USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Municipal history of the town and city of Boston during two centuries : from September 17, 1630, to September 17, 1830 > Part 25
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wisdom and firmness of the City Council. The flats were filled up at an expense of less than nineteen thousand dollars ; and in September, 1832, the then City Council leased the wharf and dock rights for twenty years on an annual rent of ten thousand dollars, on condition that ten substantial brick stores, to the acceptance of the City Council, should be built thereon, and kept insured and in good order, and should revert to the city in fee simple at the end of the lease. In September, 1852, this wharf, dock rights, and stores will consequently revert to the city, and thus a property, which, in 1826, the City Council did not venture to estimate higher than one hundred thousand dollars, has, by the wisdom and foresight of successive City Councils, risen, at this day, to the value of at least four hundred thousand dollars.1
1 See page 203.
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CHAPTER XVII. CITY GOVERNMENT. 1828.
JOSIAH QUINCY, Mayor.
'The Annexation of South Boston to the Ancient City, and the Difficulties attending it - Project of Semi-Annual Sales of Domestic Manufactures in the City - The Hall over the New Market appropriated for the Object - Question concerning the Eligibility of Members of the City Council to City Offices - State and Progress of the Fire Department - Resignation of the Chief Engineer - Ilis Gratuitous Services - Vote of Thanks to him by the City Council - Prosperous State of City Affairs - The Mayor declines being a Candidate for Reelection - Harrison Gray Otis chosen Mayor.
AT the commencement of the present century, the tract of land, now called South Boston, was a part of the town of Dorchester, and inhabited by a few families, chiefly engaged in agriculture. At that period, it was purchased by a number of enterprising citizens, most of whom were capitalists, who ob- tained from the inhabitants of Boston a vote authorizing an application to the Legislature of the State for its annexation to that town. As the original project contemplated the erection of a bridge from South Street, or Sea Street, to South Boston, a violent opposition to the plan arose among the proprietors of wharves lying above the proposed site. After warm disens- sions in the public newspapers and town meetings, the propo- sition resulted in a compromise, fixing the locality of the bridge above most of the wharves, whose proprietors were thus relieved from the apprehended obstruction of the channel; but, at the same time, the expectations of immediate profit formed by the original associates in the project were materially diminished. To carry into effect the compromise, three acts were passed by the Legislature of the State on the same day (sixth of March, 1804.) By the first, the part of Dorchester now called South Boston was annexed to Boston. By the second, the proprietors of the purchased lands were constituted a corporation, with authority to erect a bridge from the southwesterly part of Boston to Dor-
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chester Neck. By the third, the proprietors of certain lands at the south part of Boston were authorized to open a street from Rainsford Lane to the proposed site of the new bridge.
The several powers granted by these acts were executed, in conformity with the compromise. The population of South Boston gradually increased until the year 1822, when the pro- ject of building a bridge from South or Sea Street revived, and constituted one of the most important and exciting topies of discussion during the two first administrations of the city go- vernment. All the bitter animosities and apprehensions were renewed, which the compromise of 1804 had allayed. No efli- cient support was, however, obtained for the measure until March, 1824. A petition from the inhabitants of South Boston was then presented to a general meeting of the inhabitants of the city, and a vote was passed, after several days debate, by a great majority -2,487 in the affirmative, 779 in the negative - requesting the City Government to petition the Legislature for liberty to erect the proposed bridge. The City Council pre- pared and presented a petition, in conformity with the vote of the citizens ; but the conflicting passions and interests the sub- ject excited succeeded in postponing any conclusive measure until the twenty-fifth of February, 1825. A bill then passed the Legislature, authorizing the city to build a bridge, to be free of toll from or near Sea or South Street to South Boston. This act was referred in the City Council to the Mayor, Aldermen Bax- ter, Odiorne, and Child, and to S. K. Williams, Russell, Ballard, Lodge, and Lincoln of the Common Council. They reported,- that the City ought not to erect the bridge, but recommended that a committee should be appointed to advertise for proposals to build it, indemnify the City from all expenses, and compen- sation for damages, and to comply with all the requisitions of the act of the Legislature. The Committee who made this report were authorized by the City Council to issue such pro- posals. On the sixteenth of May, they stated to that body, that they had issued and advertised for proposals, but no 'application of any kind had been received in reference to the object; and, therefore, recommended to the City Council to take no farther measures on the subject. This report was accepted in both branches.
Other attempts to harmonize these conflicting interests, such as
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appointing commissioners, and endeavoring to purchase South Boston Bridge by means of subscriptions, were wholly unsuc- cessful. The friends of the original project, therefore, applied to the Legislature, and, by an act passed in March, 1826, obtained a repeal of the act of February, 1825, and an authority for the petitioners, with others, to build the proposed bridge, provided it should be done in such manner as the city of Boston should approve ; - the corporation, thus constituted, to be subject to all damages resulting from its erection, light it, keep it in repair, and provide facilities for raising the draw, until the city of Boston should assume the care of it, when the corporation was to be relieved from all these obligations. The act contained also a provision granting to the city of Boston the right to build the bridge, if they availed themselves of the privilege within three months. As the corporation could not proceed until the decision of the city was known, they immediately submitted the act to the City Council, and asked a conference on the subject. This application was referred to the Mayor, Aldermen Bellows, Mar- shall, and Loring, who, after deliberation and conference with the applicants, reported, that it was inexpedient for the City Coun- cil to take any order in relation to the right and liberty to build the bridge conferred on the city by the act.
The subject remained in this state until January, 1827, when the corporation communicated to the city goverment their intention to build the bridge; and, after stating the material of which they proposed to construct it, submitted the mode and the manner of constructing it to the decision of the City Conn- cil, and inquired whether the city would assume the care of the bridge and the obligation to keep it in repair, light it, and pro -. vide facilities for raising the draw, after it should be constructed.
This application was referred to the Mayor, Aldermen Bel- lows, Welsh, and Boies, and to Messrs. James, Morey, Russell, Phillips, Hallett, Howe, and Dyer, of the Common Council. In this committee were discussed all the questions growing out of the inquiries of the corporation ; also, whether it should proceed from South Street or Sea Street, and how the expense attending the enlargement of it, which was contemplated, should be dis- bursed; and whether it should be accepted by the city even after it should be built in the manner prescribed by the City Council. All these questions were debated with great zeal by the respect-
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ive parties. Several meetings were held, - times and places were appointed, at which all persons interested might appear before the Committee; and upon most of them the Committee were nearly equally divided. A snb-committee had made a report at large, and concluded in favor of the bridge's proceeding from South Street, by a majority of three out of five. This report the Committee rejected, and substituted Sea Street for South Street, by a majority of seven ont of twelve. And on the twenty-second of February they reported, by a like majority, that the bridge should be built from Sea Street; and that, if made and finished in such manner as the City Council should dircet, it would be expedient to accept the bridge, light, keep it in repair, and provide facilities for the draw, so long as South Boston should remain a part of the city of Boston. This report was accepted in both branches of the City Council, and a series of resolutions passed, in conformity with the recommendation of the Committee, specifying the mode in which the bridge should be built, and the terms on which it would be accepted, and a committee of the City Council and a competent engineer to superintend building the bridge, and to see that the terms were complied with, were appointed.
Notwithstanding these precautions, when, in June, 1828, the bridge was offered to the City Council for their acceptance, opposition to the measure revived, and remonstrances against its acceptance were presented. The City Council, however, early in July, discharged the Superintendent, and the Common Coun- cil voted to accept the bridge. In this, however, the Mayor and Aldermen did not concur, and appointed a committee, who made a report, accepted by the Board of Aldermen, and non- concurred in the Common Council. The disagreement between the two branches was finally brought to a close by the appoint- ment of a joint-committee, consisting of the Mayor, Aldermen Loring, Fennelly, Pickering, Upham and Armstrong, and of Messrs. Betton, Seaver, Paine, Howe and Pickman of the Com- mon Couneil, with full powers, to accept the free bridge, and to submit all differences to the arbitration of three persons mutu- ally to be chosen, with powers also in the Committee to carry their award into effect, and report the result to the City Council.
Loammi Baldwin, Samuel Hubbard, and Willard Phillips were appointed referees, in conformity with this authority; and
:
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on the seventh of October, 1828, the Committee reported to the City Council the award of these referees, which was, in effect, that " the public convenience required that the city should forth- with accept the said bridge, and, in consequence of its unfinished state, that the corporation should pay to the city sixteen hun- dred and seven dollars, and deliver to it certain enumerated deeds." The Committee recommended, that a vote should be passed by both branches of the City Council, authorizing a ful- filment of the conditions of the award. A vote was passed in conformity with this recommendation ; and this long, perplexing, and exciting controversy was thns brought to a final conclusion.
The apparent intimate connection between the prosperity of the city and of that of the manufacturing interests of the State and vicinity, led to the expression of a general desire, that an attempt should be made to foster those interests, by an exhibi- tion and sale of domestic mannfactures annually within the city. The Mayor, coinciding with these views, in October, 1825, recommended, by special message, the subject to the attention of the City Council, and suggested the adaptation of the hall over the New Market to this project, and the policy of appro- priating it in whole or in part to carry it into effect. This com- munication was referred to the Mayor, Aldermen Bellows, Mar- shall, and Bryant, and to Messrs. Williams, Hallett, Parker, Barry, and Boies, of the Common Council.
In consequence of this movement, varions plans and propo- sitions were made and discussed between the Committee or its members, and persons interested in manufactures ; and in Jan- uary, 1826, on the petition of Patrick 'T. Jackson, in behalf of an association, for the public exhibition or sale of domestic manu- factures, the Committee reported that the petitioners should have, for the purposes of such exhibition and sale, the use of so much of the upper story of the New Market House as they might require for the present year, not exceeding twenty days in the spring and twenty days in the autumn. Their report was accepted in both branches.
And in the ensuing July, on the petition of the Society for the promotion of Mannfactures and the Mechanic Arts, the entire hall over the New Market, or as much as might be necessary or convenient for them, was devoted to their use, during the months of September and October, for the purposes of exhibition and
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sales of domestic goods and mechanic inventions, free of all charges ; and, on the twelfth of September, the first auction sale under this grant was hollen. In January and July, 1827, the New England Society for the promotion of Mannfactures and Mechanic Arts petitioned for the same privilege, and the City Council granted the use of the hall for the exhibition and sale of domestic manufactures and wool, for twenty days in March and twenty days in August.
The success of these exhibitions and sales led to a petition, in the ensuing November, having for its object to place the accom- modation they had received from the use of the hall on a more permanent footing, which, being referred to the Mayor, Alder- men Loring and Savage, and Messrs. Dorr, Russell, Parker, and Ward, a report was made by them, stating that the sole ob- jeet of this Society was to effect, through the means of semi- annual auction sales of domestic manufactures a change in the course of business, by bringing foreign purchasers to the domes- tic market, and thus relieving our manufacturers from the neces- sity of seeking a market in other States and countries; that the Society had few funds, and derived no emolument what- ever from its labors; that the effect of such semi-ammal sales could not but be highly advantageous to the progressive pros- perity of the city, and the advantage, in the opinion of the Committee, was a sufficient justification and inducement to the City Council for such an appropriation of the hall over the Market as the petitioners solicit. Thus far, the experiment of these auction sales had been as successful as could reasonably have been expected ; the gross proceeds of all the three semi- annual sales had amounted to upwards of $956,000. The tendency of them to bring foreign purchasers, at the season of these sales, to this metropolis, and the effect on its prosperity, direct and incidental, were so obvious and unquestionable, that the Committee could not hesitate to recommend such an acqui- escence in the prayer of the petition as will place the subject, at all times, under the control of the City Council, and yet give the petitioners the assurance of the permanent patronage of the institution by the City Government, until a future City Council should take a different view of the interests of the city. The Committee recommended that the New England Society for the promotion of Manufactures and Mechanic Arts should have
£
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the hall for the purpose of their annual sales from the fifteenth of March to the fifteenth of April, and from the fifteenth of August until the fifteenth of September, until the further order of the City Council, and that six months notice should be given to the Society of the rescinding of this privilege.
This report was accepted in both branches of the City Council.
These semi-annual sales not only produced those advantages to the city, which had been anticipated, but proved highly bene- ficial to the manufacturing interests ; all the various classes of which were well represented in them. They were numerously attended by traders from all parts of the United States. Some of the best purchasers from the South and West were attracted by them to the city, some of whom became subsequently regular customers. The prices obtained were generally quite satisfac- tory to the owners of the goods, and advantageous to all parties. Between September, 1826, and March, 1832, there were twelve of such sales. The total amount of the proceeds cannot be at this day (1851) exactly ascertained ; but they cannot be esti- mated at less than from five to six millions of dollars ; since two only of the auctioneers1 employed in those sales, disposed of more than $4,645,000 in value. Notwithstanding this success, these semi-annual sales were discontinued in 1832; for reasons never, it is believed, officially stated, but generally attributed to the influence of certain large commission merchants and jobbers, who imagined that these sales interfered with their particular interests. This discontinuance was, however, in direct oppo- sition to the opinion of many of our most intelligent merchants and manufacturers, who regarded these sales as among the most effective means of advancing and prospectively giving a great impulse to the prosperity of the city, as well as promoting the manufacturing interests of the State. In these views the late Patrick T. Jackson zealously concurred ; and no citizen, at that period, watched over the interest of both with a more practical, philosophie, and patriotic spirit.
In June, 1827, a question was raised in the Common Coun- cil, whether a member of the City Council could be legally appointed by them a surveyor of boards and lumber. The sub- ject was referred to the Mayor and Alderman Savage, and to
1 Whitwell, Bond & Co .; Coolidge, Poor & Head.
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Messrs. Gray, James, and Morey, of the Common Council, who reported, -
That there are two clauses of the city charter, which restrict the eligibility to office of members of the City Council ; the one contained in the twenty-first, and the other in the twenty-second section of that instrument. The former is in these words : " Provided, however, that no person shall be eligible to any office, the salary of which is payable out of the city treasury, who, at the time of his appointment, shall be a member either of the Board of Aldermen or Common Council." As the salary, or compensation of a surveyor of boards and lumber, is not pay- able out of the city treasury, the eligibility to this office of a member of either branch of the City Council is not affected by the proviso. The remaining clause is in these words : - " And neither the Mayor, nor any Alderman, or member of the Com- mon Council, shall, at the same time, hold any office under the City Government." The Committee were of opinion, that the office of surveyor of boards and lumber, not being created by the City Government, nor the officer responsible to it, is not such an office as a member of the City Council is prohibited from holding under the above recited clause of the twenty-second article of the City Charter.
The Report was accepted by both branches of the City Council.
During the years 1827 and 1828, the spirit in which the Fire Department had been in the preceding year instituted was sus- tained and invigorated. Mr. Harris had been in each year suc- cessively reelected to the office of chief engineer, unanimously, in both branches of the City Council. The discipline of the de- partment had been maintained by him and the other officers and members. In 1826, one company of enginemen had been dis- missed for insubordination ; and in 1827, another discharged for remissness in their duty as enginemen. In both instances, new companies were readily formed. Engine-houses were enlarged; the accommodation of the engine companies increased. The great deficiencies of the old engines, in respect of active service, were supplied. These improvements, and the almost entire. change of apparatus, in order to adapt it to effective operations under the new system, led unavoidably, as has already been stated, to great expenditures, wholly withont precedent in the
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previous system of protection against fire.1 In a report, made by a committee of the City Council, the nature and causes of these expenditures were detailed and explained. Under other circum- stances, the amount would have probably given rise to severe popular animadversions; but the efficiency of the new system, and the general satisfaction with its success, silenced complaint. The requisite appropriations were always passed, in both branches of the City Council, without difficulty, and ahnost without cavil. At this period, the number of active members of the department, officers of all ranks included, amounted to twelve hundred strong, chiefly young men, under the command of one chief, and twelve assistant engineers ; all selected, with great care, from men of suitable age and characteristic activity.
The whole Fire Department being in this state of high disci- pline and preparation, on the eighth of October, 1828, the Chief Engineer addressed a letter to the Mayor resigning his office, on account of the inadequacy of his health to its duties; and, after expressing " his obligations to the officers and members of it, for their prompt and willing cooperation in bringing the new system into efficiency," added, "that the department was adequate to all the purposes of its establishment, and possessed a body of men, whose alacrity, zeal, and devotedness could not be sur- passed." The Mayor postponed communicating this resigna- tion to the City Council, and made various endeavors to induce Mr. Harris to withdraw it, all of which proved fruitless. On the. eighth of December, therefore, having communicated the resigna- tion of the Chief Engineer to the Board of Aldermen, and it having been accepted by them, the Mayor transmitted to the City Council a message stating that " it was now nearly three years since Colonel Harris had been appointed to that office, and that during this period an entire renovation had been effected in that department, the number of its members greatly increased, and a spirit of harmony, subordination, and efficiency introduced into it highly honorable to those who compose it, as well as to the city, and, it was believed, universally satisfactory to our fellow-citizens.
" In all the arrangements connected with these improvements, the zeal, intelligence, and firmness of Samuel Devens Harris, in
1 See page 205.
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the office of Chief Engineer, had been conspicuous, and emi- nently contributed to their adoption and success. At the time of his appointment, the expectation was generally entertained, that a salary would be annexed to that office, and the prin- ciple on which the new organization of that department was advocated and adopted, in both branches of the City Council, amounted to an assurance that an adequate compensation would be fixed for his services. He had, however, held the office but a short time,1 before he particularly requested the Mayor not to bring the subject of his compensation before the City Council, assigning as a reason, that, having the command of a depart- ment consisting wholly of volunteers, he was of opinion that his influence and usefulness would be disadvantageously affected by his acceptance of a salary. The conduct of this officer, in every thing relative to the discipline, orderly arrangement, and efficiency of the department, had been so exemplary and disinterested, that the Mayor deemed it his duty to recommend the subject to the consideration of the City Council, that such an expression of their 'sense of his services may be made, as they should deem just and suitable."
This message was referred to a joint committee, consisting of Aldermen Loring and Hall, and Messrs. Oliver, Everett, Means, and Aspinwall, of the Common Council. On the twenty-second of December, this Committee reported the following order for the adoption of the City Council : -
" Whereas, the City Conneil hold in high estimation the services rendered this city by Sammel Devens Harris, late Chief Engineer of the Fire Department,. and are convinced that the general spirit of harmony, of subordination, and efficiency, which characterize that department, and render it highly honorable to those who compose it, and useful to the city, is to be attributed, in a great degree, to the intelligence, the zeal, and active exertions of its late chief, -
It is therefore Ordered, That the thanks of the City Council be, and they hereby are, presented to Samuel Devens Harris, for the faithful, arduous, and highly useful services, gratuitously rendered by him for nearly three years, in the office of Chief Engineer of the Fire Department."
This Report, being read and accepted, the Order was passed, by a unanimous vote, in both branches of the City Council. .
The seventh year of the city government (1828) had passed
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