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/424

 COI.UMBIA AXD MOXTOUR COUNTIES necessary, not exceeding, in the whole, the sum o f $125,000, and to issue, in fiaymcnt thereof, coupon bonds of the said borough, in sums n o t less chan $50. bearing a rate of interest n o t exceeding eight per centum per annum. T h is act further provided that all ntoneys re­ ceived from the negotiation o f said bonds, to­ gether with al) water rents, income or profits fro m the waterworks, should be kept apart fro m the other moneys of the borough and should be designated the water fund and should be expended only in the constntction, maintenance and repair o f said works or in paym ent of the interest and principal of the said bonds. In A pril, 1872, the committee appointed by council visited Elm ira, Buffalo, Binghamton, Rochester* Auburn and other cities where the vario u s plans were in operation. A m ajority o f this committee was at first opposed lo the “ H olly System ,” but after a full investigation th ey unanimously reported in its favor. Pre­ viou s to this an election had been held at the courthouse, to ascertain the popular sentiment upon this question. There was a large ma­ jo rity in favo r o f water, but owing to some in­ form ality the result w*as not satisfactory. A fte r a warm contest in council the Holly System was adopted by the casting vote of (iurgcss O scar Ephlin, and the contract was accordingly made with the Holly Company, at IxKkport, N. Y . l l t e final vote on adopting the Holly System was as follow s: F o r the H olly W orks: George W. Rcay, William Buckley. Jacob Schuster, (Jcorge W. Miles, J. Sw eisfort, M. D. L. Sechlcr, and O scar Epnlin, burgess. A gainst: Gcoige l.oveit, Sam ­ uel I^ w is, Jam es L. Riehl, Henry M. Schoch, Hickman Frame. T h e waterworks were located on the river bank in the First ward, just west of the river bridge. T h e engines and pumps installed were o f great power. A filter was constructed some distance out in the river, and the water from thence forcevo powerful rotary pumps, and a gang o f twelve piston pumjis. Ten miles o f pipe were at once laid and about one hundred fire hydrants installed. T he pipe was b id by S. K rebs & Company under a contract for $87,500. The contract for the engines and pumps, with the I lolly M am ifacturing Com ­

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pany, at l.ockport* N. Y ., was fo r $ 3 6 ^ 0. In 1880 (he cotiticii had a we)) sunk in the river fifty feet in length, five feet wide and ten feet deep. A fte r this well was locaccti, the filter in the river w as abandoned. The water plant is maintained with great efficiency, and is deemed, even at the present day, to be able, through increased pressure of w'hich it is capable, to drown out any serious conllagration which might occur. In 1891 two fine Worthington duplex pumps >vere installed, having a capacity 01 three mil­ lion gallons. In l8^> a new filter pbn t was installed, and in 1900 an annex to the water­ works was completed. Ill 19 13 the sedimentation basins were com­ pleted and the filters enlarged and im proved; and it is believed by those who are well in­ formed that the DanviUe water system has few superiors in (he State. Electric Light A w ay back in 1854 a charter was obtained from the State to enable Danville to enjoy the luxur)' of gaslight. T h e company purchased land and began carrying out the purpose for which it w as o^anizcn the streets, the flickering flame in the home and the store, and above all the many tilts with the meter man, whose figures could never lie. M any felt, in those days, as many have since felt, that the meter reader is like the one who was refused admittance by the b d y of the house, on the ground that he w as intoxicated. “ T h at's the reason I'm sent, mum/* was the reply, “ I can see double.” It w as with feelings o f jo y and yet mingled with some misgivings that a welcome was given the electric company which turned its footsteps towards Danville, l l i e promise o f licttcr lights and no more meter trouble ap­ pealed to the simple-hearted householder, as visions of pushing a button (lanced through Ilis mind. It is well wc do not alw ays know the drawbacks and hindrances, and the cost and mental disturhanccs. chat tic in the wake o f coming improvements. O ur anticipations might be dimmed. But the electric light man came, and his coming marked an era in the life of the (own. T he Standard Electric Eight Company was