Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-27
A Communication.
Editor of Kennebec Journal:

Editor of kennebec Journal:
assume and take it for granted that
l am the party addressed by your cor
respondent signed a." In a commune
cation in your paper Of Saturday, April
Is, concerning the $50 A. NJ whistle at
the mill Of the Augusta Lumber Co.
do not know as ! have very much to
say in defence of this recognized Gus
tom, but allow me to call rs attention
to few facts in connection Herewith.
When the late Ira ID. Sturgis estab-
lished this saw mill business, more
than 20 years ago. he followed the Gus
tom of all large steam mills in direct
ing that the whistle should he blown
at o'clock in the morning, announcing
that ii was a work day and that the
mill would start up at the usual hour,
but about 10 years ago. | changed the
time to $50, where il has remained to
the present time. The first whistle in
use at this mill was not regarded as
particularly melodious one by Thomas
Lambard partner in the firm. so that
gentleman requested me TO Purchase
| regardless Of cost. the best chime
whistle could obtain. which did. and
Mr.. Lambard paid for it and presented
it To our firm, Of. which he was "A mem
Der.
! can readily understand that there
lmay be few people within hearing of
this whistle that would prefer to never
| hear II again. and | will say right here
that II there Is a general feeling that
| IL is in the nature of Il nuisance detri-
mental to health and peace OF mind
curtaiiing their inherited rights To life.
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
shall feel it my duty to SO modify the
| sound in that IL will only reach the
ears of Interested parties. or of those
who viii send in their whistle orders
over night.
| But | do not understand why u Sc
lects this particular noise as the source
of all his morning disturbances. The
Maine Central Railroad has Il distinct
whistles blown within a short distance
of Water street every night in the
year between IL =. NJ. and A. NJ. and
their whistles bear no resemblance to
| the wall of an infant. Then there Is
the fire alarm whistle located on our
MILL AT various and irregular times,
that sounds more like a wall of myri-
ads of lost spirits from the Internal re-
gions Gf there is such place. than OF
an outcome of modern progressive
a ciNlnZ3tlDn. apI'ileu 10 liit ser
vice in particular.
| Then the Edwards Company rings a
| bell several times in the morning.
which must create n feeling of distur-
/ bance in the minds of numerous indi-
viduals. although / recognize that this
noise when compared with a steam
whistle is not as wide, nor as deep but
twill do.
+l,r tn, n
the Kennebec arsenal announces to the
world around here with cannon and
| powder that the SUN has risen; that is
not long noise but it is there all right
while it lasts.
In the few times that it has been my
| i'll luck TO he in cities outside of Au
gnsta. like Gardiner. Portland. Boston,
New Haven and New York that it is
almost one incessant whistle from 5 to
| I O'Clock in the morning, and l think
as rule that the citizens of those
cities would rather hear those whistles
indicating as they do that there is
some business going on, some work
for idle hands to do. some opportuni-
ties existing whereby husbands and
fathers may exchange their services
| for the means to feed. cothe and shell
ter their family, than to be by their
silence impressed with the deplorable
condition Of closed mills and factories,
| with all the conditions necessarily per-
tanning thereto.
| 1t might be advisable to have some
general law enacted on this subject
| for instance another free trade tariff
bill. | think there is no doubt but that
| would be very effectual. as a matter
| of fact there will be something said
| about it in next NOvembers election
but think the result will be that there
| will be an increase of whistles rather
| than an abatement, l think that is
prevailing impression.
| The city government could take the
matter up and pass a law forbidding
| all noises of the nature mentioned
| above, and create a new name for this
/ city. Instead of the Capitol city it
could be called the silent city. the en-
ployees of mill should be obliged to
have telephone service. the fire alarm
whistle could blow its white but noise
| less cloud of steam to Heaven in holy
| silence. railway trains could arrive and
| depart in humble and becoming quiet
| regardless of crossings or of possible
| accident to life, limb and property, the
| bar liarbor express and the Flying
| Yankee could send the conductor out
ahead when approaching the silent city
to warn all persons that something was
coming along that way pretty soon but
1t would be i'll very quiet manner
and they must look out for the engine
| while the bell rings. when in the sta
| tlon they could fold their tents like the
Arabs and as quietly steal away.
| In firing the sunrise gun the war
department should be obliged to use
not only sinokeless powder but noise
less powder as well.
| Yours truly.
| IRA ii. RANDALL.
Augusta. April %, 1896.