Council of 1850
On January 21st, 1850, therefore, in Mr. Andrew Monteith's house was held the first council meeting in Downie under the new Act. On that august occasion, Andrew Monteith, William Smith, William Byers, William Hyslop and William Clyne signed their oaths of office. Mr. William Smith, on motion of Messrs. Byers and Monteith, was chosen reeve, and Mr. J. J. E. Linton, township clerk. Having discharged these important functions, they adjourned for an hour. During recess they were not idle. On resuming, a by-law was introduced and passed, fixing officers' salaries for 1850. The township clerk was to receive £4, 10s.; assessors, 2 1/2 per cent; collector, 3 1/2 per cent; superintendent of schools, £2; treasurer, £2, 10s.; auditors, each, 10s. No mention is made of remuneration for themselves. Very likely such distinguished honours as had been conferred on them by their elevated position, they would consider as ample recompense for any sacrifice made in discharging their gubernatorial duties. In February an important meeting was held, extending over two days, beginning at 8 a. m. each day. At this meeting, "the clerk was instructed to procure a seal of the following form, 'M. C., Downie,' and about the size of a Sterling shilling." Other business being disposed of, "an adjournment was made for half an hour, Eo die; 3 o'clock, business again resumed, disposing of the balance of their funds, amounting to 6/9; council adjourned for half an hour, Eo die; seven o'clock p. m., council again resumed, passing several by-laws, adjourning till 8 o'clock to-morrow morning." In March, another meeting was held, lasting two days, when a by-law was passed, imposing a penalty of not less than ten shillings nor more than two pounds for refusal to accept office, by any ratepayer, to which he had been appointed. They also fixed their own remuneration at 5/3 per day. An excellent motion was introduced by Mr. Hyslop, seconded by Mr. Byers: "The owner or harbourer of any dog, or dogs, within the township shall pay a tax of one shilling and three pence currency for the first dog he may keep, and for every additional dog a tax of five shillings." A rate was also levied for schools and local improvements of £120. A counter motion by Messrs. Hyslop and Byers was carried, of £100, of which 60 per cent. was for education, and 40 per cent. for ordinary expenditure.
At this meeting was also passed a dangerous measure, constituting a concentration of power, antagonistic to the spirit of municipal law. Mr. William Davidson, a resident of Downie, was appointed inspector of licenses, and empowered to make "diligent search and enquiry in any house he suspected of keeping liquors in contravention of the License Act."
Mr. Davidson was allowed "a salary of £1 per annum in addition to any fines which may belong to him as complainant." To complete this autocratic measure, the reeve was empowered "to grant licenses to any person applying to him as he may see fit." At this present day such legislation would very likely be transformed into a scheme to compel an important influence in support of those political powers that be. In the early days, however, it does not appear to have been followed by any disastrous consequences, either to any political party, or to those who conducted their business under its provisions. In 1852, was made the first grant for gravelling, when it was moved by Mr. Martin, seconded by Mr. Brown, "that William Cashen expend all his labour on the main road, from the village boundary westward, taking out the old logs and laying in gravel, nine feet wide and twelve inches deep, the side of the gravelling to be well made up with earth." At a meeting in August two important motions were passed. By that of Mr. Monteith and Mr. Clyne, "Stratford school trustees were empowered to borrow £300 to erect a new school house." A letter was read from J. C. W. Daly respecting the Toronto & Guelph Railway, when it was proposed by Mr. Monteith, seconded by Mr. Clyne, "that the reeve put himself in communication with the commissioners of the Canada Company, and, if possible, ascertain what prospect there is of the Toronto, Guelph, Stratford & Goderich Railway going on the ensuing season, and if he is satisfied it will go on, to subscribe ten pounds from the township funds." In January 1855 was established a public library, at a cost to the municipality of £30. It does not appear that those efforts of our first councils, in providing reading matter, had been appreciated, its management very soon forming no part of their work. As in Blanshard, the books were distributed amongst the several wards, where librarians were appointed, receiving as remuneration for their services £1 per annum. Another grant was a distinguishing mark of progress by the people of Downie, amounting to fifteen dollars, made in 1863, to the County of Perth Agricultural Society, and in the following year a further grant in support was made to Blanshard Agricultural Society, of ten dollars. These two grants are important as pointing out this fact, that a section of our people, at least, had passed over the early stages of pioneer life, and the greatest interest in this county was now stretching out its hands for aid from public funds. A motion was also passed at this meeting, instructing the reeve to petition His Excellency-in-council, to have the governing lines of the township re-surveyed, and stone monuments planted thereat, and that Joseph G. Kirk, P. L. S., be named to make the survey. In the following year Mr. Kirk was ordered to complete the work applied for in the petition. During the Fenian raid, in 1866, Downie council gave ample testimony of that patriotic feeling which animated all classes at that period, by instructing the reeve and deputy reeve, to "support any measure that may be brought up at the county council, for making an additional allowance towards the support of the volunteers from the county, now serving on the frontier, as, in their opinion, the amount granted by the Government is quite inadequate to the support of these persons, so serving, who have families." When the council met on June 6th, 1870, it is recorded that they entered into a discussion with James Sutherland, and other intelligent farmers, regarding the state of the crops. It was resolved that the clerk "should publish what they unanimously considered the crops in the township would average. Fall wheat, 8 bush. per acre; spring, 6 bush. per acre, and in the west and south not more than 4; oats, 25; peas, 10; barley, 15; hay, I 1/2 tons per acre; potatoes, large crop, but much diseased." This is a most doleful aspect, and the council, with those intelligent farmers, must have been in a pessimistic mood, to indulge in such dismal forebodings. We suspect that few farmers would be able to say, at so early a period as the 6th of June, what crops were likely to be. During that period from 1850, when the Municipal Act was introduced, up to 1870, the position of a township councillor was a laborious one. The whole machinery of government had to be set in motion. At a number of meetings no business appears to have been transacted, beyond that of defining the limits of road divisions. Other meetings would be occupied discussing the boundaries of school sections. The conditions of settlement changed so rapidly, that every year alterations had to be made. The war of the school sections appears to have been as prolonged, as intricate, and surrounded with difficulties in Downie of equal magnitude to those in other municipalities.
At this period a large section of our people in this county were in a transitional condition. Old pioneer systems were fast giving way, and being supplanted by methods more suitable to our advanced agricultural ideas. This led to constant change in those plans adopted to meet our improved environment, compelling certain modifications to be made from time to time. To meet these requirements $3,000 was borrowed in 1871 from Logan, at a rate of 6 per cent per annum. This sum was intended to improve roads and bridges. Prior to this a great number of road divisions had been, or were quickly being, gravelled by statute labour, supplemented with municipal grants. A better class of bridges was now necessary to ensure public safety. At present many of these structures erected by this loan have again been replaced by costly erections of steel, and in a more advanced style of bridge architecture. Since steam threshers have been introduced, and traction engines are now moved from place to place, bridges have to be built of the best material, and made capable of supporting heavy traffic.
On January 21st, 1850, therefore, in Mr. Andrew Monteith's house was held the first council meeting in Downie under the new Act. On that august occasion, Andrew Monteith, William Smith, William Byers, William Hyslop and William Clyne signed their oaths of office. Mr. William Smith, on motion of Messrs. Byers and Monteith, was chosen reeve, and Mr. J. J. E. Linton, township clerk. Having discharged these important functions, they adjourned for an hour. During recess they were not idle. On resuming, a by-law was introduced and passed, fixing officers' salaries for 1850. The township clerk was to receive £4, 10s.; assessors, 2 1/2 per cent; collector, 3 1/2 per cent; superintendent of schools, £2; treasurer, £2, 10s.; auditors, each, 10s. No mention is made of remuneration for themselves. Very likely such distinguished honours as had been conferred on them by their elevated position, they would consider as ample recompense for any sacrifice made in discharging their gubernatorial duties. In February an important meeting was held, extending over two days, beginning at 8 a. m. each day. At this meeting, "the clerk was instructed to procure a seal of the following form, 'M. C., Downie,' and about the size of a Sterling shilling." Other business being disposed of, "an adjournment was made for half an hour, Eo die; 3 o'clock, business again resumed, disposing of the balance of their funds, amounting to 6/9; council adjourned for half an hour, Eo die; seven o'clock p. m., council again resumed, passing several by-laws, adjourning till 8 o'clock to-morrow morning." In March, another meeting was held, lasting two days, when a by-law was passed, imposing a penalty of not less than ten shillings nor more than two pounds for refusal to accept office, by any ratepayer, to which he had been appointed. They also fixed their own remuneration at 5/3 per day. An excellent motion was introduced by Mr. Hyslop, seconded by Mr. Byers: "The owner or harbourer of any dog, or dogs, within the township shall pay a tax of one shilling and three pence currency for the first dog he may keep, and for every additional dog a tax of five shillings." A rate was also levied for schools and local improvements of £120. A counter motion by Messrs. Hyslop and Byers was carried, of £100, of which 60 per cent. was for education, and 40 per cent. for ordinary expenditure.
At this meeting was also passed a dangerous measure, constituting a concentration of power, antagonistic to the spirit of municipal law. Mr. William Davidson, a resident of Downie, was appointed inspector of licenses, and empowered to make "diligent search and enquiry in any house he suspected of keeping liquors in contravention of the License Act."
Mr. Davidson was allowed "a salary of £1 per annum in addition to any fines which may belong to him as complainant." To complete this autocratic measure, the reeve was empowered "to grant licenses to any person applying to him as he may see fit." At this present day such legislation would very likely be transformed into a scheme to compel an important influence in support of those political powers that be. In the early days, however, it does not appear to have been followed by any disastrous consequences, either to any political party, or to those who conducted their business under its provisions. In 1852, was made the first grant for gravelling, when it was moved by Mr. Martin, seconded by Mr. Brown, "that William Cashen expend all his labour on the main road, from the village boundary westward, taking out the old logs and laying in gravel, nine feet wide and twelve inches deep, the side of the gravelling to be well made up with earth." At a meeting in August two important motions were passed. By that of Mr. Monteith and Mr. Clyne, "Stratford school trustees were empowered to borrow £300 to erect a new school house." A letter was read from J. C. W. Daly respecting the Toronto & Guelph Railway, when it was proposed by Mr. Monteith, seconded by Mr. Clyne, "that the reeve put himself in communication with the commissioners of the Canada Company, and, if possible, ascertain what prospect there is of the Toronto, Guelph, Stratford & Goderich Railway going on the ensuing season, and if he is satisfied it will go on, to subscribe ten pounds from the township funds." In January 1855 was established a public library, at a cost to the municipality of £30. It does not appear that those efforts of our first councils, in providing reading matter, had been appreciated, its management very soon forming no part of their work. As in Blanshard, the books were distributed amongst the several wards, where librarians were appointed, receiving as remuneration for their services £1 per annum. Another grant was a distinguishing mark of progress by the people of Downie, amounting to fifteen dollars, made in 1863, to the County of Perth Agricultural Society, and in the following year a further grant in support was made to Blanshard Agricultural Society, of ten dollars. These two grants are important as pointing out this fact, that a section of our people, at least, had passed over the early stages of pioneer life, and the greatest interest in this county was now stretching out its hands for aid from public funds. A motion was also passed at this meeting, instructing the reeve to petition His Excellency-in-council, to have the governing lines of the township re-surveyed, and stone monuments planted thereat, and that Joseph G. Kirk, P. L. S., be named to make the survey. In the following year Mr. Kirk was ordered to complete the work applied for in the petition. During the Fenian raid, in 1866, Downie council gave ample testimony of that patriotic feeling which animated all classes at that period, by instructing the reeve and deputy reeve, to "support any measure that may be brought up at the county council, for making an additional allowance towards the support of the volunteers from the county, now serving on the frontier, as, in their opinion, the amount granted by the Government is quite inadequate to the support of these persons, so serving, who have families." When the council met on June 6th, 1870, it is recorded that they entered into a discussion with James Sutherland, and other intelligent farmers, regarding the state of the crops. It was resolved that the clerk "should publish what they unanimously considered the crops in the township would average. Fall wheat, 8 bush. per acre; spring, 6 bush. per acre, and in the west and south not more than 4; oats, 25; peas, 10; barley, 15; hay, I 1/2 tons per acre; potatoes, large crop, but much diseased." This is a most doleful aspect, and the council, with those intelligent farmers, must have been in a pessimistic mood, to indulge in such dismal forebodings. We suspect that few farmers would be able to say, at so early a period as the 6th of June, what crops were likely to be. During that period from 1850, when the Municipal Act was introduced, up to 1870, the position of a township councillor was a laborious one. The whole machinery of government had to be set in motion. At a number of meetings no business appears to have been transacted, beyond that of defining the limits of road divisions. Other meetings would be occupied discussing the boundaries of school sections. The conditions of settlement changed so rapidly, that every year alterations had to be made. The war of the school sections appears to have been as prolonged, as intricate, and surrounded with difficulties in Downie of equal magnitude to those in other municipalities.
At this period a large section of our people in this county were in a transitional condition. Old pioneer systems were fast giving way, and being supplanted by methods more suitable to our advanced agricultural ideas. This led to constant change in those plans adopted to meet our improved environment, compelling certain modifications to be made from time to time. To meet these requirements $3,000 was borrowed in 1871 from Logan, at a rate of 6 per cent per annum. This sum was intended to improve roads and bridges. Prior to this a great number of road divisions had been, or were quickly being, gravelled by statute labour, supplemented with municipal grants. A better class of bridges was now necessary to ensure public safety. At present many of these structures erected by this loan have again been replaced by costly erections of steel, and in a more advanced style of bridge architecture. Since steam threshers have been introduced, and traction engines are now moved from place to place, bridges have to be built of the best material, and made capable of supporting heavy traffic.
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