The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-09

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ton Of legal talent in the metropolitan
district. as well as by the wealth and
influence Of that great section. rms
, fact was developed with force at the
recent hearing in Boston.
| The full meaning of the construction
of this reservoir becomes more mani
fest each day that its development
goes on.
Never until this year have we been
able to show this committee what the
construction of the north dixie means
| to Clinton. Many members of that
committee who visited Clinton Thurs
day were amazed at the magnitude OF
this scheme. They little realized pc
| fore why the people of Clinton TOOK
such an interest in the matter, ana
made such a showing in numbers at
! the recent hearings in the state house.
It is well we should be interested,
| for Clinton, gentlemen, is our nome IN
the full meaning of that word, and sa-
cred to us all as members of liberty
| loving community.
We see one-third Of our area taken
from us. which would have developed
as time goes on into a source. Of reve-
nue. for Clinton. We see also the
very nerve centre taken, around which
| Clinton has grown and developed Here
was a condition that made it possible
for the town to be what 1t IS TO-DAY.
Here as natures gift grew up prop
erty which represented in taxes annu-
ally to Clinton the sum of VIZ, Sl6.45.
This gift of nature has been taken by
| the metropolitan water commission, so
that if from any cause the Lancaster
mills should cease to exist, whether by
accident or otherwise Clinton Will nave
! lost not only water privilege, repre-
senting $50 developed horse power, but
also $22,S164S.
Nature has done much for Clinton,
and l ask, now that these gifts have
been acquired by a foregn corporatloH'
what is our possible future!
Gentlemen, we cannot afford to lose
them. 1t is our right to ask that they
be replaced or an equivalent given us.
| Clinton wants no more from the state
| of Massachusetts or the metropolitan
water district than what is right. She
asks for not one penny of remuneration
that does not belong to her.
We ask for consequential damages,
because we believe this Is the only way
the state can settle our claim. We do
not believe the metropolitan water
board has a right to take one foot OF
our territory for their use without CIV
ing us one foot or its equivalent. we
do not believe 1t has a right to take one
yard of our street
our highway without giving us a yard
or its equivalent in return. We do not
believe it has a right to acquire or I'M
pair any of natures gifts to clinton
without giving in return its equivalent.
Gentlemen, let me ask you what IN
your opinion would be a fair amount
for the town of Clinton to give each
year for another stream Of water HOW
ing down through our valleys, with
water privilege such as existed at the
Lancaster mills. If it was in the mar
ket and could be bought for payment
of $4,000 annually forever, wouldnt you
consider ii cheap? Gentlemen, II WouIu
be worth to the town of Clinton more
than five times what we are asking for
il in our bill before the legislature.
our claim was admirably presented
by our efficient counsel and was met IN
opposition by all the energy and force
of the metropolitan water board, sup
plementedfby counsel from the numer-
Gus cities and towns composing the
metropolitan water district. No eX-
pense was spared in the presentation
Of their case. All the machinery and
skill of their competent engineers was
employed and every argument used TO
show that the coming of this great ana
glorious scheme was a nacea for our
deplorable condition.
The new West Boylston road has
caused US some uneasiness, from the
fact of the circumstances attending It's
layout and acceptance. The Clinton
end is, we feel, all right. The trouble
is at the West Boylston end. In get
ting from West Boylston to Clinton
there is about half a mile of grade,
seven feet in hundred; most pleas
ing circumstance to bicycle riders.
We have filed a protest with the
county commissioners against building
the road at this grade l have failed
to understand why 1t was ever ac-
cepted unless as a monument to the
engineering skill of the metropolitan
engineering force.
Mr.. Goodale spoke briefly of Cook
We can all of us recall that beautiful
morning, zone year ago this month,
when, with martial tread to inspiring
music, our company of soldlef boys
marched away, responding to the. call
for troops, issued by President Mekln-
ley. We watched them enter into the
service of the United States. We
watched them in camp life, and when
the time came for them to embark for
foreign shores to uphold the dignity OF
humanitarian principles representing
the sentiment of these United States
Not one member of the company falt-
cred or fingered by the roadside, and
were always found ready to perform
any task allotted to them.
We watched them in the trenches
before Santiago. We saw sickness and
death enter their ranks, and one and
then another fell at his post, until II
of their number are now marching
with that host OF silent veterans of
the Spanish American war. We know
their acts of ganantry in whatever way
made manifest. We honor their cour-
aageous spirit in responding to our
country's call.
In view of this it seems fitting that
we should erect upon some of our parks
or public grounds testimonial to their
memory in bronze or granite as an in
spiration to future generations, and to
show that Clinton appreciates the acts
and courageous spirit of the boys who
| lost their lives in the Spanish-American
war.
In. concluding his address, President
| Goodale referred to the movement to
give the town a city charter, saying:
1--WE felt this a serious step, and one
reo1iring careful consideration. Chief
among the arguments that prompted
the movement toward city charter IS
the subject of appropriations and
more careful consideration Of the fin
ances of our town.
1t is felt that the matter of appropri-
ations would receive more careful con-
sideration at the hands of aldermen
and mayor than IL can possibly receive
in the heat and excitement of ~ town
meeting. 1t has also been Suggested
that a. board of finance be created,
non-partisan in politics, to which all
matters Of appropriations could be re-
] toto ta fate