Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-15
WATER HEARING.
Unabated Interest in Facts
Being Brought Out
As to the Present Condition and Value
of WaterviIIe Plant.
Experts Continue Their Testimony
Before the Commission.

Waterville, Me-. Oct. 14.-(SpeciaD.-
Mr.. Maxcy was the last witness, Tues
day afternoon, in the water hearing,
and had not finished his testimony,
but as he had gone to his home
at Gardiner, and his train back
was not due in Naterville until 9.47
two other witnesses We're recalled be-
fore Mr.. Maxcy's examination was
taken up. Mr.. Stacey was the first OF
these witnesses and he was called &c
testify about the working of the pumps
when both We're used together. When
so used he said they ran very smooth
~. Mr.. Blake. the engineer of the
commission, asked Mr.. Stacey about
he stated pressure and other technical
questions.
On cross examination Mr. Eaton
brought out the fact that there had
been times when there was not water
enough 10 run enc set of wheels am!
pumps, that designated rs No. .. Wheel
No. is connected with q larger pump
shan wheel No. l. Mr. Stacey had
never run wheel No. with full gate
sopening.
IA Mr.. Getchell, who is in constant at
tendance and a frequent witness in the
hearing was then recalled. He had az
armful of books which were offered 10
show the proportion or deaths from
typhoid fever in various parts of the
state. The counsel for the KenncEec
Water District objected to allowing
evidence relative 10 deaths from
typhoid fever IN towns and cities all
over the State to be Introduced but
willingly allowed figures on this point
for the entire State and for the city OF
Waterville ard the town of Fairfield
to be read and figures for Oakland will
also be introduced later.
Mr.. Getchell had made a tabulation and
read long list of figures. From these
il appeared that the most deaths from
typhoid fever for the entire State fo.
thc period from 1892 to 1901 was in 1897
when there were ol.Si to &c., 600 popula ton
and the highest WAS in 1893. when there
were SIS, to 100000 population The
figures for Watcrvilie on the same basis
and for the same period ranged from 0
in 1884; To 30, in 1901. In Fairfield in 1872.
1873, 1896, 1888 and 1900 there were no
deaths from typhoid. In 1888 ana in 1887
there were the most in each Of thcsa
wears. The proportion being J69S to each
l~l.na of population. In 1901 when the
mortality was 50 great from typhoid fever
the figures for the State were s. and for
Fairfield .5.1s
ut this point Mr.. Maxcy was again
He'd ard occupied all the remainder Of
the morning session except the brief time
that was taken by Prof. Robinson.
Mir. Nancy had Il bundle of decd; and
from these he read the parties and the
consideration for the real property which
had come INFO the companys hands while
h" WAS connected with it.
Some of these deeds ran to the water
company and some ran TO him and he
afterwards Quit claimed the property TO
the company.
one piece Of property which the COM
any came into possession of was gain-
ed by the right of eminent domain. and
one by petition for partition. One of
these pieces was the subject of consid-
cradle litigation. Mr.. Maxcy consider
ed the price of this excessive and the
price was not paid until judgment had
been obtained.
Mr. MaXcy had heard criticism of thu
source of supply made ut the time il
WIS selected and has also heard COM
plants made since. At times the Mes
salonskce is rOily and he occasionally
mad The pumps shut down for a few
hours. An attempt was made to intro
duce newspaper articles relative to the
condition of the water but the apprais-
ers considered them irrelevant.
Prof Franklin G. Robinson of Bruins
wick. professor of chemistry at Bow
doin College. who has had long expe-
ricHce in making chemical analyses OF
water He received samples of water
Of Mr. Weston Lewis of Gardiner in
1887. one from the Kennebec river, and
one from which he supposed to be from
some pond near Gardiner. This last
sample which is the one that Mr. Lewis
testified to send ing him from the Mes
salons,lee stream, he found to contain
2.h grains per V. 5. gallon. This is
slightly less solid matter than was
found in an analysis of the Gardiner
source of supply. 1t was his opinion
the the water was very pure water
suitable for any purpose. Prof. Rob-
insnn forwarded. his analysis and somc
time later wrote q Letter concerning
this water. but the original letter was
not in existence. The introduction of :.
copy of this letter was strenuously
objected to but it was allowed to go in
as evidence.
Prof. Robinson said that 4 chemical
examination would not show the pres
ence of typhoid fever germs, ard al
the time that analysis was made there
was 10 known method OF discovering
the presence of typhoid fever germs in
water.
An ANALYSIS of several samples o; en- in
tended water supply should be taken at
Different seasons of the year and bac
THEOLOGICAL analysis should accompany
the chemical analysis, but in this case
Prof Robinson was requested to MAKE
but one analysis
In Prof. Robinson's opinion. an edge
tool factory and a WOODEN mill and other
manufacturing plants above the source
of supply would lie q menace TO the purity
%. the Mater. H -
In the afternoon. several Watervill'
citizens were put on the stand The i.nst