Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-28
TOWN VERSUS TOWN
Mendon and Uxbridge Lock
Horns on Water Question.
Hearing at Boston Attended by Leading
Business Men of Both Towns-Pettion-
ers Represented by Mayor
Dodge of Worcester
lspeelal plspateh 70 the 80

Especial Dispatch 70 the spy
Boston, Jan. 27-The towns of Tx
bridge and NIendon, in the southern part
Of Worcester county, crossed swords be-
fore the legislative committee on water
supply this morning, on the petition Of
Uxbaidge, for an extension by two years
Of the time in which it has the right,
by vote of two-thirds Of her citizens in
town meeting assembled, to acquire
Mendon pond as a source Of water sup
ply. Mendon appeared as a remonstrant
and was represented by counsel, w. p.
Martin of Boston, and Henry w. Gas
kill and julius A. George, the town
committee Of Mendon Mr. Martin also
represented citizens of Uxbndge who
were opposed to the petition, including
Daniel w. Taft Charles f. Capron,
Henry G. Taft and 233 others. Among
those appearing for the petitioners were
Mayor Rufus B. Dodge, Jr., OF Worces-
ter and w j. Taft, counsel, Judge A. A.
Putnam and many others,
Mr.. Taft opened for the petitioners
and briefly stated the location and de-
velopment Of the various villages OF the
town, and the inadequacy Of the pres
ent water supply. He referred to the
at u IoVVB ny WHICH the lOWn UdQ the
privilege, within three years, to take
the waters OF Mendon pond, as a source
of supply, providing that such act was
accepted by a two-thirds vote Mr. Taft
stated that there had been eight town
meetings since the passage of the act,
for the purpose Of considering the same,
but every attempt to take the water had
been defeated The advocates of taking
the water had come within two votes Of
the necessary two-thirds votes.
Inc extension was asked for on ac-
count of the fact that the three years
under which the votes on the question
had been taken, had been years Of bust
ness depression, that the town was pay-
ing for the abolition OF two grade cross
lngs' and these conditions had worked
against the acceptance Of the act.
Percy M. Blake, civil engineer, HYDE
Park, was the first witness called. and
described to the committee the Mendon
pond supply and the natural advanta-
ges OF the pond for a supply for Tx
bridge The cost of bringing the water
| INTO the heart of the town under a head
/ OF LOU POUNDS orsmore, would be not more
than $4,000. The adanfabilitv of The
pan, the quality Of the water, and the
necessity OF the extra supply, were un-
questioned
counsel FOR the remonstrants CROSSE
! examined the witness to show that fine
water shed Of the pond proper was ONLY
~ acres, and that this was NOT s1lf-
/ hclent for the town. The witness insist
ca mat the outlet OF the pond was at
/ the mlll-dam, so-called, and that the
storage and shed capacity Of the COM
blned meadows and mill pond Weld the
total shed OF 800 acres or more, and was
amply adequate for the town for years.
Edmund Parker, town clerk Of Tx
bridge was called next and submitted
! the records of the town meetings on the
4 question. Judge A, A. Putnam of Tx
/ plldge, another petitioner, spoke OF the
urgent need of more water. and graph.
1 ically described the two large confiag era.
lions during the past three years. which
/ destroyed the business centre Of the town
/ lie thought that the act had failed Of
| acceptance through the business depres.
sion and the extra burden of grade
crossing abolition. The feeling that the
( town was better prepared than ever be.
I fore to stand the expense OF the Mendor
! supply was increasing. At this point the
nearing was adjourned until o'clock.
I The hearing was continued after the
session. James Daley, Hon. Silas A.
1 Wheelock, Arthur Wheeloclt, Herbert r.
/ Sayles, Samuel f. Scott, A. c.. Slater
! George Wilmot, Edward J. Prest,
Henry w Parks Francis p. Brady
were called in favor of the petition. The
hearing was then continued until
Thursday next.