Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-15
WATER HEARING.
Arguments by Counsel, Mon
DAY, Before the Commission.
Pros and Cons Of the Case Ably Pre-
scented by Distinguished Lawyers.
Decision to Be Announced, October 2,
at Bangor.

''dIuIlcF, Me-, sept. 1f-t'oDtCldl).-
The morning train from brunswick,
due at $50, was an hour late, delaying
the arrival of Judge Savage, the third
mcmhcr of the board Of referees in the
Waaer District hearing.
Mr. Littlefeld began ut 9.55, his clos
Tag argument, first outlining the sit
uation here and the legislative acts re-
Iating thereto which have been very
extensively reported in the Journal.
Tie So 800 received from the bond
sale in September -, just equals
the expenditure of the first years
work. If the securing of charter cost
anything, as to legal services, etc.
Mr.. Lewis does not remember it sutfi-
ccatly we'll to state the amount or
the lawyer if he had one. Facts show
that the work III Gardiner, for 80, cost
$50 00o Of money borrowed not by the
corporators but by the corporation. To
1902, $1tS,3o9.11 are the net returns from
= business that never cost its promot-
'erS a cent of their own money. There
seems to be no liability assumed by the
stockholders of the Water Co. We are
met by he demand for $30o,0G0 for works
that cost them nothing, and for which
they have actually received splendid
revenues. In other works, they believe
they arc entitled to their profits and a
great price for the plant caualling
s34S, 900. NY eminent brother appealed
with pathos in his voice for renumera-
ton for property Wrested from his
clients, without their consent 1t was
soon TO be made apparent that they
wererin no way entitled to sympathy.
Their demand in the way of rates
IitlyG been excessive, in my opinion but
snyhateVcr they have been. they nave
them. ana will keep them. They do
fff5t d9rc test their own plant ana
since it has been ours but in their CON
tlCl they have refused us the priVl-
l"gt' uf inspection. surely if this plant
is - such 4 bad state cf depreciation as
that, it is n most pHopitiouS time 10Y
them to dispose of the property. Iheli
bond issue is rapidly maturing. there
is no sinking fund, and in the near
FIXTURE extensive expenditure IS de
n,andcd for filtration, repairs, etc, ahG
the property has arrived at the high
est point of its efficiency as Il revenue
nrntluceY. As to quality of water ana
extent of supply we do not question
tnat. oven after the distinguished pro
c,esor who sees bactcriac and bacill
and nitroginal creatures at work not
only in the water we drink hut iii the
sir we breathe. | have not yet recoE-
cred from my horror at the presence o!
all these awful things and do no
know whether to continue breathing
air and drinking water as has b"e':
mv CUSTOM or not. But While TIE as
tinnuishcd professor was 50 BUSY "ith
those matters, he could not see an opel
drain that smelled to heaven Al
Einary's hotel. at the outlet. AS t"
value of rights there is no probability
tIat there will ever be n demand foi
more than is actually being used TO-
dav. The fire service cannot DE mater
tally improved by the addition OF
hvtlrants to the system on the hlShei
levels especially. because already IN
sufficient pressure would be rendered
worse. Nothing but extensive addl-
ton to the pipe system can give this
systom the fire efficiency it should pos
ccss and as to what is here We beileNe
if TO he in very poor condition, ne
cause of our friction tests ana thtH
manifest determination by persistent
rnfusal Of opportunity for Inspection
Shall we have turned over to us on
the payment of our money, pam
that in six months may be giving uS
serious trouble. That there are eX-
tensivc leaks in the system. IS to my
mind demonstrated by the fact that IL
the night there is being conveyed
Through this system. twice as much
water as there should be. That nlght
consumption is thousands of gallons
per hour in excess Of Il reasonable flg-
urc. | should think they would want
to sell this plant. Why. they nave NOT
given our engineers the opportunity to
test tho system as it should be tested
We have carefully tested and honestly
given to the commission, all the plant
70 which we have had access and the
results are absolutely uncontradlct'd
with the single exception Of the testi-
| monv of Mr.. Glass as to smut of
boxes.
Continued on page 81