The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-12-13
wArnn COMPANIES PROPOSITION

The state board of health Saturday afternoon, in accordance with a special act of the last general assembly, Satur- day afternoon held a hearing on the New Haven Water companys proposi- ton to close the upper half of Lake Whitney. The hearing was held In Dr. Charles Lindsley's library at 15 Elm street, with Prof. William II, Brewer of the board in the chair. The members Of the state board of health present were Dr. G, IT. Wilson of Meriden, Dr. R. s. Goodwin of Thomaston, Dr. N, E. Wordin of Bridgeport, T. H. McKen- zie of Southington and Dr. Charles Lindsley of this city.
 President Eli Whitney of the New Haven Water company and Attorney Watrous and James T. Moran appeared to represent that company, and Corpo- ration Counsel Ely appeared in behalf Of the city of New Haven to oppose the proposition of the water company.
 The hearing was opened by Attorney Watrous, who said that the water company did not recognize any rights of the public to boat, fish or skate on the lake He said the people who have for a long time enjoyed these privileges def1le the water and the company wish es to debar them solely in the interests of public health. The attorney thought it most extraordinary thing that sin gle citizens should appear before the board to prevent the company in it's efforts to keep the water pure. He ask ed permission to offer some testimony to prove that the water Is polluted by people enjoying the privileges of the lake. He said 1t was indelicate evil dence, and some ladies who were pres ent left the room
 President Whitney made a statement for his company in which he said they were making special efforts to keep the lake sanitary and that the statement regarding decaying vegetable matter there iss nonsense. He read letters from the heads of water departments in Waterbury, Hartford, New London, Bridgeport. Norwich and other towns, stating that such privileges are not al- lowed the public in these places. When he offered a letter from Prof. Sedge- wick of Dartmouth college, who traced typhoid fever from lake where boat ing and fishing were allowed, MT. Ely made an objection on the ground that the professor was not an expert, and the president of the board ruled the let ter out
 Mir. Ely held that expert testimony could not be offered before a tribunal appointed by the legislature by mere letter over mere signature. This objection was sustained by Chairman Brewer MT Whitney incidentally re- marked that the water company could, if it desired, keep the water drawn off the lake so that people could neither boat nor fish there.
 A member of the board asked if the water company was trying to develop it's water sheds, and MT. Whitney said that as the people are using about 16, 000,0 coo gallons of water a day, an un- usual amount, he thought,fo this town, the company is compelled to draw from 300O,00 to 10000 900 gallons day 1 from Lake Whitney.
 In answer to a question by MT. Ely MT. Whitney said that he could not re- member the names of any persons who 1 had complained about the pollution of the waters of Lake Whitney by boating | fishing or skating, although he had re- ceived many such complaints. He was asked by Mir. Ely if the alleged hui sances committed on the lake could not | be stopped if the water company en- ployed enough special constables, and he replied that he did not think they could be stopped.
 Special Officer Sullivan testified to nuisances committed along the bank of the lake whereby the water was pol | luted At the request of MT. Ely, Su- perintendent Dillon of the lake describ- ed the present methods of keeping the lake in a sanitary condition.
 MT. Ely then held that the water com pany is using nearly all the water pos sible from Lake Whitney in order to save the expense of developing the oth- CT sources of water supply.
 Attorney J. H. Webb, of filling, Webb & Morehouse, who lives near the upper portion of the lake, denounced the pro- position of the water company in broad | terms. He said that the water may be good enough to squirt through a fire 1 engine hose on to blaze, but that it I was 1lOJ Ill lO uIluh, anu Hp C1drACIerlZ- i ed the statement that the people who | boat and fish there defed the waters any more than they are by nature defiled, as absurd. He said the top of the lake is frequently covered with "green frog spittals," and that if the water company had not been prohibited by the legislature from draining the lake below certain mark the entire town of Hamden would be full of fever, as it was at one time when the com pany kept the water very low.
 'I believe the interest the company claims to have in the public health is humbug," continued Mir. Webb. "The prohibition of boating, fishing and skat- ing would not minimize the sanitary condition of the water one iota." Prof. Dana of Yale and several boat Ing students appeared to protest against the closing to the public of the upper portion of the lake as did also & H. Wagner of the New Haven Street Rail way, who said that he appeared as a private citizen and not to represent the railway company. He proposed that the water comrany issue bonds for $1C0,- 900 to put the lake in a sanitary condi-