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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul cISchA. il est film* A partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite. et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 WATER W^ORKS FOR FREDERICTON, ADDRESSED TO TBI OWNERS OF RIAl ESTATE, 09 G. E. t'ENETY: FRKDGBICTON— OoTOBKR— 188t; i*^ i 5,99 a '«*" To the Owners of Real Estate. In writing this Tamphlet it is not with tho belief that tho information and suggestions which it may contain, will bo prodnctive of any practical result, or bring about " Water Works," in the immediate future ; although it is a subject which for years has agitated, from time to time, the public mind, and led to earnest discussions at tho City Council, ending, however, in defeat on every occasion. The main object in writing this is for the purpose of explaining many matters that seem to be dimly uud^>r8Mod by a considerable number of our Citizens — to remove erroneous impressions in regard to the subject of taxation, which it is conceived would follow, in an oppressive form, the expenditures ne- cessary to the introduction of a sufficient water supply to meet the point raised by many persons, on every occasion when this question is opened up anew, to the otfect that the work of introducing a water supply and carrying on the works should bo in the hands of a Company, and not under- taken by the City, which point in my opinion is the most erroneous because the most objectionable of all — tho reasons for which will be shown in future pages — in a word, my desire is to place this subject before the public in all its aspects in such way, it is hoped, as will render it sufficiently intelligible to tho most ordinary comprehension. If then 4 FRKDERTCTON WATER WORKS. Tvo are not to obtain what \h ho esaential to the health, hnp- pincss and proHpcrity of Fredcricton (nn abundant supply of pure water) at a cost so trirtin^f in comparison to tho benciita to be secured, it may not, it is to be hoped, be said hereafter, aa it is fre«iuently said now, " water works are all very well, but where is the water and the money to come from, and how are wo to pay the additional taxation to be entailed?" In a recent lecture Henry Ward Deecher re- marked — " I think a man should look upon the welfare of the community where he dwells, upon its health, and upon its enterprise and prosperity, with a large, generous, liberal spirit. A man ought to abhor living in a city unventilatcd, imdrained, unwatered, nnswept, unlighted, uncared tor. It is the business of every citizen to see to it thot the placo where he lives is made tcnantablo and beautiful ; for, as it ie said, ' Man shall not live by bread alone.' It is not enougb to feed a man's mouth, give him as much as he can eat and drink. His ear ought to be fed with music, and his eye with beauty. And he should see to it that tho whole of the eommnnity has that which shall make it high and beautiful." I propose to consider the subject of Water Works under the following heads : 1. Proceedings of the City Council. 2. Sanitar" requiroments and Board of Ilcalthw 3. Facto es. 4. Fire and domestic purposes. 5. Large Fires in Fredericton. 6. City or Company undertaking the Works* 7. Sources of Water Supply. 8. Probable cost and taxation. 9. Mode of Assessment. 10. Insurances. 11. Concluding Remarks. HISTORY OF CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. On 2nd February, 1875, a Communication was read at the Council Board, from tho Board of Trade relative to Water Works, urging their necessity on numerous grounds. A Committee was appointed to confer with the Board of Trade to consider the subject and report. The resalt of the whole iFRKDKmcrON WATKR WORKS. 'j>roopoilin^s was a Rosolation passed that as Water Works Nvoro dosirablo and loadly called tor by the Citizens, a vote should be taken by the ratepayers, "yea "or "nay," and upon the majority would depend the final issue. The above IS merely the f ubstauce, which is s.11 that is requisite, the Resolutions and Amendments were numerous and lengthy, and the debates were adjourned from day to day, occupying several sittings. One Resolution, however, might bo here ■copied from "Minutes of Council," dated February 10, 1875: *' 6. The vote shall bo by ballot — those in favour of iotro- ■" duciiig of Water Works by the City Corporation putting " ' yea' on their ballots, and those opposed ''o it, ' nay ' ; but ** no ballot shall be rejected if it can bo gathered from its *' face in which way the voter requires to vote ; all double *' ballots shall be destroyed and shall not be counted." The subject here rested until the 17th February, when at a meeting of the Council the following proceedings took place, which are given here nearly in full, on account of their importance and the apparent earnestness manifested unanimously by the Council in favour of Water Works : — " Moved, seconded, and adopted without a division — *' Whereas it is inexpedient to take a popular vote of the Citizens upon the subject of Water Supply until investi- gation be had as to the most advisable method of providing and the probable expense thereof; therefore " Jtesotccd, That a sura not exceeding live hundred dollars be appropriated for the purpose of employing a competent Kngineer to investigate the different modes of Water Supply, and the probable cost of each ; and further " Jicsofccd, That the Order for Ward voting, by ballot, upon the question of the introduction of Water into the City, pusscd on the eleventh day of February instant, be rescinded ; und further " llesokedy That a Committee be appointed to prepare a Bill, to be submitted to the Legislature at its present Session, permitting the City to introduce a proper system of Sewer- age and Water Supply. Such Bill to contain a clause res- tricting its operation until the Citizens shall have approved the same by a popular vote; and that such Committee do report to this Council as soon as practicable." A Committee to prepare a Bill was thereupon appointed. • FnKni:ni('TON water works. On tlio 10th Miircli Alderman ♦' presents a IJilF wliich ho has prepared, entitled A Bill to j)rovido I'or tho 08tabli:ihTnent of a system of Sewerage and Water Supply for the City of Frcderietou." " On motion — A Bill to jirovidc for the establishment of a system of Sewcrasfc and Water Supply for tho City of Fre- dericton, — as submitted by Alderman , is read, con- sidered, and adopted section by section, ♦ * ♦ without division." A Committee was accordingly appointed to prepare a Bill in accordance with the draft above submitted, without alter- ing the principles, have the same engrossed and submitted to the Legislature " icilh the smallest possible dela>/." Thiti clearly indicates that the Council were in earnest! It was tLen *' Resolved that a Petition be presented to both Branches of the Legislature, under the seal of this City, praying that A Bill to provide for the establishment of u system of Sewerage and Water Sujiply for the City of Fre- dericton may pass and become law." April 1. On motion, it was ordered that a cheqne do issue for the sum of ^25, to remunerate the Alderman for draft- ing the said Bill. Now all this certainly meant business, or costs would not have been incurred — first, for drawing a Bill, and afterwards as will presently appear voting $500 for obtaining a survey and report. Perhaps wo never came nearer having Water Works than on this occasion. The Bill which became law still stands upon the Statute Book of 1875, passed April 10, — it occupies twelve printed pages. The following is also taken from the Minutes : — " On tho 1st June 1875, at a meeting of the City Council, it was Resolved — That a Civil Engineer be appointed to make the necessary survey under the Act passed at the last Session of the Legislature for tho establishment of a system of Sewerage and Water Supply for this City ; such survey to be an exploratory survey, and his Report to contain the probable cost of erecting the works for the different localities explored and the probable running expenses yearly, and the expense of such survey not to exceed the sum of $500 ap- propriated therefor by this Council, and report the same to this Couicil." TREDERTCTON WATER WORKS. Accordingly II. Q. C. Eetcham, Esq., was appo'mtod for the purpoHe, 7 to 1. Od the 15th Decembor 1875, Mr. Ketchum made his Re- port, when it was Resolved by the Board that the Report bo accepted and copies be printed in Pamphlet form for circulation — [this blank was subsequently filled with 500]^^ also received Mr. Ketchnm's account for $500 (ordered to be paid). On the 4th April, 1876, the consideration of Mr. Ketchum^s Report was again brought forward, when it was Resolved ^in obedience to the terms of the Act of 1875) that a vote of the Citizens (viz: "yea" or "nay") be taken on the 2cd day of June next. On the eve of the voto being submitted to the people, the Council met, sptcialbjy on the 12th June, and on motion — " Resolved — That while this Council comply with the terras of the Act of Assembly relating to Water Works in ordering a popular vote thereon, it canned recommend the Act to the Citizens for their adoption by affirmative voto for the fol- lowing reasons : — " Ist. The Act places the appointment and control of the Commissioners in the Executive Qovernment of the Province and not in the Citizens : " 2nd. In the event of an affirmative vote the control of the work and time for proceeding is placed beyond the con- trol of the Citizens : " 3rd. The Act is in the opinion of the Council so far de- fective in its details as to make it dangerous to put in opera- tion : " 4th. In the present financial position of the Corporation, it would not in the opinion of the Council be wise at once to press the Act into operation, or pass a vote which would warrant the immediate appointment of Government Com- missioners to proceed with the work." Carried 5 to 3. On motion, and adopted — " Ordered that the City Clerk do cause the above Resolution to be immediately printed and posted throughout the City for general information." — Carried. I do not think that the whole history of legislation can furnish a parallel to this. Some months before, as has already been shown, the Council had a Bill prepared, and 1 * . 9 FREDKRrCTON WATKR WORKS. . fliscuflscd flection by Bcction, cnrricd it uimnimouHly, np- pointed n Committee to lobby it tbrouifh bo*h bmncbes of the Legislature, [mid ^25 for the mime, provided ^.JOO for » Burvcy, — all done calmly, dclibcrutoly, without excitement, and upon the most approved busincHS principles. Now, just upon the evo of the day when tbo vote ia to bo taken — "yea" or "nay" — the Council moot, a thunder bolt i» launched, intended to take efl'ect next morning, when tho poUa iu the dilFerent Ward.s are being opened, and tho pro- tege of tt few months before is to be annihilated by a device, second only to the celebrated coup d'etat of Louis Napoleon in 1851 (?) when he nought to destroy tho Itepublic, by im- prisoning tho night before the lending ( renerala of the French Army, such as Cavaignac, Changarnier, Lemorecier, and thus striking terror into the Array and the hearts of the jieo- ple of Pario. 13y this bold stroke ho succeeded. Whether so designed or not, the effect of this dark strategic movement hy our Council was all that tho worst enemy of Water AVorks could have desired. As might have been expected the voto was lowt. One half of the voters staid at homo in consideration no doubt of this vacillation. The "nays" numbered 20G — tho "yeas" 70. Mojority againnt Water Works 226. Thus came to naught all tho proceedings of tho previous year, which cost so much time and money, and left tho subject of Watc Works to be commenced — de novo. On the 2ud August, 187G, a communication was read at tho Board from John Richards, Esquire, and another from Mr. Marshall, Saint John, tho latter as Insurance Agent, calling upon tho City Council to make better provision for Urc protection, as the interests of all the Companies which he represented, as well as tho interests of property owners, re- quired that something more should bo done, otherwise rates of insurance would have to be increased. Mr. llichards' communication was in tho shape of an ofter, on behalf of the Waterous Engine Company, to erect buildings and bring water into the City, from Queen Street back to Brunswick Street, for $55,000, and to run the same for three years for ^3,200 per year, 17 hours per day. Also to place Hydrants, for fire purposes, in various parts of the City, &c. &c. Re- ferred to a Special Committee to report upon. Nothing pniiDKRrrTON watkr wohks. inclioH of i'iOO for a citeniciit, I. Now, ; taken — p bolt IB vhen tlio tho pro- n device, Sapoleoii c, by iru- e FieiK.h cicr, and f tlie pco- lietlicr 8(> lovement »f Water One half bt of this leas" 70. naught HO much is to be read at ler from Agent, rtion for lich he ners, re- ae rates chards' f of the 1 bring jnswick ears for drunts, c. lie- S'^othing cnnjo out of thit* movomont. Taken up, laid on tho tabic — taken up again — laid on tho table again, where — it ntill licH. On the 10th November, 1877, another Hpasinodic elfort was made, viz : — *' Whereas it is tho opinion of thin Board that u systoni of Water Works, operated by steam power, or Homo other equally good system, is indispensably necessary for tire, protective, sanitary and mochnnical purposes ; thereforo " Resolved uiuiuii/iouslij, That a Committee bo aj)pninted to take the subject into considerati( 'i, and communieato with parties conversant with the erection and management of >»uch works, and the probable cost, with a view to tho intro- duction of Water Works into tho City." A Coranjitteo was accordingly appointed. The result — nil. On the !3rd February, 1880, a communication was read at tho Council Hoard, from II. G. C. Ketchum, P^sq., proposing on the j)art of a (»entleman in tho United States to furnish Fredericton with a suitable Water Supply — to be taken fron> the hills by gravitation — he to furnish the money, materials, labour. The following is from the letter itseli : — "These works to include all machinery, reservoirs, dams and connexions ; finding and laying of all water pipes in all the streets and roads of the City, being not less than six miles for distribution jjurposes alone exclusive of main water pijjes ; also tho providing of all tire hydrants, and the protecting of them free from frost, and keeping them iu order and repair ready for use at all times. *' lie guarantees that the head or pressure of water shall be sufKcient to throw or force a number of streams simulta- neously over any house in the City; and that tho quality and quantity of water shall be et^ual to that supplied to any City of the United States. " The conditions are, that the City will grant unto him, or a Company he may form, the exclusive right to construct and own Water Works, and to lay and maintain water pipes and hydrants, for a terra of thirty ycirs. •' That the City shall have tho right to purchase the works, rights and franchises at any time after ten years, for a sum equal to that upon which the not receipts and profits of the Water Works would pay interest at the rate of six per cent, per annum. ' n 19 FREDERICTON WATKll WORKS. " That the property shall be exempt from taxation, also the iocome thereof, for the above named term of 30 years. " That the City shall contract to pay an annual rental for the use and maintenance of a number of hydrants (said num- ber to be hereafter agreed upon) for the purpose of extin- guishing fires, watering the streets, and flushing the sewers when required ; said rental not to exceed the sura of five thousand dollars per annum. " Mr. Norman reserves to himself the right of selection of the source of supply, and will contract with owners and oc- cupiers of dwelling houses, hotels, boarding houses, manu- factories, stables, oflices, stores, steam engines, &c., accord- ing to a scale of charges to be published beforehand." The Contractor further stipulates to commence operations early in the Spring, and have the works completed in the course of the Summer. After various discussions the Proposition was finally tabled, where it still remains. This, then, is a brief history of Water Works' proceedings at our Council Board from time to time, which furnish evidence that the City through its representatives has been somewhat alive to the importance and necessity of a proper water supply, although as yet unable to grapple with the question in a practical business like way. This admission is an important element in the way of progress, and encourages the hope that something may yet be done, if the way is made plain, towards which this Pamphlet is an attempt. WATER FOR SANATORY PURPOSES. No town or city, according to the testimony of medical men and scientists, is safe from pestilence, fevers, and dis- eases of various forms whose sources of water supply are shallow, or surface wells. On the contrary, the reverse h the case and the grave yards in the neighbourhoods are the unerring witnesses. Mr. Gilbert Murdoch, the Chief En- gineer of the Water Works, St. John, N. 13., was recently invited by the people of Charlottetown, P. E. Island, to make a survey of their neighbourhood, for the purpose of obtaining a suitable water supply. The low level of Fredericton^is very similar to the topographical formation I'llKDHUICTON WATKIl WORKS. n tion, also ) years, •ental for said nura- of extin- lie sewers ra of five ilection of rs and oc- es, manu- I., accord- id." jperations ed ia the ally tabled, •oceedings h furnish i has been f a proper with the mission is ncourages iy is made )f medical and dis- iupply are reverse is [Is are the Chief En- 3 recently sland, to urpose of level of formation of Charlottetown. The result of Mr. Nfurdoch'.s investiga- tions iij contained in a very able Report which he ad- dressed to the Mayor and Aldermen; and from this I shall have occasion to draw information in elucidation of a point or two as we proceed. It may be here mentioned that Charlottetown is fairly aroused, and will ere long be in pos- session of n public work so much needed. A communication was addressed to all the medical men of the town, for the purpose of ascertaining their opinions with regard to the use of water from surface drainage, or shallow wells, the source upon which the people have to de- pend; and with remarkable unanimity, all heard from, pro- nounce severe judgment upon the present supply. One gentleman says: — "Most of the wells of the City, from their peculiar loca- tion, receive the surface drainage, and with it a largo amount of decayed and decaying animal and vegetable matter, which is decidedly deleterious to the health of the community and no doubt very much assists in the development of fever in its various types." Another says — " The appropriation of wells as sinks and privies is very wrong and should not be tolerated. I know of one such well in this City, which was the means of poisoning another well distant about 60 yards therefrom." Another — "Reducing the subject to a fine point, it is an- utter impossibility to ward ofl" these epidemic attacks of fevers without a thorough system of drainage and water; and it would be well for the public to attend to these matters at once ; if they do, they will liud the rate of mortality greatly lessened. "For the last few years I have remarked that Ward 5 is liable to be attacked by an epidemic fever of the low typhoid type, with cases of dysentry ; the usual results of tainted water, ending in many instances fatally." Another — "Do you think the prevailing diseases such as scarlet, typhoid or other fevers which visit us annually have any connection with the use of our well water, or with de- fective drainage? "There can, I think, be no doubt that as long as the people continue to use water from our public wells, just so I ' 12 FREDKRICTON '..ATEll WORKS. Soiiff will Ihey suft'er to a crreat dej^rcc from various diseases vviiich might be traced to its use." Another — "Typhoid fever, which prevails duriiifj ths futumn and early part of winter, is caused in numberless instances from tlie surface drainage of the city, and the use of the water of the city wells." The above will suffice to show the evils attendriut upon the use of impure water. Enough to fill a volume, which lies before me, could be adduced in support of these state- ments. But the limits of this book will not permit further outside references. Wo therefore come to the published opinions of our own medical men, and also to facts outside of them, in connection with the mortality of our City, which will exhibit a rather melancholy state of our sanitary con- ilition. In the Fredericton lleporter, dated January 20, 1875, a letter appears over the signature " G. E. Coulthard, M. D.," from which an extract is here made : " Though the disease which has so alarmingly prevailed in our city during the last four or five months has well nigh exhausted itself for this season at least, reference to it at this time may not seem inappropriate, inasmuch as it has come to be a regular autumnal visitor, and there is no reason to suppose that the autumn of '75 will be an exceptional one. Each year it has made its appearance to a greater or less extent, and we think that the majority of observing persons must admit that its severity is annually on the iucrease. Such a- state of affairs has excited just alarm among all classes, and we are loth to believe, as some have it, that a wonderful apathy in reference to attempts at its subdual exists. The fact is that so many dozens of causes have been advanced both by the medical fraternity and the laity at large, that the massos of the people are put to their wits' ends in attempting to solve the cause of fever in their house- holds. One householder gravely informs another that he has been fully expecting fever to break out in the lattcr's house, on account of his villainously bad well water." The writer then goes on to state what he conceives to be the principal causes of the trouble, viz: bad water, bad sewerage, and filthy premises — most parts of the City reek- ing with foul odors and miasmatic breeders. He calls upon I 1 I FKEDEKICTON WATER WORKS. 15 oils (lisoasfis (luring the numberless and the use ■ndriiit upon lumc, which those Rtate- rmit further e published 'acts outside ' City, which lanitary cou- 20, 1875, a ard, M. D.," I the Board of Health to discharge their duties with raoro alacrity, aud to have the accumulatious of iilth for years re- moved. ; [It may be here remarked that when this letter was written I the present Board of Health was not in existence. It was I not organised until the following Spring, the first meeting ■ liaving been held Saturday evening, 8th May, 1875. Since that time forward the City has been thoroughly looked after by the Inspector ; twice a year and sometimes oftener he visits every yard and every spot where he suspects impurities, and compels their removal wherever found ; and it may be safely said that Fredericton this day is as clean a City as it is possible to make it without sewers and pure water, and yet fevers and dipthcria destroy a large per centage of our population. If disease has been mitigated to some extent by this cleansing process, the fire is still smouldering and "i>estilence walks abroad at noon-day," through the nauseous agency of surface drainage, called well water, which after all seems to be the main source of our troubles. It is true that when Dr. Coult- Lard wrote bis letter we had a Board of Health in theory, but like all old things it had worn out — had outlived its use- fulness. It was an institution of immemorial origin — re- garded more for its formality than its familiarity with its requirements. No one seemed to feel responsible for the bad sanitary condition of the City. Hence the new organi- zation, under new legislation provided by the Government, and now in most successful operation. Its meetings are held very often in the course of a year.] Another extract is here made from Dr. Coulthard's letter ; it may be as well to state, however, that since the year when ■;^ this letter was written, the old sinks and cess-pools have I been cleaned out — at the rate of about two hundred every I winter, and the w^ork is still prosecuted with the utmost I vigour. No animal is allowed to be killed in the City be- er that he | tweeu the months of May and November. Formerly Fre- the lattor's > dericton was the great slaughter house at all seasons, ater." \ " The next subject (Dr. C. says) is that long harped-over . I talc which »hoid story, inlts in our ttses till tho of the pre- rra that ia alluded to f these out- ntcnts wero )thers could lieir owner's wo look to ' able to rc- ;oes onward another let- le following \id needs no physician at Frcdericton, ckuess with •y imperfect 3ad quality loses. I can one of the our midst, 13 nature of have been strongly to flat, with a nk in close al drainage of our wells s of animal netiraes be- 3 and smell. by far the drinking of position, or oluble con- tents of privies, manure piles, slaughter houses, &c. If this is so, is it any wonder that fevers should abound among us. I believe I am within bounds when I say that there were four cases of Typhoid Fever in Frederictou in 1874 for every one in 1857, and I crai see no reason why that disease and others of a similar nature, Dyphtheria, Scarlet Fever, Measles, &c., should not continue steadily to increase, unless we bestir ourselves ard do what is in our pover to remedy the evil. " There has been at times an outcry against the Board of Ilcalth for not doing its duty in pointing out nuisances, and taking proper steps to have them removed. But what can be expected of a Board of Health organised as ours is, with- out a dollar at its command, or liberty to expend one with- out special permission of the Provincial Government. It is neither fair nor right to expect the Province to pay for what we ought to do ourselves. If we will not take care of our own health, we have no right to call on the Government to do it for us. Let us have a Board of Health and Health Offieers, paid by the city, and endowed with proper authority, and let a sufficient sum be assessed annually to defray the Decessary expenses. By that means some considerable por- tion of our insanatory ruisances might be remedied. "The chief great requisite however is an abundant supply of good water, and fortunately for us, that is not difficult to be obtained. It is merely a question of dollars and cents, and after our past experience in the way of sickness, and the severe lesson given last night by fire, the fear of a few dol- lars increased taxation should not be allowed to interfere with doing what nearly every one now acknowledges to be necessary. The work moreover should, in my opinion, be undertaken by the City Corporation. No private Company would do it unless it expected it to be a source of profit, and if there is any profit let the city be the gainer. There would then be no Company to come in collision with ; the supply would not be liable to be cut off because of unwillingness to pay exorbitant rates, as in the case of the Gas Company, and there would be no ring or power to exert an influence for selfish ends at elections either civic or county. " The question of water supply is the most momentous local question that has ever come up amongst us, and is worthy of most careful and serious consideration. It will It FREDERICTON WATER WORKS. \ lljl involve the expenditure of many thousands of dollars, and w'\\\ entail a burden on our child.ren and oss $406,700 1851 n. 1.100 1852 (( r.uo 1853 (t l,OUt> 1854 u 165,000 1S55 n 2,000 1856 n 6,500 1857 ki 5,000 1858 (k 18,200 1859 I* 17,200 1860 (( 35,400 1861 i( 67,600 1862 i« 19,800 1863 (( 4,200 1864 (( 3,200 1805 (( 15,600 1866 n 16,250 1867 n 47,560 1868 n 24,200 1869 u 12,150 1870 (( 33,100 1871 (( 52,200 1872 u 22,000 1873 n 21,900 1874 n 18,400 1875 (( 53,480 1876 to May 1, 24,900 91,094,640 Insuraneo $49,500 it 100 %t __ »» 400 u •17,500 u 1,000 u 2,000 u 3,600 »» 11,800 tt 9,500 M 20,000 M 23,300 »• 6,400 (t 2,000 tt ' 700 M 7,200 M 5,800 M 24,000 (* 14,300 H 4,800 »( 13,900 M 26,200 t( 12,000 it 6,900 *( 8,800 M 24,900 U 13,770 8340,470 Thus it will be seen that since the year 1850, Fredericton sustained losses by fire to the extent of one million, ninety POUR THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED AND FORTY DOLLARS, OF au ave- rage of over FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS per anuunQ. The in- surance paid durng the same period was three hundred and FORTY thousand, FOUR HUNDRED AND SEVENTY DOLLARS, leav- ing a total loss to our citizens of seven hundred and fifty five thousand one hundred and serenty dollars. FUKDKUICTON WATKIl WOKKS. 10 •taiicc than iderutioiis. from iiro ?8S of Mr. him a few ON. 4i»,r)0() 100 400 4T,r)00 1,()U0 2,000 :i,ooo 11,HOO 1),500 20,000 23,300 6,400 2,000 700 7,200 5,800 24,000 14,300 4,800 13,900 20,200 12,000 6,900 8,800 24,900 13,770 140,470 Tredericton ION, NINETY or au ave- j. The iu- JNDRED AND LARS, leav- ud fifty five Dm'injj the last fonr yours onr fins hav(> not hocn so heavy, ]»ut onr f.sca[»es Irorn destruction like that of St. John in 1877, have on several occasions heon most remarkal)le. Wo niuy therefore feel a certain amount of indifrerenco on this account to our absolute necessities and duties; l»ut wc arc resting upon tlie hill-^ide of a volcano, in fancied security, until the crater is in eruption, when escape will bo at the cost of i;rcat and niipardona!)le sacrilicH's. Tno occasions to which I refer are — Krst, when Mr. Dibbloe's house at the upper (Mid of (Jueen Street, now "liisteen's Factory," was destroyed. It wuk in the Kuuimer, ami there was a gale of wind blowing at the time Ofpial to that which swept destruc- tion over half of St. John; but fortunately the wind blew act OSS the river. IFatl it come from the west, it was appre- hended at the time, the greater part of the City would have been laid in ashes. The next was the destruction of the Exhibition Building in 1877. The wind was fair for sweep- ing the City. Fire-flakes fell on houses below the Cathedral — all parts of the City were in danger. Almost every house top was manned, and buckets of water were used persistently. Our escape, however, on that occasion, was due to the fact that the houses and barns were covered with moisture, the efiect of a recent heavy rain. The last occasion was when a large Factory Building was destroyed in Ma}', 1881, on George Street. It was a terribly gusty day, but the wind did not favor the course of the embers from the fire; al- though most people feared at onetime a terrible catastrophe. The Catholic Church caught several times. Certainly if it had not been for the great services rendered by the steam engines, no ordinary fire engines would have been equal to the occasion. The fire tanks on that day were taxed to their utmost capacity. Had they given out (and such a thing is possible) the fire must have gone on until every thing in the way of wood within its reach would liave been devoured. With regard to our main dependence for water in cases of fire, it may be remarked that the cost of the Tanks built from time to time, would have gone some distance towards paying for Water Works, while the inadequacy of the present arrangement is self-evident. However we had to do the best we could under the circumstances. These Tanks are situated as follows ; — i HI I ! ro FKIlOKiaCTON' WATKR WOl'JCa Carloton Street Extension, near liiver. Corner George and Saint John Streets. Cliarlotto Street, near Kxhibitir.n IJnildinc:. Corner King and Nortliiiniherland StreetH. Opposite City Hall. King Street, between liegent and Carleton. Altogether they co.st nearly §3,000; and yet luoro are re- fjuircd under the present system. No objection is here raised against the wi)r!cdone, or tho cost; for tlieso Tanks have been absolute necessities, and have more than ]);iid for themselves by tho property Hiived throngli their ngenuy. But it is nevertheless n fact, that however useful they have been in the past and likely to bo iu the future, they are inr from being equal to a largo con- flagration — nor do thev stand hiijh enousjh in the confidence of Insurance Companies to warrant them in lowering their premiums on risk-s. Some of these Tanks can be pumped dry in an hour — while the beat of them, as I learn from good authority, may be exhausted in three or four liours ateady pumping by one " Steamer." The whole town then, involving nearly a million of property, is dependent apon such " safe guards" as these in case of a large fire and a strong wind. Of course there is the river besides — but in order to turn the current into the city, and render this great supply eftective, other things must be in unison — strong pumping power contiguous to the fire, and stout and lengthy hose have got to be considered a.s well. A gentleman, connected with Insurance Offices, and well qualified to judge, informs me that upwards of §30,000 are annually sent out of this City to pay for Insurances eftected. But call the amount §20,000, as we have no accurate data, and it may be asked is not this a tremendous and increasing drain upon our pockets — and yet we believe in this indirect mode of voluntary taxation, with scarcely a murmur — and why ? Because we cannot help ourselves, or rather, it may be said, can help ourselves but do not. The reader will please keep this insurance idea in view for re-examination in future pages. For fire protection alone, every citizen, having property insured or not, should hold up his hands in favour of Water Works. It has been frequently asked, how is it that Saint 'I I rnKDKr.KTox watku woiiks. 21 loro arc re- nno, or tho pcrty HHvcd ii fact, that likely to be I livrgo con- ! confulenoe oriiiic their be i>umpc(l loam from four liours ^rholo town I depenilcut rge fire and des — but in jr this great 3on — strong ^nd lengthy Bs, and well $30,000 arc cea eftected. curate data, 1 increasing ;his indirect irmur — and ther, it may rwill please on in future ng property ar of Water : that Saint T^ohn w;H liiilf swept away in IH77, n.»t\vitlifitunding all her water ;«upply? The answer is plain and uxny be simply tttatod, viz : with an inexhaustible siipjily, Saint John is and always has been without a suftioient head at its source, to throw water for fire purposes without the aid of engines — in the higher parts of tho City, tho water level scar('ely roaches the second story of a dwelling house. So that when tho iire, 8iniultaiie(»usly as it were, broke out in various parts of tho City — from flying embers carried by a terrilKc gale, and tho ongincs couhl not be at all points at otice, the Water Works were of very little use. Had there been a hundred, or even iifty foot head, the fire could have been met anto rilKDKniiTON WATKIl U'OUKS. . I would lie midrr ('ornnijuid. TIiuh, every Htroct nud every l)l()ek woiilrl 1)0 Hiinilurly protected — and the Htreain or Htreimis of water would rise far over the highest huildiiii; in the City, and no eiiujitieH would he required. To Hay nothing of every Iiouho owner heiii^ provided with IFos^o upon his own premises tor iniincdiate use, at a luonient'i; notice, should u lire hreak (»ut in his dwelling. The proof of these averments arc liero suhmitted from documentary evidence in my possession. Alonclon. — ft is ahout three years since Water Works wen^ jntrodu(;ed into Moncton, N. B. — population 4.000. The water is ohtained hy gravitation — the Hour(!o of supply is three and a cpiarter miles distant from the point of distrihu- tioii. There are 17 hydrants ho far, for lire purposes, three of which, when opened at one time, are eapahio of throwing from a one iiudi nozzle water to an elevation of seventy feet. ([ saw, when in Moneton in August, the experiment tried). Kngines are of no use, or consiilered hy the inhabitants as things belonging to the past. The rates of insurance have been reduced one half — while many persons do not insure at all. Judge liotflford informed me, that however much sonto })erdon8, who drea(b?d the probable taxation, are now among the loudest. in saying that they would not be without the water supply " for the world," it \s regarded not only as a protection from tire, but as a "universal blessing." The people are taking the water into their houses as fast as they can get it, and consider the charge as nothing compared with the comforts. Truro, N. S. — These works have been in existence about six years. They are what is called "The Ilolly System." The water is pum[)ed from a river near by. There is also combined a small ib>w of water from the hills, which is merely used to save pumping, and keep the pipes full for domestic purposes. In 1877, when in Truro, I saw six hy- drants opened at one time, which sent up streams to an ele- vation of 100 feet. No fire engines are required. Up to this time there are about three miles of pipe laid in the streets. The people generally take the water, and do not object to the charges, which they more than save on in- surance, which has been reduced 1 per cent. There are up to this time 20 lire hydrants. My informant (a gentleman I VIlKPKKKnON \VATi-;il WOllKS. 2t t nnd every I stream or hnildiiii; in fiiiy noihitig ipon liis own ce, nhoulii u mi t ted from Workrt wore 4.000. Tho of Hiipfily is t of distril)!]- rposos, tlirec of throvviiiif Heveiity foot, imoiit triod). liuhituntri as n ran CO have not insure at r much some ! now anjont; without the lot only as u sing." The i fast us they mpared with stence about illy System." .''here is also lis. which is )ipes full for saw six by- ms to an elc- red. Up to 3 laid iu the and do not save on ia- There are up (a gentleman of first st.indini; in Truro) says, "The whole cost of the works up to the present time, indi'pendcnt of unnual ex- penses and Intercast, is under ^:{0,00()." Averaj^o cost of running the works fo:* the Inst -'> years §7Gl'.;];». The popu- lation is about 4,000. lifPiffor. — Four years ago, a number of gentlemen belong- ing to Frederieton n»ade up ai railway party and visited llan- gor ft)rthe purpose of inspecting the systeni of Water Works in that (>ity, which is the " Holly system," by pumping. The water is taken fnuji the river about two miles up, where it is dammed, and furnishes u supply to keep the pipes full and for ordinai'y domestic purposes. kSome eight or ten fire hydrants were opeiu'd at one 'i no for the inspection of our people — atnple pressure was applied, nnd the water was thrown to a comi»uted altitude of 100 feet. The company were fully convinced from this exhibition that no firi' could possibly have existed for any time within the radius of these liydrants, which covered i)erhap3a niile of ground. On ask- ing the Mayor of liangor (who kindly invited the company to his house to meet the C'ouncillors of that City aiid mem- bers of the Water Board) what he would do in case a fire should break out on the instant, he replied, "Keep perfectly cool and attach uiy ilre hose to the {du^, and drown the tire without alarming my neighbors." In this way is every property owner in Bangor protected — having hose ready on his premises for use at a moment's notice. Insurances have been reduced one half — while many persons who formerly paid 2 per cent, do not insure at all, but have risked them- selves for the last eight years. There has been no large fire in Bangor (sa^' eight or ten bouses at a time) since the works have been established ; and tlio people feel perfectly safe on retiring to rest at night. New York obtains her water supply by gravitation from the Croton liiver, forft/ miles distant. There are two reser- voir' in the City, one iu the Central Park and another about two miles below — kept in reserve mostly in case of accident. The head of water is insufficient to avoid the cost of tiro maintenance — steam engines have therefore to be kept up. Boston obtains her water supply from the' Cochituate River by gravitation. Fire engines have also to be used ,i> 1 1 1 :! 'i I ! ! ,1^ I m\ I i! \il FllKDKIUCTUN 'VATKII \Y()I!KS. here, as the head of water is inadequate to admit of a fire being extinguished without their use. J^hiladcIpJiia obtains lier supply from the Schuylkill, at Fairmont Park, by pumping into a reservoir near by, situated ou a high hill. Irumense overshot water wheels are going day and night, the water being dammed up in the river {4 little above, which furnishes the power for pumping. The head of water is not high enough to avoid the use of engines on the town tlat, Philadelphia proper being situated about six miles from the reservoir. Halifax. — Xo large fire occurs in Halifax at the present time. When there a few weeks since I was informed that no engines are required in the lower parts of the City. Tho water b}^ gravitation is thrown over the highest buildings. Towards the top of "the liill " engines are required. The fire department, however, is conducted at a comparatively small expense. The insurances have been reduced. Ottawa. — As there is no method of obtaining water by gravitation, the Holly system is in use, the water being pumped from tho river. From a very excellent lieport of Thos. C. Keefcr, C. E., in reference to Water Supply for Ottawa, the following extract is made, — it is in reference to fire protection : — "For tho speedy ejitinction of fires, nothing can equal the high pressure hydrants, from which, as soon as a hose can be attached, a ceaseless stream is poured on the flames, con- fining them to the place of origin. This system not only ex- tinguishes the fire in the shortest possible time, but it has been found greatly to reduce the number of fires, and has been the means of detecting incendiarism. The fire is ex- tinguished before tlie proofs of intended incendiarism arc destroyed, and the prepared and saturated combustibles arc thus revealed." Mr. Keefer goes on to say — "In a commercial view the value of a soft water supply like that of Ottawa is very great. It makes all parts of the City, where the pipes extend, equally available for many classes of manufactures, and from this cause, as well as the superiority of the quality over well water, for steam engines and some branches of business, it leads to the introduction of manufactures which would otherwise go elsewhere. More- T 11 ITt;:i)KUlCTON WATKIl WORKS. iiit of a tire huylkill, at by, situated 8 are going the river a ipmg. The e oi engines iated about the present formed that City. The t buildings, uired. The mparatively jed, g water by water being it Keport of Supply for reference to in equal the a hose can Hames, con- not only ex- but it has ^es, and has e fire is ex- diarisni are ustibles arc ater supply parts of the e for many well as the am engines ntroduction ero. Morc- 5 over, an cllicient water supply would not be without its in- fluence in detorminirig the residence of many persons of leisure and means. "A most important consideration which leads to the selec- tion of a particular town for every kind of establisiiment, is the question of Insurance. If it be established that large stocks of provisions, manufactures, etc., maybe held here as safe from tiio ravages of fire as elsewhere, and at the lowest rates of Insurance, Ottawa will continue to be the depot of the /'tawa Valley, and of the supplies for its great Lumber Trade for all future time." It has never been a subject of consideration with most persons that the ditforence between the use of well water and soft water amounts to a tax upon a family of five persons ot about six dollars a year, viz: in the wear and tear from washing clothes, in fuel, in cooking, in the extra quantity of soap used, and in the larger quantity of tea alone required in hard water. Mr. J, F. Bateman, tlie Engineer of the Loch Katrine Water Works, Glasgow, in his Report says — "From calculations made by very careful housekeepers, they calculated that the saving by the use of Loch Katrine water, to say nothing of the wear and tear of clothes in wash- ing, was quite equal to the rate which they, paid for water, and on the north side of the river it was then c£3G,000stg. a year ; so that the saving to the city of Glasgow *** amounted to two shillings per head 2>er annum *** I may mention (Mr. Bateman continues to say) that in my own house in the country I introduced about three years ago very soft water, equal to Loch Katrine water, in place of hard water, which I had before, and the saving amounts to ahoat four tojive shillings per head on the household soap used in my establishment for house purposes and washing." Mr. Braidwood, when Superintendent of the London Fire Brigade, stated before the Society of Arts, as follows : — " From 1838 to 1843, .£770,762 were lost in Liverpool by fire, almost entirely in warehouse risks. The consequence was that the Mercantile rates of Insurf nee gradually rose from about 8 per cent, to 30, 40, and it is said in some cases to 45 per cent. /, t2G FRKDKRICTON WATKll WOIIKS. 'I iiii: " In Liverpool, Muiicliei^t'jr, and other cities, tlio extinction of lires bj' the pressure of water onlv, without the use of fire engines, is very much practised. The advantages of this S3's- torn are very great. "The supply of water is the most vital part of any exer- tions towards extinguishing iires. Where the pressure is sufficient, and the mains large enough, by far the most econo- mical mode of using the water is to attach the hose direct! v to the mains. " On an impartial consideration of the facts, he was confi- dent that practical concurrences would eventually be given to the conclusion at which lie had arrived, that the principle of all future arrangements for the repression of fires, must be a constant supply of water kept at high pressure, night as well as day, and the direct application of it from the mains before the door, by means of a hose and jet. By that arrange- ment he had proved that a power equivalent to three or four of the best engines might be kept constantly before each door ready for application within two minutes." Thus it is seen that hard water is not only destructive to clothing and expensive in food [(reparation, but it is very hard upon machinery, boilers particularly, by the incrusta- tions formed, causing the walls of the boiler to burn out and become dangerous. We hear it said over and over ag.iin that Fredericton re- quires Factories in order {•> her business development. All very well as far as words go ; but it is customary before attempting to take a ride for a persoi; to have a horse not altogether lame, as well as a carriage, or his progress will be rather tedious. In making brick you require straw, and you cannot have sticking mortar without hair. True, you can work a factory without a system of Water Works — by a bucket arrangement, or a local reservoir plan ; and so cati you work without steam power — by mere hand labour. But, what does the mechanical intelligence of the nineteenth century say to all this? When in Moncton I visited the new Sugar Refinery, where upwards of sixty men are employed. They have a local sup- ply of water which can be used by pumping ; but the supply from the Water Works is the all in all to the successful J rilKOKllICTON WATKll WOIIKS. oxtinctioti e use of liru ^of thUsys- )f luiy exor- [)re33ure is tiiostecoiio- lose dii'ectly e was con fi- lly be given he principle f iiros, nuiat ire, night as ii the mains hat arrange- hree or four before each estructive to ut it is very ;hc incrusta- )urn out and Jericton re- iraent. All mary before a horse not gross will be aw, and you 'ue, you can Vorks — by a ; and so can iibour. But, } nineteenth inery, where J a local sup- it the supply e successful I working of the establishment in the wav of water. There is never less than ^80,000 worth of stock on hand — raw as well as refined sugars, &c. — and without Water \Vt)rks, the rates of Insurance, to say nothing of the cost of the immense buiklings, would be far too great to enable the Company to carry on their works profitably, if at all. A great many hundred dollars are thus saved in this way, while for factory ]uirposes, such as steam power, &c., the water from the works is indispensable. The City Council (Halifax) on the 14th August agreed to extend water to the site of the Cotton Factory at an expense of $0,000 ]>er mile ! and in case the Factory is located near the existing main pipes to give a bonus of $1>,U00 a mile towards the building of the branch track from the Intercolonial Kaihvay. These facts tend to show the vast importance of VVater Works as precedent to the establishment of Factories in u town. iSteam power and fire protection must be had. With- out an abundant supply of water to furnish these, it is idle to talk about Factories in Fredericton. Go at once to the fountain head, and other things will soon follow. True wo have largo Tanneries, without Water Wjrks — but does the reader know that when these come to pay 3 and 4 })er cent, fire insurance, their profits are abridged to that amount — and further, what kind of property is more frequently des- troyed by fire than Tanneries ? From the best information that can be gathered, Fredericton pays upwards of $1,000 a year for water hauled from the Kivcr. It may be more — it may be less. One person of my acquaintance, in the lower part of the City, having a small family, states that he pays $00 a year, and yet resides but a short distance from the river. The Hotels alone must pay large amounts. Indeed it may be fairly presumed, that there is enough money paid out in this way, annually, to meet one fourth the interest on the outlay for Water Works, which would cover every street and alley in the City. This point I will endeavour to make more intelligible as we proceed. The business people on Queen Street last summer subscribed $180 simply for a Watering Cart to lay the dust in front of their stores. 28 FHEDERTOTON WATER WORKS. '^ it '% ^ iliii A^ 1 Another question is frcqnenti}- asked — how can wo have Water Works without sewerage to carry oft" the waste ? However desirahle that the one should i^o with the other, it is by no means an absolute necessity. St. John was as badly off for sewers in 1855 (when the works passed ont of tiie hands of a Conipan}- into those of the City) as Fredericton is to day. Since then new sewcs have been built and old ones repaired and enlarged, according to a regular system. We have in Fredericton outlets enough for the present to carry off the waste water. The soil (being exceedingly porous) furnishes natural sewerage. Notwithstanding the torrents of rain that have fallen this summer, the water dis- appeared as fast as it came down. A few hours' sunshine leaves the streets perfectly dr}'. Mr. Murdoch says : *' Sewerage is not a necessity, and very rarely accompanies a system of water supply. Still it is a very valuable and de- sirable thing for a City to have. Of the two, however, the water is the more important." Carleton, St. John, has bad Water Works for many years; and yet there are no special drainage facilities for house or surface water. Let us once obtain a water supply; and get our sewers gradual!}', as we can afford, niaking one or two streets a year, extending the operations over aseriesof years— the work to be paid for out of the surplus derived from Water Works, after paying interest and other incidental expenses. a.' \^ I ot T ]•: I th ik to cc th ea in PROBABLE COST AND TAXATION. I have before me several Reports on Water Supply, autho- rised by the City Council from time to time, and paid for, viz : — Mr. Charles Gregory's Report, made in 1867. Mr. II. G. C. Ketchura's Report, made in 187G. Also a Report on the Waterous system, furnished by Mr. John Richards, written by C. II. Waterous & Co., of Brant- ford, Ontario, containing a special reference to Fredericton. I also have the Report of a Delegation who proceeded to Ontario in 1871, on behalf of our City Council, to inspect Waterworks, signed "John Richards, Alexander Mitchell, and John Pickard," (the latter gentleman represented the Board of Trade). This Report is exhaustive, and advocates LU il !..>. FREDEKICTON WATER WORKS. 2y can wo liiivc ■ thfi waste ? tlie other, it was as badly (1 out of the 1 Frederietoii Inilt and old ^uhir system, le i)re8ent to exceedingly standing the he water dis- urs' sunshine rdoch says : accompanies jable and de- however, the ohn, has had ire no special Let us once gradually, as ir, extending :o he paid for after paying apply, autho- md paid for, re. shed by Mr. o., of Brant- Fredericton. proceeded to il, to inspect tier Mitchell, resented the nd advocates as strongly as language can do it, the necessity of Water Works, after what they liad seen in their travels. i In alluding to these several Reports I offer no opinions, lor preferences for one system of water supply over another. Those are matters of detail, to be disposed of by competent jMiginoers, should wo ever arrive at this stage on our journey. I might remark, liowever, that I am in favor of any system that will give us waterworks, whether by "pumping" or *' gravitation." It is a mistake in my judgment for any one to express a decided opinion about a matter that science and ^competent persons only are capable of deciding. I refer to Jthe above Reports merely to show the estimates made by '■each Engineer as to the cost and sources of supply respectively proposed, and with a view of arriving at an average amount lupon which to base our calculations of probable cost and interest. 31r. Gregory's Report embraces 21 pages, including Dr. ^Bailey's chemical analysis of the respective waters submitted Ito him for testing. Mr. Gregory's explorations are chiefly [confined to Tower Lake and Garden's Creek. The Lake is [situated at a distance of four miles and something over to |the supposed points of distribution in the City, and its ele- ^vation over the level of the City is 360 feet. The water, however, is somewhat doubtful as to quantity, while the quality, though not the best in the world, is equal to that of ^ome other Cities on this Continent, and considered not to Ml)e unhealthy. A very favorable line for laying the conduits ^uto the City is marked upon the plan connected with the ^Report. From the head of the water named, Mr. Gregory proposes to throw streams for fire purposes over the highest buildings in the City. To remove all doubt as to the quan- tity of water, Mr. G. "turned his attention to Garden's Creek, the west branch of which is a spring brook ; and as itr course fs through land free from swamps, its water is of excellent quality, and has not the amber cast which is so prevalent in Streams in the neighborhood of Fredericton. The volume pf water is large, it being the chief feeder to Garden's mill ; md even in the drought of summer is greatly in excess of ^he possible requirements of the city for many years to come." By cutting a channel and connecting Tower Lake, an luxiliary supply can be had for a population of at least 30,000. 8) FRKDHUICTON WATKll WORKS. The following are Mr. Gregory's figures as to cost : — Estimate of Cost of Water Sap-pin to the Cily of Fredcriclon from Tower Lake. 2s miles of terra cotta 9 inch pipe, 80 cts. per yard, ... 84,048 24 " cast iron 8 " " 212 tons, 830, G,.SGO Laying f) miles of pipes, !it 8400 per mile, ... ... ... 2,000 Cost of filter, 700 City difitribution as below, ... ... ... ... ... 14,500 Engineering, superintendence, and unforeseen expenses, ... 1,820 Total 829,428 Estimate of Cost of Water Supph/ to the Citij of Fredcriclon from Garden's Creek. 2i miles of terra cotta 9 inch pipe, at 80 cts. per yard, ... §-],520 1 mile and 32 chains of 8 inch iron pipe, 140 tons, SoO, ... 4,200 Laying 3 miles and 72 chains of pipe at 8100 per mile, ... 1,5G0 Cost of filter, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 700 " dam, ... ... .. ... ... ... ... 50O Purchase of right, ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,200 City distribution as below, ... ... ... ... ... 14,500 Engineeripg, superintendence, and unforeseen expenses, ... 1,820 Total, 828,000 These estiraates, however, may not liold good at the present day — in a dozen years the markets for iron and materials generally must fluctuate considerably. Again Mr. Gregory has not provided largely enough for the wants of the City. The miles of pipe mentioned are not sufficient, and in other respects. At best then, we can only approach this subject approximately. In recommending the system of supply from Garden's Creek, (Mr. G. remarks) "I would beg to state that its ef- ficiency and economy are unquestionable ; and indeed, in this respect, few Cities are more favorably situated than Frede- ric ton." Mr. Ketchunfs Report made in 1876, also exhibits a vast amount of scientific research and ability in his treatment of the subject. A new source of water supply is suggested — some distance below Tower Lake and Garden's Creek — viz: Mill Creek. Mr. Ketchum says, "I have now to direct your attention to a source of supply, which on account of its FKEDEUICTON WATER WOllKS. 31 [iroxiniity to the city, and other advantages, merits your careful and attentive consideration. Mill Creek (sometirtjes known as Sinionds' Creek), takes its source from springs and gatlierinfj grounds situated between Maryland and Ilanwell ]{oads. It crosses the extension of Brick Kiln Koad beyond Kirlin's, about two miles, and the Maryland Road about 2i miles, from the City. Several branches unite hereabouts, and it then continues a southeasterly course through the College lots and finally falls into the River Suint John be- low Fredericton. This stream possesses the merit of being constant; in the memory of those through whose property it runs, it has never been known to fail." Mr. K. furnishes data to show the inexhaustible supply of this watershed or catchment, furnished by individuals living in the neighborhood, and from statistics of other places where areas of land supply cities like Xew York, Boston, and else- where, not a bit more favorably situated as to climatic de- pendence and physical condition than Fredericton is. This watershed (Mr, K. observes) "will measure upwards of two square miles. The product of this area alone would give 2,000,000 gallons per diem, exclusive of the water de- rived from springs. There can be no doubt whatever of the sufficiency of the supply of this stream ; but in order to pro- vide for deficiency during drought of summer, an ample reservoir to hold from 20 to 40 million gallons is recom- mended to be constructed at the point of the stream whence the supply would be taken." 'J'he Report goes on to say — " At the bridge near Smith's, the elevation of the stream above Fredericton was ascertained to be two hundred feet ; here there is a good site for a dam. The foundation is ledge rock, the width of the valley narrow, and at a comparatively small expenditure, a masonry dam could be erected to store ten or twelve acres of water, twelve feet deep. From this point the pipes may be laid direct to the city, with an intervening reservoir, to take the extra pressure ofi'the pipes, and to provide for emergencies in case of fire. * * * * " The following is Mr. Ketchum's estimate of cost at that time (1876.) In giving these statements, as before remarked, it is solely with a view of showing the opinions of different Engineers, and that even the highest figures are within the S2 FIIKDKRICTON WATKIl WORKS. range of practicability in the carrying out. They arc mat- ters of detail, however, which can only be determined at the right time, by competent persons, when responsibility is to ho assumed and the case presented in a business-like form. Estimate of Mill Creek Suppljj. 2.1 miles 12 inch mains, $25,000 Keservoir at 200 feet elevation, ... ... 4,000 Keservoir at 140 " " G,000 Sub-mains and City distribution, ... 45,000 Total cost Mill Creek supply, $80,000 !Mr. Ketclium says — "sufficient head can be obtained to overcome iire on the highest building, by merely attaching the hose to a hydrant. The excavation for the laying of the pipes is a trilling matter compared with that of St. John and Carleton." In concluding his Report, Mr. Ketchum pays — "The ex- perience of all cities where it exists proves that it [the water] would lessen the liability to destruction by fire; and conse- quently the amount and rates of insurance. By promoting cleanly habits among the people, and abolishing the use of the present polluted water as a beverage, it would lessen the lia- bility to disease, and thus induce new settlers to join the com- munity. It would create new industries which the want of a proper supply for steam and other purposes now prevents. It would also make the place more attractive as a place of residence; it would increase the number of ratepayers, and augment the value of real estate. Wherever it has been es- tablished, it has become indispensable both as a luxury and a necessity to all classes of citizens alike." The Waterous System, like that of "the Holly," is by pumping from the river, by means of stationary engines placed at a given point. The engines are required to be kept in motion continually, if the water is to be used for do- mestic purposes. In Bangor they are operated by.hydraulic pressure, the water being dammed to a sufficient height to enable the engines to be run without fuel, but in case of fire a full head of steam is put on, and the stationary pumps a mile off' are as efficient in conducting a stream, or a dozen streams, upon a burning building, as a fire engine if planted iniKDKniCTON WATKU WORKS. 88 directly boneatli. Public fleiitimout in Frederlctoii, liowover, is divided between the two platis, vi/,: — "gravitation " and "pumping." But as before remarked, wo have nothing to do wilii the process. So long as wo can get the water, and by the moat economical and best means, lot us have it. We muHt not be distracted by side issues like this. Wherever cither system is in operation the peojile of that town or city are satisfied that t/n'ir's is the best in the world. The cost of pipes and the laying, and the hydrants, it is presumed, is the same whatever the system. As before remarked, when the Waterous proposition was made to the City Council for supplying Fredericton, the price named was $55,000; but since then (1871) }»rice8 for materials and labour may havo materially chai.ged. PBOBAHLE COST— WriETIIKU THE CITY OR A COMPANY SHOULD UNDERTAKE THE WORK. The opinion of persons capable of judging is that we ought to obtain all the Water Works required for a sum not ex- ceeding $80,000 — at all events that would be a safe figure upon which to base our calculations, the interest on which at 5 per cent, {it is presumed thit as the money market is now easy, there is no better time for borrowing) would be $4,000 per annum. IIow to meet this will be considered hereafter. But in the mean time let us devote a few moments to the arguments advanced by some persons, to the eftect that a Company should undertake the work. If we are not to have water unless in this way, 1 believe it will be a fatal mistake to surrender the rights and interests of our City for such a purpose. This idea has always evinced to my mind a disposition in opposition to Water Works on the part of persons who thus talk. It may be for want of proper infor- mation as to the practical w^orking of such things in places of ordinary size wherever tried, St. John, for instance. Take an abstract view of the proposition, and it may be asked — if a revenue is to be derived from such works, why give a Com- pany a monopoly of them, and be subject to their control ? What is for the public good should be a public undertaking. If there is any risk or loss in the business, why should private individuals suiter ? It is because there is to be no loss but large gains that I wish the public to be the sole owners and 3 vw « FRKHKIUCTCrX WATER WORrCS". managers of the works. Let na now biielty review tlio historjr of Water Works in St. John, under Cotnpany n>anogen)ent and City rnanagen>ont. The works were started in St. John about the year 1833, by i\ Company. Lefjishition was ob- tained, and the cost of construction duly estinjated. As tlic work progressed the Con^pany fxnid itself hampered for want of means, and pipes in consequence were laid through a few streets only. The revenue was barely siitUcient to maintain the works (there could be no property rate) and dividends were out of the question. The consumption proved to he greatly more than wns anticipated, and the supply in conse- quence was change I fraio a constant to an intermittent one of two hours daily— from G^ o'clock until 8, a. m. The water ■was shut off the entire City at the last named hour; uud when a fire broke out it was allowed to burn until the alarm, reached the •■' turn-cock," when the water was let on and the mains tilled. After a time the public began toget their eye» open, and thought that after all there was something worse than taxation — viz: total destruction from fire; and so in 1849-50, the Uompany, with a view to a constant supply and to get rid of the inconvenience and cost of purapin:,', made an extra push, raised more money, and built a dam, and laid a 12 inch to a reservoir at Little River. [In f;iin>ess it shouUl here be mentioned that the pumping process at that day was altogether different to the Holly and Waterous systems of the present day.] There was great rejoicing in St. John over this advance movement ; but three years had barely passed before it was discovered that to maintain an efficient head at the summit and meet the waste belonging to the constant supply system everywhere, a greatly larger main was re- ♦^uircd. The Company was again v/ithout money. Its means were exhausted. Extension of the work was sus- pended, and the supply confined to the few streets through which distributing pipes had been laid. In 1854 the cholera broke out ; and in Saint John as in other places its favourite feeding grounds were the unsup- ]f)lied sections of the City — such as the " Back Shore," Saint Patrick's Street, York Point, and Portland.. The higher elevations were the last to be attacked, and these, from the fcetid and pestilential atmosphere by which they were sur- Tounded. Throu^gb this sad experience people got their VRICDKISICTON WATKR WOHKS. nh «ycs fltill wider oj.en, and hojvfiM to comprolieiid more fully than ovor the danger of the situation. A Govornrnont In- fipcction of the whole svrttein of Water Works was instituted, which linally resulted in the purchase of the Works iVorn the Com[»any by the City. Tliis was considered the only way of obtaining all the water necessary for the health and ■comfort of the peo|de. It was deemed inipossiUle for any oeau8c tlio people huvo conlidctico in the vvorkn, tlio nianagerneut, and the r«vojiuos obtained. in 1857, HO throat bocimio the demand for water that an additional 24-incli main pipe or conduit had to be laid ulonu^ side of the old 12-inch main ; and in 1873 a Hocond 24-inch main wan laid. Every wtreet in Saint John is now siippliod, as well as the more densely settled parts of Portland ; and fifty times more water lb)ws in than there did prior to 18r;r>. As soon as the works full into the hands of the (/orporation debentures were issued at percent., redeemable in 40 year^. The interest is i>rovidod from a property rate. The con- sumption rate is another source of revenue, but not oblii;a- tory on any one to puy, unless he wishes the water. There is therefore no compulsory tax, except the proi>erty rate, which is so trilling that nobody considers it, uidess on the favourable side — in the fact that if a man pays ^2 on $1000 he gets back $10 on insurance. The consumi)ti(jn rate amounts to .$5 on a family of 5 ; but this is a voluntari/ tax nl together, and can be saved. In Fredericton (with far less expensive works) the rate would probably be $o per family. Let the i)eople of Fredericton then never surretuler into the hands of a private Corporation the power of creating waterworks; but consider such an undertaking as a great boon, from which large revenues arc to be derived, and great blessings obtained. The following is a i'cply to a letter which I addressed to a gentleman in Saint John, well informed upon the subject he discudses. I was desirous of obtaining a disinterested ex- pression of his opinion upon the matters at issue — it is there- fore written without bias. He says : — " My Dear Sir, — I have a strong opinion in favour of the water supply of a City being owned and managed by a City ; and this opinion is held by all who have given unbiassed thought on the subject in Europe and America. The spirit as well as the wants of the age are opposed to the granting of monopolies to private companies to traffic in water — a chief essential of nealth and comfort and safety — and the City that does so commits a great mistake. The interests of the pub- lic and those of a Company are to a large extent antagonis- tic; often directly opposite to each other. The public re- rUKDKRH'TCN W'ATMll WOllKH. ar qiiiro coitions Hiipplinn of wiitcr for satiitury urul protective purposes ns well an for miiimfactiirin;: iitwl liousohold uses, Ht t!io lowest possible cost ; wliilv the C'onipaiiy, witli ii view to profits mid divideiuls, desire and exart a relatively bii^ jirico for a stiiall supply to its ordinary tenants orcustoniers, and extra pay for tiro and sanitary sujiplics. " A Conipany-AVater-Siipply is an anti(iMated idea, and i>* never seriously tljoiiyljt of when u C'ity nnderstands the full extent of its wants and has suflicient puhliu spirit to provide for the same. The liistory of Saint Jolin and Halifax: of Montreal and Toronto: of Boston and New York: of Gilas a practical way. If the assessment should amount to $2 on a $1,000 property rate, (it may not be anything like so much) and we now pay 2 per cent, (which I think is the rate paid on Queen Street) which amounts to $20 on the $1,000, you may safely deduct from your insurance $10, and thus make $8 by the operation, and be able if you wish to take the water into your premises — costing you nothing as it were. In fact it is the saving to be made in the Insurances that is to pay the interest and finally the debt itself, plus the probable water rate. If we now send away $25,000 a year, we^may with Water Works save half that, (if not three quarters) — viz : $12,500. Here then is a simple answer to the question — where is all the money to come from to carry on the work ? 40 FREDERICTOX WATER WORKS. But, acfairi, ulthough debentures may be provided for $80,000 they will only be floated when wanted — as the work progressed a debenture could be sold — and, as it will occupy several years to pipe the whole City, instead of being assessed $4,000 a year, this full amount would not be required for three or four years, so that the interest to be provided for the first year would be comparatively small — and the $2 tax would only full on those who are put in possession of the water, and re- ceive all the advantages. Jiut, as above remarked, besides this property tax for yielding interest, we must take into account the revenues to be obtained from consumption sup- ply. As fast as the pipes are laid people (as in other places) will demand the w^ater. Those who were the most blatant, and did their utmost to oppose its introduction, would be among the first to praise and have it. They will forget or deny that they were ever in opposition. Is there an opponent of Res- ponsible Government at the present day ? The most bitter foes which the Reformers had to contend with in their agitation, afterwards became perfectly oblivious of their obstructive course — not only so, but not a few of the survivors inherited some of the finest oflices in the gift of the Crown. Others sowed the seed amidst hardships while they reaped the harvest. So will it be with Water Works in Frederieton in a few years after they are in operation ! But it may be re- marked, as it has been recently, how do we know that the Insurance Offices will abate their charges ? We do not re- quire to know — because their action need not concern us. The trouble of the whole thing is that until you have Water Works you must submit to whatever rates are imposed — whereas with them, you are or may be independent of Insu- rance Companies altogether. Just after the Saint John Fire in 1877 the Offices combined and advanced our Frederiction rates considerably. (In remarking thus, it is not in the way of complaint — Insurance Offices, like others, have a right to guard what they conceive to be their interests.) And, we are still liable to a further increase. In other words, in self- defence we are willing to submit to taxation ; and yet have a readier, better and cheaper way of avoiding this, nay gain- ing great blessings, if we could only concentrate our thoughts in the right direction. In St. John and other large Cities, the scale of prices ob- ■ \*^i^idaLMUA}A.-^ii/' .. FREDERICTON WATER WORKS. 41 served includes charges for many things which need not apply here. For example, on animals of dift'erent kinds there are special rates, which rates could here be dispensed with, as it is very probable that revenue enough could be ob- tained from the simple family use of the water as well a6 the property rate. This mu^'t not then be held up as a bugbear to alarm the timid. Bu. even if it were levied no person is obliged to take the water. Let this fact be always kept iu view when the alarmist is about. The numerous establishments outside of private families in Frodericton, many of which would insist upon having the water if introduced — and be glad to pay frora §20 to $50 a year, may be here enumerated. There are 10 Public Buildings ; There are 12 Factories ; Clothing establishments, 7 ; Tanneries, 4 ; Foundries and Mills, 4 ; Hotels, 6 ; Livery Stables, 4 ; Boarding Houses, 15 ; Public Halls, 7; School Buildings, 6 ; Printing Offices and Binderies, 6 ; Banks, 2. All these would swell the revenues very much. It would be an exception to the rule in all other places for those es- tablishments to refuse to take the water, according to the scale of rates, whatever those rates may be. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. The works should be placed in charge of a Board of Com- missioners ; three persons manage tho whole business in St. John ; the Chairman only receives a salary. In Bangor there is what is called "the Water Board." In both Cities the utmost confidence is felt in the management. These respec- tive Boards are free frora political influence, and yet strictly amenable to either Corporation for any irregularity, or un- just or wasteful expenditure. The same governing body I presume would bo created and recognized in Fredericton. 42 FREDERICTON WATER WORKS. Of course salaries would have to be paid — but my idea is that if three sterling men could be found, in whom the public would have every confidence, willing to devote themselves to the work, the mere remuneration to which they would be entitled would be no compensation, and therefore probably not be accepted. But this question is neither here nor there. Whatever the expense of management it would only form a part of the whole scheme, and come under the head of cur- rent expenses. CONCLUDING REiMARKS. There is no reason whatever why legislation should not be had next winter, and preparatory arrangements made for the introduction of Water Works into Fredericton next summer. As the necessity for a proper water supply must be obvious by this time to every one, talk should give way to action. The people have only got to show their sincerity and de- termination, and the work is half commenced. With regard to the City Council, it is idle to call upon the representatives of a divided community to act in this matter, or any other of importance to the general interests, unless the Council are backed up by public opinion, and " the well understood wishes of the people," and then they will act as we want them to. No blame therefore can be attached to the present or previous Councils every time that Water Works have come up for consideration, with perhaps one exception. Their wor- ships have been influenced by, or rather succumbed to, the prevailing indifference ; they have heard people talk iu favor of Water Works; but using "buts" and "if's" enough to render a belief in their sincerity doubtful — others, stoutly in opposition on the ground of taxation — others, on the ground that as we have got along so far without Water Works we can continue to do so — others, fully in favor but inactive at the right time and in the right place in using their influence, and thus rendering efloicient service in the cause. Let Ward meetings be held and every voter feel that he has a duty to discharge, to himself, his family, and his fellow citizens, and speak or vote at those meetings according to his convictions — in order that the candidates for each AVard may under- stand what is expected of them in case of being elected. We send men to the City Council year after year, as a mere FREDERICTON WATER WORKS. 48 matter of form, or of favor, and never think of raising a live issue at the polls, on the side of public improvement, public progress ; and, as in other places, ask pledges of candidates to carry out their promises in accordance with our wishes. The consequence is that Fredericton from one decade to an- other, draws her slow length along in the old ruts, and there- fore is not much more prosperous to day than she was 40 years ago. It is doubtful if real estate commands a better price in 1881 than it did in 1840 ? Extraneous aid alone (in the Railroads supplied) has given us what little vitality that is observable. Now a City so favorably situated, whose sur- roundings cannot be surpassed for natural beauty and physical features, ought to be in the van of agricultural and commercial communities. Had the Seat of Government been removed last winter, as threatened, there would have been a general collapse. We stood the shock of battle it is true, when the troops were taken away ; but their removal was a small matter compared with what would have been the loss cf the large expenditures made in Fredericton through legis- lation and the staft' of officials belonging to the various de- partments. We should be independent of all such auxiliaries ; our business health must be made subservient to creative and recreative objects. The first step to be taken to secure these and get out of this slough, is for the people or property holders to unite and say that they must have public works — water works to commence with. Let this be made an issue at the polls in January — and, if carried, the commencement of such works next summer will inaugurate the beginning of a new epoch — of ousiness life and activity — of progress and prosperity. It is no more difficult to manage an under- taking of $100,000 than one of $5,000. Place your lines up- on a sound foundation. Lay your plans with judgment at the beginning — let your estimates be correctly made, and under judicious control and direction, failure is next to im- possible. But on the other hand, nothing will be done un- less our business people and tradesmen bestir themselves. A mere expression of opinion, for or against a measure, is not sufficient. Nor is it enough merely to vote. You must work and advise as well. If business is meant and Water Works are intended, our young influential men, who are al- ways to the front, and properly so, on public occasions, or ^mmi u FREDERICTON WATER WORKS. for sporting purposes, should throw themselves into this work M'ith all the zeal for which they are famous, and victory will be sure to follow. I have no more interest in the introduc- tion of pure water into Frcdcricton than any other citizen. So that whether you are for or ngainst Water Works, you will please remember that this l)ook is written and published solely with the object of trying to render what I conceive to be an imi>ortant service to the best interests of Fredericton. G. E. FENETY. Fredericton, October, 1881. J i» ■.' ••••J ;■ I 1 I ■ .)( ' r •I. Hi hi .V '...:■' ■! <> Ai i^^Hr »' ■ • V ..-„■' ■■ .■:,,■ J 1 i^u. ■ -/ >,.>- • f ^i:, , '.. _ .^ i _ ■ i: 1 i > . » I' , '.>&?!<'' '■■''' ;<• r