Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-12-08
Mr.. FIuTs Statement for Mr.. crOwsIl.

At this point Mr.. Fits took the floor
and stated that as he was counsel for
George Z. Crowell. head OF the Chestnut
Hin Reservoir company which owns the
present system. and was conversant
with the system Mr.. Crowell had asked
him to make a statement OF the position
of the Chestnut Hill company. In doing
so Mr. Fits gave a history OF the present
system and brought out many facts with
which the public were not familiar
His statement was substantially as
follows:
An act was passed by the legislature
OF 1892 giving the village the power 10
put in water system. and to take up
by eminent domain water rights and lands
In Brattleboro. Marlboro and Dummers-
ton. The act, by sec. ~, limited the
amount OF property the village could hold
for that purpose TO 100000. and limited
the amount of bonds that could be issued
to $125,OOO. After this act was passed
special village meeting was held Dec
20, 1892, and n committee appointed to
investigate and report at a subsequent
meeting regarding the best sources and
means OF the additional supply OF water
for public and private use That com
mittee was b. ID. Harris. l. X. Fuller
George F. Gale, George S. Dowley and
o. A. Marshall.
The committee engaged as an engineer
r. A. Ellsworth of Holyoke, who made
full examination and exhaustive re-
port. His report, and that OF the COM
mittee were printed and distributed
previous to the village meeting which
was held TO consider the report, on March
10, 1908. The engineer reported that
Suckney brook was the best source for
gravity supply. The committee had an
analysis OF the water OF Stickney brook
made, and that analysis was printed with
their report, and finds II exceptionally
NHvat for for
analysis was made by Prof. Wood OF
Harvard university.
The committee in their investigation
inquired OF Mr.. Crowell as to what means
he purposed to take TO increase his water
supply, and Mr.. Crowell replied in a let
ter, which is printed with the report, and
stated that while he believed that the
addition should and would eventuaIIy
come by gravity, and in connection with
another and larger reservoir. his present
purpose then was to put in a pumping
station at West river and pump into the
Chestnut Hill reservoir by a pipe not less
than six inches in diameter.
The committee reported that they were
satisfied that Sticixney brook could be
safely depended on to furnish an ample
supply OF good water for all purposes,
and found that the water was excep-
tional for purity and softness. 1t recited
what Crowen had promised to do In the
way OF putting In a pumping station and
recommended the adoption of two resolu-
lions:
'First-Resolved: that the bailiffs be
and thereby are authorized to make
necessary contracts for water for the
hydrant service with the Chestnut Hill
Reservoir Co., in accordance with the
intent and spirit OF this report.
Second-That in case the bailiffs have
any cause directly to agree upon terms
and conditions OF said contract, and of
obvious neglect to use all reasonable
means and energy to push to completion
the necessary plan to carry such con-
tracts in good faith, the bailiffs are here
by requested in good faith to call a spec
ial meeting forthwith TO take such fur
ther action in the premises as the then
existing circumstances may seem TO de-
mand."
No complaint was made about eleva-
ton Of reservoir.
These resolutions were reported and in
troduced at the meeting on March TO-
1898. There was considerable discussion
upon the report. especially upon the ques-
ton of water rates. Finally, the resolu-
lions proposed by the committee were
adopted with only one dissenting vote