Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-01
4 In Retrospect

within the two-milc circle drawn around
the City Hall. Buffalo, Cleveland, Louis
vile, and New Orleans were then larger Cit
les than Detroit; Cincinnati and San Fran
cisco were twice as large, while Milwaukee
was practically the same size as Detroit.
Both the telephone and the electric light
were then in their infancy, and the flicker
ing gas jet was the latest word in artificial
illumination. There were neither electric
nor gas-propelled vehicles, and not until
1889 did Detroit gain its first steel-frame
building.
In 1881 Detroit had single high school,
with practically no provision for higher
education. The foresight of Judge Wood
ward had provided the City few small
parks and open spaces most of which had
been utilized as the sites for public build
ings. Belle Isle, still unimproved, was re-
gardcd by most citizens as white cle-
plant, too far out to be of any use.
There were several street car lines in 1881,
all of them short, and in winter the floors
of the unheated horse-drawn cars were
covered with deep layer Of hay to afford
some slight degree Of warmth to the feet
of the shivering passengers. Such things
as food inspection and the wide range Of
sanitary measures which today safeguard
the public health were undreamed of.
IN 1885 Thomas S. Sprague published
i TisitorS' Guide and Dictionary of
Detroit, in which he undertook to list and
describe everything worth noting about
the City. Today the little book is no less
useful than il was then, although for diff
ferent reason, for now it supplies us with
picture of the Detroit our grandfathcrs
knew.
Let us turn at random, in this book, to the .
subject of milk. The principal supply, we
learn, came from within a radius Of IS
miles, most Of it being brought in and de-
lvered by the producers Garbage colIeo-
ton, we read, was no concern of the city
authorities.
Alengthyreference to boarding houses tells
much OF prices and accommodations, and
pointedly warns the seeker who may be in
doubt concerning the character of the
place to seek the advice of the police.
ee1 C1v Tel
the ashes were saved in barrels for the soap
makers, thereby causing numerous fires.
The soapmakers paid from 5 to IS cents a
bushel for ashes, or they would give bar
of soap for bushet. Their bushel-measure
was made by saving the top off of -four
barrel Coal ashes were heaped in the back
yard or the alley, and "a good deal of other
refuse" found its way to the pile When :,
spring came every householder was "e1-I
pected' to clean up, at which time men
with horses and wagons would cart rubbish
away for Is cents to $50 load.
OK decades ago there were, in Detroit,
- II school buildings, having 240 rooms
and rs teachers. The Legislature had just
enacted law, requiring children between
s and IA years to attend school at least
fourmonths in the year.
But life in oIdcn Detroit had its compen-
sations as we'll as its difficulties. Bathing
in the river was permitted everywhere ex-
cept between Rivard and Twelfth Streets
From the tower Of the City Hall mag
nihcent" view of the City could be obtain
ed; Waterman was constantly on duty to
watch for fires, and whenever he saw one
an alarm was given by striking the bell in
the clock tower.
The Public Library had eight lady assist
ants" and residents who could give a
bond signed by two owners of real estate
might draw out one book at time Al
though Elmwood Cemetery was closed to