USA > New York > Onondaga County > Syracuse > Memorial history of Syracuse, N.Y. : from its settlement to the present time > Part 21
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
Stone was succeeded as manager in 1868 by David L. Pike, and in Febru- ary, 1880, William M. Mallett was appointed to succeed him. In February, 1884, he was succeeded by the present efficient and popular manager, John E. Bierhardt. Marvin Hughitt, of Chicago, President of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company, and connected with other great enter- prises, was a boy in the Morse office in 1852, and in 1852-53 Rufus B. Bullock, in later years Governor of the State of Georgia, was an operator in the House office. A. S. Brown, now chief electrical engineer of the Western Union Company, was at one time employed in the O'Keilley office. The force of the office has grown from an operator and messenger to one man- ager, three chief operators, twenty-nine operators, twelve clerks and book- keepers, two batterymen, and forty messengers. During the year ending January 1, 1891, 160,575 messages were sent from this office, and 145,694 were received.
In May, 1849, Mr. Faxton bought the right to use the Morse patent on a line from Syracuse to Oswego, which line was afterwards owned by Joseph Owen.
In 1850 two other and competing lines were built through the State between New York and Buffalo-the O'Reilley line, on which the Bain in- strument was used, and the House line, on which instruments which printed the message on strips of paper were used, such as are still in use in some parts of Europe. The O'Reilley line passed to the control of the New York, Albany, and Buffalo Company in 1853, and the House line followed in 1856. A number of lines have been built through Syracuse since that time, but, generally speaking, they were short lived, and made no history.
On January 1, 1864, the New York, Albany, and Buffalo Company's property passed under control of the Western Union Company, whose lines prior to that date were wholly west of Buffalo and Pittsburgh. This was part of the general plan of consolidation to facilitate telegraphic communi- cation and reduce rates.
The Western Union Telegraph Company brought under its control most of the telegraph lines of the country when it was organized, and from the first was too powerful in its management and financially to allow permanent com- petition to stand against it; and though it has been something of a monop- oly all of these years it has treated the public fairly, and maintained a fair scale of rates. The company now maintains about 700,000 miles of wire, of which 257 miles are in Syracuse, and 33,000 employees. The following statistics from the company's last annual report are interesting :
Capital stock $86,199,852 06 15.183 986 00
Bonded debt
Less balance sinking fund not applied
404.457 50
8,611,401 78
22.387,028 91
Surplus, July 1, 1889 Revenues . Expenses
15.074,303 81
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PUBLIC INSTITUTOINS.
After paying dividends, $4,956,008.14, interest on bonds, $875, 135.44, and appropriating to sinking fund, $40,000, there was a surplus June 30, 1890, of $10,052,983.30, which surplus was increased March 31, 1891, by about $1,300,000. Dr. Norvin Green, the President of the company, is a most talented executive officer, known almost as widely as the President of the United States is known, and to whom belongs a very large percentage of the credit for making the Western Union Telegraph Company what it is.
The Telephone .-- The wonderful invention of the telegraph was followed, in a comparatively recent year, by the no less important and useful inven- tion of Prof. Graham Bell, the telephone. This invention was perfected between 1875 and 1878, and the first exchange was established in Syracuse in January, 1879, by Matthew J. Myers. He was already in control of the district telegraph and messenger service in the city, and the two were operated in connection, the rights to the telephone being held under lease from the Bell Telephone Company. Poles were put up and wires strung, and in a very short time communication by speech between distant busi- ness houses and residences was established Like the telegraph it was at the first a great curiosity, but the novelty was soon exhausted and the marvelous device became one of the common necessities of the day. Mr. Myers managed his exchange with energy and efficiency, and gave the people good service as a rule. His lease covered the county of Onondaga, and several of the near-by villages were connected with Syracuse ; further extensions would have been made but for the expiration of his lease, which occurred in July, 1887. On the first of that month the control of the tele- phone business of this section of territory passed into the hands of the Cen- tral New York Telephone and Telegraph Company, whose headquarters are at Utica, while Mr Myers continued and extended his district telegraph business, and also transferred to the city authorities the right to use his poles for police and fire alarm wires. When the telephone business was taken in hand by the company named extensive improvements were inaugurated. . Immense and lofty poles were set throughout the city, and wires of larger size and better conductivity strung upon them, to the great advantage of subscribers. There are now in the city itself about 1,200 subscribers, and Syracuse is connected with almost every point within the State and many points outside of it.
The Business Men's Association .-- The plan for the formation of this asso- sociation took definite shape on the 7th day of March, 1889, at a meeting of representative business men of this city, held in the parlors of t e Vanderbilt House. C C. Bradley presided as Chairman ; E. B. Salmon as Secretary. Arthur Jenkins proceeded to explain the object of the meeting, submitting a report of a committee appointed at a conference of a few business men
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
held a short time previous to consider the necessity of the business men of Syracuse banding themselves together in an association. This report, as presented by him, provided, in substance, that the organization should be nanied " The Business Men's Association and Exchange, of Syracuse, N.Y.," having for its object the furtherance of the city's commercial interests, etc. At a subsequent meeting, held March 29th at the Leland Hotel, the following gentlemen were elected officers of the association for the first year : President, Edward A. Powell; Vice-President, A. W. Palmer ; Treas- urer, Charles Hubbard ; Managers, Henry J. Mowry, Martin A. Knapp, Arthur Jenkins, C. C. Bradley, A. C. Belden, Daniel Rosenbloom, O. F. Soule, H. S. Holden, Dennis McCarthy, R. S. Sperry, Frank B. Haberle, Charles Hughes. The managers elected C. L. Hasbrouck, Secretary. Regular weekly meetings of the managers are held on Tuesday of each week for the transaction of business interests to which their attention may be called, and the consideration of whatever of interest for the city's growth and welfare that may be brought to their notice. A meeting of the mem- bers of the association is held on the third Thursday in every month to discuss some popular subject of interest to the public, to which the citizens are always invited and take part in the proceedings. The services of the officers of the organization are rendered gratuitously, and the membership includes the leading bankers, manufacturers, merchants, business and pro- fessional men of the city, none of whom expect direct profit from their investment, but all lending their counsel and influence for the furtherance of the growth and prosperity of the city in which they dwell.
The association enters its third year of existence on a solid foundation, acknowledged usefulness, and a recognized power of influence that was predicted by the founders at its organization. The present officers elected for the current year, 1891, are: President, E. A. Powell ; Vice-President, A. W. Palmer; Treasurer, Charles Hubbard; Secretary, C. L. Hasbrouck ; Managers : Jacob Amos, J. M. Andrews, Henry J. Mowry, W. S. Peck, Alex- ander Grant, A. C. Chase, John Greenway, Daniel O'Brien, Charles W. Snow, William A. Sweet, E. C. Stearns, Salem Hyde, E. B. Judson, jr., Edward Joy, Louis Marshall, James W. Eager.
At a recent meeting of the members the name of the association was changed to " The Business Men's Association."
The Young Men's Christian Association .- This Christian and benevolent institution, founded in England in 1844 and in America in 1851, now num- bers 1,347 associations and a membership of 250,000, with 231 buildings valued at $10,000,000. Its object is to not only furnish to young men all of the advantages that richer men enjoy in clubs, but at the same time to surround them with the genial influences of Christian purpose, in a way
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PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
best calculated to keep them from the perilous paths of city distractions. One of its chief duties is to welcome young men to the city, and offer to them the advantages which will keep them under the influences of higher culture and a gentler life. It seeks to reach young men everywhere, and to benefit them physically, mentally, socially. and morally. The association in Syracuse was organized on September 30, 1858; at that time there were only five associations in the State and sixty in the United States and British Provinces. Among those whose names are identified with this memorable movement are Dr. H. D. Didama, James Marshall, M. W. Smith, C. E. Stevens, Edward Thurber, W. E. Abbott, Henry Babcock, W. J. Hunt, W. H. Doane, and Edward Newell. The following men have served as Presidents of the association, in the order given : C. E. Stevens, James Marshall, Dr. H. D. Didama, H. L. Duguid, A. W. Blye, Timothy Hough, M. C. Palmer, Edward Smith, T. G. Bassett, Isaac Bridgman, M. W. Hanchett, A. D. Roberts, J. A. Skinner, George C. Sawyer, W. S. Peck, John Marsellus, W. A. Duncan; and J. B. Brooks. The following have been employed as General Secretaries : E. D. Ingersol, H. B. Chamberlain, S. M. Sayford, H. B. Hudson, G. A. Warburton, and A. S. Durston ; the latter has now held the position for seven years.
During the first few months of the association's life meetings were held in the various churches ; but in March, 1859, rooms were secured in the Pike Block, and later at No. 16 South Salina street, in upper rooms. The association was incorporated in 1862, the act being drawn by Hon. Charles Andrews. For several years the association directed its efforts to the establishment of mission schools in various parts of the city ; but later it adopted its legitimate work-" a work for young men, by young men." In 1866 it returned to more desirable quarters in the Pike Block ; but in 1873, when its lease there had expired, it again removed to its former site, occupy- ing all of the rooms above No. 16 South Salina street. In 1875 its first Gen- eral Secretary, E. D. Ingersol, was secured, the work prior to that date having been carried on by a City Missionary.
Needing still more commodious quarters, a special meeting was held in March, 1871, and steps were there taken to secure rooms in the Convention Block in East Genesee street. Great enthusiasm was manifested at the opening of the new hall, and the good work went on more energetically than ever before. The association has always received the hearty co opera- tion of the women of the city, and in 1882 the Woman's Auxiliary was organized and Mrs. H. L. Duguid chosen President. Since that time the following ladies have acted in that capacity : Mrs. Francis Hendricks, Mrs. J. B. Brooks, Mrs. Horace Candee, Mrs. Dr. I. H. Searl, and Mrs. S. B. Bacon, who is the present incumbent.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
Among the offshoots of the parent association is the Railroad Branch, which was established in 1879, with G. M. Stowell, General Secretary. In 1880 a similar branch was organized at East Syracuse. In the same year a College Association was organized at the University, which has done a grand work, and ground has been broken on the campus for a building which will be equipped with all necessary accessories for the association. Frank Wood is the General Secretary.
The parent association long felt the need of a building especially adapted to its various lines of work-physical, mental, and moral. It was on May 30, 1883, at a conference held at the residence of E. W. Leavenworth, that the project of securing such a building assumed tangible shape. Those present who discussed the advisability of a new building were State Sec- retary George A. Hall, H. B. Chamberlain, W. W. Brown, R. N. Gere, A. C. Chase, H. L. Duguid, Peter Burns, and others. No definite steps were taken until November of that year, when a committee was appointed from the Board of Managers, consisting of W. S. Peck, James A. Skinner, George C. Sawyer, J. B. Brooks, and A. S. Durston, and the site of St. Paul's Church rectory was secured. After a careful canvass sufficient funds were pledged by citizens of the city with which to erect a suitable building. Ground was broken October 7, 1884, and on the 15th of November, of that year, the corner-stone of the new structure was laid by President W. A. Duncan. Appropriate addresses were made by Judge A. J. Northrup, Rev. George A. Hall, and Dwight L. Moody. January 16, 1886, the splendid structure was formally dedicated ; its cost was $62,000.
CHARITIES.
In caring for her poor and unfortunate Syracuse has a record which will bear comparison with that of any similar city. Her citizens may not be more generous, liberal, or sympathetic than those of other places; but they have at least realized that, outside of the dictates of humanity, the proper protection and support of the poor is one of the elements of prosperity in any community. At the same time the numerous and ever increasing calls upon the charity of the well-to-do have been always promptly and gener- ously met, and the most cordial support given to the establishment of the various institutions having for their chief object the amelioration of the condition of the poor .- Previous to the incorporation of Syracuse as a city the care of the poor had been provided for through the common channels of the Board of Supervisors and the Overseer of the Poor, and no institu- tion had then been founded, outside of the Orphan Asylum, for this object. But in 1852, after some agitation, a City Poor and Work House was estab-
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PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
lished, and $16,000 were appropriated by the Council for the erection of a proper building. This action resulted in building the structure now occu- pied by the House of Providence, on the Split Rock road. It was used for its avowed purpose only a little more than ten years, when it was ordered sold to the Catholic denomination, in 1867. The principal reason for its abandonment appears to have been the comparative expense of conducting it as a separate institution. The building has since that time been used by the Catholics as a home for orphan boys and old and infirm people, as described in the chapter on the churches of the city. The direct care of the poor of the city is now under the charge of the city Overseer of the Poor. But in addition to his work the various institutions described are indefatigable in seeking out and protecting those who need and deserve private aid.
Onondaga County Orphan Asylum .-- The Onondaga County Orphan Asylum had its origin in an effort made by an association of ladies in this city-then a village-to furnish a common school education to the poor children of the town.
This association supported a school, which was kept by Miss Ann Mead from July, 1835, to the fall of 1839, when the association was practically dissolved, with funds on hand from sale of school property, etc., amounting to $427.38. In the discussion as to what disposition should be made of this money the condition and wants of orphan and destitute children were considered, and the attention of the ladies, who had been members of the association, and others was arrested. An association was formed for the re- lief of such children, on the 21st of October, 1841, and the above men - tioned fund was placed in its hands. Mr. Harvey Loomis was made Presi- dent, and Miss Bliss, Secretary.
On Wednesday, the 2d day of February, 1842, a union fair was held for the purpose of aiding this new object, and the sum of $550.75, over and above all expenses, was realized. Other fairs were held by the ladies fron time to time, which were liberally patronized by the citizens, at one of which, held on the 23d of December, 1846, the further sum of $664, above all expenses, was realized.
On the 10th day of May, 1845, the asylum was incorporated by act of Legislature, and on the following day was organized with John Dunford as President of the Board of Trustees ; William Mitchell, Secretary ; and Oliver Teall, Treasurer. Miss Eliza Clark, of Albany, was the first Matron. In 1845 the association rented a dwelling on South Salina street, a little west of Onondaga street, and the asylum was there opened in May of that year. In 1846 the Syracuse Academy Building was purchased of the Syracuse Company for $3,000.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
The grounds were spacious and beautiful, and by the addition, in 1848, of three lots, each four by eight rods, in the northeast corner of the block, they were made sufficiently ample for all the purposes of the asylum. These lots cost $1,000.
In the year 1852 the comfort of the orphans was greatly increased by the erection of piazzas on the west side of the building. In the year 1860 ample cisterns were built and gas introduced into the building. Blinds also were put upon the asylum in the year 1861, greatly improving its appearance and adding to the comfort of its inmates. In the year 1861 also, through the liberality of the late Horace White, esq., a tasty, ample, and convenient building for a school-house was erected on the grounds, at an expense of $3,000.
September 11, 1883, the corner-stone of the large new building front- ing on East Genesee street was laid, and completed in 1885, at a cost of $65,000, whichi greatly enlarges the accommodations and renders the in- stitution in every way admirably adapted to its purpose.
The county compensates the asylum for such children as are cared for from that source, and the institution has always received the cordial support of the people of Syracuse and Onondaga county through the various channels that have been adopted for its solicitation. The present officers of the asy- lum are as follows : Peter Burns, President ; William E. Abbott, Secretary. The office of Vice President has recently been made vacant by the death of D. P. Wood.
The Bureau of Labor and Charities .- This institution has been of almost incalculable usefulness in the city, particularly in the work of discriminating between worthy and unworthy subjects for charity, and in the proper dis- tribution of alms. The bureau was organized December 20, 1878, and in- corporated March 7, 1881, with the following charter members : Edward A. Powell, Timothy Sullivan, Elias T. Talbot, Austin C. Chase, James L. Bagg, Lawrence T. Jones, and John M. Strong. The objects of the bureau are : (1) To investigate the condition of indigent persons in Syracuse, and so far as practicable to cause them to be properly provided for, so as to prevent them from becoming or remaining paupers or criminals; (2) to look after the welfare of children in Syracuse found to be wayward, neglected, or improp- erly treated, and so far as practicable to procure suitable employment in homes for them in the country or elsewhere. It will be seen that this field is a broad one, and one capable of yielding a vast amount of good. The number of directors in the bureau is thirty-two, and the first officers were : E. A. Powell, President ; Charles R. Sherlock, Secretary.
In ISSI the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which is a branch of and united with the bureau just described, was organized and in-
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PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
corporated by the following persons : Timothy Sullivan, James O. S. Hunt- ington, Miss Mabel T. White, Mrs. Harriet T. Dunlap, Lawrence T. Jones, and Richmond Fisk. The object of the society is sufficiently expressed in its title. These two organizations work together and under one head, but have separate articles of incorporation. The funds and other means of charity are supplied by solicited subscriptions and voluntary contributions. The sum expended for out-door relief during the year ending December 31, ISgo, was about $2,000 less than for the preceding year, and more than $12,500 less than for the year 1878, which was the year of the organization of the society, showing a reduction of 69 per cent. in the amount of tax- ation under this head. This reduction is directly due to the work of this bureau. The number of children cared for or treated during the year was 286. The present officers are as follows : Charles P. Clark, President; Rev. Dr. George B. Spaulding, Rev. John Grimes, Wilber S. Peck, Frederick R. Hazard, Daniel Gere, John Lyman, Miss A. S. Huntington, Mrs. Charlotte M. Wilkinson, Vice- Presidents ; Osgood V. Tracy, Treasurer ; Charles De B. Mills, Secretary ; Lena P. Bennett, Assistant Secretary ; Ceylon H. Lewis, Attorney.
The New York State Asylum for Idiots .- This institution was founded in 1851, and opened for the admission of inmates in October of that year, in buildings leased for the purpose in Albany. Through the efforts of sev- eral citizens of Syracuse, prominent among whom was the late E. W. Leavenworth, who was then in the State Legislature, the site of the insti- tution was changed to Syracuse in 1855. A building was erected on the hillside to the westward of the city, at a cost of about $70,000, the land having been donated by citizens of Syracuse. The original structure was intended to accommodate 150 pupils ; but additions have since been made at different times until at the present time its capacity is 530. The asylum premises include about fifty-five acres of land, which is highly improved. The object of the institution is to furnish education and care to idiots of the State who are of a teachable age and condition. The by-laws exclude ap- plicants who are epileptic, insane, or greatly deformed. The education and training of pupils have reference chiefly to developing their capacity for some useful occupation and the formation of good habits. A large part of the work in the asylum and about the grounds is performed by the inmates. The asylum is under the general control of a Board of Trustees, eight of whom are appointed by the Governor, and the remaining five are ex officio members, consisting of the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. The late Dr. H. B. Wilbur was appointed the first Superintendent of the asylum, and to its welfare and success he gave the energies of his life until his decease, May
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF SYRACUSE.
1, 1883. He was a man peculiarly adapted to his unselfish work, and the people of the State of New York owe his memory the highest respect and gratitude for his labors in connection with the improvement of the condition of the unfortunates who came under his care.
For the succeeding ten months Dr. G. A. Doren filled the office of Super- intendent, and in October, 1884, the present Superintendent, Dr. James C. Carson, took charge of the institution, and has managed it with excellent success. The present Board of Trustees is as follows : Rt. Rev. F. D. Huntington, Permanent Chairman; George F. Comstock, Nathan F. Graves, J. W. Yale, A. W. Palmer, Robert Aberdein, and George B. Sloan, of Oswego.
The Syracuse Home Association .- The need of an institution in a city like Syracuse which would supply a home for women, especially the aged, and women without employment, without homes, and destitute of means, led to the establishment of the Syracuse Home. The work was in- augurated by about thirty of the prominent women of the city, many of whom had been conspicuous in other charitable works, and whose efforts were aided by those of several men who foresaw the good that might be accomplished by such an institution. The act of incorporation was passed in 1853, and the institution was opened in a dwelling on South Salina street ; but more commodious quarters were soon needed, and it was re- moved to a residence on East Fayette street, where it remained for thirteen years, its field of usefulness constantly extending. In November, 1867, fire broke out in the building at midnight, and it was destroyed, and the inmates turned out upon the charity of citizens. They were temporarily sheltered in a building on the corner of Salina and Onondaga streets, and when it soon became apparent that their straightened quarters would have to be abandoned, the late Major Moses D. Burnet presented the lot on the corner of Townsend and Hawley streets to the association, on con- dition that citizens would subscribe a sufficient amount to build a suitable house. By the persistent work of the managers, among whom were Hamilton White, Horace White, Charles Pope, Ira Cobb, E. B. Wicks, David French, Captain Putnam, Lyman Clary, and Ira Williams, and the ready response of generous citizens, the necessary amount was pledged, and the corner- stone of the new structure was laid in June, 1869. On the 22d of February, 1870, the building was dedicated, and on the 10th of March following the inmates were transferred to their new and beautiful home.
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