491

Treasurer of the City of New York at the Mechanics' Bank, 1844, Group of 35+ Cancelled Checks signed

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Paper Money - United States Start Price:70.00 USD Estimated At:130.00 - 260.00 USD
Treasurer of the City of New York at the Mechanics' Bank, 1844, Group of 35+ Cancelled Checks signed
SOLD
110.00USD+ buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2023 May 23 @ 17:01UTC-4 : AST/EDT
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New York, 1844. Lot of 35+ City Checks signed by Mayor James Harper. Red printing on white paper, Mostly for "Temporary Water Loans" or "Street Paving", All signed by James Harper (April 13, 1795 – March 27, 1869), who was an American publisher and politician in the early-to-mid 19th century. In 1844 Harper was elected mayor of New York for a one-year term on the American Republican ticket, defeating Locofoco Party candidate Jonathan I. Coddington and Whig Morris Franklin. Harper won the election by 4,316 votes. He reformed the city police force and established the first municipal police force in 1844, based on planning undertaken earlier by Peter Cooper. In-fighting between the city alderman delayed the full implementation of the reform plan, and Harper could only select 200 men for the force before voters ousted him in April 1845. He outfitted his "Harper's Police" in blue uniforms, which they felt made them targets of violence, and they lobbied successfully to wear street clothes. His successor William Havemeyer continued to reform the police force, successfully expanded the workforce to 800, and began the establishment of station houses. Harper banished free-roaming pigs from the streets of New York and began work on establishing a citywide sanitation system. He was subsequently put forward for the state's governorship, but he preferred to conduct his firm's business rather than enter public life. (39). Sold "AS IS" no returns accepted.