History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 8

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II > Part 8

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The growth of the region occupied by this town was formerly, as has been seen, exceedingly slow. From the death of Mr. Wells population began to set to- wards it. From 1849 its growth was very rapid in- deed till the breaking out of the Civil War. During the war period there was a repression of progress. From 1865 to 1873 the advancement was unproce- dented. Through the seven years of financial trial that followed, the city scarcely held its own. Since 1880, however, it has again been growing as before. Between the incorporation of the village (1855) and the present time the population of the town has in- creased from about seven thousand to more than twenty

thousand, and with this growth have been developed all the public improvements that have been demand- ed. No city of the size of Yonkers with such recency of start has roadways and sidewalks better laid out, or streets better graded, better upheld, bet- ter lighted at night, or better shaded from summer heat. It has had, as a rule, a careful and economical city government, an effective police, a well-equipped and energetic Fire Department, and an abundant sup- ply of the best water for domestic and public uses. The history of all these improvements we shall give further on.

The mayors of the city have been, James C. Courter, 1872-74 ; Joseph Masten, 1874-76, 1878-80 ; Williamn Augustus Gibson, 1876-78; Norton P. Otis, 1880-82; Samuel Swift, M.D., 1882-84; William G. Stalıl- necker, 1884-86 ; J. Harvey Bell, 1886.

1168211 MANOR

The presidents of the Common Councils have been, Ethan Flagg, 1872-73; Wil- liam Macfar- lane, 1873-75 ; Charles T. Mer- cer, 1875-76 ; G. Livingston Morse, 1876-78; H. R. Hicks, 1878-79, 1881- 82; Edw'd Un- 8821 derhill, 1879- 1881; Leander Hodges, 1882- 83; Edward J. Mitchell, 1883- 84; Michael Mooney, 1884 ;. Geo. H. Low- erre, 1886.

YONKERS CITY HALL, 1886-(OLD MANOR HOUSE).

The follow- ing have been the aldermen : First Ward .- Eli L. Seger, 1872-75 ; John Brennan, 1872-74; Abram S. Radcliff, 1874-76; Joseph W. Riley, 1876-78 ; Joseph M. Murphy, 1876-78; Thomas Egan, 1878-85 ; Bernard Cullen, 1878-80; Edward J. Mitchell, 1880-85; George H. Lowerre, 1885-87; Wil -. liam H. Cascy, 1886-88.

Second Ward,-Albert Keeler, 1872-74; William. Macfarlane, 1872-75; Charles T. Mercer, 1874-76, 1883-85; William H. Copcutt, 1875-77; James W. Mitchell, 1876-78; Joseph M. Tompkins, 1877-79 ; Edward Underhill, 1878-82 ; Jonathan Vail, 1879-83; Leander Hodges, 1882-83; Thomas L. Mottran, 1884-85 ; William Greenhalgh, Sr., 1885-87 ; Jolin H. Schlobohm, 1886-88.

Third Ward .- Ethan Flagg, 1872-73 ; Hyatt L. Gar- rison, 1872-74; James Stewart, 1873-75; John S. White, 1874-76; Robert Neville, 1875-77; G. Liv- ingston Morse, 1876-78 ; Frederick Shonnard, 1877-78;

-----

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

Isaae D. Cole, 1878-80; G. W. Valentine, 1878-79; John Pagan, 1879-81; William P. Keteham, 1880-82; John F. Thompson, 1881-83; Fisher A. Baker, 1882-84; J. Irving Burns, 1883-85; Michael F. Murray, 1884-85; Edwin A. Quick, 1885-87 ; Maurice H. Downing, 1886-88.

Fourth Ward .- Henry R. Hicks, 1872-73; Zeb. H. Brower, 1872-73 ; Michael Mooney, 1873-77, 1883-87 ; Isaac V. Underhill, 1877-81, 1884-88; James F. D. : each year will vary from $28,000 at the present time Crane, 1881-83.

The office of city clerk has been filled by William H. Doty from 1872 to the present time. The eity judges have been, Edward P. Baird, 1872-80 ; Matthew H. Ellis, 1880-84, and George B. Pentz, from 1884.

The eity attorneys have been Matthew H. Ellis, 1872-75; Ralph E. Prime, 1875-77; Theodore Fitch, 1877-83; Joseph F. Daly, 1883-87.

The city treasurers have been George W. Cobb, Bailey Hobbs, Robert P. Getty and John G. P.Holden.

The various departments of the eity goverument, and the enterprises depending upon its patronage, require the services of a large corps of officers and subordinates. These are a mayor, a president of the Common Council, eight aldermen (two from eaeli of the four wards), a supervisor, a clerk, an attorney, a treasurer, a receiver of taxes, a street commissioner, a eity surveyor, a commissioner of charities, three assessors, a pound-keeper, one constable in each of the four wards, three inspectors of eleetion in each of the eight electiou distriets, two scavengers, an in- speetor of engines and steam boilers, two examiners of engineers, a eity judge, a elerk of the City Court, a marshal, four justices of the peace, a board of five water commissioners (one of whom is president and another treasurer), a clerk for the Water Board, an

The Mayor's financial report for the fiscal year ending February 28, 1885, shows the total receipts of the eity for the year to have been $566,485.35, and the total expenditures $562,988,54. The bonded debt, March 1, 1855, was $1,314,000. It was made up of four

elasses, as follows : Consolidation bonds, &525,000 water bonds, $745,000 ; bridge bonds, $14,000; and publie building and doek bonds, $30,000. These bonds are to be paid according to a fixed scheme of installments. The first are to run till 1902, the see- ond are to begin with 1903 and run till 1915, the third are to run till 1889, and the fourth, beginning with 1890, are to ruu till 1895. The amount to fall due

to 865,000 in the year 1915.

The following comparative statisties, furnished to the compiler of this history by Robert P. Getty, Esq., may be of interest as illustrating the progress of Yonkers in financial values and taxation during the thirty years ending with 1882.

In 1852

the assessed valuation of the town (then ineluding what has since been annexed to the eity of New York) was as follows :

Real Estate. $2,567,095

Personal Property 374,455

$2,941,580

Of this valnation the since annexed portion repre-

sented about. 650,000

Leaving for the territory now occupied by the city of Yonkers .. .$2,291,580

In 1882

the assessed valuation of the city of Yonkers was as follows :

Real Estate

.$17,350,146

Personal Property. 334,375

$17.684,521

The amonut of tax levied in 1852 was. .. $0,216.13

That levied in 1882 was. $336.217.34

It will be seen from the above statement that while engineer and superintendent for the Water Board, a | the valuation of the real and personal property in the Board of Health consisting of five members, with a city grew in these thirty years about eight, the amount of the tax levy increased about thirty-seven times. health officer and a secretary additional, a Board of Police, consisting of four members (one of whom is The following additional statistics of the taxes of president, and another secretary and treasurer), to | 1852 are furnished by Mr. Getty : which board are accessory an acting surgeon, a There were 550 tax-payers, real and personal, of whom 10 paid over $100 each, and 540 paid less. The latter averaged about $13.71 each, and paid in all 87402.13. The ten paid in all $1689.00. They were as follows : captain, two sergeants, two roundsmen, one hostler, two door-keepers and twenty patrolmen, a board of five commissioners (one of whom is president and another clerk) with a chief engineer and two assistant en- gineers, three members of a Board of Excise, a Board Hudson River R. R ... representing 36 acres, valne, $175,000 ... paid $530.83 Harlem R. I .... 23,11 44 .. .. 30,000 ... “ 91.00 of Education composed of fifteen members, a super- 44 intendent of schools, a principal of the High School ('roton Aqueduct ..... 16,580 ... 44 236.60 = Edward Bibby 4 4 51.22 860 .4 and six other principals, one for each of the six district Robt. P. Getty, Ilotel and Residence. 45, 750 ... " 44 63 147.88 schools of the city, twenty-two commissioners of deeds and a board of civil service examiners composed of Jno. Copentt, 2 mills & 17 houses .. 47,000 ... 4 4 4 142.57 four members. The names of the persons holding all Thos. W. Ludlow, 5 4 40.0.k) ... " 139.15 lionses, these various offices and positions are published from Edward Shonuand, 3 houses year to year in the city's official reports. 40,000 ... 128.31

Joseph Delafiehl ..

232

40,000 ... 44 121.34

Ethan Flagg ..

118

4 4

33,000 ... 100.10

Taxes paid by the 10.

$1689.00

Taxes paid by the 540. 7402.13

Taxes paid by 5 persons on dogs alone.

125.00

Total tax raised in 1852

$9216.13

"HILL-CREST."

RESIDENCE OF WALTER W. LAW, YONKERS, N. Y.

YONKERS.

Mr. Getty also furnishes the following comparative statistics of the number of buildings in the town of Yonkers respectively in 1852 and 1884.

In 1852 there were in the town 537 buildings in all.

In 1884, according to the assessors' books, there were buildings in the city as follows :

In the First Ward-685 dwelling-houses, 5 churches, 2 public-school buildings, 1 parish-school building, 1 boarding-school building, and factory property valued at $62,500.

In the Second Ward-1076 dwelling-houses, 4 churches, 1 public-school building and factory property valued at $479,250.

In the Third Ward-1008dwelling-houses, 6 churches, 1 public-school building, 2 public halls, and factory property valued at $277,000.

In the Fourth Ward-155 dwelling-houses, 2 churches, 1 chapel, and 3 public-school buildings.

In several following chapters we shall give a full history of the various departments of our city govern- ment.

SECTION X.

Departments of the City Government.

(General, Judicial, Health and Excise.)

SOME of the officers of the city are elected by the people. All others, except the Board of Education, are nominated, and, with the consent of the Common Council, appointed, by the mayor. The members of the Board of Education are appointed by the mayor withont reference to the consent of the Council. Those elected by the people are the mayor, the alder- men, the supervisor, the city judge and four justices of the peace. The annual election for these officers is held on the last Tuesday of March. The term of office of all elective officers, except the justices of the peace, begins on the 15th day of April after their elec- tion. The terms of the justices of the peace begin on the following 1st of January. The mayor and the alder- men serve for two years each, the city judge and the justices of the peace for four years each and the sn- pervisor for one year only. Each of these officers, unless his office shall become vacant under special provision of the charter, must hold it till his successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified. The mayor and aldermen serve without compensation. The supervisor receives the pay allowed by law to each town supervisor of the county. The salary of the city judge is three thousand dollars per year. The justices of the peace are entitled to the fees and com- pensations of justices of the peace of the several towns of the State. For information respecting the duties, powers and liabilities of all these officers, together with the manner in which any of them may be removed from office, when removal becomes necessary, we refer the reader to the printed charter of the city, which may be procured at the City Hall.

The present elected officers are,-

J. Harvey Bell ....... .....

Mayor

TERM WILL EXPIRE April 15, 1×88

George H. Lowerre

Alderman, Ist Ward ..

1887

William 1I. Casey

1888

William Greonhalgh, Sr.

1×87

Jolin H. Schlobohm

1888

Edwin A. Quick.

1887

Maurice H. Downing

4th

1887

Isaac V. Underhill.

Jacob Read.

Supervisor.

1887

George B. Pentz

City Judge

1888

Jolin C. Small.

Justice of the Peace.

Dec. 31, 1886

John T. Geary

1887

Alanson J. Prime,

1888

Francis X. Donoghue.

......

1889

The various departments of the city government, besides the general department, consisting of the Mayor and Common Council, are the judicial depart- ment, the health department, the excise department, and the departments of fire, water, police and educa- tion. Of each of these we will give a history in turn.

THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT .- The following pa- per is furnished to us by ex-City Judge Matthew H. Ellis :

The judicial department of the city of Yonkers consists of a City judge, a City Court clerk and four justices of the peace. In the act incorporating the village of Yonkers, passed April 12, 1855, as amended April 15, 1857, the town justices of the peace who re- sided within the corporate limits of the village per- formed all the judicial functions of the village govern- ment. March 30, 1866, the village charter was amended by Chapter 270, providing for a police jus- tice, to be elected the first Tuesday in May, 1866, whose terin of office should begin on the Tuesday following his election, and end ` on the Tuesday following the fourth annual village election thereafter, his successors to be elected for four years. He had exclusive jurisdiction in all criminal cases within the village, with like powers and duties of justices of the peace; also, in all actions brought to recover fines or penalties for violation of the ordinances of the village. In civil cases he possessed the same powers as justices of the peace, and received the same fees. His court had to be kept open daily, and he had to be present during such hours daily as the board of trustees might direct. Under this aet T. Astley Atkins, Esq., was elected police justice. On the 12th of April, 1867, a special act was passed, known as Chapter 355, extending the powers and jurisdiction of the village Police Court, and providing that the police justice should receive a salary of two thousand dollars per year, paying over all fees, fines, penalties and per- quisites of every kind to the village. This act was in substance incorporated into the act to consolidate and re-enact the village charter, known as Chapter 673, Laws 1868. On the Ist of March, 1870, Ed- ward P. Baird, Esq., was elected successor to Judge Atkins. Before Judge Baird's term of office expired,

1888

Michael Mooney,

1×88

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

the city eharter was passed (Chapter 866, Laws 1872), and this created the City Court of Yonkers. On the 18th of Juue, 1872, the first election under the eity charter was held, and Judge Baird was elected city judge and judge of the City Court of Yonkers. This court, of course, supplanted the previous village po- lice justice's court. The exclusive crimiual juris- dietion was continued in the city judge ; also power to hold courts of special sessions. The four justices of the peace were continued without criminal jurisdie- tion. The same civil jurisdiction possessed by the Marinc (now City) Court of New York was conferred upon the City Court ; also the powers of a Supreme Court Judge of Chambers. In case of absence or dis- ability of the city judge, the mayor was empowered to designate one of the justices of the peace to act. The judge's salary was fixed at three thousand dollars. He was subject to removal by the County Court. His term of office was four years, and he must be of the degrec of a counselor-at-law. The office of clerk of the City Court is also created by this act, he being appointed by the city judge. He is to perform the same duties as a clerk of the Marine Court of the city of New York, his salary being fixed at six hun- dred dollars. On the 8th of March, 1873, Chapter 61 was passed, being an independent act, in which the civil powers of the court are fully provided for. The jurisdiction of the Marine Court of the city of New York is continued. It is also created a Court of Record. The amount of recovery of money in an ac- tion is extended to one thousand dollars. And the forms, processes and proceedings used in Courts of Record are made applicable; the summons to be served within the city or an adjoining town; all pleadings, actions and remedies under the code of civil procedure, including provisional remedies, are made to conform to this court. A marshal of the court is appointed by the city judge.

On the 26th of April, 1878, Chapter 186 was passed, repealing all former laws repugnant thereto, so far as the same related to the civil jurisdiction. This aet made provisions at length and in detail as to the civil power of the City Court, increasing its juris- diction by express powers granted, without reference to the Marine Court of the city of New York, but still limiting the jurisdiction for a money judgment to one thousand dollars. This act retained many of the powers formerly conferred by different statutes. The city judge has under it the powers of a Supreme Court judge at Chambers ; also the powers of a county judge and a justice of the peace within the city. Pro- visions are made for a regular jury panel, and for terms of court which the city judge may by rule des- ignate. The jury terms, as now fixed, begin the last Monday of every alternate month, from January onward. This last act of 1878 has since been amended, to correct defects and perfect the system. The chief features of the act are, however, preserved.

served till the expiration of his term, in 1880, when Matthew H. Ellis, Esq., was elected his successor. In 1883 Judge Baird removed to Minneapolis, Minn., where he continued legal practice till his death. He died in that city October 26, 1885, and his remains were interred in St. John's Cemetery, in our city.

Judge Ellis served till the end of his term, April 15, 1884, when he was succeeded by George B. Peutz, Esq., who is city judge at the present time.

To this history, as furnished by Judge Ellis, we add that in the working of the judicial department of our city, especially in connection with the growth of the liquor interest, and under the growing controversy between labor and capital, the question more and more forces itself upon many minds whether the judge and justices can long continue with safety to be elected by the people among and over whom they are called to administer law. Recent events have put their official firmness to the severest strain, and have brought up this question with a freshness and an in- tercst, the result of which may be a movement for change in the mode of providing these important offi- cers for the city.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT .- We are indebted for the following paper to Dr. Galusha B. Baleh, who was health officer of Yonkers from 1876-78:

As early as 1855 a Board of Health was organized within the town of Youkers, but no effective sanitary work seems to have been done. Again, a ucw board was organized April 26, 1858. Its members were William W. Woodworth, Ethan Flagg, L. M. Clapp, Robert P. Getty, Edward Underhill, John Copeutt and Bailey Hobbs; William H. Post, clerk. Dr. Edward S. F. Arnold was sworn in as health ofti- cer July 21, 1858, and held the office to July, 1865, when Dr. James H. Poolcy was appointed his suc- cessor. Both these gentlemen were eminently fitted for the position, and their reports show that they were abreast with the sanitary knowledge of the day, aud far beyond the most advanced of the laity. The pow- crs given them, however, were so meagre that they could accomplish but little. On the 8th of July, 1864, Dr. Arnold reported : "A negro dead with small- pox, and no one has any authority to remove the body." Four days later a meeting of the board was held, and under authority given the health officer to enforee ordinances, the dead negro was buried. Small- pox up to this time had almost a permanent home in the village.

The Citizens' Association of New York City, in connection with several eminent physicians, began a sanitary inspection of that eity in 1864. The result of their labors was published, and is a work of great value. Their influence and efforts were largely in- strumental in securing the passage of Chapter 74 of the laws of 1866, entitled, "An act to create a Met- ropolitan Sanitary District and Board of Health therein, for the preservation of life and health and

. In 1876 Judge Baird was re-elected city judge. He | prevent the spread of disease." The town of Yonkers

YONKERS.

was included in that distriet, and Dr. James H. Poo- ley was its sanitary inspector. The sanitary superin- tendent of the New York board, in his report of 1866, says : "A great deal has been done in abating nui- sanees in all the towns, through the watchfulness and energy of the local inspectors," and lie mentions Yonkers in the list of towns.

. Chapter 137 of the laws of 1870, reorganizing the local government of the city of New York, left out Westchester County from the control of the New York City Board of Health. For more than a year after this there was no organized Board of Health in Yonkers. Small-pox again broke out, and forced the village trustees to organize, August 1, 1871. Dr. Horace B. Pike was appointed health officer of the village. Little was done except to attend to the small-pox eases. An advance was made in April, 1872, under the suggestion of Village Trustee Wil- liam A. Gibson, by adopting a code of rules or regu- lations for the suppression of small-pox, reporting of deaths, granting of burial permits and abating of nuisances. The town becoming the city of Yonk- ers, the city charter provided for a Board of Health, with large powers, to be formed of the following members ex officio: The Mayor as president, the president of the Common Council, the president of the Board of Police Commissioners, the president of the Board of Water Commissioners, the supervisor, the health officer, and the city clerk as the elerk of the board.

The health officer is appointed by the mayor and approved by the Common Council. Dr. Horace B. Pike was appointed health officer July 1, 1872. No rules or regulations were framed for the protection of the public health till April 21, 1873, when the old village rules were adopted. In November, 1873, the health officer began giving to the newspapers re- ports of the deaths occurring in the city. But no registry of vital statistics was kept till nearly two years later, when a record was begun by the health offieer. In 1876 books for the registry of births, marriages and deaths were opened in the office of the city elerk.

In the spring of 1876 Dr. Galusha B. Balch was ap- pointed health officer, and served two years. In July, 1877, he succeeded in securing the adoption of a code of ordinances by the Board of Health, which promoted its efficiency in its subsequent work.

Dr. Valentine Browne succeeded Dr. Balch in 1878, and still holds the office. Under Dr. Browne an inspection of buildings in process of erection has been instituted, similar to that adopted by the New York City board, which provides for careful plumb- ing,lighting and ventilation.

It is now (1885) more than eleven years since a case of small-pox occurred in Yonkers. In 1875 an epidemie of diphtheria broke out in the city and raged for about one year. More than one hundred deaths resulted from it. Under the regulations adopted by the board ii .- 3

in 1876, measures werc inaugurated for an oversight of all contagious and infectious diseases. This oversight has been continued, and consequently there has been no widespread epidemie since, although enterie fever, scarlet fever and diphtheria have prevailed more or less in a sporadic form. The board have done what they could to secure the construction of sewers and to diminish nuisances and sources of malaria.

We add to this paper from Dr. Balch that the health of Yonkers, so far, has been proverbially ex- ecllent. The topographic conformation of the city makes the descent of its natural streamns and of the contents of its artificial sewers so rapid as to prevent any accumulation or lingering of offensive or danger- ous matter upon its surface. Still, the city is careful to maintain its effective Health Board, to make its san- itary condition a constant study and keep before it all information and all suggestions it may require in reference to its sanitary needs. In a comparison of sixty-eight cities, drawn iu 1880 for the National Board of Health and published in its bulletin on February 19th of that year, Yonkers was found to be surpassed in fewness of deaths only by the city of Vallejo, in California. Yet it is conceded by its most intelligent men that the city possesses one feature of danger, which, however, admits of im- mediate relief, but to which the people, from dread of expense, and the authorities, because of this drcad in the people, are slow to attend. This feature of danger is the present condition of its Nepperhan, or Saw-Mill River. The factories and mills of the city, and also innumerable dwelling-houses and places of business, are upon the banks of this stream, and the discharge of offensive and dangerous matter into it is unspeakably great. Mueh agitation is now (1885) going on in regard to this danger, and it will eer- tainly be relieved at an early day. When it shall have passed away, Yonkers will have sanitary condi- tions not to be exeelled.

The present Health Board of Yonkers is composed of Mayor J. Harvey Bell, president; Rudolf Eicke- meyer, Jacob Read, Charles R. Dusenberry, Valentinc Browne, M.D., health officer, and William H. Doty, secretary.

THE EXCISE DEPARTMENT .- The following paper is furnished to us by Ralph E. Prime, Esq., referred to elsewhere as a leading lawyer of Yonkers :

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 8

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286