Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-20
Eminent Engineering Experts
Testify for District.
They Estimate Value Of Physical
Plant at S222,437.
Cost OF Filtration PIant-Praise for
Weber Pond. Hr.

" "a N, Tic TWO eminent engineering
experts employed by the District. They
gave their opinion on the present phys-
fal Value of the plant, setting it at
S222,431. In this estimate thew took tho
price OF iron as of March l. 1904. the
date when the plant is turned over ia
the District. The engineers of the
company took the price of about a wear
earlier when iron was much higher
Inls was about the only respect in
which there was a difference, except in
the matter of depreciation. They al
SO testified as to the cost of a filtration
plant here, setting it at S95, 0O0 They
also testified that they would prefer un-
filtered Webber pond water to filtered
river water, for drinking purposes.
When the morning session opened,
Tuesday, Frank L. Harrington of Au-
susta. Gne of the city assessors was
called to the stand: Have recently
. looked over the land of the Augusta
Water Company. Estimate the value
of Johnson and Holman lots 81 acres. al
$500. About seven acres could be used
for pasturage. The rest is mainly
gully
the city assessors, was next called and
testified that in his opinion the two lots
were worth about $780, Roscoe Z. Pen
ney of Augusta. the third member OF
the board of assessors also took the
stand and agreed with his fellow men,
bcrs as to the value of the two lots.
G. A. Robertson, mayor Of Augusta
was the next witness: Have lived in
this city 81 years. Was city assessor
for three years. Should say the value
of the two lots in question is not over
$3.50. About seven acres are fair tillago
land. The rest is gully and swamp
and has not enough wood to pay for
cutting. There are many vacant build
ing lots in city nearer and better than
these lots afford"
On cross-eXamination: There are
about six rods on the east end that
furnish good gravel. There is another
gravel bank east of these beds which
furnish abundant gravel for many
years. Capitol street is not being ex-
tended into these lots"
After these witnesses had been
heard. Mr.. Heath requested that the
three commissioners personally visit
and inspect the two lots. Mr.. TitcomS
testifying for the company had earlier
set their value at about $4,000.
Wesley w. Albee of Augusta. was
next called to the stand: Have assist
ed i'm making sanitary canvass of city
also census of city and canvass to get
Industrial statistics. Found a popula-
ton of 6902 in houses served by river
| water, and 500 in houses supplied only
by Devine water, making 7405 persons
supplied by Augusta Water Company.
Also 12S in houses supplied by other
aqueduct systems. Found 1872 people
in city not in houses supplied by r'atcr
making total population SS45 Within
limits served by water system. This
does not include Insane hospital. Fo:ind
7G6 persons in $50 houses adjacent Ia
pipe lines and not taking water, and
SAG persons in 1O7 houses in city net
adjacent to pipe lines"
Mr.. Goddard then put in evidenc" q
statement showing the industrial his
tory of the city since 1887, giving .S-
ures concerning the nine industries
| which have gone out of existence since
then and of the q now in existence.
There are now employed in these in
dustries 2235 hands. In 1887, thera were
employed a52 hands in these industries.
and 372 in the nine industries now ont
of existence a total of 1924. This
makes a gain of oil in the number of
hands employed in Augusta industrie;
over 1887.
The next witness was Samuel NJ.
Gray. civil engineer. of Providence:
Was engaged last summer. to nav,
,l-a nntinonrinrr work the
District may do. Have been in the
business over 10 years. In recent years
mainly construction of water works
and sewerage system. For Is years
was city engineer of Providence. Have
designed or remodeled water works at
San Antonio. Texas: Mobile, Alabama =:
| Monterey, Mexico; Toronto. and Ral.i-
| moro. Designed sewer system of Ha
vlna under General Ludlow. Was or
commissions to change sewer system OF
Washington. and TO do $1i,o00.oG0 job
on Philadelphia water works. Am On
Rhode Island state Board of Health.
Am now on commission to remodel the
Springfield. Mass. water system. Have
had scores Of other engagements.
Began work here last summer. Sur
veyed pipe lines to Cobbossnn on : &c
and Silver Lake. The latter would not
alone supply the city. Made a survey
to Webber pond. about s miles from
city 1t has a surface of 12s2 acres and
d drainage area of % square miles.
Water would come from it to Augusta
by gravity Made survey with idea
of having o4-inch pipe for first $4,000
feet from lake toward city and 16-irt h
pipe for remaining 10000 feet 10 the
city Near river on East side WOULD
be small storage basin Of about
] 5OO,OoO gallons. Estimated COSY of
ripe lire at $4,000: of the aasor~ &c
basin at s2O.715: of pipe under river at
$40, 400 Other items would bring total