Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-19

the westerly portion of the city, and
everything about the house presents a
homelikc appearance.
Il About 800 feet east of the command
ants residence, but higher up on the
hill. is circular pond 100 feet in dia-
meter. A gravel walk runs around It,
and as the pond is well stocked with
landlocke1 salmon and trout. it is a
very attractive place to while away
leisure hour. Some Of the trout are
eight inches long. Some of the smaller
fry are quite tame, and come readily
to the shallow water to be fed with
worms by the attendants.
/ Close to the pond, on the south is
the greenhouse, and just at present
the sight within is beautiful. The
| chrysanthemums are in blossom. and
the varied shades of that snowy flower
produce pretty sight. Before the in
PRODUCTION OF the water works this
| building held fire engine. and the
water supply was taken from the pond.
The pond is fed from a system of
springs on the hill. There is a large
reservoir at some distance from the
pond, formerly used for fire protection.
About 100 feet east of the reservoir
is the laboratory, a building intended
for place in which to manufacture
yo1 .:
serves as dance hall for the young
people. A platform has been built at
one end of the room and overhead is
an eagle surrounded by a sunburst of
|,,!afie barrels. The walls are ornamented
fag4th crossed carbines and draped with
Hfhe American flag. A smooth and
glistening waxed floor bears evidence
to the pleasure that is realized by the
young folks as they chase the hours
with lying feet.
Tn entering the building one imme-
diately notices the popularity of con-
struction. The frame is made entirely
of iron and SO put together that in
event of an explosion, instead of be-
ing blown to atoms the result would
be that the sheathing only would be
blown away, leaving the frame intact.
Before being erected on it's present site
the building was at Philadelphia dur
Ing the Centennial, and it is said that
an explosion actually occurred within
tic1,
was as above stated
During the Rebellion there were
three wooden buildings located near
where the laboratory now stands. and
a large number of girls and women
We're employed there making paper
cartridges for the Union army.
The magazines are situated in a part
OF the post remote from the other
buildings, though there is practically
never any danger of explosions The
smaller one is about 800 feet east of the
laboratory. while the main magazine is
twice that distance from the labora-
tory. The two have a capacity of 1900
barrels of powder. but if necessarx
could hold larger quantity.
There are two old cast-iron guns on
the grounds that probably have an I'M
written history, but no one connected
with the post is prepared to furnish
any information concerning them,
They are six-pound field pieces having
the old double trail known as the
Gribeauval pattern, which was used
in the War of 1872 but abandoned in
1910. The double trail was so called in
honor of a Frenchman who made the
pattern. One stands on the brow of
the terrace in front Of the command
ants residence, and its mate in front
of the laboratory.
The latter bears evidence of having
been repaired from time to time. but it
is fact going to decay. The zold lin
Der sets a few feet to the rear and is
as much of curiosity as. the gun A
pretty instance in connection with. this
ancient piece of artillery is the fact
that year after year a pair Of sparrows
build their nest and r6ar their young
within the muzzle of the gun What
prettier emblem of peace could be had
than the picture of these little birdy r
nesting within the very mouth of what 4
was once a grim engine of destruction
of human life.
The entire post may be said to be
situated on the hillside. From an ele-
walton of 1856 feet above the river, the 4
land descends by series of terraces 4
and level plats down the location Of i
the main building, As feet above low 4
water mark. But tbe winding gravel
walks make the ascent so gradual that
one almost forgets he is going up hill
at all.
The estimated value of the post, in
June Of the present year was s143,70
and the total value of ordnance 1885,
1874.