Documentary History of American Water-works

Delphi, Indiana

Delphi was platted in 1828..

The Delphi Water Works Company was incorporated in 1844 by Robert C. Green, James H. Stewart, James Spears, Abner H. Bowen and George M. Maxwell "to furnish the town of Delphi, in Carrol county, with wholesome water through and by the medium of pipes or conduits."  No evidence has been found that this company built a system.

Another Delphi Water Works Company was incorporated in 1891 and built a system that began service in December of that year.  City voters had approved construction of the system, but the debt of the city was too great so a corporation was formed to build the plant and hold the debt, which would be payable by the city.  Sources conflict on when ownership of the system was transferred to the city, ranging from immediately after its construction to twenty years later.  An 1897 advertisement for Delphi Water Works bonds states that the "City of Delphi, Indiana, is now the owner of the waterworks plant."

Water is currently provided by the City of Delphi.  

References
1844 An act incorporating the Delphi Water Works Company.  January 13, 1844.

1891 Logansport Pharos-Tribune, April 29, 1891, Page 20.
The Delphi water works company was incorporated with the secretary of state to-day.  It has a capital stock of $5,000.

1891 Logansport Pharos-Tribune, December 16, 1891, Page 19.
The Delphi water works are now in full operation and are working nicely.  The official test has not yet been made.

1891 "Delphi," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.

1897 Chicago Tribune, May 1, 1897, Page 11.
Notice is also given that the City of Delphi, Indiana, is now the owner of the waterworks plant of the Delphi Water Company.

1897 "Delphi," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 4.

1916 History of Carroll County, Indiana: Its People, Industries and Institutions, by John Curtis Odell
Page 222-223: Waterworks. Twenty-five years ago the necessity for pure water for domestic purposes and for fire protection became so obvious to the citizens of Delphi that the city council was induced to submit to the voters of the city the question of imposing a tax to install a waterworks plant. An election was held and the question was decided by a large majority in favor of water works. The bonded indebtedness of the city was too great to permit the city to construct a plant, so a corporation was formed which assumed the work by letting a contract to build the waterworks plant; the corporation to take the rentals of water users and a water tax levy. Bonds were issued running twenty years. George Morgan, of Illinois, had the contract and put in the system now in operation. In twenty years sufficient revenue had accumulated to pay off the bonds and the city thus became the owner of the plant.
After a large expenditure of money in building two large reservoirs and adding new machinery at the pumping station, the proceeds arising from the revenue have been ample to pay all expenses and leave a good balance in the city treasury, which has been with great regularity covered into the city treasury as general revenue.
The water is obtained from springs four miles east of Delphi and is pronounced the best in the state. 

© 2016 Morris A. Pierce