USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1871 > Part 2
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John Saylor -Probate Judge. Thos. Mitchell-Sheriff. James Phillips + Coroner. A. 1). Jones --- Surveyor. Thos. MaMullen + Recorder.
Wm. H. Ayora - Trommer. Q. B. Clark . Antonior. Adison Michnol Collector .. .
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DES MOINES DIRECTORY.
Benj. Saylor, Wm. H. Meacham, F. W. Fouts, Commissioners.
It was prophesied that there must be) somewhere in this locality, another large city, ranking| with New York, Chicago, St. Louis, and San Francisco, and who knows but! what Des Moines is to be the place, in view of it being the great conunercial as well as railroad center of the West. It is no speculative idea to-day, as'to the place where will be the great railroad center, for we have already many railroads converging here, within the corporation. jWe need only think of the rapid growth of our city to know that before long it will be the metropolis of the Northwest.
The main part of the Business is at present done on the west side of the river, but is rapidly reaching over the river, as there is a magnificent country east of the city.
The surrounding country fs abundantly supplied with streams of the. purest water, upon the banks bt which streams are found plenty of dif, ferent kinds of timber.
The growth of Des Moines has been very rapid since the advent and opening of the railroads.
POPULATION.
A careful survey of the improvements, auil fron the careful canvass of the city, as out Resident Directory will show, now (1871) warrant us in saying that the population is fully fifteen thousand, and in this candor can detect no exaggeration.
AREA.
In arda Des Moines includes about twelve square miles, all suitable and laid out for building purposes. The city is spreading with unprece- dented capidity, both in the erection of handsome and comfortable dwel- lings, andisolid, imposing, and beautiful business blocks.
PROSPECTS.
What facilities, it is askedl; has Des Moines, either natural or acquired, for becoming the commercial center ?| We have said that we have citi- zens who are wide-awake; that we are building extensively and substan- tially; but we look beyond and beneath all this. It is necessary to omit all exaggerations-to ignore the great expectations of the citizens, and survey, if possible, the foundation upon which the greatness of our city must rest, Unlike the Iowa cities on the Mississippi and Missouri, which are numerous, Des Moines has no rival. This will allow Des Moines to make a fir greater growth than it could otherwise hope to attain. Please take a glance at the map, and think of the prospective roads whose termini will be Des Moines, and that the roads east, west, north and
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south, are extending their arms for their share of the merchandise and freight which must come here. Don't say that the railroad companies don't know what they are doing. | Are not all the roads looking to a connection with the great continental thoroughfare? What does this indicate, but that Des Moines is fast becoming a railroad center ?!
We do not boast at all, but, as we have canvassed the place, we can speak from facts. With our great tide of emigration this year, the business must be greater than ever before; by far, as houses are being rapidly built.
One of the great advantages which Des Moines claims over all rivals, is, that it is backed by a farming country which can scarcely be excelled. It is a well known fact that Omaha, and many of the large western cities, as well as the mining districts, are fed by the farmers of Central Iowa, and that a large share of this produce is bought in Des Moines. It is plain to be seen what will be the final result. The farmers in Iowa will rapidly become wealthy, having one of the best markets in the' country, easily accessible. The merchants will have the first and largest profits affer the produce leaves the producer's hands. . It is safe to say that the lion's share of the profits of the immense productions of Iowa will remain here. Our rich farming land, which is the foundation of wealth, can never be moved. Our aftontages are, therefore, permanent,' and not accidental, or subject to other laws than the laws of nature Some speak of Omaha that she is a place of importance, but the natural, advantages of Des Moines are plainly seen to-day .;
It will be well for capitalists, and particularly for men with moderate menns, desiring to acquire rapidly, to give their closest attention to the attractions which Des Moines now offers to them over any city in the West. The peculiar advantages of Des Moines must be at once apparent to the most casual observer. With dines of railway, north,. cast, south and west, and the longest single lines in the world.
The past scason has been one of business prosperity to Des Moines. A larger number of good, substantial business houses have been built the past summer and present fall than during the same time in any, previous . year. The number of houses put up; has not been so large, as in some of the past years, but the houses have been of a better, larger and costlier quality.
It is with pride that we watch these encroachments, for there is ample room on the beautiful hills, bluffs and plains in the suburbs for residences, where little garden spots can be portioned off with the . houses, and people can live in peace, undisturbed by the noise, bustle, and confusion of commerce, or the whiz and whir of manufacture, pecul- iar to the precincts called " down town"
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DES MOINES DIRECTORY.
1 1 The prospects are that next year will be more prosperous still. We can already count ten good three-story briek business houses that will be commended as soon as the frost is out of the earth in the spring, We are algo to have another. large new planing mill next season. Many improvements we have heard strongly talked of, but are not at liberty to yet announce as fixed facts, among which are a lot of nice brick store roomsjon the east side.
The at present cheap rates of real estate, and in view of the largo mechanical population which will be brought here in the construction of railroads, and other works, we know of no other place on the American continent which presents better opportunities for the investment of capi- tal, of which promises a more enduring prosperity. Des Moines, unlike many Western cities, is not built up by borrowed capital.
Bot the Western trade what town so favorably situated ? With the 1 before-named advantages, to make it the market for the West, and insur- ing it cheap transportation from the east, it could not be better situated in reference to this tratte. Indeed, the start already made in this, direc- tion is some indication of what may be expected in the future.
Viewed in the light of these facts, Des Moines possesses no ordinary interest ; and he who studies the situation thisinterestedly, will not under- value its importance, for ignore its well-grounded hopes of future prost perity and greatness. It Cannot, hope to prival Chicago, or eclipse Sar j Francisco ; but it may reasonably expect to be the metropolis of Iowa ; The to be metropolis of the new North-west, where shall be garnered the grain and products of a soll musurpassed in its virgin, richness hy an' country, or section of country, upon the face of the globe, to be di trthuted, through its grand railroad system, to all points north, cas; south and west, to feed the world!
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DES MOINES DIRECTORY. i ..
POLK COUNTY, IOWA.
ITS AGRICULTURAL AND MINERAL RESOURCES, DESCRIPTION, ETC.
Polk County lies a little south of the center of the State, having five - tiers of counties on the north, and three on the south. It is bounded on the north by Boone and Story, and on the cost by Jasper, while Warren lies on the south, and Dallas on the west. It has an area of about 352,500 acres of land.
EARLY HISTORY.
As the present condition will prove more interesting to the majority of readers than reminiscences of the, past, I shall make but a passing allusion to this subject. Polk County was included in the Sac and Fox Reservation until 1842, when it was ceded to the United States, but with the stipulation that possession should not be given until three years from the date of the treaty. The Government was required to establish a mil- itary post at the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, in order to protect these tribes from the depredations of their enemies, the Sioux and Pottawattamies This post whe, soon established and named Fort Des Moines, and one of the log huts still remains to remind the old set- tiers of those aboriginal times. The first settlers came in and staked out their claims while the troops were here, which claims, however, could not be considered valid while the Indian title remained, and' had to be made aglin when that 'title became extinct. In order that they might not be swindled out of the lands they had selected, the settlers prepared themselves for going through the form of staking out their clain anow, and on the evening of the 10th of October, 1845, cach man was on his claim prepared to
commence operations. At midnight, as had been agreed upon, a cannon was fired from the Fort, followed by the discharge off guns on the surrounding hills, announcing that the Indian title had expired. The settlers then commenced staking off their claims by the 'light of the flickering lamps, and by sunrise on the morning of the 11th, most of the work was finished. The old residents delight to recount the many amusing incidents of those early times, and especially of that busy night when the title to their selections of land depended upon their getting ahead of others, wlid, they feared; might, as is some- times the case in an unsettled state of society, show more respect for legal enactments than gospel commandme, its.
The county was organized' under a law of the Territorial Legislature, passed in January, 1840, and the first election was held on the first Mon- day of the following April. One Hundred and seventy-live votes were 2
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cast, but the population cannot be reckoned from the number of votes, as is now done. It did not much exceed 300, most of the voters being here without families The population now, outside the city, is about 15,000
TOPOGRAPHY.
The surface of the country is undulating, but in no places rough, and is beautifully diversified with wooded streams and open prairie, the former being sufficiently numerous in most places to furnish convenient wood lots for all the settlers. The principal stream is the Des Moines river, which traverses the county from northwest to southeast. Previous to the com- pletion 'of the railroads, steamboats frequently came up as far as Des Moines during spring freshets. But Hoating, was so precarious and of such short duration, that nq boat has been [up for several years. During the summer months this river is very
low, and is forded with case; but in the spring it somestimes becomes, a giant river. Besides this, there are the Raccoon river, which makes a junction with the Des Moines at the capital; the, Chicaque (the Indian name for Skunk), North River, Beaver Creek. Walnut Creek and Four Mile Creek, besides numerous smaller streams. Between these lie the divides, or elevated prairie lands, which ' rise from the streamis in gentle slopes rather than precipitious bluff's."
This alternation of timber and native meadow, of hill and vale, pro- duces some beautiful scenery,-not grand, but simply beautiful. The road on the divide between the Des Moines River and Beaver Creek affords some tine views. | At jonb point the eye commands a view of Beaver valley for many miles in eitbor direction, embracing some of the finest country in the world.
THE TIMBER
of the county is found along all the large streams, but the heaviest body is the Des Moines timber, lyingvon both sides of the Des Moines River, and eftending all the way through the county, The number of. acres of timber land is not far from 68,000, being about one fifth of the whole teritory. Some of the townships are almost exclusively prairie, but have groves of timber adjoining, while some have even more than is desirable for farming purposes.
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. COAL
is both abundant and of good quality. It probably underlies a good portion of the county adjacent to the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers,' while its existence at a reasonable depth in the prairie townships is yet to be tested by shafting, Enough veins have been discovered, and in such localities as to render it safe to assert, that there is enough for local and foreign demand for several generations.
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DES MOINES DIRECTORY.
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The County is rapidly filling up and being improved by enterpris- ing farmers from the East The ready market found at Des Moines for everything produced by the farmer, and the rich renumerative yfeld from everything planted in the soil, are rapidly enriching the farming com- munity ..
RAILROADS.
The benefits which are derived from railroad communication are untold, and can hardly be realized, when we remember that civilization and improvements of all kinds follow the iron horse. They are an almighty power. Whatever they undertake to do, as companies or cor- porations, they always seem to accomplish. If it is the building of af town on any of their lines, they make all to serve their plans by the mighty influence they exert ; andy almost like magic, cities and towns spring up where they plant the standard.
CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND & PACIFIC.
The above named road is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) line across our State, connecting, as it does at Council Bluffs, with the Union Pacific, It will compete with the eastern roads in transportation of freight and merchandise .. Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Grinnel, Iowa City, and Davenport, are the principal towns and cities on the Iowa Division. The great growth of commerce and trade of the West demand that this road should rank among the first in the land.
H. F. Royce, Superintendent of West Division, and C. D. Sprgue, Agent at Des Moines, are gentlemen of ability and experience, and look well to the interest of the road ; and who are well esteemed by the citizens and business men of our city.
DES MOINES VALLEY.
The most important north and south fine In the State. . The bugi- ness of the past year shows the wonderful advantage of theroad, not only to Des Moines, but the entire State, as it connects with all the lines run. ning east and west.| The above named road has been of most practical Benefit to our city, and we may say the citizens and business men realize the great benefit.
All seem to express their thanks to the gentlemanlyand business like men connected with the road ; especially If. Coykendall, the Agent at Des Moines, a gentleman of experience, and well liked by lall of our citizens
NEW RAILROADB .
DES MOINES, INDIANOLA & MISSOURI
The organization from which the above road sprung, was effected in
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1866, to secure the construction of a line to be called the Iowa & Min- nesota Railroad. In the Spring of 1809 two separate organizations were effected, one canbracing the Indianola Division under the name of the D. M. I. & M. R.R., while the northern portion retained the original name. The grading of the DUDE I. &. M. has been completed from Des Moines to Indianola, adistance of 91 miles. The bridging has been com- pleted to Sunanerset; thelerogy ties are marly all delivered, and work will be ready for track laving from Des Moines to Indianola early in the Spring of this year.
Active measures farej nost ! in progress, likely to lead to the speedy extension of this road across the several fast and west trunk lines of Southern lowa to af connection with the Great Railway System | of Missouri.
God. E. Griffith of Indianola, President ; J. B. Bousman, of Des Moines Chief Engineer.
Steps have been taken which look to the completion of the romain ing portion of the Iowa and Minnesota Railroad from Des Moines to Ames, during the present year. . In view of this, another important enterprise has sprung up and is looked upon with much favor, namely :
THE DES MOINES, BOONE AND NORTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY
propose to build a link of railroad which will extend to the north 'line of Towa through the points named, and furnish direct communication with the pineries of the north. This line has the alternative of building direct from Des Moines or diverging from that of the Iowa and Minne- sotn ut Polk City, and' extending therice porthward. Recent surveys reveal an exceedingly favorable route to Montana and Boone. From the Iowa lind to Mankato, on the Minnesota river, the greater portion is already in operation, and the construction of the link thence to St. Cloud is regarded as wellfprovide if for ..
THE WINTERSET AND DES MOINES RAILROAD, 1 aided by |strong conditional guarnoties, is in the care of able and influen- tial parties, who propose to secure the construction of their road during the present year directly between the above named points for it doomed expedient, to tap the fine of the Des Moines, Indianola and Missouri at or near Summerset. =
THE ARBIA, KNOXVILLE ANH DES MOINES RAILROAD,
designed to extend the line of the North Missouri Raftroad to Des Moines, is in process of construction. A considerable portion of the ling fs under contract, and nine miles of grading have been recently completed. This road has also the alternative of construction directly, to Des Moines, or of tapping the Des Moines, Indianola and Missouri at or near Carlisle.
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THE OLD I CIISHED PAPER,
The State Register.
Largest Paper : Largest Circulation IN IOWA.
Unequalled in the State as 2 News Journal and Alertigny Medium.
Job Printing
04 With Fasithe fa dores Ford War & #
EXCHANGE BLOCK.
Corner Third and Wala
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DES MOINES DIRECTORY.
The friends of various projects leading northward from Des Moines, have been at work in the meantime, and their efforts have been rewarded with more or less success. In 1860 a survey was made from Des Moines to McGregor, via Marshalltown, the main object of the enterprise being to place Des Moines in direct railway communication with, and secure cheap transportation for produce by means of the proposed improvement in the navigation of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers.
A LINE leading from Des Moines directly to Sioux City has also been proposed, of which the Sioux City Journal says : " We are happy to inform our readers that a company has been formed, with Hon. B. F. Allen, of Des Moines, at its head, for the pur- pose of constructing a line of railway from Des Moines to this city. IIon. A. W. Hubbard, and Hon. Wm. L. Joy, of this city, are in the directory. The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific road is understood to be the backing. We informed our readers some time ago that the Rock Island company had decided to secure direct connection with this city, and thus with the Upper Missouri country and the Northern Pacific road, and we are pleased to record so early a movement toward the carrying * out of the project. We have information that the intention is to have . the line completed in two years. It will be an important feder to Sioux City, and at the same tinge open direct connection with the State Capital, and give us admirable connection with St. Louis." Of the great import- ance of the above road to Des Moines there can be no question;
NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper established in Des Moines, was the Iowa STAR It was issued in June, 1845, by Messrs. Barlow Granger & Co., from one of the dragoon buildings on Coon river, which was then one of the most popular streets of the city. Mrs Granger informs us that be got along very well in summer, in his cabin, but in winter it was necessiry to build fires both under and on the press to work the ink. The circulation of the STAR at this time vas about 800. It passed into the hands of Bates & Johnson. The litter died about eight months after assuming' control of the paper, and was succeeded by Dr. A. Y. Hull, in August, 1831. In May, 1852, Dr. Hull retired, leaving-Curtis Bates sole editor. He so con- tinued until 1854, when D. O. Finch becanie associated with him. The paper then passed into the hands of Tomlinson & Farner, who changed its name to IowA STATESMAN. |It passed into the hands of' Will Porter; February, 1857, who changed its name to IOWA STATE JOURNAL The successor of Mr. Porter was Stilson Hutchins, who associated with him Geo. M. Todd. The name was changed to "IOWA STATESMAN.' During all its various changes and mutations, it has been the organ of the Demq. cratic party.
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DES MOINES DIRECTORY.
In 1860 Messsrs. Stevens & Hoxie started the COMMONWEALTH, which subsequently changed its name to the Times, and passed into the hands of J. B. Bausman & Co., who afterward sold it to W. IL Merritt, who changed the name and politics to the present STATESMAN-now called THE STARSMAN, and is under the control and editorship of Cole, Stull & Co., live, energetic young men.
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Almost simultaneously with the STAR appeared the FORT DES MOINES GAZETTES, published by f. P. Sherman & Co., but the enterprise; not proving a success, it was abandoned, and soon after Peter Myers & Co. established the STATE JOURNAL, which at the end of about one year was suspended, and the Democracy had | the only organ in the county, until February, 1856, whon Thomas II Shepard established the IOWA CITIZEN. 1857, Mr Itis associate in the enterprise was A. J. Stevens. In February, Shepard retired and was succeeded by W. H. Farner, as editor, (who had during the previous campaign' become a. Fremonter,) Mr. Ste- Stevens being de facto the proprietor. | In May of the same year, the paper went into the hands of J. C. Sayery. In Augus, Mr. Farner parted from the paper. He was succeeded by J. M. Dixon who was sole editor until December 7, when the entire establishnight passed into the hands of John Teestald. With Mr. Dixon as associate editor, the paper was carried on with uniform success. February 15th, 1860, the name of the paper was changed to IOWA STATE REGISTER. On the Beh of May, 1860, Mr frees- dale published his valedictory, and the paper passed into the hands of Hon. F. W. Palmer. Meanwhile the city hun grown to important pro- portions, and a weekly paper was a slow coach. To meet the demand for a daily paper, the first numberfor the DAILY RESTE REGISTER was issued January 13th, 1862, with J. J. Dixon as associate editor. Since that into the business of the establishment has grown with the city, and become permanent and profithlile, with Mills & Go, editorsand proprietors until recently. Tux Remigren is now in the bands of Clarkson Company, As editorsand proprietors. We can say that the present proprietors are very able men, and now have the best doing mut weekly paper in the Went.
From the Brazzers to the present Hongy Reamerica, the property " have been the organs of the Whip, Broly Inpublicar the order of their succession .;
In the winter of 1858, With Buona Wilhelm called of the lows Fansna hom Mt. The out to Des M 11
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H. W. Pettitt, who died in 1866, when the paper passed back into the hands of Mark Miller. It is now published as the IDWA HOME- STEAD, by Wm. Duane Wilson. 13 The MONTHLY REPORTER; was issued in July, 1858, by N W. Mille & Co:, and continued about three years.
The IOWA SCHOOL JOURNAL, was issued July, 1859, by N. WV. Mills & Co., and published monthly in quarto form, until 1802, when it was changed to a magazine, and so continues, with Mills & Col publishers Its editors are James Ellis and J. MI. Ross.
The following shows the papers and publication's of the present time! Daily Register, corner Walnut and Third streets, issued every morning except Monday! Weekly Register, issued every Wednesday.
The Stateeman, Court Avenue between 3d and 4th streets, Issued every Wednesday.
The Lord Roofer, 4th street between Court Avenue and Walnut, issued every Saturday.
Move Stauts Anzeigen (German) Walnut street , between $d and 4th, issued every Saturday.
Fora Homestead, 4thstreet, bet veen Court Avenue and Walnut, issuel ofory Wednesday. 11 For School Journal, 4th street between Court Avenueand Walnut, issued |monthly, . The Western Pomologist, 60 Walnut street, Issued monthly
The Western Jurist, 4th street, between Court Avenue and Walnut, issued monthly. The New Broom, 60 Walnut Offret, lostie i-mont y. Plain Talk, 50 Walnut street, Shouted y.
PERSO SCHOOL.H.
"The Interest (akon ) 10 de dion of the youth in the bloot conot
sivo evidence a ich of the community whoare Any way on a they at af anoula all will notfind it to a. mitted by all who tight What we have the Anost alldas
Ininto to takethat same intripsand its all ·
la runs alla propriet cool 18 pitts
planches in cinti ....
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1 COMMON BOLGOLE
There are 134 Independent Middels apple requiring about 160 teachers to run the school.
There are 116 school houses in the county, valued at $951,020,
The city of Des Moines is divided into two independent school ais- tricts :
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