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| Middle Atlantic States | New York | Rochester |
Rochester was first settled in 1811 and incorporated as the Village of Rochesterville on March 21, 1817. The name was changed to Rochester on April 12, 1822 and it was incorporated as a city on April 28, 1834.
The first water works was authorized by the Village Trustees in 1820 for an aqueduct of 30 rods (≈500 feet) in length which was built by James Preston for $90.50.
The Rochester Water Works Company was incorporated in 1835 "for the purpose of supplying the city of Rochester with pure and wholesome water." James Seymour, Isaac Hills, Isaac R. Elwood, George W. Pratt and Charles J. Hill appointed as commissioners to sell stock in the company.
In 1838 the Common Council asked Mayor Elisha Johnson to prepare a proposal to establish water works for the city. He proposed building two reservoirs on high ground on each side of the river, just south of Clarissa now Ford) street. The reservoirs would be filled with water-powered pumps driven by water from the higher dam that can recently been completed across the Genesee River to supply the new Genesee Valley Canal and to provide an alternate route for canal boats should the old aqueduct fail before the new aqueduct was built. The cost of the project was seen as excessive, and in 1842 the higher dam was removed as it caused upstream flooding.
A second Rochester Water Works Company was incorporated in 1852 by Levi A. Ward, Isaac R. Elwood, Azariah Boody, Charles A. Jones, William A. Reynolds, E. Darwin Smith, Hamblin Stilwell, Samuel Miller, William Buell, John B. Robertson and Freeman Clarke "for the purpose of supplying the said city of Rochester with pure and wholesome water."
This company issued reports in 1853 and 1860 describing proposed water works, but nothing was done until after the Civil War ended. At this time the company engaged Alexander Easton, whose primary experience was in horse railroads, to manage construction of a water system. After significant work and expenditures, this effort was deemed a complete failure by 1871 and the company was sold at auction in 1872 to Thomas B. Rand for $24,000. Easton died three years later in Guatemala while building a railroad.
While the city was holding discussions with Rand about rebuilding the works, a board was water commissioners was established by the legislature with broad powers given to the Mayor. The board engaged J. Nelson Tubbs as their engineer and after extensive legal wrangling, construction started in 1873.
The city's system included a Holly direct pressure system to provide fire protection in in the downtown area using Genesee River water, and a separate gravity system taking water from Hemlock Lake. The Holly system was completed in February 1874 and the Hemlock system on January 23, 1876. Unfortunately the two systems were interconnected, leading to several cases of impure water from the river entering the Hemlock conduits. This resulted in typhoid cases in 1911 and 1940.
The following maps show the 1876 Highland and 1909 Cobbs Hill reservoirs along with the 1904 and 1930 steel water tanks built by the Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Company on Cobbs Hill.
|
|
| From 1935 City
of Rochester Plat Book, Volume 1. |
Growing demand for water resulted in a proposal to build a reservoir at Honeoye Lake, but the city instead built a water pumping station on Lake Ontario.
 |
| Map showing present water supply and possible future water supply from Honeoye Lake & Creek as recommended by Harrison P. Reddy & Allen Hazen, January 26, 1932. From "History and Engineering of Rochester's Water Supply in its First Century," by Edwin A. Fisher, Proceedings of the Rochester Academy of Science, 7(3):59-95 (March, 1932), facing page 70. |
Several court cases resulting from the various water systems have resulted in a great amount of information on the systems.
The Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Company was incorporated on December 30, 1902 to provide water to several suburban communities. The city had a tenuous relationship with this company, often competing but the city also bought water from the company as the Hemlock capacity proved inadequate for the growing city. After passing through several hands, the company was acquired from the New York Water Service Corporation by the Monroe County Water Authority on March 5, 1959.
 |
| 2019 Aerial Photo of Abandoned Water Tanks on Cobbs Hill |
Water is currently provided by the City of Rochester, which has a history brochure and a page about Hemlock Lake, the city's primary water source. Some areas of the city receive water provided by the Monroe County Water Authority.
References
and Timeline
1817 An
act to incorporate the village of Rochesterville, in the county of
Genesee. March 21, 1817.
V. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the trustees of
the said village, or the major part of them, and their successors, to
make, ordain, constitute and publish, such prudential by-laws, rules and
regulations, as they from time to time may deem meet and to regulate
proper; and such particularly as are relative to … public wells, pumps and
reservoirs, or cisterns of water, for the extinguishment of fires and for
other public purposes.
1818 "Fire!," Ontario
Repository, May 5, 1818, Page 3.
It is with much regret we learn that the large flouring Mills, belonging
to the enterprising Messrs. F. Brown & Co. at Rochester, were totally
destroyed by fire on Friday night last, with about 4,600 bushels of
wheat. The loss is estimated at not less than 17,000 dollars.
As there had been no fire in the mill for two days previous, the manner of
its communication is not yet ascertained.
1819 Rochester
Telegraph, December 14, 1819, Page 3.
Notice is hereby given, to the freeholders and inhabitants of the village
of Rochesterville, (being qualified to vote for members of assembly,) that
a meting will be held at the south district school-house in said village
on Thursday the 23d inst. at 3 o'clock P.M. for the purpose of raising
money by tax, to defray the expenses of a village watch - of conducting
water by an aqueduct into said village, and for other purposes.
Ira West, Isaac Colvin, Everard Peck. Trustees. Dec. 14, 1819.
1820 Meeting of the
Board of Trustees of the Village of Rochesterville, June 22, 1820.
Voted that James Preston's contract for thirty rods of aqueduct be closed,
and that the full sum of ninety dollars and fifty cents be paid the said
James Preston for constructing thirty and a half rods which has been
finished as by agreement.
1820 Rochester
Telegraph, November 21, 1820, Page 3.
Notice is hereby given, that a meeting of the inhabitants of
Rochesterville, will be held at the School-house near Mr. Sill's, on
Wednesday, the 28th inst., at 6 o'clock P.M. to consider the expediency of
raising money by tax to complete the Aqueduct in said village - to
purchase land for a public burial ground - to pay a village watch - to
purchase fire-hooks and buckets - to erect public hay-scales, and for
various other purposes.
Matthew Brown, Jr., Moses Chapin, William Cobb, Charles J. Hill, Elisha
Taylor, Trustees. Rochesterville, Nov. 20, 1820.
1821 Annual
Report of the Canal Commissioners of the State of New-York,
February 27, 1822.
Pages 13-14: On the sixth of June, proposals were received, and
contracts signed, for opening a feeder from the Genesee river into the
canal; for constructing a stone aqueduct across that stream; and for
carrying the canal from the termination of our former contracts, on the
east side of the river, westerly through the village of Rochester. The
feeder is about two miles long, and laid on the east side of the river. It
will be twenty-six feet wide on its surface, and three feet deep. The
water is conducted into it by a dam across the river, placed a little
below the head of a rapid, and which is eighteen inches high, and six
hundred feet in length. The dam consists of two courses of timber,
stretched across the river parallel with each other, at the distance often
feet apart, and strongly bolted to a bottom of rock. The space between the
two courses of timber is then filled in with gravel, which is secured from
washing away, by a close covering of three inch plank. This dam is
finished. Near the head of the feeder is a guard lock, to prevent the
dangerous intrusion of floods. And after these works are completed, which
they probably will be in May next, it is expected that, with a little
additional expense, a good navigation, forty miles up the river, will be
opened from the canal.
1822 "Notice,"
Rochester
Telegraph, December 17, 1822, Page 3.
Notice is hereby given, that the subscriber in behalf of himself and his
associates, intends to apply to the honorable the Legislature of the State
of New-York, at their next Session, for the act of incorporation for the
purpose of supplying the Village of Rochester and Brighton in the County
of Monroe, with wholesome water by means of Aqueducts.- Dated December 14,
1822. Thomas Benedict
1823 "Legislature
of New-York," American (New York, New York), January 31,
1823, Page 2.
In Senate, Jan. 28. The petition of Nathaniel Rochester and others
was presented, praying for an act of incorporation for supplying the
village of Rochester with pure and wholesome water; referred.
1823 Journal
of the Senate of the State of New York
Pages 41-42: January 28, 1823. The petition of Thomas Benedict, on
behalf of himself and his associates, praying for an act of incorporation,
whereby they may be enabled to supply the village of Rochester
with pure and wholesome water, was read, and, together with the petition
of N. Rochester, and others, inhabitants of the village of
Rochester, on the same subject, referred to a select committee, consisting
of Mr. Spencer, Mr. Redfield, and Mr. Green.
Page 57: February 1, 1823. Mr. Spencer,from the select committee,to
whom was referred the petitions of Thomas Benedict, and of divers
inhabitants of Rochester, praying an act of incorporation, for the purpose
of supplying the said village with pure and wholesome water, reported as
follows,to wit:- That they have had the subjects referred to them under
consideration; that they find that notice of the application has been
published for the time, and in the papers required by law; that, in their
opinion, the object of the petition is important to the interests and
convenience of said village, is reasonable and proper, and ought to be
granted; and they have accordingly prepared a bill, which they beg leave
to introduce.-Ordered, That leave be given to bring in such bill.
Mr.Spencer, according to leave, brought in the said bill, entitled “an act
for incorporating the Rochester Aqueduct Association,” which was read the
first time, and by unanimous consent, was also read a second time, and
committed to a committee of the whole.
Page 71: February 7, 1823. The said engrossed bill,
entitled “an act for incorporating the Rochester Aqueduct Association,
”was read the third time. Thereupon, Mr. President put the question, shall
the bill now pass ? and it was decided in the negative, two
thirds of all the members elected to the Senate not voting in favor of
said bill, as follows,to wit:
Page 75: February 8, 1823. Resolved, that the Senate do reconsider
their vote taken yesterday, on not agreeing on the engrossed bill,
entitled "an act for incorporating the Rochester Aqueduct Association," on
its third and last reading.
Page 80: February 10, 1823. The Senate then took up the
consideration of the bill, entitled "an act for incorporating the
Rochester Aqueduct Association." Thereupon, Mr. President put the
question, shall the bill now pass ? and it was decided in the negative.
1823 Journal
of the Assembly of the State of New York
Page 733: March 24, 1823. The petition of N. Rochester and
others, praying for the passage of a law to incorporate a company for the
purpose of supplying the village of Rochester with pure and wholesome
water, was read, and referred to a select committee, consisting of Mr.
Bowman, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Bradley.
Pages 748-749: March 25, 1823. Mr. Bowman, from the select
committee, to whom was referred the petition of Thomas Benedict and
others, inhabitants of Rochester, praying for an act of incorporation, for
the purpose of supplying the village of Rochester with pure and wholesome
water, reported: That they have had the subject under consideration, and
find that notices have been published as required by law: that in the
opinion of the committee, the object of the petitioners is important to
the interests of the village of Rochester; is reasonable and proper, and
ought to be granted; and they have prepared a bill, and ask leave to
introduce the same.
Ordered, That leave be given to bring in such bill.
Mr.Bowman, according to leave, brought in the said bill, entitled “an act
for incorporating the Rochester aqueduct association,” which was read the
first time and by unanimous consent was also read a second time, and
committed to a committee of the whole house.
1823 Rochester
Telegraph, November 25, 1823, Page 1.
Notice is hereby given, that the subscriber in behalf of himself and his
associates, intends to apply to the honorable the Legislature of the State
of New-York, at their next Session, for the act of incorporation for the
purpose of supplying the Village of Rochester and Brighton in the County
of Monroe, with wholesome water by means of Aqueducts.- Dated November 10,
1823. Thomas Benedict
1823 Rochester
Telegraph, December 30, 1823, Page 1-1
Thomas Benedict employed on building of canal culverts and embankment over
Irondequoit creek, states conditions of same, past and present
1824 Journal
of the Assembly of the State of New York
Page 491: February 16, 1824. Mr. Remer from the committee on
the incorporation of cities and villages, to whom was referred the
petition of Thomas Benedict and others, his associates, for an act of
incorporation. for the purpose of supplying the village of Rochester, with
good and wholesome water, reported : The committee have had the subject so
referred under consideration, and ascertaining that it would be necessary
to make use of the Erie canal, to accomplish said object; the committee,
therefore, thought proper, to submit the petition and bill, to the
consideration of one of the canal commissioners, after all examination of
said bill, it was returned with the following report, viz: “Having
examined the bill, entitled “an act for incorporating the Rochester
aqueduct association. I am of opinion, that the interest of the Erie
canal, “and of the feeder from the Genesee river, are therein sufficiently
secured “from all injury from said association.” Signed, MYRON HOLLEY,
Acting canal commissioner, February 12, 1824.
The committee are, therefore of opinion, that the prayer of the petitioner
is reasonable, and ought to be granted, and for that purpose they have
directed their chairman to ask leave to introduce a bill. Ordered, That
leave be given, to bring in such bill. Mr. Remer, according to leave,
brought in the said bill, entitled “an act for incorporating the Rochester
aqueduct association,” which was read the first time, and by unanimous
consent was also read a second time, and committed to a committee of the
whole house.
Page 1358: November 25, 1824. Ordered, that the committee of the
whole house be discharged from the further consideration of the bill,
entitled "an act for incorporating the Rochester aqueduct association,"
and that the applicants have leave to withdraw their papers.
1827 Annual
Report of the Canal Commissioners of the State of New-York,
January 19, 1828.
Page 10: For the purpose of obviating the difficulty at the head of
the feeder from the Genesee river, the dam was raised fourteen
inches.
1830 Rochester
Republican, June 1, 1830, Page 1-1
Samuel Works and B. H. Brown authorized to construct reservoir near corner
of Buffalo and Fitzhugh Streets
1830 Report
of the Canal Commissioners of Pennsylvania, relative to the
Pennsylvania canals and rail-road : read in the House of
Representatives, Dec. 22, 1830
Pages 6-7: Union Canal. The new feeder from the Water Works, on
Swatara, to the summit, is three and one-third miles in length ; it is
circular, three feet six inches in diameter, internally in the clear. A
part, (seven thousand four hundred and fifty feet,) is constructed with
hard bricks laid in hydraulic cement, and is perfectly water-tight ; the
remaining part, ten thousand three hundred and ten feet,) is composed of
cylinders fitted into each other, made of white pine staves three inches
thick, hooped with iron bands; and supported by strong timbers, resting on
stone foundations ; as no part of the wood work is in contact with the
ground, it will not be liable to premature decay.
1832 Meeting of the Board
of Trustees of the Village of Rochester, January 3, 1832 (Page 505)
A communication was presented from Elisha Johnson, Esquire relative to
supplying the village with water,. and which being considered, there upon
Resolved: That the said communication, together with the whole
subject matter thereof be referred to a committee of this board and of the
citizens of the village, to be hereafter appointed.
1832 Rochester
Republican, September 4, 1832, Page 2-6
Rochester has four mineral springs within its borders.
1834 Journal
of the Assembly of the State of New York
Page 56: January 9, 1834. The petition of sundry inhabitants of the
county of Monroe, praying for the incorporation of a company for the
purpose of supplying the village of Rochester in said county, with pure
and wholesome water, was read and referred to the committee on the
incorporation of cities and villages.
1834 An
act to incorporate the city of Rochester. April 28, 1834.
Title 8. Of the prevention and extinguishment of fires.
§18. Supply of Water. For the purpose of supplying the said city with
water for the extinguishment of fires, and for other purposes, the common
council may construct aqueducts from the Genesee river, or from any other
permanent source, and may lay pipes in the streets and through the land of
any person, doing as little damage as may be, and may thereby supply the
public cisterns and reservoirs, and also any of the inhabitants of the
said city with water, at such rates as may be agreed upon by them and the
common council; and if, for such purpose, the common council shall deem it
necessary, they may create a stock, to be denominated “the hydraulic
stock,” not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, in such shares, and bearing
such interest, as they may think proper; and may provide for the payment
of such interest, and the reimbursement of such stocks by the sums which
may be received for the use of such water; and the common council may make
all necessary provisions to carry into effect the authority hereby granted
them.
1834 Albany
Argus, December 23, 1834, Page 4.
Notice is hereby given that the subscriber and his associates will present
a petition to the legislature of the state of New-York at its next
session, for the incorporation of a company to be styled The Rochester
Water Works, for the purpose of supplying the village with pure
water. Chs. J. Hill
1835
An act to incorporate the Rochester water works company. April
29, 1835.
§3. The capital stock of the said company shall be ten thousand
dollars, to be divided into shares of twenty-five dollars each.
§5. James Seymour, Isaac Hills, Isaac R. Elwood, George W. Pratt and
Charles J. Hill are hereby appointed commissioners to receive subscription
to the said capital stock
1838 Annual
Report of the Canal Commissioners, January 20, 1838, New York
State Assembly Document No. 61
Page 43: A dam across the Genesee river; at the rapids, is nearly
completed, which will supercede the necessity of maintaining the old
feeder dam; and is about half a mile further down the stream. The new
location will shorten the present feeder from the east side of the river,
and render the situation of this canal, and the access from it to the
feeder, more convenient. The dam is 300 feet long, 8 feet high, and rests
on a rock foundation. It is made of round timber. The interior is filled
with stone, and the upper side covered with plank and gravel. The dam is
supported at each end with stone abutments laid in hydraulic masonry, and
will be a substantial structure when completed.
1838 Meeting of the
Rochester Common Council, January 16, 1838
On motion of Ald. Faulkner, Resolved that the Mayor be requested to report
a plan and examination in relation to supply with with as recommended in
his communication.
1838 A Report of the Mayor, to the Common Council of the City of Rochester, on the Subject of Supplying the City with Water: Agreeable to a Resolution of the Board, of the 16th of January, 1838, by Elisha Johnson, Mayor. March 5, 1838.[This 1880 map shows the elevated terrain south of Clarissa Street on the west side of the river]
1838 Settlement
in the West: Sketches of Rochester by Henry O’Reilly | also here
|
Page 328: Hydraulions are connected with the machinery in some
factories; which, worked by water power, have already rendered signal
service in preventing the spread of fire in their vicinity.
Page 381: Rochester Waterworks Company. This corporation was
created in 1835 for the purpose of supplying the city with "pure and
wholesome water," to he conducted from a copious spring of excellent water
situate in a tract of high and broken land on the southerly line of the
city, near the new Cemetery and beside the river. The land is owned by
Charles J. Hill. An organization is effected under the charter; but the
works are not yet constructed. The directors, elected by the stockholders,
are Levi Ward, Jr., Charles J. Hill, James M. Fish, Levi W. Sibley, and
George W. Pratt—the first-named persons being president and secretary. The
high grounds around the spring command a beautiful view of the city,
&c.
Supplying of Water. On the subject of supplying the city with
pure water for culinary and other uses, Mayor Johnson followed up the
suggestions of his inaugural address by a report to the Common Council on
the 16th of January, 1838. This report has been issued in pamphlet form,
twenty pages octavo, from the press of Luther Tucker. The importance of
early and extensive arrangements for supplying all parts of the city
plentifully with water—the increased facilities for comfort, health, and
business, and the augmented security against fire, which would thus be
afforded—together with the pecuniary economy of the measure, are set forth
convincingly by this report. A calculation is made to show that the cost
of the requisite waterworks would be speedily counterbalanced to the
citizens by the diminished rate of ensurance consequent on such additional
safeguards against fire as would be afforded by the branches of the works
scattered throughout the city. The mayor suggests a plan for effecting
these objects by forming reservoirs beside the river, wherein sufficient
water could be secured to supply the city during the turbid state of the
stream in high floods, &c. These reservoirs are calculated " to
contain 12,315,646 gallons of water—an ample supply for the city during
the longest river floods."
"The works would furnish daily about 1,500,000 gallons, or 450 gallons to
each family of six persons, in a population of 20,000," says the mayor.
"In other cities, the average quantity used for all purposes is about 150
gallons to each family of six persons in the entire population. We should
be able to furnish this quantity to 10,000 families or 60,000 inhabitants.
The actual cost of this water would be one cent for 605 1-3 gallons, or
about 16 8-9 barrels." The estimates may appear low to those who consider
not the local facilities for accomplishing the object.
1840 "Meeting Held at Peter Tone's Tavern in Gates to discuss effects of dam in Genesee River and devise method for speedy removal," Rochester Daily Democrat, April 21, 1840, Page 2-6
1840 Rochester Daily
Democrat, August 5, 1840, Page 2-3, 2-4
Works Streets to be constructed to river in order to provide means of
obtaining water to extinguish fires.
1840 "For
the Democrat," Rochester
Daily Democrat, August 9, 1840, Page 2.
Letter about water works recommending use of iron pipes, by An Old
Fireman.
1840 Proceedings
of the Common Council of the City of Rochester, October 20,
1840.
Resolved That there be constructed hydraulic water works from the floom of
Mill race in Aqueduct street to the corner of Mill and Work street to be
constructed with iron pipes six inches in diamater and half an inch in
thickness together with two hydrants, one at the corner of Buffalo and
Aqueduct street and one at the west corner of Mil and Works streets.
Resolved That the City Superintendent be directed to close a contract with
A. J. Langworthy for the iron pipes and hydrants for the water works.
1841 The Commissioners of the Canal Fund v. Kempshall, 26 Wend. 403, January 1, 1841, New York Supreme Court of Judicature
1841 "Committee meets to petition Legislature and Canal Commissioners for purpose of removing dams at Rapids at Wheeler's Tavern, Rochester Daily Democrat, January 1841, Page 2-3
1841 Proceedings
of the Common Council of the City of Rochester, March 1, 1841.
Ald. Arnold from the fire department committee reported in favor of
allowing the account of A. J. Langworthy for iron pipe and hydrants at
$857.15, agreeably with contract is accepted.
1841 Report of the Canal Commissioners, on the petition of inhabitants of Monroe county, praying for the removal of the canal feeder dam. April 13, 1841 (Ass. doc. 1841, no. 250)
1841 "Dams at the Rapids," Rochester Daily Democrat, April 16, 1841, Page 2.
1842 "First
Boat to Cross the New Aqueduct," Rochester
Daily Democrat, April 21, 1842, Page 2
Yesterday morning, at 8 o'clock, the water in the canal had acquired
sufficient depth to admit of navigation, and the new boat Oneca, capt.
Lightmall, of the Troy and Erie Line, with a promiscuous assemblage of
citizens on deck, and amidst the cheers of the multitudes, brought through
the barrier which had been thrown across the east end of the aqueduct, and
was the first to pass to the other barrier on the west end. She was
closely followed, however, by Gen. E.S. Beach's mammoth river boat the
Northumberland, with a band of music on deck and a banner waving in the
breeze, which passed her, and both were towed by the shouting laborers
(who had just closed their contracts for the present) to the western part
of the city. The unostentatious ceremony went off with great eclat,
and the best of good feeling.
1842 "The
Rapids Dam," Rochester
Daily Democrat, April 30, 1842, Page 3-1
The Sheriff commenced yesterday, tearing down the Dam at the Rapids, about
which there was been so much trouble during the past year. It was
the property of the state, and had been presented by the Grand Jury as a
nuisance. Its abatement was ordered, and by its abatement, a
protracted controversy will be terminated.
1843 Annual
Report of the Canal Commissioners, January 14, 1843, New York
State Assembly Document No. 25
Page 79: The new feeder dam across the Genesee river, at the rapids,
has been partly removed as a nuisance, by the sheriff of Monroe, in
pursuance of an order of the court of that county.
The removing of a part of the dam reduced the water in the river so low
that it became necessary to repair the old feeder dam, which crosses the
river about fifty rods above the new one, and raise the banks of the
feeder between the old and new dam, to obtain a sufficient supply of
water. It is believed that it will be necessary to maintain a dam at this
point of sufficient height to afford the requisite supply of water for the
canal.
1845 "Thirty
Thousand Dollars Worth of Property Destroyed," The Schenectady
Cabinet, July 22, 1845, Page 2.
From the Rochester Daily Advertiser, July 16
Having proceeded thus far the flames were checked almost as it were by
miracle. At one time it was thought that the entire square to Buffalo and
State Street would be consumed, and also that the fire would extend to
buildings on the River bridge. But a change in the wind to the south, the
arrival of some of the firemen from Carthage, and the hydraulions of
Messrs. Graves, Jennings, and Keeler, prevented it.
1845 Rochester
Daily Democrat, August 9, 1845, Page 2.
A reservoir is to be constructed at the junction of Andrews, Clinton and
Franklin streets. This is an important point.
1850 Letter
from William A. Reynolds to N. Gray, Esq., June 8, 1850, Publications
of the Rochester Historical Society, 21:96-97 (1943)
My Brother owns an Hydraulic Building on the south side of Buffalo St
nearly opposite the Arcade Buildings, used as an oil mill in which I have
just been putting up one of "Hubbards patent Rotating Engines" No 9 which
is connected with the Arcade Property by large Iron pipes underground,
with attachments for hose at different points in and about the buildings -
this is nearly ready for operation, and has cost me several hundred
dollars.
1850 "Rochester
Water Works," Rochester
Daily Democrat, June 28, 1850, Page 2.
Prof. Mason, in his lecture on Monday evening, gave it aa his opinion that
this city would hereafter find it necessary, an account of the stratum of
lime rock which underlies it, to procure its supply of water from the
Caledonia or some other springs in the vicinity; and that when this plan
was adopted, we should find it introduced into every dwelling, office,
hotel and mechanics shop; and by a proper system of sewerage, the
impurities accumulating in the city would be borne away, and this be one
of the healthiest and most attractive places of residence in the world. So
may it be.
1850 "Dr. Backus'
Lecture," Rochester
Daily Democrat, June 29, 1850, Page 2.
Doctor Backus suggested the idea of obtaining water from Lake Ontario, to
supply the wants to the city; and thought that some day a huge hydraulic
ram might force up to us the clear waters of that vast reservoir. [Frederick F.
Backus]
1850 "Destructive
Fire," The Otsego Democrat, November 9, 1850, Page 3.
We think, however, that there is no danger of the paper mills being
destroyed, as they are all supplied with powerful hydraulions. From
Rochester Advertiser
1852 An act to incorporate the Rochester Water Works Company. April 16, 1852.
1852 "Water Works," Rochester Daily Union, October 9, 1852, Page 3.
1853 "Water works survey made by Mr. Battin and James E. Bruff," Rochester Daily Union, May 25, 1853, Page 2.
1853 Rochester
Daily Democrat, May 26, 1853, Page 2.
Mr. Battin, an experienced engineer, has been engaged to make the
necessary surveys for the contemplated Water Works in this city.
1853 An act to amend the act to incorporate the Rochester Water Works Company, passed April 16, 1852. May 26, 1853. Authorized the city to sell $200,000 worth of bonds to aid the company.
1853 Rochester City
Council Proceedings 1852-1853
Water Works, Pages 546, 567, 577, 581, 585
1853 "Rochester Water," The Buffalo Daily Republic, July 1, 1853, Page 2.
1853 "Rochester
Water Works," Rochester Daily Advertiser, July 15, 1853,
Page 2.
Subscription book open. C.A. Jones, J.B. Roberrtson and I.R. Elwood,
Committee.
1853 Buffalo
Daily Courier, September 5, 1853, Page 2.
We learn from the Rochester American that Gen. C. B. Stuart,
Daniel Marsh, Esq., and E. W. Serrell, Esq., of the firm of Stuart,
Serrell & Co., New York, are at present in Rochester, engaged in
making surveys for the Rochester Water Works Co. On the 1st October they
will be prepared to report upon quite a number of different routes. It is
their purpose, we learn, to make a thorough examination in respect to
every possible source of supply. It is well that all the information,
within reach, should be elicited on the subject.
1853 Rochester Daily
Union, September 5, 1853, Page 2.
Daniel Marsh made surveys for Rochester Water Works Co. with General C.B.
Stuart and E.W. Serrell.
1853 Engineers' Report for Supplying the City of Rochester with Water from Various Sources: Made to the Directors of the Rochester Water Works Co, by Charles B. Stuart and Daniel Marsh, Firm of Stuart, Serrell & Co., Civil Engineers, New York. October 1, 1853. | another copy |
1853 Extracts Relative to Ball's Patent Indestructible Water Pipe as a Substitute for Cast-iron Distribution Pipe: Taken from the Report Made to the Directors of the Rochester Water Works Co. October 1st, 1853
1853 "The Water Works Project," Rochester Daily Democrat, October 6, 1853, Page 2. Mr. Batten to bring water from Honeoye Lake for $570,000.
1853 "Water Pipes," Washington Sentinel (Washington, D.C.), October 15, 1853, Page 3. Reprinted from a Rochester newspaper.
1855
Proceedings of the Common Council for the City of Rochester for 1855-6.
Pages 81-85: October 2, 1855. Report of the Select Committee
on Water Works.
1855 Proceedings
of the Common Council for the City of Rochester for 1855-6.
Pages 87-88: October 9, 1855. Public Protest against the
Proposed Water Scheme.
1855 "The Water Works Meeting," Rochester Daily Union, October 19, 1855, Page 3.
1855 "Statement of the Water Works Company," Rochester Daily Union, October 20, 1855, Page 3. Includes details of the original 1852 company and its proposal.
1856 Awards
and Testimony in the Claims of the Rochester Mill Owners: For the
Diversion of the Waters of the Genesee River, for the Supply of the
Erie and Genesee Valley Canals, February 29, 1856.
Senate Document No. 103.
Page 36: When the canal was first brought into use, the connection
with the Erie was by a dam near the Genesee feeder, after the plan
suggested in the act of 1836 authorising its construction. But as the dam
flooded the farms up the river, it was abandoned, and the junction with
the Erie was established a little west of where the latter crosses the
Genesee in an aqueduct.
Page 82: In 1839 the navigable connection of the Genesee Valley
canal with the river, just above the guard lock on the Genesee Valley
canal, was made; in 1842 the new feeder dam built in connection with the
Genesee Valley canal was removed, and the navigable connection of Genesee
Valley canal with river was closed.
1856 Proceedings
of the Common Council for the City of Rochester for 1855-6.
Pages 137-138: April 1, 1856. Petition of the Rochester Water
Works company.
1858 "National Hotel Endemic, Autopsy; with Remarks," by Jas. J. Waring, M.D., The American Journal of the Medical Sciences 69:97-104 (January, 1858)
1858 Charles
Augustus Jones (16 Jun 1806 - 25 Jan 1858) grave, promoter of the
1852 Rochester Water Works Company | Monument
in Mt. Hope Cemetery |
Prominent in the Democratic Party, died after attending President
Buchanan's inauguration. 60 were poisoned at an inaugural event at the National
Hotel in Washington D.C. during a plot to kill the president. The
President had a separate staff of cooks.
1858 "Another
Victim of the National Hotel Disease," The Baltimore Sun,
January 30, 1858, Page 1.
Col. Charles A. Jones, contractor for the building of the customs houses
at Chicago and Milwaukee and for the Washington aqueduct, died at
Rochester, N.Y., on Monday last. His health, it is stated had been
impaired ever since his visit to Washington at the time of President
Buchanan's inauguration.
1859 "Philadelphia firm interested in building water works for city: Lake Ontario and Hemlock Lakes to be considered as sources of supply," Rochester Union & Advertiser, February 3, 1859, Page 3.
1859 Proceedings of
the Common Council of the City of Rochester.
Pages 74-75: July 5, 1859. Communication
from Hon. Elisha Johnson, relating to supplying the city with water.
1860 "The
Use of Wood for Water Pipes--Interesting Experiments," Rochester
Union & Advertiser, March 9, 1860, Page 2.
Messrs. Wyckoff, Hobbie & Co., (the Company being Gen. Swan)
1860 An act to authorize the city of Rochester to sell the stock of the Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Company, and to assist in the construction of water works. April 16, 1860.
1860 Rochester Union
& Advertiser, August 13, 1860, Page 2
I. S. Hobbie engaged in building the Elmira Works
1860 Report
on the introduction of a supply of pure water into the city of
Rochester, September, 1860 by Daniel Marsh. | Also here,
which is is missing pages 32 and 33
|
C. J. Hayden, President, Rochester Water Works Company
1860 "Water Works for the City," Proceedings of the Rochester Common Council 1860-61, Page 80, October 2, 1860. Summary of the Marsh report.
1860 "Notice.- Supply of Water for the City of Rochester," The American Gas-Light Journal, 2(21):129 (November 1, 1860)
1860 "Water Works Proposals," Proceedings of the Rochester Common Council 1860-1861, Page 114-116, December 28, 1860. Describes 3 proposals received in response to advertisements.
1861 "Proposed Water Supply for Rochester, N. Y.," The American Gas Light Journal, 2:221-221 (January 15, 1861)
1861 "Draft Contract with the Water Works Company," Proceedings of the Rochester Common Council 1860-1861, Page 123, January 22, 1861.
1861 "Proposal
to supply water to County buildings," The
Brockport Republic, January 24, 1861, Page 2.
Rochester Water Works Company proposal to supply water to the County
buildings.
1861 "Water for the City," Rochester Union and Advertiser, January 25, 1861, Page
1861 "Contract with the Water Works Company," Proceedings of the Rochester Common Council 1860-1861, Pages 126-127, January 25, 1861.
1861 "The Water Works Contract," Rochester Union and Advertiser, January 26, 1861, Page
1861 "Water at Last," Rochester Union and Advertiser, January 26, 1861, Page
1861 "Water Works in Common Council," Rochester Union and Advertiser, January 26, 1861, Page
1861 "The Water Question," Rochester Union and Advertiser, January 28, 1861, Page
1861 New York
Commercial Advertiser, January 29, 1861, Page 3.
The Rochester Water Works Company propose to construct water works for the
city as a private corporation. They will bring the water from the
outlet of Hemlock Lake, in Livingston county, to the ridge South-east of
the city, where there will be large distributing reservoirs. The
supply will be at least two million gallons per day, and the capacity of
the water works may be increased in the future to an indefinite
extent. The company will lay in the streets of the city water pipes,
as the Common Council shall direct, and put of 400 hydrants for fire
purposes. There will be 54 miles of distribution pipe and these
hydrants located so as to be of the most service in the case of
fire. The company also agree to furnish water to ten fountains in
the public parks of the city and supply the public schools, hospitals,
asylums, &c. In return for this, the city is to pay the company
$50 per annum for each hydrant supplied with water as above.
1861 Syracuse
Daily Journal, March 1, 1861, Page 3.
Going to the Bahama Islands. Our fellow citizen, Gen. L. B. Swan,
took his departure this morning for New York, whence he will sail in the
steamer Karnak, on Monday next, for Nassau, in New Providence, one of the
Bahama group of islands. He General has for some time been afflicted
with a severe bronchial affection, which he close application to business
as one of the contractors for the building of the Water Works at Elmira,
has considerably aggravated. [Rochester Express.
1861 "Elmira
Water Works," Rochester Union & Advertiser, December 17,
1861, Page 2
I. S. Hobbie and Lansing B. Swan, contractors of the Elmira Water Works,
which were completed successfully.
1861 New
York Times, December 24, 1861, Page 2.
Obituary. Gen. L. B. Swan died at Rochester on Friday last, in the
53d year of his age. He was born in Onondaga County, resided in
Utica until his removal to Rochester, thirty years ago, where he engaged
successfully in the business of manufacturing water pipe. In June,
1851, he was appointed Brigadier-General by Gov. Hunt, and at once assumed
command of the Twenty-fifth Brigade, Seventh Division, a position which he
held until his death.
1862 Rochester Union
& Advertiser, May 7, 1862, Page 2
C. K. Hobbie, I. S. Hobbie and J. M. Hatch elected to board of directors
of Elmira Water Works.
1863 An act to amend the charter of the Rochester Water Works Company, and to authorize such company to borrow money, and to secure the payment thereof by bonds and mortgage. April 17, 1863
1863 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1863-1864, Page 44, June 2, 1863.
By Ald. D. D. T. Moore - Resolved that the contract between the Mayor and
Common Council of the city of Rochester and the Rochester Water Works
Company, made on the 18th day of January 1861, be and the same is hereby
extended from the 1st day of January 1864 to the 1st day of January 1866,
in the accordance with petition of Committee of said Water Works Company,
presented this evening. - Adopted.
1864 Capt.
Thomas Benedict (1782-1864) grave
Capt Thomas Benedict was born on April 22, 1782, in Ballston, New York,
his father, Uriah, was 37 and his mother, Mary, was 34. He married Mary
Dunning in 1804. They had two children during their marriage. He died on
January 31, 1864, in Pittsford, New York, having lived a long life of 81
years, and was buried in Fairport, New York.
1864 Rochester Union
and Advertiser, February 1, 1864, Page 2-8
Capt. Benedict dies in Fairport
1864 "Water Works," Rochester Union and Advertiser, February 19, 1864, Page 2. Plan to bring Hemlock Lake water to Rochester discussed
1864 "Rochester Water Works Co., " Rochester Union and Advertiser, February 25, 1864, Page 4-5
1864 "Report of the Committee on the Lockport Water Works," Proceedings of the Rochester Common Council 1864-1866, Page 91, July 16, 1864. The first Holly water works began operating in Lockport in August, 1863.
1864 "Common Council,"
Rochester Union and Advertiser, July 21, 1864, Page 2-3
Alderman took an excursion to Lockport to see the waterworks.
1864 "The Rochester Common Council and the Lockporters," Buffalo Commercial, July 23, 1864, Page 3.
1864 "Wyckoff's Patent Wood Water Pipe, I.S. Hobbie & Co." Moore's Rural New-Yorker, September 3, 1864, Page 291.
1865 "Wyckoff's Patent Wood Water Pipe, I.S. Hobbie & Co." Rochester Daily Democrat, April 18, 1865, Page 2.
1866 "The
Water Question," Rochester
Union and Advertiser, January 9, 1866, Page 2.
Mr. Hobbie said he had just received a letter from the Camden Iron Company
at Philadelphia, which he read. It gave the prices of iron pipe
delivered at Philadelphia. For the pipe requisite to lay a single
24-inch main from Smithtown to Rochester, and about fifty miles of city
mains, the company would charge $895,000. Mr. Hobbie added that
wooden pipe would cost about $615,000.
1866 "Water
Works Meeting," Rochester
Union and Advertiser, January 9, 1866, Page 2.
The Secretary - who has been laboring many years to secure the adoption of
wooden pipe or penstock logs in place of iron for such purposes, estimated
their cost at $615,000. It is fair to presume that in his anxiety to
work in penstock logs, he has made the figure very much smaller than the
results would justify.
1866 "The Water Works Meeting -- The Way Public Affairs Are Managed," Rochester Union and Advertiser, January 10, 1866, Page 2.
1866 Rochester Union
& Advertiser, April 26, 1866, Page 2-2
Peter Roulea, is engaged in delivering daily pure spring water to families
and others in the centre of the city who have no wells
1866 "Water
Works," Rochester
Union & Advertiser, July 7, 1866, Page 2.
It is talked in the streets that a Mr. Easton, of New Haven, has purchased
of the "Rochester Water Works Co.," the right to construct water works for
this city, on his own account pretty much.
1866 "Water Works Meeting," The Rochester Evening Express, July 7, 1866, Page 3.
1866 "Water Works Meeting," Rochester Daily Democrat, July 7, 1866, Page 4.
1866 "Water
Works," Rochester
Union and Advertiser, July 11, 1866, Page 2.
A more reckless and absurd proposition was never made to a representative
body. There were no reasons for such hasty action.
1866 "Report on the Subject of Water Works," Proceedings of the Rochester Common Council 1866-1867, Pages 77-78, July 16, 1866. Includes the text of the contract with the City of Rochester and the Rochester Water Works Company which was adopted at this meeting.
1866 "The
Water Works Question," Rochester
Union and Advertiser, July 16, 1866, Page 2.
No wooden pipes are to be used.
1866 "The
Water-Works," Rochester
Evening Express, July 17, 1866, Page 3.
A Mr. Eastman, of Connecticut, proposes now to construct the water works
under certain terms as stipulated in the contract.
1866 "The Sources of Water for Rochester - Smithtown and Honeye Creek," Rochester Union and Advertiser, July 26, 1866, Page 2.
1866 "Report on Water-Works," by Daniel Marsh, Engineer R. W. W. Co., Proceedings of the Rochester Common Council 1866-67, Page 10, September 18, 1866. The whole of the iron pipe to complete the Rochester Water-Works has been contracted for and is now being cast.
1866 Proceedings
of the Rochester Common Council 1866-67, Page 161,
December 12, 1866.
By Ald. Guggenheim - Whereas, on or about July 16, a contract was made
between the City of Rochester and "the Rochester Water Works Company;" and
Whereas, the party of the second part agreed to commence the construction
of Water Works by the 15th day of August last, and to prosecute the same
with all reasonable diligence until the same shall be fully completed; and
Whereas, it appears that the party of the second. part did not seriously
commence the construction of said works; therefore,
Resolved, That a committee of three be and is hereby appointed to
investigate how far he "Rochester Water Works Company" have fulfilled
their contract, said committee having power to go to Smithtown and report
as early as possible; also, that no member or the Water Works Committee
shall be placed on the special committee. Adopted.
The President appointed as such committee Ald. Guggenheim, Cope and,
Remington.
1867 "Report of Committee on Water Works," Proceedings of the Rochester Common Council 1866-67, Page 168, January 8, 1867.
1867 "The Water Question," Rochester Union and Advertiser, January 28, 1867, Page 2. Water from Hemlock Lake.
1867 "Just as We Expected," Rochester Union and Advertiser, January 29, 1867, Page 2. Water from Hemlock Lake.
1867 "Report of the Special Committee on Water Works," Proceedings of the Rochester Common Council 1866-67, Page 175, January 22, 1867.
1867 New
York Herald, March 5, 1867, Page 9.
Rochester Water Works Company.- Rochester, N. Y., February 27, 1867.-
Sealed proposals will be received at the office of this company until
Saturday, 9th March next, at noon, for digging and back filling 32 miles
trenches in the streets of the city of Rochester, for laying the pipe of
the Rochester Water Works Company.
A map and specifications may be seen at the company office. Daniel Marsh,
Chief Engineer
1867 Buffalo
Morning Express, March 12, 1867, Page 1.
At a recent meeting of the Board of Directors of the Rochester Water Works
Company, the following directors were elected: President, C.J.
Hayden; Secretary, W.V. Turner; Chief Engineer, Daniel Marsh.
1867 Proceedings
of the Rochester Common Council 1866-67, Page 212, March 28,
1867.
The Clerk presented the following:
MAYOR'S OFFICE, March 28th, 1867. Gentlemen of the Common Council:
The great importance to the city of the Water Works about to be
constructed, and of its answering fully the wants of the community, I
would suggest the propriety of increasing the size of the conduit to be
used from the lake to the reservoir that in place of twenty inches, the
conduit be made twenty-four inches, and the capacity of the reservoir be
increased to thirty million gallons; and further, that the water be taken
from a point much nearer Hemlock Lake than heretofore agreed upon.
With these changes in the contract, the work will be of such character, it
is believed, to meet the just expectations of citizens generally.
I likewise deem it of vital importance that the city take an interest in
the stock sufficient to give them a voice in the management; this must be
so apparent as not to need argument. The uses for fire purposes alone
would require this safeguard. S. W. D. MOORE.
1867 "Common
Council," Rochester Union and Advertiser, March 29, 1867,
Page 2.
Mayor requests that the conduit pipe be 24 inches instead of 20, and that
the capacity of the reservoir be enlarged.
Council debates buying $150,000 of stock in the water works company,
decides not to do so.
1867 "The Water Question," Rochester Union and Advertiser, April 4, 1867, Page 2. Questions about the water works.
1867 "Pure Water -- The Filter Trade," Rochester Union and Advertiser, April 4, 1867, Page 2. Kodzie & Bunnel, manufacturers of water filters.
1867 "Water Works," Rochester Union and Advertiser, April 5, 1867, Page 2. Response from the Water Works Company. | Rates |
1867 New York
Commercial Advertiser, April 15, 1867, Page 2.
Water Works in Rochester.- The first pipe for the Rochester Water Works
was laid on Friday last. The water is to be brought from Hemlock
Lake. The first pipe was laid at the crossing of the Erie
Canal. The pipe is sixteen inches in diameter. The contractor
says that at least one hundred car loads of iron pipe were on the way to
that city, and day by day from that time forward the citizens of Rochester
would have ocular demonstration that the Water Works were being
constructed.
1867 "The
Water Works," Rochester Union and Advertiser, June 14,
1867, Page 2.
City's water works committee going to New York at Contractor Easton's
expense.
1867 "The
Water Works Question," Rochester Union and Advertiser, June
26, 1867, Page 2.
Easton seeks to have city subscribe to $150,000 of water company stock.
1867 "Report
on Water Works," Proceedings
of the Rochester Common Council 1867-68, Page 54, June 26,
1867.
Mr. Easton requested that in justice to himself and the satisfaction of
the satisfaction of the public, a committee should be appointed to visit
New York and investigate the whole matter and report upon the facts of of
the case as they might find them to exist. The request was acted
upon and a committee consisting of his Honor Mayor Fish and Aldermen Cram,
Qualthrough, Spencer, Groot and Mutchler visited New York in company with
Mr. Easton, and at his expense.
At New York the committee learned that Mr. Easton had made arrangements
with Willis Gaylord, Esq., No. 58 Wall street to furnish all the money
necessary to build the works up to $1,000,000. Mr. Gaylord was very
frank and candid and answered all the questions put to him promptly and
cheerfully, and his statements were deemed by the committee very
satisfactory, and the committee satisfied themselves that he was fully
able to carry about his agreement with Mr. Easton. Mr. Gaylord sent
a competent Engineer here to examine and report, and became satisfied that
there was money in the undertaking and embarked in it to make money.
Mr. Gaylord had contracted with T. & F. Starr, Amboy, N.J., to make
and furnish 4,000 tons of pipe, to be made and delivered as fast as
possible.
A subcommittee consisting of Ald. Cram and Qualthrough went to Amboy to
ascertain what progress, if any had been made there, and found that one
barge load of about 250 tons had been shipped to New York, and they were
loading another barge the committee arrived and about 200 tons more were
ready for shipment. [Note: This was probably the iron works of
J.W. & J.F. Starr in Camden, New Jersey, and the visitors probably
traveled on the Camden and Amboy Railroad.]
1867 "The Water Works Question," Rochester Union and Advertiser, June 28, 1867, Page 2. Response to June 26th letter.
1867 Proceedings
of the Rochester Common Council 1867-68, Page 72, July 9,
1867.
By Ald. Quin, - Whereas the Water Works Company has laid its main pipe in
Alexander street, from Monroe Avenue to East Avenue, upon the sewer in
said street, without authority, and the same may result in damage,
inconvenience and expense to property owners on said street, and to the
city, therefore,
Resolved, That said Water Works Company is hereby forbidden to lay any of
its mains upon any sewer in this city, or to injure or interfere with any
sewer, in the construction its works, or laying any of its pipes within
the limits of said city. This resolution shall not be construed as
prohibiting said Company from laying its mains or laterals across any
public sewer, when necessary, provided the same be done under the
direction of the Sewer committee. Referred to committee on Reservoirs and
Water Works. .
1867 "The Water Works," Rochester Union and Advertiser, October 25, 1867, Page 2.
1867 "More About Water," Rochester Union and Advertiser, October 26, 1867, Page 2.
1867 "Sales
of Real Estate," Rochester Union and Advertiser, December 9,
1867, Page 2.
Geo. Shelton has sold the house and lot 66 South St. Paul street to Alex.
Easton for $10,500.
1867 "Water Works," Rochester Union and Advertiser, December 18, 1867, Page 2. Description of Henrietta Reservoir in letter from Mayor Henry L. Fish.
1868 "Water
for Rochester," Rochester Union and Advertiser, February 4,
1868, Page 2.
We find that every contract and arrangement have been completed for making
the large conduit that will convey the water from the Lake to great
reservoir in Henrietta, and thence to the distributing mains in the
city. The lumber for this conduit is being sawed at Gulick's mill,
in Ontario Co., at the rate of twenty thousand feet per day. The
terms called for will be employed to convey it from the mill to Blood's
Station, on the Erie Railway, from thence it will be brought here by cars
and made into pipes at an establishment on Warehouse street. The
pipes will be twenty-eight inches in diameter, made of staves sawed in the
right shape, and banded with iron, the whole to be covered with pitch and
tar. Several car loads of this lumber have already arrived and
preparations are made for turning out this pipe at the rate of a mile and
a quarter per week.
The trenches for the mains from the city to the lake are already half dug,
and some two hundred men are now digging daily. It is confidently
expected that water will be introduced to the city in four months from
this date.
1868 "Citizens' Water Works Meeting," Rochester Union and Advertiser, February 8, 1868, Page 2.
1868 "About the Water Works," Rochester Union and Advertiser, February 14, 1868, Page 2. Description of the works.
1868 "About Water Works," Rochester Union and Advertiser, February 20, 1868, Page 2.
1868 "An act to legalize the proceedings of the Rochester Water Works Company" and "An act to repeal certain acts in relation to the Rochester Water Works Company," Proceedings of the Rochester Common Council 1867-68, Pages 190-191, March 17, 1868.
1868 An act to ratify, legalize and confirm the proceedings of "The Rochester Water Works Company." April 16, 1868
1868 Cleveland Leader,
July 6, 1868, Page 1.
Friday morning, while a team was drawing a load of the wood pipe for the
Rochester water works, on Exchange street, near the Genesee Valley Depot,
one of the rear wheels gave out and down tumbled the pipe, rolling into
the gutter. In the topmost one lay the driver, who was rolled over
and over against his will, and with no possible idea of where he was
going. He crawled out and views the situation, shook himself to see
if no bones were broken, and then indulged in a hearty laugh at the
accident. The team very sensibly stood still, awaiting further
orders.
1868 New York Herald,
July 27, 1868, Page 6.
Avon Springs, N.Y., Mr. Easton, of Rochester, is also the possessor of
four bays, which he harnesses to a double barouche.
1868 "First Mortgage Seven Per Cent. Bonds of the Rochester Water Works Co. For Sale Below Par.," The Evening Telegraph (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), July 30, 1868, Page 6.
1868 "First Mortgage Seven Per Cent. Bonds of the Rochester Water Works Co. for Sale at 87½.," The Evening Telegraph (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), September 7, 1868, Page 5.
1868 "Chief Engineer's Report, by Daniel Marsh, July 31, 1868," The Daily Evening Telegraph, September 3, 1868, Page 5.
1868 "Real Estate Sale,"
Rochester
Union and Advertiser, September 15, 1868, Page 2-3.
Lorenzo A. Easton has sold the Reservoir premises in Henrietta to
Christopher Quinn. Consideration $3,863.40.
1868 "Rochester Water Works," Rochester Union and Advertiser, December 7, 1868, Page 2.
1868 "Rochester
City Water Works, Report of Messrs. W. Milner Roberts and John C.
Trautwine on the Rochester Water Works, October 1868," Rochester
Union & Advertiser, December 9, 1868, Page 1. Roberts
and Trautwine
were well-known engineers.
The construction presents one feature which at first sight would create an
unfavorable impression, but which was rendered imperative by the small
amount of means available for the work. I allude to the use of a
wooden main instead of a cast iron one, for carrying the water about
twenty-five miles from Richmond Mills to the city, together with an
interval of about two miles of sixteen-inch main of double-riveted and
soldered galvanized sheet-iron. This last was substituted for wood
on account of its superior strength on that portion of the line at which
the pressure of the water is the greatest. The wooden main is in
sections of about sixteen feet in length, and is formed of staves of pine
or hemlock two inches thick, carefully prepared by machinery. They
are twenty-four inches in diameter at the down stream end and twenty-eight
inches at the upstream end. They are strongly banded with wrought
iron hoops one quarter of an inch thick by from one and one half to two
inches wide, and tightly driven at intervals of from one to two feet apart
according to the strain brought upon them by the pressure of the
water. They are thoroughly coated outside with warm tar. Owing
to the completeness of the machinery at the work shop, and to the
systematic course of proceeding, these pipes are prepared with such
rapidity that a mile in length of them can readily be furnished in a
week. Both the wooden pipe and those of galvanized iron have been
subjected to thorough tests to prove their entire adequacy so far as
strength is concerned. As to their durability we must, of course,
rely upon the results of experience elsewhere for forming an opinion.
About thirteen miles, or one-half of the entire length of the wooden main,
has already been laid, extending from near the city southward, also many
crossings of natural streams and canals throughout the line. The
crossings are all buried below the bottoms or beds of the channels, the
pipes follow the undulations of the ground. All the pipes laid in
the city itself, are of cast-iron, and very in diameter from four to
sixteen inches.
1868 Rochester Water Works Company share certificate, 30 shares of $50 each for Richard W. C. Merrington, December 16, 1868. John Williams, President. Darius Perrin, Treasurer. Capital $800,000. | back |
1869 Rochester
Water Works Loan bond certificate, $1,000 gold bond, May 1, 1869 | back | coupons
|
Interest six per cent., payable in gold coin. Andrew J. Wilkin,
President; Richard W. C. Merington, Secretary.
1869 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1869-70, Page 88, June 2, 1869.
By Ald. Qualtrough - Whereas, The Rochester Water Works Company have
determined to take water for the supply and of our city at a point above
Honeoye Outlet thereby render it certain that we shall obtain the pure
water of Hemlock and Canadice Lakes; therefore,
Resolved, That the Board of Common Council of the city of Rochester, will
heartily co-operate with the said Rochester Water Works Co. in the
construction and completion of said works. Adopted.
1869 Report
to the Water Commissioners upon a Better Supply of Water for the City
of Harrisburg, by Henry Peter Miller Birkenbine, August, 1869.
Page 23: 6. Gravitation Supply from Manada Creek; Wood Pipe Conduit
The aqueduct contemplated by the above estimate would be of the most
durable and permanent character, and would be of ample dimensions to
furnish 10,000,000 gallons per day. While it is the duty of an engineer to
recommend the best and most reliable means of accomplishing an object, yet
in this country, where so much is required of our comparatively small
means, he may be excused for presenting plans which in older countries,
where labor is cheap and money is plenty, would be improper. Water may be
brought from the Manada by a much cheaper but not so reliable a method as
the aqueduct. The city of Rochester, N. Y., is about conveying water from
a stream about as far from that city as the dam proposed in the “Gap" is
from Harrisburg; for this purpose a wooden pipe, made of staves and hooped
with iron, is being constructed. The pipe is 24 inches in diameter.
A line of wooden pipe several miles long, made in a similar manner, has
been in use for a number of years, feeding the Union canal.
To convey 4,000,000 gallons per day into the proposed reservoir, with a
head of 40 feet 6 inches, (the difference of level of the proposed dam and
reservoir,) will require a pipe 30 inches in diameter, made of 2½ inch
planking. The number and strength of the hoops will depend upon the
.pressure upon the pipes, and will vary accordingly. The line of this pipe
will be about a mile shorter than the aqueduct. It would cost, laid in the
ground, about $12,500.00 a mile. In this estimate, the lumber is taken at
$40 per 1,000 feet, the use. of machinery for working out staves $10 a
day. Iron hoops, 12½ cents per pound; skilled labor, $2.50 per day, and
navvies, $1.75 per day.
This pipe, well covered, will last about 15 years; repairs would
undoubtedly be required, particularly in hoops giving way, but in
estimating its value it will be considered as worthless after that time.
It would most probably be too small to meet the demands of the city 15
years hence, if renewal was not necessary.
It is generally true economy to construct all public works and especially
those connected with the water supply of a city, in the most substantial
and permanent manner. The better policy, is, therefore, to make all
improvements of a permanent character, even if the cost should at first be
burdensome.
Estimate of Cost.
Fourteen miles of pipe at $12,500 ...... . ........ $175,000
Land damages and all incidental expenses . .. . . . 5, 000
$180,000
1869 "We Have for Sale Six Per Cent. Gold Bonds of the Rochester Water Works Co.," The Evening Telegraph (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), September 7, 1869, Page 6.
1869 "The Water Works," Rochester Union and Advertiser, September 17, 1869, Page 2. Continuing construction of water works.
1869 "The Water Question," Rochester Union and Advertiser, November 5, 1869, Page 2-2. Lack of funds, work suspended
1869 "The Water Question," Rochester Union and Advertiser, November 6, 1869, Page 2-2. Editorial and special meeting of the Common Council.
1869 Proceedings
of the Rochester Common Council 1869-70
Pages 229-230: November 5-6, 1869. Special
Meeting on Water Works
The original contract with Alexander Easton has been abandoned, and a new
contract made with Frederick Easton, who is now in Europe, but who,
previous to his departure, executed a power to attorney to Alexander
Easton to prosecute the work for him. Alexander Easton subsequently
executed a power to attorney to Richard Merrington, who is now prosecuting
the work under the authority thus delegated to him.
1869 Rochester
Union and Advertiser, November 7, 1869, Page 2-2.
Mr. Trautwine, engineer for the bondholders of the Rochester Water Works
Co., left for New York last night. He has been here making an
examination of the work to report to his employers. He has nothing
to do with the company or construction.
1869 Proceedings
of the Rochester Common Council 1869-70
Page 237, November 30, 1869. Water for
Fire Protection
1869 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1869-70
Page 239, November 30, 1869. "Report
from Bond Holders of the Rochester Water Works Company
1869 Act of incorporation and reports of the Rochester Water Works Company. New-York: George F. Nesbitt & Co., Printers. 1869. 8vo, pp. 38. No copy of this has been found.
1870 "Report on the feasibility of furnishing the county buildings with water," The Brockport Republic, January 20, 1870, Pages 3 & 4. Recommends installation of a Holly pumping engine on the Genesee River to supply water to the county buildings.
1870 The
Brockport Republic, January 27, 1870, Page 4.
Monroe County Board of Supervisors. Mr. Wilkin, representing the Rochester
Water Works Company, addressed the board in reference to that company's
furnishing water to the county institutions.
1870 The
Brockport Republic, February 3, 1870, Page 3.
Monroe County Board of Supervisors. The special order of business for this
hour, viz., the consideration of the report of the water works committee,
was brought before the board, and after listening to the remarks of Hon.
H. R. Selden, who represented the Rochester water works company, the
further consideration was, on the motion of Mr. Montgomery, postponed
until the next meeting of the board.
1870 Act
of incorporation and reports of the Rochester Water Works Company.
: Financial Agents for the sale of the Bonds, Utley & Dougherty,
Bankers & Brokers. E.S. Dodge & Co, Printers. February,
1870.
Page 26: May, 1869 - Andrew J. Wilkin, President; Richard W.
Merington, Secretary
1870 "Gold
Loan of the Rochester Water Works Company,"
New York Evening Post, February 12, 1870, Page 3.
Each Bond Represents Completed Work.
The Bonds of the Rochester Water Works Company will inevitably take rank
with and command the price of the best Water Bonds in the country, and the
opportunity to secure at the low rate we are now offering them at one that
should commend itself to those seeking a safe, secure, local investment.
The main Pipe is now within three miles of Rochester, and it is estimated
that an expenditure of less than $50,000 will bring the water to the city,
and supply eight miles of Distribution Pipe, already laid in its principal
streets.
1870 Buffalo
Morning Express, May 25, 1870, Page 4.
The following officers were elected by the Rochester Water Works Company a
few night since: President, Hon. Henry R. Selden; Vice President,
A.J. Wilkin; Secretary and Treasurer, W.H. McRae; Directors, Edward M.
Smith, F.L. Durand, General John Williams, James L. Hathaway, William R.
Utley, J.C. Winslow, George Shelton, Daniel Marsh.
1870 The
Rochester Directory, July 1, 1870
Page 291: Rochester Water Works Company - Incorporated 1852; Capital
$800,000. Offices, Main street corner S. St. Paul. President,
Henry R. Selden; Vice President, A. J. Wilkin; Secretary and Treasurer, W.
H. McRae; Chief Engineer, Daniel Marsh; Directors, Henry R. Selden, A. J.
Wilkin, W. H. McRae, Edward M. Smith, F. L. Durand, John Williams, James
L. Hathaway, William R. Utley, I.C. Winslow, George Shelton, Daniel
Marsh. Annual meeting in May.
1870 "Water Works," Rochester Union and Advertiser, September 24, 1870, Page 2. Compliments from Honeoye Falls correspondent on the progress of the Rochester Water Works.
1870 The
New York Times, September 27, 1870, Page 1.
Rochester, Sept. 26.- The last conduct pipe of the Rochester water-works
was laid today, making a complete line of seventeen miles from Smithton
Creek to Rochester.
1870 Complete Notes of City Pipe, Rochester water works showing street connections, hydrants, gates and service connections, with diagrams of sections of streets, November 1, 1870. Drawn by Horace Jones, Sur., Rochester, New York. Many thanks to Anna Raykovska for copying this book with her cell phone camera at the New York Historical Society Library.
1870 The
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, November 8, 1870, Page 4.
The laying of the pipe for the Rochester water-works has been completed,
making a line of seventeen miles.
1870 The
Brockport Republic, November 10, 1870, Page 1.
Monroe County Board of Supervisors. Annual Session. Thursday, Oct. 12,
1870. A communication was received from W. H. McRae, Secretary of
the Rochester Water Works Company, announcing that the Company was now
prepared to let on the water, and asking the Board to appoint a committee
to confer with them as to the rates and amount of water required.
By Mr. Montgomery - Resolved, That the respective chairmen of the
committees on penitentiary, Alms House, Insane Asylum and Court House and
Jail, be requested to ascertain and report when and upon what terms water
for the county institutions can be obtained from the Rochester Water Works
Company, and that the communication just read be referred to them.
Adopted.
1871 Rochester Water-Works Company Agt. John Wood, January Term, 1871, New York Supreme Court, Fourth Department
1871 Rochester Water Works Co. v. Wood, 60 Barb. 137, January 2, 1871, New York Supreme Court | also here |
1871 "Water for Rochester," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 3, 1871, Page 4. Text of bill introduced by George D. Lord naming five water commissioners that would serve unlimited terms, with any vacancies filled by the Common Council. The plan of the commissioners would be subject to approval by local voters.
1871 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1870-71
Page 291: March 21, 1871. Common Council
Protest against proposed Act to Create a Board of Water Commissioners.
1871 "The Water Bill," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, April 18, 1871, Page 4. Letter from "Tax-payer" and comments.
1871 Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle, April 25, 1871, Page 4.
The Water Bill was recalled from the hands of the governor by Senator
Lord, after it had passed both houses of the legislature, at the instance
of the Citizens Association, an organization composed of many of our
largest tax-payers. We trust that the Water Works Company will now
push their enterprise with the utmost dispatch. The bill which was
abandoned was very defective: but that affords no reason for our city to
be deficient of pure water.
1871 "To
Holders of Rochester Water-Works Company Bonds," New York
Tribune, April 28, 1871, Page 7.
At the request of Utley & Dougherty, the holders of the bonds of this
Company are respectfully requested to meet at the Office of Utley,
Dougherty & Scott, 11 Wall-st, on Saturday, next, April 20, at 12
o'clock m. W. H. McRae, Secretary and Treasurer R. Water-Works Co.
1871 The
Rochester Directory, July 1, 1871
Page 291: Rochester Water Works Company - Incorporated 1852; Capital
$800,000. Offices, Main street corner S. St. Paul. President,
Henry R. Selden; Vice President, A. J. Wilkin; Secretary and Treasurer, W.
H. McRae; Chief Engineer, Daniel Marsh; Directors, Henry R. Selden, A. J.
Wilkin, W. H. McRae, Edward M. Smith, F. L. Durand, John Williams, James
L. Hathaway, William R. Utley, I.C. Winslow, George Shelton, Daniel
Marsh. Annual meeting in May.
1871 "Water
Works Company - Legal Proceedings," Rochester
Union & Advertiser, August 17, 1871, Page 2.
It is said that the President of the Water Works company was yesterday
served with the necessary papers to immediately show cause in court why a
receiver or superintendent should not be appointed in behalf of the
plaintiffs, the Union Trust Co. of New York, which has loaned the company,
it is said, the sum of $800,000, taking as property a mortgage on the
property in part. It is also said that the plaintiffs seek to have
their mortgage cover the whole of the property of the company, right of
way, pipes, reservoirs, &c.
If the application for the appointment of a superintendent is successful
the Trust Company, it is reported, will at once proceed to complete the
works.
1871 "Rochester Water-Works," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, August 18, 1871, Page 4.
1871 Proceedings
of the Rochester Common Council 1871-72, Page 165, August 22,
1871.
LOCKPORT, Aug. 23d, 1871.
N. A. Stone, Esq., Alderman, Rochester, N. Y.:
In reply to your letter of inquiry, whether it is practicable to supply
your city with water from Lake Ontario by the Holly system, I beg to state
that this company has contract for machinery for the water supply and fire
protection of Atlanta, Ga. The machinery will be set up four miles distant
and 300 feet below the city. In the contract we guarantee to supply at
that elevation and sixty feet in addition for household purposes. We also
guarantee to throw fire streams direct from hydrants at the altitude of
300 feet above the pumps. This, you will observe, is substantially the
requirement for Rochester, and what we can do in Atlanta we can most
assuredly perform in your city.
The question of the cost of the machinery cannot be answered without more
definite information than I possess upon many points which affect the
question.
This company will be happy to respond to the call of Rochester for water,
and meanwhile I am, very respectfully yours,
T. T. FLAGLER, President.
1871 "Rochester Water Works Company," Democrat and Chronicle, September 12, 1871, Page 4. Report of receiver appointed to sell company.
1871 "The Water Works Company," Rochester Union & Advertiser, October 3, 1871, Page 2. Bondholders taking steps to foreclose.
1871 Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle, October 17, 1871, Page 4
Rochester Water Works.- The undersigned is authorized by the board and
stockholders of the Rochester water works company to receive proposals
from any responsible parties to complete the work required to convey water
from Honeoye creek to the city of Rochester.
Proposals directed to the undersigned, at 29 North Fitzhugh street,
Rochester. Dr. D. M. Shipman
1871 The
New York Times, October 27, 1871, Page 6.
The Union Trust Company of New-York vs. The Rochester Water Works
Company. Judgment of foreclosure and sale.
1871 The
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 30, 1871, Page 4.
Baylis - Mr. B.H. Bayliss, of this city, has need a large professional
plumb for a young lawyer. We observe that he is referee of the
Monroe County, N.Y., Supreme Court in the matter of the Rochester Water
Works Company, which involves a matter of seven or eight hundred thousand
dollars worth of bonds and other valuable property.
1871 Report by McRee Swift to the stockholders of the Rochester Water Works Company, December 2, 1871. No copy of this report has been found, but excerpts were reprinted in the 1884 history by Tubbs.
1871 "The Water Question," Rochester Union & Advertiser, December 9, 1871, Page 2.
1871 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1871-72, Page 258, December 12, 1871.
By Ald. Stone-Resolved, That the following citizens be requested to act as
a committee: Isaac Butts, H. B. Knapp, William S. Thompson, D. W. Powers,
George G. Cooper, P. Barry, William N. Sage, Henry Churchill, John H.
Brewster, Thomas Parsons, whose duty shall be to investigate the present
plan to supply the city with water, and especially to examine the Holley
or any other system, which shall look to bringing the water from Lake
Ontario, and they are hereby authorized to incur what expense may be
necessary to present the matters in some tangible shape for the
consideration of this Common Council, and a public meeting of our
citizens, if they shall deem the same advisable. Adopted.
1871 "Meeting of the Water Works Committee," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, December 20, 1871, Page 4.
1871 Auburn
Daily Bulletin, December 21, 1871, Page 1.
A Hint for the Water Works Co. - Rochester is agitating the question of
introducing the Holly system of Water Works.
1872 Democrat
and Chronicle, January 9, 1872, Page 3.
The Union Trust Company of New York vs. The Rochester Water Works
Company. Public auction on 12th day of December, 1871.
Postponed to 9th day of January, 1872.
1872 "Rochester Water
Works," Rochester Union and Advertiser, January 9, 1872, Page 2.
Sold at auction to T. B. Rowe (New York) for $20,000.
1872 Democrat
and Chronicle, January 10, 1872, Page 4.
Water Works Sold.-- A. K. Amsden knocked down the water works property
yesterday to T. B. Rand of New York for $20,500. This is cheap
property. The iron pipes would realize a much larger sum, not to say
anything about the reservoir property.
1872 "Report of the Water Works Committee,"Proceedings of the Common Council, 1871-1872, Pages 286-290 , January 30, 1872.
1872 "Report of the Water Works Committee," Democrat and Chronicle, January 31, 1872, Page 4.
1872 Rochester
Union and Advertiser, February 17, 1872, Page 2.
The water famine continues in certain parts of the city, where the wells
are dry and the cisterns empty. Never before was there such a
scarcity of water in this city. We do not hear that anything is
being done to relieve the distress.
1872 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1871-1872, Pages 334-335, March 12,
1872
By Ald. Stone - Resolved, That Issac Butts, Patrick Barry, D. W. Powers,
John H. Brewster, Henry Churchill, W. S. Thompson, H. B. Knapp, Thomas
Parsons, G. G. Cooper and William N. Sage be and are hereby authorized to
organize a company, which shall be known as the Rochester Water Works
Company, for the purpose of building and constructing water works for the
supply of this city; and they are hereby permitted to lay their pipes in
any street, lane, alley or public square, and this Common Council covenant
and agree to pay them the same amount for parks, public buildings
and hydrants as what stipulated to the old Water Works Company, the said
works to be built in accordance with the report submitted to this Board
January 30, 1872.
And it is further stipulated that no money shall be paid by the Common
Council to the said company until the introduction of water into the city
buildings, and an ample supply for fire purposes.
And the Attorney is directed to prepare an act to be sent to the
Legislature authorizing this board to raise all necessary funds for the
above purposes.
Ald. Stone moved to table under the next regular meeting. Carried.
1872 "The Water Question Again," Rochester Union and Advertiser, March 13, 1872, Page 2.
1872 Journal
of the Assembly of the State of New York, Volume 1, Page 653,
March 13, 1872.
Mr. G. D. Lord introduced a bill entitled "An act to supply the city of
Rochester with pure and wholesome water," which was read the first time,
and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to
the committee on the affairs of cities.
1872 "The Water Question," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 14, 1872, Page 4.
1872 "Hard
versus Soft Water," Rochester Union & Advertiser, March
19, 1872, Page 2-5
Since the water question is before Rochester now, the UA has printed a
table showing the use of soft and hard water in certain English and
Scottish towns
1872 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1871-1872, Page 348, March 20, 1872
By Ald. Stone - Resolved, That the Engineer or the Superintendent of the
Rochester Water Works Company be requested to communicate to this Common
Council, at its next meeting, their plans and purposes in reference to
bringing water from Hemlock Lake, and how soon their intend to accomplish
that end; and the Clerk of this Board is directed to furnish them with a
copy of this resolution. Adopted.
1872 "The
Way to Supply Rochester with Water from Lake Ontario," Rochester
Union & Advertiser, March 23, 1872, Page 2-3
Letter to editor on probable way of conducting water from Lake Ontario to
Rochester
1872 "Sensible
Remarks," Rochester Union & Advertiser, March 23, 1872,
Page 2-6
Item on preference of Genesee water to that of Honeoye and Hemlock Lake
outlets.
1872 "What
We Drink," Rochester Union & Advertiser, March 25, 1872,
Page 2-1
Many hotels and boarding houses are now using Genesee river water
1872 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1871-1872
Pages 352-353, March 26, 1872 March 25,
1872 letter from Lucien Birdseye, counsel for Thomas B. Rand, owner
of the Rochester Water Works Company,
1872 "Report on Laminated Wood Pipe," February 10, 1872, Proceedings of the Rochester Common Council 1871-72, Page 353, March 26, 1872.
1872 "A
Water Commission," Rochester Union & Advertiser, March
28, 1872, Page 2-1
A bill has been Introduced in the-Assembly to create a water commission
1872 "The
Water of the Genesee," Rochester Union & Advertiser,
April 6, 1872, Page 2-5
Item on Genesee River as drinking water-
1872 "The
Rochester 'Water Works' Again," Rochester Union and Advertiser,
April 19, 1872, Page 2-5
Letter about Hemlock Lake watershed
1872 An act to supply the city of Rochester with pure and wholesome water. April 27, 1872.
1872 "The Water Works Commission," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, April 29, 1872, Page 4. Includes short biographical details of the five water commissioners appointed by the Mayor.
1872 "Water Works," Rochester Union & Advertiser, April 29, 1872, Page 2.
1872 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1872-1873, Page 39, April 30, 1872.
MAYOR'S OFFICE, ROCHESTER, N. Y., April 29, 1872.
William F. Morrison, Esq., City Clerk:
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 387 of the Laws of 1872, passed
April 27th, I do by virtue of the power thereby vested in me designate and
appoint as Commissioners under said Act for supplying the city of
Rochester with pure and wholesome water, Roswell Hart, for the period of
five (5) years; Edward M. Smith, for the period of four (4) years; William
H. Bowman, for the period of three (3) years; Charles C. Morse, for the
period of two (2) years, and Gilman H. Perkins, for the period of one (1)
year. Respectfully yours.
A. CARTER WILDER, Mayor.
Ordered received, filed and published.
1872 "The
Water Works Commission," Rochester Union & Advertiser,
May 6, 1872, Page 2-5
Water works commission send circular to Mayors of cities for information
on water works
1872 Rochester Union
and Advertiser, May 9, 1872, Page 2.
The Water Commission has engaged J. Nelson Tubbs as engineer and Gen. I.
F. Quinby as consulting engineer, gentlemen qualified to discharge the
duties that will devolve upon them.
1872 Democrat
and Chronicle, May 11, 1872, Page 1.
The Legislature - Mr. Lord Introduced a bill to incorporate the Rochester
water works company.
1872 "Water Works," Democrat and Chronicle, May 13, 1872, Page 4. Excursion of the new water commissioners to Smithtown, Hemlock Lake, etc. The pressure burst the pipe in many places.
1872 An
act to amend the several acts in relation to the city of Rochester.
May 20, 1872.
§ 22 to 27 relate to the water commissioners.
§ 26. The amount of the bonds of said city of Rochester, to be issued
under the provisions of this act, shall not exceed the sum of three
millions of dollars.
1872 "Another
Injunction," Rochester Union & Advertiser, May 24, 1872,
Page 2-2
Writ restraining Commission from further action obtained.
1872 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1872-1873
Pages 69-70: May 28, 1872. Memorial of
Thomas B. Rand proposing to enter into a water works contract.
1872 "Card from the Water Commissioners," Democrat and Chronicle, May 28, 1872, Page 4.
1872 "Take Care, Gentlemen," Democrat and Chronicle, May 29, 1872, Page 4. Cautions about dealing with the water works company.
1872 "A title no clearer than the water," Democrat and Chronicle, May 30, 1872, Page 4. Responds to claim by Thomas B. Rand that he has clear title to the old water works company.
1872 Proceedings
of the Rochester Common Council 1872-1873
Page 80: June 4, 1872. The President presented an injunction
issued by Judge Jerome Fuller, on complaint of the Water Works Commission.
1872 "Water works injunction," Democrat and Chronicle, June 5, 1872, Page 4. Includes details of the injunction.
1872 "Judge Fuller dissolves injunction restraining water commissioners," Democrat and Chronicle, June 5, 1872, Page 4.
1872 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1872-1873
Pages 86-90: June 11, 1872. "Draft
water supply contract between T. B. Rand & Co. and the City of
Rochester," June 10, 1872.
1872 Democrat
and Chronicle, June 12, 1872, Page 4.
In the general term of the supreme court now being held in Buffalo an
application to modify the injunction against the water works commissioners
was modified yesterday to allowing the latter to make surveys, etc., in
fact, they are allowed to do everything except issue bonds.
1872 "The Proposed Water Contract with T. B. Rand," Democrat and Chronicle, June 17, 1872, Page 4. | Part 2 |
1872 Rochester
Union & Advertiser, June 27, 1872, Page 2-2
Letter on drinking water and sources for it about Rochester
1872 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1872-1873
Page 125: July 23, 1872 "Proposal
of T. B. Rand & Co. to supply water for fire purposes from existing
pipes and hydrants."
1872 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1872-1873
Pages 138-139: July 30, 1872. "Draft
contract between Charles H. Simpkins, agent of T. B. Rand & Co. and
the City of Rochester, to supply water for fire from existing pipes and
hydrants," Includes a list of included pipes and hydrants that were
installed by the Rochester Water Works Company.
1872 "Water for Fire Purposes," Democrat and Chronicle, August 2, 1872, Page 4.
1872 "Rochester
Water Pipe for Salt Lake," Rochester Union & Advertiser,
August 22, 1872, Page 3.
Mr. T. McKean in town, having contracted with the Rochester Laminated Pipe
and Package Company for 21,000 feet of their Laminated Wood Pipe.
1872 Report to the Water Commissioners on the Chemical and Sanitary Quality of the Various Sources of Water Supply proposed for the City of Rochester, N. Y., September 2, 1872, by Samuel A. Lattimore, Professor of Chemistry in the University of Rochester.
1872 Rochester Union
& Advertiser, September 10, 1872, Page 2-2
Union and Advertiser favors Holly Company Machinery; shows defects of
present water supply
1872 "Communication from Water Works Committee," Democrat and Chronicle, September 13, 1872, Page 4. Pointed out that contract with water works company expired two years ago and that the existing pipes and hydrants are not in a condition to hold water and are poorly connected.
1872 "The
Assembly Question," Democrat and Chronicle, October 31,
1872, Page 4.
Citizen's Meeting at City Hall. Remarks of Chauncey Perry and John Van
Voorhis. Anti-Commission Resolutions. The Meeting Broken Up in Disorder by
the Partisans of George D. Lord. Deafening Medley of Yells, Groans,
Hisses, Shouts and Cries.
John Van Voorhis described how Lord would end up being the contractor on
the water works and fleece the city taxpayers.
1872 Rochester Union
& Advertiser, November 1, 1872, Page 2-5
Commissioner's indication of their plans and work done published
1872 Report of the Board of Water Commissioners, of the city of Rochester, to the mayor of the city of Rochester made Nov. 15, 1872. Includes Report of the Chief Engineer, J. Nelson Tubbs, October 31, 1872. | another copy (pdf) | and another copy |
1872 "Our Water Supply," Democrat and Chronicle, November 21, 1872, Page 4.
1872 "Legal
Intelligence," Daily Albany Argus, December 13, 1872, Page
2.
In Court of Appeals. Thursday, December 12. The city of
Rochester appt. agst Roswell Hart et al. respts.
1872 George H. Mumford and George J. Whitney, as Trustee of the Bondholders of the Rochester Water Works Company, Respondent, vs. The Union Trust Company of New York, Appellant, Case on Appeal, records and briefs | pdf |
1872 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1872-1873
Pages 264-267: Common Council meeting, December 31, 1872. Report of the Council Sub-Committee, appointed to
examine and report upon Water-Works, December 30, 1872.
Strongly recommends that water works be built and owned by a private
company.
Thos. C. Montgomery, A. Stern, Henry T. Rogers, Jesse Shepherd.
1873 "The Water Question - What Points are Settled and What Debatable?" letter by a Member of the Old Committee, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, January 7, 1873, Page 4.
1873 "Water,"
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, January 7, 1873, Page 4.
Response to the above letter.
1873 Journal
of the Assembly of the State of New York, Volume 1, Page 29,
January 8, 1873.
Mr. Fish ... introduced a bill entitled "An act to repeal an act entitled
'An act to supply the city of Rochester with pure and wholesome water,'
passed April 27, 1872," which was read the first time, and by unanimous
consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on
the affairs of cities."
1873 "Rochester Water
Company," New York World, January 15, 1873, Page 8.
Mr. D.P. Wood, of the Twenty-second district, introduced a bill to
incorporate the Rochester Water Company, with James C. Ayer, Joseph H.
Ely, H.C.Southwick and others as directors, the capital stock of the
company to be $1,000,000, with the privilege of increasing it to
$3,000,000, to be raised by the sale of shares at $100 each. Referred to
the Committee on Cities.
1873 The City of Rochester, Appellant, v. Roswell Hart, et al., Respondents, 52 N.Y. 621, January 21, 1873. Court of Appeals of the State of New York
1873 "The Water Works Commission Sustained," Democrat and Chronicle, January 22, 1873, Page 4.
1873 "Water
Works Commission," Democrat and Chronicle, January 25, 1873,
Page 4. | part 2
|
Opinion of Judge Peckham in the Court of Appeals Decision, in Favor of the
Commissioners.
1873 "The Water Works Question," Democrat and Chronicle, February 5, 1873, Page 2.
1873 "The
New Member of the Water Commission," Democrat and Chronicle,
February 7, 1873, Page 2.
Pliny M. Bromley appointed to replaced Edward M. Smith, resigned.
1873 "Anti-Commission Meeting," Democrat and Chronicle, February 18, 1873, Page 4.
1873 Daily Albany
Argus, February 20, 1873, Page 2.
Legislature of New York. Bills introduced. Mr. Fish, to incorporate the
Rochester Water Works Company.
1873 "A Plain Statement of the Water Question," Democrat and Chronicle, March 6, 1873, Page 4.
1873 "Rochester Board of Water Commissioners Request for Proposals", Democrat and Chronicle, March 10, 1873, Page 1.
1873 "Water
Power Wanted," Democrat and Chronicle, March 13, 1873, Page
4.
Water power on one of the mill races in this city for the purpose of
operating the Holly system of water works.
1873 "Petition to the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Rochester," Democrat and Chronicle, March 17, 1873, Page 4.
1873 "The Spectator on raising fire insurance rates," Democrat and Chronicle, March 21, 1873, Page 2.
1873 Democrat
and Chronicle, March 24, 1873, Page 4.
The water works commissioners, by their counsel, William F.
Cogswell, have made a motion in the United States supreme court to
discharge the writ of error granted in behalf of the city, represented by
the city attorney. The hearing of arguments on this motion has been set
down for April 4th. A motion for an injunction upon the commission has
been made by City Attorney Shepherd, and this will be argued and decided
at the same time.
1873 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1872-73
Page 331: April 1, 1873 Proposed Bill to be submitted to the
legislature- An act to provide for
submitting the repeal of Chapters 387 and 771 of the Laws of 1872 to the
electors of the city of Rochester.
1873 "Citizens' Association," Democrat and Chronicle, April 7, 1873, Page 4.
1873 "The Contract Awarded for the Construction of Water Works--Abstract of the Specifications and Contracts," Democrat and Chronicle, April 14, 1873, Page 4. Contract award to James McDonald, Wellsboro Falls, Essex County.
1873 "Rochester
Water Works," Daily Albany Argus, April 14, 1873, Page 2.
The contract for the building of water works for the city of Rochester has
been let, and the name of the contractor is not George D. Lord. List
of bidders.
1873 "United
States Supreme Court," Daily Morning Chronicle (Washington,
D.C.), April 19, 1873, Page 4.
Friday, April 18, 1873. On motion of Mr. J. C. Cochrane, Jesse
Shepherd, Esq., of Rochester, N. Y. was admitted to practice as an
attorney and counselor in this court.
No. 659. The City of Rochester, plaintiff in error, vs. Roswell Hart
et al. The motion to dismiss this cause was submitted on printed arguments
by Mr. W. F. Cogswell, in support of the same, and by Mr. James C.
Cochrane in opposition, there go.
No. 659. The City of Rochester, plaintiff in error, vs. Roswell Hart
et al. The motion for an injunction in this cause was argued by Mr. James
C. Cochran in support of the same, and by Mr. W. F. Cogswell in opposition
thereto.
1873 "United
States Supreme Court," Daily Morning Chronicle (Washington,
D.C.), May 2, 1873, Page 4.
Thursday, May 1. No. 659. The City of Rochester, plaintiff in error,
vs. Roswell Hart et al. In error to the Supreme Court of the State
of New York. Mr. Chief Justice Case announced the decision of the
court, denying the motion for injunction in this cause, and continuing the
motion to dismiss until next term.
1873 "Death of Daniel
Marsh," Rochester
Union and Advertiser, May 19, 1873, Page 2.
An old citizen of Rochester, Daniel Marsh, died; on Saturday at his
residence on South Avenue at the age of 73 years. In the earlier part of
his life Mr. Marsh was a school teacher and later a civil engineer, at
times employed on the canals and railroads. In 1856 he was City
Surveyor. For a number of years he was connected with the Rochester
Water Work Company, when the wooden pipes were laid by Mr. Easton. He was
in feeble health for months before his death. Mr. Marsh was an
honorable man and respected by his fellow citizens.
1873 Proceedings
of the Common Council of the City of Rochester 1873-74
Page 32: May 20, 1873. The legal proceedings now pending in the
United States Court between the city of Rochester and the Water
Commissioners can be productive of but one result -- an increased
expenditure for useless litigation; and I therefore respectfully recommend
that the City Attorney be instructed to withdraw and discontinue all
pending proceedings. A. C. Wilder, Mayor, May 8, 1873.
Council adopted a resolution to that effect by a vote of 16-11.
1873 "Common
Council," Democrat and Chronicle, May 21, 1873, Page 4.
Resolution Adopted to Discontinue the Litigation Against the Water
Commissioners.
1873 Proceedings
of the Common Council of the City of Rochester 1873-74
Page 38: May 23, 1873. Special meeting requested by eight
Aldermen. Reconsideration of the vote on the resolution ordering the
discontinuance of the suit now pending in the Supreme Court of the United
States, between the City of Rochester, plaintiff in error, and Roswell
Hart and others, defendants in error. Carried by a vote of 14-12.
1873 "The Mains of the old Water Works Company," Democrat and Chronicle, May 28, 1873, Page 4.
1873 Proceedings
of the Common Council of the City of Rochester 1873-74
Page 44: June 3, 1873. Gentlemen: Having recommended and
approved the action of your honorable body in ordering a discontinuance of
the suit pending before the United States Court between the City of
Rochester and the Water Commission, the resolution adopted by the Common
Council, May 23d, 1873, considering its first action is hereby returned
without my approval. A. Carter Wilder, Mayor.
1873 Democrat
and Chronicle, June 4, 1873, Page 4.
Work was begun yesterday on the lot near the foot of Brown's race,
purchased by the board of water commissioners, for the erection of Holley
water works. A building will be forthwith erected for the machinery for
conveying water from the river through the city for fire purposes. This
machinery is now in process of making at the works of the Holley company
at Lockport. George H. Thompson & Co. have the management of the
matter, and it will doubtless be pushed forward to a speedy completion.
1873 An act to define and restrict the powers of the board of water commissioners of the city of Rochester. June 13, 1873.
1873 Commercial
and Financial Chronicle 16():850 (June 28, 1873)
Messrs. Robinson, Chase & Co., bankers, 18 Broad street, are offering
to investors a choice security in the City of Rochester 7 per cent gold
bonds. They run thirty years, interest is payable January and July, and
they can be had at par until July 1st, after which interest will be added.
The bonds are authorized by act of the Legislature, April 27, 1872. This
loan should not be confounded with the Rochester Water Works bonds, which
were offered here some months since, but were in no sense an obligation of
the city, having been issued by a private company, which has since
suspended operations. Rochester has now determined to build and own its
water works, and the above-mentioned loan is issued for the purpose of
construction, &c. The city has over 75,000 inhabitants, with a real
estate valuation of over $70,000,000, which is assessed for but
$14,000,000. Its total indebtedness, exclusive of this loan, is but
$1,838,400.
1873 "Notice
to Laborers," Democrat and Chronicle, June 30, 1873, Page 1.
I will pay two dollars for ten hours' work for good men from and including
July 1, 1873, on the reservoir in the Town of Rush, ten miles south of
Rochester. Two Hundred and Fifty Good Men Wanted. Pay days
twice a month. Jas. McDonald, Rochester Water Works Contractor.
1873 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1873-1874
Pages 64-66: July 7, 1873. Report
of the Board of Water Commissioners," July 1, 1873, | Also
printed in Democrat
and Chronicle, July 7, 1873, Page 3.|
1873 "Rochester
Water Company," Rochester
Union and Advertiser, August 20, 1873, Page 2.
Thomas S. Rand purchased a corporation under mortgage; sells its
franchises, privileges easements rights and liberties (of the Old Water
Co.) and formed the Rochester Water Co. with a capital of $800,000.
His associates are Edwin Hoyt, Wm. G. Lambert, Isaac H. Knox, Lucien
Blrdseye, John P. Roberts, H. B. Clafflin, Charles H. Simpkins, Wm. A.
Parke, C. F. Skinner, and Fred A. Whittlesey.
1873 "The Water Pipe Question," Rochester Union & Advertiser, August 22, 1873, Page 2. These pipes were patented in 1869 and widely advertised for a short time. The material was a lower grade of Britannia metal. Despite its claims, it was found to cause lead poisoning in Sacramento in 1872, which was reported in the Boston Journal of Science.
1873 Rochester
Union and Advertiser, August 23, 1873, Page 2.
The first street pipe was laid this morning by the Water Works
commission. It was laid at Goodman Street on Monroe Avenue,
beginning at the city line and running citywards on the avenue. The
pipe will be laid ahead of the improvement now in progress.
1873 "The Rochester Water Works. A Review of the Progress of the Work -- Everything Satisfactory," Rochester Union and Advertiser, August 23, 1873, Page 2.
1873 "The
Water-Works Ring," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, October
23, 1873, Page 2.
What is the commission? We answer that it is owned, body and bones,
by George D. Lord.
1873 "The
Defence," Democrat and Chronicle, October 27, 1873, Page 2.
The water-works commission has published no less than two separate
documents in its own defence.
1873 "The
Democrat's Water Works Gabble," Rochester
Union and Advertiser, October 27, 1873, Page 3.
The Democrat charges that Water Works Commissioners are merely the tools
of Lord, who is superintendent for the contractor, Mr. MacDonald.
1873 "Has the Water Commission Violated the Law?" Democrat and Chronicle, October 29, 1873, Page 2.
1873 "The Water Works Bonds," Democrat and Chronicle, October 30, 1873, Page 2.
1873 "The
Holly Water Works Company," Democrat and Chronicle, December
30, 1873, Page 4. | Part
2 |
What is being done toward testing the pipes. A defective main
discovered.
1873 Sidney A. Newman v. Francis X. Beckwith Case on Appeal, John Van Voorhis, Quincy Van Voorhis and Walter L. Hyde against Alexander Easton. | pdf |
1873 First
annual report of the Board of Water Commissioners of the city of
Rochester to the Common Council made January 1st, 1874.
Includes Supplementary Report of the Chief Engineer, February 20, 1874,
describing the test of the Holly Water Works.
Pages 23-28: Discussion of wrought iron pipe and recommendation for
the Hemlock conduit, Such pipe had been successfully used in San
Francisco and Virginia City.
1874 Annual
Report of the American institute of the City of New York for the Year
1873
Pages 543-544: The Rochester Water Works. These works, constructed
on the system of Birdsall Holly, an inventor, residing in Lockport, N. Y.,
were recently subjected to an unprecedented test, and proved completely
efficient. The machinery consists of two sets of pumping engines, each
embracing four double acting cylinders 9 by 24 inches, and each set so
arranged as to suck and discharge at eight successive and equal points in
each revolution, thus giving uniformity to the flow of water. These pumps
which supply the mains for ordinary use are driven by the turbine wheels
under a pressure due to a height of 90 feet. The water is brought to the
city by an aqueduct from Hamlock lake. There are also four double acting
pumping engines with cylinders 10¼-by 24 inches, a 150 horse Holly rotary
engine and two Holly rotary pumps. The capacity of all is about 4,000,000
gallons per hour in the street mains during the 24 hours, and 3,000,000
gallons can be delivered extra, in the same time, by means of the steam
machinery. During the trial these works succeeded in throwing eight large
streams at once, to an average height of 135 feet. One two inch stream was
thrown 220 feet; one four inch stream was thrown 465 feet; one three inch
stream reached an altitude of 285; a four inch stream reached the height
of 287½ feet, and a vertical five inch stream was thrown 250½ and a
vertical five inch stream was thrown 250½ feet. These are astounding
results, but it is evident that these large streams would not be available
in conflagrations, for the current would demolish an ordinary building.
The practical use of the 30 smaller streams thrown at once to the height
of 135 feet, is beyond question, and the city of Rochester is supplied
with mechanical safeguards against fire which probably are not equaled in
efficiency by the water-works of any other city.
Mr. John W. Sutton — The great fault of the Holly system seems to me to be
this: it is always attached to the mains, of course, and the supply for
the buildings is taken out of the same mains. Consider the pressure upon
the plumbing work when the stream can be thrown 400 feet. The system may
be excellent for a fire, but is a poor system where buildings a,re to be
supplied with water at the same time.
The President — We have in Jersey City a pressure of over 100 feet head of
water always. The pressure can be lowered by the hydrants at any time, but
it can be easily raised.
Mr. Hudson — We must remember that all the plumbing of the city must be of
such a character as to sustain the highest pressure that can be used, or
it may give way.
1874 "The Holly Water Works at Rochester," Lockport Daily Journal, January 2, 1874, Page 2.
1874 "Our
Clyde Letter," Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle, January 14, 1874, Page 3.
Success of the Rochester water works.
1874 Rochester Union
& Advertiser, February 5, 1874, Page 2-7
Programme of the public exhibition of Holly power
1874 Programme of public exhibition of the Holly system water works at Rochester, N.Y., to take place Wednesday, February 18th, 1874.
1874 "Water,"
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, February 19, 1874, Page 4. | also
here
pdf |
Exhibition of the Holly Works.
1874 "Another
Triumph.," Lockport
Daily Journal, February 19, 1874, Page 4.
The Holly Water Works Test at Rochester Yesterday.
1874 "Cost of the Holly Water Works," by J. Nelson Tubbs, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 2, 1874, Page 4.
1874 Proceedings
of the Common Council of the City of Rochester 1873-74
Page 233: March 31st, 1874. Annual Report of the City Attorney of
the several causes now at issue and pending in the several courts of the
State of New York and the United States.
In the Supreme Court of the United States: The City of Rochester,
Plaintiff in Error, ag't Roswell Hart, et al. This is an action
against the Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Rochester in
Error, to the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
1874 Rules, regulations and water rates for Rochester Water Works, May 1, 1874.
1874 Buffalo
Evening Courier and Republic, June 12, 1874, Page
The laborers on the Rochester water-works struck Wednesday for an increase
of pay, the wages being $1 and $1.25. New men were engaged,
and the strikers made such demonstrations that the police were called out
in force and succeeded, after the arrest of several of the more
demonstrative, in preventing serious results.
1874 Troy Times,
June 18, 1874, Page 1.
A gang of laborers on the Rochester water works struck on Wednesday for
higher wages, and behaved in a turbulent manner, driving other men from
their employment, etc. The result is that the four ringleaders are in the
penitentiary for ten days each, and the rest of the men are working at
their old rate of wages.
1874 An
act to amend the several acts in relation to the city of Rochester.
June 26, 1874
§ 3. The board of water commissioners of the city of Rochester is hereby
authorized to issue bonds for the construction of water-works for said
city to an amount not exceeding three millions of dollars.
1874 Proceedings
of the Common Council of the City of Rochester, 1874-5
Page 63: June 16, 1874. By Ald. Bower - Resolved, that the suit of
the City of Rochester against Roswell Hart and others, now pending in the
Supreme Court of the United States, be and it hereby is discontinued; and
the City Attorney and the attorney of record for the city in that suit are
directed to execute a discontinuance of the suit, and to allow it to be
dismissed from the docket or the judgment below affirmed. Adopted by
the following vote 14-11.
1874 Rochester
Directory for the year commending July 1, 1874.
Pages 399-400: Water Rates
1874 Proceedings
of the Common Council of the City of Rochester 1874-75
Page 74-75: July 14, 1874. Gentlemen: The Law Committee, to
whom was referred the accounts of J. C. Cochrane, amounting to $4,500, for
services as attorney and counsel in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals,
and Supreme Court of the United States, in the case of the City of
Rochester against Roswell Hart and others, would respectfully report that,
from information secured by us, we find that Jesse Sheppard, late City
Attorney, was authorized to secure the services of Mr. Cochrane in this
suit.
The items in Mr. Cochrane's bill are herewith presented, amounting to
$4,500. Your committee suggested the sum of $2,500; that would
probably be satisfactory to this Board. Mr. Cochrane, in all of the
negotiations between us, has manifested a spirit of conciliation, and
finally indicated to us that, although he regarded the sum unreasonably
small, but as he did not wish any controversy on the subject, he would be
governed by the opinion of the Law Committee.
1874 "In
Common Council," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, August
28, 1874, Page 3.
Report of Water Commissioners, July 1, 1874. | also here
|
1874 Newman v. Beckwith, 61 N.Y. 205, September 5, 1874, Court of Appeals of the State of New York. | Records and Briefs | Case involving Alexander Easton and Rochester Water Works Company.
1874 Horner's
Rochester city guide and encyclopedia of useful knowledge.
Holly Water Works - This amount of power is, under ordinary circumstances,
amply sufficient, but, to provide against the contingency of low water or
accidents, a number of steam boilers are held in readiness to supply any
deficiency in the water power. The boilers are connected with engines,
thereby avoiding any delay in using them when required. A rotary steam
engine of 150 horsepower also fo1ms part of the available power; the
combined power of the steam engines is 450 horsepower, their pumping
capacity being guaranteed to be no less than 3,000,000 gallons in
twenty-four hours. The amount of water pipe already laid is about 15
miles, and the work of laying pipe is still in progress.
1874 Report of the Board of Water Commissioners of the city of Rochester to the Common Council of the city of Rochester, January 1st, 1875 | also here | and here |
1875 An act supplementary to an act passed May twentieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, entitled "An act to amend the several acts relating to the city of Rochester." February 26, 1875
1875 An act to amend an act entitled "An act to amend the several acts relating to the city of Rochester," passed May twentieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-two. March 3, 1875
1875 "The
Tweeds of Rochester," New York Times, March 29, 1875, Page
1. | also here |
"Old Jarve" and "George the Silent" - The Lord Family as Financiers and
Legislators - The Lord Water Works and Public Works Boards - A Swift Law
Swiftly Executed - Silencing Opposition - The Initiated Bribed and the
Honest Terrified - Bonds Issued in Excess of the Authorized Amount and
Sold Contrary to Law - The Interest Paid From the Proceeds of the Sale to
Avert the Rage of Outraged Taxpayers - Swindling in the Water Works
Contracts - George D. Lord, the Real Contractor, Signing On as the "Clerk"
of the Pretended Contractor. The Rochester Water-Works - A
Remarkable Record. Heading Off Outside Capitalists. Swift
Action on the New Law. Public Estimate of the Scheme. Creation of a
Board of Public Works. Stifling the Voice of the Citizens. How
the "Commission" used their Power. How George "The Silent" Works. A
Coat of Whitewash. Paying the Interest from Proceeds of the Sales of
the Bonds. Unblushing Fraud in Contracting.
1875 "The
Rochester Lords," The New York Times, April 1, 1875, Page
7. | also here
|
Some of the ways by which they have controlled the city. George the
Silent's method of working. Peter B. Sweeney's Prototype. The
business men waking up. Enough taxation the waterworks will inflict
on the city. Interesting items from the books of
Commissioners. The M'Donald contract to be thoroughly examined.
1875 "Rochester
and Her Lords," The Syracuse Daily Journal, April 2, 1875,
Page 1.
How the city debt was increased six-fold.
Rochester is a burdened city. The Lord have captured it and are
consumers its substance. Since the canal exposures Rochester adds
its mite, which is not by any means small, to expose the Lords. A
Rochester correspondent of the New York Times says: --
"Business men say that on the advent of Jarvis Lord to the State Senate
from this District, the debt of the city of Rochester than less than
$1,000,000i, and being gradually paid. Within the past three years
by means of Lord's commission bills, and certain railroad schemes in which
he was interested, and legislation procured by him, the debt of the city
has increased to between $5,000,000 and $6,000,000 on a total assessed
valuation of about $14,000,000. At a recent meeting of the common
council it was publicly stated by an alderman that if the city put into
its tax levy for this year a sum sufficient to pay the interest maturing
now and that ultimately due, it would increase last year's levy by seventy
per cent., making the rate instead of five year nine per cent. of the
entire valuation of the city property, exclusive of the county and State
tax. The water works swindle is the most exasperating of the Lord
rascalities to the people."
"It seems that George Lord got the water works contract, the estimates for
works being entirely erroneous. The Lord know where the errors were
and bid accordingly. The engineer's plans were then changed and the
Lord are now reaping the advantage. Here is an instance. A man
named McDonald was the agent of George Lord and arranged matters.
"The specifications called for 4,000,000 of hard-burned brick laid for
conduit. McDonald bid $1 per thousand; Randolph, Wood & Co., not
canal contractors, $23 a thousand. This discrepancy is understood
when it is known that Lord's man offered $1 for material he knew the
engineer has resolved not to use, while Wood & Co. thought they would
have to furnish this very expensive brick. This one item in the
price made a difference in the bid of $84,000 in favor of McDonald, and
enabled him to set a high price on material for which the specification
did not call largely, but which was afterwards used. For instance:
-- Pipe made of boiler iron, for which there was no specification at all,
and which pipes costs, it is estimated, at least $400,000 or $500,000 more
than the brick conduit at Lord's prices, was substituted for it after the
award was made on the bid for brick"
1875 "The
Rochester Ring," New York Times, April 3, 1875, Page
1. | also here
|
Some of the Personal Following of the Lords. Actions of the Citizens
of Rochester in Regard to the Recent Exposure -- The Local Press Denounce
the Ring -- Tubbs, the Engineer -- His Career
1875 "Appointment
of Water Commissioner," Democrat and Chronicle, April 30, 1875, Page
4.
William H. Bowman term expired, James C. Cochrane appointed.
1875 George J. Whitney, Surviving Trustee, etc., Respondent, v. The Union Trust Company of New York, Impleaded, etc. Appellant. May 29, 1875, 65 N. Y. 576, Court of Appeals of the State of New York, Action to foreclose a mortgage of the Rochester Water-works Company.
1875 An act in relation to the care, custody and management of the water-works of the city of Rochester, and to regulate the collection of water rents in said city. June 9, 1875
1875 "Supreme
Court," The New York Times, June 26, 1875, Page 6.
George J. Whitney, as surviving Trustees for the bondholders of the
Rochester Water-Works Company, against the Rochester Water-Works Company,
the Union Trust Company of New-York, and others.
1875 "Water
Works Scrutiny," The
Rochester Evening Express, July 1, 1875, Page 2.
The Commissioners Commence Business.
1875 "Our
Water Works," The
Rochester Evening Express, July 2, 1875, Page 2.
Continuation of the investigation. Testimony of Treasurer Williams,
Ex-Mayor Wilder, Mayor Clarkson, and Roswell Hart. No One Knows
Anything About it. Where the Returned Bonds Destroyed?
1875 "Water
Works," The
Rochester Evening Express, July 3, 1875, Page 2.
Continuation of the investigation. Testimony of J. Nelson Tubbs, who
favored a wrought-iron conduit rather than brick.
1875 "Water
Works," The
Rochester Evening Express, July 7, 1875, Page 2.
Continuation of the investigation. Testimony of Engineer Tubbs and
James E. Booth.
1875 "Water
Works," The
Rochester Evening Express, July 8, 1875, Page 2.
The investigation Continued.
1875 "Water
Works Investigation," The
Rochester Evening Express, July 9, 1875, Page 2.
The investigation continued.
1875 "Water Works Investigation," The Rochester Evening Express, July 10, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "The
Water Works Investigation," Letter by Tax Payer, The
Rochester Evening Express, July 12, 1875, Page 2.
The investigation continued.
1875 "The
Water Works -- Decision of Special Term," Rochester Democrat and
Chronicle, July 13, 1875, Page 4.
Right of way of the Rochester Water Company.
1875 "Water
Works," The
Rochester Evening Express, July 13, 1875, Page 2.
The investigation continued.
1875 "Rochester Water Works," Letter by A Citizen. The Rochester Evening Express, July 13, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "Hemlock's
Water," The
Rochester Evening Express, July 16, 1875, Page 2.
Visit of Investigators. Inspection of the Reservoirs. What the
Reporter Saw, Heard and Thought of the Whole Matter. Doubts
Respecting Supply, &c.
1875 "Water
Works Inquiry," The
Rochester Evening Express, July 17, 1875, Page 2.
Further Account of the Visit to the Lake. The Quicksand Theory
Exploded. The Condition of the Wrought Iron Conduit. The Use
of Inferior Wood. The Supply Question.
1875 "Water
Works," The
Rochester Evening Express, July 19, 1875, Page 2.
The Investigation Continued - Testimony of George D. Lord.
1875 "Water
Works Investigation," The
Rochester Evening Express, July 20, 1875, Page 2.
George the Silent Fails to Produce the Assignment of McDonald. A
Copy Obtained through Benj. G. Clark. The Document in Full.
1875 "Water
Works Investigation," The
Rochester Evening Express, July 21, 1875, Page 2.
Geo. D. Lord Again on the Stand - He Finally Produces McDonald's
Assignment of the Contract - Flat Denials of Corrupt Interest of the Water
Commissioners or Engineers.
1875 "Water
Works Investigation," The
Rochester Evening Express, July 22, 1875, Page 2.
The Hitherto Mythical McDonald Produced at Last. His Little
Arrangement With George Lord. About That Brick Conduit.
1875 "Water Works Investigation," The Rochester Evening Express, July 23, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "Water Works Investigation," The Rochester Evening Express, July 24, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "Rochester
Water Works," Letter from Observer, The
Rochester Evening Express, July 24, 1875, Page 2.
Some Queer Testimony and Some Positive Facts.
1875 "Water Works Investigation," The Rochester Evening Express, July 26, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "Water Works Investigation," The Rochester Evening Express, July 27, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "Water Works Investigation," The Rochester Evening Express, July 28, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "Water
Works Investigation," The
Rochester Evening Express, July 29, 1875, Page 2.
Report of Mr. Powell, the Engineer for the Investigating Commissioners -
Conclusion of the Investigation - Affairs at the City Hall Taken Up This
Morning.
1875 "Rochester
Water Works," The Public, 8:398 (August 2, 1875)
In the suit of the surviving trustee for the bondholders of the Rochester
Water Works company against the company, the Union Trust Co, et al., the
referee gives notice that by virtue of a judgment of foreclosure and sale
rendered at Rochester May 29, 1872, the holders of any bonds or coupons
(the same issued about March I, 1867, and secured by a mortgage now
outstanding issued to the plaintiff and Geo. H. Mumford) are required to
produce the said bonds or coupons, with proof of ownership, before said
referee (Daniel B. Beach) at his offices, 105 Powers Block, in Rochester,
between 9 A. M. and 5 P. M. August 25 next. Also, that all persons not
presenting or proving such bonds and coupons before him, as such referee,
within the time limited in this notice, will be precluded from sharing in
the proceeds of the sale of the mortgaged premises in said judgments
decreed, and from any interest therein.
1875 "The Water Works Investigation," The Rochester Evening Express, August 5, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "Water
Works Investigation," The
Rochester Evening Express, August 9, 1875, Page 2.
Examination of Bowman, the Bully of the Water Works.
By Mr. Filon--Mr. Charles P. Skinner came to me in a peculiar way one time
while riding on the Erie railway; he said the Commissioners might
make $25,000 by buying out the old water works; they wanted about $l75,000
or $200,000; I told him 1 would not consent to such purchase; did not know
at the time that he was an authorized agent competent to sell out the old
water works.
1875 "Water
Works Investigation," letter by Fair Play, The
Rochester Evening Express, August 9, 1875, Page 2.
$4,500,000 Bonds Brought to Light - A Review of the Testimony, Giving
Prominence to Special Points. Chapter I
1875 "Rochester
Water Works," letter by Fair Play, The
Rochester Evening Express, August 10, 1875, Page 2.
Chapter II.
1875 "Rochester
Water Works. The Report of the Examining Committee," Democrat
and Chronicle, August 16, 1875, Page 3. | also here
| pdf |
There has been very little evidence produced before us to show that the
work connected with the Rochester water works has not been skillfully and
faithfully done.
1875 "Is the McDonald-Lord Contract Void?" The Rochester Evening Express, August 17, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "The Verbatim Testimony of George D. Lord Before the Water Works Investigating Committee, July 19, 1875," The Rochester Evening Express, August 18, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "The Verbatim Testimony of George D. Lord Continued," The Rochester Evening Express, August 19, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "The Verbatim Testimony of George D. Lord Continued," The Rochester Evening Express, August 20, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "The Verbatim Testimony of George D. Lord Continued," The Rochester Evening Express, August 23, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "The Verbatim Testimony of George D. Lord Continued," The Rochester Evening Express, August 24, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "The Verbatim Testimony of George D. Lord Continued," The Rochester Evening Express, August 25, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "The Verbatim Testimony of George D. Lord Continued," The Rochester Evening Express, August 26, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "The Verbatim Testimony of James McDonald, 'Contractor for the Rochester Water Works'," The Rochester Evening Express, August 27, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "Nemesis!," The
Rochester Evening Express, August 28, 1875, Page 2.
Arrest of Geo. D. Lord. Charge of Bribery in the Legislature.
1875 "The
Champion White-Washers," The
Rochester Evening Express, August 29, 1875, Page 2.
Rochester Union and Advertiser
1875 "The Verbatim Testimony of George D. Lord Continued," The Rochester Evening Express, August 29, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "From
Hemlock Lake," The
Rochester Evening Express, September 6, 1875, Page 2.
The Old Water Works Company's Land - The Route of the New Works - Progress
of the Work - The Trench at the Outlet - Pipe Laying - The Way the Work is
Being Done - Personalities, etc.
Some years ago the old Water Works Company bought of Mr. Jacques a strip
of land from the lake down through his farm, on which they made a
small down payment, and when they failed he expected the land would come
back into his hands; but lately they have paid up the balance, as part of
the plan for stopping the city from taking water from tho lake. [See
June 20, 1876 court decision below.]
1875 "The Lord Redivivus. The Water Works Investigation - Verbatim Testimony of George D. Lord Concluded," The Rochester Evening Express, September 6, 1875, Page 2.
1875 "Evident
Complicity," The
Rochester Evening Express, September 7, 1875, Page 2.
Testimony of J. Nelson Tubbs. There has been more corruption
and fraud perpetuated under this "enlargement of the water supply pipes,"
and "additional work in the city," then can be atoned for in a hundred
years.
1875 The
Hartford Daily Courant, September 13, 1875, Page 2. |
Also in The
Baltimore Underwriter, 14:186 (September 16, 1875)
Reviewing the investigation of frauds in connection with the Rochester
water works, in which George D. Lord is implicated, the Rochester Express
thinks it has disclosed more corruption "than can be atoned for in the
next hundred years."
1875 "Prince
of Rochester," The World (New York, New York), September 25,
1875, Page 1.
A lively sketch of the fallen House of Lord.
1875 "George D. Lord, of the Canal Ring," Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 41:104 (October 23, 1875) | includes portrait of George D. Lord |
1876 In the matter of the application of the water commissioners of Rochester to acquire title to lands of the Rochester Water Company; In the matter of the application of the Rochester Water Company to change the route adopted by the Rochester water commissioners, &c. &c, Decided January 1876, New York Supreme Court. General Term, Fourth Department
1876 "Hemlock Lake Water. Long Expected, Come at Last," Democrat and Chronicle, January 24, 1876, Page 4.
1876 Charles Harrison, as Survivor of Himself and James Jones and Henry Jones, Appellant, v. William R. Utley and Andrew J. Wilkin, Respondents, 6 Hun. 565, January Term 1876, New York Supreme Court Fourth Department. Dispute about ownership of cast-iron pipe purchased by Alexander Easton and installed by the Rochester Water Works Company.
1876 "The
Water Works," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, February 4,
1876, Page 4.
City Pipes to be Opened Today.
1876 "Lane's
Hydraulic Motor," Democrat and Chronicle, February 12, 1876,
Page 4.
At the plumbing establishment of Charles S. Siddons, on East Main street,
and also at the store of E. S. Phelps, can be seen one of those admirable
inventions, the Lane hydraulic motor. It is impossible to describe the
wonderful invention completely. It must be seen and its workings examined.
It is designed to be run by city water and is as light, compact and
powerful a machine as was ever invented. It is just the thing for light
manufacturing purposes, for the laboratory, the dentist's office, the
ladies' sewing-room, for running any kind of a sewing-machine and
ornaments a parlor as well as any other mechanical invention can. A pedal
controls the flow of water and hence graduates the speed to any power
desired. G. F. Haight is the general agent, who will be pleased to show
the machine and explain its workings to all. The cost of running it is too
trifling to mention, as the stream which affords the power is very small
indeed. Upon a sewing-machine it is especially fine, giving no drip and
producing no moisture to stain the most delicate fabric. By all means go
to E. S. Phelps's, number 4 East Main street, and examine this wonder.
1876 An act to amend chapter one hundred and forty-three of the laws of eighteen hundred and sixty-one, entitled "An act to amend and consolidate the several acts in relation to the charter of the city of Rochester," passed April eight, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, and the various acts amendatory thereof or relating to the city of Rochester. March 1, 1876. Established an executive board to replace the water and public works commissioners.
1876 "Common
Council," Democrat and Chronicle, March 22, 1876, Page 4.
Remarks by J. Nelson Tubbs on use of Hemlock water at fires by turning
water on directly from Rush reservoir. This has a head of 250 feet
making the strong pressure of 110 pounds to the inch.
1876 Proceedings
of the Common Council, for the City of Rochester, for 1875-76
Pages 235-237: Report of Water Commissioners and Report of Chief Engineer
Water Works, March 28, 1876.
1876 Proceedings
of the Common Council of the City of Rochester for 1876-77.
Pages 20-21: "Free Water" proposal by water commissioners.
April 4, 1876.
1876 "'Free Water'," Democrat and Chronicle, April 18, 1876, Page 2.
1876 Rules, regulations and water rates for Rochester Water Works, May 1, 1876
1876 "The
Rochester Water Works," Democrat and Chronicle, May 18,
1876, Page 4. | part 2
|
Below we publish an interesting, condensed history of the water-works
system of this city, taken from the city manual recently issued by Clerk
Angevine.
1876 "The Rochester Water Works," Baltimore Underwriter 15:332 (May 25, 1876)
1876 In the Matter of the Application of the Rochester Water Commissioners to Acquire Lands of The Rochester Water Company, 66 N.Y. 413, June 20, 1876, Court of Appeals of the State of New York
1876 "Rochester, N. Y.," from Addresses as President of the National Board of Fire Underwriters of the United States: On Several Occasions, 1871-76
1876 "Common
Council," Democrat and Chronicle, October 6, 1876, Page 3. | part 2 | also here |
Report of Water Commissioners, September 30, 1876.
The Rochester Water Company was vigorous in opposition, in order to
forward their scheme of supplying, or attempting to supply, the city
themselves, and pursued us through the courts of the state to prevent our
work. Our position was embarrassing in the extreme. But we entered
upon, have continued, and now completed the work. Others might have done
it better, more wisely, more cheaply, and with fewer mistakes. But we
believe the judgment of the people is, whatever may have been the
deficiencies of those in charge, it has been well done, and there are none
who would now have it undone.
1876 Proceedings of
the Common Council, 1876-77
Page 173, November 14, 1876 Claim of George
D. Lord for extra work done on works works in the amount of $600,388.97,
.
1876 Proceedings of
the Common Council, 1876-77
Page 180-181, November 28, 1876. City
response to claim of George D. Lord,
1876 Annual
report of the Executive Board in charge of the Department of Water
Works, Fire, Highway and Street Improvement for the year 1876 to the
mayor and Common Council of the city of Rochester, N.Y. January, 1877
Pages 108-119: Report to the Executive Board of the City of Rochester,
N.Y.: on the recent peculiar condition of the Hemlock Lake water supply,
by S A Lattimore
1877 Proceedings of
the Common Council 1876-77
Pages 219-221, January 23, 1877. Supreme
Court, Monroe County; George D. Lord against the city of Rochester,
William R. Seward and Thomas Leighton.
1877 "$600,388.97. George D. Lord vs. The City of Rochester," Democrat and Chronicle, January 23, 1877, Page 4.
1877 Charles Harrison, Survivor, etc., Respondent, v. Andrew J. Wilkin, Impleaded, etc., Appellant, 69 N. Y. 412, April 27, 1877, Court of Appeals of the State of New York
1877 "The
Lord Suit," Democrat and Chronicle, April 30, 1877, Page 4.
Answer to the complaint.
1877 "An
Important Restriction," Democrat and Chronicle, April 30,
1877, Page 4.
The 1873 contract with James McDonald prohibited assigning it.
1877 Rules, regulations and water rates for Rochester Water Works, May 1, 1877
1877 "Hydraulic
Elevators," Democrat and Chronicle, May 9, 1877, Page 4.
The introduction ot water works in our city seems likely to prove a
valuable source of power to the many wholesale merchants, hotels, and
ether requiring the use of elevators, but who have not had power to run
them, and would not be to the expense and annoyance of putting in steam
for that special use. The first successful hydraulic elevator has just
been introduced by L. S. Graves, of Mill street. The first one was put in
at T. J. Hurley & Co.'s, wholesale millinery house on State street.
The second one has just been completed at Burke, FitzSimons, Hone &
Co's new wholesale department. They seem to be all that can be desired in
the way of a safe, noiseless, quick-running, elevator, economical to run
and easy to manage. Mr. Graves has built and put up many steam elevators,
which are assuredly popular, and we have no doubt he will meet with the
success he deserves in this new feature of his business.
1877 An act to authorize the city of Rochester to acquire the title to land or other property for the use and purposes of water-works, sewers, dumping rubbish and dirt. June 16, 1877
1877 George D. Lord vs. City of Rochester. Scrapbook of clippings detailing George D. Lord's lawsuit against the City of Rochester over the cost of building the city's water system. Held by Rochester Historical Society.
1877 History
of Monroe County, New York, by Prof. Wm. H. McIntosh
Page 93: The Water Works
1877 Second annual report of the Executive Board of the City of Rochester, in charge of the Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements for the year 1877. January, 1878
1878 Rules, regulations and water rates for Rochester Water Works, May 1, 1878
1878 "The Holly System of Water Supply and Fire Protection for Cities and Villages," Scientific American Supplement, 6(140supp):2219-2234 (September 7, 1878)
1879 "Comparative
Rates," Democrat and Chronicle, February 12, 1879, Page 4.
Family Water Rents Lower in Rochester than in Any Other City.
1879 Proceedings
of the Common Council of the City of Rochester 1879-80
Pages 4-5: April 8, 1879. Mayor's address. At the introduction
of the water works, the people of this city were paying yearly in fire
insurance premiums over $400,000, and at this date careful estimates show
that there is paid less than $200,000 year.
Since they have been fully in operation there has been a savings in the
cost of operating and maintaining the fire department of the city over
$33,000 per annum, a reduction of forty-eight and one-half per cent.
1879 Third Annual Report of the Executive Board of the City of Rochester, in charge of the Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for the sixteen months ending May 1st, 1879.
1879 An act to confer additional powers and duties upon the executive board and the water works and fire board of the city of Rochester. June 20, 1879
1879 Charles Harrison, Survivor, etc., Respondent, v. Andrew J. Wilkin, Impleaded, etc., Appellant, 78 N. Y. 390, October 1, 1879, Court of Appeals of the State of New York
1879 Smith v. City of Rochester, November 25, 1879, New York Supreme Court, special term held at Canandaigua, Ontario County. Decision and opinion by Judge David Ramsey in favor of Rochester can be found here, and his opinion here. The case was overturned on appeal, see 1883 references.
1879 Reminiscences
of James C. Ayer and the Town of Ayer, Second Edition, by
Charles Cowley
Pages 61-62: ROCHESTER WATER WORKS.
Mr. Ayer purchased the franchises and property of a company organized
under the laws of New York for the purpose of supplying with water
the city of Rochester with a population of eighty thousand. Although he
was unable to complete this enterprise during his life? because of the
subsequent attempt through the New York legislature to defraud him of his
franchises ; it nevertheless is a striking example of the enterprise and
daring of the man, and the versatility and fearlessness of his genius.
When the action of the Legislature was taken, he had already laid out over
$150,000, in the construction of water-works for the city. He was then
obliged to commence lawsuits against the city, to maintain his rights, and
the water is still the subject of legislation.
Mr. Ayer was never satisfied with tlhe course taken by the city of
Rochester in relation to this enterprise. He enjoyed many a joke at the
city's expense.
1880 City of Rochester v. Town of Rush, 80 N. Y. 302, March 9, 1880, Court of Appeals of the State of New York | Case records and briefs |
1880 Fourth Annual Report of the Executive Board in charge of Highways and Street Improvements; and Report of the Water Works and Fire Board in Charge of the Water Works and Fire Departments of the City of Rochester, for the eleven months ending April 1, 1880.
1880 Proceedings
of the Rochester Common Council 1880-1881
Page 4: April 6, 1880. The Mayor's Annual Address, by
Cornelius R. Parsons. Water Works and Fire Department.
The legislature of this state in the act granting to the city of Rochester
the right to nse the water of Hemlock lake, provided that the city might
draw down the surface of the same eight feet, which would provide a daily
supply to the city for the year of over 13,000,000 gallons even if no
water came into the lake from rain, snow or springs during that time, a
supply more than fifty per cent. in excess of what our water works conduit
can convey. This statement alone should satisfy our citizens that the
supply to be obtained from Hemlock lake so far as the city’s need is
concerned is practically inexhaustable, but it is introduced here as
preliminary to another statement and recommendation. While the city has
the permission of the legislature to draw down the lake eight feet, yet as
a matter of fact it is at present unable to draw it lower than about three
feet, in consequence of the intervention of the Hoppough mill pond just
below the foot of the lake. The dam of this mill maintains the surface of
the water in the mill pond to such a height that but about three feet can
be drawn from the surface of the lake as above stated. The fact that this
dam would have to be lowered has always been understood by those in charge
of the water works, and attention was called to the fact in an early
report of the water commissioners. The quantity of water used in this city
has now become so great that it is a necessity that this dam should be
lowered. The mill property is now owned by the estate of J. C. Ayer, of
Lowell, Mass., and there are two ways in which the city may proceed to
acquire the rights it desires in the property. The first would be to
purchase the whole, and then sell off such rights in it as the city may
not need. The other would be that the city should proceed to acquire only
such rights as it may desire in the property, either by purchase or
appraisal, under the provisions of act chapter 464, laws of 1877. The
rights required by the city would be the title to the lands adjacent to
the foot of the lake, and the timber bulkhead thereon, and also the right
to have the crest of the dam at Hemlock lake village cut down five feet. I
respectfully urge upon the common council the importance of commencing the
proceedings for acquiring these rights immediately.
1880 New
York Times, October 24, 1880, Page 5.
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 23.—The Supreme Court, General Term, in session
here, gave a decision to-day in the case of George D. Lord against the
City of Rochester in favor of the plaintiff, granting a new trial.
1880 Proceedings
of the Rochester Common Council 1880-1881
Page 160: November 16, 1880. Report of negotiations with the
estate of James C. Ayer concerning the purpose of certain property owned
by the old Water Works Company.
1881 An act to empower the executive board of the city of Rochester to acquire land and other property for the water works of said city. March 15, 1881
1881 Fifth Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for the year ending April 4, 1881.
1881 Rules, regulations and water rates for Rochester Water Works, May 1, 1881
1881 Rochester, Engineering News, 8:233 (June 11, 1881)
1881 Proceedings of
the Rochester Common Council 1881-1882
Pages 156-157: October 14, 1881 Thomas
Leighton v. Roswell Hart, Charles C. Morse, Gilman H. Perkins, and
John Bower, Dispute involving payment for 1873
contract with James McDonald.
1881 Democrat
and Chronicle, October 23, 1881, Page 4.
The heirs of the J. C. Ayer estate have notified the proper officials and
attorneys that they will appeal from the report of the commission of
appraisal, which awarded their Hemlock lake land to the city for $2,050.
1881 "Action
of the Executive Board," Democrat and Chronicle, December
24, 1881, Page 3.
The executive board yesterday addressed a communication to the common
council informing that body of the desire of the old Rochester Water Works
company to effect an amicable adjustment of thee difficulties with the
city, regarding property at Hemlock lake. The council is asked to appoint
a special committee to act with the board in this matter.
1882 New
York Times, March 17, 1882, Page 5.
What Rochester Had to Pay. Rochester, N.Y., March 16.— In the County
Clerk's office yesterday afternoon William F. Cogswell filed a receipt for
the satisfaction of a judgment against the city by the Supreme Court in
the case of George D. Lord against the City of Rochester. The amount
receipted for is $61,601.70, and a stipulation of discontinuance had been
made. The plaintiffs received a check for the amount awarded, and
the great suit is therefore at an end.
1882 Sixth Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for the year ending April 4, 1882. | Another copy |
1882 Rules, regulations and water rates for Rochester Water Works, May 1, 1882
1882 "The
Water Works Assessment," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,
August 8, 1882, Page 2.
Complaints about frontage tax for water.
1882 "Rochester Water Works," Scientific American (New Series) 47(7):95 (August 12, 1882)
1882 Rochester, from "The Water-Supply of Certain Cities and Towns of the United States," by Walter G. Elliot, C. E., Ph. D.
1883 Seventh
Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works,
Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for
the year ending April 2, 1883.
Pages 27-28: The city has during the past year purchased all the
property formerly owned by the Rochester Water Company. Also the
twelve inch water main laid by said company in Plymouth Avenue between
Spring and Troup streets. [A list of all the property purchased for
$26,000 is listed on pages 85 and 86 of
the Proceedings
of the Common Council of the City of Rochester 1882-83.]
1883 Hiram
Smith et al, Appellants, v. The City of Rochester, Respondent,
92 N. Y. 463, June 5, 1883, Court of Appeals of New York State | Records
and Briefs |
The plaintiffs owned and operated mills on a fresh and non-navigable
creek, fed by the surplus waters of three small inland lakes, one of which
was navigable, and navigated for local purposes by those who dwelt on its
shores. All the premises in question were originally ceded by this State
to Massachusetts by the treaty of 1786. The defendant, under recent
legislative authority, constructed a conduit from the latter lake to
supply the city, drawing 4,000,000 gallons of water daily. Held, that such
diversion, being injurious to the defendant, may be enjoined, and the
defendant must respond for the injury.
The leading case in this State is Smith v. The City of Rochester,
92 N. Y. 463; on second trial, 38
Hun. 612, July 1885, opinion affirmed, 104
N.Y., 674, decided February 8, 1887.
1883 O-neh-da
Te-car-ne-o-di: Or, Up and Down the Hemlock. Including History,
Commerce, Accidents, Incidents, Guide, Etc, by Dennis Byron
Waite
Pages 6-8: The Legislature of this state April 16, 1852, passed an
act incorporating the first Water Works Company of the city of Rochester.
Certain residents of the city were named in the act, with others, with a
capital stock of 200,000 dollars, to be taken in shares of $25 each, with
power to take water from any spring, lake, pond or river to the city. This
is called the old Company. April 16, 1868, all contracts entered into, and
officers elected under the previous act were legalized and confirmed. The
contract to take water from this lake to the city was let to Eastman,
passed into the hands of Utley, thence to Ayers of pill notoriety, and the
second outlet was dug, pipes were laid, and considerable other work was
done on a portion of the route, but the Legislature April 16, 1872 passed
another Act to supply said City with pure and wholesome water.
Five Commissioners were appointed by the Mayor thereof who Selected J. N.
Tubbs as Engineer, and Prof. Lattimore as Analyzer, with instructions to
examine the waters of Genesee River and Lakes Ontario and Hemlock, and in
the fall of that year their reports were made with the positive conclusion
that for greater economy in operating expense, permanency in construction
of works , greater purity and softness of water and its steady and
abundant supply, the last named body of water should furnish to said city
the much and long needed supply; also an act was passed by the Legislature
June 3, 1873, giving power to said Commissioners as agents for said city
"to raise the surface of the water, in said lake, not to exceed two feet,
and to draw down the said water below low-water mark, not to exceed, eight
feet: also the right to take such measures and make such constructions as
shall be necessary to secure said waters for the purpose intended, and to
protect the same from improper obstructions or pollution. After an outlay
of some $3,000,000, the water wras let into the pipe in Dec, 1875.
1884 Rules and regulations and schedule of water rates : of the Rochester Water works, established by the Executive Board, May 1st, 1884.| another copy |
1884 Eighth Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for the year ending April 7, 1884.
1884 Engineering
News 11:174 (April 12, 1884)
Mr. Emil Kuichling, Assistant Engineer of Rochester Water Works, N. Y.,
arrived in New York on Sunday evening last, in the Spain from Liverpool.
Mr. Kuichling has been absent four months, and has visited Antwerp, Aix la
Chapelle, Cologne, Hanover, Berlin, Leipsic, Frankfort-on-Main, Darmstadt,
Carlsrhue, Strasburg, Mayence, Metz, Dusseldorf, Rotterdam, London,
Birmingham, Liverpool, and Manchester, on a tour of inspection of works of
Sewerage and Water Supply, with special reference to the needs of the New
York State Board of Health, by which Mr. Kuichling is frequently retained
as consulting Engineer. Mr. Kuichling has made as peciai study of the
physics of Water Supply for cities and the disposal of sewage, for some
years past, and paid particular attention to these subjects while abroad.
1884 "The Rochester Water Works," by Nelson J. Tubbs, Engineer in charge of the water works, from Semi-centennial History of the City of Rochester: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, by William Farley Peck
1884 In Supreme Court, general term- fifth department In the Matter of the Application of the City of Rochester to acquire the permanent and perpetual right to draw from Hemlock and Canadice lakes an amount of water sufficient for the use of said city and its inhabitants, not exceeding nine millions of gallons per day; record on appeal from order confirming report of commissioners of appraisal, Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Hathi Trust copy |
1884 "Water Works," from Rochester: A Story Historical, by Jenny Marsh Parker
1884 The
Industrial Advance of Rochester: A Historical, Statistical &
Descriptive Review
Pages 39-40: The Water Works.
1885 Ninth Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for the year ending April 6, 1885.
1885 "Looking over the Line. An Official Inspection of the Reservoirs and Conduit," Democrat and Chronicle, May 27, 1885, Page 6. | also here | A tour from the Mt. Hope (now Highland Park) Reservoir to Hemlock Lake.
1885 Hiram Smith and others, Respondents, v. The City of Rochester, Appellant, 38 Hun. 612, July, 1885, Fifth Department, Supreme Court of the State of New York
1886 John M. Winslow (1811-1886) grave. alderman, wrote water works report in 1850s, secretary of Rochester Water Works Company
1886 Democrat
and Chronicle, March 24, 1866, Page 7.
Last evening about 6 o'clock the death of John M. Winslow occurred at his
residence, corner of Jones and Fulton avenues at the age of 75
years. Mr. Winslow was a prominent man in the city and has lived
here for a long time. His death, which was quite sudden, will be generally
regretted by a large circle of friends. Mr. Winslow attended church last
Thursday evening and the next day was taken with pneumonia, continuing to
get worse until death ensued last evening. The deceased was engaged in the
drug business for a number of years and was chairman of the Common Council
at the time Main street bridge was constructed. He leaves a wife and one
son, Hobart G., of New York. Notice of the funeral will be given
hereafter.
1886 Tenth
Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works,
Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for
the year ending April 5, 1886.
Page 129-131: Table giving water rates charged in the chief cities
of the U.S.
1886 Rules, regulations and water rates for Rochester Water Works, May 1, 1886
1886 Matter of the Application of the City of Rochester to acquire the permanent and perpetual right to draw from Hemlock and Canadice lakes an amount of water sufficient for the use of said city and its inhabitants, etc, 40 Hun, 588, June, 1886, Supreme Court of the State of New York, General Term, Fifth Department
1886 Report
on the Social Statistics of Cities, Tenth Census of the United States
Pages 620-621: Rochester Water-Works.
Page 623: Human excreta. Only about 15 per cent. of houses in
Rochester are provided with water-closets, most of which empty into the
public sewers.
1887 Hiram Smith and others, Respondents, v. The City of Rochester, Appellant, 104 N.Y., 674, February 8, 1887, New York State Court of Appeals. Judgment affirmed.
1887 Proceedings
of the Common Council of the City of Rochester 1886-87
Pages 514-515: March 22, 1887, List of payments for damages
per Court of Appeals Decision of February 8, 1887, totaling $103,998.50.
1887 Eleventh
Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works,
Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for
the year ending April 4, 1887.
Pages 69-120: Report of the Chief Engineer of the Water Works
Pages 74-75: Statement on use of Holly water for power, with list of
hydraulic motors connected to the system
1888 Charles Jenkins Hayden 1816-1888 grave, President of the Rochester Water Works Company
1888 "The Sanitary Protection of the Water Shed Supply Water to Rochester, N.Y.," by J. Nelson Tubbs, Engineering News 19:330-331 (April 28. 1888)
1888 Rules, regulations and water rates for Rochester Water Works, May 1, 1888
1888 "Rochester's Water Supply," from The Industries of the City of Rochester
1888 "Rochester," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 1.
1888 Proceedings
of the Common Council, 1888-89
Pages
231-242: October 2, 1888. Report of Chief Engineer J.N.
Tubbs, with reference to an additional water supply, September 21, 1888.
1889 Twelfth
and Thirteenth Annual Reports of the Executive Board, in charge of the
Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements,
for the years ending April 2, 1888 and April 1, 1889.
Pages
42-52: Preliminary report of Messrs. Mallory, Rafter and
Line [and Final report of Messrs. Rafter and Line] of the Academy of
Science, on the cause of the odor and taste in the Hemlock Lake water
supply, by M L Mallory; Geo W Rafter; J Edw Line
Pages
52-77: Report of Chief Engineer with Reference to an
Additional Water Supply for the City of Rochester, September 21, 1888.
{Also printed separately]
Pages
77-79: Mr. Bissell's Report with the view of obtaining an
increased supply of water for the city by the Gang and Siphon Well
System. September 14, 1888
1889 Proceedings
of the Common Council, 1889-90
Page
17: April 2, 1889. Resolved, That the president of this
board be requested to appoint a special committee of three members to
investigate the following special features of the water supply question,
in order that the people can have laid before them such fats as may be
necessary for them to be able to judge as to the necessity of having
another conduit from Hemlock lake or elsewhere:
First - As to whether the numerous steam boilers, located within the
limits of the Holly system, cannot uso the Holly system, instead or the
Hemlock system.
Second - As to whether such a difference in price between the Hemlock and
Holly waters can he made, so as to encourage the use of the Holly system
in preference to lake water, for the use of boilers and elevators.
Third - As to whether the hoisting of elevators by Hemlock pressure cannot
be done away with.
Fourth - As to what steps can be taken to suppress the wholesale waste of
Hemlock water.
Fifth - To report such general recommendations as they may deem proper and
just.
Pages
61-75: May 14, 1889. Report of Special Committee on
obtaining an additional water supply, including "Report of an Additional
Water Supply for the City of Rochester, N.Y., by J.T. Fanning and Alphonse
Fteley, Consulting Engineers, April, 1889" {Also printed separately]
Pages
203-216: September 3, 1889. A Review and Discussion of the
Several Plans Heretofore Suggested for an Additional Water Supply for the
City of Rochester, N.Y., August 20, 1889. {Also printed separately]
Pages
323-337: December 26, 1889 Report of the Special Common
Council Committee on Special Features of the Additional Water Supply [Also
printed separately]
1889 Report on the proposed trunk sewer for the east side of the City of Rochester, N.Y, by Emil Kuichling, April 29, 1889 | East Side Trunk Sewer Survey Map |
1889 Official reports on an additional water supply, for the City of Rochester, N.Y., includes "Report of Chief Engineer J.N. Tubbs, with reference to an additional water supply," September 21, 1888; "Report of an Additional Water Supply for the City of Rochester, N.Y.," by J.T. Fanning and Alphonse Fteley, Consulting Engineers, April, 1889; and "A Review and Discussion of the Several Plans Heretofore Suggested for an Additional Water Supply for the City of Rochester, N.Y.," August 20, 1889.
1889 Report of the Special Common Council Committee on Special Features of the Additional Water Supply, December 26, 1889.
1890 "What
Mr. Tubbs Thinks." Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, April
3, 1890, Page 5.
His Opinion Relative to the Water Meter Question.
1890 Proceedings
of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works, Fire, and
Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for the year
ending April 7, 1890.
Pages 123-124: Schedule of water rates.
1890 Annual
Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works, Fire and
Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for the year
ending April 7, 1890.
Pages
107-127: Report on an endemic of typhoid fever, at
Springwater, New York, in October and November, 1889, by Geo W Rafter; M L
Mallory
1890 "Pumping
Down Hill," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, April 8, 1890,
Page 5.
The Chamber of Commerce Thinks it is Unnecessary. Gravity will do
the work.
1890 Rules, regulations and water rates for Rochester Water Works, May 1, 1890
1890 "The Recent Endemic of Typhoid Fever at Springwater, N. Y., considered with special reference to its cause, and the contamination of the Rochester water supply which might result therefrom," by George W. Rafter and M. L. Mallory, Proceedings of the Rochester Academy of Sciences, 1:65-86 (June 23, 1890)
1890 "Rochester's Water Supply," letter by James G. Cutler, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, June 27, 1890, Page 4.
1890 "Is
the Mystery Solved?" Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, July
18, 1890, Page 5.
Probable that the conduit never carried 9,000,000 gallons. Mr. Tubbs
has resigned at the request of the Executive Board. He handed in his
resignation yesterday - His probable successor - Opinions from Prominent
Men.
1890 Rochester Union
& Advertiser, August 4, 1890, Page 4-4
Letter to editor on water meter controversy
1890 "Needed
at Home," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, August 16, 1890,
Page 5.
The Mayor Thinks Emil Kutchling Should be Working for the City.
1890 "Only
Rumor," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, August 20, 1890,
Page 6.
Engineer Emil Kutchling and the Water Works Department.
1890 "His
Responsibility," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, September
4, 1890, Page 4.
Emil Kutchling's responsibility for designing the 1876 Hemlock conduit.
1890 "Kuichling
is Elected," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, September 6,
1890, Page 5.
Chief Engineer of the Water Works Department.
1890 "Construction Details of the Rochester, N. Y., Water-Works, Part 1, Description of Water Shed and Description and Illustration of the Method and Results of the Sanitary Protection of Hemlock Lake," Engineering Record, 22:412-413 (November 29, 1890)
1890 "Rochester," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.
1890 History
of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many
of its pioneers and prominent men, Volume II
Page 102: James C. Ayer. Another enterprise in which he
embarked, was that of supplying the people of Rochester, New York, with
water. The perfect success of the Rochester Water Works demonstrates the
soundness of Mr. Ayer's plan, notwithstanding the disastrous litigation
which delayed it. Many and various enterprises occupied his attention —
more than were ever known, except to his immediate associates.
1891 "Lift
Bridge Problems," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, January
1, 1891, Page 5.
How the Bridges affect the Holly System. The Fire pressure reduced.
1891 "Construction Details of the Rochester, N. Y., Water-Works, Part 2, Illustrations and description of the inlet crib, inlet main, laying submerged main, and the lake gate-house," Engineering Record, 23:78 (January 3, 1891)
1891 "Construction Details of the Rochester, N. Y., Water-Works, Part 3, Hemlock Lake Screens and gates, and the Genesee River Bulkhead," Engineering Record, 23:94-95 (January 10, 1891)
1891 "Construction Details of the Rochester, N. Y., Water-Works, Part 4, Rainfall and collection, details of Canadice lake bulkhead framing and machinery," Engineering Record, 23:109 (January 17, 1891)
1891 "Construction Details of the Rochester, N. Y., Water-Works, Part 5, Description, plan, section and details of the storage and distributing reservoirs, straining well, gate-house and pipe trenches," Engineering Record, 23:127 (January 24, 1891)
1891 "Construction Details of the Rochester, N. Y., Water-Works, Part 6, Description and illustrations of the Holly system, reservoir fountain, air valves, and the connection between the high and low pressure mains," Engineering Record, 23:143 (January 31, 1891)
1891 "Construction Details of the Rochester, N. Y., Water-Works, Part 7, Wooden stop gate chamber, elevation, plan and details of special bridge construction to receive water mains at arch-crown," Engineering Record, 23:159 (February 7, 1891)
1891 Fifteenth Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for the year ending April 6, 1891.
1891 "Rochester," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.
1892 "On the Hydraulics of the Hemlock Lake Conduit of the Rochester, N. Y., Water-Works." and "On the measures for restricting the use and waste of water, in force in the City of Rochester, N. Y.," with discussion. George W. Rafter. Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, 26:13-22 (January, 1892). | also here (with profile) |
1892 Sixteenth Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for the year ending April 4, 1892.
1892 An act to authorize the issue of bonds of the city of Rochester to pay for an additional water supply. April 20, 1892
1892 Fire and Water, 12(20) (November 12, 1892) Report on flow through the Hemlock Lake conduit.
1892 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Rochester, Monroe County, New York. Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3 |
1893 Seventeenth Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for the year ending April 3, 1893.
1893 Fire
and Water (April 8, 1893)
A contract has been framed and extended between the city of Rochester,
through its board of water commissioners, and the Rochester Water Supply
Company, to furnish water from artesian wells located at Brighton. The
price to be paid to the company by the city is $80 per 1,000,000 gallons
or less per day of twenty-four hours, and in excess of 1,000,000 up to
2,000,000 gallons pcr day, $70 per 1,000,000, and in excess of 2,000,000
gallons per day, $60 per 1,000,000 gallons. The city of Rochester agrees
to secure the right of way for the company to lay its mains through the
city. The water is to be delivered to the Mount Hope distributing
reservoir. The company, under the terms of the contract, must guarantee
the potability of the water, and provide means to aerate the same if
necessary ; also make chemical analysis of the water every month and
submit the result to the board of water commissioners. Water to be
furnished within forty-five days from date of contract, and contract to
continue for one year, with privilege to the city to renew the same for a
period of three months at a time. It is provided in the contract and made
binding upon the company that in the event of the water being found unfit
for use the city shall not be liable for the same. The city is under no
obligation to take more water than is called for under the terms of the
contract. The company in any event to provide additional or new wells in
case of failure of others, and to meet the demand of the city of Rochester
as aforesaid.
1893 "Rochester NY Quadrangle," USGS Topographical Map, southeast corner, shows Rush Reservoir and abandoned reservoir of the Rochester Water Works Company about 1.5 miles east northeast of the Rush Reservoir. The abandoned reservoir is also very visible on Google maps.
1894 "Additional
Water Supply," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 15,
1894, Page 8.
Mr. Kuichling thinks it will be available by August 1st.
1894 Eighteenth
Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works,
Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for
the year ending April, 1894.
Pages 17-29: Water works fund
Pages 30-72: Report of the Chief
Engineer of Water Works, April 2, 1894.
1894 An act to authorize the city of Rochester to issue bonds to pay for a water distributing system. May 3, 1894
1894 "Ruins
of a Water Works," Fire and Water 15(31) (August 4, 1894)
An abandoned reservoir intended originally for a distributing reservoir
for the city of Rochester, N. Y., is fast passing into utter decay. Of
this landmark Engineer J. Nelson Tubbs some time ago wrote an interesting
story.
Mr. Tubbs was in charge of the water works department as chief engineer
when the first conduit to Hemlock Lake was laid, and he was thoroughly
familiar with the history of all the water works schemes that came to the
surface before the conduit was laid to Hemlock lake.
The abandoned reservoir on the Henrietta road is now nothing but a cattle
pond. The other day two reporters went over to the crumbling stone tower
that stands in the centre of the inclosure, climbed to its top and peered
into its dark depths. This tower is circular in form, of masonry, and is
about 15 feet high. The water was to have entered at the bottom of the
tower and to have overflowed from the top into the reservoir. Now the
reservoir was occupied by three cows. The animals were enjoying themselves
splashing about in a shallow pond of water near the north bank. The
capacity of this old reservoir is about 70,000.000 gallons, and it is
larger than the city's reservoir at Rush. The Rush reservoir is, however,
located on a plateau considerably higher than the abandoned one.
The old reservoir is now the property of the Ayer family of patent
medicine fame, and the estate would be glad to sell it. An effort was made
to unload it on the city of Rochester, but the city had no use for a
second-hand and abandoned reservoir and refused to make the Ayer estate an
offer for the ruin. The estate will probably never realize anything on the
reservoir. The banks of the reservoir were completed with the exception of
a gap at the road through which the teams passed in and out during the
construction of the banks. The gap was never filed because the reservoir
was never used. Its high banks and its crumbling tower remain as a
reminder of the greed of the schemers who built a cheap water works and
then tried to unload it upon the city at a fancy price.
Dr. Curran recalled that the newspapers of the time were against the old
water company’s scheme to sell out to the city. Dr. Curran thinks that had
it not been for this aggressive war that the city would have been a
purchaser of the old plant. The first water works company was the
Rochester Water Works Company, organized in 1835 with a capital of
$10,000. This company did nothing and in 1852 another company was
incorporated under the same name. This second company expended the avails
of $800,000 in bonds and $800,000 in stock, and after all this money had
been sunk in the old reservoir on the Henrietta road and in the old wooden
conduit, an expert engineer, McRee Swift, reported to the stockholders
that the plant of the company was worth about $223,000, and that it would
require expenditure of $410,000 before water from Hemlock lake could be
delivered in Rochester.
The wooden conduit was twenty-four inches in diameter. The scheme of the
old company was to tap the Honeoye creek at Smithtown, which is sixteen
miles south of the city. The conduit was to commence there. It will be
seen that the company did not propose to tap the lake proper but only the
outlet. To insure a good supply of water in the outlet a canal was
constructed from the shore of the lake just west of the present gate house
north a distance of 1,800 feet. This canal was twenty feet wide and
seven feet deep and it had a weir, which, however, was only partially
completed. This old canal remains to-day as it was left by the old
company. It is along its bank that the city now has a small railway for
the transportation of the garbage collected from the cottages to the place
where it is buried.
In 1872 the old water company sold out to Thomas B. Rand and others and
Mr. Rand organized a new company and tried to sell to the city. The city
was about to enter into a contract with the third company when it was
restrained by an injunction obtained by the Board of water commissioners,
appointed just previous to the reorganization of the company. The water
commissioners went ahead with plans for getting water from the lake and
the water company tried to sell out to the city again, offering the plant
at first for $250,000 and then for $90,000, but the city was not prepared
to buy. Then followed several years of litigation and discussion, the
company trying injunctions and other legal modes to keep the city from
going into the water business on its own hook. But the city won eventually
and in 1882 the city bought what it thought might be useful of the old
company’s rights and plant for the small sum of $26,000. After that the
city had no trouble on account of the old company.
1894 "Pure
Hemlock Now," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, October 4,
1894, Page 7.
Brighton Wells as a Source of Water Supply Abandoned.
1895 "Story
of a Big Job," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, January 27,
1895, Page 10. | Part
2 | Reprinted in The School of Mines Quarterly 16(3):251-286
(April, 1895)
Description of the Construction of the New Water Works Conduit.
1895 "The New Conduit of the Rochester Water Works," by Emil Kuichling, The School of Mines Quarterly 16(3):251-286 (April, 1895)
1895 "The New Steel and Masonry Water-Supply Conduit, Rochester, N. Y.," Engineering News 33(15):284-287 (April 11, 1895)
1895 "The New Rochester Water Works," Engineering Record 31(20):346-348 (April 13, 1895)
1895 A
History of the City of Rochester from the Earliest Times, by
the Rochester Post Express. | also here
|
Page 53: The capacity of the water-works, drawing from Hemlock lake, is
22,000,000 gallons a day, or enough to supply a city of 250,000
population. The water is distributed through two hundred and fifty-seven
miles of pipe.
Page 58: Water-Works. A Rochester Works company was incorporated in 1835
to supply the city with water from springs that existed near what is now
Mount Hope cemetery, but it did no work. In 1852 another company was
organized with the same name as the above, to bring water to the city from
Honeoye creek. No work was done by this corporation until 1867, when it
began to lay wooden pipe from Smithtown, on Honeoye creek, to this city,
and during the following five years laid a quantity of sheet-iron and
cement pipe in several streets of the city. No water was ever brought to
the city by the company. The sum of $800,000 is said to have been expended
on the work. In 1872 the city was authorized by act of the
Legislature to procure a supply of water for domestic and fire purposes
from Hemlock lake. The work was commenced in 1873 and completed in 1876 at
a cost of $3,182,000. The commissioners under whom the work was done
were: Roswell Hart, Edward M. Smith, William H. Bowman, Charles C. Morse,
Gilman H. Perkins, P. M. Bromley, John Bower, Maurice H. Merriman
and James C. Cochrane. J. Nelson Tubbs, was chief engineer; Isaac F.
Quinby, consulting engineer, and Emil Kuichling, principal assistant
engineer. In 1893 work was commenced on a second conduit to
Hemlock lake, and in 1894 it began to convey water to the city. The line
has a capacity of 15,000,000 gallons daily. Emil Kuichling was chief
engineer, with Gaylord Thompson and Edwin A. Fisher as principal
assistants. The cost of the new line, including water rights and right of
way, was $1,750,000. The work was done under the direction of the
Executive Board
Pages 229-231: Emil Kuichling biography
Pages 230-231: J. Nelson Tubbs biography.
1895 Nineteenth
and Twentieth Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the
Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements,
for the period from April 1, 1894 to January 1, 1896. [Thanks to Micaela
Holmes for securing scans of this document as a class project.]
Pages 17-33: 1894 Water Works Fund
Pages 45-76: 1895 Water Works Fund
Pages 157-305: Report of the Chief
Engineer of Water Works to the Executive Board, January 1, 1896
Pages 307-339: Appendix No. 1.
The new conduit of the Rochester water works, by E. Kuichling.
Pages 340-351: Appendix No. 2.
Comparison of the original computations and the actual gaugings of the new
steel conduit, by E. Kuichling.
Pages 352-357: Appendix No. 3.
Statements showing quantities of work performed and cost of new conduit,
as per final estimates to contractors, and other charges against the
additional water supply account.
1896 "George
D. Lord Dead," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, February 4,
1896, Page 15.
Built the first conduit.
1896 Twenty-First Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for the year ending December 31, 1896.
1896 "The Rochester Crime against Hydraulic Engineering," Chapter 3 in 115 Experiments on the Carrying Capacity of Large Riveted Metal Conduits, by Clemens Herschel.
1897 Engineering
News 37:344 (June 3, 1897)
Discussion of issues about flow volume in the 1876 conduit.
1897 "Repair Details of the Rochester, N.Y., Water-Works Conduits in 1896," The Engineering Record 36:163-164 (July 24, 1897)
1897 "The Water Works of Rochester," Water and Gas Review 8(2):9-16 (August, 1897)
1897 Illustrated
history of the Rochester Trades Assembly and the Building Trades
Council, Rochester, N. Y commercial history of the city of Rochester,
photographs and biographies of officers, state, city and miscellaneous
labor laws, etc. | also here
|
Pages 117-119: City Water Supply.
The source of Rochester's water supply is Hemlock Lake, a clear and
beautiful body of water, twenty-eight miles south of the city. It is,
about seven miles long by three-fourths of a mile in width, and in its
cool depths are many springs. The lake has an area of 2,000 acres, and is
338 feet above the level of the city. Its shores are for thirty miles
about the lake patrolled by men in the employ of Rochester. It is a fact,
admitted by expert*, that no city in the world is supplied with potable
water of rarer purity than is Rochester. From the lake the water is
conducted by two conduits to the Hush reservoir, eight miles from the
city, which has a capacity of 53,813,807 gallons, and from there it goes
to the Mt. Hope distributing reservoir, about one and one-half miles from
the center of the city. This reservoir has a capacity of 24,278,101
gallons, and is 127 feet above the level of the city. From the
distributing reservoir the water is carried to all parts of the city. The
first conduit line supplied 7,000,000 gallons a day, and a second conduit,
bringing an additional 15,000,000 gallons a day, has been completed,
making the supply of clear, pure water for domestic use 22,000,000 gallons
per day. In addition to this supply there is the Holly system for fire and
mechanical purposes, pumping water from the Genesee river, 7,000,000
gallons of water per day. This supply of water from both sources is
distributed to all parts of the city by means of 270 miles of pipe. The
total cost of the water works to date has been about $10,000,000.
1897 Twenty-Second Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for the year ending December 31, 1897.
1897 "Rochester," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 4.
1898 "Portage
Storage Dam Project," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,
March 7, 1898, Page 8.
In this city, the elevation of the surface of the feeder dam is 510 feet,
and the surface of Lake Ontario is 247 feet above the sea level, leaving a
fall of 263 feet, nearly all available for water power.
1898 Anna B. Neal, Respondent, v. The City of Rochester, Appellant, 156 N. Y. 213, June 7, 1898, Court of Appeals of the State of New York
1898 "A few considerations of municipal water supply, with special reference to that of Rochester, N.Y.," by Emil Kuichling, C. E., from The Cornell Civil Engineer 6:1-10 (1897-1898) | also here |
1898 "Discharge of conduits supplying Mt. Hope Reservoir, Rochester, N. Y.," by Emil Kuichling, Journal of the New England Water Works Association 13(2):138-146 (December 1898)
1898 Twenty-Third Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for the year ending December 31, 1898.
1898 Moffett, Hodgkins & Clarke Company, Petitioner, against the City of Rochester and others etc. Petition for Writ of Certiorari, September term, United States Supreme Court.
1899 Twenty-Fourth Annual Report of the Executive Board, in charge of the Water Works, Fire, and Highway Departments, and of Street Improvements, for the year ending December 31, 1899.
1900 Moffett, Hodgkins & Clarke Co. v. Rochester, 178 U.S. 373, May 21, 1900, U.S. Supreme Court
1900 First
Annual Report of the Department of Public Works of the City of
Rochester for the year ending December 31, 1900.
Pages 145-148: Water Rates
1901 "Report of the City Engineer to the Commissioner of Public Works Relating to an Investigation of Electrolysis in the Water Pipe System of the City of Rochester, N.Y.," August 1, 1901, Annual Report of the Department of Public Works
1901 Electrolysis in the water pipe system. bu Edwin A. Fisher.
1901 Second Annual Report of the Department of Public Works of the City of Rochester for the year ending December 31, 1901.
1902 Third Annual Report of the Department of Public Works of the City of Rochester for the year ending December 31, 1902
1902 "The Water Supply of Rochester," by John F. Skinner, Official Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the American Society of Municipal Engineers 9:63-67 (October, 1902)
1902 Municipal
Engineering, Volume 23, (July-December 1902)
Pages 340-342: "The Water Supply of Rochester N. Y.," by John F.
Skinner Special Assistant Engineer
Pages 342-343: " Distributing system of the Rochester Water-Works,"
by W. N Radenhurst, Water Works Assistant Engineer
1902 Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Company incorporated to supply water to the village of Brighton and Fairport, and in the towns of Greece, Gates, and Brighton. December 30, 1902.
1903 "Rochester Water
Company," Evening Tribune (Hornell, New York), January 17, 1903,
Page 1.
New York, Jan. 17.- The Rochester and Lake Ontario Water company, which
was incorporated at Albany on Dec. 31 with a capital stock of $2,500,000,
has organized as follows. President, Samson Q. Mingle, New York;
vice president, Edward Harris, Rochester, N.Y.; treasurer, George M.
Bunting, Philadelphia; secretary, H. Bayard Dodge, Philadelphia. The
company purposes to supply water to a number of villages near Rochester,
and if possible to obtain a franchise to do business in Rochester.
1903 "Rochester has Pure Water and No Typhoid," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 7, 1903, Page 1. | Part 2 | Part 3 |
1903 "The
Fire Department Greatly Handicapped," Rochester Democrat and
Chronicle, June 13, 1903, Page 11.
Chief Makes Strong Plea for More Hydrants.
1903 Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Company, Respondent, v. The City of Rochester, Appellant. 176 N. Y. 36, October 6, 1903, Court of Appeals of the State of New York
1903 "The History of the Water Supply," from Proceedings of the Common Council of the City of Rochester, October 6, 1903
1903 Fourth Annual Report of the Department of Public Works of the City of Rochester for the year ending December 31, 1903
1904 "Water Supply of Rochester," Fire and Water Engineering 35:116-117 (March 19, 1904)
1904 "Water
Works Rules," Record of the Proceedings of the Common Council of
the City of Rochester
Page 416: July 26. The service must be of lead or tin-lined
lead pipe. The service from the curb-cock into the premises may be
of lead, tin-lined lead or wrought iron pipe, of equal strength with the
lead pipe heretofore designated for service pipes in the roadway of the
street.
Pages 419-421: Rates for use of water.
1904 "Has Plans of Standpipe," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, September 3, 1904, Page 10.
1904 "Standpipe on Cobbs Hill to be Built from a Raft," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, September 17, 1904, Page 11.
1904 "Report on the City of Rochester, N. Y.," December, 1904, from Reports on Cities, No. 10, National Board of Fire Underwriters.
1904 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Rochester, Monroe County, New York.
1904 Fifth Annual Report of the Department of Public Works of the City of Rochester for the year ending December 31, 1904.
1905 Memories of Eighty Years by Isaac Smith Hobbie, July 19, 1905
1905 "Steam
Turbine and Series Centrifugal Pump," Municipal News
8(1):14-15 (September 4, 1905)
installed in early 1904 in the Holly Pumping Station on Brown's Race
1905 Sixth Annual Report of the Department of Public Works of the City of Rochester for the year ending December 31, 1905.
1906 History
of the Canal System of the State of New York: Together with Brief
Histories of the Canals of the United States and Canada, by
Noble E. Whitford
Page 190: Shortly after the “Stop law" of 1842 went into effect, the
sheriff of Monroe county destroyed, as a public nuisance, the
eighteen-inch feeder dam across the Genesee river just above Rochester,
from which water had been used occasionally in emergencies since the canal
was constructed. The mill owners of the city protested vigorously against
the further use of water from Genesee river for canal purposes and the
Legislature took no action to have the dam restored.
1906 Seventh Annual Report of the Department of Public Works of the City of Rochester for the year ending December 31, 1906
1907 "Rochester Water Works," from Municipal Code of the City of Rochester, Volume Two. This provides a good summary of the history and litigation involved in the water works.
1907 Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Company Reservoir, Cobb's Hill. Postcard showing water tank 150 feet in diameter, 20 feet high, holding approximately 2.6 million gallons..
1907 Eighth Annual Report of the Department of Public Works of the City of Rochester for the year ending December 31, 1907
1908 "Corrosion of the Steel Water Supply Conduit at Rochester, N.Y.," by Richard W. Gaines, Engineering News 59:578-585 (May 28, 1908)
1908 Ninth
and Tenth Annual Reports of the Department of Public Works of the City
of Rochester for the years ending December 31, 1908 and
December 31, 1909.
Page 115: During the year the original contract for Cobb‘s Hill Reservoir
construction, together with a large amount of additional roadway grading,
has been completed. The water was first turned into the reservoir on
October 19, 1908. The reservoir was filled on January 11, 1909, since
which time the water stored in it has been available for use in the city.
It was actually connected with the city distribution system and water used
from it on August 20, 1909, and it has been in constant service ever
since. The area of water surface, when the reservoir is full to the
crest of the overflow, is 18.2 acres, and it then contains about
144,000,000 gallons of water.
1908 "The Water Works," from History of Rochester and Monroe County, New York: From the Earliest Historic Times to the Beginning of 1907, Volume 1, by William Farley Peck
1907 The City of Rochester, Respondent, v. Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Company, Appellant, 189 N. Y. 323, October 8, 1907, Court of Appeals of the State of New York
1908 "Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Plant," Fire and Water Engineering 43(24) (June 10, 1908) | Also here |
1909 "Death
Comes to Nelson J. Tubbs," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,
September 21, 1909, Page 7.
For many years an engineer in state service. Expert on waterworks.
1909 "Tribute to the Late J. Nelson Tubbs," by George W. Mische, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, October 1, 1909, Page 9. | part 2 |
1910 "Rochester Waterworks," Fire and Water Engineering 48(12):198-200 (September 21, 1910) | Part 2 48(13):219-221 (September 28, 1910) | also here | Part 2 |
1910 Journal
of the New England Water Works Association
24(4):473-636 (December 1910). Includes several articles about
Rochester.
Page 623: The Twenty-Ninth Annual Convention of the New England Water
Works Association was held at Rochester, N. Y., September 21, 22 and 23,
1910.
Pages 473-482: "Memoranda Relative to Rochester," by Edwin A. Fisher
Pages 482-485: "Rochester Parks," by C. C. Laney
Pages 485-492: "A rambling description of the water works," by Berkman C.
Little
Pages 492-498: "Pertinent matters relating to the water works," by
Frederick T. Elwood
Pages 498-503: "Cobb's Hill Reservoir," by John F. Skinner.
Pages 503-514: "The purification plant of the Rochester and Lake Ontario
Water Company," by James M. Caird.
1911 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Rochester, Monroe County, New York. Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3 | Volume 4 | Volume 5 |
1911 Sanborn
Fire Insurance Map from Rochester, Monroe County, New York,
Volume 4.
Plate
577: Rochester Water Works Emergency Pumping Station on Water
Street [electric pump]
1911 A
Sanitary Survey of Rochester, N. Y., by Caroline Bartlett
Crane
Pages 9-10: Another danger to the water within the city's limits is
not theoretical. It was exemplified last fall when by-passes were
accidentally established between the Hemlock Lake water mains and the
river mains, resulting in a sharp rise in the typhoid rate, with several
consequent deaths. This accident happened during the progress of some
public construction work. It was discovered through complaints to the
Health Officer of peculiar appearance of the water, which resulted in
examinations of water from various points to isolate the source of the"
trouble.
When it was discovered, the pipes were disconnected, warnings were issued
to boil the water, and vigorous measures were also taken to prevent a crop
of secondary typhoid cases. Danger from this accident cannot be said to be
past, since it is quite uncertain when polluted pipes may safely be
regarded as again clean.
Responsibility for this grave accident has not been located, and I am
surprised to find that the effort to locate it is apparently dropped.
1912 Application
of the Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Company for permission to extend
its mains into the town of Irondeqoit. Approved July 31,
1912. New York State Conservation Commission
Now supplying in addition the villages of Penfield, Pittsford and East
Rochester and the territory contiguous thereto..
1913 "Rochester
Water Works Bonds," Fire and Water Engineering 54:84
(August 6, 1913)
Rochester, N.Y., is one of two cities in that State in which the bonds
issued to obtain funds for water works purposes are not exempted from the
total debt. Rochester's water works indebtedness is close to
$10.000,000, and the limit fixed by the constitution, being 10 per cent.
of the total valuation, is about $16,000,000. so that with the water works
bonds and notes subtracted there is only a margin of $6.000,000 for other
improvement work. It is estimated that Rochester’s water works system is
worth $20,000,000, if not more, and private corporations have indicated
their willingness to pay this for it. There is some agitation looking
toward an effort to have a constitutional amendment passed exempting these
bonds and enabling Rochester to extend its debt limit in order that funds
may be available for such other improvements as may be deemed of
importance.
1913 Report on the Steel Plate Pipe Conduit II of the Rochester Water Works, by John F. Skinner, Principal Assistant Engineering, December, 1913.
1914 Application of the Water Commissioners of the Monroe Water District of the town of Brighton for the approval of plans. Approved June 11, 1914. Conservation Commission Water Supply Application No. 163.
1914 Stubbs
v. City of Rochester, 163 App Div 245, 148 N.Y.S. 804, July 7,
1914, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth
Department
Typhoid outbreak from cross-connection between the Hemlock and Holly
systems in the summer of 1910.
1914 "Emil Kuichling," The New York Times, November 11, 1914, Page 13.
1915 "Water Works Bureau," from Government of the City of Rochester, N. Y.: General Survey, Critical Appraisal and Constructive Suggestions, by Bureau of Municipal Research
1916 Fifty
Years of a Civilizing Force: An historical and a critical study
of the work of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, by
Harry Chase Brearley
Pages 46-47: Resolved, That in consideration of the introduction of
a complete system of Water Works in the city of Rochester, New York, that
the Local Board of that city be instructed to abate the 20 per cent.
advance, of December, '72, on all risks covered by the new water works of
the city—and no other—to take effect from the date at which the water
works were accepted by the city authorities.
1918 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Rochester, Monroe County, New York. November, 1918
1918 "Third
Conduit In Operation," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle,
December 13, 1918, Page 28.
Delivering Water to City Reservoir in Highland Park.
1919 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Rochester, Monroe County, New York. January, 1919
1919 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Rochester, Monroe County, New York. February, 1919
1919 "Canadice Lake Turned In," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, February 25, 1919, Page 17.
1919 Stubbs v. City of Rochester, 226 N.Y. 516, 124 N.E. 137 (1919). | Also see 163 App. Div. 245 (N.Y. App. Div. 1914) | and here |
1920 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Rochester, Monroe County, New York. January, 1920
1920 "The Revenue Chargeable to Public Uses of Water in the City of Rochester, New York," by Stephen B. Story, Journal of the American Water Works Association, 7(6) 869-879 (November, 1920) | also here |
1921 Report
of a survey of the Rochester water works : submitted to the Board of
Trustees by Rochester Bureau of
Municipal Research. Written by Stephen B. Story, April,
1921. This is scanned from a mimeograph copy, many thanks to Sara
Dougherty for doing the scanning at the Local History Room of the
Rochester Public
Library.
1922 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Rochester, Monroe County, New York. June, 1922
1922 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Rochester, Monroe County, New York. July, 1922
1922 Rochester
in History, editor by Henry C. Mains.
Page 147: Chapter XXXVI - The Waterworks.
1923 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Rochester, Monroe County, New York. April, 1923
1923 Flow
of Water in Pipes, by Hiram Francis Mills
Rochester Conduits I & II
1923 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Rochester, Monroe County, New York. May, 1923
1924 "Sodium Iodide Treatment of Rochester's Water Supply (with discussion)," by Beekman C. Little, Journal of the American Water Works Association 12(1):68-86 (September, 1924) | also here |
1924 "Sources of Supply, Conduits and Reservoirs, of the Rochester, N. Y. Water-Works System," by John F. Skinner, read September 30, 1924. Journal of the New England Water Works Association 38(3):219-225 (September, 1924)
1925 "A Commendable Meter-Reading and Billing System," by Stephen B. Story, The American City 32:40-42 (January 1925)
1925 "Sources, Conduits and Reservoirs of the Rochester, N.Y., Water-Supply," by John F. Skinner, The American City 32:527-530 (May 1925)
1925 History
of the Genesee country (western New York) comprising the counties of
Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston,
Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming
and Yates, Volume II, edited by Lockwood R. Doty
Pages 810-812: The question of pure water has never been a
troublesome one in the city of Rochester. The clean, sparkling water of
today has a different source from the water of the pioneer days. Then the
pure water of the Genesee was available. The growth of the city along the
banks of the Genesee in time rendered the water unfit for human
consumption, whereupon other means were resorted to for the necessary
supply.
As early as 1835 the Rochester Water Works Company was incorporated with a
capital of $10,000. Nothing came of this project and for many years the
Erie Canal and Genesee River were depended upon for a supply of water in
case of fire. In 1852 another company was incorporated with a capital of
$800,000 and authority to issue bonds for an equal amount. Mains were laid
to connect the city with three small lakes in Livingston County. The plant
was poorly constructed and when the money had all been expended expert
engineers reported that it would require $410,000 to complete the work.
The bondholders began foreclosure proceedings and a long period of
litigation followed.
In the year 1872 the legislature passed an act authorizing the appointment
of five commissioners to construct a system of water works at the expense
of the city. Mayor Wilder appointed William H. Bowman, Roswell Hart,
Charles C. Morse, Gilman H. Perkins and Edward M. Smith. They decided upon
a gravity system from Hemlock Lake, twenty-eight miles south of the city
and 385 feet higher, with an auxiliary supply from the Genesee River, for
which the Holly pumping system was to be used. Despite legal obstacles
work was begun in the spring of 1873. The first conduit was begun in July
of that year and completed in February, 1876. On February 18, 1874,
the Holly system was tested and found to be satisfactory, thus insuring
the city a supply of water for fire protection. Work was then pushed
forward on the Hemlock system. Two reservoirs were constructed — one
in the town of Rush and the other in Highland park, in the southern part
of the city. On January 23, 1876 the water was turned into the mains
and first used by the people of Rochester.
The original cost of the system was $3,518,000; between ten and eleven
million dollars have been expended since that time in additions and
improvements. The Cobb’s Hill reservoir has been constructed;
Canadice Lake, a short distance east of Hemlock and 200 feet higher,
has been added to the supply. In 1876 the board of water
commissioners was succeeded by the executive board which was given
authority over the waterworks.
In 1902 the Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Company was created to supply
water from the lake to suburban Rochester and nearby villages. The
first pipe was laid by this company on June 2, 1904, and the first pumping
was done December 15th following. Due to the annexation since then
of nearly all of this outlying territory to the city, most of the
company’s business is now done within the Rochester city limits.
Extensive service is also given to the farmers, the water being available
to them not only for potable purposes, but for irrigation and fire
protection.
1927 Report on the Rochester Water Works, by Harrison Prescott Eddy, Allen Hazen, and Edwin A. Fisher, March 27, 1927.
1927 Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Company filed a certificate of extension of territory allowing it to serve the towns of Irondequoit, Pittsford, Perington and Penfield. July 5, 1927.
1927 "Simple Device Stops Leaks at Cobb Hill and Saves 80,000 Gallons of Water Daily," Democrat and Chronicle, October 30, 1927, Page 45.
1927 Petition of the City of Rochester to the New York State Water Power and Control Commission for Permission to Provide Additional Facilities for Water Supply Honeoye Lake-Mud Creek. Memorandum and Permitting Modification of Plan, December 14, 1927. Water Power and Control Commission Water Supply Application No. 439
1928 "The Water Supply of Rochester, N. Y.," by Irving E. Matthews, Journal of the American Water Works Association, 19(3):239-252 (March, 1928)
1928 An act to amend the conservation law, in relation to the powers of the water power and control commission as to the water supply of the city of Rochester. April 6, 1928.
1928 Petition of the City of Rochester to the New York State Water Power and Control Commission for Permission to Provide Additional Facilities for Water Supply Honeoye Lake-Mud Creek. Memorandum; Application approved as modified, June 22, 1928. Water Power and Control Commission Water Supply Application No. 439
1928 The Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Service Company was formed by the consolidation of the Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Company and the Clyde Water Supply Company. July 26, 1928. This corporation was a subsidiary of the Federal Water Service Corporation.
1929 Publications
of the Rochester Historical Society, Volume 8
Pages 109-124: History of Engineering in Rochester, by Edwin A.
Fisher
Pages 113-117: Rochester Water Works
1930 "Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Co.," by Ralph Verla, Rochester Gas & Electric News 17(7):252-253 (January, 1930)
1930 "Biggest Steel Reservoir in America Done," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, May 24, 1930, Page 11.
1930 "Diggers Find Wooden Mains Decades Old," Democrat and Chronicle, November 27, 1930, Page 31. Remains of Rochester Water Works Company wooden conduit found in East Henrietta Street during construction of a tunnel from the Iola Power House to the Monroe Community Hospital.
1930 Petition of the City of Rochester to the New York State Water Power and Control Commission for Permission to Provide Additional Facilities for Water Supply Honeoye Lake-Mud Creek. Amended decision December 9, 1930. Water Power and Control Commission Water Supply Application No. 439
1931 Application of the Rochester & Lake Ontario Water Service Corporation for Approval of Its Acquisition of the Plant and Water System Formerly Owned and Operated by the Clyde Water Supply Company, in the Village of Clyde, County of Wayne, Upon the Consolidation of Said Clyde Water Supply Company With the Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Company, and for Approval of Its Plant and System as at Present Existing, Known as its "Clyde Plant." July 13, 1931. Water Power and Control Commission Water Supply Application No. 622
1931 Application
of Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Service Corporation for Approval of
Its Existing Plant and System Known as Its Rochester Plant, October
28, 1931. Water Power and Control Commission Water Supply
Application No. 649.
Page 267: There are two steel standpipes on Cobbs hill, about
400 feet above the level of the lake. The first is 150 feet in
diameter and twenty feet high and holds 2.64 million gallons. The
second, built in 1930, is 200 feet in diameter and twenty-five
feet high and holds six million gallons.
1932 "History and Engineering of Rochester's Water Supply in its First Century," by Edwin A. Fisher, Proceedings of the Rochester Academy of Science, 7(3):59-95 (March, 1932) | also here |
1932 Report on the Rochester water works, by Edmund M. Alling, Business District Association, Inc. November 3, 1932.
1932 Petition of the City of Rochester to the New York State Water Power and Control Commission, for Permission to Divert Water Into Hemlock Lake for Water Supply, Application dismissed, August 13, 1932, Water Supply Application No. 438
1934 Application of the city of Rochester for Approval of Its Acquisition of an Emergency Source of Water Supply and of Its Plans for the Construction of an Emergency Pumping Station and Connecting Mains. THIRD APPLICATION. Application approved as modified, July 24, 1934. Water Power and Control Commission. Water Supply Application No. 857
1934 Report of Water Committee on additional supply and equalization of water rates to the City Council, by Morgan D Hayes, Chairman, September 10, 1934. | Map showing present and proposed sources of water supply and conduit lines |
1936 "Pioneering in the Water Works Field," by Morgan D. Hayes, Journal of the American Water Works Association, 28(1):22-29 (January, 1936)
1938 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Rochester, Monroe County, New York. Volume 1 (south) | Volume 4 | Volume 5 |Volumes 6 and 7 |
1940 "Rochester Guards Against Typhoid," The Cornell Daily Sun, December 13, 1940, Page 8.
1940 "Rochester Fears Typhoid Outbreak," St. Petersburg Times, December 14, 1940, Page 9.
1941 "The Pollution and Emergency Disinfection of Rochester's Water Supply," by Earl Devendorf, Journal of the American Water Works Association, 33(8):1334-1356 (August, 1941)
1942 Application of the City of Rochester for Approval of Its Acquisition of an Emergency Source of Water Supply and of Its Plans for the Construction, of an Emergency Pumping Station and Connecting Mains. Application approved as modified, waterworks system approved as constructed and operation thereof by city of Rochester authorized. March 31, 1942. FIFTH APPLICATION. Water Power and Control Commission. Water Supply Application No. 1525.
1942 Application of Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Service Company for Approval of Its Proposed Construction of Additional Intake Capacity in Lake Ontario and the Taking of Additional Water Up to Approximately 18,000,000 Gallons Daily, Through the Existing and the Additional Intake Pipes. Application approved as modified May 26, 1942. THIRD APPLICATION. Water Power and Control Commission. Water Supply Application No. 1544
1943 Application of the Monroe Avenue Water District for Approval of Its Acquisition of a Source of Water Supply and for Its Financial and Engineering Plans Used in the Construction of the Water Supply System. Application approved as modified, waterworks system approved as constructed and operation thereof by board of water commissioners of Monroe Avenue Water District authorized, October 26, 1943. SECOND APPLICATION Water Supply Application No. 1591
1945 Application of the City of Rochester, Monroe County, for Approval of Its Financial and Engineering Plans for the Improvement, Extension, Rehabilitation and Enlargement of Its Water Supply System. Application approved as modified, October 2, 1945. SIXTH APPLICATION. Water Power and Control Commission. Water Supply Application No. 1609
1945 Rochester
The Water-Power City 1812-1854, by Blake McKelvey
Page 110: A lane, opening into Carroll (State) Street, provided
access to the public "reservoir" fed by a log "aqueduct" which carried the
overflow of the Red Mill thirty rods north to a central water trough for
the use of both fire fighters and thirsty horses.
Page 112: A closely related problem was that of supplying fresh
water. An old Indian spring proved sufficient until the summer of 1820,
when several private wells were dug. The demand for public wells, put off
by an increased flow at the spring that fall, soon reappeared and with it
came an abortive attempt to form a Rochester Aqueduct Association.
Meanwhile, encouragement to those who extended the use of private wells to
their neighbors failed to relieve the village of dependence on
enterprising water carriers.
Page 248: The most serious instance of civic complacency was the
failure to make any provision for a water system. Authority to raise funds
for this purpose, granted in Rochester's first city charter, spurred study
of the problem. Mayor Johnson presented a detailed plan in 1838 for a
public water works to be constructed section by section as needed, with
the total capital cost of $150,000 spread over a period of years and the
water rates pledged for the payment of the bonds. The savings enjoyed
through a reduction in the excessive fire insurance rates would, Johnson
argued, more than cancel the individual's water payments, leaving the
health benefits and other assets as clear gain.
Pages 336-337: A more serious handicap resulted from the limited
water supply. Stimulated in part by Buffalo's successful action in 1852, a
Rochester Water Works Company was chartered that year and a survey made
which indicated the feasibility of a plan to tap Hemlock Lake, some thirty
miles south of the city. The estimated cost, $575,000, postponed further
action, however, compelling the council to make new appropriations for
small underground reservoirs.
Page 337: William A. Reynolds, Minutes of Rochester Water Works
Company, May 31 - Oct 24, 1855, MSS, Roch. Hist. Soc. [This is no
longer in the possession of the Rochester Historical Society.]
1947 Survival
And Retirement Experience With Water Works Facilities A Committee
Report, by American Water Works Association, Inc.
Pages 295-306: Rochester (Suburban), New York As of December 31, 1940.
1948 Application of the City of Rochester for Approval of Its Financial and Engineering Plans for Improvement, Extension, Rehabilitation and· Enlargement of Its Water Supply System. Application modified as requested, December 7, 1948. Modifying Decision. Extension of Time. Water Supply Application No. l609
1949 "Rochester and Its Water Works," Monthly Bulletin of the Rochester Bureau of Municipal Research, No. 145:581-184 (December, 1949).
1949 Rochester The Flower City 1855-1890, by Blake McKelvey
1950 Application for Approval of Increased Purchases of Water from Eastman Kodak Company and of Maps and Plans for Increasing Water Delivery Facilities Incidental Thereto. Application, maps and plans approved as modified; water works system approved as constructed; operation thereof authorized, January 16, 1950. SEVENTH APPLICATION Water Supply Application No. 1976
1950 "Rochester and Its Water Works," Monthly Bulletin of the Rochester Bureau of Municipal Research, No. 147:589-592 (March-April 1950).
1950 Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Service Corporation merged with the New York Water Service Corporation on April 12, 1950.
1950 An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the creation of the Monroe county water authority, and providing for the powers and duties of the authority. April 20, 1950.
1950 Application of Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Service Corporation, for Approval of Construction of Two Wells Having a Total Capacity of Not Less than 2,000,000 Gallons per Day or More than 3,000,000 Gallons per Day. Application, maps and plans approved as modified. May 3, 1950. FOURTH APPLICATION Water Supply Application No. 2020
1950 Application of City of Rochester, Petitioner, for Approval of Taking of Additional Quantities of Water from Lake Ontario for Water Supply System, and of Plans in Connection Therewith. Application, maps and plans approved as modified, August 1, 1950. EIGHTH APPLICATION Water Supply Application No. 2030
1950 Application of the City of Rochester, for Approval of Financial and Engineering Plans for Improvement, Extension, Rehabilitation and Enlargement of Water Supply System. Application, maps and plans modified, December 12, 1950. MODIFYING DECISION. EXTENSION OF TIME Water Supply Application No. 1609
1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Rochester, Monroe County, New York. Volume 1 | Volume 1 (south) | Volume 2 |Volume 3 | Volume 4 | Volume 5 | Volumes 6 and 7 |
1951 An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the Monroe county water authority, and repealing section one thousand one hundred twelve of such law, relating thereto. March 19, 1951.
1952 Application of the Monroe County Water Authority, to purchase water from the City of Rochester. Application, maps and plans approved as modified, July 23, 1952. Water Supply Application No. 2241.
1954 Application of Village of Honeoye Falls for Approval of Acquisition of Source of Water Supply from Rochester, New York, Hemlock Water Main Pursuant to Contract Between City of Rochester and Monroe County Water Authority, and for Permission to Contract for Same with Monroe County Water Authority, and Extension of Temporary Permit under Which Hemlock Water Is Now Being Supplied to Said Village. Application, maps and plans approved as modified, August 24, 1954. FOURTH APPLICATION Water Supply Application No. 2585
1954 Application of the Monroe County Water Authority to Purchase Water from City of Rochester. Decision modified as requested, August 29, 1954. MODIFYING DECISION. Water Supply Application No. 2241
1954 Rochester and its water works : the story of one city's quest for a domestic supply of pure and wholesome water, 1834-1954, September 1954, Rochester Bureau of Municipal Research
1954 "County
Water Unit To Operate Oct. 1," Democrat and Chronicle,
September 22, 1954, Page 17.
Monroe County Water Authority
1954 Application of New York Water Service Corporation for Approval of Use of Intake into Lake Ontario of the Rochester Gas and Electric Company as Auxiliary Source of Supply, and Pipe Line to Connect to Same. Application, maps and plans approved as modified, November 9, 1954. ROCHESTER PLANT. FIFTH APPLICATION. Water Supply Application No. 2315
1954 Application of the Monroe County Water Authority for Approval of Acquisition of Water Supply and Distribution System of New York Water Service Corporation Constituting All Real and Personal Property Thereof Appertaining to Waterworks Systems Owned and Operated Thereby within Boundaries of Monroe County, and Approval of Financial and Engineering Plans for Acquisition of Water Supply and Distribution System. Application, maps and plans approved as modified, November 9, 1954. SECOND APPLICATION Water Supply Application No. 2615
1954 Application of the Monroe County Water Authority for Approval of Acquisition of Water Supply and Distribution System of New York Water Service Corporation Constituting All Real and Personal Property Thereof Appertaining to Waterworks Systems Owned and Operated Thereby within Boundaries of Monroe County, and Approval of Financial and Engineering Plans for Acquisition of Water Supply and Distribution System. Decision Modified as indicated, December 14, 1954. SECOND APPLICATION. MODIFYING DECISION Water Supply Application No. 2615
1956 Application of Monroe Avenue Water District, Town of Brighton, Monroe County, for Approval of Extensions of District and Engineering Plans for Construction of Water Supply System Therein. Application, maps and plans approved as modified, May 15, 1956. FOURTH APPLICATION Water Supply Application No. 2967
1956 Application of Monroe Avenue Water District, Town of Brighton, Monroe County, for Approval of Extensions of District and Engineering Plans for Construction of Water Supply System Therein. Application, maps and plans approved as modified, August 7, 1956. FOURTH APPLICATION. MODIFYING DECISION. Water Supply Application No. 2967
1956 "The
History of Public Health in Rochester, New York," by Blake McKelvey,
Rochester History 18(3):1-28 (July, 1956)
Page 2: A closely related problem was that of supplying fresh water. An
old Indian spring proved sufficient until the summer of 1820, when several
private wells were dug. The demand for public wells, put off by an
increased flow at the spring that fall, soon reappeared, and with it came
an abortive attempt to form a Rochester Aqueduct Association. Meanwhile,
encouragement to those who extended the use of private wells to their
neighbors failed to relieve the village of dependence on enterprising
water carriers.
The town's rapid growth spurred the trustees in 1826 to subsidize the
digging of half a dozen private wells, making them available for public
use, and to open two others at central points on public property.
Page 10: An era of moderate growth, verging on stagnation, curbed
Rochester's civic developments during the fifties and sixties. A Water
Works Company, organized in 1852, failed to attract investors and turned
its charter over to a new group in 1855, but several leading taxpayers
obstructed its effort to persuade the city to take a large block of stock
in order to launch the project. The council did, however, create the post
of city surveyor, at a salary of $1700, with the object of securing expert
advice on the water problem. His able report favored the use of Hemlock
Lake water over that from Ontario and upheld the feasibility of the
company's plans, comparing the proposed system favorably with water works
in other cities; yet neither the city nor the company raised the necessary
funds.
1956 Rochester The Quest for Quality 1890-1925, by Blake McKelvey
1957 Application of New York Water Service Corporation for Approval of Use of Intake into Lake Ontario of the Rochester Gas and Electric Company as Auxiliary Source of Supply, and Pipe Line to Connect to Same. Original decision modified as requested, April 2, 1957. ROCHESTER PLANT. FIFTH APPLICATION. MODIFYING DECISION. Water Supply Application No. 2315-A
1957 Application of the Monroe County Water Authority to Purchase Additional Water from City of Rochester. Application, maps and plans approved as modified, April 2, 1957. THIRD APPLICATION. Water Supply Application No. 3188.
1957 Application of New York Water Service Corporation for Approval of Taking Water from City of Rochester That Has Been Released by Monroe County Water Authority. Application, maps and plans approved as modified, April 2, 1957. ROCHESTER PLANT. SIXTH APPLICATION. Water Supply Application No. 3189.
1957 Application of the Consolidated Water District, Town of Greece, for Approval of Acquisition of Source of Water Supply and Financial and Engineering Plant for Construction of Water Supply System to Serve Extension No. 39, Greece Consolidated Water District. Application, maps and plans approved as modified, waterworks system approved as constructed and operation thereof authorized subject to signing of certain contracts referred to herein, April 2, 1957. GREECE CONSOLIDATED WATER DISTRICT. EIGHTH APPLICATION. Water Supply Application No. 3196.
1957 Application of the Monroe Avenue Water District, Town of Brighton, Monroe County, for Approval of Brighton School District No. 2 Extension of Said District and Financial and Engineering Plans for Construction of Water Supply System Therein. Application, maps and plans approved as modified, May 7, 1957. FIFTH APPLICATION. Water Supply Application 3197.
1959 "Water
Unit Closes Deal," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March
6, 1959, Page 9.
The Monroe county Water Authority yesterday plunked down $10,720,783.44
for the local system of the New York Water Service Corp. and thereby, at
last, set itself up in the water-producing business.
1959 "Rochester's
125th Birthday," by Blake McKelvey, Rochester History
21(2):1-24 (April 1959)
Page 16-17: Another problem that demanded increased attention was
that of providing and safeguarding the town's water supply. The trustees
received frequent petitions for assistance in opening public wells in new
neighborhoods; they generally agreed to install a pump when residents dug
a suitable well. The opening of four mineral springs within the limits
raised the community's hopes until the water proved better suited for
bath-house use than for drinking purposes. As household needs increased,
Elisha Johnson drafted a plan in 1832 to supply the community with fresh
water from the upper river. After some hesitation, the trustees sent a
plea to the legislature for authority to organize a water company to build
the necessary mains. The city charter, granted two years later, did indeed
include such power, but meanwhile the village made renewed efforts to open
and clean its public wells.
The need of the fire companies for adequate reservoirs elicited an alert
response. The trustees appointed a village engineer and directed him to
lay several "aqueducts" of hollow logs from the canal to conveniently
located reservoirs or cisterns for use in case of fire. Unfortunately,
these facilities were of little utility during winter months. Only good
fortune protected the town from a disastrous conflagration in December,
1831, when several wooden buildings north of the Mansion House caught
fire. The volunteer companies exhausted all available water resources just
as the flames approached that major tavern, and only a shift in wind saved
it and probably a large portion of the central district as well.
1961 Rochester: an emerging metropolis, 1925-1961, by Blake McKelvey
1962 "Rochester," 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
1966 "Brighton Board Takes Over Water District," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, January 12, 1966, Page 27.
1962 "Notice
of Sale," Democrat and Chronicle, June 27, 1962, Page 14.
Earl L. Chase vs The Rochester Water Company. Excepting And
Reserving thereout 29.53 acres more or less conveyed to Christopher Ouiun
by Lorenza A. Easton by deed dated September 10, 1868, recorded in Monroe
County Clerk's Office in Liber 224 of Deeds, page 247. Being the same
premises conveyed to The Rochester Water Company by deed recorded in
Monroe County Clerk's Office in Liber 265 of Deeds at page 442.
1972 "Water for Rochester," by Blake McKelvey, Rochester History 34(3):1-24 (July 1972)
1977 "Water Works History: A Comparison of Albany, Utica, Syracuse, and Rochester" by Joseph W. Barnes, Rochester History 39(3):1-24 (July 1977)
1978 "The Erie Canal Ring, Samuel J. Tilden, and the Democratic Party," by Thomas J. Archdeacon, New York History 59(4):408-429 (October 1978)
2013 A Pocket History of Rochester's Water Works
2014 Engineer Joseph Nelson Tubbs and Rochester’s first water supply system, by Luis Felipe Bendezu. Paper for Speaking Stones REL 167, December 10, 2014
2019 The Rochester Water Works Companies: 1835-1872, PowerPoint Presentation for Rochester's Rich History, February 16, 2019
2020 Water for Rochester, at Last, PowerPoint Presentation for Rochester's Rich History, February 15, 2020
Aerial Photo of Rush Reservoir
Maps
1872 Map of Brighton showing the reservoir built by the Rochester Water Works Company on South Avenue.
1872 Map
of Livonia, Livingston County
Shows the outlet of Hemlock Lake and the Hoppough Mill pond, including two
adjacent properties owned by W. R. Utley..
1872 Map
of Livonia, Livingston County
Shows the outlet of Hemlock Lake
These topographic maps show the lakes, rivers, and creeks involved in the Rochester water works.
| USGS 1:62:500 Topographic Map of Rochester (1895) | Northwest | Northeast | Southwest | Southeast |
| USGS 1:62:500 Topographic Map of Rochester (1920) | Northwest | Northeast | Southwest | Southeast |
| USGS 1:62:500 Topographic Map of Honeoye (1904) | Northwest | Northeast | Southwest | Southeast |
| USGS 1:62,500 Topographic Maps | Rochester (1920) | Honeoye (1904) | Wayland (1904) |
These plat books show the
location of Conduits I, II & III in Monroe County and the City of
Rochester.
| 1924 Plat Book of Monroe County | Honeoye Falls Village | Mendon | Rush | Henrietta | Brighton | Brighton |
| 1926 Plat Book of the City of Rochester | Rochester Plate 37 | Rochester Plate 33 |
A History Time Line of the Hemlock Water Reservoir
Rochester
Village Trustee and City Council Proceedings 1817-1900 |
Copies at Google Books: | 1869-70
| 1873-74 |
1874-75
| 1875-76 |
1879-80
| 1880-81
| 1881-82 |
1882-83
| 1884-85
| 1885-86
| 1886-87
| 1891-92 |
1888-89
| 1889-90
| 1890-91
| 1891-92 |
1892-93
| 1893-94
| 1894-95
| 1895
| 1896
| 1897
| 1898
| 1899
| 1900
| 1901
| 1902
| 1903
| 1904
| 1905
| 1906
| 1907
| 1908
| 1909
| 1910
| 1911
| 1912
| 1913
| 1914
| 1915
| 1916
| 1917
| 1918
| 1919
| 1920
| 1921
| 1922
| 1923
|
Other copies on Google Books: | 1891-92 | 1891-92
|
Other copies at HathiTrust: | 1887-88
| 1891-92
|
Rochester History Journal
Historic USGS Maps of New England and New York
Rochester Images includes maps pictures of the reservoirs and pipeline construction | List of Plat Maps in Rochester Images |
| Rochester Republican 1829-1849 | Rochester Daily Democrat 1840-1857 | Rochester Evening Express 1860-1882 | Rochester Express February 1863 to February 1864 | Rochester Democrat and Chronicle 1872-1970 | Rochester Union-Advertiser 1862-1885 |
Many thanks to my colleague Sara Dougherty for scanning several documents document held by the Rochester Public Library.
© 2016-2023 Morris A. Pierce
