cams_benton_b028_f011_001_015

14 [centered]

This flood in about the same
proportions renewed itself early in
April. But then Hardin Bigelow
had been elected mayor, and a Coun-
-cil immediately voted money, and a
temporary embankment was made,
which saved most of the city from
any overflow.

Subsequently the City grew and
flourished, under a boom which has
rarely been exceeded, in any times; and
the first taxes assessed were on a basis
of $8,000,000; 5 1/2 of it on real estate;
To all this an end came soon, and
a crash, with failures for almost
fabulous amounts.

In July of 1850 a Fire department
was organized, of the old volunteer sort.
The 4^th of July was duly Celebrated, by
the "Sons of Temperance"; with proces-
-sion, reading, oration, & so on. During
the next month, Aug 14^th, occurred the
far-famed "Squatter-riot", which