The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-04
STREET DEPARTMENT.

lIFO AuAOI6u huu bl6ly 1.-Two NToOoJ A~S
have been requested by the chairman "
the committee on new Streets to DO ehe
necessary leveling and prepare pronles "
the same, but the snow has been 80 deep
as to make this work too expensive 70 49,
up to the present time, SO that the mae
ter has not had final action by the counoii
"No new streets have been accepted THIS
year. but a small triangular piece OF iano
was purchased by the city, of william
Hadlock. at the junction Of Bridge ana
Pierce streets to widen these streets o.
this point. A hearing was had by the
proper committee, on the proposition TO
establish the side lines of East Bridge
street, at Bridgton road, but no action
was taken by the city council. +"
The city engineer has made two maps,
one for the chief engineer of the fire de-
partment, and one for Mr.. William BraR-
don, showing the location OF the fire
alarm telegraph system OF the city.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
@. e. Leighton chief engineer OF the
fire department has complete report OF
the department as usual this year. Boi-
lowing are quotations from it:
The houses used for the purposes OF this
department are in good condition except
that both of them should be painted out
side The Mechanic street house shout q
be somewhat changed in order to afford
more room for the apparatus, the present
arrangement being considerably moon
venient.
All the apparatus is in good order and
condition, and the company members are
to be commended for the interest taken
In its care.
Five hundred feets.of new hose has been
purchased the past year, making 1850 feet
n tU L.
foreseen emergency arises we shall not
need more hose this year.
No new hydrants have been set since the
last report, and wish to call the atten-
ton Of your honorable body to my recon-
mendation of last year that the hydrant
at the corner of Main and Spring streets
as well as the one on Main street in front
Of the Baptist church be replaced with
three way posts at an early date
Within the area covered, or designed to
be covered, by these two hydrants, there
is much valuable property, including the
High school building, the Methodist,
Baptist and Uniyersalist churches, the
Public Library and many of our best
private residences, and believe either
larger plugs or % new hydrant be set at
or near the High school building.
With the exception OF the whistle,
the fire alarm system has worked salts
factorily throughout the year. The 'whis-
tle'' alone seemed to be subject to Fits OF
characterization, and several times dur
Ing the year has acted in manner well
calculated to make it anything but
thing of beauty and Joy forever.
The whole difficulty apparently was IN
faulty adjustment of the magnets and
armature Of the machine. This has been
remedied and think no more trouble
will be experienced. During the last three
months it has worked perfectly and with
care and attention WILL I believe, con-
tinue to do 80.
The time and care necessary to insure
the efficient working Of the fire alarm Is
not by any means inconsiderable and the
superintendent is Obliged many times to
postpone matters of personal interest In
order, that the system shall be always
ready.
What with sore hands from battery
cleaning, hours spent in hunting Tor
leaks and grounds, weekly inspection
of boxes, at night rs we'll as by day and
the mental unrest when the whistle fails
to do the right thing, the Office is no
sinecure for the person who occupies 1t
if he Is interested in his work.
The battery room in Hose house NO.
is not suitable for the purpose, being a
small closet only. 1t gives no oppor-
tupity for the storage of material and Is
expensive to heat, as it Is necessary to
heat the assembly room of the Hose COM
pany In order to get the required tempera
ture for the maintenance of proper bat
terry energy. The outlay necessary to give
IL q proper location would be more than
compensated by the saving in fuel in one
season.
Many thanks are due the Haskell SILK
Co., for maintaining supply of steam
for the whistle, especially during a
period of three months when none was
required tor their own use.
Calvin s. Walker, clerk Of Presump.
scot Hose company No. /, since its or
ganization, died January 8, 1898. He was
a genial, kindhearted man and will be
much missed by his associates in every
walk of life.
Many children will remember him with
pleasure for he was friend to them all
often Joining them in their pastimes with
apparent relish OF him it may be truly
said, "He had many friends, and but few
enemies.
q The continued business depression and
the consequent "hard times amongst all
classes of our people is sufficient reason
for strict economy In all departments,
and am not unmindfnl that while many
things are needed, we must, like the
others, do the best work POSSIBLE with
the tools we now have.
81 am under obligation however, to
convey to your nOnOrADle DoOy Ine recom-
mendations of the National Board OF
Fire Underwriters. who are the rate
makers of the whole country, and whose
general inspector visited our city Novem-
Der II, 1897. Enclosed in private letter
received from Mr. IL. K. Miller, secre-
tary executive committee, they are rs fol-
lows:
Summary of recommendations. West
brook, Me-, inspected November II, 1897.
1. Efforts should be made to eradicate
all factional jealousies now existing In
the fire service, and the officers Of the de-
partment be sustained in their efforts
towards exacting good discipline.
2. An additional hook and ladder truck
with suitable length ladders to reach the
highest buildings should be obtained,
and the present light built truck trans
ferred to the Cum berland Mills fire sta
ton.
8. An additional fire company with
hose rael or wagon should be organized,
aud located on the northeriy side of Pre-
sumpscot river, which is frame resi- :.
dence district without adequate fire pro-
lection. Reference to the annual reports
of this department for the years ls94-5-6
will show that the third recommendation
in this list was maue in each of those
reports and it's adoption especially urged.
Concluding this report l desire to
thank those officers and members of this