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

before IL was put III, Out luOuS4ll IL
was months.
Charles H. Sawyer who lives at the
corner of Columbia road and Hazel
wood avenue. He asked for water
service in the fall and got it next
spring.
Mrs. Walter Gowen of Oxford street
had trouble one Sunday afternoon
with water in toilet running over.
Mr.. Thompson the superintendent of
the Water District would not turn
the water off. 1t was a week before
anything was done.
Charles f. Sherman, expert engin-
eer was then questioned at length in
regard TO vouchers. One voucher was
read where the services Of an engin-
eer Mr.. Metcalf, was employed one
and one-eighth days at 500 day and
Mr.. Sherman's own services cost $50
a day. Several others Of the Same
import were read.
Mr.. Pattangall agreed to expedite
matters that counsel should tell what
the bills were for. 1t was suggested
that the vouchers themselves be Put in
evidence. Counsel agreed that Mr..
Boutelle should send the commission
the written answers to the questions
asked by Mr.. Eaton at the afternoon
session.
Voucher after voucher was gone
over punctured by sharp Next by
| Attorney Eaton and what were you
doing" What was your actual worn" -
| What does litigation mean" were
questions demanded of the witness at
the close of the reading Of each
| voucher.
| since the trial with tile Central
! Maine Power Co, have YOU made sew
erai trips to Augusta from Boston in
connection with the work Of attempt
/ ing to make a satisfactory sediment
between the two companies?' asked
Attorney Pattangall. which was an
swcrcd in the affirmative.
| During the afternoon the commits
sion stated that. the tate per sprinkler
/ head had been changed from eight
cents to five cents per head.
! Carroll y. Perkins said that as This
adjustment had been made he DID not
need to say anything.
Almost at the moment the ev,ience
was closed. City Solicitor Frank iium-
stead asked permission to speak. lIc
| said that the time of the formation
| Of the water district they male an
agrC sment with the city officials that
! only normal charges should be made
| for hydrantS in return for certain con
cessions. 1t was pointed out that il
| the hydraUt rental would be imcrct; SEQ
$4,000. which would add two mills &c
the tax rate of the city. The water
district being free from taxation. tho
city stands no chance Of getting a re-
| turn revenue. Mr.. Plumstead said
! that this might mean the abandonment
Of the building of 4 schoolhcuse which
| had been planned on.
A recess of 10 minutes was called
after which Attorney Eaton read 4 re-
port from an insurance company as Il
their investigation of conditions il
| Watcrville. The gates were fro,l six
To IL inches underground and one OF
| them had never been opened. This
/ Mr.. Eaton said. showed great N gil
gence in the matters Of the admins,
tration Of tie affairs of the water dis.
! IrCt.
Mr.. Eaton said in his closing ar.
Sument that he thought the trustees
, were spending Il great deal of money
i that they would not spend were it I
! private enterprise.
! 1t was shown. he said, that no at
| tempt was made to increase scrVic,
and that he thought the people hat
! u right to set somebody scratching
/ for money. In three ycals, he said
| they will have Si50.0o0 in bonds t.
! refund. IL speaking of the use OF lht
sinking fund for Improvements. Nj!
Eaton said he believed no exception
would be taken TO such course
! We do feel that the trustees have
failed signally in the financial side
of this operation.
Mr.. Pattangall in his argumen
| mentioned two things. one Of thes,
! wa in regard TO the sale OF water
! to the Maine Central on what NIGH
! be figured out as below cost. is no
! the sale of.Water ut all. ONLY a It'll,
more than the cost OF pumping nee,
| be asked. At present that water i!
! a by product.
! In regard ia the insurance. BE
! cause the things cited by Mr.. Eator
/ might have been true in 1918 but i
! is not necessarily in that condition
! how.
| Mr.. F%ttangll said the cas-,
| should be definitely closed IN tw,
! days. Any changes Mr.. Eaton MAY
| suggest he said he would be glad t,
| to consider with him and they would
/ do all possible.
| They handicapped themselves il
1?l2 10y putting on a lower rate thar
any nearby town. They Handicapped
! themselves when they invested Their
sinking fund in property of the com
mission. Ii was Illegal to be sure
! but were trying to remedy the sit
ration as soon as possible. We want
! to clear up this financial situation
before VIC have to refund our bonds
which will come in three years.
AS this situation stands this Dis
! trict cannot carry on its business
i pay it's notes and rchubiliatc its
sinking fund without an increase in
| revenue. 1t seems that the incrcas,
of domestic water rates is the best
way to raise the increase instead OF
| burdening the municipality with a
heavier tax
Only two points are before us fol
consideration. that of putting the
first faucet to $500 and the first bait,
tub at $500. All other changes have
been approved.
TDI "TN AITN