Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 13: Public Utilities, 1924

Chapter 13: Public Utilities

Outside of the continuous action of many another needful project for the making of a metropolis, there must ever exist and steadily increase such basic institutions as the following, of which thorough reference is to be made, without any one of which Fall River could not maintain her present excellence. About such supports and props as these gather the substantial business and professional men, and the guardians and defenders of the community, to make daily provision for the maintenance and preservation of the place of Fall River among the cities of her size and aspirations in the Commonwealth.

Mercantile Bodies. - The Fall River Chamber of Commerce is a historymaker in its own right. Ever since it started out with its first chapter of being and doing, in 1912, it not only has helped narrate the story, but it has had an active share in creating the materials for the story - and it is clear that we are only at the beginning of interesting chapters to come. The institution has progressive ways and means of making its presence known, and the city is the winner thereby. So many things have been accomplished since the Chamber of Commerce was established, in 1912, that it is not easy to find a starting-point for our description; yet here are some of the high lights along the way: civic conditions generally have been improved; business men have been protected from unworthy charities; the organization has located a large number of manufacturing plants here; encouraged greater agricultural production; overcrowding in tenements has been prevented; public health has been safeguarded by milk investigation; transportation facilities by water, rail and road have been improved; all World War effort backed up and given timely aid; the organization was in the foreground in getting $1,500,000 to provide for much-needed junior high schools. This is but a mere suggestion of the worth-while enterprises that have been put into action since the Chamber of Commerce was formed.

The Fall River Chamber of Commerce was organized April 18, 1912, at Hotel Mellen, and there were two hundred and twenty-five men present, representative leaders of the business and professional life of the city. Fred J. McLane, chairman of the committee on arrangements, was the prime mover of the organization, his letters of invitation being sent to Fall River's leading men in all walks of life. The speakers of the evening were Edwin C. Johnson, of the Boston Chamber of Commerce; Wilbur F. Beale, treasurer of the Dorchester Trust Company, and prominent member of the Boston Chamber of Commerce; and Harlan P. Kelsey, of the Civic League of Salem. These by-laws were read and adopted: I. The name of the Association shall be the Fall River Chamber of Commerce. II. The object of the Association is to promote the commerce, industries and public interests of Fall River; to assist in securing efficient and economical administration of its public affairs; to cultivate and foster civic spirit and mould and direct public opinion; to advocate measures for educational and social improvement; to make Fall River a clean, healthful and beautiful city; and to co- Operate with other forces working for these ends.

The following-named officers were elected: President, Robert C. Davis; vice-president, Fred J. McLane; treasurer, John T. Robertson; directors: Thomas J. Ashton, Eric W. Borden, Richard P. Borden, W. L. S. Brayton, Harry P. Brown, John B. Huard, James N. Buffinton, S. B. Chase, D. F. Corrigan, Edmund Coté, Robert A. Dean, William E. Fuller, Israel Brayton, A. P. Gorman, John H. Gifford, Albert A. Harrison, William B. Hawes, George O. Lathrop, Arba N. Lincoln, James M. Morton, Jr., Richard Riley, A. Homer Skinner, George W. Sunderland, Michael Sweeney, James Tansey, J. D. Milne, E. B. Varney, George H. Waring, W. D. Wilmot, Jabez B. Wilkinson, James Marshall, Frank L. Andrews, Dr. A. W. Buck, John S. Brayton, John H. Estes, Charles P. Ryan, R. C. Small, W. Frank Kennedy, J. E. Newton, George H. R. Buffinton, Onesime Thibault, E. P. Charlton. At a meeting of the board of directors the following evening, William A. Hart was 'elected secretary, and an executive committee of seven members of the board was elected, as follows: Harry P. Brown, Richard P. Borden, Robert A. Dean, William E. Fuller, Arba N. Lincoln, Michael Sweeney, Kdward B. Varney, and the secretary and officers exofficio, with Fred J. McLane as chairman of the committee.

The presidents of the organization have been as follows: Robert C. Davis, 1912-13; Oliver S. Hawes, 1914-15; William B. Edgar, 1916-17; Henry F. Searles, 1918-20; Spencer Borden, 1921-22; James N. Buffinton, 1923 - . During the presidency of Mr. Searles, an organization was effected placing the association on sounder financial basis by increasing the dues from ten to twenty-five dollars annually, and by the election of a manager. Theretofore, the secretary had been the executive officer. The 1923 list of officers and directors: James N. Buffinton, president; Harry P. Brown, first vice-president; Ellis Gifford, second vice-president; Joseph FE. Nute, treasurer; Herbert F. Sherwood, secretary; Fred E. Bemis, John S. Brayton, James Buffinton, Leeds Burchard, George Dover, Walter E. Dow, R. K. Hawes, Rev. E. C. Herrick, Charles M. Ketchum, Asa A. Mills, Everett N. Slade, Wm. C. Gray.

No one is more capable of relating the history of the Fall River Merchants Association than W. D. Wilmot, who has been associated with that and other organizations that have made for the city's advancement. In the early spring of 1902, he states, when questions were continually coming up concerning methods of conducting retail mercantile business, the need was felt for an association that could take action on matters which were of interest to all the merchants as a body. The matter was talked over, and in early April the following announcement was sent up and down the business streets for subscriptions to the proposition: "It is the purpose of the undersigned retail merchants of Fall River to organize an association to be composed of all retail merchants who desire membership, this association to be organized for the purpose of promoting better fellowship among us, and for the purpose of having an association that can take action on matters which concern the interests of us all as a body. 'These were the original subscribers: R. A. McWhirr Company, George F. Sullivan, H. C.

The Association has regulated the hours of opening and closing stores; it has on a number of occasions exerted a friendly influence in preventing and in adjusting labor troubles; it has exerted a powerful influence in ridding the city of itinerant and fraudulent fakirs; it has been influential in securing better and cleaner streets; it has done much to secure better freight and express service. The Association has enjoyed its annual clambakes and summer outings; and there is also the annual banquet, with eminent speakers. In parades and carnivals, and during the World War, the Association proved itself public-spirited, generous and patriotic. The officers for 1923: President, Thomas F. Burke; secretary, George R. Mason; treasurer, W. Irving Pierce.

Fall River's Park System. - So set upon a hill that her light cannot by any means become hidden - the light of Fall River's industrial, her religious, her home and social influences - the acknowledged beauty and attractiveness of her situation possesses increasing and enduring values, with the steady extension of her park system, that whether for topographical selection or variety and abundance of adornment and equipment has few superiors anywhere. The parks and playgrounds are the poetry of this municipality, and few there are who will declare that the men and women who have provided them were not as much citizens of vision for the people's sake as were those who established industry itself. Howard Lothrop, many years the head of the Fall River Park Commission, believes completely in city-wide breathing-spaces, he not only having observed the growth of the parks from their incipiency, but also having shared in every practical step

During the first few years of the construction and development of Fall River's park system, it was looked upon by a great many citizens and taxpayers as an unnecessary frill. The expression of this sentiment proved a handicap, at first, but this adverse outlook gradually wore off as the intended results became more apparent with each succeeding year. Persistent effort and civic pride won. It was felt by the first board of park commissioners that better results would obtain if expert advice were procured, and as a consequence, Olmsted Brothers, landscape architects, of Brookline, this State, were retained for the development of the park enterprises. After topographical plans were made of the original site, this firm designed the South, North and Ruggles parks, and several small triangular parks at street intersections. The work of construction was done by itemized contract under their supervision, and included every item necessary for completion excepting the planting of trees and shrubs, which was done by the department labor force from planting plans previously prepared. After a period of seven or eight years, public sentiment became more unanimously in favor of park work, and playgrounds were becoming recognized as necessary adjuncts to municipal improvements. Subsequent to the passage by the Legislature of the Playground Act, requiring cities to install one playground for every thousand of population, two sites for playgrounds were purchased, one in the eastern and one in the southeastern section of the city. The first was named Lafayette Park as a tribute to the many Frenchspeaking people in Fall River, as well as in memory of the famous French general who rendered the struggling colonies such brilliant service. The second was named Maplewood Park, because it was located in the section of the city known by that name. The Board of Park Commissioners at that time felt that these tracts should be improved as a combination of park and playground, as much as the areas of each permitted. By degrees and through much tribulation, Fall River has developed a creditable system of parks and playgrounds. The rapid increase in the number using the parks, and particularly the athletic fields, attests their popularity.

The daylight-saving and Sunday sports laws of recent years have added an extra burden to the maintenance costs, but the burden generally is considered worth while because of the increased interest in outdoor sports and the tendency to the better health of the community. Fall River was early in the field with summer supervised playgrounds. The first few years were financed by the Civic Club, as it was known then, afterwards becoming the Fall River Woman's Club. To the latter belongs the credit for their institution, and credit should be given the Board of Park Commissioners for their development to their present state of efficiency. While lacking somewhat in area, as compared with other cities of similar size, Fall River's park system ranks high in features, general maintenance and design. The park commission of the early days should not be forgotten because of their excellent business judgment and their persistent efforts to give, without stint, their best in order that the system might be the best possible in this section.

sted Brothers, were designed and built under the supervision of Howard Lothrop, who served as superintendent and engineer for the Board of Park Commissioners from 1903 to 1922. No history of this park system would be complete without mention of Commissioner Reuben C. Small, who was a member of the first board, and had served almost continuously since.

This, in outline, is the story of the Fall River Park system: On April 14, 1902, Mayor George Grime appointed the following-named to serve as park commissioners: Richard H. Cook, five years; Edward A. Doherty, four years; Reuben C. Small, Jr., three years; Charles R. Danielson, two years; Matthew A. McClarence, one year. The board organized May 5 by electing Reuben C. Small as chairman, and Edward A. Doherty as secretary, the first meeting being held at the mayor's room in City Hall. At this time, the custody, care and control of the public cemeteries was placed in the hands of the board, and Charles C. Smith was elected superintendent of parks and cemeteries. During a period of twenty years previously, over $50,000 had been appropriated for the laying out of the fiftyfour acres known as South Park, lying between South Main street, Bradford avenue and Middle street, and extending west to the shores of the bay. Meantime the section had wholly run down, and was in a dilapidated condition. City Engineer Philip Borden made a survey, and Olmsted Brothers submitted a plan for the playground section of the park, and great improvements ensued. Ruggles Park, formerly a waste place and a dumping ground, was then fitted up to be used as a playground in summer and a skating pond in winter. Durfee Green, a triangular lot of land, was planted with trees; and North Park, a little over twenty-five acres, in the northern part of the city, was in the first plans of the board, as were also Eastern avenue, and Cambridge Green. Oak Grove Cemetery and the North Burial ground were gradually improved.

Howard Lothrop was elected superintendent and engineer of the park system in 1903, and Thomas J. Madden was elected secretary in place of Edward A. Doherty, resigned. In 1905, Reuben C. Small retired as chairman of the board and John E. Torphy was elected as his successor; but upon the reorganization of the board, Thomas J. Madden was chosen chairman and Charles R. Danielson was reélected secretary. John R. Nadeau was elected a member of the board. This year, the board received from the city $1000 for the care of the parks. In 1906, Matthew A. McClarence was appointed chairman of the park board, and Charles R. Danielson secretary. Reuben C. Small was elected chairman of the board in 1907, in place of Mr. McClarence, resigned. John B. Nadeau died that year, and Edmund P. Talbot was elected in his place. The city at that time appropriated the sum of $87,500 for the care of the parks, and new parcels of land were added on William street, Plymouth avenue, Hamlet street, Central street and Spring street. There was no change in the personnel in 1908; the South Park shelter and bandstand were erected; Reuben C. Small was reélected chairman in 1909, and Edmund P. Talbot secretary, in place of Mr. Danielson, retired. On June 30, this year, the Board of Aldermen passed an order authorizing the city treasurer to negotiate a loan for the sum of $100,000, to be termed "Playground Loan No. 1," to provide playgrounds in the eastern and southeastern sections of the city; and it was voted to purchase the tract on the easterly side of Stafford road, between Albert and Chicago streets, and other tracts nearby, all containing over fifteen acres, at a cost of $38,386.50, these to constitute the playground for the southeastern section of the city.

The "Fowler land," in the eastern section of the city, at Flint Village, was purchased in 1909 at a cost of $42,513.91. Maplewood Park was also purchased, and by reorganization of the board this year, Reuben C. Small, Jr., was elected chairman, and John C. Torphy secretary. In 1910, Matthew A. McClarence was appointed chairman of the board, and Thomas McNally secretary. [he supervised small children's playground was first laid out at Ruggles Park in July and August of 1911, by Miss Maude E. Gay, under the supervision of the Civic Club. In 1912, John E. Torphy was elected chairman, and Thomas E. McNally secretary. The next year, 1913, Edmund P. Talbot was elected chairman, and John E. Torphy secretary, the total acreage of the park system then being about 120 acres. That year, Miss Helen M. Leary was appointed supervisor of girls at the park playgrounds, and that summer over 50,000 children were directed in their play. Bertram A. Reynolds was supervisor of boys at park playgrounds. The same board of officers were appointed the next year, and Richard H. Cook was chosen a member of the board. The name Lafayette Park was given the tract of 11.5 acres that had been purchased in 1909. The first girls' athletic meet in the city was held July 23, 1914, the championship banner being awarded the girls of the South Park. The handwork created much interest, and the play festival was the crowning event of the season. The badge test for boys was a feature of the summer contests.

Lafayette Park was completed and accepted December 15, 1915; Mr. McClarence was chairman of the board, Mr. Talbot secretary, and John H. Burgess was appointed a member of the board. General Lafayette's statue was erected at Lafayette Park in 1916, and that year Alfred Larrivée was elected a member of the board. The playground site on Bedford street was purchased in 1917, and that summer twelve supervised playgrounds were opened. John H. Burgess was chairman of the board, and William A. Carman was secretary, R. C. Small retiring. The same officers continued in 1918, and Patrick J. Barrett was appointed to the board. A bequest was made for the Robert A. Wilcox playground in 1919, and R. C. Small succeeded R. H. Cook as a member of the board. The Wendell E. Turner memorial playground was given the city in 1920. William A. Carman was chairman, and Patrick J. Barrett secretary of the board. Egbert Lawton was elected superintendent of the board in July, 1922. In 1923 James Brazeil was elected a member of the board; John H. Burgess and Alfred Larrivée retired in January, and Clarence Cockroft and George Chabot were elected in their places.

With the beginnings and the progress thus made, through the provision and the foresight of the citizens and the active board of officers, Fall River has taken its high place among the cities of Massachusetts in the matter of caring for its people, to whom the parks have become the summer resort, and for the children, whose playgrounds are paradise to them.

the necessity for supplying the city with pure water "by means of aqueducts," and a committee of the City Council, consisting of Joseph A. Bowen, James E. Cuneen, Andrew Luscomb, Joseph M. Darling and Holder B. Durfee was appointed to investigate and report its findings. This committee reported on August 3, 1870, and was further authorized to cause surveys to be made and to continue the investigations. Accompanying the report of this committee was a report from Professor John H. Appleton stating that a careful analysis of a sample of the water of North Watuppa Pond showed only 1.80 grains of solid matter per wine gallon, and that the "purity of the water, its freedom from objectionable salts and remarkable softness" render it eminently suitable for the various purposes of a water supply, for drinking, for washing, for use in steam boilers and for general manufacturing purposes, where a pure and soft water is required.

On March 23, 1871, an act was passed by the Legislature of Massachusetts authorizing the city to introduce the water supply whenever a majority of the qualified voters of the city decided in its favor. At an election held April 10, 1871, there were 933 votes in favor and 89 votes in the negative and the act was declared approved. On May 8, 1871, the City Council met in joint convention and elected three water commissioners for three years. These commissioners were Philip D. Borden, William Lindsey and Joseph A. Bowen. At the same time an ordinance was adopted regulating the duties of the water commissioners. Thus the Water Department of Fall River had its beginnings, and on January 5, 1874, almost exactly four years after the matter was first introduced by Mayor Brown, water was being conducted through the pipes of the city. That the introduction of the water supply had soon manifested beneficial results, may be seen from the report of its water registrar for 1876, where it is stated "two of the oldest physicians informed me that since water was introduced, it has lessened fever cases at least one-half in their practice."

In 1874 an act authorizing the use by the city of Fall River of a million and a half gallons per day of water from the North Watuppa Pond was passed, and in 1880 suit was brought by the Watuppa Reservoir Company for damages under this act, with the result that the company was awarded the sum of seventy thousand dollars. In 1886 another act authorizing an additional use of a million and a half gallons per day was passed, and again suit was brought by the Watuppa Reservoir Company in 1888 for additional damages. This action was not sustained by Justice Morton, who held that "The State had the right to use the waters of the Great Ponds, etc., without compensation." This decision, however, was reversed by the Supreme Court in 1891. In this case the court went beyond the Colony ordinance of 1647, and held that the plaintiffs were successors in title to grantees of Plymouth Colony, to whom the land under and on both sides of the outlet of the pond, the Fall River, now Quequechan, to a point below the plaintiff's dam, was conveyed as part of a large tract. This conveyance was made on March 5th, 1680, to Church, Gray and others, for the consideration of £1,100, and is known as the Pocasset grant or purchase. This included all of the South Pond and almost one-half of the North. The court held that the Colony ordinance of 1647 giving to the State ownership in great ponds, was not applicable, and that the original conveyance, the Pocasset grant, was a sale of land as private property to private individuals, for a substan- tial sum of money, and the sale embraced the water rights claimed. This case passed on the rights of the Reservoir Company in the North Pond and the outlet of the pond; injunctions were granted to the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufactory and the Watuppa Reservoir Company, the court stating that they had a sufficient interest or possession to entitle them to relief to prevent a diversion of the water from such ponds.

On June 6, 1892, an agreement was entered into between the city of Fall River and the Watuppa Reservoir Company, and other parties, for the purpose of permanently adjusting all questions between the city and the Watuppa Reservoir Company, relative to the use of the waters of the Watuppa Ponds and their outlet, the Quequechan river. By this agreement all past and future claims against the city for the use of the waters of the North Watuppa Pond were released. The most important sections of this agreement are as follows:

Section 2. Provides that "when the level of the water at the dam belonging to said Reservoir Company on said Quequechan River shall be at or below a point 40 inches below "full pond" (so-called) the quantity of water allowed to run by said dam shall be reduced to an amount not exceeding five millions of gallons per working day."

Section 4 provides "that if, notwithstanding the said provision to regulate the flow of the stream when the said level falls to a point 40 inches below 'full pond,' the water continues falling so that three millions of gallons of water will not flow for each working day by said Reservoir Dam by reason of the obstructions in the stream, then said City may, at its option and its own expense, and without liability on the part of the said Reservoir Company, lower the obstructions so as to permit more water to flow to said Reservoir Dam; but in such case the said Reservoir Company further agrees with said City (the said American Printing Company and all the said other parties hereby assenting thereto) that at such time, when said three millions of gallons of water will not flow as aforesaid, or at any time thereafter, when said water level falls to, or is at or below 55 inches below 'full pond,' said Reservoir Company will only allow such a quantity of water to flow by its dam down the stream as may be sufficient to deliver two millions of gallons of water each working day to said Printing Company, for the purpose of thus enabling the City to fulfill its guarantee of a supply of two millions of gallons of water to said Printing Company, in such a way that the mills below said Reservoir Dam may have such use of the water in passing as they may be entitled to as 'riparian owners.

Section 4 also provides that the City may have "full facilities to measure the flow at any point on the stream, upon their respective premises, from time to time at the expense of said City."

Section 7. The said City of Fall River covenants and agrees with the said Watuppa Reservoir Company, Troy Cotton and Woclen Manufactory, Pocasset Manufacturing Company, Fall River Manufactory, Annawan Manufactory, Fall River Iron Works Company, Metacomet Manufacturing Company, Fall River and Providence Steamboat Company, Fall River Machine Company, American Printing Company, and Weaver Osborn, as said trustee, and each and every one of them, that the said city will pay to them, and each of them respectively, within 30 days after their several taxes shall become due to the city, a sum equivalent and equal to an abatement of so much of their said taxes as arises from, or shall be assessed by reason of the additional market value given to their respective lands by the water power privileges belonging and appurtenant thereto, and it is hereby expressly understood and agreed by said city and the several other parties named above in this clause 7 (seven) that the provisions of this clause are to relate back and apply to the years 1890 and 1891, and that the said city will pay to said other parties the following sums, the same being equivalent to such an abatement of taxes for the said years 1890 and 1891, to wit: to the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufactory $564.24 for 1890 and $591.77 for 1891; to the Pocasset Manufacturing Company $2,729.53 for 1890 and $2,862.68 for 1891; to Weaver Osborn, trustee (Quequechan Mills) $470.10 for 1890 and $493.12 for 1891; to the Fall River Manufactory $679.91 for 1890 and $713.08 for 1891; to the Annawan Manufactory $692.59 for 1890 and $726.37 for 1891; to the Fall River Iron Works Company $759.20 for 1890 and $796.44 for 1891, the sums for 1890 to be paid in the year 1893, and the sums for 1891 to be paid in the year 1894, in addition to, and at the same time as, similar payments for said years 1893 and 1894 are to be made under the provisions of this agreement.

And it is hereby mutually agreed and understood between said City of Fall River and the other parties named in clause numbered 7 (seven), that the additional market value given to said lands by the said water power privileges shall be fixed and determined for the purpose of the payment above provided for on the basis that twenty-nine millions of gallons of water per day throughout the year has been the average flow of the stream; that three millions of gallons now being condemned, twenty-six millions of gallons shall be considered the average taxable flow, until the average quantity of water pumped during the year, from May first to May first, shall exceed three millions of gallons daily, and thereupon the average taxable flow shall be twenty-nine millions of gallons daily, less the actual average daily quantity pumped or used by the city during such yearly period. It is further understood and agreed that the power calculated from the quantity of water above fixed and determined shall be based on the heights of fall given in the table below, and that the value of said power shall be calculated on a capitalized value of three hundred and twenty-one and ninety one-hundredths dollars ($321.90) per horse power.

While this agreement provided for the adjustment of differences then existing between the Watuppa Reservoir Company and the city of Fall River, it still left control of the water of the North Watuppa Pond beyond the authority of the city.

In 1920 an agreement was entered into between the Reservoir Commission (composed of mayor, city engineer and Watuppa Water Board) of the city of Fall River and the Watuppa Reservoir Company, approved by the City Council of the city of Fall River, for the termination of the 1892 agreement, and vesting in the city of Fall River full control of the North Watuppa Pond. This agreement provided for the payment hy the city of Fall River of the sum of $75,000 to the Watuppa Reservoir Company for its rights in the North Watuppa Pond, the agreement, however, being contingent upon the construction and operation of a dam and pumping station at the so-called sand bar to provide for a more economical use of the waters of the South Pond and thus providing a more uniform supply of water for the mills along the stream at all seasons of the year. As this dam and pumping station were part of a proposed plan providing for the improvement of the Quequechan river and the abatement of nuisances along the banks thereof, and which were already in preparation, it is only a matter of a short time when the city will fully control its sources of water supply.

In 1891 an act was passed by the Legislature entitled An Act Authorizing the City of Fall River to take Land for the Better Protection of its Water Supply, which provided for a reservoir and storage basin, protecting and improving the shores in the vicinity of the lake and providing for the public parkway on the shores of the pond, and on April 8, 1895, a special committee consisting of His Honor the Mayor, William S. Greene, George Grime, city solicitor, and Philip D..Borden, Jr., city engineer, reported to the committee on Watuppa Reservoir Improvement of the City Council, in substance, "as but very few if any of the members of the city government would have at their disposal the time which it will be necessary to devote to the purchase or condemnation of the land around the pond, and the adjustment of questions arising thereunder, we have united in the suggestion that a permanent body or number of men should be appointed to act as agents of the City of Fall River, who should have charge of the subject, which is of such vast importance to the present and future interests of this community." In accordance with this report, an ordinance was established creating what is known as the Reservoir Commission, composed of His Honor the Mayor, city engineer, as members ex officio, and three citizens of the city, empowered to exercise all the rights, powers and authority given to the city of Fall River by Chapter 144 of the Acts of the General Court of the year 1891, and all acts in addition thereto and in amendment thereof. The appointments to this commission were as follows: George H. Eddy, Samuel Watson and Jeremiah R. Leary, and on June 10, 1895, this board organized, selecting His Honor the Mayor as chairman, and city engineer as clerk.

On December 6, 1897, the city, through this commission and acting under Chapter 285, Acts of 1897, took by condemnation all the islands in the North Watuppa pond, and the whole of said pond below the high water line, the line being fixed at an iron bolt set in the easterly side of a pudding stone rock at Phillips' Swamp; also all the water of said pond and the land under said pond. A reservation was made in this taking that none of the rights acquired by the Reservoir Company and others by statute or deeds from riparian owners, namely, the right to flow their lands, or by agreement of June 6, 1892, was affected by the condemnation proceedings. By these proceedings the city acquired title and ownership to the islands in the pond, the land under the pond and the waters of the pond, subject only to the rights of the Reservoir Company and the others mentioned above.

No person shall bathe in, and no person shall, unless by a written permit of the Watuppa Water Board of the City of Fall River, fish in, or send, drive or put any animal into, North Watuppa Pond, so called, said pond being in the city of Fall River and the town of Westport and used by said as a source of water supply. No person other than a member, officer, agent or employee of said Watuppa Water Board, or public officer whose duties may so require, shall, unless so permitted by a written permit of said board, enter or go, in any boat, skiff, raft or other contrivance, on or upon the water of said pond, nor shall enter or go upon, or drive any animal upon the ice of said pond, No person shall enter upon North Watuppa Pond, so called, said pond being in the city of Fall River and the town of Westport and used by said city as a source of water supply, for the purpose of cutting or taking ice, or cut or take ice from said pond, without a written permit, signed by the Watuppa Water Board of the city of Fall River, stating the time and place for which such permission is given. The granting and withholding of permits required by rules 14 and 15 is hereby delegated by the State Board of Health to the Watuppa Water Board of the city of Fall River.

During the year 1912, responding to the requests of quite a number of citizens, the Water Board by a majority vote granted permission to fish in the North Watuppa pond from the wall at the Narrows, so called, during the months of August and September, under certain restrictions. It was evident to the board at the time that its action would provoke much public discussion as to the wisdom of granting such permission, in view of the fact that previous boards had repeatedly refused to grant fishing permits. The board, finding itself unable to unanimously indorse the proposition to allow fishing, decided to submit the matter to some recognized sanitarian in order that such expert advice might be received as would enable it to determine the best policy to pursue in the future. Prof. Milton J. Rosenau, of Harvard Medical School, was employed by the board to make a sanitary survey of the North Watuppa Pond and to report his findings to the board. His conclusions, briefly summarized, are as follows: "T cannot find, as the result of my studies, that there is any justification to permit fishing in North pond. Fishing from the wall may not be seriously dangerous, in fact, but it is wrong in principle and invites pollution and even infection. I unhesitatingly subscribe to the opinion that fishing should be prohibited. As a sanitarian I regard the permission to fish in the water of North Watuppa Pond as a bad precedent and a sorry example. I note with pleasure that practically every annual report of the Watuppa Water Board mentions conspicuously 'its responsibilities in guarding the water against contamination, and has always maintained a watchfulness over the purity of the supply."

From 1912 to 1916, on several occasions limited permits to fish from the south wall of the pond have been granted, but the opinion prevails generally among the best class of citizens that no more fishing should be permitted under any condition or restriction in this pond.

Less than a decade after the introduction of water into the homes of the inhabitants of this city, the attention of the Water Board was directed to the necessity of preventing great wastes of water through defective fixtures. The ever-increasing consumption, caused principally, no doubt, by the sanitary legislation then beginning to be enacted, requiring modern drainage system, determined the commissioners to encourage the development of a system to supply water through measured service. The applicant for water might elect to take water at the prevailing or flat annual rate, or might decide to pay quarterly meter rates which would figure on a somewhat cheaper basis than the flat rates. However, after electing to take water by meter rates a regulation was established which prevented the water taker from going back to flat rates without special permission of the Water Board. Notwithstanding the oft-demonstrated accuracy of water meters, it is remarkable how frequently the correctness of registration was questioned by those who would naturally be supposed to have a greater knowledge of the mechanical principles involved in the construction of such a measuring device.

It is to the credit of the commissioners then in charge of the water works that they remained firm in their belief in the efficiency of the water meter to reduce water waste, besides furnishing a correct basis for the rendering of water bills, and to their determination may be attributed the fact that at the present time nearly one hundred per cent. of the services furnishing water are metered and registering practically accurately the most needed and cheapest commodity of civilization.

From the beginning of the water works to 1897, the city government appropriated from the general funds of the city the sum of $773,000, in yearly appropriations ranging from $7,000 to $70,000. These sums were supposed to be in lieu of the payment of water for the use of the city, and as the water department became more self-sustaining the appropriations were discontinued. In 1907-1908, the Water Department then having surplus receipts of more than $100,000, an order was introduced in the City Council to transfer these receipts to the general revenue of the city, and to appropriate so much of the water receipts as the Board of Aldermen deemed necessary to carry on the work of the Water Department. There is no doubt that this order had its origin in resentment to the Water Board's (now a majority of the Reservoir Commission) policies in matters pertaining to the restrictions placed upon the use of North Watuppa Pond and the development of the water shed. The idea of expending water revenue for general city purposes did not meet with popular favor, and it should be stated that the indorsement of this plan by the Board of Aldermen was by no means unanimous. The Legislature was appealed to by the Water Board to forbid the unwise diversion of water revenue, and in March, 1908, an act was passed restoring the water ordinance relative to revenue to its former force, and forbade the City Council from amending or repealing it in any way until the entire water debt should be extinguished and any improvements contemplated carried into effect. Since the passage of this act the following improvements have been made to the works.

A new machine shop was added to the pumping station and a new battery of boilers with supplementary steam lines installed. An auxiliary pumping station with an 8,000,000 gallon electrically driven pump has been placed in operation and new force mains laid. A sewerage system for the pumping station has been laid. A 6,000,000 gallon Platt steam pump has been installed in the main pumping station, and a general storage building is in process of construction.

The Public Library - Of far-reaching and abundant service, not only to this community but also to a large portion of the southeastern part of the State, the Public Library of Fall River has a greater number of visitors, students, readers, researchers, than any other institution in the city in the course of a year. Situated on the main thoroughfare, and at a point where many roads meet, the library doubtless is the central temple of learning for the multitude. George W. Rankin, officially connected with the library since 1873, and librarian since 1905, possesses a range of information concerning both the contents and the management of the library that cannot be over-estimated, and when one speaks of the library and the superin- tendence and the watch-care of its every department, it is to the librarian one refers, as well. The library's value has become more than city-wide; the worth of the library is acknowledged by every department of life and by all creeds.

To the days of the Lyceum we turn for signs of the beginnings of the Fall River Library - the lyceum that in the 1830's was the chief incentive outside of the church services for the popular gathering. Every town established its lyceum, with all noted speakers of the day as message-bearers of topics that most interested their times. The postoffice and custom house building once stood where the City Hall now is, and therein a room was fitted up for the first public library in the town.

The Fall River Athenzum gave the library its existence, the Atheneum being established in 1835 "by a few individuals desirous of having a library of well-selected standard and miscellaneous books always at hand for the purpose of general reading and reference'" - this being in accordance with an, act of the Commonwealth which authorized the creation of library and lyceum corporations. Several hundred dollars were raised on the sale of shares of the corporation, whose first meeting was held on the first Monday in April, 1835, the price of their shares, unlimited in number, being placed at five dollars each, subject to the annual assessment of one dollar a share. During the first year of the Athenzeum, the library accumulated five hundred books, with a circulation of fifty volumes a week. From the sale of shares and from the fines and assessments, $702 were received, and the expenditures amounted to $646.

Fall River has the honor of standing among the first communities in the State to appropriate a sum of money whereby the public library and the public school might be of aid to each other, the town appropriating the sum of eight hundred dollars therefor, at town meeting, April 3, 1837; and the town treasurer was given leave to subscribe for one hundred and sixty shares in the Atheneum for the school committee, wherewith the committee might issue certificates that should entitle worthy pupils in the schools to the use of the shares. 'This was brought about as a result of the receipt by the town of the sum of $10,102 in 1837, the town's share of the surplus revenue from the government.

How often the fire of 1843 is referred to as the destructive element whereby so many institutions were lost to town and city! It was so in the case of the library, its few books, not quite two thousand, being burned, together with the noted relic, the "skeleton in armor." With the fortunate preservation of a few books that were in the hands of borrowers, and the application of a small sum of money received from insurance, the library was again started, at first in the Town Hall, and later in Music Hall, on Franklin street. 'The number of volumes had increased in 1860 to 2,362.

The Free Public Library as it is today entered upon the local scene in 1860. It came about through the acceptance by the city of the generous offer of the Atheneum Association to transfer their library to the former, and the city council ordinance therefor was passed July 23, 1860. The agreement to the transfer was signed on the part of the Atheneum by Walter C. Durfee, Charles O. Shove, Foster Hooper, A. S. Tripp, Henry Lyon, Isaac B. Chace, Benjamin Earl, Jesse Eddy; and on the part of the city by E. P. Buffinton, Walter Paine (3rd), Samuel M. Brown, Simeon

Borden, P. W. Leland, Henry Lyon, Charles J. Holmes. This library then was opened to the public May 1, 1861, in the southwest room on the second floor of City Hall, the old Athenzeum library being added to by over two hundred books that had been the property of the Ocean Fire Company. The library has been moved about to quite an extent from the beginning. During the remodelling of City Hall, Pocasset Hall, on Market Square, was its headquarters, and it was again located there for eight years, after City Hall was burned. Later, it was at Flint's Exchange, on South Main street, at the skating rink, on Danforth street, and in the Brown building, on North Main street, it remaining there thirteen years.

Nearly five thousand of the library's books were destroyed in the City Hall fire, March 19, 1886. The requirements of a city library building were set forth January 7, 1895, by Hon. William S. Greene in his inaugural address. His recommendation that the mayor be authorized to petition the Legislature for authority to create indebtedness outside the debt limit, to be known as the Public Library Loan, for the purpose of purchasing land and erecting a fireproof building for that purpose, was approved by the Governor March 22, 1895, in an act authorizing Fall River to incur indebtedness to an amount not exceeding $150,000 beyond the limit fixed by law, for the purpose of erecting a library building under the power and control of the trustees of the public library. Among the many excellent sites that were then offered for the proposed building was that of Miss Sarah S. Brayton of the homestead of Mrs. Mary B. Young, whose value was more than one hundred thousand dollars. The offer of the site for $50,000 was accepted by the library trustees. Of the plans of eighteen architects, those of Cram, Wentworth and Goodhue were adopted, but their bid for construction exceeding the appropriation, other bids were called for. That of $133,900 from W. L. Rutan was accepted, and with the stipulation that Fall River _ granite be used, and that the contract be secured, that firm accepted the work. 'To facilitate the financial burden, by act of the General Court, and approval of the Governor, March 4, 1896, an additional public library loan amounting to $75,000 was authorized. The cornerstone of the present library building was laid September 30, 1896, in an informal manner, by Mayor Greene, in the presence of the members of the board of trustees and members of the city government. The constructing engineer was Frank W. Ferguson, and the superintendent of work was Valentine Mason. With the addition of appropriations of $25,000 in 1898, and $2000 in 1899, the total cost of the land and building amounted to $252,000.

The librarians have been as follows: George A. Bullard, December 7, 1860, to February 14, 1864, and upon whose resignation Charles G. Remington held the position a few months; William R. Ballard, November 28, 1864, to the time of his death, November 30, 1905; George W. Rankin, from December 9, 1905, to the present.

The library building, one of the most attractive in the city, is of Italian Renaissance design, and built of Fall River dressed granite; is fireproof throughout, the partitions being of brick and the floors of concrete. The book stack is seven stories in height, and has a capacity of three hundred and twenty-five thousand volumes. There is a large general reading room, and a children's library, the latter containing many thousands of volumes. There are also librarian's room, trustees' rooms, picture gallery, catalogue room, rooms for special libraries, and general workrooms. This library was opened to the public in March, 1899. The library board of trustees in 1923 consisted of Leontine Lincoln, William S. Greene, Henry F. Nickerson, Randall N. Durfee, James H. Mahoney, Dr. Thomas F. Gunning, Hugo A. Dubuque, Jerome C. Borden, Thomas B. Bassett. President, Leontine Lincoln; vice-president, Randall N. Durfee; secretary, George W. Rankin. The assistant librarian is Miss Marjorie Wetherbee.

The Press. - The Fall River of today is known by and through its newspapers, that have become as much a part of the home and the shop as any portion of their daily routine. The friendly rivalry of the press that for years has existed here, coupled with the insistent search for news of the day and the hour, have in themselves eliminated everything that would prevent a healthy speed and a lucid and satisfactory method of the presentation of the day's events. The people are reading the News, the Herald, the Globe and L'Independent, because these newspapers generally provide a first-page way of telling Fall River's story. The press is the voice of the increasing city, of its industries chiefly, and thoroughly of its everyday life. :

The Fall River News began to tell the story of the town away back in 1845, in the era of the weekly newspaper, and on April 2 of that year, a little less than two years following the fire, Thomas Almy and John C. Milne - family names that have remained with the firm to this day - began the publication of the then Democratic weekly at No. 5 Bedford street. There are few newspapers in New England that have not changed their political principles as time has passed, and as entire communities have made similar change; but there are few, like the News, that have retained the original heading and the firm name, the News itself going over to the Republican camp in 1853. As an exponent of the Anti-Slavery and the Union cause, this newspaper throughout that critical period remained firm and steady.

Accretions have been made to the News, and changes of location. B. W. Pearce's paper, the Evening Star, was sold to Noel A. Tripp, publisher of the Daily Beacon, and this succession became the property of the News publishers, who in 1859, in connection with the weekly edition, began to publish the daily that has kept on providing the news of the city to this hour. In the early seventies this newspaper removed its plant to the present location, the News building on Pleasant street, that is looked upon ~ as a landmark in newspaperdom in this part of the State. The death of Thomas Almy, Mr. Milne's first partner, took place in May, 1882. Franklin L. Almy has been a member of the firm since 1854. John C. Milne is still a member of the firm, and his son, Joseph D. Milne, is managing editor. Frank S. Almy, son of Thomas Almy, is advertising manager and has charge of the circulation department.

The Fall River Daily Globe has a large constituency, gradually and substantially secured since the date of its launching in 1885, at the old office in Court Square. An advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, its editorial policy has been upon those lines, and its news-getting system is enterprising and thorough. Up to April, 1906, the Globe was issued from the old office in Court Square, and in that month the new fivestory building on North Main street, erected as the Globe building, was completed and ready for the use of the publication. The offices and the plant are up-to-date. The Fall River Daily Globe Publishing Company has been fortunate in its editorial management and supervision from the first. At the time of the publication at the old location, on Granite and Purchase streets, the business manager was David F. Lingane, and the editor was Allen P. Kelly, while Charles F. Cummings was the business manager. Mr. Lingane succeeded Mr. Kelly as the editor, and so continued until 1889, when William F. Brennan became editor, Charles R. Cummings having the business management of the paper during that period. William F. Kennedy was given the managing editorship of the newspaper in 1891. Few men were better known in the newspaper world in this part of the State. Mr. Kennedy was succeeded by James D. O'Neill, after which Charles J. Leary, Jr., was managing editor for two years. Thomas A. McDonald in 1921 became managing editor and city editor. William J. McGrath has been the telegraph editor many years. Business managers since Mr. Cummings have been George R. H. Buffinton, W. H. Hanscom, Cornelius F. Kelly, James F. Driscoll, Michael Sweeney, Henry F. Nickerson.

Second in order of the time of the publication of the four large daily newspapers here, the Fall River Daily Herald stands well up at the front with the live publications of the county. The Border City Herald saw its beginnings in 1872, with the organization of the Border City Herald Publishing Company, the stock company having such men at the head of it as Judge Louis Lapham, Nicholas T. Geagan, Southard H. Miller, Jeremiah R. Leary, John Southworth, John Campbell. The first headquarters of the Herald were in the Nichols building, on Pocasset street, but at the close of the year 1889, the newspaper removed to its new building, at 231 to 233 Pocasset street. The first editor was Louis Lapham, and the management of the paper was under the direction of Walter Scott. From 1872 the paper preferred the Democratic policy, so continuing for twenty-one years, under such editors as William Hovey, Frederick R. Burton, William B. Wright, Joseph E. Chamberlain, Ernest King, George Salisbury, Michael Reagan.

The corporation became the Fall River Daily Herald Publishing Company in 1876, and again in 1888 a syndicate obtained control, with Dr. John W. Coughlin at its head. The treasurer and manager at this time was Nicholas T. Geagan, and his successor was James T. O'Connor, their associates being John Cuttle, John Stanton, Michael Mooney, James Lawlor, Dr. J. B. Chagnon, James H. Hoar. As has been inferred, the Republican policy of the paper was adopted in 1893, with John D. Munroe as president of the corporation, G. R. H. Buffinton treasurer and manager, and Thatcher T. Thurston editor. Clarence Berry became the editor in 1904, and Edward D. Toohill in 1910, with Mr. Berry as associate editor. Benjamin F. Hathaway became treasurer of the company in 1906.

The large section of the city composing the French-speaking citizens have their own newspaper, L'Independent, that began to be published as a weekly journal by A. Houde and Company, March 27, 1885. Four years afterwards, in 1889, O. Thibault purchased this newspaper. The daily edition was started October 13, 1893, with Remi Tremblay as the editor. Godefroi de Tonnancour, appointed Fall River postmaster in 1923, began his editorship of the newspaper, September 6, 1894. In 1902, L'Independent Publishing Company obtained control, with O. Thibault as treasurer and manager. Its politics are Republican. Philippe Armand-Lajoie is the present business manager, and Jean B. Paradis is the editor. At first the office was at 25 Purchase street, and removal was made to the present office in 1915.

The Fall River Monitor was the first newspaper to be published here, Nathan Hall issuing the first number January 6, 1826, in a brick building on the south side of Bedford street, halfway between Main and Second streets. Benjamin Earl, who was an apprentice on the paper from its beginning, bought the Monitor July 1, 1830, and he associated with him J. S. Hammond. James Ford, Esq., was the editor. Earl and Hammond sold their interest in the paper in March, 1838, to N. A. Tripp and Alfred Pearce, and the same year, Henry Pratt succeeding Mr. Pearce, the firm was known as Tripp and Pratt. The latter continued to publish the paper upon the retirement of Mr. Tripp in 1857. The weekly came into the hands of William S. Robertson in December, 1868, who continued as owner until January 25, 1897, upon the suspension of the paper. The Monitor espoused successively Whig and Republican principles. For two years or so, a daily, edition was published. Among its editors, also, were Joseph Hathaway, Esq., Charles F. Townsend, Matthew C. Durfee, James Ford, Esq., Hon. William P. Sheffield, Hon. Joseph E. Dawley, William S$. Robertson. Other publications that lived here for a brief space were the Moral Envoy, started in 1830 by George Wheaton Allen, which the following year was succeeded by the Village Recorder, Noel A. Tripp publisher. This newspaper was issued fortnightly until 1832, when it began to be issued once a week. The Patriot, the first Democratic paper here, a weekly, was issued in 1836 by William N. Canfield, B. Ellery Hale editor. This paper was succeeded by the Archetype in 1841, Thomas Almy and Louis Lapham managers. It was followed in 1842 by the Gazette, Abraham Bowen publisher and Stephen Hart editor. The Argus was the next newspaper in order, with Thomas Almy as publisher and Jonathan Slade as editor. The paper was suspended in 1843, its plant being destroyed in the fire of that year.

Soon after the fire, the Flint and Steel was published by Dr. P. W. Leland, in the interest of Democracy. In their turn, then followed the Mechanic, by Thomas Almy; the Wampanoag, and others. Almy and Milne started the publication of the Weekly News in 1845; the All Sorts, by Abraham Bowen; the Journal, by George Robertson; People's Press, a tri-weekly, by Noel A. Tripp, which in 1865 was merged with the Monitor; the Saturday Morning Bulletin, in 1872; the Labor Journal, in 1873, by Henry Seavey ; L'Echo du Canada, in 1873. The first daily paper was the Spark, published in 1848, Louis Lapham editor; then came the Daily Evening Star, in 1857, by Noel A. Tripp, later, in 1858, called the Daily Beacon, Louis Lapham editor. In 1868 the Daily Times was published from the Monitor office, for about six months. Papers that lived but a year were: The Record, in 1878, by W. O. Milne & Company; the Sun, in 1880, by a stock company; the Tribune, a Republican morning paper, and the Journal and Democrat, Henry Seavey publisher. Likewise the Massachusetts Musical Journal, the Key Note, the Advance. In 1885 Samuel E. Fiske began the publication of ten weekly newspapers, the Fall River Advertiser, and others with headings for sur- rounding towns; the Catholic Advocate was begun in 1888, by Franklin B. Christmas and James F. Dillon. In 1890 the paper was sold to an association, with John J. McDonough as editor, and in 1893 it passed into the con- Be con James F. Lawlor. Charles J. Leary published the weekly Journal in

Fire Department. - Chief among the public utilities of any city is the fire department, and no city of its proportions is better provided for fire-fighting than Fall River, with its thoroughly motorized and manned department. The equipment in 1923 was as follows: A manual force of one hundred and eighty-four members, divided thus: Chief, Jeremiah F. Sullivan; deputy chief, Dennis D. Holmes; second deputy chief, Edward P. Carey; district chiefs, James F. Conroy and John T. Cook; superintendent of fire alarm, James J. McGuine; seventeen captains, one master mechanic, one engineman, one hundred and thirty-five privates and eight call men. The apparatus: Two American LaFrance automobile pumpers, nine hundred gallons capacity; three American LaFrance automobile pumpers, seven hundred and fifty gallons capacity; one Ahrens-Fox automobile pumper, seven hundred and fifty gallons capacity; four automobile aerial ladder trucks - one eighty-five feet, two seventy-five feet, one sixty-five feet; one automobile combination city service truck; seven automobile combination hose cars; one automobile chemical engine, with two sixty-gallon tanks; one supply car; one repair car; four chief's cars - two touring and two roadsters; one first-size Clapp and Jones steam fire engine in reserve, with towing device; one hose wagon in reserve, with towing device; two pungs. Captain Thomas E. Lynch's story of the fire department to 1896 is the most thorough survey of the subject, and the following is an abbreviated excerpt from that volume: The department was of the usual volunteer order for many years. Prior to 1830 the apparatus consisted of one small bucket hand engine, one bucket carriage, one small hook and ladder truck, the department being governed by a board of firewards.

The town fire department was established June 16, 1832, and forcing pump companies were connected with the factories, the first hand fire engine having been purchased in 1818, Rapid Engine No. 1, with engine house off Inch street. In the thirties the force consisted of Hydraulic Engine Company No. 2, in Stone lane, and Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, on Pleasant street. The pump companies at that time were the Fall River, the Pocasset, the Print Works, and the Troy Works. Dr. Foster Hooper was chairman of the firewards in 1845, and Nathaniel B. Borden in 1848. In 1854, when the town became a city, Asa Eames was appointed chief engineer, and there were then two hundred and forty-five men in the department: Cataract Hose, twenty-five men; Niagara Engine company, seventy men; Ocean Engine company, sixty men; Mazeppa Engine company, forty men; Cataract Hose company, twenty-five men; the firemen then receiving eight dollars per year. The Cascade was added in 1862, this being the last hand engine in the department. The Atlantic, the Metropolis and the Franklin were small engines of the period. The first hose reel was purchased in 1863. Hose car eight came in 1874; hose car six in 1879; hose car two in 1880. The first chemical engine was purchased in 1872; the second was placed in service in March, 1893; the third in

The first automobile fire apparatus came to the department in 1909. The department came under the control of the commission when the city charter went into effect in 1903. In 1914, contracts were executed for placing Fall River in the list of New England cities with completely equipped motor apparatus for the department, and twenty-two pieces of apparatus were so equipped.

Among the fire stations throughout the city the following-named are the best known: The old Fireman's Hall, the Niagara headquarters, the stone building on Pleasant street, between Second and Third streets, that was built in 1838; the Cataract, built the year of the great fire, in 1843, ut the corner of Rock.and Franklin streets, occupied by the Veteran Firemen's Association; the Ocean, on Pearl street, built in 1845; the Defiance Veteran Firemen's Association headquarters; the Court Square engine house, purchased in 1857; the Central engine house, built in 1870 and enlarged in 1896. The fire houses of the Anawan, on North Main street; the Pocasset, on Pleasant, and the Massasoit, on Freedom street, were built in 1875; the Niagara, on Plymouth avenue, in 1878; the Cascade, on South Main street, in 1898; the Maplewood building, in 1910; the Bogle hill station, on Pleasant street, in 1899; the building at South Main and Howe streets, the same year; the Highland station, in 1909. The Gamewell fire alarm system was installed January 7, 1870. The first steam fire engine here was Quequechan No. 1, its company having been organized December 11, 1859. King Philip engine was purchased in 1860; Metacomet No. 3, in 1865; Niagara No. 4, in 1868; Massasoit No. 5, in 1873; Anawan No. 6, in 1874; Engine No. 1, in 1891; Pocasset No. 7, in 1874; Fire Engine 7, in 1895. A small hook and ladder truck came here in 1826; the second in 1844; the third in 1855; the fourth in 1857. Truck No. 3 arrived in 1871; No. 2 in 1873; Skinner Truck No. 1 in 1875; Ladder Truck No. 1 in 1885; No. 2 in 1890; No. 4 in 1895.

Fires of special note and the dates when they occurred are as follows: "The Great Fire," July 2, 1843; the Empire State, January 13, 1849; Globe Print Works, December 5, 1867; American Print Works, December 15, 1867; Massasoit Steam Mill, November 2, 1875; Granite Mills, September 19, 1874; American Linen Mills, June 29, 1876; Border City No. 1, November 17, 1877; Chace's Thread Mill, November 29, 1878; Flint Mill, October 28, 1882; Sagamore Mill, April 24, 1884; Langley's loom harness factory, June 14, 1895; the fire of 1916, when the business section of the city suffered great loss. :

The following is a brief reference to the fire of 1843: The fire took place July 2, 1843, when the population was seven thousand. The town owned one suction hand-engine, one bucket hand engine, one bucket carriage, and one small hook-and-ladder truck. During part of the eventful day, the thermometer registered ninety degrees, and everything was dry and parched. The alarm was given at 4 P. M., the fire starting in an open space near the corner of Main and Borden streets, at the rear of Abner L,. Westgate's three-story warehouse. The cause of the fire was the kindling of shavings by a cannon fired by two small boys. Immediately the blaze communicated to surrounding buildings, and it is stated that within five minutes buildings on both sides of the street were burning, and shortly the whole space between Main, Franklin, Rock and Borden streets was a sheet of flame. The number of persons who resided in the burned district was 1,324; the number of persons doing business or employed there, 600; 291 buildings were burned; the whole amount of the loss was $262,470.

The permanent department was started in 1860; the permanent engineers were appointed in 1874, and the captains of all companies were made permanent in 1894. These have been the chief engineers of the department: Jonathan E. Morrill, 1855; Chester W. Greene, 1857; Jonathan E. Morrill, 1858; Southard H. Miller, 1869; Thomas J. Borden, 1870; Holder B. Durfee, 1873; Thomas Connell, 1875; William C. Davol, Jr., 1876; John A. MacFarlane, 1882; William C. Davol, Jr., 1884; Joseph Bowers, 1920; Jeremiah F. Sullivan, 1922.

The Firemen's Relief Association, first known as the Firemen's Burial Society, was organized July 10, 1883, with Joseph Bowers as president, and Albert J. Pember as secretary. The Fall River Veteran Firemen's Association was organized August 8, 1890, the first officers being: President, D. S. Bingham; secretary and treasurer, Roland §. Adams. The Defiance Firemen's Association was formed in 1900. A more recent organization is the Davol Fire Club, its officers being: President, Robert T. Mitchell; vice-president, Thomas Burke; treasurer, George Hood; secretary, William H. Drohan; financial secretary, James Blackburn.

Police Department. - The Fall River Police Department, with headquarters at 158 Bedford street, is known as one of the best managed and equipped in the State, the organization in 1923 consisting of Chief of Police Martin Feeney, Deputy Chief of Police Frederick T. Baker, six captains, nine lieutenants, seven inspectors, three sergeants, one hundred and twentyeight patrolmen, twelve reserve patrolmen, four night house officers, five day house officers, two chauffeurs, two conductors, two matrons. A night watch of six men was formed when the department was established, in 1844. When the city charter was adopted, a chief constable was appointed, with seven day and eight night men, and in 1857 the title became city marshal. The next few years, with the increase of the industries, the force was much added to. In 1874, the northern, southern and eastern stations were opened, and the city was divided into four districts. The first of the patrol wagons was used in 1890, and an automobile was introduced in 1910. In 1894 the administration of the police department was placed in the hands of a commission. John Fleet was the last city marshal, his appointment ending in 1914. Headquarters have been in Central street town house, in the basement of City Hall, in Court Square and Bedford street. A new police building was erected on the north side of Granite street in 1895.

The Postoffice and Custom House. - The postoffice may be considered one of the old-established institutions of Fall River, the first office having been set up only eight years after the town was incorporated, or on January 31, 1811, the first mail making its appearance here on February 12, that year, and the first appointee to the postmastership being Charles Pitman. On March 26, 1813, the office was removed to Steep Brook. The office was re-established at Steep Brook March 26, 1813; but from that time on, for the space of three years, it appears that the office was abandoned. How- ever, March 18, 1816, it obtained a new lease of life, and it has since been an active factor in the community. Abraham Bowen, at that time appointed postmaster, held the position until April, 1824, James G. Bowen, his son, succeeding him up to July, 1831, when Benjamin Anthony received the appointment. The postmasters in succession since have been: Caleb B. Vickery, 1836-49; James Ford, 1849-53; James M. Morton, 1853-57; Ebenezer Slocum, 1857-61; Edwin Shaw, 1861-75; Chester W. Greene, 1875-81; William S. Greene, 1881-85; Nicholas Hathaway, 1885-89; John Whitehead, 1889-94; David D. Sullivan, 1894-98; William S. Greene, 1898; George A. Baliard, 1898-1906; George T. Durfee, 1908; James H. Hoar, 1916; Godefroi de 'Tonnancour, 1923.

The amount of postage collected at the office in the year ending March 31, 1826, was $226.86. The postal receipts for the year January 1 to December 31, 1922, amounted to $247,394. The special delivery matter received for the latter period was 70,/64; insured parcels received for dispatch, 52,416; C.O.D. parcels received for dispatch, 736; domestic orders issued, 62,853; international orders issued, 1407; registered mail for dispatch, 52,171. The free delivery system was inaugurated July 1, 1863. Aside from the Steep Brook location, the postofiice has been located at the northeast corner of Main and Bedford streets, at the corner of Pleasant and South Main streets, and in the present government building. In 1873 an appropriation of $200,000 was obtained, and the present site was secured on Bedford street, at the corner of Second street. In 1876 further appropriations had amounted to the total of $285,000, and the building was completed in 1880 at a cost of $518,000, of which $132,000 was for land. The ground floor is occupied by the postoffice, the second floor by the custom house.

With the transfer in 1834 of the Custom House from Dighton to Fall River, this city has since been the port of entry for the district. The institution first began to occupy its quarters in the postoffice building in June, 1880. The city ranks seventh in aggregate tonnage of vessels enrolied, the list of ports that excel this one being as follows: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Perth Amboy and Bath. The collectors of customs have been as follows: P. W. Leland, 1834-42; Charles J. Holmes, 1842-45; P. W. Leland, 1845-49; Samuel L. Thaxter, 1849-53; P. W. Leland, 1853-61; Charles Almy, 1861-65; James Brady, 1865-95; John Desmond, 1895-1900; James Brady, 1900-09; Edward T. Marvel, to 1913. Since the year 1913, there has been a reorganization of the Custom House, and Fall River was made a District of Massachusetts, the collector having his office in Boston. 'The deputy collector of Fall River since that time has been - Walter A. Goff.

For the calendar year 1922, thirty-six steamers made 2,288 arrivals and departures at this port, the smallest tonnage being sixty-two, the largest 5091. Thirteen schooners made twenty-six arrivals and departures, the least tonnage being two hundred, the largest four hundred and sixty-seven. There were eighty-one barges, making six hundred and eight arrivals and departures, the smallest tonnage being forty, the largest 2073. The principal items of freight for the calendar year 1922 were coal, petroleum products, lumber and miscellaneous package freight, carried in barges, steamers and schooners. About fifty per cent of the tonnage was coal, transported in barges and steamers drawing from twelve to twenty feet.

General package freight, which includes a large percentage of textiles, was carried on regular steamboat lines in vessels drawing from ten to sixteen and one-half feet. Petroleum products were carried in tank steamers and barges drawing from seven to twenty-six feet. During 1922 vessels carried 1,588,589 tons of merchandise, valued at $12,927,054. The tonnage shows a decrease of 680,243 tons from that reported in 1921, due mainly to the fact that large shipments of fuel oil consigned to a station on Taunton river were unloaded in Fall River harbor and re-consigned, and therefore reported in both receipts and shipments for this harbor. There was also a falling off in the item of coal in 1922.

Transportation. - Its situation has much to do with the steady and sure advancement of the city of Fall River as a seaboard manufacturing center. At a vantage-point upon Mount Hope bay and at the mouth of Taunton river, the opportunities thus presented were early accepted and made use of. With the establishment of the Fall River Ironworks, in 1821, Colonel Richard Borden, agent and treasurer, the works company purchased the steamer Hancock for use as the first steamboat between Fall River and Providence. She was built in Maine in 1827, and made her first trip in September, 1828, under command of Captain Thomas Borden. The King Philip, also under Captain Borden, began running on the route in 1832. This boat was succeeded in 1845 by the Bradford Durfee; and then, in 1849, the Canonicus, Captain Benjamin Brayton, commenced running, this boat being used in the United States service in 1862. The Metacomet was put on the route in 1854; then, in 1874, the Richard Borden. For awhile, at about this time, small steamers plied between Fall River, Newport, Taunton and Dighton.

The Bay State Steamboat Company was formed in 1847, when the steamer Bay State began making trips between Fall River and New York, the company having been formed with a capital of $300,000. The Bay State was commanded by Captain Joseph J. Comstock. Then came the steamers Massachusetts, commanded by Captain William Brown, the Empire State and the Metropolis. The steamers Pilgrim, Puritan, Priscilla and Providence gave this line, later the Old Colony Steamboat Company, world-wide fame.

The Bay State Steamboat Company passed into the control of the Boston, Newport and New York Steamboat Company in 1863, Newport being made the eastern terminus for the boats in 1864, Fall River becoming reestablished as the eastern terminus in 1869, the Narragansett Steamship Company obtaining control of the line. In 1871 the Old Colony Steamboat Company held the controlling interest; but in 1905 that company became merged with the New England Navigation Company, which had been formed by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company for the holding of its marine interests. The Fall River Steamboat Company was organized in 1866 for freight-carrying from Fall River to New York. The Clyde Line began operating freight boats between Fall River and Philadelphia in March, 1876. The Enterprise Transportation Company, with Worcester capital, began operations with New York-Fall River steamers in June, 1905. The Dyer 'Transportation Company started operations in 1905, and the Merchants' and Miners' Transportation Company began ta make Fall River a port of call for the Philadelphia-Providence steamers.

The first lines of the horse railway of the Globe Street Railway Company were run on Main and Pleasant streets in 1880, by the Globe Street Railway Company, the capital of which company amounted to $100,000. The Fall River street railway was purchased in April, 1894, its line running from North Main and Bank streets to the Highlands. With the installation of electricity in August, 1892, the first car was run on the seventeenth of that month from the Stafford road barn to Morgan street; and the first car through the center of the city started September 2, 1892. The first car of the New Bedford line ran its car through here July 1, 1894; the first car of the Newport road was in 1898; that of the Providence line in 1905; the Taunton road in 1901. The local lines became part of the Old Colony Street Railway Company in 1899. The Dartmouth and Westport street railway to New Bedford, which was opened to this city July 1, 1894, is now in control of the Union Street Railway Company of New Bedford. The Globe Street Railway Company passed into control of the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company in 1919. Other lines that gave service to Fall River are as follows: the Newport road in 1898; the Providence line in 1901; Dighton, Somerset and Swansea in 1903.

The Hotels. - - The inn, the tavern, the general gathering-place, was the outstanding institution of hospitality in every New England settlement. Invariably these stood at the great crossroads and at the entrance to towns. Before the Revolution the Brightman family kept a tavern near the Slade Ferry; and Stephen Borden, in 1738, had his tavern at North Main and Central streets. The Exchange Hotel, where the Second District Court building now stands, started in 1830, and for years was one of the best known hostelries on the south shore, stopping-place for stage coaches, and social center for travelers. The house was the residence of John C. Borden, and had been built in 1827, and contained fifty-five rooms. In 1833, after the death of Mr. Borden, the house was run as a hostelry by James Valentine. John D. Thornton succeeded him in the proprietorship, and then, in joint partnership, Horatio N. Gunn, Joshua Remington, Iram Smith and Samuel Hamlet had charge of the hotel, long known as Gunn's Hotel. Thereafter it was used as a residence of the Gunn family.

The Wilbur House, one of the best known hostelries in Fall River, had its beginnings in 1859, when Darius Wilbur, long known as "King Wilbur," was the proprietor. The hotel was started with a small restaurant that stood where the hotel office now is, on the ground floor. With the extension of the building, on' the street floor, besides the restaurant there was an express office, the Mitchell grocery and the Hall clothing store. Upper floors at first were rented as tenements, but as soon as the tenants moved out, Mr. Wilbur would take possession and, furnishing them, would let them in conjunction with the hotel business. There being no water works system in the city at the time, the proprietor would wheel the water in a barrel from Bank street, where the nearest well was located. George K. Wilbur, now in his seventy-sixth year, proprietor of Wilbur'son-the-Taunton, remembers when the stage coaches to and from Taunton, New Bedford, Newport and Providence would stop for a change of horses at the rear of the Wilbur House, and the drivers would pay twenty-five cents for a full course dinner there. "King Wilbur" died in 1883, when George K. Wilbur assumed the proprietorship. He in turn sold to Marsden and Eagan in 1896, and they sold to William Leary. There were sixteen rooms in the old house fronting on Main street, which was sixty feet long and forty feet in depth. The new part on Granite street was built in 1884.

The Hotel Mohican, known as one of the largest hostelries in southeastern Massachusetts, is situated on North Main and Central streets, and is under ownership management. The hotel was constructed and was opened in 1914, the Mohican Hotel Company, owners. Previously upon this site stood the Richardson House, that was controlled by William Durfee, the present president of the Mohican Hotel Company, but that was let to various parties. In 1914, Mr. Durfee undertook sole direction of the present hotel business, and the old building, that consisted of but seventy rooms, was enlarged to one hundred and fifty rooms. Since then, with the rear addition that was built in 1923, the plant now has three hundred and fifty rooms. William Durfee is the president and treasurer of the hotel company, and Fred J. Durfee is the managing director and assistanttreasurer.

Gas and Electric Light - - The progress of city building is manifested in the everyday way by means of the office structures that are the public gateway to the plants themselves. The Fall River Gas Works Company doubtless had in view the last word in the office building proposition, whether for their practical use or for adding to the general attractiveness of the city's business section, when they constructed their present handsome. building on Main street and removed there in April, 1912. Incorporated in the story of the Fall River of today, the building, though not large nor over-pretentious, is one of the most serviceable, well-lighted and accessible. The plant has kept pace with every decade of the needs of the city, and particularly within the past twenty years has in itself been indicative of the city's growth. The coal gas plant is now located on its new site of fourteen and one-half acres of land. The five-million feet holder was constructed in 1905-1906, and the coal gas plant in 1913-1914. Within very recent years, in 1922, the carburated gas plant was built. With a capital of $288,000, the company was incorporated in 1880, the old Iron Works Company having supplied the city up to that date. The first officers of the company were: President, Jefferson Borden; treasurer, George P. Brown; directors: Jefferson Borden, John S. Brayton, David A. Brayton, David A. Brayton, Jr., Richard B. Borden, A. S. Tripp, William B Durfee. In 1886, there was a change in the management, with these officers: President, John S. Brayton; clerk and manager, George P. Brown; treasurer, Samuel T. Bodine; board of directors: John §. Brayton, A. S. Covel, A. O. Granger, Henry Lewis, Samuel T. Bodine, Randall Morgan, David Patton.

The Manufacturers' Gaslight Company came into possession of the. Fall River Company in 1896, George P. Brown continuing as clerk and manager, and with Joseph A. Baker as vice-president and Edward C. Lee as treasurer, and the stock was then increased to $450,000. Again, in 1902, there was a change in ownership, when Stone and Webster became the general managers of the company, Joseph E. Nute being made manager of the local business of the concern, and the capital was then increased to $635,000. Mr. Nute has been connected with the firm since 1890.

The Montaup Electric Company of Fall River was incorporated in May, 1923, under the laws of Massachusetts, with a total authorized capital stock of $7,500,000, represented by 15,000 shares of preferred and 60,000 common, all of $100 par. The company was organized to generate, transmit and sell electricity to the Blackstone Valley Gas and Electric Company, the Fall River Electric Company, and the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, of Brockton. The incorporators were: President, Simeon B. Chase; treasurer, Henry B. Sawyer; and they, with Roy F. Whitney, A. Stuart Pratt and Victor D. Vickery, constituted the directorate.

The Fall River Electric Light Company was chartered March 7, 1883, with these incorporators: Weaver Osborn, W. H. Hathaway, Geo. K. Wilbur, Henry T. Buffinton, C. A. Coffin, J. N. Smith, H. A. Roycersiaame Flint, Edwin Leigh, C. W. Anthony, James E. McCreery, S. B. Ashley, J.. W. Williams, M. G. B. Swift, W. B. Hosmer. The original officers were: President, John D. Flint; treasurer and clerk, Henry T. Buffinton; directors: John D. Flint, W. H. Hathaway, Edwin Leigh, W. B. Hosmer, Henry T. Buffington. This company combined with the Edison Electric Illuminating Company in 1896; engaged in the generation and distribution of electric light and power, with generating station at Hathaway street, capacity 14,250 kilowats, and a distribution station at Hartwell street. A 66,000- volt transmission line to Providence, R. I., connects with the New England Power Company's system. The company serves the city of Fall River and the towns of Somerset, Swansea, Dighton and Westport, and sells energy to the Tiverton Electric Light Company, Tiverton, R. I. The number of customers is 21,000. The present capitalization is $3,500,000 common stock and $50,000 employees' stock.

Miscellaneous. - Soon after William Slade had settled in Somerset, in 1689, he began to maintain a ferry, at first with rowboats, then with sailboats; and later, in 1826, with a boat propelled by a horse, by means of which stages might make the crossing. After the horse-boat, the steamer Faith was put into commission, in 1847, and in 1859 the Weetamoe was used until the bridge was opened. The Slade's Ferry bridge was opened to the public January 4, 1876, and the first train had been run across it, December 6, 1875. The bridge is ninety-five feet in length and twenty feet in width. Its cost was $305,000.

The bridge over Taunton River at Brightman street was opened to public travel October 10, 1908, and was authorized to be constructed by a joint board consisting of the County Commission, the Harbor and Land Commission and the Railroad Commission. It is nine hundred and twentytwo and one-half feet in length and sixty feet wide, with sidewalks eight feet in width. Its total cost to September, 1910, was $1,014,102.17.

Two years after the town of Fall River was incorporated, or in 1805, the town house was located at the then center of the community business,

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Steep Brook. A new town house was built in 1825, where the North Cemetery is now situated. This building was removed in 1836 to Town avenue, where it was occupied for town purposes, until the construction of the new town hall and market building on Main street shortly after the fire of 1843. The City Hall building, a model public building for its time, was erected in Market square in 1845-46, the cost being $65,000. In 1873 the building was completely remodelled, with mansard roof, clock, tower and bell, the expense being $200,000. The roof and interior were destroyed by fire, March 19, 1886. The building was reconstructed in its present form at a cost of $300,000, that year.