Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-21
OUR WATER SUPPLY.
continuation c!l OF the Hearing Before the
City Council Committee. 'A'
that the Question be suh,,.
ted TO the People.

common
,oo"s last evening. The attendance 10.
larger than on the first hearing and MANI
prominent citizens were in attendance ~.
room being well filed.
II. M. Heath stated that tho
ADDED to its proposition the following +, n;i,
agree, In the contract, that whenevo,na.;
az any time, by signal or otherwise nn,r.
pressure Will be put on so that bvdran,s nl
u'sh 'e'eis VIII be increased in power bevond
."e gravity head. 1t further proposes ,hat
oeiu'e any contract is executed that the nI.ns
y. Tue pipe system, &C., be submitted to anu
ui'iiiterested competent hydraulic eno;neor
Tue company to make any changes he mo-,
Ieport as necessary to give the city thoronob
ana efhcient fire service We intend far w..
pan 10 De so comprehensive and efficient tho,
no citizen will hesitate to RELY upon il for & 20
service, keeping one steamer to use in c.sa of
extraordinary accident to the works Onr
rental Is the lowest in Maine, pro rata. It 10
nei'her a bonus, subsidy or guarantee. We
ASK YOU 10 lease of US our fire apparatus in
piace OF part OF the Fire Department Won
NV w. USE; ror everv dollar paid you will get
dollars worth of service
Hon. J. W. Bradbury desired to o;va eo,r,
reasons why the matter should be referred to
citizens assembled in public meeting whera
the opinion of the people could be ascertain.
ed For the last fifteen wears the AVERAGE
annual tax had been 500 ,OOO. and the amount
OF the debt has not been diminished. Two
hundred thousand dollars of the debt will he
refunded this year. Thi. will interfere with
the rate OF interest. Increase taxes and our
,raoers cannot compete with other towns,
taxable property will leave u.s. He argued
10 snow expenses could not be reduced under
the new system. We are well protected now.
New sewerage must be pr0vid, for, The
sewerage should come first The proposal
increases our debt taxation, which would Sc.
riously inJure the place. Mr.. Bradbury
raised the question of taxation.
Mr.. Heath replied that the law was clear,
First would be taxed In Augusta the plant of
the company for what it was worth, next the
stock at its market value. (deducting the
amount assessed to the company.) The stock
would be taxed where owned. The plant of
the Company would be taxed in Augusta to
the company and for the city. 1t would be
deducted every year from the rental, of
course.
The mayor suggested that the Augusta Gas
Company was a similar case and was taxed in
the same way Substantially the same gen.
tlemen that own the gas company own the
water company, among them Mr.. Wescott.
Hon. John L. Stevens inquired of Mr.
Heath if the company would agree in its con-
tract to sell to the city at any time within
twenty years a majority of the stock at fair
appraisal.
Mr.. Heath replied that he would confer
with the directors and answer at the next
meeting. He had no instructions on that
point. He thought tie idea fair one.
Mr.. Stevens argued quite forcioly the adj
vantages to accrue to the city from such a
stipulation. He believed it for the interest
of the city to make contract if properly
guarded He called attention to the fact that
many sections were now poorly protected
against t+e.
S. w Lane z 4 that the city should
see that extorti Jnaie ra', were not charged.
Mr.. Heath Replied that it was a very simple
matter to regulate that IN the contract.
Z. w. Whitehouse inquired of the Mayor
if there would be any reduction in insurance
rates.
The Mayor replied that in Gardiner there
was reduction of one-fifth on stores and
hotels, and on mill property more. None on
stocks of goods or dwelling houses. The to-
tai reduction in Gardiner was from $4,000 to
81 ,0L0.
Mr.. Heath-Mr. Maxcy of Gardiner, in
formed me that the total reduction in insur-
ance in that city would reach $500
Mr.. Bradbury-Shoud advise putting the
contract into the paper so that people could
read it. Would you, or the company, Mr..
Heath, have any objection to submitting the
matter to the people?
Mr. Heath-We are perfectly willing to
have the people pass upon this question. If
we can't put in a contract and proposition
that will be perfectly satisfactory, then we
had better stop our negotiations. The COM
papy does not advise or object to meeting.
1t is of vital Importance to us that SUCH a
meeting should be held as early as possible,
as beginning the first OF June and working
$50 men and 20 horses it would require until
the early DAYS of November to complete the
operations
Mr.. Z. w. Whitehouse suggested that the
10th of May would probably be in season.
MIR. VIM. II. Libby-l think the people
should have q chance to be heard in matter
of this magnitude. 1t is best that they should
be heard. Mr.. Libby thought there had been
scheme put up, the inception of which was
several months ago, and an attempt was be-
ing made to force this thing through the city
government. He protested against it as small
taxpayer.
Mr.. Heath-If Mr.. Libby will read the
charter of the city he will find that no one
can prevent a vote of the citizens on TINS
question. The charter says that when thirty
or more voters demand it vote must be
had
Mr.. Stevens believed that combined
ownership of the works by the city and the
company, the former to own tfty-one one
hundred,hs, would furnish shield against
extortionate rates.
Ira Fl. Randall said his part of the city was
wholly unprotected against fire-no reservoir
within l. 500 feet of the mill. His protection
was heavy insurance of $500 or 5000 year.
The increase of taxation was too small to
amount to anything At the most 1t was
th;rtv-three cents a head. mar paying $50
tax would not pay over $3l. He favored q,
contract. He thought the extra tax small
matter. g
MIR. Whitehouse said that the adoption OF
tho new system would REQUIRE an outlay OF
from S25. 900 to $50, 900 for drainage. Inc
contingencies in the case were not taken INTO
account by the counsel fer the company. III
w.s a serious matter whether the city should
nav this annuity of $4,000.
Mr.. Lendall Titcomb thought the city
ouuht to furnish water for fire purposes non
taxation to be the recompense.
MIR. Lendall Titcomb-l have oeeh IN,
formed that the works could be constructed
for from SIS, 900 to $4,000.
Mr.. Heath stated that the company ~ou nu
olive the contract to do the job for S9o.Uoo
md hold that it would cost much more. Inc