Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-03-16
The Water Question.


II it is not already foregon
conclusion, that our citizens are to be buriene,
e with debt Of no ordinary proportions 70
supplying the city leih lruier, as proposed an,
advocated in the late Report of a committee Q
e our authorities, it is certainly worth while fo
every good citizen, who has at heart the pros
perity Of our youthful city, to look over tn,
( matter candidlY and without prejudice, with q
=, view to satisfy his Judgment, if he can, whether
present necessity. or the eIpediency of the pro-
iect will, at this time, justify the imposing upon
our people the enormous debt to be thus
created.
We have but just entered upon our career,
under the auspicious hopes assured US, under
GU city organization, and let Us not allow our
youthful ambition to so hriOverpOwer our judg-
meni and discretion, as to parAlyze, at one step,
cur prosperity at the outset,-better by far, to
wait little, and be content to DO ,celI, rather
than block our own wheels in an unreasonable
effort to DO faster
That supply Of pure water, flowing abun-
dainty to everybody. and for all useful purposes,
| would be quite desirable, all will acknowledge,
and so also, all must acknowledge that good
thing may be purchased at too dear cost. 1t
is to be regretted that the committee appointed
to consider this subject should have eOntented
themselves with the brief exhibit made in their
report Of their estimated COS. of the work. The
several items which must enter into the cost
should have been fully presented,-the quanti-
ties Of the various materials required, should
have been given, with the probable COS; prices |
thereof, and each carried out in detail the |
size snd weight of conduit pipes; the extent of |
line (srd loeatou) over which it Is proposed to
distribute them the form and description Of |
Reservoir, and the material and manner Of its
construction the buildings and pumping ma
chiuery; the pier work proposed to be extended
into the Lake, &c, &c, with general plan Of
the work, the cost Of operation and maintain
anee, with the probable income TO be derived
thereirom, both immediate and prospective-all
in such detail and completeness, as to have sf-
forled to cur citizens a reasonable assurance
that the character and extent Of the plan was
judiciously adapted to our necessities, and enti-
tied to confidence
Such result could not be secured with the
limited time and means which the committee
had at their eommsnd,-still its Importance is
too great to be dispensed with, when our citi-
yeps ara ealiad uro- 70 da.;.la ,ba r,a.,ar ~ |
burdening themselves and their pOsterity with
such a monster debt, as must be brought upon
them by this undertaking. Ii is scarcely with
in the bounds Of probability, that the debt {
would be limited to the Sl5O.OOO proposed at I
he Ouiset--it is far more probable that it would
ultimately reach nearly if not quite double
hat sum. This.is by no means an extraysgant
-ieW of the subject,-It is justified by the al :
most universal experience Of beth the public
md private enterprises Of the country every
Ehere,-a moreover. who does not forsee the
acrifce that must be made upon the per cent
ity bonds, proposed to be issued for this ex- ?
enditure.
While the U. s. $40 or G per cent. gold :,
caring Bonds are in the market, our unknown
urreucy paying per cent city bonds. must of !
curse ne reduced in price, TO an equivalent u
tsndsrd and such market standing, as all in =,
sihgent hnanciers know depend as well upon
heir character, as a treH ksoirE AMI uadoubted :,
,eurify,as upon their promised rate Of interest ;.
therefore they should find their level in the
larke; at about so per cent Of their par value !,
/ the most, we ought not 20 be surprised or
isappOinted, because it is but reasonable - ex-
prt it. Here then is sn element Of cost. which !
lould not be over looked, for it may be regard
| as sure to be realized, and must 90 in to
realty swell up the debt. 1t will not do to say II
lat we will avoid this sacrifice by requiring the
for the work to take our city bonds
payment, for he can no better afford the sac
fee than can our citizens and will therefore
emand a proportional enhancement Of price,
iere is no escape in such cases from evils Of ~
ich chsrcter. Al
The Committee put down in their estimate
20, 900 for the purchase Of the works. (and o
anchise) of the old Burlington Aqueduct
Ompsny." Why this item , it is not in the ii
asst necessary, and as to its true valus. that c,
annot, situated as it is, be ascertsined with any
egree of accuracy, and ought not to be pur-
iased at any price whatever. II the city is TO b
,ter upon the project of procuring supply of : :,
Iater, let US come up to the work manfully, Al
iOpt the best plan, make every part new, and a
( permanent and substantial character-this :, u
the end, would beyond all IquestiOn prove to a
c the best and most economical course Il
Ii will be seen that the Committee contemplate \
their estimate the building Of a "Pier extend 81
u 300 feet into the Lake" This is supposed d
, be a means for reaching point and properly \.
curing 1t. whence pure water msy a, all times ri
drawn. II is scarcely to be doubted, that c
vice that distance at least will be found neces- b
NY for that purpose, and hence an enhance s'
ent Of the cost Of this item beyond that contem-
ated in the estimate. When the needful time =
nd more full and exact examination is given n
the subject true which is indn pensable for h
the cost Of the work in all its de- :,
ills, there is little if anyidoubt that the esti- Il
ate Of various other items will prove deficient '
1t is to be hoped that our ci :izens viii not be n
ushed on with indecent haste to a blind vote, D
,dorsing the project, until By the aid Of all
,e reliable information required, they may be y
repaired to form Just conclusions concerning it. b
be proposed measure is one Of very great i'm Z
ortance, in Whatever respect 1t may be viewed =
; our people. and beg you 10 believe that b
N not disposed to treat it unjustly. Ny
esire is only that Of all good citizens, to meet
and examine it fairly, and only upon its v
erits. We are called upon SOMEWHAT hastily il
think and vote upon it--and il is greatly to Z
regretted that 90 little tine skould be given d