 At that time the city was undergoing a boom in population, causing it to exceed the available amount of fresh water supplied by Charles B. Wright's Tacoma Light & Water Company.In response to both this demand and a growing desire to have local public control over the utility system, the city council put up a public vote to acquire and expand the private utility.The measure passed on July 1, 1893, with 3,195 in favor of acquiring the utility system and 1,956 voting against.