Norwich bulletin., 1916-09-12
ALDERMEN MEET.
American Thread Go. Petitions for Overhead Rridee-Expert Will Look Over Local Fire Situation-Thread
 Company Wants Better City Water.

On Monday evening the meeting of the board of aldermen was held in the council chamber at S.15. Alder man A. Case being the only one ab- sent. w. A. King appeared for the American Thread company in regard to the water supply of the city and presented petition to allow the com- ptny to build an overhead bridge across Wfndham Road. This bridge is to connect mills No. 1 and No. 5 of the company's, plant and is to be 100 feet long, 8 feet wide and not over IS feet high. The supports of the bridge will rest on the company's land and will not interfere in any way with the property belonging to the city.
 MT. King also read the following article in regard to the water supply:
 The American Thread company has asked me to come before the mayor and common council in relation to the city water.
 The company, acting through it's executive committee, recently sent to the mayor communication, er1body- ing substantially all that al can say. The situation, however, may well ap- peal to every resident of our city, and is, in substance, this:
 If we can judge by the analyses of the city water it's condition, if not positively dangerous, is at least doubt ful. Thus. on Water collected on June q, 1916. the report from the labora-
 
 Middletown (among other things) says:
 This supply shows definite evidence of contamination Of a more or less intermittent nature and, as I have re- marked previously, it is not safe for drinking purposes under existing con- ditions."
 And on water collected July 10, 1916. the stme authority says
 The monthly exa1ninations of this supply have shown that it receives contamination of a more or less in ternittent character from sources on the watershed. and it cannot be class ed as Q safe supply for drinking pur- poses until something is done to guard against this intecmittency of pollu- tion as it may at any time become dangerous"
 The secretary of the state board of health under date of June g. 1916, wrote this concerning our city water, in letter to the chemist of The American Thread company:
 "In reply to your communication of the 27th. ultino as to the opinion of this board regarding the purity and safety Of the Willimantic water sup ply, I will say that since 1907 this shown by analyses considerable pol lution, indicating that at any time gaid supply might be the cause of se- rious epidemic"
 The direct interest of The Ameri- can Thread company in the matter arises from the fact that their mills in Wilhnlantic are now supplied with this water and it is used by their ern- p!oyees as drinking water.
 The American Thread company feels that it is it's moral duty to fur nfsh the employees in it's mills with healtllful drinking water, and in view Of these reports that have quoted. as to the condition of our city water, you will easily see the predicamcnt in which the company finds itself. To drinking water outside of the city supply for their WilIimantfc mills would be attended with great difficult ty. even if 1t is possible. Under these circumstances the company, as 8 tax payer and as a corporation vitaI1y interested In the welfare of Whitman tic, urges you to take up the city wa- ter problem, and either by filtration beds, or some other suitable system. eliminate the pollution that now ap- parentiy attaches to the city, water.
 It IS perhaps possible that The American Thread company might be able to provide it's mills with a suita- ble supply of pure and hcaLthful drinking water, drawn from sources outside the city supply; but, even then, the situation would be only par t1ally improVed-unIess their employees were also supplied at their homes with suitable water for drinking and do- mestic purposes. The problem thus presented Is rather einbarrassine-and could certainly be moro easily solved by having a city supply of good water than in any other way.
 have not spoken Of the fact that many of our citizens are today put to considerable expense in buying spring water owing to the doubts about the city water. Neither do I mention the danger of possible eridemfcs which the condition of our city water might invite. All these things you know, in common with all the rest of us.
 The American Thread company rec- ogntzes that any action on your part that will result in material improve ment of our water supply must be at- tended with a good deal of expense. l assure you that the company will cheerfully bear it's burden of such increased taxation as may be neces-