Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-17
The Water Question.

character III IS Soltly question of
what is best for the community. The
act creating the Water District has
never been passed upon by the court.
1t is claimed to be Illegal as the court
has never sustained it. because it
makes seven wards of the CITY the
Water District. Now, the court never
held that a city, which has a debt of
Imore than five per cent of its yalua-
ton, could buy a Water Company. Two
or more communities may buy a
Water Company.
The question to be determined is a
supply of pure water. Where can it be
obtained? The bill creating the Water
| District gives authority to take from
the Kennebec river or from China lake.
But, is it certain that the water in
China lake is absolutely pure? A care
full meteorological examination of
China lake water shows that impuri-
ties, dangerous to human health, exist
therein in greater proportion than in
the water from the Kennebec river.
And it has been demonstrated by the
most profound scientists of the age
that even rain water as it falls from
the heavens contains bacteria of the
most malignant character So that
even if China lake, or Silver lake, or
CobbosSpecontee lake should be resort
ed to fer a supply of water, it is not
certain that the water from either place
will be purer than the water from the
| Kennebec river. This water has been
used by the Augusta Water Company
for IS years, but no complaint has been
made until the present year
Every citizen of Augusta wants pure
water The Augusta Water Company
wants to furnish it as much as the peo-
pie want to secure it. How shall it be
obtained? The most certain means is
by filtration, which makes it absolutely
pure, taking 1851 of the bacteria from
it and all of the coOring matter.
Now, this plant is to be sold. not for
its cash value, but for it's present, pros
pective value, including its franchise
rights and privileges. The value is to
be settled by three disinterested APP
praisers, none of whom shall be resi-
dents of the county of Kennebec, and
they shall fix the appraisal at what
the plant, property and franchises are
fairly and equitably Wonth. Now we
have had one appraisal in the State,
that of the Dover & FoXcroft Company
which had only 40 takers, and the
property was appraised at $4,000. and
the water was taken from the river.
What will be the appraisal of the Au-
gusta Water Company with it's 1900
takers? Certainly more than $65000O.
The water district, if it purchases
the property. has got to lay out money
to improve the plant. 1t is not going
to take the water from the Kennebec
river unless it is filtered. 1t cannot go
to China lake and get the water. 1t
will cost at least, and this is putting
it within bounds. 100000 for 4 filter
plant. Suppose then it costs $750,000
to buy the plant and make all improve
mentS, what is the interest at 3l2 per
cent? And the money cannot be Dor
rowed at that rate for the best bonds
are selling at better than that in the
market, today. 1t will have to pay
$26,500 per year for its interest. 1t
has got to pay for operating the plant,
which will cost ut least $4,000 per year.
1t has got to pay $1,000 at least per year
into the sinking fund. The district is
exempt from taxation and supplies the
city with water free. This makes Il
tiIItI cIltt VI HolVV per Nt'ii1 " Illt' us
trict. To operate the filtering plant
will cost $1,000 per year, THESE items
figure $4,000 a pear. The receipts Will
never amount to over $4,000 per year.
How can cheaper rates be secured by
this process? Increased rates to 90
nestle takers must be imposed, or the
district must come upon the citizens
by taxation to make up the deficiency. |
You cannot get something out of moth |
ing. You have got to pay for it.
Now, what we want is pure water |
and the Augusta Water 60. offers to
get it; and take it from any source |
that 4 committee of citizens and en-
ginecrs and experts may deem prac- |
ticablc. Is it not best to allow the old |
company to own it for a while and |
see what it will do?
This company took the water from |
the source the citizens voted to take |
it. They are willing to go anywhere |
that the citizens decide to have them |
go. AS to it's being great paying con-
Germ, it has never been 1t did not pay
one cent for the first eight years ANA |
now only pays 4 per cent. 1t is owned |
in Augusta. Bath, HalloWell and Port |
land, and it would have been owned |
every share in Augusta. if ut the time !
it was built, any Augusta people could |
have been gotten, other than those |
who were obtained, to take any intCr- |
est in the matter. Augusta would not |
loan one cent to the enterprise. 1t |
furnished no money, other than that |
furnished by those who are concerned |
in it; and is it right and proper now, |
for Augusta n-taX-p paying citizens |
and taX-paying citizens to come up |
andagree to mortgage all their property |
and put themselves under this great |
embarrassment of purchasing this |
plant? Is it not better to let the in |
divduals go on with the work. taking |
their chances of making 4 per cent. on |
their money invested, or nothing? The |
question is not who shall own this pro- !
peTty. but who will give pure water to |
the citizens. When they asked for the |
act from the Legislature nothing was |
urged or said about who should own |
it. 1t was pure water that they wanted, |
and they will have it. Now the dis
trict cannot manage this property rs
cheaply as the Augusta Water Co. can. |
They are to have three trustees that |