Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-09-23
IN FULL POSSESSION.
The Waterworks Company Turns the
System Over to the City Saturday.

the date of the formal transfer of the
waterworks system to the city, in the
forenoon of that day the necessary doc
uments having been drawn up and
signed whereby the Watertown Water
works company reinquished owner
ship of the property in consideration
! Of a cash payment and an obligation
by the city to meet an annual hydrant
rental of IS 400. WatertoNn is now in
full possession of as complete and fine
| ly constructed water system as can be
found IN like places.
This very appreciable end was at
tained through the public spirit and
tireless efforts of a syndicate of our
leading citizens, acting in conjunction
with the common council of 1895, with
exMayor Moak at its head. The move
ment for waterW orks was, after several
| previous attempts, again opened for
agitation in May of last year. Step by
| step, and with the approval of our citi-
| zens generally the enterprise assumed
tangible shape, until finally culminat-
ing in the formation of the Watertown
| Waterworks company for the express
! purpose of building water system. A
short time later, in October, the COM
| pany was granted a franchise and the
work forthwith began, W. +. Wheeler
& Co., of Beloit, having the contract.
| During the course of construction the
| Waterworks company and the council
gave minute attention to every detail,
| spending much valuable time. but with
the desired result that system built
closely after the specifications laid
down by the city rewarded their pains.
The works were completed, accepted
and earning money in June, 1896,
trlt1e over year from when the agita-
ton began.
The local capitalists who provided
the funds cannot be given too much
credit for the accomplishment of this
splendid enterprise. Their public
spirit is to be highly commended.
They enlisted in an investment which
promised no further gain than the Gus
tOmarY 6 per cent. to be obtained un-
der far more favorable conditions, ac-
cepting franchise which gavet he city
an option to buy Immediately upon the
plants completion, and In addition to
| this concession the officers cheertGlly
gave their time without remuneration,
but with considerable worry. The
company co-operated agreeably with
Mayor Moak and the common council,
who guarded faithfully the city, inter
ests, and it was materially owing to
this mutually amicable feeling that the
successful elimination was reached.
The Watertown Waterworks COM
pany was organized in the summer of
1895, the following we'll known citizens
being stockholders: W. d. Sproesser,
John Habhegger, Fred Kusel, L.
Schempf, G, May, E. May, William
Gorder, Jacob Jossi, Joseph Terbrueg-
gen, William Hartig, Carl Manz, W. F.
Voss, John Davis, d. H. Kusel, Theo-
dore Prentiss, William Buchheit, Sr.,
Jesse Stone, M. j. Woodard, G. Wig
genhorn, E. j. Brandt, P. G. Quent-
meyer and George S. Schempf. The
officers elected were: President, NJ
j.. Woodard; vice president, Fred
Kusel; secretary, w. F. Voss; treas
urer. w. D. Sproesser; uperintendent.
John Habhegger. These gentlemen
also comprise the board of directors.
Although a somewhat impromptu
arrangement, our city duly observed
the Importance of municipal ownership
of the waterworks by loud demonstra-
tions Saturday. For two hours the
quiet of the afternoon was disturbed
by the ringing of bells and the blowing
of factory whistles. In the evening
the celebration was renewed, with
band music, bonfres and fireworks.
At s O'Clock crowds gathered at the
power house on First street, which was
tastefully decorated with bunting,
plants and flowers in honor of the oc-
casion. Short speeches were made by
Vice President Kusel and Secretary
OSS, VI ODt w dUOIWOIkS COn v.
and by Mayor Rack, who was formal
ly rendered the keys of the plant. The
band rendered several patriotic airs
and general enthusiasm prevailed.
The original cost of the plant was
$1O3, ,807.21. Betterment and extension
and other expenses incurred since the
acceptance have brought the total cost
up to $1O7 1886 90 On the final settle
ment Saturday there was deducted
from the total cost 81, 1,911.63 received
from hydrant rental, consumers rents.
etc., and SIS, ,42427 paid in cash, which
amounts together make ST., 1886 80,
leaving a balance of $4,000 still due
the company. For this amount the
plant is bonded, the city meeting the
yearly interest of per cent by the
establishment of hydrant tax in the
tax rolls. The works are considered
to be on a paying basis already, and
| mill