Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-31
ST. PAUL WATER WORKS

fore the war and was not resumed until
after its close in 1865, when the first de-
cisive steps were taken. From that period
until 1868, the time was occupied in pre-
liminary steps such as where the supply
should come from; right of way, city or
dinances, ETC., etc., all of which is without
interest to the present residents of the
city, although they had a wonderful
amount of interest to the citizens eighteen
years ago. In 1868 the work of building
the main pipe from Phalen lake was be-
gun, and in December, 1869, the water was
turned on for the first time. This was,
however, more to test the nature of the
work than with view to supply the city.
During the Glowing year, however, 1870,
the mains were extended, and it NAV
be said that the history of the st. Paul
| water works dates from that YEAR. The
present supply of water is drawn directly
| from the following named lakes whose
| area in acres is as follows: Phalen. 237;
Gervais, 210; Vadnais, $50; Lambert, $50 :;
Pleasant. 730; White Bear, $500; Bald
Eagle. 1890; Bass lake, 400; Otter lake,
400, and other smaller lakes which can be
made available, giving fully 10000 acres
of water to supply the city. To all present
appearances the supply from these sources
alone will be sufficient to furnish city of
five times the present population for ali
time to come. Of the quality of the water
thoroughly established by scientific analy-
sis that it is superior to any in the West.
and in regard to purity unsurpassed in the
United States.
To the Hon. G.. D. GiIfllan more than
any other person is st. Paul indebted
for her present supply of pure water.
Nearly twenty years ago when st. Paul
was only village compared with its pres
ent size and population, his foreseeing
mind discerned the ultimate need of the
city Of the future, and Notwithstanding the
difficulties in the way he steadily followed
up the plan which he had matured, which
has eliminated in giving st. Paul its pres
emit abundant supply of pure water. He
had to encounter obstacle after obstacle in
| the shape IF right of way, drainage of lakes.
the jealousy of the city council in grant
and undismayed he pursued the even tenor
brought the water into the city in 1869.
and in 1870 began to extend its system
of mains and lateral pipes.
The st. Paul water works was under the
management Of private corporation
| with Hon. c. D. Gilfllan as president, and
John Caulie,d as secretary, together with
| board of directors elected annually until
the 10th day of August, 1882, when they
| passed into the possession of the city, by
virtue of an act passed by the legislature,
the terms Of which need not be repeated.
| as the GLOBE short time ago published
all the features of the act. The following
| are the present
OFFICERS OF THE WATER WORKS:
Commissioners, G. D. Gillian, president,
! term expires June 1, 1886; c. W. Griggs,
term expires June 1, 1885; G. H. Board
man, term expires June 1, 1884; P. H. KEEL
ly, term expires June 1, 1888; Edmund
Rice, mayor, member ex-oficio; JOAN Caul-
field, secretary; John B. Overton. superin-
tendent; and L. W. Rundiutt, engineer.
Mr.. John Caulield, the secretary of the
works, and Mr.. John 3. Overton, the super
intendent, have submitted their first report
lowing items which Will be Of interest to
tax payers and consumers:
The bonded debt of the city on account
of the water works is $4,000, Of which
$3.50, 900 is In per cent. city bonds. paya-
bic in thirty years from Jan. 1, 1882, and
S16O,OOO of per cent. water company's
bonds assumed by the city and due Jan. l.
1889. The floating debt is $4,000. which
will be reduced in January to $4,000 and
in February to about $4,000. The total
water receipts, including miscellaneous re-
ceipts, For the year ending Dec. 1, 1883, es-
| timated at $4,000. and the expenses, in
Guiding interest and maintenance, estimat-
ed at $4,000, floating debt, $4,000, leav-
ing surplus of $1,000. There have been
e.130 applications made for water since the
works were built. of which 269 were made
during the past year, this being the largest
number since the works were built except
in 1870 when the water was first introduced
into the city. Since the city obtained pos
session of the works rs applications have
been made, $50 consumers are supplied by
meters, the bills being paya-
BILE monthly; 200 are shut Off leaving 1900
water takers paying card rates. In gener-
al the rate is so per annum for each pri-
vate dwelling occupied by one family and
81 per annum additional upon each
$1,000 or fraction thereof, of the assessed
valuation in excess Of $1,000 Of such
dwelling and the lands and buildings con-
nected Herewith. special rates are made
for business houses, dependent upon the
nature of the work done and amount of
water consumed. Of the 200 shut off
about seventy five will be turned on within
sixty days. being buildings in course of
construction, leaving 123 from which the
board receives no revenue. This includes
school houses, city buildings, engine
houses and public fountains.
Since the city came into possession of
the works the general receipts from
Aug. 10 to Dec. 1, 1882, including dues.
meters, connections, bills payable. ETC..
amounted to S27,541.75, and expenditures
for the same period on account of main
tenance, connections, repairs. extensions.
ETC., were S25.937.6l showing q surplus of
receipts over expenditures for that period
of $1,6O4.14.
The report of Superintendent Overton
states that the principal expense of the
works since they came into possession of
the city was for relaying the sixteen-inch
pipe on Lafayette avenue, required by the