a manufacturing center, Buffalo ranks ninth among the cities of the United States. It is known as the "City of Diverse Industries," pro ducing in quantities 68 per cent. of all the different lines of goods recognized by the U. S. Census Bureau. It is one of the most extensive producers of pig iron in the world, having over 20 large blast furnaces with a combined annual capac ity of between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000 tons. It has the largest dye plant in the country. It produces one-third of the nation's linseed oil. There are 2,500 manufacturing plants employing 75,000 men and women. The principal indus tries are steel, pig iron, coke, flour, tan ning, wall board, linseed oil, dyes, auto mobiles, rubber, benzol, cereals, lumber, copper, brass, leather, soap, and packing products.
are sixteen banks, with a combined capital of $18,300,000, and surplus and profits amounting to $20,332,427, with total deposits of $245, 766,717. The savings-banks deposits, Jan. 1, 1920, were $126,247,413. The bank clearances for 1919 were $1,655, 366,659. There are 27 savings and loan associations.
are 66 public schools, with an enrolment of 65,265 pupils, and 62 parochial schools, with an average attendance of 30,000. There are 5 high schools, 4 vocational schools, 1 training school, 1 normal school of prac tice, and 1 opportunity school. There are 2,700 teachers and employees. In addi tion, there are many night and vacation schools. Higher education is afforded by the University of Buffalo, Canisius College, and Holy Angels Academy. The public library has 400,000 volumes, and 4,500 pamphlets, and over 130,000 indi vidual borrowers made use of its circu lating department in 1919. The Gros venor Library has 136,000 volumes. Other institutions are the Buffalo His torical Society, the Society of Natural Sciences, and the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy. The city has the largest night school attendance of any city of its size in the world.
Churches.—There are 260 churches in Buffalo, many of them with beautiful structures. Noteworthy edifices are Trinity (Protestant Episcopal), the First Presbyterian, and St. Joseph's Ca thedral (Roman Catholic), which has the largest carillon in the United States and the third largest in the world. Hos pitals and charitable institutions are the Buffalo State Hospital, Children's Hos pital, Erie Hospital, General Hos pital, Homeopathic Hospital, Lexington Heights Hospital, Providence Retreat, Riverside Hospital, and Women's Hos pital; the Home for the Friendless, Or phan Asylum, St. Vincent's Orphanage
for Girls, Church Home for Aged Women, St. Mary's Asylum for Widows and Foundlings, Home for Erring Women, State Asylum for the Insane, Fitch Institute, and St. Mary's Institu tion for Deaf Mutes.
Finances.—The funded debt of the city, June 30, 1920, was $45,034,719. The total assessed realty valuation was $608,175,115. The ratio of assessed valu ation to market value was 100 per cent. There is an excellent police force num bering 800, and a fire department num bering 915. The total number of city employees including laborers was 7,865. There are more than 600 miles of paved streets. The mileage of street rail ways was 223.40 and the passengers car ried annually were 191,200,048. There are 610 miles of water mains and 568 miles of sewers. The birth rate per 1,000 was 26.70 and the death rate 15.30.
Government.—The city is under the commission form of government, which went into operation Jan. 1, 1916. The commission consists of the mayor and four councilmen, and in these all exec utive, administrative and legislative power is vested. The term of office of each member is four years. The govern ment of the city is divided into five major departments, designated as the Department of Public Safety; Depart ment of Finance and Accounts; Depart ment of Public Works; Department of Parks and Public Buildings, and Depart ment of Public Affairs. The Mayor in 1920 was George S. Buck.
History.—The site of Buffalo was first visited by the French, under La Salle, in 1679. In 1687 a settlement was made by Baron La Honton and Fort Suppose was erected. It was held by the British as Fort Erie during 1783-1784, and was in corporated as the village of Buffalo and soon afterward burned by the British, in 1813. It was rebuilt in 1815; but its progress was slow until the completion of the Erie canal in 1825. It became a city in 1832 and since then it has been very prosperous. During 1901 the Pan American Exposition was held in Buf falo. Here on September 6, Pres. Mc Kinley was assassinated. The exposition was a brilliant affair, but not successful financially.