A Private Boost for Seattle’s Water Supply
A new tank on Union Street signals the expansion of early, private water infrastructure in the growing city of Seattle.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
McCombs & Co. have completed their new tank on the east end of Union street, which will hold 205,000 gallons of water. This tank is nicely situated on the side of a hill where numerous springs are centered. Sufficient land has been reserved to secure the company against failure in the supply. From this tank there is a six-inch main for about 300 feet, then a four-inch main to Front street, with a three-inch branch down Second street to Madison. Connecting with these mains there will be a perfect network of pipes supplying those residences fortunate enough to come within this company's bounds. The force of the water on Union street is surprising in its greatness. Mr. McCombs, the manager of the above company, has also connected the Union Water Works, which has just completed laying about 3000 feet of pipe, extending from Mercer's addition to Pike street, with many convenient spreading branches, making it one of the greatest blessings the people in North Seattle possess. Little has been said about these companies, but we will add that the people should appreciate them, and we wish them every kind of success.
“The force of the water on Union street is surprising in its greatness.”
Before municipal utilities were the standard, private boosters built ad-hoc water networks to fuel the city's expansion. This reflects the early, unregulated 'boom' days of Seattle infrastructure, a sharp contrast to today's massive public utility management.
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