Norwich bulletin., 1917-07-14

by this charter was drafted, but when referred for final action to a city meet ing 1t was defeated tsy d small ma jority in d small total vote.
 2 In referring to the way Norwich secured a water supply, MT. Gilman writes humorously: The difficulties that have sometimes beset the people of Norwich when they have tried to get together have been illustrated by the water problem, which, though It cannot be called a burning question, has kept the town in hot water more It has been universally conceded that an adequate: supply of pure and whole some water is an imperative necessity for every citizen of Norwich, his wife, his children, his cattle, and the stranger within his gates. Yet there have been seasons when one might have said. that on the surrounding hills there was water everywhere, but not drop to drink" in the city.
 In 1859, the town was dependent for water supply on private wells. In the thtckly settled districts were few public pumps, and some private res ervoirs and aqueducts that yielded considerable revenue to their owners: but the supply of water was always insufficient and the quality was open to suspicion. even before bacteria and microbes had been invented. to yex mems souls and bodies.
 Great was the need; yet, in 1864, after an amendment to the charter granted by the Legislature had been formally accepted by the citizens, and after contracts had been submitted for view and for street mains at cos of s1s5, 900, opposition to the proposed site was so great that a special city meeting was called to rescind the vote.
 The question was finally settled in three votes in favor of water, and the water commissioners were authorized to proceed with the work
 Under their direction. a reservoir was constructed at F-airview, between the Scotland and Canterbury roads, about mile from the Up-Town Green with a dam four hundred feet long and thirty five feet high, having capacity of 350,0oo.000 gallons
 In May, 1870, the successful com pletion of the water works was cele- brated with great enthusiasm No one could foreteil at that time how great woud d be the increase in the popuia- tion of Norwich; still less could any one estimate how enormous would be the increase in the consumption of water.
 MT. Gilman makes reference to later
  England. when Norwich suffered be- cause of scant water supply and the fact that as one way to remedy this need the dam at Fairview was raised in 1900, when discussions grew hot concerning the comparative value Of Pease Brook and Stony Brook. as permanent sources of supply.
 As he notes: "The strange spectacle has been seen of Standard Oii selling at a lower price per gallon than pure spring water It is believed that the peril has now happily been aVerted, and that Norwich will never again suffer till all the streams run dry
 As one bond of union to join the separated and in some cases jealous sections of the town in common spirit and harmony Mir. Gilman mentions the street railroads, conveniences of which Norwich was wholly destitute. in 1859 the date of the celebration of her two, hundreth anniversary.
 A most interesting review of the be- sinnings of these he gives in his book and what he tells thereof will form the subject of a later paper.
 THE DICTAGRAPH.