Gass. Book COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT DETROIT ASTAND PRESENT OR 1870 vs. 1890 COMPILED AND PUbulaHhU f-uH I Hb RESTON NATIONAL BANK. R. W. GILLETT. F. «, HAYES. J^ P. RILMORE. Pivskleut. Vii-e-Pi-esident. Cashier. C|e Insfcn Rational ^ani DETROIT. MICH. CAPITAL, 31,000.000, DIRECTORS: R. W. GILLETT. f. W. HAYES. C. A. BLACK. W. H. ELLIOTT. JA3IES E. DAVIS. JAMES D. STAXDISH. H. S. PIXGREE. A. E. F. WHITE. W. D. PRESTOX. Chicago. w. R. BURT. East Saginaw. JOHX CAXFIELD. Manistee /- DETROIT 18 COMPARED WITH 870 / SILAS FARMER) City Historiographer. Author of •History of Detroit and Michigan." "The Royal Rail Road, "The Teacher's Tool CheHt," etc., etc. COMPILED AND PUBLISHED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE Preston National Bank 1 Copyright, 1890, By SILAS FARMER. TABLE OF C(3NTENTS, PAGE Chapter 1 Prelude, 5 2 Growth of Population, Area and Su- burbs, 8 3 City Government, Wards, Elections, City and County Officers. 11 4 City Valuation, City Debt, City and County Taxes, 18 5 Parks, Bridge, Boulevard, Streets and Street Car Lines, 22 6 Water Works, Fire Department, Health Regulations, Sewers, 27 7 United States, Circuit, Recorders, Po^ lice and Justices Courts, 39 8 Police, Sheriff, Prosecuting Attorney, House of Correction, 42 9 Public, Private and Parochial Schools^ Medical and Business Colleges, 45 10 Churches, Charitable and Philanthropic Institutions, 57 if Newspapers, Post Office, Telegraphs, Telephones and Phonographs, 62 12 Railroads, Express and Despatch Lines, 61 13 Athletic, Fishing, Shooting, Boat and Yacht Clubs, 66 14 Secret and Social Societies, Militia Com- panies, 69 15 Art and Musical Societies and Schools, 72 16 Banks, Banking and Insurance Com- panies, 75 17 Manufacturing and Jobbing Interests, 80 18 Architectural Gains, Landmarks Lost, 83 THE PRESTON NATIONAL BANK, DETROIT, MICH. CHAPTEK I. PRELUDE. Scarcely twenty decades have passed since the founding of Detroit. During nearly all of these years and up to a very recent period, the prosperity of the city was greatly hindered by the ease-loving and extremely careful spirit of its earliest founders, and their cautious descendants. It was this spirit and education that provided the early streets of only twelve or twenty feet in width, and that resisted the extension of the city, through the opening of roads and streets across the narrow farms that on either side hemmed in the town. This same spirit in later owners still ''seeks its own," but fortunately it has no longer power to hinder the city's growth and gain. In 1805, nearly ten decades of years after the founding of the city, its swaddling bands were loosened by the fire that swept away, not only houses and stores, but streets as well. This most fortunate event, which is happily com- memorated in the emblematic seal of the city, with its mottoes of Besurget Cineribiis, "she rises from the ashes," and Speramus Meliora, " we hope for better times," gave us an entirely new plan for the city, with streets and avenues and a Campus Martins and Grand Circus that will be an honor to the city, and a joy and delight for a thousand years and more. The French habitans protested vociferously and vigor- ously against the innovations of the newer plan, declaring that the lots above the present city hall would " never be 6 TRELUDE. built upoD, and were only fit for pasturage." Fortunately their protest was of no avail. Twenty years later, in 1826, another great advance was gained, the grounds included in Fort Shelby, with the surrounding military reserve, were then relinquished by the United States to the Corpora- tion. The lands covered nearly twelve blocks in the very center of the city, and the reservation had been a formid- able obstacle to growth and improvement. The Fort proper lay between what is now Fort and Lafayette, Gris- wold and Wayne Streets. The grading down of the Fort embankment, the filling in at the same time of the low lands along the river, the opening of numerous new streets, and the platting and ex- posing to sale by the city at nominal prices, of hundreds of the newly acquired lots platted from the old Fort grounds, marked a distinct era in the city's life, and af- forded the largest inducement that had been offered for new citizens. During the next decade the population increased over four hundred per cent, the emigration from the Eastern and New England States was unprecedented, and amounted almost to a mania; fleets of steamboats that outnumbered those now arriving, brought thousands of new comers to Detroit and the West, and helped to relieve the town from French control, and during the same period the boundary of the city was pushed outward on both its eastern and western sides. During the decades from 1840 to 1860, communication was opened with the interior,through various plank roads, several railroads were pushed clear across the State, and others connected with railroads from the East, giving a great impetus to the city's growth. During this same period the territory included within the city was again doubled by additions on the east and west. PRELUDE. 7 The years between 1860 and 1870, covering the period of the war with the South, brought great prosperity to Detroit. Immense amounts of new capital was created and invested in the city, the suburbs were first made accessible through the street railways, the architectural ornamenta- tion of both stores and houses greatly increased, and the manufacturing interests of the city grew apace. Meantime nearly all the older holders of the larger farms within the city and without in immediate proximity, passed away, and as the property has been largely sold and divided, the octopus of conservatism that so long held the city in its grasp, has released its hold, and the city has started forward for a larger place in the front rank with leading cities of the continent. It is a fact capable of a demonstration, that the West has been so largely explored and examined, and the railroad routes and sites of cities so fully determined, that no other new large city will be located either in the West or East. The cities already well established with favorable loca- tions and facilities, will largely gather to themselves the growth of the future, and all such cities will increase in wealth and population much faster than in former years. Detroit, with its exceptional opportunities and advan- tages is certain to obtain its full share of the gain resulting from the conditions named, and as a manufacturing and residence city it will inevitably gain a still more advanced position. That this result will follow is evidenced by the com- parison of a variety of facts, showing the salient points in the city's history in 1890 as compared with 1870. CHAPTER II. GROWTH OF POPULATION— AREA AND SUBURBS. The United States Census of 1870 gave the total popu- lation of Detroit as 79,577. In the same year, the num- ber of families in the city, according to the statistics of the Board of Water Commissioners, was 14,717, or about ^To persons to a family. In 1880 the average was about bj\ persons. The number of families in the city in 1889, according to the Board of Water Commissioners, was 40,156, and their statistics have lately shown a gain of about 2,000 families per year. This would give us 42,156 families in 1890. Applying the average of 5^ per- sons to a family, would give us a population in 1890 of 231,958. Inasmuch as no United States census has been taken this year, there is no more reliable method of esti- mating the population than the one given, and these fig- ures are as near correct as any method except an actual enumeration will give. The area of the city has been greatly enlarged since 1870, and Detroit in 1890 includes fully twice as much territory as it did twenty years ago. The land actually included within the city does not, however, fully represent its growth. Large tracts of land on the north, and also on the east and west, locaterl from one to three miles beyond the city line, have been platted into lots and largely built upon, and all outlying prop- erty has increased in value from one hundred to live hundred per cent, since 1870. The platting of these tracts adjacent to the city does not represent all there is of this suburban growth. \ cc 10 SUBURBS. Tlie villages and centers known as Grosse Pointe, Nor- ris, Highland Park, Delray, Woodraere, Ravenswood and Nallville are all, practically, suburbs of Detroit, and largely settled by people whose business is in the city, — and all of these places have been established, or have had their largest growth, since 1870. These suburbs will inevitably increase in number and extent, the electric cars are reaching out in every direc- tion, the attractions of a residence beyond the reach of immediate city taxation, or where larger lots for less money can be secured, and the picturesque suggestions of a residence on the border of the river or Lake Ste. Claire, are being increasingly appreciated. Added to these there are other reasons why the more immediate suburbs of Detroit are destined to grow more rapidly. These are the improvement of the drive-ways in various directions, the dredging out of the river Rouge and the railroad facilities being there provided, and the locating of large manufacturing enterprises both there and at the railroad junctions. The increasingly appreciated favorable location of the city as a place of summer resort, because of its water com- munications and its exceptional health record, together with its wide reputation as a beautiful residence city, is yearly attracting from the interior of Michigan, and also from the far East, scores of persons who come here to enjoy the wealth they have secured elsewhere. Here we have no fear of a flood or of an overflow, we seldom experience the extremes of heat or cold, and a larger proportion of citizens live " under their own vine aud fig trea" than in any other city of the size of Detroit. CHAPTER III. CITY GOVERNMENT— WARDS— ELECTIONS— CITY AND COUNTY OFFICERS. lu the general administration of the city government there is no remarkable difference as between 1870 and 1890. The most noticeable change is found in the fact that since 1870 the city has been districted entirely anew, so far as wards are concerned, entirely new boundaries being provided for each. The present ward boundaries are as follows : First Ward— ^as^ by Beaubien; West by Woodward. Second Warb— East by Woodward; West by First, Grand River and Second. Third WARB--East by Hastings; West by Beaubien. Fourth Ward— ^-as^ by First, Grand River and Sec- ond ; West by Crawford, Grand River and Fifth. Fifth Ward— ^as^ by Russell; West by Hastings. Sixth Ward— ^-as^ by Crawford, Grand River and Fifth; West by Trumbull. Seventh WAUT>—East by Dequindre; West by Russell. Eighth Ward— E^as^ by Trumbull; West by Wabash and east line of Godfroy Farm. Ninth Ward— ^as^ by Chene; West by Dequindre. Tenth Ward— ^-^s^ by Wabash and the east line of Godfroy Farm; West by Twentieth and west line of Lor- anger Farm. 12 CITY GOVERNMENT. Eleventh Ward — East by McDougall; West by Chene. Twelfth Ward — East by Twentieth and west line of Loranger Farm; West by Twenty-fifth and west line of Porter Farm. Thirteenth Ward — East by Mt. Elliott; West by McDougall. Fourteenth Ward — East by Twenty-fifth and west line of Porter Farm; West by McKinstry and Twenty- ninth, or west line of Private Claim 47. Fifteenth Ward — East by City Limits ; West by Mt. Elliott and including Belle Isle. Sixteenth Ward — East by Buhl, Twenty-ninth, and west line of Private Claim 47 ; West by City Limits. In 1870 we had but ten wards, we now have sixteen. The Board of Aldermen then consisted of twenty and now has thirty-two members. Then the Aldermen received no salary, now they are paid 1600 a year. In 1870 the following persons were serving as Alder- men: First Ward — A. W. Tyrrell, Wm. Foxen. Second Ward — W. H. Langley, G. W. Balch. Third Ward— C. Melius, Wm. Wilmot. Fourth Ward — Frank Kremer, Thos. Henderson. Fifth Ward— W. H. Coots, A. S. Bagg. Sixth Ward— G. C. Codd, J. D. Allison. Seventh Ward — F. Ruehle, Elijah Smith. Eighth Ward — Tim Mahoney, Dennis Dullea. Ninth Ward — Peter Hill, Geo. Sutherland. Tenth Ward — J. Williams, W. H. Baxter. In 1890 the Aldermen are as follows: First Ward — George Dingwall, Walter H. Coots. ELECTIONS. 13 Second Ward-t— James Vernor, Julius P. Gilmore. Third Ward — Geo. F. Reichenbach, Frank N. Reves. Fourth Ward — Lou Burt, Stephen A. Griggs. Fifth Ward — John Chr. Jacob, Charles P. Karrer. Sixth Ward — James Lennane, Cyrus B. Barnes. Seventh Ward — Frank J. Bleser, Albert Roth. Eighth Ward — Frederick Cronenwett, Murray Wat- son. Ninth Ward — Frank Schmidt, Ernest L. Reschke. Tenth Ward — Anthony H. Reynolds, Charles A. Buhrer. Eleventh W^ard — Henry Boettcher, William Richert. Twelfth Ward — Robert H. Murphy, James Brennan. Thirteenth Ward — John Kessler, William O'Regan. Fourteenth Ward — Neil Grant, William Uthes. Fifteenth Ward — Frank Smith, George Scott. Sixteenth Ward — Frank Wotzke, Ferdinand Amos. elections. In 1870 only two of the ten wards were divided into election districts, namely, the fifth and sixth, each of these two wards having two districts. Now each ward has from three to five election districts, and we have sixty-one vot- ing places, instead of twelve, as in 1870. The election districts are as follows: First Ward: — First District, all that portion north of Brady Street ; Second District, all that portion between Brady Street and Adelaide Street ; Third District, all that portion between Adelaide Street and Adams Avenue ; Fourth District, all that portion south of Adams Avenue and east of Randolph Street ; Fifth District, the portion south of Adams Avenue and west of Randolph Street. Second Ward: — First District, the portion north of 14 ELECTION DISTRICTS. Bagg Street ; Second District, the portion between Bagg and High Streets ; Third District, the portion between High Street and a line running through Adams Avenue to Grand River Avenue, thence westerly along said ave- nue to the intersection of First Street ; Fourth District, the portion lying between the Third District and Michi- gan Avenue; Fifth District, the portion lying south of Michigan Avenue. Third Ward: — First District, the portion lying south of the center line of Fort Street ; Second District, the por- tion lying north of the center line of Fort Street, to Gratiot tiot Avenue; Third District, the portion lying north of the center line of Gratiot Avenue and south of the center line of Wilkins Street; Fourth District, the portion north of Wilkins Street. Fourth Ward: — First District, south of the center line of Michigan Avenue ; Second District, between the center lines of Michigan and Grand River Avenues ; Third District, north of the center line of Pitcher Street; Fourth District, between the center line of Pitcher Street and Grand River Avenue. Fifth Ward : — First District, south of the center line of Fort Street ; Second District, between the center lines of Fort Street and Gratiot Avenue; Third District, be- tween the center lines of Gratiot Avenue and Watson Street ; Fourth District, north of the center line of Watson street. Sixth Ward : — First District, south of the center of Abbott Street ; Second District, between the center lines of Abbott and Plum Streets ; Third District, between the center lines of Plum Street and Grand River Avenue ; Fourth District, north of the center line of Grand River Avenue. Seventh Ward: — First District, all south of the ELECTION DISTRICTS. 1 5 center line of Fort Street ; Second District, between the center lines of Fort and Maple Streets ; Third District, between the center lines of Maple and Alfred Streets ; Fourth District, north of Alfred Street. Eighth Ward : — First District, south of Baker Street; Second District, between Baker and Locust Streets ; Third District, between Locust and Myrtle Streets ; Fourth Dis- trict, north of Myrtle Street. Ninth Ward : — First District, south of Croghan Street ; Second District, between Croghan and Jay Streets ; Third District, between Jay and Detroit Streets ; Fourth Dis- trict, portion north of Third District. Tenth Ward: — First District, south of Baker Street; Second District, between Baker Street and Michigan Ave- nue ; Third District, between Michigan Avenue and Myrtle Street; Fourth District, north of Myrtle Street. Eleventh Ward : — First District, south of Fort Street; Second District, between Fort and Catharine Streets ; Third District, between Catharine and German Streets ; Fourth District, north of German Street. Twelfth Ward : — First District, south of Baker Street ; Second District, the portion lying between Baker Street and a line running along Butternut to Twenty- fourth Street, thence southerly through Twenty-fourth to the alley north of Michigan Avenue, and thence to the west line of Porter Farm ; Third District, all that portion lying north of Second District. Thirteenth Ward: — First District, south of the center line of Fort Street; Second District, between Fort and German Streets; Third District, north of German Street. Fourteenth Ward : — First District, all south of Dix Road ; Second District, all between Dix Road and Michi- 10 ELECTION DISTRICTS. gan Avenue; Third District, all north of Michigan Ave- nue. Fifteenth Ward : — First District, all south of Cham- plain Street and a line uniform therewith; Second District, all north of Champlain Street to Mack Road; Third Dis- trict, all north of Mack Road. Sixteenth Ward : — First District, all south of Dix Road; Second District, all north of Dix Road to Michi- gan Avenue; Third District, all north of Michigan Ave- nue. CITY HALL. CITY AND COUNTY OFFICERS. 17 CITY AND COUNTY OFFICERS IN 1870 AND 1890. Some of the principal city and county officers serving in 1870 and 1890, and not named elsewhere are as follows : City Officers. 1870. Mayor, W. W. Wheaton; 1890. " H. S. Pingree. 1870. City Clerk, Henry Starkey; 1890. " '' A. G. Kronberg. 1870. City Counsellor, J. P. Whittemore; 1890. " " John W. McGrath. 1870. City Attorney, James J. Brown. 1890. " " Chas. W. Casgrain. 1870. City Historiographer, vacant; 1890. " " Silas Farmer. 1870. City Physicians, J, M. Bigelow, Andrew Bor- rowman, P. P. Gilmartin, E. Leach; 1890. •' " M. H. Andrews, Angus Mc- Lean, Hugo Erichsen. County Officers. 1870. County Auditors, A. Blue, M. Kennedy, J. A. Visgar ; 1890. " " A. Stoll, C. P. Collins, W. C, Mahoney. 1870. County Clerk, Stephen P. Purdy ; 1890. " ^' W. P. Lane. 1870. County Treasurer, Paul Gies; 1890. " " Ralph Phelps, Jr. 1870. County Register, Alonzo Eaton; 1890. " "" R. Bolijer. CHAPTEE lY. CITY VALUATION— CITY DEBT— CITY AND COUNTY TAXES. The increasing prosperity and growth of the city is strongly exhibited in the increased valuation of property. In 1870 the assessors valuation of the real estate in Detroit was $16,872,333. In 1889 their valuation was $117,453,- 140. The valuation of the personal property in 1870 was $6,730,994 ; in 1889 it was 139,052,650. The total amount of the city taxes in 1870 was $631,872; in 1890 the amount is $2,545,327. The net city debt in 1870, less the amount in the sink- ing fund and including the debt of the Water Board, was $1,610,542. In 1890, including the debt of the Water Board and deducting the amount in the sinking fund, the city debt is $2,277,403, the net debt of the city proper being only $972,078. The financial officers of the city in 1870 were as follows: Controller, B. G. Stirason ; Assessor, Jeremiah Godfrey ; Board of Review : A. A. Rabineau, G. M. Rich, J. C. Warner ; City Collector, Thos. Joyce ; Treasurer, E. S. Leadbeater; Receiver of Taxes, W. Y. Rumney. In 1890 the following persons are serving : Controller, Peter Rush ; Assessors, C. M. Garriso'n, J. J. Perrien, Theodore Rentz ; Treasurer, Thomas P. Tuite ; Receiver of Taxes, C. K. Trombly. CITY TAXES. 19 CITY taxes; when and how payable. The estimates for taxes, as submitted by the Control- ler, are required to be adopted by the Common Council before April 5 of each year, and must be submitted to the Board of Estimates in time to be confirmed by the Council before April 15. While the members of the Council are considering the estimates, the Board of Assessors have been completing their valuation of the property to be taxed ; and, at least two weeks before April 1, they are required to give notice that they will sit until April 5 to hear complaints and make corrections in the valuations. After this has been done, on or before tlie third Tuesday of April, they send the completed tax roll to the Board of Aldermen, and within a week thereafter the Board of Al- dermen begin to hold sessions as a Board of Review to hear complaints, and, if necessary, to correct the rolls. Their sessions continue not over sixteen days, after which, about the middle of May, the rolls are confirmed. The assessors then compute the amount of taxes payable on each valua- tion contained on the rolls, and taxes may be paid during the month of July without percentage. Since the law of 1879, if the clerks in office are so busy that they cannot receive all taxes offered, lists of property, with names of owners, may be handed in on or before July 25, and the parties can have until August 10 to pay the amounts, if there is no opportunity of paying sooner. On the first of August interest, at the rate of one per cent a month, is added for July, and at the same rate the first of each month until the first of January, unless the tax is paid. If not paid by the first of January, the six per cent that has accrued is added to the original tax, and interest is charged at the rate of ten per cent per annum until the tax is paid. If not paid by the first of February, the 20 CITY TAXES. Receiver of Taxes is authorized to advertise the property for sale; but as it takes some time to prepare them, the lists are usually not printed until about May 1, when the property is advertised for sale for four successive weeks. After this the cost of advertising, amounting to about fifty cents, is added, and interest continues to be reckoned at the rate of ten per cent per annum. If the tax is not paid the property is sold about June 1, the exact day being discretionary with the Receiver of Taxes. The sale indicates only that the purchaser is entitled to the use of the property purchased for the number of years agreed upon at time of sale; but if the owmer neglects to redeem it, the sale is confirmed by a regular transfer of title by the city. Records of sales are filed in the City Treasurer's office. The property can be redeemed at any time within one year after sale by paying the amount due at time of sale and interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum. Soon after the sale a list of all property on which the taxes have not been paid, nor cancelled by sales, is furnished by the Receiver to the City Treasurer, to be thereafter collected through him. At the annual sale, unless some private person bids the amount of the tax, all lands on which taxes are unpaid are sold to the city, and the amounts received for back taxes in the Treasurer's office are credited as receipts from '' City Bids." Taxes or assessments for the building of sidewalks and sewers, or for the paving of streets, are kept entirely dis- tinct from the regular city taxes, and are payable within thirty days from the time the rolls are placed in hands of Receiver. If not paid within thirty days, the Receiver of Taxes can, at his discretion, advertise for sale the pro- perty on which these taxes are levied. STATK AND COUNTY TAXES. 21 STATE AND COLNTY TAXES! WHEN PAYBALE. Under the tax law of March 14, 1882, and Act of June 6, 1883, the State and County taxes for each current year become a lien on the property on December 1, and one per cent on the amount is allowed the township treasurers for collecting the same. After January 1 four per cent is allowed the township treasurers. Within the city of De- troit the taxes are payable to the county treasurer up to December 16 without any percentage. If not paid by December 16, four per cent is added to the amount of the original tax, which must be paid by the first of February, unless the time is extended by the Common Council or the Township Board; but not over one month of additional time can be granted. If not paid by the first of March, two per cent additional is added, and then one per cent a month up to June 1, and if not then paid, a further sum of twenty per cent per year is charged until paid. On the first of March a list of all lands on which the taxes are unpaid is forwarded by the county treasurer to the auditor-general, and if the taxes remain unpaid one year or more after the first of July, the lands are then sold on the first of May in the next year. The sale is made by the county treasurer, who, within twenty days after the sale, must file with the clerk of the Circuit Court a list of the lands sold, and unless objection is made, within eight days thereafter the sale is confirmed. At any time within one year thereafter the court can set aside the sale, upon such terms as are deemed just ; but no sale can beset aside after the purchaser or his assignee has been in possession for five years. CHAPTER Y. PARKS-BRIDGE— BOULEVARD-STREETS AND STREET RAILWAYS. A most noticeable indication of progress in the way of a permanent attraction provided by the city government, is the beautiful Island Park, known as Belle Isle. This Park contains 700 acres and was purchased in 1879 at a cost of $200,000, and over $400,000 additional has been expended upon it. An elegant Casino, boat- houses, and other needful buildings have been erected, canals excavated and the low marsh lands along the edge of the island are being transformed into water and drive- ways. The underbrush has also been largely removed, rustic bridges erected, roads and paths laid out, and a variety of attractions and conveniences provided. There is an abundance of trees of native growth, and in the season no more attractive and delightful park can be found in this or any other land, and eventually it is pos- sibly destined to surpass all other resorts of like nature. The passing vessels, which number more than enter the port of London, afford a continually changing scene, and altogether the view on a summer day is hardly equalled anywhere. During 1889 a bridge was completed from the foot of the Boulevard to the island at a cost of $300,000. It was opened to the public on May 12, of that year, is provided with a draw, and is a little over 2000 feet lons^. Travelers STKEpyrs. 23 on foot or in carriages are amply provided for, and one of the most pleasing views in or near the city is the view up and down the river from the center of the bridge. The Boulevard, which at a distance of about three miles from the center surrounds the city on three sides, bears an important relation to the Park as well as to the city. Its inception dates from 1879, and although not fully opened the near future will see it completed, and for all time it must prove one of the most attractive driveways in or near the city. It is from one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet wide, and will be about twelve miles long. Up to 1890 over $100,000 had been spent upon it in procuring rights of way and improving the route. In 1870 the Parks were under control of the common council. At the present time all of the Parks and also the Boulevard are cared for by the Commissioners of Parks and Boulevard, the members of the Commission in 1890 being Geo. H. Russel, Wm. Livingstone, jr., John Erhardt and W. K. Parcher, with John R. Stirling as Secretary and Wm. Ferguson as Superintendent. STREETS. Within the last two decades scores of streets have been paved, more than half of the city having been gone over, and out of a total of 150 miles of streets now paved, 118 miles have been laid since 1870. Not much, however, can be said in favor of the durability of the most of the pave- ments, but the indications are that the year 1890 will see valuable changes inaugurated in the kind of pavements used and the methods of laying the same. Cass and Ferry avenues are paved for some distance with asphalt, and are so smooth that they find much favor with many persons. Street-sweeping machines were first introduced in 1882, 26 STREETS. and, efficiently and intelligently operated, are of great advantage. The laying of stone sidewalks has become very general since 1875, and it is claimed that the city is exceptionally well provided for in this regard. The streets in 1870 were cared for by a great variety of officers, all of whom were displaced by the Board of Pub- lic Works, which began its duties in 1874. The officers having the care of the streets in 1870 were as follows : — Street Commissioners — Eastern District, Robert Reaume; Western District, Patrick Hayes. City Surveyor, Eugene Robinson. Commissioners on Plan of City — Geo. S. Frost, M. F. Dickinson, J. N. Ford. Commissioners of Grades — James Anderson, S. Folsom and James Dubois. The successors of all these officers, the Board of Works is com- posed in 1890 of W. H. Langley, James Hanley and M. J. Griffin. Wm. Voigt, jr., is City Engineer. In street car lines there has been a very large increase since 1870, the lines then existing were the Jefferson, the Woodward, tlie Gratiot, the Michigan avenue, Grand River avenue. Fort Wayne and Elmwood, and Ham- tramck. During the last twenty years the routes existing in 1870 have been largely extended, and the following new lines have been built: — Cass avenue and Third street, Congress and Baker, Brush street, Trumbull avenue. Myrtle street, Highland Park, Dix avenue, Crawford, Chene, Fort street East, Mack road and Congress street. These later lines have more than doubled the mileage, and several other lines will doubtless be in operation within a year. CHAPTEE Yl. WATER-WORKS— FIRE DEPARTMENT— HEALTH REGULATIONS— SEWERS. No one department of the city government shows a greater advance since 1870 than that directed by the Board of Water Commissioners. In 1870, the reservoir located on the Dequindre farm, within the city, near the House of Correction, was in use ; now, and for some years past, the Works have been located a mile or more beyond the extreme eastern boundary of the city. Then there was but 129 miles of pipeage, the largest being only two feet in diameter ; now pipes three and one- half feet in diameter are used, and there are 344 miles of pipeage. Then the Works were delivering about 5,000,- 000 gallons of water daily ; now over 35,000,000 gallons are delivered per diem. In 1870, the value of the Works was a little over $1,000,000. In 1890 they are valued at nearly $3,500,- 000, and the present debt is only about $500,000 more than it was in 1870, showing an increase in assets of some $2,000,000. In 1870, the water rates produced only $127,143. In 1890 they will produce $367,925. A most remarkable and valuable gift was made to tho Board in 1885 by the will of Chauncey Hurlbut, one of the former Commissioners. He gave a valuable library and other property, amounting in value to $250,000, to enlarge the library and improve the grounds where the Works are located. 28 FIRE DEPARTMENT. The members of the Board in 1870 were John Owen, Caleb Van Husan, Chauucey Hurlbut, A. D. Fraser and J. S. Farrand. In 1890 the Board consists of John Prid- geon, S. G. Caskey, August Goebel, J. S. Farrand and Joseph Nagel. FIRE DEPARTMENT. It would be strange indeed, and would show lament- able indifference or carelessness, if the present condition of the Fire Department did not show a great gain as com- pared with twenty years ago. In 1870 the Steam Fire Department was but three years old, and had hardly reached good working order. There was then but six steamers and one hook-and-ladder company. Now there are in commission fifteen steamers, six hook-and-ladder trucks and four chemical engines, besides two steamers and one truck as reserves. Then there were 136 reservoirs and 365 hydrants ; now there are 383 reservoirs and 1,693 hydrants. Then there were but 60 fire-alarm boxes ; now there are 249. In 1870 the expenditures of the Department amounted to $78,109; the expenditures last year were •i!?324,223. The value of the property of the Department in 1870 was $202,730 ; now it is valued at $886,411. These figures, however, only faintly bring before the mind the real im- provement in the eflTectiveness of the Department. All of the engines now in use are greatly the superior of those employed in 1870; and the appliances for securing rapid work have been greatly improved and largely increased in number. The hose carts are now provided with four instead of two horses ; the method of giving alarms has been skillfully improved, and an almost perfect system has been attained in the entire management of the service. The personnel of the force is better than formerly, and FIRE DEPARTMENT. 29 the almost perfection of discipline obtained and continu- ally in force is not excelled anywhere. A rigid system of inspection over all buildings being repaired or newly erected is in force, and the probabilities of fires greatly lessened. The Commissioners and officers in 1870 were as fol- lows: Commissioners — T. H. Hinchman, L. H. Cobb, Wm. Duncan, Benj. Vernor ; Secretary, B. F. Baker ; Chief Engineer, James Battle. CLIFFORD STREET ENGINE HOUSE. 30 FIRE DKPAKTMENT. In 1890, the officers and Commissioners are : — M. H. Godfrey, Fred. T. Moran, Bruce Goodfellow, Oren Scotten ; Secretary and Treasurer, J. E. Try on; Chief En- gineer, James Battle ; Assistant Engineer, J. R. Elliott ; Superintendent of Telegraph, W. J. Gardner. NUMBER AXD LOCATION OF FIRE ALARM BOXES. 2 — Woodward Avenue and Fort Street. 3 — Hook and Ladder House JSTo. 1, Larned and Wayne Streets. 4 — Woodward Avenue and Larned Streets. 5 — Police Station, Woodbridge Street. 5 — Jefferson and Woodward Avenues. 6 — Woodbridge and Shelby Streets. 6 — Jefferson Avenue and Shelby Street. 7 — First and Fort Streets. 8 — JeflTerson Avenue and First Street. 8 — River and Third Streets. 9 — Lafayette Avenue and Third Street. 12 — Michigan Avenue and First Street. 13 — Michigan and Washington Avenues. 13 — Rowland and State Streets. 14 — Engine House No. 3, Clifford Street near Woodward Avenue. 15 — Woodward and Gratiot Avenues. It) — Detroit Opera House. 17 — Monroe Avenue and Farmer Street. 17 — Randolph Street and Gratiot Avenue. 18 — Randolph and Harriet Streets. 19 — Miner's Opera House. 21 — Randolph and Congress Streets. 21 — Randolph and Larned Streets. 23— Vinton &Co., Woodbridge Street E. FIRE ALARM BOXES. 31 24 — Ferry's Seed Factory, Brush Street. 25 — Jefferson Avenue and Brush Street. 26 — Atwater and Hastings Streets. 27 — Atwater and Riopelle Streets. 28 — Atwater Street and St. Aubin Avenue. 29 — Atwater and Chene Streets. 31 — McDougall Avenue and Wight Street. 32 — Jefferson Avenue and Adair Street. 84— Frost's Wooden Ware Works. 35 — Berry Bros.' Varnish Works. 36— Michigan Bolt and Nut Works. 37 — Detroit Stove AVorks. 38 — Jefferson and Field Avenues. 38— Hook and Ladder House No. 6, Concord Avenue, near Congress Street. 39 — Jefferson and Meldrum Avenues. 41 — Fort and Beaubien Streets. 42 — Antoine and Croghan Streets. 43 — Engine House No. 2, Antoine and Larned Streets. 45 — Hastings and Fort Streets. 46 — Rivard and Clinton Streets. 47 — Russell and Catharine Streets. 48 — Russell and Croghan Streets. 49 — Jefferson Avenue and Rivard Street. 51 — Engine House No. 9, Larned and Riopelle Streets. 52 — Dequindre and Croghan Streets. 53 — Orleans and Maple Streets. 54^Fort and Dubois Streets. 56 — Jefferson Avenue and Dubois Street. 57 — Congress Street and Joseph Campau Avenue. 58 — Croghan Street and Joseph Campau Avenue. 59 — Chene Street and Clinton Avenue. 61 — St. Aubin Avenue and Sherman Street. 62 — Chene and Maple Streets. 32 FIRE ALARM BOXES. 63 — Joseph Campau Avenue and Chestnut Street. 64 — McDougall and Clinton Avenues. 65 — Engine House No. 7, Fort Street and Elm wood Ave. 67 — McDougall Avenue and Cleveland Street. 68 — Chene and Waterloo Streets. 71 — Congress and Lieb Streets. 72 — Champlain Street and Bellevue Avenue. 73— Mt. Elliott Avenue and St. Paul Street. 74 — Champlain Street and Sheridan Avenue. 75 — Sheridan Avenue and St. Paul Street. 81— Mt. Elliott Avenue and Arndt Street. 82 — Elmwood Avenue and Arndt Street. 83— Mt. Elliott Avenue and Mack Street. 123— River and Fifth Streets. 124 — River and Eighth Streets. 125— Fort and Eleventh Street. 126 — River and LafFerty Streets. 127 — Fort and Hoffman Streets. 128 — River and Stanton Streets. 129 — River and Twenty-second Streets. 132— Fort and Twenty-fourth Streets. 134 — River and Minnie Streets. 135 — Engine House No. 15, Hubbard Avenue, near Fort Street. 136 — River Street and Clark Avenue. 137 — River Street and Junction Avenue. 138— Fort and Morrell Streets. 139 — Lansing Avenue and Porter Street. 142 — Lafayette Avenue and Sixth Street. 143 — Fourth and Porter Streets. 145 — Engine House No. 8, Sixth and Baker Streets. 146 — Seventh and Abbott Streets. 147 — Tenth and Porter Streets. 148 — Twelfth and Howard Streets. FIRE ALARM BOXES. 33 152— Twelfth and Baker Streets. 152 — Fourteenth Avenue and Baker Streets. 153 — Fifteenth and Porter Streets. 154 — Sixteenth and Dalzell Streets. 156 — Engine House No. 4, Eighteenth and Howard Streets. 157 — Nineteenth and Baker Streets. 158 — Howard and Twenty-second Streets. 162 — Twenty-second Street and Bristol Place. 163— Hook and Ladder House No. 4, Twentieth Street. 164 — Bridge and Iron Works, Foundry Street. 165 — Twenty-fourth and Baker Streets. 167 -Twenty-fourth Street and M. C. R. E. 172 — Hubbard and Dix Avenues. 173 — Engine House No. 14, Scotten near Michigan Ave. 174 — Lansing and Dix Avenues. 175 — Detroit Spring Works. 176 — Toledo and Lansing Avenues. 17 , OS .^ t- ^ 00 o CO lO o OJ CO CO LO o oc o n OS i> o ^ CO CO o o -^ q6 ^ CO ^ S 05 00 Tt^ OJ t> OS o? CO OS o r- '^ m < 00 £> CO^ w CO '^ 00^ i> CO TJH o X co^ Ch Oi C5 o .,_r co" co" o" ■rh" Tji" ■^' — r »o I^"^ ^" ^ oo o o CO OS in lO CO lo CO s T}< CO CO o oo CO t> OS o^ lO t- o '^. 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Capital, - $1,000,000 FOREIGN EXCHANGE. This bank has its own accounts in London, Paris, Berlin, Frankfort-on-the-Maine, Vienna, Amsterdam, Stockhohn, Rome, and other important points, and is always prepared to quote the highest buying and lowest selling rates for foreign bills in large or small amounts. TRAVELERS' LETTERS OF CREDIT. This bank issues its own Letters of Credit for travelers, avail- able in all parts of the world. These letters have been used by a large number of ^Michigan people with great satisfaction. They are issued immediately, and those who contemplate a foreign trip can obtain them at any time during business hours. COMMERCIAL LETTERS OF CREDIT. This bank is prepared to issue its own Commercial Letters of Credit, by which merchants and others who desire to buy in foreign markets are enabled to obtain the necessary credit with manufacturers, jobbers and commission houses. Full informa- tion will be given those interested upon application. Commercial Accounts. DETROIT, MICHIGAN. CAPITAL, - $1,000,000. This Bank receives the accounts of Mercantile and Commercial Houses, Man\ifacturing Establishments, Private Individuals and Firms, in accordance with the prevailing custom of similar estab- lishments; Receives on Deposit, without Discount, checks and drafts on the principal Cities of the country, and Important places in Michigan and other States; Discounts Approved Commercial Paper, and Loans Money on satisfactory names or collaterals, at market rates; Bdys and Sells Foreign Exchange in large or small amounts. Having our own accounts in London, Paris, Berlin and other foreign money centres, we can pay the highest rates and quote the lowest selling prices for Bankers' Bills and Commercial Drafts drawn on foreign countries. With a representative Board of Directors of good business judg- ment, thoroughly familiar with the methods of conducting business, the needs of those keeping commercial accounts with us have care- ful, intelligent and prompt consideration, and when not inconsistent with prudent principles of banking, are cheerfully supplied. It is the desire of the management to make the Bank an import- ant and successful factor in the healthy development of the com- merce and manufactures of Detroit and Michigan, and thereby promote the Bank's interests as well as the general prosperity. For ordinary and special accounts satisfactory terms will be given upon application. Correspondence and Personal Interviews invited. F. W. HAYES, Vice-President. ACCOUNTS FOR WOMEN. THE! '^mion '/ ^a