USA > New York > Broome County > Gazetteer and business directory of Broome and Tioga Counties, N. Y. for 1872-3 > Part 12
USA > New York > Tioga County > Gazetteer and business directory of Broome and Tioga Counties, N. Y. for 1872-3 > Part 12
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when brought together, a hollow space, corresponding with the shape of the tooth, is left. When cut, the teeth of the two combs interlay each other but are readily pulled apart. The chisels work perpendicularly, and while the small teeth are being cut those which cut the large ones are sta- tionary, and vice versa. In the manufacture a comb undergoes about forty operations. In 1864 E. M. Noyes secured a patent for combining metal with horn, and since that time the business has been confined almost exclusively to the patented article. No othe s are now made by them. At first this principle was used to combine short pieces of horn which could not otherwise be used. The Messrs. Noyes manufacture combs of
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BINGHAMTON.
manufacture of children's carriages and sleighs,* eight carriage shops, two hub and spoke factories, an oil refinery, a grain elevator, three express offices, (U. S., D. L. & W. and D. & H. Canal Co.,) six banks, and numerous manufacturing establish- ments of less magnitude than those enumerated, a fuller de- scription of which will be found in the Directory. There are ten churchest-many of them substantial and imposing struc- tures ; five public schools, which are so admirably conducted that the several private schools which recently flourished here, or most of them, have become extinct§; one commercial col- lege, four newspaper and one job printing offices, || one water cureT; and it is the seat of the New York State Inebriate Asylum ** and the Susquehanna Valley Home.tt The city
various sizes and styles, and use in the manufacture many ingeniously constructed tools, whose advantages and uses are too numerous and com- plicated to describe here. They employ a capital of about $50,000; give employment to about thirty persons, including only three or four boys, and manufacture annually about 60,000 dozens of combs, all of which are shipped to Howard, Sanger & Co. of New York, who are connected with them in the manufacture.
* The manufacture of boys' sleighs was commenced by Winton & Doo- little about 1862. About 1868 the manufacture of children's carriages was added, and in 1871 R. S. Darrow bought Mr. Doolittle's interest, when the firm became Winton & Darrow. They employ about $35,000 capital, give employment to thirty persons and manufacture 18,000 boys' sleighs and from 2,000 to 3,000 children's carriages annually.
+ The Binghamton Savings Bank was chartered April 18, 1867; the Che- nango Valley Savings Bank was chartered April 15, 1857, but did not com- mence business until April 23, 1867; the City National Bank of Bingham- ton was organized in 1852, and was reorganized in 1865, with a capital of $200,000; the First National Bank of Binghamton was organized Dec. 19, 1863, with a capital of $200,000; the National Broome County Bank was organized in 1831, with $100,000 capital; the Susquehanna Valley Bank was organized in 1854, with a capital of $100,000. The names of the officers and the locations of the banks will be found in the Directory.
* Christ's Episcopal, First Presbyterian, North Presbyterian, Baptist, Free Methodist, St. Patrick's (Catholic), Congregational, Centenary M. E., Zion M. E. (colored), Bethel M. E. (colored.)
§ The Seminary building on Chestnut street is now undergoing neces. sary changes for its occupancy as a Ladies' college, which, it is expected, will commence operations in September, 1872.
Il A history of the Press will be found on page 69.
T The Binghamton Water Cure, of which Q. V. Thayer is proprietor, is beautifully situated on the side of Prospect Hill, facing and overlook- ing the city, of which it affords a fine view, surrounded by large trees, and supplied with an abundance of pure, soft, spring water, the great essen- tials for hydropathic purposes. It was established in Binghamton in 1849, since which time it has treated successfully thousands of invalids.
** This excellent institution is so amply and tersely described in the subjoined article prepared for us under the direction of the Superinteu- dent Daniel G. Dodge, that we deem any further allusion to it unnecessary.
" The New York State Inebriate Asylum," at Binghamton, is the oldest and largest establishment of the kind in the world, and may be regarded as the parent of the numer-
++ See foot note on page 87.
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BINGHAMTON.
contains 12,692 inhabitants *; its streets are generally well
ous public and private reformatories and sanataria which are rapidly increasing in number, not alone in the United States and Canada, but also in Great Britain and Australia. The most succinct statement of the purposes for which it was established is embraced in the following declaration of principles put forth by the 'American Asso- ciation for the Cure of Inebriates,' at its session in New York City in November, 1870. "1. Intemperance is a disease. 2. It is curable in the same sense that other diseases are. 3. Its primary cause is a constitutional susceptibility to the alcoholic impression. 4. This constitutional tendency may be inherited or acquired.'
"The first charter of the Institution was granted by the Legislature, April 23, 1853. and it was designated ' The United States Asylum for the Reformation of the Poor and Destitute Inebriate.' Meetings were held and large subscriptions obtained in the form of shares and stock at $10 each. The charter provided for the election of a board of forty trustees to be chosen from the shareholders, but from the nature of the organization the whole management was practically in the hands of the Superintendent. This charter was amended and the name of the Institution changed to . The New York State Inebri- ate Asylum,' March 27, 1857.
" The corner-stone of the Asylum was laid with masonic ceremonies, by J. L. Lewis, Grand Master, on the 24th of September, 1858. On this occasion a very large concourse oľ spectators was present and addresses were delivered by Hon. B. F. Butler, (of New York,) Dr. J. W. Francis, Rev. Dr. Bellows, Daniel S. Dickinson and Edward Everett. A poem was also read by Alfred D. Street.
" " The Asylum, which is two miles east of the city, is built on a beautiful plateau, two hundred and forty feet above the level of the Susquehanna river, and commands pictur- esque views of the mountains that encircle the Susquehanna and Chenango valleys. The City of Binghamton donated two hundred and fifty-two acres of the land belonging to the Asylum, to which one hundred and twenty-eight acres were subsequently added by purchase. About $40,000 of private subscriptions having been exhausted and being found entirely inadequate to complete the buildings on the scale of their projection, the property was deeded in trust to the State of New York, in consideration of an appro- priation of ten per ceut. of the excise money for the purpose of completing the Asyfum. This per centage amounted to a large sum, but the repeal of the law, after it had been in operation for five years, deprived this institution of this source of revenue. For the last two years the Asylum has received no aid from the State and has had to depend for its support upon the receipts of paying patients.
" The Asylum, which is built of Syracuse limestone, is of the castellated Gothic order of architecture, a very enduring, but expensive and uninviting style for the purpose for which it is built. The length of the front ie 365 feet ; the transept is 72 feet deep, with an extension to the rear of nearly 200 feet, and the wings 51 feet in width. It is four stories in height, and besides sleeping rooms for nearly one hundred patients, it has handsomely appointed reception rooms, dining hall, club rooms, lecture room and chapel.
" The north wing was badly injured by an incendiary fire in 1864. and remains in an un- finished state, although a comparatively small appropriation by the Legislature would complete it and double the accommodation for patients. The eastern extension of the south wing, which contained the dining room, gymnasium, bowling alleys and many needed conveniences, was burned to the ground in 1870.
"The building was opened for patients in June, 1864, since which time, with varying fortunes, the Asylum has been in constant operation. The total number of patients ad- mitted has been about eleven hundred. Of these 1,009 have been voluntary and 91 com- mitted patients. The average residence of patients is four months. The proportion of patients cured is about 40 per cent., judging from reliable statistics of the last two years.
"The right and title of the property is now vested in the State of New York, and it is under the same control and supervision as other State institutions. Fifteen Trustees are appointed by the Governor, and the whole management of the Asylum is placed in their hands. The board is subdivided into three committees : Executive, Financial and Management and Discipline. The officers and Trustees for 1872 are as follows : Dr. Wil- lard Parker, President ; Dr. W. C. Wey, Vice-President; Dr. Geo. Burr, 2d Vice-Presi- dent; Abel Bennett, Treasurer; Dr. D. G. Dodge, Superintendent ; Carroll Hyde, Sec- retary ; Rev. S. W. Bush, Chaplain. Trustees: W. W. Gordon, W. H. Bristol, P. S. Danforth, Austin Beardsall, P. Munday, P. G. Elsworth, A. P. Nichols, H. R. Pierson, Dr. G. A. Dayton, Dr. J. G. Orton, with the President, Vice-Presidents and Treasurer, ex officio.
"The cost of board, residence and medical attendance is nominally $20 per week, but the Committee on Management and Discipline have the power to reduce this to such an amount as may reasonably come within the means of the patient or his friends,-a right which they exercise with a judicious liberality as is shown by the last annual report, from which it appears that out of a total of 244 patients received in the Asylum in 1871, 30 per cent. paid at the rate of $20 per week ; 25 per ceut. at the rate of $15 per week ; 25 per cent. at from $5 to $10 per week, and 20 per cent. were frøe patients-or, on the
*See foot note on following page.
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BINGHAMTON.
shaded and are lighted by gast; and it is supplied with an abundance of pure, wholesome water.t The parts of the
basis of $20 per week, 59 per cent. were paying and 41 per cent. free patients. Notwith- standing this large proportion of free patients, however, by judicious management and careful economy, the financial statement showed a balance of $2,039.02 in favor of the Asylum, after, all expenses, salaries &c., were paid.
" The mode of obtaining admission is by personal application, or letter, setting forth the condition of the patient and the pecuniary ability of himself or his friends. This application should be addressed to Dr. D. G. Dodge, Supt. of the Asylum, Binghamton, N. Y.
"The people of Binghamton are justly proud of the Inebriate Asylum, which is not only the most important public institution in Broome County, and has been of incalculable benefit to humanity, but it is also the exemplar and inspiration of many other institutions, existing or yet to be established in various parts of the world for the treatment of Ine- briation as a disease."
++ The Susquehanna Valley Home, located near the west line of the city, was incorporated March 15, 1869. "The design of the institution is to furnish a suitable home for indigent orphan children and such others as the Board of Managers may consider worthy of admission, affording them facilities for acquiring an elementary education and habits of indus- try and economy, and finally to provide them with permanent homes in families of benevolence and christian principles." From the report of the Board of Managers for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1871, it appears that 128 orphans and destitute children were received, supported and instruct- ed during the fiscal year, thirty of whom were from the Broome County poor house ; and that the average expense per week for support, main- tenance and education, independent of all contributions of clothing, pro- visions, &c., was $2.38.
* Of these 10,350 were native and 2,342 foreign ; 12,382, white, and 310, colored. They were distributed among the several wards as follows :
WARDS.
Native. Foreign. | White. | Colored.[ Total.
First Ward.
2702
685
3326
61
3387
Second
1488
302
1756
34
1790
Third
2383
614
'2981
16
2997
Fourth
66
2820
603
3230
193
3423
Fifth
957
138
1089
6
1095
+ The Binghamton Gas Light Co. was organized Oct. 1, 1853. Its capital is $50,000. The officers are : Chas. Mckinney, president; C. B. Johnson, superintendent.
# The Holley Water Works of Binghamton, located in the east part of the city, on the north bank of the Susquehanna, were established by special act of the Legislature in 1868. They are owned by the city and controlled by a board of five commissioners, who elect their own officers, and are elected at special elections for a term of five years. The first five com- missioners were appointed by the Governor, and were as follows : Win. P. Pope, Frederick Lewis, Jno. S. Wells, Sabin McKinney and Wm. E. Taylor. Wm. P. Pope was elected president, and Frederick Lewis, treas- urer. One commissioner is retired from the board each year, by a vote of the commissioners themselves, and vacancies thus caused are filled by election. Three, viz: Jno. S. Wells, Wm. E. Taylor and Frederick Lewis, have been thus retired and elected to the offices to which they were as- signed by the Governor. The building is built substantially and tastily of brick, the main part being 40 by 60 feet on the ground, and the boiler room, 40 by 24 feet. The main part is two stories high. The wells are two iu number and each is 20 feet deep and 24 in diameter. The water is of a very pure quality and is forced into the pipes by a double engine of 150 horse power, and a pressure of thirty pounds to the inch constantly main- tained. Nineteen miles of pipe are laid, by which about seveu-eighths of the populated city is supplied with water. Extensions are constantly being made as the requirements of the city demand. Three miles of pipes are to be laid the present summer (1872.) $205,000 have been appropriated by the
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BINGHAMTON.
city separated by the Chenango are connected by two bridges ; the Susquehanna is crossed by the same number within the city limits. There are many magnificent business blocks and a few private residences already constructed and many others are in process of erection or contemplated. Few cities of its size. or even older and larger ones, possess so many elegant buildings. The disposition to construct ornate and elaborate dwellings and buildings seems, from the following extract from the Annals of Binghamton, to have been acquired, or rather, per- haps, found opportunity to manifest itself, within the last thirty years. We quote :
* * the buildings * are neat, convenient, and appear well from the street. There are but few poor houses, remarkable few for the size of the place. Again, it should be remarked, there are but few large and splendid dwellings, or edifices of any kind. A medium appears to have been studied, and much convenience rather than much ornament."
This, it should be remembered, is the description of the city as it appeared in 1840.
It is yet an open question as to whether Binghamton possesses the requisites for making it a great and popular watering place. Certainly the existence of mineral springs in its vicinity is the only thing it apparently lacks to constitute it such. But no little excitement was recently created by the discovery of a " saline-chalybeate" spring on land near the foot of Mount Pros- pect, owned by Lewis West. Cautious capital, however, and a magnified estimate of the value of the properties of the spring, have thus far prevented its development. Current reports as- cribe to it most unusual and valuable qualities, which, if it possesses, must ultimately prove it to be the great desideratum of Binghamton. It is claimed to be the only spring of its kind known to exist in the United States, and to resemble very closely the one at Cheltenham, England, which is highly im- pregnated with salt and iron .* Another spring possessing sim- ilar qualities was subsequently found on the property of Thomas A. Sedgwick, adjacent to the former, and the opinion
city, and $180,000 of that sum have been expended. The remainder will probably be expended during the summer. Over 2,000 water permits are granted, including railroads and manufacturing establishments, from which the receipts are about $16,000 per annum, or from $3,000 to $4,000 in excess of the expenses. The officers consist of five commissioners, a su- perintendent and clerk. Three engineers, who are on duty eight hours each, and two firemen, who are on duty twelve hours each, are employed. The quantity of water supplied is ample for fire purposes. The services of the fire engines, in case of fire, are generally unnecessary. Water can be thrown 125 feet high from each of six hydrants at the same time and this pressure maintained. Six streams can with ease be brought to bear upon any fire in the thickly settled part of the city. The protection afforded by the water works has reduced the insurance rates 33 per cent. * Below we give the result of an analysis of the water from the spring by
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BINGHAMTON.
89
is expressed that an indefinite number may be obtained by dig- ging to the level of the source from whence these proceed.
The Binghamton Normal Music School was established in this city in the summer of 1871, having began its existence in Flor- ida, Orange county, N. Y., as an experiment the previous sum- mer. Its object is, as its name implies, to perfect teachers in this ennobling accomplishment and fit them to impart instruc- tion to others. Although of recent origin the institution has already acquired an enviable reputation.
The Binghamton Fire Department consists of the following named companies :
Excelsior Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1, .H. E. Allen, Foreman.
Crystal Hose Co. No. 1, A. W. Lockwood,
Alert Hose Co. No. 2, .A. E. Green,
Protection Hose Co. No. 3, Daniel Emery,
Fountain Hose Co. No. 4, Jas. Lyon, Acting 66
Independent Hose Co. No. 5, Robt. Crozier,
Mechanics Hose Co. No. 6, Darrow,
One steamer and two first-class hand-engines are connected with the department. An engineer and fireman are employed and paid by the city. The engines are seldom called into requi- sition, but are always kept in readiness for use in case of an emergency. Reliance is placed principally upon the city water works. No serious fire has occurred since their advent. The companies include 300 active members.
The Exempt Fire Association is composed of firemen who have served their time and who band together for mutual protection and benefit. They are not controlled by the chief, but in exi- gent cases volunteer their services.
W. Stratford, M. D., Professor of Chemistry in the College of the city of New York.
" In an Imperial gallon of 70,000 grains : 10.82 grains. Sodium Chloride
Potassium trace.
Iron Carbonate 53.12 grains. Lime Sulphate .. 6.22 .. 66 Carbonate 32.95
29.80
Magnesia Carbonate.
Silica. 3.32
The gases are carbonic acid, sulphurated hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen; their strength and amount cannot be determined except at the spring.
In his letter accompanying the report of the analysis, Prof. Stratford says: "The very large amount of organic matter is unusual and must, I think, have gained access either from leakage of some of the barrels in the vault, from substances left in the jug, or, and it is scarcely possible, from the shale rock itself. However this may be, the chalybcate properties of the water render it very valuable for medicinal purposes." The spring, it is proper to state, was discovered in an excavation made in the side of the hill for a beer vault. The water, it appears, was used in the manufac- ture of beer, and the peculiar taste it imparted to the latter first led to an examination of its properties.
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BINGHAMTON.
The Firemen's Hall is a fine structure, situated on Collier street, and was finished in 1858, at an expense of about $10,000. Besides an ample depository for the appliances of the fire com- panies, it supplies a very convenient audience chamber for public meetings, lectures, concerts, and the like .*
Although there are, as yet, no street railroads in operation in Binghamton, projects for the construction of two at least have been and are still in contemplation.t The immediate com- mencement of work on the Washington, and State Asylum Street R. R. is contemplated.
The Binghamton Driving Park Association, " for the improve- ment of horses and to encourage the breeding of horses," was incorporated by an act passed April 23, 1870. Henry S. Jarvis, John S. Wells, John Rankin, Daniel S. Richards and Wm. E. Taylor were the first directors.
Binghamton was the home of the late distinguished and talented Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson, a son of whom she may well feel proud, whose remains repose in the beautiful Spring Forest Cemetery. A monument erected over his sepulcher by the Bar Association of New York was unveiled May 31, 1872, in connec- tion with the dedication ceremonies on that day.
*History of Binghamton, by Rev. Dr. Z. Paddock.
+ An act incorporating the Binghamton & Port Dickinson R. R. (horse) was passed May 1, 1868. The route is thus described in the act : "commencing at the town line between the towns of Kirkwood and Binghamton, on the north bank of the Susquehanna, near the New York and Erie railroad, in the public highway, and running westerly along said highway, to the cor- poration line of the city of Binghamton; thence along and through Court street to Main street ; thence through and along Main street to the west- erly bound of said city ; thence along the public highway to the town line of the town of Union, with a branch connecting with said road in Court street at Chenango street, and running thence through and along Chenango street to the northerly bounds of said city, and thence along the public highway leading north up to the Chenango river to Port Dickinson to- gether with all the necessary connections, turnouts and switches for the pro- per working and accommodation of the tracks on the said route or routes." The act provided that the building of the road should be commenced with- in one year from the date of its passage, and finished within five years from the date of its commencement. An act was passed April 30, 1869, allowing two additional years in which to commence the building of the road.
* Daniel S. Dickinson was born in Goshen, Litchfield Co., Conn., Sept. 11, 1800; he removed with his father to Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1806; received a common school education; and in 1821 he entered upon the duties of a school teacher, and, without the aid of an insructor, mastered the Latin language, and became versed in the higher branches of mathe- matics and other sciences. He studied law, came to the bar in 1830, and settled in Binghamton, where he long practiced his profession with success. In 1836 he was elected to the State Senate, serving from 1837 to 1840; was Judge of the Court of Errors from 1836 to 1841; from 1842 to 1844 he was President of said Court, Lieutenant Governor, and also President of the Senate; was a Regent of the University of New York in 1843; was a mem- ber of the Convention which nominated James K. Polk for President, and a Presidential Elector in 1844; and he was a Senator in Congress from
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BINGHAMTON.
It is also the home of Prof. Royal E. House, the inventor of House's system of telegraphy .*
HAWLEYTON (p. o.) is a hamlet in the south-west part of the town, on Little Snake Creek. It contains one church, (M. E.) two hotels, two blacksmith shops and one wagon shop. Near it are two saw mills which saw nearly two millions of feet of lumber annually.
. PORT DICKINSON (p. o.) is located in the north-east part, three miles north of Binghamton. It lies upon the east bank of the Chenango, and on the Chenango Canal. It contains a store, hotel, whip factory, cotton batting factory, broom factory and about fifty families. The Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern Coal Co. have a depot at this place for the transhipment of coal.t
Previous to the Revolution the country included within the limits of the town of Binghamton is not known to have been trod by the feet of white men, except, perhaps, as prisoners of the Indians, who held undisputed sway of all this region of country, which seems to have been a favorite haunt of theirs. The placid waters of the Susquehanna have carried many a band of warriors on mission's of death and rapine to the ex- posed frontier settlements of the whites. But such pictures are most unhappy retrospects when contrasted with the more pacific ones to which they have given place ; hence we leave the Indian in the grandeur of his wildness and barbarity for the more pleasing contemplation of the almost magical transforma- tions which the banks of this beautiful stream have witnessed under the genius of civilization and progress. The first white
New York from 1844 to 1851, serving on important committees, and origin- ating and ably supporting several important measures. In 1861 he was elected Attorney-General of the State of New York; was a Delegate to the 'Baltimore Convention' of 1864; and in 1865 he was appointed by President Lincoln, United States District Attorney for the Southern Dis- trict of New York. He died suddenly in that city, April 12, 1866. Before accepting his last public position he declined several appointments ten- dered him by the President of the United States and the Governor of New York. His 'Life and Works' were published in 1867, in two volumes."
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