The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-07-31
A FIRE BOAT AT LAST.
The City Government Voted for 1t
Last Night.

The City Sells the Adams House to Ammi
Whitney for S95OO-The Eye and Ear
Infirmary Gets $1,000 for Daily Dis.
pensary for One Year-Fifteen Hun
dred Dollars for New Hydrants.
At a special meeting of the city govern
ment last evening, the full board of al
dermen were present, but in the absence
of Mayor Baxter, Alderman Randall
presided.
The special object of the meeting was
to consider the offer of Ammi Whitney
to purchase the Adams House for $4,000.
This was SETTLED very quickly, the offer
being accepted without objection or
comment.
The most important business, how
ever, was the final settlement of the long
discussed fire-boat question.
THE NEW FIRE-BOAT.
Alderman Little presented the report
of the joint standing committee on fire
department. He read the offer of G. L.
Cooling for the owners of the Mary W.
Libby, to provide that steamer as fire.
boat, she to be furnished with an extra
frst-class Amoskeag pump, to be always
on hand between Bug Light and the city
water front, and the city to pay there
for $3.50 month and SIS an hour during
actual service from the time she leaves
for the fire till dismissed by the chief of
the department.
The Joint committee had Investigated
for long time thoroughly, and were
satisfied that it was. best to accept this
offer, and Alderman Little read an order
to that effect. This prov oked quite
discussion.
Alderman Thompson inquired if there
had been any other offers. Alderman
Little replied in the negative.
Alderman Thompson called attention
to the fact that the old contract provid-
ed for only 500 month, ssand he thought
that $3.50 was large increase, simply
for a new pump and the new restrict
ions as to the location of the steamer.
Alderman Little explained that the
present pump is old.and incompetent, and
that the new pump would largely in
crease the area of the city that would
be protected by the fire boat. The in
crease is $50 month, but the city will
be as well. protected as if it owned fire
boat itself and at half the expense.
Alderman Thompson thought that
paying $1,000 year for five years for that
new pump in that old boat was an ex-
horbitant price.
Alderman Little said that the low
price on the old contract was. because
the city owned the old pump. The COM
pany will be at large expense to provide
the new pump. There was large proper
ty interests on our water 'front.' and we
needed the best of protection there.
Alderman Smith said that under the
present system the fire. boat was consic-
cred absolutely worthless 4 Chief Jack
son was present and could explain that
matter.
Chief Jackso told the board that he
present pump was built 2S years ago.
was practically worthless and that it
seemed too bad to be paying 800 a
month for practically nothing. The
matter of $4,000 was not large in COM
parison with the di ference between the
present pump and system and the pro-
posed pump and system. Besides the
old worthless pump (Which only can be
of use close to the fire, which position
is sometimes impossible), the present
system allows the boat such privileges
that she may be out of reach when
wanted. BE strongly advocated the
measure.
Alderman MCGOWAN thought that it
would be better to have the contract
read two years instead of five.
Alderman Peters moved the order be
laid upon the table, as he desired more
time to understand it. 1t was so voted.
But later in the evening, Alderman
Little moved that the order be taken
from the table and have hearing. 1t
was so voted.
FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR
MIGRANTS.
An order was read that the sum of
$1,000 be appropriated for the locating of
several hydrants i'll the western part of
Gne clty' IuoIo has Uoen many new
houses built lately on St. John street
and vicinity, that are entirely without
hydrant protection. Chief jackson was
present and Isaid that there were IS
dwellinsg on St. John street, and there
were only two small MIGRANTS in the
vicinity. In case of fire, the whole
street would be swept. On the Prone
made there was also need of several
more hydrants This appropriation
would give four hydrants for ST. John
Street and vicinity and three for the
Western Promenade.
A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE
EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY.
Alderman Thompson read an order
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