USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume I > Part 42
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An act of April 21, 1840, authorized the supervisors of Erie county to erect a workhouse " for the safe keeping and employment of vagrants, disorderly persons, and all persons under sentence or conviction, ex- cepting those to be punished by death or imprisonment in State prison, who shall be sentenced to hard labor or solitary imprisonment by the courts of Erie county." This workhouse was erected in 1847, of stone, and situated on Fifth street, corner of Pennsylvania. 1
Between 1845 and 1850 a movement for securing improved highways through agricultural districts was inaugurated and soon attained great magnitude. In 1844 the first plank road in the United States was laid
large cities of the country. It is, of course, true that higher winds prevail in this city than in some localities far removed from large bodies of water; but this is not by any means an unmixed evil, and without doubt contributes to the healthfulness of the place. The accompanying brief table shows clearly the temperature, humidity, and wind measurement in Buffalo during the heated term of 1896, in comparison with several other cities which have long received credit for superior climatic conditions:
Mean of highest temperature.
Mean of mean
temperature.
Mean relative humidity.
Mean daily measurement of wind.
Buffalo,
.79.7
73.
69.
296
Rochester,
.84.6
75.4
72.
161
Erie, .
.81.5
74.6
78.5
210
Cleveland, .84.
75.1
81.
239
Detroit,
.83.8
75.8
78.3
189
Chicago, .85.1
78.1
68.1
328
In point of the heathfulness of Buffalo, it may be stated that in no city in the Union are health regulations more strictly enforced, or the death rate lower. During the six years since 1891 (in- clusive) the death rate has been reduced from 23.48 to 12.72.
1 Various improvements have been made to the original workhouse, now known as the Erie County Penitentiary ; among them are the following : A new male prison, 200 cells, erected of brick in 1866-67 at a cost of $67,560 ; a hospital building, cost about $43 000, built in 1865-66, and a new sewerage system finished in 1867; the old stone prison rebuilt in 1871-72 at a cost of about $20,000 ; an addition to the workshop and the female prison rebuilt in 1873 ; and a new prison with 299 cells erected in 1895.
1
366
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
in Onondaga county from Salina to Central Square. At that time, more even than at the present, when the same subject is agitating the public, the need of better roadways over which the farmer could more easily transport his products, and the country merchant his goods, was universally admitted. The construction of the first plank road seemed to fully meet the requirements of the public; they were economical in first cost and travel upon them was a luxury when compared with pre- vious conditions. Hundreds of plank road companies were organized and incorporated in all parts of the State within a few years and most of them constructed roads of greater or less length. Erie county at that time was better prepared, perhaps, than almost any other of the the thickly settled localities, to welcome the new highway, for the roads in this vicinity were notoriously bad. The first plank road company incorporated in Erie county was the Buffalo and Lancaster, under date of May 12, 1846; its capital stock was $25,000. The act of incorpora- tion described the road as extending from "the new Buffalo road at the intersection of the Genesee street road, at or near Douglass's tavern in the town of Black Rock, in the county of Erie," a distance of ten miles to Lancaster. The commissioners were Grosvenor Clark, John Cameron, Moses Baker, of Buffalo; Robert Winspear, Elisha P. Adams, and Will- iam Haskell, of Cheektowaga; John Moulton, William R. Conly and Peleg Stranahan, of Lancaster.
The Aurora and Buffalo Plank Road Company was incorporated May 11, 1846, with capital of $50,000 and the following commissioners: Robert Person, Adam Riley, Erastus Wallace, Joseph G. Masten, and Horace Clark.
Other plank roads constructed in this county were the so-called Res- ervation plank road, which was in existence later than 1852, in which year an act was passed by the Legislature providing for its improve- ment ; and the Buffalo and White's Corners plank road.
There was less plank road constructed in Erie county than in many others of even less area, the reason for which may be difficult to de- termine. Indeed, during the whole of the first half of the century, there was less legislation affecting roads, and apparently less effort to improve the highways in this county, than in most others; while at the same time there was more need of such effort here than in many other localities. This has been credited, to a great extent, to a lack of en- terprise and progressiveness in some of the rural districts. In any event, while the plank roads admirably served their purpose for a time,
₹
00000000
RT. REV. JOHN TIMON, D.D.
367
FROM 1840 TO THE CIVIL WAR.
leading their projectors to believe that they would remain in use per- manently and pay a profit on the investment, it finally became evident that one important feature of the calculations had been omitted; this was the element of durability. A few years of travel and the effects of weather on the plank, made it necessary to relay the roadways, in- volving expense that the receipts would not meet, excepting on some of the most frequently traveled roads. On this account many were abandoned, and nearly all were finally given up.
Another legislative act for the improvement of roads in this county was passed April 16, 1852, which provided that any three or more per- sons "may construct and keep in repair, for the space of seven years or less, any public highway within the county of Erie not included in the bounds of any incorporated village," by complying with certain re- quirements of notice to the commissioners of highways, who would set off a separate road district for this purpose.
A new State constitution went into effect in 1846 which made impor- tant changes in the election of various officers and affecting all coun- ties in the State alike. At the special election held on that account in June, 1847, Erie county went strongly Democratic, for the first time since the organization of the Whig party. The presidential campaign of 1848 bore especial local interest on account of the selection of Mil- lard Fillmore for the vice-presidency. It was in that year that the his- toric Free Soil convention was held in Buffalo. These political sub- jects are more fully treated in Chapter XXVI.
The period to which consideration is given in this chapter was very prolific in the founding of Roman Catholic churches, parochial schools, charitable institutions, etc., under the banner of that faith. Before the middle of the century was reached the number of adherents of that faith in Erie county had become very large. At that time they were almost wholly of Irish, German or French descent; to these were added in later years Poles, Italians, Swedes, and a few of other na- tionalities. The formation of the first Roman Catholic churches in Buffalo has been noticed in Chapter XX, and little further progress was made in that direction until 1847. In that year, on April 23, the Diocese of Buffalo1 was established, comprising the counties of Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, Chautauqua, Wyoming, Cattaraugus, Steu-
1 The Diocese of Buffalo has since been reduced to the counties of Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, Chautauqua, Wyoming, Cattaraugus and Allegany, which contain ninety-six churches with resident priests, sixty-eight parochial schools, and a Catholic population of about 160,000.
368
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
ben, Chemung, Tioga, Allegany and Schuyler. Right Rev. John Timon, D. D., was the first bishop of the diocese. Three years after the founding of the diocese, and on February 6, 1851, the corner stone of St. Joseph's cathedral was laid by Bishop Timon, and its altars were consecrated on the 6th of July, 1855. The cathedral is a beautiful ex- ample of ecclesiastical architecture, and in its south tower is the finest chime of forty-three bells in this country. A heavy debt was incurred in the erection of the cathedral, but through strenuous efforts on the part of the bishop large sums of money were raised in all parts of the country, and on August 30, 1863, he once more called around him his brother prelates for a renewed consecration of the cathedral. On No- vember 8, 1868, the Right Rev. Stephen Vincent Ryan, C.M., was consecrated and installed as successor to Bishop Timon. On Febru- ary 24, 1897, Right Rev. James E. Quigley, D. D.,1 was consecrated bishop of the diocese, with impressive ceremonies.
Very soon after the establishment of the diocese the Church of the Immaculate Conception was organized (1849), under the title of St. Mary's of the Lake; the church edifice was erected in 1856. The ac- tivity of the Roman Catholics in Buffalo at the time under considera- tion, largely inspired, doubtless, by the founding of the diocese, is indicated in the prompt organization of two or three other churches. In October, 1852, was formed the Church of the Holy Angels, in the old house on what is now Porter avenue, formerly used as an asylum for insane. Eighteen acres of land, on which stood the asylum and the old almshouse, were purchased by the church for $13,000; the asylum was used temporarily for a school. The present church was com- pleted in 1857, and the parochial school, connected with the church, in 1881; it is conducted by the gray nuns.
St. Patrick's church (Franciscan Friars) was organized in January, 1854, and the church edifice, on Seymour street, was erected in 1858.
1 Dr. Quigley was born in Oshawa, Ont., October 15, 1855. Three years later the family re- moved to Lima, Livingston county, N. Y., where the boy attended public and parochial schools, and in July, 1868, entered St. Joseph's College, Buffalo, graduating in 1872. Having already de- cided upon entering the priesthood, he attended the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, at Suspen- sion Bridge, and pursued his theological studies. There he made such rapid progress that he was sent by the bishop to the great university of Innspruch, Austria. After one year of philo- sophical study he entered the theological college of the Propaganda at Rome, from which he graduated in the spring of 1879, with the degree of doctor of philosophy. On April 13. 1879, he was ordained for the priesthood. Returning to Buffalo Father Quigley was assigned by Bishop Ryan to the parish of Attica, Wyoming county, where he raised funds and built a new church and parish house. He left Attica in 1884 to become rector of the cathedral in Buffalo, where he continued until January 17, 1897, when he was transferred to the irremovable rectorship of St. Bridget's parish.
RT. REV. STEPHEN VINCENT RYAN.
369
FROM 1840 TO THE CIVIL WAR,
A parochial school building and convent was completed in 1862, and in 1883-4 an additional school structure was built.
St. Bridget's church (Louisiana street) was organized in 1852, and the existing house of worship was built in 1859. A parochial school is connected with the church.1
The first gas light company in Buffalo was organized May 8, 1848, and began the manufacture of gas on the "7th of November following. Previous to that time the streets of the city were poorly illuminated with a few oil lamps. The first officers of the Buffalo Gaslight Com- pany were Samuel F. Pratt, president; Oliver G. Steele, secretary ; William Bucknell, jr., treasurer. The works were constructed on Gen- esee street, where they are still situated.2
1 Besides the early Catholic churches mentioned above, a large number have been organized in later years, of which only brief statistics can be given. St. John the Baptist church was or- ganized in 1867, and a church edifice was soon erected; a parochial school was built in 1883. With the coming to Buffalo of many Poles (which has been alluded to) a church for that nationality was organized in 1873, under the pastorate of Rev. John Pitass, who is still the religious leader of the congregation and the most conspicuous Polish citizen of the city. The name given to the church is St. Stanislaus. The first house of worship was immediately erected, corner of Townsend and Peckham streets. This was replaced in 1883-4 with the present stone edifice. A large parochial school is connected with the church. Besides this original Polish church there have since been organized by people of this nationality the Church of the Assumption (1887-88); St. Casmir's, or- ganized 1889-90; Church of the Transfiguration, organized 1892-3; St. John Kanty's church, organ- ized about 1892; and St. Adelbert's church.
The Church of Our Lady of Mercy was organized in 1874 and a church building was completed in the next year, and a parochial school established. St. Stephen's church was organized in De- cember, 1875, and the house of worship on Elk street was built immediately thereafter; a parochial school is connected with the church. Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Delaware avenue, brick and stone edifice, opened in May, 1889. Church of the Annunciation, organized 1888. St. Columb- kill's, organized 1887; St. Agnes church (English and German), Benzinger street. Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Alabama street, organized and built 1897. St. Theresa's church, Caze- novia street, organized and built 1897. Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, and St. Nicholas church. St. Anthony of Padua church was organized in 1890 by a congregation of Italians. In addition to these there is the Polish Church of the Assumption at Depew, built in 1897, and a mis- sion at Kenmore established in 1897. There are ten German Catholic churches in the city, which are noticed in the chapter on the Germans of Buffalo. Chapels are connected with many of the Catholic institutions, and nearly all of the church societies have parochial schools under their charge. Scores of benevolent and charitable institutions, hospitals, asylums, and other institu- tions are maintained in active usefulness by the Roman Catholics of Buffalo, to which detailed reference in these pages is impossible.
2 As the demand for gas increased other companies were organized for its manufacture. The Buffalo Mutual Gaslight Company was organized in December, 1870, but did not begin manufac- turing gas until February, 1873. The first officers were A. Reynolds, president; David Ransom, vice-president; Albert G. Stevens, secretary. Succeeding to the Buffalo Oxygen and Hydrogen Gas Company was the Citizens' Gas Company; the former was organized in the early part of 1871, with John B. Griffin, president. In 1873 the property of the company was sold under a mortgage and the Citizens' Company was established in December of that year, with Jacob F. Schoellkopf, president; John H. Vought, vice-president; E. S. Wheeler, secretary; C. Rodenbach, treasurer. In September, 1897, these three companies sold out to a New York syndicate for $5,000,000. Electric
47
370
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
The act incorporating the Buffalo City Water Works Company was passed by the Legislature March 15, 1849, the incorporators being George Coit, Walter Joy, William A. Bird, Orlando Allen, Horatio Shumway, George R. Babcock, Isaac Sherman, Cyrenius Bristol, Oliver G. Steele, Thomas M. Foote, William Bucknell, jr., Henry W. Rogers, William Coffin, and Aaron D. Patchen. The capital stock of the com- pany was $200,000, with authority to increase it to $500,000. The meeting for formal organization was held February 7, 1850. On the 11th of March of that year the Common Council adopted a resolution by the terms of which the city was to become a subscriber to the com- pany's stock to the amount of $100,000; no action was taken under this resolution. During the year 1850 the relative desirability of different sources of supply was discussed; the contract for erecting the works was let to Battin, Dungan & Co., of Philadelphia and Newark, N. J., who became large subscribers to the stock, and William J. McAlpine, a distinguished engineer, was employed to investigate sources of sup- ply, etc. There appears to have been a general belief that water should be taken from the bay southwest of the city; this source was objection- able to the engineer, chiefly on account of exposure of the works to ice and storms and increased cost. He favored the plan finally adopted of pumping from the river, with a reservoir situated on Prospect Hill. Lots 29 and 30 were purchased for a site for the works and lot 145 for the reservoir. The contract price was $375,000. Work on the shaft and tunnel was commenced July 29, 1850, on the reservoir August 12, and on the pumping works September 12. During that fall and the fol- lowing year pipes were laid in Main street and many other streets of the city. The reservoir was completed in November, 1851, and on December 3 the last pipe was laid on Niagara street connecting the res- ervoir with the distributing mains. River connection was soon estab- lished and pumping began December 19. On January 2, 1852, water was let into the pipes through the city, and on the 5th A. R. Ketcham was appointed superintendent, an office he held many years.1
lighting was commenced in Buffalo in July, 1881, by the Brush Electric Light Company, which or- ganized on the 1st of May of that year, with John F. Moulton, president; James Adams, vice- president; H. G. Nolton, secretary and treasurer. Incandescent lighting was introduced in 1882-83. The electric lighting of the city is now done by theBuffalo General Electric Company. Four power stations are maintained, supplying 3,000 arc and 25,000 incandescent lights.
1 A legislative act of May 7, 1868, authorized the city to issue bonds to the amount of $1,500,000 for the purchase by the city of the property of the Buffalo Water Works Company (the presidents of which have been Henry W. Rogers, 1850-54; Albert H. Tracy, 1855-59; Henry W. Rogers, 1860- 68). On August 15, 1868, the purchase of the entire plant of the company was consummated for
371
FROM 1840 TO THE CIVIL WAR.
The police force of Buffalo was also placed upon a more efficient foundation during the period under consideration. As late as 1845
$705,000, the first Board of Water Commissioners being Henry W. Rogers, C. J. Wells, and James Ryan. Mr. Ketcham was superintendent until 1874, when George Holsey was appointed; he was succeeded in 1880 by A. R. Ketcham, who was followed on March 1, 1882, by Louis H. Knapp. The present superintendent is Francis G. Ward. The water works is now a part of the Department of Public Works. The following statistics show the growth and condition of the system under mu- nicipal ownership to January 1, 1897.
Pipe laid each year
Revenue.
Maint'nance and repairs.
Extensions and improve- ments.
Bought from old Company.
33
4,758
$111,123 42
$69,228 74
$355,492 46
1874
4
5,273
176,219 01
66,218 50
307,355 64
1875
4
1,966
184,516 48
64,862 37
159,098 75
1876
1
3,340
191,335 84
61,474 22
106,900 21
1877
2,980
189,296 90
57,553 27
17,014 05
1878
1
745
200,183 28
55,230 50
48,555 32
1879
2
2,530
205,415 75
54,497 22
11,457 50
1880.
5
247
215,558 44
60,983 67
161,883 89
1881
12
3,276
210,031 46
76,629 09
201,487 10
1882
16
1,655
362,762 07
79,105 90
160,617 81
1883.
18
5,135
426,533 93
87,193 53
200,029 90
1884.
14
2,402
382,581 64
81,078 88
186,623 92
1885.
27
1,474
444,424 70
92,438 30
327,918 82
1886.
22
388
477,209 57
95,031 04
· 342,493 57
1887.
21
2,780
476,411 87
127,065 25
209,542 10
1888
21
1,250
494,777 52
143,125 76
428,505 68
1889.
26
4,889
542,952 35
145,822 98
595,642 29
1890.
26
3,190
595,456 94
143,091 79
320;063 73
1891.
26
861
555,910 73
136,941 62
413,094 78
1892.
22
588
590,750 73
170,032 80
428,721 73
1893.
35
1,508
813,493 00
203,357 99
393,694 30
1894
34
1,657
712,728 21
218,820 64
494,440 96
1895 1.
25
3,069
642,023 40
291,339 75
321,387 99
1896
10
4,093
641,807 56
495,139 07
456,548 32
WATER BONDS OUTSTANDING.
DATE OF ISSUE.
Rate of Interest.
When Due.
Amount.
Sept.
1, 1873.
7 per cent
66
April
1, 1905
100,000 00
July
1, 1874.
7
65
July
1, 1906
100,000 00
Aug.
1, 1874.
66
Aug.
1, 1908
100,000 00
Oct.
1, 1874.
7
66
.Aug.
1, 1909
100,000 00
July
1, 1876.
6
66
Sept.
2, 1898
50,000 00
April
25, 1879.
5
April
25, 1898
100,000 00
April 26, 1880.
5
April
26, 1899
100,000 00
July
1, 1880. .
4
July
1, 1904
50,000 00
Sept.
1, 1880.
4
66
Sept.
1, 1904
100,000 00
Nov.
26. 1880.
4
66
Nov.
26. 1897
64,000 00
April 25, 1881.
4
66
April
25, 1900
100,000 00
1
2,946
1870. From July 1, 1869, to Dec. 31. 1870
21
899
159,665 88
1871
11
1,310
124,865 00
1872
9
3,557
138,531 47
1873
4
1,961
168,267 20
77,447 60
308,600 46
April
1, 1874 ..
Sept.
1, 1903
$200,000:00
Sept.
2, 1878.
5
July
1, 1896
100,000 00
Oct.
1, 1908
79,328 00
Aug.
1, 1875.
1 From this date all water has been furnished city buildings and city service free.
YEARS.
Miles.
Feet.
From 1868 to July 1, 1869.
372
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
the city had only a captain and eight watchmen, as they were then designated, to preserve public peace. At that time the mayor called
WATER BONDS OUTSTANDING-CONTINUED.
DATE OF ISSUE.
Rate of Interest.
When Due.
Amount.
April
1, 1884.
4 per cent.
April
1, 1901
$90,000 00
July
1, 1885.
31%
July
1, 1905
100,000 00
Oct.
1, 1886.
316
66
Oct.
1, 1903
100,000 00
Mar.
1, 1887.
31%
· Mar.
1, 1906
100,000 00
April
1, 1887.
31%
April
1, 1906
50,000 00
June
1, 1888.
31%
June
1, 1902
100,000 00
June
15, 1888.
31% 2
Tune
15. 1908
57,500 00
June
15, 1888
315
June
15, 1914
275,000 00
Dec.
1, 1888.
315
Dec.
1, 1909
100,000 00
May
1, 1889
315
May
1, 1919
225,000 00
Aug.
1, 1889.
Aug.
1, 1909
100,000 00
Oct.
1, 1889.
316
66
Oct.
1, 1909
145,000 00
Jan.
1, 1890.
212
Jan.
2, 1910
50,000 00
July
1. 1890.
2
66
Jan.
1, 1911
100,000 00
Aug.
1, 1891.
31%
Aug.
1, 1911
50,000 00
Nov.
1, 1891.
4
Nov.
1, 1911
100,000 00
Oct.
1, 1892.
316
Oct.
1, 1912
100,000 00
Dec.
1, 1892.
31%
66
Dec.
1, 1912
100,000 00
July
1, 1894.
31%
July
1, 1914
180,000 00
Jan.
1, 1896.
31%
Jan.
1, 1916
50,000 00
Sept. 25, 1897.
Sept.
25, 1917
400,000 00
Total.
$4,015,882 00
PRESENT STANDING OF THE PRINCIPAL WATER WORKS AC- COUNTS, JANUARY 1, 1897.
ITEMS.
Jan. 1, 1895.
Added two years, 1895 and 1896.
Standing Jan. 1, 1897.
Original purchase ..
$705,000 00
$705,000 00
Real estate, including taxes.
110,826 14
110,826 14
Engines ....
611,992 67
$58,574 75
670,567 42
Holly pumping house.
12,092 25
12,092 25
Holly pumping machinery
41,307 41
41,307 41
New engine house
86,478 34
86,478 34
Gas well ..
12,646 08
12,646 08
Bird Island inlet pier and tunnel ....
613,480 04
613,480 04
Main pipes, branches, hydrants, etc.
4,812,495 07
429,465 51
5,250,960 58
Coal and boiler house and chimney.
26,711 53
26,711 53
Coal tunnel
4,524 53
4,524 53
New valve house.
910 70
910 70
Overhead crossing.
1,447 87
1,447 87
New boiler house ..
8,497 19
8,497 19
Electric light plant.
3,687 24
3,687 24
Repairs, boilers, and moving same ..
5,417 65
5,417 65
New boilers
21,658 00
26,621 00
48,279 00
New buildings
105,817 86
105,817 86
Ice elevators.
1,737 98
1,737 98
New reservoir.
559,273 51
559,273 51
Electric light and telephone cable ..
1,330 30
2,125 30
R. R. tracks, lower pumping station
2,220 59
2,220 59
Tunnel No. 2, conduits and wells ...
32,481 05
32,481 05
Coal trestle and switch.
2,120 58
2,120 58
New horses ..
1,495 00
125 00
1,620 00
Ventilators ..
860 99
860 99
Conduits and wells.
13,930 12
18,576 80
32,506 92
New furnaces.
21,000 00
21,000 00
66
66
66
2
66
31%
July
1, 1910
100,000 00
Jan.
1, 1891 ..
31%
66
.6
66
66
66
66
2
2
795 00
373
FROM 1840 TO THE CIVIL WAR.
attention to the fact that the city, with about 20,000 population, was unprotected by efficient police. Two years later the force was in- creased to a total of fourteen officers. From 1840 to 1845 the watch- men received seven shillings a night for their services; the captain, one dollar. Such was the crude method of preserving the peace down to 1855. In that year Samuel Bagnall was elected chief of police, but the records of his term of office, if any were kept, have disappeared, with the exception of notes of sundry arrests. An important change was made in 1857 by which the mayor, with consent of the council, was authorized to appoint a chief of police, captains, policemen and police constables ; such officers to hold for a term of three years, unless sooner removed for cause or by resignation. Robert H. Best succeeded Chief Bagnall and entered upon his duties in 1858, with eleven policemen under him. Chief Best resigned after three years of service, and was suc- ceeded by George Drullard; he resigned April 1, 1863, and Charles Darcy was appointed and was the last of the chiefs under the old dis- pensation, which went out of existence in 1866, as noticed farther on.
The census of 1850 gave the population of Erie county as 100,- 993, an increase of 22,358 in the preceding five years; Buffalo was given 42,261, an increase during that period of 12,488. The city had
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