Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-18
; YOU MUST STOP
The Pollution of the Water Of
MessaI0nkee Stream
Says Maine Water Co. to the Several
Mills and Factories.
Property Will Soon Be. Transferred
TO Water District.

Waterville. Me-, Sept. T.-(SpeciaD.
Letters similar to the following We're
received, Thursday, by the various
mills and factories operating on the
stream at Oakland. AS the conditions
referred to are generally believed to
have existed when the Water Cos.
plant was established in it's present To-
cation 16 years ago and have continued
ever since with no move to change
them it seems a little late in the day
to take action now.
The legal proceedings for transfer
ing the property from the Maine Water
Co. to the Kennebec water District
have been getting on for years and are
now so near completion that the APP
praisal of the commissioners appointed
by the court will commence in less
than three weeks. The notices received
read as follows.
"Gentlemen:-You are we'll aware
that the Maine Water Co. takes it's
whole water supply for the inhabitants
of Waterville, Fairfield, Benton and
Winslow from the Messalonskee
stream, the outlet of Messalonskee lake,
SO called.
You are also probably aware that
the Kennebec Water District, under
authority of legislative act, is now con-
demning for the use of the same pop
ulation the same water supply ana
therefore have acquired an equitable
interest in the purity of the water.
"We desire and, as we think, have
the right to transmit to the water dis
trict this source of supply in the same
condition of purity and wholesomeness
that nature has given it.
SERIOUS complaint has been made,
last winter, that this water supply has
been and still is being polluted by you.
AS was our duty, we have since been
making a careful and painstakng in
vestigation of the conditions which
have given rise to this complaint and
the result of these Investigations has
been laid before us. These investiga-
tons disclose the fact that the closets
and privies in your buildings and about
your premises and the sewerage and
other substances injurious to health
which are allowed to escape therefron
into the stream are polluting said
water supply.
BY causing or suffering the cOntin-
uance of these conditions you are vio-
lating the following Statute of our
State contained in Chapter 80 of the
Public Laws of 1891:
Section 1-Whoever knowingly and viii
fully poisOnS, defleS or in any way cor
rupts the waters of any well, spring
brook. lake, pond or reservoir, used fol
domestic purposes for man or beast, ol
i,,ulv r. n he
ter supply Of any water company. or %
any city or town, supplying its inhab
tants with water. or the tributaries o
said sources of supply i'm such manner a$
to affect the purity of the water SO sup
piled, or knowingly defiles such water il
any manner whether the same be froZer
or not, or puts the carcass of any dea,
animal, or other offensive material int
said waters. or upon the ice Thereof, shall
be punished by n fine not exceeding $l0uO
or by Imprisonment not exceeding one
year.
'"rhe illegal use you are making of the
waters of said stream by depositing there
In filth. human eXcrement and all other
substances natural or manufactured, de
leterous to the health. is also in violation
of the wcll-known principles of common
law applicable to the pollution of streams
and rivers.
1--WE must. therefore, notify You that
this unlawful pollution of the waters of
MeSS2 lOnskee stream must cease at once
or the results and penalties of the law
will be invoked and enforced by us to the
full measure of our legal and equitable
right
las a matter of justice to You we
therefore offer you this opportunity t.
discontinue at once and finally all such
unlawful Use of this water supply and We
must require a definite reply before Sept
- in order that We may know whether it
will be necessary to include you as one OF
the defendants in such proceedings in
law and equity as it may be necessary fol
us to institute.
Yours truly,
"ORVILLE ID. BAKER and
"CHARLES +. JOHNSON
"Att'ys for the Maine Water Co