Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-11-26
Water

engrossing public attention. The COM
mittee appointed to consider the subject,
have submitted their report in a printed
pamphlet, and the voters are to act upon that
report at the village meeting to be holden
next Monday evening. There can be no
division of sentiment upon the desirability
OF an ample supply of water for domestic
and public use, and for the purpose of ex-
tlnguishng fires. All persons will at once
concede that the village should be fully sup
piled for all these objects. There may be
differences of opinion as to how this supply
shall be obtained just here we anticipate
the controversy-if there shall be any con-
troversy in the meeting Monday evening
will begin, and assume whatever form or
| shape the s. irrepressible conflict may, the
underlying question at issue will be, Shall
itself to bring the water from Berlin Pond
mo Montpelier village. Doubtless there
are many intelligent citizens who viii il
sist that the village is already amply SUI
piled with water. With two fair-sized
rivers, one of them proved by careful assay
to be better water for drinking and all other
purposes than the water from Berlin Pond
or the Pond brook-running through the
very heart of the village, what need have
we, these persons will ask, to further burden
this people with another load of taxation
aud bonds? We have already, they will say,
suthclent water supply This averment
has in it large share of force and common
sense; and still it is not entirely conclu-
sive estoppel to the plea of those moving in
this matter of water from Berlin. The waters
OF Worcester Branch are suitable for any
use; but they are not easily and readily ac-
cessible to everybody and at all times. Year
by year the approaches to the two streams
which water our village have been rendered
more difficult of access within the village
limits, and no one has yet suggested feasl
bic plan for distributing, for a reasonable
sum, the waters wherever needed. 1t is
not strange, then, that very respectable
portion of our citizens should cast about
them TO see IT some better facilities for dis
tributing free water could not be devised
The subject has been fully agjtated, and the
committee appointed to investigate the mat
ter have performed that labor, and the re-
suits OF their researches are embodied in the
pamphlet which all tax payers will have d
chance to examine for themselves No one
Il hts Nc
tentons of that committee. But many Will
question the ACCESSIBILITY of adopting tn
plan proposed by them. The citizens of the
village are very heavily taxed at present
Tie times are hard and panicky. There is
a disposition abroad To - 20 slow, to re-
trench and economize, rather than to expand
and be extravagant, until we are out of debt,
and money becomes more easy at CONNER
eial centers. Most of those heavily inter
ested IN the prosperity and welfare of the
village, are already amply supplied with
spring water of the best quality from the
surrounding hillsides. Oar insurance tax is
not as bad as it might be, and our fire com
panies will be relied upon in the future as
tney have proved themselves worthy to be
trusted in the past We can, at trlfing
expense, compared with this proposed ex-
penditure of $50, 00O-whch many honestly
believe is buta drop in the bucket of
what will be demanded before free water runs
through the streets and into all the houses
provide convenient and all necessary ap-
proaches to the.rivers for engines, and water
carts for the few who are not now supplied
with water.
Under this state # affairs, and in view of
the stringency in abe money market, it can
hardly be expected that any project calling
at the start for village taxation to the
amount Of $4,000 can receive favor or
votes enough to carry it through, unless it
can be shown to be of vital and Immediate
necessity to the entire village