Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-02-28

Barre Co. was made, it was under
stood that this plant required enlarge
ment. The Company itself had made
preparation for the purpose. 1t was
never supposed that the supplies with
which connection had been made on the
west hill would suffice. The city
itself had under consideration the
Martin and Brush brooks in Williams
town. The company had purchased
material for the duplicate line of pipe
to utilize the supply from the old
intake on Jail Branch. There was
still a plan to connect with Jail Branch
above East Barre Village. This latter
plan had been fully examined by the
city because it would necessitate dam
age to the Barre Water Co. if the
latter's plant was not purchased, ow-
ing to moisture of the season of 1898,
the supplies now in use on the west
hill were sufficient. But early in the
summer of 1899, it became evident
that these supplies would be mad
equate, If the dry season continued.
For this reason the city council urged
an early determination of the question
of price with the Barre Water Co., so
that it would be free to make additi.
ons to the water system and not give
an undue advantage to- the company
if the price had to be settled by the
courts. AS soon, therefore as the
question was disposed of by the voters,
the council began it's investigation
with the aid of Freeman G. Coffin as
expert. At first we were inclined to
make extensions to Brush brook, but
the drought demonstrated that this
source would not supply the proper
quantity in dry seasons We then en-
ahmed the Jail Branch. Two reasons
principally influenced the council to
locate the intake on Orange brook
near Houghton's mills SO called, j. e.,
the natural advantage for a reservoir,
and quality of the water. At nc
point on the main above East Barre is
there a suitable formation Of land for
a reservoir of the kind that would be
within the present means of the CITY,,
When the question came before the
voters as to the issue of bonds the
principal difference of opinion was in
regard to the location of the intake,
whether it should be where the coun-
Gil had designated, or Immediately
above East Barre. There appeared
to be no question but what the major
ity of voters we're in favor of an cx-
tension to some point above East
Barre. We cannot set forth the rea-
sons why n of these recommend
itself.
But here came one of those unfOr-
tunate occasions for making another
blunder in dealing with the questions.
Actuated by erroneous information
industriously circulated by those who
had personal interests to serve or an
tipathies to crafty, the first meeting
in July accomplished nothing when
circumstances required prompt and
harmonious action. The council who
fully realized the effects Of the
drought had taken the earliest prac-
tical action to protect the city
against impending danger. Up to
this meeting there had appeared no
serious obstacle to prevent the bring
ing of the water into the city from a
point above East Barre, to meet the
emergency the drought had created.
The opponents of the municipal
system for the time being, obtained
the mastery of the situation and
helped to stir up the opposition of
the mill owners at East Barre.
We fully believe that if the city
meeting in July had acted as the sub
sequent n in August did. the city
would have the water of Jail Branch
above East Barre, running in its sys-
TEN by the last of July or the first of
August, and the city would have
saved from five to ten Thousand dol.
lars. BY the side of the blunder that |
was made when a private corporation
was allowed to put in a public water
sys tenn, and must stand the mistake
of the July city meeting.
RESULTING LITIGATION.
The council had early in July met
the majority of the mill owners and no
serious opposition appeared then to the
proposed extension. But at the time
of the meeting and soon after hostility
began to manifest itself in many WAYS,
and a bill in chancery was sworn to
containing an allegation that the Pc
titioners had reasons based upon the
action at this July meeting to believe
that the council were acting in oppo-