
Bridge street. there is hose cart on Cushnoc
Heights and three on the ekst side
OK Lue tlStI. assuming IRE 10
break out in Stspleton, viii Mr.. McCaus-
land hAuling gravel from the gravel bank
10 the rear Of Gen. Harris's house, il be
comes necessary for him to drive to Bridge
street and back. Meantime, the other carri-
ages palled by men or horses from points
still more distant. are goiog to the same
point, and i. is evident how great and dan
serous such delay becomes. Is il not the
duty Of the city government to place some
where in this large territory hose cart and
csrrisge, go that our excellent water eystem
may be available as soon as the alarm is
given?
1 have gone over this mater rapidly,
knowing that everyone by tski1g Q mo-
nent's thought can see ct q glance the equi
ty and justice Of giviog this great portion
Of the city adequate protection ard feel
osrtsin that, should the city government
d eide to appropriate sufficient money for
tbs purpose, no fAir-minded person will
obj .ct to ths outlay, nor will the wisdom
OF taking that PFC anton sgAinst loss to
any citizen be doubled.
Very respectfully yours,
WALTER d. STINsoN.
Augusta, April IS. 1891.