The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-03-29
MR.. HOLDEN
IS FAVORABLE
Thinks Village Should Buy
Crowell Systems Now.
WILL PAY FROM START
He Believes That the Matter Should
Be Taken Up Immediately-The
Cost of Completed System-Vlllage
Should Get Together on the Matter.

As it is now nearly time for the WI
lage to take action on the amendment 10
the village charter which empowers the
village to purchase or construct a water
system in Brattleboro, a few statements
in regard to the same may not be amlss.
At the time of the village meeting IN
December, 1905, a water board was elect-
ed and authorized to purchase or con
struct system at cost not exceeding
$3.50, 900. Soon after that time Mr. Cro-
well submitted three propositions to the
water board. The second proposition was
for S275,OOO, and included the system, as
it is today with few exceptions; Mr.;
Crowell, in addition to proposition No,
has put in iron bridges and expended on
the Pleasant Valley and Stickney brook
lines about $4,000 in rock excavation,
etc, which he did not figure on when
making the proposition. He has also put
in a line Of pipe from Green to high
street and thence to Main, line on SCUM
Main street, l0-inch line on Union hill,
Frost and Flat streets at cost OF Sl5,
the extra expenditure Of $4,000 and we
have The sum, of $3O5,OOO for proposition
No. 2. Including the extra expenditure
Mr.. Crowell finally agreed to take what
amounted to S285,000 or $4,000 better
than proposition No. 2. This being q
good deal better price than Mr.. Crowelll
had previously made to the water board,
it was decided to draw up a contract and
submit it to the village. This was voted
down at the meeting in November, l9oo,
and nothing remained for the board TO 40
but act on the vote of Oct. Il and to as
sist Town Representative 3. W. Gibson
i IN securing the proper legislation. Mr.
Gibson met with the strongest kind OF
opposition from Mr.. Crowell, who was
supported by the attorney general and
several leading lawyers of the state, who
insisted that there should be clause In
the amendment making it obligatory Tor
The village to pay Mr.. Crowell s2S5, or
to arbitrate. Notwithstanding this strong
opposition Mr.. Gibson secured an amend
ment to the village charter whereby the
village may obtain Mr.. Crowell,s two sys-
tens, including the pipe and fittings be,
longing to- or purchased for, the same, and
all the water rights, reservoirs ano
springs, free of all encumbrance, for $751;,
600 or $4,000 less than the sum voted
on at the last meeting. AT this price
It cannot help being a paving investment
for the village and much better than q
competing system.
Mr. Crowell claims that the village is
compelling him to sell the two systems
at much less figure than they cost him
Nevertheless, he will sell them for the
fixed price Of s26OO00 if it is offered by
the village, rather than take his chances
on future legislation or a competing sys
TEN.
Figured at this price the village car
Law a l6-inch main from the junction OF
High and Green streets to the Sam Sar
gent place for $4,000. For doing this
a bid Of s32. 500 was submitted previou:
to the special meeting of last November
but. since that time, the cost of pipe ano
lead has advanced so that the cost today
would be s25,2OO for 1852 feet of l6-inSef
pine. weight 700 tons at $36 per ton, de