Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-18

ltIcQ, anu we Hidy soy tiif1e
we have tried filtration and found it
utterly wanting. 1t is something of a
tax on human credulity to assert that
infection dissolved and held in solu
ton can be eliminated by any con-
ceivable method of straining. The best
way to get pure water is to start with
pure water.
Mr. Manley thinks the plant of his
company, which pays taxes on $4,000
is worth $650,000 and that the Water
Company would get that large sum for
it, The experience of Auburn should
furnish a fair precedent, to judge from
III this matter. Auburn is a city of
1900 inhabitants; Augusta is a city of
$1,000 inhabitants. When the people of
Auburn decided that, they would no
longer tolerate the filthy water of the
Androscoggin river, and that they
would own and operate their own
works, they were told by friends of
the existing plant that the commits
sionerS would value 1t at not less than
100000. They were not Stampeded,
however, by such predictions. They
voted for ownership by the people, and
when the commissioners appointed by
the court appraised the Water Com
pany's plant they found it worth only
$3.50, 900. In view of this precedent it
is safe to say that no commission the
court would appoint would ever APP
praise the Augusta Water plant at
more than 100000 or, at the very out
side, $3.50, 900.
The people of Auburn expended $780,
900 in piping water into the city from
Lake Auburn and now have one of the
finest water supplies in all New Eng
land. 1t has been money maker for
the people, as it had previously, been a
money maker for the corporation, and
in addition to large decrease in
water rates, has turned into the city
treasury handsome net profits to be
applied to the reduction of taxes.
Everywhere in Maine the rivers are
being abandoned as sources of water
supplies Auburn Lewiston and
Brunswick have left the Androscoggin
for lake supplies, the people of Bangor
are moving for the abandonment of the
Penobscot and Waterville has voted
practically to abandon the Messalon-
Skee in favor of China lake. Years
ago the government expert who in
vestigated the terrible typhoid cpl
demic at New Orleans declared that
water receiving sewerage was unfit for
dietetic purposes, and that state
ment is as true today as it was then.
Mr.. Manley expresses the Willingness
of the company he represents to take
water from any source decided upon
by "a committee of citizens and eX-
perts." Such a committee of citizens
md inv itrotn 6 "a
matter and reported with practical
unanimity in favor of strained river
water Since that time the suggestion
of leaving this important matter to "a
committee of citizens and experts"
has not evoked great enthusiasm
among the voters of Augusta. Why
indeed should our people be asked to
leave such an important matter in the
hands of committee? This is sub
ject that belongs to all the people. Let
all the people unite in settling it.
Mr.. Manley asks if it is mot best to
allow the old company to own" our
water plant for while land see what
it will do"
The old company has owned this
water plant for eighteen years and
the voters of Augusta have had ample
opportunity to see precisely what
they would do They do not care to
continue their observations for anoth-
er eighteen years.
Mr. Manley declares that the $500 a
year to be paid each of the three water
commissioners, 5000 in all is more than
is paid in salaries to the present
officers by which l suppose he means
the president and treasurer, for it is
not to be presumed that the services of
Superintendent Williams are gratui-
tous. This would simply mean that
these gentlemen are content with their
dividends. With ownership by the peo-
pie, the dividends will go to the people,
for the use of the people. For this
reason l believe the people will vote
by an overwhelming majority next
Monday to own and operate their own
water system.
TAVDAvEP