St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-05-26

dsSuhipSi' iiNci picJtS'' uhiSSS ~ was
ascertained on unquestionable author
ity, that the water could be safely used
for all domestic purposes and only
then as Il last alternative, because it
could be had in no other way and from
no other source.
But the course of the Trustees shows
mitted both to the Vergennes pump and
the PaSsumpsic river; and for reasons
which they may know but do not APP |
pear, they have also ignored all instruc-
tions as to inviting competition, 10y
giving the contract for the pipe as well
rs the pump, to the NergenneS Co., al
though at the first meeting it was cX-
pressly stated 10y them that the adoption
of the pump did not necessarily include
the piping. They have, they inform
us. invited proposals foI digging the
ditch, which is much as if a railroad
company should issue bids tor fencing
their line and call that proposal for
building their road.
Soon after this vote of instruction was
passed. it is understood that Il compr-
tent Hydraulic Engineer was invited to
come and examine the whole matter;
and before an answer was received that
this invitation was cOuntermanded.
Why the DISTINGUISHED verdict of an
engineer whose experience had given
opportunities of seeing the practical
working of the two systems of water
supply, and enabled him to judge fairly
between them, was ignored, we cannot
understand.
Then we had an anal sis in which the
PaSsumpsic water was shown to he
little better than the Waterford; but !
do not learn that this has conquered
the preiudices' of many who are i'll the
habit of using that from the last named
source, or that they propose t" change
till after dog days. at least. They under
stand that freezing does for water what
no tiltering can, and that 10y il impuri-
ties are eliminated which even Il chem
zeal anal ysis can not detect. 1t seems
however to have convinced the Trus-
tees. for they next go on Il tour of pump
/ Inspections. carefully ignoring st. Al
/ bans. where the water is brought some
ten OF twelve miles 10y aqueduct, and
We got the reason for this III Il paper
published in another town-it was he
cause We in ST. JohnSburN "couldu't
have anything of that kind" (Why y
But why stir up this matter now ?
Simply heculISc it will soon he too late.
No public. open opposition to tn"
course taken by the Trustees has been
made Il meeting has passed i'll which
the matter might have been ventilated,
but has not been and if no movement
is now made they can rightly claim
that their doings are approved 10y their
constituents. But is il not already too
late We must certainly pay toI what
is done: We may have To pay damages
besides. But. If to make the work sue
have to construct Il reservoir to pump
into and thus indefinitely increase the
cost of the work : if. to make the water
drinkable. or to sight and taste appaI-
entity 81. We must build expensive filters
land they must he expensive tn do tins.
had We not better do ii and throw away
a. Il. IL Ii,
. bidder ! Who has made an estimate q
, how many will use this water. doubt
!, tul at best. y when they find that the,
4 must put in their oNn service pipes
much heavier and more expensive THAI
any NOW III u>c. and pay for ii IL ia
sufficient to meet the interest on thcs
! bonds With water in which pcopl
, had confidence. there would he les
trouble about it. hut how will it Il
with this
!, But it will he said. the village In
i authorized the expenditure of S75.0W
and will he holden for it. This
l.. simply hcg"ing the question. which il
-, are the Trustees doing what they wcre At.
Horicrd and instructed to do at tt
!, meeting caIicd for that purpose?
~ The limits of this article prevent iii,
>. cuSsiom of this matter further than I'll
: hints above given. hut il can now |
safely assumed that no bonds issued Il
-. this Village will he good for anNthi
hay I,AN Ina. l,,,tI