Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-10-25

, HOtHlllS out the SuptTnuinan energy OF
individuals and the favorable conspiracy
of natural elements and causes has
hitherto prevented. If after the repeated
warnings and hairbreadth escapes which
have occurred our people should be so
supine and Indifferent as not to take some
effective measure to prevent fire they will
be guilty of culpable negligence. Munich
| palities all over the state are waking up
to the Importance of doing the thing on
which the very existence of our villages
depend. Our people were reluctant to do
anything about water supply, and wedo
not know but there are those yet who
would be content to draw water in tubs
and barrels even for domestic purposes.
| Everybody can see that our wants and
necessities are far outrunning our enter
prise to supply them. There is no reason
in the world why we should any longer
stumble along in darkness and in danger
The time-serving policy that is upon us
markedly characterzes ourplace. Wear
progressing as town far beyond the ex-
pectatons of the past, and ir spite of de-
predatory illusions to our having reached
the limit OF our progress we are steadily
growing i'll permanent prosperity, 1t is
high time that each individual ceases to
consult only means for his own aCcumula-
tons and that he consider that what is
done for the good of the whole increases
his own advantages. 1t we act Wisely
we do not burden ourselves for others
but each for himself. Now this condition
in which we are does not grow out of the
illiberality Of our people, for in most
other things we are generous and LIBERAL
| but it grows out of wants and necessities
which are increasing faster than we APP
preciate, and which must, sooner or later,
be met, and which can be more advan-
tageously done now than hereafter, and
can rising from the ashes of a ruined vii
lage. The only question which we can
consistently consider now is how we can
best secure the comfort, convenience,
safety and character of our town. We
are not working for ourselves alone, but
we are called upon to do something that
will bring lasting benefits after we are
gone. Among the difficulties which we
encounter is an honest difference of opin-
ion as to what means we shall take to
supply the town with water. Ne cannot
charge our misiortunes or wants to
chance or nature, for our facilities for
procuring these benefits are SO numerous
that we are in doubt about which we
shall avail ourselves of, and if in these
circumstances we neglect them all we
. of the situation it is earnestly to be
hoped that everybody will go to the con
sideration of the subject without being
obstinately welded to any particular
scheme to the exclusion of others, and
that all will go to the meeting with feel
ings of candor and engage in a temperate
discussion of the subject, and with a dis
position to heartily acquesce i'll such
measures as majority of the town shall
deem best. There are two projects most
talked about. One is the enlargement OF
our present water system on such terms
as may be agreed upon between the town
and the owners; another is the bringing
of supply from Jobs pond. Now we
suppose that no one can discuss intelli-
gently the first suggestion until he has
information as to the suficicncy of the
supply for the future, the terms on which
it can be made available, and the cost oil
it as compared with some other scheme
. We understand that the selectmen and
the committee appointed by the town are
, doing what they can to obtain such III
formation. There ought to be no dispo
sition on the part of the town, as we
view it, to interfere with anybody who
has vested interests in any water supply
now existing; on the other hand per
sons owning such plants should be just
and reasonable in the terms on which
they will work with the town for the
mutual benefit of all, and thus avoid an
uncomfortable and Improbable compe.
tition, as out of just harmony will
come mutual benefits, so out OF selfish
ness will be likely to come conditions
which will retard benefits to all. In re-
lation to the second proposition it is the
impression that thorough system TAX
f ing the water from Jobs pond will for all
time give us an inexhaustible supply to
meet the growing wants of the town,
even if it should increase i'll wants and
population as it has in the past, Oh
course, as we have said, what ought to
be done depends upon the comparative
cost. value and convenience of the two
means. The expense looks large in fig
ures, but it should be considered that
this is neither an extravaganza nor q
thing for the time being, but an absolute
necessity and for all time so to speak. II
is not economy, for each one to do what
will temporarily benefit him, but true
economy is exercised most in doing thai
which will bring the most universal anc