USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Columbus, Ohio: its history, resources, and progress : with numerous illustrations > Part 11
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STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
to ten members, or two from each ward, the number required by the act of 1853. And such has been the rule since.
The city in 1862 was divided into nine wards, each compris- ing the following territory :
FIRST WARD .- All lying north of Broad street, west of the center of High street, and south of the center of North Public Lane extended.
THE SECOND WARD .- All south of the center of Gay street extended, east of the center of High street, and north of the center of State street extended.
THE THIRD WARD .- All south of the center of State street, east of the center of High, and north of the center of Rich street, and east of East Public Lane-the south boundary run- ning along the north line of Rickly's subdivision extended.
THE FOURTH WARD .- All east of the center of High street, and between the Third ward and Mound street.
THE FIFTH WARD .- All east of the canal, and between the centers of Mound street and South Public Lane, and the Living- ston road.
THE SIXTH WARD .- All south of the Fifth ward.
THE SEVENTH WARD .- All south of the center line of Broad street, west of High, and north of the center of Mound street.
THE EIGHTH WARD .- All east of the center of High street, and between the center line of Gay street extended and North Public Lane, to the eastern limit of the city.
THE NINTH WARD .- All north of the center of North Public Lane.
In 1872 the city was divided into eleven wards, the present number, each including the following territory :
THE FIRST WARD .- All between the center of Broad street extended west to the corporation line, and the center of Nagh- ten street extended west to the same line, and west of the center of High street.
THE SECOND WARD .- All east of the center of High street, and between the center of Gay street extended east to the cor- poration line, and the center of State street extended east to the same line.
THE THIRD WARD .- All east of the center of High street, and
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MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
between the center of State street extended east to the corpora- tion line, and the center of Rich street extended east to the same line.
THE FOURTH WARD .- All east of the center of High street, and between the center of Rich street extended east to the cor- poration line, and the center of Mound street extended east to the same line.
THE FIFTH WARD .- All east of the center of High street, and between the center of Mound extended east to the corporation line, and the center of South Public Lane, extended east to the same line.
THE SIXTH WARD .- All east of the center of High street, ex- tended south to the corporation line, and south of the center of South Public Lane, extended east to the same line.
THE SEVENTH WARD .- All west of the center of High street, and between the center of Broad street extended west to the corporation line, and the center of Mound street extended west to the same line.
THE EIGHTH WARD .- All east of the center of High street, and between the center of Gay street extended east to the cor- poration line, and the center of Naghten street, and the center of the Johnstown road, extended east to the corporation line.
THE NINTH WARD .- All east of the center of High street ex- tended along the center of the Columbus and Worthington plank-road to the north line of the corporation, and north of the center of Naghten street and the center of the Johnstown road, extended east to the corporation line.
THE TENTH WARD .- All west of the center of High street ex- tended along the center of the Columbus and Worthington plank-road to the north corporation line, and north of the cen- ter of Naghten street extended west to the corporation line.
THE ELEVENTH WARD .- All west of the center of High street extended south to the corporation line, and south of the center of Mound street extended west to the same line.
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STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
CITY FINANCES.
The following statements are taken from the reports of the Standing Committee of Ways and Means and of the City Clerk to the City Council, for the fiscal year ending April 8, 1872:
GENERAL EXPENSE FUND .- The receipts were :
The balance remaining in the treasury, April 8, 1871, was. $513 10
Amount received from the collection of June taxes, 1871
59,737 13
Amount received from the collection of December taxes, 1871
87,199 91
Amount received from George W. Meeker, Mayor, fines, etc. 19 00
Amount received from James G. Bull, Mayor, fines, etc
3,505 85
Amount received from L. E. Wilson, City Clerk, tapping sewers. 430 00
Amount received from C. K. Cuckler, Clerk of Market
2,269 15
Amount received from miscellaneous sources.
476 05
Here must also be added a temporary loan, due National Exchange Bank, and borrowed in an- ticipation of June taxes. 15,000 00
Total receipts, including balance $169,659 19
The disbursements were :
Total for the fiscal year, ending April 8, 1872 $169,217 78 Balance in the treasury, April 8, 1872. 441 41
Among the disbursements were the following expenditures :
On account of the City Hall, $39,839.61; on account of Main Sewers, $101,090.79; total amount on account of Water-works, $253,229.61; total expenditures on account of the City Police Department, $21,912.63; on account of the Fire Department, $21,936.72; on acccount of Street Commissioner and Chain Gang, $13,005.81; on account of Goodale Park, $5,542.53; on account of City Park, $5,855.02; on account of Gas and Repairs,
Amount received from L. E. Wilson, City Clerk, licenses. 509 00
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MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
$17,855.51; for salaries of City Officers, $9,068.60; interest on City Hall Bonds, $11,239; on Water-works Bonds, $28,000; on Main Sewer Bonds,$11,320.
CITY LEVIES .- The city levies in 1871, by the city council, were seven and one-half mills, or, in other words, seventy-five cents on one hundred dollars valuation, as follows :
For general city purposes. 8-10 of one mill. For fire department .. 3-4 of one mill. For police department. 9-10 of one mill. For sanitary and street-cleaning purposes. For gas, gas-lamps, and posts. . . 1-2 of one mill. 3-4 of one mill. For improving and embellishing City Park .. 1-4 of one mill. For Goodale Park ..
For repairs on wharf ..
For opening and widening streets.
For interest on bonds. 3
1-4 of one mill. 1-10 of one mill. 2-10 of one mill. mills.
Total
7 1-2 mills.
VALUE OF REAL ESTATE AND CHATTEL PROPERTY .- The total valuations of property on the city duplicate, for the year 1871, in old corporate limits, were as follows :
Real estate. $13,865,180 00
Chattel property. 7,648,704 00
Total taxable valuation $21,513,884 00
The new territory annexed to the city will increase the taxable valuation between $2,000,000 and $3,000,000.
CITY FUNDED DEBT .- The funded debt of the city, created by the city council, is as follows:
Main sewer seven per cent. bonds, interest payable semi-annually, dated August 1, 1868, and pay- able 20 years after date .. $100,000 00 City Hall seven per cent. bonds, interest payable semi-annually, dated March 1, 1869, and pay- able 20 years after date. 125,000 00
City Hall eight per cent. bonds, interest payable semi-annually, dated March 1, 1871, and pay- able 15 years after date. 25,000 00
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STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
Water-works eight per cent. bonds, interest pay- able semi-annually, dated June 1, 1870, and payable 15 years after date, or at any time after six years, at the pleasure of the city ..... . . Water-works eight per cent. bonds, interest pay- able semi-annually, dated June 1, 1871, and payable 15 years after date, or at any time after six years, at the pleasure of the city.
$250,000 00
250,000 00
Main sewer eight per cent. bonds, interest pay- able semi-annually, dated December 1, 1870, and payable 15 years after date.
83,000 00
Main sewer eight per cent. bonds, interest pay- able semi-annually, dated June 1, 1871, and payable 15 years after date. 25,000 00
City Hall eight per cent. bonds, interest payable semi-annually, dated March 1, 1871, and pay- able 15 years after date.
10,000 00
City Hall eight per cent. bonds, interest payable semi-annually, dated March 1, 1872, and pay- able 15 years after date, or at any time after six years, at the pleasure of the city. 20,000 00
Total funded debt April 8, 1872. $888,000 00
THE STEAM AND PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT.
In the year 1854, a committee of the city council of Colum. bus reported in favor of purchasing a steam fire-engine. This report was printed, and circulated among the citizens, together with a minority report. The city council of Cincinnati, in 1852, had witnessed a public experiment with a steam fire- engine in that city, and contracted for a steam-engine on the same plan. This engine was placed in service under a company or- ganized and put under pay by the city. Thus the first paid fire company to operate with steam, was brought into existence, the first of the kind in this age or country. In 1853, a few months later, their entire fire department was changed from hand to steam. It was a great step forward for the benefit of the Queen City and the whole country. The purchase of a steam fire- engine for Columbus was now determined on, but the transition from the old to the new system was not, however, made without difficulties. It needed firmness and determination to stem the tide of opposition. These qualities were found in the chairman
131
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
of the standing committee on the fire department, Luther Don- aldson, who took the matter in hand. Through his indefatiga- ble exertions, Columbus was the fourth city in the country to
ENGINE HOUSE
RICHES, COLUMBUS
GAY STREET ENGINE HOUSE.
adopt a steam and paid fire department. A new fire ordinance was adopted October 29, 1855. The same year, C. M. Ridgway
132
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO ...
was elected engineer to take charge of the engine when it should arrive. J. C. Kenyon was elected chief engineer. On the 8th of September, the committe on fire department, Messrs. Donaldson, Decker, and Hume started for Cincinnati, to witness the trial of our new steamer Columbus, for such was then its name. In the trial it burst one of its steam-pipes, and our citi- zens were disappointed in not receiving their engine at the ap- pointed time. On Friday, October 2, the long looked-for engine arrived, accompanied by its builder, Mr. Latta. An entertain- ment was given in honor of the occasion at the Neil House. The engine was accepted by the city authorities and placed in the house then recently erected for it on Third street. The cost of the engine was $6,000. Thus, Cincinnati was the first, New Orleans the second, Boston the third, and Columbus the fourth, in bringing about this great change.
At a meeting of the city council on November 19, 1860, Joseph H. Riley offered a resolution looking to the purchasing of two steam fire-engines. A committee of practical engineers, citizens of Columbus, was appointed to examine and report to the council in regard to the utility of purchasing the steam rotary fire-engine, constructed by H. C. Silsby, of Seneca Falls, New York. This committee reported, on the evening of Decem- ber 11th, in favor of purchasing the engine. The council accepted their report, and the following resolution was adopted :
"WHEREAS, A committee of practical engineers, citizens of Columbus, has presented a unanimous report in favor of the steam fire-engine, manufactured by H. C. Silsby, which has been on exhibition and trial for several days, since which time the expression favorable to the increase of steam power in lieu of hand-engines is found to be quite general ; therefore, be it
" Resolved, That so much of the resolution instructing the purchasing of hand-engines, etc., be and the same is hereby re- scinded, and a first class steamer for service be substituted."
The council now enacted a new fire ordinance, placing the fire department under the control of one head, and, looking to the interest of the whole community, selected by a unanimous vote, John Miller, banker, as the future chief, who undertook the task of organizing and bringing the new department into
133
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
working order. Under his administration the third steamer was purchased. And after serving as chief engineer for nearly three years, he tendered his resignation to the council, which was, with reluctance, accepted by that body. The Columbus steam fire department had met the expectations of its carly friends. The superiority of the steam system was now a fixed fact; its superiority over muscular power had been demon- strated.
IURICHES. SC.
SOUTH HIGHI STREET ENGINE HOUSE.
The chiefs of the Fire Department succeeding Mr. Miller were Isaac H. Marrow, from 1864 to 1868, and William S. Huffman, from 1868 to 1869. Henry Heinmiller, the present chief, as- sumed the office in 1869.
PRESENT OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE COLUMBUS FIRE DEPARTMENT .- The Standing Committee on Fire Department- Theodore Comstock, chairman ; George Beck, Lorenzo English, Jonas Pletsch, David F. Suydam.
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STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
Engineers of Steamers-Westly McClain, H. S. Layton, Lu- cas Becker.
Firemen of Steamers-Wellington Riddle, Ebenezer Myers. Drivers of Steamers-John Peiffier, J. W. Curts.
Hosemen-Levi Thompson, Nicholas Ruffing, L. H. Peck. Hook and Ladder-James Cleary, George W. Dickson.
Messenger-John Davidson.
Superintendent Fire Alarm Telegraph-Charles Coffroth. Chief Engineer-H. Heinmiller.
THE FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH SYSTEM .- This system was put in successful operation in October, 1868. For several years prior to that time, the locality of a fire had been designated by signals and alarm bells striking the number of a ward or dis- trict. In 1870-71, the telegraph system was greatly improved and extended. Its cost was about $6,000. Locked boxes are provided, the keys of which are kept at designated places. These boxes contain an apparatus that, by a simple motion, en- ables anybody to send an alarm to the central station. The localities of these boxes are annually published. The engine- houses and the water-works are all connected by telegraph lines. Immediately on the discovery of a fire, the engine-houses are notified of the fact, and the whole city, by the tapping of the bell in the tower of the Second Presbyterian Church, and the sounding of the gongs at the engine-houses and the water-works. By the tapping of the bell and the gongs, the exact locality of the fire is made known.
There are twenty-one alarm-boxes. When a fire occurs, all that is needed is to unlock the box and pull down the hook, then the bell at the church, and the gongs at the engine-houses and the water-works strike at the same time the signal of the box, which is heard all over the city. Each signal-box has its own number of sounds, by which it is known. The wires are also connected with alarm-bells in each engine-house, and communi- cation between the engine-houses and the water-works is carried on by the sending of telegraphic signals. The police are pro- vided with keys to the signal-boxes, and keys to each signal- box are also placed at some convenient point in the immediate
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MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
vicinity, so that the box can be opened and the alarm sounded at a moment's warning.
Our excellent system of Fire Alarm Telegraph, inaugurated under Colonel Marrow, and completed under Captain Hein- miller's administration, is superintended by Charles A. Coffroth.
ALARM BOXES .- The following is the location of the twenty- one alarm-boxes :
Box No. 2, stationed at Gay Street Engine House.
Box No. 3, stationed at Third Street Engine House.
Box No. 4, stationed at South High Street Engine House.
Box No. 5, stationed at Middletown.
Box No. 6, stationed at Ohio Penitentiary.
Box No. 7, stationed at Union Depot.
Box No. 12, stationed at Columbus Cabinet Company.
Box No. 13, stationed at County In firmary.
Box No. 14, stationed at Blind Asylum.
Box No. 15, stationed at Deaf and Dumb Asylum.
Box No. 17, stationed at corner of Long and Seventh streets.
Box No. 21, stationed at Neil House.
Box No. 23, stationed at corner of Rich and High streets.
Box No. 24, stationed at corner of Fourth and Friend streets.
Box No. 25, stationed on Fifth, between Broad and Oak streets.
Box No. 26, stationed at corner of Seventh and Mound streets.
Box No. 31, stationed at corner of College and High streets.
Box No. 32, stationed at corner of Fourth and South Public Lane.
Box No. 34, stationed at corner of Spring and Water streets.
Box No. 35, stationed at High Street Car Stables.
Box No. 41, stationed at Hocking Valley Railroad Shops.
ENGINE HOUSES .- There are three two-story brick engine- houses, with stables attached, belonging to the Fire Department- the Gay Street, the Donaldson, and the South High Street Engine House. The company at the first-named house has been re- cently disbanded, the water-works enabling the authorities to decrease the force of the fire department.
ENGINES .- The department has four first-class rotary steam- engines, built by H. C. Silsby, Seneca Falls, New York. These are Steamer No. 1, the Ben. Blake, purchased in 1860, and sta-
136
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
tioned at the Gay Street Engine House; Steamer No. 2, the Jo- seph Ridgway, purchased in 1861, and stationed at the South High Street Engine House ; Steamer No. 3, the John Miller, purchased in 1863, and stationed at the Donaldson Engine House ; and Steamer No. 4, the Luther Donaldson, purchased in 1867, and also stationed at the Donaldson Engine House. Of these en- gines, Steamers Nos. 2 and 3 are not in service.
HOSE AND HOSE-REELS .- There were in the department, April 1, 1872, six hose-reels, two with wooden and four with iron wheels, with 4,100 feet of oak-tanned leather hose and 2,000 feet of rubber hose in good order.
HOOK AND LADDER .- The department has one first-class truck, with ladders, hooks, axes, and lanterns, all complete and in good order.
STOCK .- The department has ten horses, all owned by the city, and stationed : three at the Gay Street Engine House, two for the engine and one for the hose-reel, and one extra horse, used by the chief engineer ; five at the Donaldson Engine House, two for the engine, two for the hook and ladder, and one for the hose-reel.
WELLS AND CISTERNS .- The water-works having been during 1871 fully established in the city limits, as they were before the recent annexation of territory, it was not deemed necessary to keep the city wells in repair. The cisterns are kept full of water from the water-works. There are seventy-nine city fire cisterns and fifty-eight city wells.
EXPENSE .- The department runs two steam-engines, three hose-reels, and one hook and ladder, with one chief engineer, one superintendent of fire-alarm telegraph, and twelve fire- men, making a total of sixteen men, running a fire department in a city of thirty-five thousand inhabitants, at an expenditure, from March 31, 1871, to April 8, 1872 : for salary of chief en- gineer, $1,166.66; $600 for salary of superintendent of the fire-alarm telegraph; $7,846.16 for other ordinary expenses ; making a total of $12,676.69.
It is now about twenty years since the subject of a water supply for Columbus, otherwise than by the excavation of wells, engaged the attention of many of its most enterprising and in- telligent citizens. In April, 1853, Ex-Governor Dennison, then
137
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
LUMBU
RICHES, COLUMBUS.O
BowDISH Para
CITY WATER-WORKS.
a member of the city council, procured the unanimous adop- tion of a resolution instructing the general improvement com- mittee to inquire into the practicability of the city's establishing water-works, and to report at the earliest possible day. . The committee referred to, consisted at that time of John Noble, Robert Howe, Benj. Blake, Theo. Comstock, L. Hoster, and M. P. Howlet. In March, 1854, the committee made a report of surveys relative to water-works, which was recommitted, with instructions to make further surveys. No other report on the subject from that committee appears of record.
Joseph Sullivant, in June, 1855, by invitation, delivered an address to the council, on supplying the city with pure water, which, on motion of Mr. Gere, was ordered to be printed in pamphlet form.
In August, 1859, Jos. H. Riley presented to the council a plan and estimate of cost for constructing water-works, by J. Ball, of Jersey City, who had been for many years engaged in building such works. Mr. Riley then obtained the adoption of a resolu- tion appointing Joseph Sullivant, Dr. L. Goodale, John Andrews, Geo. Gere, S. Medary, John Miller (banker), and L. Hoster, to examine the report o J. Ball on city water-works, and report as
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STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
early as practicable. This committee spent some time and labor in examining the water of Alum creek and Olentangy river, but for aught that appears to the contrary, made no report to the city council.
On motion of E. B. Armstrong, in May, 1863, a resolution was adopted, by virtue of which E. B. Armstrong, John Graham, W. Failing, G. Douty, and John G. Thompson were appointed a committee to inquire into the practicability of the construction of water-works for the city, and to report at as early a day as practicable.
On the 20th of March, 1865, Mr. Armstrong, from the select committee on water-works, presented to the council a report, signed by E. B. Armstrong, John Graham, G. Douty, and John G. Thompson, which was referred to the committe on unfinished business. In the report as referred, the committee state that they had visited several of the most important water-works in the country, and had acquired much valuable information. They had also caused surveys to be made and streams to be measured, with careful analysis of the waters, proving eminently satisfac- tory.
Subsequently another committee was raised, consisting of Luther Donaldson, Jacob Reinhard, Wm. Naghten, E. B. Arm- strong, James Patterson, Fred. Jaeger, and C. P. L. Butler, who, « near the close of the year 1868, made a report in favor of the Holly water-works.
On Monday evening, February 7, 1870, the city council, at a regular meeting, ratified a contract with the Holly Manufactur- ing Company, of Lockport, New York, by which the company agreed to furnish Holly's patent elliptical rotary pumps, with capacity to throw six one-inch streams of water, at the same time, to a distance of one hundred and fifty feet in the city of Columbus, without interrupting the steady supply of water for the city for domestic purposes-the pumps to have the capacity to furnish in the aggregate four million gallons of water daily for domestic purposes. And also one gang-pump, consisting of six separate force pumps, so arranged in construction as to be operated by eccentric cams in such a manner that the plungers take suction alternately at one-sixth length of stroke, or that no
139
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
two plungers take suction in unison; therefore dispensing en- tirely with cessation in the discharge, and giving as nearly as practicable a uniform flow and pressure to the city pipes. These pumps to be erected in a large cast-iron frame, ornamented, with capacity to discharge for domestic use two million gallons of water daily. And, also,
One set of double-cylinder, quarter-crank and variable cut- off condensing-piston steam-engines, erected on a large heavy iron frame, and of sufficient power to perform the work spec- ified. Also,
One rotary steam-engine, capable of driving either pump for domestic or fire purposes; three large steam-boilers, with ca- pacity to perform the work specified; one donkey engine, with capacity adequate to all its requirements. Also,
All shafting connecting the engines with the pumps; all nec- essary gears, bearings, pillow-blocks, and belts, to connect the machinery ; all steam and water connecting-pipes, steam and water-gauges ; all valves required, including one large safety- valve for the purpose of discharging the surplus water from all the pumps, and a graduating hydrostatic balance connected therewith ; one self-acting lever-valve to each pump, so ar- ranged as to close the aperture or connection between the pumps, when either one or two are not in use. Also,
An automatic apparatus operated by hydrostatic pressure, and so arranged as to control the pressure of water in the pipes, varying the same as may be needed for fire streams or domestic use ; one condenser and one heater containing one hundred flues ; all spring couplings, steam safety-valves for boilers, and all other machinery not herein enumerated, but required to finish said machinery in a complete and workmanlike manner, and adapt the same for the use for which it is intended, not in- cluding water-suction and discharge-pipes, or any work on building or smoke-stack, or foundation for machinery or boilers. The company to pay the cost of transportation and set up the machinery in a good and workmanlike manner, finished and complete in the city of Columbus, for the sum of $55,000.
OFFICERS .- At the April election, 1870, William Monypeny, Richard Nevins, and Charles Ambos were chosen trustees of
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