Benjamin F. Jewett

[jon hynes]

I had hopes of finding the builder of the building on the South Eastern corner of Jewett and Genesee streets.

When I found Jewett Place on the old map, it was located on the opposite side of Genesee street from where it is today, and that where I expected to find Jewett Place, that was named Benjamin Street.

[jon hynes]

At this point I thought I'd try a search for Benjamin Jewett and found this:

By Ald. Jones - Resolved that the Utica Water
Works XXXXXty be and is hereby directed to lay
and extended its mains and to locate XXX XXX for
hydrants under the direction of the Chief XXXX
xxxxx of the Fire Department, through Jewett
Place, formally called Benjamin street, said
mains to be of pipes known as six inches in diameter,
the said company to receive for laying said
mains each year six per cent on the cost of sack
rag XX and the laying thereof, provided said company
will lay said mains at such rate.

Observer Dispatch May 23 1885

[jon hynes]

Looking at the map I noticed the initials B. F.

So now searched for Benjamin F. Jewett

[jon hynes]

Benjamin F. Jewett - Land fronting on Oneida
street between Scott, Faxton and Clinton streets
between land of O. B. Matteson and Pleasent street
bounded on the West by Kemble street.

Observer Dispatch Dec 29 1963

Two large plots of land East of Oneida street described as the Jewett Farm.

[dgriffin]

[jon hynes]

THE PROP0SED PARK
___________________________________


The Council's Special Session
________________________________


INTERESTED PARTIES HEARD
_____________________________________


Spicy Addresses
__________________


Clogher's Compromise
_________________________

[jon hynes]

The City Fathers settled to special session a little before eight last evening, in response to the Mayor's vigorous gavel raps.


THE ONEIDA PARK

The regular order of business was dispensed with, and Ald. Clogher stated that he supposed the special business for which tho meeting was called was the matter of he Oneida Park. He moved that parties be heard for and against the Park.

A STITCH IN TIME[/size]

Consideration of ordinances was postponed until the next regular meeting, that they should not go down.

[jon hynes]

RULES FOR THE PARK DEBATE

After a little discussion, it was decided that three persons be heard on each side of the question, no one to be allowed to speak longer than half an hour.

THE FIRST LOOK

It was decided to hear the remonstrants first.

[jon hynes]

WM. KERNAN[/size]

first addressed the Council. He claimed that the proposed improvement would not be a benefit or improvement to the city at large, but merely for the benefit of a few citizens.

It was proposed to tax property for a considerable distance on side streets from the proposed park to help pay the enormous expense of making that park. According to the Charter, property cannot be taxed for such an improvement unless the proposed improvement should be for the benefit of the citizens at large and for the public use. Now according to this rule the property on adjacent streets cannot be taxed.

[jon hynes]

The proposed park would be too small to entitle it to consideration on The score of a sanitary measure. The land to be taken is too small to be used for any public purposes. And yet it is proposed to tax for the purpose of making this park citizens who receive not one cent's worth of benefit. The proposed park would be of great benefit to those citizens who live right about the proposed park. One hundred and three citizens petition for the park, but of that number one fifth cannot be taxed for the park, and one-fifth more have signed the remonstrance. There are 292 persons in the district proposed to be taxed, and all but 105 of them have signed the remonstrance.

It is the poorer class who live by labor who remonstrated. It is a fraud on the face of it to call such a plot of land a public park, it is nothing but a flower garden.

The Council should not upon any consideration whatever order property holders to pay $31,000 for that half-acre of ground. There is another difficulty. You cannot assess property-owners for this land and make them pay the assessments when the proposed improvement is not for public use. If the park is wanted by interested individuals, let part of the cost be assessed on property right about it, and the balance of the city. The move for the park is made, not because it is a public improvement, but to ornament that quarter and get rid of an eye-sore, it being feared that tenement houses would be built on that triangular piece of land.

[jon hynes]

JUDGE WILLARD

was then, on motion, heard for the partitioners. The Judge said Charter which authorizes the Council to take any piece of ground and make it a public park has not been declared unconstitutional by any Court, and so it is a law, and we are bound by it. He urged that the proposed park was a great improvement. The previous speaker had found no one to oppose the park except on the score of expense.

The Constitution, or Charter, does not say how large it shall be, and the expense can be assessed upon whom you see fit. Your Committee reported that the expense should be assessed upon a certain district, and you have the right to assess it upon that district. Those who are to be taxed heaviest are those who live fronting the proposed improvement. Nine out of the ten have signed the petition. Most of those who have signed the remonstrance are persons who live so far away that their tax would be nearly nominal. The petitioners represent three-fourths of the tax to be raised for the proposed improvement, The petitioners were ready to accept a proposition to pay any amount which referees might decide and tho city to pay tho rest.

[jon hynes]

A proposition has been made by us that the owners of property fronting on the park pay one-half, and the other half be assessed on the other property-owners in the taxable district. This proposition was not carried out. This park project had been opposed in various ways. He had been handed a letter signed by the Mayor, which he read.

It chronicled the liberality of ex-Mayor Comstock, who offered $1,000 to be used in paying the park taxes of persons who cannot well pay. 191 property-owners petition for the park, and nearly two hundred remonstrate, with another petition of nearly thirty names in favor of it. Some of those who had signed the remonstrance had been to petitioners and desired to sign the petition and some of them had. Judge Hunt expressed himself unqualifiedly in favor of the park. Dr. Watson and Jas. Benton, who had been led into signing the remonstration, had since expressed themselves in favor of the park. J. M. Childs, a Barber and others expressed themselves in favor of it.

[jon hynes]

HON. ADDISON C. MILLER

was then heard against the park. He appeared to represent more particularly Benjamin F. Jewett and some others, but also remonstrants in general. He was amused at Judge Willard s interpreting the rule of tho charter to be constitutional because no court had declared it otherwise. The Judge had there left it. According to that the Legislature could not pass an unconstitutional law. But as the Judge had avoided going deeper, he would follow suit. As to the references to opposer's of the park not being public-spirited, was not Benjamin Jewett public-spirited ? He recited Mr. Jewett's public-spirited acts, and then continuing, asked how much the park would benefit. Mr. Jewett's land, the Orphan Asylum, the Old Ladies' Home, and other such places, which it was proposed to tax.

The only, argument of force which had been urged for the park has been the beautifying of Genesee street. He did not think the city would be any more moral or immoral on account of this park. We all like to see Genesee street beautified in a reasonable way.

[jon hynes]

No city on the continent had paid at the rate at which this park was proposed to be paid for. If you go for wiping out eyesores, every part of the city has eyesores which it would like wiped out. The proposed park might admit two of the interested families at once. When we want a public park, we want a place where we can go and enjoy ourselves, not to sweep carpets in. Forty acres can be got, he felt assured to say, at less cost than this half-acre. In fact, he had almost the assurance of a gentleman that he would

GIVE THE CITY FORTY ACRES

if it would make it into a park.

Aid. Metcalf - (interrupting.) - Where is that ? In John Brown's tract ?

Mr. Miller - No, sir; nor in the Seventh Ward, either. (Applause.) Mr. Miller continued - Mr. Jewett is assessed on lots fronting on new streets he has opened on both sides, when he has hardly sold a lot in some of them yet. Is this right ? Taking my view, if the Council is to take it on number of petitioners and number of remonstrants, or foot frontage of each, the remonstrants would be found greatly in the majority. He had never heard of any proposition being made to the petitioners. If this park were made for public use, its cost must be assessed on the city at large. He Was willing to subscribe for beautifying the street.

[jon hynes]

A CHANGE OF OPINION

Alderman D. P. White here offered a paper from 25 property-owners who had signed the remonstrance against the proposed park, withdrawing their opposition, and expressing themselves in favor of it.

A GENEROUS OFFER

Ex-Mayor Comstock stated that as the matter of the tax on the Orphan Asylum and Old Ladies' Home had been used to create sympathy, he would take occasion to mention that a citizen had offered to pay the tax on those institutions. The citizen was J. B. Wells. [Applause.]