Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/193

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

ed, the old reservoirs excavated and enlarged, and a new reservoir built to impound a quan­ tity o f 75,000,000 to 80,000.000 gallons. In 1906 a 20-inch main was laid from the resen’Oirs some three miles, connecting with mains at the north end o f M arket street and F reas avenue. T his provided the requisite pres­ sure fo r fire protection and distribution 0 1 the increased supply. Upon the building of the steel plant at the west end of the borough limits, and extending into Briarcreek township, the new borough o f W est Berwick came into corporate existence. In 1892, prior to the be­ ginning of the new borough, the W est Ber­ wick W ater Supply Company was incorpo­ rated and pipe lines laid throughout the town o f W est Berwick. Increase o f population to the cast and north of the old borough limits o f Berwick made further demands upon (he company's water supply, and at that time (he supply companies were organized: W est Salem W ater Supply Company and B riar Creek W ater Supp y Company were incorporated in 1903 and 1904, respectively. T h e Nescopeck W ater Supply Company was incorporated to supply water to the inhabitants o f Nescopeck in March, 1894. the water mains from B er­ wick being connected by a line through the Susquehanna river, approximately 1,300 feet in length. These supply c o m p lie s are con­ trolled and operated by the Berwick W ater Company. T he erection o f a new filter plant on the property of the company alongside of the Delaw are, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company’s tracks at the foot o f M arket street was begun in 19 13 and at this date ( 19 14 ) is in operation and is furnishing filtered water fo r the boroughs. T he pumping equipment is undergoing changes, the pumping capacity is more than doubled, and is to be operated by electricity. The company has its own labora­ tory, and frequent examinations o f water in compliance with the present day demands are made. The company has alw ays been well financed. From the earliest to the present dividends have been paid with regularity upon the capital in­ vested. while the fixed interest charge on the bonded indebtedness of the Bctvvick and W est Bcivvick companies has alw ays been paid with punctuality. T he tangible assets of the com­ pany arc easily twice the amount of the in­ debtedness. From the report made to the W ater Commission o f Pennsylvania the pipe mileage exceeds thirty-two miles. W ater pres­ sure is from eighty-five to ninety pounds, and affords ample fire protection. Prominent citizens o f this section have in

the past been identified with the upbuilding of the property, and wc find mention in the old records o f : Morrison E. Jackson, Jesse Bowman. Mordecai W. Jackson, Seth B. Bow ­ man, F. Nicely, William H. Woodin, S r., H. C. Freas, John W. Evans, G. L. Reagan, C. H. Zehnder, S. P. H anly, S, C. Jayn e, Freder­ ick II. ^ t o n, Wm. II. Hager, W. H. Woodin, J r ., C. D. Eaton, W. W. H an ly, Capt. F. E. Brockway. The present board o f managers consists o f : Clarence G. Crispin, vice president of the First National Bank o f B erw ick; Hon. Chas. C. Evans, president judge of the Tw enty-sixth Pennsylvania Judicial district; W. S. Johnson, general supcnntendcnt of the A m cncan C a r and Foundry C o n ^ n y at B erw ick; H oward C. Wick, and M. J. Crispin. The officers of the company a r e; C. G. Crispin, president; C. C. Evans, vice presi­ dent : F. A. Witman, secretary and treasurer. J. S. Hicks, who succeeded George Depcw, referred to elsewhere in this article, is the very efficient superintendent of the company’s operations. From log and cement pipes to 24-inch cast iron mains and laterals extending over thirtytwo 10 thirty-five miles o f territory and equipped with controlling valve s: from the oldstyle turbine water-wheel to electrically driven centrifugal pum ps; from simple diversion o f a stream into a log pipe line to the modem rcscivoirs constructco to impound upwards o f a hundred million gallons, as well as other conditions that might be contrasted, measures the activities o f a company whose history lacks only three years o f reaching the century mark. F IR B

P R O T E C T tO N

T he first fire company o f Berw ick w as the Fearless, organized M ay 20. 1880. as a volun­ teer company. T hey purchased a hand en­ gine. (wo hose carriages and 350 feet o f hose. The officers w ere: R . W . Oswald, president; S . W . Dickson, treasurer; J . W . F ry, secrctar)'; W. M. Boyles, foreman. T his company was disbanded in a few years, the Ran gers inheriting the fire apparatus. In 19 14 there arc three fire companies in the borough. The Rangers have a handsome club house on East Front street, and use the old fram e Lutheran church a s an engine house. T h eir improvements upon the property have in­ creased its valuation to over $9,000. T he Reliance F ire Company has a fine brick building on South Mulberry street, erected in >903 -