The present officers and members, numbering fourteen, are as follows: Franklin Brandreth, Ossining, New York, president; Harold Herrick, New York, vice president; William B. Boulton, New York, secretary and treasurer; W. C. Sterling, Monroe, Michigan; C. Cadwallader, New York; B. Preston Clark, F. S. Mead, A. W. Milliken, Dr. George G. Sears, and W. H. Slocum, Boston; J. R. Lawrence, J. L. Lawrence, Charles N. Ogdon, and H. B. Hollins, New York. The annual dues are $100, in addition to which each member is required to pay into the treasury the sum of one dollar for every day or part of a day on which he shoots on the property of the company, or for each day that he accepts the assignment, whether he shoots or not. It will, therefore, appear to the most casual observer that to gratify one's taste for such a luxurious hunter's life involves something rather more than the time. The author wishes to express his acknowledgments to one of the former members of the club, Hon. H. A. Conant, and to Mr. W. C. Sterling of Monroe, trustee and charter member, of Monroe, for most interesting information in connection with this article, and for courtesies too numerous to mention. THE MONROE YACHT CLUB was organized in 1887 and incorporated May 27, of that year, with the following officers: commodore, William C. Sterling; vice commodore. Seymour Reynolds; rear commodore, W. C. Waldorf; secretary, Wing Little; treasurer, Joe. C. Sterling; measurer, Capt. J. M. Lontill; directors, J. C. Whipple, Chas. R. Wing, Lester O. Goddard, R. C. Fuller, W. C. Sterling. The club owns a neat, substantial and commodious clubhouse for the use of members and their invited guests, situated on the south side of the government canal upon property owned by the United States government from whom it is leased. The site is that upon which stood the hotel and passenger station, when the Lake Shore Railroad ran its trains to the piers to connect with the line of passenger and freight steamboats running between Monroe and Buffalo. The club maintains a ferry boat or barge, to convey members and visitors across the canal from the north side, making trips to connect with the cars running to and from the city on the line of the Detroit United Railway, or as often as may be required by the members, without charge. The service by the electric railway is in effect from May 30th to October 1st, the fare charged being five cents each way per passenger, affording a pleasant, rapid, comfortable and inexpensive trip of about three miles along the River Raisin which is greatly enjoyed by Monroe people and visitors from abroad, during the summer. The club maintains a fleet of cat boats for the use of members, under proper rules and restrictions, the expense of which is met by appropriation from the club's receipts from the sale of membership fees and annual dues. The formality of becoming a member is simply the application for one share of the stock which is $10, and the election of the applicant by the club. The annual dues previous to 1912, was $4.00, but at the annual meeting in that year it was decided to advance this fee to $5.00, which is the present amount. The club numbers something over 250 members and includes many of the business and professional men of the city, besides quite a large number of ladies. The charge for this very desirable and attractive element in the club, for the enjoyment of the same privileges as the gentlemen, is one dollar each per year. The club house is built on piles over the waters of Lake Erie, and is surrounded on all sides by a spacious veranda, from which a delightful view of the passing steamers and other shipping is had and from which the club races and other interesting aquatic functions can be viewed with great enjoyment by the large number of spectators which are always sure to be present on these occasions. Dancing is provided for in the spacious assembly room, which occupies almost the entire floor space of the house. Picnics and family parties are popular here, for which ample facilities are provided on the roomy verandas. Perhaps no institution in Monroe has contributed more to the enjoyment of Monroe people than this organization. The officers are: commodore, Thornton Dixon; vice commodore, W. P. Cooke; rear commodore, Benj. J. Greening; financial secretary, B. S. Knapp; fleet captain, Frank H. Stoner; measurer, Earl Kull; fleet surgeon, Dr. J. J. Siffer; chairman house committee, J. C. Sterling. In addition to the fleet of cat boats owned by the club, many power boats and sail boats, privately owned by the members, afford ample opportunity for the enjoyment of the waters of Lake Erie. THE GERMAN WORKINGMEN'S ASSOCIATION of Monroe, is one of the oldest social and beneficial organizations in Monroe, having been organized in February, 1865, with but seventeen members, whose names follow: Charles Kirchgessner, August Girshke, Gustave Girshke, John Beckerlein, Louis Waldorf, John L. Eckert, Nicholas Rupp, John Buttman, Michael Kibburtz, Andrew Rummel, and others. When the membership had increased to one hundred, the society rented a commodious hall of Geo. Rapp, which was the home of the association for many years, but which was later exchanged for Munch's Hall on Monroe street, which they now occupy. The first officers of the association were John P. Schluter, president; Anton Munch, vice-president; Frank A. Kirchgessner, secretary; Michael Kibburtz, treasurer. Among those who have been chosen presidents are Charles Kirchgessner, August Girschke, George Nickel, Charles Gruner, E. G. J. Lauer, Chas. Stelzner, Jacob Roeder; the last named has been president for the past 22 years and still holds the office. The present membership of the association is 422, the state organization comprises 86 societies with a total membership of 13,600. Each member when initiated pays a fee according to the age of entry ranging from $2.00 to $15.00. Upon the death of a member, or a member's wife, one hundred dollars is paid to the family of deceased for funeral expenses, out of the local treasury of the Bund, while the state association pays the family $500 in case of the death of a member. The local society has a cash surplus at present of about $7,000.00. The present officers are Jacob Roeder, president, Adolph Rupp, vice-president; Conrad Kibburtz, financial secretary; John C. Kolb, recording secretary; Gustave C. Merz, treasurer; Wm. F. Acker, surgeon and physician. Trustees, Fred Fuerstenberg, Henry Thrams, Geo. Waltz, George A. Steiner. THE FARMERS' MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY OF MONROE AND WAYNE COUNTIES For forty-nine years this staunch and prosperous institution has been one of those whose record is of the highest. One of the charter members and for many years its honored president was the late Hon. A. J. Keeney, of Erie. For nearly as many terms Hon. E. W. Hilton, also of Erie, has been, as he still is, its secretary. The organization in its membership and operation is limited to Monroe and Wayne counties. The membership on October 1st, 1912 was 9,672, the amount at risk on that date was $17,936,800, no losses unpaid, the year closed with only $29,155.77 of losses and damages. The officers are Jas. H. Vreeland, president; Frank G. Brunt, vice-president; E. W. Hilton, secretary; Joel J. Bradner, treasurer. The office of the association is at Erie, Monroe county. CHAPTER XXXVII CIVIC AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS WORK OF THE POLICE QUESTION OF WATER SUPPLY-STREETS, PARKS The municipal affairs of the City of Monroe, have been usually conducted with economy and with reference to the comfort and safety of its people. It is an orderly community, such as one might expect to find in the class of people who compose it-and its treatment by the officers of the peace is such as to contribute to its harmony and well being. WORK OF THE POLICE A large police force is not deemed necessary, but the members of the present force discharge their duties with fidelity and alertness. This is apparent from a perusal of the record for the three years presented in the latest report by the chief of police, John W. Forner. There were 252 arrests made, 106 of which were. taken before the justice courts and all pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them; seventy-six were taken on city charges and of these sixty-three paid a fine and costs and thirteen were sentenced to the county jail from ten to thirty days. Thirty were taken on county charges; eleven paid fines and costs and ten were sentenced to the county jail for from ten to thirty days; six were sentenced to the Detroit House of Correction from sixty-five to ninety days and three were sentenced to Jackson prison. Four boys were taken before the juvenile court and sentence suspended. The report showed that 2,319 tramps or hoboes were taken to the police station for safe keeping and during the year there were 5,476 calls which the police department responded to. There were 425 police calls from other cities investigated and five children were reported, lost all of which were found and returned to their parents. Five calls from other cities for lost children received and seven boys from six to fifteen years of age were picked up and returned to their parents in Detroit, Windsor, Canada; and Toledo. Fifteen persons wanted in other cities were located here and five wanted for forgery were placed under arrest and turned over to officers of Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Twenty-three cases of contagious diseases were quarantined and in eight cases necessities of life were looked after, two or three times a week, by the chief. Twenty-nine bicycles were reported missing and twenty-two were located and returned to their owners. Seven horses sick or crippled were reported and five were shot. Forty-nine calls for dangerous dogs were received and nineteen canines were killed. QUESTION OF WATER SUPPLY One of our American humorists, possibly Artemus Ward, once sagely declared that water was very useful for manufacturing purposes, but as a beverage was somewhat thin. This may be accepted as more or less a prejudiced view; but there are a great many more people directly interested in the water question from the standpoint of individual consumers, than in the consideration of it in any other aspect, manufacturing or otherwise. Monroe, in former days was dependent upon the well, and the cistern for domestic supply, and the well sweep the old oaken bucket," the suction and chain pumps were the means of obtaining it from Mother Earth. The question of the dangers of contamination, of the source of supply, and the irregularity of it did not particularly disturb the earlier inhabitants, but the world became enlightened upon these matters, and the advancement of civilization brought with it a better understanding of domestic comforts and hygienic necessities-and the demand for pure water and modern facilities for obtaining a certain and continued supply for cities became universal. In the twentieth century one is inclined to wonder how it was possible for people ever to have lived without water works! With the waters of Lake Erie almost at the doors of Monroe; or to be exact, two and one half miles distant, it would seem but a natural step to bring them into every house in the city at a nominal expense. But water works are not established and conducted upon any other basis than a large outlay of money and the direct financial return on this outlay. Monroe considered this proposition seriously for some months, when it was proposed to inaugurate a system of public water supply. Municipal ownership of public utilities had not, in the 80's been so conspicuously in the public eye as since, and even if it had, the doubt existed whether Monroe would be favorable to a plan for shouldering a heavy debt and the possibility of failure to make a plant successful. Various plans were discussed and estimates obtained for a city water works. An engineer of some reputation was employed to make surveys and submit plans and specifications for a plant capable of serving the city, not only for its present wants but to provide for a prospective growth for years. The plans provided for a generous distribution of mains throughout the city, both for domestic uses and for adequate fire protection. The common council then advertised for sealed proposals to construct a plant upon the plans and specifications prepared by Mr. J. D. Cook, a hydrographic engineer of Toledo. Several proposals were received and opened on February 18, 1889, when the lowest bidders were found to be W. S. Packer & Company of Pontiac, Michigan, whose bid was accepted. The "Monroe Water Company" was then organized and incorporated, the officers being as follows: W. S. Packer, president; George M. Landon, secretary; and George Spalding, treasurer. Mr. Packer at a later date resigned and retired from the company. The statement of the operations in establishing the plant and operating the same was given by an officer of the present company: "The original plan contemplated the use of 61,256 feet of pipe of the required sizes, or an aggregate length of pipe in distribution of the supply required, of about thirteen miles. Commencing at a point in Lake Erie where a depth of seventeen feet of water was obtained, a crib was sunk into which the water supply from the lake is admitted. Thence it is carried in twenty |