The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-08-02
The Water Question.

on that subject. | do not propose to enter into
discussion upon the question as to whether it is
necessity or not as am convinced, that after the
bitter experience had in our two great confa
gratons as well as the large number Of fires which
have been checked, more by good fortune and al
most super human exertions of fire depart
ment than by adequate fire appliances, there are
few of our citizens who are not ready to admit
that it is almost an absolute duty of our municipal
government to make some provision to lessen the
risk of loss well as to decrease the high rates
of insurance that are now being imposed upon
property holders.
think there are none who will not admit that
1t would have been a profitable measure to have
30 per cent of the net losses of the two
great fires in water supply previous to 1869 if by
SO doing we could have been spared those losses;
and when it is generally known that at the present
time i'll no better condition to prevent a
confagration than in 1873 and with localities in
the city where, should fire get under headway III
a dry like the present, aided by a high
wind, the chances of checking its spread are even
less than at that time. And am sure no will
doubt that the fire of 1873 could have been drowned
out at Haralens wharf could there have been two
lines Of hose connected with water main, having
| its head on the level of Congress street. giving a
pressure of 81 pounds per square inch. and deliver
ing from the two nozzles $40 gallons per minute
| | cannot but think that all OF our citizens are
| united in the belief that some measures should be
immediately taken not only as Il safe guard but
for the additional reason that in the great business
| proStraton throughout the country, the present is
| a m In tlr
| pipe, &c.. We shall have, well as owing to
the slight demand for labor worknicn can be en-
/ ploycd at great reduction from prices in even
ordinary times.
The whole question seems to hinge upon Where
shall we get the water and how :" The muck pond,
Shaw's springs and your suggestion of taking it
from the river at the Head Of the Tide. have been
advanced. In my opinion there are other places,
which, while they may in the first expenditure ok
coed either of the first two named. would in the
end amply repay the extra outlay. In the first
| place either the muck pond Or Shaws springs
could be utilized for fire purposes only, and that
to Il limited degree at best as they are deficient
i'll supply, certainly so, both in quality and
| quantity for domestic manufacturing uses-and
the expense of preparing the bed Of the former
small. While BY adding to the expense necessary
to utilize them supply can be obtained, which
can be made to pay fair percentage on its cost
and which, instead Of being direct tax upon the
public will ultimately yield a revenue and ndi
rectlv relieve those engaged in bus mess from tax
laid upon them by insurance companies by afford
ing every property holder upon the line Of pipe,
means to protect himself from neighbours fire. or
subduc his own, making them independent of the
fire department or of outside aid. Added to this,
it will afford supply sufficient to water streets,
lawns and gardens, saving large amount to those
in business, caused now by depreciation Of goods.
by accumulations of dust and dirt. save labor and
time in supplying each floor, if necessary. of
dwellings, with water both hot and cold at light
expense-supply stables and outbudings and add
not only to the comfort but to the health OF the
public, as by its aid and that of our sewers, the
aecunulations OF stables, &c, instead Of soaking
up in the ground and poisoning our wells, will be
carried off. Many look upon the necessity of the
project of supplying the city with water in this di-
recton, as an outlay of money for luxury which
is in Il measure useless but | think if they will
give it their careful attention and thought they
will become convinced that instead Of 4 luxury it
is necessity. and as increase in population. a
growing one.
Should it be thought best to make provision for
fire purposes only, will submit plan at some
future time which will commend itself, | hope,
through its simplicity, not mmoderate expense,
and its advantages as a reliable and untaiiing sup
ply But propose to first present what | estimate
will be the most desirable most expensive in build
ing and think the least expensive i'll the end,
and i'll fact the onig plan by which pure water
suitable for domestic purposes can be had w!tE0
an enormous outlay, | know of no city Of our
strength. numerically and financially, that has
not made, or is about making some provision for
a water supply. Many cities in this State have
already expended large sums of money in building
and perfecting such supplies Noone will refuse 20
admit that in Bangor name this city as being
nearest us and the works of recent orign,--the tx
pcnditure. large it is. that has been made. has
been Il iudcious one, and one that will eventually
as municipal investment To say the least be able
to take Of itself its receipts paving its running
expenses and interest upon its bonds. If it does
not, it will be the first municipal water works in
INV knowledge that fail to do so. In Belfast there
can be built altar expenditure less than one fourth
the amount expended in Bangor water works that
will give to its citizens good water. as reliable a
supply and great proportionutc quantity as
suggest that ii be built upon the plan adopted i'll
many cities that is, making ii municipal in
rcstment and expenditure, owned governed and
controlled by the city, through Il board of Water
Works Trustees, elected by the citizens Water
rates will then be made no higher than necessary
to pay the interest upon the bonds. which should
be issued separately and as Water Works Bonds.
and the ordinary expenses and repairs, which
will hereafter cndeavor to show Will be quite
small BY 50 issuing the bonds and governing the
works, capitalists can be induced or, as believe,
will be anxious to inveSt in them--csprcially when
shown that the outlay is moderate, its annual cx-
penses almost nothing and eventually its con
sumption large. First class bonds are now being
sold in the money markets at premium bearing,
but and A. per cent interest If this plan should
be adopted, | have no doubt that Water Works
Bonds bearing interest, not to exceed per cent.
payable in 20 years. could be sold at premium,
rs ii is an acknowledged fact that they are always
il dividend paying stock and Of late Years there
has been much shrnkage i'll railroad and other
bonds and stocks, and such era of Repatriation
of state and county bonds, that capitalists are
anXiously looking about for reliable investments.
at even low rates of interest. These are matters
which should be taken into serious consideration,
using wise economy in the construction, vet not
carrying to the extent that ii will. like vaulting
ambition oer leap itself. And i'll my estimates.
| have made | think. ample allowance for una
voidablc and unforeseen difficulties which may
arise and have devoted some time i'll research and
i'll estimating to get near the actual cost as can
| be.
BY the aid of Col. Philo Herscy. have found
that the water level Of Pitchers Pond is at the
present time the same height above tide water as
the road bed Of Congress ST e. 200 feet, the
water level Of the pond being at present some to
8 feet lower than ever known before. At Il com
| slight Il