Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 42

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036

USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 42

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Another practice he broke up was that of a rough element of young men who congre- gated about church entrances on Sunday evenings and insulting unattended ladies as they came out and passed along the streets. The railroad shops and iron works in ad- joining towns had attracted many rather rough characters to the community and the mayor found it difficult to cope with them, having but three patrolmen on his police force. He therefore resolved to appoint a number of special officers for this work, as- suming the risk of collecting enough in fines to pay the officers for their services. Eight special officers were accordingly sworn in, a proclamation of warning was issued, and on the first Sunday night thereafter twenty- seven arrests were made. The following week twenty-two arrests were made, the next sixteen, the next twelve, and so on, the number decreasing until the eighth Sunday when no arrests were made. All the offend- ers were heavily fined, and the practice was effectually broken up.

CLEANING THE CITY.

In those days there was no board of health and Mayor Howard found when he assumed office that the streets and alleys were in a decidedly filthy and unsanitary condition. People threw their refuse over the streets and alleys with impunity and paid no attention to the ordinance prohibit- ing the practice. Mayor Howard decided

that instead of arresting the people for vio- lating the ordinance he would press the teams of the volunteer fire department into the service of hauling the refuse, requiring each resident to place the accumulations of his premises in a vessel or on a pile in the alley. This was done, and soon the city assumed quite a different aspect and from that time on was much cleaner.

Many other administrative reforms were inaugurated during this administration. Mayor Howard had served as a policeman during the administrations of Mayors Kinch and Gilland, and the experience thus gained proved of great value to him. Mr. Howard was again the nominee of his party for mayor in 1886, but was defeated by Mayor S. J. Breth. In 1902 he ran as an independ- ent candidate for the office, but again failed to be elected. The same year he was appointed lieutenant of police by Mayor Hoyer, serving until 1905. Since then he has lived in retirement, taking at all times a keen interest in the affairs of the city.

Charles J. Mann was elected mayor to succeed Mr. Howard at the February elec- tion, 1884, and served one term. Mr. Mann had lived in the city from its earliest days, and was a refined and cultured gentleman of the old school. He was succeeded by Samuel J. Breth, a prosperous merchant of the city, who also held the office for one term, the latter being succeeded in 1888 by Edmund H. Turner. During these years the city was growing rapidly and steadily gaining a position of importance in the state and country. The railroad company was steadily increasing the scope of its opera- tions in the city by building new shops and enlarging those already here and the admin- istration of the city's affairs became a mat- ter of greater concern.

With the passage of an act by the as- sembly of 1889 regulating the government of cities of the third class, the term of the mayor was extended to three years, and he was made ineligible to succeed himself. Theodore Burchfield was the first mayor to

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serve for a term of three years, and he was the most vigorous executive the city had had up to that time. Colonel Burchfeld was a veteran of the Civil war, and had all his life been identified with military affairs. His acts in the mayor's chair were charac- teristic of one used to military methods. He reorganized the police force and vigor- ously enforced the ordinances as he found them, without fear or favor, showing none of the leniency towards offenders that had characterized some of his predecessors. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, Colonel Burchfeld, then in command of the Fifth regiment, National Guard of Pennsyl- vania, led his command to the scenes of mil- itary operations, and upon his return was nominated for mayor by the republican party, 1899, but was defeated by Ellsworth F. Giles. He at present holds a position in the office of the state librarian at Harris- burg.

At the February election, 1893, Samuel M. Hoyer was elected as the successor to Colonel Burchfeld, and became the tenth mayor of the city. Subsequently he has been twice re-elected, being the only mayor to hold the office for three terms. All three of his administrations have been eras of progress. During his first term the paid fire department was created; a sewage fil- tration plant, including an intercepting sewer, was constructed at a cost of $105,000; the impounding dam with a storage capac- ity of 360,000,000 gallons of water was built; the present police system, including Gamewell telegraph service and patrol wagon, was instituted, and an ordinance was passed and enforced forbidding the run- ning at large of cattle on the streets of the city. The reform instituted in the police and fire departments, as well as the prog- ress made in providing better water service are referred to under those headings.

As Mayor Hoyer's three terms do not come consecutively, we will anticipate the services of Mayors Barr, Giles and Walker to briefly review his second and third administrations.

He was elected for a second term at the Feb- ruary election, 1902. His opponents were John W. Plummer, republican, and William T. Howard, independent republican. Mayor Hoyer had a majority of ninty-three votes over his combined opposition. His second term was one of ceaseless activity in the line of municipal improvements, being especially noted for activity in sewer construction. Con- siderable street paving was also done during this period, and he started the work of im- proving sidewalks which was subsequently taken up and pushed with relentless vigor by his successor, Mayor Walker. One of the last of his official acts was the signing of an ordinance creating the board of public works. He also signed an ordinance increasing the salary of the mayor from $1,200 to $1,800 per year.

MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT.

Mayor Hoyer was nominated for the third time by his party for the office of mayor at the primary election in January, 1908, and at the municipal election held on February 18, was elected over George W. Kuebler, repub- lican, by a vote of 3,842 to 3,638. He was chosen for the usual term of three years, but the adoption of a constitutional amendment abolishing spring elections and making the term of the mayor four years will add eight months to his term and he will not go out of office until Dec. 1, 1911. Upon assuming the office for the third time, Mayor Hoyer took up the work of municipal improvements where his predecessor laid it down and during 1908 and 1909 about fifteen additional miles of streets were paved and the work of sidewalk laying was pushed forward with unabated vigor. During his present term legislation has been enacted creating a bureau of elec- tricity and providing for inspection of all elec- tric wiring; regulating the running at large of dogs and taxing these animals; creating the office of sealer of weights and measures; es- tablishing a telephone exchange at city hall, and providing for a semi-monthly pay day for all municipal employes. During his present

300

HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

term he has in a measure ceased presiding at police court, this work being done by the al- dermen sitting as police magistrates, this en- abling him to devote all of his time to the larger interests of the municipality.

Harry C. Barr was the eleventh mayor of Altoona. He was a republican, having won the nomination over Theodore Burchfield, while his opponent at the gen- eral election in February, 1896, was William W. Murray, son of William Murray, who was defeated for the same office by David Kinch in 1872. Mr. Barr and Mr. Kinch were blacksmiths and worked in the same de- partment of the Pennsylvania railroad shops, and the fact that they defeated father and son for the office of mayor was regarded as a remarkable coincidence.

Mr. Barr was chosen after a fierce political contest, and like Andrew Jackson of old, when he assumed the office he filled all the subordinate places, including the entire po- lice force, with those who had been his sup- porters in the campaign. His chief of police was James Foust, who has since achieved great prominence as a political leader in the state and at present holds the office of state dairy and food commissioner. His adminis- tration of the police department was vigor- ous and efficient.

CITY HALL REMODELED.

During Mayor Barr's administration the city hall was remodeled and greatly en- larged. The old structure, built in 1870-71, was used jointly for a city hall and for the Vigilant fire company. Later on its use as a fire station was abandoned and it was used in its entirety for a municipal hall. It was now entirely too small and upon the recom- mendation of Mayor Barr it was greatly en- larged and built as it stands today at a cost of about $15,000.

Another notable achievement of Mayor Barr was the establishment of the city mar- ket. At his recommendation legislation cre- ating a market was passed by councils and George W. Burket became the first market

master. It was established as a curb stone market and for a while it was very popular. Eventually private companies erected build- ings and the magnificent markets the city now has are the outgrowth of the efforts put forth by Mayor Barr. During his term Washing- ton avenue and other thoroughfares were paved and the affairs of the city were econom- ically and judiciously administered. While he was mayor the tax rate was reduced and when he retired from office there was a sur- plus of $45,000 in the treasury and the city's finances were in excellent condition.

Ellsworth F. Giles was Altoona's twelfth mayor. He was born in Orbisonia, Hunting- don county, and was educated in the public schools and Dickinson seminary, Williams- port, Pa., came to Altoona twelve years prior to his election and was engaged in the sta- tionary and grocery business when nominated by the democratic party as its standard bearer in the campaign of 1899. He was elected by a plurality of 1,713 votes over Theodore Burchfield, his personal popularity among all classes of people being chiefly responsible for this flattering tribute.

Mayor Giles gave the city a clean, judicious administration, instituting many reforms which had a tendency to improve conditions, as for example, the introduction of cleaning the streets by the "white wings." During his term numerous large conventions were held in the city, the most notable of which was the annual conclave of the Knights Templars in the summer of 1899. Mayor Giles, who is a most pleasing orator, cordially welcomed the. various organizations to the city.

It was Mayor Giles who took the initiative in the organization of the Pennsylvania League of Cities of the Third Class, the first convention of which was held at York, Pa., during his term. This body has since become a powerful factor in the affairs of the state and much important legislation in the interest of the cities of the third class has been en- acted.

Upon his retirement from the mayor's chair, Mayor Giles established the Altoona

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Manufacturing company, which manufactures women's garments and has built up a large and growing industry in the city. He has al- ways manifested a deep interest in the affairs of the municipality and usually attends the sessions of the League of Cities of the Third Class, which he was very largely instrumental in forming.

STREET AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.

Simon H. Walker, the fourteenth mayor of Altoona, began his term on the first Monday of April, 1905, he having been chosen at the preceding election in Febru- ary over William C. Myton, democrat, by a large majority. During his three years in office he gave the city the most progressive administration of its affairs it has ever had. During the years of its development the city had grown rapidly, but little attention had ever been paid to beautifying it. Many of the leading thoroughfares were unpaved, · and no attention had been paid to sidewalk laying, with the result that for miles and miles the streets were lined with dilapidated walks or none worthy of the name. No sooner had he been inducted into office un- til he took measures for beginning an ex- tensive campaign of street improvements. He exerted his influence to have councils pass legislation authorizing the floating of large loans for the purpose of street paving, and he inaugurated his famous sidewalk crusade. His enthusiasm soon became con- tagious and throughout his entire term in office the work of improvements went for- ward, with the result that when he reached the end he had secured the paving of more than twenty miles of streets and the people had laid thirty miles of new sidewalk, either brick or concrete. Simultaneous with the improvements to the streets the people be- gan to make improvements to their proper- ties. Porches, fences and retaining walls were built or improved, yards were made more attractive, and the spirit of civic bet- terment ran high. It was conservatively es- timated that $1,000,000 were expended by

the municipality and the people in making these improvements along the thoroughfares during the three years which ended with his term in April, 1908.

In addition, councils, on the recommenda- tion of the mayor, passed an ordinance reg- ulating building operations and creating the office of building inspector. This measure imposed many restrictions on building and great improvement has resulted in the ar- chitecture of the city. Martin V. Orner was the first building inspector, serving from April, 1907, until April, 1910, when he was succeeded by Matthew W. Craine. At the beginning of Mayor Walker's term the board of public works was created, this body having control with the city engineer as director of all matters pertaining to the streets. Those who have served on this board since its creation are Andrew Kipple, James C. Hughes, George W. Kuebler, George A. Klesius, J. Blair Andrews and W. M. Craine. Under its operations obso- lete methods of street cleaning, repairs and improvements have been abandoned and it has contributed largely towards making the city cleaner and more inviting in appear- ance.

Mayor Walker also inaugurated the pol- icy of requiring all public service corpora- tions using wires to put such wires in con- duits underground. They are given ten years to complete this work, a certain per- centage of their total mileage each year, with the result that the unsightly wires and poles are gradually disappearing from the limits of the city.

Mayor Walker established a precedent at the beginning of his 'term by retaining in office most of the minor employes of the municipality appointed by his predecessor, including the chief of police, John N. Til- lard, and the fire chief, Theodore W. Alle- man, and in doing so incurred the displeas- ure of some of the political leaders of his own party.' But his action was generally upheld by the public and he retired from of- fice universally esteemed and with a record

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HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

of achievement equaled by none of his pred- ecessors. During his term in office he signed an ordinance increasing the salary of the mayor from $1,800 per annum to $2,500.

ALTOONA'S FINANCES.

The financial affairs of the municipality of Altoona have always been judiciously admin- istered, and at no time during its history has its fair name been marred by scandals or im- putations of graft. During the past few years much money has been borrowed for making various public improvements, and as a result the city is pretty heavily in debt, a statement of which appears further on, but on the whole, the finances are in good condi- tion and the people are not as heavily taxed as are most municipalities throughout the country.

All appropriations are made by councils and the city treasurer is the custodian of all funds belonging to the city. He also collects the taxes. All municipal taxes are from April to April. The tax duplicate is placed in the hands of the treasurer in June, and I per cent rebate is allowed on all taxes paid before July 1. After the 31st of August in each year a penalty of 3 .per centum is added to all taxes then remaining unpaid, and on the first day of each month thereafter I per centum is added to all outstanding taxes until the same are fully paid. The amounts of such taxes and penalties remaining unpaid November I are placed in the hands of collectors by the treasurer, who are vested with authority to collect such taxes and penalties, with costs, by distress and sale of the goods and chattels on the premises assessed, belonging to tenants or others, without regard to the date of the assessment of the tax, and to levy upon any personal property of the delinquents that may be found within the county for collection of the tax.

The city controller is the municipal book- keeper and no money can be paid out by the treasurer except upon warrants coun- tersigned by the controller. Prior to the appropriations to the several departments

by councils, the controller is required to submit an estimate of the revenues for the ensuing year and the appropriations are based on this estimate. This official's es- timate of revenues for the year 1910-1I was as follows: Cash on hand, $15,000; general licenses, $18,000; liquor licenses, $20,000; building inspector, $1,000; board of health, $1,000; electrical inspections, $1,200; de- linquent taxes, $10,000; mayor's office re- reipts, $6,000; from county, feeding prison- ers, $250; liens of records, $5,000; sewer assessments for which judgments are con- fessed, $2,000; miscellaneous, $1,000; col- lections on 1910 tax duplicate, $225,018; water rents, taps, permits and frontages, $115,850; total, $421,418.

The city tax rate is 10 mills, of which 71/8 is devoted to general purposes and 27/8 to the sinking fund. The tax duplicate for 1910 shows a total amount of taxes to be col- lected of $248,909.38, exclusive of the water department, whose accounts are kept sep- arately, an increase of $15,593.50 as com- pared with the previous year. The total number of taxables in the city is 7,987, an increase of 223 as compared with 1909, when there were 7,764. The total valuation of the property within the city subject to city taxation is $24,890,938, an increase of $1,569,350, as compared with 1909, when the valuation was $23,331,588. Following are the figures for the several wards of the city :

Ward

Taxables

Valuation

Amt. of Tax

First

570

$3,772,555

$37,725.55

Second

824

2,313,507

23,135.07

Third

668

4,405,654

44,056.54

Fourth

658

2.715,478

27,154.78

Fifth

841

1,879,118

18,781.18

Sixth

1,19I

2,671,543

26,715.43

Seventh

540

1,520,530

15,205.30

Eighth

794

1,612,520

16,125.20

Ninth

545

1,809,553

18,095.53

Tenth

636

1, 164.940

11,649.40

Eleventh

427

494,435

4,844.35

Twelfth

293

531,105

5,311.05

As compared with other years:

Year

Taxables

Valuation

Tax

1894

·4,950

$15,051,935

$105,363.58

1895

·5,020

15,152,370

I13,643.35

1896

· 5,201

15,570,600

155,706.00

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, ALTOONA

SECOND METHODIST CHURCH, ALTOONA

12TH AVE. AND MISHLER THE- ATRE, ALTOONA

CHIMNEY ROCKS, NEAR HOL- LIDAYSBURG

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, ALTOONA

CITY HALL, ALTOONA

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

1897

. 5,334

16,004,825 160,048.25

1898

. 5,23I

15,741,525

118,061.4I

1899

.5,286

15,922,195

119,416.09

1900

. 5,312

16,075,175

120,563.81

190I

· 5,429

17,832,244 133,744.81

1902

.5,618

18,298,292

137,241.94

1903

. 5,770

18,582,246

185,822.46

1904

.5,974

18,701,968

187,019.68

1905

.6,417

19,270,625

192,706.25

1906

7,168

20,413,172

204,131.72

1907

7,467

22,565,235

225,652.35

1908

7,549

22,991,640

229,916.40

1909

7,764

23,331,588

233,315.88

The estimated value of real estate and personal property owned by the city of Al- toona, and not included in available assets, is as follows:

Kittanning Point reservoirs, pipe line, etc ..... $1,700,000

Prospect Hill reservoirs .. 100,000

High Service reservoirs.

100,000

Newly acquired farm lands

100,000

City hall

45,000

Engine house No. I.

12,000

Engine house No. 2.

12,000

Engine house No. 3.

18,000

Engine house No. 4.

7,000

Engine house No. 5.

5,000

Engine house No. 6.

4,500

Engine house No. 9.

5,000

Eight and one-half lots, Gospel Hill ..

8,500

Burns farm and Cresswell farm, filtration plant

100,000

One road roller

3,000

Electric fire alarm system.

10,000

Police patrol and telegraph system.

-7,000

Department of Public Works - wagons, sprinklers, sweepers, horse carts, etc. Four steam fire engines.

15,000

Hose wagons and carriages. 5,000

Hose

10,000

Fire department horses 5,500

Hook and ladder truck. 6,000

Fire department, general.

4,500

Department of Public Works, Survey Division

3,000

Department of Public Works, Highways and Sewers, Yards

12,000

Total

$2,303,000

Altoona bonded indebtedness, according to the last annual report of the controller, is $1,229,920.32. Since that time, however, some "bonds have been redeemed, so it is probably $50,000 less than that amount.

By act of assembly, approved March 9, 1871, the city of. Altoona was authorized to borrow $200,000 at a rate of interest not to exceed 8 per cent to provide a supply of water. The money was borrowed at 7 3/10 per cent. An ordinance approved October 12, 1879, authorized the city to borrow $60,000

for water supply.

Under this ordinance $59,000 was borrowed at 6 per cent. An act of assembly approved April 10, 1873, author- ized the borrowing of $150,000 for improve- ments and liquidating of outstanding indebt- edness, the rate of interest not to exceed 7 per cent. In July, 1886, the whole sum of $409,000, borrowed as above, was refunded at 4 per cent, the premium obtained being 7/16 of I per cent. This refunded debt of $409,000 was known as "funded loan of 1886" and was due July 1, 1901, and payable July 1, 1906, at which time $100,000 was canceled with sinking fund and the balance of $309,000 refunded by issue of "refunding 4's of 1906" due July 1, 1916, and payable July 1, 1936. These bonds were sold to Hay- den, Miller and Company, of Cleveland, Ohio, June 21, 1906, at a premium of $2,875.

By an ordinance approved July 6, 1904, the further sum of $220,000 to be known as "water loan of 1894," and 4 per cent was authorized and a premium received at 11/2 per cent.

"Improvement bonds of 1895" to the amount of $280,000 were issued by author- ity of an ordinance approved June 27, 1895, and provided for payment of district sewer judgments, floating indebtedness, etc. This issue was sold September 10, 1895, to E. H. Rollins & Sons, of Boston at their bid of $3,250 premium and accrued interest.

Ordinance No. 1410, approved August 10, 1903, authorized the issuing of $229,000 re- funding bonds at 4 per cent, the purpose of which was to take up a like amount of outstanding improvements bonds at 6 per cent, the payment of which was formerly based on assessments to be collected for street paving but for which the city was made liable by decision of supreme court which decided that the ordinances had been passed illegally. These refunding bonds of 1903 were sold to Hayde, Miller & Co., of Cleveland, Ohio, December 23, 1903, their bid being $231,762.50, being a premium of $2,762.50, or 1.25 per cent.

Under the authority of ordinance No.

5,000

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HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

1783, an election was held February 20, 1906, and assent of the electors obtained to borrow $400,000, of which $300,000 was to be used for construction of impounding reservoir, laying pipe lines, etc., which bonds are designated "water bonds of 1906." The balance of $100,000 was au- thorized to be used in street paving, and the issue of bonds therefor to be designated "improvement bonds of 1906" These bonds were purchased to N. W. Halsey & Co.

Under authority of ordinance No. 2169, the consent of the electors was obtained on February 19, 1907, for the borrowing of an additional $100,000 for street paving. These bonds were sold to A. B. Leach & Co., New York. These bonds are known as "improve- ment bonds of 1907."

In February, 1908, the consent of the electors was obtained for the borrowing of $400,000, of which $300,000 was to be used for continuing the work on the impounding reservoir, known as Lake Altoona, and $100,000 for street paving.

ORIGINAL NAMES OF STREETS AND AVENUES.

Present Name. Former Name.

Third Avenue Sarah Street

Fourth Avenue Elizabeth Street

Fifth Ave. from 5th to 16th Sts. . High Street

Fifth Ave. west of 16th St .. Rebecca Street

Sixth Ave. from 4th to 16th Sts. Mulberry Street

Sixth Ave. west of 16th St .. Helen Street Seventh Ave. from 4th to 16th Sts. . Washington Street Seventh Ave. west of 16th St ... Adeline Street

Eighth Ave. from 4th to 16th Sts Pine Street

Eighth Ave. west of 16th St. Harriet Street Ninth Avenue Branch Street

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 42

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Number of Pages: 1036

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036