USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume I > Part 42
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"While General Grant was working into Vieksburg last summer, the tele- graph the same day announced that Vicksburg was in our hands, and Bill Yaney was dead. When this news reached old Boston, one of our Badger boys standing by, remarked: 'God and Grant are at work now, and this makes us hope that rebellion and abolition will fill a common grave by No- vember.' I have always mourned that the officials at Washington sent back Alexander H. Stevens, when, under the flag of truce he implored us to receive him within our lines. He might have borne the olive branch, and opened the way to that glorious reunion, which all except the higher law abolitionists, so much desire. As for the abolitionists, there is no power in heaven to please them for they hate peace on earth. For our Government, the constitution and its laws, what would we not do that is honorable. It is the best government ever formed or lived under. All true men believe this.
"Schools .- The public schools in our city are institutions of great mer.t. and every good citizen is, or ought to be proud of them. Great care should be exercised in selecting good teachers, for upon them, in a great measure, de- pends the character and intelligence of those to come after ns.
"Fire Department .- Under present firemstances, our fire department Vol. 1-29
5
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE,
CELEBRATION AT MILWAUNIE, JULY 1, 1841.
OFFICERS OF THE DAY.
BYRON KILDOURN.
Prezydent of the Day
SOLOMON JUNEAU ..
JORN HUSTIS
GEORGE H WALKER
HENBY WILLIAMS, JOHN WHITE >Tie Prendente
GEORGE E GRAVES
DAVID GEORGF
WILLIAM BROWN J.
Colonel E B WOLCOTT Marshal
DAVID M KEELER
Myor JOHN 11 MIIGS ...
Mraus GEORGE W LOSS.
Armataal Merakai's
JOHN THOMSSEN GARRET M FITZGERALD. J ALEXANDER W STOW LEONARD P' CHARY.
Greter
Reader of the Deilarasism
JAMES KNEELAND
LATEX MATHIESON,
JAMES 5 BAKER,
11 RUN KILROLAN,
DANIEL II RICHARDS,
HAYIN M KELLER
JUIN WINITE
C L MAC ARTHUR
GE. W LOS4
F. J GENIRI,E.
DIICT SHUMWAY. LINI'S R CADY
RICHARD MURPHY
LENNARD P' ERARY
D UPMANY.
DAVID VAN TILRES
SI.AS GRIFFITH,
3
I A J LIPHAM
JHIN H ] WELIN
CLINTON WALWORTH. GEO IT WALKER,
JAMES BROWN,
ORDER OF THE
1 --- One Gun at day -break,
2 .- Federal Sstute of 13 guns at sunrise, accompanied by the ringma of the bells.
3 .. " At the firing of the signal gun #1 10 o'clock, the Procesuon, (will ils night wing in line, extending down East Water Street,) will form in front of the "Cortaor hy," is the following order-
1 ---- MARSHAL.
2-Music,
3 -- President and Vice- Presidente,
1-Reader and Orator.
D ---- The Clergy,
0 --- Inviled Guests,
7. . Field Thecc and Colors,
6 -- Committee of Arrangements, a
D -- Officers of Milu aukie County,
In ... President and Board of Trustees of Mila subir,
11- - MI sonic Society.
12 ---- Odd Fellows' Society
1.3 -... Young Men , Ausoristion,
11 - Wisconsin Ilepeal Ann iation,
15 --- Engine Company, No. 1
10 ---- 1look and I.odder Company, No L'
17 .... Sabbath School Sarichats,
[N ...- Citizeny generally.
1 --. Two men on horseback,
2. --- Greman Brass Band,
3 -Colonel D Urvagy, Chief Officer, with Adjutant
1 .--- Captam SCHELTE, of the Rifle Company with Adjufruta. 5 -- Rifle Company, walt banner,
G --- Head Officers of the train of citizens with Adjutants.
: Ciliares, with the Hermann's banner, N ++-Caplain D. Grosce, of the Linders, with Adjutanty, 8 --- Escadron of Lancers, with standards.
The PROCESSION will then proered up East Water In Wisconsin street, Bp Wisconsin to Jackson altert; up Jackson to Oneula street, down Oneida to Wells street, up Welle lo West-Water street, up West- Water lo Chesnut street, down Went. Water to Second street, down Second to the Congregational Church, where the following will be the
OBDER OF THE EXERCISES
1 -- Music, I - Munc. '
2 -- P'raver, IOration,
3 .- Reading the Declaration. 7 --. Benediction.
6 -- Muur.
The Procession will then re-form and proceed down Spring In Wisconsin street, up Wisconsin 10 East Water street, up East Water to Mason street, up Mason to Jefferson street, down Jefferson to Huron street, up Huron to East. Water street, and up Eust Water to the "Courage Jon," where simpluous DINNER will be served up by MeIsts TATT & SFLIR, for all who may Wish to partske.
During the march of the Procession to the Dinner Table, A Nationsl Salute of 20 guns, and an additional one for each territory, will be fired on the Public Square
The inhabitants of the adjacent country and neighboring towns. nro respectfully invited to particijisto in' the festivities of the day.
Thn Marshal particularly requests the members of the Committee of Arrangergenty, and all the Societies and l'ompanies who intend to le pirear ni, to rendervous at nine o'clock-to form in there distin tive bodies, and be in readiness to march to the position avsigned them in the line of the Process ton, at the hiring of the signal gun al 10 o'oclock
l' is, perhaps, proper to state, that although a perfect understanding hay not leven efferted with allthe various Societies enumerated in this Order. the Marshal his conceived it has daly to sonign them a place in the l'vores tion, with the earnest hope that they may each and all be in attendance
The Marshal's Siell, and the mounted Officers of the German Corps. bre regiured to rendersous at half-past o.pht, for further orders.
515
Milwaukee
ANNOUNCEMENT OF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION IN 1844
F. D MUITO%
IND T HIERSIEMAVS
HERMANN HEARTELL
451
THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
ought to be an efficient institution. We have three of the best steam fire engines now in use. Much good they have already accomplished. According to my own observation, they have already paid for themselves. In two in- stances, more than ten times the cost of these machines was saved. Our chief engineer should use great care in the selection of men, in making proper ar- rangements for getting to fires with dispateh, and for working the machines with rapidity and facility when there. He ought to be sure, if possible, that all his assistants are capable, honest, trustworthy, and of all things, sober men. I would suggest that the horses be exercised each day in the week, and when so exercised that they only be driven around the block where the engine is located, so that in case of fire the horses shall not be too far from the engine house.
"Police .- Our police force is quite too small in numbers, but under our charter it cannot be increased. Therefore it is of the utmost importance to employ on that force, the best meu only, in order to make it as efficient as possible. To this end I will recommend a man for the chief of police, subject to your confirmation, with whom I shall entrust the responsibility of employ- ing the entire force under him, with the privilege of discharging all who do not please him; then, with your cooperation, I shall hold the chief solely re- sponsible for the faithful performance of his whole duty under the law; any failure or negligence to cost him his official head.
"Harbor and River .- It is well understood that we have the best harbor on this great ehain of inland seas. Without such a harbor, Milwaukee, as a com- mercial point, might be but little better than Port Washington. In order to retain our vast lake trade, the dredging of both Milwaukee and Menomonee rivers must engage our earliest attention. The completion of this all import- ant work will save a large sum on our freight. The largest class of vessels are very ready to load at Milwaukee, rather than at Chicago, for one cent per bushel less. This difference of tariff on shipments in favor of Milwaukee in one single year amounts to over fifty thousand dollars. This sum saved goes into the pockets of our producers. It also makes Milwaukee a better market than Chicago, and thus we are compensated. The council, therefore, should exert every available means to render our rivers navigable for the largest vessels on the lakes. Parties are now contemplating the erection of large and exten- sive iron works on one of our rivers this very season, and should they locate above where dredging has been done, I propose to give them a channel of sufficient depth of water so that the deepest laden vessel may load or dis- charge at their docks."
The City Hall .- In 1846, when Milwaukee was chartered the city had no place that could be called the city hall. "The couneil met in the basement of a church," says Professor Larson, "the various city officials had their offices wherever they found it convenient." In 1847, the council moved to the upper story of a stable and remained there three years when the building was de- stroyed by fire. The city government then occupied the Martin Block until 1857 when rooms were rented in the Cross Block. This block was burned in 1860, soon after which the city moved to the old market building where it remained until 1872. After this time the city rented the east wing of the
Engine built by JJames Smith, New York, 1855. Lithograph by H. Seifert
MILWAUKEE ENGINE COMPANY No. 1
1
75 9€
hE
8
33
--
LYYAU
.4
11
--
-
----
-
-
453
THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
courthouse for city purposes though some of the departments remained in the old city hall.
In 1886, Mayor Emil Wallber declared that a city hall must be built, but it was not until 1893 that it was finally decided to ereet such a building. At length, on January 1, 1896, a new city hall was completed and occupied. The cost of the building, ineluding furniture and fixtures, was $1,016,935. The population of Milwaukee in 1890 was 204,468, and ten years later, in 1900, it was 285,315.
Milwaukee Has Had Thirty-three Mayors .- The mayors of Milwaukee, be- ginning with Solomon Juneau, who was president of the Village of Milwaukee when it was chartered as a city, and who became the first mayor of the future metropolis of Wisconsin, have been as follows:
1846-Solomon Juneau.
1873-74-76-Ilarrison Ludington.
1847-11. N. Wells.
1876-78-A. A. R. Butler.
1848-Byron Kilbourn.
1878-80-John Black.
1849-50-Don A. J. Upham.
1880-82-Thomas II. Brown.
1851-George 11. Walker.
1882-84-John M. Stowell.
1852-Hans Croeker.
1884-88-Emil Wallber.
1853-George H. Walker.
1888-90-Thomas H. Brown.
1854-Byron Kilbourn.
1890-George W. Peek.
1855-57-James B. Cross.
1858-59-William L. Prentiss.
1859-llerman L. Page.
1860-William Pitt Lynde.
1890, December 6 to .June 5, 1893-P. J. Somers, Henry Hase, acting mayor from June 5, 1893, to July 1, 1893.
1861-James S. Brown.
1893, JJuly 1 to 1896- John C. Koch.
1862-Horaee Chase.
1896-98-William G. Rauschenberger.
1863-Edward O'Neil.
1898-1906-David S. Rose.
1864-Abner Kirby.
1906-1908-Sherburn M. Becker.
1865-66-John J. Tallmadge.
1908-1910-David S. Rose.
1867-68-69-70-Edward O'Neil.
1870-71-Joseph Phillips.
1912-1916-Gerhard A. Bading.
1871-72-Harrison Ludington.
1916-1924-Daniel W. Hoan.
1872-73-David G. Ilooker.
1910-1912-Emil Seidel.
George W. Peck resigned as mayor, November 17, 1890, because of his election as governor of the state, while Peter J. Somers resigned JJune 5, 1893, to take the seat in Congress to which he had been elected. Mayor lloan's term will not expire until April 1, 1924, because of the change to the four-year term for city officers.
The Milwaukee Police Department .- In the early days of the city's settle- ment the village marshal, assisted by the lowly constables, were in charge of the lives and property of the inhabitants. Joseph Chaunier was a marked figure among the early keepers of the peace and continued in the service of the city after it had been incorporated in 1846. Ile met his death in the line of duty in 1849 having been killed while endeavoring to stop a runaway horse.
The police department of the city was established on September 3, 1855, and, on the following 5th of October, William Beck was appointed the first chief. Ile was an efficient officer and served some twenty-four years in the
454
HHISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
capacity of chief, though not continuonsly. The police force at first was composed of six men chosen "for their fighting qualities." Chief Beek once said that "it was always necessary to whip a man in fair fight before you eonld arrest him." One of the members of this first force, a man named James Riee, was lost on the Lady Elgin when she foundered September 8, 1860, while on a trip from Chicago to Milwaukee.
The force was increased from time to time as the city grew in population and importance. In 1861, it numbered twenty-one men, by 1866 it consisted of thirty-seven men, continuing thus until 1874 when it was increased to forty-eight men. Since that time there have been frequent additions to the foree. In the Manual of Municipal Government for the year 1920, the total number of offieers and patrolmen in the police department of the city is given as 671.
The names and terms of service of the Milwaukee chiefs of police since the organization of the department, are as follows:
William Beek, appointed October 5, 1855. IIe served until 1862 when he was sneceeded by H. A. Page, who continued as chief until 1863. In the year following, William Beek again became chief of police and served fifteen years. Daniel Kennedy became chief in 1878, and two years later William Beck was again appointed and continued in office until 1882.
In this year, 1882, Robert Wasson was appointed and served until 1884, and was then sneeeeded by Lemnel Ellsworth, who served until 1885. He in turn was succeeded by Florian J. Ries, who served until 1888. John T. Janssen entered upon his long term of service October 26, 1888, which ended by his resignation in April, 1921, a period of thirty-three years. A few months later he was sueeeeded by the present chief, Jacob L. Lanbenheimer.
The Milwaukee Fire Department .- In the chapter devoted to the fire depart- ment in the Western Historical Company's "History of Milwaukee," it is said that "the old volunteers were firemen, policemen, and if worse came to worst, they fell in with the militia, and preserved publie peace." Like most of the fire departments of other eities in their early days, the Milwaukee fire department consisted of volunteers, "all the bright and plucky young men who have since built up the financial prosperity of the city, and protected it from the disorders of fire and panic."
The fire department was then composed of the eream of the growing city, and in 1837 a hook and ladder company was formed and in the following year a house was built for its accommodation on what afterwards became the custom house site. Among the names of the volunteers were : Benjamin Edgerton, F. C. Pomeroy, L. J. Highy, William Brown, Jr., William Winslow, Joseph Green, Elisha Starr, Rufus Parks, A. O. T. Breed, Nathaniel Prentiss, A. A. Bird, Wil- liam Webber, John Pixley, Albert Fowler, A. W. Hatch, George Vail, William Gardiner, George D. Dousman, Alexander Mitchell, and Fred Otis.
In the Manual of the Common Council and Municipal Government of the City of Milwaukee for the year 1920, the personnel of the fire department is given, as follows: One chief engineer, one first assistant chief engineer, six assistant chief engineers, and 584 assistant firemen.
The names and terms of service of the chief engineers of the Milwaukee
455
THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
Fire Department since the beginning are as follows: Jobst HI. Buening, whose term of office was from 1858 to 1867; Patrick MeLaughlin, from 1867 to 1871; Henry Lippert, from 1871 to 1878; Henry Claymier, 1878 to 1880; Henry Lippert, from 1880 to 1883; James Foley, from 1883 to 1903; Herman Meminger, from 1903 to 1905; Thomas A. Claney, appointed July 11, 1905, present fire elief.
The Budget System of Milwaukee .- The report of the city comptroller, Mr. Lonis M. Koteeki, for the year 1921, explains briefly in the introductory chapter that "the city budget is the financial program of the city for the fiscal year." It is a system by which the members of the common conneil may examine in detail the activities of the various eity departments. "Each item that appears in the budget;" he says, "constitutes a separate and dis- tinet appropriation, and department heads must plan their work for the year in accordance therewith.
"It is necessary, however," he continues, "that some elasticity be provided for, beeause, however carefully a budget be prepared, due to the fact that it is based on estimates made months in advance of actual expenditures, some appropriations will prove to be too small while others will be larger than necessary. This is taken care of by a provision of the budget law which provides that, within a given department, the board of estimate may take from one appropriation and add to another in case the necessity for it arises. The board of estimate is a comparatively small body, and, as it is not circum- scribed by an involved procedure, is able to act promptly and make adjust- ments, when, in its opinion, they are advisable, and thus avoid delaying the legitimate activities of any department.
The Contingent Fund. "A safeguard for unforseen emergencies arising during the year is provided for by means of the common council contingent fund. The contingent fund is a fund out of which the common council can take care of all new purposes not anticipated in the making up of the budget, and cases where a department's appropriations, due to abnormal conditions or a change of program, prove to be inadequate and must be increased. All appropriations from the contingent fund require the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members of the entire common council. With these safety valves provided, there can be no serious objection to the common council setting up appropriations for the departments in whatever detail they deem necessary or advisable in order to control the business of the city.
Tax Levies Prepared . in Advance .- "The Milwaukee budget, dne to the peenliar conditions of our financial affairs," says the comptroller, "is adopted in two sections .. Funds for the appropriations for some of the departments are provided for in the tax levy preceding the year in which the money is to be spent ; for other departments in the tax levy of the current year; so that the tax levy for any one year covers collections to meet the expenses of parts of two separate budgets. Consequently, no one budget ean be used in figuring the tax levy for any given year.
"To put it into concrete form, the taxes to meet the appropriations for the following departments, namely : Board of Examiners of Engineers, Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, Bureau of Building and Elevator Inspec-
EL
.....
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DDER COMPANY. I UG. 12T 1854
L
دمه
MEMBERS OF THE HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY No. 1 Taken October 16, 1865. (Names supplied in original in possession of Oldl Settlers' Club)
457
THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
tion, Bureau of Smoke Suppression, City Attorney, Workmen's Compensa- tion, City Clerk, City Treasurer, Common Council, Comptroller, Johnston Emergency Hospital, Mayor, Public Land Commission, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Tax Department, Art Commission, Board of Industrial Education, City Service Commission, Harbor Commission, Public Library Board, Publie Museum Board, School Board, and Sewerage Commission for the year 1921 were included in the 1920 tax levy, while the taxes to cover the appropriations for all other departments for the year 1921 will be included in the 1921 tax levy, which will be collected in December, 1921, and January, 1922. By means of the Taxation Readjustment Law, drawn at the request of the comp- troller and passed by the Legislature in 1913, the city will eventually come to the point whereby a single tax levy will cover a single budget. When that time comes the taxation and budget system in Milwaukee will be consider- ably simplified."
Procedure in Making Up the Budget .- The procedure in making up the city budget, in brief outline, as follows: "The various city departments submit to the comptroller, on forms furnished by him, and in accordance with instructions given by him, requests for appropriations for the purpose of con- ducting their departments during the ensuing fiscal year. These requests represent the recommendations of the department head to the board of esti- mate, and, through them, to the common council, which is the policy deter- mining branch of the city government, of the services which he believes his department should render. The comptroller tabulates the requests, cheeks them carefully as to classification and other essential details, and lays them before the board of estimate.
"This body is composed of the mayor, president of the common council, comptroller, treasurer, city attorney, commissioner of public works, and the members of the finance committee of the common council. From the requests submitted to them they make up and submit to the common council a pro- posed budget. To expedite the work the board of estimate appoints a com- mittee of three to examine into the details of the requests and make recommen- dations as to the amounts to be allowed.
"Many weeks are spent by the committee in this work. The committee does not attempt to pass on requests involving questions of policy, such as proposed bond issues, the amount of the contingent fund, new activities, and items such as those set up as common couneil special funds. But the great mass of detail is cleared away and the board as a whole can devote its time more fully to the larger questions involved. All board of estimate sessions are by law open to the public, and in addition it is required that at least one public hearing be held before submitting the proposed budget to the common council. A summary of the proposed budget is printed by the comptroller each year prior to the public hearing so that those interested may have some knowledge of what it is proposed to allow for the various purposes.
The Budget Submitted to the Council .-- " The proposed budget is sub- mitted to the common council and printed in detail in the proceedings, and thus the aldermen are given an opportunity to familiarize themselves with it before acting upon it, Under the law the couneil must also hold at least one
458
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
·
publie hearing to afford an opportunity for citizens to express their views to them. After the council adopts it the budget goes to the mayor for his ap- proval. The mayor has the power to veto any item appearing in the budget without affecting the rest of the items. The council may by a two-thirds vote pass such item over the mayor's veto, or in case the veto is sustained, may offer a substitute in place of it, which must go to the mayor for his ap- proval.
"In connection with the foregoing explanation of budget procedure," continues Mr. Kotecki in his comprehensive account of the city budget system, "it must be borne in mind that the so-called independent boards of the city make up their own budgets, and neither the board of estimate nor the common council has any authority to alter or amend the appropriations set up therein, except when requested by resolution of the various boards, prior to the formal adoption of the budget. It is mandatory upon the com- mon council to observe such requests. Inasmuch as the budgets for these boards and commissions amount to approximately 40 per cent of the total, it will readily be seen how greatly the control of the financial affairs of the city has been taken ont of the jurisdiction of the common council."
GENERAL CITY PURPOSES $ 5,210,0 41.09
$251.225.00
STREET
IMPROVEMENTS
$ 500,000. 00
1.64 3.2 +
7.1¢
BOND INTEREST $ 1,096,244.76
PARKS AND BOULEVAROS $624,269. 79
4.14
2.64
1
10.5¢
LIBRARY MUSEU $405.831.00
2.1 ¢
CONTINUATION : SCHOOLS $1012,500.001
TAX READJUSTMENT
SCHOOLS REPAIRS | $410,000.00
SOCIAL CENTERSI
$ 2.70.000.00 1
TRADE SCHOOLSI
00.00
--
-
PUBLIC SCHOOLS $ 3,540,000.00
$ 10.299.54
4
--
$5,52
EDU CATION
$294.000.00
35.94
BOND RETIREMENT $1,628,649.32
33.9¢
POLICE PENSION FUND
EXPENDITURE OF CITY TAX REVENUES
.
459
THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
Total tax levy for all city purposes. . $ 15,413,060.50 Assessed valuation of all taxable property :
Real estate 207,717,875.00
Improvements 301,813,140.00
Personal property
171,667,145.00
Total of assessed valuation. $681,198,160.00
City tax rate :
Average $22.63 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation.
Park System of Milwaukee. There are fifteen parks in Milwaukee, be- sides a number of eenter plots, squares, and triangles, maintained under the control of the board of park commissioners. The total area included in the parks, squares and triangles is 8411% aeres.
The names of the larger and more important parks and squares are given below in the numerical order in which they occur in the park system records, according to the report of the commissioners for the year 1918.
Juneau Park 13.7 acres
Lake Park
125.2 acres
Riverside Park 24.0 aeres
Gordon Park 13.5 acres
Kern Park 25.0 acres
Lincoln Park
180.6 acres
Sherman Park
24.0 aeres
Washington Park
150.0 acres
Ilighland Park
6.0 acres
Mitchell Park
63.3 acres
Jackson Park
80.0 acres
Pulaski Park
14.4 acres
Kościuszko Park
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