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

The Water Question.
Elsewhere in this issue the Journal
publishes a communication from Hon.
George P. Wescott of Portland, the
president and principal owner Of the
Augusta Water plant. and from Hon.
]. H. Marley, its treasurer, in refer
ence to the pending water situation.
Neither undertakes to discuss the
merits of ownership by the people,
which is the question to be passed
upon at the polls. next Monday, by the
people of Augusta.
Mr.. Wescott expresses his desire for
q pure water supply, and his purpose
10 obtain one after IAN exhaustive
and thorough search" Mr.. Maniey is
more explicit. He declares that a BAG
THEOLOGICAL examination mas shown the
waters of China lake to be more i'm
pure than those of the Kennebec river.
and he very much doubts if the waters
of CobboSseecOntee or Silver lake would
be found in any way superior to the
water of the kenncbec river. We
scarcely think, however, that Mr.. Man
ley is justified in saying that there
has been no complaint of Kcnne5ec
river water in the Is years that it has
been used by the Augusta Water Com
pany. During Il considerable portion of
this period typhoid fever has been more
OF less prevalent in oar city during
the months when the river is closed in,
and there has been at least one very
serious epidemic of this disease in Au-
gusta prior to the onefthat wrought
shch fearful havoc, and brought sick
ness and death into 50 many of our
homes. last winter. Indeed, the very
general and increasing use Of spring
water for drinking purposes during thu
past decade by those Of our citizens
who could afford to pay for it, has
been a protest against the present
source of our water supply
Mr. Manlay figures out a very high
cost for purchasing and operating Oh:
local water plant. III no instance, how
ever, in our State where people have
taken and operated their own water
systems, have they failed thus far to
do so at a profit. ON the figures given
by Mr.. Manlcy Il loss of $4,000 4 yeai
is -wrrteTf- --rrrfuusa ri s1r'c-'r1Tffa
such Il result il has been found noccs-
&ary to include $1,000 credited to the
sinking fund, and wnich is nothing
more or less than an annual amount
laid aside from the earnings to be paid
in upon the purchase price OF the plant
Mr.. Manley thinks that the ideal
water supply is filtered river water
our people, however have had river
water for the past Is years, and they
have always been given to understand
that it WAS filtered. The officials of
the water company must be expected
to make the best possible showing for
the present private AMI corporate own
crship. No blame can attach to them
for supporting the interests they
serve but at the same time they can
scarcely be expected to take as un-
biased View of the situation as the
private citizen who has no financial in
trreSt in the auction and locks at it
purely from the standpoint of what is
host for thp community
The Journal is Elad to present these
Communications to its readers. There
is nothinG political or personal in the
question: mt issue. 1t is only right that
both sides should have a fair hearing,
in order that the voters may act in
diligently on the matter when they
east their votes. next Monday.