Norwich bulletin., 1911-02-02
The Water Supply Record.

MT. EQlCOT. My InOuSnIS carry HiS back to the days when such men as c. J. Winters, Frederick R. Wasley and Timothy Kelley Successful business men, with a rating of Al in the busi- ness world), who as members of the board of water commissioners gave Of their time and best thought to the water question of the city of Norwich, using the same ability and integrity for the public good that had made them successful as business men, cmpioyed competent engineers to formulate the best plan to save the city of Norwich from a water famine. The engineers recommended Stony brook as the best and cheapest water supply for the needs of Norwich for a great many years
 Upon the strength of their report and upon sound business principles they proceeded to acquire Palmers pond and gristmill on Stony brook by purchase; the next move was a recom- mendation to the court of common council, which was accepted, the pur- chase confirmed and plans made to de- velop the watershed. A city meeting was called, bond issue of $3O0,000 was voted by permission of the state of Connecticut by the legal voters of the city of Norwich and everything made ready to give the city plenty of pure water on the advice of eminent engineers who were capable in every respect.
 About this time the election comes along and Charles F. Thayer was elected mayor (there was ten republ- can and two democratic members of the court of common counciD; the water question was taken Up, the mayor sending out of town for MT. Quick of Hill Quick & Allen of Balti- more. who come here under the name of Williams. MT. Quick looked the situst ton over and reported Pease nnT- fA,- $300.000; the board of water commits sioners accepted the Pease brook prop osltion: the court of common council accepted the recommendation of the water board, and engineers were put to work; but, instead of $500, ,000 $650.- 900 was the figure, outside of mill rights. The water board, feeling they had no right to undertake a s1,000, 900 job with S300,000, rescinded the Pease brook scheme and went back to the proposition left them by Winters. Was ley and Kelley and their advisers, AL len Of Worcester, Blake of Boston and Richards of New London. For politi- cal reasons an injunction was sued out to restrain the board of water commis- sioners from selling the bonds that were already printed and signed to de- Velop Stony brook watershed: the de- cision of the judge was handed down just before the June election; the in- junction was dissolved, fnasmuch as the commissioners were at liberty to use an amount not to exceed $300,000 to increase the water supply of the city of Norwich.
 At the June election Mayor Thayer and the entire democratic ticket was elected by the biggest majority ever given at a city election, making the water board of the same kind. They. immediately rescinded the action of the former water board, the court of con- mon council coincided and ordered the bonds burned. and now this man Thay- CT tells you in his suava way that he don't think the minority should rule and that the people should accept the recommendation of the board of water commissioners and give them what money they ask for and leave the rest to them.
 You can make your own comparison of the caliber of the men of today with the men of ten years ago that were elected by the people to do the city's business and were turned down by the minority.
 You can accept Jordan brook if you will. and eventually tap Pease brook for more water when Jordan brook fails: but the fact remains. the same today as it did ten years ago, that Stony brook for pure water and plenty of it is the best thing you have got for the least money. and by the fore sight and ability of such men as Charles J. Winters Frederick R. Was ley and Timothy Kelley you own it; and if the time ever comes when you want more water (which will not be in this generation) you are within 'one and one-haf miles of Gardner lake. and it will be there for your use if you ever need it.
 A TAXPAYER who wishes Mir. Winters. Wasley and Kelley might have lived to see their actions fin the water question vindi- cated.