USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume I > Part 47
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The National Savings Bank was organized in 1867 with the following 52
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
officials: President, Stephen G. Austin; vice-president, Daniel C. Beard; secretary and treasurer, Edward S. Dann; attorney, A. L. Baker; trustees, Stephen G. Austin, Myron P. Bush, Seth Clark, Erastus Scoville, Peter Rechtenwalt, Laurens Enos, Frederick W. Breed, Peter J. Ferris, Jacob Weppner, Charles E. Young, Joseph Churchyard, John S. Fosdick, William H. H. Newman, George Zim- merman, George W. Tifft, Clifford A. Baker, Daniel C. Beard, George Pugeot, Hugh Webster, Peter Emslie, George Jones, Reuben G. Snow, James E. Ford, James D. Sawyer, James Miller, James A. Chase, Michael Lettau and Philo A. Balcom. This bank passed out of ex- istence by failure through the criminal action of the secretary and treasurer in the summer of 1892.
Two institutions that have been the source of untold benefit were founded in Buffalo between 1850 and 1860, one of them due wholly to the generosity and kind remembrance of a former citizen for the city in which he long resided. This is the Grosvenor Library. In 1857 Seth Grosvenor, then living in New York, made a bequest of which the following is a transcript:
I give to the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie, to be paid in assets in the same way at the risk of collection by said city, and to be paid in two years after my decease, with interest, $40,000; $10,000 of which to be appropriated to the purchase of a lot and building thereon (unless the city of Buffalo shall give a lot for that purpose) in which case the whole $10,000 are to be expended on the building, which is intended for a public library, and the remainder, $30,000, to be invested forever and its income to be used in the purchase of books, to be always kept open for the use of the public; the books not to be lent out nor rented, and only used for reading in the building, etc.
One provision of the bequest was that the city should appropriate a sufficient sum annually to pay the current expenses of the library ; and under these conditions the city accepted the bequest and the fund was paid over in 1865. Suitable rooms were secured for the library in the Buffalo Savings Bank building, and the library was gathered and opened to the public in 1870. The first Board of Trustees were O. H.
Marshall, George R. Babcock and Joseph G. Masten. The city ap- propriated $4,000 a year for expenses. In the course of time a consid- erable building fund was accumulated and in 1891 the trustees took steps to erect the present beautiful and convenient library building, on the corner of Franklin and Edward streets. The library contains over 40,000 volumes, and has within the present year (1897) passed under control of the city, as explained in another chapter.
411
FROM 1860 TO 1870.
The other institution alluded to is the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation, which, while it had its inception as early as 1852, did not attain much success until 1868. It was organized under the name Young Men's Christian Union and was incorporated on the 10th of March, 1853. It first occupied quarters in the building of the Young Men's Association and in 1853 moved into Odeon Hall, in which was held in June, 1854, the first annual convention of the Young Men's Christian Association of the United States and British provinces. Kremlin Hall was taken in June, 1855, but between that date and 1859 the Union became involved in financial embarrassment, and was forced to sell much of its furniture and move into less expensive quarters; these were found in the Arcade building. Then the Union labored under discouraging circumstances until 1868, when new life was infused into it, the membership was largely increased, and in the next year a removal was made to rooms over 302 Main street and the name of the organization changed to its present title. In 1875 the association moved again to more commodious rooms over 345 Main street. During this period and the few succeeding years a large build- ing fund was accumulated. In 1878 the eighth removal was made to the old court house. On the 8th of September, 1882, the corner stone was laid of the large and handsome building now occupied by the association and owned by it, at the junction of Genesee, Pearl and Mohawk streets, and it was finished in 1884 at a cost of about $80,000; the lot cost $20,000.
On the 25th of January, 1865, amid the snow and ice of midwinter, the American Hotel was burned to the ground, causing not only a large financial loss, but also the death of three prominent young men of the city, who belonged to the fire department and were bravely discharging their duty. These were James H. Sidway, George H. Tifft, and Will- iam H. Gillett. Their death was deeply mourned by the city at large.
At about the time of this sad event the organization of so- called Fenians had assumed importance throughout the State, and in the sub- sequent attempt to invade Canada, Buffalo was the theater of exciting warlike scenes. Fenian soldiers began to arrive in the city during the last days of May and the early part of June, and soon there were about 1,000 quartered in the place. This movement, particularly in its early operations, received only ridicule from the public; but the presence in Buffalo of so many strangers and the circulation of various sanguinary rumors, created considerable excitement. About midnight of the 31st
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
of May, 1866, squads of the invaders marched through the streets towards Black Rock and on northward to a convenient point whence they crossed to Canada on canal boats towed by tugs. The United States authorities adopted prompt measures to prevent transportation of men and arms across the river. At 6 o'clock A. M., June 1, the steamer Michigan passed down the river and took a position opposite the Clinton Mills; but she was too late to prevent the crossing above mentioned. Two armed tugs were now placed in the harbor as a pa- trol. During the day of the 1st a steady tide of travel turned towards Black Rock and hundreds of people gathered on the river bank. In the evening a Fenian meeting was held in the Opera House. On the 2d General Grant arrived in the city and placed Gen. William F. Barry in command of the frontier, with authority to call out the National Guard if necessary to keep the peace. A detachment of the Regular Army was ordered to Fort Porter from Sackett's Harbor. Of the ex- periences of the force of Fenians that crossed from this point the de- tails are well known. An engagement was fought at Ridgway on June 2, which resulted in the defeat of the invaders. In the mean time large numbers of Fenians continued to arrive in the city, and attempts were made during the night after the battle to reinforce General O'Neil, in command of the invaders; but the boats were met by orders to re- turn with the reinforcements and then proceed to Fort Erie for the purpose of transporting the defeated Fenians to Buffalo. This was at- tempted, but when the boats were midway in the river they encoun- tered the propellor Harrison and were ordered to surrender; the order was obeyed and the boats were taken under the guns of the Michigan. Something more than 500 were captured. This substantially ended the invasion, but it did not quell the excitement in Buffalo. Train loads of Fenians continued to arrive and threats of further operations were freely made. On the 4th a detachment of artillery arrived from Fort Hamilton and was quartered at Fort Porter. On the 5th the militia captured several wagons loaded with arms, which had arrived by ex- press. On the 6th orders were made public, bearing the signature of the attorney-general of the United States, for the arrest of all persons supposed to be connected with the Fenians. But notwithstanding these depressing circumstances, the chief Fenian officers gave bail on the 7th before Judge Clinton, and on the 12th orders were given for all Fenians to return to their homes. The war was over.
A reorganization of the police force of the city of Buffalo was effected
413
FROM 1860 TO 1870.
under a law passed by the Legislature April 10, 1866. This law au- thorized the creation of what was known as the Niagara Frontier Police District, which included Buffalo, Tonawanda, and also Wheatfield, in Niagara county. The new organization was under control of a board of commissioners, and consisted of a superintendent, captains, detect- ives, etc., and 105 patrolmen; the latter number was increased a little later to 120; of these the quota of Buffalo was limited to not more than 115. The new force went on duty May 7, 1866. The first Board of Commissioners consisted of James Adams, Obadiah J. Green and Jonathan S. Buell. David S. Reynolds was chosen superintendent. Four captains were appointed, one for each of the four precincts then in existence. The first Board of Commissioners were all Republicans, but in 1870 there was a change and a new board was appointed con- sisting of three Democrats-Robert H. Best, Harmon S. Cutting and Ralph Courter.1
An organization, which in recent years has exerted considerable in- fluence in Buffalo in certain directions, had its inception in 1867. In February of that year twenty-two firms responded to a call issued by Joseph Churchyard and formed a Builders' Exchange. Its chief pur- poses were to bring builders into closer relations, modify the bitterness
1 After an existence of about five years this police system showed signs of weakness and a change was demanded. A new law was accordingly passed, April 26, 1871, cutting off the out- lying district and creating the Buffalo City Police Department. The act was amended in 1872, 1873, and 1874. It made the mayor police commissioner ex officio, and gave him the power, with approval of the Council, to appoint two commissioners of police. Alexander Brush was then mayor, and he appointed John Pierce and Jacob Beyer commissioners. Col. John Byrne was ap- pointed chief of police in 1872, and his successors have been W .. A. Phillips, from May, 1879, to January, 1880; William J. Wolfe, appointed January 14, 1880. In this year the police department was reorganized, its control being vested in the mayor, president ex officio, a police commissioner, and the superintendent. The commissioner was appointed by the mayor with consent of the Council, and the mayor and this commissioner appointed the superintendent; the commissioner was ap- pointed for four years and the superintendent for five years. At that time there were eight pre- cincts. In May, 1883, the act reorganizing the department was amended, the superintendent being thereby deprived of his previous official capacity as both commissioner and superintend- ent, and the mayor being given power to appoint two commissioners of police, one from each political party. The board, as thus constituted, had the power to appoint a superintendent, and the law divided the city into ten precincts. Mr. Wolfe, whose appointment as superintendent has been mentioned, resigned in 1882 and James M. Shepard was appointed; in 1883 he was suc- ceeded by Thomas Curtin, who was given an assistant, William A. Phillips, the first to hold that office. In 1884 Mr. Phillips was appointed superintendent, and was succeeded by Martin Moran; the latter was succeeded in 1890 by Daniel Morganstern; June 1, 1893, George Chambers was ap- pointed, and was succeeded March 5, 1894, by the present incumbent, William S. Bull. The police department of Buffalo at the present time comprises thirteen precincts, with a station house and captain in each, thirty-nine sergeants, thirty-nine doormen, fifteen detective sergeants, 509 pa- trolmen, with various other officials connected with the department in the capacity of clerks, telegraph operators, engineers, electricians, etc. The police headquarters building was erected in 1884.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
of business rivalry, and communicate trade knowledge alike to all mem- bers. The Exchange had a precarious existence for many years, but is now a recognized force in the community.1
In the fall of 1865, the closing year of the war, the Republicans at last gained the ascendency in Erie county, David S. Bennett being elected State senator. This change was effected largely by the influ- ences attending the triumph of the Union arms. In the next year, however, while the Republicans carried the State, re-electing Reuben E. Fenton governor by nearly 15,000 majority, the Democrats re- elected their congressman in this district and carried the county. At this time Erie county became entitled to five assemblymen.
A constitutional convention was held in this State in 1867, which made a few changes materially affecting each county. The term of the senatorial office was extended to four years; the Assembly was increased to 139 members, Erie county having five, as shown in the civil list herein; the Court of Appeals was organized with a chief jus- tice and six associates, and Supreme Court judges were to be elected by the people for fourteen years. Excepting the portion relating to the judiciary, this constitution was rejected by the people to whom it was submitted in 1869.
At the election of 1868 the Democrats of the State elected their can- didate for governor, John T. Hoffman, and re-elected him in 1870. But Erie county again in 1868 went over to the Republicans, the Grant electoral ticket having a majority of about 2,000; David S. Bennett was elected to Congress. In 1870 the Democrats rallied and captured all the prizes. William Williams was elected to Congress and Grover Cleveland began his long and triumphant political career by election as sheriff. For several years at about this period Erie county was very evenly balanced in the political scale.
1 After twenty years of rather spiritless existence, the Exchange in 1887 joined the National Association of Builders, and after learning wherein its own weakness lay, reorganized and be- gan a new and far more prosperous life. New membership rules were made and provisions for daily meetings for the accommodation of architects and other purposes were adopted. As greater success was attained the Exchange determined to have a home of its own, and in 1891 purchased the lot on the corner of Pearl and Court streets and erected thereon a handsome seven-story structure which it occupied in September, 1892.
415
FROM 1870 TO 1897.
CHAPTER XXV.
MODERN HISTORY-1870-1897.
The Financial Panic of 1873-Statistics of Lake Commerce-Changes in City Charter-The City and County Building-The Park System-Railroad Extension- Increase in Population-Growth of Transportation Facilities-The Coal Interest- Railroads - Manufactures - Harbor Improvements - Real Estate and Building- Speculation in Real Estate-The Real Estate Exchange-The German Element- The Poles -The Hebrews-The Irish and Italians- Railroad Strikes - Charter Amendments-The New Charter of 189 :- Departments of City Government- Rail- road Grade Crossings-Natural Gas-Street Paving-Banking-The G. A. R. En- campment-G. A. R. Posts-Statistical Tables.
The reign of prosperity that succeeded the close of the war met with a reverse soon after 1870, which culminated in the well-remembered financial panic of 1873, and during the succeeding four or five years the city of Buffalo felt the discouraging effects of the business depres- sion that prevailed throughout the country. The steady, conservative growth that has been a marked characteristic of the city during the greater part of its existence was interrupted, and business and com- mercial interests at large suffered severely. There even were to be found here and there timorous and easily disheartened men who pre- dicted that Buffalo would not again push forward on the highway of progress with its former vigor. Lake and canal commerce, which had for many years been the sheet anchor of the Buffalo business man, felt the paralyzing influence of multiplying railroads, which had not then made the important connections of later days. Capitalists were for a time reluctant in making home investments. It must, however, be admitted that Buffalo suffered far less from the general effects of the brief period of severe depression than most other northern cities, and made a much more rapid recovery. This fortunate circumstance was due to the innate condition surrounding the city itself, as well as to the efforts of her citizens.
There was some apparent cause for despondency, and it is not, per- haps, remarkable that there were men whose faith in Buffalo was shaken. This condition is best shown by a few figures on local com-
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
merce. The number of vessels arriving and clearing from this port in 1871 was 10,625, the total tonnage of which was 4,157,793; this num- ber was reduced in the following year by about 500 vessels; in 1873 it was 9,959; in 1874, 7,477; in 1875, 6,277; and in 1876, 4,624. It should be stated in this connection, however, that the vessel tonnage did not decline in this proportion, owing to the general increase of the size of the vessels during that period. Between 1871 and 1876, inclu- sive, the number of bushels of oats received at Baffalo decreased from 6,210,980 to 2,445,023; of barley from 1,777,472 to 962,607; of corn from 26,329,151 to 21,344,114; and of wheat from 22,873,485 to 18,341, - 614 To even the complacent optimist of the present day these figures are significant. But the pioneers, under the beneficence of Providence, had laid the foundation of a city more wisely, and in a situation of greater possibilities, than many men comprehended during the brief period under consideration.
On the 28th day of April, 1870, the Legislature passed an act revis- ing and amending the charter of Buffalo, which made some changes of importance. It left the number of wards thirteen, as before, and provided for the election by the people of a mayor, a comptroller, an attorney, a treasurer, an engineer, a water commissioner, a superin- tendent of education, a police justice, an overseer of the poor, three assessors, and four justices of the peace, all for terms of two years excepting the assessors, who were to be elected for three years, and the police justice and justices of the peace, to be elected for four years. It provided also for the election of two aldermen and one constable in each ward, and two supervisors in each ward, excepting the Thirteenth, which was given only one. The office of receiver of taxes was abol- lished; the title of the office of surveyor was changed to engineer, and that of superintendent of schools was changed to superintendent of education.1
During the winter of 1870-71 the Common Council and many promi-
1 For other details of changes made by that charter and minor amendments made down to the date of the existing charter, the reader must be referred to the session laws. It will be remembered that the charter of 1853 (chapter 230, laws of that year) created the thirteen wards of the city, and provided for election by the people of two aldermen and two supervisors in each ward (excepting that the Thirteenth ward had only one supervisor), and a mayor, a recorder, a comptroller, an attorney, a street commissioner, a treasurer, a receiver of taxes, a surveyor, a superintendent of schools, a police justice, a chief of police, an overseer of the poor, and three assessors, all for terms of two years, excepting the assessors, who were elected for three years, and the recorder and the police justice, who were elected for four years. At the same time the boundaries of the city were extended to substantially their present limits, taking in Black Rock.
417
FROM 1870 TO 1897.
nent citizens took the preliminary steps for providing a public building in Buffalo adequate for the needs of both the city and county. On the 21st of April, 1871, the Legislature passed an act providing for the erection of the proposed building and the following commissioners were appointed by the governor: James M. Smith, Daniel Bowen and Albert P. Laning, of Buffalo; Jasper B. Youngs, of Williamsville; and Allen Potter, of Hamburg. An act of the Legislature passed in May, 1872, added the following : James Adams, Philip Becker and George S. Wardwell, of Buffalo; and John Nice, of Tonawanda. James M. Smith was chosen chairman of the commission, but soon resigned as commissioner, to accept a judgeship of the Superior Court. George W. Hayward was appointed in his stead, and Mr. Wardwell was chosen president.
After much discussion and an examination of several sites by the com- missioners, Franklin Square was selected. The original estimate of the commissioners of the cost of the proposed building was $772,000. Samuel H. Fields was selected as superintendent in 1871 and was suc- ceeded in October, 1873, by Cooley S. Chapin. In April, 1872, A. J. Warren was employed as architect and his plans were accepted. The cor- ner stone of the building was laid June 24, 1872, with imposing Masonic ceremonies. In October, 1873, a revised estimate was adopted pro- viding for the use of granite in the structure in place of a softer stone, hard woods in place of pine, and other changes, making the total cost $1,207,234. Work on the building progressed through 1874-75 and on the 13th of March, 1876, it was formally taken possession of by the judges, the bar, and various county officers. These officials met in the old court house and marched in procession to the new, where addresses were delivered by Sherman S. Rogers, A. P. Nichols and E. Carlton Sprague. The common council chamber was formally occupied in the afternoon of the same day, when addresses were delivered by Philip Becker (then mayor), A. S. Bemis, George W. Clinton, and others.
On the 14th of April, 1869, the law was passed under which, with its various amendments, the present grand park system of Buffalo has been created. Many meetings, however, had been held prior to that date, and the subject had been exhaustively discussed by leading citizens. Among these were William Dorsheimer, Pascal P. Pratt, Daniel Bowen, William F. Rogers (mayor in 1868), Joseph Warren, Sherman S. Jewett, Richard Flach, and others. After due delibera- 53
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
tion these men requested the services of the distinguished landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead, in the necessary investigation to de- termine upon the most feasible plans for establishing a park system for the city. Mr. Olmstead visited Buffalo in the summer of 1868, and upon his report, made in October, action was taken which led to the passage of the law before mentioned. The Board of Park Commis- sioners consisted of William F. Rogers (mayor) ex officio, Pascal P. Pratt, Dexter P. Rumsey, John Greiner, jr., Lewis P. Dayton, Joseph Warren, Edwin T. Evans, Sherman S. Jewett, Richard Flach, James Mooney, John Cronyn, Daniel Bowen and William Dorsheimer.
The act of April 14, 1869, conferred on the board the necessary powers for taking lands, provided for the issue of bonds to the amount of $500,000, and other kindred matters. The first board selected lands for parks and approaches and reported their action to the Common Council. In January, 1870, William A. Bird, Gibson T. Williams and Albert H. Tracy were appointed by the Superior Court of Buffalo as commissioners to appraise the value of the lands to be taken. Their report, filed June 30, 1870, was confirmed by the council and made the following awards:
For lands $247,785.66 46.381.00
For buildings
Total
$294,166.66
Expenses of acquiring title 10,991.19
Gross total $305,157.85
Plans were made by the firm of Olmstead & Vaux, and George Kent Radford, engineer, was employed to make the topographical surveys. William McMillan,1 a competent landscape gardener, was appointed superintendent of parks, and practical improvements were begun. During the year 1871 there was expended nearly $170,000, principally on the stonework of the bridge, in excavating for the lake, erection of dam, driveway foundations, grading, and laying tile in Delaware Park. From that time to the present the work of improvement and extension of the park system has gone forward uninterruptedly, until at the
1 Mr. McMillan continued as superintendent of all the parks, parkways, etc., until June 1, 1897, when, under an act of the commissioners of May 18, the park system was divided, leaving him in charge of all north of Seneca street, and placing John F. Cowell, formerly botanical di- rector, in charge as superintendent of the remainder.
419
FROM 1870 TO 1897.
present time few cities in this country' are more fortunate in this respect than Buffalo. 1
Notwithstanding the financial depression before alluded to there was considerable railroad extension between 1870 and 1880, in which Erie county was directly interested. The Buffalo and Jamestown Railroad Company was organized in March, 1872, and on the 25th of that month an act was passed by the Legislature authorizing the city of Buffalo to subscribe for $1,000,0002 of the stock of this company. The road was completed from Buffalo to Jamestown in 1875, extending southward through the towns of West Seneca, Hamburg, Eden, North Collins and Collins, crossing Cattaraugus Creek at Gowanda. The road was sold under foreclosure and in 1877, an organization was effected under the name Buffalo and Southwestern, and on August, 1881, the road was leased to what was then the New York, Lake Erie and Western, and has operated since as the Buffalo and Southwestern division of that line.
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