USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines, the pioneer of municipal progress and reform of the middle West, together with the history of Polk County, Iowa, the largest, most populous and most prosperous county in the state of Iowa; Volume I > Part 39
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The first appearance of Col. Robert G. Ingersoll in Des Moines in the spring of '77, drew nearly fifteen hundred people out to hear the orator on "Liberty."
DEMOINE HOUSE
THE OLD DEMOINE HOUSE
HARDWARE
Mulberry Street Probably looking east from Sixth to Fifth Street
ERS.
FITEU STATES PRESS C:
Probably looking north on Fourth Street from Court Avenue
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His humor, amounting to audacity, coupled with the strength of his appeal, made him a prime favorite with most of those who heard him.
On the 21st of April, the stars and stripes were flung to the breeze for the last time from the old Demoine House, so often mentioned in these pages. The walls were doomed to destruction and the Spofford House was destined to take the place of that historic hostelry.
Odd Fellowship had a great day in Des Moines on the 26th of April, when the Odd Fellows of the State joined in celebrating the fifty-eighth anniversary of the Order. A grand parade, a public meeting at the Opera House with Hon. John Van Valkenburg the orator of the occasion, was followed by the inevitable and enjoyable banquet, --- at the Aborn House,-enlivened by music and oratory.
Memorial Day, 1877, was doubly sad to many veterans of Des Moines be- cause General Baker was not of the number to march with them to the ceme- tery. Judge Nourse and Fred W. Lehman, the orators of the occasion, paid high tribute to the honored dead.
An echo of the presidential post-campaign of 1876 was a serenade given Governor Packard, of Louisiana, in Des Moines, June 26, 1877. The Governor was the guest of Judge Cole. In the early evening the grounds of Colechester Place were thronged with citizens headed by a city band. Judge Cole introduced Governor Packard, who made a speech in which he went briefly over the ground of his recent trying experiences, in Louisiana, and commending Iowa republicans for the advanced ground they had taken on national questions. Judge Cole was called out and paid high tribute to the Governor's courage and loyalty to prin- ciple, maintaining that the man who received more votes than President Hayes in Louisiana should have been maintained in his position as Governor-a conclu- sion from which there was-and still is-little dissent.
The republican state convention of June 27, was an enthusiastic assemblage, bringing out as its candidate, on the first formal ballot, "Old Business," Hon. John H. Gear. There was intense excitement over resolutions endorsing Presi- dent Hayes, and injecting prohibition into the platform, but the conservative reso- lutions of the committee, read by its chairman, Frank Hatton, were adopted.
A State municipal convention, held in Des Moines, June 29, was one of the many forecasters of the coming revolution in municipal affairs at the State Capi- tal, and in the other cities of Iowa. Giles H. Turner of Des Moines was chair- man. Resolutions were adopted praying the incoming legislature to pass meas- ures enabling municipalities to effect reform in administrative methods.
The fearful storm of August 29, 1877, brought reports of dire disaster on the Rock Island Railroad about a mile and a half west of Altoona. Part of a bridge over little Four Mile creek had been carried away by the wind. The train wrecked consisted of Barnum's show car, one express, three coaches and a sleeper. Barnum's car was totally demolished, and seven of the thirteen em- ployes in the car were killed. The other six were injured. The engineer and seven passengers were killed and many were injured. The sufferers were brought to Des Moines, and were given every attention by local surgeons. Much damage was done by the storm in the city. One boy was struck by lightning and in- stantly killed.
After a successful run of five weeks the Exposition closed with a grand con- cert, November 10. The closing concert was keenly enjoyed by thousands in at- tendance, and much satisfaction was expressed. The impressions made by the exhibits upon the public mind, at home and abroad, was thought to be highly advantageous to local trade and manufacturers.
The Blue Ribbon temperance movement swept the city in December, and in less than a week more than twelve hundred persons had donned the emblem of the movement.
The permanent improvements in Des Moines during the year 1877 were esti- mated by the Leader to amount in cash to $1,214,500. In an itemized statement in verification of these figures, the biggest items are: The R. H. Parry block,
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$20,000 ; the C. G. Lewis opera house block, $30,000; the Fifth Ward School building, East side, $30,000 ; the Hoyt Sherman brick residence on Greenwood avenue, $20,000; the James Callanan residence, $30,000; houses in Brown's addition, $40,cco; the Atkins block, $20,000; Des Moines Water Company im - provements, $45,000 ; money expended on the Capitol, $225,000.
1878-THE YEAR THE OLD S.WVERY WAS CLOSED.
The two decisions in the B. F. Allen homestead case, involving the fate of "Terrace Hill" were read, May 29, to a throng of citizens interested directly and indirectly in the fate of that historic home. Judge Love prepared the papers and Judge Dillon, who, by agreement, sat with the District Judge in the case, concurred in both. The house, grounds and improvements which were found to have cost about $200,000 were estimated as having a cash value of $50,000. It was granted that Mr. Allen had an established homestead in this property until 1873 when he removed to Chicago. The purpose of the Allens to return to the homestead was too indefinite to affect the creditor's rights. Mr. Allen's later declarations that Terrace Hill was still his home was regarded by the court as evidence of his desire to keep up and maintain deposits in his Des Moines bank. In '74 he had bought and occupied a home in Chicago, and had contracted to sell the Des Moines homestead. He "could not hold two home- steads at the same time." The claimant's exceptions were denied and overruled. And so Terrace Hill was swept into the maelstrom of bankruptcy with the other large property holdings.
On the 12th of June, the State Democrat, after a four-week's losing exist- ence, ceased to be. The paper had its origin in the dissatisfaction of certain ones with the course of the Leader, which, under its new management, had refused to be the organ of the liquor interests.
Des Moines' railroad interests were considered at a public meeting July 6. The definite object of the meeting, as stated by J. S. Clarkson, was to secure for Des Moines connection with other trunk lines. A resolution was adopted ap- pointing a committee to ascertain from the management of the C. B. & Q. whether that company had any intention of coming to Des Moines by way of Knoxville, and if so what aid it would expect from Des Moines and Knoxville. Messrs. Clarkson, Merrill, Runnells and Sneer were appointed as that committee. On motion of F. M. Mills the City Council was requested to submit a proposition for a tax in aid of the Des Moines and Missouri River Railroad. At a later meeting Messrs. Clarkson and Runnells reported that in compliance with request they had made a statement of the business of Des Moines and Vice President Perkins had forwarded it to the C. B. & Q. directors in New York. Report was also made on the Des Moines, Afton & Missouri railroad enterprise and the meeting pledged itself to support the project.
The movement for a monument in memory of General N. B. Baker took form in July in the selection of a granite monument designed by R. S. Miller of Des Moines. To J. S. Clarkson was assigned the preparation of the inscrip- tion. The monument, standing in Woodland cemetery, has been the shrine of many a patriotic pilgrimage since 1878.
Des Moines in July and August had under consideration a northwestern rail- road, a southwestern road, the Knoxville road to connect with the C. B. & Q., and an eastern road running between the Rock Island and the C. B. & Q. The northwestern route had two rival companies. The Southwestern had two rival interests. To steer between these conflicting interests and at the right time make the winning connection was the hard task of the promoters of the period.
On the morning following the October election, the winning democrats held a big jollification, addressed by Congressman-elect Gillette, and General Weaver, Ed. Campbell and others.
The closing of the locally historic Savery House was the theme of general conversation in November. On the night of the 13th, the doors of that hostelry
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were summarily closed. A mortgage for $30,000 was paid in '66, and in '70 another for $40,000 was filed. When B. F. Allen borrowed $200,000 from the Newark Savings Institution, he gave, with other collateral, a mortgage on the Savery House. The Newark company sent an agent to Des Moines to sell the property, but could find no customer. Mr. McCartney would again lease the property provided the company would improve it. This the company refused to do, fearing a lease might interfere with a sale-and so the house was closed.
The Savery was built by James C. Savery and a number of other citizens in the year 1856. The hotel was in advance of the town. In '57 Mr. Savery was compelled to take over not a little of the stock and carry the load alone. In '62, the house was opened to the public. It cost $100,000, and was mortgaged for $30,000. George C. Savery took the house, rent free the first year, and subject to a slight rental for four years thereafter. In '74 F. C. McCartney took the property with J. C. Savery as partner
In this house many valiant-and unvaliant-deeds had been enacted. Here occurred the vigorous contest between FitzHenry Warren and William M. Stone for Governor in '64. Here occurred the actual contest between Harlan and Kirk- wood in '69, between Wright and Allison in '71, between Allison and Harlan in '72, -- and so on down to the closing.
The political headquarters then shifted to the Aborn, then to the Kirkwood and finally to the New Savery,-where it seems likely to remain-for some time at least.
The temperance reform in Des Moines, in December, was made somewhat sensational by a brief personal controversy between the Rev. Mr. Ingalls, its leader, and Editor Clarkson of the Register, in which each made public his private opinion of the other personally, and his contempt for the views of the other on methods of temperance reform.
The hard times did not greatly curtail the prosperity of Des Moines during the year 1878, though the year did not compare favorably with the preceding. The Leader's long list of investments in permanent improvements during the year aggregates $810,506. In this, the principal items are: Louis Harbach's resi- dence, $18,000 ; Conrad Youngerman's business block, $20,000; Martin Tuttle's, $11,500 ; Levi Patterson's block of dwellings, East side, $12,000; State Insurance Company's business block, $22,000; the Gray block, $12,000; C. H. Atkins' resi- dence block, $12,000 ; amount expended on State Capitol, $200,000.
The first case considered by the newly created Board of Railroad Commis- sioners, in 1878, was distinctively a Des Moines case,-that of the Keokuk & Des Moines. Railway vs. the Des Moines & Fort Dodge Railroad, on a question of jurisdiction raised by the defendant. Having decided that they had jurisdiction, the grievance complained of being a public grievance, the commissioners found that, May 1, 1878, the Keokuk company filed its complaint, in substance, that the Des Moines and Fort Dodge company had entered into a running agreement, with the Rock Island road by which the cars of that company were received and delivered at Des Moines; while the Fort Dodge road had persistently refused to receive the cars of the Keokuk road, or of roads connected therewith, unless a prepayment of ten cents per mile be made for hauling empty cars, no such charge having been exacted of the Rock Island. The Fort Dodge company made gen- eral denial. Without following the evidence adduced, it is sufficient to say that the commissioners found that there had been more or less discrimination, in some respects with good reason, in other respects without. They unite, in conclusion, in expressing regret that there had been too apparent a bitter feeling between the two managements, "arising no doubt from old transactions and troubles." They recommended to the respondent "that the law prohibiting discrimination be observed not only in letter, but in spirit."
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1879-THE YEAR OF KASSON'S RETURN FROM VIENNA.
Des Moines railroad status at the opening of the year 1879 was as follows :
In actual operation, the main trunk line of the Rock Island: the Keokuk branch of that line; the Des Moines & Fort Dodge; the Des Moines & Min- neapolis; the Chariton, Des Moines & Southern, "practically built ;" the Des Moines, Adel & Western, "practically built;" the Des Moines & Knoxville, "nearly ready for construction ;" the Des Moines & Western Midland, "nearly ready for construction ;" the Des Moines, Afton & Missouri, "nearly ready for construction ;" the Des Moines & Missouri River, "in statu quo,-prepared either to assist the D. M. A. & W., or the D. M. & W. M." 10
R. W. Sypher, a name familiar to the readers of this work, died on the morn- ing of April 9, 1879. The rugged frame of the pioneer long resisted disease, and might have come off victorious, had not erysipelas set in and destroyed all hope. Though prominent so long, he was only sixty years old at the time of his death. A series of business disasters such as would have appalled a common man seemed to nerve this man to new endeavor. He was a typical pioneer.
A "Methodist University" in Des Moines was dreamed of in the spring of 1879. The plan was to buy the Exposition building at $30,000, the stockholders to make a donation of $12,000 on the purchase price. It was then thought that Simpson College, Indianola, was about to close, and that the time was opportune for a university in the Capital city. It was even proposed to engage President Berry of Simpson, to take charge of the university. Nothing came of the movement.
The first of May ushered in a new industry in Des Moines-an oatmeal mill. H. R. Heath, a pioneer-planing mill man, worked over and enlarged his mill into one suitable for the preparation of oatmeal, the new mill with a capacity of a hundred barrels a day.
A reception was given Prof. William T. Hornaday, of Knoxville, by the Iowa Academy of Natural Sciences at Unitarian Hall on the evening of May I. Professor Hornaday, now world-famous as a naturalist, after graduating at Ames, spent five years in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, collecting specimens for Professor Ward, of Rochester, N. Y. He gave his Des Moines friends an informal account of adventures and "finds" in the wilds of the Dark Continent, and farther east.
On the 4th of April, the Exposition building was sold under the mortgage held by the Equitable Life Insurance Company, and was bid off, for the amount of the mortgage, about $16,300. A new company, composed of those who were willing to "stay in," was organized for the purpose of redeeming the building from the Equitable and holding it for future sale. The stayers were C. H. Gatch, R. L. Tidrick, Hoyt Sherman, C. H. Getchell, Samuel Merrill, Dr. Rawson, J. R. Barcroft, Weaver & Maish, and Comparet & Stark.
The difference between 1879 and 1911 in the horse-trotting world is evidenced by the then remarkable heats of the great trotter Rarus on the Des Moines course, June 4; the first in 2:21; the second, in 2:2034. There were several comparatively unknown trotters on the fair-ground tract in August, 1911, who could make better time than Rarus made thirty-two years ago.
The return of Minister Kasson from Vienna, on a brief vacation, was the occasion of a demonstration on the evening of June 25. A torch-light proces- sion passed through the principal streets into the courthouse where Chairman Runnells delivered an eloquent address of welcome, to which Mr. Kasson feel- ingly responded.
The acquisition of the Des Moines & Minnesota road by the Northwestern late in July was welcome news to Des Moines, removing all further uncertainty as to the future of the road.
The death of R. W. Sypher was soon followed by that of Curtis Bates,
10 Weekly Iowa State Leader, Jan. 9, 1879.
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whose prominent part in early democratic politics has been developed in these pages. Judge Bates was a man of ability and doubtless would have made an eminent lawyer had not politics withdrawn him from his profession at the criti- cal period of his early career. Failing health and ample means led to his with- drawal from the practice of the law in 1861. He was an excellent citizen and retained the love of his friends through all the years, despite personal or political differences.
The State Fair in '79 was held September 1-5, on the new sixty-acre grounds known as Brown's Park. The landscape artist had beautified the grounds and several attractive buildings had been erected and the management deserved the unusual success which followed their selection and their efforts to make it in every way desirable. In entries, attendance and general attractiveness the fair of '79 was a record-breaker.
The decade closed without serious losses and with material gains for Iowa's Capital city. In the year 1879 the total of improvements, as estimated by the Leader, was $932,800. Of this amount, the largest items were: State Capitol, $125,000; C. B. & Q., $140,000; Rock Island, bridge and Fair branch, $60,000; Water works, $10,000; Gas works, $5,000; Court House, $5,000; Hawthorne School House, $12,000; sewers, $28,000; Brown's Park, $40,000; streets and alleys, $22,000; B. F. Kauffman's residence, $11,000; Corn syrup factory, $35,- 000; two oat-meal mills, $20,000; tenement houses, H. F. Getchell, $10,000; United Presbyterian church, $12,000.
The Mail and Times, a Saturday paper devoted to civic betterment, politics and society-was established in 1879, and for many years played an important part in local affairs in Des Moines.
CHAPTER 1I. SECOND DECADE OF PROGRESS.
1880-THE BEGINNING OF THE BUILDING BOOM IN DES MOINES.
Governor and Mrs. Gear, with gracious hospitality received their friends on New Year's Day, 1880, with a grand reception and ball to which "the whole of organized 'society' was invited," and to the invitation society locally responded. Many families in the city kept open house in old-time fashion-"no wine but plenty of women," says the reporter.
A large meeting was held in the Council Chamber January 8 to consider the question of more manufactures, C. F. Clarkson was elected president and H. E. Teachout secretary. J. S. Clarkson, W. W. Witmer, T. E. Brown, Judge Casady, and others gave their views at length. On motion of ex-Governor Merrill a committee on organization was appointed.
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At an adjourned meeting it was decided to incorporate under the name "The . Des Moines Improvement Association." Articles were adopted and the follow- ing were the incorporators : Samuel Merrill, James Callanan, T. E. Brown, Conrad Youngerman, George C. Baker, J. S. Clarkson, George H. Maish, P. M. Casady, George Garver, J. S. Polk, George M. Hippee, W. M. Witmer, S. A. Robertson, Isaac Brandt, T. S. Wright, John A. Elliott,, J. W. Cattell, J. H. Windsor, Thom- as Hatton, Jr., A. Lederer, J. J. Town and H. E. Teachout.
The Des Moines Syrup Refinery, then referred to as "the largest manufac- turing institution ever started at the Capital of Iowa," formally opened January 21. The factory was the product of the ambition of a young man from St. Louis, named Martin H. Miller, promoted by D. O. Eshbaugh. The enterprise was short-lived.
Des Moines and the Glasgow Plan.
The interest taken by Des Moines in the winter of 1880 in "the Glasgow plan" foreshadows the coming event of 1906. Several hundred leading citizens of Des Moines united in a petition to the General Assembly of Iowa praying that the Glasgow bill1 be made a law reducing the number of members of the City Council to three in cities of the first class and abolishing certain city offices entirely. The petitioners earnestly believed that such a law would remedy many of the serious evils resulting from the then existing method of city government.
Two years before, the number of councilmen had been reduced nearly one half; and, still not satisfied, the petitioners wanted to cut the present member- ship from nine to three.
The crying need of reform was conceded by the Register; but the almost revolutionary nature of the new departure created a question as to its wisdom. It was a "radical experiment" and "might prove a radical failure." All would depend upon the three commissioners.
The only immediate result of the Glasgow movement locally was a spread of the conviction that Des Moines was in need of a change from an irresponsible council to a smaller body in which responsibility could be located.
1 Introduced by General Glasgow, of Burlington.
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-Prix
Wellington Hotel
Elliott Hotel
Old Iliad Hotel Former Exposition Building, now the Grand Department Store
Victoria Hotel
Goldstone Hotel, East Des Moines
GROUP OF DES MOINES HOSTELRIES
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CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
A banquet at the Exposition building, February 18, in honor of the Grand Lodge of Knights of Pythias was a brilliant affair, presided over by James C. Savery, and addressed by F. W. Lehman, and others. Past Grand Chancellor Van Valkenburg was the recipient of a gift from the order, the presentation made by Governor Gear.
A committee of five went to Chicago early in March to accompany the Irish patriots, Parnell and Dillon, to Des Moines. At Mitchellville a car-load of leading citizens met the party and escorted them to the city. Captain Carey's cannon welcomed them to the Capital and St. Ambrose Band escorted the carriages to the Aborn House, where Judge Cole formally welcomed the visi- tors. In the evening the Opera House was packed. The contrast between the two noted men was marked-Parnell, of rather slight build, with light hair and beard, with an air of imperturbable calm-Dillon, tall, slender, with black beard and hair, looking "more like a Yankee than an Irishman." Governor Gear gave Mr. Parnell a flattering introduction. The address was a plea for financial aid for the Home Rule cause, with a pointed answer to an article in the Freeman's Journal charging misappropriation of funds. Mr. Dillon made an eloquent plea for the cause. Mr. Murdock, a Scotchman, General Given, Vicar General Brazill, Mr. Frisbie, Judge Cole and others followed. In addition to about. $4,000 from admissions, about $3,000 was raised by subscription.
The Water Company was reorganized in May with the following incorpora- tors : Messrs. Clapp, Dennan, Perkins, Gilmore, Ankeny, Maish, Wyman, Beckwith, White, Love, Windsor, Dickinson, Redhead, Bowman, Dewey, Fuller, Hippee, Parsons, Kauffman, Andrews, Runnells, Randall, Ewing, Dickey, Ogil- vie and Smart. The following directors were chosen: Messrs. Clapp, Windsor, Runnells, Wyman, Redhead, Kauffman, Dickinson and Dewey. The directors organized with J. N. Dewey president, A. N. Denman secretary and George H. Maish treasurer. Messrs. Polk and Hubbell at that time estimated that the works had cost them $334,882.32.
Hon. John A. Kasson, now fully reinstated in the confidence of the district, was nominated for Congress by acclamation at Chariton, July 7. All was peace and harmony! Mr. Clarkson, his former antagonist, was chairman of the com- mittee on resolutions, and his report was unanimously adopted. Mr. Kasson was at the time our Minister to Austria. So confident was he that the conven- tion would nominate him that he wrote a letter to Hon. James C. Jordan, June 9, expressing his grateful appreciation of the honor and saying on notification of his nomination he would arrange to start home speedily that he might share in the burdens of the campaign.
Here is the sequel to the Kasson-Register libel suit. In a letter of August 20, 1880, published in the Leader of October 28, 1880, J. C. Savery, author of the letter alleged to have been libelous, informed E. H. Gillette that the defendants in the case "were about to take additional testimony when notified that the suit would be withdrawn and the costs paid by the plaintiff."
The mountain-load of misfortunes which weighed down B. F. Allen in the Seventies was made still heavier in December, 1880, when Mr. Allen was brought into court in Chicago under indictment for having falsely reported the condition of the Cook County National Bank to the Comptroller of the Currency. After more than a week of grilling, the jury acquitted Mr. Allen, much to the relief of his Des Moines friends.
The growing importance of Des Moines as a jobbing center was the sig- nificant fact developed at a banquet of the Commercial Travelers of the North- west at the Aborn House December 18. The secretary of the association, C. H. Platt, of Des Moines, was backed by C. C. Prouty, W. H. Merritt, Jr., L. A. Stewart and others in making the visitors feel the genial pressure of Des Moines hospitality.
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