PRINTER'S NO. 2895
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
705
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY SCHREIBER, GILLESPIE, GROVE, PHILLIPS-HILL, KLUNK,
REGAN, SAYLOR, DUSH, KIRKLAND, M. K. KELLER, SONNEY, COHEN,
THOMAS, HENNESSEY, ROTHMAN, PICKETT, MURT, VEREB, NEILSON,
MILLARD, YOUNGBLOOD, D. COSTA, ROZZI, DiGIROLAMO, WARD,
BULLOCK, HARHART, MARSICO, READSHAW, ROSS, GINGRICH AND
PAYNE, FEBRUARY 29, 2016
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
FEBRUARY 29, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Commemorating the 200th anniversary of the York Water Company,
the oldest publicly traded company in America with the
longest consecutive dividend record and the oldest business
in both York County and the City of York.
WHEREAS, More than 200 years ago, during the colonial era of
America, the people of York were in need of a water system to
better fight the ravages of fires; and
WHEREAS, Even though there were only 25 public water systems
in America, a group of local leaders determined that the best
solution to the creation of a water system was to create an
investor-owned water company; and
WHEREAS, The solution of providing a public service through
free enterprise was rare in the history of humanity; and
WHEREAS, On February 23, 1816, following approvals by the
Pennsylvania legislature, the York Water Company was
incorporated by an act of the Governor; and
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WHEREAS, Thirty shareholders each subscribed to shares of
stock valued at $25 each; and
WHEREAS, These pioneers of water infrastructure used the
proceeds of their stock sale and acquired a source of water
south of York; procured wooden logs which were floated down the
Susquehanna River and hauled overland from Wrightsville; and
meticulously bored out and connected the logs together to create
a water system which, by the end of 1816, provided both fire
protection to York and domestic water to 55 customers; and
WHEREAS, The water system grew as York and the surrounding
communities grew through the years; and
WHEREAS, The York Water Company has remained a publicly
traded, investor-owned water company throughout its 200-year
history, making it one of America's oldest publicly traded
companies; and
WHEREAS, The York Water Company has paid its investors with
dividends since its inception and has never missed a dividend
payment, even through difficult economic periods such as
recession and depression and through the occupation of York and
the company's facilities by the Confederate army in 1863; and
WHEREAS, This record of continuous dividends is unmatched in
America; and
WHEREAS, A company cannot endure and prosper like York Water
Company without providing a superior product and quality
services to its customers and giving to local charitable, civic
and educational organizations so as to improve and grow the
communities it serves; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commemorate the
200th anniversary of the York Water Company, the oldest publicly
traded company in America with the longest consecutive dividend
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record and the oldest business in both York County and the City
of York.
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