Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-19
STATE HOUSE.
Plans for Fireproofng The
Capitol's North Wing.
Director Woods Does Not Endorse the
Angora Goat Idea.
A Days Chat of the Various State
Departments.

| Col. f. c. Stevens, superintendent of
public buildings is planning to have
several contractor architects make Il
thorough examination Of the north
wing of the Capitol in the near future,
| in order that estimates for the fire
y. OofinS of this part OF the building
may be submitted to the next Legis-
I lature. This is the only part of the big
| building which has hot been completely
! renovated and made fire-proof. Of
course, while the whole north part of
| The Capitol remains in its old condition,
! the fre-prcofinS Of other parts does not
result in the complete safeguard de-
sired. AS it is now, the south wing of
the Capitol and the new part of the
building are only fire proof as regards
| the starting of a fire in those immediate
PARTS Of the building, but if fire
I should get under Roadway in the north
| wing. ard get beyond the control OF thu
fire Fig hterS it would be inevitable that
| the whole building would be ruined
| While every rrecaution against fire is
employed, with Watchmen about the
building at every hour night and day
| fire fighting appliances close at hand.
a special alarm box for the Capitol.
still it is Well-known fact that the
! north wing would be regular tindel
: box, should Il fire once get started there
| 1t is old, to bogin with. and with much
| waste space between floors and walls
| where n fire would be difficult to reach
/ and would spread with great rapidity.
| Colonel Stevens earnestly hopes that
' the next Legislature Will make sufTi-
! Gent appropriation for frcprooiing this
! wing. and also for raising and fire
proofng the dome. which is at present
another fire trap. These changes woulG
make the building as absolutely fire
proof throughout as building can bs
made. and would also incidentally ado
much to its attractiveneSS and to thu
convenience OF the departments in thu
north wing. The work of putting il
' fire proof construction is not of itself &
very expensive matter all things con
sdcred, but the expense usually come:
: il. the changes and new furnishings
' that follow. In building over the north
| wing with fire-prOOf construction, the
| rcmoIclled senate chamber, which is
now such beautiful room and greatly
admired by all visitors, would not b.
! changed or greatly disturbed; but tn
, basement. the departments on the first
floor, the Railways and the committee
rooms undc~ the senate chamber, would
be completely built over. and the Who'll;
| wing when made firc-proof would be as
; good as new. These changes. as well
us the additional safeguard to the whole
, building. arc much needed, and doubt
less the next Legislature will readily
| grant the desired appropriation when
the estimates are submitted.
Two of Names State officials We're il
Boston. yesterday. where they deliver
cd addresses during the afternoon and
lcvcning One was Superintendent Of
Schrcls Stotson. who addressed thu
Now England School superintendent
association on the subject of ''Manua'
Training i'm Rural Schools" The other
was Chairman Carleton of the Fish and
game commission. who spoke at thu
banquet of the Massa chusetts Fish anG
Game Association in the evening.
| Charles H. Lovciny of sidney. for al
most a quarter Of a century the mos
Scngrr of the Maine Senate, was callinc
on friends ut the Capitol. yesterday
Mr. Lovejoy has been Il most popular
and efficient officer faithful in every
one of the many details of his Work
and few men in the state have more
friends. He always gets u hearty wei
come on all sides when he calls at the
Capitol.
| Railroad Commissioner i. F. Chad
bourne who was at the Capitol. yester-
day. is clrrying his left arm in il sling
rs the ~"s,ilt of a bad fall upon the ice
Il week ago, which disloCatcd his left
shoulder.
! Thus far Bank Examiner Timhorlak,
has examined two savings banks. those
at South Berwick and Saco. and he is
planning to get at one or two more
next week The work Of beginning iii,
annual examination of the banking in
stitutions usually starts in slowly. until
after the spring returns from banks arc
disposed Of. us these neccssitatc Il larSe
amount Of work in the office.
The latest addition to the furnishings
Of the rcmoiclled executive department
are neat little desk lamps upon the
desks Of the members Of the Council
. These are located below the little shell
:. which forms the back of the desk. ana
| are arranged so rs to throw light upor
the desk without being at all in the
way.
For years the introduction of the An
CORA goat has been advocated by va
rious parties in Maine. 1t has beer
held that there would be much profit
to Maine farmers by breeding this ami
nal, and that our abandoned farms
could be utilized in this way better
than in any other. Various state Off
Gals have advocated the Introduction of
the Angora goat. and manufacturers at
Sanford. who use the wool of this ami