(frU-l^nAj 7H~^ ■ CITY DOCUMENTS Municipal Register 1915, Mayor's Address to the Council Annual Reports, Etc. FOR THE YEAR 1914. CITY OF NEW BEDFORD MASSACHUSETTS OLD DARTMOUTH HISTORICAL SKETCHES No. 42. Being the proceedings of the Old Dartmouth Historical Society, held in their building, Water Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, on April 19. 1915. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW BEDFORD WATER SUPPLIES. Presented by Robert C. P. Coggeshall. PURCHASE STREET PUMPING STATION, 1870. THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW BEDFORD WATER SUPPLIES. R. C. P. COGGESHALL A supply of good water was a a well of delicious water which exist ed in Rose Alley in 1815 and which factor always considered by our supplied that neighborhood. The town ancestors, in determining a location pump in City Hall square and the for permanent settlement. Good inverted cannon fountain on Rodman spring water was always preferred, street at Water street, were liberally patronized and gave satisfaction to but if not found, shallow wells were their users. sunk from which water was obtained At the opening of the last century by buckets raised by poles or pulleys the science of delivering wholesome, liberal, and reliable supplies of water or by long balance poles. to congested districts was little under The accumulation of organic mat stood. The appliances and methods ter, due to increase in population, necessary to accomplish this result gradually polluted such waters. This had not then been developed. The was especially true In congested dis average well was unsatisfactory. It tricts, where such supplies also be might be dry when needed, or unsafe came insufficient. In every commun for domestic use at other times. The ity the waters of certain wells were growing agitation for more water pnd preferred because they were thought that of better quality was making it to be superior in quality. Citizens self felt. Private water supply com would sometimes reject the water of panies began to organize to Improve their own wells, and travel long dis conditions. It later developed that tances to obtain the better water. the majority of these enterprises were Certain wells were known as "tea based more upon the health of the water wells" because it was thought investors' pocketbooks than upon any that better tea could be brewed anxiety concerning the physical well- therefrom. being of their patrons. Such com New York had its famous "Tea panies were content to do as little as Water Pump Garden" situated at possible. Their plants were crudely what is now the junction of Chatharr. constructed and clumsily operated. and Roosevelt streets. This was a The nearest supply was taken in pref famous resort in Revolutionary times, erence to going a longer distance to where tea and stronger beverages get something better. Their capacity could be obtained. The streets in its was limited at beet and growing tree vicinity were often obstructed by the roots completely filling the log pipes vehicles of the rich and fastidious, would cut off the supply. The cus waiting their turn at the pump. The tomers were dissatisfied and constant place finally became so congested that friction between company and taker the New York common council in became rampant, generally result 1797 ordered "the spout of the pump ing In a short life for the com to be sufficiently raised and length pany. ened to permit pedestrians to pass I am now going to relate the story beneath It." of the Manhattan Company of New In the early days of our own city, York City. Its promoters induced the certain wells came to have a good citizens of that city to believe that repute. Leonard B. Ellis has told of their whole concern was to supply 4 DEVELOPMENT OF NEW BEDFORD WATER SUPPLIES. them with pure and wholesome water, granted the comjiany to invest all while all the time they were inwardly surplus capital in other directions. conniving to accomplish something The eighth clause of the charter, very different. which attracted but little attention at Until very recently anyone happen the time, was really the most impor ing to pass the northwest corner of tant one. It reads as follows: Reed and Centre streets in the city of "And be it further enacted, that it New York could observe through the shall, and may be lawful for the said windows of the building located there, company to employ all such surplus a large cast-iron water tank which capital, as may belong or accrue to was supplied with water from a large the said company, in the purchase of well beneath, by means of a steam public or other stock, or in any other pump. This interesting relic has monied transactions or operations existed for over one hundred years, not inconsistent with the constitution and its former use is practically for and laws of this State, or of the gotten by everyone except the owners, United States, for the sole benefit of the Manhattan Water Company. Due the said company." to a curious legal fiction, that com Availing itself of the powers con pany must continue to maintain the veyed by the above clause, the Man semblance of a water plant In order to hattan Company formed a powerful keep its charter, which is an exceed bank, which was the real object of the ingly valuable document since under Incorporators. Only enough was done a "Joker" clause it has built up the in the matter of introducing water great Bank of the Manhattan Com necessary to hold the charter. pany of New York City. The tank was It is evident that the legislature ex removed last June (1914), but the pected the Manhattan Company to Water Company will continue the obtain an ample and satisfactory maintenance of pump and well. simply from the Bronx River or some The granting of this charter to the other stream from the wording of the Manhattan Company establishing a charter which grants the Company the water supply to the City of New York right "to erect dams, or other works was an historic event and thereby across, or upon any stream or streams, hangs a tale. of water, river or rivers, or any other Corporate Banking in New York place or places, where they shall City began with the organization of judge proper for the purpose of rais the Bank of New York by Alexander ing such stream or streams, or turn Hamilton in 1784. For fifteen years ing the course thereof, or of making this hank, together with the New York use of such streams, rivers, or places branch of the first Bank of the United for constructing or working of any States, were the only hanks doing necessary engines, or to construct, dig business in cither the City or State of or cause to be opened any canals or New York. With Hamilton and the trenches whatsoever for conducting of Federalists in control of the legisla such stream or streams or any other ture, new bank charters were un quantity of water from any source or obtainable. This monopoly of hank sources that they may see fit." ing facilities in the City and State was Instead of obtaining an ample sup of great strategic value to the political ply from the Bronx or some other narty in control, and naturally aroused stream or streams the Manhattan jealousy and resentment among the Company proceeded to sink a series members of the opposition whoso of large wells at the location stated at leader was Aaron Burr. the beginning of this story. At that In 1798, New York City suffered time this was a thickly populated lo from a severe yellow fever epidemic cation totally unfit to produce whole which was attributed to the poor some and pure water. The water was water supply. Upon the assembling pumped from these wells into a Tes- of the legislature in 1799 an associa ervoir located on Chambeirs street tion of individuals, among whom from whence it was distributed in Aaron Burr was the moving spirit, hollow logs of small bore generally applied for a charter for the purpose through the city south of City Hall. of "supplying the City of New York The company laid about 25 miles of with pure and wholesome water." pine log pipe of different sizes and With a capital of J2, 000, 000, the supplied about 2,000 houses. project was an ambitious one for t herewith present to you a sample those days. Burr used his influence section of one of these log pipes. This as a member of the assembly in per was rescued from a street in lower suading that body to feel that as there New York some years ago by Andrew was a great uncertainty as to the Snow of South Dartmouth, who was probable cost of the (ptfjposed water then living In New York and by him works system, perralsi*on). should be presented to the speaker. DEVELOPMENT OP NEW BEDFORD WATER SUPPLIES. 6 The quality of the water was ex "For the purpose of conducting the ceedingly poor and caused constant water from the southwest part of the irritation and complaint. Cartoons is village of Bedford through the most sued at the time indicate that "Pure convenient streets to the four cor Manhattan" and very muddy and un ners, so-called, and from thence to inviting water were regarded as syn such parts of the village as shall be onymous terms. The citizens of New thought best. Do agree to take the York endured this nuisance for over number of shares as set against our thirty years, during which time con names, and no more.