The Portland daily press., 1867-07-11

Experience" whose communication we
print in another column, takes the ground that
Portland should move in her corporate ca
pacity for a supply of water from Sebago' as
soon as the people evince willingness 10 pay
for it," The people are willing to pay fof IL
gsoso. 1t was only yesterday that citizen said
TO US, For heavens sake, keep this matter
moving. am poor man, but just as soon as
water can be brought into the city want it in
my house, and my neighbors are all of the
same mind" THERE'S no dispute about the in
slant and imperative need of water supply.
Health and'industry are suffering for it; con-
veniencs and security demand it, If the city
is prepared to move in its corporate capacity,
by all means let il move; but II not, let US ac-
eept on reasonable terms, after proper scruti-
ny, the aid offered by a private corporation
Let US not, bewildered by the variety of con-
hicting views about the manner of doing the
thing, end by neglecting to do it at all.
This company proposes to break ground I'M
rteatotely, on the acceptance of its terms by
the city. We do not urge the acceptance of
those terms, but we have no hesitation in say
ing that they are better than nothing, and de-
serve and will doubtless receive prompt and
was accepted by the company in March. By
its terms the city has the right to take possess
sion OF tue works in six years from last March
at flair appraisal" made by three commits
sioners to be appointed by the Supreme Court.
There is nothing here about bonus there 10
nothing about the contract" price; the CON-
missioners are to fairly apprajse' the property
OF the company. With these terms before
them, the corporators offer to begin work at
once and give us the water in two years, ask
Ing for no help until the works are complete
and the healthful currents are actually flowing
through cur streets. Then they ask the city to
pay them 100000 year, for ten years, or take
the works off their hands. If the city should
use Its privilege and take the works in March,
1873, there would he but tour annual pay
ments, amounting to 100000, upon which the
annual interest would be only $4,000 sum
which would be saved by the reduced expenses
OF our fire department alone. e.s
Ii tho city can do the work better and cheap.
or than private corporation, it should be done
by tho city. 1t is in accordance with ordinary
experience, that such undertakings are most
economically managed by men acting under
the spur of private and personal interest. We
do not so much care, however, who does this
work-whether it be the city, company, OF
an individual; but We do care to haue it dons
with no needless delay.
Experience" is mistaken in his statement
that the act of Feb. %, 1885, was obtained
through the exsrtions of 'outside parties."-
Messrs John B. Brown, St. John Smith, Sam.
aei L. snr.-sss, RENSSELAER, Cram, Rufus E.
Wood, Jacob Mcclellan and Dennis w. Clark
the original corporators, designed in good
faith to furnish the city with temporary wa.
ter supply from Long Greek. That undertak.
ing would have been prosecuted, had not the
fire interviewed and compelled diversion Of
our home capital to other uses. Then out.
side parties came forward, Offering to furnish
means to bring permanent supply from Sc.
bago. Their offer is now before the city gov.
eminent. Whether this particular propo.i.
tionis accepted or rejected, is matter of nc
interest to the public; bat that some plan
should be adopted, the people of Portland are
fully convinced. ..~