Everett Hands Its Water Away for Fifty Years
In a single night the council grants a private water company a half-century franchise — a free drinking fountain and city-hall water in exchange — while also founding a public library and selling off the fire team.
EVERETT, May 28.—Special.—The city council last night instructed the city clerk to advertise the team of the fire department for sale, bids to be received on Monday evening next. An ordinance was passed for the establishment of a free public library with a board of five trustees. Also an ordinance extending the franchise of the Everett Water Company for fifty years, and an ordinance regulating licenses of auctioneers, peddlers, etc. The extension of the water franchise carries a provision that the company shall supply free of cost to the city water for a public drinking fountain and the water needed for the city hall. Crosby & McAdam were allowed $75 in full for the work on the city jail.
“An ordinance was passed... extending the franchise of the Everett Water Company for fifty years.”
A fifty-year monopoly on a town's water, granted in one evening's session, is a reminder that utilities were once handed to private companies for little more than the promise of a free public drinking fountain. The question of who owns the pipes — and what the public gets in return — is still the stuff of city-council nights across Washington.
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