Evening journal., 1904-10-14
WILMINGTON HAD
TROUBLE GETTING
WATER SUPPLY
After Wells Failed Spring
Water Was Carried Through
Wooden Pipes
ERECTION OF FIRST RESERVOIR
Supply Was Scarce and Was
Frequently Shut OFF to
Keep From Waste

ANYTHING pertaining to water is at
present OF an interesting nature inasmuch
as a new water system is about TO be in
stalled in this city Many facts concerning
water as far back as 1895 have been found
by the Evening Journal and given below
for ,he benefit of its readers. While some
parts are amusing, the facts as printed.
will plainly set forth the difficulties un-
der which our forefathers worked in or
der to solve the water question, which
point has as yet not been reached, but
il is hoped that it will be when the pro-
posed new water system is completed.
First Water Resolution.
II is not known to many that the first
resolution upon the subject Of water was
introduced in the Council Of the then
Borough OF Wilmington on December 81,
1856. The resolution provided that Messrs.
Isaac Hendrickson and William Poole be
committee to inquire Of the Inhabitants
of the borough who own pumps in the
streets, whether they be willing to give
them up to the corporation, who will
take care TO have them kept in order.
This committee was continued from year
to year and finally reported the names Of
such persons who had consented. to give
their pumps up to the management of the
corporation. Increasing population and
subsequent scarcity OF water forced the
Borough Council to look to larger and
more. easily. obtained supply Of water than
the pumps could furnish4 A committee
made a report to Council on April 26, 1900,
recommending that a loan Of forty shares,
at $40 per Share be opened by the House
2 ,ia flf. oil coli I'm
mediately begin the work of bringing the
water from the spring on Third street
hill near Tatnall to Market street. A
committee was later appointed to ascer-
tain the cost Of the Improvement and
made the following report: Ss5 feet Of
pump logs 57e IS izd; Digging and laying
! logs. 7e Is lOlkd; Cistern to contain thirty
hhds., 4Se; total, ll2e 9s Id.
The above project it appears failed al
together and I'm 1903. the wants of the
/ people increasing yearly. led to the organ
ization of a company for the purpose OF
supplying the borough with spring water,
conveyed in wooden pipes or conduits.
/ This company was Incorporated under the
name of the Wilmington Spring Water
Company with hover to charge such per.
sons that used water from their works
A fountain was opened in High C4th
/ street between West and Tatnall streets
Cold brewery. northwest corner of Fourtl
and latnau streets) and this fountain sup
piled all that part of the borough lyinl
south Of High street. In 1906 the compan!
extended their works about one mile ives
of the borough near the Kennett Height
in order TO supply the inhabitants nortl
of High street with water. These unite,
works continued the property of the VIII
mingtcn Spring Water Company until 1910
in which year a number OF citizens ex
pressed a desire that the stock of the con
Germ should be owned by the borough.
] For $4,000 Council shortly afterwar,
purchased the spring water works, bu
even with this large addition the con
stantly increasing population made tn
supply of water TO citizens troublesom
question, and to add to these troubles, tn
source of supply at the fountain begai
TO diminish. and the committee on waite
was instructed to keep the public pump
in good repair as we'll as to find suitabl
places in which to erect new stree
pumps.
Referees to Assess Damages.
In 1876, the committee appointed {
I make improvements to the upper work
= reported that it would be necessary I
e cross over lands belonging 10 Eli Menden
hall and George Heyborn, both Of whor
= objected. A jury to lay. and assess dam
ages was appointed. The jury Include
S William Poole. John Hirons,- Abraham
D Ford Isaac Dixon and William Robinson
The award of the referees gave the boz
ough corporation the right to go upo
and pass over the grounds belonging I
, Messrs. Mendenhall and Heyborn. frs
paying the former $40 and Heyborn SlO
Deborah Naff was also allowed s25 fC
damages done to her property. -.
These agreements settled the right q
way for the borough to pass over ground
Z aforesaid. and accordingly arrangement
y were at once made to erect a reservoir
T. This was done by obtaining clay in n
b immediate neighborhood, and a reservoi
n about sixty feet long. ten feet wide an