The Somerset reporter., 1909-03-04
what's to Be Done.

1t will be recalled that it was voted
at the special town meeting OF Feb
ruary to accept the proposition of
the Skowhegan Water Company, for
a renewal OF their 20 year contract,
upon certain conditions, the company
to announce their assent to these
notifications of their proposition be-
fore the annual town meeting which
will assemble on Monday next. The
one point most strenuously objected
to by the Water Company was that
which made the renewal of their con-
tract contingent upon their being in
condition to carry it out, said state of
efficiency to be determined by COM
mittee of five which were selected by
the meeting. 1t seems to be under
stood that the Water Company will
PROPOSE that If this committee fail to
find that they (the company are in
condition, on or.before the 10Th day of
August 1910, to carry out their con-
tract, that they shall have a right to
appeal to a commissioner to be ap
pointed by the Maine Supreme Court,
and that the decision of that commits
sioner shall be final.
In nearly every instance where a
decision has been thus rendered be-
tween a water company and town,
under the commission plan, the town
has got the worst end of the bargain,
but Notwithstanding this fact the
proposition of the Skowhegan Water
Company to submit their case to an
impartial commissioner, to be ap-
pointed by the Supreme Court, would
have the appearance of fairness if
their acts had been such that they
could properly become parties to
such an agreement. In justice they
should first make restitution, SO far
as restitution were possible. to re-
quite the citizens of this town for the
injustice of the past twenty years.
Having accepted their annual hydrant
rental when it is admitted that for
the most of the period the pressure
was inadequate, having for most of
the life of their contract failed to fur
nish water suitable for drinking pur-
poses. and having, since the first OF
the present year been advised by the
State Laboratory of Hygiene that the
water they were furnishing was in
fected with sewage bacteria and kept
the knowledge of this fact from the
public as long as possible, upon what
grounds can they assume to dictate
terms under which a new contract
can be made? This community has
been patient in the knowledge OF
these conditions until patience is ut
terly exhausted. Filled with indig-
nation at what we have endured and
with the feeling that contract for
another twenty years would be OBJ
served with the same faithlessness,
can we consent to have any of the
conditions established by a commits
sioner, no matter how designated,
| who has not the intimate knowledge
of local conditions which can come
only from residence in the district af-
fected.
Presenting that the Water Com
pany will insist upon final reference
to commissioner appointed by the
Court, and that the town at the meet
of Monday next will not see fit to en-
ter into an agreement under that plan
with corporation that has shown it,
self faithless to all it's agreements
let us see what we could do in lier
thereof. We could of course con-
tinue to use the water from the hy-
rants as occasion demanded, paying
therefore such sum annually as q
judicial trial might determine. If we
saw fit we could try one year under
this plan and test its advantages
adopting at the end of that time such
course as seemed wise. But suppose
we should now choose to ignore
the Water Company altogether, and
at once proceed to extend our force
pump mains and build additional res
ervoirs. Under such conditions we
should have, to devote to the purpose,
the $2500, which the Water Company
say we must pay them annually under
their new contract, and also such sum
as could be assessed against them for
taxes. The tax item is not a fixed
amount but may be here considered
as $4,000, which, added to the $250C
above mentioned makes $4,000 avail
able, by comparison, for investment
in equipment for fighting fires. For
the purposes of this comparison we
may regard this entire amount as
available for forcepump mains and
equipment, as the reservoirs would
have to be built even if we make the
contract with the Water Company,
they making no pretensions of suit
able pressure on the higher levels.
With. the annual hydrant rental cut
off and subject to tax of $4,000 per
year, which in all justice should have
been paid each year since the con-
struction of their works, how long
may it be presumed that the Water
! COMPANY would wish to continue in