USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 104
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The men who opposed the re-election of Mayor Sargent in 1872 very soon discovered that in the choice of Seth D. Chandler-who had 1,067 votes to 1,039 for Sargent-the executive chair of the city was again filled by a magistrate whose face was turned toward the future. Mayor Chandler's first and great care was the disposal of the city bonds to procure funds with which to meet the city's pledge of $200,000 to the stock of the Nashua & Rochester railroad, a measure which, as a member of the common council in 1869, he had advocated as a feeder to the trade and industrial interests of Nashua, and which he had again supported when in the board of aldermen in 1871, in a resolution completing the terms of the subscription. He placed bonds to the amount of about $68,000 and in other ways rendered invaluable service to the enterprise. More than this, and in consonance with the policy he had successfully advocated during his career as a city official, he influenced the councils to vote a gratuity of $15,000 to the Peterboro' railroad, to secure the extension of the Wilton railroad to Greenfield. The result was a through line to Keene and beyond, and the realization of the benefits foreshadowed in the resolution of May 14, 1869, authorizing aid to the Nashua & Rochester railroad. In addition to these important transactions Mayor Chandler called for and obtained $12,000 with which to complete the Mount Pleasant school house and grade the lot. He also continued the work, in the face of opposition and with aid of committees from the churches, of disinterring the bodies in the Spring street cemetery, thus removing from a busy center an unused burial place and preparing the lot for the magnificent high school building erected under the supervision of succeeding admin- istrations. Mayor Chandler bonded a floating debt that had been necessarily created by predecessors,
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who, like himself, were determined on rising above the environments of a decaying village, spent $3,500 in making the Canal street iron bridge safe for travel, and conducted the routine affairs of the city on business principles. During his administration the city sustained heavy losses by fire, the most disastrous being (April 30) the rolling mill of the Nashua Iron and Steel company, $50,000, and at the same time Worcester & Nashua railroad, $20,000. The year he served the city as its chief magistrate was rich with measures that tended to advance its prosperity and help make it what it is to-day, the second city in the state. Mayor Chandler, on account of large business interests that needed his time and attention, declined to be a candidate for re-election.
The mayoralty candidates in 1873 were Josiah M. Fletcher, one hundred and ten votes; Hiram T. Morrill, eight hundred and twenty; Frank A. Mckean, nine hundred and seventy-seven; 1874, Fletcher, one hundred and forty-two; Morrill, seven hundred and seventy-seven; Mckean, 1, 130. The bi-centennial of Dunstable was celebrated during Mayor Mckean's first administration. It was an event of much significance, and that it was observed with becoming spirit and to the lasting credit of Nashua is due in a great measure to the indefatigable labor of Mayor Mckean. A mammoth tent was pitched on the Nashua company's square, (since utilized for a store house), the civic oration was delivered by Judge Samuel T. Worcester and the ecclesiastical discourse by Prof. John Wesley Churchill. Other exercises were had befitting the occasion. The matter of a soldiers' monument was agitated but nothing came of it. Mayor Mckean continued the work of preparing the Spring street cemetery lot for a school house, and built and finished the Harbor school house on Lake street at a cost of about $10,000. During his second administration he laid the corner-stone of the high school building, contracted with John M. Flanders for its erection, and expended, approximately, $63,000 towards completing the undertaking. The losses by fire in Mayor Mckean's first year aggregated $60,000 : Reuben Godfrey's residence $4,000, Warner & Whitney's shop and office $4,000, bakery building on Hollis street, occupied by Nahum W. Burke, two fires, $20,000, Charles Holman's confectionery manufactory corner Main and Eldridge streets, $18,oco. These misfortunes, added to the record of 1872, caused the fire underwriters to contemplate an advance in rates. Mayor McKean and his council concluded that the purchase of another steam engine would result in a saving of money for the taxpayers, and therefore added Indian Head, number three, which was held as a reserve until put into commission at Crown Hill. His administration graded the Mount Pleasant school house lot and put in a bank wall at an expense of about $1,000, and, in the face of much opposition, laid the first stone pavement (between the Main street bridge and Water street) in the city, the latter improvement being more especially due to the persistent effort of Aldermen William D. Cadwell, Daniel M. Smith and Ross C. Duffy. The city finances were satisfactorily conducted and his administrations are credited as progressive and in consonance with the demand of those who were building for the future.
In 1875 Thomas P. Pierce and George H. Whitney were the candidates, the ballot resulting in the choice of the latter by a vote of 1,225 to 1, 171. Mayor Whitney completed the high school building at a cost of about $30,000, and remodeled the old high school building on Main street for grammar school purposes. These expenditures, together with a heavy verdict (between $5,000 and $6,000) rendered against the city in a suit for highway damages, necessitated curtailment in other directions and consequently Mayor Whitney was forced to forego some of the improvements sug- gested in his inaugural address. All departments, however, were faithfully managed, and the steady advance on lines marked out in 1870 kept in mind. Mayor Whitney, a courteous, modest, conscien- tious man, who naturally sought escape from the hurly-burly of public life, declined a renomination.
The candidates in the centennial year and again in 1877 were Gilman C. Shattuck and Charles Williams: 1876, Shattuck, 1, 193; Williams, 1,236; 1877, Shattuck, 1,099; Williams, 1,291. The general feeling at this time was that the city debt should be reduced before undertaking other needed improvements. Moreover, public attention was centered on the exposition at Philadelphia and the populace desired an Independence Day celebration worthy of the city. Mayor Williams lent his influence to the latter proposition and the Fourth of that year was accordingly made memorable in the annals of Nashua. Gen. Aaron F. Stevens marshalled the civic procession, and among his aids were heroes of the Civil War whom the citizens delighted to honor. The programme inlcuded a burlesque parade, sports, band concerts, balloon ascension, fire-works, etc. It was also during Mayor Williams' administration that President Hayes and members of his cabinet were royally welcomed
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and entertained, Col. Thomas P. Pierce, a soldier of the Mexican and Civil Wars, graciously performing the duties of chief marshal and master of ceremonies. Mayor Williams cut down a hill at the harbor and graded and improved Main street at that point. He made many other minor improvements and conducted the financial affairs of the city prudently. In fact it may be said that his administration met the approval of the people.
In 1878 Nashua witnessed one of the most exciting and bitterest political campaigns in her history. A citizen, Frank A. McKean, was nominated for governor. His political associates were active and determined to carry the city. The opposing party, which had maintained a local majority the three previous years, was quite as determined to prevent such a result. The battle became fierce. The Democratic party which supported Mckean, nominated William H. Cook for mayor. The Republican party, when assembled in city convention, discovered that it was composed of two factions, one demanding a candidate pledged to the strict enforcement of the prohibitory liquor law and the other content with less radical measures. The result of the ballot was a surprise. Clark M. Langley but for the scattering votes, would have been nominated. The second ballot resulted in the nomina- tion of Charles Holman. The out-and-out prohibitionists were offended. They declared they had been unfairly defeated, and, at a meeting held a few evenings later, nominated Langley as a third candidate. Under these conditions party passion was in the ascendent and argument in the direction of mending matters of no avail. The result of the ballot was Langley, one hundred and twenty-four, Holman, 1, 112, Cook, 1,215; the board of aldermen Democratic and the common council tied. That Mayor Cook-owing to the tie, party animosity and a rumor that a certain Democratic member would vote for a Republican for city clerk-was embarrassed from the very outset of his administration was apparent. The first ballot for city clerk showed a total of one more vote than the convention was entitled to cast and was declared void. Immediately a claim was set up that it was a trick to discover the situation, Mayor Cook smoothed the troubled waters as much as possible and ordered a second ballot, which resulted in the choice of a member of his own party. Threats were freely made for several days afterwards that an appeal would be taken to the supreme court, but nothing came of it. Following the adjournment of the inaugural convention another struggle for the supremacy occurred in organizing the council. The candidates were William R. McMillan and Frank D. Cook. Ballot- ing was begun about twelve o'clock and continued until some time the following day. Each candi- date had eleven votes. Some of the members of the council were prostrated by the poisonous atmos- phere of the room, some by the limitations of nature and others by sustained excitement. Lunches, easy chairs and cot beds were provided during the night, and many party followers remained about the vestibule to give courage and advice to their respective representatives. The dead-lock was finally broken on the two hundred and sixth ballot in favor of Mr. Cook, one of the opposing party refraining from voting. Nor was this all of the troubles of Mayor Cook's administration. The leaders of his party feared that some of the aldermen were pledged to vote for a Republican for other city officers, and, that detection might follow, devised a three-cornered pasteboard ticket and placed watchers over their members to see that they deposited the same in the ballot box. They also used colored tickets and other devices much to the chagrin and discouragement of Mayor Cook, who was over-ruled and made a target for the quips of the newspapers. The unfairness with which Mayor Cook was treated did not end here. An act was coached through the legislature in June changing the day of election from March to November, thus reducing his term of office to seven months. The consensus of opinion after party passion had subsided was, and still is, that Mayor Cook was not fairly treated by either party. He was handicapped and unable to accomplish undertakings that he knew were for the best interests of the city. He did, however, all an honest man may do in conduct- ing departments upon an economical basis and left behind him a record that, under all the circum- stances, should not be looked upon as unworthy of comparison with those of other mayors who served the city in troublesome times.
The canvass preceding the November election in 1878 demonstrated that the third party adherents who supported Langley in March were determined on reviving the old issue. They nominated Coleman W. Murch, while the democrats supported Frederic Kelsey and the republi- cans Charles Holman. The ballot disclosed: Murch, one hundred and nineteen; Kelsey, nine hundred and thirty-three. Holman, 1,285. Mayor Holman and his associates in the government for 1879 were inaugurated without dissension and the affairs of the city resumed the even tenor of their
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way. During his first administration a troublesome question arose relative to the interest on the Nashua & Rochester railroad stock held by the city. Six per cent was guaranteed by the Worcester & Nashua railroad. The Nashua & Rochester road cost in the neighborhood of $800,000 more than the engineer's estimate. The financial condition of the Worcester & Nashua company was such- its stock, by reason of the excess of interest it was compelled to pay under the terms of the guaranty having depreciated from one hundred and thirty dollars to eighteen dollars-that there was imminent danger of bankruptcy unless relief was afforded by a reduction of interest to three per cent. The facts were given out in an official synopsis of the railroad company's books, and Mayor Holman, before taking action in the matter, secured the services of an expert accountant and verified the statement. Meanwhile the newspapers and many citizens of influence had openly declared that if affirmative action was taken Mayor Holman's political career was ended. It was, considering that he was convinced that to hold fast to the original contract was to force the road into bankruptcy and
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CITY FARM AND HOUSE OF CORRECTION.
entail heavy loss upon the city, a most trying situation. Mayor Holman, however, disregarded all threats and acted upon his judgment. He led his councils to grant the reduction, and since then it has been an indisputable fact that his action relieved the embarrassment of the road-the stock quickly advancing from eighteen dollars to sixty-five dollars per share-so that in the end Nashua was enabled to dispose of its stock at par, and many individual stockholders who held their certificates till a few months later realized from ten to thirty per cent advance. In other affairs it was deemed expedient, considering the public debt, and in compliance with the majority sentiment of the tax- payers, to forego all improvements not imperative and apply the strictest business principles to all departments. By so doing a most satisfactory exhibit was made. Despite the threats that had been made, Mayor Holman was re-nominated the following year and received nine hundred and seventy- eight votes to seven hundred and thirty-seven for Quincy A. Woodward and fifty-one for Thomas Melendy. The only friction experienced during his second administration was at the very beginning. and came about through division of support in the choice of city marshal. The candidates were Willard C. Tolles, Horace S. Ashley and William O. Clough. On the twenty-second ballot the vote
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was tied between Clough and Ashley, when the mayor gave the casting vote to the former. Mayor Holman conducted the affairs of the city during his second term on practically the same lines as his first. He macadamized Main and Canal streets, made needed improvements at the Mount Pleasant school house and house of correction, met all the city liabilities inside of the annual appropriation, and at the same time reduced the city debt about $10,000. It was a very satisfactory showing and credit- able to his financial and executive ability. The total city debt at the close of this decade, less $220,400 loaned on account Nashua & Rochester railroad, was $243,340; valuation, $8,940,480; city property, including school houses, $635, 176; population, 13,397; voters, 3,014.
At the annual election in 1880 the mayoralty candidates were Josiah M. Fletcher, Frank A. McKean and Benjamin Fletcher, Jr. The vote stood: J. M. Fletcher, forty-one; Mckean, 1, 174; B. Fletcher, 1,383; in 1881, Alfred M. Norton, eight hundred and thirty-nine; Fletcher, eight hundred and ninety. Both administrations of Mayor Fletcher (1881 and 1882) were alike a credit to himself and the city. He did a vast amount of work that had become indespensable by reason of the growth of the city in the previous decade, and dispensed with sundry antiquated systems that had become sources of annoyance. Mayor Fletcher perfected the hydrant system, and greatly added to the
HUDSON IRON BRIDGE-LOW AND HIGH WATER.
efficiency of the fire department. His administration built that part of the Hudson iron bridge belonging to Nashua at a cost of $10,209; and the O'Donnell school house on Chandler street at an expense, including fixtures, of about $10,000; purchased the lot on which the police station is erected (a wise and prudent forethought as it turned out) for $6,683; improved the City Hall building, constructed new sewers and extended old ones, and made additions to the stone paving in streets. The improvements credited to Mayor Fletcher's administration were absolute necessities, and yet, the city debt and the outspoken opposition of many influential taxpayers being taken into account, it required more than ordinary courage to carry them forward to completion. Besides making the improvements mentioned he kept a careful oversight over departmental expenditures and conducted city affairs on business principles, thus reducing the city debt $12,300 in 1881 and $6,851 in 1882, a total in two years of $19,151. This was indeed a gratifying exhibit. Mayor Fletcher proved a chief magistrate of courage and independent judgment equal to the demand of the times, and so became sponsor for two of the most satisfactory administrations of the generations he served.
The mayoralty elections in November, 1882 and 1883, resulted in the choice of Alfred M. Norton. The vote stood, first year, James H. Dunlap, 1, 150; Norton, 1,283; second year, Isaac Eaton, 1,002 ;
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Norton, 1, 187. Mayor Norton's two administrations, 1883 and 1884, were helpful to the growth and prosperity of the city. In his first year he completed the new hydrant system inaugurated by Mayor Fletcher at an expense of about five hundred dollars, enlarged the South Common, $2,200; introduced water into the cemeteries, seven hundred dollars; purchased a hose carriage, seven hundred dollars; hose, $1,489; and remodeled the interior of the City Hall building-which to this time was a relic of antiquity-adding steam-heating fixtures, modern furniture, painting and repairs, at a cost of about $10,000, and expended something in excess of $5,000, in defending the city in an action to recover damages for the use of Knibb's valve on fire engines, and in a suit brought by the Vale Mills company to recover damages on account of outlets to sewers into the Harbor pond. In his second year he built a new iron bridge over the Nashua river on Canal street, $8,500; widened Bridge street at the corner of Amory street from money realized by the sale of Nashua & Rochester railroad stock, and expended in the courts about $3,200 in legal fees and nine hundred dollars to satisfy a verdict for damages for that amount by reason of a defective highway. These costly lawsuits were the final settlement of long standing claims for which his administration was not responsible. Mayor Norton patriotically encouraged the celebration of the Fourth of July, 1884, and secured an appropriation for that purpose. The event, Col. William H. D. Cochrane, chief marshal, included processions, band concerts, sports, balloon ascension and fireworks, and passed off agreeably to the credit of the city. In addition to the onerous duties incidental to the large expenses enumerated, he gave careful attention to department affairs and finances which he managed with skill and creditably to himself. Mayor Norton retired from office with the respect and entire good will of his fellow-citizens and the approbation of a clear conscience.
At the annual election in 1884 the candidates were Thomas Sands, James H. Tolles and John A. Spalding. The result of the ballot was: Sands, one hundred and nine; Tolles, 1,249; Spalding, 1,428. The beginning of Mayor Spalding's administration was embarrassed by an issue of the gravest importance to the city. The legislature had passed a law requiring insurance companies to pay the face of their policies, i. e., when total losses occurred they should not be allowed to adjust claims and compel the policy holders to settle for less than the amount for which they were insured. Foreign companies demurred and withdrew from the state. No insurance was to be had and property was fast being uncovered and at the mercy of the fire fiend. The people were greatly excited. Men of influence said, "Call the legislature together and repeal the law." Editor Moore, who, during his entire career in Nashua, was a leader of public opinion, excoriated the runaway companies through the columns of his newspaper and declared unconditionally that Nashua would take care of herself. City Editors Clough and Bussell interviewed merchants and manufacturers by the score and by publishing their opinions showed conclusively that the balance of public sentiment favored the view of the editor. Mayor Spalding, although surrounded by those who were opposed to the law, bravely championed the cause of the people and a battle royal thereupon ensued. The first meeting to organize a home mutual company was thinly attended, but for all that Editor Moore and Mayor Spalding pledged to make the "fight of their lives." The issue was restated in the newspaper the following day, personal interviews were had with men of nerve, and at the second meeting Cornelius V. Dearborn, Josiah M. Fletcher, Elbridge P. Brown, Mark R. Buxton, John H. Goodale, Seth D. Chandler and a few other influential citizens came to the rescue, and, despite all opposition, formed the Indian Head Mutual Fire Insurance company, with a guaranty fund as required by law, and immediately took risks upon exposed property. A few days later some of the heretofore lukewarm citizens aroused themselves, and with the aid of the men whose names have been given, organized the Capitol Fire Insurance company. The city was saved from loss, the companies did business several years, or until the return of the runaways, paid all their liabilities and regular dividends, and when they closed accounts divided a handsome surplus among stockholders. The insurance problem having been satisfactorily solved, Mayor Spalding gave his attention to routine business. A few months later, however, another vexed question in which the people were deeply interested, came up for adjustment. A small amount of the Nashua & Rochester railroad stock had been sold at sixty dollars per share. Meantime a syndicate had been formed through which there was an opportunity to dispose of the balance of the stock held by the city at par ($100 a share.) The leading financiers of the city were divided as to the expediency of affirmative action. Some counselled him to wait for a rise, others declared it was time to " unload." Mayor Spalding took the latter view and realized
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$142.000, which he added to the sinking fund provided to take care of the city bonds issued to purchase the stock and due in 1892. Had Nashua declined to sell the syndicate could not have secured control of the road, and the value of stock must have necessarily remained at sixty dollars or thereabouts for an indefinite period. The result of the sale made the control by the syndicate possi- ble and enabled individual stockholders to dispose of their shares at a premium. Although Mayor Spalding did not escape criticism at the time, the wisdom of the course he pursued became apparent a little later and was highly satisfactory to even those who had advised negatively. Mayor Spalding recommended the construction of a mammoth sewer from the Merrimack river through Hollis street to the Woodlawn cemetery. There was a crying need of this improvement, and, the councils having adopted his recommendation, the undertaking was begun and the sewer completed that season as far as the Concord railroad junction. During his term of office he compelled the railroads entering the city to erect and operate gates at dangerous crossings, secured from George Stark, as a gift to the city, the attractive park at the junction of Concord and Manchester streets, built a hose house on Bridge street and increased the tributary sewerage system of the city. He also broke ground for the Nashua street railway-being at the time president of the company holding a charter that he had kept alive through years of persistent effort-and rendered appreciable service in completing the enterprise. Besides this step toward the realization of the hope of making Nashua a modern city it stands to Mayor Spalding's credit that he recognized the necessity of an electric fire alarm system, and, after a thorough investigation of different patents, adopted the one now in use and, Dec. 8, 1885, secured the passage of a resolution authorizing an appropriation of $6,000 for its introduction. Electric street lighting, although favored by his administration, was relegated to his successors. His prudent management of department finances reduced the city debt $14,500 and secured lasting benefits to the people. In fact, the service he rendered prepared the public mind for the work that lay in the path of his successors, and in this view, and because of the things he accomplished, he is entitled to the gratitude of posterity. Mayor Spalding publicly announced at the time of his nomination that owing to his business engagements (for he was the cashier of the First National bank and connected with several industrial and other enterprises), he could not consent to be a candidate for a second term and although a second nomination was offered and urged upon him, could not be induced to accept.
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