Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-11

tor is certainly a matter of great i'm
portance to the city of Lewiston. Ii is
certainly necessary that the city of
Lewiston have every avenue opened to
them that is necessary to supply them
with pure water. Now, as | under
stand the matter. the city of Lewiston
expects to receive water by gravity
from some one of the ponds in the
county Of Androscoggin. This water is
to be brought by gravity to
their present pumping station.
They have not yet made their surveys
and they do not know what pond they
can use Il seems to be no more than
right and just and fair that they
should have the opportunity of select
ing whichever pond they can use. If
this amendment is adopted. and it is
found that this is the only pond they
can use, two years must elapse before
they can come here again and ask for
this permission: and it seems to me
that it is no more than right and just
that the city of Lewiston should have
the right to, select their own supply
wherever it may be found; it seems to
me that that right is paramount to the
rights of the mill owners.
Mr.. VIRGIN: There is no man on
til" iloor of this House who is more
DESTROYS that the citizens Of Lewiston
should have pure drinking water for
he health of the citizens than my
self. 1t is not the question of pure
water. 1t is the question of supply,
and of a large supply: 1t is admitted
and stated that it is the intention of
Lewiston to so to Lake Auburn: and
I understand from the analysis that
has been made of the Lake Auburn
water. that there is no purer drinking
water in any pond in the State of
Maine than is the water of Lake Au-
burn. 1t is only in their carefuiness
for the future that they desire to go to
SabattuS pond. Now. not only will this
House. in my opinion. consider the
rights of the city and the citizens Of
Lewiston. but they will consider the
rights Of the town. of Lisbon, and the
citizens of that town, and the mill
owners and the operatives in those
mills. There IS no question but what
there is an ample supply in Lake Au-
burn of pure water. The water of Sa-
battus pond is admittedly not pure
water and not fit for drinking pur-
poses.
The gentleman from Lisbon (Mr
Jordan has informed the House that
it is the intention. in the near future,
of the citizens there. Notwithstanding
the quality Of the water there. to use
il, II they are compelled to. for drink
ing purposes. He has also informed
the House that 1000 people in the town
af Lisbon are dependent for their daily
bread upon the water that comes from
Sahat.us pord.f 1t is d shallow pond,
and holds comparatively small
amount of water. Now the gentleman
from Gardiner tMr. Maxcy) is an ex-
per. ia the matter. of water supply. and
ne knows that city of the size of
Lewiston. the second city in population
in this state. If i, takes water from
Ssbattus pond. will take an enormous
supply that will materially lower the
water CT that pond. In times of
drought the water is low with the or
dinasy use IF the water Of the pond by
the mills upon the stream leading from
ii. With the additional use of the
e!iol. sccus supply of millions of gallons
daily in lines If drought. the water
III that pond, 50 | am Informed, Will be