Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-02-01
Our Water System . Reality.

/ VoI WaS9E SyosOn . N0Ssys
It Is needless to recall to the citizens
OF South Paris the long succession oil
events that have been part of the max
| ing OF the water system that we now
enjoy. When I wrote letter to the
Oxford Democrat nearly three years
ago, calling attention to the lack OF
sufficient fire protection for this village,
it was with little faith TO believe that
the people would respond so heartily
and take such an enthusiastic interest
as they have.
This enthusiasm has been made very
manifest by almost all of the citizens of
the village, and has resulted Ia the
establishing Of a system of water works
that we have good reason to believe will
prove to be a safe and profitable invest
ment as we'll as one of the best systems
for fire pro. ection that can be found in a
village as small as South Paris.
While the great majority of the people
have been heartily in favor Of the water
works and have aided the water CON-
mittee with encouragement and praise,
there have been some that have been un-
able to see it as the majority have, and
have not seen fit TO share the enthusiasm
with the majority. These few have
been industrious in magnifying all the
possible chances of failure that could be
imagined, and there is hardly possible
trouble, or accident, or obstacle, in the
way of success that has not been men,
toned and magnified by those few who
were opposed to the system.
1t is not my intention to say anything
further regarding this than is necessary
to show to those who still are unbeliev-
ers. that the system has 40 far proved to
do Just what it was claimed by the wa
ter committee in the first place, and in
spite of every obstacle the plans of our
water committee and our engineers have
been carried out to completion, and the
result has proved fully up to what was
promised and in most cases little bet
ter.
Is THERE WATER ENOUGH?
The people of the village chose seven
men to represent them in this matter,
and wish to say that these seven men
the largest business interests
in the village and have shown'suficient
to carry on large amount
Of business successfully, and should
their error in judgment in this matter
cause them to make a serious failure,
the cost of same will come largely on
them as tax payers as we'll as to show to
the people that seven men had made a
mistake, although they seemed to be all
right in their own business. The first
thing that this committee did was to 90
to some one that had made the intalla-
ton of water systems life work and to
get expert opinion. We have had the
expert advice and consultation of four
hydraulic engineers to depend on be-
sides our own judgment, and in every
case it has been told US that an abundant
supply OF water can be supplied from
the headwaters of the Stony Brook val
ey that will flow into our reservoir.
There is no way of being certain but
10 wait until the dry times come, then
We will see who is right. | want to say
hat there is almost an unlimited chance
20 store up water on the brooks above
our two reservoirs, 80 If it should ever
happen that we need to do 80 we could
1t no great expense store up enough to
larry US through long drouth. Be-
sides that we can 60 to the springs in
he sides of Crocker Hill and Streaked
and we all know that there
ire lot of them, and take the water
rom them direct into our system and
ave what is now lost by evaporation or
linking into the ground in dry weather.
The engineer who has laid this work
,ut for US has told US in advance just
bout what pressure We could get at GER
ain points and just what we could safe
Y depend on. In every case We have
ound that bis promises have been fully
He is a man who has bad
good deal of experience in just this
inc of work and without doubt knows
his business. He also tells us that it is
possible to supply ten thousand people
With the water in the upper part of the
Stony Brook valley. l see no reason for
.efusing to believe his statement, as
,very other statement that he has made
has been tried and proved to be correct.
The water committee that Is respon-
,ible for the installing of this system
EEL we'll pleased with the results as far
IS they have gone, and wish to thank all
hat have helped in this good cause. /.
They believe that the present sys'e is a
sound, safe and profitable business in
,estment 1t was installed by men who
nave not been dreaming, or chasing
all their lives, and who know
hat there is nothing that will 60 SO far
.owards the building up of large vii
age or city here as much as good mu-
,cipal water system that can furnish
plenty of pure water at the least possible
cost.
GEORGE R. MORTON.