The real crux of the matter seems to be that in any rural water system, the number of users is out of proportion to the amount of pipeline that must be run to connect them and that the individual towns never could raise enough money by themselves to finance such a system. The bill which you introduced jointly with Senator Mansfield might very well answer this problem. I will be following its progress with interest. Sincerely yours, UNDERWOOD & LYNCH, By WYNN UNDERWOOD. VILLAGE OF ALBURG, VT. Senator GEORGE D. AIKEN, U.S. Senate Offices, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR: We, the trustees of Alburg village, are watching with great interest the progress of your bill for relief of drought-stricken areas in Vermont. As we ourselves have a water problem, we realize how very much such action is needed. Therefore, we are 100 percent in favor of the bill. DEAR SENATOR AIKEN: Some time ago I read the in press that you had introduced a bill in Congress whereby communities in the State could take advantage of Federal and State aid to establish water systems in rural communities that needed such systems. As I understood the bill, the Federal Government would pay 50 percent, the State 25 percent, and the community 25 percent of the cost of installation. Am I correct in these statements? If that is true, will you please inform me as to the status of that particular bill at this time? We, in the community of North Hero village have decided that we would establish a water system in this part of the town. It has become a necessity, inasmuch as we feel that our drinking water is no longer pure, and with a system we could purify the water in some manner. This is right in the center of town, and about 20 families would be affected. We have several other reasons, too, for establishing a central water system. I do not think it necessary for me to go into details now, as you are far too busy to listen to us at the present moment. However, our first step is to acquaint ourselves with the status of your bill which I have mentioned, and if it will be possible for use to get any help financially along this line. Therefore, will you please write me any information that you may have to give me at your earliest possible moment? You do not Thank you, in advance, for any information that you may have. know just how anxious we are to get this underway soon. Again I thank you. Yours truly, Mrs. GENIA M. WAY. COLCHESTER, VT., May 20, 1965. Hon. GEORGE D. AIKEN, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR AIKEN: I am writing you in my capacity as chairman of the Prudential Committee of Colchester Fire District No. 2 which encompasses the so-called Malletts Bay area. Our district has a desperate water situation and we have been working for upward of 5 years to find a solution. Last September we obtained a $21,000 advance for planning from the Housing and Home Finance Agency. With these funds we retained the Boston engineering firm of Whitman & Howard, Inc., to design a 9-mile water distribution system for us. This work was completed in January 1965. The estimated contracting cost is $360,000. It had been our hope to obtain a grant under the accelerated public works program with which to finance this construction project. The appropriate form was filed during the period that the Burlington area qualified because of its high rate of unemployment. However no APW funds were available during this period and we understand that we are no longer eligible because the area has since been declassified. We understand that you have submitted a bill to the Senate which would provide relief to municipal corporations of less than 5,000 persons which are in the predicament with which we are confronted. We are writing this letter to add our unqualified support to this bill. Our district is desperately short of potable water. The inhabitants have had to resort to all sorts of measures to alleviate this situation. This includes drinking cistern water and hauling water. The elementary schools in the district are similarly handicapped. The normal type shallow well is of little value because the resulting water is generally not potable. Our district is adjacent to the city of Burlington. Our great amount of undeveloped land is the logical area for growth from the city where residential land is almost entirely gone. However the water shortage has prevented this expansion. So bad is our problem that the FHA no longer will approve new home construction in the district. The effect of this ruling on an area of modest means is obvious. Several developers are interested in the area but only if the water problem can be solved. Our backs are against the wall. With water our district will enjoy an unprecedented growth. Without water it will languish. We plan to vote on a $360,000 bond issue but this is done in desperation. We have been advised that with the present number of guaranteed takers, our chances of being able to market this much in bonds are practically nonexistent. We are confident that we could guarantee enough immediate takers to finance approximately onehalf of the $360,000 project. We are proceeding with the vote on the project in hope that somehow matching or nearly matching funds will become available. I am sure that our predicament is not unique. We know that our district will grow and prosper with water but we lack the resources to construct a water distribution system without governmental asistance. Whatever you can do to help our district and other similarly situated small municipal corporations would certainly be of inestimable assistance. DEAR SIR: Enclosed you will find copies of a petition, letters and a map of the commnuity of South Northfield, Vt. The spring-fed water supply of South Northfield has been inadequate or nil for many years. After a petition was signed by 100 percent of the residents a The enclosed letters show the results. study was made. Listed below and on enclosed map are facts which may give you some idea of our problem. South Northfield is an unincorporated village within the town of Northfield, located on route 12 approximately 2 miles south of the incorporated village of Northfield. Northfield, Inc., village owns the water system. The town of Northfield has a population of 4,511. Problems concerning water situation: 1. No dependable water supply. 2. No fire protection. 3. No sewerage system (septic tanks). 4. A definite health hazard. 5. Septic tanks and individual drilled wells on small pieces of property are too near each other. 6. Children attending school where well and septic tanks are near each other had three cases of hepatitis in 1963. 7. Old folks home had to carry water. ly handicapped with this condition.) (A very efficient operator is severe 8. A drilled well at the Goodrich Dairy Farm did not produce an adequate water supply. 9. Thus a drilled well as suggested probably would not give needed supply. We do not have qualified people to build and maintain such a system in the South Northfield area. 10. A high percentage are retired people. They would find this initial cost prohibitive. 11. Due to Norwich University and its expansion program, it seems certain that the trend now taking place in building will continue in this direction. It is possible for 50 or more homes to be built in this area. We hope your rural water program proposal will be met with favor by the Congress because it will greatly assist communities such as ours. Without the help, as included in your proposal, we cannot look forward to any solution to our problem. We will appreciate any information concerning the progress of this bill. Very truly yours, Mrs. JAMES G. KEMPTON. To the Town Manager and Selectmen of Northfield, Vt.: We, the undersigned are interested in such information as feasibility and approximate cost concerning the extension of village water to South Northfield. Signatures: Twenty people signed this in August 1964. Re water supply, South Northfield area. Northfield, Vt. STATE OF VERMONT, Montpelier, May 10, 1965. DEAR MRS. KEMPTON: This will confirm your recent telephone call regarding water supply and sewage treatment in South Northfield village. Be advised that H. 175, a State bill suggesting 25 percent aid to communities for water supply improvement, has been introduced in the house of representatives. If this bill is passed and signed by the Governor, grants may become available to communities such as yours. Senator Aiken has introduced legislation in Congress which, if passed, might provide for grants on water supply construction amounting to 50 percent of the cost. This bill is certainly worthy of attention, and Northfield would be advised by this office should any money become available from this source. Enclosed for your information is a final classification order regarding the Winooski River which includes the Dog River drainage area. Please observe note No. 3 on page 3 of the schedule which is attached to the main document. South Northfield presently falls in the category of rural pollution. If the aforementioned legislation or any portion thereof is enacted, Northfield might find it economical to construct an extension of the village water supply system to serve the south village area by a modern water system. Sincerely, DEAR SENATOR AIKEN: I have just finished reading about your bill to bring water systems to the hundreds of small rural towns in our great United States. through expansion of the Rural Electrification Act of which I heartly approve and wish you luck. This is a subject of great interest to me as Fifield is a small town of about 300 people, where water has long been a problem. Most of the wells here are shallow, from 40 to 45 feet deep, which is about the limit for most well drillers here as the town lays on bedrock and they do not have the costly diamond drilling equipment that is necessary to go through; so, as a result, last year being a dry year for us, there were 25 dry wells here in town. In 1963 our town board had a preliminary survey made in the hopes of applying for a Federal grant, but it proved to be too costly for the families involved as it would mean mortgaging homes and the like; our incomes here are low-in the $2,000 to $2,500-a-year bracket-and they just could not see their way through, so the project was dropped for the present time. I want to express my appreciation to you for your concern and interest you have shown in rural America in the past, and for the many bills you have brought about to make rural America a much better and healthier place to live. I would appreciate hearing from you on the final outcome of the bill and will urge our Senators from Wisconsin to support you in your efforts. Sincerely yours, REIDAR ANDERSEN. WAGONER, OKLA., May 10, 1965. Senator GEORGE D. AIKEN, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR AIKEN: Would you please send me a copy of S. 1766. There is no doubt that this will be a revolutionary program for the rural area of these United States. Very truly yours, BOB JEFFREY. BOB JEFFREY CO., INC. HANOVER, N.H., January 18, 1965. Senator GEORGE AIKEN, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR AIKEN: It was with great interest that I read in my hometown newspaper, the Bennington (Vt.) Banner, your proposed program of Federal grants and loans to develop water supply and distribution systems in 15,000 rural communities in the United States. I, too, am very interested in the water needs throughout the United States. As a matter of fact, some friends and I are planning to study this very problem. I am writing to ask if you could send me a copy of your study upon which you based your proposal. This would be a great help to us in our endeavors. Thank you very much for your consideration of this request. I am looking forward to hearing from you in the near future. Sincerely yours, C. DIXON KUNZELMANN. CHATHAM, MICH., January 19, 1965. Senator GEORGE D. AIKEN, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR AIKEN: Our village council is very interested in your proposed program for Federal grants and loans to develop water supply and distribution in rural communities. We are a newly incorporated village with a very serious water problem. We have a population of 275 people. At the present time most of the families are using water from their own or their neighbors' well. A little over 2 years ago our water in the village became contaminated in most all the wells. Many families are now drawing water from the same wells and many have to carry water for drinking and cooking purposes. The health department is concerned about the present water situation as it contributes to an unhealthy condition. In our State it is not permissable for more than two families to get water from the same well but at present this is impossible to enforce as most people would be completely without water. The wells from which the people are receiving water are very unstable as at times the water is bacteriologically unsafe and then within a few days it will test safe again as reported by the laboratories of the Michigan Department of Health. The engineers report indicated the project for community water will cost $69,000. Our village consists of many elderly people of which about 20 are retired and living on social security payments of the lowest amount. Some of the people of the village who are better off financially are intending to drill their own wells this coming summer if something is not done about a community water supply. This would not solve the problem for the lower income group of which the village is mainly comprised. There has been the possibility of some industry coming into the village but without water available this is impossible. The few business places, including an old folks home, which we have will be unable to continue unless water is obtained. We have applied to the Federal Government, through the Housing and Home Finance Agency, for an advance planning loan to test for water which was denied us and also for an APW grant, which was given a number with very little prospect of receiving any financial aid as there seems to be no more money appropriated to this Agency and none in sight. Without some Federal help we are unable to proceed any further than we have, plans on paper. Could you possibly give us any further information on this subject such as when such moneys would be available if the proposal passes and whether we would be eligible to receive such funds? We hope this letter will help you in presenting your proposal and help us solve our problem. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, (Mrs.) SHIRLEY LAMMI, Village Clerk, the Village of Chatham. BLOOMINGTON, IND., Senator GEORGE D. AIKEN, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR AIKEN: We are not from the same State but both are U.S. citizens. This is to encourage you in your water proposal bill to aid our citizens that stand in urgent need of financial aid to develop water supply and the distribution system in cities, suburban, and rural areas. Due to the importance and tragic scarcity of a large water supply in many areas of our States our citizens need financial aid to create water supplies to live and prosper. We all realize without water we perish, or just fade away. With an ample supply of water we have health, sanitation, fire protection, and create prosperity for all citizens. In this section of Indiana we need money to build filtering plants and build water systems to be able to extend waterlines to our citizens that they may have a good supply of necessary water in their homes, factories, and college here around Bloomington, Ind. Indiana University has 21,000 students. We sincerely hope that you will have large majority of Congressmen backing you and the bill will be passed in the very near future. Increasing populations take a large supply of water. Sincerely, FRED REFFE. P.S.-We may not get grants, but help through the REMC or some source to be able to get loans for city, suburbs, and rural areas. It's serious today. Water is important. BOZEMAN, MONT., February 1, 1965. Hon. GEORGE D. AIKEN, U.S. Senator, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR AIKEN: I read with great interest your remarks made in introduction to the "Rural Water Act of 1965." I commend you highly for your views and also for the courage to advance them. |