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Page 176 WATER SYSTEM
tations and considerable time spent in estimating the value of this
plant to the Borough, and what it meant as a saving proposition to
the citizens of DuBois, Mr. Osborn became thoroughly convinced that
that was the proper disposition of the question, and secured the
co-operation of his committee, as well as that of the Council for
this purpose.
Some time prior to this the Borough attorney had
crossed Anderson Creek at Rockton and had noticed the large quantity
of water at that point, and had suggested to Mr. Osborn the
advisability of obtaining that supply. Mr. Osborn had Mr. Knight
investigate the matter and it was ascertained that a reservoir could
be built in the vicinity of the Bailey Splash Dam on Anderson Creek
and a tunnel through the mountain would give the Borough a gravity
supply of water.
An election was held then to submit to the electors of
the Borough the bonding of the town to put in its own water plant.
This proposition carried by a very large majority. Meantime, the
proposition to sell the water works to the Borough for $75,000.00
was refused and the litigation went on. This resulted in a decree of
the Court below cancelling the contract, from which the Water
Company took an appeal and which was argued the following April. At
this time the question of public utilities was occupying a very
large position in the minds of the people and the Supreme Court
reversed the lower Court. However, the effect of this was such that
the Water Company seemed to be heartily tired of their investment in
Pennsylvania, and negotiations were again renewed for the purchase
of the plant. These negotiations culminated in a contract by which
the Borough purchased the plant and settled for all water rental for
the sum of $61,500.00, and possession was turned over on the 6th of
March, 1897.
Mr. Knight, the consulting engineer, immediately went
to work and completed the plans and surveys for the building of the
reservoir on Anderson Creek and digging of the tunnel under the
mountain. Contracts were let for this work and proceeded as rapidly
as possible. However, the contractors having miscalculated the
quantity of work to be done, were much longer in completing both the
tunnel and the reservoir and it was some time before Anderson Creek
water was flowing into the City of DuBois.
At the time of taking over the plant the number of
consumers could not be ascertained, but there were 46 fire hydrants
and the hydrant rental to be paid at that time would have been
$1610.00 per year.
Soon after it obtained the water plant, the Borough established a
bookkeeping department, and in 1902 employed Mr. J. C. Weaver, who,
under the instructions of the Borough Council, reorganized the Water
Department, put in a complete system of bookkeeping, and the Borough
got down to a business basis for the water plant.
At the time the plant was taken over in March, 1897,
but a small
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