Sketch of The Louisville Waterworks

Sketch of The Louisville Waterworks

Specially written for FIRE AND WATER ENGINEERING

The Louisville Waterworks company dates back to 1854, in which year it was chartered, to supplant the former indifferent and uncertain methods of supply in the shape of wells, private cisterns and public pumps. The last was the most popular, and its popularity continued for some time after the new system had come into the life of the city. The capital of the company was fixed at $1,000,000, and, according to the charter, the work should have been completed in three years. In 1856, however, an extension of time was granted, and by 1859 the company began operations under President A. Harris, with l). S. Benedict, 1). B. Beatty, T. C. Coleman, H. T. Curd, A. C. Badger and William Inman as directors. The city bought 5,500 shares in the company in 1856, paying $550,000 therefor, and in 1859 bought $220,000 more and continued its purchases in that line till it had invested $1,000,000— equaling the capital of the company, which was afterwards raised to $1,275,100. The property today is valued at upwards of $8,000,000.