Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-13
For a Central
Fire Station.


During the past week or more
have read with interest various arti-
clase appearing in these columns re-
gardng the erection of two new school
buildings on the site of the present
Middle Street school. II is a laudable
undertaking and 1t shall be far from
the object of this article to offer any
objections TO the reasons offered for
the need of such a building. But, cit
liens. we have ether institutions to
support which are as much. or, under
the present circumstances. even more
needed as matter of public protec-
ton refer particularly To the fire
department. The needs of this de-
partment are lost sight of among the
needs of other departments. which
seem more necessary to fulfill present
demands
The city of Augusta has a fire de-
partinent of which she can well feel
proud. a volunteer department which is
as efficient as any saIaried department
of similar size It is department
which has not only shown its worth
within our own city, but in Bangor
and other places to which it has been
called, as will be evidenced by the
words of praise it has received from
the officials of those cities.
The city of Augusta has been ex
tremely fortunate in not having had a
greater confiagration than they have
| had for "a number of years If prevail
| ing weather conditions had been but
slightly different during the recent Wa
| ter street fire, we might have expe-
| rienced a fire similar in extent to the
| Bangor fire of 1911. And yet a fire
| department properly equipped can do
| much toward the prevention of such
losses. But we have not got it. And
| ii IS impossible to have a properly
| equipped department until first it. has
| a suitable home. that is, central fire
station. The Bangor department was
| in a similar state as our own and its
needs put of from year to year until
a great fire brought the people to a
realization of the needs of fire de-
partment and today nothing IS too
costly for 1T. Citizens. must we wait
till a similar catastrophe with its ac-
| eompanying loss of life and property
has awakened us to the needs of our
| fire department.
| Let us consider for a moment what
| we have for an apology of central
| hre station on Bridge street wood
| Ell building which was condemned as
| long ago as 1905 by Board of Under
writer's, which made n thorough EXAM
nation of our equipment for a basis
| of fixing insurance rates in this town.
What has been done? Nothing. Last
| year a committee was appointed to con-
slider the adcisability of repairing the
present station and after adverting
for bids. it was considered waste
full expenditure of money 10 attempt
To repair. Not a single contractor in
town would even bid upon the prop
osition because il was considered an
especially hazardous undertaking and
with not sufficient funds available to
put it in even a safe condition, to say
nothing of fulfilling the requirements
of the department. If there is a per-
son who doubts the veracity of this
statement regarding safety. let him re-
main but short time in the present
building during a high wind. The ex-
perience will he enough to convince
any sane man that the building is GER
tainly in danger of going over into
the rayine below When members of
the fire department itself refuse to re-
main in the building during a high
wind but seek other shelter. they
did during the past winter. it is high
time we were awakened to the needs
of so important department 1t re-
solves itself into question of hui
manity--of saving lives. If my state
ments seem exaggerated. ] simply ask
each one of you to investigate for
himself.
Now. citizens, is ii not a question of
protecting the lives of the little ones,
il you wish to resolve it into this
form? 1t was but few years ago
that we read of fire horror in which
a great number of children lost their
lives in a school building by being
burned alive. 1t is far from the pow
ers of any of us to foretell when
similar catastrophe will visit us and
| ask you, citizens of Augusta, consid-
erinG the fact, that we have six we'll
equipped, modern brick school houses
and not single fire station which is
ever pronounced safe, is it not for the
hest interests of all to first build and
eouip a modern central fire station?
lust think little before you vote. to-
night. for the new school building
A CITIZEN AND TAX PAYER.