Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-10
WATER WORKS In DANBURY.
Experience OF MIR. CobleIgh.
From the Danbury News.

From the Danbury News.
The members of the Danbury Water
Board have unnecessarily imposed upon
themselves the most dreadful secrecy as to
their official movements. Where there is a
break to repair, or an improvement to make
which is to disturb the pipes, tboy cut off
the water without any notice, anu the first
intimation the housewife has of the misfor-
tune is when she turns the faucet md re-
ceives in response the dubious grooming of
escaping air. Then the head of the house
takes the pail and g shins" out for neigh
boring well, and if the remarks he makes
were put in book, it would take pretty
smart man to hold the book But this shut
ting off the water is grievous matter. and
our people have become very sensitive about
it. Monday afternoon, while Mr. Cobleigh
was cyphering out some calculation in his
store, he overheard some one say that the
water was to be shut off for two days AS
the nearest well to Mr.. Cobleigh's house is
quarter of a mile away, that gentleman
gave utterance to an expression of earnest
gratitude, coupled with an observation in
tended to enliven the Water Board, pre-
cipitated himself into his coat, and started
for home at rapid speed. Arriving there
all out of breath, and in heat which made his
undue trepidation By screaming for the
tubs, pals, and barrels. But when she
learned, which she gradually did, that the
water was to be shut off at once, she enter
ed heartily into the excitement and earn
estness. First the tubs were snatched out
OF the cellar, and snatched up stairs with
equal celebrity, and while Mr.. Cobleigh tend
ed to their filing. and glared ferociously at
the running stream, Mrs. Cobleigh ransack
ed house for the available tin ware The
good lady was scarcely less unnerved than
her man, and under the inspiration of his
constantly recurring, "Hury, hurry, Ma
tidal /" it did seem, as she afterwards actu-
ally confessed, as if her head would spin off
and lose itself. Once Or twice she stopped
to explain, "Good Lord, Moses, I can't be
everywhere at" but the "Hurry. hurry,
Matilda" relentlessly cut her short. and
sent her into the search again more distract.
ed than ever. Milk pals pans and basins
were brought. Then she got down the
bowls, and Mr. Cobleigh was going to call
for the goblets when he was diverted by
thinking of the iron kettles, and they were
brought forth, and all of them filled. One
of them tipped over, but Mr..
Cobleigh caught the contents in
his shoes, and thus saved the carpet Then
he filled the teakettle, and afterwards the
dipper, and finding no fresh fields to con-
quer. shut off the water, and being in a
heavy perspiration, and exhausted as to
breath, sat down and rested. After the
rest he put off his wet clothes and put on
some dry ones, and exchanging the wet shoes
got a pair of dry boots which hurt his heel,
he imped back to the store. Once there he
prepared to renew his struggle with the
problem he was engaged on when electrified
with the intelligence that the water was to
be cut off, but the duplicity of the Water
Board filled his mind to the exclusion of all
other topics, and finally laying aside his
pencil, he started with the sore heel for the
office. Commissioner Starbuck was present
80, you are here, are your" inquired Mr..
Cobleigh, contemptuously: Certainly
said Mr.. Starbuck. well, you are nice
tinuance of his interest in the commission
er's welfare. Why, what's the matter,
Mr.. Cobleigh ?'' "Matter ?'' asked that.
gentleman, and suddenly raising his voice
and losing all the color about his mouth
:" Matter, is it ?" he cried, his voice tremb
ling with passion, and the strain upon it.
w hat do you mean, want to know, by
snuttlng OF the water supply of the people
without one word of warning, without the
faintest notification of your base, sneaking
designs What do you meat by putting
the entire town into state of confusion and |
suffering by the grossest piece of careless /
-" "My dear SIR" interrupted Mr.. |
Starbuck, " what can y0u mean by this |
charge. The wateris not shut Off" "What.u
gasped Mr.. Cobleigh. "The water has not
been shut off," repeated Mr.. Starbuck -
" But-but, amt it to be shut off this after
noon, and kept off for two days?" asked
MIR. Cobleigh, with a visible faltering in his
tone. " Certainly not" said Mr. Starbuck.
Mr.. Cobleigh stared at the speaker with
dreadful intensity. "Who told you this %
asked the commissioner. 81 don't know
now who it was,n said the unfortunate man /