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 42
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The visit of John Sherman, statesman, April 28, on his way to California, was due to interest in his Des Moines relatives. The Senator was driven to the Hoyt Sherman place and gave himself up entirely to the pleasure of the visit. He did, however, grant a Register reporter an interview in which he gave his views on the double monetary standard which then was seriously alarming the business world.
The remains of Col. Sumner F. Spofford found interment in Des Moines, April 29. The funeral was attended by the city officers, several ex-mayors and ex-councilmen and about sixty early settlers. Colonel Spofford had twice been elected president of the State Agricultural Society. While a resident of Des Moines he was active in the promotion of the city's interests.
The visit of the Senate Committee on Inter-State Commerce, June 19, was the opportunity of the Des Moines Board of Trade to press upon Congress its necessities and ambitions, and the opportunity was not neglected. A general committee was created consisting of Messrs. Ingersoll, Watt, Witmer, Baker, Ainsworth and Bushnell, who in turn created a dozen special committees to
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meet the visiting statesmen and present their views. A reception was held at the Kirkwood on the evening of their arrival. The Senators present were: Platt, Cullom and Harris. Commissioner McDill was followed by Messrs. See- berger, Watt, Harbach, Meek, Gue and others. J. Loughran, representing the retailers of Des Moines, read a paper covering the question of freight discrim- inations, which was the main burden of the discussions which followed.
The Fair Ground Permanently Located at Last.
At last, after all its wanderings and temporary sojournings, a permanent home for the State Fair was selected and purchased! There is doubtless, no more beautiful site for a fair in the United States. Situated about two miles east from the State Capitol, it rises from the plain to a beautiful and sightly eminence from which the country for miles to the west, northwest and south- west stretches out before the view. Sycamore street had not yet become Grand avenue and had not yet been extended east to the grounds. The visitor then took the Altoona stage route turning south at the foot of the hill; or, turning east from Wesley Redhead's suburban home, took the historic Four Mile road, turning north at the foot of the hill. The home of Calvin Thornton, from whom most of the land was purchased, still stands among the trees on the hill, just beyond the southeast corner of the grounds. The several pieces of land were first deeded to Wesley Redhead of the State Agricultural Society and by him deeded to the State. The price paid was $46,239.25. The date of the final transfer to the State was June 26, 1885. The directors had been entrusted with $100,000, half of which was appropriated by the State, the other half donated by citizens of Des Moines and railroad companies. With over $50,000 to ex- pend for buildings and improvements, a landscape architect was engaged to draw plans and the work commenced. The grounds have long since outgrown the original plans and yet the enlargement and improvements have all been con- sistent with the original plan.
The taxpayers of West Des Moines held an indignation meeting in Grand Army Hall, June 29, the object of which was to get relief from what was re- garded as an excessive burden of taxation upon city property. Mr. Polk pre- sented a tabular statement showing that, whereas nearly every township in the county was assessed lower than in '84, Des Moines had been assessed $10,000,- 000, as against $5,882,800 in '84, and Lee township (East Des Moines) had been assessed $2,500,000, as against $1,956,470 in '84. A committee of fifty was appointed to memorialize the Equalizing Board.
The assemblage of the woman suffragists of America in a "Woman's Con- gress," in Des Moines October 7, was a notable gathering of the best known suffragists of America. The president of the Congress, Julia Ward Howe, de- livered an eloquent address closing with :
"The memories of noble women are all about us. The achievements of many of our sisters call us on to new labors and new achievements. I de- voutly hope and pray, therefore, that this Congress may both be worthy of those which have preceded and helpful to those which are to come after it."
The address was received with a storm of applause which seemed some- what to surprise the venerable woman behind the address. Several notable papers and discussions filled the hours of the three following days.
An episode in the local campaign of '85 was the Gatch-Witmer debates on campaign issues, in which each held his own with ability and both decidedly won! But in the round-up Mr. Gatch, the republican candidate for represen- tative, had the most votes.
The campaign of '85 had hardly closed, (with the election of William Lar- rabee to the governorship, before the persistent booster of the Eighties, Sec- retary J. P. Bushnell, of the Board of Trade, was flooding the country with a
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lengthy circular on "the Resources and Advantages of Des Moines," which the Register re-published under the somewhat euphemistic heading, "The Fortune Hunter's Paradise." Another on Des Moines "the greatest railroad center west of Chicago," with a picture of the new Capitol, followed in December.
The Board of Trade reviewing the year 1885, reported Des Moines improv- ing faster than any other city in the State. The total improvements in the city during the year aggregated $3,101,209. The value of business done during the year was estimated as follows: Manufacturing, $15,596,891; wholesale trade, $33,975,604. The real estate transactions of the year amounted to $3,- 750,000. The home insurance companies represented $1,235,000. The banks and loan and trust companies represented $1,600,000, capital; $435,500, surplus ; average deposits, $1,826,000 ; real estate loans, $3,900,000.
The chief public improvements of the year were: On Capitol building, $150,- 000; U. S. postoffice, $42,000; churches $18,000; bridges, $55,000; railroad depots, round houses, tracks, etc., $226,700 ; street railway, $27,000.
The city improvements were: Streets, $34,464; paving, $95,651; sewerage, . $26,204; sidewalks, $11,445; opening streets, $25,000; curbing, $13,214; fire department, $9,563; culverts, etc., $2,419.
That Des Moines was fast reaching out is shown by the figures of improve- ments in the suburbs of that day as follows: North Des Moines, $83,600; Pros- pect Park, $25,000; University Place, $84,225; Greenwood Park, $75,000; Se- vastopol, $18,500; Capitol Park, $83,300; Chesterfield, $25,000.
1886-THE YEAR OF THE STREET RAILWAY WAR.
The inauguration of Governor Larrabee early in January was accompanied by a severe storm, but apparently the storm had no effect upon the citizens of Des Moines, for the rotunda on two floors was packed with eager humanity. Governor Larrabee's long and influential service in the State Senate had re- sulted in an extended acquaintance at the Capital; and, too, there was much interest in the views the Governor might present in his first inaugural.
The coming of Salvini was the dramatic event of January 25. The trage- dian's interpretation of "The Gladiator," made a profound impression-though rendered in an unknown tongue.
February 24 was notable as the date on which the organization of the Pioneer Lawmakers of Iowa was effected. Des Moines welcomed the veteran legislators. An active reception committee met them at the trains and escorted them to carriages. In the evening a reception was tendered them at the Capitol by Governor Larrabee and other State officers. The historical value of the meet- ings of this association is attested anew by the frequent references to its pro- ceedings which are to be found in these pages. The happy reunion was sad- dened by the sudden death of Judge Mitchell, of Nebraska. While in the midst of an address the Judge fell to the floor, his heart having ceased to perform its functions.
In the spring of '86 one of the outgoing mayor's last acts was the rescinding of Frank Pierce's authority to act as special police. Pierce had made enforce- ment odious by extreme measures against saloonists and against those sus- pected of selling liquor without license. Pierce arrested a rowdy who had assailed him with abuse and took him before' Justice Eggleston on the East side. The justice refused to commit the man and Pierce started with him for the police headquarters. Near the Northwestern depot the man broke loose, and a crowd of roughs surrounded Pierce and would doubtless have lynched him had not Deputy Marshal Zoernish interfered. On the Locust Street bridge the mob made another assault. Arriving at the City Hall, a crowd surrounded the build- ing bent on "doing" Pierce. To pacify the crowd, Pierce was arrested for carrying concealed weapons. A reign of lawlessness followed, highly disgrace- ful to the city that had led the vote of the State against the saloon.
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CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
That indefatigable promoter James C. Savery, who built the old Savery House and, later, the Kirkwood, was in 1886 ready and eager for another and larger hotel venture: Associating with him several capitalists who had faith in Des Moines possessed by him from the first, he proceeded to study locations with a purpose of erecting a hotel building which should cost a half-million or more. After studying the river front and other localities, he finally selected the northwest corner of Fourth and Locust Street, thus doing much to make Locust street, next to Walnut, the chief business street of the city.
The original stockholders of the New Savery took stock ranging all the way from J. C. Savery's first subscription of $5,000 down to $300. It is stated that the subscriptions were asked and obtained through an appeal to public spirit- the desire of all to see the population of Des Moines reach the 100,000 mark. The hotel boosters were: J. C. Savery, Wesley Redhead, Wesley Redhead & Co., William Phillips, Foster & Liebbe, Louis Harbach, G. W. Marquardt, Mar- tin Tuttle, Mrs. Anna P. Bird, J. M. Coggeshall, Clarkson Brothers, Hawkeye Insurance Company, Capital City Gas Light Company, B. F. Dicks, W. W. Moore, C. Youngerman, Thomas Boyd, R. I. Scott, C. C. Cole and J. P. Clarke.
The first banquet of the New England Society was given at the Kirkwood . on the evening of March 25. Governor Larrabee presided. The several New England states were separately toasted: Maine, by Governor Packard, for- merly of Louisiana; Vermont by J. B. Grinnell, Rhode Island by J. C. Macy, New Hampshire, by John S. Runnells; Connecticut, by George H. Lewis and George E. Hubbell; Massachusetts, by W. A. Lamson and General Litchfield, and all New England by Rev. M. L. Williston.
The city was "all torn up," late in March by the aggressive act of the street- car magnate, Dr. Turner, in laying his "scrap-iron" track on West Fourth street, without authority or permission of the council. A resolution by Alder- man Drady passed the council March 26, without dissent, instructing the com- mittee on damages and the city solicitor to report as to the liability of the street- car company for damages sustained by the driving of spikes into the cedar blocks between Walnut and Sycamore streets.
A citizens' meeting followed, in which Messrs. Cummins, Lehman and others discussed the troublesome "old charter" given without suitable regard for the growth of the city. That charter, said Mr. Cummins, gave Dr. Turner "abso- lute right to lay his line anywhere and at any time he sees fit." This the city had no power to do. The question of a charter to the new Des Moines Broad Gauge Street Railway Company, before the city had rid itself of the old com- pany, was seriously considered-a question very pertinent in view of subsequent legal complications.
A citizens' committee with a memorial to the council, and other activities, belong to this period of the city's evolution, evincing much public spirit, if not many results.
The Clark enforcement law in operation in the spring of '86 resulted in the closing of all the saloons in Des Moines. Until that law went into effect many saloonists in the city were defiant.
The Brown impeachment trial occupied much time and space during the month of May. Judge Nourse addressed the Senate for Auditor Brown, and Colonel Keatley for the House board of managers.
The well-earned promotion of H. F. Royce, superintendent of the Iowa Division, to the General Superintendency of the Rock Island road transferred to Chicago a man held in high esteem in Des Moines.
After long consideration the City Council, June 29, granted a charter to the Broad Gauge Street Railway. There was vigorous opposition.
The State Capitol Commission terminated its existence June 30, 1886. The first commission was organized in the spring of 1870.
The long-drawn out impeachment trial of State Auditor Brown ended July
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14, with an acquittal of the accused. Judge Nourse and F. W. Lehman were the counsel in the case, Nourse for Brown and Lehman for the House managers.
A Des Moines Real Estate Dealers' Association was organized in July, '86, with L. W. Goode president. Among those active in the association were Messrs. Adams, Hastie, Wells, Hill, Gray, Polk, Hatton, Garver, Sanford, Keeler, Jackson and Clapp.
Mass meetings were held in August in protest against the brutal murder of Rev. G. C. Haddock in Sioux City. Indignant speeches were made by a number of citizens, and a committee was named to arrange for two additional meetings, one on each side of the river.
The State Fair on the new grounds, with new buildings and large exhibits, was for the period, a success notwithstanding bad weather part of the time. The total receipts were $38,000.
A Des Moines Improvement Company, working in cooperation with the ยท Board of Trade, was intended to be a "fountain head," from which the city would in future draw financial strength; or, to speak literally, a business body "capable of giving solid backing to every public enterprise." Its mission in its day seems to have been somewhat like that of the Greater Des Moines Commit- tee of the present. A committee to solicit funds and to map out plans for work was appointed September 17, consisting of three from each ward as follows: H. M. Pickell, L. M. Sandford, W. E. Hazen, Thomas Hatton, S. B. Tuttle, Simon Casady, C. Youngerman, H. L. Chaffee, C. P. Holmes, S. A. Robertson, George H. Maish, Isaac Brandt, H. E. Teachout and George Garver.
A national gathering of unusual significance, inasmuch as it was the first to be held beyond the Mississippi, was the convention of the American Board of Foreign Missions, which held its first session on the evening of October 5, and continued until the evening of the 7th. Among the distinguished members of the Congregational body who occupied seats on the stage in the Grand Opera House at the opening session were: Mark Hopkins, president; Prof. E. C. Smyth of Andover, President Bartlett of Dartmouth College; Dr. J. L. With- row, Boston; President Strong of Carleton College; Dr. W. H. Ward, editor of the Independent; Dr. Fairchild of Oberlin; President Magoun of Grinnell, ex-Governor Merrill and a number of other prominent preachers, college pres- idents and publicists. Dr. Frisbie was at home to this large body of Congre- gationalists, and, the local brethren of the Congregational church, and of other churches, contributed much to the comfort and enjoyment of the city's guests. One of the many notable papers of the convention was by Lyman Abbott on the agreements and differences of the association's members. The last word of the venerable President Hopkins was an address of great power.
One of Jonathan P. Dolliver's most effective campaign speeches in Des Moines was at a political meeting presided over by John A. McCall, with a long list of prominent vice presidents-the meeting opening a brief local campaign for the republicans.
The first reunion of the Fourteenth Iowa since the war was held October 12. Col. W. T. Shaw presided. Mayor Phillips welcomed the veterans and Colonel Shaw responded. General Tuttle, Captain Wilkinson and others spoke. On the forenoon of the second day, headed by Colonel Shaw, the veterans marched to the Capitol.
The Iowa Commandery of the Loyal Legion was organized in the parlors of the Aborn House, November 23. Among the notable Iowans who assembled on that occasion were Colonel Henderson, Ex-Governor Gear, Colonel Hepburn, Maj. Hoyt Sherman, also several other eligibles residing at the Capital city.
A strong move to secure for Des Moines the proposed Rock Island machine shops was made by prominent citizens in the fall of '86.
The election of Frank D. Jackson Secretary of State was highly gratify- ing to many at the State Capital, ensuring the continued residence in the city of the vice president of the Royal Union Insurance Company.
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The death of H. M. Hoxie, General Manager of the Missouri Pacific Rail- road, November 23, removed one of the best known and most successful of the many well known and successful men gone out from Des Moines. He had suf- fered greatly for six months or more, and had been twice under the surgeon's knife. Mr. Hoxie's frequent visits in Des Moines, the guest of Judge Mitchell, to whom Mrs. Hoxie was related, had renewed from time to time the ac- quaintanceship made by him as a boy, youth and young man. "Hub" Hoxie was a boy in Ft. Des Moines when Judge. Casady came in 1846. He was ap- pointed by President Lincoln United States Marshal for Iowa, and after the war performed an important part in the construction of the Union Pacific railroad. His later career as railroad builder and promoter was successful, though the trying experiences he underwent sapped his strength. He was fifty-six years old. His remains are included among the honored dead in Woodland Cemetery.
Two special trains of six or seven cars brought to Des Moines on the 26th the friends of Mr. Hoxie from a distance, including many leading railroad managers and business men of the country. Among the many sincere mourn- ers was Gen. G. M. Dodge, whose tribute to his friend of thirty-one years 6 was such as'one man rarely pays to another.
The injunction case of J. E. Pearson against John S. Kidd-"the big dis- tillery case"-came before Judge Given early in December. Messrs. Runnells, Cole, and Todhunter appeared for plaintiff and F. W. Lehman for defendant. Judge Given refused to grant the injunction.
Gatherings of native Pennsylvanians, Vermonters, etc., had been held in Des Moines; it now remained for the native Iowans to banquet. An execu- tive committee, consisting of Thomas S. Wright, J. G. Berryhill, Marcus Kavanagh, John A. McCall, J. W. Cheek and P. H. Bristow, decided on Decem- ber 28 as the date of the banquet. Nearly two hundred members were pres- ent with ladies. T. S. Wright addressed the meeting, followed by Governor Larrabee, and others. A quartette of native Iowans, Mrs. Cheek, Miss Laird and Messrs. Bristow and Keeler sang an original Iowa ode.
The Board of Trade report on the year 1886 presented the same satisfactory conclusions and hopeful report. The improvements of the year aggregated $3,426,600; residences and business houses, $1,994,000; suburban, $553,700; city, $2,872,900 ; churches, $45,000; schoolhouses, $22,200; opera houses, $12,- 000 ; hotels, $65,000 ; postoffice, $25,000 ; courthouse, $10,000; Capitol, $50,000; fair grounds, $102,500; water company, $75,000; gaslight company, $10,000; electric light company, $60,000; railways, $75,000; street railway companies, $120,000; bridges and culverts, $25,000; sewerage, paving, curbing and grading, $209,700. The value of manufacturing was placed at $15,471,556; the value of business, $32,893,621. The projected improvements reported were numerous and various.
1887-THE YEAR OF REACTION AGAINST ENFORCEMENT.
"Another bridge," was the demand of the East side at a mass meeting held early in January, 1887. It was resolved that a committee be appointed to form a company for the purpose of building a bridge across the Des Moines. The committee named consisted of Messrs. Brandt, McDonnell, Goldstone, Harter, Schmucker, Van Ginkle and Kidd. At an adjourned meeting the committee favored a bridge at some point between Fifth and Ninth streets.
Finally the native New Yorkers had their banquet at the Aborn House, January 12. Barlow Granger presided. Toasts drew responses from Dr. Fris- bie, D. O. Finch, A. L. Childs, Galusha Parsons, W. A. Nash, T. E. Brown, and W. H. Fleming.
On the 23d of February, Judge Conrad rendered a decision permanently
6 In the State Register of November 27, 1886.
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enjoining the International Distillery Company (the "Big Distillery") from continuing operations. Differing with Judge Given, he held that the distillery could manufacture within the State only for purposes held lawful in the State, namely for "mechanical, medicinal, sacramental and culinary purposes." The case was appealed to the Supreme court which finally confirmed the decision, thus putting out of commission one of Des Moines largest industries.
An advance guard of the Salvation Army put in its appearance in Des Moines February 27, and excited much curiosity. The small force was commmanded by Major Dale. Mrs. Dale was chief musician, her instrument being an accordeon.
An Enforcement, Murder and Its Consequence.
The strained condition, resulting from a rigid enforcement of the Clark law on the one side, and a determined attitude of resistance on the other, led down to a startling homicide on the 7th of March, 1887. Constable E. S. Logan had arrested a driver while in the act of delivering beer for Hurlburt, Hess & Co., wholesale druggists. The constable went with the man to the store that he might confer with his employers. The two there met another teamster employed by the firm, named Low, who became abusive and advised the arrested man to resist. Logan then arrested Low, and in the melee which followed Low drew a revolver and shot Logan, killing him almost instantly. The coroner's jury found Low had acted in self-defense. Nevertheless, Low was arrested and charged with murder in the first degree.
The prohibitionists and respecters of law generally were shocked and indig- nant over the killing. Two days after the occurrence a mass meeting was held in University Place at which resolutions were passed deploring the loss of a brave officer of the law and denouncing the lawlessness of those engaged in the liquor traffic, and pronouncing the finding of the coroner's jury outrageous.
Wesley M. E. church and other bodies took the same ground and the law- sustaining element of the community became thoroughly aroused to the enormity of the deed.
A sequel to the murder was the seizing of Hurlburt, Hess & Company's stock of liquors, after a trial before Justice Garrett, March 15. Constable Pierce, who had placed the liquors in storage, was, on March 24, accosted by United States Marshal Etheridge, who, armed with a writ of replevin, made demand on him for the goods. The constable took counsel of Baker, Bishop & Haskins, and on their advice refused to deliver the goods. Both sides then played a waiting game.
On the 25th of April, Low was indicted for murder in the first degree. His employer, J. R. Hurlburt, was indicted on a like charge, County Attorney Phil- lips maintaining that there was "a conspiracy to kill."
The popular feeling became more tense when it became known that the grand jury had dismissed three cases, one against Pierce for "wilfully and maliciously oppressing the Jonathan Lodge of Odd Fellows ; another against Pierce and George Potts for maliciously oppressing a registered pharmacist, and the third, against William Reeves, a detective, for assuming to act as an officer-all growing out of attempts at enforcement.
Those were troublous days for Frank Pierce. In an altercation with Mar- shal Botkin whom he had arrested and pulled out of a wagon, a policeman in turn arrested Pierce, and dragged him to the jail, inflicting upon him several blows. In return for offensive language used, Deputy Marshal Burns knocked Pierce down. Justice Emerson released Pierce on one hundred dollars bail. The Capital remarked at the time that Pierce was an especial object of hatred. The temper of the time may be surmised by the Capital's comment : "Constable Pierce, single-handed, escorting a prisoner half a mile on that street, would have been murdered before he could reach the courthouse, or [would] have been overpowered and robbed of his prisoner." On the third of May, Pierce published a card justifying his every act, but apologized for allowing his temper
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