The Newtown bee., 1891-02-27
WESTPORT.


Godfrey at the home Of Frank Godfrey
in Saugatuck, last week.
Platt Bennett bought the James Burr
Nash place for $2371.
William L. Coley is president of the
new water company, vice Alex Godillot
resigned.
Mrs William r.. McCready and daugh-
tiers will take a trip South.
Marshall & Terry, the Brooklyn shoe
firm, have decided not to locate here.
Attendance at Saturdays town meet
ingSwas considerably increased by the
pos tiers and notices extensively spread
and by the free horse cars run by the
board of trade from Saugatuck at / 80,
returning upon the adjournment Of the
meeting.
Rain almost invariably accompanies
special town meetings in Westport and
Saturday was no exception. The meet
ing had been called on petition of Fred
erick Morehonse and % others, Including
George S. Adams, Theodore E. King, An
drew G. Nash, Edward III. Nash, Edward
A. Nash, Frederick Kemper, w. A. Stur-
ges, Frank Sturges, William L. Wood,
G. B. Kemper, Moses Wheeler, Samuel
B. Wheeler, Ii. Ii. Belden, DIR Frederick
Powers, Edwin Wheeler, G. III. Kemper,s
John r. Palmer, Theodore Taylor, George
Fairchild, Jr, and others. The object, as
stated in the call, was to rescind two
votes passed at the special town meeting
of two weeks before, whereby the select
men were authorized to contract with the
Westport water combany for the use of
water as supplied by 80 hydrants located
within prescribed fire limits, which. were
also adopted by the meeting. At 2
O'Clock, every seat in Sturges hair was
occupied and more were unable to find
seats. After Town Clerk Finch had call
ed the meeting to order, Lawyer e. M.
man and Frederick Morehouse nominat-
ed Jonn I'll. Jennings of Green's Farms.
Mr. Jones was chosen and Mr. Finch read
the warning, after which Lawyer Wilson
made the following motion:
Resolved, That this meeting do now adj
by division of the house, that is to say, those
in favor of the motion to take one side of the
house and those opposed the other
This was promptly seconded and Chair
man Jones ordered that those who favor
ed the motion should take the west side
of the house and those opposed the east.
When the division was completed, it was
found that the motion was carried by a
vote of nearly ten to one. Then the
meeting dispersed amidst uproarious
cries. Frederick Morehouse said, after
the meeting, that it was not likely, so far
as he knew, that another would be call
ed, although he was still of the same
opinion as before. "There has been some
talk of putting an injunction on the town"
he continued, "but L don't see how it can
be done now, for no one will move in the
matter. The Injunction would prevent
the town from signing the contract with
the water company, which has not yet
been executed" At the close of the town
meeting, the three chief executive officers
OF the town were closeted in their Office,
to which Mr. Coley and Mr. Hicks of the
water company were soon admitted and
the quintet discussed the terms of the
water contract, which, it was finally
agreed, should be signed, Monday after
noon, at the office of Lawyer Curtis
Thompson, the town counsel, at Bridge
port. The contract provides that the wa
ter company shall furnish the town, Or
so much of it as is enclosed in the fire
limits, with an abundant supply of pure,
wholesome water. There are to be so
hydrants, located by the selectmen (their
location may be changed in the future if
it is found necessary and rental of $50
per hydrant is to be paid, upon the first
Tuesday in each quarter. There are to
be three water boxes for horses in the
fire district, for which the company will
furnish water gratis. Staples high school
will also be supplied without charge.
For $25 a year, the company will furnish
sufficient water to sprinkle the streets.
The hydrants are to be of standard pat
tern and to be provided with three noz-
Zles, two each of two and a half inches
and one of four inches; the latter will be
convenient when a steamer is bought.
The quality and quantity of water fur
nished must conform strictly with the
provisions of the contract and must be
ample for fire and all necessary public
purposes and for domestic use; other
wise, unless through circumstances be-
yond the control of the company, the
rental stops at once. The time limit was
first set at October |, 1898, in order to al
low plenty of time should lengthy legal
complications arise with regard to the
purchase of land or rights of way. There
is no money forfeiture attached; if the
provisions of the contract are not fully
carried out, it simply becomes null and
void. No money is paid until the COM
pany announces that it is ready for BUSH
ness, hence there is an added incentive
fol the speedy completion of the works.
The work could be completed and water
flowing in less than year. Mr. Hicks,
the agent of the water company, had pre-
ptICu d paper W Icstu DIT tIle Special GOWI
meeting, based upon statements by En-
gineer Iii. 6. Scofield of Bridgeport,
showing that the surveys gave promise
of an abundant supply of water from sew
eral streams, at a feasible distance from
Westport, though he had not finished his
work. He spoke particularly of Mill riv-
er. sit is evident that the town, or at
least that part within the fire district, is
overwhelmingly in favor of the intro
duction of water" say the >selectmen and
others. eff the fire limits were incor-
porated, after the manner of school
district, all the business could be done
promptly, without such meetings of the
entire town. And you will see that such
incorporation will come soon. An
amendment to the charter Of the COM
pany, allowing it to go outside the town
for supply of water or to lay pipes, is
also necessary. This will be done by
Legislative permission as soon as pos
sible; at the present session of the Leg
islature, if any business at all is to be
done there" FL
There is movement in Saugatuck for
the formation of an engine company
there. ssa
The sensational stories about Postmas-
ter Richard Ell. Fitch of Wilton and his
flowing red beard, alleged to have been
shorn by White Caps, are pronounced I'M
true by Westport relatives of Mr. Fitch.
Selectman Rufus Wakeman, who runs
a large mattress and cushion factory at
Saugatuck, finds business good. His lar
gest orders are for mattress work, though
church cushions form good second. He
has just measured Grace church of Nor
walk for cushions.
Rev MIR Watkins of New Haven, who
was called to the rectorship of the new
Grace Episcopal church at Norwalk, is
son-in-law of Mrs Paget of Westport.
Measles are epidemic.