Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-02-22
ANOTHER JOHN McDoN-
AID HAS SOMETHING
TO SAY.
Would Like to Have Mr..
Swasey Give the Voters
Information.

LII feaulnG MIR. SWaSeY'S platform
was particularly struck with the vague
and indefinite statements he makes or
many OF our city issues. Why not lei
people know your position. MIR. Swasey
and not make statements so broad thai
you can talk to any ones idea of city
government, and if elected mayor do
nothing, break no promises, and allow
the city to drift along in an indefinite
way without accomplishing the little
that has been done in the past?
MIR. Swasey says the Barre Water
Co.'S plant and the spring water COM
panies were competing systems before
the city bought the former, and that
they are competitors still. Let as see.
When the Barre Water Co.. owned their
plant they were Competitors with the
spring companies on an equal footing.
They had equal rights in our streets
and any one could have the same by the
asking. The city was just to all. But
the time came when the city in its best
Judgment expressed by vote to put it
into the hands of our city fathers to
either buy or condemn the Barre Water
Co.'S plant. They have commenced
condemnation proceedings. and in due
time the commissioners wilt set its value
ON the plant and the city will have to
pay the bill. Now the change of own
rrship changes the interest OF the cili.
zens of Barre. Before they became
owners their interest was bot with any
of the companies, but now as a city
which will have to see to the financial
part of our water system We at once
change our position. Before. we let
every one bring water into the city who
wanted to. We had no obligations
then. Now we have. We also have
rights. Are we to keep them or are we
to give them to othersP The city is
obliged to supply FIRE protection, it has
% flush all sewers, furnish water to all
city buildings, schools. fountains, etc.,
without compensation. Our revenue
comes from what Mr.. Swasey terms
open competition, that is from what the
city can sell to private parties. Anyone
ran see at what disadvantage the city
is at in competition. The spring COM
panics do not furnish protection from
tire, or to flush sewers or for public
buildings. gratis. Neither are the
spring companies of any value to the
city. 1t is we'll known fact that some
of the springs owned by some of these
companies can only furnish water
TO their customers in the wet season, for
in the dry season they have no water.
Of what use would they be to the city,
There is another class of springs so far
oelow the level of the city reservoir that
it would be impossible to run their W alter
into the city pipes. There are one or
,wo whose springs are high enough so
that what they could be used in the city
water pipes.
Mr., Swasoy states that he does not
know of any other way to deal with the
,pring companies than to let them 90
ahead as they done under their so-caled
rights, or else to buy or condemn them.
tie also states he would not allow any
other company to come into the city.
How do our citizens like that from u
man who claims to be the champion
ut rig hlP may be wrong, but it seems
to me this would be creating priv-
legged class in our city. Why let few
have the use of our streets and exclude
all the rest? If one man has right to
dig up the streets, why deprive another
OF that rightP MIR. Swasey would throw
up an impregnable fortress around those
who are in our streets. They can walk
the streets in defiance and in words of
old, honestly say" l am lord of all sur
vsy, my right there is none to dispute"
What would MIR. Swasey do for the
man who owns spring and has not yet
brought 1t through our streets? Is he
to be shut out while the other one is al
ready there and reaping good income
on his investment? Would that be fairp
Citizens Of Barre, do you want
privileged class in your midst? How
do you like MIR. Swasey's policyp If
you want jealousy, and chickering's and
discomfort, then elect the man who
would create privileged class
Nextis the permanent Improvement
of our streets. We think we can all
agree with Mr.. Sway on that point.
But why docs he not state his policy. as
he did on the water question: To
make street, we will say, one mile