Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 63

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864

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It is scarcely necessary to say that onr law- makers, considering the rapid progress in other great reforms, were very slow in placing on the statute books of the state such remedial legis- iation as the condition of society demanded, for the rescue of the dependent, as well as the de- linqnent children of the State. It is well known that, up to a very recent date, no special provi- sions of any consequence were made for the pro- tection, or special help and reformation of un- fortunate and dependent children, which class, naturally enough, were, and are now, rapidly in- creasing in numbers.

Our State, as well as Sangamon County, from a very early day In our history, has taken ad- vanced position in providing for the adult help- iess and unfortunate, by the erection of large and splendid asylums, homes for the poor. Also large jails and penitentiarles have been built In which to confine the criminal classes. Large sums of money have been annually expended in the prosecution, and subsequent confinement and maintenance of the violators of the law. All this, under existing conditions, has been and is now necessary and proper. And unfortunately, but naturally, too, in a country like ours, with great opportunities and rapidly increasing popu- lation, crimes are still committed, and criminals must be apprehended and couvicted, if possibie;

and all this is at the expense of the State and county.

It may be true that, until recent years, there was not that pressing necessity for legislation in behalf of the dependent children of the State. However this may be, until within a short period of time, boys and giris of tender years, even for small offenses under our criminai laws, when prosecuted at all, were placed alongside with the most abandoned criminals in the commou jail and prison, there to be exposed to the evil influ- ences of the confirmed criminal ciass. The civil- ized worid now condemns tlils policy as a serlous evil. In many cases the unfortunate and poorly clad youth-often through no particular fault of his, but as the victim of unfortunate environ- ments, sometimes as the resuit of the unnatural and vicious conduct and neglect of parents-has been made to feel the biighting influence of eon- finement in the common prison, and in this way the hopes, aspirations aud tender feelings of the child have often been suppressed and wiped away, until seelng no hope, no friendly or kindly hand and no benevolent ald belng offered, the weak, dependent, saddened and discouraged boy, in this dark hour of his life, has chosen to seek his home among those who have no feelings or in- cllnations toward noble citizenship-in other words, becoming allled with the criminal class.

In later years, however, prompted by civliiza- tion and humanity, the tears of sorrow from the eye and cheek of the unfortunate boy or girl, after being confined in lonely prisons and often found in the lonely hovel, have attracted the at- tention of the noble men and women of our State, as weil as of other States and countries, Strange as it may seem to those who live in the remote and qulet country districts of our great common- wealth-priding themseives, it may be, on their advanced position and high standards of thought, civilization and moral worth, in the great citles of our country, in the midst of busy life and activ- ities, has grown up a sentiment In favor of a system for the more efficient protection of the welfare of dependent and delinquent classes, as well as the community in general. And this, after a long continued struggie on the part of its pro- moters, has taken the form of a much needed iaw for the government and protection of depend- ent children of the State-the great work having been begun, if possible, to save the suffering, helpless juvenile class of a community from the most appaliing calamity-an irretrievably iost

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

conditlou. But uoble men and women of uerve and moral courage, with high purposes, perse- vered in the effort, and the result of their good work was the production of the law now known as the "Juvenile Court Law," of this State, which law was passed by the Legislature of Illinois in 1899.

Sectiou 7 of this law, which is brief, reads as follows :

"When any child under the age of sixteen years shall be found to be dependent or negiected, within the meaning of this Act, the Juveuile Court may make an order committing the child to the care of some suitable State institution, or to the care of some reputable citizeu of good moral character, or to the care of some training school or an Industrial School, as provided by law, or to the care of some Associatiou willing to receive it, embracing in its object the purpose of caring for, or obtaining homes for dependent or neglect- ed children, which Association shall have been ac- credited as hereinafter provided. The Court may, "when the coudition or the health of the child shall require it, cause the child to be placed in a Public Hospital or Institution for treatment or special care, or in a Private Hospital or Institution which will receive it for like purpose without charge."

This section, briefly states what is the duty, what can and should be done, by the Court, and what disposition may be made of a dependeut child. The act further provides for the proper organization of the Juvenile Court and the ap- pointment of a Probatiou Officer to assist the Court in the performance of its duties.

No court has a more sacred duty to performu than that of faithfully executing . the Juvenile Court Law of the State, and, if possible, of res- cuing from a helpless and unfortunate condition the youth of our land. Save the children if you can; save them to their country and to their God. When the State has doue this, it has done a noble work, not only for and in behalf of the child, but it has been the meaus of maintaining one of the pillars, although now tender and weak, upon which society and the Government in which we live, must rest in the future. Should the de- pendent children of the State be permitted to drift into further poverty and criminality, they will be here as members of society just the same, as a part of the constituent frame work of the State; and the Government would have a very serious and dangerous problem with which to

coutend. But, if the State will, by earnest eu- deavor, turn this now dangerous and absolutely present current iuto that of pure and uoble cit- izenship, it will have doue much for the indi- vidual depeudent, and it will have done much for the State and the Nation.

The task of diverting and chauging the life of a dependent child, requires patience, and a de- termined effort, and the Court which undertakes to administer the Juvenile Court Law, should have absolute firmuess softened with a spirit of mercy and kindness. In the larger clties, there are many charitable institutions, which will tem- porarily care for the dependeut boy or girl until some more suitable home can be found for the child, but in counties of less population, as in Sangamon, we have not such institutions so nu- merous, and therefore have been driveu to the plain proposition of getting a home for the boy or girl with some suitable family, who will take them and provide for them, temporarily at least. And, fortunately in many cases, the new home and arrangement is often a blessing to both the family and child. The writer believes in the practice of, as much as possible, placiug depend- ent children in the country districts. In such homes they are, to a great exteut, removed from the dangerous influences which, in many cases, have proved the cause of the downfall of both parent and child.

Iu Saugamon County, there have been placed in friendly homes a number of boys aud girls of tender age, within fifty miles of the city of Spring- fieid, which were rescued through the instrumen- tality of the Juvenile Court and its faithful offi- cers, from an apparently certain life of crime and possible final ruin, but who are now in a position to become useful and honorable citizens of the commonwealth. In some cases, for the childrens' good, they have been takeu away from the custody of the parents.

Sangamou County has erected a structure in the city of Springfield, knowu as the "Anuex," for the temporary detention of dependent chil- dren, which is under the supervision of the Sher- Iff and proper assistants. Children committed to this place of detention are otherwise cared for by the Court without delay.

The Springfield Home for the Friendless, a most worthy institution, has kindly cared for children temporarily consigned to it by the Juvenile Court, and from there they are placed, as quickly as possible aud in accordance with law, in proper

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

family homes, under proper restrictions and su- pervislou of the officers of the Ilome aud the Court.

From the date of the passage of the Juvenile Conrt Law iu Illinois, in 1899, to the first day of December, 1910, over sixteen hundred children came before the Court, elther as dependent chil- dreu without proper homes, or as delinquent chll- dreu who were accused of some violation of law. From July 1, 1899, no child under eighteen years of age was placed in the common jail of Sang- awou Connty, and not over five out of each hun- dred were sent to the State Reformatories. Out of four hundred and fifty girls brought before the Court, not over ten were sent to the State Home or School for Girls at Geueva, Ill. The duty of the Court and other Juvenile Officers is to help the dependent children to some proper home iu a family or otherwise, that they may have the opportunity to grow up to worthy manhood and womanhood.

May the noble men and women, who are derot- ing their lives to this great work, continue until the Government-State and National-will pro- vide yet greater facilitles for the aid, encour- agement and salvatlou of those dependent children who are helpless and who need some one to love them. What the dependent, and delinquent chil- dren of our country want and need is a frieud, Individual, as well as the friendship of the strong arm of the State.

"Friendship"-what is it? Can the reader tell us? What will take the place in the aching heart in ueed of a true friend, when the dark night of adversity surrouuds us? Experience echoes and auswers nothing. Small acts and deeds of klud- ness at the right time are invaluable. Heroes dying ou the battlefield ask not for Plato, but rather for a cup of cold water. It is said that to Benedict Arnold, dying, came a physlelan who sald, "Is there anything you wish?" And there came from the parched lips of the dying man, the answer, "Only a friend." It is said that, above each little dependent, forsaken soul, bows some guardian angel. And He who unites the influence of the grains of sand to support the struggling plant In the desert, with the rays of light and glorious sunshine, who makes the blades of grass to grow for the splendor of field and pasture, and furnishes the drops of water for the ocean that blesses every continent with Its dew and raln, teaches us, also, that great principles will organlze the little words, little prayers, little

aspirations and little services for and iu behalf of character and an immortal fame.

CHAPTER XXXV.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND WATER SUPPLY.

SPRINGFIELD SANITARY CONDITIONS IN 1820-THE OLD TOWN BRANCH-STREET PLATTING-SANITARY PROBLEMS OF A LATER PERIOD-CHOLERA VISITA- TION OF 1832-SANITARY ORDINANCES OF 1840- FIRST HEALTH BOARD-SUBSEQUENT CHANGES- PUBLIC WELLS-ANOTIIER CHOLERA VISITATION IN 1854-SMALLPOX AND OTHER PESTILENTIAL DISEASES-SEWERAGE PROBLEM AND WATER SUPPLY-ARTESIAN WELL PROJECT PROVES A FAILURE, BUT RESULTS IN COAL DISCOVERY- FIRST WATER WORKS PLANT PROJECTED IN 1860- ITS PARTIAL REALIZATION IN 1866-SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT AND PRESENT CONDITION-EN- LARGEMENT MADE NECESSARY BY INCREASE OF POPULATION-REPORT OF SANITARY SURVEY OF 1910.

(By George Thomas Palmer, M.D.)

About 1820, when the Kellys, the Ellises, Lauterman, Lindsey, Little and Daggett erected their log houses in what was later to be the city of Springfield, we may well Imagine that the first sanitary couference of the community was held. As a result of that conference, the nine log cabins, straggling out over a distance of two mlles, were so located that thelr door- yards were dralned by the town branch, Wat- son's branch, Kelly's branch and the other brooks and water-ways that coursed between the "bluffs and knolls" that gave rugged char- acter to the locality.

THE TOWN BRANCH .- The town branch was a stream of some dignity. At what is now the corner of Fifth and Jacksou streets was a swlm- mlng place, known as the "baptizing hole," from which the late Zimri Enos recalled the taking of fish measuring a foot In length. At Seventh street, near Cook, was a "bottomless hole," the dread of the urchins of early days. The Journal of the City Council shows that, for many years,

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

one of the most extensive and expensive parts of the public works was the construction of bridges where the various streets crossed this and other streams.

Iu fact, the Towu Branch has ever heen an important factor in the sanitary history of the city. It afforded the first sewer for the strug- gling settlement ; It furnished the first (and only) public haths the city has ever known; It was the cause of exhausting appropriations for bridges ; later, an iutolerable nuisance as a polluted open stream, aud it has finally developed iuto the great trunk sewer of the city. It is very proh- ahle that, iu the future, it will present hig and serious problems in sanitary engineering.

The towu hranch extended from the south- east, crossed the corner of what is now the grounds of the Governor's Mansion, on through the present site of the State Armory, and then in a northwesterly directiou to its outlet in Spring Creek.

The bluffs, ravines aud knolls, of which Mr. Enos spoke, have disappeared and, in the proc- ess of leveling the town, old and historic spots have been forever lost. Cox's ox tread-mill lies far helow the sidewalks in Jefferson Street, its logs heing last seen during excavations of forty years ago.

STREET PLATTING .- But, with all the progress of development which laid waste the hills and val- leys and virgin forests, the nine straggling log cabins of earliest days have left their mark up- the map of the present city. When the old town was platted, each of the pioneers wanted his house to face a main thoroughfare, and it was easier, in those days, to divert a street than to move a two-room cabin. Hence we have the irregular hlocks and streets of the old section of Springfield.

SANITARY PROBLEMS .- In a new and struggling community, sanitary problems arise and menace the people before they are recognized as proh- lems at all, and it is usually the awakening in- fluence of an actual or threatened pestilence which causes the citizens to reallze that reason- ahle preventive measures are entitled to con- stant and serious attention. England slept un- til her entire people were threatened hy the plague ; cities of the South were always stirred to municipal purity when yellow fever threatened an invaslon; and Springfield, so far as we can learn, had its first sanitary inspiratlon when

Asiatic cholera appeared with all its terrors iu. the pioneer city of Chicago.

On July 19, 1832, the village trustees of Spring- field held a special sessiou. There were present C. P. Matheny, E. Taher, W. Carpenter, I. Tay- lor, C. Anderson and Mordecal Mohley. And these early city fathers unanimously passed the following preamble and resolution :

WHEREAS: We have information that the Asiatic cholera is prevalling in Chicago and, whereas, it becomes the duty of the trustees to guard the town against infection from that source, on motion

Resolved, That the President of the Board he iustructed to cause a notice to he published to the inhabitants of Springfield, directing them to remove all nuisances on their premises, to purify hy a free use of lime all cellars, sink holes, gutters, etc., and to remove all vegetable suh- stances in putrefying condition on their premises, and to request them to unite with the Board of Trustees and the Board of Health in removing every cause of disease which may he found within the limits of the town.

Resolved, That the Board of Health he re- quested to make a thorough examination of the town, with the object of discovering nuisances which may be the cause of disease.

The existing records of the city make no refer- euce to the creation of a Board of Health which seems, from the foregoing, to have heen already organized when this resolution was adopted ; but it is to be assumed that the board was mnerely a committee of the Board of Village Trustees. The only record prior to the cholera resolution, was an entry on April 12, 1832, wheu Reuben Redford was made Street Commissioner, and was instructed to immediately cause the abatement of all nuisances so offensive in char- acter as to endanger the health of citizens.

SANITARY ORDINANCES .- In the ordiuauces adopted at the first meetlug of the Springfield City Council, on April 27, 1840, Immediately after the incorporation of the city, the Street Commissioner was charged with the ahatement of nuisances throughout the city, in addition to his duties of "supervising and working with the street laborers," for which service he received $1.25 a day.

There were three specific public health pro- visions in the original municipal code : The first, an ordinance prohlhiting leaving manure in the streets for more than three days; prohibiting the throwing of filth, meat or slops any place in the city, or permitting dead animals to remain in the streets or on private premises, and a third reg-

Francis Hay lov

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINO ,

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

ulating the sanitary condition of slaughter houses.

Moses Coffman, as Street Commissioner in 1840, may be regarded as the first health inspector of the city, although one month later, he was re- iieved of his dntles and ali sanitary matters were delegated to the City Marshai.

During the year (1840), two additionai pubiic health ordinances were added to the municipai code: one authorizing any citizen to shoot un- muzzled dogs, and the other, which was iater to prove exceedingiy disturbing, against hogs run- . ning at large.

From 1841 to 1843, the Council Journal makes no reference to public health; but, on May S, 1843, we find a spirited order to the City Attor- ney to push the case of the City vs. A. G. Herndon, for violation of the "hog ordinance," to the Supreme Court, if necessary.

CREATION OF HEALTH BOARD .- At about the same time, Mayor D. B. Hill and the City Clerk and Clty Attorney were directed to take steps for the creation of a Board'of Health and, the middle of June, the first city health board was organized. It consisted of eight members, one doctor and one iayman from each ward, the in- dlvldual members having speclal jurisdiction over their own wards. Dr. Spence and S. Francis represented the First Ward ; Dr. Gershom Jayne and M. Mobley, the Second Ward ; Dr. John Todd and Thomas Moffett, the Third; and Dr. M. Helm and Caleb Birchall, the Fourth. The Board had general powers to abate nuisances and to control communicabie diseases.

A year iater (June, 1844), however, the Board was abolished and the Council, as a whole, re- sumed the functions of the Health Board.

During this perlod, several acts of the conn- cll affected the public health. A new ordinance required the removal of manure from the streets and alleys; another abolished the office of City Engineer ; an order was promulgated forbidding paupers to enter the city; an ordinance was passed regulating the cost of pauper coffins at one dollar per foot, no coffin to exceed six dollars, this to inciude transportation to the grave, and an ordlnauce regarding nuisances, providing that, in case of nulsance on property of non-residents of Sangamon County, a fine of $100 could be lin- posed after two weeks' notice by advertising in the "Sangamon Journal."

PUBLIC WELLS .- In January, 1845, the first provisions for a public water supply and fire

department were made, when the Council ordered four wells to be dug on the public square and instructed P. Saunders to make six fire buckets.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES .- With the prevalence of smail-pox in 1847, the Mayor was ordered to give public notice of the existence of the disease, that ail of the people might seek protection through vaccination, and he was aiso empowered to secure a pest-honse in case it should be needed.

Early In 1849 there was another manifestation of interest in heaith matters. Doctors Richard- son and Wallace were made medical advisors to the Council, and one Alderman from each ward was authorized to select two assistants and to remove nuisances In the various wards. A new ordinance compelied the removal of refuse and fiith a distance of at least one-half mile be- yond the corporate iimlts. The people were ordered to clean up ail premises and the Mayor was authorized to buy enough iime to "thorough- iy iime the city." This disInfecting agent was so much in demand that a special ordinance specified the number of pounds which legaiiy constituted a bushel.

It Is probable that the same disease that brought about the wave of reform of 1832 was responsible for the sanitary activity of 1849, for a few weeks later preparations were made to receive ail strangers suffering from Asiatic cholera. A cholera hospital was ordered con- structed and an ordinance provided a fine of from $25 to $500 for bringing any cholera patient to the city without delivering him at once to the newly-created hospital.

The situation seemed critical and Doetors Wal- lace, Todd, Merryman, Henry, Jayne and Helm were calied in conference to meet the emergency. The city records do not show that choiera In- vaded the city, but it is known that Moses Pilcher received $9.00 and B. Mangy $4.00 for work on the hospital; J. W. Priest $3.00 for hauling ium- ber to the hospital; E. W. Wiley $19.20 for a hospltai tent, and E. R. Henkie $6.00 for tent poles and pins for same.

HEALTH COMMITTEE .- In 1850, a Committee of of Heaith, consisting of eight members of the City Council was created, and each member was allowed the sum of one doiiar per day when actually engaged in public health work. This committee was aboiished in July, 1851, when the Council as a whole again resnmed the duties of Board of Heaith. During 1851, the Council once more became active in sanitary work. moved to

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

such activity by urgent uecessity. On May 5, the Mayor was authorized to buy 500 pounds of lluie for distribution throughout the city and, a week later, the "address of the Board of Health of 1849" was ordered published iu hand- blii form and generaily distributed, while the committee was ordered to get the "city hospitai in readiness for smaii-pox patients." This was probably the "cholera hospital" of 1849.

The finai entry in the Council Journai for 1851-probably an early "smali-pox year" -- is suggestive of the trials of the struggling muuici- pallty. The City Clerk was ordered to notify ail cabinet makers in the city to put in bids for making coffins, for work and for grave clothes. Early the following year, the office of city undertaker was created.

Pestilential diseases doubtiess continued ill 1852, for, on Juiy 1, money was appropriated for lime for free distribution among the people and there was passed the most drastic order ever promulgated in the sanitary history of the city. This required property hoiders to ciean up their premises within six hours after notice and, in the event of failure so to do, to suffer a fine of $2.00 for every hour after the six hours. The city also took steps to clean up the premises of all those who Ignored the council order, assess- ing against the owner double the cost of the work. It. is probahle that smaii-pox was the cause of this preventive campalgn, for we find that, on December 13, 1852, the city of Spring- fieid demanded from Sangamon County compen- sation for a tent used by smaii-pox patients.

THE HOG ORDINANCE .- It was during 1852, that the revivai of the "hog ordinance" of 1840 caused great agitation in the community. Eloquent speakers appeared before the Council and brand- ed the ordinance as "an imposition upon the poor man." So bitterly was the measure con- tested and so much did the subject enter into the politics of the day, that it was finally submitted to the voters at the spring eiection. The ordi- nance was sustained hy a majority of 177 votes, but the protest against its enforcement was not stilled for some time.

The city's records say nothing of public heaith affairs from 1852 to 1854, but there are iittle items in the Council Journai which serve to re- mind us of the conditions which surrounded the people of sixty years ago. In 1853, A. Lincolu petitioned for a board side-walk in Eighth Street, from Cook to Adams Street, and the petition was

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 63

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 864

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864