Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-26
May Rise Up From the
Ashes Of the Old.
Result Of Big Fire More Sefi.
Gus Than Was Realized.
Brick Blocks May Replace the
Structures Burned.

Dexter, Me-. Feb. 25.-(SpeciaD.-Th
fire of Friday night and Saturday
morning struck Dexter a harder blow
than most people realized The real
extent of the damage was not realized
until Saturday, when the effect of sew
en- stores out of business was too plain
ly seen and felt. Not a single shoe store
remains in the town and the only shoes
left are those saved by the proprietors
OF the destroyed stores. No rubber
goods were saved at all and it was n
sumner for those who wished to pur-
chase rubbers and overshoes today.
But one clothing store remains, that
Oh w. w. Gates on Grove street. and
that establishment did Il rushing bus
mess Saturday and Monday. Many Of
the firemen fought the fire in their best
business suits and some few in their
dress suits, they having come from the
ball in progress in the rooms Of the
Dexter Club. There was in truth a
brisk call for clothing Monday.
The need of n steam fire engine was
again made very apparent. The water
works did well, but the water was used
faster than it could be pumped into the
reservoir. Had one of the pumps been
damaged by the fast working of it or
some other little accident occurred the
town would have been in a very seri-
Gus difficulty
The burned-out merchants are at
loss for quarters in which to resume
business. Nearly every business place
s,, Sc
question to secure room of any descrip-
ton. Nathan Daggett, proprietor of the
large shoe store ruined by the flames,
secured today the use of the Advent
chapel on Main street. None of the 9TH
ers have yet secured quarters of any
kind.
Immediate action will be taken by the
town to pass an ordinance prohibiting
the erection of any more wooden build
ings in the business section and this law
will be enforced to the letter. 1t is felt
that after all it was ore of the best
things that could happen to the town,
for the old wooden buildings have al
ways been a menace to other property
and have been the direct cause of re-
peated advances in rates by the fire in
surance companies, not only on the
ruined buildings, but on all other prop
erty in the vicinity.
The fact has become generally known
that Considera bic looting was done dur
ing the fire ard also on Sunday. Many
goods We're left lying in the street and
yandals helped themselves and logged
considerable property off Some are
known TO have been engaged in the
work and it is not improbable that
some action will he taken this week to
bring the guilty parties to justice.
Dexter people feel especially CRATE
full to Waterville for the prompt action
of the fire department Of that city ir:
responding to the call for assistance.
For some reason the Bangor depart
ment could not assist, but the reason
has not as yet been made plain to the
people Of Dexter. Watervillc was
Obliged to come q greater distance ana
tho fircmcn Of that city were very will
ing to render all assistance possible and
their action is highly appreciated here.
Linemen in the employ Of different
companies were busy today in tearing
down the hanging wires and cleaning
things up. The telephone service was
damaged to some extent. The wires Of
the electric light company were re-
paired Saturday so that the lights were
in use as usual that evening and since.
The insurance adjusters are expect
ed Tuesday and until they inspect the
ruins, but little will be done toward
cleaning out the interiors and digging
from the ashes the several safes known
to be there These safes contain papers
of much value and it is not expecte"
that their contents are damaged to any
great extent.
Providing that the land under the
burned buildings can be purchased at a
reasonable price or the present owners
will erect good brick blocks. the town
CONTINUED on Page Ten.)