Illustrated history of the United States mint / with a complete description of American coinage, from the earliest period to the present time

by Unknown

DANIEL M. FOX.

Hon. Daniel M. Fox, the new Superintendent of the United States Mint, was born in this city on the 16th of June, 1819. His ancestors, both on his father’s and mother’s side, are not without fame, many of them having figured more or less conspicuously in the early history of the country. Daniel Miller, his maternal grandfather, took quite a prominent part in the Revolutionary war, being present with Washington at Germantown, Pa., New Brunswick, N. J., the Highlands, N. Y., Valley Forge, Pa., the siege of Yorktown, and witnessed the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. During the campaign in New Jersey he was taken by the British as a spy and brought to Philadelphia, but effected his escape and rejoined the army. At the termination of the war he finally settled with his family in the old Northern Liberties, where Mr. Fox’s grandfather, by the father’s side, John Fox, resided. Here Daniel’s father and mother were born, and here he himself first saw the light, and was reared and educated.

His parents were possessed of very little of this world’s goods, but that did not prevent them from giving their son a liberal education, which he was not backward in taking advantage of. After leaving school the first two years were employed as clerk in a store, after which he turned his attention to conveyancing, as he intended to make that his permanent profession. He devoted the next five years to the close study of all its intricate details in the office of the late Jacob F. Hoeckley, who at that period stood at the head of the profession in this city, and graduating with eminent credit he commenced practice for himself.

Daniel M. Fox

The profession is one affording many temptations to men who are not well grounded in strict integrity, and sustained in the paths of rectitude and virtue by a conscientious regard for the meum and tuum of a well-ordered business life; but Mr. Fox, looking upon his profession as one of dignity and trust, soon commanded and permanently secured the confidence of the public, by avoiding those speculative ventures which have brought so much disrepute upon it, and by a scrupulous regard for the interests of those who placed their property in his keeping. In consequence, the business entrusted to him has increased to such an extent from year to year that it is said he has more estates in his charge for settlement, as administrator, executor, or trustee, than any other single individual in Philadelphia. His practice constantly increasing as time rolled on, the laws touching real estate operations becoming more complicated year by year, and appreciating the necessity in many cases for court proceedings to secure perfection of title, he submitted himself to a legal examination, and was admitted to the Philadelphia bar in November, 1878.

His Public Career.

His first step in public life was at the age of twenty-one, when he was elected a member of the Board of School Directors of the district in which he then lived, and for many years prior to 1854, when the city was consolidated, and the law in that regard changed, he was President of the Board. For many years he had taken an active interest in the public schools, and was a pioneer in the night-school system for adults. He was chosen two consecutive terms by the City Councils as a Director of Girard College, and also represented the Northern Liberties in the Board of Health, having charge of the sanitary matters and the quarantine regulations of the city, and was quite active and efficient in the abatement of the cholera, which was epidemic here twice during the nine years he served in that Board.

For three years he represented his ward in the Select Council of Philadelphia with credit and ability. In 1861 he retired from Councils, and in the year following was unanimously nominated for the Mayoralty by the Democratic party. The city at that time was strongly Republican, and he was defeated by Hon. Alexander Henry, although he ran largely ahead of his ticket. In 1865 he again received a unanimous nomination for the same office, and ran against Hon. Morton McMichael and with the same result. His personal popularity, however, was in the ascendant, and when he was placed in nomination in 1868 against General Hector Tyndale, he was duly elected.

On January 1, 1869, he was inaugurated, and his first official duty as Mayor was to formally receive on behalf of the city authorities General Grant as President-elect. The reception took place in Independence Hall, in the presence of Councils and a large number of prominent citizens, and was conducted on the part of the new Mayor with ease, grace, and elegance. His municipal administration was marked by many reformatory and sanitary measures, especially in those portions of the city where the impurity of the denizens hazarded the health of more respectable neighborhoods. It was during his official term that the Volunteer Fire Department ceased to exist. It had been his practice during its closing days to attend all conflagrations for the double purpose of holding a moral check on the lawless and to stimulate the police in their duties of keeping the streets clear for the free exercise of those whose business it was to extinguish the flames. The passage by Councils of the ordinance establishing a Paid Fire Department created a profound sensation in the city, arousing the bitter feelings of many of the volunteer firemen, and kindling an intense anxiety on the part of the people generally as to the fate of the bill when it reached the hands of the Mayor. He retained it for a fortnight, unsigned, evidently desiring to soften the feeling engendered by its passage, and also to perfect such arrangements as would be necessary to meet any emergency in carrying the act into effect. The latter being accomplished, he formally approved the ordinance and it became a law. This course was very unpalatable to the riotous element of the volunteers, who manifested their feelings in various ways, such as suspending the effigy of the Mayor in several engine houses, but no other violent demonstrations of any moment occurred, as the steps taken by his officers proved effective and rigorous; these, coupled with the co-operation of many of the discreet firemen, enabled the new “Paid Department” to go into operation without any disturbance whatever, and the city has ever since rejoiced in an efficient system without any of the former accompaniments of noise, riot, and public disturbance.

A startling attempt at assassination occurred during Mayor Fox’s incumbency, in the shooting of United States Revenue Detective James Brooks, in open day, in a Front street store, by some miscreants. The case was at once taken in hand by the Mayor, who by stimulating the police and offering heavy rewards caused the arrest of the parties. Their conviction soon followed. Whenever any question of grave public importance presented itself, it was his practice to invite conferences with the most prominent citizens at his office, as to the best course to be pursued; thus, while showing a true devotion to the public interests, he was enabled to act with great sagacity; he also brought to his support the power of eloquence, which he possesses in an eminent degree; this added much to his popularity. He did not hesitate to use the veto whenever he differed with Councils, and during his term he transmitted to these bodies thirty-two messages of this character, the majority of which were sustained. His official term ended in a most gratifying manner, both chambers of Councils unanimously passing resolutions of thanks for his able and energetic administration of the city’s affairs. This was followed by a grand banquet at the Academy of Music, tendered to him by our most distinguished citizens, irrespective of party. In two successive State conventions he received complimentary votes for the Gubernatorial nominations.

The great International Exposition in commemoration of the centennial anniversary of the birth of our nation was held in this city in 1876. In the preparation for this grand demonstration, in its opening and down to its close, in the autumn of that year, Mr. Fox took a leading part, the incipient step having been taken in the Mayor’s Office during his administration, in a consultation with a committee from the Franklin Institute, who waited upon him for that purpose. As an active and earnest member of the Centennial Board of Finance, which had charge of all the funds for the Exposition, Mr. Fox contributed his time, his means, and his voice greatly to its promotion and final success.

Once more Mr. Fox was called to the discharge of an important public duty. For a number of years a controversy had existed between the general Government and the railroad corporations with reference to the transportation of the United States mails, the former complaining that the service was not satisfactorily rendered, and the latter that they were not adequately compensated.

On the 12th of July, 1876, Congress passed a bill authorizing the President to appoint a Commission of three civilians to investigate the subject and make report upon it. Mr. Fox was one of the appointees, his colleagues being selected from other States. The Commission, in the exercise of its functions, visited every section of the country, embracing a distance of travel of over twenty-eight thousand miles. Sessions were held in all the principal cities, much testimony taken, and when its labors were completed a report of great value was prepared and presented, which went far towards a satisfactory settlement of the controversy.

[From The History of the Philadelphia Police.]

One of the most important occurrences during Mr. Fox’s term as Mayor was the abolition of the old Volunteer Fire Department. The ordinance for the erection of a Paid Fire department was passed December 29, 1870, after a series of hot debates. The old volunteers were a power in politics, but their acts of violence and incendiarism made it imperative in the opinion of a majority of citizens that they should be superseded. The passage of the ordinance caused a sensation because it was not believed that Councils would dare to abolish the volunteers. Feeling ran high. The firemen held meeting after meeting in their engine-houses. All attention was directed towards the Mayor. Would he sign the ordinance and make it a law? He had ten days in which to consider the bill. He was known to favor it; but day after day passed and he took no action. Meanwhile he was not asleep. He had perfected police arrangements whereby the whole force could be called out at once on the outbreak of any violence, and the excitement was so great that the rowdy element and the firemen were expected to sally forth at any moment. There were two or three isolated outrages, but no general riot. The ten days drew towards a close and the excitement became less intense every day. It was with this object in view that the Mayor delayed signing the ordinance. He waited until the last day before putting his signature to the bill. The volunteers had become in a degree reconciled to the measure, and some of them hoped to resume work with engine and hook-and-ladder under the new system.

The old volunteer firemen now hold Mr. Fox in high esteem. At the great fire in Newhall, Borie & Co.’s sugar refinery, which stood at the corner of Race and Crown streets, the lives of a number of the volunteers were endangered through their own stubbornness, and only saved through determined action on the part of the Mayor. The engine-house of the refinery was a single story building facing on Crown street; over it was a projection five or six stories in height containing the hoisting apparatus and other machinery of great weight.

His Watchful Care Saves Many Lives.

About a score of the firemen took up a position on the roof of the engine-house and directed a stream of water against the main building. Unknown to them the flames were rapidly eating their way to the machinery in the projection over them. The Mayor made it a point to attend all important fires, and frequently his vigilance at great conflagrations resulted in the detection of gangs of thieves who operated in the uniform of firemen. On this occasion he observed the danger which threatened the men. It was evident to him that the machinery would soon be reached, and the projection fall. A serious disaster would be the consequence unless the men removed. The Mayor sent the Chief of Police to inform them of their danger, and endeavored to induce them to retire from their perilous position. They angrily declared they would occupy whatever place they pleased, and said the Mayor should mind his own business as he had no authority over them. The Mayor saw that prompt and decisive action was necessary if the lives of the men were not to be sacrificed. He ordered Chief Mulholland to drive the headstrong fellows from the roof by force. All the policemen in the neighborhood of the fire were collected and they charged the volunteers, who were routed with some difficulty and came clamoring around the Mayor, demanding to know by what authority he had interfered with them, execrating and threatening him with personal violence.

“Wait five minutes and I will give you an answer,” said Mr. Fox, quietly.

A moment later the projection with all the heavy machinery fell, crushing the engine-house. The men who a moment before had reviled the Mayor were silent for a moment, then they gathered around him and gave three prolonged and hearty cheers for Daniel M. Fox.

Mr. Fox was the first Mayor who directed the roping off the streets during large conflagrations, thereby keeping away not only the crowds who drawn by idle curiosity went simply to look on but also those persons who may have been attracted for purposes of theft. It aided considerably, too, in giving the Fire Department a clean working space, thus adding to their efficiency, and also avoiding the chance of accidents from falling embers or walls. This plan so wisely begun has been followed with advantage by every successive Mayor.

Mr. Fox’s participation in the philanthropic and benevolent movements of the city has always been unlimited. As President of the Pennsylvania Society for the Protection of Children from Cruelty, Trustee of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, and in his connection with many other charitable works, his constant aim has been the alleviation of the sufferings and the general welfare of his fellow men.

Personally, Mr. Fox is of dignified and distinguished presence, yet in manner affable, courteous, and kind. Always interested in his fellow men, he draws men towards him and impresses them with the sincerity of his nature and the unselfishness of his purpose. Love of justice is one of the strong characteristics of the man, and his life has been singularly free from the petty strifes which disfigure the lives of so many who have had to fight their battle against odds. His selection for the Superintendency of the Mint, being unsought, was a just tribute to his unquestioned integrity and his eminent abilities as a public man. The country is fortunate in his preferment, and his administration of the affairs of the Mint will fitly crown an honored career.

Superintendent Fox has greatly improved the immediate surroundings of the Mint since his entrance upon duty. The areas have been cleared of rubbish, temporary wooden structures demolished, where it is possible to dispense with them, and a systematic policing of the premises has been adopted. But perhaps the most notable of the improvements which Superintendent Fox has made is the removal of the old steam plant from the body of the basement and the creation of a new and much more efficient plant in vaults prepared outside of the walls. This has had the effect to render the atmosphere of the building cool and pure, and at the same time has actually increased the working space nearly forty per cent. Another story has also been added to the adjusting room, with appliances for cooking and toilet, thus increasing the comfort of the ladies employed in that department. The plots on either hand of the entrance on Chestnut street show some happy efforts to please the eye, in a renewal of the sward and landscape gardening in colors. The fine specimens of American cypress in the centre of these plots seem to have borrowed fresh attractions from their new and beautiful setting, and their foliage contrasts pleasingly with the clumps of foliage plants and exotics beneath. Throughout the premises the supervision of a thorough business man is apparent; nothing seems to escape the eyes of the vigilant Superintendent.