The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-05
HEATING TELLS OF MIR, BARNUM'S
 CUTTING WIT
Always Left Meetings of the Council at 9 O'Clock to go
 to Bed
SOMETIMES ALDERMAN BOILED
Only Republican Who Could Have Been Chosen Mayor in
 1875

City Auditor Bernard Heating was member of the Board of Aldermen in 1875 when P. T. Barnum was the May or of Bridgeport. Barnum who had been a Democrat prior to the war and who had represented the town of Fair field in the Legislature, became a Re- publican as many War Democrats did after the war. He was elected on the Republican ticket and made a good Mayor for the city, although he never ran but once
 MT. Heating remembers that Bar mum was a keen debater and that his sarcasm was cutting. But at no time would Mayor Barnum remain at the council chember in Wheeler's building later than o'clock. AS g o'clock would approach Mayor Barnum reach ed for his hat and cane and would say, ''it is near my retiring time. MT. Marsh will now preside"
 The MT. Marsh referred to was Pres ident Edward w. Marsh of the Peo- ple's Savings Bank who was then what was known as first Alderman, being elected at large.
 MT. Heating says that there used to be some keen debating in the council in those days and that the sessions would last long after midnight. But long before the city fathers of 1875 honorable Mayor would be in the land of dreams enjoying that ozone at Sea- side Park he delighted to talk about. The council sessions were largely at tended in those days and there was never meeting that the chamber was not filled with interested citizens who came to hear the debates
 As a presiding officer Barnum never hesitated to interject some piece of wit or sarcasm into the speech of an Alderman. The interjections were either boosts to help the argument of fbo oIror Sbo fn lri1 a sentiments expressed.
 MT. Heating remembers at one ses- sion the questions of raising the sal aries of the street employees was being discussed. One young Alderman who championed the raise of the employees political aspirations was addressing the council. He made 1t a point to raise his voice and it was evident that he wanted the spectators to hear him. Barnum leaned forward and calling the speaker by name he said in an un- dertone, Don't talk so loud. They'll hear you, they'll hear you.'
 Barnum's Interruptions caused the Alderman to boil over with wrath and he spent many minutes telling Bar the Mayor smiled indifferently.
 Bridgeport was a Democratic city, and MT. Heating is of the opinion that no other Republican could have been elected the year Barnum was made Mayor. The people thought Barnum because of what he had done for Bridgeport. He wanted the honor be- cause he was going to Europe and many believed that it was going to put Bridgeport on the map to have MT. Barnum heralded in Europe as the Mayor of Bridgeport.
 The late Frederick Hurd, one of the most progressive citizens, ran against Barnum on the Democratic ticket, and he felt his defeat so keenly that he would never again be a candidate for office. He did, however, accept the first presidency of the Board of Ap- portionment.
 MT. Heating became city clerk in 1877, and he came in touch with the records of the city and is thoroughly conversant with its history. A Far mer reporter asked the city auditor how much land Mr. Barnum actually gave for Seaside Park. MT. Heating looked up the records and found that MT. Barnum and others had given the first 31 acres for the park, that the park scheme was originally Barnum's and that eventually he gave all of the park lands west of Iranistan avenue. With the late General W. H. Noble he presented Washington Park to the city. The records show that even in those days there were people who op r. Heating also looked up the speech de- livered by Barnum at Seaside Park at the centennial celebration held July 4, 1876.
 The Common Council records follow:
 Who Gave Seaside Park?
 At city meeting held Aug. IA, 1865, it was resolved that the com missioners of the Seaside Park be and hereby are authorized to pur- chase such lands in the vicinity of said park as may be deemed by them necessary for such park for any sum not exceeding $7,000 and draw an order on the treasurer of said city sum for the payment of the same.
 Resolved, That the purchase of land of George Bailey, made by said commissioners, for the sum of $500 for said park is hereby approved, and that said commissioners be authorized to draw on the treasury of the city for the payment of the same, the sum of $500.
 The people were not unanimous at this period in approving of the ex- for the improvement of Seaside park as will be seen by the following ex- tracts from the city record:
 Vol. 2, page 324. At a meeting held August IS, 1866, after the read ing of the warrant by the mayor, MT. sioners of Seaside park made a yer bal statement of the affairs of the park, which was received, as was also the report of the Washington park commissioners. The following reso- lution was then offered:
 Resolved, that the sum of S1O.OOO be and same is hereby appropriated for the improvement of the Seaside park and Washington park-the sum of ss.O00 to be appropriated to the ,1r f1o