Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-11-10
Mr.. Thayer and His Agreement Again

Mr.. EDITOR Il am glad Mr.. W. NJ. Thayer
has given to the public what he considers ga plain
statement" of the reasons why he refuses TO pay
| the sum he pledged towards the Mansion House
drain.
He attempts to give three excuses for his action
first, he says he wrote "Gnllys" in his agreement
second, Chapel and other streets, he thinks, are
drained through gully Of his; third, he thinks a
jail hill drain emptes into the gully. Let US see
about it,:
First.-I do not care to waste much time in dis
putting about the word "CulJy's" in Mr.. Thayer 9
| version OF his agreement. Every person who has
read the original document, whether he is MEM
Der of the City Council or not, has called the writ
ten word Gully, but as Mr.. Thayer seems to think
it is important it is concession to allow him the
credit of misspelling the word Guies, if his taste
so dictates. The writing is plain and distinct and
all the words correctly spelled unless be the
one that Mr. Thayer now tries to make out to the
contrary. But pray what difference whether Gully
or ''Gulys" unless there was intention some
where to Gull the city, GA drain is all that is
called for in the writing.
Second, MIR. Thayer says
There are two gullies in the rear of tire House,
| one needing drain as much as the other, as all
the water from Chapel, Sewall and Weston streets
directly through it, and discharges itself into
the main gully"
Probably Mr.. Thaycr would not have written
the above If he had known that the city counclhas
ordered the eulrert across Chapel street to be d5o-
ssAed and the mater that acoud naturally run
through ii to Be direrted into the nep drain from
Chapel street, Court street, thus destroying all
force of Mr.. Thayer's objection even if his writing
specified Gully s." Jfthe work of destroying the
cuvert has not already been done it is the duty Of
the Mayor to have it done at once. But probably
not a drop of water has run through it since the
drain was completed.
7hird,-Mr. Thayer further says
"Also the city has seen fit in years past 10 turn
tn. drain which formerly had its outlet down Jail
Hill so cale) into the Gully in of my House,
and that has not yet been connected with the main
drain
Mr.. Thayer has been grossly imposed upon if he
believes what he thus states. The city has no such
drain ,chaterer. The drain he audes to must be
the old abandoned pirate drain that has been use
less for gears. 1t ran from Winthrop street near
Mr.. Lockes, across the private lots to neal Capt.
McLaughns, thence across Court street into the
gully. A drain from Reeds livery stables once
connected with it, but the old drain being filled
up, the stable drain carried to Chapel street,
where it now empties into the new Mansion House
drain. So much for the "Ja Hill" drain that is
SO much objected to by Mr. Thayer. l see, in
proof of what l have just stated, that Capt.
Mclaughlin and other parties arc now
putting down new drain that runs alongside
the old abandoned one and its to take its place
40 drain empties upon Mr.. Thayer's land, er-
cfpt M. 71ayers opn house and barn drains, o,
those pirate drains that amply there By his orn
consent or s0sence.
| l will say but one word in regard to the new
drain which Mr. Thayer says is "not permanent,
or practical one," and is "insuficiently covered to
protect it from freezing" and that word is this
The city is under legal obligations to keep the drain
| IN repair so long as drain shall there be needed
and without calling upon Mr. Thayer or anybody
else. AL the city or citizens ask of Mr.. Thayer il
connection with the drain is, that he pay what he
agreed in writing to pay, the same as Mr.. Bakel
did without hesitation.
| As to the permanencc of the drain, l think NJ
candid person who has ever examined il, will fea
for its permanence or practicability within two OF
three hundred years. COUNCILMAN.