The Portland daily press., 1900-02-14

tire the moon appears overhead, and the
black. swollen river is turned into o
shimmering. silver st'eim.
This change comes 90 quickly that &c
fairly takes ones bresth away. The
sombre THREATENING night is changed 70
one Of beauty. The river. with all lite
noise and all Its dangerous power has
been transformed into one Of the grand
est spectaoles that many In the crowd
have ever witnessed.
The foaming waters above the dam
reflect the siivery light of tns moon, the
l-apins waves each bears upon Its
crest . million jsweis. tie Zoe cakes have
teoome mirrors which reflect the brill
liant light, tie river has lost Its terror
and has become scene Of grandeur.
Below thea:bridge stretches away q
mile. or nearly that, Of tossing, bound
ing, sddy-swspt river, which has inun-
datei the tiny islind above the railroad
bridge and lost to view It's forest OF
alder bushea In the grand transforma-
ton rome each whiriing eddy, each bit
OF debris, each mighty whirlpool but
adds to the picture. The Pfesumpsoot
has for once lest Its power to make fe,r-
ful; does not seem longer to tie an
angry. sullsn torrent. but o sparkling,
dancing fatty stream.
The storm 10 over. The danger has
past and wsssbrook and all who dwell
along the banks Of this ohangeabie Pre-
sumpsoot sleep more easily on account
Of It. The waters stiil rise few inches,
and then begiE to subsids. and the dam
age from its sudden raging hns amounted
to little after all
THE ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
When It was known In Portland that
the Presumpsoot was raging, the people
Of Portland or many OF them ct lesst,
expected TO be left In total darkness. The
Portland Ele,trio Light company de-
ponds upon the river for Its power and
II was not believed that the elsotrio lights
would be able to weather the storm.
Surprised were many then, when at the
usual time, the streets lights burned out
brightly aud continued to burn without
Interruption all night. IL was an object
es,on to those who coutended when the
new electric light company asked for
permission to enter Portland that the
first Presumpsot fresh ct and wind storm
would put Portland In darkness IL 1t
depended upon the new company for Its
lighting service. 1t was In fact great
card for the new electric light company
and was 30 remarked more than once last
evening.
Dsering md Westbrook get their power
from the Prssumpsoot. too. The lights
In these cities are supplied by the West
brook Electric Light company. Dsering
and westbrook were In darkness q
greater part Of the night, however.
To add to tbs effect which this success
Of the Few company had last night,
Union Station, whsrs the lights OF tte
Consolidated Electric Light company are
used, was for a short time dark or III
lighted By lamps or lanterns or course
this was soon remedied, but 1t showed
that any electric lighting company is
liable ct times to accidents.
The eau for the steadiness OF the
Portland Electric Light oompany's
lights may bs explained. Their power
station Is within short distance of
Lake Sebsgo, where the falling Ia'n
has spread over a large extent of Territory
and not affected the height of the water
In the lake with any great suddenness.
Ire new company seemed able TO cont oil
It's water supply and to keep its ma
ohinery In motion in spite Of the flood
while lower down on the river wher,
the Westbrook Electric Light oompany's
pisIt ID located. the sudden rising OF the
river had clogged the water wheels and
Brought their machinery to a stand
stin.