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 48
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The fall election of 1873 was bitterly contested. Men in power fought hard to retain their positions, but there had grown up strong opposition to the manner in which county affairs were conducted. The newspapers pointed out that county business had been and was mismanaged to such an extent that an immense and unnecessary debt had been created, that rank corruption existed and that a change in the officials would probably mean retrenchment and reform. But the men then in place objected to such a procedure. The result was one of the bitterest and most personal campaigns in the history of the county. President Ashton of the County Board said, "Dictation as to the exercise of individual rights and the traducing and slander- ing of the official acts and private character of public men had seemed to become an article of merchandise with those who, having no moral or political standing were determined to drag every one down to their own level, hence the result of the recent election has fully demonstrated that the masses will not tolerate dictation from any source, and that the people are competent to select and fill the various offices within their gift without interference from any quar- ter whatsoever. Therefore, we should so manage the affairs of the county that our people will feel assured that their confidence had not been misplaced."
At this date rapid progress was being made in the construction of the jail and Criminal Court building. Regular reports concerning its construction were received and numerous bills were audited and allowed. The board determined that the fees collected in the offices of the sheriff, county clerk and recorder were not sufficient to enable them to be self-sustaining. They therefore directed the representa- tives of the Legislature from Cook county to urge the passage of a bill increasing such fees.
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
The application of the county recorder for increased compensation in December, 1873, was reported on adversely by the committee on judiciary. The law already adopted gave the official a salary of $3,000 per annum and no change could be made by the County Board. D. S. Wentworth, principal of the Cook County Normal school, was paid $300 per month salary. The building committee in December, 1873, made an elaborate report in regard to the con- struction of the Cook county jail and Criminal Court building. At this date the city hall of Chicago was located on Adams street and was occupied by the County Board. Rooms there were rented for $300 per month. The annual report of the county treasurer in De- cember, 1873, showed total receipts of $988,775 during the fiscal year. The expenses amounted to the same sum, less $38,376 on hand at the close of the year. In 1873 the recorder's office was in a building owned by W. F. Storey. In July, 1873, the committee on education was authorized to procure plans and estimates for a board- ing house building at Englewood to be used as a dormitory for stu- dents attending the Normal school. It was estimated that a suitable building could be constructed for $18,793. The committee at this date spoke highly of the management and usefulness of the Normal school. The attendance was 135.
In March, 1874, owing to the complaint made to the County Board concerning the condition of graveled and macademized roads in the county, the board instructed the committee on roads and bridges and the plank road inspectors to examine all toll roads in the county and report their condition at once. After a thorough examinaton the committee made the following report: The Northwestern graveled road was good as far as Niles, and beyond needed widening; the Elston and Wheeling graveled road was in poor condition, but was being repaired when examined ; the Higgins graveled road was good, but needed widening so that two loaded wagons could easily pass each other. The Lake Street and County Line graveled road was rough and in rather poor condition; Rosehill and Evanston graveled road was in good condition throughout its whole extent, except just south of the toll gate north of the city limits; the Lincoln Avenue and Niles Center graveled road was in good condition except at the extreme south end. The committee thereupon made certain recom- mendations and the report was concurred in by the County Board.
In April, 1874, buildings on the Reform school grounds in Hyde Park were sold for $2,500. The board at this date ordered that thereafter the Criminal court should be held in the new Criminal courthouse on the northwest corner of Michigan and Dearborn streets.
The joint committee on hospital and public service, appointed in 1874 to purchase a new site for a county hospital, reported having received eleven propositions for the sale of such a tract to the county. After considerable skirmishing, the board passed a resolution to
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accept the Baldwin blocks owned by W. H. W. Cushman. They were numbers 1 and 2 of David Codwise's subdivision of the east seventy-four acres of the west half of the southeast quarter of Sec- tion 18, Town 39, Range 14. The price estimated was $145,000. The county attorney was directed to see that the title was sufficient.
In June, 1874, the County Board began to consider seriously plans for the construction of a new courthouse and city hall. There was much objection to any such action at this date, owing to the fact that both the city and county were heavily in debt ; but the board realized that it would take many years probably to erect the building, there- fore they finally concluded to commence proceedings and to pay for work as the building progressed. The board consulted judges, clerks recorder, treasurer, superintendent of schools and heads of all lead- ing departments of the county and city, both in regard to the location of the building and the arrangement of the various halls and rooms. It was determined that the cost of such a building should not in the end exceed $2,500,000. Resolutions postponing action were voted down by the County Board. The consensus of opinion was in favor of erecting the new building on the public square. The preamble of a set of resolutions opposing definite action at that time was as fol- lows: .
"Chicago, in common with the whole country, is suffering from the great financial revulsion and every department of business is more or less seriously affected thereby, and, added to this general de- pletion the people of Chicago have, since October, 1871, strained every nerve to rebuild their destroyed homes and places of business, to accomplish which private loans have been made, which in the ag- gregate amount to a very large sum and which entail heavy annual charges for interest ; and whereas, the new grade established after the fire has also added heavy burdens in the way of special assessment for filling and paving streets and the general levy for city, county and - state purposes has annually increased so that our people are already overloaded as appears by the fact that there remained uncollected on June 1 of the city levy of 1873 $4,132,593.82 and for state and county for 1873 $2,662,638.45, making a total aggregate of $6,795,- 232.27 of taxes of 1873, which have got to be paid not later than August of this year." In view of this condition it was moved that action be postponed, but the motion was lost.
On June 22 the board authorized the county treasurer to borrow $100,000 on the credit of the county for a period not exceeding ninety days and at not exceeding 8 per cent. This sum was ordered credited to the sinking fund account -- new indebtedness. The board instructed the county attorney to institute the necessary legal pro- ceedings to restrain the collection of that portion of the taxes levied for the year 1873 that he should deem unauthorized.
The Chicago & Northern Pacific Air Line Railroad company asked for right of way across the county farm, and under certain conditions
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
the request was granted in June, 1874. In August, 1874, it having been apparent that a large amount of taxes had been unjustly collect- ed by the State for the year 1873, which collection had been declared unconstitutional, the board directed the county collector to refund such tax to every person who had paid the same. It seems that several members of the board were charged with corruption in the purchase of the hospital lot. The newspapers openly charged graft, bribery and dishonesty.
Owing to much complaint regarding the payment of taxes throughout the whole county, the board took special pains to secure a just equalization and published long lists of changes from the re- ports and recommendations of the assessors. The total valuation after equalization of lands, lots and real estate in the county amounted to $118,616,917. The total valuation of personal property was $38,201,172. The railroad assessment amounted to $1,357,084. The total equalized valuation was thus $158,175,173. At this time, as the newspapers continued to charge graft and dishonesty in the board, an investigation by a special committee appointed for that purpose was ordered.
In August, 1874, the Cook County Insane asylum having become extremely crowded, the committee on public charities was directed to secure the transfer of persons who could not be accommodated in Cook county to the insane asylum at Elgin.
In September a joint committee was appointed to suggest changes at the insane asylum which would meet the requirements of the county. Accordingly after investigation the construction of an addi- tional wing to the county insane asylum was decided upon. It is es- timated that this wing would cost $100,000.
In October, 1874, the county treasury being empty, the board authorized the county treasurer to borrow $100,000 for six months at not to exceed 7 per cent interest and to credit the same to the gen- eral fund.
At the close of the fiscal year 1874, President Ashton of the County Board congratulated the members on the condition generally of the city and the county. There had been neither money, archives or records, and yet the citizens had emerged from the disaster with credit, and though burdened with debt had maintained the city's good name in view of all the world. He said, "I point you with pride to the grandeur of our buildings, business and credit. Starting with an empty treasury and with the reverses stated, we have carried on the government of the county, been liberal to the oppressed and needy and rebuilt a part of our public buildings. The calls and de- mands upon us for charity have been greater than ever known before in the history of the county. We have constructed a splendid Crim- inal court and jail ; we have provided good quarters for the various courts and officers; have added an addition to the insane asylum and poorhouse, have built a plain and substantial morgue, have
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purchased and paid for, in part, an elegant site for a county hospital; have taken care of more than 6,000 families, averaging about 30,000 persons annually ; have been compelled, owing to the change from the fee system to one of fixed salaries, to expend unus- ually large sums annually; have been often without revenue and forced to borrow in emergency, and had during all this period of in- creased county indebtedness only about $750,000, of which sum at least $680,000 was made necessary by the great fire. Today is pre- sented to the world the spectacle of a county containing a population of over 550,000 people having within its limits one of the greatest commercial cities of its age, destroyed by fire only three years ago and now rebuilt, with an indebtedness of a little over $3,600,000 all told. Such another instance cannot be pointed to in the history of the American republic. And yet in spite of these facts, we have been found fault with by some and charged with corruption in office by others. Standing here today I denounce it as false and cruel and as a libel upon us and our people, and hurl it back in the face of the author and circulator. Mob law should at all times be deprecated, but sooner or later this community will have to meet the issue in order to protect its homes, character, families and common decency."
On December 7, 1874, Mr. Burdick, chairman, said, "Our finances are not in as good condition as we could desire, but under the cir- cumstances as good as we could expect. The circumstances referred to are as follows: First-The fact that our expenditures for the past year have exceeded the appropriations for the same by a large amount. Second-That our salary system which went into effect a year ago has not proved as satisfactory and economical as anticipat- ed. Third-That the change of the law relating to jurors' fees which went into effect the past year added largely to our expendi- tures. Fourth-That a much larger amount of our taxes for the year 1873 remains unpaid than in former years. Add these things together, gentlemen, and you will understand why the former board found it necessary to borrow temporarily and leave our treasury low."
Mr. Burdick predicted that under economical management the appropriations for the year 1874-5 would be found sufficient. He stated that the levy was 40 cents on the $100 valuation upon a total assessment of over $318,000,000. He recommended that a code of rules should be adopted by the various county institutions in order that harmony, system, perfect operation and management might be realized. It was known that the county was expending for charitable purposes a large sum of money annually. For the year ending De- cember 1, 1874, the insane asylum cost over $93,000; poorhouse, over $60,000; county agent's office, over $172,000; county hospital, over $49,000; outdoor relief in outside towns, over $13,000; care of paupers in state institutions, nearly $2,000. Total for charitable pur- poses during the year, over $395,000. Owing to the large number of
old Shore Line
Newly made land.
Showing Newly formed Land North of the River Mouth and the Wearing away South of the River Mouth. Captain Cram, 1839.
Successive Wearings
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
men out of employment, it was realized that the coming year would probably see a larger amount than ever before spent by the County Board for charity. It was therefore determined to economize in every practicable way, particularly with regard to supplies purchased for those institutions.
At this date the county was still engaged in erecting a new poor- house building and an addition to the insane asylum.
In January, 1875, the county treasurer notified the board that the treasury was empty of general fund, and asked what should be done in the emergency. After investigation, the board authorized him to accept a loan of $25,000 from the Hibernian Banking association, and a further loan of $75,000 from the Illinois Loan and Trust company, both at 7 per cent, due June 1, 1875. On December 1, 1874, the total bonded debt of the county was $3,625,000. In addi- tion, the county owed the Merchant's National bank $100,000. There was on hand unsold $617,000 worth of fire bonds.
On January 8, 1875, the board advertised for all individuals own- ing real estate in the county to bring to the recorder's office for filing, free of expense, all original abstracts of lands in the county. By February 24 there were brought in and recorded under this authoriz- ation about 4,000 original abstracts, at a total expense to the county of about $20,000. The recorder was ordered to prepare a set of tract indexes for the convenience of the county abstract office.
In February, 1875, the joint committee of the city and county recommended the commencement at once of a city hall and court- house, and the prosecution of the same with reasonable speed until completed. They recommended that a cost of $2,500,000 should not be exceeded. It was expected that five years would be required to complete the structure. At this date Chicago had on hand a building fund of over $600,000 left of the canal funds received from the state, .and the county had about the same amount of unsold bonds for pub- lic buildings. These two sums would carry on the work, it was con- cluded, for the first two years. After that, other arrangements could readily be made.
In March, 1875, the board ordered an investigation as to what title papers were in existence concerning property owned by Cook county. The committee found but one abbstract. The board ordered this matter cleared up and the title to all county property rendered certain. In March, 1874, they ordered the removal of seventy-five inmates of the Cook County Insane asylum to the insane asylum at Elgin. At this date the County Court rooms, clerk's office and library rooms rented quarters from the city at the corner of Adams and La Salle streets.
In March, 1875, the board ordered hospital buildings erected on the new hospital grounds recently purchased and known as the Bald- win lots. In May, 1875, they made arrangements to have inmates of the poorhouse afflicted with eye and ear diseases taken care of by .
Vol. II-29.
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the Illinois Eye and Ear infirmary, and at the same time made ar- rangements for the removal of feeble-minded children to the State asylum for that class of unfortunates. At this date the $100,000 borrowed in January being about due, and there being no funds with which to pay the same, the committee on finance recommended a renewal of the loan for a period of ninety days.
In July, 1875, the committee on finance reported numerous bids for the county fire bonds recently ordered issued. The Corn Ex- change National bank bid 103.5 for $25,000 of the bonds, also 103.4 for $20,000. William H. Turner bid 103.38 for $105,000 of the bonds. The committee recommended that these bids be accepted. The lowest bid was 101.75. There was realized from the sale of $150,000 worth of fire bonds as above, a total of $157,286.27. It was recognized that the bids fully established the high credit of Cook county.
At this date the County Board proceeded to build a suitable struc- ture on the Normal school grounds at Englewood for the accommo- dation of the students of the institution. It was estimated that the students' hall thus provided would cost about $20,000. Previous to this date the County Board had purchased of Otto Peltzer and Wil- manns & Thielke a lot of abstract books for $45,000. With what the board had before, the county was now able to furnish complete abstracts of title to real estate throughout its limits. During the fall of 1875 the board considered in detail numerous bids received for the foundation work on the new courthouse and city hall.
The total valuation of Cook county property as equalized and as- sessed by the State Board for the year 1875-6 was $229,993,108. The committee on finance in October, 1875, after a thorough investi- gation of indebtedness and required revenue, recommended a levy of $1,517,955 for the fiscal year 1875-6. This amounted to 66 cents on each $100. In November, 1875, it was shown that the outstand- ing indebtedness of the town of South Chicago from 1862 to 1874, inclusive, amounted to $22,415.56. The County Board ordered a levy in that town to cover such indebtedness.
The county agent reported on December 1, 1875, that the number of families then being cared for by the county was 2,824. Owing to the cold weather of the preceding winter, an unusually large amount was spent for outside relief. The agent opposed the project of erecting a house of refuge, because, as stated by him, such an in- stitution would constantly be imposed upon by men and women with means, who would conceal the same and seek assistance from the county. He reported that the total number of families cared for during 1875 was 8,374. The total number of persons sent to the Cook County poorhouse during 1875 was 986; the county hospital reported an attendance of 1,008; the county buried 406 persons and treated 1,190. The number of insane persons in charge of the county was 213. The total expenditure of the county agent during 1875 was $170,479.96.
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
At the end of the fiscal year on December 1, 1875, the county bonded debt amounted to $3,792,000. In addition $200,000 of tem- porary loans were obtained, making a total county indebtedness of $3,992,000. There were on hand yet unsold fire bonds to the amount of $450,000. In May, 1876, the Corn Exchange National bank bought $10,000 worth of county fire bonds at 106.1; $10,000 at 106.25; $10,000 at 106.4 and 10,000 at 105.5 with accrued interest, being an average price of 106.28 and accrued interest. In Septem- ber, 1876, the committee on equalization of taxes reported personal property $24,093,671; and lands, lots and real estate, $111,451,510. The latter reported by the assessors was $111,496,404. As equalized the total aggregate taxable property in Cook county was $136,756,- 163. The finance committee in October, 1876, reported that the sum necessary to be levied for the fiscal year 1876 amounted to $1,605,885. This amount was arrived at by adding together the old indebtedness created prior to 1870, consisting of $191,905, the new indebtedness created since 1870, amounting to $321,500, and the estimated current expenses of the county and the charitable institu- tions, amounting to $1,092,480.
By resolution passed on September 11, 1876, Cook county pledged the county delinquent taxes for 1871, 1872, 1873 and 1874, amount- ing to $494,926.99, for the payment of whatever indebtedness might be incurred in the erection of the new county courthouse. The same pledge was made concerning the reform school property, which was the south twenty-five acres of the northwest fractional quarter, Sec- tion 2, Town 38, Range 14.
On November 13, 1876, the committee on finance reported that they had borrowed of the Corn Exchange National bank for seven months $200,000 at 8 per cent per annum, the same being the best offer they could get. At the end of the fiscal year ending December 1, 1876, the chairman of the board, A. B. Johnson, said : "I, as well as you, have been abused on many occasions by the press, but I pre- sume the commissioners will be abused as long as the County Board is in existence. The reason why I have been attacked and my mo- tives impugned is because I have acted with the majority. . I was elected to act with them, and have done so regardless of criticism. I was formerly a Republican and at one time a member of the Board of Supervisors, and chairman of that board. I was supervisor for eight years and was elected on the Republican ticket, but was never abused while a member of that body. I had the honor of being on the most important committees. One was the committee on war fund, and during two years we paid out over $2,500,000. I had other important duties and I believe I performed them to the satis- faction of the public, but since my connection with this County Board, especially during the past two years, the daily press of the city has abused me and other commissioners." The reason for the abuse was that the board continually ran in debt and did not make one
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sound and intelligent effort to get out. On the first of December, 1876, the total bonded debt of Cook county amounted to $4,191,500. In addition, there had been issued temporary loans to the amount of $250,000, making the total county indebtedness $4,441,500.
In his address of July 4, 1877, at the time of the laying of the corner stone of the new courthouse, President C. C. P. Holden of the County Board stated among other things that in October, 1871, the state passed an act appropriating the sum of $2,955,340 for the relief of Chicago. This amount was the obligation due the county from the canal. With this appropriation was a proviso to the effect that not less than one-fifth of the amount nor more than one-third of the same should be used in the reconstruction of bridges, public buildings and structures destroyed by fire upon the original sites thereof. These provisions were carried out by the city. The old courthouse was converted temporarily into a structure for the sheriff, county treasurer, clerk, board of commissioners, surveyors and a few other officers. Later the people erected a jail and Criminal court building which cost over $518,000, also an insane asylum at Jeffer- son costing over $163,000. They also purchased a site for the hos- pital at a cost of $145,000, and erected thereon a group of excellent buildings at an expense of about $428,000. An additional story was added to the insane asylum at a cost of $35,000. The students' hall at Englewood cost nearly $27,000. Inasmuch as the revenue would not meet these various improvements the county was obliged to issue bonds, which it did to the amount of $1,500,000. The utter incom- petence of this administration to manage county affairs was well recognized by the citizens and the press. There was no system to pay expenses and meet indebtedness.
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