USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois : being a general survey of Cook County history, including a condensed history of Chicago and special account of districts outside the city limits : from the earliest settlement to the present time, volume II > Part 37
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It is believed that the origin of influenza was in Asia, probably in China. Its spread was remarkably rapid-no disease has been known to traverse such vast spaces with such speed-but it is further observed that the usual routes of human travel were fol- lowed. The first cases of the pandemic of 1889-90 were observed in Vjatka, one of the most easterly provinces of Russia, in October, 1889. A few days later cases were reported in the Caucasus, and about the middle of October the disease was declared prevalent at Lowsk, in western Siberia. Early in November it appeared in St. Petersburg, where in six weeks it reached an almost unprecedented diffusion; thence it spread over western Russia and eastern Ger- many, and reached Berlin about November 1. Early in December Paris was attacked, and the cities of southern and central Germany, Austria and France were reached in turn. About the middle of December cases were reported in London and other English cities, and about the same time cases were observed in New York. The outbreak of the epidemic in Boston, New York State, Philadelphia, Washington and Canada soon followed. In the United States the disease progressed steadily westward, while in Europe it invaded the extreme north and south, and finally crossed the Mediterranean into Africa.
The results of the disease were not materially different in Chi- cago from other cities. The mortality from it was about 1 per cent of the whole. The disease was still more or less active in the winter of 1891-92, but the mortality was inappreciable.
Mention has been made of the statements of military medical officers in regard to the prevalence of epidemic dysentery among the troops and among the early settlers in all new countries, and the town of Chicago was no exception. After it became a city, owing to the bad water and lack of drainage dysentery caused a great many deaths. In the autumn of 1856 Dr. N. S. Davis reported to the medical society that dysentery had prevailed as an epidemic in July, August and September and that more deaths had occurred from this than from any other cause, viz., 305, out of a total from all causes of 1,897. It was again epidemic in July, August and September of 1857 and caused 465 deaths. In 1858 the disease was
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attended by a great mortality, being most fatal in July and August, 224 deaths being recorded from it. It does not appear to have been epidemic since the introduction of an abundant water supply.
During the summer of 1863 there were a great many cases of erysipelas and the number of cases increased during the fall and winter until it became epidemic. It was also very prevalent in the first half of 1864. Dr. Edmund Andrews made an exhaustive report on the causes of this epidemic.
COMMON COUNCIL OF CHICAGO 1866-1909
I N his annual message on May 7, 1866, Mayor J. B. Rice an- nounced that the entire debt of the city on that date was $4,610,- 000. Of this amount the waterworks cost $1,600,000. The city's expenses were too large. The various departments without suffi- cient reason made urgent demands for larger revenues. Particularly were increased funds for the inert and corrupt police department demanded. The deepening of the canal, the construction of the lake tunnel, new buildings for the waterworks, etc., were declared imperatively necessary. Prior to this date a tax of 2 per cent had been the highest rate levied in the city. It was hoped that this limit need not be exceeded, but at this date the pressure from par- tisans and camp followers was so great that other means of secur- ing additional revenue were schemed and considered. The news- papers curtly advised the administration not to deprive the citizens of security, protection and convenience. Fair reports, accompanied by pressing demands for more money, were made by the Board of Public Works, superintendent of schools, police commissioners, fire marshal and superintendent of the Reform school.
In his annual message of May 6, 1867, Mayor Rice stated that the total debt of the city amounted to $5,392,724. If from this sum there were deducted the amount due from the waterworks and the amount expended for deepening the canal, there would be left $3,454,000, to be met by taxation. The bonded debt was over $1,400,000, the sewerage debt over $1,500,000, and the water debt over $1,800,000. During the years 1866-67 there was much com- plaint concerning the high rate of taxation, which came from the newspapers and from a large number of citizens. A high taxation and poor administrative service were declared irreconcilable and in- tolerable. The city was glowing and prosperous, its population and wealth rapidly and surprisingly increasing, and there was no just reason why a fair taxation should not meet all the proper wants of the municipality.
The project of widening the river to a maximum of 200 feet was prominently before the public. The Board of Education re- ported that the schoolhouses were filled to overflowing and that new schoolhouses would have to be built at once or 12,000 children would be without suitable schooling. The intense importance of vast improvement in the sewerage system was heralded and thun- dered. Everywhere throughout the city pavements were in
388
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wretched condition and a large expenditure for improvement in this department was insistently demanded. The police department was again vigorously criticised for inefficiency during the past year, but responded by asserting that they lacked a sufficient number of patrolmen to accomplish good and satisfactory results. The same was true of the fire department. There had recently been appointed under the charter a tax commissioner, who, with the three assessors elected by the Council, was expected, in his presumed omnipotence, to meet the conflicting and multiplex financial requirements of the municipality. The city sadly needed an office for the collection of taxes, and nothing had been done to erect a much-needed house of correction to take the place of the antiquated and exasperating Bridewell. The fire-alarm telegraph had given splendid service during the year 1866-67. Although the health department was able and active, its efficiency was enfeebled and crippled by the shameful sanitary conditions of the city, particularly the contaminated drink- ing water. The Board of Public Works urgently recommended a large amount for street improvement. This meant an increased revenue, where property owners begged for a decrease.
In his annual address on May 4, 1868, Mayor Rice, with much concern and dismay, announced that the total bonded debt of the city was $6,530,682. The amount raised for deepening the canal and guaranteed by the State was $450,000. The water loan amounted to $2,483,000. With these amounts deducted there was left $3,597,682 to be raised by taxation. The construction of a house of correction at this date was imperatively demanded. The project of extending the courthouse to La Salle street was recom- mended. It was suggested that the haymarkets should be estab- lished away from the line of business streets. Commercial interests of every description were prosperous beyond precedence. The population was increasing immensely, and the municipal depart- ments experienced great difficulty in meeting the public require- ments of new and expanding environments. Cleanliness and secur- ity, purity and decency, faithfulness and economy, had been neg- lected in the storm and confusion of rapid and unwieldy growth. Complaints of high and intolerable taxation continued to be made. Nothwithstanding the various difficulties and despite the criticisms of the citizens and the press, Mayor Rice contended that during the years 1867-68 the city administration, as a whole, had been well and economically conducted. On November 30, 1868, the mayor called the attention of the Council to the importance, on behalf of the city of Chicago, of securing from the United States and the State of Illinois a settlement as to the ownership of land along the lake front. It was intimated that a conveyance by the government and the State of all claims to the lake front would be acceptable to the city of Chicago.
On December 6, 1869, Mayor R. B. Mason in his inaugural
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address startled the community with the statement that the total debt of the city on December 1, 1869, amounted to $10,754,873. The sewerage debt was $3,930,000, the water debt $3,150,000, and the municipal bonded debt $2,960,500. After making proper de- ductions, it was found that $6,184,873 would have to be raised by taxation. People did not realize-could not or would not under- stand-that the good water they were using in such abundance, the excellent health they were then enjoying, and the splendid rec- ord of Cook county in the bloody Civil War, were the direct and inevitable causes of the existing sewerage, water and municipal bonded debts. What they noticed was that no effort was being made to pay this debt. It was announced that during July, 1870, the canal registered debt of over $400,000 would have to be met by the State. After that event the net income from the canal could be applied to the principal and interest of the expenditures being made by the city in deepening the canal for sanitary purposes.
It was estimated that the total expenditure of the Board of Public Works for the fiscal year ending April 1, 1870, would be $1,216,581. Of this amount there had been expended by Decem- ber 6, 1869, over $721,000. The total disbursements made by the Board of Public Works during the year ending April 1, 1869, for city purposes, sewerage, river improvements and public works amounted to over $3,000,000. This vast outlay showed how large had grown the varied interests of the municipality. Even with that large amount in hand to spend many improvements had neces- sarily to be omitted or curtailed. It was realized that in the near future immense improvements would have to be made, and the city administration boldly and injudiciously recommended increased indebtedness, but not to the extent of an impoverishment of credit. The press called attention to the report of the Board of Public Works, demanding at once, in the interests of public health, im- proved sewerage conditions throughout the city. During 1869-70 the police and fire departments, though found fault with, were properly and satisfactorily conducted. Greater economy in the con- struction of school buildings was demanded, and the press persist- ently declared that it was the duty of the city to provide for the education of all its children. It was advised that a number of school buildings less expensive in character should be constructed in certain localities. As the school lands would be reappraised, no doubt, in 1870, there would probably be a considerable increase in school revenue.
Satisfactory progress was made by the Board of Health. Year by year that department had steadily continued to gain in advan- tages over disease, as shown by improved health conditions. A new Bridewell was urgently demanded by everybody. Existing conditions were a reproach and a disgrace. Owing to the large number of females confined there, the appointment of a matron, acting under orders of the Bridewell keeper, was suggested.
JEREMIAH SULLIVAN
JOHN E. W. WAYMAN
ZACH. HOFHEIMER
VICTOR P. ARNOLD
CLAUDE F SMITH
WM E LUNDGREN
CLIFFORD G.ROE
THOMAS MARSHALL
EDWARD S. DAY
NICHOLAS MICHELS
JOHN E NORTHRUP
W. A RITTENHOUSE
.D. OLSON
WM. R. FETZER
..
STATE'S ATTORNEY AND PRINCIPAL ASSISTANTS.
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1 It was recognized that at the recent elections the citizens had ex- pressed themselves in favor of strict economy, integrity and ac- countability in the management of city affairs. The newspapers which were hostile to the administration depicted in glowing, iri- descent and correct colors the undoubted extravagance of the party in power. The debt of the city had been more than doubled since 1866. Extravagance and corruption, it was declared, had crept into the city administration like a thief in the night and stolen immense sums and debauched official purity and honesty. Under this ringing slogan was Mayor Mason elected. He was pledged to economy, retrenchment and reform. Fair compensation was due all officers. It was recommended that the amounts received in fees by the several offices should be investigated and any excess over reasonable compensation should be devoted to public use. The great increase in the public debt and in public taxation was food for serious reflection. It would not do to impair the good name and credit of the city. The mayor closed his inaugural by stating that, "I firmly hope that our joint labors may prove to be for the best interests of our city and be crowned with the blessing of Al- mighty God."
On. December 5, 1870, Mayor Mason in his annual message stated that the total bonded debt of the city on December 1, 1870, amounted to $13,934,000. From this amount was to be deducted the water debt and the expense of digging the canal, leaving $6,- 611,000 to be paid by taxation. He had not curtailed indebtedness one iota as he had so strenuously and pompously promised. There was in the city treasury at this time a total of $3,236,090. The floating debt had been entirely discharged. These were the re- deeming features of his extravagant administration. Of the amount on hand over $393,000 was school building fund.
At this date it was reported that work on the Illinois and Michi- gan canal, designed to aid in the drainage of Chicago, would be completed early in 1871. It was expected that not only would there be a great improvement in the drainage of the city and county, but that the navigation of nearly one-third of the whole canal would be greatly improved, much to the advantage of commerce. It was stated at this time that should satisfactory improvements then under consideration be made on the Illinois river, the business of the canal would be more than doubled. The mayor said: "There is no public work within my knowledge that can be completed with so small an expense and the advantages of which would be so widely diffused as the Illinois river improvement." The city was deeply interested in the completion of the lock and dam then being constructed at the head of Peoria lake.
The Reform school was considered one of the noblest and most useful charities of the city. Nearly 75 per cent of the inmates had been reformed and made useful members of society. It was real- Vol. II-23.
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ized that if more of the youthful offenders that were sent to the Bridewell should be sent to this institution, the benefits would be far-reaching, permanent and incalculable. There was felt a press- ing need of a reform school for girls. The newspapers insisted that such an institution should at once be built.
At this date the new Bridewell, which had been commenced under severe pressure from the people, was nearly completed and the Council proceeded to put the same under the proper officers and conditions. From December 1, 1869, to December 1, 1870, 5,082 persons were sent to the existing Bridewell. It was noted that at least three-fourths of that number were committed for intemper- ance. It was recommended that certain theater licenses should be increased above $150. At this date approximately 2,300 saloon licenses were in existence. The population of the city was esti- mated at 300,000. It was thus shown that there was one saloon for about every twenty-six men in the city. The newspapers rec- ommended either an increase in the price of licenses or a decrease in the number of saloons. During the preceding year the city treas- urer collected as interest on city deposits the sum of $64,929. It was believed that this was the first time the city ever realized a revenue from this source. The credit of the city was good notwithstanding the high indebtedness, and the administration of public affairs, as a whole, was satisfactory. There was no friction, as all depart- ments worked harmoniously.
In his annual message of December 4, 1871, Mayor Joseph Medill explained how awful had been the recent visitation of fire upon the city. Nearly one-half of the valuation of Chicago prop- erty was wiped out by this calamity. There were burned out of house and home 125,000 people. The total destruction of property was estimated at over $100,000,000, but there was no discourage- ment. Already by December the city departments were actively at work and the citizens were engaged in rude fashion in rebuilding their homes and reorganizing their business. On December 1, 1871, the total bonded debt of the city was $14,103,000. In addi- tion there was a floating debt of about $686,707. There was on hand to the credit of the various funds a total of $1,556,333. The debt was increasing at a frightful rate without adequate return. Soon after the fire the Council appropriated $140,000 with which to repair the waterworks system.
Formerly it was customary to place the city funds in banks and to receive no interest thereon. It was often the case that immedi- ately thereafter the city would borrow money and pay interest thereon, presumably paying interest thus on its own funds. The people united in condemning the immemorial practice of anticipat- ing the revenue from nine to twelve months by borrowing and using the sum for current expenses. The city taxes were collected in the spring and were immediately used at a venture for current
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expenses and accumulated claims; later during the year, when the estimates were made, the city was usually compelled to borrow to meet the requirements of the last half of the year.
The loss to the public by the great fire rendered additional taxes imperative to meet damages and new improvements. The State Legislature came to the rescue of the city in this emergency and restored the money the latter had advanced for deepening the Illinois and Michigan canal. This placed the canal in the possession of the city, free of all incumbrances, and enabled the authorities to rebuild its bridges, schoolhouses and other structures, maintain its credit and support its government until the crisis was past. The sum which the State agreed to pay for the city mortgage on the canal was $2,955,340. This amount saved Chicago from serious embarrassment at this critical period. Large sums to pay inter- est on the city indebtedness were also required. In July, 1872, there was due from the Illinois Central railway $210,000 in taxes. In the fall of 1872 there was received in taxes $6,750,000; but .it was estimated that, notwithstanding all the revenue, there would still be a shortage of nearly $1,000,000, which must be met by addi- tional taxation.
It was estimated at this time that the municipality lost by fire property to the amount of $1,085,000. The loss to the fire depart- ment was estimated at $130,700; the police department, $86,000; the Board of Education, $251,000; Board of Health, $615,100; total, $1,567,800. In addition, 128 miles of sidewalk were de- stroyed, the loss being estimated at $941,380. All of this loss covered the city hall, bridges, street pavement, damages to side- walks, waterworks, lamp posts, reservoirs to the sewers, water- works, furniture, etc., but it did not include the loss of the records- perhaps the most serious, all things considered, during the fire. Everything in the mayor's office was destroyed; the same of the city controller's office. A considerable portion of the records in the city clerk's office was saved; all books and vouchers in the city treasurer's office were destroyed. Many of the assessment books in the tax commissioner's office were burned. Seventeen volumes of maps and scores of other documents in the map department were destroyed. In the city collector's office the assessment rolls, books, general taxing warrants, etc., were lost. Many records of the Board of Public Works were saved. The records of the boards of police and fire were burned; the same of the health department, the police courts of the three divisions and the Board of Education. In most cases these records could be replaced by existing memo- randa and books kept elsewhere. The greatest damage probably was in the records, rolls and warrants of the city collector's office. Most of these could not be replaced without great trouble and ex- pense.
It was noted that a considerable class of property holders were
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in the habit of contesting in the courts the payment of all taxes and harassing the city with injunctions and other devices based upon alleged informalities in assessment and judgments, whereby the city was defrauded of a large sum of money justly due it. It was also observed that the Supreme court under the new constitu- tion had rendered decisions overruling wholly the previous custom of raising money by special assessment with which to improve the streets. It was the opinion of the corporation counsel at this time that the decision rendered it impossible to continue operations in accordance with previous custom. It seemed probable that such improvements would have to be made thereafter by general taxa- tion. It was realized at this date that the lavish expenditures pre- viously indulged in by the Board of Public Works, Board of Educa- tion and other departments would have to be terminated from sheer force of necessity if nothing else. The mayor said: "The two or three million dollars per year obtained from the sale of bonds and added to the city debt, which is the present practice, is forbid- den in the future by the new constitution, and the two or three million dollars annually obtained from special assessments are pro- hibited by the Supreme court. The only remaining source of rev- enue, with the exception of rents, licenses and canal lien money, is from direct taxation on property according to valuation. The time has now come for a rigid system of retrenchment in all branches of the municipal government. The 'pay-as-you-go' prin- ciple must now be adopted and adhered to." He declared that the best revenue at present was retrenchment, and further said: "The fire fiend came like a thief in the night and caught our municipal government living in excess of its income, with a loose discipline in some departments, inefficiency in others, and extravagance in all. . It will be no easy matter to reform the luxurious tastes and ex- pensive habits of the past or to enforce in the future close economy upon independent powers, accountable in effect to nobody, and ac- customed to the use of all the money they desire." The immediate discharge of numerous officeholders and a reduction of all salaries was recommended. The appointment of a special committee to make a searching investigation into the details of the municipal service, with the object of effecting a reduction of expenses, was advised. The mayor stated that the recent election, if it meant any- thing, demanded that such reforms should be carried into effect.
As a matter of history it must be admitted that the citizens as a whole had been and were opposed to the policy of increasing the indebtedness under any considerations, though likely to be success- ful and favorable. As time passed and the debt continued to swell to an enormous and alarming extent, and as the anticipated bene- ficial results to sanitation and health failed to arrive in the golden showers promised and expected, complaints-forceful, inelegant, sarcastic, bitter and menacing-grew in volume until it came to pass
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that elections were based upon pledges that a wholly different pol- icy would be inaugurated and enforced. In particular Mayor Medill was severe concerning extravagance, vice and corruption in the administration of municipal affairs. He said that "honesty seemed to have departed from the majority of those holding places of trust and honor. For several years past good men have wit- nessed with growing apprehension the alarming deterioration of integrity in municipal administration, and a feeling of despondency and almost despair comes over them."
Attention was called to the combustible character of the city and recommendations for extending the fire alarms, perfecting fire ap- paratus and otherwise preventing a reoccurrence of the late terrible calamity were made. As one means of preventing fire in the fu- ture, the newspapers demanded a better and more reliable supply of water. It was shown that during the recent fire, as soon as the pumping works were destroyed, not a gallon of water could be secured by the department with which to check the progress of the flames. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of houses were destroyed by reason of this fact.
Mayor Medill in his annual message of December 2, 1872, re- viewed the condition of city affairs for the preceding year. He noted the trials and hardships to which the people were subjected owing to the great fire of October, 1871. Fifteen thousand families had lost their homes and subsisted on the charities of the world, and were huddled in schoolhouses, churches, halls and shanties of every description until they could better themselves. He noted that one of the greatest hardships was in having so many employes cut out of their usual employment and wages. This entailed enormous hardship throughout the whole city, but all had gone to work with confidence and cheerfulness and the result even in one year gave the greatest encouragement. The city government had begun the year immediately after the fire with a depleted treasury, enormous current expenses that had to be met, and a staggering debt, the interest on which alone amounted to a very large sum. During the year the General Assembly, in order to relieve the losers by the fire, ordered rebates of municipal taxes on destroyed property. This greatly reduced the revenue usually expended by the city adminis- tration. Money had been borrowed and special funds had been drawn upon to meet necessary expenses. In the absence of records which had been destroyed, city business in a large measure was in a confused and chaotic condition. Enormous funds were necessary to replace bridges, viaducts, schoolhouses, engine houses, police stations, city hall, fire apparatus, sidewalks, lamp posts, furniture, books, etc. The outlook had been staggering, but the citizens with dauntless courage, backed by assistance from all parts of the world, had gone heroically to work and during one year had accomplished wonders.
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