The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-12-28

(Continued from First Page.)
 seem to be inseparable from the stor- age of water in reservoirs, but 1t does not involve danger to health. faVol decidedly a renewal of the contract with the water company for period Of not less than ten years if on terms ev- cry way as favorable as the last while holding the water company strictly up to date" in all the most modern methods of furnishing pure water ana an abundant supply.
 To supply this will involve largely increased expenditure and confess had rather trust this to the company than to municipal control. l object to a contract for two or three years as IL will satisfy nobody and prolong useless agitation. Any corporation of public character eXcites some men as red rag does a bull and If they could con- fisoate it would galdly do so. Others desire to cripple or injure in any other way possible. Many of our best citizens felt when the opportunity came and de- sired the city to make the purchase 20 years ago when the water works could have been had at nearly cost are not calling for 1t now. They are sober minded, large stake holders in the city. They are looking with disfavor on the project of bonding the city for many additional millions and a certain large increase of taxation to follow. They are not looking with favor on municipal control whose principal resource is is- suing more bonds.
 suppose if all the departments had had their way on the estimates and realized their demands: 20 mills on our high and full assessments would have been wanted of the taxpayers. One whole street is refusing to pay assess mentse for poor paving. l notice that an effort has been made to forestall your own action by some men, one of whom told me he had been playing to the gallery gods" by printed circulars. The public confide in your honesty and ability.
 Very respectfully yours.
 c. l.. BALDWIN,
 134 Whalley Ave. Following the reading of MT. Bald wins letter statement prepared by President Ell Whitney, of the Water company, was read The statement is given in full and follows:
 To the Honorable Committee of the
 Court of Common Council of the City
 of New Haven;
 Gentlemen-As there seems to be some misapprehension in the minds of many who have appeared before you as to the New Haven Water company, what it Is and what it is doing, I beg leave, as briefly as possible, to state to you, and through you to the public, some facts concerning the company.
 When the project of public water supply for New Haven was first dis cussed strenuous efforts were made to induce the city to undertake the work, and were so far successful that the city entered into a contract to purchase a. water supply. That contract was brok- en and the city was compelled to pay damages. It was only after all hope of waterworks owned by the city had been reluctantly abandoned that public-spir- ited citizens decided to take the burden upon themselves. The works were built and water was introduced into the city January 1, 1862. For the first five years no dividends were paid, and for the second five years dividends averaged but four per cent, although the I'll ing rate of interest at that time was seven per cent. Since then, with the growth of the city and nearby towns, the com- pany has become prosperous and at the present time its property Is a very val uable one.
 The growth of the company, made necessary by the increasing demands ot the people, has kept pace with the growth and prosperity of the city, and it is fair to assume that the company has contributed in no small degree to that growth and prosperity Begin- ming with one source of supp'y the com pany now draws from six sources and holds others in reserve for future de- mands. This property has been obtain ed in order to meet the requirements or a growing community, and not, as mas been sometimes urged, to shut out pos sible competition. The wisdom of this course was clearly proven during the droughts of 1899 and 1900, when all the neighborng cities were compelled to re- strict the use of water while in New Haven no restrictions were placed upon any of the company's consumers. The company has also thoroughly investi- gated the possibility of obtaining crol,nd or driven-well water in suffl- cient quantities to make it available for nublic uses This source of water sup ply presents attractive features and would solve some of the companTs most difficult problems at compara- lively small cost, but the best expert advice is all unfavorable to finding in this region, an adequate ground-water supply. If water could be obtained in this way. satisfactory in quantity and , quality, at anything like the pric s which have been named the company would long since have taken advantage of it. The company now supplies water in | four towns outside of New Haven, viz, llHamden, East Haven, Orange Qnclud-