tholomew, D. C. Cloud, A. Jackson, Ed Olmsted, Wallace & Breading, J. Scott The township officers whose names appear on the back of the petition are: President, E. Overman; trustees, W. St. John, J. G. Gordon, J. Butler; street commissioner, C. Kegel. The State of Iowa, Muscatine county, ss: Lyman C. Hine, sheriff of Muscatine county, Iowa, on oath, states that there are the names of at least twelve land holders in the vicinity of the town of Bloomington. L. C. HINE. Sworn and subscribed in open court this 4th day of June, 1849. D. C. CLOUD, Justice of the Peace. The State of Iowa, Muscatine county, ss: The undersigned citizens of Muscatine county and Bloomington, Iowa, being duly sworn, say that they are satisfied that more than three-fourths of the inhabitants of said town desire the name thereof changed to that of "Muscatine," and they further say that they know of no other town or village in this state of the same name with that which is prayed for in the petition. ANDREW J. FIMPLE, Subscribed and sworn to before me this 5th day of June, 1849. D. C. CLOUD, In 1851, by an act of the legislature, Muscatine was given a special charter and by that act became a city. The names of the chief magistrates since 1850 are given below: CHIEF EXECUTIVES OF MUSCATINE. 1851, Zephaniah Washburn; 1852, Thomas M. Isett; 1853, John G. Stine; 1854, John A. Parvin; 1855, John H. Wallace; 1856, William Leffingwell; 1857, John G. Stine; 1858-62, George Meason; 1863, Henry Funck; 1864, S. D. Viele ; 1865-6, Benjamin Hershey; 1867, George Meason; 1868, E. Klein; 1869, William B. Keeler; 1870-1, S. G. Stein; 1872-3, J. P. Ament; 1874, Richard Musser; 1875, Henry Molis; 1876, J. P. Ament; 1877, T. R. Fitzgerald; 1878, Richard Musser; 1879-81, George W. Dillaway; 1882, T. R. Fitzgerald; 188385, R. T. Wallace; 1886-9, J. M. Gobble; 1890-1, Gustav Schmidt; 1892, R. T. Wallace; 1893, John M. Gobble; 1894, Edward B. Fulliam; 1895, A. S. Lawrence. In 1898 the ordinance fixed the term one to two years. Mr. Fulliam was the first. 1896-9, Edward B. Fulliam; 1900-2, Bernard J. Schmidt; 1902-6, Robert S. McNutt; 1906-8, John Asthalter; 1908, Bernard J. Schmidt-died March 27, 1909; William Grossklaus elected by council, 1909-10; 1910-11, William S. Hill. POLICE DEPARTMENT. From the smallness of the ranks in the Muscatine police department it is easy to gather that the city is not one of turbulence, but on the contrary, its citizens measure up to and beyond most of its neighbors in their observance of the laws. The rowdy and dissolute element does not thrive in the city and the saloon has no where in the whole county to find an abiding place. This makes for peace and order and, Muscatine prides herself on the excellent deportment of her citizens and the consequent necessity for a police department, diminutive in number but entirely adequate for the purpose. A force of nine men is deemed sufficient to police the city. This consists of a day contingent of four men, including the chief. Five men patrol the place during the night. The police headquarters are on the first floor of the city hall. As the munici Vol. I-19 pality has no jail, prisoners are turned over to the county jail, where they are kept safely at the expense of the city. FIRE DEPARTMENT. Muscatine, although a city of importance and up-to-date in almost everything that one looks for in a modern municipality, is woefully in need of a place for its legislation halls, apartments for its officials and a place to incarcerate the evildoer within her gates. Neither has the city a fire department, as the term is now applied, but there is in existence, and has been for many years, volunteer fire companies, that have done valiant service in the interest of the property owner, and their reputation throughout the state for skill and efficiency has long been established, trophies now at tournaments being substantial attestations to the truth of the latter statement. The united fire, or hose companies are, however, given the dignity and title of a fire department. Through the efforts of Gustav Schmidt in 1874, supported by the sympathy of Richard Musser, then mayor, the movement became a substantial one when about forty citizens signified their willingness to become firemen. On the 7th day of January, 1875, a meeting of citizens was held and Gustav Schmidt was chosen president of the company then formed. David Meyer became secretary, Moritz Saal first engineer and Barney Schmidt second engineer. The organization chose the name of the Champion Chemical Fire Company and used a chemical fire extinguisher with indifferent results until 1877, when the water works enabled the "boys" to place dependence on a hose cart and hook and ladder wagon. The Champion Chemical Fire Company changed its name to the Champion Hose, Hook and Ladder Company No. 1. Rescue Hose Company No. 2 was organized April 27, 1876, largely through the efforts of Galbraith Bitzer, still a member. The first officers were: Galbraith Bitzer, captain; A. B. Hampton, first lieutenant; Joseph Morrison, second lieutenant; C. G. Whipple, secretary; J. A. Pickler, treasurer. Excelsior Hose Company No. 3 was organized in June, 1876, through the influence and activity of Phil J. Murphy. The first officials were: Fireman, F. Moran; first assistant, P. Ryan; second assistant, D. Burke; secretary, J. H. Cosgrove; treasurer, F. P. Anson. Relief Hook and Ladder Company was organized April 2, 1877, with a membership of twenty-eight. Its first officers were as follows: Fireman, Lyman Banks; assistant fireman, W. S. Halstead; recording secretary, A. N. Garlock; financial secretary, W. C. Kegel; treasurer, J. E. Coe. Early in 1877 the fire department was considered fully organized, there being a company for each ward, and Joseph Morrison became the first chief, serving until 1881, when H. F. Bodman was chosen as his successor. The present chief (1911) is C. Hagerman, his assistants being Otto Elfers and Frank Curry. WATER WORKS. While Muscatine was settled in 1836 and incorporated in 1853, it was not until 1875 that a water works system was installed. On the 9th of November |