Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-28
WATER HEARING.
Appraisers Still at Work on the
WaterviIIe Plant.
Evidence Is Being Very Well Shaken
Before Being Taken.
Tits Between Attorneys and Witnesses
Very Interesting.

Waterville, Me-, Oct. 27.-(SpeciaD.-
The appraisers in the water hearing
had long, hard day of it, Tuesday,
commencing at o'clock in the morning
and rot getting through until about
$50 in the evening. Advancement is
not steady, as frequent stops are made
to add new testimony to some that has
already been given or to correct the
old The company is still mixing in
property experts with the bacteriolo-
gists and the testimony may at one
minute be regarding the growth OF the
coli and the next regarding the cost of
the new roof on the stable at the pump
ing station.
The evidence is being well shaken be-
fore taken and all sorts of expert
knowledge is rubbing elbows from time
to time. Progress toward the end is
evidently being made, for the whole
mass of evidence regarding the plant
must be near exhaustion by this time.
But a new face is occasionally seen
among the experts and thus far little
cred ahead, although it seems to be the
general opinion that the case will be
closed by Saturday night.
The examination of Mr.. Whipple was
concluded during the morning session
and he was followed by his associate
DR.. Levey. who testified along much the
same lines but covering different terri
tory. His statement that he estimated
that 10000 gallons of wool wash, ex-
hausted dye stuff and waste from the
finishing room We're discharged into the
Messalonskee daily by the mills along
the stream in Oakland was one of the
things that made everyone sit up and
take notice.
In the cross-eXamination Mr.. Baker
attacked the methods used by these
experts and while most of the specta-
tors thought they justified them in the
end, the attack was so we'll planned
and executed that it took some good
work to do it. But this is the common
fate Of the expert in such cases and
Messrs. Thayer and Eaton took revenge
when Mr.. Card, the company's bacte-
biologist, came to testify.
The latter part of the morning session
was devoted to the insurance men
Messrs. Boothby and Danna-who testi-
fled regarding the protection against
fire afforded by the system and as to
it's efficiency from their standpoint.
The afternoon session was scheduled
to commence at 2 o'clock but actually
started after 2.30, various delays being
causeds This was devoted chiefly to
the examination of Professor Card
the Psychologist, and Mr. Goodheau,
the expert On water plant values.
Thes latter was the last one of the
day and the most interesting. He be-
1ieves that the plant is worth $650,000
of any mans money if the water be
wholesome, but is not certain that the
latter is true. He estimated that the
physical plant is worth from $330,000
to $4,000. He evidently knows water
plants like a book in all their details.
He was q match for all the lawyers and
held the whip hand all the time he was
on the stand. In many ways he was
the most interesting witness that has
yet been heard during the hearing.
The examination of Professor Card
is yet. to be completed and more ex-
pertss will doubtless follow.