The Portland daily press., 1900-10-25
May Recommend In
creased Rates.
Talked AbOut Conditions but
Wouldn't Anticipate Report.


change Of Boston came to Portland to in
vestigate the city's water supply so far
as it concerns the extinguishing Of fires,
The committee was appointed by the New
England exchange as soon as it was
learned that Portland had bean without
adequate water pressure for 4S hours ow-
ing to the shutting OF OF the water at
Lake Sebago while an examination was
being made Of the conduit. The commit
tee passed the afternoon in interviewing
the chief Of the fire department and cit
izsns generally and later made a call upon
officials OF the Portland Water company
When seen by a representative Of the
PRESS at the Falmouth hotel the mem
bers Of this committee did not hesitate to
discuss the condition of affairs as they
had found them but they would not say
what recommendation their committee
would make to the New England Ex-
change. Enough was gathered from con-
versation with these gentlemen to con
vince him that with the present condi-
tions the committee would probably
recommend that unless some improve
ments were made In the water service
here the insurance rates OF Portland be
increased, The committee would not
answer questions as to what their proba-
bic report would be, but they seemed to
regard affairs here as rather serious and
said that something should be done. E.
One Of the gentlemen speaking for the
rest said that the attention of the Ex-
change was attracted to the condition OF
affairs in Portland some years ago by the
low pressure Of water on the high levels
while break in the water pips which
supplies the city was being repaired.
When the recent shortage of water for 48
hours on a stretch was reported it was
thought lest to make thorough investi-
cation of the matter. The water supply
of the entire district. including Port
land, Deering, Westbrook, South Port
land, Cape Elizabeth and Gorham, pass
es through a conduit of stone and cement
extending from the foot Of the lake about
a mile. Attached to the end Of this con-
duit are two water mains, one of 20
inches and the other of 26 inches In diam
eter For a long distance these water
mains are connected one with the other
SO that If break should occur in one
section Of either of these two mains that
particular section could be entirely cut
of without shutting off the water sup
ply.
A few days ago the water company
had one of the most expert hydraulic
engineers in New England engaged IN
making a survey Of this big conduit at
the foot of the lake. 1t was necessary in
order to make this survey to shut OF the
water at the upper end and the water
company was relying on the stand pipes
and reservoirs in various parts of the
district to supply the house service. But
even with the houses supplied there
was not suffi cient water pressure, SO the
insurance N en- say, to furnish adequate
fire protection and had a bad fire broken
out anywhere in this district in which
the insurance companies have risks
amounting to over twenty millions OF dol.
lars the loss would have been large. 1t
would have taken five hours to have
filed up the water pipes from Sebago lake
and in five hours a good deal of property
could have been destroyed,
"The trouble is with this single con-
duit at the foot OF the lake" said one OF
the insurance men yesterday afternoon.
Should anything happen to this conduit
the whole district would be shut of
from water. Another conduit should be
built with an independent main running
into the city. This would be very
expensive piece Of work but It would give
this city a pressure of 90 pounds 1 should
estimate for a rough guess. I have been
told that the.pTesent conduit, about mile
on, cost the water company $3.50, 600.
''There Is another trouble with the
water service here. The service mains in
the residential districts are not large
enough. They are only six inches and in
some places even smaller. 1t is now con-
sidered necessary to have water mains of
at least eight inches in residential dis
tricss. This should be done in Portland
and the old mains replaced with new.
"Your trouble here is that you haven't
municipal control of your water supply.
It is something, in my opinion which
every city should own and control and
then it could operate IN conjunction with
the fire department without difficulty or
friction.
1.-THE water company contemplates
making some extensive alterations and
additions I am told. This committee viii
probably not make It's final report to the
Exchange until thsy have an opportunity
to learn what the water company intends
doing. In the meantime the old rates
VIII probably be announced for the CON-
ing year
Then there is danger Of a recommen-
dalton OF increased rates in Portland, ="
asked the reporter.
'Weu we do not wish to discuss that
question at present, but such things