USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > Chambersburg > Annual report of the burgess and town council of the borough of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 1941-1947 > Part 25
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With the growth of the community the complexities of government have gone far beyond the dreams of those who drafted the Act of In- corporation, and the State Legislature has from time to time defined more fully the powers of the Borough's government. The original act still stands, however, as the basis for the town's administration.
3
PERSONNEL OF THE BOROUGH GOVERNMENT 1947
W. M. L. ETTER Chief Burgess
A. R. ZIMMERMAN
President of Town Council
J. HASE MOWREY Manager of Utilities
J. GORDON CREE Assistant Manager of Utilities
F. D. RHODES, JR. Borough Engineer
CHARLES F. PFOUTZ Assistant Borough Engineer
J. R. WILLIAMS
Secretary
ALBERT S. HENNEBERGER
Treasurer
DANIEL W. LONG
Solicitor
EDGAR W. DIEHL
Tax Collector
HERBERT C. KEEFER
Auditor
EUGENE V. MILLER
Auditor
JOHN A. BURKHART
Auditor
MARGARET E. WINGERT
Chief Bookkeeper
H. S. BYERS
Chief of Police
ROBERT MONN
Superintendent of Water and Sewer
WILLIAM L. GROVE
Plumbing Inspector
ROBERT RINICK Market Master
COMMITTEES OF COUNCIL
FINANCE, PROPERTY AND INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE
A. R. ZIMMERMAN, Chairman
F. B. LEIDIG
C. H. PENSINGER
J. C. SIERER
A. S. STOVER
STREET AND GARBAGE AND REFUSE COMMITTEE
R. F. ANGLE, Chairman
T. L. FARNER
F. B. LEIDIG
J. C. SIERER
A. S. STOVER
FIRE COMMITTEE
A. S. STOVER, Fire Marshal and Chairman
R. F. ANGLE
T. L. FARNER L. D. FERO
S. G. PALMER
COYLE FREE LIBRARY TRUSTEES
L. D. FERO
F. B. LEIDIG
J. C. SIERER
UTILITIES (Light, Water and Sewer) COMMITTEE
C. H. PENSINGER, Chairman
L. D. FERO
G. S. KLENZING
S. G. PALMER
J. C. SIERER
RECREATION, MARKET AND
COMFORT STATION COMMITTEE
T. L. FARNER, Chairman
L. D. FERO
G. S. KLENZING
S. G. PALMER
C. H. PENSINGER
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PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE W. M. L. ETTER, Burgess H. S. BYERS, Chief of Police S. G. PALMER
R. F. ANGLE G. S. KLENZING J. C. SIERER A. S. STOVER
CHAMBERSBURG HOSPITAL F. B. LEIDIG
POLICE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
H. C. ROWE, Chairman DONALD B. HALLER, SR. HARRY B. EBERLY, Secretary
PLUMBERS' EXAMINING BOARD
C. H. PENSINGER, Chairman H. A. KOTTCAMP, Master Plumber W. L. GROVE, Plumbing Inspector J. HASE MOWREY, Manager of Utilities
BOARD OF HEALTH
DR. B. M. BEATTIE, President
W. M. L. ETTER F. LESTER MARSHALL DR. L. H. SEATON
PAUL WALKER FRANK J. CROFT, Health Officer and Secretary
5
BOROUGH OFFICIALS OF THE BOROUGH OF CHAMBERSBURG 1947
L. D. FERO Councilman, 1st Ward
F. B. LEIDIG Councilman, 1st Ward
W. M. L. ETTER Chief Burgess
R. F. ANGLE Councilman, 2nd Ward
A. R. ZIMMERMAN Councilman, 2nd Ward President of Council
6
BOROUGH OFFICIALS OF THE BOROUGH OF CHAMBERSBURG 1947
MARGARET E. WINGERT Chief Bookkeeper
EDGAR W. DIEHL Tax Collector
W. L. GROVE Plumbing Inspector
ROBERT MONN Supt. of Water and Sewer
ROBERT RINICK Market Master
9
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The first police force for the Borough of Chambersburg was estab- lished January 16, 1818, by the following action of Town Council, "Be it ordained, etc., That four men shall be employed to watch and patrol the streets of the Borough during the night, from nine o'clock until day- break, for the term of three months from this date, to guard the property of the inhabitants, as far as in their power, from incendiaries, thieves, and plunderers, and to arrest and detain all vagrants and night walkers until the morning, unless, he, she, or they can give a satisfactory account of their purpose, and the occasion of their being found on the street- and also call the hour."
The Council entered into an article of agrement dated January 17, 1818, with Robert Allison, as Captain; William McElhaney, Jacob Heck- erman, and Dan McAllister, Privates; to patrol the town from nine o'clock until daybreak, call the hour, and light any lamps that are, or may be, erected, for which the Captain was to receive $18.00 per month, and each Private $15.00 per month, and the Council was to furnish each one with a sufficiently warm watch coat.
From the following proclamation, it is evident that 130 years ago the sources of amusement for the good people of Chambersburg were much better protected than they are today:
"To Robert Allison, High Constable
Sir: You are hereby authorized to attend the Theatre in the Bor- ough of Chambersburg and Protect the Manager thereof whilst acting from any disorderly Person or Persons-and if any Person or Persons attempt to disturb said actors during their "performans"-you are hereby Commanded to bring him or them before me or any Justice of the Peace in said Borough to be dealt with according to Law. Fail not.
Given under my hand and seal this 19th day of July, 1816.
(Signed) PATRICK CAMPBELL, Burgess."
From this very modest beginning, the Police Department has de- veloped into an efficient and very completely equipped organization. The personnel now consists of a Chief, two Sergeants, thirteen patrolmen, and a clerk. Included in their equipment is a Hardinge Police Register System, dictograph, fingerprinting and photographing outfits, 38 calibre Colt revolvers, tear gas guns and hand grenades, two motorcycles and two radio-equipped police cars. These cars have instant two-way com- munication with Police Headquarters by means of the department's 15- watt radio transmitter, Station WMCB, operating on a frequency of 39,500 kilocycles.
During the year 1947, the Police Department answered 1,879 calls. This is exclusive of all calls answered by the Chief of Police. Of 44 actual cases of burglary, breaking or entering reported or known to police, 16 were cleared by arrest. 21 cases of larceny-theft were cleared by arrests from a total of 125 reported. 2 cases of auto theft were cleared by arrests from 6 reported. There was a total number of 2,907 arrests made for various offenses, 962 of which were parking meter violations, 178 drunkenness and disorderly, 1,131 parking viola- tions and 15 arrests for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. The night patrol reported 306 store doors left open by proprietors on leaving stores. The total amount of fines collected by the Borough was $3,979.00, $1,689.00 of which was parking meter fines. A total of 165 traffic accidents were investigated.
10
FIRE DEPARTMENT
In 1790, one hundred and fifty-seven years ago, when the village of Chambersburg consisted entirely of either log or frame houses, and the fire hazard was great because of wood fires upon the open hearth, the necessity of providing protection from fire was first discussed, and the Friendship Fire Company, an organization of citizens equipped with buckets, was formed.
Since that time, with the expansion of the village from a few houses" to a borough of the first magnitude, the formation of additional companies became necessary, and their equipment, from bucket, to hand pump, to hose reel, to steam fire engine, and, during the past seventeen years, to modernized motor drawn and motor driven apparatus, has kept pace with the times.
Today, the Fire Department consists of five companies, advantage- ously located, and equipped with three American LaFrance Pumpers, one Ward LaFrance Flood Light Truck and Pumper, an aerial truck with 85-foot ladder, a City Service truck with booster pump, two Peter Pirsch Combination Booster and Squad Wagons, a squad and chemical car, and an ambulance.
The companies are entirely volunteer, only the drivers of the appa- ratus receiving pay from the Borough. The fire houses and equipment are owned by the Borough, and under the care of the Property Com- mittee and the Fire Committee of the Borough Council.
In addition to the above mentioned equipment, the town is completely covered by the Gamewell Fire Alarm System, consisting of 60 fire alarm boxes, 5 station house indicators and gongs, and one general alarm, all storage battery operated. Two hundred and forty latest type fire plugs are installed at the most advantageous points.
The Department answered 21 General Alarms sounded by the Game well System during the year. In addition to these system alarms, the companies responded to silent alarms and individual calls as follows:
Friendship Company 14
Junior Company 30
Good Will Company 34
Franklin Company 26
Cumberland Valley Company 16
The Franklin Fire Company Community Pumper answered 49 calls for rural fires.
The fire loss in the Borough of Chambersburg for 1947 was $4,775.00.
The Good Will Ambulances responded to 1,204 calls during the year.
STREET DEPARTMENT
On March 30, 1734, Benjamin Chambers was given a grant to take, settle, and improve 400 acres of land at the mouth of the Falling Spring and the Conococheague Creek, but this tract was not sub-divided until 1764 when it was laid out as a town and called Chambers Town, which name was changed to Chambersburg when Franklin County was erected in 1784.
11
The limits of the town at that time were on the North by the Fall- ing Spring; on the East by Second Street; and on the South by approxi- mately Liberty Street; and on the West by the Conocheague Creek.
In the beginning of the 19th Century no streets had been graded or paved, although each property owner was required to maintain a walk in front of his own property. The original plan of the inhabitants was to make Second Street the principal business street, but this was changed to Main Street after considerable influence was exerted by those prop- erty owners.
Prior to 1813, the Lincoln Highway and Main Street were repaired by the Turnpike Company, by turnpiking, which consisted of placing one foot of broken stone covered with gravel and clay. The first record of a contract awarded by the Borough was in 1813 to repair the Lincoln Highway and Main Street near the "Diamond."
The first covered storm sewer was built in Burkhart Avenue from Main Street to the Creek in 1823. This sewer had an inside height of 41/2 feet and a width of 31/2 feet.
The extension of this form of street repairs, grading, and sewers continued with some modification until 1912 when brick paving was laid, and plans adopted to continue this paving four blocks each year. This plan was not followed, due to the increased cost of materials.
In 1918 a general plan of macadem construction and surface oiling was adopted, and the Lincoln Highway and Main Street were paved first with water-bound macadem, and treated with road oil. This was the first year that a large quantity of road oil was used as a maintenance and construction material. Prior to this time, oil was used as a dust preventive and partially paid for by the property owners abutting on the streets treated.
This plan was continued until 1927 and 1928, when the Lincoln Highway and Main Street were again repaved with reinforced cement concrete.
SCHEDULE OF HIGHWAYS
Streets
1918
1947
Miles
Miles
0
Cement Concrete
3.4918
.18
Bituminous Surface
29.2151
0
Hard Surface
1.1565
.696
Brick on Concrete-now paved with Bituminous Material
29.320
Unimproved
2.3544
30.034
Total
36.2178
Alleys
1918
1947
Miles
Miles
0
Cement Concrete
1.93
4.1
Bituminous Surface
19.14
17.5
Unimproved
1.36
21.6
Total
22.43
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UNDERGROUND SURFACE WATER DRAINS
1947
1918 Linear Feet
Linear Feet
2,610 12" Terra Cotta Pipe
2,610
200
18" Terra Cotta Pipe
4,480
0.
15" Terra Cotta Pipe
510
2,650.
24" Terra Cotta Pipe
4,993
0.
36" Terra Cotta Pipe
452-
0. 12"
Concrete Pipe
831
0
15"
Concrete Pipe
350
0.
18" Concrete Pipe
2,979
775
24"
Concrete Pipe
2,714
0.
.36" Concrete Pipe
800
0
18" Iron Pipe
1,050
0
3' x 2.5' Cement Concrete Box
1,662
0
. 4' x 3' Cement Concrete Box
1,467
0
3' x 3' Cement Concrete Box
8,385
0.
4' x 4' Cement Concrete Box
6,726
0.
2' x 2' Cement Concrete Box
150
0.
1.5' x 3.5' Cement Concrete Box
720
0.
1.75' x 3.5' Cement Concrete Box
113
0.
1.5' x 4.5' Cement Concrete Box
252
6,235
Totals
41,244
31
Inlets
318
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
The office of the Engineer in the Borough of Chambersburg was created by Ordinance adopted by the Council on June 14, 1909.
The Council appoints the Borough Engineer, and determines who shall be his assistants.
The duties of the Engineer are to furnish engineering services to the various departments of the Borough; to have charge of all property not under the supervision of the Manager of Utilities; to have super- vision over the Street Department, Parks and Playgrounds Department. and the Garbage and Refuse Collection Department, and to report monthly to the council on all works completed under his supervision.
The general duties of the office of the Engineer are to make, supply and preserve copies of plans, specifications, estimates, maps, charts, pro- files, etc .; to keep records of the location of water, sewer and gas mains; and to perform clerical work incidental to the departments under the Engineer's supervision.
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MUNICIPAL MARKET
The Municipal Market Building, erected by the Borough in 1941, provides space for the weekly farmers' market, as well as facilities for many other activities, especially the wintertime program of the Recre- ation Department.
The building is one story, 150 feet long and 50 feet wide with a full basement. The entire construction is of concrete foundations and brick walls faced with glazed tile in the market room. Steel trusses support the roof which provides a ceiling height of twenty feet in the center and fifteen feet on the sides. Fluorscent lighting is provided for the market room, concrete walks are laid on three sides of the building, and a macadam paved parking lot to accommodate fifty cars is provided on the North side.
Market sessions are now held each Friday from 1:00 P. M. to 7:00 P. M. Space in the building is rented to dealers and a close supervision is maintained over the methods of display to keep the wares in a sani- tary condition. The operation of the Market is supervised by the Market Master.
On January 1, 1947, there were 23 dealers renting a total of 207 linear feet of space.
The total cost of the Market Room and equipment was $28,686.35; the total cost of the basement was $13,500.18; making the total value of the building $42,186.53.
GARBAGE AND REFUSE COLLECTION
Effective April 1, 1943, the borough of Chambersburg acquired the business of the Chambersburg Sanitary Garbage Disposal Company. This company and another private operator were the two largest col- lectors of garbage and refuse, taking care of the majority of this work in the Borough.
In order to prevent a serious breakdown in this type service the Borough purchased this business upon the determination of the owners to discontinue operating, and after decision of the other private col- lectors that they were not equipped and did not elect to take over this business.
For the business and equipment of the Chambersburg Sanitary Garbage Disposal Company the Borough paid $4,500.00, and in addition made capital expenditures in the amount of $2,666.55 for equipment to efficiently conduct the business.
Under a revised ordinance adopted by the Borough Council the necessary rules, regulations and rates were established. Household rates are $1.00 per month for the removal of the garbage and rubbish, $1.25 per month for garbage, rubbish and ashes, provided in both cases all materials are placed on the first or ground floor of the property for collection; and $2.00 per month for removal of garbage, rubbish and ashes from the cellar of the property. Commercial rates are by separate contract, based upon amount of material to be removed.
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PUBLIC COMFORT STATION
A Public Comfort Station was built by the Borough of Chambers- burg and the Commissioners of Franklin County in 1932 at a total cost of $10,689.03, and is maintained jointly by them. The operation costs and repairs are divided. In 1947 the costs were $2,201.52, of which the Borough paid $1,129.87. In addition, the Borough furnished water and electricity in the amount of $572.31, and the County Commissioners furnished heat and janitor service without charge.
Two attendants are employed, and are on duty each day during the hours of operation to maintain order and keep the station in an orderly and sanitary manner.
The use made of this station has greatly exceeded the estimates made by the original promoters, and the records show that more than 2,000 persons attended this station in one day.
PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
The Burgess and Town Council at the present, as well as those in the past, recognize leisure time activities and recreation as an essential governmental function and have adopted a plan for expansion and im- provement that will eventually provide for Chambersburg a system of Parks, Athletic Fields, Playgrounds, and Play Areas to conform to standards set by the National Recreation Association.
The playground system was started through the efforts of churches, civic organizations and citizens who together formed small associations to secure sites, equipment and voluntary supervision for play areas for small children. Much of their equipment was made by members of these associations and by funds for materials secured from festivals and con- tributions. As the value of these areas was proven, the demand for expansion increased and the Borough of Chambersburg then assumed the obligations of maintenance and operation, assisted by the various citizens' committees.
The present playground program is designed for a twelve week period during the months of June, July and August and is under the direction of the Parks and Playgrounds Committee of the Town Council. together with the Borough Engineer, Playground Supervisor, seven girl leaders and an Athletic Director.
The Playground system consists of three combination athletic fields and playgrounds and five play areas distributed over the Borough at locations as accessible as possible to the more densly populated sections.
In order to help meet the need of a year around recreational pro- gram. a Recreation Center was opened on March 1. 1943, in the basement of the Municipal Market Building, under sponsorship of the Department of Parks and Playgrounds. The center was open only during the winter months. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings of each week from 7:00 to 9:30 o'clock. Wednesdays were kept open. and practically all of these days were made use of by organizations .spon- soring recreational events. The regular program of activities was under the supervision of the Supervisor of Playgrounds.
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The colored asphalt tile floor, acoustical tile ceiling, painted walls, furniture and equipment, consisting of ping-pong tables, shuffleboard court, game tables, piano, combination radio and record player, etc., make a very attractive game and recreation room. The center proved very popular with 14,781 persons making use of its facilities according to attendance figures kept by the supervisor.
HISTORY OF THE CHAMBERSBURG HEALTH BOARD
The first meeting of the Chambersburg Health Board was held in Council Hall September 26, 1893. The following men-Dr. Johnston McLanahan, A. J. White, J. Brua Hoyer, and George Denton were sworn in an members by Burgess George A. Wood. Dr. John A. Bouse was appointed Health Officer.
Dr. Johnston McLanahan was elected President of the Board, which office he held until October 3, 1912.
Among the first duties of the Board were the enacting of local sani- tary measures which, in conjunction with the State Regulation, began functioning shortly after its inception.
The health Board was the outcome of an Act of the General As- sembly of May 9, 1893, authorizing Chambersburg to appoint such a Board.
The duties of the Health Board have varied with conditions of the times, but the main actions have always been the maintaining of sani- tary health measures concerning the public.
Contagious diseases and their control have always been one of the chief duties of the Health Board.
Other duties are seeing that the milk supply is brought to the con- sumer in the best possible condition as a palatable, healthful product, free of preservatives or adulterations; issuing of health certificates to those who work or are employed in restaurants, drug stores, hotels, eating houses, etc., nuisances affecting the public are corrected, and the general civic conditions of the city are observed.
During the year 1947, 73 cases of contagious diseases were reported to the Board of Health. Three hundred and eleven common nuisances were reported to the Board of Health, which were invstigated by the Health Officer and removed or remedied. Ninety connections were made to the Sanitary Sewer System during the year 1947. Five permits were granted to all milk dealers. The Health Officer made 1,511 calls during the year. Twenty-five permits were issued to haulers of garbage and refuse. During the year 1947 an average of 30 loads of refuse, etc., was received daily at the Borough of Chambersburg incinerator and dump, located on the Borough Farm, and was properly placed and disposed of.
Sediment testing of milk was made quarterly, and the preservative test made annually.
Anyone whose milk registered unsatisfactory on two successive testings were refused the privilege of selling milk within the Borough for local distribution.
The Board meets the last Monday of each month in regular session with additional special meetings.
The members are Dr. B. M. Beattie, President; Dr. L. H. Seaton, W. M. L. Etter, Paul Walker, F. Lester Marshall, and Frank J. Croft, Health Officer and Secretary.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CHAMBERSBURG SANITARY SEWER DEPARTMENT
When the Borough of Chambersburg decided in 1910 and 1911 to obtain its water supply from the State Forest at Caledonia, it was neces- sary to obtain a permit from the Pennsylvania State Health Depart- ment, and when the State Health Department issued this permit, it granted to Chambersburg the right to the water of Birch Run, but it also provided that, for this right, the Borough of Chambersburg was to install a Sanitary Sewerage System with a proper Disposal Plant of a capacity sufficient to take care of the town for twenty years to come.
The same Bond Issue, providing funds for the construction of the water supply line between the mountain and Chambersburg, provided also for sufficient bonds to put in a Sanitary Sewerage System in Cham- bersburg. This system was constructed, and was put in service August 1, 1912. As building operations developed in the town, new laterals have been run, and at the present time the entire system consists of:
LATERALS
22.950 miles 8"
6.636 miles 10"
.263 miles 12"
.23 miles 15"
.074 miles 18"
Total 30.153 miles
TRUNK LINES
238.0 feet 10"
4,432.5 feet 12"
2,138.3 feet 15"
3,099.4 feet 18"
4,014.9 feet 24"
1,631.2 feet 20" x 30" concrete
Total 15,554.3 feet
At the present time there is a total of 174,870.61 feet, or 33.10 miles of sewers, 127 Flush Tanks, 804 Manholes, and 3,491 buildings are connected with the system.
The total sewage handled at the Sanitary Sewage Disposal Plant during 1947 was 533,013,687 gallons. The total cost for the operation and maintenance of the plant during the year 1947 was $21,027.95. The average cost for handling the sanitary sewage during 1947 was 3.94 cents for 1,000 gallons.
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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PLUMBING INSPECTOR
During the year 1947 the Plumbing Inspector had submitted to him 225 sets of plans for approval. These plans were approved and work tested and inspected which covered the fixtures in 52 new buildings amounting to 781 fixtures. During 1947 there were 30 buildings con- verted into apartments which required the inspection and testing of 121 fixtures. There were 80 alterations which required the inspection of 260 fixtures. There were 8 electric washedrs installed which made it necessary to inspect and approve 24 fixtures. There was 1 air con- ditioning plant installed which involved the inspection of 3 fixtures. There were 40 automatic hot water gas heaters installed, each one of which required inspection. 30 new hot water boilers required the inspec- tion of 30 fixtures. There were 4 electric dish washers installed which required the inspection of 8 fixtures. During the year 576 inspections were made of sand traps on lines which were connected with the sanitary sewerage system. During 1947 there were 1,476 inspection trips re- quired, involving the inspection of 1,957 fixtures.
STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES OF THE BOROUGH OF CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, FROM JANUARY 1st, 1947, TO JANUARY 1st, 1948
Receipts
Balance in Treasurer's Account January 1, 1947
$ 6,480.18
Edgar W. Diehl, Tax Duplicate
1947-48
$ 7,990.01
Edgar W. Diehl, Tax Duplicate
1946-47
204.73
Edgar W. Diehl, Tax Duplicate
58.44
Edgar W. Diehl, Tax Duplicate
1943-44
30.23
8,283.41
Licenses
214.00
Licenses, Beverages
4,225.00
Building Permits
107.00
Plumber Licenses
15.50
4,561.50
Parking Meter Fines
1,689.00
Miscellaneous
2,290.00
3,979.00
Market Master Collections
887.50
Tax Liens and Interest
563.57
Ambulance Collections
1,833.77
Pole Tax
233.80
18
1944-45
Street Department's share of Gas Tax from County
3,399.48
Street Paving Liens and Interest
126.80
Rental of Properties
414.00
Liquid Fuel Tax
9,025.28
Miscellaneous Street
1,820.57
14,786.13
Rental of Borough Farm
240.00
Sewer Liens and Interest
343.17
Sewer Inspection and Taps
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