USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1902-1907 > Part 23
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Selectmen.
461 orders, amounting to $15,775.91, were drawn by the Selectmen on the Treasurer and for which proper vouchers are on file.
Superintendent of Town Farm.
To balance cash on hand Feb. 1, 1905
(S. H. Balch) $ 84 73
Receipts from all sources to April 1, 1905 396 47
By payments to April 1, 1905 $468 39
$481 20 Balance cash on hand April 1, 1905 12 81
$481 20
76
To balance cash on hand April 1, 1905,
(E. G. Boynton) $ 12 81 Receipts from all sources from April 1, 1905 to Feb. 1, 1906 2,716 12
By payments from April 1, 1905, to Feb.
$2,728 93 1,1906 $2,721 41
Cash on hand Feb. 1, 1906 7 52
$2,728 93
Overseers Of Poor.
L. W. Wheeler, - - - Chairman.
To amount received from Town Treas-
urer for the year to Feby. 1, 1906 .. $1,404 73
By payments for year to Feb. 1, 1906 .. 1,404 73
Library. N. H. Wright, Treasurer.
To balance cash on hand March 1, 1905 .. 50 99
Receipts during year from all sources $664 44
By payments for year to March 1, 1906 . $340 68
$715 43 Cash on hand March 1, 1906 374 75
$715 43
Treasurer.
To cash on hand Mar. 1, 1905 $ 7,894 75
Receipts from Mar. 1, 1905 to Mar. 1,1906 39,143 85
-- $47,038 60
By payments to Mar. 1, 1906 $40,155 38 Cash on hand March 1, 1906 6,883 22
-$47,038 60
77
STATEMENT OF CONDITION.
Assets.
Uncollected taxes for year 1904 $ 254 90
Uncollected taxes for year 1905 2,011 89
Due from State Aid (Soldiers' families ) . . 734 00 Balance cash on hand with Supt. of Town Farm 7 52
Balance cash on hand with Treasurer 6,883 22 - $9,891 53
Liabilities.
Due State Treasurer on Library loan of $5,000 $ 500 00
5 months interest on same at 4 %
8 33
Due State Treasurer on loan for town's expenses 7,000 00
5 months interest on same at 3 1-5%
93 33
Balance assets over liabilities $7,601 66
$2,289 87
The balance of assets over liabilities Mar.
1, 1905 was $749 97
W. R. TAYLOR, Auditor.
Report of Commissioners of Public Burial Grounds.
The Commissioners report as follows :-
The funds for the perpetual care of lots still show an in- crease in number-six having been added the last year- making the whole number forty-two. Of these 32 lots are in Fairview, 9 in Westlawn, and 1 in Hillside Cemetery. Where there is danger, in the near future, of any lot being neglected, no one being left to care for it, we would again urge the im- portance of considering the subject of a perpetual care fund by those at present interested in looking after such lots. Fair- view Cemetery has received its usual good care from C. N. Richardson, who has charge. The graves of Civil War soldiers, not cared for by relatives or friends, have been put in order and in future will be cared for by the Commissioners and the lot, where John Butler and John P. Green are buried, has been selected as a "Soldiers' Lot" where those, having no family lot or relatives in town, can be buried. The Com- missioners have decided that all persons, having an unoccupied lot, shall within twelve months after the time of taking such lot, be required to grade and keep the same in good order or forfeit the lot. This decision has been made to prevent, if possible, any neglected lot injuring the appearance of any otherwise well kept avenue or path. J. T. Colburn having given up the care of Westlawn Cemetery, the Commissioners have appointed W. H. H. Burbeck in his place. Hillside Cemetery is also under Mr. Burbeck's care. Many of the lots suffered from the unusually dry weather in the Spring and early Summer and therefore did not show so good results from the labor spent as usual at the several cemeteries. T. E. Symnes has been employed by the Commissioners to survey and make a plan of Westlawn and Hill side cemeteries, showing
79
the occupied lots, and the unoccupied ground has been divided into lots, as well as could be done under existing circumstances. Each is numbered on the plan and a marker with the number will be placed at each lot, as soon as the weather will permit. We find that several lots have received care the last year, but the persons owning the lots have failed to pay the usual small charge for such care. We would ask all persons to carefully read the notice sent by order of the Commissioners each year, on or before April 1, and that they answer the request, in order that the Commissioners may know what they desire done to their lot. The Commissioners would respectfully recommend the sum of $200 for the coming year, the same to be expended for the care and improvement of the several cemeteries.
AMOUNT RECEIVED FOR CARE OF LOTS.
RESIDENTS.
Abbot, Mrs. E. S., care of tomb $ 5 00
Atwood, Mrs. C. M., 195 and 196, E. D. 2 00
Baker, Mrs. John, 330, E. D. 1 00
Barton, Edmund, 40 and 41, W. D. 2 00
Beebe, Mrs. Agnes, 234, E. D. 1 00
Bennett, Joseph, 61, E. D.
1 00
Bicknell, Ai, two lots, Fairview
2 00
Boynton, Mrs. D. L., 333, E. D.
1 00
Bunce, Augustus, 11 and 12, W. D.
2 00
Burnett, William, 37, E. D.
1 00
Butterworth, Mrs. J. T., 236, E. D.
1 00
Calvert, Mrs. Frank, 26, W. D. 1 00
Carkin, Mrs. Clara P., 145 and 338, E. D.
2 00
Carmichael, John, 68, W. D.
1 00
Carmichael, John B., 345, E. D. 1 00
Carrick, Mrs. Wm., 328, E. D. 1 00
Amount carried forward
$25 00
80
Amount brought forward. $25 00
Caunter, Mrs. E., 21, 22 and 326, E. D. 3 00
Collins, P. G., 35, W. D. 1 00
Day, Arthur E., 202, E. D.
5 00
DeRohen, Mrs. Andrew, 232, E. D.
1 00
Drew, F. C., 30, E. D.
1 00
Drew, George, 163 and 164, E. D.
2 00
Drew, Henry A., 260, E. D.
5 00
Eaton, Mrs. C. E., 243, E. D.
1 00
Fletcher, Mrs. C. H., 194, E. D.
1 00
Fletcher, Charles L., 42, W. D.
1 00
Fletcher, F. L., 83, W. D.
1 00
Fletcher, John M., 197 and 198, E. D. and 76, W. D.
3 00
Fletcher, J. W., 154, E. D.
1 00
Follansbee, C. H., lot in Hillside Cemetery
1 00
Frost, Mrs. W. E., 17, E. D.
1 00
Gardel, August, 368, E. D. 1 00
Gilson, George Q., 332, E. D.
1 00
Gilson, L. S., 60 and 75, W. D. 320, E. D.
3 00
Gower, Wm .. , 42, E. D.
1 00
Grieg, John, 14, W. D.
1 00
Harris, Mrs. C. A., 365, E. D.
1 00
Hawkes, W. O., 112 and 5, W. D.
2 00
Hewett, Miss C. E., 116, W. D.
1 00
Heywood, Edwin E., 337, E. D.
1 00
Hildreth, F. A., 43, W. D.
1 00
Hildreth, Mrs. F. C., Fairview
1 00
Hindle, Frank, 336, E. D.
1 00
Hosmer, Francis, 325, E. D.
1 00
Humiston, E. F., 136 and 142, E. D.
2 00
Hunt, Edmund J., 367, E. D.
1 00
Jenne, Albert E., 310, E. D.
1 00
Johnson, Andrew, 158, E. D.
1 00
Keyes, Mrs. Lucy A., 39, E. D. 1 00
Longbottom, Mrs. Arthur, 249, E. D. 1 00
Amount carried forward. $76 00
81
Amount brought forward $77 00
Luce, Miss R. E., Fairview 1 00
Miller, F. E., 36, W. D .. 1 00
Millis, George F., 57, W. D. 1 00
Morton, F., 331, E. D. 1 00
Moss, James L., 242, E. D. 1 00
Orange, Joseph, 48, E. D. 1 00
5 00
Polley, Miss Helen, 160, E. D.
1 00
Precious, Miss Sarah, 47, E. D.
1 00
Prescott, Mrs. Frances A., Fairview
1 00
Prinn, Alfred, 67, W. D.
1 00
Shattuck, Mrs. D. H., 322, E. D.
1 00
Shaw, Miss M. C., 355, E. D.
1 00
Smith, Miss Clara A., 95, W. D.
1 00
Stewart, James, 138, E. D.
1 00
Symnes, Thomas E., two lots in Fairview
2 00
Taylor, Albert D., 258, E. D
1 00
Taylor, Mrs. S. L., Law lot
3 00
Walkden, J. A., 155, E. D.
1 00
Welch, Wm., 18, E. D.
1 00
Wheeler, Mrs. Mary J., 77, W. D.
1 00
Whidden, C. E., Whiting lot
2 00
Whigham, Wm., 54, E. D.
1 00
White, Wm., 96, W. D. 3 00
Whitney, Mrs. Hiram, 100, W. D. 1 00
Willis, Samuel, 20, W. D.
1 00
Wood, Henry O., 309, E. D.
1 00
Woodbury, Alfred, 311, E. D. 1 00
Woods, Myron 1., 155, E. D.
1 00
Woods, William L., 148, E. D.
1 00
Wright, Andrew L., 28 and 29, W. D. 2 00
Wright, Mrs. F. C., 59, E. D. 1 00
Wright, George P., 25, E. D. 1 00
Wright, N. H., 46 and 47, W. D .. 2 00
Wright, Mrs. W. M., 24, E. D. 1 00
Amount carried forward
$123 00
Orr, Robert, 312, E. D.
S2
Amount brought forward $123 00
NON-RESIDENTS.
Abbot, Miss Lucy M. B., Groton, Fairview 1 00
Bailey, Mrs. Martha, Lowell, 51 and 52, W. D .. 2 00
Brigham, Mrs. G. A., Charlestown, 106 and 107, W. D. 2 00
Butterfield, Mrs. S. A., Ayer, 334, E. D., and one in Fairview 2 00
Carpenter, Eugene, Newton, 366, E. D. 1 00
Corey, Mrs. Caroline M., Groton, 104, W. D.
2 00
Craven, Mrs. Emily L., Lowell, 63, W. D.
1 00
Crockett, Henry C., North Chelmsford, 255, E. D.
1 00
Davie, Wm. L., North Chelmsford, 32, W. D.
1 00
Davis, Miss Alice L., Somerville, 10, W. D.
1 00
Decatur, Burt W., Springfield, 64, W. D.
1 00
Dix, Mrs. Henry, Charlestown, 327, E. D.
1 00
Edwards, Mrs. W. P., Dallas, Texas, 66, E. D.
1 00
Fisher, F. A., 110, W. D. . 5 00
Felch, Mrs. A. M., Littleton Common, 257, E. D. 1 00
Fletcher, Mrs. Lucy J., Arlington, 92, W. D. 1 00
Folland, L. S., Manchester, N. H., 22 and 23, W. D. . 2 00
Green, Mrs. S. E., Lowell, Fairview 1 00
Hamlin, George P., Boston, 111, W. D. . 1 00
Harris, George E., West Hanover, 27, W. D. 1 00
Hildreth, Mrs. Ellen A., Pelham, N. H., 87, W. D., and one in Fairview 2 00
Hildreth, Miss Helen C., Cambridge, 115, W. D. 1 00
Holt, Mrs. E. H., Lowell, 39, W. D. 1 00
Horne, George F., Somerville, 16, E. D.
1 00
Hunt, George W., Lowell, 341, E. D.
1 00
Hunt, Mrs. James, Providence, R. I., 53, E. D.
2 00
Hutchins, S. M., Lowell, 54, W. D.
1 00
Johnson, Miss A. L., Tyngsboro, 60, E. D.
1 00
King, Mrs. A. M., Crescent City, Cal., 21, W. D. and one in Fairview 2 00
Amount carried forward
$164 00
83
Amount brought forward $164 00
Laws, Mrs. J. H., Somerville, 114, W. D. 1 00
Lord, Miss Drusilla, Lowell, 33, E. D. 1 00
Moore, George C., North Chelmsford, 343, E. D. 2 00
Morse, Mrs. Mary F., Springfield, 58, E. D. 1 00
Osgood, John M., Racine, Wis., 6, E. D.
1 00
Palmer, Mrs. H. M., Derry, N. H., 229, E. D.
5 00
Parker & Buxton, Lowell, 365, E. D., and one in Fair- view. 2 00
Parker, O. A., Waltham, Fairview
1 00
Peck, Mrs. S. E., Elizabeth, N. J., 94, W. D.
1 00
Prescott, Miss Ida L., Milford, lot in Westlawn Cem- etery 2 00
Quigg, David, Chicago, Il1., 33, W. D.
5 00
Read, Miss Carrie E., Barre, Fairview
1 00
Reed, George G., Lowell, 70, W. D.
1 00
Richardson, Mrs. Anna, Wilmington, 74, W. D.
1 00
Richardson, M. T., New York City, Fairview
1 00
Ripley, Mrs. F. K., North Chelmsford, 2, E. D.
1 00
Sargent, Mrs. Nancy, Brookline, N. H., 59, W. D.
1 00
Saville, Wm., Boston, Fairview
1 00
Scrutton, Mrs. George, Lowell, 375, E. D. 1 00
Searles, Mrs. C. J., 66, W. D. 1 00
Snow, George F., West Chelmsford, Fairview 1 00
Snow, Salmon L., West Chelmsford, 89, W. D. 1 00
Spaulding, J. F., North Chelmsford, 346, E. D. 1 00
Stancomb, Richard, North Acton, 340, E. D. 1 00
Stiles, F. O., Littleton, 41, E. D. 1 00
Sweatt, Miss Jessie M., Boston, 254, E. D. 1 00
Trumbull, Mrs. S. H., Beverly, Fairview 1 00
Wheeler, Isaac G., Allston, 105, W. D 1 00
Whitney, Mrs. E. J., Littleton Common 28 and 29 E.D. 2 00
Willis, Wm. T., Lowell, 19, E. D. 1 00
Wilson, Mrs. Alexander, Morris Heights, N. J.,55,E. D. 1 00
Wright, A. A., Hudson, 34, W. D. 1 00
Wyman, George W., Camden, N. J., 376, E. D., 1 00
$209 00
84
EXPENSES.
Fairview :
Paid C. N. Richardson and others, for labor $315 09
Wright & Fletcher, for 2 1-4 tons fertilizer 85 50
For one pair pruning shears 1 00
For grass seed, etc . 1 86
W. W. Johnson, teaming fertilizer 1 50
$404 95
Westlawn:
Paid J. T. Colburn, for labor $ 6 50
For one gallon of black paint. 1 00
For grass seed 67
W. H. H. Burbeck for care of lots, as per bill 13 00
W. H. H. Burbeck extra work on cemetery grounds 5 00
Myron J. Woods, as per bill 3 60
G. T. Day and men for painting markers and clearing up refuse.
12 50
For gilding paint and liquid 1 25
T. E. Symnes for surveying, making plan of cemetery and dividing unoccupied ground into lots .
31 80
$75 32
Hillside :
Paid W. H. H. Burbeck, for care of cem- etery, including grading of the lot of a soldier whose relatives are unknown, work on perpet- ual care lot, and grass seed . $14 65
T. E. Symmes, for surveying, draw- ing plan of cemetery and divid- ing unoccupied ground into lots 17 10
$31 75
General expenses : Paid for stamps, envelopes, etc., $ 7 77
Courier-Citizen Co., printing receipt- books, notices, envelopes, etc. . 7 00
for express 35
$15 12
$527 14
Amount appropriated by the town $200 00
Amount received for care of lots 209 00
Amount received from perpetual care fund 74 73
Unexpended balance last year
84 25
$567 98
Amount expended
527 14
Unexpended balance.
$40 84
NAME.
CEMETERY. FUND.
J. W. P. Abbot
Fairview.
$100 00
Cyrus Babbitt
66
50 00
Sally B. Burrill
66
100 00
Francis Caldwell
50 00
George Davis .
50 00
Charles S. Dodge
66
100 00
Cephas Drew
50 00
George Drew
66
50 00
Rachel Dupee
66
50 00
Daniel Falls 66
50 00
Andrew Fletcher
100 00
Julia A. Fletcher
50 00
Sherman D. Fletcher
50 00
Amount carried forward
$850 00
66
66
66
86
Amount brought forward
$850 00
Sherman D. Fletcher
Westlawn
50 00
Joseph B. Griffin
Fairview.
100 00
Theodore H. Hamblett
66
50 00
C. & C. A. Hamlin
66
100 00
M. Hennessey .
66
50 00
Henry Herrick
Westlawn
100 00
Samuel Horne
Fairview.
50 00
Silas Lawrence and Mrs. Drake
Westlawn.
100 00
Edwin D. Metcalf
Fairview.
50 00
James M. Parker
50 00
Prescott & Babbitt
66
100 00
Charles H. Prescott
Westlawn.
100 00
Joseph F. Prescott
50 00
Frances A. Prescott
Fairview.
50 00
Nathan P. Prescott
50 00
Mary A. Putnam
Hillside.
100 00
Polly Quigg
Fairview.
50 00
Abijah C. Reed
Fairview
50 00
Anan Reed
Westlawn.
50 00
Sarah S. Reed
100 00
Sarah E. Richardson
Fairview.
50 00
C. Frederick Seifer
50 00
Sarah E. P. Wells
Westlawn.
100 00
Clara M. Wiley
Fairview. 100 00
Luther Wilkins
75 00
John Wilson
50 00
Capt. Ezekiel Wright
Westlawn.
50 00
Varnum B. Wright
Fairview.
25 00
$2,750 00
GEORGE W. HEYWOOD, Chairman, MELBOURNE F. HUTCHINS, GEORGE T. DAY, Secretary, Commissioners of Public Burial Grounds.
Report of Committee on Public Water Supply.
The Committee appointed at the annual town meeting held March 20, 1905, to investigate the advisability of a public water supply, respectfully submit the following report :
This Committee has entered upon its duty with full knowl- edge of the fact that in the recent past, numerous wells in this town have become comparatively useless, as a source of supply during the whole or a portion of the summer months, and at times this condition has continued during the fall, and has even ex- tended into the winter, and as a result, occasioned great incon- venience and loss, and further, by reason of the quality of the water obtained therefrom, have become a menance to the public health, and the question thus became one of vital importance to the town'.
And while this Committee fully appreciates the comfort, advantages and benefits to be derived, and the beneficial results that accrue to any community by reason of having a water sys- tem, yet they have undertaken and carried on this investigation with open and unbiased minds, either for or against the adoption of such system, and in that spirit have proceeded to ascertain the following facts and circumstances so that this data may be examined by all persons interested, and upon which each may form and base his own opinion.
The following is believed to be a brief general summary of results that have followed in towns adopting a public water supply :
First. The population has generally increased (this town is one of twelve in this Commonwealth of equal population not having a water system. )
Second. The tax rate has been increased at first but not materially after a few years; and in most cases this burden has been reduced in time to merely an annual appropriation for water for public uses and fire protection.
Third. An appropriation has been made annually for hy- drants to obtain protection from fire and for water for public uses.
SS
Fourth. The number of takers of water has almost in- variably increased after the first year and ultimately not only have nearly all the residents on the line become takers, but also those taking water have increased their number of faucets, and the system has been gradually extened.
Fifth. The insurance rates on property within the district have materially decreased.
Sixth. Although strenuous objection has often been encountered to establishing such a system, yet, when adopted, the benefits experienced and the cost found to be inoppresive, the first objectors have become its most earnest supporters.
The district investigated includes the villages of Westford Centre, Graniteville and Forge Village, calling for about nine miles of pipe, a stand pipe, with a capacity of 120,000 gallons, located upon Prospect Hill. The water to be obtained from wells located near Pine Ridge Station which location promises an unlimited supply of excellent drinking water.
In estimating the probable expense of installing this system, while acting without the services of an engineer and consequently without an accurate and minute survey, yet this Committee has been favored with the gratutious and efficient aid of a former resident of this town, Samuel D. Dodge, then connected with the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Commission, to whom this Committee is indebted for the following estimates.
The entire cost of installing the system $52,713.55. The following are the more general items of this total.
$32,801 05
Pumping plant and building
3,200 00
Stand pipe and foundation
3,100 00
Forty hydrants
2,000 00
Engineer and contingencies 5,000 00
800 00
Wells and connections.
800 00
Crossing brook and railroad
Other items 5,012 50
$52,713 55
Cost of and laying pipes .
89
To this should be added an item for land damages
and an allowance for excavating stone ledge, etc.
which is estimated not to exceed $12,286 45
Making a total cost, not exceeding 65,000 00
The annual expense based upon these figures is estimated to be as follows.
Annual running expenses $1,500 00
interest on bonds 2,600 00
appropriation for sinking fund (to be raised after the third year) 1,300 00
Total
$5,400 00
Annual income (based upon a canvass made upon rates established by this committee which would undoubtedly increase 25 per cent after the second year) $2,000 00
As the sinking fund appropriation of $1,300 would not have to be raised for the first three years it would leave, as the annual appropriation to be raised by taxation for fire protection and water for public use for that period, $2,100, After the third year it is estimated that the number of faucets would have increased at least 25%, yielding an income of $2,500, instead of $2,000, and as, at that time, the sinking fund appro- priation of $1,300, would have to be met, there would have to be raised $800, in addition, making the total $2,900,
The sum of $2,100 to be raised the first three years would increase the tax rate a trifle over $1.00 per thousand. The sum of $2,900 to be raised after the third year would increase the rate a trifle under $1.50 per thousand, and with that in- crease still leave the tax rate between $3.00 and $3.50 less than the average rate in this Commonwealth.
The reason why the sinking fund would not have to be raised by the town for the first three years is because the bonds issued for a period of 30 years at the rate of 4% would sell at a premium of not less than 6% and thus yield at least $3,900
90
which could be put at once into the sinking fund. This sum of $1,300 to be raised annually for the sinking fund would, if invested at a little less than 32%, pay the bonds at maturity ; that is at the end of thirty years.
This Committee is of opinion that there is no one public improvement that combines the power and quality of increasing the valuation of property in a town and at the same time con- tributes to the public welfare, health and growth, and tends to encourage persons of means and standing to become residents therein, as a public water supply. And it has been the result in many if not a majority of towns, having such a system, that ultimately, by reason thereof, the burden oftaxation has been lessened. ' And in no case so far as known has any town, where a water system has been installed, ever desired to repudiate its action if it could.
This town has comparatively no means of fire protection, either for public or private property, and this fact alone is one of grave importance and is entitled to serious consideration. The effect of establishing a water system, with hydrants, would, not only furnish this safeguard by means of hydrants, but would also provide the individuals in the villages a ready means of supplying water through a faucet to protect his own property while without such, the condition of remoteness and scarcity of water will, as has often proved, be an obstacle to fighting fires. And many localities have learned this lesson too late after a destructive conflagration has swept through its thickly settled portion, occasioning in many instances losses in them- selves sufficient to meet the first cost of a water system.
Further, a material reduction in the insurance rates would follow to property within 500 ft. of a hydrant, estimated in a Mutual Co. to be between 16% and 17% and in a Stock Co. about 38%. A considerable amount could thus be saved annually upon the public buildings and contents. And, further, this means of protection against fire would afford an opportunity for carrying less insurance both upon public and private property than would be feasible at the present time.
91
For some years past the water supply of Graniteville has been unsatisfactory and a number of tests have been made by the State Board of Health of water from wells on the following named premises: William White, Boarding House, C. G. Sargent Sons, Schoolhouse, Charles M. Cummings, Wesley O. Hawkes, well on Maple Street, well at corner of Broadway and Cross Street, well in rear of houses of Abbot Worsted Co. on Broadway, at Abbot Worsted Co.'s Mill and at Celeste Del- orenzo the general quality was poor, some not to be used with- out boiling and others not without risk. Fortunately the wells at the mill and school rated better.
The wells at Forge Village are better on the whole but those in the valley, and especially those on Pond and some on Bradford Street are not of assuring quality.
The wells at the Centre do not give encouraging results and many should not be used without first boiling the water. Tests have been made of the water from wells in the following named premises: George T. Day, Arthur E. Day, Frank L. Fletcher, Elizabeth S. Abbot, Sherman H. Fletcher, Town Hall, Centre School; Nahum H. Wright, Donald M. Cameron, Charles L. Hildreth, Alonzo H. Sutherland and Peter Clement.
The occurrence of a number of cases of typhoid in the past and the condition of the water supply has been the cause of much comment, and a feeling prevalent, shared by the State Board of Health, that the two were connected. In Granite- ville and Forge Village, while they have not had typhoid yet, for a long time infections, throat troubles, and malaria have been very much more prevalent and severe than in other parts of the town. The tests of the two wells sunk by this Committee are of a far different type and such as to meet with the approval of the State Board of Health, thus far, although undoubtedly before establishing upon any location further and more ex- tended tests should be made to ascertain as to quantity and filtration. The following shows the difference between the average result of the tests in the villages and that of the two test wells and shows a very marked improvement in favor of the test wells.
92
WATER ANALYSIS. (Parts in 100,000).
Centre.
Graniteville.
Test Wells
Chlorine
3.34
1.97
.19
Ammonia
0072
.0070
. 0006
Nitrates
6600
1.000
.0130
Hardness
5.7
4.3
.9
This test shows the test wells to supply a soft and palatable water.
This Committee is aware of the fact that contention is often made that the results to be enjoyed by the adoption of a water system only accrue to those in the district, but it is be- lieved this has been proved not to be the case and much benefit has resulted to the entire town .
First. Because the taxable property in the district in- creases in value and thus bears the greater burden.
Second. Because all the inhabitants of the town are deeply interested in its condition, especially as regards disease and health, and more especially in the schools where scholars are transported, and the opportunity of disease spreading is increased.
Third. Because such a public improvement tends, as a fact, and not as a mere possibility, to cause desirable persons, and more especially those of means, to become permanent residents, and this Committee's attention has been called to the fact that several such persons have been apparently discouraged from becoming residents by reason of the lack of water facilities.
Fourth. In a progressive and growing town the oppor- tunity of selling property, no matter in what part it is located, is increased and unquestionably its value will be somewhat enhanced if one desires to sell.
The number of vacant houses in this town would tend to indicate that some inducement is necessary to encourage their occupancy.
This Committee is of opinion that a public water system would be a great advantage and is advisable if it can be installed and maintained at the estimated expense. Furthermore this
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