Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 45

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 45

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which was the first hydrant put upon the market by any manufacturer. The gradually increasing population demanded a greater supply of water than an eight-inch main would carry, and to meet this demand the Pennsylvania railroad company laid a twelve- inch main from Pottsgrove to the borough, completing it in the summer of 1867.

In 1868, the borough obtained a city char- ter and the additions known as Greensburg, Logantown and Loudonsville were brought into the city limits and divided into wards. In 1870 the city council decided by legislation to construct a water plant for the city, and to operate it independent of the company sup- plying the city with water at that time. A loan was secured, and a committee, known as the water committee, was appointed to have control of the new water department. This committee purchased from Nancy J. Wolf a tract of land situated at Kittanning point, where the erection of a storage reservoir was contemplated. On this tract of land, in June, 1871, Campbell Bros., contractors, built a small reservoir which was afterwards called "the frog pond."

Simultaneous with this work, Donoghue Brothers, contractors, constructed a distrib- uting reservoir on Prospect hill, known now as the southern portion of the Fourth ward, and inthe fall of the same year a twelve-inch line of pipe was laid from Kittanning point to Helen street (Sixth avenue) and Clara (Fif- teenth) street. This pipe was not extended to the reservoir on Prospect hill until the fol- lowing spring, but through the courtesy of the Altoona Gas and Water company, the city was permitted to connect their main with that of the water company at that point, the company supplying the city with water until early in 1872, when the purchase of the water portion of the gas and water company's plant was con- summated, the consideration being $20,000. The water committee then appointed a super- intendent in the person of Mr. John A. Baer, who also served in the capacity of secretary and clerk in the department.

In 1881, a loan of $60,000 was made to

build Kittanning point reservoir. Messrs. Dhrew & Bell were awarded the contract for this work at $43,000, Thomas Seabrook being the engineer in charge of the work which be- gan in the summer of that year and continued up until the fall of 1882, when the loan of $60,000 was exhausted, part of the money having been used in making roadways at the point and in laying distributing mains in the city. The reservoir remained in an unfinished condition until July, 1883, when the work was given to the contracting firm of J. M. Camp- bell & Co., on the percentage basis. This firm constructed a temporary spillway, closed up the main embankment and connected the twelve-inch main to this reservoir, the cost of this work amounting to nearly $16,000.

In the spring of 1885 the city council adopted the Wallace law, under the provisions of which a board of water commissioners was elected to assume control of the affairs of the water department. The first board of com- missioners was composed of Messrs. M. H. Mackey, T. Y. Myers, Daniel Laughman and William Murray, Sr., the latter being the chairman. This board appointed a secretary, thus relieving the superintendent of that branch of the work.

A loan of $100,000 was secured from the Pennsylvania railroad company in 1887, for the purpose of completing Kittanning point reservoir as it now stands and to extend there- from a sixteen-inch line of pipe to the city. The work of completing this reservoir was done by Campbell Bros., who also repaired Prospect hill reservoir in the city, by lining it with six inches of concrete, over which brick was laid in cement. The line of sixteen-inch pipe was placed in the ground by the water de- partment, the trenching alone being contracted for.

On April 14, 1891, city councils enacted and approved an ordinance entitled "An ordinance to provide for the increase of the indebtedness of the city of Altoona in an amount not ex- ceeding $220,000 for the purpose of securing and furnishing an additional supply of pure water to its citizens and institutions of said

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city." A special election was held on the 22d day of May, 1891, which resulted in a major- ity of the equalified voters of the city signify- ing their consent to such loan and increase of indebtedness.

A special committee was appointed by coun- cils to inquire into and recommend the most feasible plan for obtaining such additional supply of water. This committee, after a care- ful investigation of the matter intrusted to them, recommended Kittanning point site as the best plan for obtaining such additional supply. Their report was adopted by select and common council, who instructed the board of water commissioners to have prepared and to furnish to councils the necessary plans and specifications for the construction of a large impounding reservoir of the minimum capac- ity of 300,000,000 gallons of water and the necessary adjuncts for the perfect completion thereof. Also to employ a competent hy- draulic engineer to prepare the plans. Mr. C. W. Knight, of the Stanwiz Engineering com- pany, located at Rome, N. Y., was secured to furnish the same.

On December 15, 1892, bids were re- ceived and the contract for the contem- plated work was awarded to the Conti- nental Construction company of Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania. Councils failing to ap- prove the action of the board in this case, the matter was delayed for several months. Bids were then asked again and on Novem- ber 18, 1893, with the approval of councils, the water board awarded the contract to Messrs. Collins & Martin, who concluded their work in August, 1896. During the construction of the impounding dam and the flood water channel around the same, an ordinance was passed by councils au- thorizing the construction of a flood-water channel leading from a point at west end of flood channel now provided for the new res- ervoir, to a point at the upper end of the old reservoir, a distance of about 2,770 feet, and the location and construction of a new set- tling basin at the west end of the old reser- voir in place of the settling basin provided

for in the new reservoir and abolish the latter. This contract was awarded to the Jutte & Foley company, of Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, who completed the work during the ensuing year. The concrete bottom in this portion of the flood channel was not sufficiently strong to withstand the pres- sure brought to bear upon it, when heavy freshets occurred. This was demonstrated forcibly in September, 1896, when during a storm, the bottom of the channel was torn out in several places by the action of the water passing over it. This proved con- clusively that the only fit bottom for the channel would be one composed of cut stone. In the summer and fall of 1897, W. G. Stall & Sons completed the task of plac- ing such a bottom in this portion of the channel, making it similar in every respect to the portion built by Collins & Martin.

Following the completion of the impound- ing dam, numerous improvements were made to the water system. These con- sisted in the main of the construction of new lines of supply to increase the reservoir capacity of the system and to stave off a threatened shortage which had resulted from drouths. In 1904 a high service res- ervoir, or rather two reservoirs in one, was built on the hill west of the city for distri- bution purposes.

In the meantime it became apparent that the city would be obliged to further in- crease its water supply and early in 1906 it was decided to construct an immense stor- age basin below the impounding dam, to be known as Lake Altoona. At the February election of that year a proposal for a loan of $300,000 to begin work was submitted to the voters and was adopted. The con- tract was awarded to Daniel F. O'Rourke, who started the work the same year, com- pleting his part of the contract in. Febru- ary, 1909. In the latter year another loan of $300,000 was secured to continue the work, and a contract for the same was awarded to the Carothers Contracting com- pany, the principal item in this contract

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being 360,000 cubic yards of embankment and about 21,000 cubic yards of rubble con- crete, which will insure a storage capacity in the new basin of five or six hundred mil- lion gallons of water. When completed Lake Altoona will cover a ground surface of 153 acres and will hold 1,600,000,000 gal- lons, or about four times the present ca- pacity of the two present reservoirs. The approximate cost of completing this stor- age basin, with an auxiliary reservoir, and settling basin on Scotch Knob stream flood- water channel, and all appurtenances, was estimated at about $900,000. C. W. Knight of the Stanwix Engineering company is also in charge of the construction of this reser- voir.

During the past few years the water de- partment has pursued a policy of acquiring the land adjacent to the reservoirs and em- bracing the water shed and now owns up- wards of 500 acres, from which all buildings have been removed and over which careful inspection is made with a view of assuring the purity of the water-supply. In addition to the half dozen small streams which feed the reservoirs, the department has acquired the rights of Sugar run and Reigel's Gap run, which flow several miles away, and pipe lines are being gradually extended to- wards these streams. During the prolonged drouths of 1908 and 1909, a temporary line was laid to Sugar run, a pumping station was installed and a supply sufficient to tide the city over secured. The purity of Al- toona's water, flowing from springs in the Allegheny mountains, is unrivaled in the country, and when Lake Altoona, with its immense storage capacity is completed, the city will have a supply of water ample for a city double its present population.

The water department is under the super- vision of a board of water commissioners, consisting of three freeholders, one of whom is elected annually by councils for a term of three years. The board is at present com- posed of Messrs. H. K. McCauley, H. H. Riggin and J. A. Elder. Since the creation

of the office of superintendent, three men have held the position, John A Baer, 1872- 1885; John Robeson, 1885-1886, and Sam- uel A. Gailey, 1886-1910. The office of sec- retary was created in 1885, since when three men have held the position, David Miller, 1885-1888; Charles A. Martin, 1888- 1900, and Cornelius B. Campbell, 1900- 1910.

Up to date the cost of construction of the reservoirs and flood-water channels located at Kittanning point has been $1,021,335, and it will require $300,000 to complete Lake Altoona. It can, however, be utilized with the completion of the contract now under way by the Carothers Contracting company.

THE ALTOONA POST-OFFICE.

The Altoona post-office was originally known as Collinsville post-office and was located at that time in Huntingdon county. It was established November II, 1817, and Robert McNamara was appointed postmas- ter the same day. There is no record of any change until August 3, 1830, at which time David Y. Hileman was appointed post- master. He appears to have served but two months and on October 3, 1830, Robert McNamara was again appointed postmaster who was succeeded by the following per- sons on the dates named : Esther Den- lenger, March 18, 1834; Michael Hileman, April 25, 1835; Robert H. McCormick, March 21, 1845; Benjamin Figart, March 24, 1846; George Boozel, December 21, 1848.

On November 1, 1850, the name of the office was changed and removed to Altoona, Blair county, and George C. Ferree ap- pointed postmaster, who served until June 29, 1852, when Thomas Elway was ap- pointed.

The post-office was located for at least a part of the time in Mr. Elway's residence which stood at the corner of Twelfth av- enue and Fourteenth street; the office be-

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ing a one-story addition, which stood at about No. 1402 Twelfth avenue.

Henry A. Sellers was appointed post- master May 21, 1853, and the post-office was removed to his store room, in the building occupied by Jerry Davis as a butcher shop, second door from the First Lutheran church, on Eleventh avenue.

John Shoemaker was next appointed September 20, 1856, and the post-office was removed to what was then known as the Masonic Temple building on Twelfth street between Tenth and Eleventh avenues.

On January 7, 1861, the office was made a presidential post-office. Previous to that time the postmaster had been appointed by the first assistant postmaster general, but the business of the office had now increased to the extent that it came under the list of presidential appointments, and John Shoe- maker was appointed by the president Jan- uary 7, 1861.

On May 6, 1861, George W. Patton was appointed postmaster and soon after, owing to the necessity of finding larger quarters, the post-office was removed to Mr. Pat- ton's building, which stood where the store room of William F. Gable & Co., has since been erected. Sometime after this the post- office was again removed back to the old Masonic Temple, this location having been found much more central than the previous one.

Frank B. Stewart was appointed post- master April 5, 1869, and continued in of- fice until February 8, 1877, at which time Theodore B. Patton was appointed post- master, who served until his resignation in May, 1891.

Albert P. McDonald was appointed post- master in May, 1891, and served until his death November 22, 1895, when his assist- ant postmaster, Reamer Hoke, was ap- pointed acting postmaster, November 23, 1895, which he held until January 31, 1896.

Hambleton P. Wilson was appointed postmaster February 1, 1896, and served to

March 2, 1901, reappointed March 2, 1901, and served to March 31, 1905.

George Fox, the present postmaster was appointed March 1, 1905, took charge of the office April 1, 1905, reappointed March 2, 1909.

Owing to the continued increase in busi- ness during the term of H. P. Wilson it be- came necessary to again secure larger quar- ters and during the year 1893 Hon. Josiah D. Hicks, then congressman, introduced a bill into congress providing for a public building for Altoona, Pennsylvania. Mr. Hicks maintained a steadfast effort to have the bill passed and finally succeeded in 1899. The location of a site took another year, but the present location, Chestnut avenue and Eleventh street, was chosen after a long fight and numerous visits to Washington by persons interested in the various sites under consideration by the de- partment. The land was finally purchased by the government in 1901. The contract for the erection of the building was awarded to Harry A. Knerr of Pottsville, Pennsyl- vania. Actual work was started on March 7, 1901, under the directions of Superintend- ent of Construction Robert A. Greenfield, and in the afternoon of that day at 4 o'clock, H. P. Wilson, then postmaster, turned the first sod in the work of excavating for the foundation.

On Friday, June 14, 1901, the corner stone was laid, the ceremonies being in charge of Logan lodge No. 290, F. & A. M., assisted by the officers of the grand lodge of Pennsylvania. In the corner stone when it was laid were deposited papers of that date, a history of the building, a number of pictures and documents.

Work on the building continued rapidly, and owing to some changes decided on by the department at Washington, would have been completed within the contract time, September 1, 1902. However, the removal of post-office quarters was made on Septem- ber 30, 1902, and the new Federal building occupied.

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The building is a two-story structure con- structed of marble, terra cotta and brick, and was built for use as a court house and post-office. The first floor is given over entirely for post-office purposes. The sec- ond floor is arranged for the use of the post-office inspector, internal revenue col- lector, special pension examiner, and a court room.

The building is under the care and cus- tody of George Fox, postmaster, who is designated custodian of the same for the treasury department who owns and controls the building.

The Altoona post-office with its thirteen numbered stations and Juniata station, ranks third in the state in the transaction of money order business, the gross postal receipts nearing $100,000. A total of twenty-five clerks, thirty-eight carriers, special delivery messenger, transfer clerk, and thirteen clerks in charge of stations with postmaster and assistant, making a total of eighty employees, constitutes the person- nel of the Altoona post-office.

STREET RAILWAYS.

The present magnificent network of trolley lines reaching into every section of the city and extending out through the county had its inception at a meeting held at the Logan house on February 18, 1882, when a number of men assembled for the purpose of forming a company to construct and operate a street railway, the cars to be operated by horse-power. The meeting was attended by John P. Levan, David K. Ramey, William Murray, Frederick N. Holmes, Clement Jaggard, Samuel S. Blair, George A. McCormick, Theodore H. Wig- ton, D. D. Wood, H. S. Frank, Andrew Kipple, W. K. Beaty, David Koch, H. C. Dern and A. J. Anderson.

D. K. Ramey was chosen to preside over the meeting, and Theodore H. Wigton was appointed secretary. At the request of the president, J. P. Levan stated the object of the meeting. It was resolved by the meet-

ing to employ counsel and have all neces- sary papers prepared without delay. At the same meeting the following committee was appointed and instructed to employ counsel: John P. Levan, chairman; D. K. Ramey, William Murray, F. W. Olmes and C. Jaggard.

This committee caused to be prepared a proper paper to be subscribed by those who wished to become members of the proposed company. This paper was promptly signed by the parties interested, each party sub- scribing his name and the number of shares of the capital stock each party agreed to take in the proposed company.

At a meeting of the parties interested, held on April 5, 1882, at the Altoona bank, John P. Levan, chairman of the committee, made report to the meeting that all the cap- ital stock of the proposed company had been subscribed, and accompanying the report with the subscription paper. At this same meeting the stockholders elected John P. Levan, president of the company, and the following directors: John E. Levan, Will- iam Murray, Frederick W. Olmes, D. K. Ramey, S. S. Blair, H. S. Frank, C. Jaggard, C. F. Benview and Max Liveright. Sub- sequently L. B. Reifsneider was chosen sec- retary; T. H. Wigton, treasurer; Andrew J. Riley, solicitor, and C. H. Buch, superin- tendent. The meeting by resolution con- tinued the committee with instructions to obtain a charter.

Proper articles of association were pre- pared by Andrew J. Riley, Esq., in conform- ity with the provisions of an act of assem- bly, and the governor, on the 10th of March, 1882, issued his letters patent creating the persons who so subscribed the articles of incorporation a corporation by the name, style and title of the City Passenger Railway company of Altoona, Pennsylvania.

At the first meeting of the board of direct- ors, held at the office of the company, it was ordered that the president invite proposals for the furnishing of all material in the con- struction of the street railway of the com-

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pany. In answer to the advertisements in the newspapers a large number of respon- sible parties furnished bids. Messrs. Camp- bell Brothers, of Altoona, railroad contract- ors, were the successful bidders, and ac- cordingly the board of directors, at a meet- ing the 22d day of April, awarded this firm the contract for furnishing all the material, and for the construction of the road.

The company was capitalized at $40,000, there being 800 shares at $50 per share. On the 3Ist of March, 1882, the council of Al- toona passed an ordinance granting the consent of the city of Altoona to the com- pany to construct its lines over certain streets and avenues. This ordinance was subsequently amended, April 3, so that the gauge of the railway should be five feet three inches instead of five feet, as provided originally. The cost of the construction of the road was $35,000 and the equipment, consisting of six passenger cars and thirty horses, $10,000. The length of the road as first completed was three miles. The aver- age rate of speed adopted by passenger cars, including stops, was five miles per hour; number of trips each day, 104, each horse traveling about twenty miles daily. The average time consumed by cars in pass- ing over the road, round trip, was one hour.

The road was opened on the 4th of July 1882, with a notable demonstration. The line extended from First street to Eleventh avenue, to Bridge street, to Sev- enteenth street, to Eighth avenue, to Fourth street where the cars were turned on a turn-table and went back over the same route. Soon afterward a branch was con- structed from the corner of Eighth avenue and Seventeenth street to Seventh avenue, to Twenty-fifth street. In 1889 and 1890 a line was constructed from the corner of Eleventh avenue and Bridge street to Eighteenth street, to Union avenue, to Broad avenue and along Broad avenue to the city line at Twenty-seventh street, and subsequently to

Thirtieth street. The line was also extended from Fourth street

and Eighth avenue, to Sixth avenue, to Lloyd street, below First street.

In 1891 electricity took the place of horses and a power-house was erected on Nineteenth street between Ninth and Mar- garet avenues. In 1892 the Altoona and Logan Valley Electrical Railway company was formed and the same year it began the con- struction of a line to Hollidaysburg, six miles long. The same year work was started on a new power-house at Sixth av- enue and Thirty-first street, where the power by which all the lines of the company are operated is produced. Here also, are located the great car barns of the company, where ninety cars can be stored, and the workshops of the company. A large addi- tion to the power-house was built in 1901. The capacity of the power-house is 2,100 horse-power in engines and boilers, and 1,500 kilo-watts in electric power. A fea- ture of the plant is a large concrete cooling tower to cool water for condensing pur- poses. All of the buildings at the power plant are constructed of brick, concrete and iron and are absolutely fire-proof. As a further protection against fire a sprinkling system has been installed in all of the build- ings. A well organized fire brigade is drilled every week.

Early in 1894 the Logan Valley company built a line to Bellwood, seven miles, and in 1901 this line was extended to Tyrone, six miles further. At Tyrone in 1908 there was erected an auxiliary power plant, equipped with the most modern machinery, its product furnishing power to operate cars and to furnish light, heat and power to Ty- rone borough and for commercial purposes. The power for the Blair lighting company at Bellwood, an auxiliary company, is fur- nished by the Logan Valley company.

The Logan valley, soon after its comple- tion, secured a controlling interest in the City Passenger, and the two roads were . operated practically as one, under one su- perintendent. In 1901 the American Street Railways company, a corporation owned

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largely by Philadelphia capitalists, acquired both companies and have since operated them. The officers of the company are as follows: President, J. J. Sullivan; vice- president, H. J. Crowley; secretary and treasurer, C. L. T. Tingley; controller, F. J. Pryor, Jr., all of Philadelphia; superin- tendent, Scott S. Crane; superintendent of transportation, Lee T. Shannon, both of Al- toona.

During the past few years many exten- sions to the lines have been made, includ- ing branches to South Altoona and Eldo- rado, to Juniata and East Altoona, Fair- view, Second and Third avenues and to Rose Hill cemetery, about two miles east of the city. The Logan Valley line has been double tracked to Hollidaysburg, and an extension built by means of which the cars enter the city on both sides of the rail- road. In the city cars run six minutes apart, and on the Logan Valley to and from Hol- lidaysburg, on the west side, every fifteen minutes, and from the east side, every half hour. From II o'clock in the evening until 6 in the morning cars leave Altoona for Hollidaysburg every hour. Two cars are operated on the Tyrone and Bellwood divi- sion. Thirty-seven cars are operated in the regular service, thirty-five of which center in Altoona, while two run on a local line in Tyrone.

Fares in the city, including a transfer if desired, over any of the City Passenger lines, are but 5 cents, and the same charge is made to Lakemont park or Llyswen, and 10 cents to Hollidaysburg. To Juniata, the fare is 5 cents and to Tyrone 20 cents additional. No transfers are given between the City Passenger and the Logan Valley. The company gives employment to over 300 men and the monthly payroll exceeds $20,000.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 45

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