USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume I > Part 43
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36.9 acres
Humboldt Park
45.7 acres
South Shore Park
22.0 acres
Clark Square
2.0 aeres
Walker Square
2.0 acres
Fifth Ward Square (Vieau)
2.0 acres
The total eost for the operation and maintenance of the parks in 1918, according to the report for that year, was $633,187.
Shade Trees in Streets and Parks .- "The forestry division, under the juris- diction of the park commissioners, now entering upon the third year of its activities, have completed the taking of a census of the trees in highways of the City of Milwaukee," it is stated in an artiele by O. W. Spidel, city forester, printed in the New Year's number of the Milwaukee Sentinel, for January 1, 1921.
The result of the eensns shows that there were 82,392 trees counting all the varieties thus enumerated. Elm trees predominated with 37,239; next to which were found 15,081 maples, and lesser numbers of box elders, bass- wood (linden), ash, poplar, catalpa, horse chestnut, willow, oak, syeamore,
To the Electors
OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF
MIL WAUKE E
.
Believing the office of Judge of the Circuit and Su- preme Courts to be the most important in the gift of the People. And being desirous that a man of competent abilities, of ample legal knowledge, of regular business habits, and of known sobriety and morality of character, should be selected by the People of the 2d Judicial Distriet to fill sneh office. A Mass Meeting of the Electors of the eity and county of Milwaukee is respectfully recommended to be held at the COURT HOUSE on Saturday Evening. July 22d, at 8 o'clock, for the pur- pose of selecting an Independent Candidate, to be supported without distinc- tion of Sect, or Party, for the office of Judge of the 2d Judicial District.
Milwaukee bas honest and able men, such as Wells. Hubbell, Holliday, Finch, Randall, Collins, Arnold and many others from whom the people can select.
A general and punctual attendance is requested.
Milwaukee, July 20, 1848.
CALL FOR A MASS MEETING IN 1848
461
THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
ete. Elm trees seem best adapted for shade trees in this climate, and are mainly chosen for such use by the commissioners.
The commissioners have experienced the usual difficulties of park officials in other parts of the country in their fight against inseet pests, and have succeeded in partially exterminating the tussock moth (the formidable enemy of elm trees in the New England states), and in checking the "seurvy seale" in the badly infected distriets.
The pruning of more than 3,000 trees is reckoned as a part of the year's work, besides the removal of dangerous and dead trees which have beeome a menace to the publie and a hindranee to the growth of other trees. "h some tree borders where trees were too closely planted, " says the city for- ester, "alternate trees were removed so as to save those remaining. This too closely planted condition throughout the city will require action in the very near future to save. many of Milwaukee's trees."
Mr. Spidel reported on January 1, 1922, that: "Eleven thousand five hundred and thirty trees or sixty-five miles of trees of different sizes and varieties were pruned and brushed for moth egg masses; 8,895 trees or fifty miles were sprayed for the extermination of the predominating, destructive insects and fungous diseases, such as the Tussock moth, cottony maple seale. seurvy seale, and aphides in general."
Zoological Gardens .- An inventory of the animals, birds, etc., in the zoological gardens of the Milwaukee parks, taken in December, 1918, shows that there were at that time six African lions, six tigers, five leopards, thirty monkeys, four polar bears, two grizzly bears, and twelve black and brown bears. There were also an elephant, a hippopotamus, a herd of buffalo, a herd of deer and elk. kangaroos, zebras and many smaller animals. Of birds there were a great variety including a pair of ostriches and other rare winged creatures. The total value of the animals and birds in the "Zoo" is stated to be $38.449.
A lecture hall, especially intended for the use of school teachers with their classes, is provided, and other improvements are proposed by the com- missioners in their report of 1918. The average attendance at the Zoological gardens on Sundays was estimated to be 30,000.
"Never before," continues the report, "were the parks used as freely as during the past year, not only for recreational activities, but also for mili- tary drills, patriotie celebrations and other publie demonstrations." The parks have been extensively used for band eoneerts, chorus singing, com- munity singing, pienie parties; also for all kinds of outdoor games,-base ball, football, tennis, golf, ice skating, boating, swimming and athletie tourna- ments.
In the New Year's issue of the Milwaukee Sentinel for January 1, 1921. there is printed an article by Frank P. Sehumacher, secretary of the park board, detailing some of the recent improvements which have been made dur. ing the previous year. "A unique addition to the zoological garden in Wash- ington Park," he writes, "and which it is certain will attract considerable attention, is the so-called 'Monkey Island.' The same consists of an artificial bill, the base .of which is approximately 120 feet in length by 80 feet in width, and about 35 feet high. Caves which are to serve as shelter houses
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"The loves and friendships of individuals partake of the frail character of human life; are brief and uncertain. The experiences of human life may be shortly summed up: a little loving and a good deal of sorrowing; some bright hopes and many bitter disap- pointments; some gorgeous Thursdays, when the skies are bright and the heavens blue, when Providence, bending over us in blessing, glads the heart almost to madness; many dismal Fridays, when the smoke of torment beclouds the mind, and undying sorrows gnaw upon the heart; some high ambitions and many Waterloo defeats, until the heart becomes like a charnel-house, filled with dead affections, embalmed in holy but sor- rowful memories; and then the cord is loosened, the golden bowl is broken, the indi- vidual life-a cloud, a vapor-passeth away." MATTHEW H. CARPENTER.
A COPY OF MATTHEW H. CARPENTER'S FAMOUS "GORGEOUS THURSDAYS AND BLACK FRIDAYS," HUNG ON THE WALLS OF THE OLD SETTLERS' CLUB OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY
463
THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
for the monkeys are built in the sides of the hill. An artificial water fall, fed by a two-inch water pipe, flows from the top of the hill to the base. Rustie stone ledges erop out in various parts of the hill which is sodded and planted with pines and shrubbery."
Changes in Sherman Park .- "Up to comparatively a few years ago Sher- man park was in a rural district and was used principally for pienie pur- poses. Within the last few years, however, the residence districts have been extended in a northwesterly direction towards the park and, at the present time, additional houses are being built on all sides of it. The entrances to the park were located at Sherman Boulevard and Chambers Street, at Forty- first and Chambers streets, and at Grant Boulevard and Locust Street. These entrances are connected by new roadways, the grading of which has been finished. One roadway running east and west along the line of Chambers Street connects Sherman Boulevard with Forty-first Street, the other road runs in a northerly direction from the Grant Boulevard entrance and the others towards the Forty-first Street entrance.
"When Sherman Park was purchased, a tree screen was planted around its borders to shut out the adjoining country roads and tracts of farm lands. These trees were planted close together and with the growth of years were crowding one another. It was, therefore, necessary to move certain of the trees to give enough room for the proper development of others. Moreover, all of the trees along the west border of the park had to be moved when Sher- man Boulevard was graded. Besides this a certain number of old trees in various parts of the park had to be cut down. Therefore, all the trees which had to be moved to make room for others in the border screens, and the trees which had to be moved on account of the grade of Sherman Boulevard, were planted in various parts of the park where there were openings."
Park Lighting Equipment Installed .- Early in 1920 plans were adopted by the commissioners for the more adequate illumination of Washington Park. Eighteen thirty-five foot standards, each with two lamps of the street- lighting pattern, under these plans have been placed around the lake area; and 154 fifteen-foot standards with holophane refractors have also been placed in suitable positions. Lighting equipment of similar designs have been planned for Mitehell, Juneau, Gordon, Riverside, and Sherman parks; as also for Walker, Fourth Ward, and courthouse squares, and also Miekiewicz and Eighteenth Ward triangles. An electric lighting system has already been installed in Clark Square.
The filling in of the Lake Shore Drive and park made good progress dnr- ing the year 1920, five aeres having been added to the area of the park. "In all," says the seeretary, "fifty-three aeres have now been reelaimed." The Lake Shore Drive, from Russell Avenue to the southern city limits, was completed, and there is now constructed along the outer line of this drive and park 5,520 feet of breakwater built up to a height of four feet above the water line. "Considerable filling is also being done along the inner shore of the yaeht harbor, just south of Russell Avenne."
Sanitary Sewage Disposal Plant .- The method of sewage disposal which has prevailed in Milwaukee for many years, which still prevails at the time
464
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
of the writing of this chapter, was to divert the same into the three rivers and thenee into the lake. The result has been that the river waters have become foul and stenehy during the summer months, and have tended to pollute the drinking water which is secured from the lake.
It became clearly evident that other methods for the disposal of the sewage must be found. With the constant growth of the city the evil of foul rivers and impure drinking water would from year to year become more threatening.
Thus, the municipality, through the aid of a commission, inaugurated a study of the situation with the result that a sewage disposal system, op- erated on a scientific basis, was planned. By this system no sewage is diverted into the rivers but is carried directly to a central disposal plant now in course of construction on Jones Island. Here it is treated in a series of tanks and containers, redneing the sludge into solid matter usable as fer- tilizing material, and rendering pure the liquid which goes into the lake.
The project will involve an expenditure of $13,000.000, but will, it is believed, solve for many years to come, Milwaukee's sewage problem.
The progress made in establishing the plant is reported upon, January, 1922, by the chief engineer of the sewage commission, T. Chalkley Hatton. as follows:
"During 1921. the sewerage commission has expended $1,618,920.97 for all purposes. These expenditures cover the cost of administration, engineer- ing, testing station, extensions of intereepting sewers and the sewage dis- posal plant.
"The main work being done on sewer extensions has been the building of an intercepting sewer in tunnel in Second Avenue, from Becher Street to Scott Street : Scott Street from Second Avenue to Sixth Avenue: Sixth Avenue from Scott Street to National Avenue; and in National Avenue from Sixth Avenue to Eighteenth Avenne. This sewer has been built entirely in tunnel. and much of it has been built under compressed air.
"Contraets were let early in June of this year for furnishing and driving approximately 21,500 wooden piles, amounting to 750,000 lineal feet. to sup- port the aeration and sedimentation tanks for the sewage disposal plant on Jones Island. These contracts have been completed in record breaking time, the drivers moving out before December 1. This is the greatest number of piles ever driven under one contract on the great lakes.
"The steam turbine driven air compressors and the steam turbine driven generators for the power house have been completed and are ready to be installed as soon as the buildings for housing them are completed.
"Each of the air compressors, of which there are four, has a capacity of compressing 30,000 cubic feet of free air per minute to ten pounds pres- sure, this air being used to aerate the sewage.
"Contraets were entered into this year for the steam equipment and the work is well under way. Th's consists of four $74 horsepower boilers de- signed to develop a maximum of 6.272 boiler horsepower which will be used to operate all the machines connected with the disposal plant and to heat the plant.
465
THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
"The coal and ash handling machinery has been contracted for and on January 13, 1922, the commission expects to receive proposals to build the aera- tion and sedimentation tanks which form the largest portion of the disposal plant. These tanks are to be built of reinforced concrete and cover about 101/2 acres of ground.
"The above brief description of the sewage disposal work under way will convey to those interested the information that work upon this project is rapidly going forward and it is expected that it will be far enough advanced by the last of 1923 to begin to treat the city's sewage.
"The sewerage commission is active collecting the data necessary to design the main intercepting sewers which the metropolitan sewerage commission proposes to buildl, this latter commission having authorized the sewerage com- mission to use its staff upon this preliminary work rather than to create a separate organization.
"By early spring, the metropolitan sewerage commission will be in a po- sition to award contracts for several main intercepting sewers which are very necessary to connect the outlying communities up with the city's system.
"Under Chapter 554 of the Laws of 1921 for the State of Wisconsin the metropolitan sewerage commission was created. One of the provisions of this statute was that the three members comprising the commission were to be appointed by the governor ; one upon the recommendation of the sewer- age commission of Milwaukee ; another upon the recommendation of the state board of health, and the third without recommendation, two of the members to reside outside of Milwaukee and within the metropolitan district.
"In compliance with this provision, Charles B. Perry of Wanwatosa was recommended by the state board of health: George P. Miller, by the sew- erage commission, and F. U. Ullius, Shorewood, was appointed as the third member. Upon the organization of this commission on October 20, 1921, Mr. Perry was elected chairman. A brief review of the causes which led nr to the creation of the metropolitan sewerage commission and the object to be obtained thereby is as follows:
"First Law in 1913 .- In 1913 the Legislature had passed a law ereating a sewerage commission for cities of the first class, the duty of which was to build an intercepting sewerage system and a sewage disposal plant for the City of Milwaukee for the purpose of protecting the public water supply, the rivers and bathing beaches.
"This law did not confer any anthority upon the sewerage commission of Milwaukee to build intercepting sewers for the outlying districts in the county which contributed to the pollution of the rivers and lake waters. It was realized therefore, that even after Milwaukee expended millions of dol- lars in collecting its sewage, carrying it to a sewage disposal plant and there treating it so as to discharge it into the lake without serions pollution, the waters of the rivers and lake would still be polluted From the sewage from the outlying districts within that portion of the county which drains into the rivers passing through the city, and therefore the object Milwaukee was seeking would be largely millified.
"To collect the sewage from each individual community and treat it in- Vol. 1-30
AROUSE! MILWAUKEE COUNTY
THE LAST CHANCE For Volunteering before the Draft!
The Central War Committee now understand DISTINCTLY that no more Volunteers will be receivedl
EXCEPT FOR THE OLD REGIMENTS NOW IN THE FIELD,
And with the view of filling them, all our efforts are to be directed We are informed by the Governor that the number to be furnished by the State has been increased by 5,900, in order to fill the old Regiments , hence the number to be furuished by the County of Milwaukee has been increased by about 500, making
For Milwaukee City, 962
Town of Milwaukee,
112
Town of Wauwatosa, 147
Town of Granville. 116
Town of Oak Creek,
97
Town of Lake, 92
Town of Franklin,
77
Town of Greenfleld,
110-2713
Some of the INDUCEMENTS FOR VOLUNTEERING for the old Regimieuts, are as follows
Ist. The Volunteer gets an Advance Hounty from the General Government of
2d. Me gets the Government BONDS to the person presenting a Recruit, if he presents himsetr. 1
3d. He gets from the L'enteal War Committee,
4th. He receives One Month's Advance Pay from the Government, 13
Cash paid on Enlisting, .
$67
In adilition to the above, the Volunteer will get, at the end of the War, SEVENTY. FIVE DOLLARS, making in all for
Bounties and Advance Pay, $142.
[" The families of volunteers who enlist in the OLD REGIMENTS receive 85 per Month from the State Should the War be ended by next Spring, [of which there is no reasonable doubt,] each Volunteer will receive in money, besides hig food and clothing, as follows :
United States Bounty, $100
United States Bonus, Citizens' Bounty. 117 25
4
Say Nine Months' pay. pt 813 a Month, State pay to Families, say Nine Months, 15
Total for Nine Months, (end found,) $291
[27 Drafted men receive NOTHING in money beyond the monthly pay of the regular soldier
: The volunteer who enlists in an old regiment can SELECT 1119 REGIMENT AND THE COMPANY In that regiment, as will fully appear by the following extract from General Order No, 88
Spr 3. Recruits for regiments now in the field will be permitted to select any company of the regiment they may prefer. Should the company thus selected be full when they join it, they will be allowed to select another.
Sre. 4 All men who deare, singly or by squads, to join any particular regiment or company in the field are hereby authorized to present themuselves to any recruiting officer, &c. By order of the Secretary of War
L THOMAS, Adjutant General.
The volunteer who goes into an old regiment is sure to be with EXPERIENCED OFFICERS, and to be better taken care of, and as it is a fact that niue out of teb soldiers who low their lives in an army die by disease, insteal of being killed 10 battle, it is therefore, vastly
more for the safety of the soldier to go into an old regiment.
We understand that our State [and of course our city and county ] must furnish the men to fill the oll regiment4, no matter whether the State has forbished more or less than its quota under all the calls for new regiments, The Government is determined to fill the old regiments immediately, and if not filled by volunteering, it will be done by draft.
The volunteer who gors into an old regiment does so only for the unexpired term of the regiment, which will materially lessen the time of service. We now MOST URGENTLY call upon EVERY citizen of the city and county of Milwaukee, to GIVE UP, if necessary, ALL KINDS OF acuisixs for the purpose of recruiting, and if we ALL MAKE THIS OUR ESPECIAL BUSINESS for the week the CALL WILL BE FILLED
Let no one hesitate: This work must be done by the first of September.
Milwaukee, Augus: 25. 1862.
E. H. BRODHEAD, }
ALEX. MITCHELL, } War Committee.
C. F. ILSLEY.
Daily *cutlael I'rinting Ilovse.
COPY OF THE ARMY CALL ISSUED IN 1862
467
THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
dependently of its neighbor was impracticable because it would largely in- crease the expense to each municipality, by building and operating inde- pendent intercepting sewers and sewage disposal plants, and many of the communities were not able to finance such large expenditures, and yet each community was equally interested in seeuring a pure water supply from the lake, with the possible exception of Wauwatosa which maintains its own supply.
"One main sanitary intereepting sewer could be built for two or more outlying communities which would collect the sewage from these commu- nities and which could be carried by gravity to the intercepting sewerage system of Milwaukee and through it be carried and disposed of at the dis- posal plant being built by the city, large enough not only to take care of the population within the present city limits but considerable addition outside. By combining all of the territory within the county which lies in the same drainage district as the sewerage system of Milwaukee, the sewage from which could be treated at the city's disposal plant, into a metropolitan sew- erage district, the waters of the rivers and lake could be kept free from pollution. It was necessary to have some eentral board authorized to finanee and build the collecting intercepting sewers necessary to carry the sewage from this drainage district to the intercepting sewer system of the city.
"Commission Makes Plans .- This metropolitan sewerage commission is required to project, plan, construet, and maintain in the county outside of the city limits main sewers for the collection and transmission of sewage to and into the intercepting sewerage system of Milwaukee. It may require any town, city or village in the county, or any oeenpant of any premises outside of Milwaukee located in the county, engaged in the discharging of the sewage effluent from any sewage plant, sewage refuse, factory waste into any river or eanal within the county which is within the same drainage area as Mil- wankee to rebuild any outlet, drain or sewer so as to discharge the said sewage waste or trade waste into the sewers of the city or into such inter- cepting sewer located in or near the town or village which the metropolitan sewerage commission may establish.
"This does not mean that the metropolitan sewerage commission is to build the lateral sewers within the cities, towns, and villages outside of the city, but is to build the main intercepting sewers into which these lateral sewers are to connect. The cost of these intercepting sewers is to be met by bonds, issued by the county board. The interest on and sinking fund for these bonds are to be collected as a direet annual tax against the entire drainage district in the county lying within the same drainage distriet as the eity.
"The statute also provides that after the organization of the metropolitan sewerage commission, the sewerage commission of Milwaukee shall prepare maps and surveys showing that portion of the county which is within the same drainage area as the sewerage system of the city, the sewage from which may be cared for by the disposal plant located in the city and the metropolitan sewerage commission shall determine the boundaries thereof in each of the respective towns and villages outside of the city limits.
468
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
"Will Spend $1,300,000 .- In compliance with this statute the sewerage commission has presented plans and surveys to the metropolitan sewerage commission. It in turn has determined the boundaries and has filed plans of the same with the clerk of each of the communities outside of the city and within the commission's jurisdiction.
"The work, which the metropolitan sewerage commission was created to do, has been started. It has adopted a budget for the coming year which comprises the expenditures of abont $1,300,000 with which it contemplates the construction of a main intercepting sewer for Shorewood and White- fish Bay: one in the town of Milwaukee and a portion of the town of Wan- watosa for the purpose of collecting and carrying to the city's west side in- tereepting sewer the sewage from the rapidly growing section north of the city and from North Milwaukee: another intercepting sewer in the Water- town plank road from the western city limits to the sewage disposal plant now located in Wauwatosa and an intercepting sewer in National Avenne from the western city limits to the disposal plant located in West Allis.
"These intercepting sewers appear to be the most urgent ones to be built at the present time and, as soon as the bonds are sold and money is provided. contracts will be entered into for their construction.
"The county board has authorized the issuance of bonds for the metro- politan sewerage commission in the amount of $1,300,000 for building these intercepting sewers."
CHAPTER XXIX
THE MILWAUKEE WATERWORKS
The distribution of water has, since the establishment of a waterworks system, been under municipal control. The city owns the entire plant, in- cluding the intakes, tunnels, reservoirs, street piping, and has managed the same strictly as a municipal enterprise. The cost to the public of the water supplied has always been reasonably low, and the utility has been deemed most successful.
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