USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 85
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FLINT BOARD OF COMMERCE.
Aiding materially in the growth and progress of the city is the Flint Board of Commerce, which was organized in June, 1906, as the Flint Im- provement League. It was projected at an informal gathering of a large number of citizens, in response to their unanimously expressed conviction that there was need for a broad and unhampered organization to give ex- pression to, and to promote, civic ideals, which were either dormant or languid because lacking in united support and adequate opportunity of real- ization.
The history of the organization has justified its founding. It could be shown that it has produced many concrete and valuable results in the vari- ous phases of civic life-commercial, industrial, aesthetic, political and moral; but its most worthy contribution to municipal well-being cannot be reckoned in statistics, for its chief value lies in its power as a life-giving spirit rather than a mechanical force.
Its efficiency and usefulness to the community are demonstrated by the increasing interest in its work and by the large additions to its mem- bership. In 1909 the scope of its operations was widened, its name changed to Flint Board of Commerce and its constitution revised.
In the early days of the organization the dues were but one dollar per annum, but in 1912 it was realized that to do more constructive work a greater income was necessary. At this time a campaign for members was carried on and the dues raised to twelve dollars. This permitted the em- ployment of a salaried secretary and the maintenance of a regular office.
The city grew and greater demands were put upon the organization. (50)
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The income realized from annual dues of twelve dollars did not measure up to the demands. The officers realized that something must be done. In May, 1916, a membership campaign was conducted which resulted in fifteen hun- dred memberships. At the same time a complete reorganization was effected, a new set of constructive by-laws was adopted, which provided for annual dues of twenty-five dollars.
Immediately following the campaign the old officers and directors resigned and the large new membership was permitted to nominate and elect a new board by ballot sent out through the mail.
A poll of the membership was taken to learn what each individual con- sidered matters of importance that should be undertaken. As a result a definite program of work was developed. Special committees are appointed from time to time to put into action the various planks of the program.
The first big problem to receive attention was the matter of providing houses for the rapidly-increasing population. This resulted in the organiza- tion of the Civic Building Association, with a capital of two hundred thou- sand dollars and the following officers: W. W. Mountain, president; Leon- ard Freeman, vice-president; A. G. Bishop, treasurer, and J. E. Burroughs, secretary. This organization is planning and contemplates the erection of a large number of houses as rapidly as possible.
The necessity of a definite city plan has been under consideration by a special committee. The common council has been approached, with a result that the mayor has appointed a special committee composed of three aldermen and three citizens to go into the matter.
Year-round supervised recreation, a modern city charter and several other big problems are all receiving due consideration and study to the end that the city will be prepared in all of its departments to meet and take care of its rapidly increasing population.
The officers elected July 1, 1916, were: President, Leonard Freeman; first vice-president, J. Dallas Dort; second vice-president, Walter P. Chrysler ; treasurer, Grant J. Brown. Regular meetings of the board are held the last Wednesday of each month.
PARKS AND BOULEVARDS.
Flint until 1906 gave very little, if any, attention to parks and boule- vards. At that time there were two small parks, the First Ward park and Hamilton park, located on Detroit street.
During the years 1905 and 1916, J. D. Dort presented to the city
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plans for an elaborate park and boulevard system, as prepared by Warren H. Manning, of Boston, one of the best-known landscape architects of the country, provided that its new charter, then under way, would create a park commission for the purpose of developing and carrying out as far as practicable this new system of parks and boulevards. This plan was accordingly accepted by the city and became a part of the new charter in August, 1906.
Thus came into being for Flint a system of parks, to be connected with boulevard drives and parkways, which might eventually mean as much to the city as the elaborate systems which are the show places of many of the larger cities, particularly in the East. The Manning system embraces all land seemingly of but little value and available along the banks of the rivers and ravines throughout the city, following the Flint river to the north limits of the city; thence along the Gilkey creek ravine from the Flint river to the Thread lake, along the southeasterly part of the city skirting the shores of this lake to Thread lake park; thence westerly to the Deming road; then to the Fenton road, following the bluffs to the intersection of Thread and Swartz creeks; thence westerly to the grounds of the school for the deaf. From this point, it is probable it will follow the roadways to the westerly side of the Glenwood cemetery, and from there it will connect with the boulevard skirting the westerly and northerly shores of the Flint river in the extreme westerly part of the city.
Much of the land required for this work has already been secured by gift, extending on both sides of the Flint river above the Saginaw street bridge, continuing to the Hamilton avenue bridge, also a considerable dis- tance along the easterly bluff of the Gilkey creek, and, with that which is now under negotiation, will extend from the Flint river to Howard avenue, which will then carry the boulevard to the banks of Thread lake. There are also included several pieces of land in the southwesterly part of the city, along the northerly bank of the Flint river, and in the westerly part of the city.
Much attention has also been given to acquiring land for parks, which now consists of the following: Oak park, about six acres; Dort School park, about four acres; Water Works park, about eight acres; Willson park, about three acres; Athletic park, about five acres; Thread Lake park, about twenty acres; Woodlawn park, about six acres; Fourth Ward park, about two acres; Kearsley park, about sixty acres; Crapo island, about two acres, together with the First Ward and Hamilton parks originally owned by the city, making a total area of one hundred and fifteen acres.
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The development of these places has been hampered by the lack of funds, the park board being able to complete but a few of the parks and only the preliminary work along the boulevards. However, public interest is being aroused to the necessity of completing these parks for the welfare and recre- ation of the public, especially for those who are unable to seek enjoyment elsewhere. This increasing interest becoming evident with the city authori- ties as well, the allowance for 1916 was much more liberal and will thus enable the park board to make considerable headway in this work.
It will no doubt require the untiring work and patience of the park board for some years to complete the work, but Flint will ultimately have a system of drives and breathing spots, together with amusement parks, which it can well be proud of and to which it could in future years add other drives into the surrounding country along the elevations overlooking Flint, which are most beautiful and attractive.
OFFICERS OF THE FLINT PARK BOARD.
The Flint park board was created in August, 1906, consisting of the following members :
Walter Hasselbring, term expired 1908; Dr. F. L. Tupper, term ex- pired 1909; Fred W. Brennan, term expired 1910; George E. Pomeroy, term expired 1911 ; Dr. F. D. Clarke, term expired 1912.
Walter Hasselbring, re-appointed, term expired 1913; Dr. F. L. Tupper, re-appointed, term expired 1914; Horace C. Spencer, re-appointed, term ex- pired 1915; George E. Pomeroy, re-appointed, term expired 1916; Dr. C. B. Burr (appointed to fill vacancy caused by Dr. F. D. Clarke's death), term expires 1917; Patrick R. Doherty, term expires 1918; George E. Mckinley, term expires 1919; Horace C. Spencer, re-appointed, term to expire in 1920 (resigned) ; Charles S. Mott, term expires 1921; George E. Pomeroy, re-appointed, term expires 1920.
Present Members-Dr. C. B. Burr, president; C. S. Mott, treasurer ; G. E. Pomeroy, secretary ; George E. Mckinley, Patrick R. Doherty.
WATERWORKS AND SEWERS.
In 1912 there was opened a new waterworks filtration plant, costing four hundred thousand dollars, with a pumping capacity of twenty-three million gallons per day, furnishing filtered water which is shown by chem- ical analysis to be 98 per cent. pure. . In 1916 the water board, realizing
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that the plant was soon to be taxed to its utmost capacity and that many sections of the city were still without water, asked for four hundred thou- sand dollars for the construction of a large addition to the plant, including a water-softening equipment and the extension of its high pressure service mains. On July 1, 1916, there are eighty-five miles of water pipes, with more proposed lines in the year of 1917.
There was also begun a comprehensive plan of sewer construction, with the separation of sanitary and storm-water sewage, together with intercept- ing sewers joining the sanitary sewers so as to carry this sewage to a point below the city when it becomes necessary to build a disposal plant. Of sewers there are one hundred and fifteen miles, with twenty-five miles more proposed for 1917. On January 1, 1913, there were forty-two and one-half miles of sewers in the city. The sewer mileage added yearly since then has shown an increase every year as follows: Built in 1913, five miles; 1914, twenty-one miles; 1915, twenty-two miles, and 1916, twenty-five miles, making in 1916 a total of one hundred and fifteen and one-half miles.
PAVING AND SIDEWALKS.
There are some two hundred miles of streets in the city. Of these, thirty-three miles are paved. The paving is now going on at the rate of from eight to ten miles a year, and ten miles more are proposed for 1917. the pavement construction being planned to give an improved system of driveways to all parts of the city.
There are in Flint approximately one million square feet of cement sidewalks, averaging five feet in width. Of this total, four hundred and fifty thousand was built prior to 1914.
In addition to doing the vast amount of work in the years of 1913 to 1916, inclusive, the city has purchased a large amount of equipment for street and sewer work, including about fifteen thousand dollars' worth of machinery for building sewers and thirty-four thousand and fifty-five dol- lars' worth of street equipment, including an asphalt plant inventoried at fourteen thousand six hundred and seven dollars. The city also purchased an immense gravel pit near Otisville, reducing the cost of this material to a minimum. The cost of the gravel pit was between three thousand and four thousand dollars, and the yield during the first year, 1916, indicates a sup- ply that will last for twenty years.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The fire department of the city is acknowledged to be one of the most modern in the United States. All of its apparatus is of the latest design and is motor-driven except one piece which is kept in the North End, where a motor vehicle might get mired in the mud roads. For this fire department, the city pays $61,385.32 a year. The department of 1916 includes forty- three paid men, including the chief, assistant chief and captains of the various. companies. As the result of its improved department, restrictions with respect to building, and its water supply, Flint has become a second- rate risk insurance city, being one of the few cities in the United States so rated by underwriters.
The following firemen constitute the city force for 1916: E. H. Price, George Hanna, Victor Watson, John Rose, William Scheuble, Josche Thom- son, Charles Cole, Clarence Snyder, Joseph Callahan, Del. Eckley, Ira Welch, Harry King, Loren Hill, Harry Webber, Charles Norgate, Fred Hickok, Charles Gilbride, Oren Parkhurst, John Bartlett, Edward Bailey, Guy Pellett, Asa Root, Allie Coggins, Harlow Green, Fred Richards, Harl Johnson, Herbert Hill, Walter DeVogue, Floyd McInally, Hugh Ralston, Wesley Marr, Lewis Wenzel, Thomas Harry, Loren Sayers, Earl Case, William O'Callaghan, Lee Bowerman, Archer Randt, Jay Mills, Levalley Nichols, F. E. Castello, Roy Hitchens, George Schofield.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The police department in 1916 includes a chief, captain, three sergeants and thirty-nine patrolmen. The department has all motor equipment. It has a flashlight signal and call box system combined, which, with lines under construction in 1916, will give complete protection to all quarters of the city. Plans are under consideration in 1916 for the construction of a new municipal building to provide room for a new police headquarters, city jail and two police courts. The department for 1916 includes: J. P. Cole, chief ; A. J. Suff, captain; A. H. Gilbert, sergeant; T. L. Maclean, sergeant ; John Buckley, sergeant; Patrolmen, F. E. Jewell, Wallace Sayre, E. E. Rob- ertson, F. A. Klann, S. E. Best, C. R. Hatch, William Bates, Leroy White, Verne Peltier, William H. Buckler, Frank Moore, Theo. John, Loran D. English, Victor J. Frielink, Guy Welch, Ivy Pelton, George Macomber, John Deering, Lee English, Roy E. Page, William Cornford, H. L. Smithers, Anthony Zacharias, James Hutchinson, Charles Jenkins, Charles M. Thorn-
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ton, Anthony Puskas, Romanus Stull, David Boshart, Verne Brown, Arthur Gladden, George A. La Clair, John Setterington, George H. Iames.
Another well-organized city department is the board of health. This department has a paid supervisor of the public health, a municipal nurse who makes a specialty of caring for tuberculosis cases, two sanitary inspec- tors, and has also supervision of the plumbing and dairy and food inspectors. That this department is doing effective work is shown by the 1915 Michi- gan vital statistics record, which gives the death rate of Flint as 10.5 per one thousand of population, while the rate for the entire state for the year was 33.3 per one thousand of population.
GENERAL MOTORS EMERGENCY HOSPITAL.
An institution which is proving of value to the industrial center of Flint is the General Motors Emergency Hospital, operated in connection with the welfare department of the General Motors corporation, which was opened January 17, 1916. Pending the removal to a permanent hospital plant and which will be ready for occupancy about January 1, 1917, the present hospital is located in the building formerly erected as a station by the Detroit United Railway, on Hamilton avenue. Dr. David L. Treat, formerly of Adrian, Michigan, was placed in charge of the welfare work and is assisted by Dr. M. R. Sutton and Dr. J. W. Lillie, with Miss Jessie Scott as head nurse. The number of emergency cases cared for each month average two thousand, or about one hundred a day, the more serious cases being cared for at Hurley Hospital.
MICHIGAN STATE TELEPHONE COMPANY.
So rapid has been the growth of the city of Flint that the Michigan State Telephone Company has been bending its energies to meet the demand. A most creditable record has been made considering its facilities and the enormous demand which has been made upon its capacity. The number of telephones in Flint in 1914 was 4,100, which increased in 1915 to 4,700, an addition of 600 stations. Extensions of lines and enlargement of switch- board facilities to take care of this business necessitated the investment of approximately forty thousand dollars, which is fifteen thousand dollars more than was expended in 1914, when the number of new telephones in- stalled was 275. From January 1, 1916, to July 1, 1916, fourteen hundred and sixty-one telephones were installed, bringing the total number of stations
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to date, 5,649. The company has also increased its toll facilities from January 1, 1916, to July 1, 1916, sixty per cent., the switchboard facilities forty per cent. and the employment facilities twenty-five per cent., making a most creditable showing for the past six months. The telephone company occupies a handsome structure, which was erected in 1910 on the corner of First and Buckham streets. The exchange is under the management of E. N. Hardy, and the total number of employees is one hundred and twenty-five.
STEAM AND ELECTRIC RAILROAD CONDITIONS.
Feeling the influence of the general growth, the railways of Flint have evidenced an exceptional increase in business compared with 1914, both in passenger and freight traffic. The freight division of the Detroit United Railway showed in 1915 an increase of twenty per cent. over 1914. The year was reported to be the most successful the company has enjoyed since the establishment of the freight business. The Pere Marquette and Grand Trunk railway systems experienced an average increase of about thirty-five per cent. in 1915 over the year of 1914.
The Pere Marquette in 1916 has ten yard engines in commission with- in the city limits, and the gross freight handled in 1915 exceeded that of any other point on the line, with the exception of Detroit. In the year 1916 the company is expending two hundred thousand dollars in the construction of a roundhouse and many miles of sidetrack. For the accommodation of the factory workers who live in Saginaw and Bay City, the Pere Marquette runs a "week-end special," leaving Flint Saturday at noon and returning on Sunday evening.
The Grand Trunk railroad is also constructing many miles of side- tracks in the vicinity of the Chevrolet plant, and also in the eastern portion of the city.
The Detroit United Railway, on account of the greatly augmented freight business, has outgrown its quarters, the car barns being moved to Thirteenth street, where new accommodations are provided, and where also a handsome two-story building has been erected for office purposes, the old barns on Third avenue being utilized to enlarge the freight facilities. This company during the year 1916 has also established at Crago crossing, south of the city limits, a large yard for repair and storage purposes.
An idea of the rapidity of the industrial development can be gained from the fact that on January 1, 1915, the number of employees in the asso- ciated factories was eight thousand and sixty-five, and on January 1, 1916,
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CENTRAL FIRE STATION, FLINT.
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the number of employees was fourteen thousand three hundred and sixty- five, an increase for the year of six thousand three hundred, and the aver- age for 1915 was eleven thousand one hundred and thirty-three workmen. On July 1, 1916, there are nearly twenty thousand persons employed in the industries of the city, fully ninety per cent. of whom are engaged in build- ing of automobiles.
Statistics show that in the period from 1904 to 1910 the value of Flint's manufactured products increased from $6,177,000 to $53,375,000. This increase was due almost entirely to the automobile industry. For 1916-17 the volume of business of the industries of Flint will reach nearly one hun- dred million dollars.
The following is a list of industrial concerns operating in Flint, July I, 1916: Buick Motor Company, Chevrolet Motor Company, Dort Motor Car Company, W. A. Paterson Company, Flint Varnish and Color Works, Weston-Mott Company, Champion Ignition Company, Durant-Dort Car- riage Company, Michigan Motor Castings Company, Mason Motor Company, Walker-Weiss Axle Company, J. B. Armstrong Manufacturing Company, Marvel Carburetor Company, Imperial Wheel Company, The W. F. Stewart Company, Flint Metal Specialty Company, Flint Paint Specialty Company, Copeman Electric Stove Company, Genesee Upholstering Company, Greissell Bread Company, Hardy Baking Company, A. W. Hixson Bakery, Model Bakery, William T. Nottingham Bakery, Flint Bread Company, Garner Bak- ing Company, Oak Park Bakery, Flint Clay Products Company, Flint Sand- stone Brick Company, Portland Manufacturing Company, Builders Supply & Fuel Company, J. P. Burroughs & Son, Flint Specialty Company, Flint Pattern and Foundry Company, Randall Lumber and Coal Company, Nickle Brothers, Genesee Iron Works, Marshall Furnace Company, Landes Iron and Metal Company, Flint Lumber Company, Flint Tool Salvage and Machine Company, Cooper Valve and Machine Company, Flint Printing Company, Snook-Jackson Printing Company, Valley Printing Company, Vehicle City Broom Company, National Cash Register Company, Hamilton Mill, Lewis T'aeckens, J. Jellis & Company, Charles E. Handy (burial vaults), Charles H. Rood (ink). George W. Sweet (ladders), Barney Granite and Marble Works, Weller & Austin (cigar box manufacturers), Hearsch & Wesson (lumber manufacturers), Iroquois Cigar Company, M. Ephraim, John C. Clasen Cigar Company, Glenn W. Jones Cigar Company, William A. Logan Cigar Company, Lynch & Roser Cigar Company, Mckinley Cigar Company, John A. C. Menton Cigar Company, David J. Richey Cigar Com- pany, Christian Rippey Cigar Company, Patrick Ryan Cigar Company,
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Frank R. Streat & Son Cigar Company, LaLorraine Candy Company, Paris Candy Company, Freeman Dairy Company, Powers Flint Ice Cream Com- pany, Princess Skirt Factory.
In 1916 Flint's population, based on estimates from the compilers of the city directory, the water board officials, the telephone officials and the census of the public schools, is 85,000.
THE POSTOFFICE.
On August 5, 1834, Lyman Stowe was appointed the first postmaster of Flint River. In 1836 the name of the postoffice was changed from Flint River to Flint, and in 1837, John Todd, the proprietor of Todd's tavern, was appointed. The postoffice was located in a little building on the corner of Saginaw and Kearsley streets, the site now being occupied by the First National Bank. The office subsequently was located at many different places, at one time occupying the site of what is now the S. S. Kresge Company. In later years, however, it was removed to the building on the corner of Union and Saginaw streets, owned by the William Hamilton estate and Mrs. J. B. Atwood.
On July 13, 1909, the office was removed to the present building, which stands on the site of the old E. H. McQuigg homestead, on the corner of Harrison and Kearsley streets. The government appropriation for the build- ing and land was ninety thousand and the present postoffice, a handsome structure of classic design, is a credit to the city. Its facilities, however, are inadequate to care for the city's rapidly-increasing population, and another government appropriation has been asked for to erect an addition to the main office to relieve the present congested conditions which prevail.
In December, 1915, the receipts of the postoffice were $17,190.86, the largest month's business ever recorded. The total receipts for the year aggregated $131,941.70, a gain of $3,225.40 over the previous year, when the receipts totaled $128,716.30.
The growth in this respect is shown in the following figures :
1914.
1915.
1916.
January
$10,584.64
$9,750.34
$12.530.90
February
9,636.32
8,997.16
12,211.53
March
10,959.37
10,553.48
14,135.54
April
10,552.23
10,574.84
12,659.03
May
10,554.13
10,002.32
13,128.73
June
10,551.94
8,879.89
13,094.02
July
1
9,242.39
10,195.69
1
1
1
1
1
1
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1914.
1915.
1916.
August
10,199.75
12,000.65
September
10,793.33
10,517.01
October
11,538.17
11.950.45
November
10,040.78
11,349.01
December
14,063.25
17,190.86
Total
$128,716.30
$131,941.70
*$77,759.75
1
*Six months.
Returning again to the remarkable growth of Flint, the increase in prosperity is indicated by the postoffice receipts, which were $131,941.70 for the year 1915, as against $38,964.90 for the year 1904, when the Buick Motor Company was started.
The 1916 list of officials includes, postmaster, assistant postmaster, clerks (twenty-three), carriers (twenty-eight), rural carriers (nine) and substitute carriers (four).
The following is the official list of postmasters from 1834 to 1916: Lyman Stowe, appointed August 5, 1834; Lyman Stowe, appointed Septem- ber 1, 1836; John Todd, appointed October 2, 1837; William P. Crandall, appointed December 28, 1839; William Moon, appointed June 16, 1841, William P. Crandall, appointed October 12, 1844, Alvin T. Crosman, appointed April 28, 1849; Ephraim S. Williams, appointed May 7, 1853, Washington O'Donoughue, appointed March 27, 1861; William Tracy, appointed April 21, 1869; John Algoe, appointed July 31, 1874; Washing- ton O'Donoughue, appointed March 26, 1875; Francis H. Rankin, appointed March 3, 1879; William W. Joyner, appointed March 3, 1887; George E. Newall, appointed February 15, 1891 ; John H. Hicock, appointed February 25, 1895; Blendina Hicock, appointed September 3, 1896; James A. Button, appointed September 14, 1897; Fred P. Baker, appointed May 25, 1909; Frank D. Baker, appointed July 17, 1913.
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