The Somerset reporter., 1909-01-21
What Might be Done.

If John is trying to buy horse Of
Bill, and possesses the shrewdness
considered necessary for success in
horse trading, he will always figure
out pretty early what he will do for a
driver or draft animal in case Bill
won't sell.
The town of Skowhegan is trying to
negotiate for fire protection. In this
instance, to follow the above illustra-
ton, the Skowhegan Water Company
claims to have the only horse there is.
From their standpoint, it is case OF
walk or trade with them That is,
"theyn say they have the only water
plant now available for fire purposes,
which is granted, and moreover,
"they" state that in all human prob
ability the town could not secure
charter which would make it practic-
able for them to put in another.
1t is not necessary to admit the truth
of the If assertion, but it is only pru-
dent to plan on what might be done
in case their prophesy, that no charter
could be obtained, should prove to be
correct.
The town already has eighteen res
ervoirs, in various locations, af1 ord
ing a supply of water for the use of
the steamer in manner to offer pro-
lection to the greater part of the COM
munity. 1t also has two force pumps,
one on each side of the river. On the
south side, force pump extends up
Baptist Hill to Bloomfield common.
On the North side, the mains extend
up Madison avenue to Pleasant street
and down Water street to the Munich
pal building. The Water company, in
their proposition for renewal of con-
tract, name $500 per year for hydrant
rental with the further consideration
of an indefinite amount represented
by the rebate of all taxes assessed
against them. 1t is we'll to think over
what this annual sum, which may
perhaps be fairly considered as $4,000,
would do if applied to the develop
ment and perfecting of our force
pump reservoir system. Or, to take
in the proposed contract period of
twenty years, what would the $4,000,
which we should pay the Water Com
pany in that time, do in the way of
extending and maintaining a system
of force pumps, mains and reservoirs.
1t is not an extravagant estimate to
say that we could build two new res
ervoirs, every year, and lay 5000 feet
of new force pump main and still
have some margin left for repairs,
without going over the $4,000 annual
charge which the hydrant rental of
the Skowhegan Water Company
would cost. Should we continue this
policy for twenty years, we should
have forty new reservoirs and nearly
five miles of additional force pump
lines. With the reservoirs and mains
already in use, this would afford eff
cient protection to practically every
part of our village. 1t is entirely
within reason to say that before half
the twenty year period had passed
we should have better and more re-
liable system of fire protection than
we have ever heretofore enjoyed.
No one doubts that a good public,
or quasi public water works system,
substantially built and properly
maintained, can afford the best pro-
lection against fires. 1t is but a mod
est claim however to say that it
would be possible, for the same cost,
| to build system of fire mains and
reservoirs, which, with the steamer
and other apparatus which we are
bound to have anyway, would give us
UNNECESSARILY better protection than
we have known for any considerable
period during the twenty years con-
tract with the Skowhegan Water
Company.
These things are certainly proper
subjects for reflection until the pend
ing negotiations are concluded.