USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Reading > History of Reading, Pennsylvania, and the anniversary proceedings of the sesqui-centennial, June 5-12, 1898 > Part 7
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RELIGIOUS.
Y. M. C. A .- The Young Men's Christian Association be- gan at Reading in 1860, but it did not continue long in exis- tence. A second attempt was made in 1869, and the organiza- tion then effected has continued until the present time. From 1879 to 1895, it was situated in the Breneiser building at Eighth and Penn streets. Its quarters were established at 626 Penn street in 1895, at a total cost of $75,000. The exterior appear- ance is imposing and the interior compartments for reading, lecturing, educational, athletic and entertainment purposes are
8I
GOVERNMENT.
complete. F. S. Livingood, Esq., has been president since 1886.
W. C. T. U .- In 1884, Francis E. Willard visited Reading in behalf of the Women's Christian Temperance Union and through her influence a society was formed which has been kept up since. The members number 75.
The Boys' Brigade was originally started in Scotland in 1883. The first company in the United States was organized in Cali- fornia in 1889, and the first at Reading in 1895. The object of the brigade is to advance christianity amongst boys through military organization. All religious denominations are repre- sented in it. There are now at Reading 18 companies, which constitute the Fifth Regiment of Pennsylvania. The total membership is 800 boys over II years of age. Each church supplies the equipment for its respective companies.
PART V. - GOVERNMENT.
Town. - The local government at Reading from 1748 to 1783 was that commonly incident to a township for the regulation of road affairs. Until 1760, it was included in Alsace township; then it was established into a separate district.
Borough .- On September 12, 1783, the town was incorpo- rated into a borough, and the people were invested with enlarged powers for local affairs, which related chiefly to the streets and the public peace. Provision was made for the annual election of two burgesses, four assistants, (who with the chief burgess constituted the council), high constable, town clerk, two super- visors and two assessors. The charter continued the same, ex- cepting several modifications about elections.
City .- The borough was incorporated into a city on March 16, 1847. The Act preserved the wards previously created: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Spruce, and it provided for the election of one select and one common coun- cilman from each ward by the electors, the former for three years and the latter for one year; for the annual election of a mayor, treasurer, and three auditors, and also for the election of a select and common councilman from the several wards, the former for three years and the latter for one year; and it provided further for the annual appointment by councils of a solicitor, surveyor,
82
HISTORY OF READING.
two street commissioners, market commissioner, high constable, and scavenger. It created two districts for alderman, with two aldermen for each district; and the day of election was fixed for the third Friday of March. The Act was modified March 13, 1861, and among other things the terms of mayor and treasurer were extended to two years, and of auditor to three years; and it was again modified April 26, 1864, changing the day of election to the second Friday of February, and increasing the term of common councilman to two years, one-half of the number to be chosen every two years alternately.
The general Act of May 23, 1874, made a number of changes in the local government of Reading. The day of election was changed to the third Tuesday of February. Each ward became entitled to an alderman for five years, and a constable and asses- sor for three years. It substituted a controller in the place of the auditors, with a term of two years, and increased the term of engineer and solicitor to two years.
A general Act was passed May 23, 1889, for cities of the third class, (which included Reading, ) and the terms were made as follows: Mayor, treasurer, controller, three assessors and engineer, for three years, solicitor for two years, select council- men for four years, and common councilmen for two years.
Wards. - The first sub-division of Reading was made in 1817 for election purposes. The divisions were two, North ward and South ward, with Penn street as the dividing line. In 1840, it was sub-divided into four wards, Northeast, Southeast, North- west and Southwest, with Penn street and Sixth street as the dividing lines. And in 1844, a Fifth ward was established called Spruce, comprising that part of Reading which lay between the Schuylkill and the Philadelphia and Reading railroad south of Spruce street.
In 1861, the names of the wards were changed to numerals: Spruce ward to First; Southwest to Second; Southeast to Third; Northeast to Fourth; and Northwest to Fifth. In 1864, the city was divided into nine wards. In 1876, two wards were added, the Tenth ward having been taken from the Second, and the Eleventh from the Ninth. In 1885, the Eleventh ward was divided into three wards, Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth. In 1892, the Fourteenth ward was taken from that part of the Seventh lying north of the Lebanon Valley railroad, and the
83
GOVERNMENT.
Fifteenth ward, from that part of the Sixth ward lying north of the railroad. And in 1894, the Sixteenth ward was taken from that part of the Eighth ward lying south of Hill Road and that part of the Tenth ward lying east of Thirteenth street.
OFFICIALS FOR CITY.
Elective .- The following officials are elected by the electors of the entire city every three years at the municipal election on the third Tuesday in February: Mayor, controller, treasurer, and three assessors; and the following by the electors of the sixteen respective wards: select councilmen for four years and common councilmen for two years.
Appointive .- The following are appointed:
By the Mayor :- Chief of police, 4 sergeants, 46 patrolmen, 2 operators of the police telegraph, 2 turnkeys, 2 patrol drivers, electrician, police clerk, commissioner of markets and city prop- erty, and scavenger, all subject to approval of councils.
By Council :- City clerk (4 years); 4 water commissioners, (4 years); city engineer (3 years); city solicitor (2 years); 5 members board of health, who select 2 physicians (indefinite period); 4 common commissioners (4 years); 4 commissioners of public works (4 years); superintendents, clerks, assistants, etc., are also appointed for the several departments.
[Complete list of officials appears at end of Chapter III.]
OFFICIALS FOR WARDS.
Officials are elected at the municipal election in February by the voters of each ward: Alderman (term 5 years); constable (3 years); and assessor (3 years); besides the representatives in the select and common councils.
OFFICIALS FOR PRECINCTS.
All the. wards of Reading, excepting the Fourth, are divided into precincts, numbering altogether 45. Each of these pre- cincts is an election district, and annually, on the third Tuesday in February, the voters elect a judge, 2 inspectors and a regis- try assessor. The Fourth ward constitutes an election district, and as to this district there is no registry assessor, the ward assessor performing the duties of that office also.
84
HISTORY OF READING.
DEPARTMENTS.
The government of Reading comprises the following depart- ments for the proper direction of its several local affairs in be- half of the public welfare:
Finance Law
Surveys
Fire
Parks
Tax
Health
Police
Water
Public Works.
Board of Water Commissioners .- The city was divided into four districts for the election of commissioners of water by an
75
READING ENG
CITY HALL,
Act passed March 21, 1865. Sixth street and Penn street were made the dividing lines; and city councils were required to elect
85
GOVERNMENT.
four persons, one from each district. Of the first board, two were to hold office for two years and the remaining two for four years. Thereafter every two years, councils have elected two members for four years. The office is without compensation. The board is authorized to employ a superintendent and work- men for carrying on the department.
Board of Health .- An Act was passed on April 22, 1873, specially authorizing the establishment of a Board of Health for Reading, with powers for the preservation of the public health. The board was made to consist of seven members, with an in- definite term of service and without compensation. The city was divided into four districts, with Sixth and Penn streets as the dividing lines. One member was to be appointed from each district and one from the city at large by the presidents of the councils; and these five were to select tivo physicians. And provision was made for the annual appointment of a health com- missioner by the Board, with a compensation to be fixed by councils. The first permanent organization was effected on March 10, 1874, and it has been maintained since that time.
Board of Common Commissioners. - In 1887, Councils estab- lished Penn Common by an ordinance, and the city was divided into four districts, with Penn street and Sixth street as the dividing lines, for the purpose of selecting an elector from each district for the term of four years, and the electors chosen were to-constitute the Board of Common Commissioners. They em- ploy a superintendent, gardeners and watchmen to improve and protect the public property.
Board of City Assessors .- From 1874 to 1889, the voters of each ward elected an assessor for three years to assess real and personal property for purposes of taxation. Then cities of the third class were authorized to elect three persons as a Board of City Assessors to serve from the first Monday in April for three years. This board has accordingly from that time assessed the property in Reading for city purposes, and city councils have fixed the rate of taxation according to the demands for revenue. The rate for a number of years has been six mills.
Ward assessors are still elected, however, at the municipal election every three years, for county purposes.
Board of Public Works. - A Board of Public Works was es- tablished by city councils November 30, 1895, for the purpose of
86
HISTORY OF READING.
supervising the grading, paving, repairing and regulating of the streets, and of controlling the house sewerage, pumping and disposal system; which was to comprise four commissioners, who were to be appointed by city councils, the appointees to be selected from the electors of the four districts of Reading, and the dividing lines of the districts to be Chestnut, Walnut and Douglass streets. This board has officiated since that time, having directed its attention more particularly toward the establishment of sewers for surface and house drainage, and of paved streets with sheet asphaltum. [See Part II, In- ternal Improvements-Streets and Sewers, p. 39-40.]
LIST OF BURGESSES AND MAYORS.
Burgesses.
Daniel Levan . 1783
George M. Keim 1833-34
Anthony Bickel 1834-35
John Spayd. 1815-22
Thomas Keppel I835-36
William Witman 1822-25
William Schoener 1836-37, 1839-43
Peter Nagle, Jr.,
William High 1843-44
. . . 1825-31, 1832-33, 1837-39
William Betz 1844-47
*Names not obtainable.
Mayors.
Peter Filbert 1847-48
Willlam H. Keim
1848-49
George Getz* 1849-53
Samuel C. Mayer 1871-73
Daniel R. Clymer
1853-54 Charles F. Evans I873-79.
John S. Richards 1854-55
William M. Baird 1855-56
Henry A. Tyson . 1879-81 William G. Rowe . 1881-85
Joel B. Wanner. . 1856-57
James K. Getz 1885-87
A. jordan Swartz 1857-58
James R. Kenney 1887-90
Benneville Keim 1858-61
Thomas P. Merritt . 1890-93
Joel B. Wannert 1861-63
William F. Shanaman 1893-96
Joseph S. Hoyer 1863-65
Jacob Weidel 1896-99
*Mr. Getz died February 10, 1853, and George M. Keim was elected to fill the short vacancy.
+Mr. Wanner enlisted in the Civil War before the expiration of his term, and David McKnight was elected to fill the vacancy.
The total vote of the city in 1847 for mayor was 1237; in 1877 it was 7086; and in 1896, it was 13,961.
1783-1815
Henry A. Muhlenberg. . . 1831-32
Nathan M. Eisenhower . . 1865-67
William H. Gernand . . 1867-71
87
CENSUS.
STATE REPRESENTATIVES FROM CITY.
Under the provisions of the Act of May 19, 1874, the State of Pennsylvania was apportioned into senatorial and representa- tive districts. By this apportionment Reading was made a. separate district for representatives, and authorized to elect two members for two years. Previously the county, including the county-seat, was one district.
The following representatives were from Reading:
Name
Term
Name
Term
Amos B. Wanner
1875-76
Spencer H. Smith
1887-88
Jacob Miller
1875-78
Allen S. Beck
1889-92
Jeremiah Boone
1877-80
Samuel D Missimer 1889-92
George McFarlan
1879-82
John B. Goodhart
1893-94
John S. Wagner
1881-82
John R. Laucks
1893-94
Asa G. W. Smith
1883-86
Edwin M. Luden
1895-98
Henry D. Green
1883-86
David West
1895-98
James L. Douglas
1887-88
PART VI. - CENSUS.
Getz Enumeration .- In 1847, J. Lawrence Getz, publisher of the Reading Gazette and Democrat, made an enumeration of the population at Reading, with the following result: Males, 6641; females, 6403; total, 13,044; houses, 2138; families, 2398. There were then nearly twice as many persons south of Penn street as there were north.
Levan. Enumeration .- In 1877, Edgar M. Levan, an at- torney at Reading, published a directory of the city. While registering the names of the inhabitants, he collected interesting facts, showing the number and sex of the population, stores, dwellings, etc., with the following result:
Males over 21 years, 9765; under 21 years, 9787; females over 21 years, 10,784; under 21 years, 9773; total, 40, 109; stores, 1044; dwellings, 8186; manufactories, 117. Number of persons to each inhabited dwelling, 5.19.
Comparative Statistics .- The following statistics are submitted to show the relative growth of Reading as compared with the country districts of Berks county at three different periods.
88
HISTORY OF READING.
Reading.
1856
1885.
1897.
Taxables
Property assessed Money at interest
4,094 $4,011,763 380,853
13,279 $23,780,222 5,049,482
24,439 $38,429,030
7,890,438
Country Districts.
1856.
1885.
1897.
Taxables
13,480 $19.691, 126
20,879 $40,806,570
27,7II
Property assessed Money at interest
2,020,575
8,741,82I
8,152,817
Assessment for 1898 .- The city assessors of Reading made an assessment of property in the several wards from September to December, 1897, which was revised by city councils from January to March, 1898, with the following result:
Wards.
Taxables.
Voters.
Property Assessed.
Property Exempted .
Ist Ward
I272
983
$ 2,046, 200
$ 250,400
2nd Ward
1992
1407
2,311,500
30,000
3rd Ward
1 600
1306
3,682,000
357,700
4th Ward
1040
682
3,370,250
238,500
5th Ward
II73
881
2,074,300
42,000
6th Ward
2291
1874
3,688, 225
88,000
7th Ward
1887
1079
5,266. 100
1,101,000
8th Ward .
I269
996
2,902,550
499,500
9th Ward .
1661
1381
2, 144, 100
342,800
Ioth Ward .
1524
IIOO
1, 270,300
76,800
IIth Ward
1742
1319
1,773,300
192,400
I2th
Ward
1805
1606
2,277,875
443,800
1 3th
Ward
1899
1450
2,345,850
244,800
14th
Ward
II26
872
2,806,808
187,650
15th Ward
931
659
1,957,29I
149,600
16th Ward
I227
1048
2, 168,884
451,700
Total
24,439
18,643
$42,085,533
$4,696,650
The property exempted from local taxation embraces all churches, parsonages, school-houses, public buildings, char- itable institutions, and corporation buildings not including establishments that produce revenue.
$37,818,845
89
CENSUS.
Dwellings .- There were 16,079 buildings in Reading on January 1, 1898, which were located by wards as follows:
Ist Ward
876
5th Ward
714
9th Ward II22
13th Ward 1296
2nd Ward
II89
6th Ward
158I
Ioth Ward
1005
14th Ward 789
3rd Ward
1069
7th Ward
969
IIth Ward
1072
15th Ward 651
4th Ward
644
Sth Ward
S22
12th Ward 1326
16th Ward
945
The character of the buildings is as follows: brick, 13, 642; frame, 2, 168; stone, 269, (the greater part of them being con- structed out of brick with stone fronts. )
, Census 1790 to 1898 .- Previous to 1850, the enumeration of the several wards of Reading was not reported by the United States Census Department, and for that reason, the figures do not appear in the following table. For the several decades from 1790 to 1840, the total census was as follows: 1790-2,235; 1800-2,386; 1810-3,462; 1820-4,332; 1830-5,856; 1840- 8,410.
POPULATION OF READING 1847 TO 1898.
Wards.
1847
1850
I860
1870
I880
1890
1898
Ist Ward .
2144
2962
4019
2834
3044
3694
3890
2nd Ward
378I
3774
4189
5530
5553
5947
6992
3rd Ward
2485
3165
4905
3732
4455
4665
4586
4th Ward
209I
3204
5760
26II
2826
2758
2543
5th Ward
2543
2638
4289
3205
3399
3467
2953
6th Ward .
2763
3762
5977
722I
7th Ward .
354I
4130
5185
3779
8th Ward .
3690
3874
4403
3467
9th Ward
6024
4206
4800
5007
Ioth Ward
'2834
6156
4605
IIth Ward .
5195
3899
4997
[2tk Ward
4II0
6297
13th Ward .
3600
5952
14th Ward
3362
15th Ward
3040
16th Ward
4242
Total.
13,044
15,743
23,162
33,930
43,278
58,661
72,933
MAYOR'S ENUMERATION, 1898.
At the request of the compiler of this history, the Mayor of Reading, Hon. Jacob Weidel, directed an enumeration of the
90
HISTORY OF READING.
population of Reading to be made during the month of March, 1898, by the patrolmen under the supervision of the chief of police, John F. Albrecht, and the result was as follows: under 21 years of age, 15,548 males, 15,465 females; 21 years and over, 20,358 males, 21,562 females; all males 35,906, all females 37,027; total 72,933.
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT -- 1898.
Tax Rate in Mills
Popula tion
Taxa- bles
Property Assessment
Total Debt
City
School
County
Allentown
35,000
9,000
$19,500,000
$ 423,200
35%
6
21/2
Easton
20,000
II,000,000
305,900
61/2
6
2.8
Lancaster
40,000
15,416,646
644,500
9
4
3
Lebanon
16,000
4,738
8,680,000
267,600
41/4
374
2
Harrisburg .
60,000
12,750
24,000,000
1,000,000
7
6
4
Reading
73,000
24.439
*42,085,533
1,352,500
6
4
21/2
Scranton
106,000
38,789
579,538
12.8
4
7
Wilkesbarre.
55,000
II,200
23,452,916 ** 7,000,000 9,150,060
464,500
23
18
7
Williamsport .
33,000
7.000
729,500
15
7
5
* Not including exempted real estate, $4,696,650.
** One-fifth valuation.
POPULATION NORTH AND SOUTH OF PENN STREET.
By the following table it appears that the major part of the population of Reading was south of Penn street from 1840 to 1880; and by averaging the increase from 1880 to 1890, it is evident that the major part had shifted north of Penn street in the year 1882.
1840
1850
1860
1870
1880
1890
1898
South of Penn street
499I
990I 5842
13113
17912
22III
26687
298II
North of Penn street
3419
10049
16018
21167
31974
43122
1572
4059
3064
1894
944
COLORED POPULATION.
The colored population at Reading since 1830, by the United States census enumeration was as follows: 1830-192; 1840- 221; 1850-357; 1860-285; 1870-311; 1880-350; 1890- 390.
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INDUSTRIES.
CHAPTER II .- INDUSTRIES.
PART I .- EARLY EMPLOYMENTS.
Employments before 1783 .- The artisans of Reading have al- ways been recognized for their skill and industry. When the town lots were first sold, and improved real estate was trans- ferred to succeeding owners for thirty years afterward, the em- ployments of the parties to the deeds was usually added to their names. An examination of the records in the Recorder's office reveals this fact. The employments were quite diversified, as the following enumeration indicates: baker, blacksmith, book- binder, brick-maker, brewer, butcher, cabinet-maker, carpenter, clock-maker, cooper, cord-wainer, felt-maker, glazier, gun-smith, hatter, joiner, locksmith, nailer, potter, reed-maker, saddler, shoemaker, tanner, tailor, tinner, tobacconist, weaver and wheelwright.
Many articles have been preserved and transmitted from one generation to the other. There are instances where certain articles, such as clocks, furniture, coverlets, silver-ware, etc., have been handed down for over a hundred years in a direct line. The workmanship is superior, showing thoroughness and experience. These articles were not made for the residents of the town and the surrounding settlements only, but to supply demands from distant places. In this respect, Reading had a wide reputation before 1783.
Hat-making was the most prominent industry then. Statis- tics previous to 1795 have not been discovered; but a table has been published, showing the production of Pennsylvania then, in which Berks County ranks next to Philadelphia, having had 38 hatters and produced 2200 fur hats and 54,000 wool hats, (the latter one-third of the total production of all the counties.) The production of the county was almost wholly from Reading. The shops were small.
92
HISTORY OF READING.
Industrial Character .- In looking over the general situation of affairs until 1783, it is apparent that industry was a distin- guishing characteristic of the people and that this was the direct cause of their prosperity. The rapid growth of the population shows the importance of the place. Business relations extended to different centres of trade and commerce. Many men were engaged in carrying on general stores. They traded mostly with merchants at Philadelphia. Inn-keepers were prominent men and they took much interest in local government and rep- resentative positions.
In 1762 there were thirty-two licenses issued by the Governor upon recommendation of the Justices. This large number of licenses for a town of only 1200 inhabitants is a certain indica- tion that many persons from the surrounding townships and dis- tant places visited Reading to transact business. Licenses were, however, issued to store-keepers besides inn-keepers, and farm- ers mostly purchased their liquors there.
The erection of a borough in 1783 for improved local govern- ment makes the developing process of the community apparent. The industry and enterprise of the people prepared the way for the introduction of stage-coaches, post office, newspapers, turn- pikes, banks, bridges, canals and railroads. These improve- ments of a public nature indicate a strong co-operative spirit. Manufacturers, merchants and farmers kept themselves busy agitating them, and for their success in overcoming various ob- stacles and finally establishing them, they can not be given too much praise. By comparing their situation with that which we occupy, from sixty to one hundred years after those improve- ments were introduced, we must express surprise at their under- takings and accomplishments.
Early Traffic .- The following statement shows the extent of traffic at two early periods of Reading. The articles were shipped on flat-bottomed boats to Philadelphia from the store- houses of Garber & Strohecker, situated on both sides of the river, one below and the other above the Levan Ferry (now Lancaster bridge. )
In 1795 :- 18, 135 bus. wheat, 2, 220 bbls. flour, 105 tons straw, II tons linseed oil, 412 tons beeswax, 9 tons butter, 3 tons paper, 172 tons hams, 23 gals. brandy, 79 doz. hats.
93
INDUSTRIES.
In 1807, (February to June:)-31, 198 bus. wheat, 4,695 bbls. flour, 380 bbls. bread, 153 bbls. pork, 200 bus. corn, 50 tons iron, 274 casks butter, 1,256 gals. brandy, 214 tons paper.
There were other store-houses, and shipments were made from them also, but no statistics have been preserved. Numer- ous teams were constantly going to and fro, delivering various productions and taking away merchandise.
In 1831, for the week ending May 27th, eighty boats loaded with various articles went down the canal from Reading; and in 1835, for the week ending June 14th, one hundred and twenty- five boats. Some of them had coal from Schuylkill county.
Ware-House in 1826 .- The Schuylkill canal extended through that section of the town midway between Front and Second streets. A basin was constructed in the quarter block lying be- tween Cherry and Franklin streets, and Second street and the canal, and this occupied a prominent place in the business affairs of Reading from 1826 to 1834. A large ware house stood along Second street. It was carried on by William P. Orrick. Num- erous 4-horse and 6-horse teams, with large covered wagons, collected along Second, Penn and Franklin streets, waiting their turn for merchandise to be taken from the boats in the basin and hauled west, north-west and north-east many miles. They brought mostly grain to Reading for shipment by canal. It was the most prominent business point of the town until the canal was moved west, along the river, in 1834. This store-house was afterward converted into a planing mill.
This basin was also used as a landing place for "Packet Boats." Many passengers traveled by boat from Philadelphia to Reading, and preferred to do so on account of the quietness and coolness of the ride. The trip one way was made in a day, both by boat and by stage, that is, from morning till evening. This was accomplished by changing the teams at fixed stations from six to eight miles apart.
Reading in 1840 .- William Stahle, a storekeeper, published a small book of 68 pages in 1841, relating to the business affairs of Reading as they existed in 1840, The particulars were col- lected by a young attorney named Jackson H. Sherman. More than sixty different employments were carried on at that time, and the manufacturing establishments numbered sixty-four. The enumeration, briefly stated, was as follows:
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