The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-10-23
WHY WATER DOESN'T
RUN ON PERRIN HILL
Was Told to Ten Complsinants at
Special Conference Held With
The Water Committee Last
NIGHT

Ten residents of Perrin hill appeared
before the city water committee, Al
dermen Alexander, Ladd and Hoyt. in
the council chamber last evening and
! for nearly two hours discussed the sit
uation as to why the city water did
not supply the houses with which it is
connected on Perrin hill only at short
intervals all of the past summer. May
or Robins and Water Superintendent
Russell were also present.
The hill residents claimed that they
had been at great inconvenience prac-
tically all summer by having to bring
all the water they used from springs
wherever they could and from other
houses where they were fortunate en-
ough to have it. At the outset of the
discussion Chairman Alexander stated
that as Perrin hill was the highest
point in the city and was higher than
the Bolster reservoir Peril hill could
only be supplied from the Orange brook
reservoir and on account Of the extra
ordinary dry season this reservoir had
been at times entirely empty.
The chairman read reports made the
water committee of 1904 and 1905 in
which the committee had reported
against the city's extending its water
mains onto the hill for the reason that
1t was higher han the Bolster reservoir
which could supply water only as far
up the hill as Upland avenue. In the
face of these reports the chairman said
that it must have been known to the
residents on the Mill that they would
have trouble in getting water and that
the water pipes We're laid onto the hill
only as an accommodation. For this
reason he could not see where the city
could be expected to pay rebates after
the people had asked. to be connected
knowing that there weuld be trouble.
Superintendent Russell was asked
why in the dryest time this summer
the water would run for a short time
on the hill and then suddenly stop and
not come on again perhaps for two
weeks. The superintendent said that
the reason was that Orange reservoir
had to wait on the mill dam at Lords
mill above the reservoir. When the
mill was running the reservoir would
ill up but the mill would shut down
at times for two weeks while the dam
filed up and in the meantime the reser-
Noil NONhA iui uiNs mere Is diHV =
small leak in the reservoir dam which
cannot be stopped on account Of there
being a quick sand bottom. He said
the city had dumped tons Of cement
into hole 25 feet deep but the water
still worked under through the sand.
The Perrin hill people said that their
conditions were benefited for wnlie
when the city put on the water patrol
and stopped the waste Of water in the
polishing sheds. The water superin-
tendent said that he mad shut the
water of nights so That it might nun
on the hin in the day time and had
done everything tnat he could to give
them a supply of water when there
was any in the system. There was but
two feet Of water in the Orange reser-
soir today, the superintendent said.
Chairman Alexander said that the CITY
had been at the expense Of $40 a day
for four weeks this summer pumping
water and that they would have to
start the pumps again if rain did not
come very soon. The chairman stated
at the close Of the meeting that the
water committee would make their
report at the next meeting Of the eoun-
I'll and would endeavor 90 do everything
they could to bring about just settle
nent Of the difficulty.