Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-02-16

are already laid, and this number WIZ
constantly grow larger II our s''Te'e 49,
Lnt oppn Tor private parties ne r.,
,.i,ts 10 the wafer department VIII 9
rally lr,sened, and the taxes cor
resnoudinaly increased. The greater
lhc support the people give their ." +"
nlant Inc lighter their burdens VIII pc'
The streets have cost us much' l'n1
Of thousands of dollars have been pau
for land damages, and each "ec""e VI
moint,jnance will require more man !"
hundred Thousand dollars. Should we
make a free gift of what has an" mus
cos, us 80 much? Why not as wen e'N'
,itIe deeds of our public buildings an"
parks to individuals for any hierca'',''o
business? An ordinary merchant mas
~ good claim to public property as a
vendor of waters; aye, better clalm'
because the city does not furnish mer-
chandise, but it does waterF
We know that many people are IN
tlupnced by the belief that these prl-
waite companies are supplying be''er
water. The belief has no foundation i'll
fact. Many of the SO called springs are
mere I" soak holes,' as they were de-
scribed in Il certain legal proceeding IN
to which u tube, porus pipe, or stone
wall have been inserted. The water
are placed under lock and key, and
sealed against the publication OF sun
and air. One small tube was discov-
cred during the last season in when
seen dead frogs were imprisoned ana
undergoing disentrgration, The own
ers of the frog tomb were at the same
time vigorously declaiming against the
impurities of the city supply, and prals-
ing their own.
Their main reservoir too was too
foul to tempt party to slahe the vio-
lent thirst of summer heat. 1t coul'
not but excited pity AS we'll as smile t.
see the patrons of this system led in T.
cit, meeting as we shall see them led t"
the polls to vote down the public int
rests. The private system is not undr'
The peoples control. The public system
is under the constant care and super
vision of the consumers themselves.
Suppose that the supplies of the tive
systems could be obtained in IN equal
state of purity, which will be the b"s'
guarded against contamination Can
not the consumers look on for their owl
safety be ter than others will do ii for
lhemo
But on the whole. the advantage fo,
purity is in favor of the city supply
Only eyes, blinded by the hue and CRY
about East Barre aud Peck Pond, can fail
10 see it so. Our Stale Board OF heallh
told us that waters, subject to motion,
sun and air. were less likely to be favoi
able TO the propa CATION Of germ diseas-
es than those shielded by natural or ART
ficial means from the natural agencies
of publication. Tubs, walls, pipes, anu
covered reservoirs will gather impur
ties and need constant care and atttn-
ton
Authority and experience tells US thai
an upland water shed is one of tn
purtst sources of water supplies. Thu
West Hill is such a scourcr. 1t yields
"A large volume of spring water that l..
gathered by streams into the City il
axes. This method Of gathering
tends to improve it. At the intake, it il
often healthier water than at the tim,
it issues from the ground, hardrne
with mineral solutions. The amount Il
spring water thus brought by the cit,
system is greater than thar furnished BY
all The spring companies. Some O.
the spring companies furnish as
pure water as the city does; many d :
not; but none superior.
The voters ought not to be led astray
from their real interests by misconcer-
tions, misrepresentation, or prejudice i.
They are the proprietorS of the city sy>-
tenn, system that supplies the best in
quality, sufficient in quantity, superior
in its construction for protection against
contamination. under the control and
supervision the consumers themselves
and capable Of enlar2 ement and modti
cation as circumstances and the voters
require. Do not allow private Interests
10 impair the efficiency of an important
public enterprise. DO not be frightened