The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-12-27
FOR THIRST AND FIRE
EXCELLENT WATER-WORkS SYS.
TEN OF INDIANAPOLIS.
Is Acknowledged to Be the Best OF Its
Class in the Country Its
Growth and History.

One or the features Of municipal con-
vrnience which the citizens OF IndianaD-
ellis enjoy TO an extent beyond that ac-
corded to the people Of most cities Of the
same size is its water works system. In
a community SO comparatively new. built
up SO rapidly as TO outstrip even the
keenest enterprise. a perfect system and
"A perfect supply Of absolutely wholesome
water for domestic uses. an adequate
force for fire protection and "A plentiful
distribution for ali public uses could
hardly be looked for. yet In this respect
indianapolis makes a most favorable
showing when compared with any other
city In the entire country.
In the early days one OF the chief
ORA wbacks to the growth Of the city on
q scale commensurate with Its Importance
as the capital Of one of the most pro-
gressive states and its potential promise
as one OF the leading commercial centers
OF the country was the lack Of a system
Of water supply adapted 10 its needs.
other cities In the state suffered In like
manner. To meet the requirements OF
the situation the legislature enacted a
law authorizing the cities Of the state
to grant TO corporations organized for
the purpose the right to erect water
works 70 supply cities with water. In
accordance with the authority thus
granted the city conferred a franchise
on the Water Works company OF Indian |
apolis. That mpa thereupon organ |
lied and commenced business on Jan. 1. |
1870. The company displayed from the
first a commendable purpose to carry out
its franchise obligations In such a man
ner as 10 give the people Of the city the
very best results. Ii built a substantial
pumping station on White river. below
Westinghouse. and was to take water
from wells along the river. The machin-
cry then put In by the ~ con-
sisted OF rotary pumps. driven by water
power and steam and having a capacity
or G.5V0.eD gallons. The company laid n
wenty-four-inch supply main on Wash
ington-st. and "A twenty-inch main on
with branches twenty and cigh-
teen inches. The company added other
mains and improved the plant so that In
1881 IL had nfty-two miles Of mains and
had added to Its pumping plant a quad
engine OF 800. 900 gallons capacity.
In doing all this. however. the company
had incurred "A considerable Indebtedness.
amounting to nearly 1850. 900.
Rates Of Interest.
The rates OF interest during the period
his Indebtedness was incurred were very
nigh. and the company's patronage was 1
lot sufficient TO meet Its obligations ana J
Seep up the necessary extension OF m !
In 1881 the first mortgage bona q
brought suit to foreclose Their v
and the result was that the a
Indianapolis water company ~ v
ncorporated. with a capital stock n q
oo".vp. and succeeded 10 the assets ma
usiness 81 the original corporation. ct
The reorganized company put In a MINI n
men has always kept up 10 the rcat re- u
rents of the situation. and IN adj ian
US capital stock has outstanding binds
mounting 70 s1.s5o.cD main hos
re- located NJ 13 Monument-plar,I a,a
lere are two pumping stations. Fl tlon
o. J being located on White rivef III. 70
I" " ashington-st.. and the other. row,
! me riverside pumping station, r. ia
'''u north OF Fall creek. The tuIn.
OF these pumping stations is 4 the