History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 30

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207

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Thursday, July 29, 1915, was signalized by the board by inaugurating London's first annual holiday. The project was received with unanimous enthusiasm by all busi- ness interests. All business houses, banks, offices, shops, factories and saloons were closed from six o'clock in the morning until six in the evening. The streets were entirely deserted and apparently everybody had left town. Various excursion parties were inaugurated. the largest being at Cedar Point, under the direct supervision of the board. A special train had been secured over the Big Four railroad and over four hundred Londoners spent the day on the breezy shores of Lake Erie. The Board of Trade's holiday is to become an annual event.

Besides these concrete examples of the work of this organization it is constantly in touch with matters affecting the business future of London, and has an eye single to its success. Better than the tangible results, which may be noted from the efforts of the London Board of Trade. is the kindly trade spirit which it has fostered between the varied business interests of the village. London is remarkably free from the petty Jealousies and factional disturbances which at one time were evident here and which always deter the mercantile growth of municipalities. That London is now about to enter on an era of increased business opportunity is the opinion of those who are obser- vant of local conditions and the London Board of Trade will in the future, as in the past, do its valiant part to prove the truth of its slogan that "to push London is to prosper."

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LONDON'S BUSINESS INTERESTS.

Following is a list of the business and professional interests of Madison county's thriving county seat :

Abstractors J. W. Millholland, Robert Woodhouse.

Agricultural Implements-Dwyer Brothers, Anderson & Hume, P. Speasmaker & Sons, Hamilton & McDonald.

Agents, Railroad-O. C. Traylor, R. S. Piatt, Claude Snyder.

Blacksmith Shops-Will Flynn, Horace Rightsell, John Smouse, Jones & Bell, Sam Fast, Charles Weese, C. T. & W. A. Jones, Michael Charters.

Barbers-Thomas Flynn, Leo Bardon, John Cain, Edward Cain, Add McNeal, John Coberly, Pete Eglehoff, J. H. Hargo.

Banks-London Exchange, Central National, Madison National, Peoples' Commer- cial & Savings.

Cigar Stores-Max Cannon.

Creamery-London Creamery Company.

Clothing-Foster Beery & Sons, J. C. Winchester, J. R. Sifrit, Polster & Gallagher, Flynn & Stahl, A. W. Gardner.

Confectionery-M. E. Fricker, London Candy Kitchen, George Bartlett & Son, James Mclaughlin.

Dentists-Chaney & Noland, Dr. W. E. Hoffines, J. S. Recob.

Dry Goods-J. P. Skinner & Company, Foster & Green, Johnstin & West.

Drug Stores J. R. Atchison, H. H. Hord, George Hartman.

Elevator-Rea Chenoweth, Farrar & Watts, F. J. Wood & Sons, John Van Wagener,

A. Tanner & Son, J. A. Long.

Flour Mills-London Mill Company.

Feed Stores-Hamilton & McDonald.

Factories-West Manufacturing Company, London Grave Vault Company, Thomas

& Armstrong, Madison Tile Factory, London Canning Factory, London Ice Plant.

Garage-London Auto Inn, Madison County Auto Company, E. P. Chenoweth, R. K. Loofborrow.

Furniture-Anderson & Hume, P. Speasmaker & Sons, Dwyer Brothers.

Grocery Stores-E. L. Brennan, J. A. Morrissey, H. Barker & Sons, Frank Fraher. H. C. Plimell, P. A. Lanigan, M. M. Creath, M. J. Busic, Volka & Woosley, Thomas

. Egleton.

Hotels-Hotel London, Grand Central Hotel.

Hardware Stores-Anderson & Hume, P. Speasmaker Sons, Dwyer Brothers.

Jewelry-H. B. Judd, A. L. Webb, O. L. Boisel.

Lawyers-Crabbe & Johnson, R. H. McCloud, A. T. Cordray, C. R. & R. G. Horn- beck, Murray & Emery, John Tanner, Leo Holland, James F. Bell, B. P. Jones, Cary Jones. John F. Locke.

Livery Barn-Thomas Largey, Ed. Largey, Watkins & Minshall, Will Sanderson, Guy Neer.

Live Stock Dealers-Green & Traphagen, Charles Shough, E. E. Boatright, Al. Benjamin.

Meat Market-M. J. Busic, P. A. Lanigan, Green & Traphagen.

Millinery-Irene Martin, Mrs. J. A. Bonner, Vance & Lutz, Mrs. James Sifrit.

Monuments-Burke & Company, George F. Dodds.

Mills-London Mill Company, Irwin Saw-mill, Clark Saw-mill.

Notary Public-I. T. Green, James Bell, A. T. Cordray, H. S. Mitchell. Osteopath-Dr. Effie Koontz.

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Printers-London Enterprise, Madison County Democrat, London Times, Model Print Shop.

Picture Shows Garden Theater, Majestic Theater.

Pool Rooms John Coberly, John Welsh, Gusta Byerley.

Poultry Dealers-M. M. Creath, Thomas. Brennan, M. J. Busic.

Pressing-A. E. Downard, Bernard Flynn.

Restaurants-Dale Silvers, Charles Williams, Gulcher, Sanderson, Burr Smith.

Real Estate-H. S. Mitchell, J. J. Yerian, H. F. Fauver, I. T. Green, R. L. Farrer, H. L. Hires.

Shoeshop-Rowlen & Robison, P. J. Kirwin, E. R. Ebner & Son, A. Beardsley, J. C. Winchester, J. R. Sifrit, T. N. Holland, A. W. Gardner.

Saloons-Tom Lanigan, Conway & O'Connell, Emery Jenkins, Charles Tumblison, Clem Fossett, Lewis Kleder, Thomas Egleton.

Transfers George Killeen, John Gamlin, M. A. Horen.

Tailors Giehl & Son.

Veterinary Surgeons-J. C. Hunt, A. M. Workman, Kilby Farrar.

Sporting Goods-Stanley Reed.

Undertakers-W. E. Lukens, W. H. Carl, H. W. Robison, T. A. Connor.

THE LONDON WATERWORKS.

The first reference found to a waterworks plant in London is when the London Waterworks Company submitted to the village council a contract for a franchise to lay water mains in the streets of the village. The council referred the contract to a committee' composed of C. D. Rayburn, Edward Armstrong and William Neil, and later voted to submit the proposition to the voters of the village for their decision, which was done on August 23, 1884, with the result that three hundred and sixty-three votes were cast against the proposition and one hundred and eighty-one for it.

The waterworks proposition then lay dormant for about five years, when, after much agitation and public discussion, the council, on July 26, 1889, passed "An ordi- nance to submit to the qualified voters of the incorporated village of London the question of ratifying the contract between John P. Martin and assigns and the incorporated village of London for supplying water to London and its inhabitants for fire and other purposes, dated the 26th day of July, A. D. 1889, as therein set forth, and contingently upon the satisfactory ratification of said contract, granting to the said John P. Martin and assigns the right to lay, relay and maintain in and under the streets, lanes and alleys and public grounds of said village, water mains for the purpose of conveying water to said corporation and the citizens thereof." The contract to be voted upon called upon John P. Martin and his assigns "to supply the corporation for fire pur- poses, cisterns, streets, squares and public buildings, citizens for private use; the sys- tem to be of a combination of the standpipe and pumping, capable of being operated as either; mains to embrace eleven miles of from four to fourteen-inch pipe; to erect and maintain one hundred double-delivery, frost-proof fire hydrants, two duplicate steam pumps with a daily capacity of one million five hundred thousand gallons; two stenm boilers, building for a pump house and boller-room, a standpipe one hundred and twenty- five feet high and inside diameter of twenty feet." This proposal was voted on by the voters of the town on August 26, 1889, and was ratified by a vote of four hundred and sixty-nine to two hundred and thirty-nine.

Before the ratification vote had taken place, Martin, on August 13, had obtained a sixty-day option on the famous Lohr artesian wells. However, some trouble arose. and the Lohr wells were not used. A well that was intended to be used was drilled on the bottom land of J. C. Bridgman, but this well proved unsatisfactory and the well

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was sold to Mr. Bridgman. It was several months before the wells were finally located. Work began on the waterworks plant immediately, and in the early part of August, 1889, Councilman Lenhart was the first to break the ground, and Councilman Bridgman the first to use the shovel in the trenches at the station below Placier's mill.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLANT.

The water-plant is located on a ten-and-one-half-acre tract, three squares west of the court house on West High street, facing the Big Four railroad tracks. The most noticeable feature of the plant is the mammoth standpipe, which towers upward one hundred and twenty-five feet. The first ground broken was for the foundation of this pipe, which is eight feet thick and thirty-eight feet in diameter. In the foundation were placed eight hundred barrels of cement to solidify the broken stone into a monster stone of two hundred and fifty cubic yards. The base is above the high-water mark. The standpipe is made of rolled steel, the lower plates being five eighths of an inch and the upper three eighths of an inch in thickness. It has a diameter of twenty feet, with a capacity of two hundred and ninety-five thousand gallons, and its height gives a pres- sure through the mains of fifty-five pounds to the square inch.

The water-mains running from the plant embrace about eleven miles of the best cast-iron pipe of five to eleven inches in diameter. To these were attached one hun- dred and one double-delivery, frost-proof fire hydrants, so distributed by order of the council as to protect every dwelling house in London with the aid of two hundred feet of hose. The pipes were laid by R. B. Carothers, of Newport, Kentucky, and were fur- nished by the Addystone Pipe and Steel Company, of Cincinnati.

There were three wells driven. Well No. 1, from which the temporary supply of water for testing the mains and standpipe was taken, is seventy feet deep and flows within three feet of the surface. This well was tested to the capacity of eight hundred thousand gallons daily with no apparent decrease in the volume of flow. Well No. 2 was the startling wonder, spouting water in a large stream twenty-seven feet above the surface. It is one hundred and fifty-six feet deep, and is supplied with a sixteen- foot screen to prevent sand from mixing with its flow. Around it is built a stone reser- voir, with cemented bottom, thirty-one feet in diameter and sixteen feet deep, with a capacity of one hundred thousand gallons of water. Over this was placed a twelve- sided building with a pagoda roof. Windows give a good view of the flowing well and cistern. Well No. 3 flowed six hundred thousand gallons of fine water daily when tested. Its depth is one hundred and sixty-five feet, and flows a five-and-one-half-inch stream twelve feet above the surface of the ground. A mammoth cistern forty-three feet in diameter and twenty feet deep, with a capacity of two hundred thousand gal- lons, stores the water. This cistern was covered with a water-tight floor, except in an eighteen-foot building supported on iron pillars. On the inside of this structure was placed a three-foot walkway supplied with railing and balcony, from which visitors can see the wonderful and capacious cistern.

The pumping station is a neat, brick building built on a ten-foot stone foundation, forty feet square, with an ornamental slate roof and practically fireproof. The smoke- stack is sixty-five feet high, built of octagon pressed brick. The power is supplied by one complex-compound pumping engine of one million two hundred thousand gallons daily capacity and one duplex engine of eight hundred gallons daily capacity. These pumps are of the Gordon make (Hamilton, Ohio), and were furnished by the Boughen Engine Company, of Cincinnati. The boller-room has two fifty-four-inch, twelve-foot steel boilers, filled by a strong pump of the same manufacture as the others. Arm- strong Brothers furnished the boilers. The pumps are so arranged that one or both can be used, likewise the boilers. Ordinary service pressure is generated by the stand-

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OLD ACADEMY

PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, LONDON, BEFORE REMODELING

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pipe. In case of fire, the pressure can be increased to two hundred pounds per square inch by means of the steam pumps if necessary.

FAILURE OF MUNICIPALIZATION PLAN.

The waterworks plant was opened on Thursday, December 12, 1890, by a big cele- bration, consisting of a long parade, showing the various industries of the town. The board of trade presented John P. Martin, the builder of the plant, with an elegant gold- headed ebony cane.

At an adjourned meeting of the council on. the night of Tuesday, December 16, 1800, a proposition was presented to that body and an ordinance passed looking toward the purchase from John P. Martin of the water-plant just completed, with all its appurtenances for the sum of one hundred and forty thousand dollars, subject to the approval of the voters at a special election called for Monday, January 12, 1891. If the proposition was approved by the people, the clerk and mayor were to issue one hundred and forty bonds of one thousand dollars each, payable in thirty years from date, with five per cent. interest, and redeemable in ten years in blocks of twenty thousand on six months' notice. The rules were suspended and this ordinance was read three times and passed, every member of the council but one voting for it.

At once a great popular "howl" arose, and a mass, or indignation, meeting was called for the following Wednesday evening in Toland hall, at which meeting . S. W. Durflinger presided as chairman. The members of the council met the same evening and made a move toward undoing their action of the night before. A. resolution was introduced repealing the ordinance calling for a special election. It was given one reading and adjournment was taken until Thursday night, at which adjourned session the ordinance was given a second reading and was laid over until nine o'clock, Friday morning, January 19, 1891, at which time it was repealed.

The waterworks people took steps to force the mayor and council to call the spe- cial election, but their application for a writ of mandamus was overruled by the court.

Another artesian well was driven in September, 1894, by John Calkins, of Newton Falls, Ohio, to the depth of one hundred and seventy-five feet, of eight-inch pipe. It tested eighty-five thousand gallons capacity for twenty-four hours. In June, 1895, another well was put down.

About 1897, a fire broke out in the Gould planing mill that threatened to wipe out the whole village. The firemen claimed they were almost powerless to resist the flames, because of the very low pressure in the water mains At its next meeting following the village council notified the water company and later refused to use the water from the fire plugs or pay the water bills. In 1900 the water company sued the corporation for water rent and damages. After a hard-fought period of litigation the case was compromised with a judgment against the village in favor of the water company. On August 23, 1901, an ordinance was introduced before the council to sell seven seven- thousand-dollar bonds to pay the claim. This ordinance was passed and the bonds were sold on October 18, 1901, to M. H. White, of Shepherd, Michigan, at a premium of six hundred and ninety-seven dollars. Other bonds were issued later to cover the remainder and the judgment was paid off.

In 1899 C. P. Fisher was made the superintendent of the London waterworks. In April. 1905, the waterworks at Washington C. H., owned by the same company, was also placed under his charge, and Mr. Fisher is at present superintendent of both of these plants.

LONDON'S ELECTRIC-LIGHT PLANT.

The beginning of London's electric-light plant is found in a resolution passed by the village council of London, February 6, 1885, as follows: "As the time is nearly

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approaching when it will be necessary to make provision for the lighting of the village of London by some artificial means, and as the present rate of gas is exorbitant in price, therefore be it

"Resolved, That a delegation of this council, including the mayor, be appointed to visit Circleville, Pickaway county, and examine the improved incandescent Edison light and determine as to its cost and practical utility."

On March 20, 1885, an ordinance was introduced before the council and read once, providing for the lighting of the streets by the Thompson-Houston Electric Light Com- pany. However, it was voted to renew the contract with the Gas Company for gas lighting and the contract was approved on August 14, 1885. This settled the question of street lighting for five years and the electric-light agitation remained quiet until June 14, 1889, when the council gave a ten-year contract and franchise to J. C. Win- chester, of the London Electric Light and Power Company, at an annual cost of three thousand four hundred and forty-five dollars for sixty-five posts. On December 18, 1889, another contract with the same J. C. Winchester was rushed through the council, calling for forty lights at eighty dollars per light or totalling thirty-two hundred dollars, and repealing the old contract with the same party. Members of the old gas company incorporated as the London Light and Power Company and hoped to claim the contract and franchise made by the council, and a long legal battle followed.

On January 17, 1890, Winchester contracted with the Thompson-Houston Electric Light Company, of Boston, for the putting in of an electric-light plant within sixty days. The plant was to consist of two dynamos-a fifty and an eighty-and one one-hundred- horse-power engine. Winchester proceeded to erect his poles and was stopped by an injunction issued by Judge David D. F. Pugh, of Columbus, Ohio, applied for by "The London Gas Light Company." plaintiff, against John C. Winchester and his associates under the name of and style of "The London Electric Light and Power Company, of London, Ohio." On March 22, the council by its attorneys, Badger & Murray, and Winchester, through his attorney, G. W. Wilson, filed an answer to the injunction.

In the latter part of May. 1890, another light company was formed in London organ- ized by J. R. Atchison, Ed. Armstrong, Will Cartzdafner and D. C. Badger, which claimed to be connected with neither of the two contending firms and hoped to be able to receive the contract and franchise. On May 30, the council considered an ordinance providing for the people of London to vote on the electric-light question and repealing all other ordinances previously passed. The section calling for an election was dropped and the ordinance as finally passed, on August 1, simply repealed the contract made with Winchester. At the same meeting at which this step was taken the contract with the London Gas Light Company was renewed for the period of one year, at eighteen dol- lars per light yearly-moonlight schedule and one dollar and fifty cents per thousand feet for private consumption. The officers of the gas company at that time were: Will- fam Jones, president; G. G. Green, Woodbury, New Jersey, secretary; George Van Wagener, acting secretary ; directors, E. R. Florence, S. W. Durflinger, and Toland Jones, not more than ten shares being owned in London.

On October 31, 1890, an ordinance was read by the clerk giving the gas company a ten-year franchise and contract at one dollar and twenty-five cents per thousand cubic feet. This ten-year contract was voted down on December 5, 1890.

An ordinance providing for the lighting of the village of London by artificial gas for the period of five years from August 18, 1891, was presented on October 2, 1891. The ordinance called for the lighting of the street at eighteen dollars per year per lamp- post, with a rate for public and private buildings of one dollar and twenty-five cents per thousand cubic feet. The contract was to hold for a term of five years and gave the

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corporation the privilege of purchasing the plant at a reasonable price set by five assessors. This ordinance evidently was passed.

A number of London citizens, in April, 1893, organized the Madison Electric Light and Power Company, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars for furnishing light and power for private and public consumption. This was the result of steps taken by the waterworks company to ask the council for a franchise to erect poles and supply private houses with electric power. The waterworks company's request was tabled.

MUNICIPAL LIGHTING PLANT.

City Solicitor Bruce P. Jones, on February 15, 1895, submitted a report on the necessary steps to be taken toward a municipal lighting plant. A resolution to issue and sell twenty-five thousand-dollar bonds for the purpose of erecting an electric light plant and .submitting the question of issuing and selling the same to the voters of the town at the following spring election was introduced and read. This was passed. on March 1, 1885, and the result of the election was as follows:

For.

Against.

First Ward

214

Second Ward

225

Third Ward

143

Fourth Ward

171

758

107

Majority of 646.

On September 27, 1895, the clerk was instructed to advertise for bids on the pur- chase of fifteen thousand-dollar electric-light bonds. On November 12, 1885, at a special meeting, the council hired Frank B. Rae of Chicago, to superintend the erection of the light plant. The bonds were sold to Seasongood & Mayer, of Chicago, at a premium of one thousand three hundred and seventy-six dollars and twenty-five centa, Novem- ber 9, 1895. The plans and specifications submitted by Engineer Rae for the construc- tion of a plant, the erection of lines and poles, etc., were accepted December 5, 1895, and the contract for the installation of poles, lines, etc., was given to the Electrical Install- ing Company, of Chicago, for three thousand nine hundred and sixty-five dollars. Bids on the remainder of the work were rejected. A lot was bought of J. C. Bridgman for three hundred dollars, near the Pan-Handle tracks, in the southwestern part of town, the railroad company agreeing to put in a siding and to pay for its light. January 3, 1896, the sale of five thousand dollars more in bonds was advertised, and on January 10 the contract for the dynamos was given to the Ft. Wayne (Indiana) Electric Cor- poration for five thousand nine hundred and sixty dollars and fifty cents On January 17, 1896, the contract for the construction of the brick power house was sold to Core & Kulp, of London, for two thousand seven hundred and ninety-three dollars. The con- tract for the engines. etc., went to the Buckeye Engine Company, of Salem, Ohio, for two thousand seven hundred and thirty dollars.

On July 29, 1896, Engineer Rea reported the plant completed and in excellent shape. On August 1. 1896, the council hired H. Herser, formerly of the Ft. Wayne Electric Corporation. as electrician; William Placier, of London, as engineer and fireman, and Charles H. Harper, of London, as lamp cleaner and carbon placer. On August 14, 1896, two thousand dollars more in bonds were sold, making a total issue of twenty-two thous- and dollars

The electric plant was run on a money-losing basis for a few years, at the end of which time a board of trustees was created to govern it. This board was created in 1900 and consisted of Charles Butler, William Cartzdafner and S. P. Trumper. These

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trustees met on September 25, 1900, with the council and asked for two new boilers of one hundred and fifty horse-power, one engine of two hundred horsepower, one incan- descent light machine, with a capacity of from fifteen hundred to eighteen hundred, totaling about seven thousand dollars in improvements. This meant another bond issue and a resolution was passed on September 28, by the council to submit the question to the voters of the village, which was done and voted favorably upon. Six one-thousand- dollar bonds were sold to Feder, Holxman & Company, Cincinnati, and one more to the Madison National Bank, of London. This new equipment was put in and the plant put on a paying basis, which the trustees have managed to maintain to this day.

LONDON'S SEWER SYSTEM.

On March 31, 1893, the London village council voted six hundred dollars to pay Frank Snyder for the work of preparing plans and specifications for a sewer system. What these plans consisted of or what detail was carried out according to instructions is not revealed by the records. The mayor's report for April 12, 1895, says that former councils had spent seven hundred dollars on sewerage, and that the board of health bad resolved to sewer the town. Evidently very little was accomplished.

An ordinance declaring it necessary to provide for the construction of a sanitary sewer and a sanitary-sewer system and a sanitary sewage-disposal works and to acquire a sanitary sewage farm for the village of London, was introduced to the vil- lage council on November 10, 1904, the sewage disposal farm to be located on the land of Jane T. Butler. Eighty per cent. of the whole cost of the improvement was to be borne by the property holders and was to be assessed per front foot on all lots or lands abutting, assessments to be levied in five equal annual installmenta, with inter- est on deferred payments at five per cent., the remaining cost, including appropriations, proceedings, damages, etc., to be paid by the village. The council appropriated four and forty-three hundredths acres of land belonging to Jane T. Butler in surveys Nos. 8446 and 9500, on March 31, 1905.

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 30

Author: Chester E. Bryan Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1207

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207