Homestake Mining Company Versus Father DeSmet Mining Company Take It To The Voters
Deadwood Politics At Its Best
Political ads filled the newspapers with accusations that water provided by Dakota and Wyoming might not be "so pleasant" since it ran beneath Mt. Moriah Cemetery.
Deadwood's water supply was insufficient for the demand of its business economy and residential growth. A petition to close the water contract with Wyoming and Dakota Water Company was circulated by a local businessman. Bids were then asked for to supply water to Deadwood. Canal and Water Company, owned by Homestake Mining Company, claimed the water from Dakota and Wyoming Water Company, owned by DeSmet Mining Company, would not be pure and clear because it ran beneath Mt. Moriah Cemetery. Seth Bullock, a member of a citizen committee, investigated the Canal and Water Company claims but found no issues with Dakota and Wyoming Water Company. The Committee was satisfied with amount and quality of the water from both providers. Citizens were urged to vote. Deadwood and South Deadwood supported opposite contractors. A vote for Canal and Water Company was suggested to be a vote for Homestake. DeSmet Company in turn published an extra in their newspaper why citizens should choose Wyoming and Dakota Water Company over Canal. The Election was held and the vote was in favor of Canal and Water Company by a large margin. Homestake had won over DeSmet Company. The press wrote in an article, "Wyoming and Dakota Water Company paid out their share, but paid less voters."
Water and Mining Go Hand in Hand - The Competition For a Limited Resource
Scarcity of Water, Mines Shut Off Water to The Towns
Wyoming and Dakota should dig water wells
In regard to: Stage Lines
Aug 19 1876
Deadwood City Water Works established
In regard to: Deadwood
Oct 07 1876
Deadwood, City Water Works, erect holding tanks
In regard to: Deadwood
Oct 07 1876
Drinking unfiltered water, acute diarrhea
In regard to: Health Care
Apr 26 1877
Deardurff, S. water wagon, water from Whitewood creek
In regard to: Deardurff, S.
May 10 1877
Deadwood water let into City Creek
In regard to: Deadwood
Jun 18 1877
Deadwood City water co. capital $10,000.00
In regard to: Deadwood
Jun 21 1877
Bird, William and Victor Keller own water company
In regard to: Bird, William
Jun 21 1877
Weed, E.G., McKenney and Miller own Deadwood City Water
In regard to: Weed, E.G.
Jun 21 1877
Keller, V.G. Deadwood City water company
In regard to: Keller, V.G.
Jun 23 1877
Water company, west side of Deadwood
In regard to: Hoffman, C.
Jun 25 1877
City Creek Water Co. throwing water 60 ft. high
In regard to: Deadwood
Jul 05 1877
Got drunk on the 4th, went for Victor Keller
In regard to: Hoffman, Charles
Jul 06 1877
Had Hoffman arrested for attacking him
In regard to: Keller, Victor
Jul 06 1877
Sherman St. well dug, salt water
In regard to: Deadwood
Jul 07 1877
Water fountain erected on Main in Deadwood
In regard to: Deadwood
Jul 10 1877
Water fountain was erected, Stebbins block
In regard to: Deadwood
Jul 10 1877
Hoffmann, Mr. gets water to town, Water Works
In regard to: Hoffmann,
Jul 19 1877
Owner of water works, to let fire dept use hose
In regard to: Hoffman,
Jul 16 1877
Located 15 miles in Dakota from Wyoming line
In regard to: Deadwood
Jul 30 1877
Hoffman, shut off water to people who would not do
In regard to: Hoffman,
Jul 31 1877
Deadwood water supply not good
In regard to: Deadwood
Sep 04 1877
Wyoming and Dakota flume Company to build water ditch
In regard to: Deadwood
Dec 10 1877
Has purchased Pioneer Ditch for $40,000.
In regard to: Homestake Mine
Dec 30 1877
Ditch purchased by California Co., lose of water
In regard to: Lead City
In regard to: Pennington
In regard to: Spruce Gulch
In regard to: Strawberry Gulch
Jan 05 1878
Chairman of committee to obtain water for fires
In regard to: Brown, George W.
Jan 07 1878
Committee to obtain water for fire purposes
In regard to: Curtis, D.B.
In regard to: Harding, J.A.
In regard to: Mundy, Henry
In regard to: Worth, J.A.
Jan 10 1878
Scarcity of water is affecting mining operations
In regard to: Mining
Feb 13 1878
Superintendent of Wyoming and Dakota ditch
In regard to: Kuykendall, W.S.
Mar 20 1878
Water in Deadwood Creek reached danger line
In regard to: Deadwood
Mar 21 1878
Sprung leak at Golden Gate in ditch, flooding Lees
In regard to: Deadwood Water Company.
Apr 22 1878
Purchased Montana Boys Ditch near 10-mile ranch
In regard to: Hearst, George
May 18 1878
Little streams of water either side of Main Street
In regard to: Deadwood
Jul 02 1878
Sells Whitewood water right to George Hearst
In regard to: Myers, Ira
Jul 18 1878
Residents are making efforts to obtain water
In regard to: Forest Hill residential area
Jul 18 1878
Main street, flume for water, placers flooded
In regard to: Deadwood
Jul 19 1878
Supply of fresh water within 1/2 mile of Lee St
In regard to: Deadwood
Aug 01 1878
Why has the water stopped?
In regard to: Deadwood
In regard to: Palmer, L.H.
Aug 03 1878
Welch, McCaffrey and Co stop water in ditch for town
In regard to: Welch, McCaffrey and Company
Aug 03 1878
Says water escaping from flood gates of the flumes
In regard to: Beaman, Hank
Aug 10 1878
Sherman Street, plans to run water down both sides
In regard to: Deadwood
Aug 23 1878
Sherman Street, water turned into ditch
In regard to: Deadwood
Aug 31 1878
Water being brought 8 miles to Lead
In regard to: Whitewood Ditch
Nov 02 1878
Engine and hose companies to meet to test water
In regard to: Kuykendall, W.L.
Dec 06 1878
Deed to ditch recorded to Calif. parties, Jan 12
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Dec 29 1878
Railroad scheme become known, Feb 25
In regard to: Dakota and Wyoming
Dec 29 1878
Serious lack of water supply in case of fire
In regard to: Lead City
Dec 30 1878
Denizens to complete City creek water works
In regard to: Deadwood
Feb 26 1879
To lay water pipes in all the streets in Deadwood
In regard to: Barron, E.H.
Mar 03 1879
If there is one thing that is needed it is water
In regard to: Deadwood
Mar 11 1879
Purchased by the California Canal Water Company
In regard to: Abt and Co.
Apr 02 1879
Has been purchased by Wyoming and Dakota Ditch Co.
In regard to: Boulder Ditch
Apr 10 1879
Barron to bring water works to town
In regard to: Deadwood
Apr 15 1879
Judge, the sole proprietor of Deadwood water works
In regard to: Barron, E.H.
Apr 15 1879
Barron to lay pipes for water through Chinatown
In regard to: Chinese
Mar 03 1879
Bids to supply water to Deadwood
In regard to: Miller and McPherson
In regard to: Smith, Palmer
In regard to: Barron, E.H.
May 24 1879
Judges proposal for supplying water to Forest Hill residential area
In regard to: Barron, E.H.
May 24 1879
Concerning the water question
In regard to: Deadwood
May 31 1879
Water Company for Deadwood, pros and cons
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Jun 01 1879
Every citizen should vote on water proposition
In regard to: Deadwood
Jun 03 1879
Water contract was ratified by vote of 499 to 25
In regard to: Deadwood
In regard to: Dakota and Wyoming
Jun 04 1879
County Commissioners meeting on water contract
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Jun 06 1879
The water controversy
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Jun 06 1879
Petition to close the contract with Wyoming and Dakota Water Co
In regard to: Koenigsberger Bros
Jun 06 1879
Citizens meeting on the water question
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Jun 08 1879
South Deadwood in favor of the Wyoming and Dakota Water Company
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Jun 10 1879
Has withdrawn his proposal to furnish water to Deadwood
In regard to: Barron, E.H.
Jun 10 1879
Report of his withdrawing offer of water false
In regard to: Barron, E.H.
Jun 11 1879
Agent and Supt for the B.H. Canal and Water company
In regard to: McMasters, Samuel
Jun 13 1879
Articles of agreement for B.H. Canal and Water Co.
In regard to: Barron, E.H.
Jun 13 1879
Articles of agreement for contract with city
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Jun 13 1879
Homestake paying rounders $2.50 to work B.H. C and W
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Jun 13 1879
The water question being freely discussed
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Jun 13 1879
Article on water question well written, read it!
In regard to: Deadwood
Jun 15 1879
Demand exclusive right to provide water to Deadwood
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
In regard to: Barron, E.H.
Jun 17 1879
Propositions are fairly and squarely made
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Jun 17 1879
Water to be supplied would not be "pure and clear"
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Jun 19 1879
Water for Wyoming and Dakota passes under cemetery
In regard to: Mount Moriah
Jun 19 1879
Committee of eight to look into their claims
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Jun 19 1879
Committee to look into claims of Canal and Water Co.
In regard to: Bullock, Seth
In regard to: Coleman, Nathan Judge
In regard to: Gaston, J.A.
In regard to: Graves, L.R.
In regard to: Harding, J.A.
In regard to: Holstein, Ben
In regard to: McCaffrey, Hugh Commissioner
In regard to: Meyer, C.W.
In regard to: Munday, Henry
In regard to: Stillwell, W.
In regard to: Wagner, C.H.
In regard to: Young, H. B.
In regard to: Burns, John H.
In regard to: Beaman, H.B.
Jun 19 1879
Committee satisfied with amount and quality of water
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Jun 20 1879
How??ll you take your water, with graveyard seepage
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Jun 20 1879
Vote for Canal and Water Co. is a vote for Homestake
In regard to: Homestake Mining Company
Jun 21 1879
An extra published in the interest of DeSmet Co.
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Jun 21 1879
Election over, Homestake wins over DeSmet Company
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Jun 22 1879
Election over, Homestake wins over DeSmet Company
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Jun 22 1879
Paid out their share, but paid less voters
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Jun 22 1879
From results, they obviously paid more voters
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Jun 22 1879
Board to decide if vote on water question is legal
In regard to: Deadwood
Jun 24 1879
The Water Question
In regard to: Deadwood
Jun 28 1879
Homestake Co. laying water mains for fire safety
In regard to: Lead
Jun 28 1879
Canvass of the water vote by county commissioners
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Jul 01 1879
Judge threw the water case out of court
In regard to: Moody, G.C.
Jul 01 1879
Commissioners awarded contract for water to them
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Jul 01 1879
Nothing to be left undone on the water contract
In regard to: Deadwood
Jul 03 1879
Water mains are laid almost to Main and Mill Streets
In regard to: Deadwood
Jul 10 1879
Completion of water works should reduce insurance
In regard to: Deadwood
Jul 12 1879
To bring in 120 tons of pipe for Canal and Water Co.
In regard to: Evans, Fred T. freighter
Jul 17 1879
Wardner at Sioux City to receive pipe for water co
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Jul 19 1879
Evans pushing to get pipes for water here quickly
In regard to: Deadwood
Jul 30 1879
Judge restraining Homestake from water of Boulder Ditch
In regard to: Moody, G.C.
In regard to: Boulder Ditch owned by Dakota and Wyoming Water Company
Aug 02 1879
Prosecuting work upon their ditch
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Aug 07 1879
If contract complied with, fire safety assured
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Aug 08 1879
When water supplied, fire hose will be needed
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Aug 08 1879
Preparatory work being done on water supply
In regard to: Deadwood
Aug 09 1879
Homestake and DeSmet compromise upon water question
In regard to: Deadwood
Aug 10 1879
Judge feels water in City Creek is softest and best
In regard to: Barron, E.H.
Aug 12 1879
Decision to let Homestake use water in ditch
In regard to: Moody, Judge
Aug 13 1879
Deadwood will soon have a supply of water
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Sep 10 1879
Pipes started at corner of Williams and Deadwood St.
In regard to: Water
Sep 12 1879
Unanswerable questions on water controversy
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
In regard to: Barron, E.H.
Sep 17 1879
A rebuke to the article written by "Seventy-Six"
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Sep 19 1879
Where is the water to come from for Deadwood homes
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Sep 20 1879
Have a crew cleaning out the bed of City Creek
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Sep 24 1879
Water supply completely inadequate for demand
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Sep 30 1879
Crying over spilt milk
In regard to: Black Hills Canal
Oct 02 1879
Petition for Boulder Ditch water
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Oct 03 1879
Sam McMaster on City Creek
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Oct 10 1879
Six more miles of ditch will be completed by December
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Oct 11 1879
Made proposition to board to supply water to Deadwood
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Oct 12 1879
Tanks for the city water works are all completed
In regard to: Deadwood
Oct 15 1879
Persons should keep water service in good repair
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Dec 02 1879
Locations of the 15 fire plugs in Deadwood
In regard to: Fire Department
Dec 05 1879
Deadwood rendering the danger of an overflow
In regard to: Water
Dec 18 1879
Danger growing along Deadwood and Whitewood Creeks
In regard to: Water
Dec 30 1879
All persons responsible to keep apparatus repaired
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Jan 01 1880
Shut off the water to Central to stop stealing
In regard to: DeSmet Mining Company
Jan 20 1880
Well found to be contaminated, do not use water
In regard to: Deadwood
Jan 24 1880
Another freeze-out game by water company
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Feb 19 1880
Water Co given permission to lay pipe in Deadwood
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota Water
In regard to: Spring Creek Water
In regard to: Diamond Springs Water
In regard to: Stewart, A.D.
In regard to: McKinnis, Charles
In regard to: Manning, John P.
In regard to: Levy, James
In regard to: Father DeSmet Mining Company.
Mar 11 1880
Water is to be used only for legitimate purposes
In regard to: Canal and Water Co.
Jun 01 1880
Nearly half of the stock of water co. delinquent
In regard to: Wyoming and Dakota
Jul 08 1880
Deadwood now supplied with water from Lead
In regard to: Water
Jan 25 1881
In town looking after canal the county is cutting
In regard to: Thompson, Daniel
In regard to: Allen, John W.
Jan 29 1881
Water wheel mania continues
In regard to: Deadwood
Jun 25 1881
Deadwood creek flood
In regard to: Water
Apr 20 1881
Notice to Deadwood water consumers
In regard to: McMaster, Samuel
Aug 01 1881
Authorized to collect Deadwood water rates
In regard to: Lake, Richard C.
Aug 01 1881
Canal and Water Company protests assessment made
In regard to: Black Hills
Aug 17 1881
Bills allowed, Deadwood Water Co.
In regard to: Deadwood
Aug 20 1881
At no time has there been such a scarcity of water
In regard to: Deadwood
Aug 23 1881
Water works now in splendid condition
In regard to: Deadwood
Sep 07 1881
Water has been getting scarcer every year
In regard to: Deadwood
Oct 27 1881
Deadwood creek is on the rampage
In regard to: Water
Dec 23 1881
Deadwood creek on rampage at Central
In regard to: Water
Feb 04 1882
Why does Water Company shut off flow without notice
In regard to: Water
In regard to: Strass, C.B.
Apr 03 1883
Water wheels of all sizes and designs in full operation
In regard to: Deadwood
Aug 05 1883
Ingleside and South Deadwood will have water turned off Wednesday
In regard to: Water
Aug 21 1883
Elizabethtown improvements. This suburb of Deadwood is having a boom on a small scale, not the kind manufactured in the cities on the east of the Missouri river last summer, but a legitimate one, made necessary by the natural growth of business. Harry Damon, to not be behind with his up-gulch neighbors, has started in to have waterworks, and to carry out the project, instead of waiting for the Homestake company, has put them in himself. They are not so extensive as the Croton works in New York city, but sufficient to supply all domestic purposes. Eight hundred and twenty-four feet of wrought iron water pipe has been laid below the frost line, and by next Tuesday night the reservoir, that will contain 380 barrels of water, will be completed and filled, and this amount will be held in reserve all the time for any emergency that may arise. The water is furnished by Spring creek, as pure as there is in the world. Harry Damon has built a big blacksmith shop, wainscoted on the inside and whitewashed on the outside. At a distance it looks like a Mormon temple, without the superabundance of women. Two blacksmiths area at work all the time, and they are kept busy. Who knows but what Elizabethtown, the first city of the belt, may yet be when the railroad comes in, the first city again in wealth and population. One thing is certain, they have a good chance to spread out down there.
In regard to: Damon, Harry.
In regard to: Homestake Mining Company.
In regard to: Elizabethtown.
November 18, 1883
Black Hills Water Company. Lead City, November 26, 1883. Or the 1st of December, 1883, Jensen and Bliss will succeed Ismon and Ayres as agents for the Deadwood water company. H.M. Gregg, acting superintendent.
In regard to: Gregg, H.M.
In regard to: Black Hills Water Company.
In regard to: Jensen and Bliss.
In regard to: Ismon and Ayres.
December 1, 1883
City council orders city marshall to report daily to chief engineer the condition of the hydrants used for fire purposes and the amount of water contained in the tanks.
In regard to: Deadwood.
In regard to: Fire Department.
February 12, 1884
John Cranstoun, clerk in the Homestake office, stated eight miner's inches of water was turned in for Deadwood??s water supply, but apparently not all of it is reaching Deadwood.
In regard to: Cranstoun, John. Corp.Sub. Homestake Mining Company.
In regard to: Lead.
In regard to: Deadwood.
February 13, 1884
At 10 o'clock a.m. today the water will be turned off from the mains, for the purpose of filling up the tanks, and will remain so until 4 p.m. If you want water fill up your vessels. Signed City Marshall Tyler.
In regard to: Tyler, W.P.
In regard to: Deadwood.
February 14, 1884
Jim Connors was on the trail again all day yesterday, trying to find the cold place in the Deadwood street water main, but after digging down in many places, he had not caught on at night, and in the mean time, South Deadwood has no water.
In regard to: Connors, Jim.
February 17, 1884
Central people seem to be having trouble with their water pipes, as well as Deadwood. They are frozen in several places, and in one place a stretch of a hundred yards.
In regard to: Central City.
February 26, 1884
Livery, feed and sale stables, upper Main Street, Deadwood, G.D. Bronson, proprietor. Boarding stock by the day, week or month made a specialty. Warm stabling, hay and grain and pure spring water in abundance. The best of care guaranteed and rates as low as the lowest.
In regard to: Bronson, G.D.
March 1, 1884
Those who want a good water system cannot be otherwise than satisfied with that of Deadwood. The pressure is sufficient for any fire purpose, thus avoiding the necessity of keeping engines for that purpose. We feel more satisfied every day when we see how the large cities that have expended million upon millions to obtain a good supply of water, and still they are deprived of water much longer than we have ever been since the water works of Deadwood have been completed. The water is as pure as any in the land, being gathered from beautiful running springs, ten miles above our city. Then the water is conducted here in covered flumes of over twenty miles, until it reaches here. The tanks are so arranged that there is always one extra tank kept in reserve for fire purpose. This furnishes us safety from fire that it would be hard to procure in any other way. The people of Deadwood can feel perfectly safe, so long as the water works are kept in as good condition as they are at present.
In regard to: Deadwood.
March 1, 1884
Yesterday morning the water mains were all thawed as far as the hydrant at court house corner, Sherman street. A line of hose was attached to that hydrant and connected with the one at Hattenbach's, water turned on, and the main filled and found to be free, from hydrants 13 and 14, on to Ingleside, working splendidly all day, and the citizens living in that locality had the first water they have had for days. The water was kept running through the hose all day, and was taken off at night to prevent freezing in the hose. There is a break somewhere between the Hattenbach's hydrant and the court house corner, but as a large force of men were at work all day yesterday, and will be today, it is safe to say that by tonight, the connection will be complete all over South Deadwood and Ingleside. We can all now breathe easily as in the event of a fire, water can be carried to any part of the city. The hydrant opposite the Pioneer office is also in good working order with plenty of water.
In regard to: Hattenbach's.
March 9, 1884
Location of hydrants. The hydrants as originally located and numbered are as follows: No. 1--Centennial avenue, above Avenue house. No. 2--William street, head of Lee. No. 3--Southwest corner Main and Lee. No. 4--Northwest corner Main and Gold. No. 5--Northwest corner Main and Wall. No. 6--Main street, front of IXL hotel. No. 7--Main street (washed out). No. 8--Wentworth house. No. 9--Corner Lee and Sherman. No. 10--Corner Sherman and Deadwood. No. 11--Northwest corner Sherman and Pine streets. No. 12--Sherman street opposite old hospital. No. 13--Sherman street opposite old Masonic hall. No. 14--Near Hastie??s residence. No. 15--Vicinity of jail. To these have been added: No. 16--Southwest corner Williams street and City creek road. No. 17--Main street near the flouring mill. The hydrants are all at present in good order and the supply of water abundant.
In regard to: Hastie.
In regard to: Avenue House.
In regard to: IXL Hotel.
In regard to: Wentworth House.
In regard to: Masonic Hall.
In regard to: Deadwood Flouring Mill.
In regard to: Fire Department.
March 14, 1884
Brelsford leases Deadwood water works.
In regard to: Brelsford, J. M.
In regard to: Deadwood Water Company.
Sept. 3, 1884
Water contract.
In regard to: Deadwood.
In regard to: Black Hills Canal and Water Company.
In regard to: McKinnis, C. H.
In regard to: McMaster, Samuel.
In regard to: Tracy, Joseph S.
In regard to: Sackett, William L.
Feb. 3, 1886
Water supply frozen.
In regard to: Water.
In regard to: Deadwood.
In regard to: Star, Solomon.
In regard to: Brelsford,
Jan. 19, 1888
Blackburn in charge of water works.
In regard to: Brelsford, James M.
In regard to: Blackburn, Peter.
In regard to: Deadwood Water Company.
April 10, 1888
Water to new city hall.
In regard to: Brelsford, James M.
In regard to: Deadwood city hall.
Oct. 29, 1889
Water situation better than thought.
In regard to: Water.
In regard to: Black Hills Canal and Water Company.
Sept. 2, 1893
