Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-31
WATER HEARING.
Continued from page ~


He criticised the methods of getting
at the estimates of value that had been
used by the company, and some of the
work OF the experts. Tn cases of this
kind he thought that the figures OF
business men should be accepted with
considerable care for, while he would
not for a moment hint at any dis
honesty Or crookedness, he thought
they might be arranged to give the best
possible showing and still not be nicely
accurate.
In regard to the power he said that
the company evidently wished the dis
trict to pay for all of the development
and then $4,000 beside because it had
been developed. He believed that the
present condition of the power is des-
perate because Of the lack of control of
the water on the stream and thought
that proper control would be a difficult
matter to get at.
For nearly nve years the company
had known that the plant was likely to
be taken away from it and Mr.. Thayer
believed that this knowledge must have
had it's influence on the management.
He believed that it would be natural to
make as good q showing as possible
during that time for the hearing which
seemed certain to come sooner or later
In building for the future they were
acting for others and in building for
| the present alone for themselves. AS
the result of this policy he believed
that it would be necessary for the
| buyer to eXpend large sums to catch up
| with the present and to provide for the
future described in such glowing terms
| by the company.
| He asked what sort of system it
was that was not only unable to pro-
| vide sufficient fire protection for the
| huge industries on which the city de-
pended largely for its prosperity, but
in case of extraordinary need was
| obliged to call on them for assistance
and to have polluted water pumped in
for the consumer to drink.
He believed it to be true that the
company had been steadily milk ing
the COW without feeding her and that
! it was time that construction accounts
that nave had a long vacation should
be worked a,.d t!:at net return accounts
should be given a rest.
In discuss :ns rates he stated that
those charged We're considered reason
able by the company for pure water
which according to it's charter it was
obliged to furnish. But as the water is
not pure are the rates reasonable? He
found that nearly 81 per head was be-
ing paid each year for spring water
and believed this to be an extra tax in
TIE people by the company ION account
of its neglect to furnish pure water.
Because the company has overcharged
III the past he thought it apparently be-
lieved that it had vested right to do
so and that the district could do like
wise.
He believed the company or the
buyer to be now facing the problem of
bringing the plant up to date and of
enlarging 1T to cope with the demands
of the future. The question regarding
the future growth of the city was
perpleXing one. Would it be as large
as in the past? Would it go beyond
expectations as it mad done or would it
decline? 1t seemed fairly certain that
under any condition the water must he
filtered if the same source is continued.
Can this be done in satisfactory man
ner and economically and will the
people stand for filtered water"
Then there is the question of lively
competition. In Fairfield private
water system is steadily cutting into
the profits of the company and in a
way that is apparently beyond the con-
troll of the Legislature. In Winsl1w
the people are preparing TO install
their own plant while the condition of
the revolt in Waterville is well known.
RE understood that the company would
answer this by quoting what is con-
sidered the we'll known public policy of
the State but he did not consider this
sufficient.
In closing Mr.. Thayer discussed in
detail the law by which the company
expected to prevent the pollution of the
stream at Oakland. He argued that
| Oakland had rights there as well as the
company and that it might be a very
difficult thing to enjoin all the mills and
residents along the bank from dis
| charging pollution into the stream or to
| prevent this from being done even after
the injunction was secured. He thought
| it was coming to be recognized as the
prinsipal that the rivers,should be used
| for sewerage and water power, and the
| lakes for drinking purposes. In this
case where there is an admirable source
of supply near at hand he considered
this applicable.
Mr.. Thayer talked for about 3k hours,
| the limit allowed by the court being
4 hours. When he had finished he was
cordially congratulated by Mr.. Baker,
| who was to answer the arguments in
the afternoon.
At the conclusion of the argument
an adjournment was made until o'clock
in the afternoon. Mr.. Baker opened
promptly and talked the entire hours
allowed him. His argument was as
eloquent and forcible as had been eX-
pected of him, but Of different style
from Mr.. Thayer's. The argument adj
vanced in the forenoon were answered
in the order in which they had been
made and very eXhaustively.
After an impressive introduction Mr..
Baker passed to the discussion of the
physical Value of the plant. He had
supposed that the property was very
valuable one and in an unusually fine
location, possessed of rare earning
powers, but that his view had evidently
been opposite to that of counsel on
other side. He then took up in detail