The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-08-09
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
VOTERS OF H1MDEN CONSIDERED TIE WATER COMPANIES OFFER.

Whole Matter Laid Over Because 1t Is
 Thought Larger Amount Nin be Paid
 for the Desired PrOperty-DiscussiOn
 Animuted-Other Business Trans-
 acted.
 The special meeting of the voters of the town of Hamden, held in the town hall at Centerville yesterday afternoon, was very well attended. Representa- tives from every part of the town were present and the meeting was at times quite lively and the discussion very animated.
 The principal matter to be considered was the proposition made by Eli Whit ney, as president of the New Haven Water company, to purchase the school properties in Augurville and Whitney, Vile for a certain sum of money and a piece of ground. The offer made by MT. Whitney was in the opinion of many present very liberal one, while the majority seemed to think that if it was rejected and definite action be de- layed the price offered would be greatly increased by MT. Whitney. As it is now, the offer is to allow $500 cash for the Augurville property and $1, 300 cash for the Whitneyville property and to give piece directly opposite to the Whitneyville postoffice. The lot fronts 400 feet on Whitney avenue. It is ir- regular, and the other three sides are 3SO feet, 1SO feet and 130 feet, respec- lively. This offer was made to Arthur Woodruff as chairman of the town committee on schools on July F.
 After reading the terms of the offer and some of the correspondence be- tween MT. Whitney and MT. Woodruff the latter explained at some length the reasons for which the offer was made. The vaults connected with each of the school properties are in very bad con- dition and the refuse from them filters into Lake Whitney, and also the canal entering into the same in such @ way that the water of the lake, from which the water company gets part of it's supply, is polluted thereby. This mat ter has been brought to the attention of the state board of health and there has been considerable correspondence relative to the matter. As explained by MT. Woodruff, these vaults will have to be moved At Augurville they will have to be placed at a point not more than fifteen feet from the school building. He also stated that both buildings were badly in need of re- pairs and that no less than $500 would have to be spent on them immediately or at least before school opened. Moth ing has been done this summer and the committee has delayed, awaiting the action of the town meeting. MT Wood ruff said that last year there were only twelve Augurville scholars in the Au- gurville school and that they could easily attend the new one to be erected in the lot opposite the postoff1ce in Whitnyville or go to Centerville. It was explained that the present school building in Whitneyville was not large enough to accommodate all the scholars that desired to attend last winter and before school was opened this fall the building would have to be enlarged and extensive repairs made. MT. Woodruff stated several times during the course of his explanation that he was not there to speak in favor of the offer but simply to place the facts of the sit uation before the voters so that they could act intelligently. He, however, said that he considered the offer very liberal one and if accepted would re- suit in much good for the town.
 A resolution was then offered accept ing MT. Whitney's offer, but it was, upon motion of William Leach, tabled without discussion. This summary ac- tion, which was almost unanimous, was, as was later learned, because some of those present were of the opin- ion that a more liberal offer would be made by MT. Whitney, if there was little delay. It was suggested that $4,000 and the lot would be none too large an amount to give for the two school properties.
 After this vote a resolution providing for the appointment of a committee to consist of the chairman of the school committee, Arthur Woodruff, and James Fl. Webb, to wait upon Mr. Whitney In regard to the matter to thoroughly investigate the condition of the present SCHOOL buildings anu report at an adjourned meeting, August 22, was introduced It provoked consider able discussion but was finally passed by an almost unanimous vote.
 The principal speakers were Rev. MT. Clark, secretary of the school commit tee; Arthur Woodruff, Cullen B. Foote, who favored the passage of the resolu- ton, and Henry Stadmuller and Gil- bert Benham, who were opposed to the adoption. Those in favor contended that to lay the matter wholly aside would not be treating MT. Whitney either in a courteous or business-like manner and that the delay of only two weeks ,would not be discourteous and it would give all the voters a chance to investigate the same and be better pre- pared to vote on the same. Those op- posed claimed that two weeks was not sufficient time for MT. Whitney to make up his mind whether he would pay any more for the property or not, and that the whole matter should be laid over until the next regular school meeting.
 As the matter now stands the offer of MT. Whitney remains the same as it will be again considered at a meeting to be held August p at 2:9O D. m.
 esox,oroI othar itpY0S Of bI1GinasS were