1897 Toronto municipal election

Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Canada, on January 4, 1897. Mayor Robert John Fleming was re-elected, defeating Alderman George McMurrich. Fleming's principal campaign pledge was a promise to build a bridge to extend the street railway system to the Toronto Islands, as well as readjusting water rates and reorganizing the boards of education. This was Fleming's fourth mayoral victory, his second in a row. He pledged that this would be his final term in office^[1]^[2]

Toronto mayor

Results: Robert John Fleming (incumbent) - 11,960; George McMurrich - 10,375

Source:^[1]

Board of Control

The Toronto Board of Control was elected by Toronto City Council from among its members, and presided over by the mayor. At the first council meeting following the general election, council chose Aldermen Graham, Lamb, and Leslie to sit on the body, presided over by the mayor.^[3]

Plebiscites

A plebiscite was held on authorizing the spending of $275,000 on the completion of the municipal court house and $26,000 for a water main on Front Street. There was also a vote on moving future elections to New Year's Day.^[1]

Court House: Yea - 4,635; Nay - 2,196

Water Main: Yea - 4,233; Nay - 2,573

New Year's Day election date: Yea - 16,465; Nay - 4,802

Source:^[1]

Aldermen elected to City Council

Map of Toronto's six wards (1892-1909), published in *The Globe*, 1 January 1892.

Four alderman were elected to sit on Toronto City Council in each of six wards. Six incumbent aldermen were defeated in the election.^[1]

First Ward: John Russell (incumbent) - 950; Thomas Allen (incumbent) - 944; John Knox Leslie (incumbent) - 936; James Frame - 907; T.S. Lobb - 886; C.C. Small (incumbent) - 728; Samuel H. Defries - 546; Elgin Schoff - 434; Ed Blong - 420; T.E. Washington - 411; George Wellings - 321; Thomas Cummings - 125

Second Ward: John Hallam (incumbent) - 1,693; Francis S. Spence (incumbent) - 1,687; Daniel Lamb (incumbent) - 1,371; William L. Beale - 1,281; Thomas Bryce - 1,242; Thomas Davies (incumbent) - 1,207; Thomas Foster - 1,131; P.H. Drayton - 1,114; Dr. Samuel Thompson - 946; David Carlyle - 814

Third Ward: A.F. Rutter - 2,856; John Shaw - 2,856; O.B. Sheppard (incumbent) - 2,827; Bernard Saunders (incumbent) - 2,718; James B. Boustead (incumbent) -2,001; Ernest A. Macdonald - 991; John S. Lucas - 686

Fourth Ward: Wm. P. Hubbard (incumbent) - 2,798; Wm. Burns (incumbent) - 2,621; James Crane (incumbent) - 1,777; William Carlyle - 1,543; James Jolliffe (incumbent) -1,354; H.E. Trent - 1,291; F.W. Unitt - 1,221; J.E. Verral - 941; Robert P. Hall - 536; James Langdon - 340; D.H. Watt - 89

Fifth Ward: Robt. H. Graham (incumbent) - 2,042; W.T.R. Preston (incumbent) - 1,778; Francis H. Woods - 1,746; John Dunn (incumbent) - 1,643; William Bell (incumbent) - 1,609; A.R. Denison - 1,412

Sixth Ward: James Gowanlock (incumbent) - 1,566; James Scott (incumbent) - 1,153; John J. Graham (incumbent) - 1,042; Adam Lynd M.D. - 947; James M. Bowman - 931; J. Harvey Hall - 834; Hugh MacMath - 751; George Gilbert Rowe (incumbent) - 518; Joseph Pocock - 500

Source:^[1] and ^[4]

References

Results taken from the January 5, 1897 Toronto Globe and might not exactly match final tallies.

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "MAYOR FLEMINGS FOURTH TRIUMPH: Re-elected by the Substantial Majority of 1,585 CITIZENS ENDORSE THE ISLAND STREET RAILWAY", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]05 Jan 1897: 1.
^ "A DAY IN COUNCIL: The Mayor and Ald. McMurrich Speak Sharply MR. GAUDAUR THE CAUSE Ald Preston Attacks Nepotism of Foremen The Queen Street Subway Agreement Many Paving Contracts Go Through--The New City Buildings SEND THE CANDIDATES GOWANLOCK SAYS NO A LITTLE NONSENSE JAKE OUT ON TOP NEPOTISM, EH? QUEEN STREET SUBWAY THE EVENING SESSION THE SUBWAY AGAIN ISLAND STREET RAILWAY THREE-CENT FARES", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]22 Sep 1896: 6.
^ "AT THE PAVILION: Inaugural Meeting of the New City Council MAYOR ...", The Globe (1844-1936); Jan 12, 1897; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail, pg. 2
^ Nomination Day reports, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]29 Dec 1896: 8.

[results-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "MAYOR FLEMINGS FOURTH TRIUMPH: Re-elected by the Substantial Majority of 1,585 CITIZENS ENDORSE THE ISLAND STREET RAILWAY", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]05 Jan 1897: 1.

[2] "A DAY IN COUNCIL: The Mayor and Ald. McMurrich Speak Sharply MR. GAUDAUR THE CAUSE Ald Preston Attacks Nepotism of Foremen The Queen Street Subway Agreement Many Paving Contracts Go Through--The New City Buildings SEND THE CANDIDATES GOWANLOCK SAYS NO A LITTLE NONSENSE JAKE OUT ON TOP NEPOTISM, EH? QUEEN STREET SUBWAY THE EVENING SESSION THE SUBWAY AGAIN ISLAND STREET RAILWAY THREE-CENT FARES", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]22 Sep 1896: 6.

[a-3] "AT THE PAVILION: Inaugural Meeting of the New City Council MAYOR ...", The Globe (1844-1936); Jan 12, 1897; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail, pg. 2

[4] Nomination Day reports, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]29 Dec 1896: 8.

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