St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1905-12-29
WATER. R.vOR.,,S CHANGE.
). {. Scott Retires After An Exteu-
ded Service Fer peop,e


Nearly seventeen years ago.
when there was but little handful
OF people where st. Johns now is,
}. I. Scott conceived the idea OF
putting in a water supply for his
personal use. He was not so fond
OF work that he cared to "lug"
water for his house and his stock
and he believed that his head
should save his heels.
Accordingly he came up the hill
to the spot whereon is to be built
the city hall and sank a well.
Then he laid pipes 10 his home.
Then some of his few neiphbors
considered the matter ard wanted a
like service and he began what is
now a great necessity in this trivial
way. The number of his patrons
was less than score for some
time.
In those days everyone lived
under the hill" Where is now
St. Johns proper was forest of
mighty trees, traversed here and
there by winding trails and crooked
paths. In the widest dreams of
fancy no onethen tholght what lay
before st. Johns: the little hamle,
thought, il II foresaw at ali. that
down OH the river.front would be a
nice little village where some lum.
Der interests might be developed -
but that was all.
There was no way of communi
eating with Portland except on
foot. by boat. or following by team
the rough road and crossing OH a
rude ferry. The crude water sys.
TEN would be ample for the village
through all time, IL was calculated.
A few years later the demands
upon Mr.. Scott system became too
great for the old well. so he began
other arrrngements-and kept adj
ling to the business. A couple
years ago II. l.. Powers, of Hart.
man, Thompson * Powers, saw
chance for investment, and pur-
chased a half interest in the plant.
Then commenced the work of over.
hauling the plant-and putting Il
n shape TO. supply future needs.
No one at that time, even. figured
ust what that meant--in fact il is
asserted that IL the present owner
iad considered the great outlay ,
necessary he would not have bit Il
If.
But the work has gone bravely
~. New mains have taken the
,lace of the primitive system: new
pumps and dynamos have been in.
tailed as rapidly as the increased 5
lemand necessitated; large res. 1
'rvoir has been constructed for re-. a
erve fire protection: and now two
lew and immense tanks have been (,
purchased and will soon be in place. /,
rhe outlay has been excessive
he income meagre-but Mr.. a,
lowers was planning for the future.
And now Mr.. Scott has severed
lis connection with the company
s manager. As owner, part
'wner, manager, he has been here .
early score OF years and feels c
hat he is entitled TO a rest. He v
Intends to do no business for year, v
I least. unless IL is to look after I
is realty here: he desires to rest.
His successor. +. II. Edlefson, C
! a man well recommended. and y
ne versed in matters pertaining to n
'ater. He has for the past two a
ieeks been obtaining an insight n
i,o the system. its requirements, =
nd the desires OF the people: and
is said by those who know him 8
hat he is amply capable of filling $,
is position. G
In terminating his career with 4
he water company Mr., Scott pays s
Ugh tribute to those with whom he
as been connected. He says: -
II am free to state that | have y
ever been associated with anyone =
here relations have been SO uni
ersally pleasant as with Mr.. ?
DIVERS and his colleagues. There q
as never been the slightest friction; e e
nd matters of moment have al =
'ays been quickly and satisfactorily f'
ijusted. ! consider they are
entlemen with whom anyone can j
ct along pleasantly in every way: {
nd | sever these relations with the b
90 ~ o,oaI faaiiunpi N