| Introduction | Historical Background | Chronology | Geography | Biography | Technology | Ownership and Financing | General Bibliography |
| Northwestern
States |
Minnesota | Saint Paul |
Saint Paul was incorporated as a city in 1854.
The St. Paul Water Company was incorporated in 1856 by R.R. Nelson, William H. Morton, William H. Randall, Charles H. Oakes, and B.W. Lott "for the supply of the city or St. Paul, with water sufficient for extinguishing fires, culinary and other family uses, watering the streets and such other purposes as may conduce to the health and comfort of the citizens." This company opened books to sell stock, but only formally organized after the second company was formed in 1857. The company engaged a Prussian immigrant engineer, Arnold Syberg, to prepare a plan for a water system, which he completed in July. Shortly thereafter, the company agreed to surrender their charter and turn over all of their surveys and papers to the second company.
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| Daily Minnesotian, May 2, 1856, Page 2. |
A second Saint Paul Water Company was incorporated in 1857 by Roswell A. Fish, William H. Leonard, William Divier, Justin C. Ramsey, and William L. Banning with the sole and exclusive right "to introduce water into the City of Saint Paul." The company's charter was revived in 1865, with Henry M. Rice, George L. Otis, Peter Berkey, William Lee, Nathan Myrick, Charles D. Gilfillan and Robert A. Smith named as incorporators. The company's charter was extended and then revived in 1865, and they built a gravity system that began operation in December, 1869 using using cement-lined wrought-iron pipe manufactured by the American Water and Gas Pipe Company of Jersey City. The pipe company's superintendent, John B. Overton, was hired as the water company's superintendent, a position he retained after the city bought the works.
An 1881 law authorized
the city of St. Paul to buy the water company, and they took possession on
June 1, 1882 for a price of $510,000.
Water is provided by Saint Paul Regional Water Services, which has published Behind the Faucet: The story of Saint Paul Regional Water Services.
References
1856 An act to incorporate the St. Paul Water
Company. March 1, 1856.
1857 An act to incorporate the Saint Paul Water Company. May 23, 1857.
1857 St. Paul Daily
Pioneer, May 29, 1857, Page 3.
The St. Paul Water Company.- At an adjourned meeting of the corporators of
the Saint Paul Water Company, held at the office of Wm. H. Randall, Esq.,
on the 28th inst., the necessary amount of stock having been previously
subscribed, the following gentlemen were unanimously elected officers for
the ensuing year:
Directors - W.H. Randall, R. R. Nelson, C.G. Pettys, D.A.J. Baker, A.
Wilkins, E.S. Goodrich and B.W. Lott.
President - Wm. H. Randall; Secretary - B. W. Lott; Treasurer - W. H.
Morton.
Directions were given to authorize the Engineer to make the necessary
surveys as soon as practicable.
1857 "Can we have Pure Water in St. Paul," St. Paul Daily Pioneer, July 24, 1857, Page 3.
1857 "Capt. Syberg's Report to the Water Company," St. Paul Daily Pioneer, July 25, 1857, Page 3.
1857 "St. Paul Water
Company," St. Paul Daily Pioneer, September 5, 1857, Page 3.
Very lately, however, the company chartered in May consummated an
agreement with the old company, by which the latter agreed to surrender
their charter, and turn of all their surveys and papers to the new
company. On the 2d of September, the incorporators in the new
company held a meeting, and organized with the following efficient
officers and Board of Directors: President - Nathan Myrick;
Treasurer - C. B Gallagher; Secretary - Wm. H. Leonard; Directors - Hon.
H. M. Rice, J. M. Winslow, George L. Becker, and Wm. Diviere.
1858 An act to amend an act entitled an act to incorporate the St. Paul Water Company. March 20, 1858.
1859 "Waterworks at Saint Paul, Minnesota," from The American Gas Light Journal 1(2):30 (August 1, 1859)
1861 An Act to amend an act entitled “An Act to incorporate the St. Paul Water Company,” approved May 23d, 1857. May 8, 1861.
1868 An act to amend the Charter of the St. Paul Water Company and the amendments thereto. February 4, 1868.
1868 An Ordinance to authorize the "Saint Paul Water Company" to erect Fire Plugs in the City, and to provide compensation therefor. May 19, 1868.
1869 An act authorizing the St. Paul Water Company to relocate its line and extend its works. February 8, 1869.
1869 "Trial of the Water
Works," St. Paul Daily Press, August 24, 1869, Page 4.
Three miles of pipe filled. Mr. J. B. Overton, the efficient
superintendent of the Eastern Company, that has the contract for
manufacturing and laying the pipe, has never been off duty since the
ground was broken, and the excellence of the pipe and the thorough manner
in which it has been laid, is due to his careful supervision.
1869 "St.
Paul Water Works," The Minneapolis Tribune, December 11,
1869, Page 4.
The new St. Paul Water Works were partially tried on Thursday, and the
Pioneer says they were found to be all that had been claimed for them.
1871 Henry Proetz vs. The St. Paul Water Company, 17 Minn. 163, July, 1871, Supreme Court of Minnesota
1881 An act to authorize the city of St. Paul to purchase the franchises and property of the St. Paul Water Company, and creating the Board of Water Commissioners. February 10, 1881.
1882 Saint Paul, Engineering News, 9:143 (May 6, 1882)
1882 First Annual Report of the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of St. Paul. December 1, 1882.
1882 Saint Paul from "The Water-Supply of Certain Cities and Towns of the United States," by Walter G. Elliot, C. E., Ph. D.
1883 Second Annual Report of the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of St. Paul. December 1, 1883.
1884 Third Annual Report of the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of St. Paul. December 1, 1884.
1885 Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of St. Paul. December 1, 1885.
1886 Fifth Annual Report of the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of St. Paul. December 1, 1886.
1888 "Saint Paul," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 1.
1890 "Saint Paul," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.
1891 "Saint Paul," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.
1897 "Saint Paul," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 4.
1904 John Burdette Overton, Born 10 Oct 1841 Orange County, New York, died 21 Mar 1904 Minnesota.
1912 History
of St. Paul and Vicinity: A Chronicle of Progress and a Narrative
Account of the Industries, Institutions, and People of the City and
Its Tributary Territory, Volume 1, Henry Anson Castle
Pages 354-359: St. Paul Water Company and City Water Works
1967 "Charles D. Gilfillan: Builder Behind the Scenes," by Merrill C. Jarchow, Minnesota History 40(5):221-232 (Spring 1967)
2014 Architects
of Little Rock: 1833-1950, by Charles Witsell and Gordon
G. Wittenberg, with Marylyn Jackson Parins
Pages 20-21: Arnold Syberg
© 2017 Morris A. Pierce