The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-08-28
DEERING.
Regular Meeting Of the City Govern
ment.

Alderman Hanson Denounces the Electric
Lighting and Cites the Complaints Of
the People-Other Important Matter.
An Exciting Contest Between the
Hose and Ladder Companies.
men was present last evening. In be
half of the committee on lights. Alder
man Hanson said that the COMMITTED
were being continually bounded as to
why they did not recommend m ore
lights. The truth is that the lighting
is very unsatisfactory. There are mum
erous complaints of the poor quality OF
the lights. Those who dosthe lighting,
when complained to, promise well, but
it was doubt in his mind if they ever
took the trouble to see if the lights were
out. 1t was because of this unsatisfacto-
ry situation that the committee did not
| care to recommend new lights. He, fol
one, thought it time that some definite
action was taken"
eff they cannot live up to their con-
tract let's see if we can't find somebody
who cam
This seems to- be the opening gun of
protest against the very unsatisfactory
service now afforded blythe electric light
plant.
The committee on streets reported that
in regard to the petition of Mrs. Starbird
and Others, complaining of Church
street. sidewalk, they had removed some
Objectionable material They also found
that cattle on this street are allowed to
defile the sidewalk, and that the plat
form of the "Old South church is piled
full OF old fence rails and slabs. These
things give the street a very bad appear
ance, and the committee hoped the Pc
titioners would continue stheir interest
in city affairs and cause these nuisances
to be abated.
MIA, G.Sehlotterbeck petitioned that
it is very desirable for the division and
plotting Of his property that High street
be extended to Brighton street; also
that Prospect street. be extended accord
ing TO plan presented, and that the city
will abandon that small irregular piece
of land now covered by said High and
Prospect streets where the same meet,
being near the southwesterly end of
Prospect street and the northeasterIy
end OF High street, as shown upon the
plan.
The following orders were laid on the
table for a second reading:
That sewer, beginning on Forest
avenue, at Falmouth street, thence run
Deering street, is necessary for the pub
lie convenience and health, and that the
same be laid and maintained, and for
this purpose the committee are author
lied to contract for the construction of
theEsame, an expense not to exceed
1875. The other order was for sewer
beginning in from of the lot of G. F..
Whicher, on Pitt street, thence running
westerly to School street, thence north
erly ON School street, to William street,
the sum.to be appropriated not to exceed
1884,
A communication was received from
Z. M. Webb, Esq, counsel for James N.
Stone of Falmouth, who made claim of
damages for injuries sustained a year
ago on the road near. the .marine hospit-
al. This was placed on file.
A call was read for the election on
September 10th, the polls to close at 4
p. m.
THE RACE BETWEEN THE those
AND LADDER COMPANIES.
There was excitement Fat Woodfords
Corner alast evening. At about 7.45
O'Clock men were talking in groups at
the corner, and there was large jab-
bering crowd in front of the City:BuiId-
ing. 1t was all about race, very ex-
citing race, and the circumstances of
the victory were peculiar. For some
time the mem bers of the city fire de-
partment have discussed the respective
m erits of the hose and ladder compan-
les. and finally it was decided to put
them to test.
The hose company declared that they
could reach the grammar school from
the city building and get a stream on to
the school house before the ladder COM
pany could get there and erect their
ladders of the roof
The ladder company held to the con-
trary, and the matter was settled last
night and the vanquished are under
obligations to supply ice cream to the
vietors as soon as the weather admits of
it.
The span of large grey horses that be-
long to the city, bought last April for
$3.50, and weighing 1900 pounds apiece,
were narnessed to the ladder truck.
This was to be the first test of their
speed. A former fire department. horse
Of Portland. now the property of Frank
Condor, truckman, was attached to the
hose carriage. The three horses were
led to the railroad crossing on Spring
street, in front of the City Building,
and at the word away they went Joe
Queen drove the ladder truck, and
Fran k Condor his own feet horse in the
hose carriage. .Only the captains of
t he two companies, Richard Smith and
Amos knight, respectively rode with
the drivers. The other ten mem bers of
each company, together with crowd of
spectators, were at the schoolhouse.
Before they had reached the foot of