1915-03-05tt

“Alderman T. B. McQuesten, of the law firm of Chisholm, Logie and McQuesten, handed a rather interesting set of documents to the press this morning, relating to the early history of the city.”

Hamilton Times.    March 5, 1915.

When Alderman Tom McQuesten happened upon some interesting papers, dating back to 1870, in the vault of his firm, he found them of great interest. So, he decided to share them with the Hamilton public by showing them to members of the local press:

“Some interesting figures were gathered from the reports. For instance, the mayor in that year received the sum of $800 per year, as contrasted with $2,5000 received by Mayor Walters today.

“The salary of a detective in those days was $500 per year, while a policeman received $400.

“One item was interesting, and it read: ‘To cash stolen, $13.22.

“The city council in those days considered $20 a large sum for the hiring of a band, for the reading in the minutes was : “To hiring of an expensive band, $20.

“The total amount raised for taxes in those days was $139,196.28.

“Another record shows 43 cabs and 16 carts being all the heavier types of vehicles in the city in those days.”¹

¹ “Old Papers Tell of Early Days”

Hamilton Spectator.   March 5, 1915.

As regards the sums raised for the city treasury for licenses, the following was shown in the 1870 documents:

“There were ten saloons paying a license of $95 each per year, while 89 taverns paid $60 per year each, and 64 shop licenses paid $50 per year. There were five billiard tables in operation in 1870, and their owners paid a license fee of $100 per year each.”¹

Finally, there was a batch of papers relating to legal maneuvering as regards ownership of property on the south side (bay side) of the Beach strip:

“Mr. McQuesten discovered in the vault of the firm a lease dated may 4, 1874, between Thomas Livingston and the city, which was an attempt on the part of the owner to secure all the land now known as the south side of the beach.

“Mr. Livingston held certain priorities on the land, but the crown lands department refused to grant the patent.

“Later, Mr. Livingston released his priorities against the land, and the crown lands department leased the land to the city, to be paid for at the rate of $1 per year.”1