Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-07-14
DeceiyinS Water Test.

The water trial and test Tuesday
evening made by the Norway Water
Company to make South Paris people
believe they had something in case Of
fire was fraud from start to finish II
the test was for proof of tho efficiency
for fire. The idea of laying 100 feet of
hose for test. Let me ask you: Did
you ever in your life see or hear OF fire
and only 100 feet Of hose laidP II we
should lay hose for fire In Market
Square We should have to lay from 800
to 400 feet 80 as to be able to 20 around
some buildings for fighting the FIRE.
The friction in 800 feet length Of the
best and smoothest hose will absorb
about one half of the available fire
pressure at the hydrant. Eighty pounds
or 1876 feet head at the hydrant may be
regarded a. the least pressure giving
strictly good fire service, and with this
head It Is still imperative that the pipes
be large enough 30 that this pressure
will not be drawn down greatly when
fire streams are flowing. A few feet
less would make the difference between
a good fire department and an inefficient
one.
The Norway Water Company laid
100 feet of hose to deceive you. You
see you can throw water much farther
through 100 feet of hose than 800 or
400, don't youp Proof of deceving in
the size of nozzle used by this Norway
Water Company in Market Square.
Seven-eights inch was the size used.
One and one-fourth and one and one
eighth inch nozzle is usually regarded
as the most practical for general use.
One-eighth of an inch on a nozzle con-
veys 20 per cent more waters state
ment from the Norway Water Com
pany's principal promoter. The less
water you put on fire the quicker the
blaze is put out. Fire boats use two
and one-half inch nozzles in New York.
They seem to believe it takes water to
put out fire. A seven-eighths inch noz-
zle Is only fit for sprinkling streets.
Now these nozzle statements are from
one of the best men on water works in
the country.
Experience shows that large streams
are much more effective on fierce fire
than small ones. A small stream may
be 80 completely evaporated into steam
as it passes through the flames as to
never reach the seat of the fire. A fire
cannot be extinguished by wetting the
flames with large stream even though
one half the water be evaporated as it
passes through the flames, there may be
enough left to quench the glowing coal
which form the heart of the fire.
This Norway Water Company seems
to have the idea they own and control
the streets of Paris and they use the
people as dummies. They have drag
ged US by the hair of our heads for
about twenty-five years, but are gradual
ly letting go. A citizen that is not in
for better quality of water for drink
ing and much better facilities for fight
ing fire is worse than a traitor in war
times. We have had twenty-five years of
schooling from this water company with
their eagerness for money. The tempta-
ton for profit has given us sewer water
to drink. When this village owns it's
water works, lives will not be endanger.
ed by a few greedy directors, it will be
controlled by every voter in the corpora
ton, which will be one of the greatest
God sends South Paris people ever ex-
perienced.
Public utilities In which sanitary
motives largely enter should be operated
by the public. Franchises granted to
private corporations should be ter
minable after acts like our experience
with tho Norway Water Company.
c. w. BowKER, Chief Engineer.