USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 48
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FIRST SURVEY FOR WATERWORKS.
A survey was made by Mr. J. O. Morse who reported to council on the 13th of February, 1851. his views on the subject of waterworks, in which he advocated the use of the Savannah river water, considered pure enough for the purpose, and he made this statement : "The purity of the water is owing to the fact that the river rises in a region of primitive formation, the turbidness due to the mere mechanical admixture of clay
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taken up by the river in its course through the low country. This clay is very speedily given up in the form of sediment when onee the water is allowed to remain for a short time unagitated. Earthy particles are readily precipitated in two days, leaving the water clearer than that of the Croton or the Schuylkill. A gallon, 44.08 grains, in a normal state contains 7.6 grains of solid matter, the greater part of which is alumina or elay, a minute trace of carbonate of lime and magnesia con- stituting the remainder. Of the solid matter 60 per cent. is held in suspension in an insoluble form, leaving but three grains of soluble matter in the clarified water after three days repose."
Then a publie meeting of citizens was called, and the people settled on the wise conclusion that it was time that Savannah had a system of waterworks, and Mr. Morse was paid for the preliminary survey for which he charged the moderate sum of $300. So entirely in earnest were those who had reached the point of enthusiasm necessary to pro- duce results that a large committee was appointed to thoroughly go over the proposals and make choice of the plan. The names of the men composing that committee are worthy of presentation and all honor is due to Messrs. Cosmo P. Richardsone. JJames Seymour Williams, Ed- ward Clifford Anderson. Robert Lachlison, Hiram Roberts. Charles Wil- son, at that time private citizens, and aldermen Robert D. Walker. John F. Posey, James Proctor Sereven, Thomas M. Turner, Robert H. Griffin and Thomas Purse. Those men are all dead. but they were publie- spirited men, and they knew what was for the good of their home city. The 4th of December, 1851. found them ready to report, and they recommended the plan of Worthington, Baker and Morse as altogether the best for a city such as Savannah was at that time
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERS APPOINTED
The committee of council on waterworks was authorized, at a meet- ing on the 26th of February, 1852, to employ an engineer fully compe- tent to superintend the building of the works, and secured the services of Mr. A. W. Craven, chief of the Croton Waterworks of New York, as supervising engineer. At the same time negotiations were entered upon for the purchase of a proper site for the plant, and land west of the canal belonging to Mr. A. A. Smets, Mr. Amos Scudder and Mr. Robert Lachlison was bought for $22,000, and the contracts were made. Dr. Richard D. Arnold was at that time mayor, and he and Alderman James P. Sereven went to New York and. by authority. closed the con- tract with Messrs. Worthington & Morse. For that work the city issued bonds, known as Waterworks Bonds, to pay for the site. The distrib- uting reservoir was built in Franklin square where it remained imtil 1900, some years after the change in the water system was made by which the tower became a useless structure. That tower was for a long time one of the city's landmarks, and a description of it and an account of its use in connection with the distribution of water by the old system may at this point be in order. We are indebted to White's Historical Collection of Georgia for the following :
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DESCRIPTION OF WORKS (1854)
"The Savannah Water-Works, now [1854] in process of construction, were commenced in the winter of 1852-3. and are to be completed in 1854. A brief description of this important publie work will perhaps be deemed interesting.
"The supply is obtained from the Savannah River, the water of which, though turbid in its appearance, (rendered so by the minute partieles of clay held by it in suspension, ) is nevertheless of remarkable purity inasmuch as it contains no soluble impurities, the sources of the river being in regions of a primitive formation.
"The water is taken from the river above the eity, and received into a reservoir located on the low lands west of the Ogeechee Canal. In order to free the water from the earthy matter it holds in suspension, this reservoir is divided into four compartments, rendered distinct from each other by partitions forced with masonry. Into any or all of these compartments, or basins, the water is admitted by means of iron gate- ways; the contents of one basin. therefore can be used while the process of sedimentation is going on undisturbed in the others. Each one of these basins is made to communicate, by means of eulverts of masonry and iron gate-ways, with a chamber, or 'pump-well,' of masonry, situ- ated underneath a building which contains the boilers and engines of the pumping apparatus, by means of which the water is forced into the city.
"The plateau upon which the city of Savannah is built has an alti- tude of about forty feet above the river. Upon this elevation is built the Distributing Reservoir, having a height of about eighty feet above the general grade of the streets. This structure * * consists of a cir- cular tower of substantial masonry. upon which is placed the reservoir of iron. From this reservoir, having an elevation sufficient for all pur- poses, the water is distributed throughout the city in the usual manner, by means of east-iron pipes, furnished with all necessary fire hydrants, stop-gates, ete.
"The whole height to which the water is raised by the pumping en- gines is one hundred and twenty fect; the distance from the receiving to the distributing reservoir is somewhat more than half a mile.
"Most of the cities of the United States that are supplied with water under pressure sufficient to earry it to all parts of the buildings, are so situated as to have in their vieinity ground of sufficient elevation to com- mand their town, and on which the reservoir is built. The eity of Savan- nah having no such advantages, it became necessary in the design for these works to devise some means whereby an ample supply of water might be delivered into the town with height, or ' head.' sufficient to give the necessary pressure in the pipes of distribution, without incurring the enormous expense of erreting an artificial elevation of large area on which to build the usual plan of reservoir containing many days' sup- ply. The plan adopted to effect the object required is this: Upon a tower of masonry, a tank, or reservoir, is erceted, of a capacity to hold the quantity of water required for the night supply; while the pumping apparatus is so arranged as to place beyond all contingency of failure
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the ability of the apparatus to preserve in the reservoir the quantity of water necessary for the day supply.
"The pumping apparatus consists of three direct-action, condensing pumping engines. each one independent of the other, and each capable of delivering into the reservoir one million gallons in twelve hours. These are supplied by two steam boilers, each in like manner independ- ent of the other. From these engines, situated, as before mentioned, at the lower or receiving reservoir, two distinct lines of foreing pipes, or 'mains,' are laid to the upper or distributing reservoir, and from thence the water is conveyed, under the pressure due to the height of this reservoir, throughout the streets of the city.
"By the arrangement it will be seen that not only is the apparatus amply able to meet the demands that the town makes upen it, but that it is sufficiently large to respond to the increased wants due to an in- crease of population."
SYSTEM IN USE FROM 1854 TO 1892
The time set for the eompletion of the system was Mareh 1, 1854. With changes and expenditures for new engines and machinery from time to time, that system continued in operation until 1892 wher the present system by which water is supplied from artesian wells was adopted.
PRESENT ARTESIAN WELL SYSTEM
The first suggestion of wells for the water supply of the eity was made by Mayor John F. Wheaton, in 1879, and their use has given en- tire satisfaction. The water from these wells is pure aud wholesome; but it is questionable whether with the rapid growth of the city the supply ean be kept up. It is not at all improbable that at some time in the future the river will again be ealled on to supply the city with water. If so, it is to be hoped that a method of filtering at a reasonable cost may be discovered by which the river water will be as pure and useful in all respects at that obtained from the wells.
LIGHTING OF THE STREETS
Another instance of the lack of action in the adoption of necessary improvements was the long delay in having the streets properly lighted. Oil lamps were used even as late as the year 1850. Late in 1849 steps were taken to form a gas company in Savannah, and conneil agreed to enter the city as a subscriber for the stoek to the ex- tent of $25.000, and on the completion of the works during the follow- ing year the streets were lighted with gas for the first time. On the introduction of the electric lighting system that method was employed with little delay, the city being lighted by electric lamps in May 1883, when most of the lights were placed at the top of very tall towers which were, after a few years, replaced with swinging lamps as at present used, with some on ornamental iron columns in a few of the principal streets.
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MAYORS AND ALDERMEN, 1835-1850
In enumerating the names of the mayors and aldermen composing the city council of Savannah our last record brought us to the elose of the year 1834. The year 1835 opened with the reeleetion of William W. Gordon as mayor and his associates as councilmen in the previous years, R. M. Charlton, Thomas Clark, Jacob Shaffer, Wm. H. Cuyler, Thomas Purse, Henry MeAlpin, Amos Seudder, P. M. Kollock, A. J. C. Shaw, and Matthew Hopkins. The only two new members were Wm. H. Stiles and Isaac D'Lyon.
The Hon. John C. Nicoll was elected mayor in 1836, succeeding Mr. Gordon who still remained on the board as an alderman associated with W. HI. Stiles. A. J. C. Shaw, Amos Seudder, M. Hopkins, J. Shaf- fer, Thos. Purse and W. H. Cuyler of the preceding council, with Peter G. Shick, Aaron Champion, James H. Wade, John Miller and Michael Dillon new members.
As chief magistrate the eity was served in 1837 by Matthew Hall Me- Allister with an aldermanic board composed of R. M. Charlton, A. Seud- der, P. G. Shick, Jno. Wagner, F. Densler, Jno. W. Anderson, Jno. C. Nicoll, Wm. Searborough, W. H. Stiles, Alexander Drysdale, Michael Dillon, Robt. M. Goodwin and James II. Wade.
Mr. M. H. McAllister secured a second term in 1838. and the alder- manic associates were R. M. Charlton, Dr. Win. R. Waring, Richard R. Cuyler, Joseph Cumming, F. Densler. Jno. W. Anderson, James Smith, R. M. Goodwin. Alex. Drysdale, Michael Dillon, Amos Scudder, Dr. John F. Posey and John Wagner.
Judge Robert Milledge Charlton was chosen as mayor in 1839, and had a board of aldermen to support him among whom we find the names of several who had gained experience in rendering the same service in former years, the list being Messrs. W. R. Waring, Gilbert Butler, M. II. McAllister, M. Dillon, Jno. Wagner, J. F. Posey. R. M. Goodwin, F. Densler, Jno. W. Anderson. A. Drysdale, R. R. Cuyler, Wm. H. Davis, M. Hopkins.
There was no change in the mayoralty in 1840, Judge Charlton re- maining in office, with aldermen John W. Anderson, M. H. McAllister, Gilbert Butler, Wm. R. Waring. John Dillon, John Wagner, Jacob Shaf- fer, John Boston, John Lewis, M. Hopkins, M. Dillon, James M. Folsom, and Win. H. Cuyler.
In 1841 Col. William Thorne Williams, who had been the mayor in 1828, 1829 and 1833, besides serving as alderman a number of times, was again placed at the head of couneil, with a board of aldermen, some of whom served (like others in the preceding lists) for a while and retired, composed of Messrs. Win. II. Davis. William Law, Elias Reed, Alexander A. Smelts, Wm. A. Caruthers, Henry K. Burroughs, Solo- mon Goodall, Thomas Holcombe, Chas. F. Mills, John W. Anderson. Thomas Clarke, John Lewis, David Bell, Richard D Arnold, Francis M. Stone and John Millen.
Dr. Richard D. Arnold succeeded Wm. T. Williams as mayor on the 12th of September, 1842. with aldermen JJ. W. Anderson. John Bos- ton, Solomon Cohen, Bernard Constantine, W. H. Cuyler, R. M. Good-
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win, John Millen, Alvin N. Miller, Geo. W. Owens, A. J. C. Shaw, Francis M. Stone, Joseph Washburn and Richard Wayne.
In 1843 the board stood as follows: Mayor Wm. T. Williams, alder- meu Benjamin Snider. Robt. A. Lewis, Francis S. Bartow, John M. Clark, Elias Reed. Asa Holt, Win. A. Caruthers. Wm. B. Fleming, Noble A. Hardee, Joseph W. Jackson, Richard Wayne, Hiram Roberts and Orlando A. Wood.
The council of 1844-45 comprised Richard Wayne, mayor, and alder- men J. W. Anderson, Aaron Champion, Win. HI. Cuyler. Frederick Densler, Michael Dillon, Matthew Hopkins. Noah B. Knapp, Gazaway B. Lamar. Joseph W. Roberts, Alex. J. C. Shaw, Jacob Waldburg and Joseph Washburn.
From 1845 to 1846 Dr. Henry Kollock Burroughs was mayor and the aldermen were Alex. A. Smets, Robt. A. Lewis, Hiram Roberts, Asa Holt, Augustus Lafitte, John M. Clark, Seaborn Goodall, Timothy G. Barnard, Thomas Hutson Harden, William HI. C. Miles, Henry Harper and Joseph W. Jackson.
Again in the year 1846 to 1847, Dr. Burroughs presided over coun- cil, and his associates on the aldermanie board were Messrs. Smets. Lewis, H. Roberts, Lafitte, Clark, Goodall, Harper, Barnard, Harden. H. D. Weed, Thos. M. Turner and Benjamin Snider.
For the third consceutive term Dr. Burroughs was mayor in the year 1847-48, during which period the aldermen were Joseph Story Fay. Robert A. Lewis. Thos. HI. Harden, Robt. A. Allen. A. A. Smets. B. Snider, F. S. Bartow, S. Goodall, T. G. Barnard. Jno. M. Clark, Heury Harper and Hiram Roberts.
Dr. Richard Wayne was the mayor from December, 1848, to Deeem- ber, 1849, having served in the same capacity from 1844 to 1845. He had with him at this second period aldermen Wm. H. Bulloch, Solomon Cohen, Robt. II. Griffin, Wm. H. Morgan, John F. Posey, Thomas Purse. Thos. M. Turner, Robert D. Walker. Francis S. Bartow, Robt. A. Lewis. Joseph Story Fay, and Richard R. Cuyler.
Again from 1849 to 1850 it fell to the lot of Dr. Wayne to secure the mayoralty, and the responsibilities of controlling the affairs of Savan- nah were shared by the following aldermen: Thomas Pinse. Solomon Cohen, Robt. II. Griffin. Thos. M. Turner. Jno. F. Posey, Robt. D. Walker. Joseph Lippman, John Mallery, Montgomery Cumming. Dr. James Proc- tor Sereven, Dominick O'Bryne and Dr. Joachim R. Saussy.
. Mr. Robert D. Walker whose name occurs several times in the fore- going list served as an alderman continously from 1848 to 1854, and again from 1855 to 1857. He afterwards served for a long time as com- missioner of Chatham county, a part of the period as the chairman of the board of county commissioners. It is interesting to know that he was a survivor of the Steamer "Pulaski" disaster in 1838.
The name of Col. Joseph W. Jackson also appears as allerman for six terms ; he was a member of congress from the first district of Georgia from 1850 to 1853. Hle was the son of Gen. James Jackson who was so prominently connected with the circumstance of the evacuation of Savannah by the British in 1782, was governor of the state of Georgia. United States senator, and held other responsible positions. Gen.
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James Jackson was highly honored by the people of Georgia and the document which follows, though not in elmonological order, is so interesting that the writer offers it without apology.
PROBABLY, FIRST NEWSPAPER EXTRA
An early specimen of a newspaper extra appeared in Savannah in the year 1798, and it is the first that has come under the present writer's notice. The occasion was the return of Gov. James Jackson from Washington, after having resigned his seat in the senate to become governor of the state, and the mayor and aldermen called upon him and presented him with a congratulatory address. So important was this considered that the proceedings. in accordance with the suggestion of council, were printed as a supplement to the Columbian Museum and Savannah Advertiser, of Friday, April 20th, but the newspaper chose to issue the whole account as an extra. We give it in full :
"COLUMBIAN MUSEUM AND SAVANNAH ADVERTISER, Friday, April 20, 1798.
"We request the Printers immediately to publish, by way of Sup- plement, the Address of the Mayor and Aldermen, to his Excellency, the Governor, together with his Answer * * Agreeable to a Resolution of Council.
"H. C. JONES, "HENRY PUTNAM,
"'JOHN LOVE.
"SAVANNAH, 20th April, 1798.
"On Wednesday last, the corporation of this City waited on His Ex- cellency the Governor, with the following Address, which was presented by the Mayor.
"To His Excelleney James Jackson, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the State of Georgia.
"Sir: The Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah, embrace the earliest opportunity of addressing your Excellency on your arrival in this City from the Seat of Government ; and to assure your Excellency that they feel with their fellow citizens the highest satisfaction in your appointment as Chief Magistrate of this State: assured that under your administration every exertion will be made for the public good.
"They therefore, sir, for themselves, and in behalf of their constit- uents, request you to accept of their congratulations on the occasion.
"That a life so well spent in the service of his country may be long preserved is the sincere wish of
"Your Excellency's "Obedient Servants. "Signed by order and in behalf of the Corporation, "JOHN GLEN, Mayor. "SAVANNAH, April 17, 1798.
"To which His Excellency was pleased to return the following answer :
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"SAVANNAH, April 18, 1798.
"SIR, AND GENTLEMEN: Your expressions of satisfaction on my appointment, and your congratulation on my arrival from the Seat of Government, are not only grateful to my feelings, but have filled ine with respectful attachment for the Corporation of Savannah.
"The generous conduct and patriotism you have exhibited by the step must be deservedly admired. It evinees to the world that you know how to respect duty in an officer, even under his official rebuke; and must prove a worthy example for all other inferior jurisdictions. May Providence enable me to answer the high expectations you have formed of my administration, and direct my exertions for the public good.
"The flattering conclusion of your address is beyond my expres- sion; I can only return you my humble thanks, with this observation, that I shall bear in grateful remembrance, to my latest moment, the at- tentions and political countenance the Citizens of Savannah have ever shown me; and if I deserve the compliment they now, through you, pay me, the merit of it proceeded from their support, and to them am I in- debted for it.
"That you and your Constituents may long enjoy happiness and prosperity, and that your City, the parent spot of Georgia, may inerease and flourish in proportion to its manifold advantages, will always be the sincere prayer of "Sirs, and Gentlemen,
"Your Fellow Citizen, "JAMES JACKSON.
"The Worshipful the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah."
CHAPTER XXXII
HONORS TO LIVING AND DEAD
HONORS TO DISTINGUISHED DEAD-RECEPTION TO HENRY CLAY-PUBLIC MOURNING FOR ANDREW JACKSON-SHEFTALL SHEFTALL, OLD REVO- LUTIONARY SOLDIER-ARMORY OF CHATHAM ARTILLERY-VISIT OF EX- PRESIDENT POLK-DANIEL WEBSTER, CITY'S GUEST-HONORS TO JOHN C. CALHOUN AND ZACHARY TAYLOR.
Savannah has always taken a prominent part in doing honor to illustrious persons during their lifetime and in paying respect to their memory at death. In addition to the instances already mentioned we will here record other instances without regard to chronological sequence. The records of eouneil contain resolutions passed, and, in many cases. the newspapers show what the citizens did in public meetings on learn- ing of the deeds of honor and of patriotism performed by noble men and on the occasion of the death of such characters.
HONORS TO DISTINGUISHED DEAD
When news of the death of Commodore Decatur was received in March, 1820. council went into mourning for thirty days, the members wearing crape on their sleeves for that period of time.
The Hon. Charles Harris, an alderman, died in 1827, on the 17th of March. IIe had been mayor of Savannah three terms, and, in addi- tion to the fact that he had at the time of his death served as alderman consecutively for seven years and, with intermissions, for several other periods, rendered, as was stated in the official action of council, a long service in the cause of Savannah of twenty years. The resolutions adopted contained this remarkable statement: "During that long period none can accuse him of wilful wrong doing, and all of us ean bear tes- timony to his excellency, to his ability, and to the purity of his mo- tives." The period of wearing crape on the arm, usually thirty days, was in his case, extended to two months.
The death at the same time of two ex-presidents of the United States. Jefferson and Adams, on the 4th of July. 1826, was an occasion which caused unusual action on the part of the city conneil. Dr. Win. C. Daniell was then the mayor, and he was directed to call a meeting of the citizens to take suitable action, and an appropriation of $250 was made "to de- fray the expenses of a committee of citizens paying funeral respects to the ex-presidents."
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La Fayette's death in 1834 was the occasion of a large demonstra- tion when couneil asked the people to unite in a civic and military proces- sion including their attendance on religious services when the Rev. Dr. Capers, son of a revolutionary soldier. delivered the eulogy. The ar- rangements for the proper observances of the day were entrusted to aldermen W. H. Cuyler, John H. Ash, and Jacob Shaffer who were. cer- tainly capable of doing all that was appropriate and proper. It was pro- posed that the citizens wear crape on the left arm for thirty days "as a badge of mourning for the loss which the cause of liberty throughout the civilized world has sustained."
Again, in 1841, a meeting of the citizens, including the council, passed resolutions on the death of President Harrison and listened to a eulogy delivered by Judge Jolin Macpherson Berrien.
RECEPTION TO HENRY CLAY
The Hon. Henry Clay was invited to visit Savannah in 1844. and, on his arrival, the long room of the Exchange was tendered to the committee of arrangements for a public reception, at which time the mayor and aldermen paid their respects to him. The original letter of acceptance of Mr. Clay, addressed to the committee, hangs in the library of the Georgia Historical Society, and is as follows:
"N. ORLEANS, 19th Feb., 1844 .- Gentlemen : I have received the invitation to visit Savannah, which you have done ine the honor to transmit. Some business which I have there coinciding with my desire to see that city, had determined me to comprehend it in my route to North Carolina. Your polite invitation strengthens the motives which I previously had to see it. I. tender my respectful acknowledg- ments for it, and for the friendly sentiments which accompany it.
"I regret my inability to fix the day of my arrival at Savannah. It will be not earlier than the 15th of March, and perhaps about the 20th of that month.
"Being anxious that there should be as little ceremony as possible on my arrival, I hope that there will be acquiescence on your part, in my respectfully declin. ing any public entertainment,
"I am with great respect, "Your friend & obed't serv't "H. CLAY. "Messrs. Wm. Thorne Williams, G. B. Cumming, Jno. B. Gaudry, William Law, John J. Maxwell, Jos. Clay Habersham, Elias Reed, James Hunter. "'
PUBLIC MOURNING FOR ANDREW JACKSON
We have already referred to the most mmsnal action of council on the death of Andrew Jackson, but it is in order just here to give the proceedings of the citizens on the death of that illustrious man which resulted in the arrangement of the ceremonies on the 4th of July. 1845. the day observed as one of mourning. The following is the account given in the Georgian. "The committee appointed by the Citizens of Vel. 1-26
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Savannah to make arrangements for the commemoration of the life, serv- ices and character of Andrew Jackson, announce that a eulogy on the illustrious dead will be pronounced on Friday, the fourth of July next, at the Independent Presbyterian church by Matthew MeAllister, Esq.
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