is of the same size as that occupied by the Collector. A small room, 11 feet square, suitable for wardrobe or stationery supply room, in the northeast corner of the building, opens into this apartment. A door opens from the Special Deputy's room into the general business office, to be occupied by the entry clerk, bonded clerk, vessel clerk, and the clerical attaches of the office. A handsome black walnut counter extends the whole length of the room and behind it are the desks of the different clerks, cashier's desk, safe, etc. As in the lower story, there are no vaults, the building being essentially fire proof. The safes will be burglar pronf, the only sort of protection needed. The court room to which entrance is made through the wide doors at the end of the hall, runs clear across the building, 56 feet, and is 35 feet wide. It occupies the second and third stories, thus having two rows of windows, and is 32 feet high from floor to ceiling. It is wainscoted with black walnut and butternut, and the walls are relieved with plaster ornamentations. The plastering in this room and throughout the whole building id aqual in finish to anything in the West. In the ceiling are two large iron ventilators, from which ventilating pipes extend through the attic into ventalators through the roof. This room is expected to be occupied for one term at least of the United States District Court each year, since a very large share of the admiralty business in the United States Court of the Eastern District comes from this Customs District. The third story, also gained by the iron staircase in the east end of the building, is similar in arrangement to the second. It will be occupied by the Inspectors of Hulls and Boilers, Collector of Internal Ko"onue. United States Commissioners, Deputy United States Marshal, etc. There will also be a small room for the use of the janitor. The ceilings of this story are 13 feet 4 inches high. The hall, which is of the same width as below, 12 feet, is not tiled, but floored with ash and walnut From the west end of the hall a staircase leads into the attic. This is lighted by a large glass-covered ventilator in the roof. Though quite spacious and floored, the attic will not be devoted to any particular use. Through it winding stairs. lead into the dome, from which a magnificent view of the city, and the surrounding country, many miles in extent, down the river and up Lake Huron, is obtained. The wood work of the building is butternut and black walnut, the former predominating, all finished in oil and natural color. The marble mantels, 17 in number, are of Vermont red marble, and the grates are provided with summer fronts, affording ventilation. The outside doors are of massive black walnut, and the door trimmings throughout the entire building are of bronze, heavy and of elegant patterns. There is in and underneath the building over a quarter of a mile of drain pipe, or 1,520 feet in all. There has been expended up to February 1, for labor, ?125,000. This has given employment to a large number of men, most all of whom have been residents of Port Huron, the policy of the Superintendent having been to always give work to our own people when it was of that character that persons here were able to do it, which was not the case with stone carving and some other kinds of skilled labor required. It has been a great benefit to the city in these hard times. The roof, undoubtedly the best in this State, is of heavy sheet copper, which was purchased in New York and cost 30 cents per pound, or with the labor of placing it in position, $6,300. The windows of the first story are 9 feet 11 inches by 4 feet 3 inches in size; in the second story, 9 feet 1 inch by 4 feet 3 inches; third. 6 feet If inches by 4 feet 3 inches. The glass in the first and second stories on the north front and each end are of plate glass, four panes to a window, and the glass in the second story rear and third story of double strength sheet. It was all furnished by the Star Glass Company, of New Albany, Ind., and with the other glass in the building, cost $1,550. The gas fixtures are not extravagant, but are very handsome. The two chandeliers in the court room are each eighteen light. The follov ing will show the amount of materials of various kinds used in the construction of the building: Limestone, cubic feet... Sandsloue, cubic feet............. 46,359 31,760 Brick... .668,000 Wrought and cast iron (exclusive of iron stairs, iron lathing, pipes of the heating apparatus, gas and water pipes, ..215,000 Nails, Ibs... 8,500 Lead, Ibs 3,500 Copper in roof, Ibs. 14,300 Cement, bbls..... 1,550 750 1,038 .250,000 Butternut lumber, feet... 25,000 Lime, bbls.. Sand, cubic yards. Pine lumber, feet... Walnut lumber, feet.... CITY WATER-WORKS. 25,000 The bid of the Holly Company, of $25,000, was accepted May 8, 1872, on condition that the machinery would be completed before September 15, that year. The contract for piping was let to Walker & Rich, at $68.85 per ton, and $500 additional for each crossing of Black In August, 1872, the mandamus was replied to by Mayor Miller, declaring the contracts which he signed illegal. This resulted in postponing the completion of the work. All the petty disputes in this matter were subsequently settled, and, on September 6, 1873, the works were formally opened. The water-works machinery cost the city $25,000, and is a very fine piece of machanism and workmanship. The most important parts are the cylinders and pumps, there being four of each. The engines are rated 100 horse power each, or 400 horse power in all. Two cylinders are placed upon each side of a heavy iron frame, with the pistons and connecting rods working at right angles to each other, upon a shaft placed at the top of the frame. The crossheads can be disconnacted from the piston rods in a moment, so that each cylinder is practically independent of all others in its workings. On the lower side of each cylinder, the piston is extended to connect with the piston of the pump, with a crosshead and key for instantaneous disconnection. The steam cylinders are 14x24 inches in size, and the pumps 9x24 inches. The pumps are capable of forcing into the pipes 4,000,000 gallons of water each twenty-four hours. By a new combination, the cylinders and pumps put in in this city can be run either high or low pressure, or with high pressure in one cylinder, and low pressure in all the others; that is, the exhaust steam from the cylinder which receives "live" steam, is passed on to the others, and moves them. At a trial made in September, 1873, with the "compound" throttle open 1-32 of an inch, the cranks made 17 revolutions a minute, and with the throttle open 1-16 of an inch they made 28 revolutions in minute, steam pressure being 46 pounds. With steam in all the cylinders, and throttle open 1-16 inch, 42 revolutions per minute were made. Connected with the suction pipes are two air chambers, and the discharge pipes have the same number. The cylinders are cased in black walnut, and all the unpolished iron work is neatly painted. The regulators are ingenious pieces of mechanism, and are essential to the proper working of the machinery under all circumstances. There are two of these; one of which acts as a fire signal, blowing a small whistle when hydrants are opened, and letting more steam into the cylinders at the same time. Gauges placed in conspicuous places also indicate, at all times, the exact pressure of water in the pipes, and of steam in the boilers. The condenser, used when the engines are run on low pressure, is of the most approved pattern, and has connected with it two air pumps. There is also a "donkey engine," to supply the bo'lers with water in case of accident to the pumps connected with the machinery. All the steam pipes in the building are covered with asbestos, to prevent condensation. The boilers are two in number, each five feet in diameter and sixteen feet long, with sixty 3| inch tubes. They are substantially placed on heavj cast iron fronts, and appear to be excellent in every respect. They weigh over five tons each, and the whole machinery weighs about 100 tons. These works save the citizens an indirect tax of thousands of dollars. Diseases have almost disappeared since their establishment, while the fire fiend can be said to be fully under their control. The engineers in charge, and the officers of the water supply department of the city prove by attention to duty that they are proud of their service. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT, SHOWING THE AMOUNT OF BUSINESS TRANSACTED IN THE DISTRICT BE OF INTEREST: The number of immigrants who arrived at Port Huron in each fiscal year, ending June 30, 1880, commencing with the organization of the district of Port Huron, October 6, 1866, was as follows: It will be seen from this that the total number of immigrants who entered the United States at this port in thirteen years and eight months was 565,816; or more than one-third the present population of Michigan. Before tho close of the fourteenth year (October 3, 1880), the number reached 600,000. Within the past two years, it is supposed that over 200,000 immigrants entered the United States at this port. During the year ending June 30, 1881, no less than 111,170 immigrants crossed the line at Port Huron; while during the year ending June 30, 1882, 71,424 immigrants were registered. During the last six months of 1882, the number of immigrants entering the United States at Port Huron is estimated at 80,000. POSTMASTERS AT PORT HURON. The first Postmaster in the Port Huron District was George McDougal. He was succeeded by John S. Heath. In 1840, John Wells was appointed. W. L. Bancroft succeeded him in On Mr. Bancroft's resignation, in 1846, Cummings Sanborn received the appointment. Either Allen Fish or M. S. Gillett took charge of the office in 1848. In 1853, George W. Pinkham was appointed; in 1857, H. S. Potter; in 1861, M. S. Gillett, and in 1865, Gen. Hartsutl, the present incumbent, was appointed. UNITED STATES REVENUE COLLECTORS. The list of United States Revenue Collectors at Port Huron since 1849, embraces the names of John Wells, W. L. Bancroft, William Sanborn, John Atkinson and John P. Sanborn. At date of writing, it is reported that changes are to be made in the official ranks of both the Collectors' and Postal departments. OF HURON, MICHIGAN, FROM DATE OF ORGANIZATION, OCTOBER 1, 1866, TO JUNE 30, 1882, MUST The building of the depot of the P. H. & N. W. R. R. Co. was begun August 20, 1881, under the superintendence of James O'Sullivan. The size of the building is 32x150 feet and two stories high with cupola. A fourteen-foot platform runs nil around it on the ground level, and a balcony six and a half feet wide runs the full length on both sides at the second floor. The framework is very strong, surmounted by a truss roof secured with iron. The projection of the roof on each side is wide enough to shade the balcony, and is supported by strong brackets, sixty-six in number. There are upward of one hundred windows, including a bay window from the roof down on the riverside. There are nineteen outside doors, nine of them double doors. The sides of the building are tightly sheeted with lumber; against this is felt paper lining, and then the siding. Inside the finish is of cherry and ash. On the lower floor are a ladies' waiting room, a gentlemen's waiting room, and a dining room, each 22x31 feet in size; also eleven other rooms of various sizes, including ticket office, baggage room, train dispatcher's room and a kitchen. Above them are sixteen rooms, beside halls, all for the uses of the officers of the road. In the north end, a brick vault extends from the ground to the roof. It is 8x16 feet in size, and has two one-foot walls all around, with an air space between them, making it certainly fire proof. The structure is heated by steam and lighted by gas made in the building. The boiler room is brick, 10x24 feet in size, with cement floor. The gas pipes are being put in now. The cupola is 8x16 feet in size, and rises from the roof twelve feet. The whole building rests. firmly on spiles that were driven into the ground ten feet. The cost will reach $10,000. A short distance south of this building is the new freight house, 24x150 feet in size, 14 foot posts. A platform extends all the way around it, and there is an office fitted up in the north end. The Chicago & Grand Trunk depot is farther south. THE IRON BRIDGE. One of the very important improvements made by the narrow-gauge company was the building of the neat-looking, strong, iron bridge near the mouth of Black River. The wood work was done by James Sullivan, for the company, and the iron work by the Smith Bridge Company of Toledo. It rests upon spiles driven by Daniel Runnells, and has 144 feet of a span, besides about 250 feet of trestle work approaches. The iron bridge across Black River, thirteen miles above its mouth, is one of the largest pieces of bridge architecture in Michigan. Its construction is due to the enterprise of the P. H. & N. W. R. R. Company. The Military street and that known as Seventh street bridges, are both swing bridges, similar in construction to those in use at Chicago. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE The first magnetic telephone line put in operation in Port Huron was that between the office of Fraser & Fish and the office of the Register of Deeds. About the same time a line was established connecting the residence of Mr. C. B. Peck, manager of the N. W. G. T., with his office, and with the office of the train dispatcher at the depot. McMoran & Co. also had an acoustic" telephone line in operation between their mill at the mouth of Black River and their store in the Opera House Block, during the spring and summer of 1879. lines were of public importance, and no general interest was awakened in the subject None of these In September, 1879, the manager of the Times determined to make an effort to secure the establishment of an exchange in Port Huron, and after some correspondence with Mr. W. A. Jackson, Manager of the Telephone and Telegraph Construction Company, of Detroit, which holds all telephone franchises for Michigan, secured the promise that Port Huron should be the next place in Michigan to have an exchange, if fifty subscribers could be obtained. The canvass for subscribers was commenced about a month later, and the project has been completely successful. The system of telephone exchange is an enterprise that is destined to grow in importance and extent until every business house, scores and hundreds of private houses, and every village and city in the State, if not in the whole country, are brought into immediate speaking connection with every other. The whole thing is so wonderful, so marvelous, so far, indeed, beyond what any of us would have believed possible ten years ago, that it is difficult even now to realize it fully. And yet it is an established fact, and a fact that goes beyond a scientific wonder and becomes of the greatest practical utility. SOCIETIES. The schools and churches of the city are fine monuments to the educational and religious earnestness of the people. The Congregational, Catholic, Methodist and Baptist Church edifices are substantially built after varied architectural designs. The Huron House, Opera House, and many of the business blocks display both enterprise and taste on the part of their builders. The homes of the principal citizens are marvels of refined architecture, while those of the citizens generally show good taste in building style as well as in the order of the grounds surrounding them. The secret and benevolent societies comprise the Commandery, K. T.; Pine Grove Lodge and Port Huron Lodge, F. & A. M.; Odd Fellows; Templars of Temperance; Diamond Tent, K. O. T. M.; Integrity Lodge, K. of T.; Temple Lodge, A. O. U. W.; Hope Council, R. A.; St. Patrick's Society, and Huron Lodge, A. P. A. The Literary Associations are the Ladies' Library, the Shakespearian, Lotos Club, and Literary or Debating Society. The military order is represented by a Company of State troops, known as the Port Huron Guards; the medical by the Society of Physicians and Surgeons: the law by the St. Clair Bar Association; the press by two daily papers and four weekly journals; trade, by a large number of enterprising merchants, and banking by three solid money houses. The religious and educational interests are ably represented. THE PORT HURON RELIEF COMMITTEE. The remarkable and conciliating dispatch exercised by the people of St. Clair County to relieve their northern neighbors during the terrible forest conflagration of 1881 cannot be overestimated. The moment the telegraph wires flashed the astounding news, the people of this county—the people of the two cities in particular—went forward to the rescue. A telegram, of which the following is a copy, was transmitted to Gov. Jerome, then at Marquette: |