Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-11-20
Settlement with the Mill Owners
for any claims connected
with the use Of Water for
Supplying Boilers.

with the use Of Water for
supplying Boilers.
The city has been informed that
part Of the mill owners would probab.
ly contest the right OF the city tC
furnish water for use in making steam
but no action has yet been brought
before the courts in this matter,
l should not have the ught Of max
ing any report whatever on this sub
jecr, If | had not learned Of this posi-
uion OF the mill owners
The use OF water obtained from
public water supplies for the purpose
Of making steam is so uni versal, that
l had not supposed there was any
question whatever but what the city
had the absolute right to make that
use Of the water. had never heard
of case where such use was forbid
den by the courts, and question
whether such a decision can DE found
regard the city or water company
as the servant Of the public, and re-
quired to furnish it with wa .er for all
legitimate uses, and make such pay
ment to parties damaged, as was
awarded by impartial tribunals. The
only exception to this rule. that l
Know of, is on the question of sup
plying water for direct use as motive
power, and even in that case, many
elevators are run by water supplied
by the water works, in cities and
towns where the enabling acts are no
BROADER than those defining thu. rights
of the City and the Barre Water Com
pany.; An examination of the actual
practice in New England would find
water supplied for the purpose of
making steam by every variety Of wa
ter company. l think there is no
question but wha1 you won d find pri-
vate companies with charters, private
companies without charters, private
companies that have paid water dam
ages, private companies that have not
paid water damages, cities that have
paid water damages, cities that have
not paid water damages, and in fact,
water works operating under every
variety of legislation.
The public safety is involved in the
strength and durability Of the boil
ers, and the sire myth and durability
of the boilers is dependent upon the
quality of water supplied to them.
This item would, by itself, in my
Judgment, be sufficient ground for
requiring the city to supply water for
the purpose of making steam. even if
there was no long established prece-
dent and no other reasons.
The advantages due to public SUP
ply Of water, undoubtedly in many
cases, promote private gain, but that
is not a reason for forbidding the city
to sell the water. 1t is used by all
in machine shops, car
penter shops, blacksmith shop, foun-
dries, printing establishments, factor
les Of all kinds. schools, colleges, Off
ces, stores, and, in each case, contri.
butes to the prosperity Of the individ-
ual owning or leasing the property,
and to that extent, is an assistance
to him on the question of private
gain.
The selection Of two specific uses of
the water, the making of steam and
its use for polishing machines, and the
declaration that these two stand
Ia 4 special class by themselves, and
are teyond the powers of the city, is
In my judgment, species Of class leg
iSlation that would not stand the
scrutiny Of the courts.
/ do not understand how a court |
could rule that the use Of water for
washing clothes in public laundry
Was proper, but that the use of water
II the steam engine turning the ma
,hinery for washing the clothes, was
improper.
l do not understand how caterer |
would be allowed to use water in one
portion Of his business, and be refused
water for a gaSolene engine in making
&c cream.
| do not know any ground on which
he city could refuse to furnish water
o the Barre Railroad Company for its
team engines, and require the rail.
Dad company to obtain its supply from
he river, irrespective of the life Of
he boilers on the locomotives.
l do not understand why machine
hop should be allowed the use OF wa
er at the wash rooms and refused it
q the boiler room.
Quite number of the mill owners
annot join in any protest against this
Use of the water by the city, as they
ave been using it themselves, or de-
ire to do so.
The city is, in my judgment, per-
Getty we'll able to defend it's position
n the question of the supply Of water
or the making Of steam, and has no
ccaSion Whateyer to make anv over.