Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-12-08

ment of the Chestnut Hill Reservoir
company prove satisfactory TO our
village? II Il Is fair to Judge the IN.
ture by the past, that would be an
open question.
We recommend that steps be taken
al the next session of the legislature
to secure appropriate Legislation
STRENGTHENING the present statutory
provisions relating TO ownership OF the
water system by the village of Brat.
tleboro. In view OF the present condI-
ton and needs of our community, It Is
to be regretted that we are now sur
rounded by such statutory Limitations
as to leave some question as to the
ACCESSIBILITY OF immediate action look
ing TO the ownership and control Of
the water system by our village. In
1892. an act was passed amending the
charter of the village of Brattleboro,
providing that the village In its corpO-
rate capacity could own and operate
it's own water system. This act gave
the village the right to acquire any
pond. spring, stream, water source.
real estate. water rights fOwage
rights and easements necessary within
the limits of the towns of BrattlebOro,
Marlboro and Dummerston. II did not
give the village the right of eminent
| domain In the town of Guilford but
this does not necessarily preclude the
village from acquiring by purchase
any rights which may be necessary
In that town.
The village corporation, by this act
however, is prohibited from issuing
and negotiating bonds for its water
system exceeding $125,000 in amount
II may hold property in connection
with its water system TO the value of
100000. The force and effect of the
act of 1892 is to permit the village to
Immediately move If 1t so desires, TO-
acquire its own system, If 1t can do so
under the limitations prescribed.
The village can Immediately proceed
to expend for a new system or for the
purchase of the Crowell system $780,
900 through a bond issue. In addition
ii may expend $4,000 through an is
sue of temporary loan, which could
be taken care of after the next ses-
sion of the legislature.
We understand that the Sunset
Lake Water company has con-
tract with the Chestnut Hill Res
ervoir company Cor Crowell sys-
Item). to furnish water to that system
for a term of years If this is true,
then in buying the Crowell system,
the village will have to buy the Sun
set Lake Water company. or carry out
the contract with said company.
Your committee in recommending
municipal ownership realize that the
village is confronted with two PROPOSE
tions-the purchase of the property Of
the Chestnut Hill Reservoir company
or the construction of new system.
That the village may be fair and at
! the same time protect its own inter-
ests. we recommend that the village
. purchase the present system, known
as the Crowell system, without any al
, lance with the Sunset Lake Water
company, at the price placed upon 1t
by the engineer, plus such sum as the
!, village may deem advisable. in view
; of doing away with all competition.
J The sum paid in the aggregate Ger.
: tainly ought not to exceed the bonded
; debt.
r we do not believe that the village
I, is under any equitable or moral obli-
T CATION to take the water rights con-
E tracts or construction thus far mace
: Inv the Sunset Lake Water company