GOVERNMENT OF MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP - WEST MIFFLIN BOROUGH
Very few records were kept of the early Township regarding local government functions. It is evident that Those who settled here were more interested in surviving and making history than in recording it. The Township records which are preserved at our Municipal building date only as far as the 1900's. During this time the Township Commissioners were: George Leadbeater - President:, James Henderson, Joseph Cothrey, Frank Ackerman, Hugh Fishwick and John Coleman. The Commissioners held their meetings in Dravosburg. Mifflin Township tax millage was fixed at 4 mills. Roads, bridges and water wash-outs on private properties were the major problems that plagued Township Commissioners at this time.
Most township roads were of dirt or limestone. Carnegie Natural Gas Company and Monongahela Valley Water Company got approval to lay pipe lines in several areas of the Township. In 1903 Township Commissioners met in the Homestead Municipal building and in 1904 tax millage was raised to 5 mills. Garbage collection was unheard of, rubbish was buried on one's own property or other properties. Cesspools were common for sewage, septic tanks a novelty.
On January 5, 1905 an ordinance apportioning the five member commissioners among the eight election Districts passed. Each district was to be represented by one commissioner. The election districts wereElection district # 1Election district # 6Election district # 5 and # 8Election district # 3Election district #4. #7 and #9 constituted a commission district.
BEFORE AND AFTER THE GREAT DEPRESSION (1929-1939)
The economy of the nation and our local area fenced a post-war depression during the years
between 1919 and 1921. The government cancelled its war time contracts after Worldl War I.
Business and industry had to convert from a war-time to a peace-time economy. About half a
million farmers lost their property when prices of farm products dropped. The returning of
over four and a half million servicemen to the peace-time labor market caused a wide
spread of unemployment after World War I. Loss of jobs caused considerable labor unrest
resulting in or four large scale strikes. Police Troopers on horses called in to aid in
the settlements. However, the decade of the 1920's was charactcrized by general prosperity
coupled with the desire "to get rich quick" and have a good time. The newspaper
and magazine writers pinned various labels on the age of the 1920's such as the
"Golden Twenties," the "Jazz Age," the "Flapper Age," the
"Roaring Twenties," and the "Ballyhoo Years." Such titles suggested
that the 1920's was an age of prosperity and disillusionment influenced by the industrial
revolution. Power driven machines such as washing machines, farm tractors, and automobiles
became symbols of the American way of life. The radio and motions pictures industry
provided new sources of entertainment for many Americans. Radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh
was the first commercial broadcasting station in the world. It began to operate on
November 2, 1920, with broadcasting results of the Presidential elections. The development
of the motion picture industry provided a source of entertainment; first in nickelodeons
and finally in more sophisticated motion picture palaces. One of the first successful
talking picutres was entitled "The Jazz Singer", featuring Al Jolson. Another
great picture based on a novel about World War I was entitled "All Quiet on the
Western Front." Football, baseball, golf, tennis, swimming, skating, bowling, and
boxing were tremendously popular during the Twenties. The high spending and overinflated
prices in the "Golden Twenties" led to the Great Depression in October of 1929.
Before the year ended, banks and business across the country were declaring bankruptcy.
Six million people were unemployed in 1930 and by 1932 nearly 12 million people were out
of work. This national calamity affected the prices of all commodities, because people
lacked money to buy necessities. Some typical prices at that time were: milk, l 0¢ a
quart; butter, 20¢ per pound; lunch meat, 18¢ to 28' a pound; bread, 9¢ to 12¢ a loaf;
and gasoline 11¢ to 161 a gallon. Certain models of Chevrolets and Fords sold for $595.00
to $652.00. Clothing was consistent with other market items. Men's suits sold for $15 to
$21 and up; topcoats, $19 to $25 and up; women's dresses, $2.39 to $5.99. Seamstresses
were known to make a cotton or rayon dress for only 25¢ labor. Some of the railroads were
charging passenger rates of 2¢ per mile and coal sold for $1.75 to $2.00 a ton. One local
industry paid men 15¢ per hour but increased the rate to 20¢ under threat of a strike.
In the latter 1930's, the labor rate was commonly set at 45¢ to 554 an hour. Those who
experienced both the false inflation of the 1920's and the severe depression of the 1930's
have been labeled as the overcautious conservatives of the 1950's and 1960's. Some of them
are still trying to lay away a "nest egg" as a precaution against another
depression.
In 1923 Duquesne Light Company erected lights and by 1929 more lights were added along with fire hydrants. The Police force consisted of 4 officers and a Chief. Mifflin Township had its own Board of Health. February 20,1930 South Pittsburgh Water Company was authorized to install 33 fire hydrants in the Thompson Run, Bull Run, Duquesne Annex and Polish Hill areas.
Property for the new Municipal building was purchased from Mrs. Emma McCafferty (bordering Greensprings and Eastman Streets) in Homeville. Cost of purchase was $2,400.00 for lot 120'x 181.5'.
Due to financial conditions services of Chief Arthur Stevic were terminated, desk Sargent salary reduced $25.00 and only two police officers were carried. J. J. Crawford, police officer was appointed to act in the capacity of Police Chief in 1931 at the salary of $162.50 per month. The Commissioners were now meeting in the new but incompleted Municipal building. 1932 brought Hard Times to our Township. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 affected everyone.
The Steel Valley and all communities around were in the depths of the great depression. People did not have money to pay their taxes. In fact, tax payments were so low that there was only $97.00 in the Township treasury for the year 1931. In 1932, population of Mifflin was 8,167. Valuation $4,410,000.00. Township receipts from all sources was $43,172.71. Amount spent on roads and streets was $9,981.92. The Township had one mile of hard-surfaced road. One-half mile in the Homeville areas and one-half mile in the Camden area. The cost for Police service was $4,431.66. After payment of other general expenses the Township treasury was down to $9,376.24 with fire hydrant rent due in the amount of $7,552.71, and street light bill due for $4,546.31. Township tax rate was 12 Mills. In 1933 tax collections were at an all time low, therefore, the Commissioners were compelled to lay off the Police and the power company was requested to disconnect the street lights since there was not sufficient monies to pay the power bill. Services on some hydrants ceased due to the indebtness to South Pittsburgh Water Company in 1934. This same year the Township spent $110.80 for Police services, and by 1935 all police were rehired. Streetlights were not turned on until 1940 at which time lights were placed throughout the Township.1934 Township valuation was $5,304,643.00 and millage was reduced to 10 mills. By 1937 hard-surfaced roads were being constructed by WPA workers, some of these workers were Mifflin Township residents. 1942 Garbage collection was inaugurated at no additional cost to the citizens. Cost was $5,600.34. At the October 5,1943 meeting property was deeded by Hahn and Skyrmes to the Township for the purposes of an incinerator which was built in 1948.
The Act# 333 of the 1941 session of the General Assembley enabled Mifflin Township to incorporate as a Borough, thus, on January 3,1944 Mifflin Township ceased to exist after 156 years. The last meeting of the Township Commissioners was held December 28, 1943. Those who served as Commissioners at this most notable time were: George W. Lynn—President, Joseph McCafferty —Vice President, Henry P. Steiner, Walter W. Mehlfeber, William Best, Karl W. Fruecht, Regis Ruffing, Thomas Matthews. Chief of Police—Samuel B. Hampton, Solicitor — Harry E. McWhinney, Secretary — C. J. Hoffman, Treasurer — Frank G. Horn, Engineer—Alex Hutchinson. We pay tribute to these men and all those who preceded them for their dedication, energies and foresight toward building a better place for all of us to live.
The first elected council of West Mifflin Borough was seated January I, 1944. George W. Lynn — Burgess, Lawrence J. Richards—President, Walter Mehlfeber—Vice President, Harry Kinzel, Paul Martin, William Best, Regis Ruffing and Henry P. Steiner. Tax Collector—Frank G. Horn, Secretary—Charles J. Hoffman, Solicitor —Harry McWhinney, Engineer — Alex P. Hutchinson, Chief ofolice — Samuel B. Hampton, W. C. McClure —Street Commissioner.