Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-12-30
THE WATER QUESTION.
TWO VIEWS.
To the Citizens of the town of
Brighton.

Brighton.
Mr.. Editor AS a town meeting is
called for January 3, 1905, to determine
what course to pursue under the recent
legislation, in reference to water sup.
ply for the village of Island Pond, We
respectfully ask you to insert the follow.
ing suggestions in your valuable paper
That there is now installed and in
operation a water system capable OF
furnishing an ample supply of pure
water for all domestic and fire purposes,
with suitable reservoir, pipes and con-
nections to properly distribute the same
throughout che village of Island Pond,
is too well known to require discussion.
A little investigation by each voter will
satisfy him upon this subject.
The last Legislature has given you the
choice between four different methods
of dealing with this matter.
First-To construct an entirely new
system and thus have two independent
competing water plants in the village of
Island Pond, either Of which is sufficient
to supply all the needs of the inhabit'
ants of said village for domestic and
fire purposes.
Second-To buy the present water
system at an agreed price.
Third-To take the present water
system by condemnation, in other words,
at the appraisal of three disinterested
men appointed by the county court, oil
the application of the town.
The same Act which provides these
three methods for the town to become
the owner and manager of water sys
TEN, authorizes the town to issue bonds
to the amount of fifty thousand dollars
to pay the expense of its system. 1t is
self evident that a single water system
owned by the town is far better invest.
ment for the taxpayers, than one OF two
competing systems, either of which is
sufficient to supply the whole of the
inhabitants of the village for both
domestic and fire purposes; that the
income for water service is limited by
the size of the village; that with two
systems competition will necessarily
follow; that the digging up of the
streets for repairs will be increased.
If the town desires to own a water
system, either buying or condemning
the present system, avoids having two
systems in the village and the evil:
necessarily resulting to the owners o.
each system. The legislature has beer
careful to protect the town against the
danger of paying more for the present
system than its fair value by giving the
town the right to take it over on thu
appraisal of three disinterested apprais
ers.
Fourth-The Legislature has perfect,
protected every water taker in the vii
lage against any overcharge for watel
by amending the charter of the Islan(
Pond Water Company and giving thu
county court by it's committee power t.
determine and establish reasonable
rate for the Company to charge to an.
| taker for the water he uses.
Therefore if the town which is alread
5 in debt for about thirty-five thousan'
: dollars should prefer not to furthe
mortgage itself aud the property o
. every voter in town to raise the larg
+ sum OF money necessary to acquire tn
/, ownership of water system either b
0 construction, or purchase, the OWNERSHIP
i of the present system may be left wher
J, it is and no water taker, either indivit
e ual or corporation, be subjected to tn
e payment of unreasonable water rates.
d Every voter who will examine thes
C two Acts of the last Legislature ca
e readily satisfy himself that the legisl
n ture has so left the matter that no watt
l. taker can be compelled to pay the Islam
II Pond Water Company more than
:, reasonable and just TOR water so long ;
s, that Company owns and operates tt
d plant; also that there is no reason fl
r. having two competing systems unle
At the voters prefer two, because the tow
$. can acquire the present system, if it
,r desires, at its fair valuation, if not |
st purchase, then by condemnation.
ID FAIR PLAY.
il. Island Pond, VT, Dec. ~, 2904.
Il, To tha EJ;tor &c tho HEBAJn.