The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-21
CHANGES IN BUILDINGS.
some plans which Are Now n,,nr
Considered.

The meeting Of the committee on pub-
lie buildings yesterday afternoon was a
most important one and IL lasted until
six o'clock when an adjournment was
taken until this afternoon at four O'Clock.
City Electrician Levi Cummings an
peared before the committee and asked
permission 60 plaza fire alarm bell ON
the new high school building. This can.
nor be done unless dormer window Ia
cut or some other means found for reach-
ing the cupalo Of the building. The COM
mittee voted TO refer the entire matter to
Councilman Farnham Of the COMMITTEES
who will do as he thinks best regarding
the matter.
Superintendent of Schools Lord ap-
peared before the COMMITTEES with refer.
ence to hiring the old g. "A. r. hall for a
manual training school. 1t Is proposed to
move the manual training school out of
the Vaughan street building and give an
extra room there for a class room. The
committee took no action on this matter
yesterday. COWS
The proposed addition to the Forest
street school In Fast Deering was dis
cussed. No estimate of the cost Of the all
dition being at hand the committee de-
cidsd to let this matter rest until an esti-
mate can be obtained.
Chief Engineer N. N. Eldridge of the
fire department appeared and gave the
committee his ideas regarding the changes
which will have to be made in the engine
house on ward one In order to place the
new chemical engine there. He recon-
men ded the taking cut Of the front and
the placing Of new doors on the upper
side. modelled after the pattern OF those
now In use. The walls of the cistern In
the rear will need to be torn down and
the cistern discontinued. The stable
should be continued the whole length of
the house SO as to enable the combination
truck to be set In with the ladders pro-
Jecting between stalls. The stalls would
be placed In a,line. The tenements in the
upper part of the house would be done
away with and part devoted to sleeping
Quarters for the regular men, while
utficient space coul be reserved for q
ward room, thus obviating the necessity
of removing all fra apparatus into the
open air when . caucus is held. The es-
timated expense of these changes Is about
$500. By the adoption Of this plan for
the arrangement of Co. 2, Chief Eidridge
thinks large annual saving may be
effected. The public buildings committee
has not yet aaoptsd the Recommendations
of the chief engineer.
The Chiefs idea Is to maks engine
company No.s. q double company, and to
have that company handle both pieces of
apparatus. This will require additional
'psrmArent men to handle the new truck
and the chief believes that the greatest
efficiency can be obtained by appointing
q permanent captain and lieutenant for
engine company No. Q and driver for
the combination truck.
Thers will be the same number OF call
men In the company as at present and at
a tire responded to by both the engine
and the truck the captain wilkdstail men
to handle the truck. Whenever the engine
leaves the hill to respond TO an alarm of
FIRE in the business district, the lieutenant
will remain in charge Of the truck and
two Of the members of the engine COM
pany instead of going to the fire win re-
port at the house to handle the truck in
case an alarm should be sent IN for a
fire on the hi H.
The trucklwill remain on the hill at all
times and will Lot respond 10 any fires
below Washington street unless specially
sent for. Sg ,apf
The appointment Of q permanent cap
tain and Lieutenant for sngins company
No. Q, will be great improvement and
cannot help increasing the efficiency.
With a combination truck and an en-
CINE Mun5oy hill win be adequately pro-
tected against fire for some years to oome.
The matter of grading the Ghestnu ut
street school play ground was Brought
up. 1t Is proposed toNplace fence around
1t and put it In suitable condition as a
play yard for the children Of the school.
The estimated cost Is Ss3s. No action
was taken regarding this matter ysster-
day.
1t was voted to place the granite steps
at the Emerson school building at once.
Hawkes. Brothers, the stone cutters, have
completed steps and wanted authority to
put them in position.
TheIcommituee then adjourned until
this afternoon at four O'Clock when these
matters which have not been acted on
will come up and also the matter of grad-
ing the Deering High school yard. 1he
committee has found that loan suitable
for this purpose can be obtained now at
a comparatively slight cost and they will
consider the advisibility today of doing
the work at once. 81