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California | San Jose |
San Jose was incorporated in 1850.
Local resident and foundry owner Donald McKenzie petitioned the Common Council in 1864 for the "privilege of erecting water works," which was apparently granted and involved building a reservoir and "laying down pipes in the principal streets", along with keeping "the various public cisterns constantly filled for use in case of fire." The Report of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department of San Jose in February, 1865, noted that a cistern at the corner of San Antonio and Second streets was "supplied with water from the artesian well at the Foundry."
On February 17, 1865, the city of San Jose granted to Donald McKenzie and his assigns the exclusive right to use the public streets of San Jose "to supply the inhabitants of the City of San Jose with good and pure water for the term of twenty-five years." The following year, McKenzie assigned these rights the San Jose Water Company.
The San Jose Water Company was incorporated on November 21, 1866 by Donald McKenzie and John Bonner of San Jose, and Anthony Chabot, of Oakland with a capital stock of $100,000 for a term of fifty years. The property was transferred to the San Jose Water Works in 1916. The San Jose Water Works was acquired by General Water Works and Electric Company in October 1929, and was reincorporated as the San Jose Water Company on October 24, 1931.
Water is provided by the City of San Jose, the San Jose Water Company and the Great Oaks Water Company. Most water is provided by the the San Francisco Regional Water System.
References
1855 "Success
of the Public Artesian Well in San Jose," California Farmer and
Journal of Useful Sciences 4(7):51 (August 17, 1855)
The supply of water obtained, in this well, at the depth of 235 feet, not
being as great as the contract with the city required, the boring
operations were continued. The Telegraph says: The pipe put down is seven
inches in diameter, and for the purpose of securing the water already
obtained, a six-inch diameter pipe was procured and letdown to the depth
of the stream first reached, the water from it flowing up within the space
between the two pipes. This arranged, the operators proceeded to bore
deeper with a six-inch auger, and on Monday morning, fifteen feet below
the stream first reached, or 250 feet below the surface of the ground,
struck a bold current of water, which sends up with tremendous velocity
one of the largest, if not the very largest stream of water yet obtained
in this valley from Artesian wells. The quantity discharged is ample, and
more than ample for the supply of the population of a large city, and all
the wants of the fire department. Already plans are talked of, and being
formed, for carrying the water in aqueducts through the most populous
parts of the city. The Council will doubtless take early action on the
subject.
1864 San
Jose Mercury, May 5, 1864, Page 3
Common Council, May 2d, 1864. A petition was received from Mr.
Donald McKenzie, requesting the privilege of erecting water works, and an
Ordinance granting the prayer of petitioner was read. On motion, the
whole matter was referred to a Special Committee of three. The Mayor
appointed the following members of the Council as said Committee:
Messrs. Porter, Magenheimer and Hobson.
1864 San
Jose Mercury, June 9, 1864, Page 3
Common Council, June 6th 1864. The committee to whom was referred
the petition of Mr. D. McKenzie in relation to erecting water works,
reported favoraby upon the same, and recommended that the Ordinance
Committee be instructed to report an ordinance granting the prayer of the
petitioner. On motion, the report was received and adopted.
1864 "Water,"
San Jose Mercury, June 23, 1864, Page 3
We learn that Mr. Kenzie of the Foundry, intends to erect a large
reservoir, and, by permission of the city, lay down water pipe through the
principal streets, for the purpose of furnishing the public with pure
water. He will also keep the various public cisterns constantly
filled for use in case of fire.
1865 "Common
Council Proceedings," San Jose Mercury, February 9, 1865,
Page 3
Feb. 6th, 1865. Also, an ordinance in relation to supplying San Jose
with water, was read, and on motion was passed by the following
vote: Ayes - Alds. Bonner, Hobson, Magenheimer, Porter and Pomeroy.
1865 "Report
of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department of San Jose," San
Jose Mercury, February 16, 1865, Page 3
Cisterns. There are six cisterns in the city for the use of the
Department. One at the corner of San Antonio and Second streets,
capacity twelve thousand gallons, condition good, is supplied with water
from the artesian well at the Foundry.
1865 An
Ordinance in relation to supplying the City of San Jose with water.
February 17, 1865. Charter and Revised Ordinances of the City of
San Jose. (1882)
Page 189: Section 1. The exclusive right is hereby granted to Donald
McKenzie, and his assigns, to supply the inhabitants of the City of San
Jose with good and pure water for the term of twenty-five years from and
after the passage of this ordinance; provided, that he will complete his
works and introduce good and pure water for use within eighteen months
from the date of the passage of this ordinance.
1865 "Water Ordinance," San Jose Mercury, February 23, 1865, Page 2.
1867 "Incorporations
for 1866," Sacramento Daily Union, January 1, 1867, Page 6.
Nov. 24th - San Jose Water Company; 1,000 shares; capital stock,
$1,000,000.
1868 "Incorporated,"
Sacramento Daily Union, August 1, 1868, Page 2.
In the Secretary of State's office yesterday, the San Jose Water Company
filed articles of incorporation. This company is incorporated for the
purpose of supplying with pure fresh water the city of San Jose and the
towns of Santa Clara and Gilroy, Santa Clara county, and also for
irrigating lands in the county, etc. Capital stock, $1,000,000, in 2,000
shares of $500 each. The principal place of business will be located
in Oakland. Trustees for the first three months: Orrin Simmons, J.M. Ryder
and Henry Durant.
1869 "Increase
of Capital Stock," Sacramento Daily Union, June 18, 1869,
Page 2.
The certificate of increase of capital stock of the San Jose Water Company
from $100,000 to $300,000, was filed in the office of the Secretary of
State, yesterday.
1871 The
History of San José and Surroundings: With Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers, by Frederic Hall
Pages 305-306: 1866. November 26th. The San Jose Water Company was
organized by Messrs. D. M. Kenzie and John Bonner, of San Jose, and A.
Chabot, of Oakland, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars.
The company obtained the exclusive water privileges for the city of San
Jose and town of Santa Clara, for the term of twenty-five years. They
constructed tanks, engines, laid water-pipes through the main streets in
San Jose, and supplied the city with water from artesian wells, for the
term of two years and six months. The volume of water thus obtained was
insufficient to meet the demand, and the right to the use of the water in
Los Gatos creek was procured. A reorganization of the company took
place on the twelfth of December, 1868, at which time, the capital stock
was increased to three hundred thousand dollars.
In November, 1869, the company commenced to build flumes and lay pipes, to
convey the water from Los Gatos creek. In June, 1870, this water was thus
conducted to the city. There has been constructed, and now in use, two
miles of flume, and eight of thirteen-inch pipe to San Jose, and two miles
of seven-inch, to Santa Clara. At about seven miles from San Jose,
there is situate a reservoir with a capacity of two and one half millions
of gallons. Within a distance of three and one half miles from the
city; another is in process of construction, which is to have the capacity
of three and one half millions of gallons. Twelve miles of the main
pipe have been laid in San Jose, and it will be extended from time to
time, as may be required. The officers of the company at present, are as
follows: President, N.H.A. Mason; Treasurer, E. McLaughlin;
Superintendent, C.H. Hobbs; Secretary, Wm. B. Rankin; Directors, N.H.A.
Mason, A. Chabot, J.G. Bray, E. McLaughlin, and C.H. Hobbs.
1877 Daily
Alta California, September 7, 1877, Page 4.
Died. In San Jose, September 6, Donald McKenzie, a native of
Glasgow, Scotland.
1878 "The
American Pipe Company's Pipe," Pacific Rural Press (San
Francisco, California), 15(7):106 (February 16, 1878)
The President of the Santa Cruz Water company, Henry K. Moore, Esq. thus
endorses the pipe in a letter in a letter addressed to the manager of the
company: "I cheerfully comply with your request for my views respecting
the Wyckoff combination pipe furnished by your company to the Santa Cruz
Water company. Over 11 miles of the above pipe have been laid in the city
of Santa Cruz. It has been in constant use for nearly 18 months under a
pressure of not less than 150 pounds, and has stood the pressure
admirably. We find that it works in every respect to our entire
satisfaction, and we shall most decidedly give your pipe the preference in
all extensions to be made by our company. In our opinion this pipe has
decided advantages over iron pipe, such as saving of time and labor, in
tapping and making connections, ease in repairing, cleanliness of water
flowing in it, and great saving in cost and freight. With us the pipe is a
success, and I can unhesitatingly recommend its use to to any town or
corporation, or persons desiring pipe for water works of any kind."
1881 History
of Santa Clara County, California: Including Its Geography, Geology,
Topography, Climatography and Description
Pages 534-534: San José Water Company.— On November 26, 1866, Donald
McKenzie and John Bonner of San Jose., and A. Chabot, of Oakland, Alameda
county, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars established
the concern now under notice. The city of San Jose. and the town of Santa
Clara granted the exclusive water privileges for the term of twenty-five
years, while to carry out their plan tanks were constructed, engines
built, and the city supplied with water from artesian wells. At the end of
two years the volume of fluid thus obtained was found insufficient for the
growing wants of the community, therefore the right to use the water of
the Los Gatos creek was obtained, and a new company formed in 1868 with an
increased capital of three hundred thousand dollars, the incorporators
being Donald McKenzie, A. Chabot, N.H.A. Mason, C.X. Hobbs, E. McLaughlin;
and the officers, N.H.A. Mason, President: D. McKenzie, Vice-President,
William B. Eankin, Secretary; C. X. Hobbs, Superintendent; E. McLaughlin,
Treasurer. On the assumption of responsibility by the new association
their first work was the condemning of the waters of the Los Gatos creek
and the bringing of the fluid from the mountains. A reservoir was
constructed on that road, about four miles from San José in that year;
another was made four miles farther on, and the necessary pipes laid,
those first put into position in the city being on First and Santa Clara
streets, with lateral pipes to the other thoroughfares. It has been
mentioned in our history of Redwood township that the water is taken from
the tail-race of the mill at Los Gatos. It was originally conducted
therefrom by flumes, but now it finds its way through pipes to the proper
receptacles, whence it is carried into the town. In case of emergency the
company have pumping works situated near Santa Clara street, on the west
bank of the Los Gatos creek, whence they are prepared to supply the
public. In the year 1870 water was conveyed to the town of Santa Clara,
thus making the total length of piping belonging to the corporation to be
about fifty-six miles. Including both San José and Santa Clara the average
daily run is estimated at nearly two million gallons; San Jose, Santa
Clara and Los Gatos are supplied free of charge for fire purposes, as is
also the county. Water rates for the city of San Jose and town of Santa
Clara are fixed by them; those outside of the corporate limits are
established by the Board of Supervisors. The present officers are,
President, E.D. Williams; Superintendent, Return Roberts; Secretary,
D.A.S. Eyster; Treasurer, E. McLaughlin; Directors, E. D. Williams, Josiah
Belden J. A. Moultrie, W. H. Ware, Frank Bray.
1882 San Jose, Engineering News, 10:321 (July 7, 1883)
1882 San Jose from "The Water-Supply of Certain Cities and Towns of the United States," by Walter G. Elliot, C. E., Ph. D.
1888 "Death
of Anthony Chabot," Daily Alta California, January 7, 1888,
Page 1.
The originator of the San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Vallejo Water
Systems.
1888 "San Jose," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 1.
1890 "San Jose," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.
1891 "San Jose," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.
1897 "San Jose," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 4.
1914 Report
on the Appraisement of Properties of the San Jose Water Company, San
Jose, California, December 31, 1913, by, F.C. Herrmann, G.A.
Elliott, Engineers | also here
|
Page 7. The San Jose Water Company was incorporated November 21,
1866, under the laws of the State of California, with a capital of
$100,000.00. Up to that date San Jose had been supplied with water
pumped from a well located at the corner of First and San Antonio streets;
owned by Donald McKenzie. The San Jose Water Company took over the
McKenzie plant and extended the service to include the suburbs of San
Jose, the town of Los Gatos and vicinity and the town of Santa
Clara. With the exception of Santa Clara, where a municipal
waterworks was installed in 1895, and the addition of Saratoga and Alma,
this is the field covered today.
1914 Gem City Packing Company vs. San Jose Water Company, April 11, 1914. Decisions of the Railroad Commission of the State of California, Volume 4
1914 Thomas
Monahan, as Mayor of the City of San Jose, vs. San Jose Water Company,
May 22, 1914. Decisions of the Railroad Commission of the
State of California, Volume 4
Page 1103: Santa Clara supply discontinued owing to construction of
municipal waterworks.
1915 In the matter of the application of the San Jose Water Company for an increase in the water rates to the charged to the town of Los Gatos and the inhabitants thereof. August 2, 1915. California Railroad Commission Decisions, Volume 7.
1916 In
the matter of the application of the San Jose Water Company and San Jose
Water Works, for an order authorizing the transfer of property and the
issue of common stock and notes payable, May 10, 1916, Decisions of
the Railroad Commission of the State of California, Volume 10.
Page 58: San Jose Water Company was incorporated under the laws of
California on November 21, 1866, for a term of fifty years.
Page 63: On February 17, 1865, the city of San Jose granted to
Donald McKenzie and his assigns the right to use the public streets of San
Jose for the supply of its inhabitants of good and pure water for the term
of twenty-five years. The rights secured under this ordinance were
later assigned by McKenzie to San Jose Water Company.
1917 In the matter of the application of San Jose Water Works to buy, and of J.D. Farwell to sell, the water system of J.D. Farwell; and of San Jose Water Works for an order fixing rates to be charged by it on its new "High Line" to be built by it, and for rules and regulations concerning the same. November 27, 1917. Decisions of the Railroad Commission of the State of California, Volume 14
1922 History
of Santa Clara County, by Eugene T. Sawyer
Page 163: Donald Mackenzie, in May, 1864, was granted permission to
lay water pipes in the streets of the city. This was the beginning of the
San Jose Water Company.
Pages 222-223: San Jose Water Works. The San Jose Water
Company, afterwards the San Jose Water Works, was organized November 26,
1866, by Donald Mackenzie and John Bonner, of San Jose, and R. Chabot, of
Oakland, with a capital stock of $100,000. The city of San Jose and
the town of Santa Clara granted the company exclusive privileges for the
term of twenty-five years. To carry out the plan of the owners, tanks were
constructed, engines built, and the city of San Jose was supplied with
water from artesian wells. At the end of two years the supply thus
obtained was found insufficient for the growing wants of the community,
therefore the right to use the water of Los Gatos Creek was obtained. A
new company was formed in 1868 with the capital increased to
$300,000. The officers were: N.H.A. Mason, president; D. Mackenzie,
vice-president; W.B. Rankin, secretary; C. X. Hobbs, superintendent, and
E. McLaughlin, treasurer.
On the formation of the new company, work to bring the waters of Los Gatos
Creek to San Jose was begun. Reservoirs were made and pipes laid
throughout the city, thus affording, for those times, a generous supply of
water. Since that time other water rights have been acquired.
The equipment consists of the water from Los Gatos Creek and its
tributaries, and Campbell Creek, besides a number of reservoirs, and is
placed in divisions. The main surface supply of Los Gatos Creek is used
for the San Jose division. The Los Gatos town system derives its main
surface supply from Beardsley Creek and Cavanagh Creek. The Saratoga
system depends on the high-line system operating on the hill sides between
Los Gatos and Saratoga. In case of emergency Saratoga can draw on Beckwith
Springs for surface supply. The stored water consists of the Lake Ranch
reservoir, Howell reservoirs (2) for San Jose and Los Gatos; for
supplementary supply to San Jose there are five pumping stations as
follows: main station in the rear of the local office on Santa Clara
Street, between the two bridges, with a capacity of from 6,000,000 to
9,000,000 gallons per day; station No. 2 on Monte Vista Avenue, near the
O'Connor Sanitarium, with a capacity of from 5,000,000 to 7,000,000
gallons per day; station No. 3, at Seventeenth and Santa Clara Streets,
with a capacity of from 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 gallons per day; station
No. 4, on Bascom Avenue, with a capacity of from 2.000.000 to 3.000,000
gallons per day, and station No. 5, at Cottage Grove, with a capacity of
1,500,000 gallons per day. The supplementary of Los Gatos consists of two
pumping stations, one at the Tisdale residence, capacity 800,000 gallons
per day, and the other, called the hill well, with a capacity of 100,000
gallons per day. There is also the Alum Rock station, which has a capacity
of 100.000 gallons per day.
The Company has about 14.000 subscribers. All the surface water is
filtered through sand, then treated to a weak solution of chlorine — two
parts to a million gallons of water — so as to kill typhoid and other
disease germs. No case of typhoid or other contagious disease has
ever been caused by water supplied by the San Jose Water Company. The
water, therefore, which is used by the consumers, is absolutely
pure. The company maintains its own laboratory and after tests have
been made, samples of the water are sent to the State University as a
check upon the San Jose analysis.
The annual report of the president for 1919 shows that the year closed
with a surplus of revenue over expenses and dividends of $11,950.60. In
addition to this increase there was carried to the reserve known as
premium on capital stock, $7,725,000, thus making a total of $19,675.60
increase in these accounts. As on December 31, 1919, the company had
no accounts payable on its books, and as all outstanding notes had been
paid from sales of stock, the San Jose Water Works was then and now is,
out of debt. The present officers are: Joseph R. Ryland. president; Paul
S. Williams, vice-president; H. S. Kittredge, secretary, and J. B. Harmon,
assistant secretary.
During 1919 the total revenue amounted to $256,460.16; total expense,
$134,841.09. Profit for the year from operation, $121,619.07; dividends
for year, $111,276.00; interest, $6,162.75; total. $117,438.75. Increase
in surplus from operation, $4,180.32. The assets and liabilities for the
year were : assets, $2,243,626.61; liabilities, $2,243,626.61. Under the
head of liabilities is placed the capital stock, $1,009,100.00. The net
assets are given as $2,089,810.34, showing that surplus of assets over par
value of stock, is $80,710.34.
Pages 1048,1051: David Wight became well-known as an engineer in the
Bay City, and in 1854 he removed to Vallejo, and assisted in the great
work of constructing the Navy Yard. Indeed, to him belonged the
distinction of having driven the first pile needed in that pretentious
work. At the conclusion of his service, he returned to San Francisco and
there founded the California Iron Works. The year 1870 brought severe
reverses to the family, and they then removed to San Jose. David Wight,
Sr., took charge of the iron foundry, owned by John and Donald McKenzie,
and located at the corner of First and San Antonio streets, San
Jose; and he also invested in a small home-place in The Willows.
1952 "San Jose is First,"
Mueller
Record 38(4):12-13 (July 1952)
Page 13: McKenzie, who ran a foundry at the present Montgomery Hotel site,
had been furnishing water to immediate neighbors from his well and twin
tanks at Market and San Antonio streets. With the city franchise, he laid
mains on First Street and along Santa Clara street.
1962 "San Jose," from Public Water Supplies of the 100 Largest Cities in the United States, 1962, US Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 1812, by Charles Norman Durfor and Edith Becker
1977 San
Jose Reflections: An Illustrated History of San Jose, California and
Some of Surrounding Area, by Edith Brockway
Page 56: Donald Mackenzie was allowed to lay water pipes in the
streets in 1864 to provide water for the town from the San Jose Water
Company
1985 Clyde
Arbuckle's history of San Jose: chronicling San Jose's founding as
California's earliest pueblo in 1777, through exciting and tumultuous
history which paved the way for today's metropolitan San Jose : the
culmination of a lifetime of research, by Clyde Arbuckle
Pages 501-504: Water
Pages 505-509: San Jose Water Company
Page 505: The subject of piping water "beneath the streets" of San
Jose came up for the Common Council's consideration
on October 15, 1851, but little was done about it at the time. A committee
appointed to investigate the feasibility of the project did not get around
to reporting on it until July 3, 1854. Their report recommended using
redwood pipes to convey water from the Acequia to fire department
cisterns here and there about the city.
By that time, the artesian rush was on, and the redwood pipes project
seems to have languished about ten years before it again received
noteworthy consideration. Finally, in June, 1864, Donald McKenzie,
proprietor of the San Jose Foundry, got the Council's permission to erect
two large wooden tanks on the foundry premises for the purpose of
supplying abundant water to the fire cisterns.
McKenzie followed up this advantage with another request. On February 17,
1865, he and his assigns obtained the exclusive right to supply the
inhabitants of San Jose with "good and pure water."
1991 "125th Anniversary San Jose Water Company's History 1866-1991," Water 32(4):38-43 (Winter 1991)
1991 San Jose Water Company 125th Anniversary: 125 Years of Service to the Community 1866-1991, edited by Sharon Whaley.
1994 "Anthony Chabot :
Oakland's little big man," The
Californians 12(1):26-29, 32-37.
Next the energetic Oakland water king eagerly turned to San Jose's and
Vallejo's water troubles. San Jose was being supplied by artesian well
water pumped into twin water tanks totaling 100,000 gallons atop a
50-foot-high platform. Iron foundry owner Donald McKenzie first had
constructed the tanks for his own use but soon found that he could sell
the surplus to his neighbors. Indeed, so brisk did business become that
McKenzie needed more capital and expert advice.
2010 Cities
and Nature in the American West, by Char Miller | also here
(subscription required) |
Pages 112-134: Private Water: The Curious Case of San Jose's Water Supply,
by Martin V. Melosi,
2016 "San Jose Water Company - 150 Years Strong," by Sharon Whaley, Continuity 27(2):16-18 (Summer 2016)
© 2018 Morris A. Pierce