St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-05-28
Water! Water! Water!

all the talk | heard was "water." AS
near as could understand, the people OF
Danville Green Lave been discussing and
planning for long time the best way to
obtain a sufficient supply of water for
fire protection and domestic uses. About
one year ago the plan was to get incor-
porated as a village with power to bring
water, but for some trivial reason that
plan was abandoned. Then the plan of
organizing fire district was discussed
and the result was that the selectmep
laid out and the voters organized fire
district. 1t was developed at the first
meeting that a determined opposition
existed and the plan was to end the whole
business at that meeting, but the better
element prevailed, and upon several
voters guaranteeing to be responsible for
the expense of procuring an expert to
look over the whole subject and advise as
to the feasibility and probable expense
OF putting in serviceable plant, it was
voted to authorize the prudential COM
mittee to employ an expert as proposed.
Joel Foster, the superintendent OF the
water works for the city of Montpelier,
was invited to make the investigation.
Mr.. Foster, after looking over thesupply
of water and the best route for the pipes
to be laid, reported very favorably and
urged the people of the village from every
consideration to provide for and put in a
water plant. c. L. Woodbury. of Bur-
lngton, a civil engineer and contractor,
had been in correspondence with parties
at Danville for some time, and he came
to look the matter over. His first express
sion on seeing the water was that he
"did not know of but one so good aplace
in Vermont to obtain good water, and
that was Waterbury,"
Mr.. Woodbury. made a rough estimate,
guaranteeing that the price should not
90 above the one named and that the
work should be done subject to the
approval of Mr.. Foster, the expert, and
of the prudential committee; and that
he would furnish bond with ample and
satisfactory security for the faithful per-
Torrance of all specifications in his con-
tract. His proposition was to do the
entire work, including rock cutting,
build the dam, furnish The pipe, hydrants,
gates, etc., and in addition would furnish
five hundred feet OF first-class hose, with
good hose cart. His price was $500,
with a promise to make further reduc-
tons if possible.
A petition has been presented to the
clerk to call a meeting of the district to
see il the district will authorize the pru-
Dental committee to make contract
that will include all Mr.. Woodbury. pro-
poses, Tor a sum not to exceed the one
named above. Ofcourse there are calamity
takers who undertake to argue that the
whole scheme is impracticable and could
not be done for the price named. The
balance of the opposition base their
objections entirely upon the cost and
consequently, excessive taxation. The
resources, as far as can be estimated to
begin with, are SIS from the Railroad
company and about 5000 from rents o.
patrons, making $275, which would
leave 500 to be raised by taxation, to
pay balance of interest at four per cent
In any event, four cents on dollar o
the grand list of $500 will more thar
raise the sos to pay the balance OF inter
est and all that is raised above the foul
per cent can be applied on the payment
of bonds each year.
All water works put in by stock com
panies charge the village SOS annua
, rent Tor each hydrant. 1t is calculated
that it will take about is hydrants il
:, the Danvie works, which would amour
q to 1915, considerably more than thu
total interest at four per cent on thu
$500 estimated to put in plant tina
would belong to the village itself.
The history and practical working O
5 every water plant in the state of Yer
: mont proves conclusively that they ar
8 not in any sense burden, but on tn
= contrary are source of revenue 70
. every town and village where they owl
5 the plant. What makes system G
. water works an absolute necessity 70
! Danvlle Green is the fact that with al
8 the water available, at present there
: practically no fire protection. In almos
i every case il building takes fire it
: destroyed. The main part of the villag
. has been burned down within few
y years. including two churches, the ban
|. building, library, town hall and severa
] fine stores. 1t has been repeatedly sal
that a much larger sum OF money ha
), been paid by insurance companies 70
e losses in Danville than had been receive
e by the companies for nsuring the entir
number OF risks taken in the town.
Mr.. Senter of Montpelier was in Oar
vile to adjust the losses at the time tn
o Congregational church was burned, an
he said in the presence Of a numbe
of persons that the people need no
! expect to have insurance much longer
9 they did not procure water for fire pre-
6 lection. George Brainerd, the adjuste
s for the Vermont Mutual has repeated
If said the same thing. Mr.. Ranney, on
IS Of the principal insurance agents Of 81
}, Johnsbury, has recently notified partie
e in Danville that several stock companie
bad instructed their agents not to tax
d risks in Danville until there was some
'e thing done to get water for FIRE protet
y ton.