USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns &c., biographical sketches of citizens > Part 60
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On the night of August 2, 1879, one of the bridge watchmen, while tight- ening a screw on the eastern draw-pier, was thrown off his balance by the wrench slipping and fell headlong into the river. Fortunately, being a stout swimmer, notwithstanding his clothing, he kept afloat in the raging eddies and current till rescued in a state of utter exhaustion, off W. J. Young's lower inill, just in time to prevent being swept into the broad channel below.
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LYONS
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503
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
On January 26, 1857, just a year after the incorporation of the C., I. & N. Railroad Company, the General Assembly conferred a city charter upon Clinton. The charter was unanimously adopted March 7, 1857, ninety-seven votes being cast.
An amended charter was adopted at the charter election, April 5, 1859, by which the city was divided into four wards, viz. :
First Ward-All that portion north of the center of Fifth avenue and east of the center of Second street. Second Ward-All that portion lying between the center of Fifth and Eighth avenues. Third Ward-All that portion lying south of the center of Eighth avenue. Fourth Ward-All that portion lying north of the center of Fifth avenue and west of the center of Second street.
Subsequently, the city was redistricted by avenues, so that the First Ward is that portion north of the middle of Fourth avenue ; the Second, that portion between the middle of Fourth and Seventh avenues; the Third, between the middle of Seventh and Tenth avenues, and the Fourth, south of Tenth avenue.
The city, in 1867, discarded its special charter and organized under the general law providing for cities of the second class. with a population not exceeding 15,000 inhabitants.
The first Couneil-room was in a wooden building, which Capt. Crozer owned and used for a Justice's office. situated on the corner of First street and Third avenue. Afterward, the City Fathers met in the Iowa Central, the basement directly underneath being fitted with fastenings for a lock-up. Thence the Council chamber was transferred to rooms up-stairs, on the east side of Second street, in the block opposite the present City Hall, where were passed many of the ordinances that tended to make the city prosperous and orderly.
An engine-house and Couneil chamber in one building were constructed in 1867-68, on Second street, between Fourth and Fifth avenues. The cost of the building, which was brick and of the most substantial style, and sur- mounted with a fire-alarm triangle of steel, was about $7,000. In 1876-77, by an arrangement with the . county, a massive jail addition was built on the rear, and provided with impregnable wall's and cells, both for keeping desperate criminals in durance, or possible lynchers on the outside. Not only are the walls thick. and the bolts and bars massive. but inside are cages of boiler iron, riveted together more secure than the similar ones in which Louis XI, King of France, used to immure prisoners of state, within the Bastile. The cost of this improvement was about $4.000. Previously, prisoners had been kept in an insecure little wooden "calaboose" in the same block, whence escapes were disgustingly frequent. On one occasion, twenty-seven prisoners escaped in a body.
The course of municipal politics in Clinton has been singularly free from the too frequent evils of partisanship and extravagance. The public welfare has been generally sought by both parties, and many of the best men in the city have freely given their time and effort to the duties of city officers from no other motive than public spirit. The city has always been firmly controlled by the intelligent and responsible classes. The following is the roster of city officers since the first charter election in April, 1857. The pioneer officers were : Mayor, Samuel Crozer; Treasurer. Henry B. Horton ; Recorder, R. H. Nolton ; Assessor, John Graham ; Marshal, John M. Start; Wharf-Master, J. M. Ordway. The total vote affords some indication of the progress of the city
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
in population. though the light ballot in some elections is due somewhat to the reason that there was either no opposition, or to a dearth of interest.
1858, April 6 .- Mayor, John C. Bucher : Recorder, John M. McKinney ; Treasurer, Henry B. Horton : Assessor, Francis Lee; Marshal, John M. Start ; Wharf-Master, J. P. Bennett. Aldermen-First Ward. John W. Smith ; Second Ward, Franklin N. Holway ; Third Ward, William N. Magden. Total vote-244.
1859, April 5 .- Mayor, H. B. Horton ; Recorder, R. H. Francis ; Treas- urer, F. P. Wilcox ; Marshal, J. M. Ordway ; Wharf-Master, J. P. Bennett. Aldermen-J. T. Vandeventer, T. J. Flournoy, T. S. Briscoe, G. H. Ayles- worth. Total vote-241.
1860, March 5 .- Mayor, T. J. Flournoy ; Recorder, R. H. Francis ; Treasurer, F. P. Wilcox ; Marshal. W. H. Ankeny; Wharf-Master, J. P. Ben- nett. Aldermen-J. G. Irwin, F. N. Holway, Robert Hufman, Larkin Upton, and, to fill vacancy, Ed. Vosburg.
1861, March 4 .- Mayor, J. C. Bucher ; Recorder, R. H. Francis ; Treas- urer, G. F. Lovejoy ; Marshal, S. C. Peverly ; Wharf-Master, J. P. Bennett. Aldermen-G. W. Johnson, W. J. Young, Thomas Shafto, E. Vosburg Total vote-282.
1862, March 3 .- Mayor, T. S. Briscoe ; Recorder. R. H. Francis ; Treas- urer, F. P. Wilcox ; Marshal, R. S. Seaman ; Wharf-Master, J. P. Bennett. Aldermen-George Tuthill, Robert Leslie, Sr., Finley Barr, Francis Lee. Total vote-257.
1863, March 2 .- Mayor, W. H. Ankeny ; Recorder, Jolin Cooke; Treasurer, C. M. Young : Marshal, J. Sherburne; Wharf-Master, J. P. Bennett. Aldermen -A. P. Hosford, W. J. Young, D. A. Parsons, S. T. Toll. Whole vote-135. 1864, March 7 .- Mayor, W. J. Young ; Recorder. John Cooke; Treasurer, J. G. Irwin ; Wharf-Master. J. P. Bennett. Aldermen-George Tuthill, R. H. Francis, William Koons. R. Price. Total vote-147. For Marshal, the election was a tie between R. S. Seaman and Parker Dexter.
1865, March 6 .- Mayor, A. P. Hosford; Recorder, John Cooke; Treas- urer, F. P. Wilcox ; Marshal, R. S. Seaman ; Wharf-Master, J. P. Bennett ; Assessor. F. P. Wilcox. Aldermen-F. R. Hollingsworth, E. Conant, W. O'Donnell, F. G. Clausin. Total vote-176.
1866, March 5 .- Mayor, W. H. Ankeny ; Recorder, John Cooke; Treas- urer, F. P. Wilcox ; Marshal, R. S. Seaman ; Wharf-Master, J. P. Bennett ; Assessor, F. P. Wilcox. Aldermen-J. D. Crosby, S. W. Smith (to fill vacancy), Thomas Shafto, William Koons, R. Price, S. Guiton (to fill vacancy). Total vote-559.
1867, March 4 .- Mayor, J. C. Young ; Recorder, John Cooke ; Treasurer, J. Il. Churcher ; Marshal, John Hogendobler; Wharf-Master, J. P. Bennett ; Assessor, F. P. Wilcox ; Street Commissioner, John Sheppard. Aldermen- First Ward, Jerome Schofield, Richard Price; Second Ward, John Voneiff, E. Conant ; Third Ward, William O'Donnell, H. S. Hyatt; Fourth Ward, John Coleman, L. B. Wadleigh. Total vote-707.
1868, March 2 .- Mayor, L. B. Wadleigh; Recorder, John Cooke ; Treas- urer, J. H. Churcher ; Marshal, John Hogendobler; Wharf-Master, Charles Heupil ; Assessor, J. T. Harvey ; Street Commissioner, John Sheppard. Aldermen-Jerome Schofield, S. J. Bishop, Isaac Baldwin, D. S. Batchelder. Total vote-859.
1869, March 1 .- Mayor, J. W. Gottlob ; Treasurer, J. H. Churcher : Marshal, R. S. Seaman ; Solicitor, W. I. Hayes; Assessor, J. T. Harvey ;
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Street Commissioner, E. P. Eaton. Aldermen-Joseph Adler, Samuel Crozer B. S. DeForest, William Lake. Total vote-864.
1870, March 7 .- Mayor, C. S. Taylor ; Treasurer, J. H. Churcher ; Mar- shal, Peter McLow; Street Commissioner, J. D. Williams ; Assessor, F. H. Woodworth ; Wharf-Master, L. L. Abbott. Aldermen-Prentice Holmes, S. J. Bishop, R. H. Benson, James McCarty. Total vote-956.
1871, March 6 .-- Mayor, C. S. Taylor; Treasurer, C. E. Bentley ; Mar- shal, Peter McLow ; Street Commissioner, F. H. Holway ; Assessor, John E. Voneiff. Aldermen-Richard Price, Samuel Crozer, William O'Donnell, William Lake. Total vote-962.
1872, March 5 .- Mayor, C. S. Taylor; Treasurer, C. E. Bentley ; Assessor, Martin W. Smith. Aldermen-Prentice Holmes, L. W. Buck, W. M. Shields, Robert Hufman. Total vote-963.
1873, March 3 .- Mayor, C. H. Toll ; Treasurer, C. E. Bentley ; Assessor, W. W. McClure; Solicitor, J. H. Flint. Aldermen-R. Price, Artemus Lamb, William O'Donnell, Dennis Magden, H. R. Whitehouse (to fill vacancy). Total vote -- 920.
1873 .- I. Munroe elected to fill vacancy. Total vote-60.
1874, March 2 .- Mayor, C. H. Toll ; Treasurer, C. E. Bentley ; Assessor, W. P. Cubbage. Aldermen-Milo Smith, Ivers Munroe, H. H. Howard, Martin Hassett. Total vote -- 882.
1875, March 1 .- Mayor, J. J. Flournoy ; Treasurer, A. G. Smith ; Assessor, George Haywood. Aldermen-Richard Price, Amos G. Ewing, William . O'Donnell, Dennis Magden ; Solicitor, Walter I. Hayes. Total- 1,286.
1876, March 6-Mayor, J. T. Pierson ; Treasurer, Thomas Adams ; Assessor, John T. Harvey ; Solicitor, J. H. Walliker. Aldermen-James Leaden, Ivers Monroe, H. H. Howard, Martin White. Total-1,307.
1877, March 5-Mayor, J. J. Flournoy ; Treasurer, Thomas Adams ; Assessor, J. T. Harvey ; Solicitor, C. W. Chase. Aldermen-E. R. Lucas, J. E. Carpenter, P. S. Bannister, G. W. Holmes. Total-1,416.
1878, March 4-Mayor, Larkin Upton ; Treasurer, J. T. Pierson ; Assessor, J. T. Harvey. Aldermen-Joseph Adler, George G. Bauder, H. H. Howard, Martin White. Total-1,421.
October 8, 1878-to fill vacancy, 211 votes. Hugh Leslie elected Alderman.
1879, March 3-Mayor, Larkin Upton ; Treasurer, Thomas Adams ; Assessor, J. T. Harvey ; Solicitor, A. R. McCoy. Aldermen-John Sheppard, Thomas G. Haller, E. R. Mullett, A. G. Ewing, Edward Croake. Total- 1,405.
EDUCATIONAL-PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
From Clinton's very inception, unusual attention has been paid to the proper development and maintenance of a system of public schools. A policy, both liberal and provident, has always been followed, ever since the winter of 1855-56, when such pioneer Clintonians as the Pearces, Wallikers, Jurneys, Perrins and others, determined to have a school nearer than at Lyons. Accordingly, a dispensation was procured from the District Directors of Lyons Township, and the public-school system of Clinton inaugurated in an old log hut, that stood near the present location of W. J. Young's upper mill. There, Isaac Baldwin, during that winter, faithfully taught about thirty scholars, now dead, or scattered far and wide, and many of them sending their own children to school. Furniture, books and heating appliances were all equally primitive, the room being warmed by a cook-stove. The greatest annoyance was the
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
amount of tobacco juice left on the floor, after religious services were held in the antique "skule" house during evenings.
The following is the complete roll of the school taught by Mr. Baldwin, and the present location where known, of those still living who attended. Those marked with an asterisk are deceased. James Arnold, Clinton ; Fanny Barrett, Chicago; Caroline Coggswell, Lyons: * George A. Coggswell, John Crowley, Clinton County ; Charles Crozer. American Express Company ; James Crozer. Clinton; Frank Crozer, Colorado; Emma Crozer, Clinton ; Eugene and Myrtin Davis, *Daniel Jurney. Frank M. Jurney, *John K., *Mary E. and *Millard F. Jurney : HI. M. Parish, Adam C. Perry, Clinton ; Eunice A. B. Pearce. * Sarah A. M. Pearce, *Laurence L. Pearce, Edgar and Rachel Perrin. * Noble Perrin, Elizabeth Perrin (Scott), Mary Perrin (Miller), Milton Shoecraft, *Melvina Starr (Perrin), *Edwin S. Stockwell, Charles Wal- liker, Princeton, Ill. ; Jacob Walliker, Clinton ; Mary Walliker (Krom). Samuel Perrin did not come as a scholar, but frequently dropped in, to smile at one of the older girls-since then his wife-and now deceased.
In July, 1856, was organized Clinton School District No. 1, and on July 25, 1856, was held the first school election, when the Board was elected with J. C. Bucher as President, II. McCormick as Secretary and D. H. Pearce as Treas- urer. The first Board meeting was held August 16, at Isaac Baldwin's office. In September following, 173 pupils were entitled to the benefits of the publie school. During the next winter, the school occupied a frame building now standing on Fifth avenue, east of Third street. Mr. Baldwin was succeeded by Miss Lorena Clark, and after her came Mr. E. R. Morgan and Miss Jennie Lewis. One day, the two had so bitter a quarrel that they both appealed to and sent for the Directors, but. naturally enough, became reconciled, and, event- ually, were married. The above-mentioned and other rented frame buildings sufficed the schools until 1860. One of the early schoolhouses was an old frame, afterward changed to a " gothic " shape and located in the rear of Pippings' Six h Avenue Market. That building was also used as a station on a trunk-line of the " Underground Railway," and in its basement or attic many a cowering fugitive was safely sheltered, waiting for the human blood hounds in pursuit to lose the trail and give up the search. before venturing on the road to Canada and freedom. As a double relic, this building merits preservation.
September 1, 1858, the district embraced Sections 6, 7 and 8, in Town 81, Range 7, and Section 12, in Township 81. Range 6. In the winter of 1859-60, the schools were taught by Grove P. Jenks and Mary Fuller. Mr. E. P. Dole, who died several years ago in Bloomington, Ill., was the Secretary of the Board in 1858, and made an inventory of the property then belonging to the District which is interesting as a contrast to the present : One table, thirty-two sound and seven damaged chairs, nine benches, two desks with broken locks, one black- board, one ditto, very small, two stoves and pipes, two pails and cups, two small bells.
In the spring of 1858, a $6,000 tax was voted to erect a school building ; for some reason it was deemed illegal, was again voted September 6, and finally rescinded October 5. At the annual school meeting in March, 1860, the treas- ury was empty, but a tax, payable the following January, was anticipated, and the Board, Messrs. W. F. Coan, F. P. Wilcox, C. H. Toll and J. C. Bucher, by an ingenious scrip issue, advanced the amount, about $4,000. Thus was built on the east side of De Witt Park the first and then ample schoolhouse, after plans by Robert Leslie, who, for $3 per day (good wages at that time), superintended its construction. In September, 1860, 445 pupils, between the
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
ages of five and twenty-one years, were registered in the District. In Novem- ber, the school opened with a corps of good teachers, viz., William Sanderson, who succeeded Jenks, as Principal, and afterward became a resident of Prince- ton, and a member of the Legislature, and Misses Jennie N. Clark and Sarah Rogers, assistants. Sanderson left in 1861, and Julia A. Titus took his place, followed, in 1862, by H. Grant, of Galena, succeeded by Simon Shoe- craft.
The number of pupils steadily increased, till, in 1863, the school meeting instructed the Directors to build such a schoolhouse as they deemed necessary. Accordingly was built, by an issue of $5,000 of ten-year bonds, the present brick schoolhouse west of De Witt Park, which was, in 1865, enlarged to a seating capacity for 450 pupils.
In the fall of 1864, C. H. Leadbetter became Principal, and, in the spring of 1866, was succeeded by George W. Frost, who for four years had charge of the schools.
In 1866, a small building in the rear of the Episcopal Church was pur- chased and used to accommodate the swarming children, for whom Turner Hall was also fitted as a temporary schoolroom in 1869, while the magnificent South Clinton building was erecting. But even that, costing $15,000 and seating over four hundred pupils, did not adequately relieve the pressure in the central part of the town, so that in June, 1870, a special tax of $10,000 resulted, by January 1, 1871, in opening the immense three-story building west of Clinton Park, with a seating capacity for 475 scholars.
W. B. Howe, of Sterling, was Superintendent from 1870 for a year, and from the same year till his removal West in 1877, C. E. Bentley was the effi- cient Secretary of the Board.
In 1871, Prof. Henry Sabin became Superintendent, after Mr. Frost served a brief term in the spring and summer, and the new regime of the Clinton schools began. Prof. Sabin made the first real attempt to grade the city schools according to the method adopted in nearly all large cities, where proper systems are maintained, and his rare organizing ability, aided by exceptionally able assistants, all ladies, has resulted in making the public schools the pride of every Clinton citizen, and unsurpassed in thoroughness and morale by any in the land. The course of study from the primary to the graduating class requires, usually, twelve years, four of which are spent in the High School, graduates from which are admitted into the State University at Iowa City with- out examination. It is possible for a very bright child to pass from his A B C's to the valedictory on Commencement Day in from six to eight years. In the five years since the graded classes have begun finishing their prescribed course, there have been sixty High School graduates, and the classes are, of course, yearly more numerous. Since the Opera House has been completed, the Com- mencement exercises have been held on its ample stage, and the public interest and satisfaction in the city schools is attested by the thousands that, on those occasions, pack the auditorium. The sight must be a cheerful and suggestive one to both the pioneer teachers and patrons, who, twenty-three years ago, assisted at the humble beginning in the log hut on the levee.
In South Clinton is opened, during the winter, an ungraded school for the . benefit of those who work during the summer. In 1879, the number of pupils attending school was slightly lessened by the opening Roman Catholic parochial schools, taught by Sisters of Charity. In May, 1869, the number actually in attendance, out of about 3,000 minors over five years of age, was 1,424. The maximum hitherto was in June, 1878, 1,755. The present number of teacher;
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
is twenty-nine, the average monthly pay-roll, $1,500. Truancy has been virtu- ally abolished, and the health of the school children is no less satisfactory.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
It would have indeed been strange if a population as exceptionably intelli- gent and enterprising as that of Clinton should long remain satisfied without the advantages of literary improvement and amusement. Probably the English travelers who, when they visited Lowell. were so surprised to find in the cotton- mills there, as operatives, young ladies of unmistakable culture conducting a newspaper and library of their own, would have been equally amazed at the efforts of the Railway Library Association of Clinton, which was organized March 23, 1864. with the following officers : President. D. Mahoney ; Vice President, Robert Hay ; Secretary, William Lake ; Treasurer, George Leslie ; Librarian. Henry Harrison. The Association accumulated several hundred volumes, mostly of very solid and useful works. and, being well administered, accomplished a good work, most of the prominent citizens of the city being eventually identified therewith, until it was, on February 26, 1866. consolidated with the Y. M. L. A. The books of the Railroad Association were first kept in a building on Fifth avenue, below Second street, and then in the store of J. H. Churcher, who was very active in library matters.
But these and other previous efforts being deemed inadequate to the require- ments of the rapidly growing city, in 1866 a number of prominent citizens vig- orously took the matter in hand. and organized the Young Men's Library Associa- tion of Clinton. A. P. Hosford was elected President, W. F. Coan, Treasurer, and Isaac Baldwin, Secretary. These, aided and supported by a strong list of Vice Presidents and committees, among whom Dr. P. J. Farnsworth, afterward President, rendered invaluable services, soon placed the Association on a per- manent and highly encouraging basis. A large library of over five hundred admirably selected volumes was purchased and acquired by generous donations, and placed in rooms in the Toll Block January 23. 1867. Among those who, on payment of $50, became life members, besides the above, the names are found of Messrs. C. H. Toll, D. Whitney, Chauncey Lamb, Artemus Lamb, Milo Smith, C. M. Young and Horace Williams, showing that the business men realized the importance of securing the intellectual, as well as the material interests of the city where they had pitched their tents. Among the early donors of valuable assortments of books to the Library were I. B. Howe, Wil- lard Cutler, Gen. N. B. Baker and Senator Kirkwood. As a result, the library was remarkably rich in statistical compilations and books of reference. The public demand for books during Mr. Churcher's librarianship may be inferred from the fact that the total number of books annually loaned was over three times the entire list, and over ten entries on the average for each one of the 150 members.
For several years, prominent citizens took a lively interest in the Library management. Dr. Farnsworth reports aroused public interest; lectures and donations realized funds, and for several years the catalogue grew at the rate of hundreds annually. C. E. Bentley, Clarence Van Kuran and Miss M. A. Rob- inson successively occupied the Librarian's chair on Wednesdays and Saturdays. In 1871, when Dr. F. was called to a chair at the State University, the Library numbered upward of one thousand two hundred books, worth over $2,500. Some months later, on returning to Clinton, in a letter through the Bee, he indignantly informed the Association and citizens that the Library had been greatly depreciated and nearly ruined-books had been stolen, mutilated, and
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
confusion worse confounded reigned on the shelves. Public-spirited citizens and members were aroused, and a new era of prosperity was inaugurated through their energetic efforts, and the Association placed on a sound basis. The Library was installed, in 1872, in commodious rooms in the Post Office Block, where it now remains, and augmented by donations and purchases, notably by a gift of 719 new volumes through the munificence of John Bertram, of Salem, Mass., one of the capitalists who early invested in Clinton interests. Though the number of members has been pruned down to less than one hun- dred, and profits from lectures, etc., are no longer relied upon, a steady and healthy growth is the destiny of the Library Association, as its value as an edu- cating agency complementary to the public schools, as well as a means of refined enjoyment, is more and more appreciated. Another decade will probably see the books numbered by thousands, and stored in an appropriate special building, accessible every day and evening. The officers for 1869 are : President, Richard Flournoy ; Secretary, Eaton L. Moses ; Treasurer, A. H. Paddock ; Directors, Charles P. Fegan and Fowler P. Stone.
THE POST OFFICE.
The post office was established at Clinton in the spring of 1856. For some time, the office was said to be in the Postmaster's hat, and the mail was dis- tributed in the Central House, then the general rendezvous and exchange, where political business and social matters were arranged. Thence, after being kept for awhile in a building, a block south of the Central, the office was removed to the northeast corner of Fifth avenue and Second street, and thence to the little wooden building still standing east of Breitling's bakery, on the south side of Fifth avenue, between First and Second streets. Subsequently, in 1866, the removal of the office to the wooden building on Second street, then occu- pying the site of the present Gage Bank Building, showed the general movement of business up town, at that time. The citizens continued to get their mail at that place until the office received better quarters in the adjacent Toll Block, where it remained till, in 1873, it occupied its present commodious apartments in the marble front Post-Office Building on Fifth avenue, adjacent to Moses & Thompson's bookstore. It is one of the very few post-office buildings in the Mississippi Valley containing sufficient lobby and office room, and other facili- ties for the transaction of the business which has to be handled here.
The first Postmaster was Charles Maclay, succeeded by C. H. Simmons. F. N. Holloway, who held the office for eight years; J. H. Tierney, from 1868 to 1875 ; and Maj. C. H. Toll, the present incumbent. The first money order was issued in October, 1868. The present annual receipts of this office average $10,000.
WATER-WORKS.
In January, 1874, the matter of providing Clinton with water-works was first agitated, and the more the topic was discussed, the more decided and unani- mous became the verdict, that a city where so many valuable industries were surrounded by acres of inflammable pine, should not be exposed to the fate which has befallen several northwestern towns, notably Oshkosh, of being nearly ruined by a sweeping conflagration. Physicians also recognized the fact that it would be well to substitute river water for that supplied by wells sunk through alluvial soil or porous rock. At first, it was proposed that the city should build the works, but having been ascertained that statutes limiting the contraction of municipal debt debarred the city from undertaking the enterprise, it was then
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