Documentary History of American Water-works

Water Supply By Pumping

An Important Vermont Industry Re-established

ORGANIZATION OF THE FLANDERS & LANG PUMP COMPANY, OF BURLINGTON, AND SETTLEMENT OF CONTROVERSIES WITH THE OLD VERGENNES MACHINE CO. AND WITH THE HOLLY CO. OF LOCKPORT, N. Y. -- CAPITAL, ABILITY AND ENTERPRISE COMBINED AND EXTENSIVE MANUFACTURING ENTERED UPON.

For two for thee years before the construction of the water works in St. Albans, our readers will remember that the Messenger discussed various systems of supply and reflected what light could be collected from all quarters in regards to the expense and effectiveness of the different works.At one time public opinion leaned strongly towards pumping the water from the Bay, three miles distant and three hundred feet below, and for this purpose the Holly Water Works system, manufactured at Lockport, N. Y. was favorably considered.

But finally it was decided that a better and more economical plan would be to construct a dam across a ravine in the hill country four miles to the south-east, thus creating an artificial pond by hoarding the supply from a natural water shed of about one thousand acres, and thus availing ourselves of a descent of some three or four-hundred feet, instead of having to perpetually overcome an ascent of the same altitude.  No doubt the decision was a wise one.  At all events, we have an abundant supply of good water, which comes with an average pressure (when not restrained by an automatic regulator,) of a hundred pounds to the square inch, which not only meets a great and constantly increasing demand for domestic use, but supplies our manufactories, sprinkles our streets, turns out printing presses and small lathes, blows our church organ, tolls our tells, irrigates our lawns and gardens, and drenches our fires to effectually that, as compared with a experience of an equal number of years before, the savings has been more than enough to pay for the works.

But all places are not situated like St. Albans.  If we had decided to pump from the lake, we should have been obligated to use steam power, at an expense of seven or eight thousand dollars a year, while many other places are on shore, so that the expense is much less, or can utilize water power from rivers, so that the expense is only nominal.  About the time that our works were being put in the little city of Vergennes, on Otter Creek; not the Holly, but the Flanders, which was patented by a resident, and which worked so admirably that a company for its manufacture and general introduction throughout the country was organized.  It was called

THE VERGENNES MACHINE CO.

and consisted of Henry M. Mitchell, F. E. Woodbridge, John R Flanders, Eli B. Hayes, and S. E. Wainwright.  The company was not incorporated, and constant quarrels, internal and external, embarrassed their operations.  At length one of the company undertook to run the business on his own hook, went out and bid against his own company, used its funds for the business and finally brought a bill in chancery to wind up the concern.  They had acquired some $75,000 worth of valuable machinery and some $50,000 in cash, which was in various ways absorbed and a debt was incurred of some $30,000.  To add to all this embarrassment the company was

SUED FOR INFRINGEMENT OF THE HOLLY PATENT

and the suit, which was defended by John T. Drew, Esq. of Burlington, was kept along for several years but finally withdrawn.  The Holly Co., however, had let go only to take a new hold, and sometime this last spring they brought another suit.  This presented a juncture when, as the boy said in a well known emergency, "something had got to be done."  It was fortunate for all concerned that a man of the legal acumen and business grasp of Mr. Drew had connection with the case.  He had had experience in organizing large enterprises and his reputation as a compromise lawyer--that is, as an attorney who contrives new schemes whereby the contestants can meet on grounds of mutual interest and stop the waste of money--had become established in the best business circles in both America and Europe.

He saw at a glance that there was value in the patents of his clients, known as the Flanders patents; and as Mr. Lang, who had built all the Flanders pumps, had improved on the patent, and there was a hopeless suit pending within the company, which thus rent and impoverished, was in no condition to litigate with outsiders,--Mr. Drew himself bought the Flanders and Lang patents and immediately went to work and

ORGANIZED A STRONG COMPANY

under the laws of Connecticut, which were deemed the most favorable for the purpose, and made arrangements to establish the business in Burlington.  The prospectus of this company may be seen in another column.

In this way his clientage became in good condition to litigate or compromise, and also to carry on the business.  The Holly Company had capitalized their two patents at $1,000,000 and were doing a successful business.  It was considered that the Flanders and Lang patents covered a better system, but as a contract could be made for manufacturing and thus no large outlay would be required for the "plant," a less capital would suffice for the company.  Accordingly the three Flanders patents were put in at $300,000 and the Lang patent at $200,000 and the company proceeded to establish itself.  It seemed to Mr. Drew that it would be better to compromise with the Holly company if possible; accordingly he meet the counsel for that company, John G. Hatch, Esq., of Cincinnati, and within a few days an adjustment of the controversy had been effected, which we are assured is fair for both and will be in their mutual advantage.  It may be of interest to know that

THE POINT IN DISPUTE

related to the right to pump water directly into street mains, thus dispensing with a reservoir or stand pipe, and at the same time securing a sufficient and automatically adaptable pressure.  The Holly company claimed this by right of original discovery, but Mr. Drew disputed this originality of the invention and was prepared to show that in England, as long ago as 1812, one Joseph Bramah had a patent in which he said,
"I will pump water from the middle pier of the Thames into every street in the city, with one force sufficient to supply the tallest houses with water and for domestic use and accidental small fires; and another pressure to suppress fire and conflagrations, by the force that shall throw the water from street hydrants over the tallest steeple in London;" and he added: "This system is so controlled by the action of the valves which regulate the flow into the street mains and houses that the increased pressure may not burst the pipes in houses, because of my regulating the flow in the street mains so that the flow of water will rise to a fixed pressure into the houses for domestic use, and with thribble force of suppression of fires for use of hose affixed to hydrants."

The town of Ross, on the river Wye, Harrifordshire, Eng., had the same system more than a hundred and fifty years ago.  Pope refers to it speaking of "the man of Ross" who built the water-works.  It has its record in the books and papers of that age.  So, it seemed not unlikely that the claim set up by the Holly company could be successfully contested, but contests of that kind are not beneficial to the public and are often ruinous to both parties, and so it was seemed best, in a business point of view, to compromise.

THE SETTLEMENT

of so important and difficult a matter reflects credit upon the counsel for both companies.  We have no learned the details, but suffice it say that the Flanders & Lang Pump Co. discard the device covered by the Holly patent No. 946,747, and regulate their pressure by means of a new improvement in valves invented by Mr. Lang, which leaves no chance for future dispute; there is also a mutual recognition of the patents of each company by the other, as a part of the agreement.

BUSINESS.

The Flanders and Lang company, thus organized, thus freed from all litigation and pretenses of infringement, will valuable patents covering a perfected, thoroughly tested and successful system, stand ready for business.  They have made a contract with B. S. Nichols & Co. to manufacture the apparatus, and the extensive Pioneer shops in Burlington have been refitted with machinery for this purpose.  By this arrangement the company can produce the pumps at less cost than they were ever made for in Vergennes, and can probably offer towns and corporations a complete system of water cheaper than any other company.  Gentlemen who examined the Holly system with reference to its adoption here, and afterward saw the Flanders pump in operation at Vergennes, assure us that the latter impressed them as being stronger, simpler, more durable and less expensive.  The cities where they are used testify to their entire sufficiency.  Mr. Wm. H. Lang has taken the superintendency at Burlington and the company will doubtless do a very large business.

© 2015 Morris A. Pierce