USA > New York > Queens County > Long Island City > History of Long Island City, New York. A record of its early settlement and corporate progress. Sketches of the villages that were absorbed in the growth of the present municipality. Its business, finance, manufactures, and form of government, with some notice of the men who built the city > Part 8
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2. DIVISION INTO WARDS.
Said city shall be divided into five wards, as follows, to wit :
THE FIRST WARD
Is bounded by Newtown Creek on the south, by the East River on the west, by Nott avenue and Boundary street on the north, and the center of Dutch Kills Creck on the east.
1
VIEW ON RIVER FRONT, LONG ISLAND CITY.
THE SECOND WARD
Extends from the junction of Dutch Kills and Newtown Creeks northerly along Dutch Kills Creek to Boundary street ; thence to Jackson avenue ; thence easterly, to the center of the old Dutch Kills road ; thence, to the center of the New York and Flushing Railroad ; thence easterly, to the center of Sixth avenue ; thence, to the center of the Bowery Bay road: thence southerly, along center of Woodside Avenue, Dutch Kills road and road from Calvary Cemetery to Astoria and Bushwick and Newtown road to the center of Newtown Crcek at the Penny Bridge ; thence westerly, along the center of Newtown Creek to the place of beginning.
THE THIRD WARD
Extends from a point on the East River, which would be the center of Nott Avenne when extended; thence northerly, to Sunswick Creek ; thence easterly and southerly, along the center of said Creek to center of Pierce avenue ; thence casterly, to center of First avenue ; thence southerly, to center of Webster avenue ; thence easterly, to junction of Sixth and Jackson ave- iques ; thence southerly, to center of New York and Flushing Railroad ; thence southwesterly, to the center of the old Dutch Kills road ; thence westerly, to the center of Jackson avenue; thence southwesterly, to the center of Nott avenue ; thence westerly, to the place of beginning.
63
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
THE FOURTH WARD.
Beginning on the East River at the center of Sunswick Creek; thence easterly, along bulkhead line to the center of Franklin street; thence easterly, to the intersection of Flushing avenue; thence easterly, to the center of Bowery Bay road; thence southerly, to the center of Jackson avenue; thence south- westerly, to the center of Webster avenue; thence westerly, to First avenue; thence northerly, to the -C center of Pierce avenue; thence westerly, to the center of Sunswick 3 Creek; thence northerly and west- wardly to place of beginning. -777
THE FIFTHI WARD.
Beginning of East River at the center of Franklin street; thence northerly and easterly, to SCHIE high-water mark in Bowery Bay; ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL. thence easterly, to Bowery Bay road; thence southerly, to the center of Flushing avenue; thence westerly, along Flushing avenue and Franklin street to the place of beginning.
CITY OFFICERS.
The officers of said city shall consist of one mayor, one collector, one treasurer, one re- corder, two justices of the peace, and two constables, to be elected by the city at large; two aldermen to be elected from each ward; and one superintendent of streets, one marshal, one clerk, one sealer of weights and measures, and such other officers as are hereinafter author- ized for the city at large, who shall be appointed by the mayor and common council, except that special police constables may be appointed by the mayor as hereinafter provided, and one chief engineer and two assistant engineers of the fire department, who shall be elected as hereinafter provided.
ELECTIONS.
An election shall be held in each of the wards of said city on the first Tuesday of July, 1870, and on the first Tuesday of April in each year thereafter.
Said wards shall constitute the election districts for all State, general and other elections to be held in said city, and all provisions of law applicable to election dis- tricts and to the inspectors of elections therein, shall apply to . said wards and said inspectors.
Various provisions follow, speci- fying the respective duties of officials, the qualification of voters, terms of office, eligibility to office, and the constitution and powers of the common council.
A notable provision relating to the assessment and collection of taxes for city purposes read as follows:
"The common council shall direct and cause a sum, not exceed- THE ASTORIA HOSPITAL. ing twenty-five thousand dollars, for the purpose of defraying the salaries and pay of officers and other necessary and contingent expenses of the city, not herein otherwise specially provided for, to be raised annually by a general tax."
64
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
Immediately upon the passage of the above charter preparations were made to carry into effect its various provisions for the organization of the new city government. Democratic, Republican and Citizens' associations were formed in every ward throughout the city. Abram D. Ditmars was chosen as their standard bearer by the Democrats and Republicans, while Aaron Bisbee was placed at the head of the Citizens' ticket. The first election under the charter transpired July 5, 1870, and resulted in the choice of the following officials:
For Mayor, Abram D. Ditmars, of Astoria; Recorder, George Parsells, of Ravenswood; Treasurer, John Horan, of Hunter's Point; Collector, James Bradley, of Blissville; Justice of the Peace, W. Paul Brown, of Hunter's Point; Constables, James Brennen, of Ravenswood, and Anthony Meagher, of Hunter's Point.
Aldermen, First Ward, Henry Rudolph, Patrick Lonergan; Second Ward, Francis McNena, W. E. Bragaw; Third Ward, George H. Hunter, George H. Williams; Fourth Ward, James R. Bennet, John Weigand; Fifth Ward, Edward M. Hartshorne, William Carlin.
Inspectors of Election, First Ward, John O'Neill, Patrick Dunn; Second Ward, James Ryan, James Locke; Third Ward, George P. Hyer, Edward Heatherton ; Fourth Ward, John Quinn, Fred. II. H. Nottbohm; Fifth Ward, Chris. Lawless, Thomas Crowley.
The following were the majorities balloted for the officials elected: Ditmars 407, Parsells 297, Horan 475, Bradley 895, Brown 343.
The first charter election, though conducted under strict party discipline, was characterized with fairness and order, and inspired a popular hope for emancipation from the rings and cliques who long had dominated public affairs and fattened upon the sub- stance of the people under the old township government of Newtown.
Mayor-elect Ditmars took the constitutional oath of office, July 15, 1870, and on the eighteenth, proceeded to organize the new city government. By reason of urgent financial needs to carry forward public improvements, Mayor Ditmars generously presented to the city his full salary for his term of office.
--
PETER G. VAN ALST.
The first appointments made by the Mayor and Common Council in executive session were for Superintendent of streets, Robert T. Wild, of Astoria ; Deputy Superintendent of streets, James Dennen, of Hunter's Point ; City Clerk, Egbert Corwith, of Hunter's Point ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, J. L. Francen, of Dutch Kills ; City Marshal, A. S. Woods, of Ravenswood ; Police Constables, James Fantry and Thomas Darcey.
It is to be observed that this first charter was a very simple instrument such as might be framed for the government of a village. While it accomplished a valuable economic end in constituting an organic bond between the several villages embraced within its provisions, yet its inadequacy in some particulars was apparent when applied to the exigencies of a rising city. The subject of revision was, therefore, early developed and eagerly seized upon
65
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
by politicians who advocated enlarged municipal powers for their own purposes. The idea was prevalent that the new city was to open a bonanza. Conservative men, who acknowledged the propriety of charter revision within certain limitations, were overborne, and on April 7, 1871, a cumbersome instrument, suited to a city of two hundred thousand population, was presented to the Legislature by Assemblyman James M. Oakley, and was carried through by designing advocates to a final passage. The other extreme had now been reached.
As an illustration of the extravagance of the new charter, a city court was created with all the paraphernalia of a metropolitan court of justice. It proved to be cumber- some, expensive and useless. The County and Justices' Courts were ample in jurisdiction to secure the ends of law. The people recognized the folly of such a court, and it was promptly abolished by the Legislature.
Nevertheless, the revised charter was not without several advantageous provisions, which met with popular approbation. The municipal territory was severed from the town of Newtown; three commissioners to be appointed by the Mayor were to govern the police force and act also as a Board of Assessors, consisting of three members to be appointed by the Mayor; the appointment of a Commission FREDERICK W. BLECKWENN. for the immediate survey of the city with a view to mapping, establishing grades and laying out streets ; the City Treasurer was also to be the Receiver of Taxes; measures were to be taken looking to an adequate water supply, and the organization of a Board of Education for the government and direction of the city schools.
The election for Mayor, under the revised charter, occurred in April, 1872, and resulted in the choice of Henry S. Debevoise, who had been City Clerk under his predecessor.
Perhaps the most important provision of the new charter related to the introduction of water into the city. A Water Department was created, which went at once into active operation. Lands, pipes and machinery were purchased, but the enterprise ended disastrously, and in 1875 Mr. Ditmars was re-elected to the Mayoralty, under whom the water system was successfully completed. Mayor Ditmars having resigned from office, John Quinn, President of the Common Council, became Acting Mayor and was succeeded in 1876 by Mr. Debevoise, who was re-elected over John Bodine, his opponent, a nominee of the Ditmars Democracy
In 1878 the contest for Mayor was between John Quinn and Henry S. Debevoise, the latter being again elected.
In 1879 no city election was held, a law having passed the Legislature carrying the election over to the fall. The Mayor's tenure of office was also changed at this time from two to three years.
In 1880, George Petry having been nominated against Mr. Debevoise, the latter was returned to office by a majority of 295. Mr. Petry contested the result of the election, and having instituted quo warranto proceedings, was successful and assumed the reins of government.
In 1883 Petry was renominated and re-elected, Patrick J. Gleason having been the opposing candidate.
BENJAMIN WINGROVE.
In 1886 there were four candidates, Mayor Petry, Patrick J. Gleason, Richard Armstrong and Dr. W. R. Taylor. Gleason was elected through a division of Petry's ticket.
At the ensuing municipal election of 1889 Gleason was re-elected over F. W. Bleckwenn.
66
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
I11 1892 Horatio S. Sanford, the Jeffersonian candidate, defeated Gleason, who again had secured a renomination.
The mayoralty contest of 1895 was triangular. The three standard bearers in the field were Dr. B. G. Strong, John P. Madden and P. J. Gleason. The total vote cast was 7428. Strong received 2146, Madden 2520, and Gleason 2550, the latter carrying the day by a plurality of 30, notwithstand- ing that he had polled only 34 per cent. of the popular vote.
MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Until January, 1893, the force and apparatus of the Fire Department were inadequate to the service required. At that time the work of thorough reorganization was instituted and continued until the department reached its present status of equipment. The Legislature appropriated $35,000 for this purpose, and $40,000 annually for its maintenance. The proceeds of the bonds thus author- ized were devoted to the purchase of four new engines, two of the La France pattern and two made by the American Fire Engine Company, two Hay's trucks with extension ladders, two Gleason & Bailey hose wagons, five thousand feet of new rubber hose, and the outfitting of two trucks with six Halloway chemical fire extinguishers. Two former fire-houses have been repaired, five others ereeted and leased to the city on five year terms, while twenty-four horses and thirty-eight well- drilled firemen, under a competent chief, complete the preparations for efficient service.
Throughout the city there are distributed 350 fire hydrants of the Wood & Galvin pattern. In some localities the water pressure is sufficient to dispense with the aid of a fire engine. In rapidly growing sections, where other facilities are inadequate, running streams have beem dammed and temporary cisterns constructed for emergencies.
The fire alarm system embraces twenty non-interfering alarm boxes, one bell striker, eleven indicators and gongs, two chemical tappers, thirty-three telegraph keys, one galvanometer and all other auxiliaries necessary to a first-class system.
The total valuation of the Department is placed at $70, 000.
In addition to this equipment, there are five fire boats, all owned by the Newtown Creek Towing Co., in constant readiness for service. Of these, the "Protector," is under special contract with the city to render assistance at any needed point along the water front. She is equipped with pumps, hose and an eighty horse-power engine. The effective work done by these boats at various times is well known to the publie.
As a result of the efforts thus expended toward a higher efficiency in this department of the municipal service, it may be confidently claimed that few cities of like population in the State possess superior facilities for the control of that costly devastating element, to the outbreak of which there is constant liability.
FINANCES.
The present financial status of the city may be summarized as follows:
TAX LEVY BY COMMON COUNCIL, DECEMBER 30, 1895.
Assessors' Valuations.
Ward
$5,314,160
2 Ward
2,083,680
3 Ward
·
2,622,772
4 Ward
3,945,310
5 Ward
.
2,933,710
$16,899,632
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
67
State and County Taxes.
State and County purposes
$85,224.91
Interest
3,956.20
Surplus
1,237.56
Support of County Poor
2,709.07
Expenses, Blissville Bridge .
1,510.20
$94,637.94
City Taxes.
Public Debt and Interest
$104,658.42
Interest on General Improvement Bonds
43,015.63
Support of Schools .
112,000.00
Salaries
36, 120.00
Police Department .
58,650.00
Fire Department
40,000.00
Health Department .
9,000.00
Contingent Fund
37,500.00
Poor Fund
8,000.00
Judgment Fund
69,937.50
Board of Examiners of Plumbers, etc.
2, 100.00
Public Library
3,000.00
$523,981.55
Total of Taxes.
State and County
$94,637.94
City .
523,981.55
Ward
76, 112.00
Summary of Rates on $100.
City.
Ward.
State & Co.
Agg.
1
Ward.
3.10
.28
.56
3.94
2 Ward.
3.10
.55
. 56
4.21
3 Ward.
3.10
. 5+
.56
4.20
4 Ward.
3. 10
.55
.56
4.21 1
5 Ward.
3.10
.50
.56
4.16
Schedule of Revenue Bonds of Long Island City Outstanding June 1, 1896.
Date.
Rate.
Amount. $106,000
October 1, 1903
December 2, 1889
4 1-2
18,000
December 1, 1899
May 1, 1890
4 per
77,000
May 1, 1910
July 1, 1886
6
44,500
July 1, 1896
May 1, 1887
5
66
6,500
May 1, 1897
May 1, 1888
5
66
May 1, 1898
November 1, 1889
4 1-2
9,500
November 1, 1899
June 1, 1890
4 per
28,500
June 1, 1900
September 1, 1891
5
66
80,000
July 1, 1902
April 1, 1893
4 1-2
50,000
April 1, 1903
April 1, 1894
4 1-2
60,000
April 1, 1904
April 1, 1895
4 1-2
50,000
April 1, 1905
.
66
50,000
September 1, 1901
July 1, 1892
4 1-2
39,000
Due.
October 1, 1888
4 per cent.
£
68
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
Statement of Bonded Indebtedness, September 1, 1896.
7 per cent. Newtown Funded Debt Bonds
$81,500 00
7 per cent. Newtown Refunded Debt Bonds 64,000.00
6 per cent. Newtown Refunded Debt Bonds 112,500.00
4 per cent. Newtown Refunded Debt Bonds 16,000.00
150,000.00
7 per cent. Funded Water Debt Bonds
5 per cent. Refunded Water Debt Bonds .
75,000.00
4 per cent. Refunded Water Debt Bonds .
45,000.00
6 per cent. Water Debt Bonds
47,000.00
5 per cent. Refunded Survey and Map Bonds
66,000.00
7 per cent. Fire Department Bonds
20,000.00
4 1-2 per cent. Fire Department Bonds
35,000.00
4 1-2 per cent. Public School Bonds 220,000 00
+ 1.2 per cent. Public School Bonds, new .
122,000.00
5 per cent. Engine House Bonds . 16,000.00
15,000.00
4 1-2 per cent. Funding Debt Bonds, 1893
112,000.00
4 1-2 per cent. Street Improvement Bonds
573,500.00
4 1-2 per cent. General Improvement Bonds
1, 224,000.00
Revenue Bonds, 1883
106, 500.00
Revenue Bonds, 1884
18,000.00
Revenue Bonds, 1885
77,000.00
Revenue Bonds, 1886
44,500.00
Revenue Bonds, 1887
6,500.00
Revenue Bonds, 1888
39,000.00
Revenue Bonds, 1889
9,500.00
Revenue Bonds, 1890
28,500.00
Revenue Bonds, 1891
50,000.00
Revenue Bonds, 1892
80,000.00
Revenue Bonds, 1893
50.000.00
Revenue Bonds, 1894
60,000. 00
Revenue Bonds, 1895
50,000.00
Revenue Bonds, 1896
50,000. 00
$3,708,000.00
Water Bonds delivered by Mayor, as per resolution of Common Council :
Water Supply Bonds, 1895 .
19,000.00
Total bonded indebtedness
$3,727,000.00
LUCIEN KNAPP,
City Treasurer and Receiver.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Previous to the incorporation of the city the enforcement of the law was entrusted solely to constables supported by Justices of the Peace. Of the number who officially represented this part of the township, now lying within our municipal boundaries, were William Heaney, Thomas Darcy, Owen Slaven and Bernard Keagan. That the office of a town constable, however, was not exempt from abuses and the liability to yield to the power of perquisites appears from the conviction, then popu- larly established, that the seven constables of Newtown cost the public more than the whole police force of the city after incorporation. The annual bills of each official were exorbitantly large and were liberally increased by the costs of the Justices' Courts, which audited the charges of the constables.
40,000.00
3 1-2 per cent. Water Debt Bonds .
7 per cent. Survey and Map Bonds
4,000.00
5 per cent. Station House Bonds
69
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
This old system, which had degenerated from a noble ancestry, was swept away from this part of Newtown upon the adoption of the charter of 1870. Acting under the police provision of the charter, Mayor Ditmars appointed Anthony S. Woods to the office of City Marshal, whose duties were both eivil and criminal. Under the amended charter of 1871, Marshal Woods was promoted to the captaincy of the police department, the remaining members of the force being one sergeant and ten patrolmen. Though the charter provided for thirty patrolmen, it was found impracticable to put on a larger number of men, owing to inadequate appropriation of funds.
The first Board of Police Commissioners, duly qualified under municipal law, was composed of John Bodine, Albert Gallatin Stevens and Joseph Mclaughlin. Under successive administrations the police department performed its functions uneventfully for the most part, and without noteworthy interruption. Captain Woods remained in command of the force during the entire history of the city until the accession of Mayor Gleason to power in 1896, when he was arbitrarily deposed. The present police force of the city consists of seventy-five patrolmen, one sergeant, one acting sergeant and a captain.
While this branch of the munici- pal service has exhibited an efficiency proportioned to the legal limitations under which it is constituted, yet since the erection of these various villages into a city, there has never been a time when the police depart- ment has adequately responded to public need. The number of patrol- men has been insufficient to extend police protection over the various sections of the city. In each precinct one regular and one acting sergeant have necessarily failed to thoroughly equip a post where twenty-four hours' service is daily required. This has proven too narrow a margin for efficiency, and public interests have proportionately suffered.
The most notable crime in the history of the city, was the " Masked Burglary " of 1874-76. A gang of dock thieves, half a dozen or more in number, led by one John James, crossed the East River from New York in a row boat late at night, and JOHN 11. SUTPIIN. as a first exploit stopped a car on Vernon avenue, robbing the passengers of all available property. They then entered the store of Henry Green, at the corner of Broadway and Vernon avenue (now the Sunswick House), pistols in hand, threatened the lives of the inmates and secured a large amount of goods, with which they safely escaped. The same night they attacked the residence of Mr. Hiller, of Ravenswood, pillaging the premises of all valuables and attempting a personal assault upon one of the members of the family. For the latter offence the leader of the gang shot his companion, fracturing his arm. With their abundant spoils they then returned whence they came.
The news of the raid the next morning fired the whole eity. The incident is still recalled as of an extremely sensational character.
By the prompt and persistent efforts of Captain Woods, aided by a large detective force, the culprits were finally arrested in the Fourth Ward of New York City, brought to this city, held before
-
-
70
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
the Grand Jury, indicted, tried, found guilty and sentenced, the leader, James, receiving 35 years, the others 15 years, at Sing Sing.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CITY SCHOOLS.
In the educational development of a people lies their most important history. The early colonists of America regarded popular intelligence as fundamental to the perpetuity of free institutions. To this the early settlers of Newtown were no exception. The English brought the impress and advantages of much mental eulture, and in a few instances of intellectual accomplishment. Nor were the Duteh wanting in these principles of character or mind, which underlie an enlightened community. Peter Berrien has left a record even of fine scholarship. He was an expert penman, good surveyor and commanded both the Dutch and English languages. Most of the deeds and public writings of his time were produets of his skill. In every colonial hamlet were men of similar stamp. If not the lawyer and doctor, the preacher was surely there in whom lived also the schoolmaster. The first school was the home. The first book was the Bible, and sometimes, particularly with girls, it was the last also, saving perhaps the catechism.
The three R's measured the pedagogical gamut and were an adequate qualification for a period yet lingering in the rudiments of commerce. Education, therefore, like other lines of individual development, was in its infancy. Yet the instinets of a people who sought these shores for civil and religious liberty recognized in intellectual and moral instruction, the strongest bulwark of a new society.
In 1683, there being but 90 men with families in the town of Newtown, and these widely seattered, the erection and conduct of a common school was impracticable. At a later period, in 1720, a school- house was built in Newtown, whither was sent the youth of Mespat Kills and the "Out Plantations."
In the following year, 1721, sensible of the need of improved facilities for education, Joseph Hallett, by deed dated May 20, generously donated a lot thirty by twenty feet, "lying next to George Brinckerhoff's woodland, for use and benefit of a schoolhouse." He associated with himself as joint owners Samuel Hallett, Samuel Moore, Joseph Moore, Thomas Skillman and Isaac Bragaw.
This was the first school within the present precincts of this eity. It was situated on the New- town road in Middletown (German settlement). MRS. MARY J. R. N. STRANG. The historian, Riker, records the undertaking "as hazardous," by reason of the expense incurred. It remained for a later day to endow this primitive institution in an original manner. The incident occurred in the early part of the present century, and is thus related by Mr. Riker in his " Annals of Newtown."
" This was the discovery by one of the school boys of a bag of gold to the value of $840, which had belonged to one John Kearns, who had taught school here during the Revolution. The money was taken possession of by the teacher, whose name was Neal, but the neighbors, hearing of it, collected, and took him before William Leverich, Esq., by whose order the money was foreed from him. Owing, however, to some irregularity in the proceeding, Neal prosecuted the several persons engaged in searching him, including the justice, and recovered damages for assault and battery, while N. Moore, as administrator for Kearns, sued and obtained the money." Rarely is capital uselessly buried when placed in an institution of learning.
The old schoolhouse survived until fifty years ago, when it was sold and annexed for domestic purposes to an adjoining dwelling.
71
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
The second school building was on the Shore road, upon "one square rod of land " donated by John Lawrence in 1734, " for a school to be kept for the education of their children." This spot of ground he deeded in the following year to Thomas Lawrence, Cornelius Berrian, Joseph Moore, William Leverich and Hendrick Wiltsee, for the purposes mentioned, and there more than one generation gathered the memories of a district school, which became the romance of after years.
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