1899 Toronto municipal election explained

Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Canada, on January 2, 1899. Mayor John Shaw was elected for his third consecutive term in office defeating opponent Ernest A. Macdonald and Third Ward Alderman George McMurrich. It was Macdonald's third unsuccessful attempt to be elected mayor, and McMurrich's second. Macdonald would succeed in his fourth attempt, at the 1900 Toronto municipal election.

Toronto mayor

Results
  • John Shaw (incumbent) - 11,175
  • Ernest A. Macdonald - 10,465
  • Alderman George McMurrich - 3,745

    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 Burns, Lynd, and Woods to sit on the body.[2]

    Plebiscites

    Three by-laws authorizing expenditures were approved by plebiscite: $62,500 for the erection of the Queen Street Viaduct spanning the Don River; $150,00 for the remodelling of St. Lawrence Market, and $40,000 for waterfront improvements at the foot of Bay Street.[1]

    Don River Bridge
  • Yea - 3,605
  • Nay - 2,740
    St. Lawrence Market
  • Yea - 4,524
  • Nay - 2,188
    Waterfront
  • Yea - 3,723
  • Nay - 2,459

    Source:[1]

    Aldermen elected to City Council

    Four alderman were elected to sit on Toronto City Council in each of six wards.

    Only two aldermen seeking re-election were defeated, both in the First Ward: John Leslie, who had also sat on the city's powerful Toronto Board of Control (which at this time was still chosen by city council rather than elected), and Alderman Richardson who were replaced by former alderman Stewart and John Russell. In the Second Ward, former alderman Francis Stephens Spence filled the vacancy left by the retirement of Alderman Bryce. In the Third Ward, former alderman N.L. Steiner filled the vacancy left by Alderman McMurrich's mayoral candidacy.[1]

    First Ward
  • James Frame (incumbent) - 1,589
  • John Russell - 1,109
  • H.R. Frankland (incumbent) - 1,091
  • Wm. T. Stewart - 1,091
  • John Knox Leslie (incumbent) - 1,058
  • F.A. Richardson (incumbent)- 1,013
  • Thomas Allen - 868
  • E.M. Corker - 281
  • C.C. Woodley - 121
  • Dr. Spiers - 80
    Second Ward
  • John Hallam (incumbent) - 2,052
  • Daniel Lamb (incumbent) - 1,949
  • Francis Stephens Spence - 1,923
  • Thos. Davies (incumbent) - 1,761
  • E. Strachan Cox - 1,684
  • Thomas Foster - 1,349
  • Garrett F. Frankland - 876
  • W.L. Beale - 740
  • William Thompson - 151
  • James O'Hara - 126
    Third Ward
  • O.B. Sheppard (incumbent) - 3,225
  • Bernard Saunders (incumbent) - 2,886
  • Richard John Score (incumbent) - 2,503
  • N.L. Steiner - 1,795
  • James Allison - 1,557
  • W.E. Raney - 1,515
  • George Boxall - 917
  • Arthur Bollard - 615
  • A. Hepburn - 187
    Fourth Ward
  • Wm. Burns (incumbent) - 2,870
  • James Crane (incumbent) - 2,818
  • Edward Hanlan (incumbent) - 2,373
  • Wm. P. Hubbard (incumbent) - 2,318
  • Thomas Urquhart - 2,288
  • S.W. Burns - 2,057
  • H.W. Paull - 1,016
  • Thomas Roberts - 238
    Fifth Ward
  • A.R. Denison (incumbent) - 2,281
  • Francis H. Woods (incumbent) - 2,145
  • John Dunn (incumbent) - 2,116
  • Robt. H. Graham (incumbent) - 1,888
  • Dr. William Stewart Fraleigh - 1,814
  • H.E. Hamilton - 1,092
  • Alex Stewart - 783
  • J.B. Banks - 277
  • C.A. Muerie - 197
  • John Ward - 190
  • F.J. Sabine - 99
  • Edward Schilling - 42
    Sixth Ward
  • John J. Graham (incumbent) - 1,499
  • James Gowanlock (incumbent) - 1,492
  • James M. Bowman (incumbent) - 1,328
  • Adam Lynd M.D. (incumbent) - 1,289
  • Alex Asher - 1,026
  • J.J. Ward - 672
  • Hugh MacMath - 635
  • Thomas Hurst - 440
  • William Dean - 220
  • Robert Buist Noble - 114
  • J.H. Hall - 70
  • John Fawcett - 67
  • J.C. McLean - 49
  • H.M. Mulholland - 43

    Source:[1]

    References

    Results taken from the January 3, 1899 Toronto Globe and might not exactly match final tallies.

    Notes and References

    1. MAYOR SHAW MAYOR STILL: He Gets a Plurality of About 700 Votes Over E. A. Macdonald A HOT ELECTION Heavy Slump From McMurrich to Shaw ALDERMANIC ELECTIONS Ex-Aldermen Steiner, Stewart, Russell and Spence Back in the Council--All By-laws Carried MAYOR JOHN SHAW ALDERMEN, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]03 Jan 1899: 1.
    2. "THE CIVIC INAUGURATION: Municipal Machine For. Ninety-nine Fairly Started on Its Way MAYOR'S MESSAGE Western Wards Furnish the Board of Control BURNS, LYND, WOODS Work For the Year Mapped Out to the Accompaniment of a Chanticleer Chorus Cock-a-Doodle Do-o-o Mayor's Inaugural Address New City Buildings Cattle Market Accommodation St. Lawrence Market Improvements Additional Park Property James Bay Railway Another Railway Scheme Improvements to the Harbor The City's Finances Electing Controllers", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]10 Jan 1899: 5.