Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-10-27
tUatohman s. journal.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 81, 1869.
New Legislation Needed.

. 1t is the fashion 70 complain that we hive too
much legislation, too frequent changes Of the
Statutes, and maniioldly too much for purposes
that are of 50 little public use as to be called
technically private" though the corporate
powers to execute them may embrace a consdera-
bic number Of persons. We respect this COM
plant and pretty largely sympathize with those
who make it, still we ask for new legislation ON
matter OF great Importance, which in Vermont
has been entirely neglected. The members Of
the General Assembly have come together with
vivid remembrance of the dcyasmtons of the late
floods in almost every part Of the State, and many
OF them can testify that very considerable part
Of the damage to roads, bridges, crops, neat
stock, and buildings of every sort, might and
wonld have been avoided had the ml-dams and |
reservoirs been properly secured when built and
kept in thorough repair, and ample waterways
allowed in the construction of culverts and
bridges From these two cause.-the failure of
dams and the clogging of waterways at bridges
and cuyerts-we believe more than thrce-fourths
of the late immense damage in Vermont have en-
sued And very narrowly have we escaped i'm
mensely greater damages from one Of the same
causes. The Lnmoile valley was barely saved
from being swept by the breaking away of Lake
Caspian and that lake is three times as large as
the famous Runaway pond of Glover, which in
1910 broke its Northern barrier and for more than
ten miles leyelled forests and hills and swept of
all the mills, houses, barns, fences, cattle horses
and sheep in its course. In our own more imme-
date neighborhood too, is II mill-pond very near
ly equal in extent to Runaway pond, and protect
ed at It's outlet by dam eighteen feet in height
: which, we have been told by member of tn,
House skilled in such things is not very substan
y TALLY constructed. At the height of the first o
the three recent floods, the proprietor of tina
dam became alarmed for its security and warne,
2, people below that it would probably be sweep
Y away. Had that occurred at that time, the ad
dition Of this large body of water to the alread
Astounding llDod below would doubtless have NOR
n than doubled the disasters in the river valley
1, for dozen miles, and most probably added tn
4, loss of many human life. We learned of thi
danger Immediately after the first food, and G
course our anticpations, in the two succeedin
y hoods, from this source Of danger, were by n
mr. means pleasant We then thought, and we no
s ask, is there no remedy We turned to III
statute book to see if our legislators had provide
d, which has always existed and is growing arg,
II and larger as Vermont is denuded Of her lores
Z and the semi-annual floods become more and MOI
rs, furious because more and more sudden The
y IS HoihiAg ~ Tie statute book on tie subject The
- are no legal means OF prevention. ANY body ca
n build dam on his land, and build it as
er, pleases build it strongly safely, secure
lp- against any pressure of water from above, or |
.n back water from below, and thus become publ
sy, henelactor by making his water power utili
IN natural resources m his neighborL0od or le q
l build il cheapy and carelessly aud recklessl
Il; making his mil-pond Bosom of destruction +
aid miles below him. lie should be required By Ia
ON to do the former, and prevented from doing Ii
,rd latter. No man has right to use his priya
~. property 50 nv 10 be n nuisance, or a source
her certain and serious danger to his neighbors
in the public. IL he does tho latter, we suppo
the owner of such dam can be held Mt comm
law to pay the damages but what security
W the owner of a saw-mill for damages to d
II amount of tens and hundreds of thousands
,se. dollars to the people below him2 Compensate,
for damages in that way is simply impossible Al
II It We're not, We do not want compensation. b
Jim prccoaioa' PREVENTION Tint, gentlemen
Yea the General Assembly is the new legislation
" ask, and which yon can easily grant. Turn
the general statutes Of Massachusetts ON mil
q aud specially to few sections ON the prevents
I'm Of damages by mill-dnms and reservoirs, and yc
will find substantially the remedy which the pc
pie OF Vermont need even more than those
LA Massachusetts, ever did or ever will IT, gentl
and men, You will give us THAT remedy--that {" oun
u of prevention" that is " better than pound
ket cure we VIII, alter the officers shall have be'
as appointed and the appropriation bills passed, b
Yea you most hearty God speed on your homewa
n way, to meet from every hood-scared constitute
Ii. the welcome" Well done, good and hlthf
a5 servant thou hast been faithful over few thing
l!!s | will make thee ruler over many things"