The "water company" was formed by the people in abandoned mining town of Jere, West Virginia, after the coal company cut off all public services because they were abandoning the mine. The coal company used to charge one dollar and twenty-cove cents per month for water. The present "people's" water company charges its members twenty-five cents per month and makes money at that even when everyone can't pay dues. There are dividends of flour, sugar, lard, etc. The lock is necessary to keep people from other camps from stealing the water, which is very scarce. It's still necessary to change the lock about every four months. Sourced from the Library of Congress.