Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-12-08

There was another resolution introduced
by Dr. Holton directing the bailiffs TO
inquire into the purity OF the Crowell
water and into the rates charged for IL
in comparison with those Of other places,
and. II excessive. to see II they could not
be reduced to reasonable basis. Mr..
Crowell fulfilled the obligation he under
took in his letter. He built his pumping
plant and his six-inch main to the reser-
voir. And the bailiffs never called any
further village meeting.
The bailif1s never made any complaint
about water rates, and Mr.. Crowell. GER
tainly, by all this. was given to under
stand and believe that the village did
not propose to act under its charter Of
1892, but relied upon him TO furnish water
to the village and to extend his mains
accordingly. He further had the right
to understand that the village was not
complaining Of his prices charged for
water rates.
From that time until the annual meet
ing last May there has been no attempt
at any action by the village to do any
thing under the charter OF 1892, TO COM
plain of Mr.. Crowells water rates or in
any way to change the understanding and
arrangements which the village by its
resolutions at the meeting Of 1898 made
with Mr.. Crowell.
Acting under the report OF this COM
mittee and their engineer, Mr.. Crowell
in the summer OF 1908 had surveys made
to find the feasibility OF bringing the
water from Stickney brook over into
Pleasant valley. in Brattleboro. and there
having a large reservoir and from thence
taking the water by mains to the village
He had placed a second mortgage upon
his water system. The hard times
financially which commenced in 1898
and followed for many years, pre-
vented his being able to finance the pro-
position OF getting the gravity supply. In
the summer OF 1901, conditions having
come about that made an increased supply
seem necessary. Mr.. Crowell did take
counsel and seek to make arrangements
to bring Stickney brook water into his
system. He undertook then to carry out
the plan which was suggested by
Engineer Ellsworth. employed by the VII
lage in 1898, and that was, to bring the
water from point near the Ward Estey
place down the West river road TO Brat
tleboro.
Mr.. Fits said he was employed by Mr.
Crowell and took up in his own name
but under an agreement to turn them
over to Crowell the water rights OF the
only power on stickney brook. held by
titles to all the land from the West river
to the Estey farm, all these deeds being
dated in the summer of 1901.
A survey was made by Engineer VOL
colt of Greenfield, and staked out along
the West River highway to Sticlxney
brook.
The matter was taken up with the
first mortgage bondholders OF the Chest
nut Hill system, the only way in which
1t could, as the charter then stood. be
financed, and the party holding the
mortgage of the bonds agreed to nut nm
the money upon approval of his engineer.
AT about this time there was a very
great rise In the price Of iron pipe.
The party who was to furnish the
money, Mr.. Wesson refused to put In
capital when pipe was so high So the
plan was delayed at that time on that ac-
count. The thing remained in abeyance
until last year.
Last year other negotiations and plans
We're made, and 1t was found in order to
finance the proposition 1t would be neces-
sary TO do so by an increased bond issue
on the Chestnut Hill Co., for which an
amendment to the charter would be re-
quired, or falling to get the money that
way, to have an independent COMPANY
with like powers and rights as the Chest
nut Hill Co. has, and put a first mort
gage on to that company.
Accordingly there was introduced and II
was passed by the last legislature an
amendment to the charter OF the Chest
nut Hui Reservoir Co., granting authorize
TO issue an increased amount OF bonds.
This was published in the Brattleboro
papers and the purpose OF II was stated.
that 1t was to provide funds TO get an
increased water supply for Brattleboro.
1t was generally understood as II must
have been, that Mr.. Crowell was planning
to take In Stickney brook for the stakes
OF his survey stood all along the west
river road, and 1t was matter Of public
knowledge. There was also passed by
the legislature the charter OF the Sunset
Lake Water Co., In which Mr. CrovelI
and his two sons and Mr.. Crosby and
Mr.. Fits were named as corporators
Mr.. Crosby, because he was a contraetor
and friend OF Mr.. Croweli, ana Mr.
Fits because he was crowelrs counsel