Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-04-29

STUPEND0US UNDERTAKING.
The Boston Officials Looking TO the
Deerfleld River

As source of water SuppIy--It is Pro-
posed to wipe out of Existence the
villages of ColraIn and CharIemOnt--
The Estimated Cost of the Undertaking
S2O,OOO,OOO.l
CONDENSED from an article in the Boston Record
The Boston water board has a stupen-
dOus scheme in contemplation for a greater
water supply which, if carried out, will
mean before the end is reached the eXpen-
dture of millions of dollars. This is TO
bring water from the Deerfed river to Bos-
ton. The water board, the city engineer
and other city officials have made several
trips to the Deerfield Valley looking over
the ground for the proposed water shed,
and there is no denying that they have been
favorably impressed with all the conditions.
An examination of the water has been
made, and it has been declared to be well
suited to Boston. Two points, however,
greatly impressed the city officials. First,
the abundant supply and second the little
expense which would be involved i'll secur-
ing sufficiently large tract of territory to
make the great water shed which would be
needed
The Deerfield valley, at least that portion
of it which strikes the Boston water board
so favorably, is about 120 miles from Bos-
ton by rail. BY direct line, however, the
distance is much shorter, probably not eN-
ceeding 90 miles. The river follows the
line of the Fitchburg railroad, and the pro
posed water shed is few miles east of the
Hoosac tunnel in Franklin county. The
county for miles about is sparSely settled,
and there are but a few small manufacture
ing concerns which are in any way DEEPEN
dent upon the Deerfeld river for their
water supply, which would make the cost
of taking small compared with what has
been paid by the city for its privilege in
and about South birmingham.
Should the plan be finally adopted it
would be necessary to wipe out one, if not
two villages in Franklin county. These
are Colrain and Charemont The former
has population of almost 1900 persons
and the latter about 1000. The inhabi-
! tants are, for the greater part poor farm
! ers. The wiping out of "A couple of towns
! to give Boston a water supply would at
| first glance appear to be a serious and most
! expensive undertaking. In this case, how
ever, it would not be such. because the
| houses are of a cheap quality and the farms
are not much better, The whole could he
! purchased at comparatively small eN-
! pense.
To take the waters of the Decrficld river
J
pure supply for Boston. The stream is
almost entirely free from pollution, and
there is but little possibility of its ever be-
coming polluted.
1t was stated in the board of aldermen
Monday that to bring water to Boston
from the Deeriield river would require $50,
600, 900. This, however, is not an official
| estimate and there is no doubt but that it
is high unless, indeed it is the purpose of
the water board to build an aqueduct on
the plan recently completed in New York.
Such a plan however, is not within the
range of present possibilities. Indeed, it
would not be needed unless it is the pur-
pose of the city to provide for water snp-
! ply for 100 years to come. 1t is believed
that the total expense of the undertaking
would not exceed the amount stated above,
and the supply to be obtained would, it is
said. be sufficient for 80 years.
One thing is quite certain in considering
the question of a greater water supply for
Boston-the city must either 90 to the
Deerfeld valley or leave the state entirely.
1t is true there are a few other sources of
supply, but to obtain them it would cost a
sum that would stagger the taxpayer.
They are much nearer to Boston than
the Deerfeld river, but the damages that
would be sustained by those now using the
water of those sources, and which Boston
would have to pay, would be far in excess
of what it would cost to bring water from
the Deerield valley.
In the event of the city going out of the
state the question arises, where would she
90? There is but one answer, and in fact,
but one place, Lake Winnepesaukee. ES-
Inmates in the rough have already been
made as to what it would cost TO secure the
rights of this great lake. but even the city
council, which is always so generous with
the tax payers money, shudderS at the
thought of it. 1t would exceed $40, OOO,O 600.