The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-08-09
F,syat;,n .hor. Elevation above
It'd W.,s, surface OF
| Muck Pond.

Tide Water n s%I'' So Si
/ Inches. Feet. Inches.
junction Miller X Cross SITS. ~
| 7" "High " ~ 6
p" Church'' les
Cedar :. 1 l3s !
| Custom House Square. 96 10
Surface Of Muck Pond 197 S
Near entrance to Park. POP ) Z
Frank Banks house. 2lo Y 3
D. Toothaker's house. 235 81
| j. Mtchell's barn. 241 Ii At 3
| X. Ellis barn. 266 s 90
| ShaW's Largest Springs. 207 q 9 10
West 222 10 % 2
| Watermans Largest Spring PIG 10
1t will be seen that the present surface Of the
| Shaw Springs is from it. 10 in. to % it. , in
above the surface of the Muck At the largest
| Spring it would be necessary to build small dam,
| which would raise the surface Of the Spring at
| least SIX feet more-makng it about Is feet above
| the Muck
| Your committee have been over the whole
ground on foot with the engineer and would re
port the grade as comparatively easy one.-near-
| ly all the way through clay and sandy soil.
An accurate measurement of the quantity of
water now running from the largest Spring was
made about thirty rods from the source and was
found to be ll6O36 gals per day Of "a hours, 1884
gals. per hour, or 76a hogsheads per hour. This
is an exceptionally dry season, yet five persons
owning adjoining farms, say that the quantity OF
Ndtcl Inc present amount.
The right to take and the water il is believ-
ed can be had for small sum also the right to
cross farms on the route to the Muck will be very
small if anything.
| Your committee have made All estimate of the
probable cost of iron water pine Of in internal
diameter, with cost of laying from the Spring to
the Muck, about two miles, the cost of preparing
the Muck Pond AS retaining reservoir, the cost
OF pipe and laying from the Muck through the
business portion of the city. making distributing
hVUrlDtS convenient DlanaS tn hn nhout
thousand dollars.
Your committee would most urgently recon-
mend, in view of the fact that labor and materials
are now far below the average price for many
years that some active measures be taken i'm
| nediately to city from further disastrous
conflagratlons. A. G. BURGESS. } Committee
A X. PIERCE. on
0. G. WHITE. Fire Dept.
Belfast Aug. g. 1877.
The above report is much more favor
able than we had supposed it would be.
The distance, elevation of the source,
amount Of water that will be supplied,
its reliability, the small cost = are all
greatly in its favor. For one, we should
much prefer a larger supply, even at an
Increased cost, believing that its many
| advantages Of protection from fire, health
fitness, aid to manufactures. comfort in
the watering of streets and grounds, and
revenue derived from its sale, would usti-
ty and compensate for the expenditure.
But a supply from some source we must
have. If the people of the city, or their
representatives, believe that the eXpen-
ditTe contemplated by this report is as
much as we ought to undertake at this
time it will doubtless be acquiesced in
by those who have argued for larger
amount. The advantages of a water sup
ply will be SO thoroughly demonstrated
by even a minor source, that the way to
a sufficient one will be made easy
We are now in the midst of Il drouth.
The roofs Of buildings and all points of
danger from fire are as inlammable as
finder Vhe dread of fire, under such
circumstances, is painful in its intensity.
Let the reader reflect upon the feeling of
safety and security which would take the
place of this dread, if we had water mains
laid along our streets, from a source sup
plying rs hogsheads per hour, with head
sufficient to throw it to the tops of the
highest buildings Hundreds of families
are without water, save that hauled from
q distance. Hotels and the large stage and
livery stables are forced to the same re-
sort. The large steam factory of Mathews
Bros is hauling water, and will have to
shut down, if the drouth continues. 1t
is the great, pervading want Of our city,
full OF danger to life and property, and
one liable to yearly recurrence. The way
to avoid this great trouble is to vote a
water supply, and if the one under pres
cnt consideration is the preferable one in
all respects, to vote this-and do it Az
ONCE.
The city government has appointed a
special meeting for next Monday, to con
slider the question, at which citizens can
be heard. 1t is a proposition that needs
no argument it commends itself to
every fair and intelligent mind that is
without special bias. We learn that Al
derman Ferguson of Ward 4, at the meet
ing on Monday last, expressed his pur-
pose to oppose the project, on the ground
that it taxes wards four and five without
benefit to the residents therein. MIR. Fer
guson does injustice to himself and his
constituency in taking such position.
The interests of the people of Belfast can
not fairly be divided in that way. 1t is d
fact that Central School District which
excludes wards Four and Five, and in
cludes only portions Of the other three
wards, pays tour-t ifths of the tax of the
whole city. If this money shall be voted
eighty dollars out of every hundred will
be paid by the city proper us all city eX-
penses are. When the expensive bridge
which Alderman F. crosses on his way to
the city was rebuilt recently, four tifths
OF the cost was paid by those who will ask
Tor this water supply. SO of the two
bridges connecting with ward five, and
all the highways in the other wards.
This is just and proper. No one in the
city wards objects to it. We only ask
that the principle be adhered to-that
those who ask and receive equity, should
be willing to do equity. But if our friends
the DIRECTORS are anxious to pay a larger
per centage of the taxes, there is one way
to accomplish it-and that is to prevent
a proper water supply, and wait until a
third destruction Of the city by fire takes
place. They can then be taxed to their
hearts content, when the holders of city
bonds demand their money. More than
this, if another such dreadful morning as
that of the 25th Of August, 1873, should
dawn mon orr citV the fpplinUs of tho