History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 113

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408

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As the resulting effect of above mentioned causes, we have the visible and well-known fact that in for- mer vears the River at many or all points below Miami Rapids was not infrequently covered, during the warmer Summer months, with an offensive coat- ing of seum of decomposing organic matter drawn from the water by capillary attraction-conditions which now very rarely (and never to any great extent) occur. Superintendent Cotter's recent ex- periments in subsidence also clearly demonstrated the freedom of the water from dangerous organic im- purities-no tendency to stagnation being discernible after storage in a shallow reservoir for nearly two months during the heat of Summer, while ordinary rain water from Summer rainfall would have devel- oped during one-half the time. the germs of animal life and other unmistakable evidences of contamina- tion.

The report of the Trustees for 1886, eon- tained the following facts, indicating some- thing of the operation and condition of the Water Works at that time:

TOTAL WATER MAINS.

30 inch 15.967 lineal feet.

3,444 60

198

28,733

34,571

146,434

44,307

Total (51.83 miles). 273,654 lineal feet.

No. of Meters in use

304

No. Services 2,399

No. of Hydraulic Elevators supplied 9%

Diameter of pistons of same, inches 6 to 26

No. of Fire Hydrants 383

No. of Valves 448

No. of Private Service Valves.

147

Collections from Water Rents $53,475 99

Total Current Expense for the year $21,543 38

Gallons of Water Pumped 1,386,395,390

Daily Average. 3.798,343

Total Cost of Pumping

$11,180 91

Average Cost per day

$30 63

Total cost of Coal consumed. $4,097 24

Pounds of Coal for Pumping

5,063,665 13,845

Average Pounds per day for Pumping_

Duty in Pounds of Water raised one foot

37,340,917

with 100 pounds of Coal, no deductions Average height in Stand-Pipe, feet ___.

162.83

Gallons pumped at cost of one cent for fuel 3,383

Cost of raising one million gallons one foot high, in cents. $0.0501

Number of hours and minutes for fire purposes

120 h., 40 m.

JA Cook

571

DRAINAGE .- WATER SUPPLY .- PARKS.

Greatest number of gallons in one month Least number of gallons in one month Average monthly pumpage for the year

ENGINE RECORD FOR THE LAST TWELVE YEARS, UP TO 1SS7.

YEAR

Gallons of H'ater Pumped Euch Year.

Cost of Coal per Ton.

Total Cost of Pumping.

Gallons Pumped at Gallons Pumped one Cost of 1 cent foot high with

for Fuel.

1 lb. of Coal.

1875 ..

663,781,882

184.40

$10,375.69

1,322.58

46,931

1876 ..

796,513,440

3.93

11,298.51

1,521.72

17,648

1877 ..

807,991,680

2.86

10,539.28

1,728.18

39,509

1878 ..

948,511,680

2.33

10,048.98

2,128.32

39,814

1879 ..

1.140,625,640

2.24

10,315.00

2,352.00

13,366

1880 ..

1,193,868,500

22.45

11,167 18

2,158.99

43,595

1881 ..

1,338,823,000

2 21

11,308.33

2,536.45

46,117

1882

1,243.087,156

2.111%

11,615.11

2,667.27

45,405

1883.

1.374,704,560

2.07

12,742.03

2,709.20

45,112

1884 __

1,320,839,130

2.17

12,606.11

2,586.00

45,247

1885 __

1,365,146,940

1.89

11,719.30

3.061.34

16.072 18

1886 ..

1,386,395,390

1.55

11,180.91

3,383,00

44,774.29

YEAR.

Duty in pounds of Water raised 1 foot high, with 1 pound of Bituminous Cool, no deduction.

Cost of Coal in raising 1,000,000 gal- lons 1 foot high, in cts.

Cost of raising 1,000,000 gallons Water 1 ft high, all Pumping cx-

penses included.

1875.

393,742 Lump Coal.

$0.0450

$ 0.0950

1876.

398,353

0.0403

0.0870

1877.

329,756 Nut

0.0362

0.0830

1868

331,654

0.1312

0.0672

1879

361,692

0.0260

0.0554

1886

363,999

0.0288

0.0577

1881

384,424

0.0246

0.0528

1882

378,222

0.0233

0.0577

1583

376,228

0.0224

0.0576

1884.

377,781

0.0240

0.0596

1885

384,242

0.0203

0.0542

1886

373,409

0.0185

0.0500

The machinery now in use includes two Worthington Compound Condensing Duplex Pumping Engines, with capacity of 5,000,000 gallons cach per 24 hours; and one Knowles Engine of same description, with capacity of 7,000,000 gallons per 24 hours ; making a total daily capacity of 17,000,000 gallons. In con- nection with these, are eight Return Tubular Boilers, 63 inches in diameter and 16 feet in length.

JOSIAH D. COOK is recognized as promi- nent among the Civil Engineers of the West. Although for more than 25 years a resident of Toledo, and closely identified with its interests, his field of operation lor a large portion of that time has covered several States in the West and Southwest. His great-grandfather (a sturdy Quaker) came from England and settled in Virginia, as a farmer, where he died. A son, Wright Cook, removed to Warren County, Ohio, late in the 18th century, and about 1816, set tled in Indiana, where he ended his days. One of his sons, Thomas P. (born in Virginia in 1802), made Warren County his home. Here the subject of this sketch was born, April 26, 1830, being the third of five children. The mother was drowned in the Mississinewa River, together with her youngest son, in 1843, and the father died from accident, in 1881, at the

131,147,160 108,707,840 115,532,949

age of 77 years. The household being broken up, Josiah, then 13 years old, sought employ- ment for his own support. Without much school education, he engaged for a time with a farmer in the neighborhood ; but soon con- cluded to be a Printer, and entered a printing office at Jonesboro, Indiana, as apprentice, working there and thereabouts until 1849, when, with his small savings, he began tho publication of the Western Union, at Marion. While conducting that paper, he read law with Judge John M. Wallace. Neither journalism nor law suiting him, in 1850 he took his first lessons in civil engineering, as chain and rod man in the survey of the line of the Indianap- olis, Peru and Chicago Railroad. At the end of four years he had attained to the grade of Civil Engineer, and engaged as Chief Engineer of the Marion and Mississinewa Valley Railroad (now of the Pan Handle System). He soon be- came associated in the organization of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Company, of which he was made the Chief Engineer of Construction, conducting all its surveys, for a time superintending its construction, and lo- cating a million acres of land granted to the Company by the United States, traveling on foot extensively in Northern Michigan. That enterprise becoming seriously embarrassed during the financial prostration following the panic of 1857, he withdrew from the same in 1859 ; and foreseeing protracted suspension of Railroad building, turned his attention to other business. In March, 1861, he came to Toledo, and engaged in the Produce Commission trade, in connection with Vincent Hamilton. At the close of the War of the Rebellion, he resumed his former business, by becoming the Engineer of the Smith Bridge Company of Toledo. The same year (1865), he was appointed Chief En- gineer of the Mansfield, Coldwater and Lake Michigan Railroad, continuing such connection until 1873. The same year Mr. Cook made an important change in his business by turning his attention wholly to Water Works construc- tion. His first engagement of that kind, was as Chief Engineer of the Toledo City Water Works, the construction of which was done under his supervision, and the substantial char- acter of which yet remains and will long con- tinue a monument to his skill and attentive watchfulness. He was in charge of these Works for four years after their completion ; at the same time and afterwards acting as Consulting Engineer for like works at Sandusky, Fre- mont, Springfield, Hamilton, Bellefontaine, Clyde, Norwalk and other Cities in Ohio; at Fort Wayne, Peru and Marion, Indiana ; at Omaha, Nebraska ; at Atlantic City, New Jer- sey ; and at Freeport, Illinois. Subsequently, he was identified with the construction and re- construction of Water Works systems at other points, including Savannah, Georgia ; New Or- leans, Louisiana ; Lexington, Kentucky ; Nash-

572

HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

ville and Jackson, Tennessee ; Emporia, Kansas ; Beatrice and Plattsmouth, Nebraska ; Racine, Wisconsin ; Lima and Ravenna, Ohio ; Hills- dale, Michigan ; and Quincy, Illinois. Beside these, he has furnished the designs for like works for Galveston, Texas, and executed im - portant contracts for sewerage and other sani- tary work in Hillsdale and Jackson, Michigan. Ile is now (1887) acting as Consulting Engineer for Boston parties, whose operations embrace the construction of Water Works in various portions of the country. The first large stand- pipe in connection with Water Works con- structed in the world was the one at Sandusky, under Mr. Cook's direction. The record thus presented well indicates the success which has attended the superior talents and self-reliant energy of the farmer boy of Warren County. Still in the prime of active life, with added skill and matured experience, his course of success is yet onward. He was married at Marion, Indiana, in 1854, with Miss Eliza Jane, daugh- ter of Samuel MeClure, one of the pioneers of that section. They have two children-Charles M., now Engineer of Maintenance of Way of Norfolk and Western Railway (Norfolk, Virginia, to Bristol, Tennessee); and Miss Nellie, temporarily residing in Europe, and re- cently graduated at Imperial Conservatory of Music, at Vienna, Austria.

PUBLIC PARKS.

The matter of Public Parks was not seriously discussed in Toledo until 1865, at which time Judge Noah H. Swayne, since deceased, pro- posed to sell to the City the tract of 43 acres lying on Monroe Street and between Woodruff and Collingwood Avenues. His offer was to take City bonds in amount of $50,000, on 20 years' time at six per cent. interest. The matter was before the City Council, with fair prospect of adoption, when local jealousy on the part of members representing Wards distant from the grounds involved and other influences controlled votes enough to defeat the proposi- tion. The result at the time was a surprise and was generally regarded as a public mis- fortune, a view which since has been abund- antly justified. The location was more central than any other land available, while the price was very moderate. The tract soon there- after was platted by Jndge Swayne and bas

since been nearly all sold and improved, and now constitutes one of the most valuable and attractive parts of the City. The estimated market value of the tract at this time (No- vember, 1887), exclusive of improvements, is $430,850, or $10,019 per acre; against $50,000 for the tract, or $1,128 per acre, for which Judge Swayne offered to sell it to the City 22 years ago.

In 1871 the City bought of Peter Lenk the block of land bounded by Nebraska Avenue, Lenk Street, Elizabeth Street and the Alley which is a continuation of Blum Street, which was set apart for public use and is now known as City Park. In 1873 lots 354 and 370, in- clusive, in Lenk's Addition to Toledo, were purchased by the City of H. S. Wałbridge, when the Alley between these and the block above mentioned was vacated and said lots added to the Park.

What is known as the House of Refnge property, consisting of 47 acres of lot No. 9, Comstock's Subdivision of River tracts 12 and 13, on which the House of Refuge, burned in IS86, was located, has been turned over to the care of the Park Commissioners, for use as a Park. It is valued at $80,000.

Some years ago the City vacated Ontario Street adjoining the Court House grounds and turned the same, with the adjoining portion of the old Canal bed, over to the County, as an extension of the Court House grounds, upon the condition that the County and City should own in common the entire lands thus united, the same to be used for public buildings and for park purposes.

Some years ago the City purchased the tri- angular lot bounded by Orange, Huron and Beach Streets, which is now open for public nse.

A plot similar to the one last mentioned, in the Swayne tract, is owned by the City.

At the April City election in 1886 was sub- mitted to the electors the question of bonding the City for $500,000, for the purchase of grounds for park purposes, which was rejected by a very decisive majority.

The estimated value of the property above mentioned is $163,000.

The Parks of the City are in charge of a Board of Commissioners, consisting (in 1887) of C. L. Young (President), Otto Schroeder and James Winans.

CHAPTER IV.

CHOLERA. - DROUTH. - MESMERISM. - EPIZOOTY.

T HE Cholera appeared in Toledo about June 1, 1854. Between that date and July 6th, 130 deaths from that disease occurred. Of these, 34 cases were in what was then known as " Utah," and now East Toledo, or the Sixth Ward of Toledo. The great body of the de- ceased were strangers, largely foreigners but recently arrived in this country. Of the 130, 112 were buried in the City Cemetery-11 in private lots and 101 in the Potter's Field. It was officially reported that in a large majority of the cases, no attention had been paid to the premonitory symptoms of the disease, the patients having been past recovery before being known to the authorities. The victims were huddled together in close and pestilential quarters ; and even when in way of recovery, they were guilty of gross imprudence, and neglect and thus subjected to fatal relapse. A large portion of the cases were those just ar- rived here, with the germ of the disease already planted in their systems. A colony of German immigrants then recently arrived, suffered largely. Between July 6th and July 26th, 109 deaths from cholera occurred, averaging 6 per day, and ranging from 1 to 13 daily. Between July 26th and September 1st, 88 deaths occur- red, at which latter date the disease had ceased its ravages. The aggregate mortality of the season was 327. The peculiarities as to sub- jects of its fatality continued throughout, there having been comparatively few deaths among the classes of residents who were careful in diet and habits and prompt and judicious in the employment of remedies. All the condi- tions considered, it is safe to state, that the prevalence of the disease in Toledo at that time was not due so much to local causes exist- ing here, as to the condition and habits of those who happened to be here when attacked by the disease. In saying this, however, it is not to be understood that general cleanli- ness and other proper hygienic conditions are not potent in averting and moditying the ravages of that as of other fatal diseases.

At that time, the population of Toledo was about 8,000-showing the proportion of deathis to population to have been one to 44; a rate, which, though a sad one, was far below the mortality in other Cities from the same dis- ease.

The following is a list of the persons who died of Cholera at that time, so far as the same could be prepared at the time :

John Abell, Mr. Buttermeyer's child, Christian Buger. Henry Bruman, Harriet Burrows and child, Josephine Burrows, Robert Banfield, John Binger, Sophia Binger, Stephen Berri, John Bloner, Cath- erine Bartley, James Bridges, Chauncy Birch, Mrs. Burger, Mary Burger, Mary A. Beekman, Joseph Brandt, John Brandt, Christian Bower, John Baker, John Collins, John Collamer, John Conlisk, John B. Clark Jr., Mrs. W. Conwell, -- Cellar, Gerald Crosthausen, Henry Carl, Ocellina Ceuft, Francis Connell, John Dainscroder, Mrs. Dainscroder, Gilbert Donglass, Fred. Duba, Mary Doherty, Michael Daily, Michael Daugherty, Joseph Druilberger, John W. Engle, Eitel Christian, Mrs. Flynn, Geo. Fanster- macher, Geo. Frainks, Anna Fanncunn, Mr. Fitz- patrick's child, John Fox, Mary Ferrell, Mrs. John Fox, Geo. Frike, James Farnell, Edward, Mary and Caroline Fitzgerald, Adolph Fademan, Wm. Growe, John Glann, Henry Glador, Anthony Grundmar, Parley Gates, Philander Gates, John Gladey, Mrs. Gladey, Mary Gallagher, W. H. Hall, John Hulce, Jacob Hupp, Barbara Hinkler, Mary Harbaum, Louisa Haselbeck, Mrs. P. Hoffman, John Holbert, Jos. Hartman, Catharine Hider, Augustus Huselrerse, L. Holmes, Mary Iliggins, Ama Heimlicher, Fred- ericka Hosseldes, Mr. Hulse's child, Mrs. Halkert, Elizabeth Heidman, Henry Z. Hendauz, Mary Hulse, Geo. Jennings, John Jay, Mary Jennings, John Ja- cobus, Jolın Jeffrey, McLynn Kraff, Wm. Kaluker. Patrick King, Michael Kennedy, Dominick Klyne, Bridget Kane, Mrs. Kingsbury, Jane Kelley, Eliza- beth Knapp, Lewis Lambert and wife, Herbert Les- lie, Chas. Lindsey, John Link, Elizabeth Leezen, Joseph Loibel, Charles Leezen, Chas. Lorans, Michael MeCarty, Mrs. Mariorty, Margaret Mulchy, Timothy Mahony, Fred. Meisner, Dodd Mildab, John Moser, John McKay, Henry Mulcherfer, Margaret O'Hearn, John O'Neil, Yodelipp Ousel, John L. Peck, Caroline Fredericka, Sophia, John, Francis and Frederick Piper (the entire family); Henry Peck, S. L. Pasko, John Roland, Jacob Roland, Robert M. Roberts, Wm. Rolling, Martin Rinker, Laurence Ragan, The- resa Relin, Wm. Radcliff, Merine Satlice, Hannah Swaton, Jerome Stroup, Fred. Stahl, Patrick Schahon, Mary A. Spackford, Mary Sanger, Fred. Shafer, Se- line Swift, Mary Sebrouder, Mrs. Susan Strong, John Sheen, David Shriver, Caroline Saxton, Louisa Sax- ton, Philip Shrouder, Dohann Sachon, Christ. Trot- ter. Joseph Trotter, Caroline Trust, Elizabeth Vael- bel, Cohn Vincent, Wife and Child, Mrs. Welsh, Mary A. Waggoner, James Whybrow, Mrs. Mary Wilson, Emma L. Wilkison, Wm. Whittier, Herman Woonsink, Casper Waite.

As indicated by their names, the deceased were largely Germans.

THE DROUTH OF 1838.

The most extreme drouth known in the his- tory of Toledo was that of 1838-commencing in mid-Summer and continuing till mid- Autumn. Some of the features and attendant facts of that occasion have permanent inter-

[573]

574

HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

est. Dr. Daniel Drake, an old and highly in- telligent Physician of Cincinnati, spent some time here in 1842, and furnished the following statement of the memorable drouth of 1838 :

The Summer and Autumn of 1838 were signalized by a drouth of longer duration and geographical ex- tent than had been experienced from the first settle- ment of the country. It extended from the River Raisin, or some point further North, round to the head of the Huron River, on the South side of Lake Erie, if not still further East. The country, quite up to the sources of all the Rivers lying between the Raisin and the Huron, suffered in nearly equal degree under its withering influence. On the Bay and Estuary of the Maumee, according to Professor Ackley, no rain fell from the third day of July until the 15th of October. Drs. Calvin Smith and George R. Perkins of Toledo reckoned its duration at four months. In the upper Valley of the Sandusky River, as Judge John Carey informed me, the last rain was on the 17th of May, after which none occurred until October. At Tiffin, lower on the same River, the wells went dry before the middle of July. All the smaller streams throughout the whole region were exhausted, and their beds became dusty. Wild ani- mals of every kind found in that region, collected on the banks of the larger Rivers, and even approached the Towns. Deer and Raccoons were numerous be- tween Toledo and Maumee City ; Quails passed over the Town plat ; and Frogs of the shallow and sedgy waters of the old bed of Swan Creek, now dried up, migrated in countless numbers through the Streets of Toledo to the Manmee River. The wet prairies of the interior were dried, and the grass of the dried ones withered ; the marshes and pools of the post- tertiary uplands; even those of the Black Swamp, from the Maumee to Sandusky River, were evapor- ated, their bottoms cracked open from shrinking, the leaves of many of the treesgrowing in them perished, and, in some instances, the trees themselves were killed. Under this great drying process it was, that the ordinary Autumnal fever was raised into such an epidemic as never was known before. But its sway was not equal in all parts of the region in which the drouth prevailed. The excavation of the Canal was at that time going on from its mouth at Manhattan, to its head at Maumee. The laborers, 400 or 500 in number, 'were chiefly Irish, who generally lodged in temporary shanties, while some occupied bowers formed with green limbs of trees. It does not appear that a greater proportion of these operators suffered than of the resident population; but a far greater proportion died. Professor Ackley mentions a cir- cumstance which deserves to be recorded. One Canal contractor kept a liquor store and sold whisky to all whom he employed, which was freely drank by themselves and their families. The mortality among these was very great. Another contractor lodged his operators on straw-beds, in the upper room of a large frame house; made them retire early; kept them from the use of whisky ; and nearly all escaped dis- ease. The occurrence of rain about the middle of October, with subsequent frost, put an end to the epidemic.

It is within the memory of some yet living, that the season of 1838 was the most fatal from disease in the history of Toledo and the Mau- mee Valley.

The drouth of 1867 in Northern Ohio was remarkable. The aggregate water-fall of June, July, August and September, at Toledo, was 8.42 inches, against 18.29 in 1866; 27.61, in 1865 ; and an average of 15.59 for same period

in that and six preceding years. At Kelley's Island the fall was 5.80 inches, against an aver- age of 12.29 for the nine preceding years. The thermometrical mean in both localities was about the average of former years.

REPORT ON MESMERISM.

During the year 1842, as before and after- wards, considerable popular interest was taken in the science of Mesmerism, or Animal Mag- netism, as sometimes called, whereby with manipulations, one person was understood to secure and maintain a certain degree of mental control over another. In December of that year, a Professor of that science by the name of De Bonneville, visited Toledo, and for a time occupied the attention of the people, command- ing the credence of many, while others were ineredulous. The Blade, in setting forth the Professor's claims, said he would " fasten one to the floor by a motion of his finger, paralyze his arm by an exertion of the will ; and bring on an attack of the apoplexy, by a single glance of the eve. All these and more, can this mighty Magician perform, without contact, without speech, and simply by a motion of the finger, or a glance of the eye, or the exercise of the will." Finally the Professor requested that a committee of citizens should examine his experiments in Animal Magnetism, and more especially in Clairvoyance, and report the re- sult. This committee consisted of Hezekiah D. Mason, James Myers, Caleb F. Abbott, Dr. Calvin Smith, Rev. Geo. R. Haswell, Dr. Geo. R. Perkins, Charles W. Hill, Daniel McBain (then editor of the Blade), Heman Walbridge, and George B. Way-a combination of general and scientific intelligence, which Toledo then could hardly have duplicated. These gentle- men attended the experiments of the Professor on three different days, giving their closest candid attention thereto. In their report, they state that every attempt made by the operator, mainly with " subjects" who traveled with him, he entirely failed to sustain his claims. The Committee declared that " no evidence going to prove the truth of Clairvoyance had been adduced before them, although they waited with patience upon Professor Bon- neville through all the tests and experiments which he proposed." Upon the physical effects of Somnambulism they did not feel called to report, that being a branch of the sub- ject not submitted to them.

The effect of this report was an early subsi- dence of public interest in mesmerism.

EPIZOOTY.

The disease of horses, known as Epizooty, prevailed at Toledo in November, 1872, to a serions extent. The prevailing symptoms were sore throat, irritation of the nasal pas- sages, purulent discharges, weakness and ema-

575

EPIZOOTY.

ciation. There was comparatively little of dropsical affection attendant on the disease as described. So prevalent was the disorder for somo days, that business was seriously inter- rupted. All regular lines of horse-travel were suspended, with but few vehicles on the streets. Shipments of goods by wholesale dealers and others were largely delayed, and some houses resorted to the use of oxen for such purpose. The Street Railways suffered much - the Adams Street Road being suspended entirely and the Summit Street line having but four well horses. A public meeting was held at the Board of Trade Rooms, for the purpose of devising a substitute for horse-power in con- nection with the Fire Department, at which the City Council was requested to employ 100

men, to perform duty at night in manning the fire engines during the prevalence of the horse disease. It was calculated that 40 men would be found necessary for the movement of each Steamer. In accordance with a sugges- tion by this meeting, the citizens of the several Wards met on the evening of November 21st, and made more or less of organization for vol- unteer assistance of the Fire Department. The City Council approved such action by the citi- zens, and authorized the purchase of one yoke of oxen, and the employment of as many men as the Chief of the Fire Department should find necessary. Fortunately, the call for such help in that direction was very small, the City being almost wholly exempt from fires during the prevalence of the distemper.

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History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 113

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1408

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408