VISION and ORGANIZATIONAL FORESIGHT of Wolf Point Residents 1829 -1835 (continued)
Create Town
Create Police
Create fire dept
Create Schools
Create Water dept
After the platting of Chicago Wolf Point area by the “Thompson map” of 1830 (Commissioned by the canal Board) was presented to the State of Illinois, Cook County was formed by the state Of Illinois on January 15,1831(SEE MAP 1831!) and Chicago was designated as the County Seat. In June 1831 the State granted to Cook County 24 canal Lots which were not contiguous, but the proceeds were to be used for the erection of Public buildings, sixteen lots were used to pay current expenses and the remaining eight lots became the public square.
During 1832 and 1833, general attention was focused on Chicago by the valiant efforts of her citizens to obtain a harbor appropriation, and in addition to this mode of advertising, the “Canal Enthusiasm” was spreading from Chicago all over the country.
Summer 1833 saw Chicago with a population of 350 citizens prepared to organize, under the legislative act of Feb 12, 1831, and incorporate as a town. If the citizens favored incorporation then the Clerk was to give at least 5 days notice of an election to choose a 5 member Board of Trustees. On August 5th, 1833 the citizens voted for Incorporation by a vote of 12 to 1.
“Publick notice is hereby given that an election will beholden at the House of Mark Beaubien, on Saturday, he 10th day of August, at 11 O’clock in the forenoon of that day for the purpose of choosing five Trustees for the TOWN OF CHICAGO
August 5th 1833 by E.S. Kimberely Town clerk
The poll will close at one o’clock"
In the fall of 1833 Benjamin Jones was appointed Street Commissioner but ill health caused him to resign before his term expired and was succeeded by O. Morrison and Silas Sherman. On December 4th George was selected, as assessor and surveyor and John Dean Caton became Corporation Counsel.
In November 1833 the size of the town was extended to the Lake on the east, to Ohio Street on the north and Jackson Street on the south.
The town of Chicago held a second election on August 11,1834 and John Kinzie was chosen as President and trustee, Gordon Hubbard, E. Goodrich, J.S. C. Hogan, and J. K. Boyer, Trustees.
N.G. Wright became Fire Warden, J. K. Boyer supervisor of Roads and Bridges, Isaac Harmon Clerk and Collector, and Edwards Casey Corporation Counsel.
The summer of 1835 saw the establishment of a Permanent Board of Health and the creation of a Fire Department and the town borrowed $2,000 to improve the sanitary condition, as a prevention against the invasion of Cholera and after a 3rd Town election in 1835, O. Morrison became Constable, E.B. Talcott was named Surveyor, and J. Bates and J. Haight became “Measurers of Wood and Lumber”
A Hydraulic Company was chartered by the state of Illinois to be formed in Chicago to provide water to its businesses and residents.
This was certainly an era of internal self-improvement and it fueled immigration into Chicago and inspired hopes of prosperity among citizens. The I and M Canal kept progressing fairly favorably and the population was attracted to wolf Point since it was the Confluence of the three branches of the Chicago River whose future importance could not be overlooked as a focal point of the transport of goods and commodities, hence an opportunity to make profits.
One of the more interesting powers that Town of Chicago gave to its street Commissioner, Benjamin Jones, was the power to call out anybody between the ages of 21 and 60 years to work upon the streets and bridges for a period of 3 days per year!
FERRIES and BRIDGES:
In June 1829 count commissioners established a ferry across the Chicago River at the lower forks, near “Wolf Point” crossing the River below the Northeast branch. Today it’s where Lake Street crosses the River, The keepers Archibald Clybourne and Samuel Miller were to pay a tax of $2 and execute a performance bond for $200.
Ferry Fees were set at Foot Passenger 6.25 cents: Man and horse 12.5 cents: Dearborn Sulky Chair with Springs 50 cents: One horse drawn wagon 25 cents: Four wheeled carriage drawn by 2 horses or 2 oxen 37.5 cents: Cart with 2 oxen 37.5 cents: Head of meat cattle or mules 10 cents: Hog sheep or goats 3 cents each : and finally per hundred weight of goods or bushels of grains or other commodities, 6,25 cents each bushel.
In April of 1831 Mark Beaubien purchased a scow from Mr., Miler for $65 and had a $200 performance bond secured by John Kinzie and part of the deal was that Beaubien would transport Cook County citizens for FREE with his compensation coming from what he could charge out of towners.
Ferries were located where the population was, so this is indication of Wolf Point’s place in History as the birthplace of Chicago.
On November 18,1836 the board of Trustees called for a meeting of the citizens to consider becoming a “CITY”. The meeting was held on November 26,1836. The group agreed to prepare and submit a proposed Charter to the citizens at a meeting held at the Saloon Building. The peopled met and agreed to submit the application to become a city. The main point of contention was HOW MUCH Debt could the new city be allowed to take on. Some wanted UNLIMITED debt and some wanted only $100,000 as the upper limit. In light of recent developments, this may have been the last time fiscal conservatism prevailed in the city and Debt was limited to $100,000 per year!
