The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-11-02
NORR|DGEWOCK HAS
PROBLEM
Facts Presented Will
People Act Wisely?
Selectman F. L. Ames Presents a Most
Rational View of Subject of Fire
Protection.

voters petitioned the selectmen to
3 o'clock p. NJ. 1t was apparent that
the meeting had purposely been set
too late in the day for many farmers
to attend. The principal object in
calling the meeting was to persuade
the town to buy the Howe automobile
fire engine, which with its owner, has
been here for some weeks, trying to
make a sale.
The town meeting was held October
80, at P. NJ. as called, and one mem
ber of the committee of twenty, made
his own report in writing, but when
questioned, it was admitted by him
that it was not the report of the
committee, as the committee had not
prepared a report or agreed upon any.
Needless to say, the report went
against hydrant rental and went head
over heels in favor of the automobile
engine. This report was read by the
chairman of the committee The secre-
tary of the committee then read testi-
monials and letters showing that a
hydrant protection is better. 1t was
plain at once, that the committee were
not in favor of the engine, and that
the chairman who had fallen in love
with the automobile part labored un-
der the impression that his personal
report would be accepted as that of
the committee.
The relative merits of a fire engine
and of a hydrant system were then
fully discussed. 1t was shown by let
ters read by the secretary of the COM
mittee, Mr.. w. F. Heckert, from Buck
field Strong, Rangeley and Orono,
that hydrant systems in those places,
reduced insuran 2e rates on residence
property one half. 1t was shown by
letter from Mr.. Weed, of the com
mittee of underwriters for the New
England Insurance Exchange that Nor
ridgeWock would be allowed the same
insurance rating as other protected
towns, if it could hire hydrants of
first class water system.
1t was shown clearly that the village
would save about $1,000 in insurance
each year, by reduced rate under
hydrant protection and that every
house would be supplied with ample
water for all domestic purposes at
reasonable cost. 1t was also shown
that Charles \. Taylor contracting
engineer of Wellesley, Mass, who has
surveyed the site, and who has in
stalled many water systems in Maine
and who now is installing the new
waterworks at Bingham is willing to
take the charter of the NorridgeWoek
Water company, secured at the legis-
lature last winter by DR.. J. d. Ames.
representative for our town, and build
an up to date water system if the
town would subscribe, for a period of
twenty years, for thirty hydrants at
$35 each, annually, the town to have
the right to buy the system at any
time after installed, if it so voted.
1t was shown clearly that this plan
would not put the town in debt one
cent, and that the reduced insurance
would offset the cost of the hydrants.
so that each property owner would
have simply to pay the same money
as heretofore, but one half would go
to the insurance companies and the
other half to the support of hydrants,
instead of all going to the insurance
companies as is now the case. This
would give the village people ample
water
1t would also give the village peo-
pie fire protection for less than moth
ing, because the farmers would aid
in their support about $500 year, as
the farms comprise about half the
property in town. At the same time,
the farmers would much better help
pay $500 a year for village fire pro
lection in the way of hydrants than to
saddle themselves with $4,000 to $4,000
more of debt for this engine and a
house to put it in and for caretaker
for it. This is because the deprecia-
ton on automobiles is very heavy and
the labor necessary to keep it warmed
in cold weather and to constantly
look after it would make the annual
expense of the engine more than the
hydrant contribution each year.
1t was shown that the New England
Insurance Exchange will not give a
cent of insurance reduction for the
Howe engine, 1t was shown that the
automobile engine would probably be
useless much of the time, being set
away unused for months at a time,
while the water works pumps and
equipment would have constant atten-
ton every day in the year, as the
water works superintendent would be
Obliged to keep everything in order
for the water takers.
1t was shown that Sunset Hill is
about 100 feet high, so that a stand
pipe up there, rs feet high, would give
pressure of more than one hundred