1910 - 1913,
1914-1917
HISTORY
Louis P. Fuhrmann
was born in Buffalo
, New York
on November 7, 1868. He lived at 288
Clinton Street
on the city's East Side. He attended Public School No. 32
on Cedar Street and later attended Central High School
Many members of the Fuhrmann family married into the local
meat packing
families of the East Side. Fuhrmann's two sisters married members
of the Klinck firm and his aunt married Jacob Dold
, Sr.
When Louis was attending Central High School he secured
a part-time position with the C. Klinck Packing Co. started
by Christian Klinck
, working at their stall in the Elk Street Market. When
Fuhrmann completed high school he was given a full-time
job with the company.
He gained thorough knowledge of the meat packing
industry and was offered an opportunity to work for the Jacob
Dold
Packing
Company. In 1886 he moved to Kansas City, Kansas to take charge
of their wholesale dressed beef business.
Fuhrmann returned to Buffalo
in 1892 and started his own meat packing
business at 1010 Clinton
Street. The business became very profitable as the
slaughterhouses and meat packing plants of Buffalo
prospered.
In 1905 Fuhrmann was elected a member of the Board
of Aldermen from the Fifth
ard, to serve
for the following two years. In 1907 he was again elected
a member of that same body by an even greater majority.
"The Progressive" became his moniker as
he worked for the rights of all the citizens.
He was appointed acting mayor for four straight years
under Mayor Adam
It was during this time that his leadership qualities became
well known to many citizens.
The time the local candidates had for politicking
was increasing with each campaign. In 1909 it was nearly
a full month earlier than the previous campaign.
The local conventions were held on Tuesday, September
14, 1909, giving the candidates nearly two months to campaign.
The Republicans held their convention at the German-American
Hall. They chose as their mayoral candidate, Jacob J. Siegrist,
a well-known and successful merchant.
The Democrats held their convention at Schwabl's
Hall
and Fuhrmann was nominated while he was acting mayor; with Mayor
Adam
currently on vacation in Scotland.
Fuhrmann proved a surprise as the campaign took off
into high gear. It was said that the race was won before
his opponents woke up. The Democratic party
was split, many angered that Mayor Adam
was not re-nominated. If the Republicans had realized Fuhrmann's
potential, they could have easily defeated him in this close
run race.
Fuhrmann's campaign pledges included improving the
Buffalo
River, the passenger train terminal, the Hamburg turnpike and
seawall, investigation of electric light and power, the
University of Buffalo
, the increasing of playgrounds, and the uniting of Buffalo
citizens.
LIFE AS A MAYOR
Election day was November 2, 1909. The 6 p.m. edition
of the Buffalo
Evening News headlines blared with the results of the election:
"SIEGRIST THE NEXT MAYOR. Siegrist 29,274, Fuhrmann
28,310." By the time more
ballots were counted, though, the tide had turned.
In their 'EXTRA' edition they declared Fuhrmann the victor.
The following day's paper announced the final results, with
Fuhrmann being elected by a small majority, 35,384 to 34,145,
over his Republican counterpart, Councilman Jacob Siegrist
A local Republican organ commented after the election:
"One element in the canvass by Alderman Fuhrmann,
which had much to do with winning him support, was the fact
that he played the part of a gentlemanly and fair adversary,
that in all his speeches, in the excitement of the campaign,
he never referred to his political opponent...in any but
the most kindly and cordial words. That is the sort of manliness,
the kind of campaigning, which the voters of Buffalo
admire."
It was a slim victory for Fuhrmann, as the Republicans
stole the show, winning all the important offices in the
city and county and nearly defeating Fuhrmann, but the citizens
insisted on putting Fuhrmann into office.
The Mayor-elect arrived at City Hall
early on January 1, 1910 for his inauguration. He was met by
hundreds of friends and admirers waiting for his arrival.
It was the first time in the history of Buffalo
mayoral inaugurations
that the room was lit by electricity. The Mayor's
official home had been transformed from gas to electric.
Mayor Fuhrmann
delivered some of the shortest annual messages ever presented
to the Common Council
Unlike his two predecessors, he usually just mentioned subjects
that he felt needed immediate attention. His Inaugural Address
was delivered on January 1, 1910.
"To the Honorable, the Common Council
:
"Gentlemen: Knowing most of you as I do, personally,
and knowing further that you are practical men, I believe
it unnecessary and unbecoming to address to you a dissertation
upon your duties as public officials. We all agree that
public business should be conducted upon the same principles
and by the same methods as private business, though we find
it difficult to put this theory into practice.
"In the conduct of the business of our city
I trust we shall at all times hew close to the line of common
sense, keeping these thoughts in mind: the progress of our
city and the prosperity and contentment of our people.
"Buffalo
has already let the contract to develop a portion of Buffalo
River. I recommend to your Honorable Body that plans and specifications
be prepared, bids asked for and contracts be let to complete
the improvement of the river to the city line.
"I recommend the immediate settlement on the
best terms possible of the Sea Wall Strip and the Hamburg
Turnpike matter, which settlement will permit us to develop
our outer harbor. My judgment tells me that the future prosperity
of Buffalo
depends largely on the commerce of our great lakes, a fact which
the founders of our city had clearly in mind.
"It is common knowledge that Buffalo
is suffering from inadequate terminal facilities. I feel certain
that the railroads entering our city stand ready at present
to give us relief. I also feel certain that the people of
Buffalo
are prepared to meet the representatives of the railroads with
that spirit of harmony and cooperation which must result
in the settlement of this important question. I shall take
up this matter with the railroads immediately and will make
reports to your Honorable Body by special message.
"Right or wrong, it is charged in many quarters
that the use of electric power generated at Niagara Falls
has been retarded in our city owing to the prices charged.
An authoritative decision on this question can be made only
by the Public Service Commission
In justice to all parties concerned I shall ask for an immediate
investigation of this subject by that body.
"The project of a boulevard from Buffalo
to Niagara Falls has my support. I commend it to your Honorable
Body for favorable consideration. Such a boulevard would
indeed be a notable highway. To complete such a project
requires the cooperation of the State and the cities and
towns along the route. The advantages of it to our city
from every point of view are so apparent that they require
no discussion. I am informed that the city of Buffalo
is required to build only that three-quarters of a mile of road
which is located within our city limits. The remainder is
to be paid for by the State of New York and other cities
concerned.
"Now that a Greater Buffalo
University is to be realized, I recommend that your Honorable
Body give to this popular educational enterprise such assistance
as you in your judgment deem advisable. Personally, I want
to go on record as being in hearty sympathy with this meritorious
project.
"I recommend that your Honorable Body continue
the liberal policy which Buffalo
has heretofore manifested toward its public schools and public
libraries. Buffalo
should go steadily forward in education matters.
"I recommend to your Honorable Body that Buffalo
's splendid park system be maintained and expanded to meet
the requirements of a growing, modern city. I also recommend
careful and sympathetic consideration of the question of
playgrounds for our children. This is an important subject.
"I recommend to your Honorable Body that the
streets of our city be maintained in the best possible condition.
Necessary repairs must be promptly made.
"I desire at this time to deal only with those
urgent matters which command the unanimous support of our
citizens. In my judgment the carrying out of these recommendations
will begin the advancement of our city toward the goal desired
by our people.
Fuhrmann fully intended to live up to every campaign
promise he made. Three months into his first term he was
able to report progress on all his campaign pledges.
Mayor Fuhrmann
delivered his second Annual Message to the Common Council
on January 3, 1911.
"One of the greatest achievements of your honorable
body was the adoption of a plan to improve Buffalo
River to the City Line. For thirty years citizens interested
in the progress and development of Buffalo
have struggled conscientiously for this improvement.
"The carrying out of this improvement means
ten miles of additional commercial dockage to our city.
"Another important matter was the taking by
condemnation proceedings of the land lying between Georgia
and Jersey Streets. I doubt if the people of our city realize
the great value of water front property as an asset. This
land lies close to our barge canal terminals, and our people
have available three miles of dock frontage at this point.
"The determination of your honorable body to
use the Broadway Arsenal site for Convention Hall and exposition
purposes is praiseworthy. The need of such a building is
self-evident. Plans are complete and will shortly be advertised.
"The selection of the Bennett Park site for
a new Technical High School
is a satisfactory solution of a problem which has long been
with us. The building of this school on this site, and the
building of School 32, just across the street, with all
the lands on Clinton Street between East Bennett and Cedar
Streets added thereto for playground purposes, and with
the completion of our Bennett Market, justifies the statement
that this locality, on the completion of these improvements,
will be one of the most attractive and interesting anywhere
in our entire city.
"The Ernest Wende Hospital for the Care of Contagious
Diseases has been completely remodeled. I want the people
of Buffalo
to know that there is nowhere in this country a better equipped
hospital for the care of these diseases than this same Ernest
Wende Hospital.
"The Elmwood Avenue extension, now about half
completed, in my judgment, is one of the most important
improvements ever undertaken by our city. "The approval
of your honorable body of the resolution requesting the
Mayor, Comptroller and the Treasurer to certify the amount
necessary...for park purposes, permitting the completion
of our Park Zoo and the improvements at Cazenovia Park,
is thoroughly commendable. The interest
shown in our present Zoo is proof of the educational
value of a greater and up-to-date Zoo.
"I have inspected the Police and Fire departments
of our city and I am proud of both of them. No city has
a finer body of men and no city has better equipment than
ours. The deportment of the men in both departments is excellent.
"During the past year a Playground Commission
has been appointed. On the recommendation of this commission
land was purchased for two new playgrounds, making altogether
nine playgrounds at present under the control of the commission.
"Your honorable body has before it the plans
submitted by the Lackawanna Railroad
, the Lehigh Valley Railroad
and the New York Central Railroad
for new passenger
stations in our city. These propositions require immediate
consideration.
"The investigation into the prices charged by
the Buffalo
General Electric Company and the Cataract Power and Conduit
Company for electric light and power will begin as soon
as my case is prepared. I have been working on this matter
for months. I realize the importance of this investigation,
and, naturally, I am anxious that our case shall not be
defeated through any lack of preparation on my part.
"In closing I wish to add a word concerning
the future of our city. I am aware that many of our people,
moved by a patriotic and civic spirit, are anxious to see
Buffalo
move forward in the direction of more school houses, more hospitals,
more parks, a new court house, a new market and kindred
projects. Speaking for myself, I cheerfully concede that
these institutions would enrich life in Buffalo
, for, as a general proposition, the more our city can do
in these regions the better off our people will be.
"But the question that concerns me, as an executive,
is 'Where is the money coming from to pay for these improvements!'
As a practical man, I have learned that before our city
can embark on all of these enterprises something must be
done to substantially increase the assessable valuations
and revenues of our city.
"The settlement of these problems means the
bringing to our city of new industries.
"I mean to plant myself squarely on this subject,
for I am positively convinced that it is my paramount duty
to settle these questions."
Mayor Fuhrmann
sent his third Annual Message to the Common Council
on January 1, 1912.
"The year 1911 will be memorable for the settlement
of the various great problems which have long confronted
our city.
"It is a matter of common knowledge that the
Seawall and Hamburg Turnpike question has been settled.
"Progress has been made in the settlement of
the freight and passenger terminal situation by the sale
of the Hamburg canal strip to the Lehigh Valley Railroad
company; said company having entered into an agreement, which
agreement provides for the erection of a passenger station
by that company...and the approval by the terminal commission
of the Lackawanna proposition to erect a new passenger station
at the foot of Main Street.
"Agreements have been entered into between the
City of Buffalo
and all the railroad companies, excepting the Lackawanna, for
the placing of moveable bridges across the Buffalo
River.
"I have filed a complaint with the Public Service
Commission
asking for
a reduction in the prices charged the people of our city
for electric light and power. I assure the people of Buffalo
that nothing shall stop me from a vigorous prosecution of this
all important and paramount question.
"The city of Buffalo
has been liberal in the purchase of new playgrounds for our
children. It is my judgment that before any more playgrounds
are procured our present grounds should be adequately equipped.
"I devoted a portion of my first annual message
to the subject of a Niagara Falls boulevard
It is in order to say that a portion of the Erie County
part of the route, 2.92 miles, has been surveyed and bids
advertised for leaving in Erie County un-contracted for
at this date 2.84 miles. It is hoped and expected that the
entire uncompleted portion of the route between Niagara
Falls and Buffalo
will be contracted for this winter.
"It seems in view of what is being done and
the generous way in which the city of Niagara Falls has
met the situation, that something ought to be done in Buffalo
to furnish a convenient and agreeable access to this boulevard
from Buffalo
There is a street now occupied by the street car tracks
of the International Railway Company
, running from Main Street to the junction of the town line
road with Kenmore Avenue. this street...ought to be widened
and paved so as to bring the boulevard traffic to Main Street.
"I respectfully recommend that your honorable
body give this Niagara Falls boulevard
project the consideration which it certainly deserves. In my
judgment this enterprise should be pushed to a speedy conclusion.
"So far in this communication I have referred
only to those matters in which there has been substantial
progress or actual settlement during the year 1911.
"It would be easy for me, but unprofitable to
anybody, to load down this communication with useless recommendations.
"At this time it is enough to say that Buffalo
has its face set toward the future - that the people of our
city are more alive than ever to their opportunities and
their duties.
"Throughout the city I find that our people
are filled an ambition to get those things done which are
in themselves worthwhile thinking less of the processes
of their doing and more of the results to be accomplished."
Mayor Fuhrmann
, fully knowing it could be his last year in office, or
possibly preparing for a re-nomination bid, delivered his
longest annual address
, to close out his first term on January 6, 1913. In it
he covered more topics, in more detail, than he had previously
before.
"I congratulate you on the fact that the city
of Buffalo
is enjoying a progress and a prosperity never before paralleled
in its history. Every section of our city tells the same
story - New office buildings, new business blocks, new manufacturing
plants, new residences and new church edifices. Our people
are universally optimistic and are enthusiastically working
together on all questions relating to Buffalo
's future welfare
I know that I am doing only justice when I state that the
members of the Common Council
have done much to bring about this spirit of cooperation.
"With work already begun by one railroad, namely
the Lehigh Valley, leading to the actual realization of
the long desired new terminal facilities, Buffalo
is now assured of the development of those natural resources
which will increase our accessible values enormously and
thereby bring a much needed revenue to our city.
"The board of managers of the Public General
Hospital
has engaged the architect to prepare plans for the hospital
buildings to be erected on the West Farm site. Meanwhile,
the Municipal Hospital on East Ferry Street, awaiting the
final completion of the Public General Hospital, is being
put into suitable condition for the care of advanced cases
of tuberculosis
and it is expected will be ready to receive patients by March
1.
"With the J. N. Adam Memorial
Hospital at Perrysburg adequately caring for incipient cases
of tuberculosis
and with the provisions just mentioned for those in the advanced
stages, the fact is clearly apparent that Buffalo
is performing its full duty in dealing with this dread scourge.
"The Convention Hall on Broadway is nearly finished.
The new Washington Market will be completed shortly.
"Three years ago it was said, with righteous
reproach of the city, that it owned no frontage on our magnificent
harbor, outside of a few parcels on the inner harbor. Within
this period there has been decided progress in actual acquisition
or steps which it is expected will lead to actual possession
within the coming year.
"The tax rate in the minds of many is the paramount
question in municipal affairs. The people should at all
times watch closely the expenditures made by the city to
the end that waste and extravagance shall not exist.
"In concluding this annual message to your honorable
body, I desire to thank you, each and all, for the courtesy
which you have always displayed toward me in my official
life.
"During the year 1913 I believe we will best
serve the interests of the city of Buffalo
by striving for the things which are necessary and attainable."
The campaign of 1913 began in September. The Republican
primary was held on September 16, and not a dissenting vote
was cast for Thomas Stoddard
as he was unanimously chosen the Republican mayoral candidate.
Two additional parties supplied nominees for the various
elected offices, the Progressive and the Citizens party,
but they both chose one mayoral candidate, John Lord O'Brian.
The Democrats knew they needed a strong candidate
to defeat the opposing nominations. The only choice appeared
to be Mayor Fuhrmann
At the primaries Fuhrmann was unanimously chosen for re-election.
He accepted the re-nomination. It was declared that there
would be no mud-slinging during the election as Stoddard
and Fuhrmann were personal friends.
Election day was November 4, 1913. Fuhrmann's popularity
continued to grow as he easily defeated his two opponents
by a larger majority than he did his first term. The combined
split parties did more harm to themselves than to Fuhrmann.
The Mayor received 30,219, Republican candidate Thomas Stoddard
received 13,447, and John Lord O'Brian received a combined 23,757;
13,203 from the Citizen's party and 10,554 from the Progressive
party.
It was a complete Democratic victory in the city
and county as seven assemblymen, four councilmen, and a
majority of the aldermen and supervisors were all elected.
Mayor Fuhrmann
delivered his fifth consecutive, or Inaugural Address
of his second term, on January 5, 1914.
"The most urgent problem confronting the city
officials at this time is that of finance.
"The constitution of the state provides that
no city shall become indebted to an amount which shall exceed
10 per cent of the assessed valuation of the taxable real
estate.
"I am advised...[there is] a margin for the
increase of our debt of approximately $6,000,000.
"There are many large projects underway to which
the city is committed which will require the issuance of
bonds to a large amount to complete, which will very materially
reduce the debt margin.
"The increase in the bonded indebtedness during
the past three years has been approximately $7,500,000 -
an amount greater by approximately $1,000,000 than our present
debt margin.
"The foregoing figures are impressive as indicating
first, that great care should be exercised in committing
ourselves to undertakings demanding increases in our funded
debt, and second, that some method should be devised of
enlarging our debt margin so as to provide for projects
which are essential to the growth and well-being of our
city.
"The tax rate of the city for 1913
was approximately $22.50 per thousand dollars of
valuation.
"I can see little hope of reducing the tax rate.
I desire to point out this situation at this time in order
that you may be fully advised of the necessity of a policy
of retrenchment and economy in the administration of the
city's affairs.
"...A large portion of our financial budget
is a fixed and permanent charge, yet I am persuaded that
there is otherwise room for retrenchment and economy.
"It seems to be generally admitted that our
present school accommodations are inadequate.
"...More important than high school facilities
is sufficient grammar school accommodations and in this
respect we seem to be woefully inadequate. This is a subject
of just importance to the welfare
of the city and all other projects involving the city should
be subordinated to this one.
"The way should be made easy for every child
to obtain a common school education and we must immediately
address ourselves to removing the reproach that our city,
by inadequate common schools
accommodations, is depriving children of opportunities for education.
"The Turnpike and Sea Wall agreements with the
railroads, already an accomplished fact, have paved the
way for the development of the outer harbor. We should reasonably
expect that in a short time that harbor will be
developed
so as to become a greater center of commercial activity.
"As you are well aware, the City and County
Hall
is inadequate to furnish accommodations for the city and county
offices and as a result, many offices...are located in private
buildings, thereby burdening the city and the county with
a large rent charge.
"It is my judgment that the city should [forego]
interest in the present City and County Hall
to the county and that the city should undertake the erection
of a municipal building of a modern type on the land owned
by the city where the department of public works is now
located.
"Under the present system for the collection
of taxes
, the taxpayer is required to pay in advance, under heavy
penalty for non-payment, his entire tax for the fiscal year.
"...I believe that by making it easier to pay
the tax the city would gain materially in reducing the number
of tax delinquents.
"The docks of the city are largely owned and
controlled by private interests, corporate and otherwise.
Many of them are in a dilapidated condition and very few
of them are creditable to a harbor the size and importance
of ours.
"There may be some question under our present
charter as to whether the city has sufficient control of
private docks and wharves to enforce the erection and maintenance
of suitable docks. The private interests in control of these
docks have shown no particular disposition toward their
improvement and I think the time has come when the city
should be vested with such power.
"There are numerous things properly within the
field of municipal endeavor which will be submitted during
the term of your Honorable Body, and I can assure you of
my cooperation in any measures by Your Honorable Body which
will make for a better and greater Buffalo
"
The year 1914 provided many changes to the city and
to the world. In July, World War I
began as Austria declared war on Serbia. At the polls in November,
1914, in addition to voting for various offices, the citizens
of Buffalo
were to cast their ballots for a change in the organization
of the city government. A commission form of government
had become popular in many American cities and the people
wanted to try it here. It proposed a commission consisting
of five members, including the mayor, completely eliminating
the entire Common Council
There were many people on both sides of the battle. Mayor
Fuhrmann
did not believe this was a logical choice for Buffalo
, and many citizens agreed with him.
Unfortunately, many more sided with the Charter Campaign
Committee. On November 3, 1914 the commission charter was
chosen by the voters, 36,362 to 20,891, with over 18,000
blank votes. The citizens fighting against the charter were
disappointed. "...A commission charter is not suited
to a city the size of Buffalo
," stated Charles L. Feldman
, chairman of the Citizens' Union. Mayor Fuhrmann
stated, "I have no statement to make. It was a Republican
landslide and the charter went with it." John P. Sullivan
, President of the Board of Aldermen: "The people have
spoken and I have no complaint to make. Meanwhile, the ice
business is excellent," obviously in reference to his
personal business.
District Attorney Martin P. Devlin of Trenton, New
Jersey, who was one of the principal speakers for the charter
during the campaign, wired his congratulations election
night: "Congratulations for Buffalo
on more government by the people."
The new charter would not go in effect until January
1, 1916. Under the terms of the charter, the Mayor could
complete his current term and is elected for four years
with his salary set at $8,000 per year. He would preside
at all meetings of the council and has a vote, but no veto
power. Each councilman is also elected for a four year term.
In November 1915 four councilmen would be elected,
the one receiving the least number of votes would serve
for two years, to coincide with the completion of the mayor's
term, the other three would each begin four-year terms.
The city's business was now divided between this
five-member commission. There were five departments:
Public Safety
- including fire, police
, and health; Finance and Accounts - including comptroller,
treasurer, auditor, and assessors; Public Affairs - including
educational, and poor departments; Public Works - including
bureau of water, streets, building, and engineering; and
Parks and Public Buildings. The mayor is automatically assigned
the head of the Public Safety department, and a majority
vote is needed to fill each of the other four departments.
Probably the biggest change in government, and the
reason it was overwhelmingly favored, was that the people
were given veto power through The Referendum. Any ordinances
or money-spending resolutions passed by the council, except
for emergencies, could not take effect for thirty days.
If five percent of the voters signed a petition against
the ordinance, the council had to reconsider the action
or submit it to a special election.
In addition to that, the primaries and general elections
were to be non-partisan. All voters could vote at the primary,
regardless of party affiliation. The city primary was three
weeks before the election, and any citizen could run for
the office of mayor or councilman if he filed a petition
with 300 signatures on it. The two mayoral candidates with
the highest number of votes were the nominees. For councilmen,
twice as many are nominated than are required to fill the
offices, again by the largest number of votes. This was
done to create a nonpartisan government, and there was to
be no political line-ups or organizing by one party in this
new commission.
At the general election all winners for mayor or
councilman were chosen by the greatest number of votes.
Mayor Fuhrmann
delivered his sixth consecutive annual address
, second of this term, to the Common Council
on January 4, 1915.
"The people at the recent election decreed a
radical change in the form of administering our municipal
affairs, which becomes effective a year hence.
"It is interesting to recall in this connection
that the new form of government is practically a revision
to the type of city government contained in the charter
of 1832 creating our city. In that original charter a council
of 10, elected by wards, was given complete legislative
and administrative power and the appointment of substantially
all of the executive officers.
"Practically like powers are given the council
of five under the commission charter.
"In the course of time the original form of
our city government was deemed unsuited for the proper administration
of a great and growing city and the existing form of our
municipal government was evolved. It is perhaps true that
our present system goes too far in making the legislative
body cumbersome and permitting it to interfere with the
work of the administrative officers and in dividing up administrative
responsibility among a large number of elective officers.
I felt, as did many other good citizens, that these defects
could be corrected without vesting the whole power of government
in a council of five.
"However, the people have spoken, and although
we may differ as to the wisdom of the radical change, it
is our duty to conduct our affairs during the present year
so as to not embarrass, but, on the contrary, so as to facilitate
the transition from the old to the new on January 1, 1916.
"A survey of the constructive work done for
our city during the recent years indicates that most of
the large undertakings deemed essential to the growth and
prosperity of the city have been done or are rapidly nearing
completion and have already been financed by the city. Among
these great undertakings may be mentioned:
"Elimination of Grade Crossings.
"Buffalo
's River Improvement.
"Seawall and Hamburg Turnpike.
"The rights of the city and of the railroad
companies along the outer harbor have been definitely fixed
by contract.
"The Water System.
"Within a few months it is expected that the
new pumping station, providing a new source of supply of
water. ...We have a system adequate for the city's use for
the next half century or more.
"School Facilities.
"Three new high schools have been opened within
the past year, namely, Hutchinson, Masten Park
, and Technical, and the South Side High School will open
for the reception of pupils next fall.
"A considerable expenditure has been incurred
in the past few years in the acquirement of property for
parks and playgrounds, and the only criticism I have heard
in that respect is that we have gone too fast in this direction.
"I have enumerated these large constructive
undertakings of recent years simply for the purpose of showing
that our public
officials have been active in the forwarding improvements
vital to the growth of the city and elementally necessary
to its development.
"In conclusion, permit me to say that the best
evidence that our city affairs have been upon the whole
well managed is that our financial stand has been maintained
even during the recent financial stress. We may congratulate
ourselves also that, notwithstanding the general depression
in business throughout the country, Buffalo
has not seriously suffered, but our business men and financial
institutions have passed through this period of stress with
very little trouble. I bespeak your cordial cooperation
in our tasks during the present year and I ask it with confidence
because of your generous cooperation in the past."
On January 1, 1916, the new form of government was
ushered in dawning a new era for the city of Buffalo
The first week of the commission charter proved to be quite
interesting.
On January 3, 1916 the first formal meeting of the
new commission took place. Mayor Fuhrmann
serves as chairman of the board, and the councilmen chosen at
the November election were: Charles B. Hill
, Arthur W. Kreinheder
, Charles M. Heald
, and John F. Malone
During the first meeting Heald resigned, unhappy
that he was not given the head of department of public works
as was previously decided between the members. He was then
informed that he could not just resign, and he received
hundreds of calls from citizens urging him not to. Therefore,
he reconsidered and appeared at the next meeting of the
council.
At the January 5, 1916 meeting of the commission,
the election of the department heads was completed. Kreinheder
, who had decided he wanted the department of public works,
was elected head of that department, even though Mayor Fuhrmann
voted against it; Hill was elected to head of finances; Heald
in charge of public affairs; and Malone to head parks and
buildings.
People in Buffalo
