Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-10-12

me ana said that the water board wished
him to see me and see If l would take
900 for my water systems in their
present condition. l told him l would
reply in writing, and accordingly wrote
the following letter:
Brattleboro, Sept. 2, 1906
James F. Hooker, ESQ.,,
Chairman Water Board
Brattleboro, VT.
Dear Sir:-In your personal talk with
me this week, you stated that you would
like to have me give you the price that |
would take for my two water systems, SO
you could have it for the meeting of the
water board this evening AS you know,
OF course. the water board has reached
an agreement with me for taking over
my water systems at a price to be fixed
T by arbitration. and the village has en-
dorsed that agreement. and l am ready
to consummate that just as soon as the
village can legally go ahead and bind IT.
sell by arbitration. so | cannot now enter
into any negotiation or discussion to
violate the letter or spirit of that agree
ment. As | understand IL, by that agree
ment, the differences between the village
! and myself relative TO the water question
are settled and to be finally determined
by the board of arbitration, who are to
| fix the price at which the village is to
take my water systems; that any talk
or any suggestions made between the
members of the board and myself are
with the express understanding that the
same are not to be used in derogation of
the agreement or in any way to vitiate
or affect IT, AS matter personally. and
not in any way to be used before the
board of arbitration, l may say relative
to my price for my water systems, that
| named TO the board last spring as low
a price as I then felt like acceptinR for
my systems, as a matter of compromise.
The price of the second proposition
named was based largely on estimates as
to further work to be done. The actual
cost of that work, including the extra
that had to be done. and other things
that have been necessary. have brought
the cost to me approximately $50, 600 more
than the estimates then showed, and
even now. simply as matter Of compro-
least that sum to the price l fixed. If
the village wishes to negotiate for pur-
chase on that basis, and with the dis
tinct understanding that the negotiations
are as matter of compromise and not in
any way to affect the agreement to arbi-
trate. / am ready to do so.
Very respectfully yours,
GEORGE E. CROWELL.
AS to the statement which the members
of the water board make as to the value
of my property, all have to say is that
If II Is good for nothing, 1t will of
course so appear before the board of
arbitrators. and 1 will get nothing for it,
II what they say about II is true, II must
be easy for them to prove it, and If they
prove 1t, of course they will make a
strong case for the village.
There are many other statements made
in the communication from the members
of the water board which are contrary
to the facts. don't care to discuss these
in detail for, as above stated, when the
matter comes before the board of arbi-
traitors according to the agreement each
side can show what the facts are, and
each side will be treated fairly
All that l ask is that the village live
up to the agreement that it has made I;
l certainly will live up to my agreement
1 am ready to lay the ten-inch main on
4 TNr.A -
inch main, and use the pipe thus re-
leased in extensions on South Main street
and Oak Grove avenue as requested by
the Board of Trade and many property
owners. under an agreement that 1t shall
not prejudice either party in the arbitra-
ton, but the water board refuse to so
agree.
The following communication from the
Board of Trade explains the need of this
change:
Brattleboro. VT. Sept. 10, 1906.
George E Crowell Esq.
My dear Sir:-As you. of course, know
the Brattleboro Board of Trade has taken
up the matter of bigger, better and
with progress and Improvement will have
it's support Now. 1t has developed that
more houses and tenements are needed
to meet the wants of our fast increasing
population. Already some members of
our board have purchased land and laid
South Main street and houses will soon
be in process of construction. OF course,
each and every house will want water,
and am DESTROYS to know what arrange
ments can be made to meet this demand
l understand your mains don't extend to
this new section, but do come nearly to
new locality at an early date? It is
especially desirable that no great delay
be made in the matter, as. it has been
quite clearly shown that at least so fami-
lies would soon move into Brattleboro,
provided houses were ready for them.
Thanking you in advance for your early
attention to this matter. l remain,
Yours truly,
GEORGE E. FOX.
Secretary Brattleboro Board of Trade.
Sept 15, 1906.
Chas. o. Robbins. Esq.
President Board of Trade,
Brattleboro, VT.
Dear Sir:-In response to your request
that l at once extend the water mains of
the Chestnut Hill Reservoir company on
South Main street and Oak Grove avenue,
to furnish water for proposed new dwell
ing houses, 1 beg to say that l am ready
without prejudice to my relations with
the village of Brattleboro in the matter
of the taking over by the village of my
systems by arbitration as agreed upon.
! After the agreement to arbitrate was en-
tered into between the water board of the
village and myself, l received notice from
standing that the agreement to arbitrate
contemplates that the systems were to
be taken over by the village in their then
present condition, without changes or ad-
ditions Accordingly ceased the work 1
was engaged upon in improving and ex-
tending the systems l at once took up
with the water board the matter of some
| alterations needed Immediately among
/ them the laying of ten-inch main down
| Union street through Frost and Flat
streets to Main street, as 1t was required
by the business interests along those
/ streets. Laying this ten-inch main
4 through Frost and Flat streets would
release the six-inch pipe now in service
! in those streets. After conference with
! the board upon this subject, l received
further notice from them to the effect
that 1t was their wish that the pipe lines
remain as they were before the agree
ment to arbitrate was entered into.
/ had already ordered the ten-inch pipe for
! the Frost and Flat street main, and since
then 1t has arrived, and is already partly
distributed. l had arranged to have the
pipe laid and am ready now to do so at
once as the men to do 1t are all at hand.
The only way that I can meet your re-
quest to extend the mains on South Main
street and Oak Grove avenue is to lay
this ten-ineh main. on Frost and Flat
streets, and take the six-inch pipe thus
/ released for the South Main street and