The Portland daily press., 1895-05-11


ton of the Great Lumber Centers on
the Grand Trunk.
Especial to the PRESS.
Island Pond, W.. May l0.-The great fire
at Gorham when the business portion of the
village was saved only by the arrival of
the steam fire engine from Berlin Falls.
has again served to call public attention to
the unprotected condition of the important
lumber centers aohg the line of the Grand
Trunk. There are many places of import
ance where much money is invested apart
from the mills and manufactures, and
which are completely unprovided with any
modern means for fire fighting.
When the fire occurred at Staples Cross
ing, folly reported in the PRESS of the
next day. strong appeal was sent to Cor
ham for help, but it was not deemed best to
respond owing 10 the fact that Gorham is
supplied only with two hand engines. and
rs 1t turned out had either been sent to the
crossing, the other could not baye held the
fro of the next morning in check. It was
all that both could do to keep it within
bounds until the arrival of the steam engine
from Berlin Falls.
Gurham has two small hand engines, and
Berlin Falls the only steam fire engine
along the lire of the road through three
states. That engine is the property of the
Glen Manufacturing company, but the tow
pays for its use if it is taken outside the
grounds of the company. The engine is
for the protection of the property of the
company. but is perfectly adequate to all
demands likely to be made upon it.
Groveton is large and important place.
and great lumber center and feeder to
the Grand Trunk. The value of the lumber
there is alone very great, and it is one of
the most important and thriving places in
this section. 1t has no fire fghti ing appli-
ances at all.
North Stratford is another very important
lumber center, and it has no means of
lighting fire. and must depend upon Is
land Pond for help. The Island Pond ell
CINE once saved the place. just as the arri-
val Of the steam fire engine from Berlin
Falls saved Gorham this week.
Stark. Percy Ia very important place. and
West Milan where SO much Maine and es-
pecially Portland money is invested have
no hand engines, and must depend upon
Island Pond. but in the event of the single
hand engine here being employed at home
there would be no hope for either place. 1t
would be BUCKET brigade" and what that
amounts to was shown at the time of the
fire at Staples Crossing.
Attention was called to this matter some
time ago. and it was then generally dis
cussed. The local paper reprinted wit h fay
orable comments special in the PRESS
from this place, and for a time t seemed
probable that something would be done.
but the fire at that time was forgotten, but
public interest has been revived by her late
n GsL.
The only way out of this bad ix seems to
be sort of Interstate arrangement by
which two steam fire engines can be made
to do service for number of important
places. For example steam fire engine
kept here would serve all the important
lumber towns including all that have been
named above and Others a live" engine
can always be had here and in IS minutes
the engine and skilled men would be on
the ground in any part of what might be
termed 1.-The Island Pond Fire District"
It would be ont of the question for the
Towns to all provide themselves with mod
ern appliances but in this way they would
have the benefit of the best service passible
under the circumstances.
A second steam fire engine, at Gorham
where locomotive could always be had
would serve tc protect all the towns and
villages TO South Paris.
1t is suggested that it would be an easy
matter to arrange for the purchase of these
engines and for the organization of vol
unteer Interstate fire department. Tho
various munio qualities would have to pay
their part of the cost and the owners of
the great manufacturing establishments
and mills would doubtless be willing to be
assessed in view of the fact that such a de-
partment would help to bring down insur-
ance rates.
1t is argued that if this arrangement is
entered into there will be almost CON plete
protection afforded to the lumber centers
along the Grand Trunk and that a vast
amount OF properly will be nearly as safe as
if located in Portland or any city we'll sup
pied with water, and with Il good fire de-
partment. Certainly as ample, protection
would lie afforded as seems TO be possible
under the Giro instances. There is not
place where the engines would be called to
go where an ample supply of wa ter could not
he obtained direct from either the Connec-
tjCut OF Androsc1ggin rivers.
zaz