Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-02-13
"TREACHERY"
Was the Cry Raised by Good
Citizens Of Auburn,
Over Certain Transactions in the
City Water Suppy Question.
inefficient Service and Prschasias QUESTION
asossins Ire Of the People.

AcAuRs, Feb. Special - Never
since the days wl.n the Northern patriot
was called to arms, has this city witnessed
the stirring street scenes as has been on the
,spis for the past three days. Every street
corner aui grocery. hardware store and
battle has wsged exceeding hot. The fight
has been thus far one-sided practically, and
over the same old bone, the water question.
Auburn is very quiet city usually. AMI
her citizens 10 business in practical way
OF late the question of better water sup
ply has been in the hands of the mayor and
the city council, and the citizens just waited
for The commissioners to report.
But the other day down at Augusta
Mayor Lowell entered into an agreement
with George +. Wescott of Portland who
controls large interest in the Auburn
igueduct Company, for the purchase OF a
number of shares of the company's stock
that would give the city of Auburn the con-
troll of the company as follows;
AreUsrA, Me, Feb. =, 1928.
In consideration of 81 and other yalua-
Bile considerations TO me paid by Winches
ter G.. Lowell of Auburn, Me-, tho receipt
whereof is hereby acknowledged, |, George
z. Wescott of Portland, Me-, do hereby
agree to sell and deliver to said Lowell, or
to such person or persons as he may desig-
nate in writing hereon, at least 1851 shares
and not more than 1900 shares. of the
capital stock of the Auburn Aqueduct
Company at the price of S72.7l per share.
with such sums of interest as have paid
since acquiring the stock.
Three of said shares shall be delivered
within IA days from the date and the bal
ance of said shares upon the maturity of
my notes, for the security of which said
stock is now held As collateral. Upon the
delivery of said three shares it is under
stood that the board of directors of said
company shall be recognized, in such man
ner AS that a majority of said directors
shall represent the above stock and be
named by said Lowell, and | hereby agree
to vote said stock as requested by said
Lowell.
And |, Winchester &. Lowell, do hereby
agree to take and pay for said stock upon
the terms aforesaid. Gro. 2. WEscorI,
w. &. LOWELL.
The firing on Sumter did not cause
greater alarm, for the people rose en- masse
and cried out. "Treachery !" They have
sold us out" I'VE want no partnership, |
W. want the whole or none" 1t acted like |
a she'll in a sleeping camp and the lively |
hot street caucuses followed.
saturday, Mayor Lowell had thousands |
of handblls printed and distributed through |
out the city, calling the citizens TO meet in !
Auburn hall that evening, fof the purpose
of discussing the question. The large hall |
Il 4 4
by various members of the deputed COM |
mission Hundreds could not gain admis /,
sion to the hall and talked the matter over |
on the street.
The whole thing in nutshell is as fol |!
lows; Auburns water supply is inadequate. !
The city is in peril from lack of water pro- |
lection. Manufacturing establishments are |
compelled to Ing water up several flights to |
flush closets for decency's sake Tene
ments are Inconvenience The city wants |
water the people asked the Legislature to
help them out. The result was the passing
of an act authorizing commission appointed
hy the supreme court to sppr;lise the value |
of the Aqucduct Company and gave the city !
the right to offer the company the amount /
of the appraisal for the plant, anil if the |
company refused, the city TO have the right |
to put in II system of its own.
The property was appraised at $3.50 600. |
The city offered the company that amount. !
The company considered the offer AMI then
f.anked it by an offer to the city of IA con-
trolling interest.
This fired the breast of the town father |
and he rose up and sail, mo, no. no part |
nership, for then the company would seek |
TO control the city government and thereby
ie plant
Tnen the agreement between Mayor
Lowell and Mr.. Wcscott was made. This
had the same effect on the people. mo
partnership. :" was the battle cry. Then the
meeting at which John Morrill,. Esq. told
the citizens what he thought were startling
facts
He said the commission for the city found
out that they Coul' not raise the Sl9l 900
necessary to the result desired. on note
that would mature in six months and also
raise $4,000 for the Improvements on the
plant. This the commission did not dare
tell the city when it male its last report,
for fear the Aquedutt Company would find
out the real condition of things.
He said there was no partnership IN the
agreement AMI no "cat in the meal" hut
on the contrary under the agreement the
city council could elect every director of
the plant. This dill not satisfy those pres
ent and many were the unpleasant things
said by the auditors. Many thought that
Mr.. Morrill, WIS trying to show that the
CITY OF Auburn was insolvent.
The meeting had no bearing on any ar
rangement looking to the settlement of the
question beyond expressing a sentiment one
way or the other. anil the sentiment was
overwhelming in favor of the city owning
the entire plant now in use, ,or of building a
new one. Anyway one can look at, IT
points toward s250,00o for something, or
sl9i 900 for an inc efficient plant and sl50,
900 more 10 improve it.
Don't ask an Auburn man if his pipes
were frozen this winter if you are in