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Concord Water Commission Info History of Merrimack and Belknap Counties, New Hampshire Concord Water-Works -- The supply of water for Concord, previous to 1873, was obtained from springs near the base of "Sand Hill." As early as July 2, 1829, William Low, Jacob B. Moore, Stephen Brown, Joseph Low and associates were constituted a corporation, with a capital of two thousand dollars, called the "Concord Aqueduct Association," empowered to take water from the springs before mentioned and deliver it to takers on Main, State and other streets, and charge such price as they deemed expedient. It is not now known that the association ever did any business. Soon after, Mr. Amariah Pierce supplied water, through an aqueduct made of logs, to the distillery which was located near the iron-store of Walker & Co., and to other customers. Mr. Nathan Call succeeded Mr. Pierce, and being desirous of extending his works, and needing more capital, he obtained a charter, July 7, 1849, incorporating himself, George Hutchins and others under the name of the "Torrent Aqueduct Association," with a capital of twenty thousand dollars. Mr. Call was made agent and treasurer of the company, and, being a man of great energy, he made the enterprise successful. After his death the affairs of the association were conducted by his son, Horace, until the stock, owned by his heirs was sold to James R. Hill, who carried it on for several years, when he sold his interest to Nathaniel White. Henry M. Robinson had commenced to supply water from what is now "White's Park." After his decease, Mr. White purchased the rights of the heirs, and thus became the owner of nearly all the water property in the city. Mr. White increased the capacity of the works by adding more springs, but the demand for water being more than he could supply, he sought to increase the amount by pumping from Merrimack River, but, on account of the expense, the plan was unsuccessful. After the great fire of 1851 there was an increased anxiety among the people in regard to the limited supply of water, so much so that the City Council appointed Joseph B. Walker, John Abbott and Benjamin Grover a committee "to inquire as to the feasibility and cost of abundantly supplying the compact part of the city with water for fire and other purposes." This committee made a report December 16, 1859, in which they
say that they have endeavored to ascertain, Under the first head they say that "Our population is at present supplied in part from wells, and in part by several aqueduct companies, the two principal of which are the 'Torrent Aqueduct Association' and that of Nathaniel White. In addition to these, are several others of more limited capacities, each supplying from one or two to forty families." Under the second head they say: "Five different sources of supply have been examined and considered, viz.: Merrimack River, Horse-Shoe Pond, Ash Brook, Little Pond and Long Pond, and they give the last the preference." "Long Pond is distant three and one-half miles from the State-House, has an are of two hundred and sixty-five acres, and is, in some places, seventy-five feet deep. Several small brooks enter it, but it is fed principally by springs. The land about it is of granite formation, and rises pretty rapidly to a height of from three to four hundred feet, and is mostly cleared. The pond is surrounded by a water-shed of some three thousand acres in extent. Its bottom is of white sand, overstrewn with granite boulders, and is free from sediment and aquatic weeds. There are no boggy meadows on its shores. Its water is soft, pure, perfectly transparent and abundant in quantity." It is one hundred and twenty feet higher than Main Street in front of the State-House. They estimated the cost of the introduction and distribution at $172,475.35, and say "The most serious objection that presents itself to the immediate accomplishment of this project is the cost of its execution." Eleven years passed. The War of the Rebellion had begun and ended. The population and wealth of the city had increased. The people had become accustomed to a high rate of taxation, and the demand for an abundant supply of water was imperative. July 30, 1870, the City Council appointed Lyman D. Stevens, Josiah Minot and fifteen others, known as the Committee of Seventeen, to report to the City Council "the proper course to be taken to secure the early introduction of an adequate supply of pure, fresh water from the Long Pond." This action of the City Council was supplemented by a mass-meeting of citizens at Eagle Hall, October 1, 1870, at which they "Resolved that the safety, health, prosperity and growth of our city absolutely demanded a greater and better supply of water than it now has." The report of the Committee of Seventeen bears date October 28, 1870. They recommended that measures be taken, on behalf of the city, to obtain the necessary legislation at the next session of the Legislature, and that in the meantime plans and details be prepared ready for the work when the proper time came for commencing it. Their recommendation was referred to a special committee, consisting of Josiah Minot, Benjamin A. Kimball, John M. Hill and David A. Warde. August 10, 1871, the special committee reported that they had procured from the Legislature "An Act to authorize the city of Concord to establish water-works in said city," approved June 30, 1871. The same committee submitted the form of an ordinance, which was adopted by the City Council December 30, 1871, providing that the management and direction of the water-works in the city shall be vested in a Board of Water Commissioners, consisting of six citizens and of the mayor for the time being. January, 1872, the mayor and aldermen appointed John M. Hill, Benjamin A. Kimball, Josiah Minot, David A. Warde, Benjamin S. Warren and Edward L. Knowlton, commissioners. The board was organized by the election of Josiah Minot president, and Edward L. Knowlton clerk. James A. Weston, of Manchester, was appointed chief engineer and Charles C. Lund, of Concord, assistant engineer. The organization having been completed, necessary steps were taken, as required by the enabling act, by virtue of which there was obtained from the owners of the water-power at West Concord the right to draw from the pond one million gallons daily, for which the city paid sixty thousand dollars. Contracts were made with the "American Gas and Water-Pipe Company," of Jersey City, to construct, in all respects, complete for operation, the main line from "Forge Pond" to the northerly end of State Street, and of all the pipes for the distribution of the water therefrom throughout the city, together with the setting of gates, hydrants and other appendages. The amount paid was $143,822.74. The stock of the "Torrent Aqueduct Association" and all the water rights owned by Nathaniel White were purchased by the city, October 1, 1873, for $20,000; also the sum of $16,311.21 was paid for other water-rights and for land damages. The total cost of the works, December 31, 1874, was #351,293.45. Mr. Vincent C. Hastings, who had been employed as an inspector during the construction of the works, was elected superintendent, and is still in office. Water was admitted into the pipes January 14, 1873, being only
eight months from the time the contractors commenced work. The
commissioners, in their report for 1875, say, -- In their report for 1877 they say, -- "Five years have elapsed since water was supplied through these works, and the test of time has been exceeding favorable to both the kind and character of the work." In their report for 1879 they say, -- "We are gratified to report the continued success of the works; that our receipts have increased, our expenses for care and maintenance diminished, and the number of families supplied is nineteen hundred and fourteen." After an experience of eight years, it was found that the demand for water had so increased that the fourteen-inch main-pipe was not sufficient to furnish a continuous supply of water tot he higher points of the Precinct. The board, after a thorough investigation and careful consideration of the subject, voted to lay a second and larger main-pipe of eighteen inches in diameter from the dam to State Street. Contracts were immediately made, and the pipe completed, ready for use, during the summer of 1882, at a cost of forty-seven thousand dollars. Other additions and improvements have been made from time to time, and the water-works are nearly complete, at a cost of about four hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, supplying two thousand two hundred and fifty families. Since the settlement of the town no improvement within its limits has been made that has brought to its citizens greater blessings that this. Pure water from Long Pond now flows in abundance to almost every dwelling, not only supplying their necessities, but furnishing the means of beautifying their surroundings. The following mayors have held the office of water commissioner: Abraham G. Jones, John Kimball, George A. Pillsbury, Horace A. Brown, George A. Cummings, Edgar H. Woodman. The following citizens have been appointed commissioners by the mayor and aldermen: Josiah Minot, Benjamin A. Kimball, John M. Hill, David A. Warde, Edward L. Knowlton, Benjamin S. Warren, John Abbott, Abel B. Holt, John S. Russ, Samuel S. Kimball, Luther P. Durgin, John Kimball, William M. Chase, James L. Mason, James R. Hill, Joseph H. Abbott and George A. Young. The following have been the officers of the Board: Josiah Minot (president), two years; Benjamin A. Kimball, three years; John Kimball, nine years; Edward L. Knowlton (clerk), three years; B. A. Kimball, one year; John M. Hill, two years; William M. Chase, eight years; V.C. Hastings (superintendent), thirteen years.
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©2004 Peter K Kimball |