Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-10-25
QUESTION OF WATER DISCUSSED.

Manufacturers Object to the Taking ofl
 Mad River-Judge Webster Able \
 Champion of the Eastern Supply.
 A joint meeting of the aldermen and councilmen was held in the district court room last night for the purpose of discussing the water question, at which a hearing was given to manufacturers along the line of Mad river.
 Edward l.. Frisbie, Jr., representing the Benedict 6 Burnham Manufactur- ing O., said "As the matter stands to- day we are short of water, and instead of parting with our present supply we feel that we should rather take steps to increase it."4 In reply to Judge Web ster's questioning MT Frisbie stated that their water wheel was taken out on Jan- uary 1, but that they required from 3, 1000, ,0O0 to 4,000,000 gallons of water a day for other purposes. He admitted that if the water that flows by the mill could be stored there would be enough for all.
 Earl A. Smith said that the American Mills Go had no water to sell, or none which they wished to part with volun- tarily. He said that there was no place on the Mad river flats to store enough water for the mills, if the city took the upper reservoirs. The value of the water he did not know; the late Henry
  privilege at $50,000.
 F. J. Kingsbury appeared for the Scovin Manufacturing Go. He said that the prosperity of the city depends on the prosperity of the mills and we will all agree that to do anything detri- mental to them would be unwise. He explained the present water system and said that until recently he favored the eastern supply and thought that the manufacturers could give up Chestnut Hill reservoir and Lindley brook. He had experienced change of mind, how ever, as he did not think enough water for the mills could be stored on the lower meadows. He was inclined to think it safer to go west for water When asked from what source west, by Judge Webster, he replied: From Hop brock, then Quassapaug, then Litchfield pond. MT Kingsbury said that if the city reservoirs were placed on Mad river 300 feet above center square they would take about one-half of the water He admitted that the land where it was proposed to dam Hop brook was a swamp and could never be thoroughly cleaned.
 The Waterbury Brass Go was repre- sented by B. D. Steele. He said that since the fire their east mill was run altogether by water, two wheels being used, developing 15O horse power They were compelled yesterday to close They had all the water they needed until the fire. The Mad river pump in one week takes as much water as they use at the mill in ten hours.
 J. Richard Smith of the Waterbury Button Go and Gustave Cornelis said that they needed all the water that could be stored on the river, and the hearing closed, after which the mem- bers held an informal discussion of the matter.
 Judge Webster said: CT supposed that this question was settled so far as the council is concerned. We agreed to procure the services of an eminent en- gineer. It was tacitly understood that we could abide by his decision. He re- ported in favor of the Wolcott sources and the council almost unanimously voted to take that supply. We in | structed the commissioners to take steps to procure that supply. They report | that they can't get terms from anybody I never heard that such instructions had | been given to the commissioners. And by singular coincidence the commits l sioners are communicating with owners of privileges on the Hop brook, asking them to come here and talk with them | about that supply. I saw a letter | written to farmer in reference to the matter, within a week. Now, why should they still look toward Hop | brook, after the action of this court Hop brook is swamp water and always will be swamp water, no matter what you do. Quassapaug has practically no water shed, is fed by small springs, and | the evaporation is great. The expense of taking the water from Bantam lake | would be immense; how much we can not tell. It is all moonshine to say there | is not enough water at the east for all purposes. The Benedict & Burnham Go | threw out there numbering wheel and to say that they require 100000 or 3,000,- 900 gallons of water a day for other purposes is moonshine. I say the com missioners should do as ordered, con- demn the land, have it appraised and if | the cost is too great we need not take it. If the water board will not obey our i'm structions we had better appoint a dis interested committee to do it."
 Alderman Cross thought that the action taken on Engineer Hering's report was nasty and wanted the matter reconsidered.
 Councilman Fitzpatrick thought that | there was enough water for all in the Mad rlver and it's tributaries. So did Alderman Thompson, but the latter thought that the city should build new reservoirs for the manufacturers in stead of paying damages.
 | Alderman Guernsey and Councilman Barnes thought that the engineer did his work well and saw no necessity for changing the former action of the coun- Gil.
 The joint meeting then adjourned and the aldermen took no further action on the matter. In the council a vote was taken to adhere to the former votes.