Amicitia Crescimus
Mount Hope Asylum is visible at extreme left, McNabs Island and the harbor in the distance. “Bridge Street” can be seen directly ahead, across Sullivan’s Pond, which connected Ochterloney Street to the road to Preston. The long building in behind it is Starr Manufacturing, to the right of it is St. James Church.
For a similar scene taken photographically:
Warden’s Address To the rate payers of the municipality of the Town of Dartmouth
Ladies and Gentleman — It is my privilege to report to you the “state and condition of the Town” at the close of this the fourteenth year since civic government, under the Act of Incorporation, began.
Before reporting on the different services under the management of the Council, permit me to congratulate you upon the success attained in the long-contested suit of the Queen vs, Dartmouth, a suit that probably has given the members of your Council in the past more care and trouble than all the rest of the civic services together.
As you are no doubt aware, this suit was instituted to compel the Council to assess certain school rates for the years – 1874 to ’78 and pay the same into the County funds, and after a number of adverse judgments in the Courts of this Province the suit. was heard, on appeal, in the Supreme Court of Canada, and that Court has given a decision in favour of the Town, This decision, inasmuch as it is upon the merits and not upon any technicality, is most satisfactory, and as the judgments-. have not yet been reported, I shall take the liberty of quoting several extracts therefrom, that will shew you what has really been decided.
The Hon. Mr. Justice Gwynne, who delivered the judgment of the Court, says: “And in my opinion, for the reasons above given, the provisions of the Act incorporating the Town are abundantly sufficient to exempt, and do exempt, the ratepayers of the Town from all liability to contribute to the support of any schools outside the limits of the Town, and they are not therefore liable to he rated for the sum now demanded or any part thereof.”
On behalf of the Town it was contended, in addition to the claim of absolute exemption. that the Act of 1877 prevented an assessment of more than 315,000 in any one year, and that the ratepayers of the Town being now quite different persons from those who were ratepayers of the years 1874-8, and upon whom the burden, if any, was imposed of providing a fund to pay for the education of the children of the rate payers of those years. were not liable, and upon these point,- Mr. Justice Gwynne says: “ This Court, in my opinion, has no jurisdiction to compel, by the prerogative writ of mandamus, the levying of an amount in one year in excess of what the law permits;” and as to the levying the rates for the years 1874-8 on the present ratepayers, he says: “Lord Abinger says: “The general inconvenience of retrospective rates has been long known and recognized in the courts of law on the ground that succeeding inhabitants cannot legitimately be made to pay for services of which their predecessors had the whole benefit.” “I can conceive no case to which this language is more applicable than to an attempt to levy on the ratepayers of 1886 sums of money which were only required in 1874-8 to support the schools where the children of the ratepayers of those years were educated, and which sums were wanted for no other purpose.”
In conclusion the learned Judge says: “I am of opinion, therefore, that the defendants are entitled to judgment upon both grounds * * * * and as it is important to all the parties interested that the question of the liability of the ratepayers to contribute at all to the County School Fund should be finally determined as a guide for the action of the Town in future years, and as it is competent for us to decide it upon the present proceeding, I think we ought to do so; and being of the opinion, for the reasons already given, that the ratepayers were not in the above years and are not liable to contribute to the Common School Fund for the support of the schools of the County, and that therefore the County has no right. to recover the amount demanded, or any part thereof, by action or otherwise, I think we ought to rest our judgment upon t-his ground and allow the appeal, and order judgment to be entered for defendants.”
There was another suit to enforce collection of the rates for the years 1879-83, and judgment was given in favour of the Town also upon the same grounds.
The amount the County authorities asked to have assessed for the years I874-8 was $15,976, and for the years 1879-83. $19,359.
LEGISLATION.
Some two or three years ago the Act of Incorporation and bye-laws were revised and consolidated, and last year an Act embodying the revision and consolidation was sent to the Legislature, but owing to the opposition of the County authorities the Legislature struck out that portion of the Act relating to assessment and certain other sections, and, as it was feared that it would not be safe to repeal the original Act of Incorporation, the latter was left as originally passed; and now that the school question has been decided, it is expected that the omitted portions of the amended Act can be passed, unless there should appear to be some reasons rendering such a course inexpedient.
Several changes are made by the Act of 1886, the most important being
lst. Granting to the female ratepayers of the Town the right to vote at municipal elections.
2nd. Changing the time for holding the election for Warden and Councillors to the 1st Tuesday of February, and making the civic year end on 31st December.
3rd. Instead of the voter being required to produce his tax receipt, the Presiding Officer is furnished with a list of ratepayers.
4th. The original bye-law regulating the Annual Meeting of the Ratepayers was repealed, and your Council passed another, which has been duly advertized.
By Chapter 53 of the Acts of the Local Legislature, 1866. it is enacted that “In any case in which a person interdicted as a habitual drunkard has been elected a member of a Municipal or Town Council, the Council shall by resolution declare such election null and void and SHALL declare the office vacant, and shall appoint a time and place, not less than fifteen days after, for holding an election to supply the vacancy.”
The attention of the Council having been called to the fact that Mr. Donald Fraser, who had been elected a Councillor for Ward Three, was an interdicted person, and evidence of this having been produced, and this fact being admitted by Mr. Fraser, the Council, acting under its legal adviser, who instructed them that the provisions of the Act were compulsory, by resolution on the 24th day of August last declared Mr. Fraser’s election null and void, and the office of Councillor, held by him, vacant, and appointed a time for holding an election to fill the vacancy thus created; but there was no nomination and consequently no election, and as there was some question as to whether an election could be held after the expiring of the fifteen days, the office was allowed to remain vacant.
On the 16th December last Mr. Fraser obtained an order removing the interdiction and claimed his seat as Councillor, but your Council was advised that such removal did not restore him to that office, and consequently refused to recognize his claim.
Chapter 66 authorizes the Commissioner of Works to charge against this Town the expenses of all pauper lunatics who have obtained a legal settlement in the Town, and that the Town shall not be chargeable with the expense of any other pauper lunatics; and that hereafter the County shall not charge the Town with any portion of the expenses of paupers confined in the Asylum; and that the apportionment of County rates shall be amended accordingly.
STREETS
The amount assessed for street purposes was $2,500, and the amount expended was $2,375.75, including the cost of the improvement in Ochterlony Street. The streets of Dartmouth, from their number and length, and the number of hills, are particularly hard to keep in repair, and the amount assessed for this service is barely sufficient to effect the necessary repairs, and wholly inadequate to provide for many permanent improvements.
Last winter a considerable supply of broken stone was procured, which was all put upon the streets, and it is expected that a further supply will he obtained this year for that purpose.
The most important improvement was the straightening of Ochterlony Street at the Canal Bridge.
Tenders were asked for this service but the Street Committee under the authority of the Council had the work performed under the supervision of the Committee, and thereby effected a very considerable saving in the cost of the work, the same being done for less than the amount tendered for.
For some years the title to the extension of Maple and Myrtle streets through Mr. Fraser’s property has been in dispute, and Mr. Fraser in consideration of the Town’s relinquishing its claim to these streets, gave the greater portion of the land necessary to effect the above improvement Mr. Duncan Weddell with commendable public spirit presented a portion of the land required for this purpose.
The amount at the disposal of the Street Committee has been economically expended and the streets as efficiently repaired as the amount at the disposal of the Committee permitted.
LAMPS
At the beginning of the year there were 47 lamps, and four new ones have been erected during the year, and there are still several places where new lamps should he added. The amount assessed for this service was $500: the amount expended,” $503.48.
LICENSES.
By Chapter 3 of the Local Acts of 1886 a great change was made in the mode of licensing the sale of intoxicating liquors, and under this Act and an Act in amendment thereof last year, there were but two licenses issued in the Town, and for the ensuing year, for the first time since the Town was incorporated. there will be no licenses issued, there being no application therefor within the time prescribed by the Act.
Mr. Elliot was appointed License Inspector, and has efficiently carried out the duties devolving upon him as such officer. Under the provisions of this Act the Inspector has deposited the license fees and amounts received for fines in the Halifax Bank, and there is to the credit of this account the sum of $211. At the end of the license year the balance remaining will he paid into the general funds of the Town.
POOR AND PAUPER LUNATICS
By recent legislation the Poors Asylum has been transferred to the City of Halifax, and your Council have arranged to have the paupers chargeable to this Municipality kept at that institution at the same rate as those chargeable to the City.
The amount assessed for this service was $800, and the amount expended, $515.28, and there are at presentin the Poor Asylum nine persons that are a. charge on this Town.
As I have before stated, the pauper lunatics who have a settlement in Dartrnouth are now directly chargeable to us, and your Council has paid to the proper authorities one quarter’s charges for this purpose.
Under an Act of last year the City of Halifax has prepared a portion of the Poor House for the reception of harmless insane idiotic and epileptic persons, and your Council is negotiating to have several such persons chargeable to this Town removed from the Asylum to the Poor House, as it is expected that they can be supported there ate. much less rate than that at present paid for them. There are at present nine persons in the Insane Asylum for whose support this Town is responsible.
FIRE PROTECTION
Dartmouth has ever been fortunately rarely visited by the devouring element, and the year past has been no exception t-o the rule. there having been no serious fire during that time.
This service has never been more efficient than at present, and the thanks of the ratepayers are due to the several members of the various branches of the service for their gratuitous labours.
The steam and hand engines and hose are in first class order, and no material addition or repairs to these will he required during the ensuing year.
The Axe Company have long had to put. up with an oldfashioned hard running ladder cart, and they should at once be supplied with one of more modern pattern and of greater usefulness.
The Engine and Protection Companies participated in the tournament held in Halifax, and the appearance of the members and their appliances was certainly second to none that took part in that event.
The amount assessed for the Fire service was $520, and the amount expended, $541.75.
FINANCES.
It affords me much gratification to inform you that of the assessment of 1835-6, there is at present less than 1 1/2% per cent. uncollected, and that of the assessment of 1886 there has been collected all but the small amount of 12 1/2 per cent, and this in nine months, being 3/4 per cent. more then was collected during the years 1885-6, and I doubt whether any other Municipality not having a lien law and without resort to undue severity by sale or distress, can present as satisfactory a statement. It clearly indicates a fair amount of prosperity, and a praiseworthy effort on the part of the ratepayers to support their municipal institutions. ‘
During the past year, or rather nine months, there has been received from all sources the sum of $17,189.68, and expended $16,528.85, leaving a balance on hand of $660.83 at the beginning of the year 1887.
The amount assessed for all purposes for this period was $12,948, and of this the amount received was $10,785.87, and the discount and exemptions were $522.13.
The amount assessed on property within the Town was $12,150.35.
There was a balance on hand at the beginning of the year of $860.51, and the incidental revenue received, including overdue taxes for previous years, poll tax, Government school grant, court fees, etc., amounted to $5,543.23
For the year 1885-6 there was assesed $2,000 for County rates, and no part of this was paid over; this year $3,000 was paid, and this, together with the sum of $410.47 paid for pauper lunatics, will probably cover the amounts properly chargeable to this Town for County rates for that period. There are accounts due, not received at the end of the year, amounting to some $600.00.
The Auditors’ report, submitted herewith, shews the details of the receipts and expenditures.
Since 1874 the amount assessed for County rates has only been what your various Councils could approximately estimate, the County demanding a sum covering County and school rates: and giving no details separating these items ; and now that the non-liability of this Town for school rates has been determined, arbitrators under and in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 101, Chap. 56, Revised Statutes, should at once be appointed and the indebtedness of this Town, if any, for County rates for all these years be adjusted and fixed, so that next year an assessment. can be made of a sum sufficient to settle the same, as it is manifestly undesirable to have the amounts longer unsettled.
By Chapter 27, Local Acts 1886, provision is made for fixing, by arbitration, the valuation of property in the Town and County, and for the adjustment and proportion of County Municipal expenditure from which this Town derives no benefit; and it will be the duty of the incoming Council to appoint an “Arbitration Committee” for this purpose and adjust the amount to be assessed on this Town for County rates for the ensuing year.
I may add that the valuation for assessment purposes of property in this Town for the year 1886 was $1,215,635, an increase of $20,510 over the year 1885, whilst the valuation of all the rest of the County for like purpose, except the City of Halifax, was only $2,053,709, and the increase in valuation in 1886 only $10,624 over that of 1885, a state of affairs clearly showing the necessity of some more equitable method of valuation of property taxable by the County authorities.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
The various buildings owned by the Town have been kept in good repair, and it is not expected that any great expenditure for this service will be required for the ensuing year.
CEMETERY
From enquiries made it is evident that the amount provided for the purchase of a new Cemetery (33,000) is inadequate for that purpose. for no suitable lot can be procured for that sum. The matter has received the attention of the Council, but up to the present no lot suitable in location and price has -been found. Further enquiries and searches will be made. and when a suitable lot is found it will probably be necessary to have an application made to the Legislature for a larger sum than at present provided.
SCHOOLS
The assessment for this service like that of all others. except. the streets, was for nine months instead of a year, that is from 1st April to 31st December, and amounted to $5,800. The expenditure was $5,742.95.
One new department was added in the past year, making fifteen now as against fourteen in 1885. The number of teachers employed was fifteen, and there were five Grade B teachers, as against two in 1882, and ten Grade C teachers; in 1885 there was one Grade D teacher.
The number of pupils enrolled was 943, and in 1885 the number was 861. There were 466 male and 477 female pupils, and there were 931 under fifteen years of age, and twelve over that age. There were 190 new pupils enrolled during the year.
The average attendance during the year was better than that of last year, being 69 per cent, as against 68 1/2 per cent and the average cost per pupil was $6.09, which is less than the Provincial average.
No department of our Civic Government is of so much importance as this, inasmuch as no services requires so great an expenditure, and none has such lasting effect on the future of our Town.
The teachers at present in the service of the Town are well qualified to perform their duties and devoted to their calling.
The only litigation in which the Town has been engaged «luring the year besides the “school case” was a suit brought by Miss Scott for salary alleged to be due her for services during the year 1885. Under the advice of the Recorder her claim was settled for $170; and this appears in the Auditors’ report as legal expenses.
From the great increase in the number of pupils attending‘ the schools it is clear that increased school accomodation will soon be necessary.
PUMPS AND WELLS.
The amount assessed for this service was $200, and the amount expended was $104.l0. Now that the “school case” has been decided in favour of the Town and that impending burden thereby removed, it is worthy your consideration whether the time has not arrived to carry out the long projected introduction of a water supply.
I suggest the matter to you, leaving it entirely in your hands, only adding that if you shall decide at any time hereafter to go on “with this improvement your Council will be prepared to give the matter their earnest and best attention.
SCHOOL EXHIBITION
During the approaching Summer it is proposed to hold in Dartmouth a School and Industrial Exhibition, somewhatsimilar to the one held in the Town Hall in 1885, but of course on a more extended scale.
If this project is carried out, Dartmouth will have the honour of being the first town in the Dominion to hold such an exhibition; and it is hoped that the matter will receive the enthusiastic support of all our citizens, for nothing can bemore important to us than the education of our youth; and, dependent as we are, largely upon our mechanical institutions, no education can be of so much value to our children as that which combines the industrial and mechanical with that heretofore given by our schools.
All portions of the British Empire will this year celebrate the fiftieth year of Her Majesty’s reign, and surely no more fitting celebration could be held in this Town than that proposed above.
ESTIMATES
The following are the estimates for the year 1887-:—
| For Streets | $2.000 |
| Schools | $6,670 |
| Police | $1,250 |
| Fire Department | $600 |
| Salaries | $1,500 |
| Poor | $800 |
| Pauper Lunatics | $1,500 |
| Lamps | $650 |
| Pumps and Wells | $150 |
| Interest | $665 |
| County Rates | $500 |
| Contingent | $1,000 |
| Allowance for non-collection and discount | $500 |
| Fire School and Widows’ exemptions | $400 |
| $18,185 | |
| Less incidental revenue | $4,740 |
| Amount to he assessed | $13,445 |
The increase in item ” Fire Department” is to provide for a. new ladder cart and shed therefor; and in “Salaries” is to provide for pay of boy employed in the Town Clerk’s oflice, his salary having hitherto been charged to Police account.
In conclusion I have to say that the various Civic services have received the careful consideration of your Council and the paid officers of the Town have faithfully and diligently performed their duties. I have the honor to be, Ladies and Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, B. A. WESTON, Warden.
AUDITORS’ REPORT
To HIS honor the WARDEN AND COUNCILLORS or the Town or DARTMOUTH:
Gentlemen.-—
We have audited the books, vouchers and accounts of the Town Clerk and Treasurer for the year ended Dec. 31st, 1886, and beg to report the same correct.
Herewith you will find in Schedules A. and B. a statement of the Assets and Liabilities of the Town as shown by the Ledger Accounts and sundry documents submitted for our inspection.
Schedules C. and D. show a statement of the accounts against the Town, audited and unaudited by the Finance Committee to date.
By the accompanying statement will be seen that the receipts for the year amounted to $16,549.17, and the expenditure to $16,537.85, still leaving a balance of cash on hand and in the bank of $871.83, which we have examined. All of which is respectfully submitted.
A. C. Johnston, Francis H. Pauley, Auditors
Dartmouth, January 15th, 1887
http://legacycontent.halifax.ca/archives/DartAnnReps/documents/101-1m-1886.pdf
“Hospital for Insane shall be deemed a part of the Town”, 1896 c19
From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:
The year 1899 marked the beginnings of Empire Day in a few large Canadian centres. Nova Scotia led all other Provinces in placing Empire Day among its legal institutions, and on May 23rd patriotic exercises were conducted in every important school section of this Province. At the celebration in Dartmouth a tree was planted at Greenvale School to honor Joseph Howe, our former townsman.
The Town tax rate for 1899 was $1.30. A public meeting of ratepayers voted down a proposal to borrow $10,000 for a new Town Hall. A few north-end houses got their first taste of lake water when a six-inch main was laid from the railway station to the foot of Best Street to supply Muir’s flour-mill then being built by Mosher, Short and Conrod. From the new main on Shore Road a f-inch iron pipe was run up over Farrell’s field where a continuous flow of water spilled from the outlet into a large low puncheon near the southwest corner of Fairbanks and Best Streets. This public service supplied the neighborhood until the water was extended there a few years later.
On Portland Street in the rear of the present Mayfair Theatre, a flow of oil was noticed oozing up from an excavation made that summer. In Wilson’s Lane, a 24-pound cannon-ball was dug out of another trench; and on the site of the old Tobacco Factory more skull bones were unearthed indicating the presence of a graveyard in early days.
At the Sydney summer carnival the Dartmouth lapstreak crew of Patterson brothers, James Guarde and Arthur Weston captured first place. Charles Patterson and Weston won the double wherry. In the winning 4-oared shell crew of the Lorne Club of Halifax were three Dartmouth men, Albert and Percy Sawler and William Coates. The Ropeworks held a regatta on the harbor in July, and Dartmouth celebrated Natal Day on August 3rd. Later that month the Waverley regatta took place. Nearly five thousand people went out from Halifax and Dartmouth by train and highway.
By this time the Electric Light plant had moved to the Starr Factory in order to utilize the water-power. St. Peter’s Church installed their first electric lights. The price of shaves rose from seven to ten cents. The 55-year-old ferry “MicMac” was advertised for sale. Clifford Young opened a plumbing establishment at 18 Portland Street. James Guarde and James O’Regan commenced a double express-wagon business in competition with S. B. Wambolt. Mrs. E. H. Oland succeeded Mrs. Sarah Lewis as Reading Room caretaker.
R. J. Matheson complained to the Town Council of delay in sounding an alarm when his Mill caught fire. He urged that a telephone be installed at the Engine House. Alexander Lloyd’s 8-acre farm (present Oakdale Crescent) was offered for sale. Robert Stanford’s house was commenced in the Kennedy field at the southeast corner of Lyle Street and Shore Road. Captain Charles Hunter purchased the newly-built Kent house at 190 Portland Street.
Contractor J. A. Webber demolished a small stable at the northwest corner of Victoria Road and Portland Street to erect a high structure for W. H. Walker, son of Henry. On the northeast corner, Salter Dares built a hardware store with his carpenter shop overhead. Later he built the house at No. 6 Victoria Road. Adjoining on the north, F. C. Bauld erected a two-storey carpenter shop. Charles McLean and Charles Gay opened a paint shop on the ground floor. Next north, Mr. Bauld put up his own residence; and at the corner of Queen Street, he erected the dwelling for Alexander McLeod, an engineer on the ferry. Up to that time the only structure on that side was a low stable occupied by John “Popsy” Myers near the location of the Dares house. Settle’s Pond was just a few yards northeasterly, and the land thereabouts had always been considered too swampy for buildings, but now the whole area was transformed.
In 1899 also, the firm of Mosher, Short and Conrod, who had taken over the workshop of the late John T. Walker, built the house at 3 Rose Street for Robert Moseley. The same firm erected for S. B. Wambolt a residence at the northeast corner of Pleasant Street and Prince Albert Road. Previously Mr. Wambolt and B. H. Eaton had offered the Town at different times, the angular jog of field which would have obviated the present blind corner, and also straightened Pleasant Street. The price asked was $100. Councillor G. D. Wilson urged the purchase, but got no support.
The Boer War broke out in October. Dartmouth boys who sailed for South Africa with the First Contingent of Canadian troops were Lieutenant John C. Oland, Alexander Forsyth, Archibald Patterson, Joseph Lenihan, Thomas Harrison, George James, Berton Cameron and Arthur Trider.*
In subsequent months more Dartmouth and Halifax boys enlisted for service in the several Canadian Contingents which sailed from the Dockyard in winter, and always carried a full load of horses purchased around the countryside. Harry Tobin of “Brookhouse” in Woodlawn was in London at the outbreak of war but had been rejected for the army. So he stowed away on a troopship, and upon arrival at Cape Town was accepted into the South African Light Horse under the command of Colonel Byng afterwards Governor-General of Canada. Winston Churchill was attached to this branch as a war correspondent. The London Times 5-volume History of the War in South Africa published in 1909 in its account of Tobin’s achievement says:
“One man, Corporal Tobin, a sailor, scrambled up far ahead of his comrades, and the whole army saw a tiny figure standing alone on the top of the great hill waving his hat as a signal that the enemy had fled”.
(Harry Tobin, born in 1874, spent his last days in Los Angeles. Writing to me in 1951 he reminisced about his seafaring life, of being in the Spanish-American War 1898 and of his experience in South Africa as follows: “I was less than a month in the Squadron when they made me a Corporal, and I could make more mistakes than any other non-commissioned officer in the Regiment. I was 36 times under fire. Was nearly three months in Hospital with enteric fever soon after Ladysmith was relieved, then rejoined the Regiment and crossed the Transvaal with General Buller’s army”.)
From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:
Ex-Councilor John F. Stairs of “Northbrook” became Warden of Dartmouth in May of 1883. In July he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as one of the Conservative representatives for Halifax County. Never before nor since has a Dartmouth resident performed such a dual function.
After twenty years of earnest effort on the part of George G. Dustan, construction of the Woodside Refinery was commenced that year. The cornerstone was laid on July 3rd by Mrs. Dustan at the northeast corner of the building. Granite from the Northwest Arm was used in the foundation with the addition of large flagstones from the Beaver Bank quarries of Duncan Waddell. Contractor S. M. Brookfield had about 170 men on the job.
On the main highway, Refinery officials were planning the erection of rows of “Company houses” similar to the project at the Ropeworks. A few hundred yards to the north, a large reservoir was being built, but the main water supply was drawn through pipes from Maynard’s Lake. There was also considerable activity evident in the present North Woodside section where more lots bordering the forested roadside were being staked-off for dwellings.
Dartmouth Councilors met with the Minister of Railways in June when both parties signed an agreement regarding the Town’s $4,000 annual subsidy in return for railway extension into Dartmouth. Engineers surveyed an overland line from Bedford, but eventually decided on a railway bridge route across the Narrows.
In August a four-page weekly called the “Dartmouth Times” with headquarters in George Craig’s building, was commenced by James A. Halliday. This newspaper lasted nearly two years, and has recorded in its columns valuable local history of that period.
For instance the early issues tell us that by 1883 there were two telephone cables from Halifax, and that on June 1st of that year a “Central” office was set up in the livery stable office and residence of William H. Isnor on the present location of the Nova Scotia Light & Power Company at Commercial Street. At that time the following places in Dartmouth had telephones installed:
Oland’s Brewery, Ropeworks, John F. Stairs’ residence near Ropeworks, Symonds’ Foundry, Starr Mfg. Co., Mott’s Factory, Mount Hope Asylum and the Sugar Refinery. All these were in direct communication with the Bell Telephone system at Halifax.
From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:
In response to a memorial from the clergy early in 1874, a Committee of the Town Council recommended that liquor licenses be restricted to 10, and that the annual fee be raised from $25 to $100. Robert Murphy, formerly of the 60th Rifles, was appointed Superintendent of Streets at $500 a year, and he was also to hold the office of Chief of Police for an additional $100. Twelve lamp posts for oil lamps were ordered erected in different parts of town.
By a vote of ratepayers at a public meeting in April the Council was authorized to issue debentures for a sum not exceeding $8,000 to purchase Lamont Lake or any other lake.
Work was commenced that year to extend Maple Street through to meet Ochterloney by acquiring and cutting down the sloping bank on the western side of the residence of Principal Ross at “Morven” (now St. Peter’s glebe house). The level land at the foot of the hill, formerly Stanford Tannery property, was purchased from P. J. Kuhn for $700.
Negotiations were also carried on with Frank C. Elliot to buy for $150, the swampy section south of the present Park Avenue so that Wentworth Street could be extended to make a thoroughfare for pedestrians towards Ochterloney Street. The high bank of slate rock at North Street and Wentworth would be cut down later for vehicular traffic.
John Dillman of Tulip Street, supplied two horses and carts with drivers at $2 each per day. In addition, five laborers at $1 per day were employed to work on the streets. A wooden sewer for the proper drainage of properties was laid in Portland Street that summer. Streets were now being constructed with a crowned surface. Halifax newspapers noted that Dartmouth was more advanced than their City in this respect.
Our school enrollment was 515, housed in five buildings. Alexander McKay, who had succeeded John Hollies in 1872, had established a High School Department, which was also an advance on Halifax where there was no High School as yet. Mr. McKay was encouraging the study of science, and soliciting donations of scientific apparatus for a laboratory.
A new wing had just been completed at Mount Hope Asylum. A life-size oil painting of Miss Dorothea Dix was presented to the Hospital that summer. Dr. Alfred C. Cogswell was now occupying the new house at “Locust Knoll”. John Esdaile advertised for sale his residence in Prince Arthur Park.
From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:
The decade of the 1870s commenced with a boom in real estate which petered out after a few years of prosperity. One project attempted was the subdividing of about 100 acres of the virgin land of Mount Amelia where streets were laid out, and building lots surveyed. The promoters were Hon. James W. Johnston, Dr. Parker, John Esdaile, B. H. Hornsby, and others who became a corporate body in 1870 known as the proprietors of Prince Arthur Park. In that year, Mr. Esdaile built the first house. Except for the Harvey house at “Locust Knoll” and the France house at “Mapledene” (“Fairmont”), there was little or no development there for the next thirty years.
As the 50-year charter of the Steam Boat Company had expired in 1867, there was no longer any legal obstacle in the way of a competitive ferry. A new Company with a capital of $200,000 was incorporated in 1870 by George W. Corbett, a Dartmouth druggist, and others. Nothing seems to have come out of this project.
One gathers from fragmentary sources that there were the usual outdoor activities that winter. A Halifax newspaper of January 22nd reported 12 inches of ice in Maynard’s Lake at Dartmouth, and “hundreds went over from Halifax on Saturday afternoon to enjoy the skating. The splendid band of the 78th Regiment went over also and discoursed sweet music at the lake. The wealth and beauty of Halifax were fully represented, and the scene was one of the rarest and most exhilarating description”.
The only known duel in the annals of Dartmouth took place that winter when two jealous suitors quarrelled on the ice over a young lady. These flaming youths determined to settle the affair on the morrow morning with pistols. Accordingly they met at the appointed place. Both fired. Both missed. Then they shook hands.
The steamer “City of Boston” lost on a voyage to England in 1870, had among its passengers Mr. Edward Billing prominent drygoods merchant of Halifax, who lived in the stone house at the corner of North and Edward Streets. The Starr Manufacturing Company’s report for the year ending April 30th, showed a profit of nearly $9,000. John Greene, who had learned his trade with McCullouch at Halifax, set up a jewelry store in the shop next south from Skerry’s old corner which was now occupied by the Greene family. About that time Robert Moyes, well-known foundryman, committed suicide in a mood of despondency.
In the spring of 1870 work was commenced on the building of St. James’ Church situated on a commanding knoll at the junction of the Eastern Passage and the Preston Roads, where there was once an old graveyard. Earth from this excavation was at first hauled to the foot of Portland Street and used as fill in the hollow near the present railway tracks. This procedure was halted when it was noticed that the debris contained numerous pieces of human bones. Some specimens of these bones, one of which was an adult skull, were presented to the Provincial Museum. They are now in the Museum at Halifax Citadel.
A branch of the YMCA was formed in Dartmouth at least by 1870, because during that summer the organization held a picnic on the grounds of Judge James at “Evergreen”, the proceeds were in aid of funds for their Reading Room. They held meetings at “Lawlor’s new Hall”. (This was over the present Harbor Cafe.) At First Lake, John Forbes built “Lakeside” now ‘‘Beechmount Apartments.”
At his Dartmouth shipyard Ebenezer Moseley built the 10-ton steamer “Whisper” for Robert Chetwynd of Halifax; the 22-foot sailing yacht “Marie” for George J. Troop, and another yacht for S. A. White of Halifax. The Steam Boat Co. donated the services of the “MicMac” to take Mount Hope patients on an afternoon excursion. The Italian Harpers furnished string music. (This practice kept up every summer and was discontinued about 20 years later when a patient took a notion to swim ashore from mid-harbour.)
At Halifax a new waiting-room was built for ferry patrons. This was an oblong-shaped one-storey structure on the south side of the gates, and contained a separate compartment for women. (The building remained in use until 1913.) At the Town offices in Dartmouth, the Clerk was relieved of his duties after auditors had discovered certain irregularities in the finances. At Coleman’s Cove in August (north of the foot of Ochterloney Street) the Plymouth Brethren held a baptizing ceremony when two males and four females were immersed before a large crowd.
Besides having a member in the first House of Commons, Dartmouth also had one of her residents in the first Canadian Senate. He was Jeremiah Northup, prominent Halifax merchant, who lived at “Fairfield” for a time after Howe’s departure. Senator Northup had been a member of the Liberal House of Assembly, but received an appointment to the Senate when he became a Conservative.
The Shubenacadie Canal, now owned by Lewis Fairbanks, ceased operations that summer. The last book entry, dated June 30th, debits Dennis Ring with $2.50 being tolls on 13 tons of timber. The books show that the Inclined-Plane was used to haul up yachts for painting. Fees were also received from vessels docking at Mill Cove wharf, and from icemen for ice-cutting privileges in the lakes.
The Way Office at Dartmouth was advanced to the status of a Post Office that autumn. Among the prized possessions of Mrs. Marion Moore is the following letter of notification written in the hand of Joseph Howe to her grandfather, and dated at Ottawa, September 13th, 1870:
Dartmouth is to be made a regular Post Office, and you are to have 40% commission on the business of the Office, with $52 per annum for taking the mails across. I will try to get some allowance for a delivery of letters in the town. Write me what this would cost. Yours truly, Joseph Howe, Mr. Luther Sterns, Dartmouth, N. S.
From The Story of Dartmouth, by John P. Martin:
The year 1847 opened with a severe spell of weather. Newspaper items early in January inform us that “there was superior skating on the Dartmouth Lakes”. The thermometer at Citadel Hill registered 15 below on the 20th. The Axe Firemen of Halifax made merry on an exhilarating sleigh drive to Schultz’s Inn at Grand Lake, and returned through Dartmouth in Hiram Hyde’s Mammoth Tea Party Sleigh with six-in-hand and colors flying”. Another newspaper report that month mentions a misfortune of the Mailboat brig Margaret, which had been driven up on shore at Black Rock on the Dartmouth side of the harbor.
Distress and disease prevailed among the Mi’kmaq tribes at Shubenacadie and Dartmouth where several deaths had resulted from an outbreak of fever that winter. Forthwith the Provincial Government directed that an [indigenous] Hospital be prepared in the vicinity of the encampment, with Dr. Jennings as the Superintendent.
As the latter was a Conservative, and a comparative stranger on our side of the harbor, the Liberal newspaper Nova Scotian indignantly asked why he received the appointment over the head of Dr. DesBrisay, a Dartmouth physician, who had long ministered to the [Mi’kmaq] gratuitously.
A few weeks later when Dr. Jennings’ accounts for attending these [Mi’kmaq] were up for discussion in the Assembly, a Committee of the House recommended that a sum of money be also set apart for the remuneration of Dr. DesBrisay “whose humane disposition has urged him to supply the numerous [Mi’kmaq], who annually resort to the neighborhood of Dartmouth, with advice and medicine during a period of 14 years”.
Another Legislative Committee headed by Hon. Hugh Bell reported on possible sites for a Provincial Insane Asylum. One property owned jointly by G. A. S. Crichton and the heirs of Michael Wallace, comprising about 100 acres on the western side of First Lake, was available for £500. Another at Birch Cove in Bedford Basin, had 900 acres and would cost £1200. A third was at Prince’s Lodge, and contained 470 acres with a price of £1500.
The Birch Cove land was recommended because it was conveniently situated for a supply of fresh water from a higher elevation. The Dartmouth site was strongly urged by Hon. J. E. Fairbanks on account of its commanding situation and beautiful view; but the objection was that the water supply would have to be forced up the slope from the lake by artificial means.
The Simultaneous Polling Act, by which elections were to be held on a single day, became law in that session of 1847. This important Bill was introduced by Attorney General Johnston, a summer resident of our town. Provision was made for polling places at numerous centres, one of which was to be in the township of Dartmouth. No longer would freeholders hereabouts be obliged to travel to the Halifax polling booth where disorder and heckling generally prevailed during the long-drawn-out elections under the old arrangement. (In the enactment of this piece of legislation, Nova Scotia led all other British colonies.)
Dartmouthians evidently were continuing in their efforts that winter to obtain a water supply from neighboring lakes. In February, a meeting was announced to be held in the Mechanics’ Institute on a Monday afternoon, when a report from a Committee on that subject would be submitted.
Mrs. Gould’s account of early Dartmouth mentions an entertainment held in the old schoolhouse by General Tom Thumb and his manager P. T. Barnum. This may have been in February of 1847, because the famous midget spent a few days in this port while waiting for the steamer to proceed to Boston. Tom and Mr. Barnum were returning from a four-year tour of Europe.
On this occasion, the Halifax Morning Post published a lengthy account of Tom’s talents and his enormous earnings while abroad, noting that “he speaks French fluently, plays the piano and has taken part in French plays in the principal French cities. He has received valuable presents from the principal sovereigns of Europe, and has kissed more than a million and a half of ladies”. (Mrs. Gould does not mention any such osculations in Dartmouth.)
About this time, there was much misery and privation being suffered in Scotland and in Ireland where hundreds were actually dying from starvation. On this Continent, campaigns for famine funds were carried out in almost every large centre.
At Halifax, the Secretary of the Relief Committee was the well-known Alexander James. By March, they had collected £1,317. The contribution from Dartmouth amounted to £325, and the number of persons subscribing in this town was 86. Their names are preserved in the columns of the Halifax Sun, and constitute a valuable record of prominent citizens resident in Dartmouth at that period of our history.
Many on the Halifax and Dartmouth lists gave only a few shillings, indicating that our people were also feeling the pinch of poverty, for at that time the whole Province was in the doldrums of another depression. One newspaper reported that the price of flour and bread was the highest in 30 years.
This was partly caused by a sudden depletion of provisions, particularly meat and vegetables, resulting from an influx of over 1,000 immigrants suffering from typhus fever. Local bakers took advantage of the panic to double the price of bread.
Governor Harvey issued a proclamation that Friday, May 14th, be observed as a day of fasting and humiliation “that people may unite in supplication to Almighty God for pardon for their sins and for the removal of those heavy judgments under which we are suffering”. On that day, church services were held, and the closed shops along silent streets cast an appearance of solemnity over downtown Halifax and, we trust, over industrial Dartmouth.
If our industries in those days were down, they were not completely out, for there was at least one ship constructed at Lyle’s that year. She was the 270-ton “Mercy”, launched at flood-tide on the last Saturday morning of April.
At a foundry in Dartmouth, a set of cast-iron steps was moulded, and placed in front of the store of J. Wallace & Co., at Halifax, during the summer of 1847. These steps, novel in design, were highly praised for their utility, being tastefully perforated so as to admit light into the cellar. From the favorable comment in newspapers, one gathers that such a type of steps had hitherto been unknown. Thus is scored another mark in the record of Dartmouth’s “first things”.
A transatlantic “first” was made by the Dartmouth-built “Barbara” which arrived in this port after a record run from Ireland. The Halifax Morning Post of May 20th noted this remarkable achievement:
The barque Barbara with 296 passengers on board, arrived yesterday in 12 days from Galway—the shortest passage yet ever made by a Nova Scotia built vessel. The Barbara was built at the Ship Yard of our well-known builder, Mr. Lyle at Dartmouth.