Argument on behalf of Joseph Tilden and others, remonstrants, on the hearing of the petition of the mayor of the city of Boston : on behalf of the city council, for a grant of the requisite powers to construct an aqueduct from Long Pond to the city : before a joint special committee of the Massachusetts legislature, March 6, 1845 / by William J. Hubbard.

  • Hubbard, William J. (William Joseph), 1802-1864.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Argument on behalf of Joseph Tilden and others, remonstrants, on the hearing of the petition of the mayor of the city of Boston : on behalf of the city council, for a grant of the requisite powers to construct an aqueduct from Long Pond to the city : before a joint special committee of the Massachusetts legislature, March 6, 1845 / by William J. Hubbard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    6/60
    Another class of remonstrants, citizens of Boston, apprehend, if the prayer of the petition is granted, and the project is execu- ted in the manner proposed, it will involve a needlessly large expenditure of money, bring upon the city a heavy debt, and subject them and coming generations to an onerous taxation to pay the annual interest on the debt, which will not for many years, if ever, be met by the income from water rents. I appear to enforce the views of a portion of this latter class of remonstrants, who have subscribed the memorial, which has been referred to the committee under the title of the Remon- strance of Joseph Tilden and others. The former class of remonstrants, it has been said, are enti- tled to a respectful consideration, but the learned counsel for the petitioners has told us, that we, the citizens of Boston, ap- pearing here as remonstrants, are not to be heard with favor. We do not ask it as a favor to be heard, neither do we ask to be heard with favor, but we claim to be heard as a matter of right. It has been said by counsel that the petition is very simple in its character, that there is nothing startling or novel in its character to account for the delays and opposition which it has encountered, and for the array now made against it. The city come as beggars asking the smallest boon the Common- wealth can give. That it may be seen how simple is the character of this peti- tion, and how small the boon which is asked of the Common- wealth, it is necessary to consider what is really sought for— to analyze this simple petition. The Mayor on behalf of the City Council prays that the city may be authorized, First—To construct an aqueduct from Long Pond and to take and hold the said pond and the waters flowing into and from the same, and also any other ponds and streams within the distance of five miles of said pond for the purpose of fur- nishing a supply of water to the inhabitants of the city. Secondly—In case the city should not deem it advisable to take the waters of Long Pond, that they may be authorized to take the waters of Sudbury River, or so much as may be ne- cessary to supply the city, and in case the waters of Long Pond should be taken, but the quantity should be found insufficient,