Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 64

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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unceremoniously tahled. In January of the same year, the City Marshall was called upon to provide food and clothing for a destitute Indian giri.

ANOTHER CHOLERA VISITATION .- On June 5, 1854, au ordinance was introduced to again create a Board of Heaith, an action brought about, no doubt, by a new fear of epidemic, and that fear was greatly increased a few weeks iater. On June 29, after an anxious meeting, the Council ad- journed to meet at six o'clock the following morn- ing at "Kiein's Row," on the west side of Fifth Street, between Mason and Madison Streets, and on these premises, deciared to be fiithy and fright- fuily unsanitary, were found persons suffering from Asiatic cholera. Apparcutly the disease did not spread, for the oniy additionai reference to the subject is on July 3, when Mrs. Freeman, John Brewer and Joseph Gomez were allowed a total sum of $27.00 for caring for cholera patients.

SEWERAGE PROBLEM-WATER SUPPLY .- By this time, two serious problems arose for considera- tion. For thirty-six years the town branch had been used as an open sewer, and that stream and each of the nine guilies contributory to it had become dangerousiy poiiuted. In addition to this, there arose an urgent need for a supply of pure water for domestic use, adequate iu quan- tity to afford fire protection. Up to this time the municipal water supply had amounted to nothing more than a number of puhiic wells and the fire department was a mere bucket hrigade. Perhaps these problems of sanitation and puhiic safety were responsibie for a revivai of the Board of Heaith in October, 1856, for, it will be oh- served, the Heaith Department was pureiy an organization to meet emergencies and in no way an agency for city sanitary pianning.

In 1857 an effort was made to soive the prob- iem of water supply. Through the action of a number of public-spirited citizens, it was agreed that an artesian weii should be bored, half of the expense to be met by the city and the bai- ance by Individuai citizens. The site selected was on Washington Street at "the eastern boundary of the city" (Fourteenth Street). Ap- proximateiy $10,000 was expended in driiiing 10 a depth of 1,100 feet, and then the project was abandoned, the machinery being ieft in the ground.

ARTESIAN WELL-COAL DISCOVERY .- While this attempt was unproductive, so far as the water

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supply was concerned, it had exceedingly import- ant results in that It brought to light the large deposits of coal which have contributed so largely to the development and prosperity of the city. Professor Norwood, State Geologist, was present when the boring was done, and was the first to recognize a vein of coal which he enthusiastically declared to be from 20 to 24 Inches thick.

WATER WORKS PROTECTED .- The failure of the arteslan well project left the city with the ques- tion of water supply nnsolved and demanding immediate attention, and, In April, 1860, the Council instructed the City Engineer to make preliminary plans and surveys upon which to base a scheme of securing water from the Sanga- mon River.

In September of the same year, C. R. Vander- cook, a Clilcago engineer, submitted plans for a water-works plant and the Mayor was authorized to solicit bids for its construction. Three months later a committee was authorized to huy real estate for the water works, to secure right of way and to prepare water works bonds. The Mayor was empowered to issue scrip to pay ex- penses of the work until the bonds were issued and disposed of. A special election was called for March 12, 1861, at which the water works project was submitted to the people and the plan carried by a vote of 866 to 532.

According to the records of the Water Works Department, however, it was not until 1866 that the building and malntalning of water works was authorized hy a special act of the Illinois General Assembly, and it was at that time that the actual work was begun. The plant was huilt and put in operation at a cost of about $450,- 000, the funds being raised by an Issue of bonds.

The plant was located on the Sangamon River, about fonr and a half mlles from the center of the city, the original plan including a reservoir, sitnated In Reservoir Park, Into which the water was pumped and from which it was distributed under very moderate pressure. Until 1884 the water was taken directly from the river, but at that time, on the recommendation of a Mr. Coats, a well, sixty feet in dlameter, was sunk to a depth of 53 feet. It was expected that this well would produce an abundance of water, hnt, on its completion, it was found to be inadequate and, to secure an increased supply, a gallery was ex- tended a distance of one thousand feet In 1888. This gallery increased the volume of water, but the supply was still insufficient to tide the city,

through the summer season. In 1890 a second gallery was extended for a distance of 1,200 feet In another direction, at a level two feet lower than the first. This addition proved very suc- cessful and, for a period of ten years, the supply was reasonably satisfactory and the quality of water good.

On account of the rapid growth of the city, which more than doubled the water consumption between 1890 and 1900, the volume of water be- came insufficient and, for a number of years, be- tween 1900 to 1910, it was frequently necessary to draw the supply from the river direct. In 1911 the galleries were again extended a distance of 500 feet, increasing the water supply about one-fifth, and this has permitted discontinning the use of water from the river for the time be- ing. The relief, however, is but temporary and provision will have to he made in the near future to secure larger quantitles of pure water.

With the present condition of the Sangamon River, bearing as it does the sewage of rapidly growing population, the water of that stream can never again be looked npon as safe for domestic use and plans for the future must anticipate the increased population of the city rather than merely attempt to keep pace with it.

In following the history of the water supplies of the city, we have necessarily departed from the story of the Health Department and the sani- tary work of the municipality.

In the period between 1857 and 1865, the town branch had become an almost intolerable nnis- ance; the wells were being polluted hy the uni- versal nse of vaults and the city was gradnally but surely approaching those unsatisfactory con- ditions which must be met in every thriving com- munity not supplied with water or sewer systems. Public shallow wells were still being maintained as the only means of water supply or for fire protection, and, on account of absence of draln- age, property, containing stagnant pools and ponds were becoming obnoxious. In the light of more recent knowledge, these pools doubtless contributed materially to malarla,-the scourge of central Illinois in that day.

During the eight years mentioned, the Board of Health had probably been reorganized and dis- banded from time to time, according to the pub- lic health vicissitudes of the city ; but, in 1865, we find a board made up of members of the Council, whose orders were carried out by the Supervisor, Marshal or police patrolmen. This

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board condemned many premises on account of stagnant poois and obtained $500 iu the anuual budget for the erection of an isoiation hospital to be used for smail-pox patients. The sum of $4,500 was also appropriated to pay for cleaning streets and alleys and to pay physicians for car- ing for small-pox paticuts.

MEAT INSPECTION .- The office of meat inspec- tor had been created; but inspections were made oniy upon the request of the owner of the meat and was, In fact, a certification of quailty rather than an inspection for the protection of the people.

A PERIOD OF DECLINE. - In 1866, the public heaith appropriations were more liberal. For hos- pital expenses there was appropriated the sum of $3,000; for Board of Health expenses $6,000; to abate nuisances $500 and for public welis $200. The appropriations of 1866 exceeded those of 1910 or 1911.

Several ordinances which were passed forty to fifty years ago are interesting in that they were sound in principle, sane and reasonable, and yet they seem to have become dead letters very promptiy. In 1866 a scavenger system was established, the city assuming the burden of re- moving ali garbage and refuse from April 1 to November 1 of each year. It will be uoted that the city pays no attention to municipal garbage disposal In 1911.

An ordinance of 1867 protected the shores of the Sangamon River and prohibited throwing waste or refuse in that stream, as well as for- bid bathing in the river at any point uear the water works. Auother ordinance of the same year prohibited the exposition for sale of any fruits, vegetables or confections on stands in front of stores. These ineasures might profitabiy be added to the municipai code at the present time.

THE SANITARY SURVEY OF 1885 .- But one period in the history of the Board of Health merits speciai mention, except as a matter of historic interest, and that is the period about 1885, when the first recorded effort at constructive sanitary reform was made. Upon the recommendation of Dr. John H. Rauch, then Secretary of the Iili- nois State Board of Heaith, there was under- taken by a City Board of Health, made up of physicians, a sanitary survey of the city.

With an appropriation of $1,000 for the pur- pose, the city was quite thoroughly covered by a number of inspectors, under the direction of Dr. B. B. Griffith, and much valuable information

was obtained. The property found to be most un- sanitary was listed and many reforms were brought about. The benefits of this very early and very creditabie survey were largely lost in the haphazard public health administration of later years ; but the undertaking stands out con- spicuously iu the story of Springfield's sauitary history. Had the information collected at that time beeu empioyed, as was intended as the foundation for systematic constructive work, the city would have profited greatly. With the Heaith Department subjected to the varying vicissitudes of political changes, however, there was little development. As iate as 1909 the de- partment was crowded into the smallest and least desirable quarters in the city building and the public interest in Its operations was siight.

A NEW REGIME .- In 1909, on the election of Mayor John S. Schnepp, the Health Department was taken entireiy out of poiitles; the Super- iutendent, or executive officer, was choseu en- tirely on account of his experience in public health work and the inspectors and other em- ployes were placed under civii service. For the first time In the history of the city, a physician was placed in charge of the detalis of the depart- ment and he was given free rein, with the hearty co-operation of the Mayor, to bulid up a system which would be thoroughiy effective. From the beginning of the new regime, the methods of the department were radicaily changed and a policy of constructive sanitary work was adopted. The milk supply was brought up to standard by a campaign which had some spectacular features and the coiiection of samples at frequent inter- vals became a matter of routine.

The function of issuing buriai permits, pre- viously performed by the City Cierk, was deie- gated to the Heaith Department, and the first systematic registration of mortuary statistics was devised. Certain of the methods adopted for the perfection of these vaiuabie data have received the speciai commendatlon of the United States Bureau of Census. A system of restaurant in- spection was put in operation and an ordinance was passed licensing oniy such restaurants as were approved by the Health Department. The municipal water supply was subjected to fre- quent analyses and a large number of private welis were tested without cost to the people. A co-operative plan has been adopted whereby the Public Library, the public and private schools and the Health Department work together In

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traclug up and securing prompt isolation of per- sons suffering from contagious diseases. Newer and better methods of disinfection were taken up and the service at the Isolation Hospital has been greatly Improved.

In fact, during the past two years, the depart- ment has been developed to a high degree of effi- ciency and has undertaken work unusual iu cities the size of Springfield, and yet, with all this progress involving a considerable outlay of money, the appropriations have been less than for the year 1866, when the department was crude, un- developed and ineffective.

Iu the fall of 1910, there was undertaken a complete sanitary survey of the city, which has been described by Mr. Graham Romeyn Taylor (The Survey, November 12, 1910), as "perhaps the most complete ever undertaken in any com- munity." The following description of the Springfield Survey is taken from the Annual Re- port of the Health Department for 1910:

"Since 1902, the typhold fever mortality of Springfield has been high as compared with that of other cities. In 1903 it was 46 per 100,000 of populatiou, while the average registration in citles of the nation showed a mortality of but 24.6; in 1904 the Springfield typhoid rate was 36, while the average registration in citles was 24; in 1905 Springfied was 38.4, with average 22; in 1906, Springfield was 35.6, average 34.2; in 1907, Springfield 31.7, average 31.7; in 1908, Spring- field 35.1, average 25.8; in 1909, Springfield 32, average clties 22. In 1910, the typhold rate in Springfield had jumped to 51 per 100,000 of pop- ulation, or about four times that of the city of Chicago.

"Through a large number of aualyses, made at the instance of the Health Department by the Illinois State Water Survey, it was found that the municipal water supply, drawn from the Sangamon River and through a serles of gal- leries, was safe for use at all times, whlle prac- tically every well in the city was found to be dangerously polluted.

"To determine the source of this general well pollution and the cause of the high typhoid fever death rate, the Health Department undertook a Sanitary Survey of Springfield. Inspectors for the Department visited every house in the city with instructions to gather the following data : The location of each shallow well; The location of every privy vault and cess-pool ; The number of sewer and water connections for sanitary pur- poses ; The general sanitary and physical condi- tion of each house.

"Without Interfering with the routine work of the Department, the five inspectors, under the direction of Mr. Paul L. Skoog, Acting Assistant Superintendent, covered the entire city of 1,600 blocks In a period of less than two months. From the data thus obtained, there was prepared

a sanitary map of Springfield, ten by twelve feet in size, and showing each house by unmber, every vacant lot and piece of business property and all schools, churches and public institutions. The map also showed all wells, vaults, water mains and sewers.

"There were also compiled from these data ex- ceedingly valuable sanitary statistics from which the following facts were ellcited :

"There are 7,000 shallow wells In the city and the pollntlon of these wells is assured by 6,000 privy vanlts.

"There are 9,000 homes in the city, 6,000 of which are not connected with city sewers or water mains for sanitary purposes. The sewer and water systems of Springfield have cost the tax-payers approximately $4,000,000. This means that the public expenditure of $4,000,000 for san- itary purposes is utilized by but one-third of the population, and the benefit which should be de- rived by the community is lost.

"The data elicited from the saultary survey, including the results of analyses of the municipal water supply and the water from shallow wells, together with the typhoid fever mortality for ten years past, were submitted to a number of prom- iuent sanltarians including Dr. James A. Egan, Secretary of the Illinois State Board of Health ; Dr. W. A. Evans, Health Commissioner of Chi- cago ; Dr. Edward Bartow, Director of the Illinois State Water Survey, and Mr. Jacob A. Harman, Sanitary Engineer.

"All of these gentlemeu coucurred in the opinion of the Superintendent of the Department, that the undne prevalence of typhoid fever is largely due to the common use of shallow wells polluted by privy vanlts.

"The sanitary map of Springfield, with data drawn from it, together with the expert opinions of the general sanitary conditions of the city, were presented to the City Council with the re- snlt that an ordinance, satisfactory for the time being, was promptly passed.

"The ordinance requires all persons, building or rebuilding in the future, to make proper sewer and water connections for their property, and condemns all vaults now on premises supplied with water and sewer. The measure is by far the most Important sanitary advance made by the city in many years, and it is hoped may pave the way for another ordinance which will require all existing property to be connected with water and sewer."

When the report quoted above. was prepared, Springfield had just adopted by popular vote the Commission Form of Government, and, on account of the uncertainty of the future, the Health De- partment made certain recommendations repre- senting the policy which had been successfully followed during the administration coming to a close.

It is to be expected that, with good men as Commissioners, the plan of sanitary progress will

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continue and, if so, the recommendations of the Department afford a fairly reliable index of what Springfield wili do for the welfare of her peo- ple during the next few years. The following further quotation will be of interest in this con- nection :

I .- As stated elsewhere, while the building of the Isolation Hospital is far better than in the average municipality of 50,000 inhabitants, cer- tain physical changes should be made to permit better isolation of the various classes of patients. The building should be redecorated so as to be more cheerful for those unfortunates who are compelled to seek admission.

II .- A systematic and thorough system of dairy inspection must be established if Springfield is to receive a safe and pure supply of milk.

III .- A modern and sanitary means of garbage disposal must be adopted and that without delay. At present, there is no system employed. Private garbage collectors render indifferent service and the refuse is dumped in several places, all so near to the city as to constitute a distinct nui- sance. The large percentage of the population unable to pay for services receives no service. The garbage situation is one of the distinct prob- lems in existing municipal service and it will not be solved until a suitable incinerator or rednc- tion plant is established and the collection or refuse is placed upon a sound business basis. Handled intelligently, the garbage of the city may be systematically collected and disposed of in a sanitary manner without additional cost to the municipality.

IV .- The sanitary survey of Springfield, which has already brought forth hearty commendation from various parts of the country, should be ex- tended to include a searching investigation of housing conditions, factories, lodging houses, ten- ements and other factors bearing directly or in- directly upon the public health.

V .- The Health Department should work to- ward the attainment of systematic inspection of all school children as a means not only of pre- venting the spread of communicable disease; but as a means of bringing to light the physical de- fects which render the children unfit for either the strain of school life or the requirements of the future. Springfield lags behind many other cities of like size in this very important work.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THEIR RELATIONSHIP AS AGENTS FOR PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY- DUTIES OF THE POLICE-

MAN AS PRESCRIBED BY STATE LAW-IDENTICAL, UNDER SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS, WITII THOSE OF THE SHERIFF, CONSTABLE, MAYOR AND CITY MARSHAL-SPRINGFIELD THE COUNTY SEAT IN 1821-INCORPORATED AS A TOWN IN 1832 AND AS A CITY IN 1840-CITY MARSHAL APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR-PRESENT STRENGTH OF POLICE FORCE-SPRINGFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT-TIIE VOLUNTEER BUCKET BRIGADE AND HOW IT PER- FORMED ITS DUTIES-COMING OF THE HAND ENGINE-METI1OD OF OPERATION-FIRST STEAM ENGINE AND SUBSEQUENT ADDITIONS-PRESENT NUMBER OF ENGINES AND STATIONS-VALUE OF EQUIPMENT AND OTHER PROPERTY-FIRE STATIS- TICS OF 1909-PRESENT FORCE-A NOTABLE FIRE OF 1858.

In the average city corporation no two de- partments are more closely allied with each other, for the protection of the lives and prop- erty of its citizens, than the Police and Fire Departments. The special duty of the fireman is always to be in readiness to respond to the summons of the fire alarm, and with the ap- pliances entrusted to his hands, prevent the spread of a conflagration which threatens both life and property, while his brother, the patrol- man, is under equal obligation to preserve the peace, maintain public order, and in case of emergency, arrest the thief, the thng or the as- sassin, in order that life and property may be protected and the criminal punished for the public good.

POLICE DEPARTMENT. .

While the patrolman is one of the earliest and most important agents for the protection of the welfare of the people in every civilized com- munity, it is not always easy, in view of his varied official relations and the absence of locai records, to trace the exact date of his origin. In the rural district his ordinary duties, in re- stricted form, fell upon the township constable, bnt as the community developed into the vil- lage or city, they took on a new form with greater responsibilities as population and wealth increased. Defining the general duties of offi- cers, either elective or appointive, for the pre- servation of order or the public peace, the Illinois Statutes (Criminal Code, Chaper 38, Section 340) provides :

"It shall be the duty of every Sheriff, Coroner, Constable, and every Marshal, Policeman, or

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other officer of any incorporated city, town or viliage, having the power of a Sheriff or Con- stabie, when any criminal offense or breach of the peace is committed or attempted in his pres- ence, forthwith to apprehend the offender and bring him before some Justice of the Peace, to be deait with according to law; to suppress all riots and unlawful assemblies, and to keep the peace, and without delay to serve and exe- cute all warrants, writs, precepts and other process to him lawfully directed."

This act, while defining the duties of each, shows the exact identity, to a certain extent, of powers conferred upon county, township and city officers entrusted with the preservation of the public peace. The statute providing for general incorporation of clties, viliages and towns (Section 73), in prescribing the powers of the City Council, empowers that body, "by ordinance passed by a vote of two-thirds" of .the same, "to provide for the election by legal voters of the city, or appointment by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council," of a certain class of city officers. This list includes the City Marshal, entrusted with the command and generai supervision of the police force, and this section, further prescribing the duties of that official, adds: "The City Marshai shall perform such duties as shall be prescribed by the City Council for the preservation of the pub- lic peace and the enforcement of the ordinances and laws; he shaii possess the power and au- thority of a constable at common law and under the statutes of the State." This power includes in many cities, under the civil service law and other specified conditions, the generai supervi- sion of the police force. As aiready shown by quotation from the "Criminal Code," the duties of the policeman, under certain restrictions, cover the same field as that of the Sheriff or the Constable under county or · township organiza- tion, and the Mayor, the Alderman or the City Marshal in incorporated citics.

Springfield became the seat of justice of San- gamon County in 1821, two years before the town under the name of Calhoun was platted and its site bought from the Government. In April, 1825, it became the permanent county seat, and on April 2. 1832. was incorporated as a town under the general law of 1831. The first State law regarding iocal jurisdiction was passed February 9, 1827, empowering the County Commissioners to appoint a Street Commissioner

with power to ievy taxes for street improvement. This iaw also prescribed some rules in regard to the jurisdiction and discharge of duties by Justices of the Peace.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 64

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