The Somerset reporter., 1909-02-04
A Resume of Skowhegan's Water
Problem.
Continued from First Pag,


thing like Sl30, 900 had been invested
in the plant, $7S, 900 of which came
from sale of bonds and the balance
from the stock holders, either paid by
as sessment or appropriated from
earnings.
There is general feeling that con-
tractor Nudge did not do his work
very well. In its earlier years the
system developed an unusual number
of leaks. Some of them have been
attributed TO poorly laid pipe. The
officials of the company seem to think
that an imperfectly working pump
was mainly responsible for the
breaks. At any rate it seems that
they have been largely obviated for
they have been far less frequent OF
late.
In the years from 1889 to 1899, com
paratively little complaint was heard
regarding the service rendered by the
Skowhegan Water Company. All
this time however its list of custom
ers was growing and the supply of
water at the pond by the pumping
station began to be inadequent. \
pump was installed and Kennebec
river water commenced to be used, in
ever increasing quantities until it be-
came an important, and during the
past year, probably the chief source
of supply. This lead to dissatisfac
ton among the water users and, CO.
incident with the development of this
complaint as to quality, the impreS =
sion gained ground that the pressure
for fire purpose was decidedly deficient.
In one instance the town refused to
pay portion of its annual hydrant
rental on the ground that the Skow
hegan Water Company had not full
filled its contract, and defeated the
water company in the suit which it
brought to enforce payment
AT the annual town meeting of 1908,
special committee of seven citizens
were appointed to investigate the
whole subject and their report in
printed form was made to the special
town meeting on the 10th of January
just past. The important part of their
report was the proposal for a new
contract, submitted by the Skowhe-
gan Water Company, to cover the
period of 20 years from August 10,
1909. The terms of this contract call
ed for an annual hydrant rental of
$500 with certain other provisions,
in effect, an exemption from taxa
ton, altogether aggregating between
$1,000 and $1,000, an advance OF at
least fifty per cent over the contract
of 1889. The committee did not re-
commend the acceptance OF this pro-
position. the meeting of Jan. Is dis
cussed the matter at some length,
finally adding Me5srs. L. Z. Green
wood and George II. Webb to the
committee, instructing them to see IT
more favorable terms could not be
obtained from the Water Company
and to further report at an adjourned
meeting on January 30th. AT this
meeting, held on Saturday last a
modification of the first proposition
was presented, the chief change being
in the agreement by the water COM
pany to erect an additional standpipe, ,
to be kept full and designed as a re
serve for fire purposes. The new
proposition also bound the company
to maintain an average daily pressure
of 65lbs. on the Water street level and
granted water for the new municipal
building free. The committee voted
unanimously not to accept this report
but did vote, with the dissent OF one
water company would incorporate the
further provision that the rates for
the town, for general uses and TO in
dividual takers should not be raised, g,
they would recommend the accept
ance of the contract. S. w. Gould, ,
president of the Water Company
then stated TO the meeting that these
two points would be conceded and
brought the contract of the water
company before the meeting with the
virtual recommendation for its ac-
ceptance by all but one of the COM
mittee of investigation. The meet =
ing, however, voted in the negative
on motion to accept the PROPOSE
tions of the Water Company and
finally adjourned to meet at one
O'Clock p. m. Saturday next.
Wisdom never opens her doors to
those who are not willing to pay the
price of admission. There are no
bargains at her counters, no short
cuts to her goal. "Pay the price or
leave the goods" is her motto.
Never allow yourself to live for any :
thing less than your highest ideal. II
you do, you will deteriorate.