Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-14
THE WATER QUESTION
Ane Committee Again Meet and n..-p
Sides.

ne water committee of the CITY Comet,
1o"'inued it's nightly meetings last evening
Aenoali Itcomb, Esq, appeared before the
eommittee and made statement, uo ..;a
'nat ne understood the city would reo.;,o
fourteen miles of pipe. and in addition 70 .
nre system water for three put lie ur;n.,.
u'play fountain, six watering trouph. civ
urihking fountains, school-houses and n,h,;o
ouildings; that the COMPANY con,rao,;n.
snou'o De willing to sell their works at a fair
- that the city should have the right
" n1 rates. As several members of th,. c;,;-
zens' company were out of town !, wnn,S =.
impossible for this company to make a NO. D'
osltion to the committee until FRIDAY evep;na
VII; T.. u Allen had gone to PhiladaInh;a
auu ne expected to obtain lower fiqures nm
pipe than mad yet been made to them. Friaor
n..' 'ney would be prepared to make nron-
u ,r, as they would have the prices then
helr proposal would be less than $1,000 hnt
MI Iltcomb did not know how much Tha,.
ere "iiling to give bond to protect the citv
from all loss BY reason Of law suits. or ds,av.
ana that she city might at any time take these
works on fair appraisal.
:, MT. Heath raised the question of lepal;,v
tie dld not believe this citizens comn.nv
eouiu legally put in plant here to supply
.ne Guy or consumers with water IT this
company should give bond it would be void
'ie court should decide that the company
could not legally establish plant.
Mr Titcomb claimed that the civ had q
perfect right to contract with his comnanv ~
supply the city with water for fire purpo.es
ne gentleman of the syndicate would agree
10 lay the pipes, while the Devne and East
oloe water companies would lease water to
supply their customers from the pine conn
pany.
MT Heath thought it was absurd. asking
the city to deal with two small companies
win these gentlemen in between. He again
Drought up the question of legality and sa id
the Devine charter was subject to that of the
Augusta Water Co, and any interference
win the rlgit of the later company would
Immediately result in legal proceedings. He
mad submitted list of questions touching
the legal right of the syndicate to put in
water works, to Judge Symonds Of Portland,
VINO had replied that in his judgment this
company could not legally even put in a pipe
line for the city, much less supply con-
sumers
Mr.. Titcomb asked if Judge Symonds was
not the attorney OF the Portland Water Co.,
OF which Mr.. Wescott, one of the chief ow n
ers in the Augusta Water Co., is treasurer.
lie was willing to submit the question of law
10 Judge Llobey. or any other legal gentle
man not Connected with the water companies,
and abide by their decision.
Mr.. Heath could not understand how the
city could use the water for fire purposes, and
the Devine Co. for domestic
Mr.. Titcomb said they had so much conf
dence in their proposition that if, after they
had completed their works. it was decided
make a present of them to the Augusta
Water Co. He stated that his company pro-
posed to take their water from below he
dam, and two gentlemen of their syndicate
| had consulted with Mr.. Edwards, who had
expressed a willingness to furnish them
power at reasonable rate. They should
use duplex pump, if steam was employed,
similar to those in over 100 other cities, man
utactured after the Holly patent.
MIR. Heath said this was not double pump
such as should be employed. Mr.. Titcomb.
he thought, in making his proposition, did
not real tnAt ,he C st of steam power was
much greater t,inn ~t.,r. He urged that i'm
mediate action br rakrn by the council. Iron
pipe was $3.50 ton higher than when the
proposition of the Augusta Water Co. was
! first put in. After this week pipe could not
| be purchased ut so low a rate "a in the past.
| He thought the gentlemen of the syndicate
were only endeavoring to delay matters so as
no contract should be made. The Augusta
water Company was placed 10 unfair cOmpe-
| tition
The committee adjourned to meet again
this evening