The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-03-18
Water Hearing at Augusta.

Agreeably to the instruction of the
town, given by unanimous vote at its
annual meeting, the committee at
that time appointed went to Augusta
yesterday to appear before the Ju-
dietary Committee of the Maine legis-
lature, asking for a charter under
which this community could, in case
the Skowhegan Water Company
failed to do SO, provide itself with an
ample supply of pure water. Messrs
s. w. Gould, the president, and Her
bert Wentworth, the manager of the
Skowhegan Water Company, accom-
panied by Col. A. G.. Blunt and E. n
Merrill, Esq, stockholders, were also
present in opposition to the charter
The contention on the part of the
town was that the charter granted
the Skowhegan Water Company in
1887 carried with it the obligation OF
supplying pure water for municipal
and domestic purposes, but that this
company had failed in large meas
ure to fulfil this obligation. AT the
present time it was the desire of the
town to allow the Water Company
every reasonable opportunity to
make good, in its duty toward the
town. Having failed, as was charged
for great portion of the past twenty
years, to furnish pure water in ample
supply. it was contended on behalf OF
the town that further failure in this
respect would forfeit their charter
rights and that the town should be
granted the bill asked for, permitting
the town to protect itself in this most
vital matter of water supply.
Members of the Skowhegan fire de-
partment and other citizens of Skow.
hogan testified that the water pres.
sure for the extinguishment of fire
had many times been inefficient aut
that they believed the water itself fol
a consid cradle period had not beer
pure. In substantiation of the latter
contention, reports of analyses from
the state chemists were read, stating
that samples sent in January and also
one sent last week, showed the pres
ence of sewage bacteria.
The time at the afternoon session
was wholly occupied in the presenta
tion by Messrs. Geo; w. Cover ant
l.. l.. Walton, of the case for the
town, and the examination and cross
examination of their witnesses. Sc
far as could be judged by the cues
tions asked in cross examination
conducted on behalf of the Waite
Company by E. N. Merrill, it seemed
that the corporation proposed tC
show that the disasterous fires we
have had were not due to lack o
pressure but to inefficiency on the
part of the fire department. Nothing
in the questions asked by Mr.. Merrill
would indicate that an attempt was tt
be made to controvert the change O.
impurity of the recent water supply
but it did appear that they would con
tend that the trouble in this respec
was confined to the past season, dur
| ing which the conditions as to rain
fall had been abnormal. The hearing
adjourned at five O'Clock, to meet fol
an evening session at 7.30, but as Mr.
Merrill had stated fifteen minutes
would be all the time required by hin
for the presentation of evidence, II
may be assumed that the genera
trend of the defence, as indicated by
the cross questioning, would not be
changed.
Early in the hearing it became evi
dent from questions asked by mem
bers of the Judiciary committee, tina
that body would not grant a charter
which did not provide for the pur-
chase of the existing plant by the
Skowhegan Water District, or al
least an arrangement that would il
some way protect the bond holders o.
the present Skowhegan Water Com
pany, who hold an issue of $4,000
So fer as could be deduced from theil
questions and conversation it appear.
ed the majority of the judiciary be.
lieved the interests of the bond hold.
ers was the first matter to be careC
for, and that no mismanage ment
however gross, and no condition
however deplorable, would lead them
to grant a charter which did moi
guarantee the bond holders from loss
There was nothing to indicate, in the
attitude taken by a majority of the
Judiciary committee, that a waite
company mig't not furnish water sc
impure az to menace with destruction
the greater part of the community
or might 80 utterly fail to furnish
pressure for fire purposes that flames
would wipe out every home, factory
and place of business, and yet the
town be compelled to assume it,
bonded obligations. At least one
member of the Judiciary committee
dissented from this opinion and stat.
ed that, on the conditions shown tc
exist here, as to impure water and
deficient pressure, he believed the
bill, substantially asked for should be
granted.
In Washington.
On Monday Congress- assembled in