The Selma City Wharf on the Alabama

From "Selma; Her Institutions, and Her Men" by John Hardy, pub. 1879:

Quite a number of ordinances were adopted, among them one complementary to Capt. Chas. T. Lainier, of the Confederate army, for the able manner in which the defenses of the city had been constructed. And others looking to the defense of the city against Yankee raids.

The salary of the Marshal was increased to $18,00 per year and the police to $125 per month; the Marshals was allowed $125 per month for charity. Reese & Backus were elected city physicians at a salary of $1,500 per annum. Daniel Sullivan was elected city surveyor and was instructed to select and make a survey of a suitable place for a city wharf, which he did and mad a report, that the proper place was where the wharf is now located, at an estimated cost to the city of $21,750. The council passed a resolution giving the Confederate government full power to build said wharf at that price, with the right to use it free of charge during the war, and at half rates always after the war. John M. Strong was appointed attorney to visit Demopolis and draw the dividend declared by the Board of Directors of the Alabama and Mississippi Rivers Railroad Company. The pay roll for April 1863 was as follows: Policeman--John W. Davis, Wm. A. Kelley, Pat. Murphy, John E. Toole, A. W. Crail C. Parnell, $125; John McGrath, Sexton, $15; M. L. Dedman, for board, $96.25; John M. Strong, expenses to Demopolis, $15; J. W. Blandin, stationary, $44; A. M. Goodwin, repairs on calaboose, $100; Charles Butt, for nails, $10; John D. Gray, for shovels, $60, making a total of $1,363,25, not including the salaries of Mayor, Marshal, Treasurer, Attorney, which would run up the amount expended for the month to about $2,000. At the first meeting in May, 1863, the Clerk reported that he had received, during the past two years, on real estate, $30,306.93; personal property, 9,336.38; Licenses, $6,98.25; fines and forfeitures, $3,215; market stalls, $707; all other sources, $17,010.30, making a total of $66,873.86.

The election in May 1864, for Mayor and Council for the ensuing year was as follows:

For Mayor--Dr. John H. Henry, 236 votes; A. B. Mabry, 106 votes.

For Councilmen--Wm. S. Knox, 92 votes; John J. Thompson, 201; Henry Gatchell, 265; Wm. M. Gilmer, 154; M. J. Williams, 169; R. N. Philpot, 78; S. C. Pierce, 218; Thomas B. Pierce, 211; Charles B. Andrews, 169; Dr. I. Morgan, 155; Geo. F. Marlow, 243; W. Plattenburg, 43; Wm. B. Gill, 78; John Weedon, 58, and quite a number of scattering votes, and Henry Gatchell, John J. Thompson, Geo. F. Marlow, Charles b. Anderson, T. B. Pierce, S. C. Pierce and M. J. Williams, Councilmen. Dr. Henry on taking the chair mad an eloquent and stirring speech to his Council. John M. Strong was elected Clerk, M. L. Dedman;, Marshal, A. J. Neil, Treasurer, Fellows & Haralson, Attorneys, H. F. Mullin, Physician, John McGrath, Sexton, and M. J. William, Printer. The artesian well on Florence street, near the residence of E. G. Gregory was reported in bad order, by Sol. K. Schimmerhorn, Chief of the Fire department, which had been organized under an ordinance of the City Council, by Phenix fire company No. 1, and Franklin fire company No. 2.

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