Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-21
CHIEF KICKER RESIGNS.
Difference Of Opinion Over Care Of
Fire Hydrants.
Mayor Refuses to Accept-Chief
Kicker Makes Statement.

| 1t will be a surprise to many to learr
! that Chief Engineer Chas w. Kicker Of
the fire department has handed his resig-
| nation to Mayor Titcomb, the same tc
| take effect as soon as successor is ap-
| pointed This action on the part of the
chief engineer resulted from an interview
| between himself and Supt. w. H. Will
liams of the Augusta Water Co., the sub
| ject being the placing of the responsible
ity in case any of the city hydrants
should be found frozen when needed at
a fire.
| Journal reporter saw Chief Kicker,
yesterday morning., and in response to a
| question as to the cause of his resigna-
| ton, Mr.. Kicker said:
"You may say that / am ready and will
| ing at any and all times to do my duty,
but will not be responsible for frozen by
| drants. Both Supt. Williams and Mr. S.
c. Manley had spoken to me about the
matter, and, last Saturday, Mr.. Williams
came to me and notified me that they
Ghe water company should hold me re-
sponsible for frozen hydrants in case of
fire. AS | told them then, l shall not fill
the office of chief engineer and lay the
city tablet shall throw no responsibility
on the city. Monday, went and saw the
mayor and gave him my resignation, tell
ing him of the cause and saying that |
was done. AT first he absolutely refused
to accept it, but finally asked me to wait
a few days until someone could be Sc
cured for the place, to which l agreed.
| shall still take charge in case of fire,
and attend to my duties connected with
the fire alarm, but as far as having any
thing to do with the hydrants, I am
done''
In support of the position taken by him
in the matter, Chief Kicker referred the
reporter TO item four of the contract be-
tween the city of Augusta and the Wa
ter Co., which reads as follows:
Item Fourth. Said company agrees to
furnish, set and maintain eighty improved
non-freezing MIGRANTS, at points to be des-
ignated by said city, ON said lines of pipe
before the laying of the same. And said
company further agrees that it will keep
and maintain said hydrants in good order
and repair at all times for the use of said
city during such period of twenty years
and fer such further time as the same
may be rented by said city; repairs caused
by negligence and carelessness in their
use by said city's employees excepted, |
these to be made by the company at the
said city's expense. And that during such
period it will furnish through said hy-
drants as supplied by said reservoir,
pumps and pipes, a constant and suffi-
cient supply of water for protection
against fire, unavoidable accidents ex-
cepted. Said hydrants shall each be pro-
vided with two or three nozZles as may |
be designated by said city. If required
by said city five of said hydrants shall
each be provided with four MOBILES. The |
hydrants to be furnished shall be salts !
factory to the city council.
. Item Ninth of the contract provides
that all additional MIGRANTS located by |
the city during the said twenty years
shall be kept in repair under the same
regulations as agreed relative to the |
above.
Mr. Kicker has long served the city in
the capacity of chief engineer, and has
ever proved himself to be faithful and
efficient officer, and it is hoped that the
matter may soon be adjusted to the salts
faction of all concerned.