THE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF / THE NATIONAL WATER WORKS COMPANY, / OF NEW YORK AND / THE WYANDOTTE-ARMOURDALE WATER COMPANY / OF KANSAS / TAKE GREAT SATISFACTION IN ANNOUNCING THE PRACTICAL / COMPLETION OF THEIR / NEW WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM, / WHEREBY THE CITIES AT THE MOUTH OF THE KAW WILL / FROM THIS TIME FORWARD BE FURNISHED WITH / MISSOURI RIVER WATER, / FRESH AND SPARKLING FROM THE REGIONS OF PERPETUAL SNOW, / AND THE GREAT GRAND GEYSERS OF THE MARVELOUS / YELLOWSTONE COUNTRY / [etc.]

[Kansas City]: Kansas City Bank Note Co, 1885. Invitation printed on stiff card stock, 24 x 35 cm., folded to 24 x 17 1/2 cm., 4 pp. (one blank). On one page is a 13 x 21 cm. detailed illustration, printed by McKeon of Kansas City, of the waterworks, Kaw Point and the Quindaro Basins. The opposite page contains the text of the invitation. A short quote appears on verso: "There is No Poison in this Cup." Some light soiling, else very good. The company invited people to celebrate the completion of the water supply system. The "accompanying card," giving particulars of the event is lacking. According to "The Federal Reporter," vol. 130, 1904, p.854, The two municipalities of Wyandotte and Armourdale, adjoining Kansas City combined their waterworks in 1885 and in that same year the National Waterworks Company acquired all the stock and bonds of the Wyandotte-Armourdale Water Company and changed its name to the Kansas City Water Works. Major Benjamin F. Jones, manager of the water works at Kansas City was born in Georgia in 1831 and came to Kansas City in 1875. (Inventory #: 67058)