Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-07-02
The Purchase of the Water Works
by the Village.

attention of the taxpayers of the village
to the call for another special village
meeting to take further action relative
to the purchase of the water
works, and suggested that the matter be
carefully considered before action was
taken. There would seem to be ho ne.
cessity for undue haste, such as was
shown in the recent proceedings that
ended in the dismissal by the County
Court of the petition of the committee
| appointed by the village at a meeting
| held April .30th. AS we understand it
the court dismissed the proceedings for
the reason that no fair effort had been
made by the committee to agree with
the water company on the price of the
works. That the decision of the court
was right and just, appears from the
facts brought out on the trial at
Manchester. 1t was there shown
that the village meeting was held
April 30th, ana that the Committee of
which Mr., Valentine is chairman was ap-
pointed for the purpose, among other
things, of agreeing with the Water Com
pany on price for its works. 1t fur
ther appeared that the committee nei-
ther sought nor had any communication
with the Water Company until the 2nd
day of May, when it notified, by its
chairman, Mr.. E. II. Putnam, the vice
president, of its appointment and asked
for price for the works, and that the
Water Company waive as to time and
service of petition upon it. Mr. Henry
w. Putnam, the president as the chair
man of the committee was informed, was
in New York, and three of the five direc-
tors were out of town. Upon receiving
the notice from Mr. Valentine, the vice
president the same night started for
New York to lay the matter before the
president. Arriving in New York on the
Sd of May, he saw the president, and
after consultation with him, the presi-
dent wrote and sent back by Mr.. Z. II.
Putnam the following note:
NEW YORK, May 81, 1895.
MeSSrS. 4. b. Valentine and others as
Committee for the Village of Bennington ::
Your communication of date May >,
1895, addressed to the bennington Water
Co., in relation to the action (referred to
in your letter., toward the purchase of
the property of that company by the viii
lage of Bennington was received by me
to-day.
Replying thereto permit me to say that
a meeting of the Board of Directors of
our company has been called to be held
on Tuesday, May 7, 1895, at its office
in Bennington, which meeting has
been called for the purpose of consider
ing your communication and the sub
ject therein referred to.
In a spirit of an amicable and speedy
adjustment of the matter, | solicit of
you that you submit in writing to the
company to be considered at the meet
ing so to be held, your suggestions and
wishes as to the terms and conditions of
tho proposed purchase of the property
of our corporation. We shall sincerely
endeavOr to meet your committee in a
proper spirit, and will endeavor to avoid
the necessity of the appointment of COM
missOners, and hence l cannot see the
necessity of at present joining in any
legal proceedings until we have exhaust
ed our efforts to reach a mutual and sat
isfactory conclusion.
am, gentlemen, yours very truly,
HENRY w. PUTNAM,
President Bennington Water Company.
This letter was delivered to Chairman
Valentine about four o'clock of the af-
ternoon of May 4th, and in less than
three hours, Notwithstanding this letter,
the petition, with the knowledge and ap-
pToval of the Chairman and counsel was
served on the company. This was hard
ly fitting sequence to the Putnam let
ter, which showed a disposition on his
part to act fairly with the committee. 1t
was hardly what he or any man interest
ed as he was, and is, in his relation with
the village had right TO expect. Mr..
Putnam has done much to advance the
prosperity of this village and we believe
is deservedly entitled to fair and hon
orable treatment in this matter. The
village, by the charter of the Water Com
pany, has a right, if it wishes, to buy the
water works. Mr.. Putnam or no one
else disputes this. 1t is question, how
ever, for the Taxpayers to consider, at
the meeting now called, whether the
present is the time to do it. 1t is an i'm
portant question. 1t will necessitate the
village borrowing large sum of money,
when no provision is made for funding
such Indebtedness by bonds which could
be issued at low rate of interest. If
the village issues its orders who will
take them to the amount required, at the
rate of interest for which bonds duly au-
thorized by the Legislature could be
sold? The village has quite large debt
now. Would it not be better for us to
wait awhile, at least, perhaps until the
works are completed, if no longer; wait
until the Legislature gives the village au-
thority to issue bonds to raise the money!
Let us think twice before we take upon
ourselves a debt, the burden of which we
must bear for many years.
Another Insurance Company Cone
Bellows Falls, June 3Oth.-The Gale.
donian Fire Insurance Company of Scot
land. has retired from the State of Yer
: | mont If has ra.inSurpd all its Vermont