Yeakle, M. M. The City of Saint Louis of To-day: Its Progress and Prospects. Truth in Homely Words and Facts in Faithful Figures . St. Louis: J. Osmun Yeakle and Co, 1889. [format: book], [genre: history; narrative; report]. Permission: St. Louis Mercantile Library
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=yeakle.html

THE "Scheme and Charter," setting forth the organic rights and privileges of the city government, its legislative construction and powers, and limiting its power of taxation, was prepared by thirteen freeholders who were elected by the people for that purpose under an act of the State Legislature. The City is governed by two legislative bodies chosen by the people one of them is known as the "Council," and the other as the "House of Delegates." The latter is called the Lower House, one member being chosen from each city ward; and the former body, the Upper House, and is comprised of thirteen members, chosen from the city at large on a general ticket.

The Executive Department of the City Government consists of the Mayor, Officers and Board, who are elected for a term of four years. The department consists of the Mayor, Comptroller, Treasurer, Auditor, Register, Collector, Marshal, President of the Board of Assessors, Coroner, Sheriff, Recorder of Deeds, President of the Board of Public Improvements, President of the Council (who is Acting Mayor, in the absence of the Mayor), and Inspector of Weights and Measures, all of whom are elected by the people. In addition to these officials there are the appointive officers and boards having charge of the streets, water supply, wharves and harbors,, public parks, public buildings, inspection of boilers, law, department, etc. The Health Department is presided over by a Commissioner and Board. The heads of the Fire Department are appointed by the Mayor, by and with the advice and consent of the Council. The Police Board is appointed by the Governor of the State, and the Mayor is ex-officio President.

Chapter II. — The Bonded Debt, and Financial Statement for the Year Ending April 9, 1888.

A statement of the bonded indebtedness and general financial condition of the City, is made up at the close of each fiscal year, the 9th of April. On the 9th of April, 1887, the city's bonded debt was $22,105,000. A reduction of the debt was made during that year of $821,000 by payment and cancellation of maturing bonds.

On the 9th of April, 1888, the Bonded Indebtedness of the city was $22,045,000, having been reduced $60,000 by the Sinking Fund during the fiscal year. The debt bears interest, as follows:

During the fiscal year just ended, the Mayor and Comptroller were authorized to provide for the redemption of maturing bonds to the amount of $4,529,000 by the sale of renewal bonds, at a rate of interest not to exceed four per cent, per annum; of that sum all bore interest at the rate of six per cent, except $122,000, which was at 7 and 8 per cent., the whole requiring an appropriation of $273,210 for annual interest thereon. The renewal bonds were readily sold, and bear interest as follows, viz: 2,850,100, bearing interest at 3.65 per cent. at par;

$1,559,000, bearing interest at 4 per cent., and at a premium of $17.80 for each bond of $1,000; $60,000, bearing 4 per cent, interest, (to sinking fund), at par; $59,900 not sold, but $27,750.20 of that sum was absorbed by the premium gained in the sale of the 4 per cent, bonds mentioned.

The sum required to pay annual interest on these renewed bonds of $170,073.33, is a yearly saving to the city of $103,136.67, or for the twenty year term of the bonds, the large sum of two million sixty-two thousand, seven hundred and thirty-three and 40/100 dollars.

The bonded debt of the city cannot be increased over the limit provided for in the City's Charter. The credit of St. Louis is second to none in the United States. If securities were exempt from taxation at this city, as similar securities are in some other cities, where issued, it

is presumed that the renewal bonds mentioned could have been placed at 3 per cent. interest per annum.

There will mature during the fiscal year, ending April, 1889, the sum of $2,038,000 of the city's bonded indebtedness, which the Mayor and Comptroller are authorized to renew, for a term of years, whose length is left to their discretion; but it is under consideration to place the limit at thirty years, instead of twenty, as in the case of last year's renewals, in order to spread the period of the maturiety of renewed bonds.

The city has no "floating" indebtedness, nor can it make any debt which cannot be paid during any fiscal twelve months. The Mayor, Comptroller and Treasurer of the city, in 1887, so placed the current municipal deposits as to be allowed interest thereon on the daily surplus at the rate of 3 91/100 per cent, per annum, which is greater than has heretofore been obtained,

The following amounts, belonging to their respective funds, were the unappropriated balance in the treasury at the beginning of the fiscal year.

This sum exceeded the unappropriated balances in the treasury at the beginning of the fiscal year, 1886-87, by 1338,760.23, and that was far greater than that of the previous year. The estimated revenue from all sources for the fiscal year of 1888-89 is $6,970,501.47, or about 180,000 greater than that of 1887-88. The assessment of the revenue for 1888, is $224,740,470 against $216,917,720 for 1887, and $214,427,670 for 1886, showing a very satisfactory increase each year. This increase, together with the reduction of the rate of interest on the bonded debt, enabled the city to reduce the rate of taxation for 1888, from $2.50 to $2.30 on the $100.00, which includes State tax of four mills.

The Receipts and Expenditures of the city government during the fiscal year are stated in detail in the Auditor's report. The cash balance in the Treasury on April 12, 1887 was $1,422,037.64. The receipts into the treasury during the year were $9,873,648.39. The expenditures during the year (including unpaid warrants from fiscal years 1886-87 and 1887-88) were $10,514,143.44, leaving the Cash Balance in the treasury on April 9, 1888, $781,542.59.

The above figures are also contained in the Treasurer's report. The Treasurer asks that the force employed in his office be increased to meet the increased business appertaining thereto.

The total collections for State, City and Schools were $6,911,003.27, of which, after deducting expenses of collection, there was paid into the State Treasury the sum of $1,066,884.39; into the Public School Treasury, $853,386.79; and into the City Treasury, $4,898,650.98.

Chapter III. — Board of Public Improvements.

The Expenses of the Board of Public Improvements were $23,823.65. The number of special tax bills issued was 3,874, covering work the cost of which was $366,247.01. The contracts awarded to public, work involved an estimated expenditure of $1,687,938.27.

Paved with Limestone Blocks chiefly, and some Granite Blocks. Length of Alleys. Total Miles — 73.14

The Street Commissioner states that for the year ending

April 9, 1888, the city expended in the construction of new streets and the reconstruction of old ones, exceeding one million one hundred thousand ($1,100,000) dollars.

In 1861 the aggregate length of the Public and District Sewers was 31 52-100 Miles; in 1871, 117 16-100 Miles; in 1881, 202 66-100 Miles; in 1888, 270 68-100 Miles.

The Cost of the Sewers up to 1861 was almost $800,000; in 1871 slightly over three million; in 1881 five and a half million; and in 1888 nearly seven million, dollars.

Completed April 1,1888, were two hundred and seventy 68-100 miles in length; and built at an aggregated cost since the city began to build sewers of six million, six hundred and sixty-five dollars. The Mill-Creek Sewer is the largest sewer in the world. ^[15] Its dimensions are 15x20 feet for 16,389 feet of its length, and 15x18 feet for 3,199 feet length, and has a total length of nearly four miles. It was constructed at a cost of $1,387,030.73, or plus $70.00 per lineal foot, equal to three hundred and seventy thousand dollars per mile! The Mill-Creek Sewer receives the sewerage and storm-water, of an area comprising twelve thousand three hundred acres. The materials of this mammoth sewer are stone and brick. It discharges into the Mississippi at foot of La Salle Street.

Chapter IV. — Water Supply.

The City's Water Supply although ample is being largely increased, and the work under progress of construction includes a Conduit of Seven Miles in length and a diameter of nine feet. It is expected to be completed in 1893, and will furnish an adequate supply of water for one million population. The cost of this large work will be met by annual appropriations from the city's revenues as the work progresses, and when finished no debt will have been incurred for the work, which had not been provided for in advance.

There was an unappropriated balance in Water Works Revenues at the beginning of the present fiscal year (April, 1888), of $766,091.83, enabling the pushing of the work during the present year, and the annual surplus from (water rents) revenue will be ample for steady continuance. The increased supply of water will come from the Mississippi river at the "Chain of Books," ten miles north of Market street. Forty acres of ground at that point, and the right of way (the seven miles) has been purchased; excepting a small part now under condemnation and assessment of its valuation.

The average daily consumption of water for the last regular year was nearly thirty and one-half million gallons, or nearly five hundred thousand gallons more than the daily use during the preceding year. The Receipts of the Department for the last fiscal year were $919,975.18 in water rents.

In 1871, the daily water supply was twelve and a half million gallons, which in seventeen years has increased to two and one-half times that amount.

The Water Bonds of this city are in amount $5,200,000, bearing interest at six per cent. per annum.

In 1901, the Revenue on Water Rates will enable a reduction on the principal of the Bonds, and, by gradual payment during the succeeding twelve years, it is expected that all will be liquidated; and in that year, 1913, it is estimated that there will be a surplus after full payment. This result will be accomplished out of the annual water-rate revenue, but includes the current annual interest on the bonds, and all expenditures for new pipes and distributing mains, besides the annual sums required in operating the Water System.

The New Works are to have a capacity of fifty million gallons per day, with provision made in the plant so that the supply may be increased ultimately to one hundred million gallons per day.

The location of the New Water Works at "Chain of Rocks" possesses the following advantages: that it will secure for all time to come water not contaminated by sewerage, as the in-take will be above all influence of town drainage, shore nuisances or washings incidental to the suburbs of a city.

The estimated cost of the extension to "Chain of Rocks" of a capacity of fifty million gallons per day, is $2,836,520, including river work, settling basins, filter beds, the 7 miles conduit and land

damages. The aforegoing is condensed from the annual report of the Commissioner of Public Improvements to April 9, 1888.

Is in the highest state of order and efficiency. There are thirty steam fire-engines — (an increase of five over the previous year), five chemical engines, twenty-seven hose carriages, eight hook-and-ladder apparatuses, fourteen wagons, 185 horses, and 30,000 feet of hose. The force numbers 339 men and officers. ^[16]

The Total Valuation of taxable property for the year 1888 (in old and new limits), was $222,679,760, being an increase of $7,480,670 over the preceding year.

The sum expended for Building for the year ending April, 1888, was about eight million dollars, or one million in excess of the previous year. The year ending in April, 1889, is expected to show a still larger increase; but it has been found that the sums reported are largely less than the actual investments.

The building permits issued from the 9th of April to the 12th of December, 1888, amounted to $6,793,208.

Chapter V. — Saint Louis: The Latitude, Temperature, Rain-Fall, Topography, Health.

The Latitude is 38 degrees 23 minutes North, Longitude 89 degrees 36 minutes West, the Mean Temperature 57 degrees; the Annual Rain-fall is an average of forty-one inches; the average number of clear days during the year is found to be 142; of partly cloudy weather 174, and of entirely cloudy days 49. The Topography shows a varying rise above the City "Directrix," (the level at top of the Levee of the Mississippi at the East front), of from thirty-five to two hundred feet, or more, at the west side of the city, distant seven miles. Numerous hills, elevated plateaux, and benches afford grand building sites. The environs of the city, and suburban country for more than ten miles west, north and south of the city, is a continuous succession of fine elevations unsurpassed for their beauty of natural scenery and grand building sites without number, reached by rapid transit of several railway lines of numerous daily trains.

Very great extremes of cold or heat in Summer and Winter are not experienced at Saint Louis. The mean temperature for 1887 was 57.50, Fahrenheit, and the normal, 55.3 degrees. Number of days minimum below zero 5; maximum above 90 degrees 45 days. Total precipitation, 35.30 inches, greatest rain-fall in any 24 hours 2.32 inches.

The mortality-rate is less than some other large cities, as will be found by comparison. The annual mortality rate for the city of St. Louis for the last ten years is taken from the reports of the Health Commissioner, and is as follows:

The progress in "sanitation" at St. Louis is steadily marked each succeeding year; and it will shortly become one of the cleanliest, as now among the healthiest cities of any country; and for salubrity of situation on the west bank of the Mississippi is not surpassed, by any city of the United States.

The City Directrix upon which all elevations are based, is the top of a square flat stone, set level with the curb on the west side of the Wharf, between Walnut street and

Market street — 0.00 (being the high water mark of the year 1826).

Chapter VI. — The Street Railways.

The number of Chartered Companies is seventeen, operating twenty-one lines, and covering the city in all directions with more than one hundred and sixty miles of street railways, counting single tracks only, but nearly all are double tracked. Four of these companies operate the Cable System, and several others are experimenting with electric power. Again, the project of Elevated City Railways has been broached, and a strong effort is being made to obtain municipal privileges which have hitherto been denied, partly in consequence of the opposition of property owners on the proposed routes.

More Street Railways, Electric or Cable, are demanded for the public convenience, and will be constructed at an early date.

In December last, 1888, a company, composed chiefly of Chicago capitalists, purchased the property and franchises of three important street railway lines in this city. The three roads were consolidated under a single proprietorship, or syndicate. The prices paid were favorable to the St. Louis companies, the late owners; and, the new owners assumed all liabilities. Two were horse-car lines, and one cable power. The officials of the new company announced their intention, not only to extend the roads into new territory, but to apply cable or electric power upon all early in the ensuing spring season, of 1889.

These purchases are signs of a rapidly growing conviction amongst watchful capitalists of other cities — both eastern and western — that St. Louis is a place of prime, but early to become of greater importance. At the present writing, (February, 1889), capitalists of Philadelphia

and Pittsburgh are standing in readiness to place large sums of money in elevated street railways, charters for which energetic projectors of this city are pushing in the councils of the municipal legislature.

The Passenger Traffic on the Street Railroads, in 1887, as reported by the different companies to the City Register, was as follows: Number of trips made 3,922,009; and the number of passengers carried was 52,054,242. The passenger traffic for the year, ending December 31, 1888, was as follows: The number of single trips made was 4,204, 929; and the number of passengers conveyed, 55,043,930: showing an increase of about 283,000 trips, and nearly 3,000,000 passengers; or a gain of 5 ¾ per cent over the year 1887.

It is expected, that 10 miles will be added to the length of the street railroads during 1889, and horse power be dispensed with on all the principal lines.

Market Street and Laclede Avenue — running east and west — form the dividing line of all streets crossing them. North of this line are North Main, North Second, etc. South of this line is South Main, South Second, etc. The numbering of all houses fronting on the public streets is arranged as follows: the odd numbers apply to the north and west sides of the streets, and the even numbers to the east and south sides.

The general rule is that 100 numbers shall represent each block going westwardly from the river front, and a like number for each block north or south from Market street and Laclede avenue.

The City of St. Louis is built on limestone rock, upon the upper stratum of which is found a superior quality of red-brick clay of which all the brick used in building is

made. The red shade of color is clear and brilliant. The St. Louis smooth pressed red brick are so much admired abroad that many places using them, notably the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, have constructed the fronts of their fine houses of brick imported from this city.

The same clay is used in making brick of various forms for the embellishment of fronts of buildings and used with the brick of even shade of color. The combination of forms and figures with the plain brick makes a most attractive frontage, as shown in the New Mercantile Library Building, corner Sixth and Locust streets, the fronts of which present a very handsome effect.

Building Sand is obtained for the cost of hauling. Lime is very cheap. Limestone Rock of fine quality is abundant and convenient at a low price per perch. Superior quality of building material in Sand-stones, red and gray Granite; and Marbles in white, black and variagated, are to be obtained at no great distance from the city, in Missouri, in quantity without limit.

Fire Clay. — The deposits of this Clay are inexhaustible within and without the city limits, and are equal to the best clays of Europe, numerous factories are engaged in the manufacure of fire-brick, drain-pipe, retorts, house-chimneys, etc. Of drain pipe, the largest made by any works in the country is that of the Laclede Works of this city, being six and a half feet in diameter!

The Missouri Granite is susceptible of a polish equal to fine steel; and is much used in house fronts, both rock faced and polished.

In side-walk paving, the "Granitoid" description, composed of fine chip-granite and cement, is considerably used and makes a smooth and durable walk.

In Lumber and Timber for building and manufacturing purposes the supply is most ample — in white and yellow Pine, in Oak, Maple, Walnut, Sycamore, Poplar, and other varieties, at prices low as elsewhere with the exceptions of hard woods, yellow pine, and poplar, which are lower than at other large western points, and are obtained from the almost inexhaustable forests of Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Chapter VII. — The Buildings of the Municipality, Buildings of the United States.

This imposing structure covers an entire block of ground, bounded by Fourth, Fifth, Chestnut and Market streets, and fronting on all; it was completed in 1862, at a total cost of seven million dollars, not including the value of the plot. The Plan of the Building is in the form of a

cross, the material used in the construction is Missouri gray granite, and it is fire-proof. The Central part is modeled after the Capital at Washington — a lofty Rotunda and Dome — having elaborate paintings in fresco of leading historical events in American history, by a distinguished Italian artist. An iron stairway leads to the Dome, from which a magnificent view of the City, River and Aboriginal Mounds in Illinois may be obtained.

This building accommodates, besides the City Civil Courts, the Recorder, Assessor, Collector, Sheriff, etc.

Occupies very ample space, and fronts on Eleventh, Chestnut and Market streets. It is three lofty stories in height, and accommodates the Mayor, Comptroller, Treasurer, Auditor, etc.; also the Street, Water. Fire and Health Departments, and besides the legislative halls of the Council and House of Delegates.

The City Hall, finished and first occupied fifteen years since, is no longer suited to the enlarged needs of the Municipality. The authorities have at the present time (February, 1889), in earnest consideration, and are taking active steps in the direction of the construction of a New City Hall. Excepting a frontage on Twelfth street, between Market and Chestnut streets, of 201 feet by 100 feet depth, the city owns the valuable block of ground from Eleventh to Twelfth streets, and fronting on Chestnut and Market streets. Should the Municipality purchase the lot mentioned, and add it to the ground it now owns — in view of building a new Hall upon it — the block would have a frontage of 201 feet on Twelfth, and 221 ½ feet on Eleventh, by 415 feet on both Chestnut and Market streets. The unusual width of the street on the west front, (Twelfth street, of 150 feet), and the proximity of Washington Square, add appreciably to the eligibility of the site for a

City Hall. A new structure would be erected on the west end of the block; and, in due time, the site of the present City Hall would be utilized for the extension of the new building, all to be adapted to the requirements of this rapidly growing city for the next quarter or half of a century.

With the sum of two hundred thousand dollars heretofore appropriated for a new City Hall, and lying in the treasury, together with suitable ground already paid for, it is quite probable, that the authorities will act soon in the direction of building a new fire-proof City Hall after the latest modern plans, and of suitable magnificence. ^[17]

Occupy the entire block of ground bounded by Eleventh Twelfth and Spruce streets, and Clark avenue. Facing the last is the elegant structure known as the Four Courts, built of cream colored stone, and modeled after the Palace of the Louvre at Paris, France. It has a frontage of 130 feet on Clark avenue by a depth of 75 feet. The site is commanding; in construction it is admirably suited to its uses — namely the Criminal and Police Courts, etc.; and was erected, in 1871, at a cost of nearly one million dollars.

The Jail is situated upon the southern portion of the same Block, and is suitably adapted to its purposes, including light, ventilation and sanitation. The "Morgue" fronts on Spruce street.

Are numerous, as the Blind and Insane Asylums, Women's Hospital, Alms and Work Houses, House of Refuge, etc., they are chiefly in the South Western portion of the city, and four miles from the Court House.

First: The Magnificent Block of Buildings, covering the entire square between Eighth and Ninth streets, and frounting on Olive, with its rear on Locust street — is occupied by the Post office, Sub-Treasury, Internal Revenue, Courts, etc. The dimensions are 236 by 181 feet; there are four lofty stories above the basement, and all surmounted by a graceful dome. The materials are granite, marble and iron — completely fire proof; the granite is of Missouri red, and Maine gray varieties, — in about equal proportions. The cost approached the sum of six million dollars, including the block of ground.

Second: The fine Granite — fire proof structure — (finished and occupied in 1859), S. E. corner of Olive and Third streets, was constructed by the United States Government, at a cost of upward of a million dollars, and used for all the Federal Offices and purposes of the National Government, until inadequate longer to accommodate the increased and increasing needs for additional buildings.

At the present time, still more space is required for the transaction of Government Official Business, and for which this building is now being enlarged and rebuilt from ample congressional appropriations.

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