Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-12-07

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| and to compulsory arbitration for the
| purchase OF the Crowell systems. The
| matter should be arranged as between
| two men, and every user OF the water
| should stand on an equal footing with
| every other user, large or small. The
amount OF grand list should not control
Mr.. Vinton stated in brief what was done
| by the water committee OF 1905, of which
! he was chairman.
w. II. Bracket who was called upon
and questioned, gave a general statement
| OF his views. He was anxious to have
| the village acquire Mr. Crowells sys-
| TEN, and would wish to give Mr.. Crowell
| an equity in the system. He thought
| price around $3.50, 600 all the village would
! be willing to pay. The hard part of the
proposition would be to carry the price
the rest Of the way up to S275 900. but
for the sake OF settling the whole matter
he advocated putting the upset price Of
| S275. 900 into the amended charter.
l.. E. Holden made a statement OF The
views OF the committee and the efforts
made by them to arrange a satisfactory
| basis OF purchase Of the Crowell system
In speaking Of the negotiations with Mr.
Crowell he said that on three occasions
| Mr.. Crowell and his son had stated to
| him and to other persons that they
| would not sell unless they could
realize 100000 above the cost OF the
| system. Mr.. Crowell, being Intercepted
| tentionaly made such statement. II
| he had done so II was because he had
| either misunderstood the question, or his
answer had been misunderstood. Mr.
Gibson asked Mr. Crowel some questions
| bearing on the point as to whether his
| beginning work on the Sunset Lake sys-
| tenn had any connection with the purpose
| Of the village to own its water system.
| evinced by its action at the annual meet
ing In 1905. In answer Mr.. Crowell said
In substance. that his only purpose was
| to increase the efficiency OF his system In
accordance with plans previously made.
| Mr.. Fits said that, four years before
| this. he had quietly bought up the water
rights on Stickney brook. with the pur-
pose Of turning them over to Mr.. Crowell
when he was ready for them. The
| Stickney brook and North pond supply
had pronounced the one available gravity
| supply for the village.
]. f. Hooker, I'm a short statement,
said. IN substance. It had been the earnest
purpose OF the board TO serve the best
interests OF the village.
At the finish G.. E. Gilman was called
out He said the main thing the village
wanted was the privilege OF owning its
own water system. He was opposed TO
| compulsory arbitration and, as all other
members Of the board who spoke had
been, TO having a majority OF the grand
tinued for upward OF two hours and
| everybody present was given a chance to
express his views.
Mr.. Van Patten. who asked several
leading and Illuminating questions during
the hearing. caused some amusement by
his question whether the water board
considered the sum OF s275,0 an ex-
travagant one for the water system and
then, whether they were afraid an ar
bitration board would increase this price
the answer to both questions being Yes"
In conclusion Mr. Van Patten related a
little chapter Of experience which his
own city OF Burlington has recently had
with a water problem OF it's own. The
voters had even gone directly against
one OF his own speeches. he said.
The city had suffered from an at
tack OF hysteria on the water question,
but It finally recovered and took sane
and reasonable action II was evident.
he thought, that the people of Brattleboro
were suffering from similar attack. and
he thought that, II they exercised
little patience, they would also recover
and arrive at satisfactory solution OF
their own water problem.
During The Informal discussion before
the committee, Mr.. Finn remarked that
II the water committee. acting in good
faith, and under what they believed 10 be
the instructions Of the village had in
CURED expense or obligation, he thought
the village ought TO stand behind the com
mittee. He knew OF no other fair way 10
do in all such cases.
The Final Session.
The hearing before the committee was
closed at a session held the first thing
Wednesday morning Maps OF the whole
water system were shown and Mr.. Ho-
den and c. B. Crowell answered questions
In regard to the sizes of pipe in use on
certain lines OF the system. c. b. Crow
ell was then questioned as to whether
he had ever said that his father would
not sell unless he could make 500, 600
profit Mr.. Crowell was positive that he
mad never made any such statement, and
that II any such round sum had been
mentioned it referred to their equity in
the system and not to the question OF
profit
The lawyers then made their closing
statements in behalf OF the interests they
represented. w. b. G. Stickney, repre-
senting Mr.. Crowell. said IL was evidently
the practically unanimous desire of the
village Of Brattleboro to own Mr.. Crow
ellis system. Municipal ownership was
undoubtedly desirable. but II for any rea-
son the village does not acquire the sys-
tenn, 1t viii be necessary for Mr.. Crowell
to finance 1t for its final completion. 1t
is a matter of necessity as well OF Justice
that he shall be put in a position to do
this. Mr.. SticRney belived that the Mas
sachusetts way OF providing by law that
village or city proposing to establish
municipal water or lighting system
shall first negotiate by arbitration with
the owners of any existing private system
was the right way, and Mr.. Crowell should
now be given the advantage OF such pro-
cedure.
Mr. Batchelder, for the water commit
tee, contended for the right OF the viii
lage ITO go up into the hills and get
water" If 1t wished to- do so. The legis-
lature had no right TO say to the village
Take Mr.. Crowells system or you shan't
have any water" They were willing to
negotiate for Mr. Crowells system, but
they object to compulsory arbitration.
Mr.. Gibson said the final word speak