Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-01-24

can give u such weight In the matter ~
they 80 &c. At any rate, propose to
read Il, With their permlsslon. The
letter u ~ follows:
10 rHE soUru rAKis c0nNirIEE:
Of sss ii i.sssss. ! Ave yi.issd ~ osisrd
c:ssS 4 . ~ .ss ssss
Of ths vaults containing The county ecorts. !
herewith submit the following report:
fhs brick buitiins coataininR the ONCE OF
q 49, bss. ?. and S County fssusr, e sssssd
short distance frvm the Court House proper.
rhe vaults Are direetly In the rear Of the above
namesi oeices and evidently that portion OF ne
buis on, some years amer the construction OF the
part containing the several Offices.
The vanhs are Of the following dimensions
Registsr Of Probate. n. II a. and inches i
Cosrts, n. - n: height Of ceiling. n. and
10 ipches. Register of Deeds. 70. anil inches
I % fsst; heish. OF ceiling. y. and inehes;
Tss vaults Of the Register OF Proe s ana 10, OF
Register Of Dee,is' vault In second story has
noor OF one course OF brick laid In mortar on
wood noor and the brick covered with two OF
The ceiling Of each vault Is iathed and plas.
tered on common floor timbers Of spruce or pins.
The entrance doors from Offices 10 vaults are
male Ut q Wrought Iron framework Inch by
Ia Inch riveted together nj Interesting parts and
pipe iroa). The doors are double, or two door,
ono swinging into oiiice anil the other Into vauh,
with q space Of eight or ten Inches between. The
wtndows In each vault have shutters on tne IN
eide, made In the same manner ne the vaut doors.
The brick wall In each yault IL twelve inches IN
thickness on side next 20 oflces, and In each wall
the brick walls are badly cracked. 80 that wa.
able 10 Insert q common two foot rule depth OF
a...k ..l In Nh.s Ia
Of Deeds vaalt the biick wall has settled or
sprung oG from the obi buil,iing 80 that one can
zee frOm the vaut Into the next room.
In conclusion I will say that the vaults above
lutely unsafe "a rcgsri. Ore. and must cay that
u IL The mott absurd attempt at nreprsof con-
struction that have ever witnessed.
To make the prevent vaults nre-proot Ioad
practically mean new vaults, and In my opinion
ID would lie considered an illadvise,i scbeme 20
build new fire. proof vaults In connection with
Offices that are 80 obi. Dw.postel. ilventiiate,l
and 80 devoid Of all moiern improvements, lie.
sides NOT Icing of sufficient size or OF convenient
arrangement To properly conduct the present
business Of the county.
Respectfully submitted.
q. NJ. CoONBs, Architect.
We further say, while upon this point,
that committee of the citizens OF Nor
way, feeling the Importance Of this ques-
ton a. to whether these vaults here are
fire-proof and as to whether our records
are safe and secure, felt called upon to
make an investigation on their part.
They employed Mr.. =. ii. Fassett, OF
Portland, a well.known architect and q
gentleman whose name gives to any opin-
lon which he expresses the confidence
that Il "a an honest and unbiased Opin-
lon. will also read the report which
he submitted.
To THE COMMITTEE ON COUNTY BUILDINGS
az IHE Town OF NORWAY:
Gs.tte~ss.-On Deeember r. by your
request. mate a thorough examination OF the
county buihiing- of Oxford County, st Paris,
Ne, especially those parts of the buildings ~
which are kept the recoris, couu uccumehts anu
law library 70 asee,,s,n W. s so% ", ION ,.hs she
er u woah he possible 10 make such alterations
as wouh render them lre-proof and suitable 70
accommodate the present AMI future demands
Of the county business. Hound what are termed
the safes OF vaults connected with the Probate
Court room aud the Offices of the Clerk OF Courts,
Register of Deeds aud County Treasurer. In =
very poor and unsafe condition; The sales.
apparently, were built "a an addition "a the oller
buihiing. The wall. OF these sales are OF ,nree
courses Of bricks In thickness ami were BUN ON
such poor foundations that they are psiiy crsck;
Ell and drawn from the walls OF the "ns,nai
OF Ore, wouki admit the flames and smoke. The
ceilings Of the vaults are of wood, covered with
one course Of bricks, laid In cement; but owing
To the shrtnkage OF the wool ON which the bIicks
are laid, many OF me prks an 'oS, 80, ras .,
the wool exposed: The under slde OF The soau.
or pianks ON which the pricks ART n'u Is l,ne.
With splt ooari. anl pss.s,en Win Vne .oay oi
lime mortar. The plas.efins y oaaiS siaenea
ann IN many psses poe, .nn,, ss's IN, a ,hsae
win,iow which has an ir9n shutter, W, tnese
shutters ay ol .uen win s..', u,s,' - ~
pooiy huea uat 'ue, oes a,'I.a,,nss appss.
.eeuoa i "ir '" Wy a,,, 49,. - ~,
Iron doors. These door. are very thin. being
only one-thirty second OF an incn IN tickness
They were originally badly ntt.d anl nave
since become warpet In case OF the burning OF
The building, or even OF q IRE In one ot the
rooms adjoining the vaults, The doors wouft pe
u little or No use. One great danger IL the tim-
her and bcari roof covering the whole building;
In case the roof should burn, the one course OF
bricks over the vaults would be OF no protection
Another source OF danger IL the
WOODEN structure In the rear OF the vaults AMI
with the main building by a wooden
,orri'lor incase OF the burning OF TINS stlustnre
here Is little 70 prevent the nsmes lgni.,ns .,'e
NOT OF the main buihiing as tne cave. are very
,pen, AMI, although the TOOL y. sn.e,, ekpenr
,nce has shown that states are OF pus mue p,o,
ny woou purni ing low ~. ',i,,,S ~ an
Deing much greater than from system OF steam
'r hot water heating. ,,,.,, A., ,,, v.,,,.
-.
'oud be repaired 70 maAs mem EN-, hfvpno oo .nee
luen,iy anew foundation would have 20 be pro
S;ss ,% .o. ~ much or %ore as bapas
new vaults. IN tact, U see ho'hing VI 'aiue eN'
oepting the oil bricks.
also examined the Court House anil founi
he valuable law library ami court documents
.ni documents In the vaults of the building
above mentioned. The Court House Il warmed
By i've m1SoIrnn love- , .So Io aapr iionss
!. Of Srs.I. 10 n, two woo.lsn addition. have
Zen male, one AZ ne iron, ann Has ~ iait ,hc
s,i.ii,ions have been drawn away fron, the main
bull ling, leaving large openings between the
ns a an M ssn VA ,.cs,re 30 ss 10 make il
ale from DIRE anil In aay way equal To the re.
luiement. OF couIt business Of the present time,
without very large outlay. NY expenence ..
%eisra saihiins 5y Changing over an oil one Il
one Of the most costly ami Unsatisfactory oPer'
ATOMS ever undertaken, .,,.,..ms,,, .o,,sc,sa
,.i,h soI iss Solsi,nss worthy the name. ami no
means u ventilating the rooms. The eslt from
lhe court room IL dangerous, q. there y bat one
ngn. OF s. sna L ~ ."so 30, W a. ss, ,Ss eoar,
r"o%. "'"'' ~ ~ -
In conclusion viii cay that dee% . the rec,
~ ~ Inv n "onssraei. n, Srst danger. a: The
1auit. in which they are stored are practically
useless; ,,,. ,.,,,,.u, J., A.. ,,.,0,,v N,
~, sons, hn,.I,ngs b"1n Xonr valuable pro,erty
xouEi he al lhs msrcy Of the flames, q. there are
no means In ,ne village Tor es, wing nrs
s AVE 70 Is ssfried in buckets, and any one who
bas witnessed large iie knows Of what little
avail such means S.,.. arr vo.r
y. ID. FAssErr. Architect.