By Earl Roberts. H.L. Ricks founded the Ricks Wtr Works in 1877. In 1900 he purchased an ordinary lighter fitted with an 18 H.P. gas engine to run the stern wheel. He used this boat to haul wood from Carson's Mill to his boilers of his pumping station on Elk River. In earlier times he had to compete with Uncle John Vance's small Eureka Wtr Works. In 1885 the Times boasted that there were 9 miles of mains in Eureka. In 1888 C.S. Ricks, the founder of the Co., died and his son H.L. Ricks took over. The original plant was at 4th and G. When demand exceeded the supply originally provided by wells H.L. Ricks constr. an earthen dam on Elk River from which wtr could be pumped directly into the mains of the city. By 1900 H.L. Ricks was anxious to get out of the water business. He offered it to the city for $110,000. the city council was split on the matter so it was sev. yrs. later when the city bought the system. As the town grew huge wells were dug on Broadway.