USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 34
USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 34
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1850 .- Burgess, - -; Town Council, Nathan Dresher, Paul Knanss, F. E. Samuels, Charles Eckert, John Nonnemacher, Isaac Stahr, Thomas Weaver, Peter Werkel, J. D. Lwall ; Town Clerk, Eli J. Saeger : Treasurer, John Reichard ; High Constable, William Egge. 1851 .- Burgess, --; Town Conneil, Isaac Stahr, Thomas Weaver, John L. Hoffman, Peter Werkel, J. D. Lawall, Thomas Weiss, Thomas Wetzell, Jacob Miller, Joseph Nonnemacher, William, Egge; Town Clerk, Eli J. Saeger; Treasurer, John Reichard ; Engineer, Elias Mertz ; High Constalde, William Jacoby.
1852 .- Burgess, William Fry; Town Council, Jacob Miller, Joseph Non- nemacher, Thomas Wetzell, William J. Egge, E. R. Newhard, Peter Heller, Owen Saeger, John Diefenderter, Renben Reiss, Thomas Weiss; Town Clerk, Kli I, Saeger ; Treasurer, John Reichard ; High Constable, William Horn.
1853 .- Burgess, William J. Egge ; Town Council, E. R. Newhard, l'eter HeHler, Thomas Weiss, Owen Saeger, John Diefenderfer, Jonathan Trexler, W. H. Blumer, Tilghman Statler, Ephraim Grim, Reuben Engleman ; Town Clerk, Eh J. Saoger ; Treasurer, John Reichard ; Iligh Constable, William Horn ; Engineer, Elias Mertz.
1854 .- Burgess, --; Town Council, W. 11. Blumer, Tilghman Statler, Ephraim Grim, William Hecker, Jonathan Trexler, J. F. Newhard, Jimnes F. Kline, W. B. Powell, Evan W. Eckert, I. F. Kleppinger, John G. Schimpf; Town Clerk, Eli J. Saeger ; Treas- urer, John Reichard ; Engineer, J. D. Lawall. (Ile resigned, and (. A. Aschbach was appointed.) High Constable, William Horn,! 1855 .- Burgess, Thenas Mohr; Town Commeil, tuhn G. Schimpf, Evan W. Eckert, J. F. Newhard, W. B. Powell, J. F. Kleppinger, John Romig, James Deitrich, Stephen Keck, Solomon Butz, William Maddern; Town Clerk, E. J. Mose; Treasurer, John Reichard; Engineer, G. A. Aschbach ; High Constable, John L. Hanke.
1856 .- Burgess, William Grim ; Town Conneil, C. L. Martin, Epdirnim Yohe, Enoch Newhard, David Schwartz, John Romig, James Diet- rich, William Maddern, S Jomon Butz, Stephen Keck ; Town Clerk, E. J. Mose ; Treasurer, John Reichard; Engineer, A. G. Aschbach ; High Constable, John b. Hanke.
1857 .- Burgess, --; Town Council, Aaron Renniger, J. A. Kru- mer, Joseph Seip, William Mertz, Nathan Gammer, Thomas Barber, Ephraim Yohe, J. F. Newhard, David Schwartz, C. L. Martin, - Kleckner, Jesse Wasser ; Town Clerk, C. J. Martin ; Treasurer, John Reichard; Engineer, G. A. Aschbach. .
1858 .- Burgess, Thotoas Mohr; Town Council, Jesse Wasser, W. 11. Guusler, Tilghman Statter, William Madder, Samuel Me Hose, Benjamin Stutler, Aaron Renniger, Nathan Ganmer, Joseph Seip, Thomas Barber, William Mertz ; Town Clerk, E. J. Mose ; Treas- urer, John Reichard; Engineer, G. A. Aschbach.
1859, --- Burgess, George Beisel; Town Conneil, Samnel Mellose, W. II. Gausler, Benjamin Statler, Tilghman Statler, Charles W. Eckert, J. 11. Bush, David Schwartz, William Madden, Peter Wrikel, Josso Wasser: Town Clerk, E. d. Mose; Treasmer, John Reichard ; In- ginger, 1. .. Aschlach.
1860,- Burgess, Garage Beisel; Town Conncit, Samuel Engelman, Solo- mon lutz, Smunel B. Lewis, O. K. Hoffman, Aaron Keiter, William Kieliline, Charles A. Eckert, David Schwartz, Peter Weikel, J. 11. Hush; Town Clerk, E. J. Mose; Treasurer, John Reichard; Engi- neer, G. A. Aschlauch.
1861 .- Burgess, -- -; Town Council, Charles Mickley, Owen Yingling, W. H. Binmer, Samuel Roth, James Honey, O. K. Hotf- man, Aaron Keller, Samuel B. Lewes, William Kickline, Samuel Engleman ; Town Clerk, E. J. Mose; Treasurer, John Reichard. 1862 .- Burgess, --; Town Council, Benjamin Hagenbach, Charles Christ, Peter Weikel, George Erdman, Charles Wagner, W. H. Bimmer, Samuel Roth, Owen Yingling, Jus. Koney ; Town Clerk, N. J. Mose ; Treasurer, John Reichard ; Engineer, G. A. Aschbach. 1863 .- Burgess, W. H. Hoffinan; Town Council, J. S. Graffin, J. A. Kranter, John P. Miller, Jesse A. Wasser, d. H. Bush, Benjamin Hagenbuch, Charles Christ, Peter Weikel, George Erdman, Charles Wagner; Town Clerk, Thomas B. Metzgar; Treasurer, John
1 One policeman, Jneob Khrig, was also appointed this year. Hle was the first regular police-officer.
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134
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Reichard; Engineer, G. A. Aschbach ; High Constable, Daniel W. Lehr.
1864 .- Burgess, Charles Kline ; Town Council, --; Town Clerk, Elisha Forrest ; Treasurer, John Reichard ; Engineer, G. A. Asch- bach ; High Constable, Daniel W. Lehr.
1865 .- Burgess, - -: Town Council, R. E. Wright, Daniel Roth, Julin Egge, W. J. HFoxworth, Samuel Mellose, John L. Hoffman, Daniel Brown, Joseph Hecker, I. E. Ruhe, Amos Ettinger; Town Clerk, Elisha Forrest ; Treasurer, John Reichard; Engineer, Peter Weida ; High Constable, Jacob M. Ruhe.
1866 .- Burgess, William Kern; Town Conneil, J. L. Hoffman, Russell A. Thayer, Ilonry Stetler, Thomas Steckel, Edward Ruhe, Samuel Mellose, Joseph Hecker, John Egge, W. J. Hoxworth, Daniel Roth ; Town Clerk, Elisha Forrest ; Iligh Constable, J. M. Ruhe.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, 1840-1867.
1840. John W. Hornheck. 1858. Jolm F. Ilalbach,
Charles Seip.
1841. John Klockner.1
James Mallene.
1844. John F. Ruhe.
1860. A. K. Wittman.
Eli J. Saeger. 1861. Jucob Dillinger.
1849. Eli .I. Saeger. John F. Ruhe. John D. Lawall.
1850. Jacob Dillinger. 1863. Lewis F. Schmidt.
1852. John D. Lawall.
Jesse M Young.
1853. John F. Hallenbach. 1864. Elias Mertz.
1854. John F. Ruhe, ; 1865. A. K. Wittman.
1866. Henry T. Kleckner.
ALDERMEN, 1867-80.
1867 (March 17). Joshua Stahler. | 1876. John II. Hull. Elward Beck. John Hawkins.
1877. James Hansman.
John W. Sepp.
1869 (Springi. Elias Wertz. (Fall). Tilghman Good.
1870 (Fall). Henry T. Kleckner.
1879. U. S. britzenberger.
1880. Walter L. Jones.
1872 (Spring). Joshna Stahler. Francis %. Hubner. Patrick Mccloskey.
1881. Henry T. Kleckner. E. K. Newhard.
1874. Tobias Kessler.
1882. George Fry.
1875. Walter L. Jones.
John W. Sepp.
1876. Henry S. Kleckner.
Patrick McCoskey.
Elias Mertz.
Henry C. Huber.
CONSTABLES, 1840-83.
1810. Philip Sellers.
1850. Summnel Berger. William I, Derr.
Samuel Ginkinger,
1852. Samnel Berger.
George Henry. Nathan Bortz.
1855. Sammel Berger. P. S. Hankey (Iligh).
1841, Same as above, with oxcep- tien of Thomas Kramer for Nathan Bortz.
1842. Philip Sellers.
Samuel Guckinger.
Henty Retehert
1537. Samuel Berger.
Solomon Heimbach.
1843. Philip Sollers.
Samuel Borger. R. W. Kuipc. P. A. Sage,
1858, Edwin Acker (High). Willim Fillman. Samunel Berger.
1816. Samnel Berger.
1869. Tilghman H. Good. 1878. Alfred I. Martin.
1873. Theodore G. Youger, 2 1880. E. G. Martin.
1874 (Feb. 17). Tilghman II. Good. 1883, E 8. Shimer.
1847. Samuel Berger,
Samuel Hartman. Charles Rekert, Robert Putterson.
1860. Same as above, with excep- tion of Charles Seip in place of Fillman.
1875. Jucob A. BImmer.
CITY CONTROLLERS.
1876. Renben S. Shimor. 1 1879. Charles K. Ileist.
1877. Charles BankN. 1 ISS1. Walter C. Smith.
2 Mr. Yenger diod in December, 1873, and Hermon Schuon, president of Select Council, by virtue of his office became mayor, and served until February, 1874.
1 Northampton.
Adam Hecker in place of ' 1876. George Weiss, Hiskey,
1864. Adam lecker.
John Young.
Samnel Harlman.
Joel Reinhard. Christian Sauers.
1877. William Nagle. Herman Phillips. Daniel Weaver. George Weiss. William Il. Ginkinger.
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1866. J. R. Dimmig. William C. Baumeister. George Ritter. John Hamman. Jonas Smith.
1867. John Parrohu. Engelhert Zunger.
George Ritter.
John Hamman,
David Daubert.
Hemon Texler.
1868. John Darrohn. George F. Henry. Abraham Worman.
Samuel Weidenmay.
David Daubert.
Charles Fry.
1869. Same, with exception of lust two, whose places were filled by Stephen Henry and A HIallacher.
1869 (Fall), Hiram Zellner. George Y. Henry. Abraham Worman.
Samuel Witmeyer. Charles Keinert. John Breslin.
1870. Same, with exception of last two, whose places were taken by Godfried Barier and Mich- ael Harkins.
1872. Hiram Zellner. George F. Henry. Abraham Worman. Samuel Wittemeyer. Godfried Baner. Willoughby Beisel.
1873. Same, with exception of Charles Reinsmith in place of Worman, and Ingh Mc- Elroy in place of Beisel,
Hennville Geary. Henry Wertz. Solomon Dillinger. Jonas Smithi.
1875. William Nagel. Jacob Heberling. E. P. Metz. George M. Schmidt. Andrew Yingling.
William Reichard. Hugh MeElroy.
Renneville Genry. Ingh Durnin.
1876. William Nagle. Inrob Heberling.
Jons Keiser.
Jonas Smith.
Abruhum Worman.
CITY OFFICERS.
MAYORS.
1867. Samuel Melloso. 1876. Edward B. Young.
Samuel Hartman. Henry W. Knipe.
Samuel Hartmmn, Joel Rinehard. Christian Suners.
CITY TREASURERS.
1867. Jonathan Reichard (ap- 1878. John Koch, Jr. (present in- cumbent).
pointed).
1848, Samuel Berger.
Samuel Hartman. Edward Stettler. A. Loudenberger.
1849. Sume, with exception of Wil- liam Jacoby in place ef Lon- denberger.
186]. Willhun Hiskey. John Young. Henry Witte. Joel Reinhard. Christian Saners.
1862-63. Same, with exception of
1878. Daniel Wenver. Jolin Dazoolin. Jacob Ileberling. Heury W. Stemberger. William II. Ginkinger.
Charles H, Geary. Solomon Dillinger. Jonas Smith.
1879. Hiram Zellner. Jacob Heberling. Daniel Weaver. Andrew Yingling.
Benneville Geary. Ingh Duruin. Solomon Pillinger. Jonas Smith.
1880. Same us preceding year, with the exception of Wil- liam P. Johnson in place of Dillinger.
1881. Oliver Hiskey. Jacob Heberling. Daniel Weaver, Andrew Yingling. Benneville Geary. Henry Wetschad. William B. Johnson.
Jonas Smith.
1882. fivorge Lilly. John Eshenbach. Daniel Weaver.
1883. George II. Lilly. John Kshenbach. Daniel Weaver.
1856. Saminel Berger. J. S. Ilanke (Iligh). Samuel Hartman. Adatn Ilecker.
Andrew Yinghug (High). Adam Hocker.
1859. Wilham Fillman. John Young.
William Reichard. A. Martinan.
William Johnson, Jonas Smith.
Patrick Seward. Solomon Dillinger. Jonas Smith.
1869. Ephraim Moss. John F. Ruhe, Elias Mertz.
1862. R. I. Abele.
Philip K. Harlzell,
Patrick McCloskey.
135
THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN.
CITY SOLICITORS.
1874. George W. Wilson. 1880. J. M. Kessler. 1882. A. P. Crilly.
1876. Thomas B. Metzgur.
1878. Marens C. Kline.
AUDITOR. 1874. Henry J. Hornbeck.
CITY ENGINEER. 1867. S. D. Lehr.
IIIGH CONSTABLES.
1866. Jacob M. Ruhe. 1869. Emanuel Hofford.
1874. William H, Hilzard. -
1875. Daniel Gift.
1871. IL. T. Klechner.
CHIRES OF POLICE. : 1878. Tilghman Good.
1875. Daniel Gift.
SELECT COUNCIL.
1868,-Jacob S. Dillinger, George Erdman, Benj. Hagenbuch, John L. Hoffman, Jesse M. Line, Alex, McKne, John MeNulty, John Oliver, Henry Vandyke, - Mohr.
1869,-Renben Kaufman, - Roth, Hory Vandyke, Jesse M. Line, Herman Schuon, - Sheirer, John McLean, Jacob S. Dillinger, Thomas Weaver, John L. Hoffman. Clerk, J. A. Blumer.
1870 .- Jesse M. Line, John McGrau, John McNulty, - Roth, - Scherer, H. Schnon, Jesse Weaver, Thos. Weaver, Jos. Young, Henry Vandyke, J. L. Hoffman, Alex. Mcker, John MeNulty.
1871 .- Herman Schuon, John L. Hoffman, Alex. Mckee, John Mc- Nulty, Jos. Weaver, Jos. Young, W. H. Ainey, P. Boyle, Martin Kemerer, James W. Wilson, Jesse Wasser, Thos, Mohr.
1872 .- Patrick Boyle, Silas Camp, Abiel Heilman, John Hall, Martin Kemerer, Thos. Mohr, Chas. Rahe, Iterman Schnon, Jesse Wasser, Jus. M. Wilson, W. II. Ainey.
1873,-Patrick Boyle, W. 11. Blumer, Silas Camp, Abiel Heilman, John IInll, Al. Kmmer, - Lch, - Quier, Saml. Roth, Chas. Ruhe, Iler. Schuon.
1874.1-Thos. Barber, W. Il. Bimmer, Patrick Boyle, - Leh, Charles Qnier, Saml. Roth, Thos, Linenny, R. E. Dononghey, Gro, Hartzel, E. R. Newhard, John Nonnemacher, Chas. D. Ruhe,
18762-Josiah S. Kern, John Nonnemacher, John L. Hoffman, George llartzel, l'atrick Boyle, A. L. Newhard, Joseph Weaver, Georgo Ingenbuch.
1879 .- Wayne Holbon, Phaon Alhright, Ephraim Grim, Thomas Weaver, W. It. Steckel, Ingh Crilly, John W. Koons, Henry II. Seip.
1881.3-1I. R Mull, Charles Detweiler, John R. Gossler, K. II. Kram, An- gust Weblner, Hugh Crilly, Chas, HI. Bachman, Milton Walt.
COMMON COUNCIL ..
1869 .- - Barnes, W. Il. Butz, - Egge, Eph. Grim, Peter Heller, Francis C. Huebner, John Kensinger, B. C. Roth, I. E. Ruhe, Charles Scholl, - Srip, - Ferry, Nelson Weiser, James II. Bush, Ang. Kuiper, John Nommemacher, Aaron Renninger.
1870 .- W. U. II. Butz, Bph. Grim, Hugh Gallagher, F'. Z. Huebner, Lewis Kensinger, Reuben Kautman, John Nonnemacher, Charles Quier, W. 11. Kole, It. I. Rinh, B ( Both, George Roth, Charles Scholl, 11. F. Seagreaves, Willoughby Tresler, Nelson Weiser, William 1. Yohn, A. P. Stockel.
1871. - - Buta, Richard Weily, William Rekert, Eph. Grim, George Fry, - Good, George Hans, - Horsh, I. H. Harkins, Angustns Keiper, William Kichline George Roth, B. C. Roth, A. P'. Steckel, James Trainer, Nelson Weiser, James Weis, Peter Qmust.
1873 .- L. C. Moore, James Schafer, Jumes Trainer, Rouben Engelman, James V. But%, Lewis Wolf, Abr. Diefenderfer, John Nonnemacher, W. HI. Eckert, Frank Hartman, John J. Lentz, T. Statler, Walter L. Jones, Reuben D. Butz, I. A. Santeo, Angustus Keiper, John II. Harkins, W. R. Trexler.
1874 .- Johu Beiry, John F. Butz, Phaon Diehl, John HI. Harkins, Charles K. Heist, William J. Hox worth, Georgy Kuhl, John J. Lentz, II. A. Santee, George Seiple, Charles C. Leisenbach, Hirum Herner, Daniel Schwoyer, Junmes Trainer, J. II. Troxel, Perry Nonnemacher, An- gust Wridner, Lowis Wolf.
1 Elected for two years.
2 Reduced to six members, one from euch ward.
8 Three years, terin expiring April, 1881.
1875,- - Abbott, George Deifer, William Eckert, John Flood, - Frederick, Josiah Kern, George Knhl, Edward McChe, Edward Mellen, M. J Meinell, Jianrs O'Donnel, Peujamin Roth, E. J. Saeger, Henry Seip, Reuben Stahler, Tilghman Statler, S. S. Thompson, II. C. Wagner, John F. Walker, C. W. Weber, James W. Wilson, Charles Wolf, Robert E. Wright, Janur's Cole.
1876 .- Matthew Anlt, Henry Bitting, Jacob Fink, George Frey, Daniel Gerhart, William Kichline, John Lentz, Charles Ludwig, Solomon I. Ludwig, James O'Donnel, Edward Shantz, Reuben Seiger, Ed- ward Seip, Elias Stingler, Henry Smith, - Snyder, Henry Stetler, Peter Schwentzer, Daniel Schwoyer, James W. Wilson, R. E. Wright, Ephraim Grim, - Gnchenbach, - Deshler.
1877-78 .- 11. C. Blechley, Charles Dresher, Wilson Desh, Michael Gor- man, Joel Gross, Simon Feldman, John Kline, A. J. Kleppenger, George Knappenberger, John C. Lentz, Frederick Lembach, William Mall, Edward O'Donnell, Conrad Patt, Frank Penning, Eli 1. Saeger, K. Schantz, Daniel Smoyer, William Segfreid, Lewis Stonebach, George Stronb, Peter Schwentzer, Daniel Gerhart, Tilghman Statler. 1879-80 .- A. N. Wolf, John Schroth, B. M. Kranss, M. L. Kandiman, Charles Kichline, Henry Berber, William Kress, Joseph Knhe, J. 11. Burger, Abner 1. Wind, Phaon Deihl, Tilghman Statler, Sam- nel Keller, William Byan, J. J. Buchmiller, Noah Kistler, D. L. Kistler, Hiram Sterner, Francis Reinhard, Howard Lumley, Robert Steckel, William Schwoyer, Ade Iph Oberdorster, William Dutt.
1881-82 .- Glenmore Baker, Philip Hetzer, Charles Eckert, Owen Binmer, Edwin Fink, Benneville Hein, T. H. Boyer, Moses Flexer, Henry J. Schwartz, George G. Blumer, William B. Shaffer, Abner H. Wind, O. E. Holinan, William Dntt, Allen S. Weiler, H. W. Hunsicker, Pat- rick Costello, Martin O'Laughlin, - Epp, Theodore F. Knauss, Leon Schmoyer, George J. Snyder, John M. Frey, Henry W. Mohr. 1883-84 .- Edgar Inley, W. O. Butz, Joseph Downing, Zephaniah Bern- hard, David Sendal, Edward Snyder, A. H. Boas, William H. Kress, Jannes Sherer. Phaon Drill, J. E. Mitchell, George C. Bhummer, Tilgh- man Statler, W. R. Lawfer, Jacob Miller, J. H. Wright, M. II. Griffin, John Schlegel, Adolph Oberdorster, H. C. Trexler, Daniel Yingst, Theodore F. Kminss, William J. Schwoyer, John Van Billiard.
Early Street Improvement .- When the borough was incorporated the streets presented a very irregular appearance. No grade had been established, the road- ways were uneven and poorly drained, and sidewalks were unknown. One of the first undertakings of the Town Council elected in 1811 was the improvement of the streets, and the second ordinance adopted by the body, July 15, 1811, was a step towards that end. The ordinance was entitled " An Ordinance to enjoin certain duties to be performed by the street commis- sioners of the borough of Northampton," and by its second seetion they were "To have all the streets and alleys ranged and opened according to the plan of the said town, and that all such town streets and alleys which the commissioners think necessary and the publie good will require shall be by them cleared, amended, and repaired, so that the same may be pass- able with horses, cattle, and wagons."
An ordinance passed May 30, 1812, read, "The road and street commissioners are hereby notified to have the streets and alleys surveyed, regulated, and laid out according to the original plan, and to have power to remove all articles deemed public nuisances, fences, etc."
It was also ordained and enacted "that in Allen and Hamilton Streets twelve feet wide on each side, and in all other streets ten feet on each side, shall be allowed as a foot-path, which shall be kept clear and passable by the owner or possessor of each respective lot or lots adjoining said footway."
In Section 5 of the same ordinance it was decreed
1872 .- No record.
136
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
that the road and street commissioners of the bor- ough should proceed to employ a surveyor or sur- veyors as soon as convenient to lay out the streets and alleys, at least before the 15th day of September, 1812, and the streets so to be laid out were comprised within the following bounds, viz. : " Union Street, ex- tending from Ann Street to Margaret ; John, Hamil- ton, Andrew, and Turner Streets, every one of them to begin from Ann Street, and to extend to Margaret Street, and Ann, James, Allen, William, and Marga- ret Streets, to begin from Union, and to extend as far as Turner Street, including all such alleys as may fall within the above-mentioned limits, provided that no lot containing a crop of grain or any other crop shall, in consequence of this ordinance, be disturbed, nor the fences of such lots removed before such crops shall be gathered."
Ordinance No. 6, passed a little later than the fore- going, provided for the opening of William (Sixth) Street, " from its intersection with Turner Street to the farthest extremity of the plan of the borough." Section 2 provided that the commissioners should " notify the proprietor immediately, or his agent, so that they may remove such wood as may be found growing thereon and dispose at their own pleasure within twenty days after they are duly notified."
Notwithstanding the several actions of the Coun- eil, but little was done in the way of street improve- ments during the first fifteen years of the existence of the borough government. On June 4, 1828, we find that the following resolution or ordinance was adopted by the Council :
" Whereas numerous complaints are daily made respecting the state of the streets, alleys, gutters, and pavements in the borough, and the progress of improvement demands the attention of this Council, be it ordained and enacted that the four principal streets, and as many of the other by-streets as the citizens residing and holding property in such streets desire, shall be regulated according to a reasonable plan of de- scent from the highest parts of each of them, and that the pavements and gutters be laid out to correspond as much as possible with the eat- ural rise and descent of the adjoining streets."
This plan contemplated the taking of the market- place as the standard point, and the measurement of the respective descents in every street from it. The lot-owners were " to set up eurbstones and fix gutters as the regulators should dircet."
In May, 1832, Simon Sweitzer was appointed chief engineer, "to regulate pavements, curbs, gutters, streets, ete.," and in the following June he reported a plan "for leveling and regulating Market Square and Hamilton Street to the Jordan," which was favored by the Council and acted upon, though only to a limited extent.
Enoch Lewis made a plan for the systematic grading of the streets and conformance of the side- walks to the same in 1835, and an ordinanee was passed by the Council in August of that year obliging property-owners to dig down or fill up their sidewalks in accordance therewith. From this time on an en- gineer was regularly employed, receiving his office at
first by appointment and afterwards by election, and street improvement was carried on quite rapidly and effectively.
Market-Houses .- During the first few years after the organization of the borough it does not appear to have occurred to any member of the Council that a publie market was necessary, and, indeed, the small population of the town did not demand one. The market priees quoted in the newspapers for a number of years were those of Easton, but in 1815 an Allen- town market-list was reported, and afterwards regu- larly appeared. No provision was made for the es- tablishment of a regular market-house until 1817, and prior to that time, if there was any market, it was an open one, a mere assemblage of vendors. Upon the 22d of March, 1817, however, the Legisla- ture passed an act authorizing the Council to erect a market-house at the intersection of Allen (Seventh) and Hamilton Streets, in the publie square, and the authorities soon carried out the measure they were thus empowered to. The structure was a small one, and stood about midway between the locations now occupied by the Allen and Eagle Hotels. On August 15th we find that an ordinance was passed prescribing rules for the rental of stalls, prohibitions, penalties, etc. The market was open at that time on Wednes- days and Saturdays from four to nine o'clock A.M. in summer, and from six to ten o'clock A.M. in winter. In August, 1824, an ordinance was adopted which provided that all dealers must submit their weights and measures to the clerk of the market, whose duty it should be to adjust them.
In 1832 measures were taken to erect hay-scales on the square, near the market-house. They occupied that locality for many years, and a frame, in which a borough official corded and measured wood, occupied contiguous ground.
The present market-house, on the corner of Linden Street and Church Alley, was completed in August, 1859. It is ninety-one feet long by fifty-one feet wide, with entrances at either end and side, and con- tains thirty-six stalls. Market-days are Tuesdays. Thursdays, and Saturdays.
The Water-Works .- The construction of water- works in Allentown solved a great problem, and made possible the development of the village into a city. The slow growth prior to 1828-29 was in a large measure due to the great difficulty of securing water, because of the elevation of the town. Small quantities of water for drinking purposes were ob- tained from three or four very deep wells. The ma- jority of people had no wells, not being able to sus- tain the great cost of digging them to a depth of from one hundred to one hundred and twenty feet. Most of the water was hanled by teams from the Jordan or Little Lehigh and peddled about the town. Some of the residents of the borough, seeing very early the im- portance of obtaining a good water-supply, not sim- ply as a matter of convenience to themselves but as a
1
THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN.
137
measure necessary to the prosperity and growth of Allentown, took measures to bring about the de- sired result. An aet of the Legislature authorizing the organization of a water company, and prescrib- ing limitations of its power, was approved Feb. 13, 1816, in which Peter Newhard, Charles H. Martin, Peter Snyder, William Boas, and Solomon Gangwere were named as commissioners. Seetion XI. provided that if the company did not proceed with the work within three years after the passage of the act, or did not complete the same within five years so far as to have conveyed the water within the limits of the borough, its rights, liberties, and franchises should revert to the commonwealth. Section XII. provided that if, after the year 1834, the borough should be disposed to purchase the interest of the company, its authorities should be permitted to do so, the sum to be judged by seven disinterested men. This aet was not immediately productive of any favorable result. The act of 1816 was, however, revived March 25, 1825; John J. Krause, Henry Wilson, Abraham Newhard, Solomon Gangwere, and Michael Schnei- der being appointed commissioners to effect the raising of stock and organization of a company. This act pro- vided that the borough might purchase the works after the year 1843. Operations were begun under the re- vived act by the securing of stoek subscriptions at ten dollars per share, and by Ang. 28, 1826, good results had been obtained, as the following list of subscribers, with the number of shares taken by each, will testify :
No. of Shares. 1
No. of Shares.
Abraham Worman 10
Jacob Statler.
5
Philip Brong 3
John Miller (fallor) 5
Robert May Brooks 10
Heory Ebner & Co ... 10
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