Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 107

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations > Part 107

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15d., I

20d.,

and all intermediate prices in proportion.

On the morning of December 23, 1799, intelli- gence of the death of Washington reached Albany. The Common Council immediately assembled and recommended the closing of all places of business, directing that the bells be tolled from three to five o'clock in the afternoon, and that the members of the Board wear crape badges for the space of six weeks; also recommending that all the churches

be dressed in mourning, and that preparations be made by all the military and civic societies for an imposing funeral.

The 9th of January, 1800, following, was desig- nated by the Common Council as a time for the funeral solemnities. On that day one of the most imposing and solemn public funerals known in the history of Albany took place. Very many who witnessed it were present at the grand reception given to the Father of his Country in Albany at the close of the Revolutionary War.

On May 19, 1803, the yellow fever was still rag- ing in New York, and the Common Council, acting as a board of health, passed an ordinance requiring all vessels from New York City to be quarantined a few hours at a point fixed down the river, before being permitted to come to their moorings in the city. There was one death from yellow fever at Troy, but none in Albany.

As the result of an ordinance passed on July 12, 1804, the intelligence of the death of Hamilton was received in Albany. The Common Council immediately assembled and passed appropriate resolutions, recommending that the citizens take proper public action in regard to the death of the illustrious statesman and soldier.

Among the receipts into the treasury for the year 1804, acknowledged by the Common Council, was the sum of $1, 128.46} for lands at Schaghti- coke belonging to the city, which had been sold during the year.

We find very little of the proceedings of the Board of Common Council between the years 1800 and 1813.

On November 8, 1813, Commodore Perry, the Hero of Lake Erie, arrived in Albany. In no city through which the gallant hero passed was he more brilliantly or joyfully welcomed than in Albany.

At a meeting of the Common Council Decem- ber 6, 1813, a resolution was adopted offering a reward of $1,000 to any person discovering a coal mine within the distance of five miles of the navi- gable waters of the Hudson, of a strata not less than four feet in thickness.

One of the difficult matters that for many years presented itself to the Common Council, was regu- lating the price of bread in the city, which was constantly fluctuating with the price of flour. In December, 1813, the price of a barrel of flour was $11, and the Common Council adopted an ordi- nance requiring the flour merchants to make the assize of bread correspond to nine dollars per bar- rel, which was 12 lbs. 10 oz. for one shilling. This was considered a great hardship by the bakers, and they called a meeting, which was attended by all the craft in the city, and a resolution was adopted to close their shops. This caused much excitement in the city, which continued some time. The Common Council and the journals of the city, the people and the bakers, all united in the strife. At length a compromise was effected and matters resumed their normal condition. For sev- eral years the Common Council occasionally passed ordinances regulating the price and size of loaves

471

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

of bread, but on December 29, 1820, a resolution was adopted by the Board deciding that it was in- expedient any longer to continue the regulation concerning the assize of bread.

On September 30, 1817, a hotly contested elec- tion took place for Aldermen and Assistant Alder- men of the city. In those days political parties were designated as Federals and Democrats. This election resulted in the choice of twelve Federal and eight Democratic members of the Board of Common Council.

Previous to 1818, the proceedings of the Com- mon Council were conducted with closed doors, and the public excluded; but on November 16, 1818, the Board adopted a resolution that all debates and proceedings of the Board should in future be pub- lic, and arrangements were made in the council room for the accommodation of members, spec- tators, and press representatives.

In 1819 another municipal election took place, resulting in the election of fourteen Federals and eight Republicans.

An entry in the minutes of the Common Council made December 17, 1819, is as follows: The expense of erecting the Capitol was at the joint expense of the State, the City, and the County ; the amount paid by each was as follows :

Paid by the State

City

$73,485 42 34,200 00

County

3,000 00

Total cost.

$110,685 42

It will be perceived by the above, that the Cor- poration paid the sum of $34, 200 towards the erection of the Old Capitol. At this time the Common Council occupied the northeast corner on the first floor, which was divided into several commodious and well furnished apartments for the use of the municipal legislature. All the other rooms on the first floor were occupied by the State; the rooms in the second story were occupied by the Court of Chancery, Supreme Court, Common Pleas, General Sessions and Mayor's Court, except the room immediately above the lobby of the As- sembly room, which was used two or three times each year by the Supervisors of the County.

At several of the meetings of the Common Coun- cil, at the time of which we are now writing, efforts were made to procure the passage of a resolution to dispose of the interest of the Corporation in the Old Capitol to the State. Proceedings of this nature were also had in the meetings of the Board of Super- visors, to grant the interests of the county in the Old Capitol to the State, and with the joint funds of the county and city to erect a new building for the county and city; but these measures were opposed and delayed down to a late period, when the inter- ests of the city and county were alienated in the Old Capitol property. In the meantime the Common Council and the Board of Supervisors continued to meet in their rooms in the Old Capitol until the erection of the first City Hall. During the years when the Old Capitol was occupied by the Court for the Correction of Errors, the Court of Chancery, the Supreme Court, and the various other tribunals;

by the Legislature of the State, the Executive, and some of the State Departments, it presented a scene of unrivaled interest, and Capitol Hill was the heart and vital part, so to speak, of the Empire State. Congress Hall, adjacent, will always live in history and memory as the place where judges, lawyers, legislators and lobbyists for many years did most congregate.

On January 21, 1820, a spirit of retrenchment and reform took possession of the Board of Alder- men, and they adopted a resolution reducing the salaries of the corporation officers to the amount of over $2,000.

On June 20, 1820, the meeting of the Common Council held that day was the scene of a singular controversy. After the meeting was called to order, Alderman Visscher arose and stated that several of the Magistrates of the city were willing to per- form the duties of Police Justices without salary; and he introduced a resolution to discontinue the payment of salaries to those officers. This brought on a spirited debate, and the resolution was lost by a vote of eleven nays to six ayes.

On September 30, 1822, the Common Council, by an ordinance, directed a tax to be raised of $3,000, to pay the interest on the city debt; a tax of $6,000 for the expense of lamps and night-watch; and $8,000 to defray the expenses of the poor.

A meeting of the Common Council, January 25, 1821, was the scene of great excitement. At this time Teunis Slingerland was one of the Police Mag- istrates of the city, and Philip Phelps was another. A resolution was offered, preceded by a preamble, stating that the expense of two Police Magistrates in the city was an unnecessary burden; that the duties could all be performed by one official. Then fol- lowed the resolution as follows:

"Resolved, That as a matter of economy, Teunis Slingerland be dismissed as a Police Magistrate, and that Philip Phelps be required to discharge the duties of Police Magistrate of the City at the com- pensation he is now receiving."

This was at that time $300 per annum. A tre- mendous war of words followed the introduction of this resolution. Vehement speeches were made for and against it, but it was finally adopted by a deci- sive majority, and "Esquire Slingerland," as he was known in those days, was no longer a terror to evil-doers as a police magistrate.

On April 19, 1824, at a meeting of the Common Council, the City Chamberlain submitted a semi- annual report, showing that the receipts into the city treasury for the six months previous were $30, 886. 74₺. The disbursements were $ 13,005. 72 2. An order was entered directing the Chamberlain to purchase 1,000 gallons of oil of T. & J. Russell, at 36 cents per gallon, to be used in lighting the city.

It is seen that Teunis Slingerland was suspended from the office of police magistrate, and Philip Phelps retained to discharge the duties. On Oc- tober 31, 1824, Mr. Phelps was removed and John Gansevoort was appointed in his place. Peter Wen- dell, the city physician, was also removed and Peter Van O'Linda succeeded him. These appointment

472

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

and removals were made for political consideration, and occasioned much excitement at the time.

On January 1, 1825, the Common Council unan- imously re-elected Ambrose Spencer Mayor.

We have heretofore referred to lands owned by the city. This question again came up in the Com- mon Council of March 25, 1825, in the following manner: In 1818, the Common Council was au- thorized by law to fund the city debt to the amount of $205,000, which had been incurred in city im- provements. In 1820, the Common Council, find- ing they were unable to pay this debt, a law was passed on the 14th of April of that year, authoriz- ing the Common Council to sell certain lands be- longing to the city, not to exceed $250,000.

"The lots were to be valued, put in parcels and made the prizes. The Commissioners found they could not carry the lottery into effect, because the prizes consisted only of lots of land. The Com- mon Council therefore, in 1825, applied to the Legislature for permission to sell their lands, and be allowed the privilege of raising the balance of the amount in money by selling tickets in the lot- tery created by the act of 1820, and . paying prizes out of the proceeds in the usual way. As this act had been passed, authorizing the lottery, before the constitution was amended, which prohibited lotter- ies, the Judiciary Committee reported a bill au- thorizing the change." The newspapers of that day -some of them -- were very severe in their com- ments on this system of lotteries in which the City of Albany was engaged. The New York Evening Post, in denouncing the measure, said: "The capital of the State, with the aid of the Legislature, has become an immense gambling establishment."

In January, 1814, a law was passed granting to Union College the sum of $200,000. This sum was to be raised by lotteries. It was urged that this mode of raising money was immoral; but as Dr. Nott, the distinguished President of the College, favored it, the project met the approval of the Leg- islature and became a law.

In May, 1825, the Common Council appointed a committee to negotiate with Yates & McIntyre, touching their proposition to purchase the Albany City Lottery for the sum of $200, oco. This nego- tiation was subsequently carried into effect, and Yates & McIntyre became the purchasers.

In May, 1825, the Common Council adopted a measure to which the city, at the present day, is largely indebted for the beautiful shade trees that embellish the Capitol Park and the grounds about the Academy, now called Academy Park. Previous to that time those grounds, now so pleasant, were an open common, the resort of cattle, sheep, and hogs. By the act of the Common Council, pa sed May 22d, a resolution was adopted directing the erection of a substantial fence around these grounds and inclosures, and measures adopted for planting trees. The expense of setting out the trees was largely defrayed by a generous subscription of the citizens. Thus the public spirit that pervaded the Common Council and the citizens of Albany sixty years ago, is a source of beauty and comfort at the present day.

The following shows the financial condition of the year 1825:

SINKING FUND.

City Stock held by Commissioners. . . $6,000 00

Albany Insurance Stock 2,500 00

Bonds, noles and interest due for

lands sold

2,879 67

Cash loaned

4,535 00

" on hand

3,130 88

359 Shares in Great Western Turnpike

8,975 00

46 Shares in Bethlehem Turnpike. . 1, 150 CO

Total

$29,170 55

Mayor

$400 00

Chamberlain

500 00

City Superintendent.

450 00

Superintendent of Alms-house

400 00

Overseers of the Poor.

200 00

Police Justice

450 00

" Constables (2)

400 00

Deputy Excise Officer

200 00

City Physician .

550 00

Clerk of Common Council.

150 00

Deputy Clerk of Market.

100 00

Bellringers

40 00

Total $3,840 00

CITY DEBT.

Funded

$205,000 00

Due on bonds to individuals. 40,100 00

Small notes unredeemed

10,300 18

Total.

$255,400 18

On May 15, 1826, the negotiations which had long been pending between the City Authorities and Yates & Mcintyre, concerning the Albany City Lottery, were consummated by a resolution of the Common Council; these gentlemen agreeing to take the management of the lottery and pay the city the sum of $240,795, to be paid in five years. The whole amount of the valuation of the city lands, which formed the basis of this lottery, was $254,385. There were however some reservations. The city debt which this lottery was to pay was $250,000.

The Chamberlain's report of the business of his office for the year ending October, 1826, shows the receipts to have been $60,060. 19; the expend- itures for the same time, $62.004.98.

On the last day of October, 1829, the City Chamberlain submitted his report, showing the amount of money received into the City Treasury during that year was $320, 878. 53₺. The amount disbursed was $317, 126. 15₺. The city had been at a large expense during the year; two markets had been built; the City Hall begun; $9,804.43 was paid for the support of the city poor; and sal- aries of the city officers to the amount of $5,952. The report of the City Marshal, presented to the Common Council, July 29, 1830, shows the popu- lation of the city was as follows:

White, males. 11,533

females. 11,632

Colored, males.

421

females. .630

Total .24,216

Of these, 3, 199 were aliens.

The Common Council, from the completion of the Old Capitol down to the completion of the City

473

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

Hall, held its meetings in the Capitol. This they continued to do till July 25, 1831, when they held their first meeting in the City Hall.

On October 4th the Mayor's Court was held for the first time in the City Hall, Recorder Mckown presiding. John Van Ness Yates tried the first cause.

From 1832 to 1835 we find no record of the proceedings of the Common Council worthy of note, until October 27th of the latter year, when the County Clerk reported to the Board that, ac- cording to a recent canvass, the population of the city was as follows:

Males ..

13,712

Females. 14,373

Total. 28,085

There were then.4,489 voters in the city. There was a universal dissatisfaction with the returns of this census. At a meeting of the Common Coun- cil November 9th, a committee was appointed to inquire into the expediency of ordering a new census.

On January . 1, 1836, Erastus Corning was inaugurated Mayor of the City. In that year the elections for members of the Board took place for the first time at the annual spring elections. The following are other measures which had been adopted that year:

"The equalization of the wards; the reduction of the rates of ferriage at the Greenbush Ferry from 33 to 50 per cent .; the improvements in the basin; the improvements being made by the Gov- ernment in the river; the improvement in the city finances, by which the city debt had been reduced $65,000 in two years, and of nearly $269,000 due in 1817, but $95,000 now remained to be liqui- dated. The Mayor called attention to the impor- tance of supplying the city with pure water; of establishing grades between Eagle and Lark streets; to the near completion of the Utica and Schenec- tady Railway as a source of increased business to the city; the prospect of an uninterrupted railway to Buffalo, and to the great importance of a rail- road to connect with the Boston road at Stock- bridge."

The Common Council, March 28, 1836, voted to close the Lancaster School in Eagle street.

About this time the Common Council adopted a resolution to open a space in the pier between the Columbia and State street bridges; also to allow the Hudson and Mohawk railroad to continue its track from Gansevoort street, north to Ferry street. June 20, 1836, the Common Council de- cided to widen Church street. The condition of the City finances was reported to the Board on that day to be as follows:

Bonds due Commissioners of the Canal fund:

At five per cent.

$75,000 00

Bonds to St. Peter's Church 5,000 00

Temporary Loans .. 42,000 00

Award Maiden Lane; balance due Mary Ganse-

vort and Thomas McElroy 16,383 00

$138,883 00

Amount due the city. $117,242 37

Stocks held by the city 43,120 59

160,262 96

Balance in favor of city .$21,479 96

The population of the city in 1840, as reported by the canvassers to the Common Council on De- cember 4th of that year, was 33,627. This was an increase of about 36 per cent. in the lapse of ten years.

From 1840 to 1850, we find very few of the re- ports of the proceedings of the Common Council. But during this time new streets were opened and old ones widened and extended; sewers were con- structed, and all the city institutions were in a prosperous condition. The following Chamber- lain's Report, for the year ending May 1, 1850, exhibits the condition of the finances of the city.

Says the Chamberlain in his report:

The aggregate amount received from all

sources during the past year, including $41,668.78, the balance on hand, is $695,366 67

Expenditure during the same time. 627,635 42

Leaving a balance May 1, 1850, of. $67,731 34

In the year 1844, when the annual report of the Chamberlain was made, the city had available means, applicable to the support of the city government, of.

In the year 1845

$19,464 67 10,677 81

1846

6,797 98

.€ 1847

793 70

1848.

662 35

1849

41,668 78

1850.

67,731 34

"The large balance of 1849, and the still larger of 1850, are the results of the operations of the law of 1848. In former years the amount raised by tax for support of the city government was nearly, if not entirely, exhausted on the 1st of May, by its application to the payment of temporary loans. These loans were made in anticipation of the annual taxes, and the means realized there- from were required for the ordinary expenditures of the city. By a strict adherence to the require- ments of the law above referred to, and a due re- gard to economy in the administration of the affairs of the city, these temporary expedients may be in a great degree, if not entirely, avoided.

" LOANS AND INTEREST .- The amount of tempo- rary and other loans made during the past year is $190,000.

During the same period, the amount paid and canceled by the city was. $192,008 75

Cash paid to Trustees of Sinking Fund for same purpose. 178,700 00

$370,708 75

Making a diminution in the debt of the city in one year of .

$180,708 75

The amount raised by tax during the past year on account of interest on the city debt was .. Amount received from the Albany and Schenec- 45,500 00 tady Railroad Company, and other sources. 9,830 74

Making a total of $55,33º 74

The expenditure for the same time. 61,991 II

Leaving a deficiency of $6,660 37

474

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

"This deficiency was caused by the accumulation of interest on the bonds held by the State, and which were paid and canceled by carrying into effect the law of 1849, above referred to."

In the Mayor's statement on the financial con- dition of the city, he gives the following :

"On the first of May, 1848, the debt of the city (exclusive of certain loans so amply secured that they cannot be considered absolute liabilities of the city) amounted to $752,896.93. Since that date, this debt has been reduced $211, 764.90; and the exact amount of the same at this time is $541,- 132.03.

"The population of the city as shown by the last census, which was taken in 1845, was 42, 189. The increase during the then previous five years was 8,476. The census of this year will probably show the present population to be over 50,000.

"The value of the taxable property in the city, as shown by the assessment rolls returned to the Board of Supervisors in November, 1849, was $11,971.203.

"The taxable property in the City of Albany at this time may safely be estimated at $18,000,000."

There are no printed minutes of the Common Council of the City of Albany before October 6, 1858. The minutes of December 6, 1858, are the first which we can find.

At this time Hon. Eli Perry was Mayor; Hon. William S. Paddock, Recorder.

Aldermen: James Schuyler, one year; Henry Mix, two years, First Ward. Michael Delehanty, one year; Thomas Schuyler, two years, Second Ward. Nehemiah Osborne, one year; Isaac N. Keeler, two years, Third Ward. Philip Wendell, one year; Horace L. Emery, two years, Fourth Ward. Albion Ransom, one year; Charles B. Red- field, two years, Fifth Ward. James A. Wilson, one year; George H. Thacher, two years, Sixth Ward. Thomas Kearney, one year; Thomas Mat- timore, two years, Seventh Ward. John Evers, one year; Martin White, two years, Eighth Ward. E. L. Judson, one year; Charles Bell, two years, Ninth Ward. Charles W. Bender, one year; Will- iam P. Brayton, two years, Tenth Ward.

CITY OFFICERS .- Henry A. Clenient, Clerk; Joseph C. Y. Paige, Chamberlain and Deputy Excise Offi- cer; Louis Wiles, Deputy Chamberlain and Re- ceiver of Taxes; Henry T. Bradt, Marshal; John B. Surtevant, Attorney; R. H. Bingham, Surveyor; Jacob C. Koonz, Assistant Surveyor; William H. Craig, Alms-house Physician; George H. Herbert, Overseer of the Poor; William Hurst, Superintend- ent of Alms-house; William T. Wooley, Inspector of Weights and Measures; Philip Fredenrich, Superintendent of Markets; Hiram Gilbert, Su- perintendent of Northern District; John Franks, Superintendent Southern District; Edward Bailey, Superintendent of Lamps; James Kinnear, Chief Engineer Fire Department; John Donahoe, Super- intendent of Hose Depot; Belknap, President Fire Department; Visscher Ten Eyck, Treasurer Fire Department; Thomas Wilson, Sec- retary of Fire Department; Archibald Young, Col-

lector; George W.Carpenter, Superintendent Water- works; Erastus Corning, John Taylor, Visscher Ten Eyck, John . L. Schoolcraft, John McKnight, Water Commissioners; J. J. Gallup, one year, Will- iam C. McHarg, two years, Henry P. Nugent, three years, Justices of Justices' Court.

The Supervisors for this year appear in the His- tory of the Supervisors.

James Boyle, one year; I. Cunningham, two years; Richard D. Betts, three years, City Assessors. John O. Cole, John Simpson, John Tracy, Henry Russelt, William A. Rice, William A. Young, George W. Carpenter, Eli Perry, C. L. Austin, School Commissioners. Amos Adams, Chief of Police. John O. Cole, one year; S. H. H. Par- sons, three years, Police Justices. The Mayor, two Police Justices, Visscher Ten Eyck, John Mc- Knight, Police Commissioners. John A. Hyatt, Dock-master.

The report of the City Chamberlain shows the following receipts and disbursements for the year ending November 1, 1858:

Receipts $505,552 76 Disbursements were the same in amount.

According to a resolution of the Board, passed May 17, 1859, J. B. Sturtevant, City Attorney, submitted his report September 6, 1859, by which it appears there were 61 causes on his calendar in various stages of progress.

By the Chamberlain's report of September 19, 1859, a large number of lots appear to have been sold by the city, subject to quit rents at that time dne the Corporation. Another report shows the lands on which the rents have been commuted and released by the city, with the amount received for such commutations, where and by whom paid, commencing May 3, 1843.

At the annual meeting of the Board, May 7, 1860-present: George H. Thacher, Mayor; C. L. Austin, Recorder-the following Aldermen were sworn in : Owen Golden, First Ward; Michael Delehanty, Second Ward; John C. Feltman, Third Ward; Philip Wendell, Fourth Ward; James I. Johnson, Fifth Ward; Alanson A .. Sumner, Sixth Ward; Terence J. Quin, Seventh Ward; John Evers, Eighth Ward; Wm. J. Humphrey, Ninth Ward; George W. Luther, Tenth Ward. Henry A. Allen was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Sixth Ward made vacant by the resignation of Mr. Thacher, May 1, 1860.

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Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 107

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452