Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-01-05

1892, and committee consisting OF
b. ID. Harris. l.. X. Fuller George +.
Gale. George 5. Dowley and o. "A.
Marshall was appointed TO investigate
and report, This renort made March
l. 1898. included the following prices
recommended as fair for hydrant SER
vice.
For any number of hy-
drants less than 80. $4,000 each
For 30 and less than S5, 1900 each
For 35 and less than 40. 1000 each
For 40 and less than so. $3.50 each
For 80 and less than 60. $500 each
For 60 and upward 5000 each
The following resolutions were ac-
cepted and adopted:
Resolved, |. That the bailiffs be
and hereby are authorized to make
the necessary contracts for water for
hydrant service with the Chestnut
Hill Reservoir company in accordance
with the intent and spirit of this re-
port
Resolved. 2. That in case of fall
ure for any cause. promptly to agree
upon the terms and conditions of such
contracts or of obvious neglect to use
all reasonable means and energy TO
push to completion the necessary
plant to carry out such contracts in
good faith. the bailiffs are hereby re-
quested to call a special village meet
ing forthwith to take such further
action in the premises as the then
existing circumstances may seem to
demand
In a letter written by Mr., Crowell
to the above committee under date
of December "a. 1892. among other
things Mr.. Crowell said, The village
is now using "a hydrants at $50 per
hydrant If many more were used.
the same should be furnished at low
err rate" There are now 40 hydrants
that Mr.. Crowell is charging $50 for.
This over-charge and over payment
has been going on for several years
on 10 of these hydrants, and Mr..
Crowell will no doubt reimburse the
village when the matter can be
looked up.
The line of pipe that was promised
to be laid down Union street after
the Smith e. Hunt fire. when the ny
drant service was a complete failure.
has never been put in.
In view of these facts, ana many
Others / could mention but for want
of space. how many of the present
generation in all probability will live
to see the plans, as stated in Mr..
Crowell's letter to the last meeting.
carried out? If they are. what does
IL mean? Simply this in cold figures:
The question is between S250.000 at
8 1-2 per cent or $3.50 a year: and
100000 at per cent or 100000 a
year. The difference of $1l,25O is
lust about $40 year for each average
family. and no family can dodge its
share of water rates and rents that
will settle down on them as inevitably
af hn n n
reaches ALL No legerdemain. no fill
clustering in village meetings. can be-
fog the people because they are awake
to the issue and are on to some
parts of the same.
NY resolutions pending an adjourn
ment of the last meeting proposed TO
offer Mr.. Crowell $150.00O for his sun
set lake system complete, provided the
water proved all right, and unless 1t
Is. the village doesn't want ii at any
price. This will leave Mr.. Crowell at
least $25, 900 to put in his inside pock-
ct; more money than he will nave
when he gets through with Mr. Fits
in view of the fact (as / am creditably
informed) that Mr.. Fits sold to Mr..
Croweu the rights and privileges he
(Fitts) owned for at least $500 more
than they cost him, and all this time
acting as Mr.. Crowells counsel. Mr..
Fits stated at the last meeting that
nv resolutions would ruin Mr.. Cro-
we'll He knows better. He knows
that it is the best proposition Mr..
Crowell will get. Those who are
ready to support this proposition are
fphting for Mr. Crowelrs interests as
well as the village. Those who are
fighting against it, including his able
attorney. are the ones (many uncon-
sciously) who. if this scheme is car
ried out will be the cause of his
financial ruin. If fair arrangement
cannot be made with the present
water companies. then let the village
turn at once to the Broad brook or
south pond schemes. one of which
can be installed for $230,000 and the
! orher for S25O,000. The time has come
for the village to own and operate Its
own water system at price IL can
AFFORD TO. The water rates for the
mast wear have been greatly increased
owing TO the fact that meters are be-
ing nut on as fast as possible. The
Rrattleboro house paid for water last
winter 1852. One consumer, who was
paving SIS per quarter, after being
INF on a meter found his bill for the
next quarter was $49.S5. The price
for furnishing the schools will be ten
times more this year than any pre-
vious one. No wonder Mr.. Fits wants
a courts commission when with the
work completed. and the exorbitant
rates charged. such would show fan
returns on the investment of $4OO,ooo
The village will have to settle for q
big price. What Mr.. Fits and the
bondholders want the village doesn't
want.
The mis- statement in the local press
that the village can't proceed untl
after the next session Of the legisla-
ture is wrong. The amendment &c
the village charter in 1892 drawn bS
Hon. J. &. Martin. then our represen-
tative gives as complete power as
any legislature can confer. either &c
purchase or construct system. on'
der it the village can go ahead with
out paving any attention to either OF
the water companies. No one can en-
. ioin then, and no one knows this bet
! ter than Mr.. Fits. If Mr.. Croweu Is
going to meter the water for private
! consumers. he, of course. Will be VIII.
ing to use the largest single takel
; (the village) the same. and meter the
: water for hydrant service
D,o..,.,. VIZ Ian g. 1906,