JAMESTOWN COMMON COUNCIL
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MEETING IN COUNCIL CHAMBER MONDAY, OCT. 27, 1919

COMMON COUNCIL

Proceedings By Authority.
State of New York
City of Jamestown
Council Chambers
    
Special meeting of the common council of the city of Jamestown, NY, October 27, 1919, at 7:30 o'clock p.m.
Present: President Porter and the following aldermen:
Appleby, Loun, Watson, Duell , Goranson, Gust C. Peterson, Charles A. Anderson, Fred V. Anderson, Carlson, Gustafson, Oscar L. Peterson. - 12
Absent: none

    President Porter announced that the meeting was called for general purposes. There being no objection, the reading of minutes of previous meetings was dispensed with. Before taking up the usual order of business, a hearing was given to the decorating committee of Armistice day celebration. Annie Hilton and H.L. Buchanan addressed the council petition for an additional appropriation for decoration. 

    A resolution, for the appropriation asked for, was entered by Alderman Fred V. Anderson, but was held over until later in the evening. A communication, from the secretary of the board of elections of Chautauqua county, enclosing a report from an inspection by the deputy state superintendent of elections of the polling places of this city, was read by the clerk. The inspector stated in the report that certain places were unfit. 
      Motion, by Alderman Gust C. Peterson, that the matter of polling places be referred to the committee on city property with power to act.
    Carried.

The clerk read the following message by the mayor:
"To the common council, Jamestown, N.Y. 

    "Gentleman:

"On the anniversary of the birth of Theodore Roosevelt, it is fitting that we pay tribute to his memory by carrying into effect the suggestion of our fellow townsman, Lynn F. Cornell, , that Brooklyn square in this city be recristened and officially designated by your honorable body as 'Roosevelt Square' 

    "This part of our city is now recognized as the center of the population, and of all the trade and business activities of this whole community. It is also the spot on which Theodore Roosevelt delivered his first political speech in western New York.

    "Few men in history have crowded into their lives so many human activities as the career of Roosevelt brought forth.

    "When America entered the great World war, Roosevelt offered to join his four sons on the battlefields of France. He asked the government to permit him to raise a large army, composed of volunteers, which he offered to lead against the forces of German autocracy. Had congress accepted this offer, it is believed by many that Roosevelt's enthusiasm and magnetism would have created such a powerful force of picked American fighters of all ages and walks of life as to have rendered unnecessary the placing upon the statue books of the United States, a conscription law, which under the proposed combination of powers may be used as an instrument by which American sons may be taken by compulsion to invade distant lands against peoples with whose troubles we have no concern.

      "Theodore Roosevelt was a man who was not afraid to propose and advance new things in public life. He had very little patience with the reactionaries, who insisted that the world must stand still and that there must be no change in the established order of society. Roosevelt constantly urged betterments. He led the greatest fight against standpatters and reactionary elements that has ever been waged in American politics. He cared little about party regularity. He wanted every American to be a free and independent voter. He not only wanted every voter to be free from party shackles, but he strongly emphasized the necessity of every voter understanding the English language, so that he would be able to cast his ballot directly for men in real American fashion and not blindly for mere party emblems and labels.

    "Roosevelt's strong personality and earnestness often led him to do and say thins which were misunderstood. Like all positive characters he made mistakes, but whatever imperfections he may have had, they were overshadowed by the greater and larger elements of service which he gave to his country. In the memorable campaign of 1912, he was shamefully vilified by many newspapers that now pay glowing tribute to his memory. It will be recalled that he was characterized as a 'dangerous radical and a man who was preaching a doctrine of anarchism and revolution'. There are many sincere and noble minded men who have been driven out of public life by character assassins and emissaries of 'special interests.'

    "Mr. Roosevelt never hesitated to come out boldly for radical for radical measures when he believed such measures were necessary to right wrongs. When, during his presidential term, he found the nation confronted with a crises, as a result of a prolonged coal strike, he startled the whole nation and upset all traditions and precedents by declaring that unless the strike was immediately settled he would exercise the war powers of the executive and take over the mines under national control, and operate them, not in the interest of unionized minors, nor in the interest or unionized mine owners, but in the interest of the whole union of American people.

    "Speaking at Bunker Hill in 1913, Roosevelt said, 'The men who fought at Bunker Hill were the radicals of their day. The only kind of wise conservatism is wise radicalism. You cannot turn the hands of the clock back, you cannot restore conditions to what they were, but you can apply the principles that were right in the past, in such a way as to make them effective in reference to the present. 

    "Most men of influence and leadership today indulge in strong denunciatory talk about the effect of certain evil tendencies in our social life. But Roosevelt was not content with simply dealing with effects, he delved into causes and then he proposed remedies in true statesmanlike fashion. His patriotism was one of deeds not words. 

    "Those of our citizens who are misled by the  influences that seek to form a strong centralized government in America, fortified with the power of conscription for the purpose of plunging out upon a policy of world exploitation under the guise of an altruistic mission to right wrongs of other lands, should ponder on the following words of Roosevelt, which he wrote in his last article in the Metropolitan magazine:

    'We have finished the great war with Germany. I do not believe in keeping our men on the other side to patrol the Rhine, or police Russia or interfere in central Europe or the Baltic peninsula. At the peace table, it is presumed that we shall give to each nationality all the aid we can in peaceful fashion. But, I do not believe that the United States should enter into a world-wide career of disinterested violence for the right; because where the issues involved are remote from us, our people wouldn't  know with certainty where the right lay and wouldn't feel that we ought to go into the quarrel. We have enough to do that is our business.' 
    "Who doubts but that these are the sentiments which Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln would speak, if they were here today? 

    "Mr. Roosevelt was once asked to point out a man whom he regarded as and ideal American citizen. He named Jacob Riis as such a man, Not because Jacob Riis had any particular racial, religious or political connections, but because Jacob Riis was an unselfish man, and a man who was whole-heartedly devoted to humanitarian service for the uplift of humanity. Speaking of Jacob Riis, Mr. Roosevelt said, 'He and I looked at life and its problems from substantially the same standpoint. Our ideals, principles, purposes, and beliefs as to methods necessary to realize them were alike.' 

    "Mr. Roosevelt's creed, said Jacob Riis, his close friend, is found in a speech he made to the Bible society. 'If we read the book right,' he said, 'we read a book that teaches us to go forth and do the work of the Lord in the world as we find it; to try to make things better in the world as we find it; even if only a little better, because we have lived in it.'
                    "Respectfully submitted
                             "Samuel A. Carlson, Mayor 
"Jamestown, N.Y..

'October 27, 1919."

    The clerk read a communication signed by the commander of the Ira Lou Spring post requesting that the name of Brooklyn square be changed to Roosevelt square. Camp Samuel M. Porter also presented a request to go on record as favoring the change in name of Brooklyn square to Roosevelt square. 

    By Alderman Goranson:

    Whereas, this is the anniversary of the birth of Theodore Roosevelt and the opening of a campaign throughout the United States upon the part of the Roosevelt Memorial association to perpetuate the deeds and civic principles of the late president of the United States; and 

    Whereas, many citizens and patriotic organizations have suggested in connection with the location of the Memorial park on Fenton place that some steps should be taken to honor the memory of the late president;

    Therefore, be it resolved, that the name of Brooklyn square, be and the same hereby is changed to Roosevelt square and that the city engineer be authorized to make a map thereof and the city clerk to certify and counter-sign the same for filing in the office of the clerk of Chautauqua county in the manner provided by law. 
    Adopted-
    Aye: Appleby, Loun, Watson, Duell, Goranson, Gust C. Peterson, Charles A. Anderson, Fred V. Anderson, Carlson, Gustafson, Oscar L. Peterson, Porter. -12
    Nay: None.
    Oct. 27, 1919. 
   

JAMESTOWN CITY COUNCIL
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MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 23, 1925
Published in  Evening Journal, November 26, 1925
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City Council      
PROCEEDINGS BY AUTHORITY

State of New York,
City of Jamestown,
Council Chamber

    Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Jamestown, N.Y., November 23, 1925, at 7:30 o'clock P.M.

    Present: President Porter and the following Councilmen:   Appleby, Loun, Hultquist, Carlstrom, Peterson, C.C. Anderson, Gust A. Anderson, Curtis, Gustafson, Jenkins. - 11

    Absent:    W.J. Anderson. - 1

    There being no objections, the reading of minutes of previous meetings was dispensed with. President Porter stated that the first matter claiming the attention of the Council was the hearing on the proposal to change the established grade of Crane Street, and that opportunity was given for any interested person to be heard. Chauncey Moon appeared for his wife, Bessie Herrick Moon, to enter protest against the change of grade. Mrs. D. F. Barrett appeared to enter protest in the names of Viola Merz, Martin Merz, and Dennis and May Barrett. 
    By Councilman C.A. Anderson:

    Resolved, that the grade of Crane Street from the center of Foote Avenue east 121.24 feet be established in accordance with the following description. As sown on the Erie Railroad Co's profile, sheet number 64-A dated April 7, 1925, also filed in the office of the Director of Public Works as map number 2974.

    Adopted - Aye:  Appleby, Loun, Hultquist, Carlstrom, Peterson, C. A. Anderson, Gust A Anderson, Curtis, Gustafson, Jenkins, Porter. - 11
    Nay:  None
    November 23, 1925.
    
Grade of Crane Street form the center of Foote Avenue to East 121.24 feet. 
    The Grade of the Center line shall be as follows:

    Beginning at Station 00 with an elevation of 1329.39 feet above city datum;

    Thence on a level for a distance of 15 feet to an elevation 1329.39.

   Thence ascending, on a vertical curve for a distance of 20 feet to an elevation of 1330.39.

   Thence ascending, on a vertical curve for a distance of 20 feet to and elevation of 1337.81 at station 1 plus 21.24

Nov. 23, 1925.
        Leonard A. Bergman,
                    City Engineer.

   The next order of business was the hearing of the proposed change of names of Roosevelt Square to Brooklyn Square; and the name of California Avenue to Front Street. Attorney Clive Wright appeared in behalf of clients who are now building a motion picture theatre in the vicinity of the square and has adopted the name Roosevelt for their theatre. Mr. Wright maintained that it would be a detriment to the theatre owners to change the mane to Brooklyn Square, Attorney Wilson C. Price stated that the name Brooklyn Square had been in use for upwards of half a century, and while the name had been changed by resolution of the Council five or six years ago, that the old name was commonly used today.

By Councilman Carlstrom:
    Whereas, this City Council received a petition from the owners of property abutting upon Roosevelt Square, the name by which it has been known for generations; and,
    Whereas, notice of a hearing on such proposed change was duly given, in the manner provided by the City Carter;
  
     Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the portion of Main Street below the Erie Railroad tracks, and which is intersected by Market Street, Forest Avenue, Taylor Street and South Main Street, be know as Brooklyn square and not as Roosevelt Square.

    Adopted - Aye:  Appleby, Loun, Hultquist, Carlstrom, Peterson, C.A. Anderson, Gust A. Anderson, Curtis, Gustafson, Jenkins, Porter. - 11
    Nay:   None.
    November 23, 1925.

    No person appeared to protest the change of name of California Avenue to Front Street.
[Reference Notebook]

04/27/2004