Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-10-01
To Build a Reservoir.
FIRST STEP TOWARD A MUNICIPAL
WATER PLANT TAKEN.

At the meeting of South Paris Village
Corporation Tuesday evening, the sum
of $1,000 was appropriated to purchase
land and build reservoir or reservoirs,
on the Cooper Spring Brook or Stony
Brook, as the beginning of municipal
water system to be established at some
future time.
The special feature of the meeting was
the unanimity of the large number OF
voters present in taking any action look
ing toward municipal system and a
service better than we have now, and the
enthusiasm shown throughout.
The meeting was called to order
promptly on time by Clerk E. N. Haskell,
and Walter L. Gray was chosen moder.
ator.
The first business to be taken up was
the report of the committee on renewal
of contract with the Norway Water Co.
This committee had reported at pre-
vious meeting, and had nothing further
to present, and no action was taken.
The next article called for the report
of the assessors on the matter of pump
ing water from the shoe shop brook, on
the 18th of August, by order of the Nor
way Water Co. Chairman George Il.
Davis of the assessors made this report.
He said that soon after the report be-
came current that this was done, he
wrote to the Norway Water Co. asking
an explanation, and Superintendent S.
D. Andrews of the water company met
the assessors in Mr.. Wrigbt's office.
Mr.. Andrews there stated that the shoe
factory pump was started, pumping from
the brook, to maintain the pressure, as
it was feared that the water drawn in
the fire department test at South Paris
would run the pressure down to danger
Gus point, the reservoir being at that
time empty for cleaning. He at first
stated that no water went into the pipes
from the brook, but later admitted that
a small quantity might have gone in.
He also stated that the water was good,
and that it was used for drinking in the
shoe factory.
Commenting on Mr.. Andrews state
ments, Mr.. Davis said that he had since
learned that the water was not used for
drinking in the shoe factory, and that he
had himself seen sewer which empties
into the brook near the point where the
water was taken. into which the sewage
from several houses discharged.
George r. Morton said that he with
others had since the 18th of August
taken sample of water from the brook
where the shoe shop pump takes water,
and sent it to the state board of health
for analysis, and the report received on
it shows that it is frank poison" He
read the law regarding the pollution of
water supply.
There was some further talk under
this article, but no motion was made,
and no action taken.
Article was to hear the report of the
committee chosen in July to consider the
feasibility of securing water from Halls
Pond, and this report was presented by
George K. Morton, the chairman of the
committee.
Mr.. Morton stated that soon after the
committee was appointed it secured the
services of l. w. Jones of Milton, n. H.,
an expert engineer, to examine Halls
Pond with regard to it's sufficiency as a
water supply for both Hebron and South
Paris, and he read report made by Mr..
Jones, giving figures to show that the
supply was more than ample for both
places.
After this report was received, Mr..
Morton stated, conference was had
with the committee of the Trustees of
Hebron Academy, and while this COM
mittee of the trustees did not say no
point blank, their position amounted to
a very courteous refusal. He also read
a letter received from Hon. George d.
Bisbee, president of the trustees, which
expressed the responsibility the trustees
felt for the interests in their charge, and
very courteously expressed the hope that
South Paris might find some other salts
factory source of water supply.
This report having been present
ed, A. w. Walker inquired if the
committee had done anything further re-
garding a source of water supply. Mr..
Morton replied that they had, and read
a report from Mr.. Jones on Cooper
Spring Brook or Stony Brook as such a
source of supply.
To sum up this report as presented by
the committee, it may be said briefly
that site for reservoir or catch basin
was selected, on the Cooper Spring
Brook, about mile above S. NJ. Kings,
and short distance above it's junction
with Stony Brook. A weir put in there
showed that there would be sufficient
supply of water in anything but the
driest times, while for such times it would
be but small expense to put in an aux
Hilary supply from higher point on
Stony Brook, to be used only when
necessary. From this dam four inch
pipe would carry sufficient water to a
storage reservoir either on Brett Hill or
on the other side of Stony Brook, near
Hooper's Ledge, at an elevation of about
$50 feet above Market Square, giving
pressure of approximately 100 pounds to
the inch. From this reservoir twelve
inch pipe should run to the Square.
William j. Wheeler was asked to tell
the meeting whether there was prob
ability of a rise in insurance rates, unless
our water service was improved. Mr..
Wheeler in reply made comparison OF
rates where there is protection and those
where there is none, and said there had
been much criticism of our fire protec-
ton by underwriters. He said that in
case OF a conflagration, he should not
consider that the water of the Norway
system would have any effect upon 1t
1
whatever.
S. p. Maxim reviewed his experience
in last years fire, when the lack of press
ure cost him much property and en-
daugered more.
Franklin Maxim inquired of Mr..
Morton if any estimate had been made
of the cost of water system, but Mr..
Morton stated that no definite estimate
had been made.
No further action was taken under
this article, and the meeting passed to
Article 5. This was to see if the cor
poration would raise money to buy land
and build reservoirs. Mr.. Morton stated
that the charter of the village corpora
ton was narrow, and municipal water
system could not be established except
by special act of the legislature. Mean
while he advocated purchasing the land
and building reservoirs in preparation for
a system to take water from the brook or
brooks named, so that no one else might
get ahead of the corporation.
There seemed to be perfect willing
ness on the part of the meeting to vote
money for the purpose, but after two or
three motions had been made in varying
forms, it was voted to pass to the next
article, which was to choose a committee
to have charge of the construction.
Under this article the members of the
former committee were rapidly pomi-
mated and elected, one by one. The
committee thus constituted is George r.
Morton, John A. Scott, w. B. Young, A.
E. Shurtleff, Charles w. Bowker, John
j. Emeley and Arthur E. Forbes.
A return was then made to the pre-,
ceding article, and the sum of $1,000 was
appropriated for the purpose of buying