Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-30
THE WATER QUESTION.
nr. D. d. Shedd Before the couu;..
In Meonian Hall.
'"rned to Meet To- nigh, for p.
consultation

man Hall. There was a LARGO 60 ''eo-
e'',zens and property holders, the floor Of ~.
nai' oeing well filled. Much interas,
manifested by all. The committee oco,n;,
position on the platform, the mavo,
siding. ~ ''' pre-
=, Mr.. Heath read the latest propos;,;o
the company to the CITY, II was s;r,,;, OF
that already pablished with the excen,;a. 10
tne c'mpan. will agree that the nresen, .na.
snaii not be Increased and that a red,c,;o
90 annuai rental to families would nrohahi,,
oe inaoe; also that the city at its option mo-,
tuIhase the works at an appraisal fairly OIL
justly made. '"iriy and
MI. bradbury asked if the works sbo,la
cost 100000 and should be mor,g.oad .
tnat amount and stock should be issnsd CO. g..
oioo'ooo more. interest being maid m tha
"noie amount, the CITY could buv the worLs
without paying 5000, 900.
Mr. Heath replied that if the works maid
interest on 100000 then they would he
"or'h toal amount to the city. The question
W S'ocA ana mortgage would not enter into
the question at all but the appraisa, .a ,",J
De made a uniform and fair basis
Mr.. Ira ID. Sturgis had understood that &c
the city could get the property when wanted
all objections would be removed
Hon. james w. Bradbury wished to knov
"hy' the company obtained a surplus on its
investment, 1t might not give re duced rates
ior water, and questioned whether the time had
arrived tor the adoption Of water system
Inc TACT stares us in the face that we have AEON
10 refund 100000 of the city debt We can
probably hire money at 81 per cent if there
Is no new indebt' dness. Burdened as we
are AT the present time with taxes and 1920
ooo In debt, if we assume this new in
debtedness equal to $50, 900 for fifteen years.
Tear capitalists will not be anxious to lend
us money at a low rate of interest. Then
there IL the new drainage system to b. added.
This will r,quire large additional expense.
fear we are going too fast. Think a DELAY
OF one year would be advisable, as it would
make difference in rounding the loan. |
would ike to have the citizens pass upon
this matter by wards, with fair yea and nav
vote.
Mr.. E. c. Allen heartily endorsed what
Mr.. Bradbury said. He regarded it. not as
So, 900 question, but one of $500, 900 He
said that he had the interests of the city at
heart and was DESTROYS that there should be
careful consideration.
MIR. j. Ii Shedd in reply to questions BY
citizens, said that such fire system az is pro-
posed here would be incomparably better
I
result in diminution of the number of en-
gines, and the use of less hose Oh account of
the large number of hydrants. He knew
from information obtained from brother en-
gineers that cities of this size with this svs-
tenn did not use their engi ines any and in
other places they had been sent from the com
pact portions of the town to the outskirts.
In reference to the cost of the works, he said
the plan represented fourteen miles of pip
ing, and that the average cost of this was
$4,000 per mile. In addition to this would be
the reservoir, engines, iterng station and
conduit. He placed the average consumption
Of water Al 80 gallons per day for each pr,
son, for all purpns 5. He had tested the
matter Of it, Us, + r domestic purposes and
found that the aunun. consumed was gall
Ions per day for each person. In reply to a
question he said the water in the Kennebec,
above the dam, relatively speaking. is now
pure for drinking and other purposes. Not
well in Augusta contained water so pure.
Touching the matter of insurance he stated
that he had been informed by member of
the association of fire underwriters that the
association had agreed to extend to dwelling
houses the same reduction of rates now given
to other classes of property, on the introduce
ton of first class water works. Upon the
question of sewerage he said there would be
no more filth after the introduction of the
water system than there had been before, and
the fact that it was diluted with water would
have a tendency to make it less dangerous to
health.
In answer to repeated inquiries Mr.. Wes-
colt gave an account of the Portland system.
1t was taxed on an assessment of $4,000.
There were 248 hydrants in that city and for
this service the takers are assessed an add
tional sum, while the city pays the company
$4,000 annually. If one property owner takes
water while his neighbor does not the latter
practically obtains protection from fire tree of
expense. Mr.. Wescott though system of
pipes could be placed in the Kennebec bridge
so that it could be completely drenched in the
case of fire; and there would be no necessity
of insurance He took the ground that the
fire system had nothing to do with the sew
erage. 1t was only the supply OF water for
domestic purposes that effected the drainage
Mr.. Seth c. Whtehouse understood that
the introduction of the fire system would not
reduce the insurance rates on stocks OF
goods, but would only benefit blocks OF stores,
Mr.. Heath in reply to question said
that the length of pipe required as computed
nv him would be IA miles, 1929 feet, and at
Mr.. Shedds estimate, $4,000 a mile, the cost
of the piping alone would be mere than
$4,000 The outlay for the reservoir ex-
pense would be some $4,000 per one million
gallons, while from $1,000 to $4,000 must be
expended tor pumps. -,
MIR. E. w. Whitehouse cited Mr. Shields
testimony that more water would appear on
the surface, if there was plenty of water as
would be afforded by the new system, ana De,
liey,d it would result in much masma and
unhealthiness.
Mr.. VIM. II. Libby inquired if it was le-
climate where so few obtained benefit from
reduction in insurance rates, that this de-
crease should be urged as reason for ac-
ceptipg the companys offer.
MIR. Wescott stated that he would hnd cap
;talists to take the new loan to be refunded,
he believed. at a less rate than that named
by MIR. Bradbury. He thought 81 per cent
too high. The water contract would dmin-
ish rather than increase the rate OF interest:
Mr.. VIM. r. Smith regarded the offer OF
rho companv as very reasonable and Just. IT
fhe amount expended Is to be 500, 900, he sald'
then the proposition to furnish fire protection
for $4,000 annually is very liberal MIR. Smith
tbouobt the establishing of water system
ouqht to aid the city in refunding Its dept
n vonld add 10 the value OF the properly
and increase the prosperity of the city. A
citizen residing six miles outside OF the city
l;mits would receive benefit from good water
works. Let a fire sweep away the pest por-
lion of the city by reason OF defective wafer
nd 40