HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY OHIOEdited by Lewis Cass Aldrich
Published 1889
HISTORY OF City of Sandusky
CHAPTER XX. Continueing with page 300
This was the last board chosen under the town incorporation. During the legislative session of the winter of 1844-45 was passed incorporating the City of Sandusky, and by that act the city became a municipality of a higher grade.
On the 28th of March, 1845, council met and read act entitled “an act to incorporate the city of Sandusky, and for other purposes,” after which it proceeded to appoint places for holding elections in the wards, as follows; For the first ward, at the mayor’s office, and appointed David Campbell, Henry P. Radcliff and John G. Pool, as inspectors. For the second ward, the West Market House, and appointed Alexander H. Barber, William W. Witherell and John Wheeler as inspectors. For the third ward the office of the West Slaughter House, and appointed DeWitt C. Henderson, James M. Davidson and Samuel Eastman as inspectors.
The last meeting of the “town” common council was held on the 31st of March, 1845, at which Earl Bill was paid the sum of $11.20 for services, and this was the last official act of the board under the old administration.
SANDUSKY CITY INCORPORATED.
On the 6th day of March, 1845, by an act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, was incorporated “Sandusky City,” and thus did it remain in name until the Legislature, by a subsequent enactment, made it necessary that the “city,” should be dropped. From the time of this last mentioned act this city has been known and called “Sandusky.”
Of the act of 1845 there is not believed to be more than one or two copies in the city today, so that the reader may have a complete knowledge of the various provisions of the act (so far as they appear to be important). They are fully set forth as follows:
“Section 1 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That so much of the township of Portland, in the county of Erie, as is contained within the following bounds, to-wit: beginning in the center of Sandusky Bay at a point half a mile east of the northern corner of the east boundary of the town plat of Sandusky (as now recorded among the records of Huron county), running thence in a direct line parallel with the eastern boundary of said town plat, until said line strikes the shore of Sandusky Bay, thence in a direct line at right angles with the eastern boundary of said town, until a line so drawn shall intersect said eastern boundary, thence along said eastern boundary in a direct line to the southeast corner of the annexation to Sandusky plat, called South wark, thence westerly along the south line of Southwark, and on a line in the aame direction with said line to a point opposite to the south end of Shelby street, thence in a direct line to the southeast corner of the recorded plat of the Western Liberties, so called, and from thence westerly along the southern boundary of said Western Liberties to the western boundary thereof, thence northerly along said western boundary to the shore of Sandusky Bay, thence on a line parallel with the eastern boundary of the recorded plat of the town of Sandusky to the center of said bay, and from thence easterly along the center of said bay to the place of beginning, shall be, and the same is, hereby declared to be a town corporate, atid the inhabitants thereof are hereby created a body politic and corporate, with perpetual succession, by the name and style of Sandusky City, and shall, in all respects, be governed by the provisions of an act entitled ‘an act for the regulation of incorporated towns,’ passed February sixteenth, one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, except as hereinafter provided.”
Page 301
“Section 2 The said Sandusky city shall be and is hereby divided into three wards or election districts as follows: the first ward or district shall consist of all that part of said Sandusky city which lies east of Columbus avenue; the second ward or district shall consist of all that part of said Sandusky city which lies west of Columbus avenue and east of Lawrence street; and the third ward or district, shall consist of all that part of said Sandusky city which lies west of Lawrence street, including the Western Liberties.”
"Section 3 The government of said Sandusky city shall be vested in a mayor, recorder and nine councilmen, any seven of whom, exclusive of the recorder, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, each ward to lect three councilmen, who shall be electors, and reside in the wards in which they shall be elected. The said mayor, recorder and councilmen shall be elected annually, on the first Tuesday of April in each and every year, and they shall hold their respective offices until their successors are elected and qualified, and the said mayor, recorder and council shall exercise all the powers and be invested with all the privileges of the mayor, recorder and trustees of incorporated towns, under the general law, in addition to those herein granted and shall be subject to the same duties and liabilities, provided that the mayor shall only be entitled to a casting vote when the council is equally divided, and the recorder shall not be entitled to a vote except to give the casting vote when acting as mayor.”
Section 4 The first election of mayor, recorder and councilmen, under this act, shall be held at such place in the several wards as the present mayor and council of the town of Sandusky may direct, who shall also appoint judges of said election for the several wards, and the judges of said election, so appointed, shall appoint their own clerks, and in case such appointments shall not be made, then, and in that case, the said election shall be held on the day aforesaid, in the several wards, as nearly in conformity as may be to the provisions of the general law in relation to incorporated towns. And annually thereafter, the said election’ shall be held in the several wards at such places as the mayor, recorder and councilmen may appoint; and the said councilmen shall be judges of election in their respective wards, and shall appoint clerks of the election. The said several clerks of election, so to be appointed as above, shall forthwith, at the first election, and at every subsequent election to be held under this act, certify the true returns of said election in their respective wards, to the mayor and recorder of said Sandusky city, which said certificate shall be verified by the judges of election under their seals. And the said mayor and recorder shall forthwith canvass the votes given for mayor and recorder and notify, in writing, immediately after such canvass, the persons elected to said offices; said returns, so to be made as above, shall, at the first election, be made to the present mayor and recorder of Sandusky, who shall have power to act in the premises.”
Page 302
Of the other sections of the act number five defines the powers of the common council relating to the streets of the city; number six relates to real estate, buildings, markets and other places; number seven to tax sales for nonpayment of taxes and assessments; number eight vests in the city all property acquired through the sales, and section number nine relates to acts already passed, and further provides that this act shall take effect on the first day of April next (1845).
In pursuance of the provisions of the above recited act an election of municipal officers was held at the places designated by the old council, on the first Tuesday of April, 1845, which time the following officers were chosen for the year next ensuing: Mayor, William W. Witherell; recorder, William R. Chapman; councilmen. First ward, Lester S. Hubbard, John J. Schock, John W. Beatty; Second ward, John Weeden, Erastus S. Gregg, John M. Boalt; Third ward, M. G. Woodbury, Charles Cross, George W. Keller.
These officers were sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties by the retiring mayor, Hon. Ebenezer B.Sadler, and having been duly organized, on the 7th of April, proceeded to elect the subordinate city officers as follows: Marshal and clerk of the markets, Alonzo Wade treasurer, John Weeden,
After transacting some unimportant business the council passed an ordinance for the protection of the streets and public rounds of the city; also appointed John Weeden, Lester S. Hubbard and John W. Beatty a committee to prepare a set of by-laws and ordinances for the government of the city.
On the 17th of May, Alonzo Wade resigned his office of marshal and clerk of the markets, and Francis W. Pomeroy was appointed in his stead.
Thus commenced the municipal history of Sandusky city. Its affairs progressed favorably and were embarrassed by no untoward event until the year 1849, at which time the country suffered greatly from the ravages of the cholera epidemic. Especially severe was this visitation felt in the little city of Sandusky where no opportunity was had for the improvement of its sanitary condition. Prior to this and about 1834, this dread disease threatened the town, but, fortunately, it did not manifest its presence at that time, but upon the occasion mentioned its ravages were terrible in this locality and many persons were stricken and died. Three years later, in 1852, there came a similar visitation upon the people, and again were its medical men taxed to their utmost to stem the tide of disease and death. This subject will be found noticed at greater length in the chapter devoted to the medical profession, in an earlier chapter of this volume.
Page 303
The year 1852 witnessed a complete revolution in the municipal government, by reason of an act of the Legislature of the State, passed on the 3d day of May. The new State constitution had then been recently adopted and this enactment was, in a great measure brought about by the provisions of that constitution. But before setting forth the effect of this act upon the municipality of Sandusky city, let us look to the record and see who, up to that time, had been in charge and control of city affairs. The officers of the year 1845 are given on an earlier page, and need no repetition here. From that time until the radical change of 1852 took place, the officers were as follows:
1846. — Mayor, Zenas W. Barker; recorder, Henry D. Ward; councilmen, first ward, John M. Boalt, Lester S. Hubbard and William P. Chapman; second ward, John Weeden, William H. Caswell and Page M. Ring; third ward, Manley G. Woodbury, Charles Cross and David Souter; council appointments, Charles Rice, clerk of markets; Lester S. Hubbard, treasurer. This year the council elected the following officers under the city ordinances; city attorney, Alonzo W. Hendry; city surveyor, William Durbin, jr.; chief engineer, Foster M. Follett; assistant engineer, Henry P. Radcliff; fire wardens, S. E. Hitchcock and R. Lathrop for first ward; Charles Barney, and Philander Gregg for second ward and Samuel Eastman and William Spaulding for third ward.
1847. — Mayor, Ebenezer Warner; recorder, Sylvester Ross; councilmen — first ward, Foster M. Follett, David Campbell and Rice Harper; second ward, John H. Ballard, Erastus Cooke and Smith Peck; third ward, David Souter, George Morris and Jacob Hertel; council appointments, William Benschoter, marshal, clerk of the markets, and collector; David Souter, treasurer; George Reber, city attorney; Foster M. Follett, chief engineer; Henry P. Radcliff, assistant engineer.
1848 — Mayor, Ebenezer Warner; recorder, Zenas W. Barker; councilmen — first ward, Samuel E. Hitchcock, Charles Cassiday and John G. Pool; second ward. Smith Peck, Freeland T. Barney and William W. Withered; third ward, Jacob Hartel, John Carr and David Souter; council appointments, William Benschoter, marshal, clerk of the markets, and collector; David Souter, treasurer; George Reber, city attorney; Freeland T. Barney, chief engineer; John G. Pool, assistant engineer; William Durbin, city surveyor.
Page 304
During this year the mayor, Ebenezer Warner, and the recorder, Zenas W. Barker, both resigned. Zenas W. Barker was thereupon elected mayor^ and William P. Chapman was elected recorder.
1849. — Mayor, John M. Brown recorder, Charles Barney; councilmen — first ward, Henry C.Williams, Daniel Dibble and Rollin B. Hubbard; second ward, Freeland T. Barney, Solomon C. Moore and Erastus Cooke; third ward, David Souter, John H. Buck and Thomas Comstock; council appointments, William Spaulding, marshal; I. W. Upp, collector; David Souter, treasurer; Walter F. Stone, city attorney; I. W. Upp, clerk of the markets; E. S. Flint, chief engineer; William H. Clark, assistant engineer; William Durbin, jr., city surveyor.
1850. — Mayor, John M. Brown; recorder, Charles Cochran; councilmen — first ward, C. C. Keech, Cuyler Leonard and John A. Wright; second ward, Freeland F. Barney, Solomon C. Moore and Christian Engel; third ward, Charles Cross, George C. King and George Homegardner; council appoinments, O. Rice, clerk of the markets, collector, and marshal; Charles Cross, treasurer; Walter F. Stone, city attorney; W. H. Clark, chief engineer; Henry P. Radcliff, assistant engineer; William Durbin, jr., city surveyor.
1851. — Mayor, Horatio Wildman; recorder, George J. Anderson; councilmen — first ward, William P. Chapman, William B. Smith and William W. Withered; second ward, L. S. Beecher, Elias H. Haines and Conrad Weigand; third ward, Solomon C. Moore, Charles Cross and George Homegardner; council appointments, O. Rice, marshal, clerk of the markets, and collector; Charles Cross, treasurer; Homer Goodwin, city attorney; Henry P. Radcliff, chief engineer; W. M. Pierce, assistant engineer; William Durbin, jr., city surveyor.
1852. — Mayor, Foster M. Follett; recorder, Samuel Lewis; councilmen — first ward, Earl Bill, Jacob A. Camp and William Marshall; second ward, Frederick S. Thorpe, Michael Lipsett and John Chapman; third ward, George Homegardner, Charles Cross and William S. King; council appointments, 0. Rice, marshal, collector, and clerk of the markets; L. S. Beecher, city attorney; Charles Cross, treasurer; Foster M. Follett, chief engineer; I. S. Thayer, assistant engineer; William Durbin, jr., city surveyor.
The act of the State Legislature, passed on the 3d of May, 1852, was brought about by the new constitution then just gone into effect, and its provisions materially affected this and several other cities of the State. Regarding the classification of municipal corporations the language of the act is : “In respect to the exercise of certain corporate powers, and to the number, character, powers and duties of certain officers, municipal corporations are, and shall be, divided into the classes following: Cities of the first, and cities of the second class ; incorpoi'ated villages, and incorporated villages for special purposes.
“All cities which, at the last federal census, had or now have a population exceeding twenty thousand inhabitants, shall be deemed cities of the first class, and all other cities shall be deemed cities of the second class.”
Page 305
A further provision declares that “any incorporated village which, at any future federal census, or at any census taken under the authority of the State, as aforesaid, shall have a population exceeding five thousand and less than twenty thousand inhabitants, shall be deemed a city of the second class.”
It will be seen from the above extracts that Sandusky was, at the time the act was passed, a city of the second class, as by the census of 1850 within the corporate limits was a population of five thousand persons.
A further section of the act provided that “the corporate authority of citizens, organized or to be organized under this act, shall be vested in one principal officer, to be styled the Mayor, in one board of trustees, to be denominated the Common Council, together with such other officers as are in this act mentioned, or as may be created under its authority.
“It is also provided that in cities of the second class the mayor shall be elected annually, on the first Monday in April, by the qualified voters of the city; and that he shall serve until his successor is elected and qualified.”
Section fifty-nine provides “that the qualified voters of each ward within the several cities shall, on the first Monday of April, 1853, elect, by a plurality of votes, two trustees, who shall be residents of the wards in which they shall be elected, and who shall at the time be qualified voters therein; and when the city council, elected under this act, shall have been organized, as hereinafter provided, they shall proceed and determine by lot the term of service of each trustee, so that one of the trustees from each ward shall serve for two years, and the other for the term of one year; and at every succeeding annual city election, one trustee shall be elected by the qualified voters of each ward, who shall possess the qualification hereinbefore required, and whose term of service shall be two years, so 'that the terms of the two trustees of each ward shall always expire in different years.”
The same section also provides that the council shall elect, from their own body, a president; they shall also appoint, from the qualified voters of the city, a city clerk. A further section provides for the election, by the qualified voters of the city, of all such city officers as shall be necessary for the good government of said city, and for the due exercise of its corporate powers, etc.
It became necessary under this act to substantially reorganize the city government. The discussion of it occupied the minds of the council for some time, and at their request called forth a long and able opinion from the city attorney, L. S. Beecher. In the course of his observations this officer expressed the belief that certain provisions of the act would have to be interpreted by the courts before an intelligent understanding of their meaning could be had.
The first city election under the above described act was held on the first Monday in April, 1853, at which the following named persons were chosen to fill the respective city ofifices:
Page 306
Mayor, Charles Cross,; city solicitor, John G. Miller, jr.; city treasurer, Nicholas Buyer; city marshal, James E. Mygatt ; assessors — first ward, John A. Wright; second ward, George A. Wheeler; third ward, Vincent Kerler; trustees — first ward, Lester S. Hubbard, David Campbell; second ward, L. S. Beecher, Henry H. White; third ward, Charles Cross, Jacob Hertel.
On the 6th of April of this same year the council passed and adopted an ordinance by which the city was divided and two additional wards created, increasing the number to five.
A special election was thereupon ordered for the selection of trustees for the first, third and fifth wards, with the following result : First ward, William St. John and I. H. Robinson; third ward, L. S. Hubbard; fifth ward, John Carr and George Homegardner.
By this sub-division of the municipal territory the ward boundaries were as follows:
First ward. — All that portion of the city lying east or eastwardly of the center of Franklin street.
Second ward. — All that portion of the city lying west or westwardly of the center of Franklin street, and east or eastwardly of the center of Columbus avenue.
Third ward. — All that part of the city lying west or westwardly of the center of Columbus avenue, and east or eastwardly of Fulton street.
Fourth ward. — All that part of the city lying west or westwardly of the center of Fulton street, and east or eastwardly of the center of Camp and Shelby streets.
Fifth ward. — All that part of the city which lies west or westwardly of the center of Camp and Shelby streets.
In 1855 Sandusky had acquired a population variously estimated at from six thousand to six thousand five hundred souls; and from 1850 to i860 its growth was three thousand. It had, at the time first mentioned, three lines of rail communication with points east, west and south. These were the Mad River and Lake Erie road, running to Dayton; the Sandusky, Mansfield and Newark road, and the Cleveland and Toledo road. These were sufficient for the exportation and importation of goods and material for trade and manufacture at that time. Added to this was the harbor and lake traffic, which, of itself, was of large extent, the year 1850 showing imports to the value of $13,644,670, while the exports were valued at $4,656,641. During the next year these figures were nearly doubled.
At this time the population was decidedly mixed in characteristics and nationalities, the German and Celtic combined nearly equaling the American residents in point of numbers.
Page 307
The mercantile business of the city, which, in early years, was substantially confined to the vicinity of Water street, was constantly reaching to other points, up Columbus avenue to the square, and largely on Market street, both east and west of Columbus.
Manufacturing industries were then, and always have been, kept as near the bay shore as possible, for here was the railroad center as well as the harbor.
Turning briefly to the mercantile, manufacturing and other business institutions as shown by the compendium of 1855, the following appears:
Produce and Commission Merchants. — C. H. Williams, S. W. Butler, S. E. Hitchcock, on Columbus avenue; Boalt & Smith, George Thornton, A. Cheeseborough, on the Mad River Railroad dock; James D. Whitney, on the S. and C. Railroad wharf ; Marshall Burton, A. H. Barber, James A. Riley, Peck & Norris, Upp Brothers, on Water street; Lockwood & Smith at Bay City Mills dock.
Dry Goods Merchants. — Charles Converse, Monroe & Peck, J. W. Stevenson, Everett, Drake & Co., John N. Sloane, Hubbard, Shepard & Wilcox, on Water street; W. T. & A. K. West, T. D. West, on Columbus avenue.
Tailors and Clothiers. — W. V. Latham, Lytle & Walter, J. Kneale, J. Kronthall, L. Monat, Lewis Dietz, L. Bowman, C. Prediger, Wm. Guiterman & Co., G. Hart, Cooke & Bloomfield, Adolph Cohen, on Water street; S. Kneen, on Market street.
Milliners and Dress Makers. — Mrs. Thomas Quick, Mrs. E. P. Smith, Miss Humphrey, on Columbus avenue ; Mrs. C. R.Souter, Miss E. McGraves, on Market street ; Mrs. Kramer, Wayne street.
Hardware, Iron and Stove Merchants. — L. T. Barney & Co., W. V. Moss, Gibbs & Sanborn, Joseph Llood, Gale & Gibbs, Water street; J. H. Williams, Washington Dewey, John M. Bailey, Columbus avenue; John B. Rickhart, Market street.
Upholsterers and Furniture Dealers. — Thorpe, Norcross & Thorpe, J. B. Mayer, Jacob Steitz, Market street; J. H. Guild, Jackson street; Charles W. Zollinger, W. H. Zurhorst, Wayne street.
Jewelers. — Hiram T. Dewey, William Simpson, Robert Holverscheid, Water street; V. Neesley, Wayne street.
Grocers (wholesale). — S. S. Hosmer, J. W. Witherell & Co., Porter & Lytle, Smith & Parsons, Jacob Engel, all on Water street.
Grocers (retail). — E. Rosenbaum, C. Wigand, R. Hathaway, C. Hadley, H. Aplin, W. A. Simpson, H. P. Radcliff, Lamb & Eck, John Irvine & Co., Straub & Lezer, J. Lammers, M. Hexter, Water street; H. Richenbach, Carroll & Gagen, Thomas Laden, Homegardner & Vogt, .William Fox, Market street; Parsons & Derr, Nathan Bear, Jackson street; Henry Lutz Washington street; Ricker & Hubbard, Ira T. Davis, William Thompson, N. L. Brown, Robertson, Brown & Co., Columbus avenue.
Page 308
Drug Stores. — Adams & Fay, A.R. Belden, F.R. Lange, W.G. Brain & Company
Book and Stationery Stores. — George J. Anderson, William L. Cooke & Company, Ruemonele & Ruess.
Hats and Caps. — C. C. Keech, Austin Ferry.
Boots and Shoes. — Gray & Son, J. P. Bean, L. B. Schrum, H. Walter, A. Moos, Joseph Fiedler, L Olrick, J. Ruprecht, Schneider & Bright, E. Otto, John Lehr, B. Esch, John Brandle, John Kuhn, C. Wigand.
Crockery Dealers. — L. H. Kilbourne, H. P. Merrill.
Manufacturing, in its several branches, seems to have been well represented by N. G. Olds, D.C. Henderson & Co., C.J. Messer, G. V. Griffith, the Fulton Car Works, and the machine and repair shops connected with the various railroad companies. Those above mentioned were engaged in the machine shop and foundry business.
There were engaged at the same time in wood working and lumber enterprises, J. D. Lea & Co., Hubbard & Pierce, R. B. Hubbard, Peter Gilcher, P, Sprague.
No less than twelve hotels were doing business in the city in 1855, and this will be a no more surprising statement than the fact of there being twenty resident physicians and twenty six lawyers, all in active practice. The names of the former will be found in the chapter devoted to the medical profession, while the latter are enumerated in that relating to the bench and bar. Of architects, there were four; of dentists two ; painters and glaziers four; carriage manufacturers two; liverymen four; confectioners three; photographers three; soap and candle makers two, and other branches of trade and manufacture were equally well represented.
But not these alone made up the enterprising municipality of Sandusky, for there must be mentioned the other institutions, the schools, the churches, the public buildings, the attractive business blocks and residences. Then, again, were its societies, secret, social, literary and benevolent ; the fire and police departments, and other necessary adjuncts of a prosperous city. Such was Sandusky thirty five and more years ago, with a population of less than seven thousand persons. That the city’s growth has been steady and healthful, and not influenced by the later day creation, called “booms,” is attested by the fact that in 1860 the federal census showed a population of 8,000; 1870, 13,000; 1880, 15,838, and at the present time, according to the estimate of careful observers, the population cannot vary much from 20,000.
Business, trade, manufacture and commerce were never so great as now. Nothing seems overdone, but all branches of industry have kept even step with the general progress.
The natural advantages of situation, the excellent sanitary condition, added to which are the local improvements for various purposes, all combine to make the city of Sandusky one of the most inviting and desirable localities for business and residence to be found in the Buckeye State. It will not be necessary to trace here in chronological order, the history of the institutions with which the city is supplied, nor its trade and commerce, nor its societies, nor the several branches of its government, as each is made the subject of special notice in this chapter.
Page 309
Recurring again to the subject of the political history of the city, at the time of re-districting the same, and the creation of five wards out of the original three, and the special meeting for the election of additional ward officers. For all time of the life of the town and subsequent city, it was a part of the township of Portland; and it so continued to remain until, by a proceeding of the common council, and a proper application to the commissioners of the county, the whole of the township was included within the city’s boundaries. Thereafter Portland, as a subdivision of Erie county, passed out of existence; and from that time forth its history was that of Sandusky.
The truth is, that Portland never had much of a history save that given it by having contained within its boundaries the shire town of the county. It possessed much good farming land and a number of substantial citizens, some of them pioneers upon the soil. But with the gradual increase in population, business and enterprise of the county seat, it became necessary that the township should surrender its name and identity and become a part and parcel of the municipality of Sandusky.
The proposition for the annexation was not readily accepted by the whole people of the township, many of whom had no special anxiety to be brought within the range of a city assessment and taxation; therefore they raised good and valid objections to the annexation, but without avail; the project was a necessity; the commissioners so viewed it and their action carried it into effect.
The ordinance of the council under which the proceedings were instituted was passed on the l8th of November, 1871, but the matter was not fully consummated until the following year. Ordinances were passed and adopted providing for the annexation of thenewly acquired territory to the several wards as they then existed, without an increased number, nor was any increase made in the number of wards until the adoption of an ordinance December 15, 1884, by which there was made an increase of five.
During the year succeeding that in which the limits were extended over the whole of Portland township, there began, and was thereafter carried out and accomplished in due time, some of the most substantial and worthy local improvements. Besides the water-works, provision was made for a proper system of sewerage. This was a substantial reform movement as well as an original effort. Its necessity was painfully apparent.
Upon this question we quote the words of a leading physician of Sandusky: “From the first settlement of the city to the time the waterworks and sewerage system were completed, its sanitary condition was, of course, very imperfect. This, in part, was attributable to the fact that the water is near the earth’s surface. There was very little other than surface drainage to carry rapidly away the accummulated filthy and stagnant waters, and thus to keep the soil and air dry and healthful.
Page 310
The city, however, had this natural advantage. Instead of being flat and level, the ground over much of its area has a decided declination toward the bay, which, with its inlets, or arms, surround the city largely on three sides, and at the same time furnishes the very best natural fall and receptacle for all surface drainings. By this means the movements of the surface water were, in many parts of the city, rapid.
In the level portions of the city, on the other hand, the lack of proper drainage bore, as it always does in every thickly populated district, the inevitable result — a greater or less decomposition of animal and vegetable matter which influences health and promotes the development of intermittent, remittent, bilious, typhoid and scarlet fevers. Diphtheria, diarrhoea and dysentery also prevailed in some seasons to a considerable extent.
Then, again, the rock being so near the surface, it was difficult and expensive to obtain sufficient drainage for factory refuse, stagnant pools, and to effectually get rid of dirty house waters. In gutters and low spots of ground in many places, the gases showed themselves on the surface of polluted waters in the form of bubbles, and when they burst and showed their noxious contents in the immediate vicinity of or under dwellings in those lower, flat districts of the city, especially after a rainfall in the summer season, they would remain until evaporated, pregnating the air and seriously affecting the health of the people. In many parts of the city were superficial and deep wells, which were always suspicious sources of water supply, and particularly so when water is obtained by boring in lime rock till a crevice is struck in which it is found, for in such rock it is practically impossible to secure a supply free from surface overflows and disease breeding seepage.
During the terrible cholera scourge of 1849, again in 1852, it was found that in every district in the city, and also in the outlying villages where the disease was most wide spread and fatal, the people were depending upon wells cut in the rock for their water supply. Several of these were public wells, and in the immediate communities about them the cholera swept with the most terrible and death-dealing force. One well, especially, in a thickly populated part of the city, from which water was obtained for culinary and drinking purposes by a large number of citizens, was noted for its fatal power, and the use of its water was prohibited.
These are but few of the many reasons why it became absolutely necessary that there should be inaugurated and carried out a complete sewer system for the city. And it may be said in addition to what is already stated that the mercantile streets and localities were being rapidly built up with large three, four and five story business blocks and hotels, and none had any commendable sewer connection prior to the year 1872, except that extending through Columbus avenue as far south as Market street.