The Borough Of Media.

These improvements were not immediately carried out, owing to the objection of a property-owner to having his lands entered upon, but in a few years even more than had originally been contemplated was realized in the way of opening, grading, paving, and curbing streets.

Another era of public improvement was entered upon in the sixties, when quite extensive work was performed. On Dec. 24, 1868, a committee reported to the Council that Old State Street had been paved, at a cost of $5403.63, New State Street, at a cost of $6935.21; and Washington Street, at a cost of $1663.98; making a total outlay for the public good of $8599.20. William H. Tabler was the contractor.

Water-Works. - Almost simultaneously with the beginning of street improvements the Council exhibited its progressive character by taking steps to secure that great desideratum, an adequate supply of pure water. On Sept. 21, 1853, a special meeting was held to take into consideration immediate action in conjunction with the county commissioners for introducing water into the borough. A committee of three members was appointed to confer with the commissioners concerning the construction of water-works and a suitable basin. Nothing more was done during the year, except that the committee reported progress from time to time; but on the 7th of April, 1854, they stated that, "having viewed the ground, they had effected arrangements with the directors of the poor for one acre of ground suitable for a basin, and a grant of the right to build water-works to convey water to said basin." Isaac Haldeman, H. Jones Brooke, and Charles R. Williamson were then appointed a committee to negotiate a loan of five thousand dollars for the purpose of carrying out the work. At a meeting on July 25th the proposal of R. D. Wood & Co., of Philadelphia, to furnish iron pipes was accepted. It was discovered by this time that the amount of the loan would not be sufficient, and it was determined, at a special meeting, August 29th, that the chief burgess should call a town-meeting to discuss the propriety of extending it. This plan was duly carried out, and on October 4th the president laid before the Council the written consent of fifty-four citizens, being a majority of the tax-payers, authorizing an additional loan of five thousand dollars for the enterprise. On October 9th an improved ram, devised by Joseph Stroud, for forcing water into the basin was adopted, and on November 2d the president was authorized to make arrangements with Mr. Stroud for the erection of the works. At the special meeting previous to this one the president was authorized to enter into contract with Wood & Co. for iron pipe, on condition that they should take not less than two thousand dollars in borough bonds, and it was subsequently reported that the contract had been effected, Wood & Co. taking two thousand five hundred dollars in bonds.

By June 15th the pipes were nearly all laid, and on July 9, 1855, the basin was completed. On Jan. 2, 1856, Samuel P. Rush was elected superintendent of the water-works. In February the Council made an arrangement with the commissioner whereby the public buildings were to be supplied with water for ten years, on condition that the county should pay three thousand dollars in aid of the construction of the water-works, which sum was to be paid back to the county at the end of the term specified without interest. On May 10th of this year the citizens authorized the Council to make an additional loan of five thousand dollars, which was not long afterwards negotiated.

Although the water-works were practically completed this season, many improvements were subsequently found to be necessary, and extensions of the service-pipes were made from time to time. In November, 1868, the pipes laid in Lemon Street from State to Eastman, at his own expense, by H. Jones Brooke, were purchased from him by a committee appointed for the purpose. In May of the following year Ralph Buckley was appointed superintendent of the works.

In May, 1871, a town-meeting was called for the purpose of obtaining the sentiment of the people as to the purchase of the water-power of Ridley Creek, and the water of that stream was analyzed by an expert chemist of Philadelphia, who found it to contain the exceedingly small proportion of impurity of 5.043 grains to the gallon. In August the president of the Council was authorized to purchase of Edward A. Price the Palmer mill property, with water-power for nineteen thousand five hundred dollars. At a later meeting in the same month a committee reported in favor of the construction of a new basin west of the old one, to be sixty feet in diameter and fourteen feet in depth, and they also recommended that the old one should be increased in depth.

The purchase of the mill property and water-power heretofore alluded to being confirmed by deed bearing date Dec. 30, 1871, money was raised for necessary improvements, and in May, 1872, we find that the president of the Council was authorized to contract with the Philadelphia Hydraulic Works Company for the erection of pumps for the water-works, at a cost of two thousand nine hundred and twenty-five dollars.

The new basin was commenced in the fall of 1872, on a lot purchased from Frederick Fairlamb for nine hundred dollars, the contract for excavating being awarded to Rebill & McLogue, and for those for the brick-laying to S. Morton & Son, Thomas M. Garrett, and William Worrall, for fifteen dollars per thousand.

The works were now operated by William P. Mancil, who had leased the grist-mill, and the water-power being found insufficient as the demand upon the works increased, a steam-pump was added in 1875.