Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-11-28
The Truth of It.


carte blanche for the performance q
the task.
At the present time the grounds have
been filled in and raised, the unsightly
band stand has been placed where it is
least in the way, walks have been laid
beautiful fountain has been placed in
the center, and drinking fountain al
the north corner OF the park.
The ladies' were about to connect this
drinking fountain with supply of the
finest and purest of Vermont spring
water which was to cost them not one
cent. when the city government stepped
in ard tried to prevent the people OF
Barre from enjoying luxury to which
all are entitled and which is second only
TO pure air. namely pure water. Leav-
ing out Of consideration the fact tina,
the city government has not kept lis
faith with the Civic Federation, which
is in itself an outrage, let us consider
some OF the objections that have been
raised against the spring water supply
that the ladies Of tho Civic Federation
wished to Lave used in the drinking
fountain.
1t has been stated that the use of this
spring water was being urged by the
owners of the system who wished thus
to advertise their water supply. We
can positively state that the owners of
the system mid not volunteer to furnish
the water, but were approached by a
soliciting representative of the Fedora
ton and asked TO supply the fountain
from their springs. After considering
the matter they consented to DO so, and
now those people whose only thought
is about as clear as East Barre mud, are
kicking because this company agreed
to give the people of Barre All equiva-
lent to $4,000 a year as their contribu-
ton TO the park furd. Those philan-
ihrophic persons who gave the munif-
cent sum of 10 cents towards the fund
with the distinct understanding that
city water as to he used for the drink
ing fountain" are better fitted for the
nursery than positions of responsibility,
and much more fitted for a die: of
mothers milk than OF city water, For
every one Of them we can show iner-
chant or business man who gave $5
with the understanding that spring
water was to be used. Can it be that 10
cents is the only incentive they have for
trying to force our free citizens to drink
what they do not want?
Some have claimed that there is moth.
ing definite as to the length Of time
Tie spring wa'er supply. will be given
gratis. We have it direct from the
proprietors of the system that tine sup
ply will be given TO the city free of
charge as long as the present company
owns it. If at any future time it is nee
essary or advisable to connect the drink
ing fountain with the city water system
it will not be very great job to do so,
as the city ain aad the main from the
spring water system are only about two
feet apart, and the pipe leading to the
fountain is midway between them.
AS to the relative purity of the two
systems we have not much 10 say, be-
ing content to let the intelligent voters
who will attend the special city meet
ing tonight decide this for themselves.
As far as we are personally concerned
we prefer spring water TO river water,
especially when part of the supply has
been officially declared TO be productive
of typhoid fever. Is it generally known
that the East Barre supply has been
turned Oh several times the past season?
We have nothing to say against a city
owning its own water supply, but that
supply should be pure and abundant.
Our present city supply is not pure if
the East Barre branch is used, and it is
not abundant by any means unless it is.
Everyone will admit that city positive
ly must have an abundance of pure
water, then if the, present system will
not answer the requirements why do
the city officials try by all possible
means TO take vested rights from the
spring water companies and shut them
out of the city9 Is anyone making money
by their so doing? We believe in fair
transactions, and believe
that that the majority of the people
should rule, and what the majority of
our citizens decide upon at the city
meeting tonight will be entirely salts
factory to the TELEGRAM.