The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-11-21


were nominated for directors In the Champlain
Valley association: John W. Cramton, George
A. Merrill, Crosby Miller, Henry Chase, Henry
G. Root, James A. Shedd, Lemuel s. Drew
committee to make arrangements for state
fair, Q. Horace Hubbard, John W. Cramton,
George A. Merrill, II. g Root, julius N North.
The only change In the officers was Gilman
Moulton Of West Randolph, director In place
OF General II. Henry Baxter, ex-president Of
the society, who declined a reelection.
The call for the annual village meeting of
Montpelier contains the following articles:
AsTIoIs srHnTo see Il the village will vote to
norzs G the eas to purchase the light to take water
from he outlet OF Berlin Pond from such other place
as sail corporation may desire, and convey said water
IN suitable tqueduct and pipes 70 said village and dis
pipes for the extinguishmeut res sanitary purposes
snd LOT the use and convenence Of the of
carrying the samento ec according to the provisions
on S I' % 0r .de general assembly Of the state Of Yer
porauon, approved November rs, A ID. 1872.
bs to ss se wh yase snv % vote to anu
or parties fgng water into said village, for the
purposes and oP any other pappoes e Vs wsSh ts
W Vsss % may need said water according to the provisions
~ ent o. the charter Of said village, approved November
bonis 10 an amount not exceeding twenty thousand dol
ars,Yn such te ms as SAID village shall prescribe. for
November 26. A. ID. 1872
The project of bringing the water of Berlin
pond to this village was investigated at consid-
erable length several years ago. The plans
proposed at that time did not receive the favor
able attention of the voters of the village.
new plan for bringing in the water of Berlin
pond, proposed by Mr.. ]. w. Brock, has been
quietly and favorably discussed about the viii
lage for several weeks past. 1t is with special
reference to the proposal Of Mr.. Brock that the
articles quoted above are inserted in the warn
ing Tor the village meeting. Briefly stated, the
proposal Is as follows: The construction on
Seminary hill, or some other convenient eleva-
tion, OF a reservoir of two million gallons ca
paclty; the laying for the public and private
accommodation of the village of six miles OF
mainrpipe; the fixing of fifty hydrants at points
which will afford the best general defense
against hre; charge Of three dollars year
for use at stores; six dollars year for families
OF i've or less who may use the water and one
dollar for each additional member up to nine
an extra charge of two dollars for water for
batl tub, four dollars for water closet one dol
lar md fifty cents for horse, one dollar for
COW, three dollars for hose for sprinkling. The
reservoir OF Burlington is three million gallons
cap .city. That which Mr.. Brock proposes to
est olish, 1t is estimated, will endure q contin-
uop run OF twenty-four hours from every out
let. public and private, without any water flow
ing in. Mr. Brock proposes to put in water
woi KS OF such capacity with such terms for rent
to rivate parties, and to give the village the
free use OF the water for extiuguishing Tres
and for all other public purposes for the term
OF tan years, provided the village will pay him
the sum Of 500 600. On the expiration OF ten
years, II there is any disagreement as to the
terms upon which the village shall afterwards
ha,e the use Of the aqueduct it is proposed to
reftr the matter to commission to be ap-
Ped by the i-Iee Of the supreme court OF
the state who may then be the presiding judze
for Washington county. Mr.. Brock proposes to
have the aqueduct completed by October 1,
1884. As to the desirability of having an
aqueduct of the capacity of that which we have
outlined there can be but one opinion. The de.
feat OF the project several years ago was largely
due to an unwillingness to add to the heavy
Indebtedness Of the town, contracted in aid.
ing the Montpelier & Wells River railway.
II the village were willing to engage In this
undertaking and it could be carried through
and managed by corporation as efficiently
and economically as by private enterprise, it
might be the better way for the village to as
sumo the entire expense and responsibility of
constructing aud operating the aqueduct 1t
is exceedingly doubtful If the village is willing
to father the entire expense of the undertaking.
and 1t does not seem probable that better
offer than that made by Mr.. Brock, will be
made' or that any opportunity which promises
success will again be presented, at least, for a
long time to come. Outside of the everyday
uses OF an adequate aqueduct its utility for
sanitary purposes alone, might justify all the
outlay the village Is asked to make. Compe-
tent persons believe that the means reservoir
will afford for periodically flushing the sewers
OF the village will diminish, il it does not
annihilate, those diseases whose prevalence
here has been attributed to defective drainage
In this and in any view of the case, 1t must
not be considered that it is a matter Of paving
rent OF $1,000 a year for ten years. The viii
lage Is getting for this sum an aqueduct, whose
benefits will be permanently secured to it.
We understand that Mr.. Brooks expectations
OF rent after the expiration of ten years are
limited to such a sum as, with the rent he
will receive from private parties, will give him
fair rate of interest on the money which he
himself puts into the aqueduct, not including
which a vi lina Tl.o
Is fair one and is made entirely in spirit of
fairness. 1t should be considered and decis-
ion made in the same spirit