Gas & Water Department Main Office, c. 1955
In 1897, Corinthians were very interested in whether water and light utilities should be publicly or privately owned. The question was publicly debated in the brick courthouse, which preceded the present courthouse building. Paul Jones was a member of the debating team in favor of private ownership. His team lost. Benjamin Warriner was on the winning side, which favored public ownership.
On October 15, 1904, the City of Corinth bought the plant of the Corinth Waterworks Company, as well as the land occupied by its pumping station, for $57,700. In the bond election, which was held October sixth of that year, 295 voted for the proposition and 23 against.
Wesley Rankin was working as a typesetter for the “Corinthian” at the time of the bond election. He remembers great public interest in the event.
In 1904 there were 207 service connections. Twenty-seven of these were metered. There were 92 fire hydrants. John Bell was the first superintendent of the waterworks when it came under city ownership. Blueprints for location of the pipes were not available. To say that Bell had some difficulties as a result is an understatement.
In 1904 there were 207 service connections. Twenty-seven of these were metered. There were 92 fire hydrants. John Bell was the first superintendent of the waterworks when it came under city ownership. Blueprints for location of the pipes were not available. To say that Bell had some difficulties as a result is an understatement.
Old water treatment plant
Laying the first P.E.(plastic) gas main downtown (Cruise St.), 1975
In 1927, the water plant and the electric generating plant occupied the same steam plant. In September of that year, both systems were sold to the Mississippi Power Company. Two Years later the Mississippi Power Company sold the waterworks to the Peoples Water Service Company of Maryland. That company owned the system until it was sold to the City of Corinth in 1953, when it became a public utility. It has continued as a public utility ever since.