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

way political or personal 1t is DureIy
question of whether our water s,In-
ply shall be owned by the people or nv
a private corporation; whether if shall
be owned in Augusta by the voters of
Augusta, or in Portland by Mr.. West
colt. There is nothing in the contest
rejecting in any way upon the officials
of the water company who are estima-
BILE gentlemen. We cannot blame them
for wanting to retain possession of a
splendidly paying property; neither
can they blame the people of our city
for wanting to own it themselves. 1t
may be laid down as a general princi-
pal of right and justice, that a thing
like water which is necessary to the
life and health Of all the people, should
be owned by all the people.
I was especially interested in Mr..
Manley's communication in favor of
the water company which appeared in
yesterdays Journal. 1 have the high
est regard for Mr.. Marley personally,
but l find myself unable to follow him
when he advocates private and Port
land ownership of our water plant as
opposed to ownership by the people of
Augusta. At the same time / do not
blame him for the position he has
| taken. Situated as he is he could not
| we'll do otherwise. I have read his
communication carefully for the reason
that it undoubtedly presents the
strongest possible argument that can
| be made for private and corporate
| ownership. At the same time l was
surprised that the Portland gentlemen
who own our water company with the
| exception OF a few scattering shares
| owned by several gentlemen along the
Kennebec) and who control it's affairs,
should have asked Mr.. Manley to make
this fight for them. In the Kennebec
Journal of March Is there appeared the
following announcement:
To the Citizens of Augusta
The owners of the Augusta Water
Company offer no objection whatever
property and franchises to the Augusta
Water District; and give their consent
to the passage of the bill.
J. H. MANLEY, Treasurer.
Augusta, Me, March 16, 1903.
This was in line with personal assur-
ances given Mayor Robertson and 9TH
ers by officials of the Water Company,
that the corporation would offer no OPP
position to ownership by the people
In view of this L am certainly sur
prised to see the desperate fight it is
now putting up against the accom-
plshment of this desirable result
In opening Mr.. Marley expresses
grave doubts as to the legality of the
Watar district now constituted MI,
Heath, basing his opinion upon the de-
cisions of the court, has no question
whatever as to the entire constitutions
atty of the bill creating the Augusta
Water District, and certainly the
opinion of this able lawyer is entitled
to weight. [ am frank to say that |
do not see what particular bearing this
question of legality has upon the ques-
ton of ownership by the people. If
the company is confident that the
court would declare our Water Dis
trict bill illegal, what are they fight
ing the pending question for? Why
not let the people have their way and
depend upon the court to take care of
the corporation? So far as the people
are concerned they have nothing to
lose. Even if the court should decide
against them they would be no worse
off than they ARE at the present time.
Mr.. Manley declares that "a careful
archaeological examination of China
lake waters shows that impurities
dangerous to human health exist
therein in greater proportion than in
the water from the Kennebec river"
Anyone who has seen China lake. with
lutte freedom from sewerage, and it's
clear transparent waters, will natur-
ally be surprised at this statement.
Fortunately we are not without eX-
pert testimony on this point The peo-
pie of WaterVille have had very care
full examination made of these waters
by eminent scientists who report that
they are of surprising purity, and upon
the strength of this report it is prac-
tically settled that the city of Water
Viile-WhOSe people have voted to own
and operate their own plant-Will use
this lake as it's future source of
water supply.
Mr.. Marley declares that "even if
Cobbosseecontee lake or Silver lake
should be resorted to for supply of
water, it is not certain that the water
from either place will be purer than
the water from the Kenncbec river"
Now, while L have great respect for
Mr.. Manlcy's opinion in most matters
it seems to me that he is very much
mistaken in this assumption. | think
it is certain that the water of either of
these beautiful lakes is infinitely purer
than that of the Kennebec river. In
the case of CObboSScccontee this fact
is established by irrefutable proof. The
city of Gardiner takes it's water sup
ply from that lake. Last winter with
| over 200 cases of typhoid in our city,
and an exceptionally heavy death roll,
the city of Gardiner was practically
free from the disease. This is the most
conclusive kind of proof 1t is in fact
Il demonstration. Silver lake is an
unknown quantity; but what person
who has ever looked into the clear
waters of this beautiful sheet of water,
surrounded by woods, and free from all
sources of contamination would seri-
oUsly think of comparing them with
the waters of the kennebec river?
Mr.. Marley further declares 1T has
been demonstrated by the most pro-
found scientists of the age that even
rain water as it falls from the heaV-