Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-10-31
CREWS.
LIKE TROOPS
FAR FLUNG
Execute Central Maine
Company's Carefully
Planned Project
Eight Hundred Poles, Coopers
Mills to Rockland, Reinsu-
lated by Sturdy Linesmen
Under Supervision of Gen.
Supt. Williams

WIN tne precision or an exhibition
drill the picked crews Of the Central
Maine Power Company which gath
cred at Union, Sunday, October 90,
to re-insulate some 500 poles along
the high tension line between
Maxcy's near Coopers Mills and
Rockland went through their PAGES
without hitch or mishap, beating
the allotted time schedule by nearly
two hours.
A chance visitor at Union Fair
Grounds late Saturday afternoon
might have thought that the advance
guard of an army had come to en-
trench for the winter but for those
who had mapped out the plans for
taking care of the numerous crews of
the far-flung Central Maine organiza-
ton 1t meant that the careful plans
Of the past few weeks were in actual
operation and about to receive a real
baptism of fire. They were anxious
moments for Foremen Cobb, Marson
and Blodgett and Inspector of Dis
tribution. Fred Eaton.
Gradually. though, as truck after
truck rolled into the Fair Grounds
with their loads of human freight the
strain gradually lessened. At $50
when the Dover Foxcroft crowd
pulled into the yard lusty shout
went up from the mouths of nearly
200 husky linemen who lost no time
in making raid on the dining ROOM
Chef Painter, a Real Chef
Tho crews strobe into the big din
ing room, filled every last seat and
clamored for chow. Chef Painter
was ready with steaming hot coffee,
piping hot baked beans, bread, cake,
cranberry sauce and cookies filed the
boards and if any man went away
hungry it was lis own fault. 1t
was just such n supper as Chef
Painter had many a time served to a
crew of hungry Woodsmen. 1t went
to the right spot, and as one after
another picked up his empty plate
and filed out with it to the kitchen
one could hear many satisfied sigh
of content. Chef Painter make good
on the job.
The Night Before the Battle
In the crisp air of the late October
evening, the line crews strolled about
the grounds meeting old friends and
making new ones. Now and again
talk would drift to the big Job of the
next day. All was enthusiasm,
eagerness and determination. An air
of restless quiet overhung the camp.
Che ambitious crew v,ntured a good
sized wager that it would be first to
complete its assignment of poles but
they had so many takers that they
made a hasty exit. cav we'll eat
that job alive before noon" one husky
lincman exclaimed and no one who
saw his splendid physique and deter
mined chin would dare gainsay his
prophecy. He was typical of the
whole crOwd-husky, tanned by the
winds ard storms of many seasons,
tough as hickory and ready for any
+ emergency.
Taps sounded at nine O'Clock and
let 1t be said that every mothers son
was abed at the sound of taps. 1t
was n real inspiration to sense the
discipline. the preparation and the
Willingness to comply with orders
that prevailed among the 200 men.
BY 9.15 quiet had settled down on
tho camp.
Rsveilis at 8 A. N.
Alarm clocks were set for A. NJ.
the signal to rise and shine. Among
those who turned in at the same time
as his men were General Superin-
tcndent Williams and his seven year
old son Seth, who had come with his
daddy to watch the big game Seth
lis regular feller," as the boys say,
and as much favorite as his dad
who has the SUPPLEMENTARY Of the
entire Central Maine system. Seth
had the big Job on his mind so deep
ly that he woke at midnight, sat bolt
upright in his cot and exclaimed
Daddy, is it 3 o'clock YETI" Three
o'clock came soon enough though.
With it all hands were ready for ac-
ton.
The Days Work Begins
BY the last dim light of the paling
moon the boys turned out for break
fast and a quick get-a- way for their
positions. Breakfast over, each man
took his place in his truck and before
the first hint of day swirled away to
be in his position at the first flush
OF dawn. Every man knew exactly
which truck to take, every truck
driver knew to what point along the
line of poles he was to proceed. Like
big fleet of vessels making anchor