Radio Script #1110

Little Talks On Common Things
January 23, 1977

[podcast]http://web.colby.edu/scimport/files/2011/05/LT1110.mp3[/podcast]

Several times on this program mention has been made of how Waterville got a municipal water supply. Not until recently, hcwever, did I have access to the first report of the Kennebec Water District, issued on April 30, 1906. That report gives a lot of information that makes possible a more comprehensive broadcast on the subject.

The first attempt to have any water supply independent of individual wells came in 1856, when a log pipe was laid from springs on College Avenue near the present site of the American Legion Building to a cistern in what is now Castonguay Square. That was for use in case of fire in the business district. Soon afterward other cisterns taking water from other springs, or in one instance from Hayden Brook, were placed in various spots about town.

As Waterville continued to grow, the supply from springs and wells became increasingly inconvenient, and sometimes inadequate. In 1881 there was chartered the Waterville Water Co. to take water from either Snow Pond or the Kennebec River. In 1886 the Town of Waterville contracted with that company for 50 hydrants at $50 a year each for a term of ten years. In financial difficulties, the company urged the town itself to take over the water charter but the voters in town meeting refused to do that. In the next year the town did take over the company at the modest cost of $1,000, and agreed to construct a pipeline from Snow Pond and finish it before January 1, 1888. The Legislature then extended the charter to include Winslow and Fairfield, but at the same time the right to take water from Snow Pond was repealed, and instead it could be taken from the Messalonskee Stream. Then it was revised again, to provide taking water from either the Messa10nskee or the Kennebec. It was agreed to lay pipes in 26 streets and ·install 40 hydrants. It was decreed that water rates should not exceed those charged by the Gardiner Water Co. The Town of Waterville also sold its charter rights to outside interests, which retained the old name of Waterville Water Co. The historical section of that 1906 report makes this comment:

 “…here thus passed into the hands of a private company, whose members were all nonresidents, one of the most valuable franchises which the people of Waterville had ever had at their disposal.”

The works were constructed during the summer of 1887, and were turned on in December. For the ~nsuing 17 years Waterville people were supplied with water from the Messalonskee Stream. In 1889 this corporation became the Maine Water Co., extending its service into Benton.

It was a typhoid epidemic in 1903 that led to the creation of our present Water District. Source of the deadly germs was definitely traced to the Messalonskee Stream. The time had come when Waterville must seek a new and purer supply.

The man who was chiefly responsible for our present abundant and healthful supply from China Lake was the local attorney, Harvey D. Eaton. Part of that story I told you in a broadcast last year, taken from Mrs. Eaton’s scrapbook put together at the time. Now, because of my access to the first annual report, much more can be told.

Fed up with their experience with a private corporation to furnish water, the people were determined to bring it under public control, whatever should be determined as the source of supply. Sources at once under consideration were Pattee Pond and China Lake. But to build such a long pipe line, install the necessary pumping stations, and provide for steady maintenance presented a financial problem that none of the involved municipalities could manage. To set up a corporation owned by any municipality seemed also not feasible. It was Harvey Eaton who came up with an ingen.ious solution. He proposed to ask the State ‘Legislature to charter a Water District controlled by a group of cooperating mu~icipalities. That was then a unique idea. Now Mr. Eaton’s brainchild has been adopted allover the nation. In the field of education it has given us Maine School Administrative Districts in each of which, for school purposes, several towns are merged. It has indeed. invaded many other areas of community service.

Several years before the typhoid epidemic of 1903 Mr. Eaton had pondered his plan. Even before anyone knew the health hazards of Messalonskee water, Mr. Eaton convinced the citizens that the way to meet the dilemma posed by operation of a water system was to get the cooperating towns to form a district expressly for the purpose of furnishing water. At the legislative session in 1899 he persuaded the legislature to grant such a charter – the first instance of its kind in the whole u.S. The act was passed on March 17, 1899, was confirmed by the voters of Waterville on April 1 and by Fairfield on April 3. The District was authorized to operate also in Winslow and Benton, whenever those towns should accept the plan. However the District’s beginning was in Fairfield and Waterville, and the utility was called the Kennebec Water District. The enabling act said: “The territory and people constituting the City of Waterville and the Fairfield Village Corporation shall constitute a body politic and corporate under the name of the Kennebec Water District, for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants of said District, and the towns of Benton and Winslow, with pure water for domestic and municipal purposes.”

When the District was formed in 1899, no one saw any objection to water from the Messalonskee, or even from the Kennebec. Section 2 of the Charter said: “The District is authorized to take and hold a sufficient amount of water from the Kennebec River, the Messalonskee Stream or its tributary lakes, or the Sebasticook and it tributary lakes, and the District may take and hold by purchase or otherwise any land or real estate necessary for making dams, power reserVOirs, or preserving purity of the water, and for laying and maintaining ~queducts for conducting, discharging, and distributing the water.”

The act provided for a governing board of trustees of five members: two from Fairfield, two from Waterville, and a fifth chosen by the Kennebec County Commissioners. The District was granted right of eminent domain to take needed property. Highly important was the District’s exemption from taxation. The plan was to be.financed by the issue of bonds.

One problem was the value of the existing Maine Water Company, whose property the District would take over. After much discussion and threatened litigation, the parties agreed on a body of three outside appraisers, who set the value of the old property at $503,475, which was paid, and the new district took posseSSion on May 9, 1904, and private ownership of Waterville’s water supply came to an end.

But long before that, some of the best engineers and sanitary experts in New England were called in as consultants. The most important fact they found was the pollution of the Messalonskee Stream, to which the typhoid epidemic had been traced. The epidemic had caused 74 deaths in Waterville alone. All those investigators agreed that some other source of supply must be found. All nearby lakes were considered. Walter Hill, chief engineer of the New York Aqueduct Commssion, came to Waterville and examined all lakes and ponds in. the Messalonskee system, as well as Pattee’s Pond and China Lake. No immediate decision was reached. But finally in late 1903 the decision was at last made in favor of China Lake. Mr. Eaton played a prominent part in that decision, for he foresaw Waterville’s growth, expecially industrial use of water that would demand a large unfailing sourc.e of supply.

Work began in March 1904, but it progressed slowly. The pipe supplier, R. D. Wood and Co. of Philadelphia was constantly late with deliveries. The contractor L. N. Farnham, however, could not blame all the trouble on the supplier. That comprehensive first annual report said: liThe work did not progress as it should.” The crews were too small, tests were unsatisfactory. Farnham asked to be allowed to suspend operations in cold weather but was refused. Financial weakness appeared. The District gave all possible assistance by anticipating payments, but all efforts proved unavailing. Severe weather proved a big obstacle.

In early January 1905, Farnham gave up and abandoned the work. The District took possession of all tools and material on hand, hired its own superintendent, and the very next day work was resumed. Without any new contractor, the District itself finished the job, though at an excess cost of $31,000 over the Farnham contract. Work was completed in May 1905. There was much work flushing out pipes, blowing-off all hydrants, draining and cleaning the reservoir. But at last on May 23, 1905, China Lake water was turned on, and now for 70 years it has been a superior source of Waterville’s most needed facility, water.

Financi~g was done by 3~ percent bonds for $950,000. Mr. Eaton received $25,000, which the report explained thus: “The payment to Eaton covers not only his services in full, but all his expenses, and they have been considerable. Mr. Eaton procured Massachusetts legislation permitting that state’s savings banks to buy our district bonds. He negotiated the loan of $800,000. On payment of his recent bill covering several years of work, Mr. Eaton declared he would accept no further compensation, but would render free assistance to the trustees as long as they should desire. He is now in charge of pending litigation as the District’s lawyer, serving without fee.”

The report ended with a financial statement of the first:year’s operation. Gross income had been $45,665 and total expenses had been $44,947, showing a surplus of $718. To this was added the conunent: “We believe the revenue will increase year by year, as the territory served gains in population and wealth.”

It was signed by Dr. Frederick E. Thayer, District president, and his fellow trustees, V. R. Connor, S. A. Nye, I. E. Getchell and G. L. Learned.

In 1905 the total population of the Water District was 16,729. Of that number Waterville had 9,477, about half its present population; Fairfield had 3,898, Winslow 2,277, and Benton 1,087.

Next week I shall tell you about some of the problems involved in laying the pipe lines and other interesting events connected with. our China Lake Water Supply.