History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

298

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNLTY

VALUE OF PROPERTY IN 1876
At the council meeting of October I, 1876, the assessed valuation
of city property was reported as follows:
Wards Real Estate Personal Total
First................$125,180 $ 29,800 $154,980
Second............... 128,250 42,400 170,650
Third................ 183,075 50,150 233,225
Fourth.............. 240,550 83,910 324,460
Totals...............$677,055 $206,260 $883,315
The amount of taxes levied for the year 1876 on the above valuation was as follows: City tax (three-fourths of one per cent), $6,624.86;
sinking fund (one-tenth of one per cent), $883.3I; matured bonds, with
interest, $2,280; bridge fund, $1,000; for school purposes, $I7,000. Total,
$27,788.17.
The common council at its meeting of December 30, 1878, passed
resolutions of respect and condolence on the death of Hiram Voorheis,
so long a valued and beloved member of that body.
"JOHN P. FOSTER, NO. 2"
At the session of January 20, 1879, bids were received from four
or five well known manufacturers of steam fire engines, east and west,
offering to "deliver the goods" in Pontiac for $4,ooo, the Silsby Manufacturing Company of Seneca Falls, New York, also agreeing to repair
the old steamer "Pontiac," which was all but out of commission. The
Ahrens Manufacturing Company of Cincinnati, offered to take its pay
in Pontiac city bonds, payable five years from delivery of engine, or
eight per cent off for cash. The Silsby concern secured the contract and
by February, 1879, the so-called Silsby "combination engine" was safely
housed in Pontiac. It was received from Chicago and failed to give
satisfaction. The council then refused to ratify the purchase of the
new engine, but agreed to pay the eastern concern for the repair of the
old engine. The Silsby Company threatened to sue the city for violation of contract, but a compromise was finally effected and the engine
was retained. It was named John P. Foster, No. 2.
Mayor Mabley resigned at the meeting of the council held July 7,
I879, and a special election was called for the first Monday in August
to select his successor. Alderman Jacobs became acting mayor. Charles
Dawson became mayor at the April election of I880.
William Smith & Sons petitioned the common council, December 27,
I88o, for permission to lay gas pipes in the city streets and alleys, alleging that the "gas made by our process is free from all impurities and is
five times greater candle power than coal gas; hence it requires only
one-fifth the quantity to produce the same amount of light." Their
petition was granted at the next meeting, provided the pipes for the
aforesaid gas were laid within two years; but the enterprise failed to
materialize.