USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of Dayton, Ohio. With portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneer and prominent citizens Vol. 1 > Part 23
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
The Independent Fire Company, the Vigilance, Deluge, Oregon, and' others, were organized under the auspices of the council in the next few years, and managed by some of the foremost business men, but as these advanced in years and dignity, they gave place to younger men. As time passed on the complexion of the companies changed and a rougher element predominated. It came to be a closely disputed honor as to which company threw the first water on the fire, and this gave rise to outrages, cutting hose, throwing stones, and occasionally the firemen would cease fighting the fire and commence fighting each other. It was necessary to stimulate the rivalry of the firemen as to which should throw the first water on the fire, but it was found equally necessary and more difficult to quell the spirit thus evoked.
This was one of the causes of a growing opposition to a volunteer fire department. The manifest inefficiency of hand-engines, as compared with the newly-invented fire engines, under the control of men who were paid to give their whole time to their management and care, led to public agitation and discussion looking forward to such a change, which extended through a period of several years, from 1856 or 1857, until the first steamer was purchased in 1863.
206
HISTORY OF DAYTON.
The force now consists of a chief, D. Larkin; assistant chief, F. B. Ramby; telegraph manager, George Kirby, and fifty men. There are three steam engines, two chemical engines, nine hose wagons, two hook and ladder wagons, and twenty-four horses.
During the prevalence of epidemics at several periods in the earlier history of Dayton, boards of health had been appointed for temporary service, but it was not until June 3, 1867, that a permanent board of health was created by the council under authority of an act of the legis- lature of the preceding March. The board is composed of the mayor, who is ex-officio president, and six members appointed by the council. The board eleets a health officer and their own clerk and meat inspector. The first board consisted of T. D. Mitchell, president; W. W. Lane, and B. F. Wait, appointed for one year; L. Patterson and J. W. Dietrich, appointed for two years, and C. Parker and J. W. Batt, appointed for three years -- two new members coming in each year. Thomas L. Neal was health officer and J. A. Marlay, clerk. The duties of the board are to give such directions as are necessary to insure the cleanliness of the city, improve its sanitary condition and prevent the spread of contagions or epidemie diseases, to keep a record of births and of deaths and the causes thereof. Under this general limitation, their powers are very large, but their orders are always subject to the approval of the council.
In 1868, L. Patterson and C. L. Hawes were elected members of the board, and the health officer and clerk were the same as for the first year. In 1869, the members and officers were the same as for 1868. In 1870, the members were the same except that Lawrence Butz, Jr., took the place of John W. Butt. The officers remained the same. In 1871, the members of the board were C. Parker, B. F. Wait, C. L. Hawes, R. Brundrett, John Wiggim, and L. Butz, Jr., and the officers still re- mained the same. In 1872, the members were Parker, Wait, Hawes, Brundrett, Wiggim, and John W. Dietrich, the officers remaining the same except that E. B. Davis, M. D., became clerk. For the next two years the members and officers remained the same. For 1875 the members were Parker, Wait, Brundrett, Wiggim, Robert Craig, and Benjamin B. Childs, the officers being the same as for the two previous years. In 1876, there was no change. In 1877, H. S. Jewett, M. D., took the place of John Wiggim. For the next three years there was no change. In 1881, the board consisted of Parker, Wait, Brundrett, Jewett, Alfred Pruden, and J. K. Webster, M. D., the officers still being the same. In 1882, the members were Wait, Brundrett, Jewett, Webster, F. W. Thomas, M. D., and G. W. Rogers, officers the same. In 1883, the members were the same except that A. C. Fenner took the place of G. W.
207
MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
Rogers. The officers remained the same. For 1884 the members of the board were John II. Fickensher, B. F. Wait, F. W. Thomas, M. D., A. E. Fenner, Jesse Cornell, and W. P. Treon ; and A. H. Iddings, M. D., health officer, and Charles P. Waltz, clerk. For 1885 the members were Fickensher, Wait, Fenner, Cornell, J. L. Mellhenney, M. D., and J. S. Beck, M. D. The officers remained as before. For 1886 there was no change except that Frank S. Rechsteiner took the place of A. E. Fenner. For 1887 the board consisted of Wait, Mellhenny, Beck, Rechsteiner, William Webster, M. D., and J. A. Ambrose, M. D. James M. Weaver, M. D., was health officer, and George O. Warrington, clerk. In 1888, the members were B F. Wait, J. A. Ambrose, M. D., William Webster, M. D., W. P. Green, M. D., and John Sherlock. The officers remained the same, and for 1889 the board consists of the following members : J. A. Ambrose, M. D., William Webster, M. D., John Sherlock, George Stoffel, E. C. Crum, M. D., and W. P. Treon, M. D., and the officers are James M. Weaver, M. D., health officer, and George Warrington, clerk.
The city had no prison of its own until 1858, municipal offenders being confined in the county jail. Then a part of Deluge Engine-house, on Main Street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, was fitted up with cells and used for that purpose. In 1870, better accommodations were secured by the purchase of the United Brethren Church, for ten thousand dollars, standing on the corner of Smith and Tecumseh streets. This building was fitted up upstairs for a mayor's court, with cell rooms below. There is now also a sub-station house west of the river and south of Fourth Street. In 1875, when the county commissioners vacated the stone jail on the corner of Main and Sixth streets, the city authorities had it arranged for a work-house, and have occupied it for that purpose since early in the fall of 1876. Male offenders sent there were employed in breaking stone to use on the streets of the city, and female offenders were employed in necessary household work. The administration of the workhouse is committed to a board of workhouse directors. Dur- ing the present year (1889) the breaking of stone has been given up, and the whole force is now employed in making brushes. The material and machinery are furnished by a firm in Cincinnati, who take the entire output of manufactured brushes. The city pays the commissioners no rent for the property, as it holds it on a tenure requiring its use for the purposes of a prison.
From the incorporation of the town, in 1805, until 1818, a marshal constituted the entire police force, and for seventeen years thereafter, or until 1835, one deputy formed his staff. The marshal was then author- ized to appoint patrolmen to serve as night-watchmen. After the grant-
208
HISTORY OF DAYTON.
ing of the city charter, in 1841, an ordinance was passed providing for the election of two constables. In 1855, an epidemic of burglaries caused a meeting of citizens to consider remedies, and on an appeal from this body the council, on March 16, 1855, authorized the mayor to employ one hun- dred detectives. To whatever limit this authority was used, the appoint- ments were evidently but temporary. In 1853, the regular force was increased to six men besides the marshal, his deputy, and two constables. No further increase was made until 1866, when it was enlarged to eight patrolmen and a captain. Under the ordinance of July, 1869, the depart- ment consisted of the city marshal, as ex-officio chief, one captain, two lieutenants, and twenty-two regular policemen, two from each ward. Appointments were made annually by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.
In 1873, the metropolitan police force was organized with a chief, first and second lieutenants, twenty-six patrolmen, three roundsmen and three turnkeys. This arrangement made in pursuance of an act of the legislature is substantially that now in force. The appointments are made by the police commissioners, formerly an elective body, now a non- partisan board of four persous appointed by the governor, under an act of the legislature of March 2, 1887. With them, and not with the city council, now lies the whole control of the police force. The com- missioners receive a salary of two hundred dollars each per annum. In 1873, the police commissioners were E. W. Davies, E. S. Young, William Clark, W. H. Gillespie, D. A. Houk, and Joseph Clegg. E. W. Davies died and E. S. Young resigned during the year. The mayor was ex-officio president The police force consisted of thirty five men. In 1874, the commissioners were : W. M. Seely, Joseph Clegg, Harvey Conover, and W. H. Gillespie. In 1875, John Bettelon, Joseph Clegg, W. M. Seely, Harvey Conover. In 1876, Joseph Clegg, John Bettelon, W. P. Callahan, S. F. Woodsum. In 1877, W. P. Callahan, John Bettlelon, S. F. Woodsum, II. C. Graves. In 1878, John Bettelon, H. C. Graves, S. F. Woodsum, H. C. Marshall. S. F. Woodsum died in July and was succeeded by T. J. Weakley. In 1879, II. C. Graves, C. A. Phillips, H. C. Marshall, and T. J. Weakley. In 1880, II. C. Graves, H. C. Marshall, Charles A. Phillips, and E. V. Moodie. In 1881, II. C. Marshall, Charles A. Phillips, E. V. Moodie, and James P. Wolf. In 1882, Charles A. Phillips, E V. Moodie, James P. Wolf, and II. HI. Laubach. In 1883, E. V. Moodie, James P. Wolf, William Huffman, and II. II. Laubach. In 1884, James P. Wolf, II. II. Linbach, William Huffman, and T. J. Weakley. In 1885, II. H. Laubach, T. J. Weakley, William Huffman, and John L. Brenner. In 1886, William Huffman, T. J. Weakley, John L. Brenner,
209
MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
and A. B. Ridgway. In 1887, J. E. Gimperling, John C. Cline, John L. Miller, and R. C. Anderson. In 1885, R. C. Anderson, J. E. Gimperling, J. C. Cline, and John L. Miller. The same board was chosen for 1889. D. B. Wilcox was secretary of the board from 1873 to 1875; F. M. Hosin from 1876 to 1879; Patrick Kelly in 1880; J. H. Gorman from 1881 to 1882; J. II. Ensign in 1883 and 1884; C. W. Faber in 1885 and 1886, and O. E. Davidson in 1887, 1888, and 1889.
Captain Stewart served as captain a few months in the spring of 1873. Colonel William H. Martin was captain and acting superin- tendeut of police in 1873 and 1874. Amos Clark served then until 1881. George Butterworth in 1881 and 1882. Captain William Patton in 1883 to 1884, 1885, and 1886. Under the new law, Captain W. II. Shoemaker was elected superintendent in 1887. and served until June, 1889, when he resigned, and A. Steinmetz was elected. .
The force at present (1889) consists of the superintendent or chief, one captain, two detectives, four sergeants, two turnkeys, and fifty patrol- men; total, sixty-one. There are also a surgeon, Dr. P. N. Adams, and a matron, Miss Lou Bowman.
In 1877, the Dayton Police Benevolent Association was incorporated. It is supported and managed by the police, every one of whom pays an established fee on joining the force, and also regular dues thereafter if desiring to participate in its benefits. There is also another fund for their protection, called the life and health fund. Under the law no policeman can accept any reward or gratuity, but all sums offered in this way, and the proceeds of unclaimed property go to the above named fund. This fund is managed by the commissioners and two policemen elected by the force, constituting six trustees, and at their discretion any policemen in- jured in the discharge of his duty may be paid a weekly sum while disabled. This fund affording so desirable a protection to men engaged in a hazardous employment, now amounts to something over $2,500.
The first official action taken by the city council of Dayton with reference to the construction of water works, was on March 19, 1869, when an ordinance was passed to submit the question to the voters of the city, whether water works should or should not be erected at a cost not to exceed two hundred thousand dollars. This ordinance provided that the question should be voted upon at the election to be held April 5th following. At the election the question was settled in the affirmative by the following vote: For the water works, 2,769; against them, 1,936.
At a special meeting of the council, held May 21, 1869, a select com- mittee of three was appointed to examine and report upon plans for water 15%
210
HISTORY OF DAYTON.
works, they to recommend that system which they might think best adapted to the wants of the city for all purposes. The committee was authorized to visit places having water works, and to obtain the fullest and best possible information. The committee consisted of Messrs. George Lehman, George W. Murray, and D. W. Iddings. On the 13th of August, 1869, three plans for the construction of water works were submitted through the committee to the council by Joseph L. Loury. The Ames Manufacturing Company, of Chicopee, Massachusetts, submitted a proposition, which was read at the same time. There was also a proposi- tion from Stout, Mills & Temple, of Dayton, one from John R. Brownell, one from Henry R. Worthington, of New York, and one from the Holly Manufacturing Company, of Lockport, New York. It was then resolved that the various plans and bids for water works be referred to a select committee of five, with instructions to report at the next meeting. The committee selected consisted of George Lehman, J. Clingman, D. V. Pottle, A. Gebhart, and Alfred Pruden. This committee on the 20th of August reported in favor of the Holly Manufacturing Company, its system being the best and cheapest. The same select committee was thereupon authorized and instructed, in connection with the city solicitor, to make and execute a contract in the name of the city with the Holly Manufacturing Company for water works and machinery upon the basis of their proposition, which had been made August 4, 1869.
The proposition of the Holly Manufacturing Company was in sub- stance as follows : To erect a set of machinery to consist of two of Holly's patent elliptical rotary pumps, and one of Holly's patent six cylinder gauge pumps, each of the capacity of two million gallons in twenty-four hours. Also one double cylinder piston steam engine, and one rotary steam engine, two of Ilolly's patent tubular, upright steam boilers, one of Holly's patent hydraulic regulators, together with donkey engine, feed pumps, gears, shafting, steam and water gauges, and all other necessary fixtures and machinery to make the works effective and complete. The The rotary pumps were to be of such size and power as to throw six powerful fire streams at once from hose attached to hydrants, and each stream from one inch nozzle to a vertical height of one hundred feet. The price for this machinery was thirty-seven thousand dollars, to be paid in three twenty per cent installments in one, two, and three months, respec- tively from the date of the acceptance of the proposition, and the balance of forty per cent when the machinery had been set up, and had been accepted by the city of Dayton. The city of Dayton was to erect the necessary buildings and lay the foundations for the machinery, and also to lay the mains, set the hydrants and furnish hose. The contract be-
211
MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
tween the city of Dayton and the Holly Manufacturing Company was read, approved, and placed on file September 3, 1869.
On the 17th of September, 1869, a standing committee on water- works was appointed as follows: George Lehman, George Niebert, and A. Gebhart. On October 8, 1869, the special committee on water pipe reported, having made a contract with T. G. Gaylord & Company, of Cincinnati, for one thousand tons of pipe. Ou the 15th of the month an ordinance was passed establishing a board of trustees of water-works. . On the 29th of October, the committee on water-works reported that the bid for the erection of the building for the work, submitted by Anderton & Kemp, was the lowest, and their guarantee was placed on file. Novem- ber 26, 1869, the committee was authorized to purchase two acres of land on the northeast corner of Keowee and Ottawa streets. The rotary pumps for the water works arrived in Dayton January 6, 1870. On the 1st of April, 1870, the committee on water-works made a report to the council to the effect that the machinery and fixtures placed in position were in successful operation, and were up to and over the standard guaranteed by the company.
The first board of trustees of the water-works was as follows : Samuel Marshall, John Temple, and J. H. Balsley. This board organized on the 16th of April by the election of the following officers: Samuel Marshall, president; A. J. Hiller, secretary; George McCain, superintendent; E. I. Howard, engineer; IIenry Farnham, assistant engineer; H. G. Marshall, assistant secretary and collector; Ezra Thomas, assistant superintendent. According to the first annual report of the superintendent, the receipts of the works from water rents, from April 13th to December 31, 1870, were $3,168.66, and the running expenses for the same time, $10,325.85. The entire expenditures for the works up to that time had been $115,053.21, and the entire cost $324,450.31. There had been an uninterrupted supply of water in the well from the commencement of the working of the ma- chinery, and from July 1st to January 1, 1871, there had been delivered into the pipes 92,520,060 gallons of water. The total amount of pipe of all sizes laid up to the time was 20 miles and 56 feet. The total number of fire hydrants set up was 198, and there were 257 stop-valves in use.
The officers for 1871 were the same as for 1870, except that Jesse Demint took the place of John If. Balsley as a trustee, and G. S. Johnson became assistant engineer. According to the report of the trustees for the year ending December 31, 1871, the receipts from water rents was $9,660.85. The amount of water supplied to the city during the year had been 209,625,940 gallons. The trustees for the year 1872 were the same as the year before, as also were the other officers, except that the
-
212
HISTORY OF DAYTON.
office of superintendent was abolished. The receipts from water reuts for the year ending December 31, 1872, were $12,617.79, and the number of gallons of water pumped during the year was 270,740,165. In April, 1873, Hon. Jonathan Kenney was elected a trustee, in place of Samuel Marshall, whose three years' term had expired. Martin L. Weaver was appointed assistant engineer April 26, 1873, the other officers remaining the same. For the year ending December 31, 1873, the receipts from water-rates amounted to $17,516.26, and the current expenses to $18,- 637.69. For the next year, that ending April, 1875, the trustees were John Temple, president, Jonathan Kenney, and Josiah E. Boyer. The remaining officers were principally the same. For the year ending December 31, 1874, the receipts from water rates were $19,864.89, and the total receipts, $107,347.74. The total expenditures amounted to $104,193.03. Of this amount, $42,915.50 had been expended for extend- ing the water mains, and $32,420.92 for new machinery.
For the year ending in April, 1873, Milton Beunet took the place of John Temple as a trustee, Jonathan Kenney, however, being elected president. M. L. Weaver succeeded E. I. Howard as engineer. For the year ending in April, 1877, Josiah E. Boyer was president of the board, and the other members were Milton Bennet and George J. Roberts, Since that time the trustees elected each succeeding year, cach of whom was elected for three years, have been as follows: Thomas B. Hannah, elected in 1879; John W. Butt, in 1880; Luther Peters, in 1881; T. B. Hannab, in 1882; John W. Butt, in 1883; Luther Peters, in 1884; T. B. Hannah, in 1885; John Tesseyman, in 1886; William Huffman, in 1887; U. II. Odell, in 1888.
The secretaries have been A. J. Miller, until April, 1878; D, B. Wilcox, until 1880; Charles W. Suyder, until 1587, and since then, Charles A. Herbig. Since the retirement of M. L. Weaver as chief engineer, in 1882, Edward E. Euchenhofer served until 1887, when M. L. Weaver again became engineer, and serves at the present time.
The following table shows the amount of water rents, etc., received since the establishment of the system :
218
MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
YEAR.
Regular Water Rent Assessment.
Street Sprink- ling with Carts.
Building Pur- poses, etc.
Total.
1870
$2,932 60
$221 56
$11 50
$3,14S 66
1871
9,059 70
121 01
480 14
9,660 85
1872
12,034 15
264 95
318 59
12,617 69
1878
16,797 87
612 49
406 03
17,816 59
1874
18,198 14
1,329 42
337 33
19,864 89
1875
18,526 24
2 042 97
156 29
20,725 50
1876
16,811 SS
2,290 02
188 12
19,290 02
1877
17,355 29
2,056 73
71 06
19,483 08
1878
16,313 11
2,032 75
74 03
18,419 89.
1879
16,873 64
1,670 34
95 21
18,939 19
1880
17,106 58
1,102 80
67 61
18,276 99
1881
19,571 43
1,435 14
301 76
21,308 33
1882
21,310 87
1,646 91
256 17
23,213 95
1883
3
22,366 81
1,597 57
439 72
24,404 10
1884
22,205 99
1,287 80
325 44
23,819 23
1885
23,539 93
1,590 48
167 09
25,297 50
1886
24,465 49
1.072 51
338 02
25,876 02
1887
26,333 25
1,883 12
213 57
28,29 94
1888
29,326 37
2,749 83
317 95
32,629 35
Total.
$451,129 34
$27.011 40
$4,565 63
8382.941 57
The following table shows the amount and cost of cast iron pipe laid since 1869 :
YEAR.
NO. OF FEET.
COST.
1869
42,677
$164,721 39
1870
62,979
83,426 09
1871
7,694
23,565 23,
1872
13,846
15,050 55
1873
1,204
4,744 93
1874
33.626
42,107 32
1875
3,656
3,493 51
1876
738
1.073 36
1877
1,362
2,881 33
1878
1,346
1,679 81
1879
352
111 34
1880
3,664
3,796 06
1881
8,180
30,022.24
1882
11,468
7,304 97
1883
2,963
2,504 70
1884
1,176
1,138 96
1885
537
362 SS
1886
1,635
1,054 90
1887
585
517 89
188S
67,366
52,452 07
Total
267,054
Pipe taken up.
4 923
262,131 feet equal to 49 miles and 3,411 feet.
Since the construction of the above table, there has been laid pipe sufficient to bring the total length of pipe up to fifty one miles, and there are attached thereto four hundred and eighty fire hydrants. Dayton claims to furnish through her system of water works better and purer water than is furnished by the water works of any other city in the country. It is practically free from organic matter, and it is as cold and
217. 514
HISTORY OF DAYTON.
clear as it is good and clear. At the publie drinking fountain, in front of the water works pumping station, water is constantly flowing the tem- perature of which is fifty degrees.
During the months of July and August, 1887, the board of water works trustees constructed, in the bed of Mad River, east of Keowee Street, a series of tube wells, thirty in number, eight inches in diameter, and an average depth of forty feet. The water from these wells flows of its own accord, rising above the tops of the wells and above the level of Mad River an average height of three feet. The temperature of the water in some of these wells being thirty-six degrees. A valve is attached . to each well so that the water can be turned off or on at pleasure. These tube wells are all connected into a twenty-inch main pipe leading to the pumping station, there being a fall of eight feet from the farthest well cast to the pumping station, a distance of 2,500 feet, the wells and the main connecting there are all under ground; the water is not exposed in re- servoirs or other receptacles as in other cities, where too often injurious matter is allowed to concentrate. It is impossible for impurities to enter into this water, as the source is subterranean, it being carried directly from the wells to the consumer. The supply seems inexhaustible, however, should the growing population in the future require more water, addi- tional wells can be added to the plant at a trifling cost. With the machinery now under construction the water works will have a capacity to pump seventeen million gallons of water per day.
The following table shows the totals and averages of water distributed, and cost of delivery, for each year since the completion the of works :
GALLONS DISTRIBUTED, TONS COAL CONS'D AND COST.
YEAR.
Per year.
Average per day.
Tons.
Lbs.
Cost per ton.
Cost.
pumped with 1 lb. of coal.
$1870
92,520,560
502,829
253
700 $5 14 $1,303 38:
1871
208,625,940
574,317
698
1,130|
4 15 2 904 87:
149.3246
1872
270,740,165
739,727
2859
408|
4 36 3,748 16
157.5529
1873
309.243,380
847,242 11.073
1,263
4 07
4.375 55.
144.0179
*1874
379,782,140
1,010,499: 1,266
518
3 35!
4,246 49
149.9622
1875
353,248,899
967,803:
1,394
1,391
3 57 4.986 45;
126.6399
1876.
351,852,256
941,345|
1,029
986!
2 881
2,965 59;
170.8861
1877
334.692,000.
916,964
933
690
2 88
2,601 50
179.297
1878
356.337,020
976,266
1,029
410
2 91|
2,996 35;
173.2585
1879
372,132,090
1,019,539;
1,220
2 57
3,131 79'
1880.
387,497,730!
1,058,737;
1,324
1,675|
2 70 3.470 74'
#1881
499,069,770
1,867,314 1,505
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.