USA > New York > Erie County > Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1) > Part 50
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But with all these changes the city charter still remained imperfect and in many ways inadequate to the needs of the growing city. It was believed by leading officials and citizens that radical alterations striking at the very root of municipal government would be necessary before the results would prove satisfactory. This general feeling led to the preparation and adoption of the present charter in 1891. It was enacted as a law by the Legislature on March 27 of that year and may be found in full in the published session laws, Chapter 105. This charter made sweeping changes in various features of the municipal government and, with the several amendments made since, constitutes an admirable document. Its most important provisions gave the city its present boundaries and divided it into twenty-five wards (as at present), and made radical changes in the legislative department. The Com- mon Council was separated into two distinct bodies-the Board of Councilmen consisting of nine members, who are elected by the people and hold office for a term of three years, three new members being elected each year; and the Board of Aldermen consisting of twenty-five members, one from each ward, holding office for a term of two years. While the Board of Alderman is invested with broad powers, no act of theirs is in force until it is approved by the Board of Councilmen; the latter may amend any measure of the former and return it for further consideration. If agreed to, it then stands as an act of the whole Common Council; if not, and is further amended, it may be again re- turned to the councilmen for renewed consideration and approval or
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FROM 1870 TO 1897.
rejection. Measures passing both boards and reaching the mayor may be vetoed by him. The veto may, however, be overridden by eighteen votes of the Board of Aldermen, and seven votes of the Board of Councilmen. The new State Constitution of 1894 separated national, State and local politics in certain respects; municipal officers must now be chosen at separate elections; under this arrangement it became necessary in 1894 to elect all aldermen for a term of three years; the aldermen elected in 1895 served two years, and the board elected in 1897, to take office until January 1, 1898, will serve two years. The charter was further amended so as to provide for the election of three councilmen in 1895, to serve four years, and for the election of six councilmen in 1897, who should determine by lot two of their number to hold office for two years. At the annual election held in odd num- bered years thereafter it was provided that there shall be elected alter- nately five and four councilmen for a four years' term, while the terms of other city officers also expire at the close of odd numbered years, their successors to be elected in the preceding fall.
The executive and administrative powers of the city are vested by the new charter in the mayor and the heads of departments-finance, assessment, law, police and excise, fire, public works (with four bureaus noticed further on), parks, public instruction, and poor. The follow- ing officers are elected by the people: Mayor, comptroller, corporation counsel, treasurer, assessors, commissioner of public works, judges of municipal court, superintendent of education, police justice, justices of the peace, and overseer of the poor. The mayor, comptroller, corpora- tion counsel, treasurer, superintendent of education, commissioner of public works, and overseer of the poor were given a term of three years; police justice and justices of the peace, four years; assessors five years, and judge of the municipal court, six years.
The Board of Police, under this charter, consists of the mayor, ex officio, and two commissioners of police; the two police commissioners act also as commissioners of excise. Authority was given for the division of the city into not less than eleven nor more than fourteen precincts, with one captain, two sergeants, and three doormen in each precinct.
The Board of Health consists of the mayor, the president of the Board of Public Works, and a health commissioner appointed by the mayor.
The Fire Department is under control of a non-partisan board ap- pointed by the mayor for six years.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
The Board of Public Works consists of three members, elected for a term of three years. In this important department are four bureaus- Bureau of Water (the chief of which is the water superintendent), Bureau of Streets (under the superintendent of streets), Bureau of Buildings (under the superintendent of buildings), and Bureau of En- gineering.
The Department of Parks under this charter consists of fifteen members, appointed by the mayor, who serve without compensation.
The Department of Public Instruction has the superintendent of education at its head, and he is invested with broad powers. All the expenses are paid from the general fund. An important change in this department was made by the charter in the creation of a Board of School Examiners, consisting of five members, who are designated by the mayor. One new member is appointed each year. Applicants for teachers' positions in the city are divided into three grades-high school grade, grammar school grade, and primary grade, and all must appear before the Board of Examiners to establish their fitness for the position applied for.
The Department of Poor is under direction of the overseer of the poor, who appoints such subordinates as are directed by the council.
A supervisor and a constable are elected in each city ward. The Municipal Court is continued as under the previous charter, and two judges are chosen for terms of six years. Aldermen and councilmen are paid a salary of $1,000 each annually.
A feature of modern progress that is already of great importance to the whole of Erie county, and will when completed confer still greater advantages upon the city, is the abolition of railroad grade crossings. The Grade Crossing Commission was created in 1888 by an act of the Legislature, and consisted of the following named persons: Robert B. Adam, William J. Morgan, George Sandrock, Charles A. Sweet, Ed- ward H. Butler, John B. Weber, Frederick Kendall, Solomon Scheu and James E. Nunan. Chapter 345 of the laws of 1892 added the fol- lowing persons to the commission: Augustus F. Scheu, James Ryan and Henry D. Kirkover. After long and discouraging negotiations with attorneys and representatives of railroads, the commission was finally successful, and during the year 1896 contracts were signed by all the important railroads entering the city and work is now progress- ing that will soon effect the much desired improvement. The Michi-
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FROM 1870 TO 1897.
gan street viaduct, the lowering of tracks below the level of Washing- ton street, and crossing the Terrace by subway is already accom- plished. The entire work will involve an expenditure of about $5,000,000.
Natural gas for fuel was introduced in Buffalo in 1886. In January of that year the Buffalo Natural Gas Fuel Company was incorporated with a capital stock of $250,000, which has since been increased to $350,000. The first and present principal officers of the company are as follows: Daniel O'Day, president; John McManus, secretary and treasurer. Franchises were granted to the company in April, 1886, for the laying of pipes in the streets, and on November 30 the gas was turned on. The plant has been greatly extended and the company has now about 150 miles of mains laid. About 13,000 consumers are now supplied with the gas. The company acts as a distributor only, and not as a producer. The gas is obtained from McKean county, Pa., and Welland, Ont., with Cattaraugus and Erie county wells as a reserve. Soon after the organization of this company experimental wells were sunk in West Seneca, Erie county, and a supply of gas was found. A little later Gerhard Lang and George Rochevot discovered gas in the vicinity of Jefferson and Best streets, in the city, and organized the Erie County Natural Gas Fuel Company, which established a small plant on the east side of the city. This plant is now operated under lease by the older company.
The paving of Buffalo streets with asphalt composition was intro- duced in 1882. Since that time this class of smooth street surface has been extensively laid by several companies, until at the present time about 200 miles are thus paved. This renders Buffalo the best paved city in the world.
In no other one respect is the enormous material growth and aston- ishing business activity of the city during the period of five years from 1888 so clearly shown as in the extension of banking interests. From 1889 to 1893 inclusive there were no less than ten new banking and financial institutions established. It is doubtful if such a statement can be truthfully made regarding any other city in the country of simi- lar population. With others previously founded, all of which have been noticed, this gives the city at the present time eighteen banks of deposit and discount, five savings banks, and two trust companies, all named below.' The total capital represented is about $5,550, 000; with
" The People's Bank was organized May 20, 1889, with capital stock of $300,000 and the follow-
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
total surplus and undivided profits of $4,250,000. A clearing house was established in Buffalo on April 1, 1889, which is still in existence and facilitates the transaction of banking business in all of its features.
On account of its large hotel facilities, its accessible situation, and the public spirit and liberality shown by its citizens, Buffalo has been the scene of many notable public gatherings of civil, political and mili- tary character. While these need not be here referred to in detail, it is proper in these closing pages of general history to allude briefly to
ing officers, who still hold their positions: Daniel O'Day, president; Arthur D. Bissell, vice- president; Clarence W. Hammond, second vice-president and cashier.
The Citizens' Bank of Buffalo was organized October 1, 1890, with capital stock of $100,000, and the following principal officers, who still hold their respective positions: Joseph Block, president; G. Fred Zeller, vice president; Irving E. Waters, cashier.
The Metropolitan Bank was organized in 1891, and opened for business on July 5 of that year. The capital stock was the same as now, $200,000. The first officers were William Meadows, presi- dent; Charles Groben, vice-president; Jacob Dilcher, cashier. In May, 1898, Henry Weill suc- ceeded to the presidency.
The Union Bank was organized in 1891, and opened for business June 8 of that year, with capi- tal stock of $200,000, which remains the same. Following were the first officers: Joshua S. Bliss, president; John Q. McDonnell, vice president; Louis Stern, cashier; Jerome P. Owen, assistant cashier. H. A. Menker succeeded Mr. Bliss as president in October, 1893. Alex. McMaster, vice- president; James Kerr, cashier.
The Niagara Bank was organized and opened for business September 15, 1891, in Black Rock; it removed to the city in 1894, and in April, 1896, made the first lease in the new Ellicott Square building. The capital stock was and is $100,000. The first officers were P. Henry Griffin, presi- dent; Marcus M. Drake, vice-president; both still in office; Harvey S. Champlin, cashier; Oliver S. Laycock second vice-president. In 1898 John A. Kennedy succeeded Mr. Champlin as cashier, and William J. Hayes was made assistant cashier. In June, 1897, Mr. Kennedy succeeded Mr. Lay- cock as second vice-president and Mr. Hayes was made cashier, with Frank T. Hartman, assist- ant cashier.
Ellicott Square Bank is the successor of the Queen City Bank, organized in 1892, with capital stock of $600,000. In 1896 a reorganization was effected and the name changed to its present title, and the capital made $300,000. The first officers of the latter bank were Fred C. M. Lautz, presi- dent; James N. Adam, vice-president; D. Clark Rice, cashier. On May 4, 1896, Walter G. Robbins succeeded Mr. Adam as vice-president. The other officers still hold their positions.
The Columbia National Bank of Buffalo began business June, 1892, with capital stock of $200,000. and the following officers: Josiah Jewett, president: Henry C. Howard, vice president; Joseph S. Bryant, second vice-president; Clifford Hubbell, cashier. Sherman S. Jewett died February 28, 1897, and was succeeded as president by Edgar B. Jewett; George Wadsworth was elected vice-president.
The City Bank was organized March 20, 1893, with capital stock of $300,000, and the following as the first and present officers: William C. Cornwell, president, P. H. Griffin, vice-president; Charles Daniels, second vice-president; Alfred J. Barnes, cashier; John R. Boag, assistant cashier; James G. Berry, second assistant cashier.
The Empire State Savings Bank was organized September 1, 1892, with the following as the first principal officers: Charles Daniels, president; John S. Voltz, first. vice-president; P. J. Ferris, secretary and treasurer. The latter was succeeded October 1, 1892, by George W. Townsend, and he on April 7, 1897, by Edward D. Wheeler. Andrew Langdon is the present president; George A. Stringer, first vice-president; Robert Denton, second vice-president.
Another strong financial institution is the Fidelity Trust and Guaranty Company, which began business May 11, 1893, with a paid in capital of $500,000; this remains unchanged. The first officers were George V. Forman, president; George S. Field, vice-president; John Satterfield, second vice- president; T. S. McFarland, secretary, and twenty-four trustees. The resources of this institu- tion are now more than five and a half million dollars.
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the Thirty-first National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, held in the city from Monday to Saturday, August 23-28, 1897, the striking scenes of which are still fresh in the public mind.
Extensive preparations were made in the city, through the energetic labor of various committees, for the coming of the expected hosts; two beautiful and symbolic arches were erected in Main street, one in Chippewa street and two at the Front; a military camp, which was a model in every respect, was established at the Front and given the name of Camp Jewett, and formally opened on Monday afternoon by Commander Thaddeus Clarkson, and its use presented to the G. A. R. by Mayor Edgar B. Jewett. Visitors began to arrive on the previous Saturday and Sunday, and the city was soon overflowing with a vast tide of humanity from all over the United States. In the evening of Monday there was a civic parade in which various organizations took part. On the same day a reception was given to Commander Clark- son at Music Hall.
President Mckinley arrived in the city on Tuesday afternoon, mak- ing his headquarters at the Niagara Hotel. In the evening he was given a banquet in the Ellicott Square dining hall by Columbia Post, G. A. R., of Chicago. About 400 persons sat at the tables, and re- sponses to toasts were made by the president, Governor Black, Arch- bishop Ireland, Commander Clarkson, Russell A. Alger, Mayor Jewett, and others.
The grand parade of the G. A. R. took place on Wednesday. This was one of the most imposing and impressive spectacles of the kind ever witnessed. Marching up Main street, the vast throng turned down Chippewa street to Delaware avenue, and thence up the avenue to the Circle and thence to the Front. At the junction of the avenue and Chippewa street, and facing eastward towards the head of the marching veterans, was displayed the living shield, a symbol the novelty and beauty of which were almost beyond description. The great shield was composed of about 2,000 children dressed in red, white, and blue, who were seated upon a raised and inclined platform, and greeted the marching columns with songs, cheers and waving handkerchiefs. The parade lasted about six hours.
A reviewing stand was erected at the Circle from which the presi- dent, Governor Black, Commander Clarkson, and other distinguished men reviewed the parade. The business meeting of the convention was held on Thursday. It was opened by Commander Clarkson, who
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
was followed by addresses of welcome. These were followed by the commander's annual message, election of officers, and other regular proceedings. Speeches were made by Archbishop Ireland, Gen. Lew Wallace, and other distinguished persons. .
It was estimated that there were 200,000 or more strangers in the city during this memorable event. Many of these left on Thursday, while others remained through the week. This vast gathering was comfortably provided for, and there was not a complaint of any im- portance from any one, nor an untoward occurrence to mar the occasion. At the Thursday meeting the following resolution was offered by Gen. Lew Wallace and adopted :
Resolved, That this Encampment cannot adjourn without expressing its great appreciation of the liberality of the municipal authorities and all of the citizens of Buffalo for this labor of love and patriotism they have performed in preparing for and entertaining the members of the Encampment and its visiting friends.
Buffalo enjoys the distinction of being the birthplace of the second Grand Army post in the United States, the first one being organized in Illinois. The Buffalo post-Chapin, No. 2-was mustered in the fall of 1866, and has had an uninterrupted existence. It was the first to apply for a charter in this State. In 1869 it had 592 members, or twenty-five more than any other post in New York; now it has 319. It was named in honor of Gen. Edward Payson Chapin, who fell at the battle of Port Hudson, May 27, 1863, and from its ranks were organ- ized the Bidwell and Wilkeson posts, the former on April 1, 1870, and the latter on May 15, 1871. These two posts were consolidated May 28, 1880, under the name of Bidwell Wilkeson Post, No. 9, which now has 351 members and is the largest and foremost Grand Army organi- zation in Erie county, numbering among its officers and men some of the leading citizens of Buffalo. To Chapin Post and Post Commander John D. Leib is due the credit of erecting in Forest Lawn a beautiful soldiers' monument and the setting apart of a burial plot for friendless and indigent veterans.
At the present time there are seven Grand Army posts in Buffalo, having a total membership of about 1,225. In the county, outside of the city, there are perhaps another thousand or fifteen hundred veter- ans belonging to the Grand Army of the Republic. It is impossible to estimate the number of soldiers and sailors in Erie county who served in the late Rebellion, but an idea may be gained from the fact that there are upwards of 3,000 pensioners within our limits. No other
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FROM 1870 TO 1897.
organization has inspired such patriotism; no body of men has a higher claim to the honor of a grateful public.
The valuation of real and personal property in the city of Buffalo from 1855, when the boundaries were enlarged, and the amount of tax levied in each year, to the present time, are shown in the following table:
YEAR.
Valuation real estate.
sonal prop- erty. Valuation per- Total of real and personal property.
Tax.
1855
$28,128,039
$7,360,436
$35,488,475
$301,213 32
1856
29,356,291
8,130,770
37,487,061
317,478.56
1857
29,446,280
6,065,720
35,512,000
345,834.47
1858
27,743,945
5,485,080
33,229,025
$64,904.48
1859
24,997,300
4,743,080
29,740,380
304,783.33
1860
24.358,905
5,893,470
30,252,375
302,443.18
1861
24,232,955
6,472,175
30,705,130
283.644.49
1862
24,677,175
6,944,180
31,621,355
284,196.19
1863
25,210,815
6,528,045
31,738,860
334,504.83
1864
25.491,900
6,517,510
32 009,410
403,857.33
1865
25,868,210
7,730,030
33,598,240
504,218.86
1866
26,438,325
8,519,375
34,957,700
485,444.16
1867
28,807,940
10,755,175
39,563,115
640,713.45
1868
29,359,788
7,156,475
36,516,263
648,778.11
1869
30,289,215
7,350,835
37,640,050
657.954.75
1870
30,838,530
6,547,575
37,386,105
865,350.56
1871
31,990,095
6,247,775
38,237,870
867,644.25
1872
32,755,730
5,719,405
38,475,135
1,042,612.62
33,587,040
6,129,550
39,716,590
1,334,075.88
1874
33,943,735
6,024,370
39,968,105
1,442,290.39
1875
34,974,065
6,105,000
41,079,065
1,487,672.19
1876
102,540,095
9,455,860
111,995,955
1,420,778.87
1877
91,130,870
8,844,705
99,975,575
1,545 392.80
1878
80,929,165
7,947,380
88,876,545
1,243,582.89
1879
80,521,930
7.634,380
88,156,310
1,036,501.27
1880
81,713,740
7,523,850
89,237,320
1,264,064.90
1881
84,394,920
7,850,545
92,254,465
1,505,445.11
1882
88,473,285
9,623, 750
98,097,035
1,582,665.15
1883
93,167,090
8,796,675
101,963,765
1,659,634.99
1884
96,341,455
8,459,735
104,801,190
1,723,656.75
1885
99,912,470
8,461,675
108,364,145
1,993,195.81
1886
113,963,945
8,405,225
122,369,170
2.113,686.56
1887
119,876,145
8.755,150
128,631,295
2,012,251.78
1888
123,793,900
9,383,405
133,076,805
1,911,365.27
1889
147,168,115
10,344,455
157,512,570
2,228,122.05
1890
151,356,265
11,003,125
162,359,450
2,383,789.53
1891
168,181,770
11,775,580
179,957,350
2,845,997.78
1892
183,254,870
13,829,910
197,084,780 222,572,885
3,526,249.14
1894
215,400,430
14,725,975
230,126,405
3,528,310.59
1895
220,290,690
14,360,710
234,651,400
3,612,616.40
1896
225,485,795
13,486,550
238,972,345
3,588,423.01
1897
230,698,810|
16,689,465
247,388,275
3,507,668.67
2,989,614.81
1893
208,665,620
13,907,265
56
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442
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
In this connection the following statement of property that is exempt from taxation for support of the municipal government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1895, and June 30, 1896 (the latest available) is of significant interest :
United States.
June 30, 1895. $882,400
June 30, 1806. $882.400
State of New York
2,181,145
2,231,145
Erie county.
0884,785
959,725
City and county
1,607,400
1,607,400
City
8,310,467
8.004,194
RELIGIOUS.
Protestant
$3,496,420
$3,758,915
Roman Catholic
4,470,085
4,076.170
Hebrew
157,040
161,290
Clergymen
146,000
161,000
Miscellaneous
3,047,780
3,761.375
Totals
$24,877,189
$25,909,887
Statement showing the receipts of flour and grain at Buffalo by lake during the past sixty-one years :
YEAR.
Flour, bbls.
Wheat, bu.
Corn, bu.
Oats, bu.
Barley, bu.
Rye, bu.
1836
139,178;
394,090
204,335
28,640
4,876
1,506
1837
126,805
450,350
94,490
2,553
3,267
1838
277,620
933,117
34,148
6,557
900
1839
294,125
1,117,162
1840
597,642
1,004,561
71,326
1841
730,040
1,635,000
201,031
14,144
2,150
1842
734,408
1,555,410
454,530
2,589
1,332
1844
915,030
2 177,500
137,978
18,017
1,617
456
1845
746,750
1,770,740
54,200
23,000
1846
1,347,520
4,744,184
1,455,258
288,300
47,530
28,250
1847
1,873,000
6,489,100
2,862,800
446,000
70,787
1848
1,249,000
4,520,717
2,298 030
560,000
6
17,889
1849
1,207,435
3,943,978
3,321,651
363,384
1850
1,103,039
3,681,347
2,593,378
357,580
3,600
1851
1,258,224
4,167,121
5,998,774
1,140,340
242,773
10,650
1852
1,299,213
5,549,778
5,136,746
2,596,231
497,613
112,251
1853
975,557
5,420,043
8,065,793
1,580,653
401,089
107,152
1854
739,756
8,510,782
10,183,983
1,401,739
313,885
177,066
1855
936,761
8,021,126
9,711.433
2,093,222
62,304
390,591
1856
1,120 048
8,456,671 19,633,277
1,733,782
46,327
245,810
1857
845,953
8,334,179
5,713,611
1,744,760
37,344
45,536
1858
1,536,109
10,671,550
6,621,660
2,275,231
308,371
125,214
1859
1,420,333
9,234,652
3,113,658
304,502
361,560
124,693
1860
1,122,335
18,502,649
11,386,217
1.269,594
262,159
80,822
1861
2,159,501 27,105,210| 21,024,657
1,707,905
313,757
377,764
Digitized by
4,710
1,268
1843
917,517
1,827,241
233,966
443
FROM 1870 TO 1897.
YEAR.
Flour, bbls.
Wheat, bu.
Corn, bu.
Oats, bu.
Barley, bu.
Rye, bu.
1862
2, 846, 222; 30,435, 831 24.288, 627
2,624,932
423,194
791,564
1863
2.978.089 21,248,348 20.086,852| 8,322.127
641.499
422,408
1864
2,023,520 17,677,549 10,478,681| 11,682,637
464,057
633,727
1865
1.788.393 13,347,888 19,940,609
8,494,799
820,563
877.676
1866
1,313,548 19,515,673 27,908,548
10,298,751
1,072,757 1.103,519
1867
1.417,769 12,228,141 17,376.272 10,535,159
11.310,053
679,241.
984,458
1869
1,606,629 19,335,646 41,937,131
5.312,874
696,497
125,203
1870
1,453,613 20,136,166
8.885,337
6,620,306
1,857,424
669,551
1871
1,241,969 22,873,485 26,329, 1511 769,368 14 038,080 35,077.203'
6,085.558
3,148,282
301,856
1873
1,092.718 26,653,243 27,930,206!
5,858,374
1,168,332
823,240
1874
1,371,991 . 28,529,890 22,394,856
4,166,934
489,933
77,576
1875
1,026,965 30,489,460 17.408,475!
4.511,005
239,219
138,582
1876
795,383 18.341,614 21,344.114.
2,445,023
962,607
100,395
1877
646,623 23,350,607 31,344,610
4.289,662
1,608,596 1,205,020
1878
943.668 35.562, 185 35,558,409
4,912,380
1.680,593 2,064.412
1879
888.425 37.845,501 32,999,364
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