History of Thomaston, Rockland, and South Thomaston, Maine, from their first exploration, 1605;

ROCKLAND AND SOUTH THOMASTON. 7
computed that 30,898 feet would be required, from one to
nine inches bore. The company was, in February, 1851,
duly organized by choice of I. K. Kimball, president, C.
Holmes, treasurer, and C. L. Lowell, clerk. Mr. Ball contracted to excavate the trenches,-six miles, for $4000, and,
all over that distance, for $1 a rod. This was completed,
and the Chikawauka water reached the city, through its subterranean channel, by the middle of November. The $30,000
stock being thus expended, a further subscription of $10,000
was obtained; and, in October, 1852, the directors reported
that 14 miles of pipe had been laid, 225 rods of which, on
account of deep cutting and rock, had been subjected to an
extra expenditure of $5000, that the whole cost amounted to
$46,000, that the number of takers was 400, and rapidly
increasing, at $6 per family, and that, from the first nine
month's profits, a dividend of four per cent. had been declared.
McLain's mill at the outlet of the lake was purchased, and in
1855 rebuilt, at a cost of $10,185; and the whole expenditure
of the company up to 1855, at which time Wm. A. Farnsworth was president and M. Sumner secretary and treasurer,
amounted to $67,411; capital stock, increased by that year's
dividend, $55,000, leaving a debt of $11,821. Continuing
to apply its income to the reduction of the company's debt,
and paying off the dividends by new certificates of stock,
the latter was increased to over $70,00. The stockholders
becoming impatient of slow returns, in the spring of 1857
the rates were raised to $10 per family. This gave great
dissatisfaction, which continued till the rates were reduced in
the following August.
Soon after the separation of the town, the subject of a Poorhtouse and farm was agitated; and, at the April meeting of
this year, it was voted to offer Lewis McLain the sum of
$2500 for his (the Mosman) farm, with the reversion of the
widow's dower. This offer was at that time rejected; but the
farm was finally purchased in the fall; and the house upon it
furnished ample accommodation as an almshouse till 1860;
when, from the increased number of paupers, consequent on
the increase of intemperance, it was found to be too small,
and a large addition was built.
At a meeting, March 25th, the town voted $500, (increased, May 15th, by $100 more,) for the purchase of a cemetery;
and the selectmen were instructed to lay out such portion of
the same as they thought proper, and dispose of the lots at
auction,-fencing and ornamenting the grounds with the
money given for the right of choice. The ground purchased