Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-03-03
given rather than the dividends that are

Bifou EatuoE tuen sno oiVuouus snos "a
paid.
In this case fire was burning in two
parts of the city at the same time. What
would be the result if fire should start
in Norway and another one in South
Paris at the same time, and both be de-
pendent ON the same source of supply
for protection? Those who saw Norway
village burn down because they could
not throw water on to the roofs of the
houses can answer this question.
OUR OWN WATER SYSTEM.
The wisest thing that the people of
South Paris village ever did was when
they voted to start gravity system of
their own. Probably the greater part of
the voters of the Corporation have al
ready visited the reservoir that has been
built, as source of supply for our
proposed system, so 1t is not necessary
to 90 into particulars. will simply
state that we have built dam nearly 100
feet long, and the water flows back over
an irregular shaped reservoir a little
over 120' feet the longest way. This re-
servoir is eight feet deep in the deepest
place, and although the water is con-
stantly running through six-inch pipe,
the water is also running over the dam
There is no doubt but what we have
plenty of water for all the needs OF the
village for a great many years to come.
This stream is largely made up from
clear and bubbling springs that never
fail, summer or winter, and the stream
does not flow near house or barnyard
so that it is free from all chance of con-
tamination, and the water is as clear as
comes out of the ground.
This water supply will not depend on
pumps or sleepy watchmen, but will be
always ready and on duty. 1t is the
plan to connect this reservoir with a
larger one about three-quarters of mile
from the village, and to lay main not
less than II inches into our village. This
will give us perfect water system for
both fire and domestic service, and as the
Almighty has provided for US so that the
water will run down hill instead of hav-
| ing to pump it up, the cost of maintain
ing this system will be very little, and
the profits larger in proportion.
WILL 1T PAY, AND WHO GETS THE
PROFIT?
II is characteristic of the Yankee to
stop and hesitate, and count the cost
before venturing into anything that he
knows he ought to have and cannot af
ford to be without, and it is not unlikely
that some of the people of the village
who want this system are afraid of the
venture because it will cost so much.
All good things come high and we can
fn fn h1t
il seems to me that this proposed system
cannot help being very profitable, and
the profits should be divided among the
people who use the water and who in
stall the system.
A recent house to house canvass has
shown us that the income from South
Paris village is something over $4,000 per
year, and this in spite of the fact that
the greater number of houses are sup
pied by some water besides the Norway
Co.
South Paris is growing and we may
safely reckon on a much larger village
within few years, and without doubt.
the income from the water supply will
be much larger in proportion. AS it is,
We are paying good interest on more
than twice as much money as it will take
to install the system, and as the cost of
running will be practically nothing, if
the system is properly installed, we can
not help making very profitable invest
ment. wish to say again, as in a
former article printed in the Democrat,
that believe that the village can get all
their fire protection for nothing, water
for school houses, parks, churches and
cemetery, absolutely free, and besides
that have an income sufficient to pay the
entire cost in twenty years.
After the system is paid for, it will
yield large revenue for any purpose
that it may be best to use it for, an
amount larger than the whole amount of
corporation tax that is now assessed.
All this can be accomplished, besides
furnishing us with good water that all
will want in their houses, and furnishing
us with system of fire protection that
will be all that can be desired.
FROZEN WATER PIPES AND MIGRANTS.
If there should a fire start in our
village to-day, at this writing, We should
be hopelessly at the mercy of the flames
in certain parts of our village, because
the hydrants are frozen up. Sunday,
the 23d, eight hydrants were reported
frozen and five or six were frozen a
week before. We do not wish to blame
the present officers of the Norway Water
Co. for negligence in thawing them out,
for they have been very active and with
out doubt have done the best they could
do under the circumstances. But the
fact remains that we are paying high
price for fire protection and every win
ter we have this same question of frozen
hydrants to deal with. Some time we
may have fire when the hydrants are
frozen, and then we shall have something
to remind us of our negligence in this
matter.
There is no need of frozen hydrants in
this village. If the water system had
been installed as it should have been,
with water mains below the frost, this
could not occur, and when our water
system is installed every citizen of the
corporation that wants fire projection
should insist that mains of sufficient size
are put deep enough in the ground 50
that we shall be as sure to have protec
ton in the winter as in the summer AS it
is now we are absolutely certain of moth
good price for the protection that we get
such as it is AS long as we have no
fires it is all right, but that was the way
with Berlin, Portland, Old Orchard,
Bryant's Pond, Harrison and Norway,
all within short distances of US, and we
cannot tell when it will be our time. We
cannot get this any too quickly, and we
cannot be satisfied until we have an en-
tirely independent system, such as is al
ready planned. This should be done
during the coming summer, so that when
the ground freezes up again next fall our
water mains will be below the frost line,
and our hydrants always ready for i'm
mediate service. GEO r. MORTON.
Fire at Rumford Falls.
Fire broke out Monday afternoon,
Feb. "a, in the boarding house at Chand-
Ter and Byron Streets, Rumford Falls,
occupied BY Daniel Marshall and owned
by the Rumford Realty Co., the flames
coming through the roof when discover
ed. The fire was extinguished by the
department, but not until the roof was
burned off. Though the lower part of
the house was not burned at all, the
building and furniture were damaged by
water to such an extent as to make it
practically a total loss. The house was
insured for $500 and the furniture for
$1,000.
SUFFERING AND DOLLARS SAVED.
E. S. Lopez of Marilla, N. Y, says:
i