Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-09
AT THE STATE HOUSE.
Governor CIeaves and Council viii
Hold Session Today.
Work Of Wiring the A,tic-Other News Gath
ercd at the Capitol.

huISudy dltelHooli dt " tioSN'
The examination of candidates,
which have been recently elected in the
Maine Companies, n. G. S. NJ, will be
held. Tuesday, April IA. at the State
House, before the State examining
board, consisting of Gen. w. S. Choate,
Col. l.. II. Kendall, and Col. G. A. Phil
brook.
There are ~ candidates to appear be-
fore the board. They will first report
at the Office of the adjutant general.
later to be examined in the judiciary
room, both orally and by written test.
upon the various military technicalities
and discipline, on which it is necessary
that they be informed to fill their po
sitions Previous to the examination
the board investigates the characters.
and standing of the officers, which, of
course, is q necessary factor in the
success of the candidate.
Hor. S. w. Matthews. the labor
commissioner, says that he is now pre-
pairing blanks. and laying out the COM
ing seasons work. While. last year,
the report of the commissioner was
largely upon statistics regarding labor,
the amounts paid employees. their costs
of living. etc. the present year will be
devoted principally to statistics on
| manufacturers work: the capital in
vested in the various lines of operation
and other interesting, and pertinent
figures upon the subject. The manu-
facturers were treated at considerable
length, in the last report as were the
various industries in the State. but
more in a general way, the statistics
offered not going so deeply into detail.
The Augusta Light & Heat Com
pany has been doing a great piece of
work during the past few weeks, under
charge of the superintendent, John A.
Hamblin. having given the electric
wires about the Capitol thorough
overhauling.
The fire alarm system. which was in
troduced by the superintendent of
buildings, Col. +. c. Stevens, has now
been in working order some time. 1t
is tested each day to see that it is in
good working order and has given the
best kind of satisfaction.
To prevent as far as possible, any
fires occurring, from wires, at least,
the latter have been changed all
around. and the system has been
greatly altered. The lighting wires
enter through the roof conducting
powerful current of some 1000 volts.
which is thence led into transformers,
which reduce it to the necessary
strength for the lights, some of which
The transformers boil the power down,
as it were.
Formerly the wires in the old, and
also in the new attic. ran every con-
ceivable way. and, although well Sc
cured against any danger, were far
from satisfactory. They are now all
incased in flexible conduits made of
some kind of stuff which allows nei-
Their air nor dampness to enter. In
this way, they are secure from any
possible harm. Col. Stevens will have
lights located through the attic with
all the push the button from below ar
engagements, So that the watchmen in
making their rounds, will not have to
carry lanterns about.
In the old attic, there are two main
divisions. one to light the chandelier
for the legislators hall. the other the
one in the Senate chamber.
The currents are 50 arranged, that in
case of any wires burning out" rs
sometimes happens, for which all the
have been made. there would be but a
small number )f the lights to give out,
there being five sets of wires for each
chandelier. In the new attic the lights
in the various departments are sup
Piled Everything, is now most con-
venient and where before it was al
most impossible to move around in the
attics without getting hung up by the
network of wires, it is now open, the
latter being conducted under the floors.
The wiring has been done by Mason
Farrar. W. G. Haskell and John Ped
der of the electric light company and
they have done good work.
There are nearly 400 lights in the
building.
Among the relies at the State House.
if n pjcture can be called a relic. is one
of the Legislature of 1866. The men
are a good looking lot. but appear sur
prisngly old. the average appearing to
be at least As, very few young men be-
| ing among the number.
G. A. Colburn, who is the log scaler
for the Augusta Lumber Company, re-
| yK-o1nocHaV from the woods,