The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-10-28

the authorities to ascertain whether
other water could have been procured
for this purpose, using means com
monty used on state highways re
mote from water system?
| What expert authority was consult
ed to find out whether the use OF the
village water for the street construc
tion work involved the danger of re
ducing the stored supply beyond the
| level of safety generally recognized
by sanitary engineers?
Honest and unequivocal answers to
these questions will show that il our
officials managed their private affairs
as badly as they have the important
public affairs entrusted to them, all
Of them would be bankrupt and some
Of them in even worse trouble.
Important as ii was to have the new
streets laid, it was less important
than having water In the homes OF the
people water to drink, to flush clos
cts. to battle babies.
What is the sense in having learned
specialists come to tell mothers how
to care for their babies. il blunder-
ing, incompetent administration of the
water supply, and Of local government
in general. makes II impossible for
mothers to get water to keep the ba-
bies clean. or to carry out the hundred
other admirable instructions OF the
specialists?
so much for past failings. Not much
good can result from such an indict-
ment beyond what incentive to reform
may spring from recognition OF
shortcomings and errors; but what of
today? What are you doing, Messrs.
the Water Commissioners, to meet
the grave situation now existing?
You know that there are many
homes wholly dependent upon the vii
lage water supply, where for ten hours
a day. several days week, not a
drop OF water can be drawn, not q
closet flushed. What are You doing
about it?
Do you realize that in many Of
these homes there are young babies;
in many others inyalids?
Do you realize that many Of these
homes are dependent upon steam and
hot water heating systems, and that
there is danger Of serious explosion
in some cases-or viii be If means are
not found to supply them with rum
ming water?
Surely. it is not too much to ask
or demand rather--that you tell US
what you are doing about II all, ana
what you propose to do
with how much thoroughness have
YOU looked into the practicabllity OF
an emergency use Of additional aux
ilary sources Of supply?
Have you made q survey OF what
resources we have. and planned 10
REF. late the consumption?
How do you propose to ration the
available resources
What are YOU deag to stop vast
age? ,,.
There are other and more. difficult
questions to be asked you, Gentlemen,
but for the present let them wait
These urgent and immediate questions
cannot walt, however.
Is ii more important to wash babies
bottles and napkins than to wash side
walks and windows? Ii so, why not
use all your authority to stop window
washing and sidewalk washing so as
10 help make 1t possible to wash
babies bottles and napkins
Is it more important to wash babies
and sick people than to wash car
riages and automobiles? II so, why
not put a stop to carriage and auto
mobile washing both private and com
until it can be done without
iepriving the babies and the sick?
(Since the foregoing was written
information reaches me that the pub.
ic garages at least have been asked
70 stop washing cars The beiateu
Weakening is welcome, even though
h masses understanding to explain
Shy this step was not taken weeks
,go. Moreover, there is little virtue !
n perfunctory notices which are not
Cars are being washed
Iaily, at the expense of human suffer
ne, as the spick and span condition |
If many local cars testifles why not
IN authoritative order applying to all I
,wners and users of cars-an order
lacked by the will to enforce it9.
Long since every faucet in town
lsed for such purposes of secondary
ought to have been OH
Tally sealed. village water should
lot be used for mechanical purposes
4 The cost of the safety Of the homes,
Presently, propose to speak with
.aual plainness of the lack OF
Intelligent pldnnng for the fu'
ure. For today content my
elf with this further attempt 10
hame our responsible authorities
nto effective action. late as it is.l