Here, Mayor Carlson discusses the first time he was elected mayor of the city and his unwillingness to toe the party line. He also talks about the city's purchase of the local Niagara Power System, under his administration, which led to an enormous savings to the city while also providing affordable electricity to every resident in Jamestown.
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| Samuel A. Carlson, Circa 1900 |
Autobiography by Samuel A. Carlson - Mayor Emeritus
and Comments on His Fifty Years of Public Service
[Page 5 - 9]
In recognition of his attainments in the field of municipal government, he was several years ago elected a life honorary member of the New York State Conference of Mayors, in which he was a leading figure.
Refering [sic] to some of the public Improvements championed by Carlson in the pioneer days, here is what The Jamestown Journal said editorially Feb. 21, 1894.
The man who worked in an out of season, to whom a large share of the credit is due, is Samuel A. Carlson. His sledgehammer arguments fell in all places at the right time and no one seemed to be able to stand against them. He was armed with an array of facts and figures, and so well grounded in his position that it was impossible to shake him.
In reference to Mayor Carlson's connection with the early development of the electric plant, the following editorial appeared in the Morning News of April 16, 1895,: "The people remember that it was through the efforts of Mr. Carlson, as Chairman of the Lighting Committee, that the work of extending the municipal lighting plant, which had already been ordered by an emphatic vote of the people, was brought about, after a delay of nearly two years, caused by the obstructions which were placed in the way by the representatives of private corporations."
On May 1, 1943 The Post-Journal said: editorially
OUR MAYOR EMERITUS
The whole town might well pause for a while today and give thought to the community service performed by Former Mayor Samuel A. Carlson who made his entry into public life just a half century ago and is still active in it. A studious youth deeply concerned in the problems of municipal government, he was, back in 1893, at the age of 23, elected a member of the old Common Council from the Fourth Ward, in which he was born and has always lived, and then in turn he became a member of the Board of Public Works, mayor for 26 years and, since his retirement from that office, has served on the Board of Public Utilities.
Down through this long span of years, he has made a contribution to the life of Jamestown which entitles him to the deep respect of all of our people, regardless of differences in community politics and policies. No one can question that the fact that at all times he has sought with intense sincerity and downright honesty of purpose to serve his native town to the utmost of his ability, and that he has succeeded in accomplishing a great deal of lasting value is true beyond the shadow of a doubt. In certain phases of city government he has pioneered movements which have eventually become generally recognized a a vital significance in local history. Especially is everlasting credit due him for his part in the establishment and the development of the city electric light an water systems, which will always remain a monument to his civic leadership.
Mayoralty Election of 1908
It was early spring of 1908 that the writer was first elected mayor. My opponents were the late ex-Mayor O. F. Price, H. E. V. Porter, then President of the City Council and president of the Jamestown Business College, and the late ex-Alderman John C. Swanson.
In the mayoralty campaign I advocated municipal ownership of all public utilities and stressed especially the necessity of enlarging the city-owned electric plant so that the current from the plant could be made available to all households at low rates. I favored also strict non-partisanship in the administration of public affairs and proportional representation not only in election choices but in the matter of appointments to the various boards and departments of the city government.
After my election to the mayoralty, I was approached by the political leaders of the community, who presented a slate containing the names of persons whom the dominant political faction desired to have appointed to various important positions in the "mayor's cabinet." But when the writer politely informed them that he had been elected upon a platform pledged to nonpartisanship [sic] in city affairs, they replied that "that was a good thing to talk about while out of office but a poor thing to practice while in office." One of the delegation, a man of wealth and influence, then arose and assuming an attitude of intimate friendliness said, "Sam, you can't afford to play a lone hand if you are thinking of future political success." "Well, gentleman," I replied, " I am sorry I cannot entirely endorse the slate you have submitted. There are, however, some who I shall appoint but most of the names I regard as disqualified for the positions to which you have recommended them."
"But they are good workers for the party of which you were the nominee," said one of the politicians in the delegation, "and we cannot keep up the party organization unless we reward the active workers."
"Yes," responded the writer. "I know that is the old-fashioned political doctrine that has always been preached by those who believe that 'to the victor belong the spoils,' but I have been elected fora two-year term and during those two years I am going to put into practice an entirely differently doctrine. May aim will be to carry out a spirit of tolerance in harmony with the precepts of true democracy and to extend to both radical and conservative a fair hearing in conformity with the biblical injunction, 'Prove all things and hold fast that which is good'.
"I regard the running of a city as a matter of business, not politics, and I intend to begin my administration by appointing to office men who possess the highest qualifications regardless of political, religious or other connections."
This declaration of policy was not very pleasing to the old-time politicians and for a quarter of a century I have had arrayed against me the so-called 'political machine'. Notwithstanding this opposition, I have been elected twelve out of fourteen mayoralty election contests, (serving one four-year and eleven two-year terms), and have continued to play the 'lone hand' with absolute independence of thought and official action. Having declared in my pre-election campaign that my appointments would be made on the basis of fitness and that the proportional representation would be given to minority groups of citizens, I accordingly appointed my opponent, ex-Mayor Price, the city's first mayor, to the office of city treasurer so that he could act as a "watch dog" in behalf of those citizens whom he represented in the election. I appointed Professor Porter as chairman of the Civil Service Commission and I secured the appointment of Mr. Swanson as superintendent of paving and sewer construction, since that was in line with his experience. And on all the various boards and commissions the writer selected men having professional or technical qualifications and leaders in industrial and civic bodies.
During the twenty-six years of my incumbency as chief executive I sought to carry out the non-partisan policy which I adopted when first elected.
Niagara Competing System Acquired
For a period of some twenty years of Mayor Carlson's administration the city plant was up against the keen competitive opposition of a powerful Niagara Syndicate. This corporation resorted to litigation and various other tactics, characteristic of private utility corporations in an effort to obstruct the expansion of the municipal plant. Mr. Corey, its President, offered in 1926 to sell additional current to the city at a price equal to the cost of production by our own plant equipment, providing the city would enter into a ten year contract substantially agreeing to take the same amount of current from the Niagara Falls plant that would otherwise be produced by increased machinery at the municipal plant.But this proposal was rejected by Mayor Carlson and the Board because such a contract would have resulted in eventually crippling the municipal plant. In the next election Mayor Carlson was defeated for re-election. The succeeding political powers sought to replace a majority of the Board with new members but their plan failed.
At the next election in 1929 the writer was again elected on a platform to proceed with expansion of the plant. Shortly thereafter the Niagara Company concluded to sell its Jamestown distribution system to the City at a price of $750,000 which was negotiated by the then Chairman of the Board, Karl Peterson. The City secured by this transaction the annual revenue of the private company which was about $400,000, and also its franchise.
$20,000,000 Saving to the City
Today [1943] the Jamestown Municipal Plant is worth $7,000,000, all paid without any tax levies. It has an annual revenue of more than $1,000,000. It returns to the city about 15% of its revenue as a voluntary tax contribution.
It also returns to the consumers from 10 to 20% in dividends based on amount consumed.
It has a surplus of $2,000,000 which is invested in U. S. Bonds. These achievements have been attained notwithstanding a low rate for service ranging from 3 1-4 cts. per K.W.H. down to 9 mills. per K.W.H.
Compared with rates in most cities this city has saved about $10,000,000 during the last twenty-five years and adding the value of the water and electric plants, there has been a gain to the community of more than $20,000,000. And I predict that in the not distant future the plant will supply heat to all homes.
The present [1943] members of the Board of Public Utilities are Alfred C. Davis, Samuel A. Stroth, Samuel A. Carlson, J. Algot Larson, Paul Anderson, M. R. Nelson, Clifford Holt, Charles Strandberg, Clayton Johnson, Superintendent and Thomas McKee, Secretary.
New York Times Comments
Referring to the purchase of the local Niagara Power System by the City, The New York Times in commenting August 16, 1931, said, "The name of Samuel A. Carlson becomes closely identified from the beginning with the development of municipal electricity in Jamestown, and he is the man who gives the personal human interest to most of the governmental history of that city for a longer period than is covered by the average memory of the present generation."
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Thanks for posting these excerpts of my great uncle's autobiography!
ReplyDeleteDave Carlson