Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-24
AFTERNOON SESSION

CIttSc us IdleS or not.
AFTERNOON SESSION
George X. Boutelle, treasurer Of the
kennebec Water District was the
first witness called to the stand. Mr..
Boutelle's report for 1922 was filed as
evidence. Mr.. Pattangall called at
tention to certain paragraphs, which
were explained by Mr.. Boutelle. At
i tention was called to an item of $1,000
paid to Albert S. Hall as assistant
! superintendent. 1t was explained
! that Mr.. Hall is now dead and this
! would not be q future expense.
The witness was suspended while
| certain records We're obtained and the
! hearing proceeded by the examine
| ton of Charles w. Sherman OF the
| firm of Metcalf and Eddy of Boston.
| Mr.. Sherman has been engineer of
| the company for six or seven years
and has been associated with Arthur
| i. Stafford on making an estimate Ot
| combining the Water District Power
and the Wyandotte Power on the
| Messalonskce which they believed
| would cost sl20,00 TO $4,000
| a very complete and exhaustive
table compiled by Mr.. Sherman was
introduced in evidence and carefully
/ gone over by the commission ana
! counsel for both sides in company
| with Mr.. Sherman. This showed the
| revenue and operating cost in the
! past aud formed a basis Of future
expense of operation and needed rev
: enue.
Mr.. sherman said that the inStalla-
! ton OF meters would increase the
| expense about $4,000 and that they
/ went into the matter of the increase
of rates and the revenue to be re-
| ceiVcd therefrom, which was the
I same subject mater as had been gone
over by Mr.. Pattangall in the fore
| noon. The figures given would make
an increase in revenue Of $4,000 for
! the district.
Another table was introduced
showing the estimate of receipts from
1903 TO 1921, and still another contain
| ing balance sheets based on the
| trcasurcrs' report from 1904 TO 1921
ON cross examination a form OF
! contract was introduced to which the
! kennebcc Water District asks it's
! consumers to subscribe when water
, service is asked for. The contract
provided that the owner of the prop
! city should be the one to sign the
! contract and no other. Mr.. Eaton
asked what tenant might do. if his
landlord would not provide water.
Tho matter of deposit not exceed
! ing a years watcf service, being re-
quired 10y the district, was brought
| up and Mr.. Eaton declared such an
action Illegal. He declared that three
| quarters OF the rules set forth b." the
district were either Illegal or useless
, and might Us well be cut out Mr.
! Pattangall said he would be glad to
t receive suggestions from Mr.. Eaton
| in regard to the rules and Mr.. Eaton
| said he would be glad to offer them
! Mr.. sherman said that there were
! pumped 100000. 900 gallons of water
/ IN 1921 making 112,0o0,0o0 cubic feet
/ which costs .Q63, per cubic foot. They
! propose to Sell it to the Maine Cen
! trai at SO IL or 4 cents. The Hcl-
? '
I pays cents. During 1921 the Maine
! Central used 1885, 900 cubic feet
! which was reckoncd about l.. cents
| per cubic foot. The new schedule
! would increase the revenue from the
| railroad ny $500 but they would still
! he selling under cost The item OF
! general expenses for 1927 of $1,000
was questioned closet NV Mr.. Eaton
as TO an estimated expense for 1922
| of $1,000 over 1920. This Mr.. Sherman
! said he would look up.
! Taking q volume compiled by En-
| gin6er sherman. for which work he
! received $500 was taken in hand by
J Attorney Eaton and gone through
| with bit by bit showing that much
! OF it WAS copied from other sources
! lie asked Mr.. sherman if it was
! not fair to say that he gained the
! information and wrote it and
charged the district $500 for it and
! Mr.. sherman said "No." He then
, tain his information.
! Mr. Eaton questioned closely into
| tho need OF new pipe line. He ask
ca If Mr.. sherman had considered
any other method of meeting the
{ needs of the trustees other than an
increase in rates, such as trying tor
an Increase in business Mr.. Sher-
! man said that this had been mention
cd hut the trustees thought there was
not much TO be gained this way. The
witness was questioned minutely IS
to increase in the expense of opera
/, ton Of the district between lao and
/ 1921. He was then dismissed and
George *. BoutelIe resumed the
stand.
Mr.. Boutellc was required to read
from certain records. where it was
voted to give $4,000 to DR.. F. G.. Thay-
or for special services rendered. since
the organization to the present time.
on January 4, 1921 it was voted that
DR.. +. {. Thayer be appointed gener-
al manager Of the district at n salary
OF 500 per month. On March /. 1921
the meeting was adjourned to the
Maine Central railroad station at
SO a. NJ. on March .. 1921 and the
recompense TO be $500 for attendance.
the expense to be borne by the dis
trict. The pay of the trustees was
raised from s. to $500 in June 1921
At the evening session four minor
witnesses were heard including, f.
w. Crawford, city engineer. f. c.
Libby. Mrs. Gowcn and Charles II.
Sawyer.
Mr.. Crawford was questioned in re-
gard to orders passed by the city on
January g. 1920, for two hydrants, as
TO when they were installed. One