USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Volume III > Part 35
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on its boards. It was the scene of D. L. Moody's labors and is the arena of the large political meetings of the county. The State convention was held there in 1884.
The heights to the east of Colorado Springs are no less thriftily covered with buildings. St. Francis' Hospital, in the care of ten sisters, was built in 1887, at a cost of $40,000, and admits the sick at a low rate, with a ward for free patients. The hospital is situated near the Deaf Mute Institute, as is the large Colonial building of the Bellevue Sanitarium. This contains twenty memorial rooms, and had its origin in the desire of benevolent ladies of the city to care for invalids of moderate means by sup- plementing their resources with home and medical attendance at nominal cost. The building cost $12,000 and was erected upon a tract of six acres donated by General Palmer. It was opened February 20th, 1889.
Eighty acres of land lying east of the city have been donated by Messrs F. L. Martin, A. A. McGovney and E. J. Eaton of this city, to the Typographical Union, and on this ground will be erected the Childs-Drexel Home for indigent printers.
Churches .-- The list of church organizations includes two Congregational; Baptist; Episcopal; Presbyterian; Methodist Episcopal; Christian; Methodist Episcopal South; United Presbyterian; Cumberland Presbyterian; Roman Catholic; Free Methodist; Lutheran; and African Methodist Episcopal, and Baptist .*
The Baptists, having given up their $7,000 church built in 1874, are now con- structing a new one to cost $35,000. It is built of pressed brick with sandstone trim- mings, exterior Romanesque architecture, interior Gothic. Its auditorium seats 600; the Sunday school rooms 400.
In 1889 the Congregational body dedicated and opened a handsome stone church which cost about $40,000, and will seat 550. The plans were reduced and modified from those of Trinity Church, Boston.
In 1888 the Presbyterians left their frame edifice (which cost $9,000 in 1873), and began to worship in a stone church, corner Nevada avenue and Bijou street, which cost about $50,000. Its beautiful bell tower recalls in outline that of the new Old South Church, Boston.
The United Presbyterians have completed a brick church which cost $10,000, and will seat 400. The Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1881, at an expenditure of $12,000. In 1889 it was enlarged at a cost of several thousand dollars. Grace Epis- copal Church has been enlarged and improved by a much needed addition costing $3,000.
The Southern Methodist Church congregation have occupied two buildings since their organization in 1874; the first was a small wooden structure with a seating capacity of about 100, costing $1,500. They afterward in 1885 built a brick church of about twice the size of the first, which cost $5,000.
The Roman Catholics built a church in 1882, worth $5,000. The African Methodist body owns a church building on South Weber street.
Colorado College .- When Colorado Springs was platted in 1871 the colony selected a tract of twenty acres for college reservation. In course of time this grant was gener- ously increased so that Colorado College now possesses nearly one hundred acres of land. In 1886 much of this property was sold to settle outstanding claims, so that at the present time the college owns about fifty-six acres surrounding the buildings.
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In 1874 the enterprise took shape and eighteen trustees inaugurated the establish- ment of a college under New England Congregational auspices. Among the trustees were General W. J. Palmer, Dr. William A. Bell, W. S. Jackson, General R. A. Cameron, Major Henry McAllister and Professor T. N. Haskell, who as financial agent secured subscriptions for the institution to the amount of several thousand dollars, and was extremely active in advancing the cause. The preparatory department was opened in May, and the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, a graduate of Yale, was appointed principal. Sessions were first held in rooms rented in the Wanless block, and later in a three room wooden building erected for the purpose on North Tejon street, which was occupied until 1880. In 1877 building of the college proper began on North Cascade avenue -a fine structure of pink volcanic limestone, whose Gothic windows and pointed arches are edged with white. It is surmounted with a cupola, and is flanked by two wings, one extending north and the other southward. When completed it had cost $60,000.
The college for several years was financially embarrassed, but this now is happily but a thing of the past. During the days of test and trial the faculty and friends of the college guarded its interests zealously, and to their efforts at home and abroad may be ascribed the future of wide usefulness which seems to open before it.
In 1875 Rev. James G. Dougherty was elected president of the college, but in the reorganization which took place in 1876, he resigned, and the Rev. E. P. Tenney became president and remained with the college until 1885.
For some years Colorado College was without a president, but in the autumn of 1888 this office was accepted by the Rev. W. F. Slocum of Boston, an Amherst graduate. Under his fostering administration the revival of its fortunes is secure. During 1889, a dormitory, Hagerman Hall, was erected, costing $20,000, and half the amount necessary to build a Girls' Hall has been secured: All the indebtedness of the college has been liquidated and an endowment fund of $150,000 has already been subscribed.
The property of the institution is now valued at over $400,000. This consists of the two stone buildings already mentioned, the president's residence also of stone, a geological collection, scientific apparatus and collections, complete outfit for assaying - and metallurgical work. It possesses a library of 8,ooo volumes-embracing the com- plete Strittill collection of modern French authors, and a special department of works upon the late civil war. The courses of instruction are divided into four departments, i. e., preparatory schooling either classical or scientific; and the college courses proper, consisting of four years of regular academic study leading to the degree either of Bachelor of Arts or of Philosophy. In addition there are special instructions given in chemistry and assaying.
In the present year, "Colorado College Studies"-its first annual publication- appeared, containing several papers of individual research written by various members of the faculty, and which had been read before the college scientific society.
Measures are now on foot which it is intended shall institute a historical depart- ment in connection with the college library with the special purpose in view of col- lecting all statistics and biographical sketches possible which bear upon local events and Colorado's history in general. And it is hoped that a collection of manuscript may
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be obtained which will become invaluable to future students of pioneer history in the State.
Colorado College rendered important services in the observation of the transit of Mercury, and later in the total eclipse of the sun in July, 1878. During the same year the college was made a voluntary station of the United States Signal Service, with Prof. Loud in charge. The moulding influence of Colorado College upon the plastic mate- rial of the new West, will be a potent power in the Republic in years to come. The work will be in part of a missionary character amid the Mexicans and Indians who stand at its gates. To the lawlessness, the laxity of morals and manners which prevail in a new land where waifs from all sorts of civilization are cast up, Colorado College will oppose its power to educate and elevate. It is a beacon light amid the uncertain mists which shroud the future of the countries near us.
Deaf Mute Institute .- In 1874 the Territorial legislature of Colorado provided by statute for an institute to be established in Colorado Springs for the instruction of the deaf and dumb, largely by the influence of Dr. R. G. Buckingham of Denver, who by virtue of his constant devotion to it, is fairly entitled to the honor of being its founder and father. An appropriation of $5,000 was made, and a permanent fund constituted by assessment of a Territorial tax of one-fifth of a mill. The institution was opened in a temporary edifice, and the Colony Company donated ten acres of land east of town, for a permanent site. Two subsequent appropriations were made by the legislature of $7,000 and of $20,000, and the functions of the institute were extended to include the blind in 1883. With increased population, more extended accommodations were needed, and the legislature of 1889 appropriated $80,000 for this purpose. By this aid two hundred pupils may be accommodated. A new building one hundred and ninety- nine and a half feet long, three stories high and basement, containing fourteen class rooms, art room, assembly hall and apartments for the industrial departments, has just been completed. The material used is white Castle Rock, lava stone. The old struc- ture will be used for living purposes. Two other buildings of pressed brick, two stories high, for dining, kitchen and heating plant and laundry, have also been erected within the past two years. The Deaf Mute Institute is free to Coloradoans between the ages of four and twenty-two. Those from other States who would receive its benefits, must pay $250 per annum.
Instruction is given in the ordinary departments of education and in the specialties of carpentry, printing, dressmaking and housework-and for the blind, lessons in brush, broom, mattress making and chair-seating. For the deaf mutes three methods of instruction are in vogue-the sign system, training in articulation and aural develop- ment. It will be interesting in the future to remember that the carpentry on the new building has been largely done by the deaf mute pupils. Mr. John E. Ray is the pres- ent superintendent. The institute property is now valued at $155,000.
Schools .- To the credit of the new West, be it spoken, that the schoolmaster is abroad at a very early date in history. "School District No. II," was organized in 1872. Each ward now has a schoolhouse. There are three fine brick buildings, the Garfield, Liller, Lincoln Schools, which cost in the aggregate $140.000, and several frame structures. The High School, built of stone, the former pride of the place, and a
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conspicuous landmark, was burned January 13th, 1890. The land on which it stood has been sold for $24,500.
The one teacher of the first year with forty-two pupils is succeeded by a corps of thirty-five, giving instruction to more than sixteen hundred children. The first teacher was Mrs. General Palmer. Miss Allen, now Mrs. Weitbrec, Mrs. Liller, Mrs. Asahel Sutton will be remembered as early engaged in the work of teaching. At Christmas, 1871, Colorado Springs' first Christmas tree was decorated for the school children in a building at the corner of Cascade avenue and Bijou street, where the first school sessions were held. This was a free school, though prior to the organization of the school district. Prof. P. K. Pattison is the present superintendent of schools. A graded course of study was entered upon in 1874. The high school proffers a four years' course preparatory to college. The classics, modern languages, special courses in literature and science are offered in its curriculum. The school had a physical laboratory valued at $2,000, destroyed in the recent fire. The enrollment for 1889-90 was 1,700.
Transportation .- On September 20th, 1881, Colorado Springs was supplied by Messrs. Stevens & Rouse with a system of Herdic coaches, which ran for about three years, and were followed by the Colorado Springs and Manitou street railroad which went into operation in 1887 and ran its cars north and south on Tejon street, north Nevada avenue, and east and west from Pike's Peak avenne to Colorado City. In 1889 the El Paso Rapid Transit Company was formed and Mr. F. L. Martin was chosen president; A. L. Lawton secretary and treasurer; A. A. McGovney, auditor. The gentlemen named, with vice-president Mr. E. J. Eaton, Mr. M. A. Leddy of Manitou, became the principal stockholders in the new company.
The company's name was afterward changed to the Colorado Springs Rapid Transit Railway Company, which having bought the stock, equipment and franchises of the street railroad and having obtained franchises through the principal streets and on certain county roads, proceeded to enmesh the city and vicinity with some twenty- two miles of track. At the present time (1890) the cars run without the city limits to Austin's Bluffs and Roswell on the north, to Cheyenne Canons on the south, and to Colorado City on the east. In the fall of the year they will reach Manitou, and will . also bring into quick communication with the business center, all the outlying additions. The Sprague system of electric cars is used, operated by an overhead cable. Two 175-horse power Corliss engines, and four 80-horse power Edison dynamos are used in generating the electricity. Two Murphy smoke consuming furnaces are employed to do away with the smoke nuisance. The cars are made by the P. P. Car Company.
Light .- Colorado Springs and Colorado City are supplied with arc and incan- descent electric lights by the El Paso Electric Light Company (organized in 1886), which has its plant in the former city; $128,000 has been expended in perfecting its system. The company uses seven Westinghouse engines, and has a boiler capacity of eight hundred horse power.
The Colorado Springs Gas and Coke Company which has supplied the city with gas since 1879, and owns seven miles of mains, was bought during the past year by the Lowe Gas and Electric Company. Gas is now produced by the Lowe water system.
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HISTORY OF EL PASO COUNTY.
Water Supply .- The original waterworks system was built in 1878, when the popu- lation was little more than three thousand. Pure drinking water had been before this time a crying public want, and it was all the more necessary now that the city had become a health resort. The present system has cost about $400,000 to develop, but the city is to be congratulated that she owns the works, thereby deriving a benefit of revenues, above interest on bonds and operating expenses, amounting to about $8,000 per annum. In 1878 the supply head was located seven miles from the city, and above Manitou in Ruxton Creek, a clear mountain stream whose source is in the snows of Pike's Peak. The water passed first into a settler, twelve hundred feet higher than the city, and then was conveyed to reservoirs situated upon a mesa, west, and two hundred feet above Colorado Springs. One of these reservoirs was made in 1878, holding 2,000,000 gallons; the second, constructed in 1886, has a capacity of 15,000,000 gallons. The pipe line from Ruxton Creek, ten and eight inches in diameter froze, and burst in 1880-1881. The council, therefore, voted $25,000 in bonds and a new eight inch main was put four feet below the surface to prevent the recurrence of such a calamity.
In 1883 the head of the system was extended more than half a mile further up the Ruxton and at this time the water question was thought solved for years to come; yet, only four years later, the rapidly increasing population made it necessary for the community to vote $35,000 more bonds to run mains from a new storage reservoir built in 1886 at an additional cost of $10,000. In 1889 this new main did not suffice, and the city issued bonds in the sum of $85,000, laying a sixteen inch main. Bonds to the amount of $80,000 were also issued, to acquire additional water rights, and an attempt was made to bring water from Bear Creek. Mains were run to irrigation reservoirs which receive, thereby, the overflow of the city water system, and a dam and pipe have been put in Lake Moraine which drain its waters into Ruxton Creek.
The council also proceeded directly to utilize the supply of this lake of glacial formation, which lies about three miles east of Pike's Peak, and at an altitude of 11,000 feet. Steps were taken to secure from government, grants for the perpetual use of Lake Moraine's waters, and for an adjoining reservoir site, which were granted the city in 1889-1890.
Lake Moraine has a surface area of ten acres and a depth of thirty feet, with a capacity of 36,000,000 gallons. It is fed by lively springs-rains and snows; its waters are cold and limpid. Immediately south of the lake is a natural reservoir of 170,000,000 gallons' capacity. It is framed by the granite mountains, and through it Ruxton flows. It is now proposed to build a dam at the valley opening of the , reservoir, some 385 feet in width, and to drain the lake into the reservoir. The dam at the base will be 195 feet thick, and at the top twenty feet, while its height will be thirty-five feet. The plan is not unlike that of the celebrated Sweetwater engineering near San Diego, California. The material of the dam is to be a mixture of clay and sand, well packed, with wide trenches of cement and stone sunk fourteen feet below the base from the top, the inner slope to be well riprapped with stone. A twenty inch steel discharge pipe is to be laid in the reservoir's natural bank. When the reservoir is filled to a depth of twenty-eight feet, Lake Moraine itself will be wholly submerged but the top of the dam will yet be seven feet above the surface water. At this high mark water will not escape through the dam but by a natural "spill-way" to
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HISTORY OF EL PASO COUNTY.
the north. City engineer Reid, who has advocated . the Moraine plan for years, estimates that the cost of the dam will be $15,000, and at the present writing this work is under construction. State engineer Maxwell also reports the plan practicable and safe. Water is distributed by means of nearly forty-five miles of pipe varying from sixteen to three inches in diameter. The city possesses seventy-five fire plugs and four public drinking fountains; two more fountains are to be erected during the present year.
During 1889 there were some 2,000 consumers of water paying water rents to the city, amounting to $26,000 annually. Provided no unfavorable accident or litigation occurs, it will be seen therefore, that Colorado Springs has planned a water system, commensurate with her future wants, unsurpassed in quality, and from which she derives substantial revenue.
Sewerage .- For many years the peculiar and fortunate character and configuration of the soil in Colorado Springs rendered any system of drainage, beyond the cesspool, unnecessary. In 1888, as demanded by an increasing population, a system of sewerage was constructed, costing $50,000. This is technically known as the Separate System, and is composed of seven lines of tile pipe running north and south through the city at a grade of eleven inches every hundred feet. There are 140 manholes for cleansing the sewers by rodding and flushing. The flushing is done twice every twenty-four hours from six tanks at the upper end of the system. The outlet is in the Fountain Creek, and the refuse matter is disposed of by "sewer farming." Two hundred and fifty private drains are connected with the sewer system. The city council in 1890 voted $25,000 in bonds to be expended in the extension of the sewage system.
Postoffice .- At the close of 1889 the Colorado Springs office had larger gross receipts than any office in the great States of Mississippi, North or South Carolina, North or South Dakota. There are thirty-six of the four hundred and one free delivery offices in the country, that are self-supporting, that is where the receipts from local postage are in excess of the cost of the carrier service. Colorado Springs is one of these. There are two postal deliveries per diem. A new postoffice building is greatly needed.
El Paso's Banks .- Previous to 1872 there were no banks in El Paso. The bank- ing facilities of Denver were too far removed for the new city's needs, and in 1872 a bank was established in Colorado Springs by W. H. Young with an alleged capital of $25,000. Young failed through the insolvency of Henry Clews & Co., of New York, and in 1873 he was bought out by Wm. S. Jackson, C. H. White and J. S. Wolfe, who founded the El Paso Bank which has continued its business to the present day almost without change of officers or directors, save that J. H. Barlow soon after the bank's organization became identified with it.
W. H. Young in 1874 had settled his debts, brought about by the bank failure, and organized the First National Bank of Colorado Springs, associated with Eastern capitalists. A little later this bank was strengthened and reorganized by B. F. Crowell, G. H. Stewart, F. L. Martin and others, and at present its stockholders are among the best known and wealthiest men of the city, J. J. Hagerman, Irving Howbert, B. F. Crowell, Louis R. Ehrich, A. A. McGovney, E. J. Eaton, Charles Thurlow and J. A. Hayes, Jr.
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In 1876 J. H. B. McFerran organized the People's Bank, and after eleven years' business, settled all accounts and retired.
The Exchange National Bank was established in 1888. Its directors were, F. E. Dow, George De La Vergne, D. M. Holden, George H. Case, D. B. Fairley, W. S. Nichols, J. A. Himebaugh, K. H. Field, D. H. Heron, John J. LaMar and A. L. Lawton. The capital of the bank is $100,000. Mr. D. M. Holden is president; D. H. Heron is cashier, and Colonel De La Vergne, vice-president.
In 1889 Jerome B. Wheeler, of New York, founded banks at Colorado City and at Manitou. Each bank has a separate organization, and capital of $25,000.
Mercantile Interests .- Although the wholesale trade is limited, and but one ex- clusively wholesale house is in the county, the volume of retail trade is notable. Although no official statistics are obtainable, conservative merchants estimate the aggre- gate of merchandise sales, for 1889, in Colorado Springs alone, at $6,000,000, and the capital here invested in trade at about $1,500,000.
Politics .- In national and State elections El Paso County has always been strongly Republican. The present Republican majority varies from five to seven hundred. Colorado Springs' mayors of late years have been elected through personal popularity rather than by party means. Mayor Stillman, now in office, is a Democrat, as was his predecessor.
City Organization .- The city is governed by a mayor and board of aldermen. The first town officers were nominated by a convention of all the people, exclusive of party considerations. These officers were as follows:
Trustees .- Matt France, president; W. H. Macomber, A. H. Weir, C. T. Barton, Jas. F. Wilson.
Clerk and Treasurer .- A. H. Barrett.
Constable .- C. P. Downing.
Street Commissioner .- R. C. Lyon.
The police department is directed by a marshal, with a corps of officers. The fire department is volunteer, the chiefs and first assistants alone drawing salaries. The first hose companies, organized in 1878, are known as the Matt France Hose, No. 1, and Jackson Hose Company, No. 2. Other companies are: B. F. Crowell, Hose No. 3; College Hose, No. 4, and C. B. Ferrin Hose No. 5. There is also a Hook and Ladder Company which was organized prior to the hose companies.
In 1889 the Gamewell Electric Fire Alarm System was adopted at a cost of about $3,000, and nine alarm boxes were distributed through the city. The central alarm system is sounded in the City Hall where all but two of the volunteer hose companies make their headquarters. W. H. D. Merrill is at present chief of the Fire Department. The City Hall cost $11,000, a commodious building when erected in 1883, but now hardly commensurate with the municipal needs. The jail is small, inconvenient, and a disgrace to the city.
The Board of Trade was founded in 1882. The directors for the first year were: D. J. Martin, E. E. Hooker, A. Sagendorf, C. H. White and Asahel Sutton. The board shared in that period of depression, but revived in 1886, and has since been prominent in advertising this region in the East and abroad. The president is Mr. Louis R. Ehrich.
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The secret and benevolent organizations are as follows: El Paso Lodge No. 13. A. F. and A. M; Colorado Springs Royal Arch Chapter; Pike's Peak Commandery Knights Templar, No. 6; Catholic Knights of America, branch 433; Pike's Peak Lodge No. 38, I. O. O. F .; Phoenix Encampment No. 21, I. O. O. F .; Colfax Canton No. 2, I. O. O. F .; Washington Camp, No. 35; Tejon Lodge, 2765, Knights of Honor; Badito Lodge, No. 24; Badito Lodge Legion 16, Select Knights A. O. U. W .; Myrtle Lodge No. 34. K. of P .; Colored Masonic Lodge; Colorado Springs Post No. 22, G. A. R .; Colorado Springs Typographical Union, No. 32; Colorado Springs Lodge I. O. G. T .; El Paso Lodge No. 2771, 1. O. W .; Woman's Aid Society; Colorado Springs W. C. T. U.
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