Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-20
WATER HEARING.
Case of Water District Opened
at Watervi|le.
Attorney Eaton Outlines the History
Of the Present System.
Another Week of interesting Testimony
Is Expected


The water hearing which was adjourn
ed, Friday afternoon, WAS resumed, at
$50, Monday afternoon, when Mr..
Eaton made his opening for the Kenne-
bee Water District. Mr.. Eaton briefly
outlined the history OF the water sys-
tenn under Discussion. He told how in
only 1910 inhabitants and when few
places in the State owned their own
plants several local men attempted to
establish Il water system and hired q
man to make an examination of water
services in this vicinity and it was prac-
tically decided to take the supply from
Snow pond, but several out of town
men including Mr.. Tucker, Mr.. Seweli
Mr.. Maxcy, Mr.. Lewis and Mr.. Frank
james of Portsmouth, n. H.. gained
control, the right to take the water
from Snow pond was stricken from the
charter, and it was decided to take the
supply from the present location on the
MeSSa lonskee stream, known as Crum-
NETS Mills.
Mr.. Eaton referred to the valua ton
which the other side had placed upon
the property and stated that expert
builders and contractors who would be
put on the stand for the district would
testify that the buildings could be
erected at the present time with pre-
vailing prices for but little more than
half tho price set upon the buildings by
the Maine Water Company. and the
franchise he said WAS practically worth
tces..
Referring to the fire service, MI
Eaton said the static pressure at the
hytlrants in Fairfield. Benton and Wins
low was so low that streams at fires
we're entirely Inadequate. He said that
the other side would not consent to a
practical demonstration of the ineffi-
cheney of the system for fire purposes
before the commission, so they would
have to rely upon the testimony OF the
tiremen present at fires in these towns.
Mr.. Eaton called attention to the fact
that the Maine Water CO. had not put
in any evidence relative to the quality
If the water. He then proceeded to tell
about the conditions existing upon the
stream furnishing the water supply,
showing how the sewerage from Oak
land was either directly or indirectly
enaptied into it, He said that the other
aide stated that they could not discover
the source of the typhoid epidemic
which existed last winter but that the
Kennebcc Water District had discover
ed the cause to be duo to the water
Supplied by the Maine Water Co.
He spoke of the streams and rivers of
The state as the natural sewers. and
+he ponds the natural reservoirs of the
state, and since that almost ell towns
could get pure water from these natur-
al reservoirs and that it would be i'm
possible to restrain pollution OF streams
by bill in equity as proposed by the
Maine Voter CO. He took the little
town of Richmond as an ilustra ton.
and told how absurd it would he for
this town to try to prevent t1e cities of
Gardiner Augusta. Watervile and al
other places above it on the kennebec
from discharging sewerage into the
river. and showed how business would
be paralyZed if this were done.
The town of Oakland has Il statute
right of maintaining sewer and no
mention IF this sewer il made in the
Maine Water Co.'S. bill in equity. If
factories such az the Dunn Edge Tool
Co. We're cnioined from directly dis
uinaIls eul olu! sSeIsMes II7ul SuISIeuo
n line of the town sewer might be run
past such factory and the factory could
thus legally discharge its sewerage into
the stream by way OF the sewer.
Mr.. Eaton said that the people Of the
city would have taken the matter into
their own hands and found some way OF
procuring some supply of pure water if
the matter were not taken up by the
kenrehcc Water District, and that the
source in the system were Increased be-
cause the people knew that the system
was to change hands and pure water
Would he furnished.
Mr. Eaton said that he would like to
show tho commission some things which
the Maine Water Co. did not show when
the first View was taken. The commits
sion will beside whether they will take
arother view and il they decide upon
ono when will it take place.
The first witness put on. today, nv
tho Water District was Hon. VIM. T.
Uaines. Mr.. Haines came to Water
Continued on page q