Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-08

this epidemic was caused by the Ken
nehcc river watcr-why it had never
occurred before. and had not been re-
peated again the past winter"
| The last part of the question is an
swercd by the fact that the past WIN
ter the river has not been infected by
| typhoid in Waterville
The first part is answered by show
| ing that the facts are not as he as
sumes.
There has been n marked AMI
growing increase in typhoid fever in
| Augusta. out of all proportion to her
increase III population. since the estab-
lishm"nt Of the present water works.
| 2-Duling this period there has been
4 marked difference in the seasonal dis
| lrlbution of the cases, such as is gen
orally recognized as indicating a gen.
erai water supply cause. Thus, before
| the introduction of the river water
supply, what typhoid fever we had in
Augusta came in the early fall months,
which is the normal season for the dis
ease in this State, while since then the
disease has come to us in the winter
| I've have had q number Of epi-
| denies since the works were installed.
| Notably the large epidemic Of typhoid
in the winter of 1898. which. in consa-
qucnce of three soldiers at the United
states arsenal being stricken by the
disease, was officially investigated by
the United States surgeon general The
arsenal then being supplied by the Au-
| Eusta Water Co. this investigation,
| which was most thorough. included the
pollution and infection of the river wa
ter ana the report. strongly condemn
| ing the water was made part Of the
sturgeon generals annual report for that
| year and printed by the government.
| In 1898. the epedemic was here; the
| surgeon generals representative was
here Il long time publicly investigating
| the cause and the water supply, and
ever since then the surgeon generals
published report on the same has been
here in the State Library.
Can any one believe that the officers
Of the augusta Water Co. did not watch
with interest that investigation ana
have curiosity enough to read that re-
port?
The WRITER of 1894 saw another
alarming typhoid epidemic in Augusta.
which one of the most sllillful physi-
cians in kennebcc county investigated
and attributed to the use Of the river
water. He called the attention Of the
state Eoard of Health 10 the danger,
with the result That the Augusta Water
Co., instead CT making any effort to
Improve the supply. threatened the
loctor with n libel suit.
This is the water which we have thus
larg" majority of our people will no
longer tolerate for any domestic pur-
pose, filtered or unfiltered.
Surprising as it may seem. there
probably are Others who drink IT,.
through preference. as my brother told
US In opening; although he has offered
no proof OF 1t. If so. II only illustrates
the old saying that there Is no ac-
counting for taste"
The S250.c0O Of capital stock ~ this
company has not cost one dollar II
does not represent one dollar OF in
vested capital 1t Is all water:-pure
water. and Is the only pure water in
"hith this company has ever dealt.
II has served no legitimate purpose Of
the charter. and because IL has been
USED as means to extort Illegally
from US the 100000 or more which the
owners have rcreived in dividends. II
certainly ought not to augment the
amount which we are to pay for the
plant ana franchise
These dividends on unpaid stock rep
resent just-so much money wrongfuIly
levied on the people of Augusta by
means CT extortionate rates for pollut-
cd and infected water. 1t was a
scheme to get something for nothing
at the price Of human misery.
Had they paid into the corporation
treasury the full par value OF their
stock. s250,o00. and expended this en-
tire sum as required by their charter.
exclusively for the purpose of provid-
ing pure water. they might have fur
nishe1 US with pure wholesome, de-
lic;ous water from one of the beautiful
lakes in this vicinity, and would have
done no more than required by law to
entlt1e them to any dividends at all.
Immediately on taking possession Of
the works. we must expend sum equal
CONTINUED on pase ~