room and park station for the patrons of the railroad living in the vicinity, and all its trains stop here. The grounds extend beyond the railroad, to the beautiful Maquoketa, along whose bank has been constructed a concrete retaining wall running 600 feet; all this at Mr. Tirrill's expense. In the deed to the city, a site in the park has been set apart for a hospital in the event the city agrees to build an institution of that character, at a cost of not less than fifty thousand dollars. On the southeast corner of the park Mr. Tirrill has just completed a handsome and expensive residence and a short distance to the rear is the park lodge, a two-story building put up by Mr. Tirrill five years ago at an outlay of $6,000. This building was designed as a residence for the park gardener and caretaker. It is Mr. Tirrill's present plans to bequeath to the city a fund sufficient for the upkeep of this splendid benefaction, and also, the residence, as an Old Women's Home.

WATERWORKS SYSTEM

In September, 1889, about one hundred and eighty-five citizens signed a petition, presented to the city council, in which they asked that body that steps be taken to establish a system of waterworks in Manchester. In furtherance of this request council called a special election for September 30, 1889, at which time the electorate cast 244 votes in favor of the improvement, while but 150 votes were in the negative. J. F. Merry, J. Hutchinson and Z. L. Atkinson were then appointed by council a committee on waterworks. Lot 258, on the west bank of the Maquoketa, was purchased of E., Mary E. and A. A. Hoag, upon which is a large spring, and here a story and a half pumping station later was built. Bonds, to the amount of $20,000, were voted to pay the cost of construction, and the contract was let to the National Brass & Iron Company, of Dubuque, in September, 1890. A stand pipe, or water tower, was erected by D. H. Young and leased by the city for ninety-nine years, at the yearly rental of about four hundred and twenty dollars; the city has the privilege to purchase the tower at any time for the sum of $5,949. This stand pipe is 80 feet high, 15 feet in diameter and the tank on top has a capacity of 106,000 gallons. The system was in operation before the end of the year, with D. B. Allen, superintendent, and J. P. Wilson, engineer.

The supply of water is obtained from an artesian well, 1,870 feet in depth. The hole is 10 inches in diameter the first 260 feet, 7 inches for several hundred feet and then 6 inches the rest of the way. Seven and five inch casing were used. The capacity of the well is 250 to 300 gallons per minute and the temperature is about 48°, Fahrenheit. The well was bored in 1896, but previous to this the supply of water was obtained from a spring on the lot purchased of the Hoags. The amount of water from this source soon proved inadequate and the well took its place for general purposes. However, the spring is still in use, being kept in reserve for emergencies. The domestic pressure from the tower is 50 pounds; emergency pressure, 80 to 110 pounds.

Since the waterworks first was operated, continual improvements have taken place in the system and many thousands of dollars expended. The water is unsurpassable in purity and taste and the system generally meets the wishes and demands of the community.

SEWER AND STREET PAVING

Manchester inaugurated her sewer system in the year 1894, letting a contract that year for the initial work. Since the first $1,580 contract was let, the city has laid many blocks of sewers-mains and laterals-until today the system is in harmony with the waterworks improvement, both of which have an allied importance to any perfected plan and device for the well being and sanitation of a well regulated municipality.

Paving was commenced in the fall of 1905, the first work being done on Franklin Street, from Fayette to Butler, and on Main, from Madison to Brewer. The material used was vitrified brick. Later, concrete pavements were laid on Delaware, from Madison to Franklin, and on Madison, from Delaware to Main. Ordinances have passed council for more improvements of this kind and work will probably commence in the spring of 1915.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

During the first few years of Manchester's existence, the danger from fire was of but little consequence. As the buildings grew in number, provisions were made by the citizens whereby each business house and residence kept ready to hand buckets that were filled with water when a fire broke out and passed from hand to hand by the men and women who stood in line, and thrown upon the flames. This primitive method of fighting fire was in vogue until June 23. 1872, when a number of young men organized Rescue Hook & Ladder Company, No. 1. J. A. Wheeler was elected foreman; M. J. Carroll, first assistant foreman; J. S. Edwards, second assistant foreman; H. M. Ruggles, secretary; F. E. Barr, treasurer. In the year following, on July 8th, at a called meeting signed by thirty-one citizens, Protection Engine Company, No. 1, was organized. L. Odell was elected foreman; M. Cotton, first assistant foreman; L. S. Sherman, second assistant foreman; W. N. Boynton, secretary; W. E. Brown, treasurer.

In December, 1875, the city purchased a Silsby fire engine, which was placed in charge of Protection Engine Company, No. 1, who named it the N. Denton. This organization, having become too unwieldy in the number of its members, split up and formed a new company, which was named N. Denton Steamer Company, No. 1. This company elected the following officers: A. O. Moore, foreman; Lemuel Allen, first assistant foreman; Irving Harris, second assistant foreman; M. Cotton, engineer; Thomas Grice, first assistant engineer; T. S. Jones, second assistant engineer; A. C. Carter, hose foreman; Frank Davis, E. J. Doolittle, stokers; II. S. Lillagar, secretary; Frank Davis, treasurer. This company took up headquarters at the foot of Main Street, in an engine house built by the city on a lot donated by Nixon Denton.

The fire department of Manchester is still made up of volunteer companies, but since the building of the waterworks, the fire engine has gone out of use. The equipment now consists of hose carts, hook and ladder wagon and chemicals. The fire station is in the city building, on Main Street, and the meeting place of the firemen is in a hall, specially arranged for the purpose, on the second floor of the same building.

ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANTS

The City of Manchester, or rather its citizens, are doubly equipped with facilities for the illumination of the business places, public institutions and homes, with electricity. Within a very few years after the wonderful and mysterious element had been commercialized for the use and convenience of the people, an electric light plant was established in this city, by the Manchester Electric Light & Power Company, about the year 1886. This is the Hoag concern, which has its plant on the west side of the river, by the dam. The machinery was first installed in the old mill, which eventually burned down, at a loss to the company. The present building is a two-story frame, and the utility is still owned and managed by members of the Hoag family.

In the year 1900 the Manchester Light, Heat & Power Company was organized, by L. Matthews, Joseph Hutchinson, M. F. Le Roy, J. W. Miles, R. W. Tirrill, Adolph and Lewis Wolf, R. R. Robinson, A. L. Beardsley, Frederick Dury and B. W. Jewell. This company obtained a franchise from the city, September 1, 1900, and began business at that time. It was capitalized at $15,000, which sum was increased later to $25,000. A brick power house was constructed on West Main Street, where every modern equipment for a first class plant was installed. About the year 1907 the company added a heating plant and is today furnishing a majority of the business houses with heat. The present officers of the company are: L. Matthews, president and manager; W. W. Matthews, treasurer; T. J. Matthews, secretary.

OAKLAND CEMETERY

A sacred spot to the people of the community is Oakland Cemetery, which is situated on North Franklin Street, adjoining the fair grounds. Many years ago the cemetery association was organized and under its management the grounds were tastefully laid out and cared for. There are today, within its hallowed precincts, chapels, mausoleums and monuments of a lofty character and beautiful design. The soldiers' monument, spoken of elsewhere, is an imposing shaft occupying a prominent spot in the southwest corner of the burial ground. At or near the northwest corner is a neat stone building now in course of construction, designed for a public mausoleum. Oakland Cemetery is a beauty spot, notwithstanding its mournful associations, and shows on every hand the loving care and benedictions of the community.