The Somerset reporter., 1909-02-04
Our Position on the Water Question.

The REPORTER does not invite strife.
II it is open to criticism as to its gen
eral policy, during the sixty nine
years of its existence, it would be
upon the charge of leuiency and over
caution rather than for aggressiveness
without warrant. In the desire to be
sure that criticism OF the public policy
or of the acts of individuals was de-
manded beyond any possible doubt, it
has too often, possibly, remained 81
lent when it should have spoken, but
it has certainly not been prone to crit
icise unless the need therefor and
the Justice thereof were undoubted.
In the present water question the
easier course would have been to
print the news of transpiring events,
worded i'll a manner to calm the pub
lie sense rather than protest, but the
case seemed to be one where, If a
journal ever owed duty TO it's sub
scribers and the town with which its
interests were allied, more courage
Gus course.must be pursued.
Even in the performance of this
duty, which the REPORTER could not
in Justice avoid, there has been no
occasion of denunciation, or for
attack of acrimonious quality. 1t
was simply necessary to point out the
history of the past 20 years and to
assist in the Interpretation of that
history in a manner to guide to wise
decision at the present time. The
Skowhegan Water Company, through
one of its speakers at the last town
meeting, saw fit to characterize as
unworthy citizens, those who found,
i'll the events of the last decades,
reasons for not accepting the contract
which they now offer. If such be
the case, the REPORTER wishes to be
included in that classification.
We have tried toImake it clear that
the town must have water pressure
for Are purposes and pure water for
domestic uses and that, while the
price to be paid therefor is an ele-
maui in the problem, in comparison
with the end to be attained, it is OF
secondary Importance. 1t also seems
equally clear that the town could with
wisdom seek to obtain their water
supply of the Skowhegan Water com
pany, rather than attempt this time to
purchase their plant or build one OF
their own, PROVIDED that corporation
could guarantee the efficiency of its
service. We are willing to stretch the
mantle of charity to its utmost limit
in our view of the course pursued by
the water company since 1899, and to
regard the future in the most hopeful
light which the circumstances permit,
but we cannot summon courage to
believe that contract to cover the
next twenty years, based upon assur-
ances essentially the same as were
given in 1889, will be carried out in
manner to afford the town the protec-
tion it absolutely must have from fire,
or to furnish it water which will not
at times menace the health of the en-
tire mmunity.
This being the case, the memory OF
the fire losses for the past twenty
years, exceeding without doubt, III
dollars and cents, the entire fire loss
for the preceding hundred years OF
the towns history, constitutes most
vigorous protest against renewing a
contract under which the continu-
ance of such a sacrifice of property
will be possible. The quality of the
water to be served and the health of
the community stir convictions of
different nature, but not less serious,
and all together constitute the most
valid of reasons why contract with
out bond for its fulfilment, or pen
alties sufficient to insure its faithful
performance should never be made.
1t is probable that the terms named
by the water company In its PROPOSE
tion of last Saturday were not all that
the town should expect, but they may
well be considered reasonable If
coupled with stipulations that will
make it certain that those terms, such
as they are, will be faithfully kept,
rather than the acceptance of a con-
tract which does not contain SUCK
stipulations. Lacking such guarantee
OF fulfilment, no terms could be con-
sidered favorable, even though the
principal sum named in connection
with the hydrant rental were $500 only
instead of the amount stated.
Any alternative, the purchase of the
works under an appraisal, or no con-
tract at all, is better than contract
fulfilled as has been the one which is
now expiring, and the REPORTER could
not keep silent, or express any
other opinion, without being negli-
gent in an objectionable degree of
the duty which it owes to the people
OF this community.
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