Putnam patriot., 1918-04-19
WILL HAVE TO
 VOTE MONEY
Appropriation to Improve Wa ter Works Is Absolutely
 Essential to Safety.
The Matter Expected to Come Be- fore the Ia. Payers Very Soon.

The citizens of Putnam may just az well make up their minds now that the already large city debt will have to be increased Present conditions of the city water works demand it if the plant is to be made efficient enough to take the city out of the danger zone. If it is not done the taxpayers will have to pay greatly increased rate of insurance. This does not mean only mills, block own CTS and owners of other large proper ties. but it comes right back 10 the owner of a little home who wants to know that he is protected both from fire. by a sufficient water supply. and from monetary standpoint, by ln= sufance, should his little home be destroyed
 It has been known for some time that tte city h in poor and danger ous couuitiou as to water service. The matter has been put off and put off on account of the necessary expense to be entailed in remedying the situa- tion. The present trying times through which the city has just passed with only good fortune standing be tween the city and it's possible de- struction, has brought the matter home so emphatically that the mill men, upon whom the city depends Tn great degree for the employment of it's citizens, got together and took ae- tion. They were forced to this by the 1 stand of the insurance underwriters, who threatened to cancel their poll cies should the water plant be allowed to remain in it's present inadequate condition.
 ! II. A. Simons, an expert hydraulic engineer of Boston, made a survey of the water plant over q year ago and reported the needs of the city to the common council To carry out the whole plan. as devised oy hlm, which was with the future for some time 70 come in mind. would have entailed an expenditure of $200,0o0 This, at the time. seemed out of the question. | At the present time epen after what ! has been learned, the whole scheme is not being considered. but it is ex- pectcd that in the very near future i the water commissioners who have held meetings this week with MT. i Simons and with representatives of insurance writers, will report to the common council and will make some kind of recommendation that will assure ample fire protection. With the new pump installed, the situation is far from perfect although improv- ed, and it is still impossible to keep a sufficient supply of water in the standpipe on Oak Hill. Nor can this be done, as has been told time after main that runs from Harrisvile to the city, made even smaller by the accu- mutations of the past thirty or more years.
 What is being talked of as IS un- derstood IS Is inch water main from the pumping station to the city, probably by way of the Little River road It is believed that such line would provide sufficient water and that 1t should not be further delayed In fact it Is imperative that such a line be built, or, as already stated, property owners will be taxed for in surance instead of being taxed to build up the city's water plant. It Is situation that everyone should con slider. for there is no doubt that b. fore many weeks each will be called upon to vote. either to make the city safe or to leave conditions as they are now and see insurance rates greatly increased and at the same time be equately protected from fire. Ii i> one of the most important questions to come before the voters in some time, and IS d question that surely must be met.
 N & s.