St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-06-04
Water r1eeting.

Danville again the past week, and all the
talk is about the water meeting to be
held tomorrow, Saturday, evening.
The friends OF the water project are
using every argument they can to induce
the voters to vote Eyes" on the question.
They have corresponded with number
of places where they have water sys-
tenn, and so far they have not found one
place but what they speak in the strong
est terms in favor of good system OF
water works. In every case the answer
is that no amount of money would induce
them to give up their water, and in no
case has there been any taxation on the
grand list to pay for the water. All
report plenty of income from rents to
pay for the plant and all expenses. II
water works are so expensive, why do
stock companies put them in without any
remuneration except the rents? The tax
scare is all humbug and the opposition
are now resorting to other things just as
foolish, but never to deceive the voters.
The most humiliating thing talked
about is that the poor man should not
vote on the water question. Vermont.
ers from the first settlement of the state
have prided themselves upon being free
and equal. All through Ethan Aliens
times they did not stop to take an inven-
tory Of mans property before they
accepted his services to save the state
from the thieves that undertook to steal
it, and from that time to this never
heard so unpatriotic sentiment uttered
or printed as the one talked about in
Danville, proposing to disfranchise poor
men. Who are the men that have
worked out all the hard problems and
inventions? Are they not the mechanic
and working men? The men who work
at the bench or forge are the class that
have studied out all the grand things
that makes America today lar ahead Of
all the old aristocratic countries where
the rich men look down upon the poor
man as only serf or slave. Shame on
all such talk in Vermont
Some say that Danvlle Green is the
stoniest place in the country. 1t used to
be told ofparts OF New Hampshire that
the farmers were obliged to hold their
sheep up by the hind legs so they could
eat the grass between the stones. No
one raised in Danville ever remembers OF
seeing stones as thick as that on the
Green. Now the people say that there
are about six miles OF bitches, all center
ing at the Green, used for water pipes,
and no one remembers of hearing of any
trouble about digging all these bitches.
The sympathy is all wasted on the poor
contractor. they have none for the man
that is obliged to beg and carry all the
water he uses. The contractors bond
will take care of him; the people need
not worry on his account.
"Danville is cold town, and the whole
business will freeze up" The miles of
small pipe centering here never froze in
the hardest winters, except at exposed
places in the buildings or by stopping
the water.
THE snow is so deep that it will take
a brigade of men to keep the hydrants
clear so the hosemen can get to them. u
They won't be likely to freeze with the
snow piled over them besides, contrac
tor has been written to to see il there is
not two story hydrant that will come
above the snow and save all the shovel.
ling.
ut will not do to furnish water to the
soulless railroad company. If by any
mishap the water should tail, the com.
pany would sue the district and collect
all the damage caused by the failure OF
the water" A number of men at the
Green rent water Of other parties and it
often fails, but no one ever heard of a
lawsuit on that account, or of any dam.
age being claimed. Besides, the railroad
companies rent water at various places
in this state, and no one ever heard o,
damages being collected OH account Of
the water supply being struck by light.
ming or the water dried up by the ele
ments controlled in heaven.
The above are some mot alD of the
objections made against the water
system. Some cry coercion on account
of the fear that they won't vote right. l,
is claimed that men have been told tina,
1t will hurt their business il they vote fol
water; Others that they must pay ar
their mortgages, etc., etc. The story i.
that the man that drives the hearse ha.
been cautioned not to vote for water a.
it will injure his business. No doubt i
will seriously iniure his business if goot
supply OF pure water is obtained; peopl,
won't die as fast using good water a,
they do without any. Some are goint
to sell out and move out if water i
brought, and the price is named wba
they will take it the great calamity han
pens. A gentleman OF means who i
acquainted in Danville was here a few
days ago and was told the price he coul,
buy certain residence for if water wa
brought. His reply was that he ha,
lived in FIVE or six places where they ha,
a good water supply and in ever,
instance property was higher where ther
was a fire protection, and he woul
make standing offer of 500 above tn
price named for each of the dwelling
referred to.
No men are mean enough, except fey
IN Danville, to try to scare poor men b
telling them that they must pay TIL
whole OF their share of the cost of tn
water plant at once. OF course tina
plan would ruin several good men, bu
no such plan will be adopted, and in a
human probability no tax will even b
assessed against anybody to pay for tn
plant. There will be plenty of funds t.
pay all bills from rents alone.
My advice to all the voters of the vii
lage OF Danvile Green is to vote ives
and get the water. 1t will not distres
any one, but on the contrary it vii
increase the value Of uo,,. ,.e.,.-A... !.