Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1917-03-17

the city. Ii was on March II.
1892, that the charter was signed
by the late Roswell p. Flower,
then Governor of New York State.
Each party to the contract could
boast of about 5000 souls apiece
1t was q happy dover, for today the
actual census of the city is around
$4,000 people. And the end ds not
yet, for much of the population Is
made up of cosmopolitans, sturdy
representatives OF races that be-
lieve in the dogma of a former
President of the United States in
the matter of raising large families
The story of the Inauguration of
the city Is given a touch of
romance. 1t Is another instance of
the course of true love meeting
impediments from the guardians of
the lovelofn. IT was many years
before the actual union was con-
summated, because the Trustees of
the village of Suspension Bridge,
who had but little scenery TO show
beyond the noted Whirlpool and the
lower rapids, hesitated to help
shoulder a burden OF more ex-
pensive neighbor. Suspension Bridge
is at the north end of the city
and Is the center of the railroad
business. II was a transfer point
for International freight and the
villagers were thrifty. It was
otherwise at the south end, where
the glamor of holidays was con-
tinuous the year around. But the
inevitable happened. the wedding
was set for date In the early
part of the month of March, lust
five and twenty years ago. The
prelimdnaries arranged as to who
would be the first Mayor. who hap
pened to be- an Englishman, the
charter was drawn up and pre-
pared for the signature of the Gov
ernor. A committee OF distin-
guished citizens went to Albany,
the State capital. to become
sponsors for the new city. 1t WINS
March 16. in the afternoon, before
the Governor could give the COM
mittee an audience. Among the
Falls party was a distinguished
Irish-Ameriean, Thomas Vincent
WEIGH. II was when the Guber-
material hand was poised over the
charter to which was to be affixed
the official signature that Mr..
WEIGH interposed. walt, Gov
ernor," he said. win you kindly
wait until tomorrow to Sign the
charter The better the day the
better the deed" The Governor
looked up quizzically. His atteu-
ton was called to the date He had
an appointment in New York the
next day. He understood. and with
a smile he announced his intention
of waiting until the wee Sma' hours
before taking the all important
step at the very altar of the hopes
of the Niagarans.
Soon after midnight the commit
tee again waited on the Governor.
Scarcely had the clock tolled off
the hour of IL when the pen was
lifted in the Gubernatorial digits
and in an instant the bold sigma
ture was affixed. Niagara Falls
first saw the light on St. Patrick's
day in the morning
The charter and. pen, We're brought
back to Niagara. The pen remains
intact, treasured relic among the
archives of the municipality. The
charter was riddled with amend
merits as the years went by until
last year il was thrown in the dis
card when new one was framed
and passed to meet the require
ments of commission form OF gov
eminent with City Manager IN |
control of the executive end of the
administration.
The top o. the morn1n' to you.
Niagara, and many happy returns
of the day.