The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-14

two natural reservoir basins 81 aioh, 60
each, twelve teet deep, which will Contain
supplV OF 62,293,s00 gallons. The water he
ing conducted from these reservoirs. or from
each Mt pleasure. IN forty inch main for the
distance OF lc than 1000 eet to point on the
site OF Martins bridge can then be furnished by
tide i'ower in ssch quantities as the city may
re uire rom tim" to time, to a small reser-
vor on Mdni"y Iii J. not costing over $50, 900,
including tie necessary site, and having
- 'nd pipe OF ths requisite height to dis
trio !Ie the water to the highest elevations
re iuiTed t .'.l ~
Mr. NTH offers on ibebalf of the Pre-
Gun, st,n psc9t Land and Water Company to con-
I suu the works so described comDlete. for
tne sum Of S325.nOO .pivi,q tbe c,tv an
aoao- ownership of the water nights. two
ieSeiFonS VuI OF the city and one on Munioy
hill, and duplicated pumoln1 annaratrs "a
mill ready for the operation" rf' "''o
II tn this sum be added Mr.. Swifts's estj-
mate of S259S50 for city distribution &c. IL
will make the entire cost, by this plan, 1884,
$50.
The objections to this plan are, that the
wafer is no: so pure as that of the lake, which
Is admitted, that there Is danger OF contami-
nat'on OF the fresh water in the canal by thu
salt water adjacent to its lower terminus, and
that the river will become more impure in
time from the building OF additional factories.
we THINK ii proper care is taken no fear need
De ielt OF contamination by the percolation or
diffusion OF the saline water. This may be
prevented by bailJing the banks OF the canal of
sufficient thickness and by an impervious lin
ing II necessary. II manufacturing establish
menus are not erected more rapidly in the
neA1 ten or twenty years to come than they
nave oeen during the last twenty, no great
lear need he entertained OF trouble from this
source. The river has a iall OF more han 25O
lNNr n 81 60 NI..x.x k.Ils n
~ Oi Its current tends TO Its continued puricv
Mr.. Smith, In a third letter, which Is here
with submitted, under dafe December 2, 1867,
oiiers."i the city will build the work con-
stitutin2 the new channel of the river, as 1
have described 1t in my former proposal, and
pump The water by steam power, or BY tide
power at Martins Point as described it,
then the Pfesumpscot Land and Water Pow
erCompany will convey all the water rights
and rights OF way contemplated in that pro-
posa to the city, free OF all incumberances as
there proposed, without one dollar ad litional
compensation"
Your Committee are of the opinion
that the plan of bringing water from
the PresumPscot Lower Falls, is en-
tilted to calefli consideration. II a full
investigation by competent and experienced
men shall show it to be entirely practicable
and that good water can be bad from this
source equal or superior to any supplied TO
any seaport town in this country, at an ex-
pense that shall not be considered too great
tor the present straitened condition of the
city finances, ard which shall give the city a
supply several times greater than can be had
from the lake at more than twice the cost, and
ample for the present and prospective wants
of the city and the supply Of many small man.
uiactor les within the city limits, then we are
quite sure, this plan will be considered enti-
tied to investigation and probably to a1op-
ton.
Incidentally the schemes of the Prasump-
scot Land and Water Company will be aided.
these schemes are on q magnificent scale
and if fully developed and carried into sue
cessinl operation, cannot tail to greatly bene-
fit Portland, A great water power, rivaling
those OF our interior manufacturing towns,
will be created at our very doors and immedi-
atey on our harbor line, with convenience of
access possessed by few, if any, manufacture
ing cities.
1t will be observed, that byAIr. Smiths plan
ana et;imates, the water can be furnished the
city, less the cost OF city distribution $685.
500 and the small reservoir on Munoy 1885,
0OJ) for $250,O0O. This is Mr.. Smiths esti-
mate independent OF the two items mention
ed. Now ii wafer of sufficient purity tor
even the temporary wants OF the city, say the
next twenty years, can be obtained from this
source, the saving in interest alone, at 7 $40
per cent. estimatin the cost at $650,000, and of
the otherpan at 81 $50 900 will not be less than
two million dollars (S4,009,974.) In ten years
the saving in interest would be 1862 ,954 Ii
is not difficult to understand that this differ
ence IN cost and interest may be the differ
ence OF profit or loss in operating the works;
at any rate the additional cost must be paid
by the water-takers, or lost by the city.
The distribution pipes, hydrants, reservoirs
&c, will be equally necessary to either plan,
so that when the city shall feel able and in
ciined to incur the expense of bringing water
direct from Sebaeo, the only real loss will be
the S25U,000 expended outside of the city.
Another consideration to which we ask
YOUR especial attention is this. The citys
financial condition is such that you NAV
he economically justified in building work
that are quite sure to afford a retnunerative
revenue ina reasonable time alter their con
struction, while you might not be justified in
incurring an expense so large as to probably
ensure constant outset and burden upon the
city treasury. An outlay of $650,OO0 for
works that will pay an income sufficient for
current expenses and create sinking fund to
finally pay for themselves, is unlike expen-
ditnres Tor city buildings, parks and other i'm
pfoyeinents, which yield little or no income,
and viii be justified, like the investments of
business, by the cash returns and benefits ex-
pected. ~ frr t.flfGi IL.
~
1t the city decide to adopt either plan sug-
gested, or any other by which the expense is
to be incurred by the city, your committee
would suggest the issue OF special water loan
DoniS, with an adequate sinking fund, based
upon the revenue to be obtained for the use
OF the water, which shall be sufficient to pro-
vide for them at maturity. Such bonds have
been issued b, other cities, and the payment
being specially provided for, they have receiv-
ed preference over many other kinds of muni-
clpal Indebtedness. ltis not unlikely the CITY
could contract the building of these works to
advantage, making payment in its scrip, to be
SO paced as not TO come upon the market at
present, should it be deemed desirable.
In conclusion, your committee beg to say,
that the Importance OF bountifll supply of
good, pure water is not likely to be over es-
tma;ed. For sanitary, Domestic and manu-
IA turing purposes and as protection against
conflagrations, il is urgently needed, and al
though our Indebtedness Is now very large
and the burden of taxation very onerous.
yet they believe that the Inauguration of ju-
dicious measures for the early introduction of
water Is demanded and will meet the approv-
al OF majority oi our citizens.
Your committee concur n the opinion that
the city Should own and control its water
works, and that the expense OF bringing water
directly from Sebago lake is too great to be
now entered upon, in view of the city's finan-
cal condition. A majority of your committee
believe that you viii be justified in bringing
water from the Presumpscot river at cost
to not much exceed $3OO,000, II nothing shall
appear more detrimental to the quality of the
water, and no greater difficulties shall be
found in the execution OF this plan than are
now ap pretended. We would, therefore rec
onmend that further most careful and
thorough practical tests of the quality and
flavor OF the water be instituted, and that fur
! ther experiments be authorized to be made by
| DIR. Goodaie, with reference to any possible
| organic impurities OF sewage contamination,
and thai an expert need and reliable engin-
eer be at once emplo, ed to thoroughly inves-
tigate thi. plan and II upon their reports to
the city council nothing shall appear more
uniavorabe to this plan than is now known
| to Your committee, that the plan OF supply
| ing the city by water to be brought from the
Lower Falls oil the Presumpscot river be
adopted, and that board OF three commis-
! sioners be then appointed, 10 carry the plan
into effect with as little delay as may be.
1t is stated that an English Lady married
TO an Italian nobleman, the Duchess Cesarini-
Sforza, has been expelled the Papal territory
under circumstances which seem ex.raordins.
ry. The duchesss villa at Remi was sacked