The Struggle to Pipe Water into Early Seattle
A City Council report from 1876 reveals the frantic, early negotiations to secure a reliable, private water supply for the burgeoning frontier town.
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.
The special committee on water works made a report in writing. A motion was made by Mr. Murphy that the report of the water committee be received, and that they be empowered to contract with any persons or corporation for a supply of sufficient water for the city of Seattle under the conditions set forth in their report, arrangements having first been made with the present company whose charter was granted by the Territorial legislature to C. O. Terry and H. L. Yesler. The conditions stipulated that the company must supply the city with water; that they must run their own water supply; that the reservoirs must be constructed; and that the quality and quantity of the water used in the construction of the works must be limited. Furthermore, the company was to receive three mills on the valuation of property within the city limits for the first five years, with the charter to be annulled should the company fail to comply with these terms.
“Should the company fail to comply with the terms of this contract, the charter to be annulled.”
Long before Seattle became a municipal utility powerhouse, the city had to fight to regulate private contractors for essential infrastructure. This 1876 struggle over water rights echoes today’s ongoing battles to ensure public control over housing, broadband, and utilities in the face of private corporate interests.
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