A horse-drawn water wagon was used to sprinkle the dirt streets to settle the dust. The council authorized the service in 1886.

THE WATER SYSTEM

After the big fire on Main Street April 16, 1882, when 13 business places burned to the ground, one of the first priorities was to have a well dug, get water lines laid, and have hydrants installed to have some adequate means of fighting fires. The well was dug and 4-inch and 6-inch mains laid down Main Street and adjoining side streets, with 14 water hydrants connecting them. Water needs some means of propelled force through the pipes to operate, and that force was produced by a windmill with a 20-foot diameter wheel.

By 1894 the population had increased and the need for water increased to the point that the windmill was no longer adequate. A pump house was built near the well and a steam engine installed to produce the needed water pressure. September 24, 1894, Herman Hoffmann was appointed the first engineer to operate the new installation, and received a salary of $15 per month. The water tank near the well was the size and proportion of those serving the railroads at the time.

June 17, 1886, the Council authorized a horse-drawn street sprinkler to sprinkle Main street in dry, dusty weather.

The Freeport Machine Company of Freeport, Illinois, presented a bid August 8, 1884, to install waterworks for fire protection. Bonds were authorized August 28 with said company to complete the installation by December 25, April 2, 1896, Mr. and Mrs. A. Schoening were paid $200 for land for the waterworks. In June, 1898, the Council authorized a charge of 20 cents per 1,000 gallons, with a water meter rent of 20 cents per month. That practice has continued except for periodical raises.

More water mains were laid in September of 1901 and extended to the various blocks of the town as needed. Ordinance #79 related to the issuance of $6,200 for waterworks and on August 2, 1902, the bid by Horace 8. Horton of Chicago was accepted to construct a water tower and tank for the sum of $7,700. May 7, 1907, all persons having toilets in their homes were required to pay the usual water rent or have the same disconnected. By February, 1908, new rates on water usage raised to 30 cents per 1000 gallons for the first 100,000; 25 cents per 1000 for the next 100,000 gallons; 20 cents per 1000 for the next 100,000; and all over 400,000 gallons at 10 cents per thousand.

February 2, 1911, the Council engaged a civil engineer to survey our town for a sewer system. January 13, 1913, Arthur A. Dobson of Lincoln, Nebraska got the contract for the sewer system and completed it September 18, 1913. In February, 1926, authorization was given for the construction of an intercepting sewer system from all outlets to the main sewer system south of the Chicago NorthWestern Railway Company, and for a disposal plant works for a sanitary sewer system, purifying plant, and outlet into the Nishnabotna river. The bid went to C.L. Rogers Construction Company and was completed September 11, 1931.

In the early 30's the water was regularly tested for contamination under the supervision of the City Health Officer. A government grant for $8,000 was used in 1938 to make changes in the waterworks improvement plan to change the location of the reservoir, pump and pumping equipment. In February, 1952, the Council discussed digging a new well with the Thorpe Well Company of Des Moines. August 24, 1953, they purchased a new chlorinator for $1700, and April 1, 1957, our town started collecting a fee of 50

Continued on 17

percent of each net water bill to be charged for service on sewers. May 23, 1967, Sandberg Well Co. of Audubon was to drill test holes for a new well site. March 15, 1976 three wells were dug and tested for the soybean plant with the town to be reimbursed later. In 1978, equipment was purchased and installed to fluoridate the municipal water supply.

There were slight changes in water rates until 1963, when the first 4,000 gallons were $6.50, the next 96,000 gallons were 40 cents per 1000, and so on. Increases were again made in 1968 and 1975 and our last water rate change came in January, 1980. Now the first 4,000 gallons cost $12.50; the next 8,000 are $2.05 per 1000, the next 50,000 at $1.80 per 1000, and the next 60,000 at $1.10 per 1000.

Manning's business area received brick paving in 1915, with the work here being done at the corner of Main and Fifth Streets. Two of the laborers were Negroes, which was quite a novelty for the townspeople.

SIDEWALKS AND STREETS

By September, 1901, walks were being continually replaced with Portland cement instead of wood. In 1908 the town made an agreement with the Great Western Railroad to furnish 100 yards of cinders for constructing a cinder walk to the depot. In February, 1909, an ordinance, including a penalty, prohibited anyone from leaving ice and snow on sidewalks, and a new ordinance in March of 1977 provided that unshoveled walks would be cleared by the city at an assessment of $10, to be added to the property tax. In the first years brick cross-walks were installed at the end of each block on Main Street so everyone could cross the street when it was muddy.

Improvement to Manning's main streets began as early as 1908 when permanent hitching posts and racks were installed on certain streets. In July, 1914, the Council passed a resolution to arrange to have the downtown streets paved. Six months later Clark L. Mosher of Sioux City submitted the lowest bid on the paving of Main Street with one block leading off Main east and west from First to Fifth Streets. The brick paving was completed December 6, 1915.
Information from Jean (Lyden) Farley November 6, 2014: Bess (Lyden) Mosher married Clark Mosher who was the superintendent of the C.F. Lytle company out of Sioux City. Bess was the daughter of Charles & Josephine Lyden. Her siblings were Wanda Knapp, Vincent Lyden, and Bonito Lyden.

Early in 1923 discussions were held and plans made to pave the residential streets with concrete paving and J.L. McLaughlin & Sons of Red Oak began the work on April 6 and completed it by September 10, 1923.

In June of 1941 resurfacing and oiling from the southwest corporate limits, north to Highway 141, and oiling East Street from the Milwaukee overhead south to 3rd street was accomplished. Blacktopping on East and Center Streets was done in June, 1948, with the aid of 70 percent county funds. In August, 1960, Highway 141 was widened through Manning and in August, 1970, the one block of First Street running into East street was widened. In February, 1957, Second Street was made a one-way street going west on Sunday until noon, for church hours and fire protection. April 15, 1974, downtown parking was restricted to two hours between 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with a penalty of 30 days in confinement or $100.00 fine. The Council continued street improvements in 1974 with the widening of Elm Street from 3rd to 6th Street. A used streetsweeper was purchased in April, 1976, for $5,525.00, and in February, 1977, Main Street was made a one-way street going north.