The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-07-28
FROM BATH.
Details of the Plan to Furnish the
City with Water Supply.
Especial to the Press. I

1
| BATH, July 27.-As announced by wire in
the PRESS of this morning Bath has finally
| decided to indulge in the luxury of water
works. In doing this she is abreast of other
| cities and towns in the State in undertaking
| the introduction of water. This consumma-
| tion is largely due to the efforts of the Bath
| Water Supply Company composed of lead
| ing business and wealthy men of the city
| This company had procured from the legisla-
ture charter for the purpose indicated in
its title, but was willing to transfer its fran
chise to the National Water Works syndicate
of Boston when the latter had entered into
satisfactory !contract with the city govern
ment, and in addition given sufficient
guarantee that the obligation would be full
filled. To this end the water supply COM
pany places its stock in the hands Of w. L.
Putnam of Portland as trustee to be con-
veyed to the syndicate company when the
latter shall have expended on the work $780,
900 prior to the end of December next
In case these conditions are not complied
with the stock reverts to the Water Supply
Company and the amount expended on the
work forfeited to the city. The Supply Com
pany also reserve the right to select an
engineer who shall, certify to the trustee the
amount expended monthly on the works.
On this arrangement the city takes little or
no chances whatever. On the completion of
the works and the water successfully let on.
all the city has to do is to pay yearly $4,000
in semi-annual payments. For this it will
be entitled to sufficient number of hydrants
for the fire department purposes, water for
the city park, all of its public buildings,
drinking fountains and watering troughs
for animals and for sprinkling streets.
The water is to be taken from small
stream some five miles west of the city,
which experts have pronounced tests of a
better quality than from any other practic-
able source, and of abundant supply. To
bring this water into and through the city
an immense amount of blasting will have to
be done In making the contract laboring
men of the city have thoughtfully been con-
sidered as it is specified that laborers living
in the city shall have the preference in em-
ployment on the work at a rate of wages not
less than one dollar and a half per day. 1t
is calculated that the sum to be paid by the
city will be largely offset by lowering the
rate of insurance and the cost of the fire de-
partment.
The city charter contains a provision
that in undertaking financial obligations by
the city government of the nature of city
water works, the question shall be submitted
to legally called ''town meeting" Such
was held ON yesterday at which Mayor
Wakefield presided and the subject fully dis
cussed to large attendance, one speaker
only speaking against the proposition. The
vote was by ballet and polls kept open till
o'clock resulting as before stated in an
overwhelming majority for city water works
The National Water Syndicate consists of
Messrs. Arthur w. Forbes, BENZ. G. Nudge,
Frank r. Cordley of Boston, Mass. and c.
C. Worthington of New York. 1t was organ
lied in May last and it is represented that
100000 has been paid up towards its capital
and that its object is to contract to put in
water works as business other than this
for Bath.
The Bath Water Company consists of the
following gentlemen of our city: Arthur
Sewall, Charles Davenport, L. w. Hough-
ton, John s. Elliot, Thomas W. Hyde, John
II. Kimball, Franklin Reed, T. II. Patten,
Galen c. Moses, James A. Mcclellan, Frank
o. Moses, Charles II. Mcclellan, John W.
Marr, F. B. Torsey, John O. Patten, Henry
w. Swanton, A. II. Shaw, Geo. Moulton,
Jr., Samuel D. Bailey and Geo H. Nichols.