The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-07

at q time. 10 5tore uVe gallons On tAio
premises it does not cost any extra
amount for insurance. The witness has
known of accidents from gasoline. In one
case d pail of gasoline was placed in
cellar. A man went down cellar with a
light and was blown up stairs and the
house lifted off it's foundation. Witness
admitted that this was one case in which
gasoline may have eyaporated at apout
20 or rs degrees, AS far as the door is
concerned it is possible that it may per-
wade the atmosphere. The annual output
of gasoline is about 600, 000 barrels from
the Standard Oil company and 20 per
cent of this is used for gasoline engines.
MR.. MARSHALL,
the agent of the Otto Gas Engine com
pany. was called as the next witness by
MIR. Libby. He said that there was no
danger from gasoline as it is used at the
Maine Eye and Ear infirmary. The plant
there is as fine one as could be made.
The engine and apparatus was designed
with especial regard to safety. There are
four Otto gas engines in Port land.
Chow many are contemplating putting
in gasoline engines in Portland, " asked
Alderman Rounds
''That concerns our own private bust
ness and do not think I shall answer
it, said Mr.. Marshall
Mr.. Libby presented in behalf of the
petitioners of the Eye and Ear infrmary
statement from fifty physicians who
daily use the infirmary, to the effect that
the power plant is perfectly safe and in
no ways nuisance.
DR.. HOLT,
the SUPERINTENDENT of the infirmary, was
called and said that at one time when
there was no chimney on the power hous
to carry off the exhaust, the odor from the
gasoline was somewhat annoying but this
pipe was afterwards repaired and since
that time there has been no complaint.
The executive committee of the intirmary
offered Mr.. Biokford. who owns the adj
Joining property, $500, for this house
ana land which is assessed at So, 600.
On cross examination DR.. Holt said
that he had not been obliged to ask Mr..
Bickford to sell to stop his complaints of
the noise and stencil.
Mr.. knowlton went on to question Dr..
Holt along this line rather sharply when
Alderman Rounds said:
"What has all this got to do with the
tank?' (Laughtor.)
"OnIy this" Mr.. Knowlton was inter-
rupted by Alderman Rounds again.
"What's all this stink and noise got to
Go with the safety of this gasoline plantS
That's what Pm here for; to find out
If this plant is safe or not. Down on tho
Dump we get all kinds of stinks and
don't think anything about it."
DIR. Holt said the plant was put in the
infirmary i'll 1896 and only last month
did they ask for permit to run the gaso-
line engine.
DIR. Holt said that if Mr.. Bickford's
house got on fire there would be no
danger from the gasoline tank.
81 should be willing to go out and sit
on it during the progress of such fire, !"
said DIR. Holt.
care you ready to go away now?''asked
Mr. Knowlton dryly.
"No think not,'' said DR.. Holt, and
the board of aldermen laughed.
John 81. Fogg lives in house on Con-
gress street within IS feet of the infrm-
ary power house. He has noticed no
noise or any odor from the power house,
although he went out in his back yard
%, hfe ,i< In ho
"You are not in the employ of the
Standard Oil company are your" asked
Mr.. Knowlton.
ct have not received any retainer that
am aware off, said Mr.. Fogg.
"Neyer mind" said Mr.. Knowlton,
you'll get your money tomorrow
THE PETITIONERS STORY.
Mr.. Knowluon in opening the other
side said he would show that the gasoline
plant. in the infirmary had destroyed the
value of the neighboring property. The
odor from the gasoline had been SO Often
sive that people all about the infirmary
had been greatly annoyed by it. The
working of the engine SO shook the house
of Mr.. Bickford that it ratified every loose
article in the house. Then we claim that
the use of this gasoline is very unsafe.
eff our evidence satisfies you that this
plant is a nuisance, said Mr.. knowlton,
81 hope the board will be very slow to
allow these people who have been violat-
ing the law for year and half to
continue to violate it,"
Herbert o. Phillips, who lives in MIR.
Bickford's house, said the two engines
shook the house SO that the chandeliers
and windows were constantly rafting.
The odor from the gasoline was SO bad
that the windows in the Bickford house
had to be kept closed and neighbors all
about the infirmary suffer from it.
On cross examination MIR. Phillips
started to tell how someone had ap-
preached Mr.. Bickford to sell his house
because the infirmary. was going to build
"dead house" next door. Dir. Phillips
said that he apprehended danger from
the use of gasoline in the infymary.
Charles r. Lewis, who lives on Dan
forth street, felt the motion of the engines
on one occasion. The odor from the eX-