HomeMy WebLinkAbout2038.6 Report of committee on the town water supply, March 1, 1893TO THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON:
The Committee appointed by the town to consider the
question of its water supply report:- That they have made no further
surveys or experiments and have incurred no further expense. The Lex-
ington Water Company obtained an act of the last Legislature authorizing
them to hold land which they had purchased and from which they had taken
water for several years. Also authorizing them to take the waters of
Vine Brook flowing through this land. Also to take sufficient land of
the Seaverns farm for the construction and maintenance of a reservoir for
storing the waters of Vine Brook. Also to take land of Newell, Robinson
and Joy for water purposes.
The Committee made no opposition to this bill further
than to secure the provision for the protection of the town, that in case
this town should at any time purchase the works of the Company, these
additional franchises should not add to the cost which the town should be
required to pay.
The Committee have felt that the town was in the power
of the Water Company to such an extent that it was better policy for us
not to oppose their attempts to increase their water supply, provided the
Company proceeded in good faith, and made prompt and reasonable efforts
to secure such supply, and to furnish additional and suitable pumps and
apparatus for supplying the town for fire and domestic purposes.
The experience of last summer when the supply even for
domestic purposes was limited to a few hours for several days on account
of an accident in a single well, shows how short the water supply at that
time was; how utterly unprotected we were in case of fire, and how much we
are depending on a single pump which is liable to break at any time, sub-
jecting us to similar annoyance and similar danger.
During the year but too late to be of any use during
the dry season the Water Company proceeded to dig a large well or gallery
on land of Joy near Parker Street, which they are authorized to take under
the Act of 1892, and to connect the same by a pipe with their other wells.
While there has been no reliable test of this source of sup-
ply, the Committee have little confidence that it will prove at all ade-
quate to meet the needs of the town, or that it will even prove sufficient
for immediate necessities.
The Company do not appear to be doing anything further to
meet the emergency, and probably will do nothing so long as the town pays
without objection for its unreliable protection against fire and so long
as the people patiently submit to their inconveniences.
The Committee received some assurance that an additional
pump would be placed in the Works but we are not informed that anything
has been done to relieve us in this particular.
We do not think the people realize that we are at the mercy
of a single pump; and that in case of accident during a fire, or at other
times, our only source of supply is the small amount of water which may
happen at that time to be in the tank, until repairs are made.
The Committee have no recommendations to make but think it
may be advisable for the town to continue the existence of the Committee
by granting it further time.
Respectfully submitted,
Lexington, March 1st, 1893
F. F. Raymond
Eli Shaw
A. E. Scott
James S. Munroe
James Sullivan