Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-20
MR.. HEATH's SPEECH
CONTINUED from page S.

pump, the klnQ tnat Hdu Deel iDdH-
doned by other water companies for
years and years. After while they
put in a new pump.
We do not pay for any old pumps.
and YOU win find unfit the Supreme
Court declares the law to be different,
you will find that out of this appraisal
IS to be deducted whatever is necessary
toput this plant in proper shape. Thus
says the court,--not III. M. Heath but
the court of Maine who are presumed
to know something.
We will have overwhelming proof to
present that the source Of the water
supply is bad and a menace to the pub
lie health. If we prove this then what
would be the fair cost and fair price of
making pure supply of water or going
reasonable distance for pure water
is to be deducted from what would otn-
erwise be the market value or appraisal
of the water company. want the peo-
pie of this city to remember that in
this very Waterville case the court has
laid down as law what had the audac-
ity to tell you, in March, was, in my
Judgment, the law, and this is one of the
few cases where Ihappened to be right.
Don't you worry, friends and neighbors,
about those paper figures that are made
which are based upon the proposition
of taking what those men see fit to
charge. =
The cost of making this decent set
of works, a reasonably pure supply of
water Is to be deducted from what
would otherwise be the price Of this
plant. That is why, gentlemen, that
the owner of these works, Mr.. George
p. Wescott of Portland, has stirred up
in absolute Violations of solemn
pledge, this contest in our city. 1 say
to you advisedly with two witnesses
present, the mayor and Mr.. Lynch,
that the Augusta Water Company,
through It's officers, promised us as
representatives of the people, that If
we would grant an amendment to the
Water District bill, postponing the time
of submitting it to the people from
April till June, and that If we would
consent that those appraisers should
not sit until next January they would
not oppose ownership of the Augusta
Water plant by the people. We made
mistake-the mistake that every man
makes when he trusts n man who will
break his word. I will take the whole
responsibility of 1T. I will say that the
MAYOR protested and said l was
wrong. Mr.. Lynch protested and said
I was wrong I did not believe that
those men would dare to violate their
word with the people Of this city. Now
what IS the explanation? Why did
they do it? Mr.. George P. Wescott
who has been taking tribute Of you all
these wears, drawing dividends Il only
state this upon information, I do not
know it to be true) but l have
been told that this watered stock
$3.50, 900, pays per cent. dividends, $l5.-
600 a year, with no investment. 1t Is
good piece of property. You would
all like to make money at that rate.
1t is made out of you, an4l you ana
YOU. It is made at the expense OF the
wives and brothers and sons ana
daughters and children that sleep in
wonder church yards that could die
here by the score, and hundreds
could pray at night for the very lives
of their children, that out of this city
might flow to Portland 6 per cent.
dividends upon a quarter of a million
revenue wrung out Of your pockets at
the expense of the health of your fam
flies. This IS only one of George r.
Wescott's Investments of like charac-
ter. He is the leading spirit n the
Camden & Rockland Water Company,
built, financed, run upon the same pian'
cxcebt that there they have mag
nificent supply of Gods pure water
from q like back of Rockland. l have
not heard of any filtering station
there. He controls the magnificent
system in the city of Portland. bulit
unou bonds and it's stock selling To-Day
at 40. He controls in this State the
Saco and Biddeford system. its history
tho same as ours and all the others.
We'll gentlemen, when men look upon
NE. as a mere question of dollars ana
cents. when they have no regard for
the obligations of public duty, when
they give no thought of the victims
that are consigned to disease ana the
grave under their management, theil
we should take the power from them.
If you were situated az Is Mr.. George
=. Wcscott, the owner of the Camaeii
ana Rockland system, practically Inc
chief owner in the Portland and Bidde-
ford and other companies ana iookeu
upon 1t as a bare question "f doliars
and cents, you would fight no matter
what promises had been made. lou
would make every effort before you
would allow your water system III the
capital city Of Maine 10 90 down.
public ownership in Augusta means
public ownership for Portland. Bldae-
ford and Rockland and no man KNOWS
It better than that splendid business
man. George p. Wescott. There are
few men in Maine longer headed than
he: few men who can read the future
better than he. Do you wonder that ne
has stirred up this commotion III
violation of the promises given last
winter? ,
There - another proposition:
haven't the time here, and II had the
time l wouldn't do 1t. to outline Nne
details of proof that will be presented
to those referees. l do not propose III
public or In private to give away what
1 believe to he the case of the city VI
Augusta. l do say this as n conclusion
that when you apply the principles or
that Waterville ease as l nave given
them to you. to what believe to be the
facts as applied gentlemen Will be FOR
tunate indeed If they secure an
appraisal upon this property OF s55o'ooo'
tI,n @