The election of the first mayor and City Council was held April 8th, and to the surprise of many was closely contested. Levi Lincoln, by reason of his long, varied and distinguished public services the first citizen of Worcester, had at the sacrifice of personal inclination and self-interest, but with characteristic public spirit, yielded to what seemed to be practically the general desire of his fellow townsmen that he should organize the City Government as its chief magistrate; but no sooner was his consent obtained than opposition manifested itself, and the Reverend Rodney A. Miller, a worthy divine, whilom pastor of the Old South Church, was put forward as the candidate of the radical temperance and other dissenting elements, and received 653 votes, which, with 45 scattering, brought Lincoln's majority down to 138, with a vote of 836. Seventy votes in a total of 1,534 would have changed the result.

ADMINISTRATION OF LEVI LINCOLN.*

April 17, 1848, to April 1, 1849.

The new City Government was inaugurated on the 17th of April. The members of the Board of Aldermen were Parley Goddard, Benjamin F. Thomas, John W. Lincoln, James S. Woodworth, William B. Fox, James Estabrook, Isaac Davis and Stephen Salisbury. In the Common Council of twenty-four were such representative citizens as Doctor Benjamin F. Heywood, Freeman Upham, Darius Rice, Horace Chenery, Alexander H. Bullock, Albert Curtis, William T. Merrifield, Calvin Foster and Thomas Chamberlain. Charles A. Hamilton was city clerk and clerk of the Board of Aldermen, and William A. Smith was clerk of the Common Council.

The work of this first City Government was largely one of organization, and the task was undertaken with faithfulness and industry. Eighty-four regular meetings of the Aldermen were held during the municipal year, and in this board all the elaborate and detailed reports were prepared, and most of the ordinances drafted. The labors of the City Council were incessant, and the objects of attention many and diversified changes in the City Hall building to adapt it to its new uses were carried out; the new road to Grafton was completed, and more than one hundred miles of highways was supervised and kept in repair, and several new streets were established; a portion of Main

* Levi Lincoln was a son of Levi Lincoln, senior, who was a member of Congress, attorney-general in Jefferson's Cabinet, lieutenant-governor and governor of Massachusetts. The son was graduated at Harvard in 1802, was a member of both branches of the General Court, judge of the Supreme Court, governor nine years, member of Congress six years. He was born in Worcester October 25, 1782, and died here May 29, 1868.

street was paved; lots for school-houses were purchased in Quinsigamond Village and on Summit street.

The financial interests of the city required special consideration. The treasury at the time of the change of government was empty, and there was a debt of $99,677. By the charter the city was required to assume all the liabilities of the town, the Centre School District* and the Aqueduct Corporation,† which amounted to the above sum. After providing for all extraordinary and running expenses, $9,000 was applied toward the reduction of the debt.

Twenty-three school-houses came into possession of the city in 1848, five of which were of brick. There was one Classical and English high school, and three were grammar schools. Thirty-nine teachers were employed, and the sum of $14,500 was appropriated for the use of this department.

The Fire Department was composed of seven engineers and 240 members. Five engines and one hook-and-ladder carriage were in use. The Police Department was organized by the appointment of George Jones as city marshal, Frederick Warren, assistant marshal, and five constables. The first paid policeman was appointed in September.

The Almshouse establishment consisted of a farm of 240 acres, an almshouse, brick hospital and other buildings, which had cost $15,000. The amount of taxes assessed was $52,222; total expenditures during the municipal year, $65,389.

If ability, social position and real character are considered, this first City Government in personnel stands unmatched in the long line of succession to the present time. And a foundation was made worthy of the hands that laid it, and which has endured to this day.

ADMINISTRATION OF HENRY CHAPIN.

Two terms-from April 1, 1849, to April 7, 1851.

The city election of 1849 resulted in the choice of Henry Chapin, § the Free-Soil candidate, who received 1,158 votes to 656 for Isaac Davis, the Democratic nominee. John W. Lincoln was the opposing candidate in 1850.

Under Mr. Chapin's administration the Ash street school-house was built, and the erection of the new Thomas street school-house begun; the paving of Main and Front streets continued; a sewer constructed

* Incorporated in 1824, with authority to assess taxes for the support of schools. Incorporated in 1845, for the purpose of constructing and maintaining an aqueduct to conduct water from Bell pond for the use of the town.

Incorporated in 1835.

See sketch in Biographical Department.

in Main street; Chestnut street was extended to Pleasant street; the stone bridge on the Millbury road was built, and the aqueduct was extended into Pleasant street; two new fire engines were purchased; the office of city solicitor was established. The total expenditures for each year were, in 1849-50, $96,021; in 1850-51, $87,300. The appropriations were, for the first year: Schools, $16,000; highways and paving, $14,768; Fire Department, $3,779. For the second year: Schools, $18,000; highways, $17,750; Fire Department, $3,600.

Mr. Chapin's radical tendencies in respect to the temperance and slavery questions excited a strong opposition among a certain class, which was manifested during the second year of his administration in daring attempts at outrage. Bombs were exploded in the building in which the mayor's office was located, and under the windows of the city marshal, fortunately without injury or loss of life so far as human beings were concerned, but in the first instance the building was partially wrecked. The principal and accessory in this dastardly attempt were arrested; the former fled, forfeiting his bond, which proved to be straw bail, and in the absence of the principal the accessory could not be held, so the prosecution was abandoned.

It was during Mayor Chapin's term that Father Mathew, the distinguished apostle of temperance, visited Worcester. He arrived in the city on Saturday, October 20, 1849, preached at the Catholic Church. Sunday, and was received at the City Hall on Monday, where he obtained many signatures to the pledge from his fellow countrymen who had become residents of the place.

The Worcester Gas Light Company was formed June 22, 1849. Gas lights were used in the streets later in the year.

ADMINISTRATION OF PETER C. BACON.

Two terms-from April 7, 1851, to January 3, 1853.

Peter C. Bacon," the Free-Soil candidate in March, 1851, was elected by a vote of 1,134 over 466 for Isaac Davis, the Democrat; 160 for Warren Lazell, Citizens', and 420 for Charles Thurber. John W. Lincoln was the Whig candidate in December, 1851.

During Mayor Bacon's term the Thomas street school-house was completed at a cost of $13,500, and new school-houses on Pine street and Blithewood avenue were built, costing respectively $1,600 and $1,800; the aqueduct was extended into Chestnut and Elm streets; an

* Peter Child Bacon was born in Dudley, Massachusetts, November 11, 1804; was graduated at Brown University in 1827, and practiced law at Oxford and Dudley before coming to Worcester. His reputation as a counselor was justly founded on his knowledge and sound judgment. He died February 7, 1886.