USA > California > Fresno County > History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Volume I > Part 61
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AUDITORS
1877-R H. Bramlet. 1892-R. H. Austin. 1894-H. E. Barnum. 1914 -Charles E. Barnum appointed in June by the supervisors on the death of his father, and at the November election popularly chosen for the next full term ; reelected in 1919.
RECORDERS
1886-Charles L. Wainwright. 1888-T. A. Bell. 1892-Smith Norris. 1894-W. W. Machen. 1898-J. M. Kerr. 1902-R. N. Barstow, whose elec- tion was successfully contested by Charles McCardle, the decision rendered in midterm so that it was divided in tenure. 1906-R. N. Barstow; reelected in 1919.
412
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
TREASURERS
1856-George Riverconibe. 1863-Stephen Gaster. 1866-George Grier- son appointed in September on Gaster's disappearance. 1867-W. W. Hill. 1874-N. L. Bachman appointed on Hill's death. A. J. Thorn elected in March to fill the unexpired term and thereafter four times. 1884 Gillum Baley. 1886-T. P. Nelson. 1894 Jacob E. Whitson. 1898-S. W. Marshall. 1906-J. R. Hickman. 1914-A. D. Ewing ; reelected in 1919.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
1856-J. C. Craddock. 1857-J. T. Cruikshank (resigned February 1858). 1859-Hewlett Clark (named in September). 1861-E. C. Winchell. 1864- C. G. Sayle (Supervisor of Tulare in 1854, assessor in 1855 and county judge in 1860). 1868-S. B. Allison. 1871-C. G. Sayle. 1878-W. H. Creed. 1879 W. D. Grady. 1882-E. D. Edwards. 1884 J. H. Daley. 1886-R. B. Terry. 1888-W. D. Tupper. 1892-Firman Church. 1894-Alva E. Snow. 1898 O. L. Everts. 1902-G. W. Jones. 1906-Denver S. Church. 1913-Manson F. McCormick (appointed on the resignation of predecessor). 1914-M. F. Mc- Cormick. 1919-C. E. Beaumont.
ASSESSORS
1856-J. G. Simpson. 1859-W. H. Crowe. 1861-William Faymonville (named in February), Thomas J. Allen (in September). 1863-W. W. Math- ews. Alexander Kennedy (in April). 1866-W. S. Wyatt (resigned before term expired). 1868-T. W. Simpson. 1875-J. A. Stroud. 1879-W. H. Mckenzie. 1882-W. J. Hutchinson. 1894-J. P. Vincent. 1898-J. W. Fer- guson. 1900-G. P. Cummings (appointed on predecessor's death). 1902-G. W. Cameron. 1906-G. P. Cummings; reelected, 1919.
SURVEYORS
1856-W. W. Bourland. 1857-O. M. Brown. 1858-T. C. Stallo. 1859- M. B. Holt. 1863-J. C. Walker. 1872-M. B. Lewis. 1878-C. D. Davis. 1884-H. B. Choice. 1886-C. D. Davis. 1889-J. S. Bedford. 1892-George L. Hoxie. 1902-Scott McKay reelected thereafter; Obit May 14, 1918 and Chief Deputy Thomas R. Harrold appointed by supervisors to fill unexpired term. 1919-Chris P. Jensen.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS
1860-E. C. Winchell. 1861-E. S. Kincaid (appointed in October). 1862 -H. M. Quigley. 1863-S. H. Hill. 1868-T. O. Ellis (held same office in Tulare County in 1865). 1870-S. H. Hill. 1872-T. O. Ellis. 1876-R. H. Bramlet. 1882-B. A. Hawkins. 1890-Thomas J. Kirk. 1898-George S. Ramsay. 1902-G. N. Freman. 1906-E. W. Lindsay. 1919-C. E. Edwards.
CORONERS
(The records are very confusing as to the coronership and public admin- istratorship, the coroner often acting in ex-officio capacity in the other office. As to the coroner there is no straight record until after 1883. From scattered data, it would appear that the following named have filled the two offices.)
1856-H. A. Carroll. 1857-Dr. H. du Gay. 1860-Ira McCray. 1868- Frank Carroll. 1870-Ira McCray. 1871-\V. J. Lawrenson. 1874-C. A. Heaton, followed by Thomas R. Lowe. 1875-T. W. Simpson. 1877-N. P. Duncan. 1879-E. C. Cram or Crane. 1882-A. J. Witthouse. 1883-J. J. White, followed by S. B. Bresee. 1886-E. J. King. 1888-W. N. Bishop (re- signed in June 1890) G. N. Freman appointed. 1891-E. E. Brown. 1892- L. O. Stephens. 1894-Dr. G. L. Long. 1902-Dr. A. B. Cowan. 1906-W. A. Bean. 1919-John N. Lisle.
413
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS
1856-Joseph Smith. 1864-N. L. Bachman. 1866-Clark Hoxie. 1868 -J. R. Jones. 1869-William Faymonville. 1872-T. W. Rich. 1877-N. P. Duncan. (Here follows a long lapse in the record.) 1882-A. J. Witthouse followed by J. J. White. 1885-E. J. King. 1888-W. N. Bishop, who re- signing was succeeded by G. N. Freman. 1891-J. M. Johnson. 1892-G. A. Everts. 1894-L. H. Church. 1898-W. O. Miles. 1902-R. D. Chittenden. 1906-G. R. Andrews.
SPECIAL ISSUES
County Seat Removal Election held March 23, 1874, Fresno receiving 417 out of total vote of 757.
S. A. Holmes elected delegate from this county on June 19, 1877 to the constitutional convention.
Constitution ratified in this county at the election on May 7, 1879. For 975, Against 398; total 1373.
County divided into five instead of three supervisor districts in June 1882.
Courthouse bonds issue of $100,000 defeated at election in November 1892: Yes 2903, No 3247. Again failed to carry by necessary two-thirds at election in September 1893-Yes 1010, No 904.
Hall of Records proposed bond issue defeated at November 1908 election lacking the necessary two-thirds.
"Wet" or "Dry" election in May 1912 on the question, Shall the Liquor Business be Licensed in the County Outside of Incorporated Towns? The vote according to supervisor districts was:
District
Yes
No 763
One
415
Two
398
865
Three
87
177
Four
437
1,731
Five
801
1,425
All county liquor licenses were cancelled beginning August 14, 1912.
At the November 1916 election the vote on the two constitutional amend- ments was:
Yes
No
Prohibition
14,906
12,463
Second Amendment.
16,165
11,093
A proposed county bond issue of $3,600,000 for "Good Roads" was de- feated at the special election held on October 25, 1916 by the following vote:
Yes
9,421
.No
7,136
Total
16,557
Necessary to carry
11,038
Defeated by
1,617
The welfare department was created to go into operation January 1, 1918, taking charge of all the eleemosynary work of the county under the most modern, scientific and practical lines as well. Before the close of the 1917-18 fiscal year, it had dispensed with the county orphanage, putting the children oitt to board in families on the theory that it will make them better citizens not to hamper them by the shortcomings of an institutional training. The department was working so well that Miss Beulah Miller, assistant secretary, was given six months' leave of absence to introduce the system by invitation in Humboldt County.
414
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
In June, 1918, was made to the supervisors, after a preliminary survey by W. H. Lynch as senior engineer of the U. S. office of public roads and rural engineering, report of a system of county highways contemplating 170.75 miles at an estimated cost of $2,393,192, including the so-called Coalinga lateral to the state highway from the valley to the sea coast with Fresno's share of construction cost $425,842. No need of going further into details of this proposed system. The recommendation was that while the county needs very much a system of improved roads a bond election for permanent road improvements is not advisable until after the war, and if conditions then per- mit steps be taken to start the construction of the planned roads to place the county on an equal basis with adjoining counties and give it the type of roads that its traffic demands.
POSTMASTERS
The following named are the presidential appointees who have served as postmasters at Fresno from the establishment of a post office at that place in 1872 with dates of their appointments :
Russell H. Fleming.
August 28, 1872
Charles W. De Long.
November 14, 1873
Otto Froelich. March 29, 1880
Nathan W. Moodey
July 6, 1882
Wesley E. Hughes.
April 14, 1886
Mary C. Hughes.
March 10, 1887
Mary C. Hughes.
December 21, 1889
Nathan W. Moodey March 29, 1890
William L. Hedrick.
May 5, 1894
John W. Short
May 5, 1898
E. E. Hughes June 6, 1913
(Wesley E. Hughes died in office; his widow was appointed to fill the unexpired term and reappointed with the name of the postoffice changed from Fresno City to Fresno, January 31, 1889. These Hughes and E. E. Hughes, grandson of T. E. Hughes, "the Father of Fresno," are no kin.)
FRESNO CITY
(Incorporation Election September 29, 1885. Polling place at Court- house. Total vote 462-For 277; Against 185. Incorporated October 27, 1887, under state law of March 13, 1883 and as amended. First named trustee until the 1901 election acted as the mayor.)
1885
Trustees-William Faymonville, Dr. W. L. Graves, T. E. Hughes, J. M. Braley and A. Tombs, Graves and Hughes drawing 4-year terms, the others in for two years each.
School Board-J. F. Wharton, W. W. Phillips, Dr. C. D. Latimer, George E. Church, M. K. Harris.
(Appointed)
Clerk and Assessor-W. B. Dennett. Marshal-C. T. Swain, resigned August 1886. J. H. Bartlett. Treasurer-W. H. Mckenzie. Recorder-S. H. Hill. Attorney-H. S. Dixon. Engineer-J. S. Eastwood. Office vacated October, 1886, John Stevens succeeding as street superintendent in Novem- ber and J. C. Shepherd as engineer in December, 1886.
Health Board-Drs. A. J. Pedlar and C. D. Latimer, Louis Einstein, WV. T. Riggs and Engineer Eastwood (Secretary). Board organized Jan- uary, 1886.
1887
(Election April 11, 1887. Polling place at Courthouse.)
Trustees-Dr. W. L. Graves, A. Tombs, Dr. A. J. Pedlar, H. P. Hedges, A. M. Clark (Chairman, October, 1887), J. H. Hamilton vice Graves deceased. School Board-J. F. Wharton, Colin Chisholm, George E. Church, J. W. Short vice Wharton.
Clerk and Assessor-W. B. Dennett. Marshal-J. H. Bartlett. Treas- urer-W. H. Mckenzie. Recorder-Phillip Stewart succeeded by James H. Daly. Health Officer-Dr. Lewis Leach (April, 1887). Fire Marshal and Chief-A. H. Cummings (November, 1887).
1889
(Election April 8. Five polling places.)
Trustees-Dr. A. J. Pedlar, S. H. Cole, John N. Albin, Tombs, Clark, Fulton G. Berry vice Clark. B. T. Alford vice Albin in 1890.
School Board-T. J. Kirk, M. K. Harris, Frank Laning, 1890-J. D. Gray vice Church. George E. Church vice Kirk.
Clerk and Assessor-W. B. Dennett. 1890-Louis E. Prusso vice Den- nett assessor. Marshal-J. H. Bartlett. John Barker vice Bartlett adjudged insane. Treasurer-W. H. Mckenzie. Recorder-Dante R. Prince. Fire Chief-E. R. Higgins (March) vice Cummings resigned.
1891
(Election April 13)
Trustees-S. H. Cole, Firman Church, J. C. Herrington, William Fahey (resigns October, 1891, resignation declined and held up and he is reappoint- 25
416
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
ed when eligible in residence qualification, being a new comer from Merced, B. T. Alford. This was the celebrated "Triangle Board" with Cole, Fahey and Alford in control.
School Board-O. J. Woodward, George E. Church, H. Z. Austin. Clerk -W. B. Dennett. Treasurer-W. H. Mckenzie. Recorder-Frank Laning. Marshal-John D. Morgan. Assessor-C. C. Lyon. Fire Chief-Tim Wal- ton vice Higgins on a department shake up by the "Triangle." Library Board-M. K. Harris, T. L. Heaton, Colin Chisholm, Mrs. J. R. White and Mrs. Emily E. Phillips.
1893
(Election on customary April date.)
Trustees-Firman Church. C. J. Craycroft, E. C. Adams, Joseph Spin- ney, J. C. Herrington. (The four last named made the board Republican in politics.)
School Board-G. P. Cummings, W. W. Eden, J. P. Vincent, S. F. Had- sell.
Clerk-J. W. Shanklin (April 17, 1893) vice Dennett, a Democrat. Treas- nrer-W. H. McKenzie. Recorder-A. M. Clark. Marshal-J. D. Morgan. Assessor-C. C. Elliot.
1895
(Election April 8)
Trustees-Craycroft, Spinney, W. F. McVey, F. M. Chittenden, E. L. Austin.
School Board-George E. Church, George H. Monroe.
Clerk-J. W. Shanklin. Treasurer-W. H. Mckenzie. Marshal-M. L. Woy. Recorder-A. M. Clark. Assessor-J. M. Collins. Attorney-L. W. Moultrie.
Library Board-M. K. Harris, C. Chisholm, T. L. Heaton, Mrs. E. R. Higgins, Mrs. Cassie S. White. Offices vacated, though the last named re- signed previous to the order of May, 1896. Succeeded by H. Z. Austin, Eleanor M. Risley and Caroline P. Webster, the ladies resigning later and being succeeded by J. W. Short and J. Q. Anderson ; A. M. Drew and F. E. Cook.
1897
Trustees-Craycroft, Spinney, McVey, Chittenden, Austin.
School Board-L. O. Stephens, Samuel L. Hogue, George B. Noble.
Attorney-Lewis H. Smith. Marshal-M. L. Woy. Assessor-J. M. Collins. Treasurer-Charles H. Swett. Recorder-A. M. Clark. Clerk-J. W. Shanklin and Theodore Madsen tied on vote of 686 each. At the special election on September 27 Shanklin was elected-582, against Madsen 499. The special election cost no less than $502. George O. Duncan appointed April 3, 1899 on Shanklin's disappearance. Fire Chief-T. G. Hart resigns and E. R. Higgins is appointed.
1899
(Election April 10. Total vote 1705. Charter is adopted at election Oc- tober 19. Vote-Yes, 844. Noes, 107.)
Trustees-Craycroft, Spinney, John C. Moore, Taylor Albin, H. C. Tup- per.
School Board-J. W. Gearhart, O. M. Thompson.
Clerk-J. B. Johnson. Attorney-Frank Laning. Assessor-J. M. Col- lins. Marshal-J. D. Morgan. Treasurer-C. H. Swett. Recorder-Dave Cosgrave.
Library Board-M. E. Daily, H. M. Johnston, Fred Miner, W. W. Par- sons, Chester H. Rowell.
Freeholders on Charter Board-E. F. Bernhard, James Gallagher, Alex Goldstein, L. Gundelfinger, M. K. Harris, T. G. Hart, Herman Levy, W. P.
417
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
Lyon, M. R. Madary, C. S. Pierce, E. W. Risley, Edward Schwarz, Frank H. Short, Mark Webster, T. C. White.
1901
(Election June 14. Total vote 2,196 at fourteen precincts. Officers are the first elected and appointed under the charter approved by the legislature February 6, 1901.)
Mayor-L. O. Stephens.
Trustees-G. M. Boles, W. W. Eden, J. B. Myers, S. F. Cowan, Horace Hawes, W. J. O'Neill, J. P. Strother, and Thomas Dunn. A. D. Olney vice Hawes. J. Q. Anderson, vice Strother.
School Board-Dr. W. T. Maupin, O. M. Thompson, G. B. Noble, George WV. Jones, M. K. Harris, H. C. Tupper, J. W. Gearhart and Dan Dismukes. Chester H. Rowell vice Noble. J. C. Cooper vice Maupin.
Clerk-J. B. Johnson. Chase H. Sayre appointed vice Johnson elected a supervisor.
Police Judge-Dave Cosgrave.
Attorney-J. M. Johnston. Surveyor-I. Tielman. Street Superintendent -P. Le Blanc, succeeded by W. S. Smith.
Police and Fire Commission-WV. T. Mattingly, George H. Monroe, W. H. Mckenzie, F. M. Miller, T. G. Hart vice Monroe resigned.
Fire Chief-James A. Ward (June 1902) vice W. F. Leavitt. The paid fire department was developed under the Ward regime.
Library Board-Chester H. Rowell, W. W. Parsons, Louis Einstein, H. H. Welsh, Charles E. Jenney, A. E. Snow vice Rowell. S. L. Strother vice Welsh.
Health Board-Drs. J. L. Maupin, G. H. Aiken, J. D. Davidson, T. M. Hayden, G. A. Hare, D. H. Trowbridge vice Aiken. G. L. Long vice Hare.
1905
(Election April 10. Votes cast within the city 3,365; within the school district 3,503.)
Mayor-W. Parker Lyon. Resigns March 1908, succeeded by Edward E. Bush.
Trustees-J. M. Collins, F. W. Keisker, J. B. Myers, J. D. Statham, William Shaw, Grant Falkenstein, J. Q. Anderson, A. E. Sunderland, J. Wrightson vice Shaw resigned to become police chief. John Suglian vice Sunderland. E. E. Bush vice Anderson, resigning to be named mayor on the same night. Ernest Klette vice Wrightson. C. M. Chalup vice Keisker ap- pointed license collector. F. J. Nolan vice Bush.
School Board-A. B. Clark, W. B. Holland, A. B. Smith, O. M. Thomp- son, Dan Dismukes.
Clerk-William H. Ryan. Police Judge-H. F. Briggs.
Attorney-D. S. Ewing. Street Superintendent-Wright Spencer. He re- signs and P. J. Reardon is not confirmed. W. L. Hills. Engineer-George L. Hoxie, resigns and is reappointed. License Collector-J. H. Coleman (de- ceased ). Ben Drenth. F. W. Keisker. Electrician-C. T. McSharry (resigns) Perry Brown.
Police and Fire-Henry Pratt, J. W. Cate, F. M. Chittenden, E. W. Ris- ley, H. H. Welsh, vice Cate. A. J. Hill vice Welsh. J. P. Bernhard vice Risley.
Health Board-Drs. G. L. Long vice T. M. Hayden, P. N. Russell, W. T. Burks, J. H. Parsegian, A. N. Loper, J. L. Martin vice Long. W. T. Barr vice Parsegian. J. L. Maupin and J. D. Davidson vice Burks and Loper. H. J. Craycroft vice Davidson and resigns to become assistant health officer and is succeeded by Dr. Aiken.
418
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
Library Board-W. P. Thompson, Henry Brickley, James Gallagher, G. M. Boles, Lee D. Coates. J. W. Gilkyson vice Thompson. S. B. Goodman vice Coates. Willis M. Pike vice Gilkyson.
Park Commission-Charles Chambers, G. C. Freman, S. George.
1909
(Election April 12-total vote 3,996. Saloon license referendum carried- 1,821 to 1,764. Playgrounds $60,000 bond election March 19, 1910, carried- 847 to 2,999. Freeholders elected January 16, 1912. Charter election July 26, 1912, defeated-660 to 1,064.)
Mayor-Dr. Chester Rowell. May 28, 1912, A. E. Snow vice Rowell deceased.
Trustees-J. M. Collins, J. C. Pottle, E. Klette, S. F. Cowan, H. F. Martin, O. V. Cobb, G. W. Pickford, A. E. Snow, G. W. Jones vice Cowan died August, 1909. J. C. Ferger vice Snow. T. G. Hart vice Klette.
School Board-L. L. Archibald, W. J. Kittrell, F. A. Homan, Robert Lochead, J. L. Beall.
Freeholders-Truman G. Hart, Robert Lochead, L. O. Stephens, Joseph P. Bernhard, W. W. Eden, H. E. Barbour, A. E. Snow, E. S. Van Meter, W. H. Ryan, George H. Aiken, Louis Gundelfinger, W. T. Mattingly, W. H. Alexander, Charles Miller, J. T. Anderson.
Attorney-Frank Kauke, resigns June, 1912, E. Klette succeeds. Street Superintendent-Thos. T. Thorn. Engineer-Chris P. Jansen. License Col- lector-Frederick Mortimer. Electrician-Thomas M. Robinson (September 1910) vice Brown.
Police and Fire-T. G. Hart. Jos. P. Bernhard, W. G. Holland, L. O. Stephens, Henry Pratt (June, 1912) vice Hart.
Library Board-James Gallagher, W. W. Parsons, D. A. Cashin, A. O. Warner, William Glass.
Park Commission-Thomas Dunn, Louis Gundelfinger, Charles Cham- bers. (January, 1913) J. S. Jones vice Dunn deceased.
Health Board-Dr. L. R. Willson vice Aiken chosen Health Officer. (March, 1911) Dr. A. H. Sweeney vice Bert B. Lamkin. Assistant Health Officer-Dr. Floyd L. Burks.
1913
(Election April 14-total vote in city 8,965, in school district 9,149. Ref- erendum on "dry" town after September 1 defeated-3,202 against 5,060: on "near dry" ordinance 2,533, against 5,144.)
Mayor-A. E. Snow.
Trustees-George S. Waterman, G. M. Boles, T. G. Hart, J. D. Statham, F. L. Irwin, O. V. Cobb, George Pickford, J. C. Ferger. (June, 1914) G. W. Jones vice Statham deceased.
School Board-D. D. Allison, H. D. Carver, H. T. Humphreys, A. E. Sunderland, J. R. Walker. Harry Wilbur vice Carver deceased. W. A. Conn vice Humphreys.
Clerk-W. H. Ryan.
Police Judge-H. H. Briggs.
License Collector-Frederick Mortimer. Attorney-Lewis H. Smith. Street Superintendent-E. H. Chapin. Engineer-Bert E. Cronkite.
Police and Fire-Calvin S. Hill, H. A. Pratt, T. F. Saunders, L. O. Ste- phens. Robert Lochead vice Hill.
Park Commission-Charles Chambers, Louis Gundelfinger, J. S. Jones (September, 1915), W. S. Marshall vice Chambers. Aubrey Frink vice Jones deceased. Charles E. Jenney vice Frink. E. J. Crawford vice Jenney.
Health Board-Drs. W. T. Barr, J. L. Maupin, A. H. Sweeney, George H. Bland, C. Mathewson (April, 1915), H. H. Hopkins vice Sweeney ap-
419
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
pointed Health Officer. C. F. Dickenson vice Mathewson (July, 1915). K. J. Staniford vice Barr.
Health Officer-Dr. L. R. Willson.
Playgrounds Commission-Mrs. George H. Taylor, Miss Ruby E. Gra- cier, J. Q. Anderson, F. M. Lane, Benjamin Epstein, W. D. Eastman, C. C. Starr. Mrs. S. S. Hockett vice Gracier.
City Planning Commission-Miss Frances A. Dean, Mrs. W. J. McNulty, Charles E. Butner, Miles O. Humphrey and G. M. Boles.
This commission was a successor of an informal City Beautiful Com- mittee of ladies and gentlemen named by the mayor to employ moral suasion in an improving and beautifying of the city on sanitary lines, in the planting of flowers and trees, in a clean-up day, in the removal of tawdry cloth awnings and especially in the prospect obstructing wooden balcony awnings of a day gone by style of architecture, notably in the landmark sidewalk covering, pillared balcony on the J and Mariposa Streets frontages of the Grand Cen- tral Hotel. Its activities were prognostic of what the future had in store in the city planning and zoning commission with the authority of the reform immigration and housing laws of the state.
1917
(Election April 19. City vote 9,859; School district, 7,755).
Mayor-William F. Toomey (2,696) as against L. O. Stephens (2.849), Edward Jones (2,222) and C. Anderson (92).
Trustees-G. S. Waterman, S. M. Ballard, A. W. Goodfellow, W. S. Johnson, F. L. Irwin, George Pickford, T. M. Anton and L. W. Wilson for the eight wards in the order named. Ballard relinquished his seat in the contest instituted on the ground that he was not a resident of the ward at the time of the election and therefore disqualified. W. L. Cole, who was a candidate for the trusteeship at the election, was appointed to the vacancy. Wilson resigned 1919, succeeded by O. V. Cobb. Cole resigned April, 1919, succeeded by Henry M. Dermer. Irwin resigned in June, 1919, succeeded by J. J. Creem.
School Board-George Cosgrave (chairman), W. A. Conn, Berton Ein- stein, Elma P. Giffen, Dr. J. R. Walker. Jerome O. Cross of Pasadena was chosen by the board city superintendent of schools and inaugurated an enter- prising and most satisfactory administration.
City Clerk-William H. Ryan (6,065). Upon his death Charles Dillon, license collector, was appointed to the vacancy.
Police Judge-H. F. Briggs.
Police and Fire Commission-Mayor, J. E. Davis; T. G. Hart, William Shaw, Andrew Duncan.
Park Commission-Mayor, Thomas E. Risley; C. B. Harkness, E. J. Crawford and City Engineer Clarence Murray. Risley resigned, succeeded by Roy L. Payne chosen chairman ; Crawford resigned, succeeded by George C. Roeding.
Library Trustees-William Glass, Ray W. Baker, John A. Neu, John Braves, Mrs. W. A. Fitzgerald. With the merger of the city library into the county library, the commission was legislated out of office. The supervisors are now the authoritative power. Public Librarian Miss Sarah E. McCardle.
Health Board-T. M. Hayden chairman, A. B. McConnell, J. H. Pettis, Kenneth J. Standiford and Clifford D. Sweet. Dr. Standiford resigned and Dr. H. H. Hopkins was appointed and numerous other changes followed during the war period.
Playgrounds Commission-Benjamin Epstein chairman, Mrs. S. S. Hock- ett, W. D. Eastman resigned, H. J. McFarland named; Mrs. G. H. Taylor, F. M. Lane, J. Q. Anderson resigned, J. H. Henderson named and also re- signed, Berton Einstein succeeding (June, 1918), Bart A. Harvey. R. L. Quigley superintendent. Clerk of Commission, Miss Flossie Kidd.
420
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
Board of Freeholders elected June 11, 1918, to frame a city charter -- Robert Lochead (900). Charles Dillon, Alexander Bartlett, A. V. Rowe, H. A. Breusing, H. E. Barbour, L. O. Stephens, W. B. Munson, Alva E. Snow, Mrs. S. S. Hockett, Ben Epstein, Mrs. W. J. McNulty, R. F. Felchin, B. O. Warner and A J. Kemalyan (732).
City Planning Commission-Miles O. Humphreys, Charles E. Butner resigns to enter the war and is succeeded by LeRoy R. Payne, City Trustee A. W. Goodfellow succeeds Trustee G. M. Boles, Mrs. W. J. McNulty and Miss Frances A. Dean, the mayor, city engineer and attorney members of the commission : Charles H. Cheney, consulting architect. The proposed reforms of the commission were regarded as too radical for popular approval. Its activities were suspended during the war and no budget allowances having been voted for its continuance the commission went out of existence. Its work had effect, however, in popular educational results and its existence was not altogether in vain.
FRESNO CITY ASSETS
The city balance sheet at the close of the year 1917 makes the following showing :
City hall
$ 130,000
Police department
2,500
Fire department
218,200
Library property
75,000
Parks
307,500
Hospital equipment
500
Pound site
5,000
Convention hall
100,000
Van Ness property
10,000
Corporation vard
3,500
Playgrounds
100,000
Sewer farm
75,000
Street department equipment
8,500
Total
$1,035,700
City sewer system
381,722.26
Liberty bonds
5,000
Cash
501,048.71
Total assets $1,926,470.97
CITY LIABILITIES
Bonded indebtedness
767,500
Bond reserve
20,791.88
Unexpended income
208,196.09
Unexpended 1916 bond proceeds
275,060.74
Surplus
654,722.26
Total liabilities $1,926,470.97
BONDED INDEBTEDNESS
Acquiring and Completing Sewers.
$ 18,000
City Hall 53,000
Sewers 125,000
1910 Playgrounds Purchase 46,000
1910 Convention Hall Building
37,500
1916 Storm and Sanitary Sewer
487,500
Total Indebtedness
$767,000
421
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
FIRE AND POLICE
July 1901-John D. Morgan first appointed chief of police under the charter.
December 1901-William F. Leavitt last elected chief of the volunteer fire department.
June 1902-James A. Ward first appointed fire chief under the charter. Call system instituted and vote of thanks tendered for the very efficient services in the past of the volunteer department which passed out of exist- ence. The basis of a paid department was laid during Ward's reconstructive regime.
June 1903-Appropriation estimate for police $17,100; for fire purposes $37,071.
July 1903-Police chief directed to devote entire time to the office, an officer to be detailed to collect city licenses. William H. Ryan so appointed, succeeded by N. P. Justy in November 1904, and thus the license collectorship was instituted.
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