Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-23
WATER HEARING.
Question Of Purity Is Brought
Up at WaterviIIe.
Owners and Dispensers of Spring
Water Put on Stand.
Civil Engineers Also Return With
Technical Testimony.


tention was in the first place called to
the spring water industry carried on
in the district under discussion and two
men engaged in selling water were put
on the stand. The first of these was
Maxine Turmille, who lives on the
Ridge road in the northern part of the
city and takes water from a spring in
that vicinity. Mr. Turmille said that
he had about 300 customers in Water
vile and that his sales amounted to
about IT'S gallons per day. He testified
that his sales had increased during the
last year to the extent of about so GUS
toners.
VIM. A. Osborn lives in Fairfield and
operates a spring located in that town.
His customers are mostly in Water
Vile and Fairfield, though he has some
in other places. He runs one team all
of the time and another part of the
time. He says he has in the neighbour
hood of 500 customers in Waterville
and $50 in Fairfield and delivers ON an
average about 400 carboys of five gall
Ions each per week. and last spring he
sold SO carboys in one week. Both
re and Mr.. Turmele testified that most
of their customers had the Water Cos.
water in their houses Besides these
two concerns there is the Ticonic Min
eral Spring in Winslow, but the pro-
testify at this time.
w. Fl. K Abbott. the superintendent
of the Lockwood Mills, was next called.
,,.;f \,
the Lockwood Co. ever since it was
started. He is at the present time the
treasurer of the Kennebec Water
Power Co. and is familiar with water
powers in this vicinity. He told about
the power at the Lockwood dam, which
he said was 5000 horse power. Two
thousand three hundred and fifty horse
power is used by the company in run
ming it's mill and water for 200 horse
power is leased to the Milliken heirs.
Mr.. Abbott knew of other unused power
mstfis vicinity and mentioned a power
near the village of BENTON Falls, about
five miles away, which is near enough
to this city to furnish power here. He
also knew of a power near the Marston
bridge commonly called Rice'S rips. Mr..
Abbott was questioned about the fire
in the do"mitory of Colby College and
said that M" Hall called him up by
telephone and requested him to have
the mill pump started and he gave Mr..
Gardiner. the master mechanic. orders
to start the pump and directions for
running it. The pump was started
shortly after 4 O'Clock and run until a.
little after O'Clock.
Mrs Abbott was then asked about the
domestic water supply furnished by the
company to its tenants in Winslow.
The supply is obtained from the Ken
nebec river at the east end of the dam
and sc services are put in the tenements
belonging to the company.
Walter S. Wyman has had expert
cncc in electrical power and water
works and has known the Messalonskee
cor Il long time. and is Interested in
rover on that stream ut the present
time. When asked how much in his
Judgment the power stripped of all de-
velopment but including the land was
worth. he said from $4,000 to $4,000
not including the dam below. He
thought there might be an Improvement
If from Il to 90 per cent. in the power
by different management. He said that
power - or Is miles away might be
protitahly transmitted by electricity.
The next witness was Frank B. Gar
diner the master mechanic. who start
ed the pump of the Lockwood Co. at
the Colby College fire. He testified that
the pressure when he started the pump
was GO pounds and that the average
pressure is 100 pounds. He corrobo-
rated Mr.. Abbott's testimony about the
time of starting and shutting off the
pump and it's capacity.
r. W. Dunn. who is the treasurer and
manager of the Dunn Edge Tool Co.
was next called. Mr.. Dunn has been
interested in water power for upwards
of 80 years. Mr.. Dunn'S estimate of the
value of the water power with the land
but without development under the
present conditions with an estimated
horsepower of 20 to 100. is $4,000. but it
the power were normal it would be
worth $4,000. Mr.. Dunn testified. as
others have already done, to the raising
of the gates at the foot of Long pond
affecting the flow abnormally. Mr..
Dunn then told about the sanitary
conditions at the Dunn Edge Tool Co.,
WHICH were dtiNt Va $50
pcrintendent's testimony already given.
Hon VIM. T. Haines has been on the
stand before. but was put on again.
Yesterday, to give his estimate OF the
value of the whole business Mf.
Haines' experience in waterWcrNs mas
been extensive and he now has interests
in plants in Newport. Machias, Oakland
and Scituate. Mass. Mr.. Halnes was
first asked his opinion of the vaiue OF
the waterpower which he placed at
$50 900. but did not consider the small
power below the dam of the water 70.
worth much. Mr. Haines had examined
various schedules which had peeh Iur-
nished to him and thought that 'he
whole business, including the IRAN
chise worth s300.0oo. He said that IN
making his estimate he had taken my
consideration the future. He coisiuele gu
Waterville and vicinity to be IN very
flourishing condition.
&c. Coffin was the principal witness
Continued on page 81