The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-09-10
BAILIFFS TOLD TO
INSTALL HYDRANTS
Provided Adequate Pressure is
Guaranteed.
MUCH DISCUSSION LAST NIGHT
After Which Village Fathers Were
Authorized to Accept Proposition
Made by Brattleboro Waterworks co.
John Calvin on Electric Pumps.

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John Calvin on Electric Pumps.
The special village meeting held last
evening to take action relative to the pur-
chase of additional hydrants resulted in
! the adoption of resolution authorizing
| the purchase and installation of 53 hy-
drants, providing a satisfactory water
pressure can be obtained. Chairman +. j..
! Waterman of the board of bailffs presided
and following the reading of the warrant
for the meeting by Village Clerk Perry
discussion was freely INDUCED in on the
question.
Captain Waterman explained that the
meeting was called to enable the voters to
give the baiiffs specific instructions rather
than leave the matter to the discretion OF
the board, as was done by vote taken
at the last annual village meeting when
the matter was discussed and vote taken
authorizing the bailiffs to install such hy-
drants as they deemed necessary. George
r. SeIeck inquired as to the cost of in
staling 50 hydrants and upon being IN
formed by the chairman said that he be-
lieved the village should purchase hydrants
as needed rather than contract for a
specified number at this time. John
| 0'Connor moved to dismiss the article un-
der consideration but the motion was lost.
Judge A. f. Schwenk- offered a motion to
instruct the bailitfs to use their discretion
and install such number of hydrants as
they with the chief engineer deemed nee
essary Upon the secondlng OF the motion
bv c. A. Boyden the opposition to the
motion was vocferous with cries OF NO.
William H. Ninton offered an amend.
ment to Judge ScEwenks motion and
wanted the resolution to include a proVl-
sion making the installation OF such, ny
drants conditional upon the Brattleboro
r,,1-,
tory water pressure before any contract
should become operative. John L. kalne
of the board of bailiffs was interrogateed
as to the proposition of the water-Works
company. He explained that the propo-
sition had been published in the local pa
pers last week and added that the ques-
tion to be solved at the meeting was
whether the village of Brattleboro was
willing to contract for improved water ser
vice that the water-worls company was
ready to install He said that he under
stood that unless the village was willing
to contract for 50 hydrants the improved
service in the way of fire protection would
not be made available. John A. Lindsey
speaking for citizens residing on the higher
levels in the village stated that he had
talked with Mr.. Crowell recently and haq
been assured that in case the additional
| bydrants were contracted for the water
| works company would guarantee to mann
| tain a pressure adequate for tre protec
ton.
Judge Schwenk said that the voters had i
sufficient confidence in the ability OF the
board of bailitfs to make contract tiln'
would be for the benefit of the village. T.
Fleming demanded to be shown how an
increased water pressure was to be Sc
cured at Esteyvlle and on the highest
levels of the village through the proposed
changes in pipe line construction cohte11-
plated by the water-works company =.
b. Crowell explained what the company
proposed to do in the way of increasing
the size of its pipe line from Western ave-
nue. to Esteyvile Mr.. Fleming was very
decided in his opinion that increased pres
sure would not result from the changes
planned by Mr.. Crowell Mr.. Fleming did
not believe that 50 hydrants were neces,
sary at this time when the village had
added only two each year on the average
during the last 20 years. lie suggested
that Mr. Calvin was competent TO speak
upon the matter under discussion. Mr.
Kaine explained that the Water-WorkS com
pany would guarantee to MAINTAIN an age
uuate pressure before expecting pay tor
the hydrants.
Col. Kittredge Hasllins said that he un-
derstood the object of the meeting was
to determine whether the village was IN
terested in providing adequate tire protec
ton He said that the village ana want
such protection and that the time Tor ac-
tion was now. He said that If anything
was to be done it should be done while
the water-works company Is engaged IN
making the changes it has III contempla-
tion. He 0ueried the board of bailitfs as
to its position in the matter and Captain
Waterman stated that he could not speak
for the board, but personally he favored
the purchase of the number OF hydrants
proposed. w. j. Pentland, jr stated that
he knew of the low pressure that exists
ON the higher levels in the village. Mr.
Fleming reiterated what he had SAID and
wanted to he assured that the increased
pressure promised could be delivered.
Colonel Haskins offered as a substitute
for the motion offered by Judge Schwenk
and amended by Mr. Winton the follow
ing:
Resolved, that the bailitfs be author
ized to contract with the Brattleboro
Water-Works company for additional
water supply for fire protection and to
install 50 additional hydrants pro
vided the water pressure shall be sat
isfactorv to the board of ballltfs and
the chief engineer.
The motion was seconded by G. l.. Dun
ham. who referred to the economy, through
a reduction in insurance rates, that would
naturally he forthcoming when 1t could
he shown that the village had increased
its fire protection by increasing its water
pressure. Colonel Haskins said that econ
nmv was needed. John Calvin thought
that an automobile chemical engine was
needed and asked what action the board
of hailiffs had taken since the village meet
ing had instructed it to look into the mat
ter of installing electric pumps. Mr.. Dun
ham was in doubt as to the utility OF an
automobile engine during the winter sea
II Nnl
said that ID or 20 hydrants are found FRO
zen during the winter season every year.
He would demand bond from the water
works company to compel the fulhlmeht
Of a contract to maintain an adequate pres
sure as promised He quoted figures to
show the number of hydrants in Burling
ton Montpelier and st. Johnsbury and
was inclined to believe that Brattleboro is
well equipped with hydrants at present
as compared with those cities and towns
when the amount of population Is taken
INTO consideration. He wanted to know
who had asked for 81 hydrants. He re
ferred to the action of the national board
Of underwriters in 1896 when the insurance
rates had been reduced in Brattleboro at
the time that hydrants were situated
long distance apart +. c. Crosby in re
nlv TO further interrogatiOns upon the part
az Mr.. Fleming explained how the IN,
creased pressure would be obtained and
Mr. Fleming said he understood the mat
ter and was glad to learn how 1t was to
be accomplished.
Judge f. W. Gibson interrogated Mr..