USA > Ohio > Butler County > Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140
of the measure were satisfied to have the ap- pointing power vested in the judge of the court of common pleas; others desired that power to rest in the hands of the mayor, while there were others still who wanted the governor of the state to appoint the board for the government of the city. The newspapers of the city that had all along advocated the enactment of a new charter, presented different views as to who should have the appointing power, and they now bitterly assailed the measure and its sponsor because he would not give way to their wishes and amend the bill to suit their re- spective views. Delegations of represent- ative citizens from Hamilton visited Colum- bus both as advocates and opponents of the bill. The committee that had the bill in charge heard their arguments, but, without changing the appointing power, reported the bill back to the house, recommending it for passage. On March 15th the bill was read in the house for the third time and a spirited debate followed, Mr. Bartlow speaking in behalf of the measure, while Mr. Boxwell, the Republican leader, opposed it. Various amendments were offered, which were de- feated in turn upon being put to vote, and upon the final vote upon the measure it passed the house by a vote of seventy-four yeas to six nays. The contest was then transferred to the senate, where, on March 17th, the bill was referred to the proper committee, who reported it back the same day, with a recommendation for its passage without amendment. When the bill came up on the third reading the same amend- ments previously proposed in the house were here proposed and were as effectually de- feated. On the question of the final passage of the bill the vote resulted, yeas, twenty-
Digitized by Google
236
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF
three; nays, six, and on March 25th the bill was signed by the speaker of the house and the lieutenant governor and became a law.
On April 5, 1898, Hon. John F. Neilan, judge of the court of common pleas of But- ler county, formally appointed the board of control, and caused the following entry to be read and spread upon the record :
In the matter of the appointment of the Board of Control for the city of Ham- ilton. Butler County, State of Ohio. State of Ohio, Butler County, Court of Common Pleas, ss. :
Whereas, It is provided by an act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, passed and took effect March 25, 1898, that the officers of a city of a second class, third grade B, shall consist of a mayor and city solicitor, who shall be elected for three years, and a board of control consisting of five members, to be appointed by the judge of the court of common pleas, resident of the county in which such city is situated, and
Whereas. Said law provides that one of the members of said board shall be appointed by said judge for the term of one year, one for two years, one for three years, one for four years and one for five years, and until their successors are elected and qualified. and as the term of each member expires his successor shall be elected at the annual mu- nicipal election each year by the qualified electors of such city, to serve for a period of five years and until his successor is elected and qualified, and
Whereas, the City of Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, is of the grade and class pro- vided for and described in said act;
Therefore, I, John F. Neilan, judge ot the court of common pleas, resident of But- ler county, Ohio, in which said city of Ham- ilton is situated. do hereby appoint said Board of Control as follows : Joseph J. Mc- Maken, for the term of one year; Calvin E. Hemp, for the term of two years: Daniel H. Hensley, for the term of three years; Joseph J. Pater for the term of four years; Charles E. Mason, for the term of five years. Each said appointee to hold for the term for which he is appointed and until his successor is elected and qualified, as provided in said act.
The Clerk of this court is ordered to spread this order upon the minutes of this court, and send a certified copy thereof un- der the seal of this court forthwith to Joseph J. McMaken. the president of said Board of Control.
JOHN F. NEILAN, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, resi- dent of Butler county. Ohio. April 5. 1898.
Judge Neilan then addressed the mem- hers of the board of control, commenting upon the duties laid upon them by the terms of the new law and offering a number of valuable suggestions.
The day following the appointment of the board a quo warranto suit was filed in the supreme court of Ohio, relating to the legality of the newly created body, to which suit the defendants filed answer and the case was argued before the court on June 2Ist. On the 24th the supreme court de- clared the new charter a constitutional measure, and the authority of the board of . control as the legal governing body of the city of Hamilton was fully established.
.
---
Digitized by Google
1
237
BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.
The new charter continued in force for over five years. The workings of the measures during its operation were very satisfactory and in many ways proved the wisdom of its enactment. It was super- seded in May, 1903, by the municipal code, a uniform measure enacted in 1902, for governing the municipalities of the state. The new code is commendable in having a uniform application, but in its practical operation it has proven to be very expensive, and inadequate to the requirements of a modern municipality.
Those elected as members of the board of control were : In 1899, John E. Lohman and John J. Helvey: 1900, C. M. Semler; 1901. C. M. Semler and Joseph C. Strate- gier : 1902. John S. Kriegenhoefer.
ROSTER OF OFFICIALS.
MAYORS .- Robert Hargett. 1855-1857; John S. Wiles. 1857-1859; Ransford Smith, 1859-1861 : Daniel Longfellow, 1861-1866; A. C. Stephenson, 1866-1871; M. N. Maginnis. 1871-1873: J. B. Lawder, 1873- 1875; M. N. Maginnis. 1875-1877: Edward Hughes. 1877-1879: Frederick Egry. 1879- 1881 ; F. B. Puthoff. 1881-1883 : D. B. San- ders. 1883-1887: Alexander Getz. 1887- 1880 : L. M. Larsh. 1891-1893. and Charles S. Bosch. 1893.
PRESIDENTS OF COUNCIL. - William Hunter. 1855-1856: Jacob Matthias. 1856- 1859: William B. Van Hook. 1859-1860; Jacob Matthias. 1860-1864; Oliver Traber. 1864-1865; Jacob Matthias. 1865-1866: Jacob Troutman. 1866-1867: John M. Long. 1867-1868: Samuel Davidson. 1868-1869: Jacob Troutman. 1869-1870; William B. Van Hook. 1870-1871 : Samuel Davidson. 1871-1872; Jacob Troutman. 1872-1873: James Giffin. 1873-1874: Robert Alstatter.
1874-1877; Isaac J. Graham, 1877-1878; William Murphy, 1878-1880; Joseph Rode- fer, 1880-1881; William Murphy, 1881- 1882; Robert Alstatter, 1882-1883; George H. Phillips, 1883-1884: John Schwartz, 1884-1886; Thomas McGreevy, 1886-1887; George T. Reiss, 1887-1890; James A. Mor- rison, 1890-1891 ; Peter Schwab, 1891- 1892: George T. Reiss, 1892-1893 ; Joseph H. Long, 1893-1894; John Helvey, 1894- 1898, and Dr. J. A. Graft, 1903.
THE PRESENT CITY COUNCIL. - Dr. John A. Graft, president ; George Bramlage, president, protem; H. A. Dilg. C. F. Eich- horn, H. B. Grevey, Willard Smyers. Fred Shearer and Dr. J. P. Wilson.
SOLICITORS .- Elijah Vance, January, 1869-January, 1871: J. L. Vallandigham, January. 1871-April, 1871; Henry L. Morey, April, 1871-April, 1873; Jacob Flickinger. April, 1873-April. 1875; M. S. Hamilton. April. 1875-April. 1877 ; John F. Neilan. April. 1877-April, 1881; Frank Shaffer, April, 1881-April, 1883: J. C. Mc- Kemy, April, 1883-April, 1885; Dan M. McChung. April. 1885-April. 1887: Edward F. Hull. April. 1887-April, 1891 ; M. O. Burns. April, 1891-April, 1895; Edward H. Jones. April. 1895-April, 1899; Clarence R. Hartkopf. April, 1899 -.
CLERKS OF COUNCIL .- Alexander F. Hume. 1855-1856: H. W. Daboty, 1856- 1858: William H. Roberts, 1858-1868, and James F. Neal, 1868-1872.
CITY CLERKS .- H. H. Jones, 1873- 1876: Robert B. Millikin, 1876-1881; J. J. McMaken. 1881-1895: M. O. Burns, 1895- 1899: R. S. Woodruff. 1899-1900; M. O. Burns, 1900-1903: Homer Gard. 1903- 1905 : David H. De Armond, 1905 -.
CHIEFS OF POLICE .- David T. Riley, November. 1877-April, 1877: A. Hines.
Digitized by Google
238
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF
April, 1877-April, 1879; John Dirk. April, 1879-April, 1881; William Bruck, April, 1881-September, 1887: Henry Klein, Sep- tember, 1887-May, 1889: J. K. Lindley, May, 1889-November, 1889: Marcellus Thomas, November, 1889-April. 1898; George Stroh. April, 1898-May, 1898: Peter A. Clair, May, 1898-June, 1899: Zel- lar Shank, June, 1899-June 20. 1899; George Stroh, June, 1899-April, 1901 : Gus Kuemmerling. April, 1901-April 30, 1903: Jacob Sipp, May 1. 1903-August 11, 1903; C. A. Stroble, August 12, 1903-February 2. 1904, and Jacob Sipp, February 2. 1904 -.
CAPTAINS OF POLICE .- F. D. Louthan, November. 1876-August. 1877: George Hafertepen. August. 1877-August. 1879: Joseph W. Myers. August. 1879-August. 1881 : Conrad Erb. August. 1881-July. 1883: Thomas McDermott. July. 1883- April. 1884: Michael Zollers, April. 1884- August. 1885: John. J. Helvey. August. 1885-February. 1886: Amos Martin. Febru- ary. 1886-April. 1887: George Schramm. April. 1887-May. 1889: Pat Gannon, May. 1889-August. 1889: G. W. Harding. August. 1889-November. 1889: J. D. Millspaugh. November. 1889-May. 1891 : J. B. Toennison. May. 1891-July. 1891 : J. K. Lindley, July.
1891- April. 1893: W. A. Sherer. April. 1893-December. 1894: Wm. Cruzen. De- cember. 1894-May. 1895 : George Schramm. May, 1895-April. 1897; Val. Johnson. April. 1897-May. 1898: Zellar Shank. May. 1898-June. 1899: Val. Johnson, June. 1899- April, 1901 : Thomas Lennehan. April. 1901-August. 1903 : Peter Hettrick. August I. 1903-August 14. 1903. and George Zell- ner, August 14. 1903 -.
FIRE DEPARTMENT .- Prior to 1837
Hamilton had no organized fire protection, but in that year companies were organized in both Hamilton and Rossville. The Ham- ilton company was known as Hamilton Fire Company No. I. Its foreman was Thomas H. Wilkins and the assistant foreman was James Reynolds. George Seward acted as treasurer and Elisha Dalton as secretary. This company existed until 1864. It was located on Third street. adjoin- ing Dr. Markt's drug store. The Washington Fire Company was a later or- ganization, of which Henry Long was the first president. Afterward Captain John P. Bruck became president. The foreman of this company was Abram Miller and the secretary was Abram Laurie. Its head- quarters were on South Second street, in the building now occupied by Shollenbarger Bros. for a livery barn. The Ross- ville company was known as the Neptune Fire Company No. 1. Its first sta- tion was in a building that stood on the site of the residence of the late Dr. Mallory, The organization con- sisted of Jacob Staley, president : Jacob Meyers, vice-president ; Moses Conner. di- rector of engine: John H. Garver, first di- rector of hose-reel, and Daniel Smith. From 1852 to 1864 the organization con- sisted of the following: John Mills, presi- dent. Jacob Troutman, Emanuel Morris, William Clements, Jonathan Henninger and Harry Bobenmeyer. In 1865 the fire de- partment was put upon the salary basis.
The following have been chiefs of the fire department : Job. E. Owens. 1869- August. 1871; Mandus Shuler. August. 1871-April, 1877: Henry Frey. April. 1877- April. 1879: William Ritchie. April. 1879- April. 1881: John Boose. April. 1881-
Digitized by Google
-
239
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF
April, 1883: David Lingler, April, 1883- July, 1888; John Boose, July, 1888-June, 1893; David Lingler, June, 1893-May. 1898; P. E. Welsh, May, 1898-April, 1903; Adam Becker, April, 1903-August, 1903; David Lingler, August, 1903-February, 1904; Adam Becker. February, 1904, to date.
WATER WORKS TRUSTEES .- Asa Shu- ler, 1883-1891; Joseph B. Hughes, 1883- 1885; Herman Reutti, 1883; G. W. Shuler, 1884-1888: Robert Alstatter. 1886-1894; Joseph J. Pater, 1889-1987: Isaac J. Gra- ham. 1892-1895: Joseph H. Long. 1895- 1896, and William H. Hurm. 1897.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF WATER WORKS. -John Fisher. April, 1898-April. 1899; R. N. Andrews, April. 1899-April, 1901 : John Lorenz, April. 1901-March, 1903, and H. J. Thompson, March. 1903 -.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT .- C. V. Wilson, June, 1895-April. 1898: WV. N. Gray. April. 1898-May. 1898: John Lorenz, May. 1898-April. 1903: John F. Heath (acting superintendent). April. 1903. to July. 1903: R. N. Andrews. July. 1903 -.
GAS WORKS TRUSTEES .- Robert Alstat- ter. June. 1889-May. 1893 : Herman Reutti. June, 1889-May. 1894: John Swartz. June. 1889-April. 1895: Frank X. Black. May. 1893-April. 1898: Charles Mueller. May. 1894-April. 1898: James I. Tully. April. 1895-April. 1898.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF GAS WORKS .- George Phillips. 1889-1894: Frank Eyres. 1894-1898.
POSTMASTERS OF HAMILTON.
The first postoffice in Hamilton was lo- cated in Water street, immediately south of the United Presbyterian church. and occu-
pied a building which after having been re- modeled and used as a dwelling for some years, was torn down. At that time the building was two stories high and had a porch fronting on the alley. From 1804 to 1809 the building was occupied by John Reily, who there performed the duties of clerk of the courts, recorder and postmaster. Subsequently the postoffice was removed to a building erected especially for the pur- pose, a two-story frame structure, located at the corner of High and Second streets, and which was the first permanent head- quarters of the office. In April, 1853, this building was removed to Basin street, where it was used as a justice's court.
The first postoffice here was established in 1804. under President Thomas Jeffer- son's administration. The first. postmaster was John Reily, his commission, which was dated August 2, 1804. being signed by Post- master General Gideon Granger. In that early day mails were received here but once a week and the mode of transportation was on horseback. The mail carrier left Cin- cinnati. from whence his route lay through Hamilton. Franklin. Dayton and Urbana. to the starting point.
The following is a list of the postmasters of Hamilton, together with the date of their appointment : John Reily. August 2, 1804; James B. Thomas. July 9. 1832; James Lowes, March 27. 1851 : James K. Thomas, January 19, 1853; Lawrence M. Farrow, July 20, 1853; Jacob Troutman, March 13, 1857: William H. Blair. April 23, 1861 ; William C. Rossman, July 23, 1866; Wil- liam H. Blair. April 3, 1867: John McKee, September 8. 1873: Charles E. Giffen. Jan- uary 30. 1882: Ferd VanDerveer, March 18, 1886: John E. Lohman, December 4, 1886: Daniel H. Hensley. March 20, 1890;
Digitized by Google
240
BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.
1
1
John E. Lohman, June 13, 1893; Robert Elliott, August 1, 1897 ; Mrs. Ella B. Elliott, June 18. 1898; O. V. Parrish, July 12, 1902.
Rossville postoffice, which is now the first ward of the city of Hamilton, and which was discontinued as a postoffice April 19, 1855, had the following postmasters : Joseph Wilson, November 24, 1819; Dr. R. B. Millikin, September 2, 1824; Jacob Matthias, September 21, 1836; Samuel G. Sweeney, March 8, 1837; Samuel Millikin, March 29, 1839; Levi P. Richmond, May I, 1844; Joseph Curtis, May 29, 1849; George Longfellow, April 14. 1853; Robert Hargitt, December 10. 1853.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
WATER WORKS.
Prior to 1882 the municipal water sup- ply of Hamilton was not only unreliable and inadequate, but was also very unsatis- factory. For fire protection the only reli- ance was fire cisterns, which were located at certain street intersections, and what was known as the Hamilton and Rossville hy- draulic, while the private supply of water was obtained from wells and cisterns. The question of a more satisfactory supply had been discussed for several years, and the the nearest promised solution had been that of private corporations, several of which had been anxious to gain the franchise and sole privilege of supplying water for both municipal and private consumption. How- ever. with the growth of the city in popu- lation and wealth, there had also grown a sentiment in favor of a municipal ownership of a system of water works which should be
at the same time fully adequate for all needs and at the same time keep the cost of the same within reason, which could not, judg- ing by experiences elsewhere, be expected from a private corporation. The public de- mand for action in the matter became so unanimous that in April, 1882, the city council appointed a special committee, who were to examine into the matter and report as to the necessities of the case. This com- mittee made a report to the effect that the matter was urgent and were reinforced in this statement by two reports submitted by an expert chemist. On October 31st, of that year, the council decided to submit to the voters of the city the question of issuing bonds to the amount of three hundred thou- sand dollars for water works purposes. It being shortly afterwards discovered that it would be necessary to have the legislature pass an enabling act authorizing the issue of these bonds, the legislature was peti- tioned and such an act was passed on March 15. 1883. The act in substance authorized the city of Hamilton to issue bonds in the sum of three hundred thousand dollars, to bear interest at a rate not to exceed six per cent. per annum, said bonds to be payable in ten and up to thirty years from their date. In accordance with their prior resolution and the provisions of this act, council, on April 24, 1883, passed an ordinance for the issuance of the necessary bonds, and at the municipal election held on April 2d the fol- lowing gentlemen were elected as the first board of water works trustees, their terms of office to be for one, two and three years respectively : Herman Reutti, Asa Shuler and Joseph B. Hughes. April 10th their bonds were approved and the following day the board were organized. On the 17th of
Digitized by Google
- Is e 1
: )
.
VIEW IN GREENWOOD CEMETERY.
Digitized by
1
=
---
Digitized by
241
BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.
April J. D. Cook, of Toledo, Ohio, was em- of a splendid and wholesome quality. It is the boast of Hamilton that she has now as good water facilities and as good water as any city of her size in the state.
ployed as consulting engineer and was at once authorized to advertise for bids for the construction of the water works. Shortly afterward T. E. Crider was employed as engineer in charge of the work and Ira S. Millikin was employed as secretary of the water works board. So expeditiously was the work advanced that on the 30th of the following May bids were opened and on the following day the contract for the entire work was awarded to D. F. Minehan, of Springfield, this state, for the sum of $285,- 951, the contractor giving bond in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars for the faithful performance of his contract. In the furtherance of this project ten acres of ground on Wilson Hill were purchased for reservoir purposes, at a price of five thou- sand dollars, and Engineer Crider was in- structed to survey it for reservoir purposes, steps being also taken at that time for the purchase of the roadway leading thereto. The reservoir is magnificently located, being two hundred and twenty-one feet above High street at the court house and two hun- dred and forty-eight feet above the Miami river at low water, thus giving a regular pressure on High street of nearly ninety- six pounds, sufficient for all purposes. The reservoir, which has a capacity of about seven million gallons, is two hundred by two hundred and seventy feet in dimensions at the top and one hundred and thirty-two and a half by two hundred and two and a half feet at the bottom. Water was first pumped into the reservoir on the 26th of September, 1884, though water was pumped into the mains in July previous. The pres- ent source of supply is from driven wells sunk in the supply basin and the water is 17
GAS WORKS.
From 1856 the Hamilton Gas Light and Coke Company had supplied the city of Hamilton with gas for street lighting and private consumption. The service rendered was, however, so unsatisfactory and the rates charged so exorbitant that the public demand for relief became unanimous and persistent. In 1887 the matter was officially brought before the city council and a com- mittee was appointed to look into the matter and report the most practicable plan for re- lief. This committee, consisting of S. S. Williamson, Joseph H. Long, George T. Reiss and Edward E. Hull, the last-named gentleman being city solicitor, submitted to the council an ordinance providing for the submittal to the legally qualified voters of the city the question of constructing or pur- chasing gas works to be operated by the city. This ordinance was passed by the council on February 28, 1888, and in the following April the vote was taken at the municipal election, the project being ap- proved by a large majority. On September 4, 1888, the council passed another ordi- nance submitting to a vote of the people the question of issuing bonds to the amount of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the construction of gas works. At the elec- tion in the following November a vote was taken on the proposition and resulted in its favor by a very decisive majority, namely : For the bond issue, twenty-four hundred and twelve; against the bond issue, fifty- nine. In accordance with this expression
Digitized by Google
I
!
242
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF
council passed an ordinance on December 18, 1888, authorizing the issuance of the bonds.
The Hamilton Gas Light and Coke Com- pany fought the matter very bitterly and caused much delay and annoyance. They first appealed to Judge VanDerveer, of Hamilton, for a restraining injunction. which was denied them, and they then ap- pealed to Judge Sater, of Greenville, with the same result. but they were finally suc- cessful in obtaining an injunction from Judge Doane, of Wilmington. This injunc- tion was granted but a short time prior to the date fixed for the election on the ques- tion of granting the city authority to issue bonds, and Judge VanDerveer so modified the injunction as to permit the election to proceed. Finally both parties consented to submit the matter to the circuit court of the state, and this court decided in favor of the city's right to construct. own and operate gas works. The contract then existing be- tween the Hamilton Gas Light and Coke Company and the city of Hamilton expired January 17, 1889, and the city council re- fused to renew the contract. at the same time. by resolution, instructing the gas com- pany to furnish no more gas. The gas com- pany thereupon petitioned the United States court for an order compelling the city to re- ceive and pay for gas. but the decision on this question also was in favor of the city. Appeals from this decision were taken to the supreme court of the United States. and shortly after the election authorizing the bond issue the company instituted a number of suits, all of which, however. were finally dismissed at its cost. Finally the gas company filed a petition in quo warranto in the supreme court of the state. making
the contention that the bonds had not been legally issued and that the ordinances pre- liminary to the erection of the gas plant were not supported by the authority of the state. The decision of the supreme court, rendered in November, 1899. was on every point in favor of the city.
Looking to the construction of the gas works, the city council employed James R. Smedburg as consulting engineer, and, in April. 1889, he submitted an estimate fixing the net cost of the works at one hundred and forty thousand dollars. Robert Allstatter, Herman Reutti and John Schwartz were elected by council as the first board of trus- tees of the gas works, and at their organiza- tion they elected Mr. Allstatter president and Willard Smyers secretary. The con- struction of the works proceeded without serious delay or interruption and on April 9. 1890. fires were first lighted under the retorts, the city being generally lighted on the 28th of the same month.
ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT.
Early in 1891 a sentiment took definite shape in favor of the erection of an electric light plant in Hamilton for the purpose of lighting the streets and public grounds of the city by electricity, and in response to this sentiment a resolution was introduced in the city council on May 15, 1891, pro- viding for the appointment of a committee to ascertain the cost and feasibility. of put- ting in an electric plant, and also the prob- able cost of running such a plant in con- nection with the city gas works. Nothing of a tangible nature was done further in the matter until October 7, 1893, when an ordinance passed the city council, ordaining that the question of issuing fifty thousand
Digitized by Google
243
BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.
dollars of bonds for the purpose of erecting an electric light plant in the city of Hamil- ton be submitted to a vote. The vote was taken at the November election following and resulted as follows : For the bond issue, 3.547; against the bond issue, 455, thus ap- proving of the project by a very decided majority. On the 22d of the same month a resolution was introduced in council declar- ing it necessary and expedient and for the public good to erect an electric light plant. which resolution was adopted, and the bonds thus authorized were issued pursuant to an ordinance passed December 5, 1893. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Helvey, Reiss, Miller and Wirtz, was appointed to take charge of the construction of the plant. Subsequently it became necessary to provide further funds for the constructive work, and on the question of issuing fifty thou- sand dollars additional bonds a special elec- tion was held May 1, 1894, at which time the bond issue was defeated. However an- other resolution was introduced and an or- dinance prepared , bringing the question again before the people, and at the special election held June 2, 1894, the vote was as follows: In favor of the issuing of said bonds, 1,260; against the bonds, 609. there thus being a majority in favor of the pro- posed issue.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.