Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1918-06-07
Special City Meeting Called For Next Week
Friday. City Sued For $500 Damages
AFTER COMMON COUNCIL DISCUSSES MATTER 1T is
DECIDED TO PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WATER
CONDITIONS ON SHOULDERS OF CITIZENS
Must Be Made Satisfy Insurance Underwriters
and to Provide For Emergency.

If she city of Putnam's water de-
partment is 10 remain in its present
Inadequate, uncertain and dangerous
condition, the responsibility therefor
will he on the heads of the citizens
themselves This was determined at
the meeting of the common council,
Tuesday evening, when the council,
by roll call vote, unanimously decided
to call special city meeting to see if
the city will appropriate $4,000 Tor
the purpose of purchasing, laying and
constructing a 16-inch main from the
pumping station in Harrisville 20 the
distribution system in Putnam.
1t has been known for some years
that the water system was inadequate.
To relieve themselves of the response
bility for anything that might happen
on account of conditions, according to
G. Harold Gilpatric, member of the
hoard of water commissioners, the
board two years ago was empowered
TO have a survey made by competent
Hydraulic engineer This was done
and the engineers recommendations
were submitted to the council, and
endorsed by the commissioners.
The cost Of installation of the pro-
posed changes was something like
two hundred thousand dollars, and it
was not deemed advisable by the
council to go before the citizens and
ask for any such appropriation at that
time
The water situation the past win
ter brought home to the officials, the
citizens and the insurance underwrit-
ers the bad state of affairs. and now,
not only is the city threatened with a
serious confagration, but the insur-
some Instances, to withdraw their
risks from Putnam, and in others to
raise Insurance rates. Upon recon-
mendation of the water commission
ers, the agency of the common coun-
cil, the common council, the agency of
the citizens, has decided to put all
further responsibility upon the citi-
zens by putting it squarly up to them
as to whether or not they wish the
present situation to continue, or
whether they will vote the money nee
essary to remedy conditions whereby
the present danger will be alleviated
and, for time at least, the insurance
Underwriters will be satisfied.
The matter was brought up at the
council meeting with all members of
the board Of water commissioners and
the engineer, Mr. Simons. present.
Many questions were asked and an
swered by the engineers and commits
sioners
Alderman Padgett, for the finance
committee, stated that it had been
found that the city could not issue
any more bonds, but that it could Dor
row tte necessary money on short
time notes.
While il was stated that present
conditions are better than for some
time, and that the standpipe on Oak
Hill is now frequently full, and that
during several hours day the pump
does mot have to be run, the situation
IS far from satisfactory. Engineer
Simons said that there is too little
margin That if serious fire should
-, he hue tha
tank would soon be drawn down and
the pressure would go to a point
where Il was doubtful if one good
fire stream could be had. Mr.. Simons
said thai the city needed sufficient
pressure 20 guarantee from seven to
ten good fire streams. and that this
could only be assured by a larger res
ervoir OF a larger main The main,
he considered the more feasible plan.
1t was stated by the engineer that
the present system is sufficient to take
care Of domestic needs for some time
but that the main point is to take care
Of the FIRE risk and that can only be
done by improving the system.
The plan proposed is to run l6-
inch main from the pumping station
down the Little River road and up
Pomfret street to the corner of
Church street. This, the engineer
said, would furnish an adequate sup
ply OF water, but admitted that after
some years other changes would
probably be demanded by the insur-
ance underwriters. The proposed
plan is looked upon as the first step
only n bringing the water plant up to
the standard of efficiency that it
should each. Mr.. Simons said that