The work of supplying the city with water was agitated early in its
history, but nothing definite was accomplished. The necessity for fire
protection was imperative as the city was composed exclusively of wooden
structures. Cisterns were sunk in the streets, one on Main street
between First and Second; one on Houston street north of Weatherford.
These were kept filled from rain water as far as possible and were
guarded with exceeding great care that the water should not be wasted or
diverted from the purpose for which it was intended. Water for domestic
purposes was delivered by wagon and was obtained from the Clear Fork and
from the Cold Spring on the Trinity, on the Birdville road.
Numerous propositions were submitted to the people at different times,
and varied in cost from $24,600 to $50,000 and provided for from three
quarters of a mile to one mile of pipe line.
It was not until May, 1882, that a franchise was granted by the city to
a company composed of B. B. Paddock, M. B. Loyd, Zane-Cetti, John D.
Templeton and W. P. Wilson for the construction of a water works system.
It provided for about six miles of mains and forty fire hydrants. Mr.
Paddock had enlisted the influence and interest of the Holly Water Works
Company, of Lockhart, New York, who were represented in Saint Louis by
J. S. Drake and M. C. Orton, who agreed to build the works and install
the pumps for a specified sum. After the franchise was granted it was
transferred to a company composed of Morgan Jones, E. P. Cowen and Henry
McLaughlin who complied with the terms of the franchise and the works
were constructed. They subsequently sold the works to the city.
On August 17th, 1878, Mr. J. J. Peters made the announcement that
artesian water could be found under Fort Worth. He showed his faith by
his works and proceeded to sink a well in the Southwestern portion of
the city, not far from Sixth and Florence streets. His prediction was
verified by a fine flow of water that spouted many feet above the
surface. He proceeded at once to sink a second well on Peach street,
near Hampton, on the property of John Nichols, which was also a
pronounced success. In fact it was a much stronger flow than that found
in the first well. From that time on there were a number of wells sunk
and almost the entire city depended on the artesian wells for the
domestic supply. The history of the water works system of Fort Worth for
later years is known to all well informed men and need not be elaborated
here.