Tacoma Light and Water Company 1887 - Washington ( Now Tacoma Public Utilities TPU )

Beautifully engraved certificate from the Tacoma Light and Water Company issued in 1887. This historic document was printed by the American Banknote Company and has an ornate border around it with a vignette of water towers with people and horse and buggy passing. This item is hand signed by the Company’s President and Secretary and is over 117 years old. The certificate was issued to Charles B. Wright.






Certificate Vignette



When the Northern Pacific Railroad began construction of the western terminus of its transcontinental line, the town of Tacoma materialized almost overnight. The initial residents of Tacoma obtained their water from the surrounding hillside springs. After the completion of the transcontinental line in 1883, the population of Tacoma soared, outgrowing this provisional system. John E. Burns and Philip Metzler formed the towns’ first water company, which tapped into the springs in Burns’ backyard. This system included another in-town reservoir, as well as piping from the center of town, out to "Whisky Row".

As Tacoma continued to grow it once again overwhelmed its water system. In 1884 the City Council granted a franchise to Northern Pacific official, Charles B. Wright, incorporating the Tacoma Light and Water Company. Wright built a system that drew water from Tule and Spanaway Lakes and Clover Creek. The water was transported to the city through a 10-mile wooden flume that emptied into an in-town reservoir. Unfortunately, the flume was mostly uncovered and attracted thirsty cows and children in search of a good wading pool.

Consequently, this system was susceptible to disease. After a typhoid outbreak (which killed two city council members, among others) Wright put the water company up for sale. In 1893 the city of Tacoma voted to buy the failing company, and Tacoma Water was created.

Today, Tacoma Water (a section of Tacoma Public Utilities, TPU) serves 82,000 customers; maintains 28 wells, 22 pump stations, 13 reservoirs and 1,142 miles of water mains; and can provide a maximum 72 million gallons per day from the Green River system and 62 million gallons per day from local wells.

History is from the Tacoma Public Utilities Story: The First 100 Years.