Documentary History of American Water-works

Grand Haven

Grand Haven, Michigan

Grand Haven was incorporated as a city in 1867.

The city engaged M. Walker to build a small water system that began service on January 11, 1882 that used a steam-driven Walker pump to distribute water through Wyckoff wood pipes.

Recognizing the need for a larger system, the city contracted with Solon L. Wiley to build a new system. He incorporated the Grand Haven Water Works Company on October 25, 1883 and they build a system that proved unsatisfactory. Wiley's bondholders sued the city, and the case ended up at the U.S. Supreme Court, which affirmed the lower court's rejection of the bondholder's case in January, 1893. The system was apparently foreclosed around 1896 and was bought by Clarence H. Venner, a Boston bond trader who then became president of the company.

The city refused to pay hydrant rental and decided to rebuild and expand their own system in 1887.

The Water Works Company sued the city for hydrant rentals, but the Michigan Supreme Court decided that the contract was void in 1894, although the city was liable for hydrant rentals before that date. These charges were settled by the Michigan Supreme Court in 1899.

The company ceased operating in 1911.

Water is supplied by the city of Grand Haven.

References and Timeline
1882 History of Ottawa County, Michigan
Page 43: Waterworks. The business public of the city seem to be very desirous to secure waterworks for the city, but the proposition to go extensively into this matter has been several times voted down by the people at large. The last vote was taken in February of this year.
In the latter part of 1881 the council expended about $5,500 for partial waterworks at the foot of Clinton Street, which will serve the business part of the city, putting in new boiler, and engine and pipes. Henry Sanford, the engineer, resides above the works.
The new waterworks were first started at 11 P. M., Jan. 11, 1882. M. Walker, Port Huron, is manufacturer of the pump, which has a steam cylinder 12x18 inches, 18 inch stroke, 13 inch bore, water cylinder 8x12. The main is 10 inch pipe, and the works can pump about 1,250,000 gallons in twenty-four hours.

1883 Northern Tribune (Cheboygan, Michigan), June 23, 1883, Page 6.
"Mac" Walker, of Port Huron, will put in water works at Grand Haven.

1883 "New Corporations formed in Michigan," Kalamazoo Gazette, October 31, 1883, Page 2.
Grand Haven Water Works, Grand Haven; capital, $60,000.

1883 "Grand Haven's Water Works," Evening Press (Bay City, Michigan), November 10, 1883, Page 4.
Grand Haven, Nov. 9. The Grand Haven water works company has just been organized as follows: President, J. A. Norton, of Tiffin, O.; secretary, L. A. Taylor, of Northampton, Mass.; treasurer, W. C. Harris, of Gardner, Mass. The new company will take charge of the city water works system tomorrow and will rapidly push the extension of the water mains all over the city.

1883 Detroit Free Press, December 21, 1885, Page 3.
A large force of men commenced work this morning laying pipes for the Grand Haven water works, to be built by the S. L. Wiley Construction Company.

1883 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Grand Haven, Ottawa County, Michigan. December 1883

1885 "A Disappointment," Detroit Free Press, January 16, 1885, Page 4.
The Test of the Grand Haven Water Works was not Successful.

1885 Grand Haven, Engineering News, 138:126 (February 21, 1885)

1887 "Good News in Grand Haven," Detroit Free Press, November 8, 1887, Page 4.
The news of the denial of an injunction sought by the Boston Trust Company in the United States Court in Grand Rapids against this city, to prevent the extending or building of any system of public water works has been received to-day with considerable favor and will hasten the laying of pipes along Washington and other streets, until an entire network is finished. This is certainly bad news for the Wiely Water Works Company.

1888 "Grand Haven," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 1.

1889 "The Grand Haven Water Works Suit," Muskegon Chronicle, May 9, 1889, Page 2.

1890 "Grand Haven," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.

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

1892 "Grand Haven's Water Works," Grand Rapids Herald, July 26, 1892, Page 6.

1892 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Grand Haven, Ottawa County, Michigan. September 1892

1893 Boston Safe-Deposit & Trust Co. v. City of Grand Haven, 149 U. S. 766, January 18, 1893, U.S. Supreme Court
No opinion, Decree affirmed, with costs, by consent.

1894 The City of Grand Haven v. The Grand Haven Waterworks, 99 Mich. 106, February 20, 1894. Supreme Court of Michigan

1894 "Grand Haven Rejoices," Detroit Free Press, February 21, 1894, Page 3.
The Supreme Court Decides on important case in the city's favor.

1894 Saline Observer (Saline, Michigan), March 1, 1894, Page 6
Grand Haven has won her case against the Wiley water works people, and taxpayers say they are $100,000 better off than they would have been had the case gone the other way.

1894 "Insurance Circles," The Daily Inter Ocean (Chicago, Illinois), March 16, 1894, Page 10.
Inflammatory Circular Issued from Grand Haven about the Water Supply.

1894 The Evening Tribune, Grand Haven Michigan, March, 1894
18 - A Lying Circular. The Chicago Inter Ocean of yesterday stated, “the Grand Haven Water Company, of Grand Haven, Mich., through its president, has been issuing circular advices to insurance companies which are likely to create a false impression, unless the whole facts are known. These advices stated that on March 18 the water supply for fire purposes would be cut off, owing to a recent Supreme Court decision releasing the water company from further obligation to furnish the city with water for fire protection. As the city owns a plant in many respects superior to the “Wiley” works, as the private corporation is called to distinguish it from the city works, and as the Wiley works have not been used for fire purposes for several years past, there is no cause for anticipating trouble with the water supply.”
J. W. O’Brien happened to be in Chicago at the time and refuted the charges made by the Wiley Company, and stated that that plant never cut much of a figure in Grand Haven anyway.
Grand Haven, Mich., Mar. 16, 1894.
Editor Tribune:
The above move on the part of the president of the Wiley Water Works Company is certainly a stab at our city, that ought not to be allowed to pass without being condemned in no uncertain sound. Our common council should show the concern up in its true light, that the world may know how mean and low some men can be and this ought not to be passed by unnoticed. Respectfully yours, Geo. D. Sanford.
19 - WICKED WORK OF THE WILEY WATER WORKS.
Circular Sent to Insurance Companies Whose Sole Object Was to Disturb and Misrepresent.
J. W. O’BRIEN INTERVIEWED.
Yes, here is that “stiletto-like” circular sent out by the Wiley people if you wish to see it, said J. W. O’Brien as he handed, at the request of a Tribune reporter, a small circular which reads as follows:
Dear Sir:
The supreme court of Michigan having by recent decision released the Grand Haven Water Works from further obligations to furnish the city of Grand Haven with water for fire protection, I beg herewith to advice you that after the 15th inst. And until further notice the company will not supply said city with water for fire purposes.
As the company you represent doubtless has some interest to be affected by this action, I have deemed it but fair to give early notice of the same.
If you desire further information the same may be obtained from the attorney of the company, Judge Andrew Howell, 62 Buhl Block, Detroit.
Grand Haven Water Company,
By C. H. Vennner, President,
March 12, 1894.
It’s a dirty “dago” trick, a regular stab in the back,” continued Mr. O’Brien “addressed to nobody, but sent to every insurance company representing our city in the hopes of creating a disturbance; you can not imagine with what appreciation such information would be received by the average Insurance Company; to have a guardian angel looking after their interest is something they are unaccustomed to and I presume already Judge Howell’s mail is something enormous, but I hope the judge will be honest and tell the companies just what we have here in the shape of fire protection, if he will tell them that we have here in the shape of fire protection, if he will tell them that we have 7½ miles of 10 to 4 inch mains that parallel the Wiley mains almost to a foot; tell them that our mains are tapped in the proper locations by 62 two-way hydrants; that we have two pumps, 1 Worthington 12x18½x10½x10, 1 Walker 14x7½x12, the former with a daily capacity of about one and a half million gallons and the latter with three quarters of a million; that we have two distinct boilers to steam these pumps; that our domestic water pressure is 45 and our fire pressure 110 pounds to the square inch. Tell them that besides our large reservoir we have a suction pipe to Grand River whose quality will not be as objectionable to Insurance Companies as it was to Doe Walkley’s horse; tell them that all of our industries including the Tannery are protected by the City Works; tell them that besides our two city pumps Kilbourne has another large Worthington that in case of necessity, he can connect with our mains and empty his branch of Grand River into a fire; tell them besides all this we have a steamer—a hose truck—a hook and ladder, and fifteen fire laddies of the ‘we-never-sleep-type’ who are all willing, including their Chief ‘Big Joe Palmer’ to make affidavit that the City Water Works is by far the better system; tell them that the ‘Wiley’ works never have with any official authority, pumped one gallon of water for ‘fire purposes’ since its failure at a public test made on January 15th, 1885.
“Come to think that’s nearly ten years ago and their conscientious duty to the Insurance Companies has just been awakened! But then large bodies moving slowly and as the Insurance Companies are proportionately large I trust they will not ‘heed the lines of this circular without proper investigation; which if made at all will be made here in Grand Haven on the ground in question and not at ‘the office of the attorney of the company, 62 Buhl Block, Detroit.’
“Yes I vetoed the extension of the City Works when mayor of the city in 1887, but I did it for the city’s good after advisement with gentlemen, whose interest in the city was far greater than my own; I did it but that was no indication that I was in sympathy with the Wiley plant.
“At that time there was a strong desire for a settlement which if unattainable and there is no question of the City’s liability, we should go to work for an A No. 1 system giving our citizens good water and lots of it; and that’s just what we will enjoy some day in the near future.
“Yes sir this city is improving its Water Works system every year, and affords better fire protection today than it has for the past eight years. The common council will certainly take official action of condemnation.”
20 - RED HOT RESOUTIONS PASSED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL. [OFFICIAL]
The Common Council met in special session March 19, at 7:30 p. m., with the Mayor, Recorder and all the aldermen present. The mayor stated that the object of the special meeting to be in reference to a circular sent by the Wiley Water Works Co., so called, to fire insurance companies with the apparent intent of having such companies withdraw from business in the this city or increase the insurance rates.
Whereupon Ald. Koeltz presented the following preamble and resolutions and moved their adoption, which motion carried by a unanimous vote of the council; to wit:
[The remainder of this article can be seen on the Tribune microfilm at the Loutit Library. The preamble describes in some detail the history of the dispute from 1883 to that time; the circular sent by the Wiley Co. to the insurance companies and the council resolutions to notify those companies of Grand Haven’s ability to furnish its own water to fight fires; history of using city water to fight fires and ability to do so in the future.]
28 - C. H. Venner, president of the Wiley Water Works Co., said today that, Macawber like, he was waiting for something to turn up. A circular is to be sent out by the company announcing an increase in the water rental of 25 per cent. This is necessary in order to keep on the right side of the books.
29 - The parties who own the stock of the Wiley water works of this city also have plants in Adrian, Appleton, Wis., Tiffin, O., Omaha and a number of cities in Illinois and also in Denver. The plant of Appleton was built the same year as the one here.

1894 The Evening Tribune, Grand Haven Michigan, April, 1894
13 - Proposition From Venner.
Following is a proposition to the city from C. H. Venner. 8. Congress St., Boston, April 10, ’94.
To the Honorable Mayor and Common Council of the City of Grand Haven, Michigan.
Gentlemen:— My attention has been called to the annual report of receipts and disbursements of the City of Grand Haven for the year ending March 16, 1894, from which it appears that the City expended on account of its water works the sum of $5132.09 and that the total receipts from water rents and other sources were $1019.11, making the deficit or loss for the year in the maintenance of said works $4112.98. It has occurred to me that in view of this large annual loss to the City, and the fact that so large a proportion of the water takers prefer the water supplied by our Company to that furnished by the City works, and that there is still pending undermined an action for an accounting between the City and the Company for water heretofore used, that it might not be out of place at this time to undertake an adjustment of past matters and negotiations for a new contract, which would not only effect a saving to the City on what is now actually expended in the maintenance of its works, but provide ample fire protection in all parts of the city and furnish water takers with water of unquestionable purity. Believing that an amicable adjustment will conduce to the welfare of the City as well as the Company, and in addition thereto effect an annual saving to the City, I invite your consideration of the following suggestions for a proposition to be embodied in a properly drawn ordinance.
First:—A five year contract to be entered into under which the City would pay the Company $3000 per annum for the present number of hydrants.
Second:—The Company to put its reservoir in first class condition.
Third:—The claim of the Grand Haven, Michigan, Water Works, against the City for water heretofore furnished to be submitted to three arbitrators for settlement. The arbitrators to be selected from among the managers of three Water Companies in Michigan or Wisconsin, one to be selected by the City, one by the Company and a third by the first two. The finding of said arbitrators to be final and binding on both parties.
Fourth:—The City to shut down its works and cease furnishing water for any purpose during the life of the contract.
The above suggestions if adopted will not only save the City about $1100 per annum upon the basis of last year’s expenditures, but will settle a controversy which I believe has been as detrimental to the City itself as it has been expensive to the Company. All of which is respectfully submitted.
Grand Haven Water Company. By C. H. Venner, President.

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

1899 The City of Grand Haven v. The Grand Haven Waterworks, 119 Mich. 652, April 18, 1899. Supreme Court of Michigan

1899 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Grand Haven, Ottawa County, Michigan. September 1899

1906 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Grand Haven, Ottawa County, Michigan. June 1906

1911 Grand Rapids Press, March 21, 1911, Page 5.
Grand Haven. - C. H. Venner of New York city, owner of the Grand Haven Water company, locally known as the Wiley water works, is in the city for the purpose of disposing of the plant or of closing it down. Unless the plant is taken over by the city or some company by April 1 it may be discontinued. Twenty-five years ago Mr. Venner, who is a bond broker, was compelled to take the plant over.

1911 "Grand Haven Water Works Made To Supply Private Companies," Kalamazoo Gazette, July 13, 1911, Page 2
Warrant Issued For Superintendent Of Concern

1911 Grand Haven Daily Tribune list of articles
Grand Haven Water Co. (Wiley Water Works) may close
Grand Haven Water Co. (Wiley Water Works) goes up for sale -$30,000
Wiley Water Works closing causes a Grand Haven water crisis
Judge orders Wiley Water Works not to shut down
Wiley Water Works shuts down despite court order
Investigation demanded in City water tapping scandal
Warrant sought in city water tapping incident
Wiley Water Works to Close
Wiley Water Works found guilty of stealing city water
More on Wiley Water Works Scandal
New Water Works Trial Considered

1912 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Grand Haven, Ottawa County, Michigan. June 1912
Wiley Water Co. (Grand Haven) out of business. Hydrants, mains, and pumps still in place.

1920 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Grand Haven, Ottawa County, Michigan. July 1920