Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-03-04
GIVE US WATER. !"
Auburn's Cry Resounds Throughout
Legislative Halls Friday.
ovw 500 Asssss eaizsss csse y spseisl
vssia . MAIZE tAsir Plea.

asbarn sw0o!<d down on the Maine leg
stature Friday afternoon $50 strong
The committee on judiciary had rc-openes
for .hsir benefit the hearing on the wste,
question. the aii absorbinz topic at pre-en
With the good people Of fair Auburn.
Jadze symon,is appeared az ilse coanse
for the Aabara aaneduet Co. which ask,
that the charter granted Auburn tso year,
ago for the purpose Of securing TO them
plenty of water for IRE and domestic par-
poses be row taken away, iii being of 40
proa, 70 Auburn and great detriment to
the company"
Hon. o. ID. Baker and r. l.. Noble, Esq.
appeared for the city, arguing that to take
!, away would be great injustice 10 the
people.
Representatives. hall was packed with
humanity at o'clock In the afternoon
standing room could not be secured and
breathing space was more than occupied.
There was at the beginning a sparring con-
test for the right TO close the hearing Both
Judge symonsls and Mr.. Baker wished the
last word The close was granted To the
fEflilDiffS iVt tff Vi INT tBarttf.
The history Of this case Is quite familiar
20 the people of the State. Al the IegisIa-
tdre two years ago the people Of Auburn
came and ssii they had not been given suit
able water service. inadequate either for
IRE or domestic purposes. II will be re-
uembered that the Legislature gave them a
charter by the provisions OF which the city
might under certain conditions buy the oil
company ont At an appraisal, or not being
able TO do that might build new plant.
The nearing was opened by Mr.. Noble
ith an eloquent speech, and then several
witnesses were called to testify to the in
adequacy of the service afforded by the
Auburn Aqueduct Co.
MIR. Albert Haskell testified that the SER
vice hal been inadequate for the past ie
years. lie knew of no attempt of the COM
pany TO relieve 1t.
Mr.. Bennett, Fuller said he lives at the
corner Of High and Second streets. Auburn,
ard for the four and one-half wears he has
liyen there toe water service has been mad
equate. At no time could they have water
on the second floor and on the first floor
too. This winter he had been able to get
along because there was spring near his
house Among other witnesses were Mr.
Ej. Gross, Mr., l.. q. Morse, who
for eight years had been connected with
the IRE department. The city hadn't had
good ire service for the past seven years.
Chief Engineer Storah told OF the made
qunte water supply for the fire department
Judge Synonds spoke foreiby and elo-
quentIy for the company. He sail he was
puzzled 10 know why this hearing had been
extended. If it was to give the good peo-
pie of Auburn an opportunity TO visit tho
Capitol, it bad been done To good purpose
AMI We are glad to see them Tn. company
offers to give tlsm plenty of pure water
both for fire and domestic purposes. lie
thought that there must have been mis-
apprehension, that he Was Obliged to speak
first with nothing 10 discuss. lie cenld do
nothing but make practically restatenIsnt
OF what b" SAID before the Judiciary cont
mitiee at the previous hearing lie aweit
on the grounds that the present company
was not the old Que that /, ~ss disposed To
make the desired changes hut could not
with that charter hanging over them. no
bond~ could be SOLD To continue that
charter would in effect take awsy property
rights. Then again the civ Was not so sit
nated that IT could buy the water works or
bnild new ones They made no proposition
n 10 Nhal titey would DO.
Mr. Bakers reply was very eloquent.
logical one. degrading properly nights he
SAID the charter granted Auburn very care
fuli, guarded vested rights. He thought it
rrll'uons because the company was negli-
ut ami failed to accept the opportunity
that they should now come to the Legisla-
tHrc an'l ask TO have because of their negli-
rcncc The rights of the city that had kept
fsaih in every particular taken away. The
company comes here and tells the commit
toe that the city cannot buy the plant nor
build new one. He then went on to show
that the clty's finances admitted of such ex-
lendilure and wanted to know why il, as
the company said, the city was unable to
buy or build plant, did not the company
offer to sell the city their plant. If the city
couldn't buy it, their charter would become
null and the very thing would be attained
that the company asks of the Legislature.