USA > Kentucky > Jefferson County > Louisville > The city of Louisville and a glimpse of Kentucky > Part 2
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But the handsome residences are not alone confined to Broadway and the quar- ter south. They have extended east, and have beautified "The Highlands," made of Clifton a charming suburb, and are already building in large numbers in the West End and the residence suburb of Parkland. Of the many hundreds of fine residences no one, however, could be selected as be- ing of extraordinary cost.
$6,150 each. effective architecture, has thus the change of domestic condition built since the war with those of tism. The incomes of a people
DAISY ELEVATED RAILWAY STATION.
No other city of similar size in the world has half as many miles of street railway track as Louisville. To this must be added the steam suburban railway lines that connect the suburbs of New Albany and Jeffersonville, Ind., by way of the Louisville Bridge and the new Kentucky and Indiana Steel Cantilever Bridge. These steaul lines also
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eucircle the city and pass down the river front upon an elevated track some three miles in length. There are about one hundred and twenty-five miles of street car and suburban lines, running over the one hundred aud forty-four miles of streets of the city. It will thus be seen that there is scarcely a block of ground in the twelve and a half square miles of territory covered by Louisville that is not readily accessible by car. All fares within the city are limited to five ceuts, and this includes transfer to and from all parts, so that it is possible to ride from six to ten miles in the city for a nickel. The suburban liues, which pierce the country to a distance of from three to four miles, and which reach every oue of the residence additions, have a uniform fare of ten cents. Such an abundance of inter-city transportation has prevented the concentration of population within narrow limits, and thus prevented real estate from attaining excessively high values, like those that prevail in cities where no facilities exist. The system in Louisville has been fostered by the policy of imposing as few restrictions as possible upon the extension of lines aud has had the effect of making ground for residence and manufacturing purposes cheaper than in any other city of equal size in the United States. The street car lines are all well equipped, accustomed to handling immense crowds without inconvenience or delay, make rapid time, and are justly celebrated for the comfort and service they render to patrons in return for the small fare demanded. Some showing of the mileage aud business of the various lines in the city will be of interest :
ROADS.
MILES OF TRACK.
PASSENGERS CARRIED ANNUALLY.
Louisville City Railway
64.0
11,897,000
Central Passenger .
30.0
7,000,000
Louisville aud New Albany Daisy Line
5.8
560,000
Louisville, N. Albany, and Jeffersonville trausfer,
10.0
+975,000
Daisy Belt Line (building)
6,0
Belt Line (to be constructed)
10.0
Total
125.8
20,432,000
#Estimated.
The trans-river steam lines run trains every half hour between Louisville, New Albany, and Jeffersonville, at a uni- form fare of teu cents. The large populations of these two Indiana cities are, for all practical purposes, part of the population of Louisville.
The population of Louisville in 1887 was estimated by several methods of computation to be about 200,000. The exact figures of the estimate are 195,910. The census of 1880 discovered only 123,758, which was probably under the actual number, although the rapid growth of manufactures and the large increase in railroad facilities since 1880, readily account for the enormous growth of population. The city directory, compiled by Mr. C. K. Caron, one of the most careful and conscientious statisticians in Kentucky, gives an interesting summary of the increase of names in that publication. The number of names in the directory in 1880 was 49,550 ; 1881, 52,401 ; 1882, 54,362 ; 1883, 56,845 ; 1884, 59,810 ; 1885, 62, II0; 1886, 64,408 ; 1887, 66,900.
Estimates of population in cities where directories are published unite upon computing one producer to three per- sons, which would give three as the multiplier; this would make Louisville's population for 1887, according to the direc- tory, 200,700. Since the abolition of slavery, the increase of working population has been rapid and great. The growth of the city since 1780 is given in the following table :
Population, 1780 30 200
Population, 1840 21,210
1790
1845
37,218
1800
359
1850
43,194
1810 .
1,357
..
1860
68,033
1820.
4,012
I870 .
100,753
I827
7,063
1880.
123,758
1830
10,341
1883 .
151,113
1835 -
17,967
1887 .
195,910
Thus it appears that the increase from ISSo to 1887 has been 56 per cent., which will compare favorably with the growth of Chicago, Cleveland, Milwaukee, and the other Northern cities, which, under artificial stimulus, have, during the past teu years, enjoyed advantages not possessed by Southern cities. The rapid development of great manufactur- ing enterprises in Louisville, the possession of the cheapest and most abundant coal supplies in the world, the cheap- ness and proximity of great timber and iron supplies render it probable that the increase of population until 1890 will exceed the present rate, and that the census will demonstrate remarkable facts about the greatest of Southern cities.
The healthfulness of Louisville is remarkable, there being few cities in the United States which rank so high in that particular so important to persons seeking homes. The city is absolutely free from the epidemics characteristic of the far South, and the climate being equable and temperate it is free from the objections that beset both extremes of country. The cause of the healthfulness is to be found in abundance of pure water, broad streets, and pure air, perfect sewer drainage, and excellent sanitary regulations. These taken together enable her to occupy the lowest place in the table of mortality rates last published by the United States government in 1885 :
ANNUAL DEATH-RATE PER 1,000 INHABITANTS.
New Orleans
28.5
Boston
21.9
St. Louis
25.2
Milwaukee
21.9
New York
24.9
Hartford .
21.7
Richmond, Va.
24.5
Lowell
20.6
Chattanooga
23.8
Chicago 19.2
Detroit
23.3
Pittsburgh . 18.7
Cincinnati
23.3
Indianapolis
18. I
Philadelphia . 23.3
Nashville (white) 14.6
Newark, N. J.
23. 1
Nashville (colored). 58.8
Brooklyn
22.9
Louisville .
17.4
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In IS86 the number of deaths was 2,800; in 1887 (year ending August 31), 2,862, an increase of but 62 in spite of the unexampled drouthy summer, during which the temperature was higher than ever before known in the history of the city.
Health Officer Galt, in analyzing the report for ISS7, furnishes the number of deaths by months as follows :
August, 1886 .
216 March, 1887
167 September,
Octoher,
21I
May, June, .4
232 July,
254
February
303 January, I887 200
244 Total 2,862
"In 1886 there were one hundred and seventeen deaths from typhoid fever, eighty-five from cholera infantum, fifty-one from diphtheria, and nine from scarlet fever. Last year, notwithstanding the long and fearfully hot spell so daugerous alike to old people, infants, and invalids, we had but one hundred and twenty-one from typhoid fever, one hundred and four from cholera infantum, one hundred and niue from diphtheria, and hut two from scarlet fever. Scarlet fever is a common disease among children, and is often prevalent. No city in the United States of half the size of Louisville can turu to the records and show less than two deaths in a year from scarlet fever." The annual death-rate of Louisville for 1886 was 16., and in 1887 it is about 14.53.
The water supply of the city is obtained from the Ohio river at a point six miles above the wharf, the reservoirs being
WATER RESERVOIR CRESCENT HILL.
located on Crescent Hill, a beautiful property situated three miles from the city. The Water Company, the stock of which is possessed almost entirely hy the city, own several hundred acres of land adjoining, which will no doubt be converted into a park in a few years. The improve- ments at the reservoir are of the most costly description, and the distribution of water is, in some instances, continued outside the city limits. The growth of the water supply and its distribution since 18So, with the attachments, are given as follows :
DATE.
MILES OF PIPE.
NUMBER OF ATTACHMENTS.
January, I, 1880
IO8. 84
7.012
Laid in 1880 .
2.117
.223
=
188I
4.505
.441
1882 .
2.512
.346
1883
2.087
-437
1881
3-447
-53I
=
1885
3-307
-438
18S6
3.235
.535
Total to January 1, 1887
130.380
9.963
The increase in the supply of water furnished since 18So will also show the great growth in population necessary to use it. There is no more complete and admirable system of water-works in the United States than that in Louisville, which has a capacity of 10,000,000 gallons daily, and two suhsiding reservoirs with a capacity of 125,000,000 gallons. The enormous consumption and supply in gallons since ISSo is as follows :
18So
2,304,039,675
1883
2,936,801,700
IS81 .
2,931,438,825
IS84
3,251, 143,875
1882 .
2,616, SS2,450
I885
3.540,907, 125
The water-works, being almost entirely owned by the city, furnish all water used by the city free of cost. This includes fire-cisterns, fire-hydrants, city hall, court-house, engine-houses, station-houses, hospitals, public fountains, etc. The cost of the water thus furnished free is about $25,000 per year
B
9
278
April
177
November,
259 321 December,
The number of miles of paved streets, and the nature of the paving, in 1880, and the increase since, is shown as follows by the City Engineer :
YEAR.
BOWLDER.
M'ADAM.
WOODEN.
GRANITE.
ASPHALT.
GRAVEL.
BLOCK STONE.
TOTAL.
1880 .
13.55
106.03
7.64
. . . .
.20
2.76
.IO
130.18
1881
13.55
105.93
7.92
.20
2.76
.10
130.26
1882
13.55
107.96
7.47
-45
.20
2.76
.IO
132.49
1883
13.55
109.90
7.47
.45
.20
2.76
. IO
174.03
1884
14.10
107.00
6.10
5.28
3.62
2.76
.IO
138.99
1885
14.91
'108.20
6.10
6.40
3.62
2.76
.10
142.21
1886 .
15.65
108.80
6,10
6.90
3.82
2.76
.10
144.15
ALLEYS.
18So
25.71
1884 .
28.90
1881
25.71
1885
30.47
1882
26.77
1886
31.06
1883 .
27.50
Number of miles of sewers in 1886, 47; number of fire-cisterns in 1886, 4,314; number of public pumps in 1886, 1,118.
The police force of 1886 consisted of : Regular force, 150 men ; supernumeraries, twelve men ; on patrol-wagons, six men. Cost of maintaining Department of Police in 1886, $117,610.
For a great many years the losses by fire in Louisville have been under the average of other cities. In 1886, when the value of the buildings of Louisville was assessed at .$26,967,965, the loss by fire was $366,808, or a little more than one-teuth of oue per ceut. The cost of the department in that year was $126, 130. The fire department has always been liberally supported, and its celebrity among other cities for extraordinary efficiency is due to the general distribution of storage cisterus of water all over the city. These cisterns are filled from the water-mains and hold from 300 to 2,000 barrels each. All the engines needed at a fire can be massed at one or two cisterns within a few yards of the conflagra- tion, and only a short line of hose is necessary. This unusually safe and effective system has not been introduced any- where but in Louisville. The department has always been exceptionally well managed for effectiveness, and there is a strong public pride in its standard. The number of fire eugines in commission, thirteen; number of hook and ladder companies, two.
Following is a comparative statement of the losses and insurance and insurance premiums for seven years :
YEAR.
INSURANCE PREMIUM.
FIRE LOSS.
INSURANCE LOSS.
INSURANCE.
1880 .
$475,379
$191,668 63
$114,323 63
1881 .
646,343
173,826 00
144,769 00
1882
661,683
146,271 82
110,931 83
1883 .
695,445
119,662 65
112,642 00
$664,627 87
1884 .
712,300
151,348 09
132,389 56
520,475 00
1885
712,209
193,886 02
146,706 07
873,276 76
1886 .
751,687
366,808 12
213,458 36
1,801,002 19
This table shows that the gross average annual loss by fire in Louisville is a little over oue-twentieth of one per cent. of the value of the buildings, while the net loss over insurance is so trifling as not worthy to be computed.
The total value of property assessed for taxation in 1887 is $66,890,000, a very small amount, because capital, stock, and a great mauy other sources of productive wealth taxed elsewhere are relieved here in order to permit of its increase and to encourage investment. The tax levy for 1887 was $2.04 on the $100, and for 1888 will be $2.09.
The report of the Sinking Fund Commissioners shows the bonded debt of the city January 1, 1887, to have been $9,352,000, and has not been increased since. There was at the same date cash on hand $513,988.63, and au investment in bonds of $1,343,000; which, taken together, will reduce the bonded debt to $7,495,000. After the year 1888 the levy for the Sinking Fund will not exceed fifty-five cents. The average current expenses are $18,000 per year, and the income for 1887 in round numbers was $800,000.
The census of 1880 shows that the debt per capita of Louisville is very noticeably less than that of most cities of its class and above. The debt has been created to build railroads, sewers, granite streets, and other public improvements that will be monuments of the city's greatness for a century. The payment of the debts has been guaranteed by a Sinking Fund, which has been managed with such conspicuous fidelity and ability, as to the main object of its existence, as to insure the payment of the debt as it matures, and the cousequent steady reduction of the present low rate of tax- ation. A comparative table of debt per capita of cities is as follows :
Boston $77 84
New York $90 71
Brooklyn
67 13
Newark .
66 44
Chicago .
25 43
Philadelphia
64 0I
Cincinnati
86 20
Pittsburgh
90 38
Cleveland .
40 38
St. Louis
65 18
Jersey City
127 45
Washington 127 66
New Orleans
82 08
Louisville
39 19
It will be seen that Chicago is the only city in the list whose debt per capita is smaller than that of Louisville, but the tax rate of Chicago is much higher than in Louisville.
The educational facilities are of the most extensive and complete character. The public school system was of small efficiency before the war, and the present schools have been built up since 1865. This accounts for their practical and advanced nature, the organizers of the system being weighted by no established prejudices. The excellences of systems
longer established in other cities were combined with as few of the weaknesses as possible. Louisville was one of the first cities to provide for a practical business course of training for the boys and girls of the public schools whose aims and circumstances did not require or ask a classical finish. The High Schools now admit of a business course in which book-keeping and busi- with 13,498 in ISSo. ness usages are taught. The liberality with which the schools have been maintained bas re- sulted iu supplying the city with many very large and costly buildings. The Female High School, on First street, is a very handsome edifice, con- taining all modern con- venieuces and comforts. During the winter months night schools are kept iu every ward, open to those who are not able to attend during the day. For these schools the pu- pil age is extended and through them many grown persons have at- tained the rudiments of education and have achieved success in life. The colored night schools, iu particular,have afforded opportunities to many colored people who would not otherwise bave had the advantages of common knowledge. The Female High School has, iu 1887, introduced the teaching of stenog- raphy and type-writing, and girls who must rely upou their own ex- ertions for support will have an opportunity, free of cost, to prepare them- selves for those positious which so many of the sex have been taking during the past ten years. There are thirty-three public schools in Louis- ville, classified as follows: One Male High School, one Female High School, twenty-seven white ward schools, and six colored schools. There were 404 teachers employed in 1886, aud the total cost of the schools was $313,571 or $18.53 for each pupil. Tbe number of children of school age in the city in IS86 was 66,000 as com- pared with only 48, 837 in 1880, and the average daily attendance in 1886- FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL. 7 was 16,796 as compared
In addition to the public schools there are numerous flourishing
private schools and seminaries in which pupils are prepared for colleges. Each Catholic parish has its parochial school.
The following table will show the remarkable growth of the public school system since 1865 :
YEAR.
NUMBER ENROLLEO.
NUMBER REMAINING.
NUMBER BELONGING. ATTENDANCE
AVERAGE
AVERAGE NUMBER TEACHERS.
TOTAL COST OF SCHOOL.
COST PER CAPITA.
1864-65
9,388
5,890
6,073
5,209
I41.0
$103,425 05
$17 02
I865-66
9,719
6,310
6,478
5,629
1.41.0
109,539 98
16 90
I866-67
12,27I
7,7II
7,918
6,071
177.0
142,149 81
17 95
I867-68
14,054
8,639
9,016
8,048
193.0
148,329 26
16 45
1868-69
13,596
8,883
9.530
8,550
220.0
177.379 45
18 61
I869-70
13,593
9,089
9,705
8,720
237.6
188,883 81
19 46
1870-71
14,574
9,397
10, 174
9,180
264.9
213,445 41
20 98
1871-72
14,229
9,457
10,270
9,227
287.0
242,201 06
23 58
1872-73
15,334
10,355
10,729
9,316
288.6
247,354 89
23 05
1873-74
17,557
11,346
12,325
10,944
300.4
253,168 48
20 54
1874-75
17,593
11,755
12,807
11,55I
315.5
255,529 02
19 95
1875-76
17,538
12,250
13,301
11,951
328.3
272,278 98
20 47
1876-77
18,486
12,861
13,732
12,293
335.9
275,137 43
20 03
1877-78
19,292
13,374
14,234
12,999
319-5
277,046 43
19 46
1878-79
19,484
13,960
14,782
13.405
327.6
218,769 39
14 79
1879-80
19,990
13,761
15,051
13,498
320.8
197,699 10
13 13
18So-81
19, 189
13,734
14,802
13,270
326.5
218,693 56
14 77
1881-82
20, 186
14,108
15,390
14,760
358.2
245,852 24
15 97
1882-83
20, 131
1.4,240
15,389
13,902
370.9
267,114 33
17 35
1883-84
20,507
14,836
15.717
14,085
376.1
285,447 49
18 16
1884-85
20,06I
15,215
16,295
14,664
383.2
284,015 34
17 42
1885-86
20,964
15,795
16,926
15,27I
404.1
313,571 56
18 53
For many years the medical schools of Louisville have been recognized as among the finest in the world and the fame of their graduates has been international. There are four great medical colleges, attended annually by thousands of students, the University of Louisville, the Louisville Medical College, Hospital College of Medicine, and the Kentucky School of Medicine. The Louisville College of Dentistry, the Louisville School of Pharmacy for Women, and the Louisville College of Pharmacy are widely recognized institutions, affording opportunities for education in particular departments of surgical and medical science.
II
Other educational institutions are the Kentucky Institutions for the White and Colored Blind, among the noblest and most interesting establishments in the country. Attached to these is the government printing establishment for the blind. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, which was removed to Louisville in 1877, has flowered into a great school, with hundreds of studeuts. In 1887 work has progressed far upon the new semiuary building which will cost about $300,000. The dormitories have been constructed and are in use temporarily as instruction halls, the students meanwhile occupying the fine Standiford Hotel property as dormitories. There is also a Colored Theological Seminary known as the State University, conducted by a faculty of competent teachers. The Law Department of the University of Louisville is recognized as a successful school.
The Polytechnic School and Library is one of the largest and most invaluable educational establishments, and its methods and objects are so numerous and unique that the organization stands without a parallel among institutions of learning in the South. It maintains a library of more than 40,000 volumes, which number is constantly increasing by purchase and donation. The library is open, absolutely free to the public, thirteen hours every day except Sunday. The library room is 135 feet long and seventy-five in width. It is light, cheerful, beautifully furnished, thoroughly warmed and ventilated, and, being situated on the ground floor, is easy of access. Members of the society are privileged to take books to laboratory in which practical demonstrations of scientific suh- jects are made. The Troost and Lawrence Smith cabinets of min- erals, and the Og- tavia A. Shreve memorial cahi- net, containing mineral and oth- er specimens of great value and beauty are in the keeping of the society. Attached is a free art gal- lery of painting Another View of Broadway. and sculpture by American artists. their homes, and other reputable persons can se- cure annual membership by the payment of small fees. A course of free sci- entific lectures is provided annual- ly, and these have attained wide celebrity, re- ports of the lect- ures having been secured for publi- cation in many periodicals in this country and abroad. There is also an extensive including specimens by Joel Hart and Canova's " Hebe." Besides these means of instructions, which are absolutely free, the society provides for the organization of clubs, or academies, among its members for the cultivation of any branch of science, art, or useful knowledge which may especially interest any five or more members. Provision is also made for close instruction in various branches of knowledge at a cost barely sufficient to insure regular attendance. The success of the Polytechnic Society since its formation has been phenomenal. During the last seven years it has largely improved its building, purchased several thousand volumes of books, maintained the several departments above enumerated, aud paid off $60,000 of its bonded debt. Its present bonded debt is hut $40,000. It has no floating debt.
The church buildings of the city are 142 in number, and there are 135 organized parishes and congregatious, distrib- uted as follows : Baptist, 9; Christian, 7; Congregational, 2; Protestant Episcopal, 12; German Evangelical, 4; Ger- man Evangelical Reformed, 4 ; Jewish, 3; Lutheran, 4 ; Methodist Episcopal South, 11 ; Methodist Episcopal North, 6 ; Northern Presbyterian, 9; Southern Presbyterian, 7; Associate Reformed Presbyterian, 2; Unitarian, 1 ; Spiritual, 2 ; Catholic, 18; Faith Cure, I ; Gospel Missions, 3. Colored churches : Baptist, 15 ; Christian, I ; Protestant Episcopal, 2 ; Methodist Episcopal North, 13. Louisville is the seat of the Protestant Episcopal and the Roman Catholic dioceses. The Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption is oue of the finest edifices in the West. The church buildings are unusually costly and beautiful, and iu this respect Louisville is justly celebrated. The religious establishments com- prise seven convents and monasteries, a Young Men's Christian Association, supplied with libraries, reading-rooms, and gymnasium, and two branches, one for German-speaking people, the other for railroad employes.
In public and religious charities Louisville surpasses any city in the country, in proportion to population. There are thirty-eight of these institutions, among which the unfortunate or the erring, from the cradle to the grave, of all religious sects, and all social conditions, may find refuge. The public Alms-house cost $210,000, and persons who are unable to labor, or are helpless from age, are received there. The city also supports a public hospital, founded iu 1817, and which is one of the largest and finest buildings in Louisville. St. John's Eruptive Hospital is also under control of the Committee of Public Charities. The religious charities and hospitals are upon a very large and generous scale. The Church Home and Infirmary in the Highlands, above the city, is under the care of the Episcopal churches, and provides a home for aged and helpless and working women, and an infirmary for the sick of either sex. It was founded through the gift of $100,000 from John P. Morton. The John N. Norton Memorial Infirmary, for the nursing of the sick, is situated in the residence district on Third street, and is also under Episcopal management. These charities occupy magnificent buildings. Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital, for the nursing of sufferers by railway accident, St. Joseph's Infirmary, for nursing desperate cases and strangers, and the Home for the aged poor are three great charitable establishments under the care of the Catholic church. These aud the United States Marine Hospital and a number of private establishments, beside four free public dispensaries, provide for the convenient care of all public sufferers.
12
The city sustains three industrial schools of reform for juvenile delinquents. One is for white boys, auother for friendless girls, and the third for colored youth. The buildings are large and costly, and the grounds ornamental. These industrial schools are celebrated among philanthropists and those interested in prison reform.
The greatest and most unique charity in the city is the Masonic Widows' and Orphans' Home, the object of which is to "provide and sustain a home for destitute widows and orphaus of deceased Free Masons of the State of Kentucky, and an infirmary for the afflicted and sick Free Masons aud others who may be placed under its charge." This is the single charity of that character in the United States, and it is celebrated all over the world among Masous. The build- ing is the largest in the city, and is maintained by the free coutributions of Masonic lodges and the public. It is not too much to say that it is an institution in which the whole State takes pride, and to which contributions are made from all quarters of the country.
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