100 years ago: Don't be 'buncoed' by a traveling agent

100 years ago Population 1,324 (U.S. Census 1900, 1910, and 1920) Pool: The municipal swimming pool closed last Monday for the season. The pool season, though a short one, has been self- sustaining. There has been much expense attached to it, but the revenue derived overbalanced the expense. Next year the pool will be a paying investment as all the new suits, apparatus and equipment is already installed, thus avoiding everything but the running expenses next season. Lincoln sure has a neat and well- equipped pool, and we ought to be proud of it for it is a great source of enjoyment during the hot weather. Traveling agents: In justice to our merchants, the Town of Lincoln and the general public, we protest against the method of some traveling agents coming into our town and vicinity taking orders for clothing, merchandise and a lot of goods our merchant's handle. The methods of the traveling agent are well known: he shows you samples and takes your order with a deposit; you pay the balance when the order comes. For instance, you order a suit of clothes ranging from $18.00 to $25.00; pay the agent $5.00, which represents about all the commission he gets; the balance is the alleged tailor's money. Now what kind of a suit can you get for $13 to $20? Nothing but a heap of inferior goods that will be rags in short order. Remember that no firm can give you a good first-class measure and superior goods for the amount above quoted. If you are in a habit of being buncoed and want to be buncoed, patronize the traveling agent. The traveling agent usually avoids paying a license; he comes into town and leaves before sundown carrying away not only your good hard-earned dollars, but a smile at a lot of darn fools who don't know the value of a real dollar. Your merchant can send for any kind of goods you want – and you'll get satisfaction. From an agent, you will most likely get buncoed. 75 years ago Population 2,410 (U.S. Census 1940 and 1950) Water: For several years the City Councilmen, past and present, have been discussing with engineers and planning a more adequate water supply for Lincoln. In the near future, the good citizens of Lincoln, at a special election, will go to the polls and vote on some very important issues. One of the most important questions to be answered by these voting citizens will be: Shall we have a more adequate water system or are we soon to be faced by a shortage of water due to an inadequate transmission and distribution system? The pipes are badly corroded by age and there are numerous leaks throughout the water system. If these pipes are not replaced very soon, we will be placed with an emergency such as our pioneer settlers faced many years ago – an insufficiency of water for household, commercial and fire-fighting purposes. We have, however, an ample supply of water. The problem facing us is to have transmission lines to bring the water from the reservoirs to us and distribution lines sufficient to carry the water where it is badly needed, especially to Hoitt's Addition and to West Side, which is building up so rapidly. A history of the struggle of our first City Councilmen (Town Trustees, they were called then) who had to provide water to a growing little city seems most apropos at this time. The earliest water system was operated by Galusha Gray. The water supply was from the miners' ditches and the South Yuba Water Company, predecessors to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. The settling reservoir was located a few hundred yards from what is now the northeast corner of the old Virginia Town-Gold Hill-Auburn-Fruitvale Road, west of the dredging operations of a few years ago. There was part of the old dam in fair repair but somewhat reduced by age and erosion. The water was conducted from it to a supply reservoir a few hundred yards nearer Lincoln. From there, it was conducted through cedar (wooden) pipes. Some of the pipes were ten feet long and butted together. The opening of the pipe was about two inches. The pressure was not very heavy and occasionally a small fish got in the line. Of course, the town boys took occasional swims in the reservoir and fishing was very common. After the pottery began operations in 1875, the supply of water proved most inadequate. The Central Pacific Railroad had four 250-gallon wooden tanks interlocked and this, too, pulled very heavy on the water supply when a locomotive took water. Lincoln water was always preferred by the train men, I am told, owing to the absence of lime in the water. The pottery pumped additional water from the abandoned coal mine, located near the southeast corner of 7th and G Streets. This hole was said to be 140 feet. After the town of Lincoln was incorporated, a movement was inaugurated to obtain a better water supply. Groups appeared before the Board of Trustees of the town and insisted that adequate water be provided to reduce the fire hazard which existed. Wells around town provided drinking water. I recall a few of these wells, one of which was on the sidewalk in front of the Hoppert property and another was in front of the present Veteran's Memorial Building on 5th Street. On January 28, 1891, at a meeting of the Board, steps were taken to furnish water to the town. A committee was appointed to call on Galusha Gray and ascertain what steps he would take in regard to furnishing water. Evidently, a favorable response was not received as the minutes of the meeting of Feb. 3, 1891, indicate that City Clerk Fred Wastier was instructed to notify Galusha Gray in writing that as the pipes on 5th Street are in a leaky condition, the Ditch Co. must repair them and place the pipes deeper and further in the streets. Same to be attended to immediately as it is "prejudicial to the health of the community and interferes with the making of gutters in the streets." These town trustees, all during this critical period, met often. A meeting was held every week and often twice a week. Mr. Gray evidently repaired the ditches in accordance to Ordinance 12, which specified the depth of all water pipes on the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Streets. The trustees voted $60 to pay the South Yuba Ditch and Water Company for digging a new ditch for a pipeline on 5th Street. Note: This article was written by Mrs. Mabel Ahart. 50 years ago Population 3,179 (U.S. Census 1960 and 1970) City Council: The second reading of an ordinance outlining the powers and duties of the city administrator will be among agenda items at next Tuesday's meeting of the Lincoln City Council. The new ordinance is basically the same as a previous ordinance governing the city administrator's duties, except that the new measure states the city administrator shall have the power and duty "with prior approval of the city council to appoint and dismiss all subordinate officers and employees of the city, except the city clerk, the city attorney, and the city treasurer, and with consent of the city council to transfer employees from one department to another and to consolidate or combine offices, positions, departments or units under jurisdiction." The previous ordinance gave the city administrator hiring and firing powers.