History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

ORIGINAL SYSTEM OF WATERWORKS
The first report of the board of water commissioners submitted to
the council February Io, I89o, is as follows: "To the Honorable Mayor
and Common Council-Gentlemen: Since the creating of the board of
water commissioners by your predecessors a complete system of waterworks has been established in the city of Pontiac. Large powers and
responsibilities were entrusted to this board; no system decided on,
or a plan proposed. The board accepted of the trust in the same spirit
in which it was given, and have endeavored to give to this city the best
system of waterworks they could with the money to be expended. We
feel that our efforts have been successful and assert, without fear of
successful contradiction, that no city has a better plant for the money
expended than has this city.
"Your commissioners, ignorant of the kind of a plant most desirable
and unskilled in the practical establishment and working of the same,
endeavored by a personal visit to our neighboring cities, similar in size
and surroundings, to inform themselves as to the most efficient system
to adopt.
"Two systems of waterworks were practicable to us-one pumping
into a standpipe and taking the distribution from said pipe; the other,
pumping direct into the mains. Both systems have their adherents. In
order to have Ioo pounds pressure-fire pressure-the standpipe would
have to have been 200 feet in height. A less height would have necessitated the constant presence of an engineer or fireman at the pumping
station, in order to make fire pressure, if needed; hence, no economy
in regard to labor. Again, the bids submitted for a suitable standpipe
would have taken about one-fourth of the total appropriation.
"Your board adopted the system of pumping direct into the mains.
The wisdom of this course seems fully justified. The location of the
pumping station was fixed near the railroad for economy in fuel, and
near the river, above the city sewage, for unfailing water supply. John
D. Cook, of Toledo, was engaged as consulting engineer, who prepared
the specifications for the construction of the works and laid out the
system of pipe distribution. Bids for the construction of the works
were opened December 22, 1887, and on February 6, I888, the contract
was approved by the council and awarded to W. S. Parks & Company,
they being the lowest bidders. On November 12, I888, the works were
in operation, since which time they have been under constant pressure.
"The season of i888 being near its close, but few taps could be
made before the ground was frozen, and rental of water takers commenced January I, I889. Bonds of the city to the amount of $85,ooo
were issued, drawing interest at the rate of four and a half per cent
per annum, interest payable semi-annually, and were sold to the Wayne
County Savings Bank of Detroit at par; $75,000 of these bonds were
dated March I, I888, and $Io,ooo May I, I888, the savings bank paying out the funds as needed and allowing four per cent interest on
balances. Of these bonds, $5,000 matured in i888, and $5,000 each and
every year thereafter until paid.
"In the pipe distribution, the first consideration was fire protection