The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-12-28
LIVELY WATER HEARING
SPEAKERS CALLED TO ORDER FOR
 USING PERSONALITIES.

Many Fortified With staustlcs- Three Year Contract Favored by Some -President Whitney Sends Communi- cation to the Committee Explaining the Company's sttuatton-Read to For three hours last night the com ,nittee on water sat and listened to the views of the public on the renewal or the contract with the New Haven wa ter company, for the supply of that commodity to the city. At the opening Alderman Fertman, chairman or the committee, announced that it was de- sirable that those that had spoken at previous meetings give way ana give the preference to those who nave not heretofore been heard. Before the meeting was over, however, there hao developed considerable feeling, ana there were frequent outbursts or aP- plause, and misses from various sec tions of the councilmen's chamber, where the hearing was held. Personal ities were indulsed in to such an extent that several speakers had to pc callea to order by the chairman.
 The room was filled at the opening and before an hour had elapsed 1t was packed to suffocation. The Trades Council was well represented, this body having taken a great interest in the matter. John J. Reilly, delegate from the Typographical Union, was the first sneaker and announced that he favored municipal ownership. He compared New Haven with the city of Hartford and cited the difference in benefits to the two cities in the management or the water works. He stated that water was furnished the city and the city treasury was enriched to the extent or many thousand dollars, while New Ha- ven must pay for the water, and the city treasury Is in no way benefited. MT. Reilly laid particular stress upon the fact that he realized the city was in no financial condition at present to purchase the water works, but he would recommend to the committee that they report to the common council taVor- able decision upon the project as soon as the city is in condition financially to do so.
 The next speaker, Elliot H. Morse of the Connecticut Savings bank, said: You gentlemen of the committee are confronted with question of great inn portance. The need of every available help to you Is also of great importance. Your decision should be wise and judi cious and in the interest of the city. You should insure a supply Of water for definite period, for as low a rate as can be provided and to this end you should use your best efforts. The point has been raised here that this can be done by contract for period Of three wears and I want to take issue with that. Such a contract might be wise and the argument is good as far as 1t goes, but there are other issues you should consider The water company know to my own knowledge have been making extended improvements In the way of additions and have been eX- bending a great deal of money. Where they had one reservoir they now have nine I think and they have also nine different sources of supply. l under stand the water company is constantly buying land in order to protect the wa- ter supply and secure additional supply. They are using good judgment ot course in their own interests and incl dentally 1t is in the interests or the city, and it is a question whether It would be prudent to go on with these improvements on a three-year contract period. The company is not adverse to doing something for the oity as well as for itself I should favor the contract be extended from three or five year period to one for ten or twenty years II the terms are satisfactory. It would be unwise to make a three-year con tract because at the end of that period YOU may be in position to buy the wa ter works, and you want to nall the company as to what they would offer in the way of additional advantages.
 Assistant City Clerk James B. Mar lin who is clerk of the water commit tee. then read communication from Charles L. Baldwin, who was unable to be present. It is as follows:
 New Haven Dec. 21, 1901.
 ITO the Committee on Water-Ald. Ed
 ward Fertman, chairman; Messrs
 McGill, Kehoe, Hosley, Okeefe and
 Coyle.
 Gentlemen-As I shall not probably have the opportunity to appear before your committee personally, l may be permitted as an interested citizen tt sneak my mind on the subject before won in this way by letter. Twenty years ago when the city had an oppor, tunity to buy the water works at small advance on the bare cost, anC voted by a great majority not to do so I was somewhat prominent as favoflns +ba nurchase Afterward I was one o committee to make a contract witt the company This contract which 1: similar to the one we now have l nave always regarded as one favorable to th' citizens of New Haven as compared with other towns. The consumption O water in street sprinhnng since the las contractwas made ten years ago ant within three or four years has been i'm ,mensely increased. I know that th' company has been industrious in ob taining all sources of supply and whel other cities have been short we nav had an abundance, also that it has beel contemplating in promoting the healthfu condition of reservoirs. How 1mportan this is the fatality of last spring Is al example.
 As to bad oder for time caused Inv minute vegitable growth in sum
 nta,,