USA > Indiana > Elkhart County > A twentieth century history and biographical record of Elkhart County, Indiana > Part 16
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1892-93. J. B. Walk, mayor; I. D. Wolfe, clerk; E. C. Wilson, treasurer : S. C. Self, marshal; . A. S. Zook, city attorney: J. Snobarger, fire chief: C. L. Kinney, city engineer : J. Ramsby, street commissioner. Board of Health-P. Rolirig, secretary. Councilmen-A. Heefner, L. W. Vail. J. A. Riley, D. W. Neidig, E. D. Chipman, Ed Kelly, E. L. D. Foster, Charles Kohler. Water Works Trustees-Lew Wanner. superintendent ; J. O. Smith, Jud Overholt, L. J. Miller.
1893-94. City officials same as preceding year. In the spring of 1894 the election occurred under the new charter for Indiana cities ex- tending the term of the mayor and councilmen to four years.
1894-95. J. H. Heatwole, mayor; F. B. Leaming, clerk; E. C. Wilson, treasurer; J. E. Rigney, marshal: \. S. Zook, city attorney ; John Snobarger, fire chief; M. L. Swinehart, city engineer and street commissioner. Board of Health-C. W. Merrill, secretary. Council- men-Charles Kohler, Ed Kelly, George Lamb, J. B. Slaughter, W. A. Willhide. W. C. Hafer. Water Works Trustees-Lew Wanner, super- intendent : Jud Overholt, Lew Miller, Richard Dugdale. The office of superintendent of water works was abolished July 10, 1894, and Sam Williamson was appointed chief engineer. In March, 1895, the Board of Water Trustees was abolished by the legislature and the manage- ment of the water works placed in the hands of the city council.
1895-96. City officers the same as previous year with exception of Swinehart resigned and vacancy filled by appointment of J. D. Lowell, city engineer and Andrew Myers, street commissioner. Councilmen- William Hafer. Dudley Fitch, Charles Kohler. W. C. Elliott, J. B. Slaughter, W. A. Willhide, D. W. Neidig. M. A. Cornell, Ed Kelly, George Lamb. Clarence Dill, chief engineer. water works.
1896-98. City officials the same with the exception of J. Albert Cook, secretary Board of Health. Councilmen-Orlando Hamilton. Charles Crowell, John Hale, C. A. Davis, George Evans, Alfred Lowry, Edward Kelly. George Lamb, L. B. Slaughter, W. A. Willhide.
Goshen City Officers May, 1898-May, 1900: J. H. Heatwole, mayor : office declared vacant July 18, 1898, and B. F. Deahl elected to
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fill unexpired term. E. C. Wilson, treasurer ; Joseph M. Peters, city judge; J. Snobarger, chief fire department : I. D. Wolfe, clerk; Sam C. Self, marshal. C. F. Black, city attorney, was elected September 19, 1898, taking the place of E. E. Mummert. John L. Cooper, engineer ; H. O. Statler, secretary board of health. Councilmen-H. A. Butter- field, George H. Evans. John Hale, Orlando Hamilton, Edward Kelly, Charles Kohler, Josiah W. Kronk, George B. Slate, S. J. Stoutenour, Milton Mishler, who resigned and C. O. Charlton elected to fill unex- pired term. Committee on Water Works and Light-Edward Kelly, George H. Evans, Orlando Hamilton, John Hale, Milton Mishler. Su- perintendent of Water Works-C. S. Dill.
May, 1900-May. 1902. B. F. Deahl, mayor: E. C. Wilson, treas- urer ; C. F. Black, city attorney ; Joseph M. Peters, city judge ; John L. Cooper. civil engineer; George A. Black, clerk: I. D. Wolfe, clerk, whose office was declared vacant February 4, 1901, and George A. Beck elected for unexpired term ; S. C. Self, marshal : J. Snobarger, chief fire department. Board of Health-H. O. Statler, secretary, resigned Sep- tember 16, 1901, and was succeeded by J. Albert Cook. Councilmen- H. A. Butterfield, Josiah W. Kronk, Alfred Lowry, Orlando Hamil- ton, C. J. Garvin, S. J. Stoutenour, C. O. Charlton, D. J. Troyer. Charles Kohler. B. B. Brothers, who was succeeded in December. 1900. by George M. Swank. Committee on Water Works and Lights-Or- lando Hamilton, D. J. Troyer, H. A. Butterfield, J. W. Kronk, Charles Kohler. Superintendent of Water Works-C. S. Dill.
May, 1902-May, 1904-George F. „Alderman, mayor : Orin Watts, treasurer : Daniel J. Troyer, city attorney: Joseph M. Peters, city judge : Ben C. Bender, clerk; Edgar J. Vesey, marshal; J. Snobarger, chief fire department : John L. Cooper, civil engineer. Board of Health-J. Al- bert Cook, secretary. Councilmen-H. A. Butterfield. Josiah W. Kronk. Wallace F. Shafer, Jacob Wogoman, John Granville Knox, John F. Scott, Henry M. Widner, Jacob M. Cover. A. A. Meyer. Charles H. Crowell. Committee on Water Works and Lights-Josiah W. Kronk. Charles H. Crowell. Jacob Wogoman, Henry MI. Widner. Jacob M. Cover. Superintendent of Water Works-C. S. Dill.
The city officials at this writing are: Mayor. Alfred Lowry ; treas- urer. O. Watts: clerk. B. C. Bender: attorney. D. J. Troyer : marshal. George Banta: city engineer. J. L. Cooper: city judge. J. M. Peters. Councilmen-A. S. Menaugh. Jacob Wogoman. George Ripler, Aaron
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Hartzler, J. G. Knox, H. M. Widner, James O. Smith, Peter Wine- brenner, H. N. Jenner. Board of Health-J. A. Cook, secretary.
A distinctively municipal department, and one all important to the modern city, is the fire department. Although Goshen has not yet reached the point where she can support a paid and specially disciplined force of fire fighters, her volunteer organization and the entire equip- ment and apparatus for protection against fires will compare on equal terms with the fire department of any city of the size in the state.
A city is a living organism and grows and is constantly mani- festing new forms and conditions. In no way is this process of change better shown than in the history of the means of fighting fire as in use at different periods of Goshen's growth. Many of the older citi- zens remember the days of the bucket brigade and the valiant fight they made against the conflagrations that occurred in the little village. Many a disastrous fire has been quenched by the men who stood shoulder to shoulder passing buckets from the most available source of water sup- ply. In the early sixties the first hand pump for fighting fire was intro- duced into the village and a volunteer company was soon formed, to man it. "Reliance Engine Company, No. 1" was organized Septem- ber 4, 1862. Six years later on May 4. 1868. " Rescue Hook and Lad- der Company " was organized. Shortly after this date a water wheel was erected on the Hydraulic and pipes laid to the business center of the city. July 2, 1870, " Reliance Hose Company No. I." was organ- ized with seventeen members and January 25, 1872, " Hydraulic Hose Company No. 2" effected an organization. Triumph No. I and Gosh- en Hose Company were later organizations in 1875. In February, 1880, Triumph Hose Company dedicated their new reading and club rooms located in what is now known as the Noble Engine house. Mr. L. H. Noble, one of the oldest citizens in the community, was an ardent sup- porter of the various fire companies for many years and in every annual parade his familiar figure would always be seen upon the seat of the liose cait holding the reins over his beautiful team of white horses. Christian Hinderer and Chief of Police Self were members of the first engine company.
The Goshen fire department of to-day, although it is still main- tained on a volunteer basis, has an almost unexcelled record for effici- ency and systematic organization. There are four fire stations, situ- ated conveniently in various quarters of the city, so that at least one company may be on hand quickly wherever a fire occurs, and in case of
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a large fire the entire force may readily be concentrated as one fire- fighting body. The equipment consists of hose carts, hose, hook and ladder, chemical engines and all the paraphernalia to be found in a volim- teer department. The standpipe pressure is sufficient for all ordinary occasions, the standpipe being one hundred and fifty feet high and con- taining about four hundred thousand gallons of water. One pump is always in operation, and at the signal direct pressure is applied sufficient to force a stream over the highest building in the city. To haul the apparatus to the fire a team is always kept in reserve at a stable con- venient to each station, and this feature of the service has been developed to perfection seldom found in the smaller cities.
The citizens of Goslien point with pride to the fact in the past twenty-five years no fire has ever got beyond the building in which it originated. Thus the scars left by this destructive element have been soon healed and the city has never suffered those disastrous setbacks which have befallen so many growing and ambitions cities.
Mr. John Snobarger has been the efficient chief of the department for twenty-five years, and by his energy and rugged ability as a fire commander has contributed immeasurably to the value of the depart- inent. The entire force under him consists of forty-eight men, twelve in each company, three liose companies and one hook and ladder com- pany. The foreman of the hook and ladder company is Samuel C. Self. Eb. Snyder is foreman of No. 2. Charles Sellers foreman of No. 3. and William Wilkinson of No. 4. The president of the department is Charles Kohler; secretary. Bert Smith, and treasurer. Samuel C. Self.
Another institution of very present importance to every citizen is the postoffice. From the time when Old Hall wended his way across Elkhart prairie, on his semi-montlily trip from Fort Wayne, delivering to the almost isolated settlement the letters and papers from the outside world, to the present, when huge sacks of mail are dumped at the rear doors of the postoffice nearly every hour in the day, the change has been as remarkable as anything in the development of the city and county. Few of us realize how important the daily mail is to the conduct of commerce and industry along the lines which they are following in the twentieth century. New times, new manners !
Goshen has unexcelled postal privileges resulting from her posi- tion along the principal railroad mail route between the east and the west, and her city mail service also belongs in the first rank. A free delivery system has long been an established institution, and with the
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advent of rural free delivery the city has become the center from which radiate in all directions the carriers who furnish daily the letters and newspapers to the country population.
Mr. J. A. Beane, former postmaster of Goshen, made, during his term in that office, some investigations concerning the different incum- bents of the Goshen postoffice from the date of its establishment to the present, and the essential facts give us another interesting phase of Goshen history.
William Bissell, the first postmaster, long since deceased, was ap- pointed July 12, 1832, and delivered mail at a log building located where Mr. W. J. Davis now lives. Abner Stilson, the second appointee, No- vember 26. 1832, had his office in the rear of where Twomey's shoe store now stands and near the present postoffice building. Ebenezer M. Chamberlain, who was appointed November 8. 1837, received and delivered the mail on the site of the Brownell property, until March, 1841, when the office was moved to one door south of Darrow's store. Charles L. Murray was fourth postmaster, appointed July 28, 1841.
Then follows: James R. McCord. November 5, 1841, office on Frank Hascall property: Abner Stilson, July 31. 1845; Louis B. Par- malee, May 15, 1847, in Drake's building; Edwin Martin, September 17. 1849, and Shubael M. Pease, January 22, 1850, where the Salem Bank now is; Elbridge G. Chamberlain, June 2, 1853. under opera house in Latta's building: George T. R. Wadleigh, August 20. 1860, in Latta's building; William B. Taylor, March 29, 1861, in Wag- ner's room: William L. Bivins. December 12, 1862. It was during Postmaster Bivins' long incumbency of some dozen years, about 1870. when the postoffice was moved to its present location, and the successive incumbents who have since filled the office are: E. W. H. Ellis, ap- pointed January 23, 1874: William R. Ellis, October 20, 1876: Daniel L. Miller. August 28, 1888; Lincoln H. Beyerle, May 28, 1889: Joseph A. Beane, December 11, 1893: Milton .A. Cornell, December 1. 1897.
The present postmaster is C. D. Sherwin, Jerome H. Alderman being assistant. There are six regular carriers with two substitutes, and six office clerks, with one substitute. Seven R. F. D. routes center at this office. The receipts of the Goshen office for the year ending in March. 1905. were $32.000.
In her provisions for furnishing water and light for municipal and private purposes Goshen has a unique history among Indiana cities. and her successful experience in carrying out the principles of municipal
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ownership lends permanent value to an account of her operations along these lines. Mr. W. L. Stonex has investigated the subject thoroughly and has written an interesting article on the municipal water works and lighting plant. From this article, which was published entire in the Historical Edition of the Goshen Daily News in 1901, liberal ex- tracts have been made for the matter in the following paragraphs, since it is believed that this important phase of Goshen city history should not be overlooked in this work.
The first steps taken by the city toward entering upon a practicable plan of municipal control and operation of public utilities were made over thirty years ago, and within this period the city has become owner of its water system, its electric street lighting system, and an incandes- cent commercial lighting plant. The matter first assumed importance as the result of agitation for better protection against fire. In 1874, in July of which year the movement first took definite form, the fire department equipment consisted of one hand pumping engine, hook and ladder truck, and two hose carts. The water supply consisted of water stored in cisterns located in various parts of the city. The most im- portant one was that located at the corner of Main street and Lincoln avenue, then known as Market street. There were also in some of the factories on the hydraulic canal force pumps and pipes to which hose could be attached for the protection of these factories, and Hydraulic Hose Co. No. 2 was organized specially for the protection of the fac- tories. Their water supply came from the canal. There had been several fires prior to the summer of 1874 and much property had been destroyed. The chief danger was to the store buildings, in the central part of the city, a majority of which were frame and veritable tinder boxes. There were always two causes for uneasiness when a fire broke out. One was the insufficiency of the engine, and the other was the uncertainty of the water supply. After the factories had provided them- selves with pumps and had the entire canal for their water supply it was apparent that they were better protected than was the business part of the city. It was suggested that a small iron pipe be laid from one of the factories on the canal to the cistern at the corner of Main and Market streets. This would enable the fire department to fill that important reservoir with ease, and this supply pipe would also be avail- able for throwing a stream of water through the hose of Hydraulic Hose Co. equally as well as at the mills on the canal. This suggested so simple and inexpensive a plan that it was at once taken up and with
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some modifications put into operation. After the plans were properly matured steps were taken to purchase the necessary machinery, and the ground for the location of the building. The site selected was at the west end of the alley between Market and Clinton streets. Work was vigorously prosecuted. Wooden mains were laid from the pump house up Market street to Main street, and three branches were ex- tended from that point, for a distance of one square each, east, north and south. By January 1. 1875, the work was so far completed that on that day a public exhibition of its capacity was made. The result was satisfactory. The entire cost of the work had only been about $9,000 and the capacity of the pumps and the wheel supplying the power were sufficient to allow of a considerable extension of the system at small additional expense.
After a few years, when the city found itself able to incur the expense, the citizens called for a change from water power to steam power so as to allow the use of water for private consumption. This also made it necessary to look for some other source of water supply. A system of artesian wells was decided on. On August 17, 1881, the present site was bought, and work was at once begun. From that time the record has been one of constant expansion over contiguous territory until by January 1, 1901, the system embraced more than 2012 miles of street mains; 161 hydrants or fire plugs; 12 public watering troughs ; some 1200 private consumers, and an anual income of $7 .- 416.60 from water rates collected from private consumers.
The question of lighting the streets of the city became a very serious question. . At first oil lamps were used. Then, in 1874. the city con- tracted for gas. The expense of this was considerable and the result unsatisfactory. In .August, 1887, a contract was made with the local electric light company, by which the company agreed to erect towers and furnish arc lights at a minimum price of $2.500 a year, with additional charge for extra lights, but in October, 1889. the company proposed to sell its street lighting equipment and poles to the city for $3,000. The city made the purchase and since that time the streets have been lighted with arc lights from a dynamo operated from the water works station. In 1897 the city installed an incandescent plant for commercial lighting.
Having acquired these properties and tested them by an experience extending over a number of years the city has fully demonstrated the profit of its ownership of such properties. The result of the one year's
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operation is shown in the report of the water and light committee for the year ending June 30, 1900. The entire cost of operating the prop- ties was $12,888.22. The total earning from water and electric light rates from private consumers during that time was $14,000.29, leav- ing a net cash profit of $1, 112.07. This does not include anything for the use by the public, of water for the public hydrants and fountains, the water for the watering troughs, nor that used for sprinkling the court square and cemetery.
Goshen in 1901 installed a new pumping system with an additional capacity of six million gallons, and more recently a new well has been completed. As to quantity and quality the water supply of Goshen is not excelled in the northern part of the state. A brief survey of the present system indicates how well the citizens have planned this great public utility. For city use about one hundred and ninety hy- drants are supplied, there are eleven public watering stations, water is supplied for sprinkling the streets, the parks. the cemetery and for complete fire protection. For commercial and domestic use the rate is six cents per one thousand gallons, and less for large volumes; the annual rate for each outside hydrant is three dollars, one dollar and fifty cents for each inside faucet and two dollars for bath and closet. So wisely has the water works system been managed that the revenue derived from the commercial and domestic supply is so nearly sufficient to pay the expenses of the water works that the cost of each of the one hundred and ninety public hydrants to the city is about twenty- five dollars a year, while the average cost per hydrant, when the water system is operated under private ownership, is from sixty and ninety dollars a year.
Goshen stands committed to municipal ownership of purely public utility, both from successful experience and by principle. The efficiency of the municipally owned and operated water and light plant has con- clusively demonstrated the benefit of at least one form of public owner- ship. But, withal. the citizens of Goshen are conservative. Public- spirited and thoughtful men at the head of the city government, backed up when necessary by public opinion, have carefully defined the limits between public operation of public utilities and public operation of pri- Vate enterprise, and have directed the city along those lines. When some enterprise has been projected whereby the chief object attained would be private benefit with incidental good to the whole city, public senti- ment and official action have preferred to leave such to private owner-
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ship and control. Ouly where the entire body politic is clearly the beneficiary, and the several individual citizens derive only incidental 11se and value from an enterprise, as is demonstrably true in the case of water works and electric lighting, has the city seen fit to interpose its corporate authority and own and direct a utility.
Not only the water works but the electric lighting system is munici- pal. One hundred and thirty arc lights are maintained on the streets, and an incandescent plant supplies commercial and domestic light. The latter department was installed about twelve years ago, and there are thus two competitive plants for supplying incandescent lights, the Hawks plant, a private corporation, and the city's own plant. Per- haps no city in the state has cheaper electricity, owing to this combina- tion. For sixteen-candle lights one dollar per month is the price for the first five bulbs, an additional five cost fifteen cents apiece and all over that number are ten cents apiece. By combining the arc and incandescent lighting and the water works in one general plant not only are efficiency and excellence of service maintained, but, with these excepted. the greatest of all desiderata in any enterprise-economy- is effected. One set of buildings, one group of engines and machinery, one set of operatives, one superintendent, one institution in fact serves, and serves well, the purposes of lighting and watering the city. Coal bills are decreased, salaries lessened at least by half, responsibility is centralized and system and adequacy are promoted. With such a record in municipal ownership reversion to private enterprise hardly seems a matter for most distant prophecy.
.A few years ago an extension of the municipal water and light plant into the domain of heating was proposed, and for a time was ad- vocated to the point of becoming an issue. The project was to use the exhaust steam from the engines to heat stores and residences, lay- ing for that purpose mains or pipes along the streets similar to those used for water. An ordinance was introduced into the council to pro- vide for carrying out this plan, but did not pass, and since then the matter has not been brought to the point of official enactment. The practicability of the proposition has many warm advocates and equally ardent opponents, and certain matters of municipal policy are also in- volved in the discussions outside of the feasibility of the scheme. From what we know of the past and general progressiveness of the age, it does not seem idle to predict that in the course of a generation or two
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the heating of an entire city covering several square miles will be accomplished as easily as water is now piped through all the streets.
In this chapter, in which it is our purpose to sketch the career of Goshen as an incorporated part of the body politic, we purposely omit many important subjects, such as schools, churches and business and industrial concerns, in order to present them under their appropriate chapter head elsewhere in the work. . Also space forbids consideration of the public-spirited and able men to whom is due the past develop- ment and the wonderful prosperity of this city, although many of those names find places on other pages. From the humble beginnings of seventy-five years, when the commissioners decided that the beautiful spot on the northeast bank of the Elkhart river was the proper site for a county seat, Goshen has enjoyed a steady, substantial and en- couraging growth, and to-day stands in the front rank of the progres- sive and up-to-date cities of northern Indiana.
Many factors contribute to and unite in forming the pre-eminence of Goshen among her sister cities. Geographical position has much to do with the history of both individuals and communities. Located at almost the exact center of the county, Goshen has accordingly formed an ideal county seat, and at the same time its commercial importance has kept pace with the years owing to its convenience as a trade center for the rich surrounding agricultural district. In the early years it was favorably situated as to transportation, by river or wagon road. Then in the fifties came the first great railroad line across the middle west, and happily Goshen was included in its course. Later, with the building of the Air Line division of the Lake Shore road. the city gained a station situation on the principal New York-Chicago railroad, and at the present time is a junction point of several lines of steam road, with consequent easy communication to all parts of the country.
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