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 45
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F. C. McCartney, who was connected with the old Savery House from 1863 to 1878, took possession of the new Kirkwood House March IO, '91. The return of Landlord McCartney recalled to early settlers the familiar story of the evolution of this historic inn. The old Savery was part of the new Capital boom in '57. Fourth and Walnut was then "up-town." In '62 a part of the building was used as "a first-class boarding house." Before the close of the year it was thrown open entirely for "transients." The house was closed for repairs in October, '63, and on January, '64, it was thrown open as a "first-class hotel," with Mr. Savery as landlord. In '67 it was again overhauled and the south wing added. In '70 Mr. Savery sold a half-interest; but in '74, bought the half-interest back, reinstalling Mr. McCartney as manager. In '78 the house changed owners and was again closed for improvement. In '79 the new owners, Bogue & Wyman, opened it under the historic name which it has borne ever since. Mr. Wyman retired in '83. Next year the building was closed for the addition of another story and an extension to the alley. The repairs were completed'in August in time for the State Fair. The house remained under the Bogue management until March 9, '91, when Mr. McCartney bought the hotel and again returned to the management, bringing to his task experience and that large asset, "troops of friends."
1.A
DES MOINES SADDLERY CO
SIMON,-
FLENNIKEN
BIRD'SEYE VIEW OF DES MOINES, CAPITOL IN DISTANCE
1
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SCENE ON FOURTH STREET, SHOWING KIRKWOOD HOTEL AND OBSERVATORY TOWER
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"Herndon Hall," long the home of Jefferson S. Polk, was in the nineties the scene of many festivities, a notable occasion being the large reception given by Mr. and Mrs. Polk, March II, '91, in honor of old Kentucky friends.
As men come and go, so homes have their day and cease to be. The Colechester Place, so long the center of gracious hospitality, was in the Spring of '91 sold to the Colechester Place Home Association. The purchase was made with a view to erecting dwellings for rent on the ground about the central man- sion. Colechester Place still stands, a place of many associations. Long occu- pied as a boarding house, it is now occupied by a company engaged in the laudable work of curing the disease of drunkenness.
Thomas Kavanagh, ex-mayor of Des Moines, and a famous contractor in his day, died April 24, aged about 74 years. He came to Des Moines in 1855 and was elected Mayor in '62.
The funeral of Col. W. H. Merritt at St. Paul's church, July 26, was attended by many old settlers, city and State officials and men and women of prominence from a distance. The bearers were S. A. Robertson, F. M. Hubbell, A. A. Clark, Cary Cooper, and Judge Phillips. The honorary bearers were Judges Casady and Wright, J. B. Stewart and G. M. Hippee. Colonel Merritt was a man of rare ability and distinguished presence. As soldier, journalist, public servant and citizen, he had served the city and State with marked distinction.
The announced departure of General Tuttle and his family for their home in Arizona was sad news to several circles in the social life of the city. A family dinner on "Chestnut street Knob," Sunday, August 23, marked the clos- ing of the Tuttle home which had been the center of many social activities for a quarter-century. Before his departure, the General enriched the Historical Department of Iowa by presenting the sword he carried in the famous charge at Donelson.
Col. M. T. V. Bowman was another prominent citizen of Des Moines to pass away during the year 1891. Both as citizen and soldier, he was a man of distinguished ability. He died August 28, at the early age of 53. His funeral was attended by many old soldiers of the Loyal Legion and of the Grand Army, also by the Masons. The honorary pall-bearers, selected from intimate friends of the deceased, were John Wyman, William Phillips, J. C. McKell, Henry Plumb, J. S. Clark, F. M. Starns and Hoyt Sherman.
The death of James Harvey Phillips, September 15, was a sad surprise to many. Mayor of the city in 1886-7, there was in his brief official career no blot or blemish, but, on the contrary, a record of substantial progress toward ideal city government which-to say the least-was not continuous thereafter!
The death of Judge Alexander A. Fulton occurred September 29, closing a well-spent life at the age of 66. While Judge Fulton did not remove to Des Moines until 1870, he had many associations with the Capital city, having served Jefferson county in the Twelfth General Assembly. He was long associated with Mills & Company and the Iowa Printing Company, and, later, had charge of the "ready prints" issued by the Western News Company. Judge Fulton was author of "The Red Men of Iowa."
The fourth annual report of the Commercial Exchange, covering the prog- ress of the year 1891, presents a long list of new enterprises not all of which were "stayers." The total of building improvements during the year was placed at $2,231,855 ; general and public improvements, $2,070,029.
Among the private improvements are mentioned the Equitable Life building, on which had been expended $280,000; the Youngerman block, $125,000; the Des Moines Club, the old Grant Club building, $45,000; St. Ambrose church, addition, $40,000 ; Sanitarium, $22,000; Science Hall Drake University, $35,000 ; Rawson block, $22,000 ; Church block, $15,000; Newman block, $18,000; Church of Visitation, additional, $20,000 ; Marquardt block, $15,000; Turner block, $14,- 000 ; Capital Insurance Company, $12,000.
Among the general improvements were these by the city-for bridges, sewers,
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curbing, street work, paving, etc., nearly $219,000; Water Power Company, $175,- 000; Water Company, $70,000 ; Electric Railway Company, $250,000 ; Des Moines Union Railway Company, $210,000 ; Steam Heat and Power Company, $100,000 ; Des Moines Brick Manufacturing Company, extension, $155,000; Capital City Gas Light, Company, $135,000; Central Union Telephone Company, $17,862; Highland Park College, $100,000; railroads, $89,500; cement walks, $179,000; grading, $126,750.
The year's output of Des Moines manufactories was placed at $14, 196,576; an increase of $2,529,593.
The year's jobbing trade was summed up at $34,345,611, an increase of $5,412,610.
The year's coal mining was 763,356 tons, an increase of 69,272.
The real estate transfers aggregated $9,674,536.
The report gives 702 as the number of traveling salesmen then on the road from Des Moines; the male mechanics, accountants, etc., 6,627; the female, 1,413.
Secretary Selleck closes with the same well-grounded hope that "the best is yet to be."
1892-THE YEAR OF DES MOINES' COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC PARKS.
The Scotch-Irish Association of Des Moines, which a few years later blossomed out as the host of the National Association, organized in January, '92, with Barlow Granger, P. M. Casady and Mayor Campbell, the active spirits of the organization.
The first Press Club organized in Des Moines took form at a meeting in the Savery in January, with Al. Moore, J. R. Sage, Cyrenus Cole, Allen Dawson, H. R. Jones, Leon Brown, J. G. Murphy, H. C. Shaver, O. E. Shannon, Frank Lyman and D. A. Kooker, as charter members. Manager Brown (now of the Chamberlain) tendered "the boys" the free use of the Savery club rooms. J. R. Sage was made president of the club, and Leon Brown, secretary.
The absorption of "the Diagonal," the Chicago, St. Paul & Kansas City Railroad, by the Stickney system, with a change to the present name, the Chicago & Great Western, was one of the events of the year at the State Capital. The Great Western came into its own July I.
In the contest for the republican nomination for mayor C. C. Lane was successful over Isaac L. Hillis; but the campaign brought Mr. Hillis to the front with the result that later he was elected to succeed Mr. Lane.
A temporary uprising against "the social evil" succeeded in landing the notorious Jeannette Allen in the penitentiary.
Late in March, by an act of Congress, Des Moines became a port of delivery, and in due time thereafter an office was opened and a collector of customs installed.
In April, the old Exposition building on Eighth and Walnut was trans- formed, by Messrs. D. B. Lyon and T. A. Harding, into a four-story structure --- "The Iliad"-the first story to be used for business purposes, the other floors divided into suites.
The flood of May. 1892 will long be remembered, recalling the stories of 1851, but immeasurably more damaging, for the simple reason that there was immeasurably more for the flood to work upon. The entire southern portion of the city was several feet under water, and many houses and sidewalks were lifted from their foundations. While most of the correspondents pictured all Des Moines as under water, the fact was that the business of the city went on with scarcely any interruption, and only that portion of the city located in the bottoms was flooded.
The notorious Frank Pierce came to trial at Indianola in April, for shooting and killing Officer Wishard, June 30, '91. The event had nothing whatever to
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do with the enforcement of the liquor law. It was the result of a conflict of authority over a dump-heap at the foot of Ninth street. Pierce's plea was self- defense. After nearly failing to agree, the jury came together on a verdict of manslaughter. Judge Henderson sentenced Pierce to four years and six months in the penitentiary and exacted a fine of $500. A motion for a new trial was denied. The case was appealed, but not until 1894 was a decision reached. The Supreme court sustained the decision of the lower court.
The renomination of President Harrison over Mr. Blaine was a disappoint- ment to many of Des Moines who had gone to Minneapolis to "root" for Blaine. The refusal of Blaine to be a candidate drove the forces headed by Chairman Clarkson, of the national republican committee, to the support of Mckinley ; but Mckinley, deciding that his time had not come yet, publicly declined the nomination, and, the result was the renomination of Harrison.
In pursuance of a call signed by several hundred republicans, a grand rati- fication meeting was held at the State Capital, June 17, with Carroll Wright chairman, and with speeches by John A. McCall, A. B. Cummins, J. S. Clarkson, James G. Berryhill, T. A. Cheshire and Lafayette Young. The interest naturally centered upon Mr. Clarkson, because of his well-known allegiance to the fortunes of Blaine and his supposed resentment toward the President. After paying grateful tribute to his Des Moines friends and neighbors, Mr. Clarkson left no question as to his support of the ticket. Placing Blaine upon a pedestal of unapproachable greatness, both in ability and in generosity, having "given out of his power and generosity-the presidency of the United States to two of his friends-to General Garfield in 1880 and to General Harrison in 1888,"-the speaker paid strong tribute to President Harrison's statesmanly qualities and undoubted republicanism. He concluded with a prediction of a reunited party and a promise that he would do all in his power to make the coming campaign a success.
Parks for the Public.
The Park Commissioners, Messrs. Fairall, Rollins and Russell, took action July 30 which, mildly criticised at the time as a piece of extravagance, has turned out to have been of untold importance to the present generation and to "future generations yet unborn." The commisson decided on the purchase of four pieces of ground on behalf of the city, the land to be devoted in perpetuo to the use of the public as public parks.
The first purchase agreed upon was the land east and north of Thompson's Bend, across the river, about sixty acres, at a price not to exceed $40,000.
The second in order was land on the south side of the Raccoon on the prop- erty of F. W. Palmer, the estate of F. M. Hoxie deceased, on condition that the property could be obtained at not exceeding $20,000.
The third was the thirty-acre tract lying west of the cemetery, formerly owned by Dr. Whitman, provided the property could be acquired for $45,000, the board reserving the right to take, by condemnation, the lots between this tract and the cemetery.
The fourth was located on East Twelfth, south of Vine, provided the prop- erty could be bought at not more than $8,000 for five or six acres.
On August I the board located a fifth park on the Lyon & Harter tract on Four Mile Creek, subject to future specifications. This property, lying north of the fair ground, is now known as Grand View Park,-from the eminence on the west end of which may be obtained a literally grand view of the Des Moines valley and the city.
On the same day the popular Greenwood Park was located in the west end of the city. The resolution refers to it as "Prospect Park, consisting of the east 2512 acres of the Bird and Hyde tract, 20 acres owned by the P. C. H. & T. Co., 3 acres owned by W. H. Clarke, 17 and 27 hundredth acres owned by Kingman, 4 acres owned by the city, 5 acres off of the south end of lot II, and
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all of lot 9, owned by Lewis & Polk." The location was subject to the condition that the entire property could be acquired for not more than $57,000.
Another park was located on the Ingersoll farm, provided the 190 acres offered, lying south of the road, could be obtained for the sum of $28,500; "also that thirty acres off the west side of the McConnell tract be added thereto if thought desirable.
Thus, subject to conditions, was the city committed to a system of public parks which is the pride of every citizen and one of the chief claims of Des Moines to distinction among cities.
Capt. W. D. Lucas, formerly cashier of the Valley National Bank, died August 15, aged 54. The Grand Army, the Knights Templar and other organizations acted as escort at his funeral.
Canoeing on the Des Moines in the nineties, under the inspiration of Commo- dore Hussey, became extremely popular, and regattas and canoe parties were of frequent occurrence.
The Des Moines Driving Park Company had announced three days' runs in August, and many horsemen from a distance had entered; but, on the 19th, the filing of a mortgage for $15,000 with the Des Moines Savings Bank preciptated mechanics' liens aggregating $24,565.09. The result of these complications was the calling off of the races.
The costly evolution of the city from the cedar-block paving to brick, and later, brick and cement, took a second great leap on the 19th of August, when the city entered into a contract to have the wood paving torn up and replaced with cement curbing and brick, covering fifty-five blocks. Orders had already been given for 20,000,000 brick, and this action called for 10,000,000 more.
The political campaign of '92 was locally enlivened by a debate between Messrs. A. B. Cummins, republican, and W. W. Witmer, democrat. Foster's Opera House was packed on the evening of October 18. The attitude of parties toward the prohibition question and the money question was the trend of the dis- cussion-and with the usual result !
The presence of Thomas B. Reed in the city was the event of the campaign. "Czar" Reed had never before spoken in Des Moines and there was much curi- osity, even among democrats, to see and hear that "best abused man" in the republican party. Speaker Reed arrived in the forenoon and after breakfast held an informal reception at the Savery, assisted by Messrs. Kasson and Hull. The Speaker addressed an afternoon meeting presided over by Hoyt Sherman and an evening meeting with N. E. Coffin in charge. At both he was received with much enthusiasm. His drawl was all that had been claimed (!) for it, and his utterances were characteristically clear-cut and direct, but not of a nature to win many votes from unthinking men. He was reinforced by Messrs. Kasson, Hull and Kavanagh.
The result of the election showed that Iowa and her Capital city kept the promise made by their sponsors early in the campaign; but to no avail, as the reader will recall, for "the country went democratic."
Ex-Mayor William H. Leas, mayor of the city during the trying last years of the war in 1863-64, died suddenly on Christmas night,-a man who retained to the last the respect of all. He came to Des Moines in 1855. The early settlers generally attended his funeral.
The year 1892 as measured in the fifth annual report of the Commercial Ex- change was "unequalled in the history of Des Moines." The reported city im- provements footed up at $437,102.07 ; and private improvements at $2,360, 190. The real estate transfers aggregated over eight millions. The clearing house gains over twelve millions. Many established manufactories reported enlarged business and plans for enlarged quarters.
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The chief outlay in public improvements was for paving, $258,538, and sewers, $154,759. These figures represent ten miles of sewers, nearly seven miles of paving and seventeen million brick.
In this connection it is interesting to note that from, and including, 1879 to 92 the city expended $595,204.44 for sewers. From, and including, 1882 to '92, the city had expended $1,147,293.08 for paving. During the same period, the cost of curbing was $175,789.91. This represented a grand total expended by the city on the streets amounting to $1,918,487.43.
1893-A YEAR OF WATERWORKS AGITATION.
The remains of Dr. Alexander Shaw arrived in Des Moines from Denver, January 7, and the funeral was held on the 9th. Dr. Shaw was a strong per- sonality in the shaping of city affairs in its early history and served his country during the war as an army surgeon. He was a rare horticulturist and was a leader in the organization of the State Agricultural Society of which he was at one time president.
Rev. B. Fay Mills, the famous evangelist held a series of meetings in the old Calvary Mission Tabernacle in Des Moines which gave the city a thorough "shaking up." The Mills meetings continued for two weeks and the press united in commending the religious spirit which they aroused.
The progress of the decade was not wholly without setbacks. The failure of the well-known Hirsch Brothers, of the Globe Clothing House, in January, 1893, after twenty years' business activities, with liabilities aggregating $54,000, and uncertain assets, was the bad beginning of a good year.
The City Council, on the night of January 18, considered a reform ordinance prepared by a water committee, and urged by a large committee of citizens. The ordinance as amended was lost by a tie vote. A resolution to investigate charges of corruption in connection with the vote was carried by 7 to I. Public owner- ship, the goal of municipal reformers in '93 seemed, and was, a long way off.
The death of William R. Ankeny who, with his brother Joseph, built the first linseed oil mill in Des Moines, in 1866, and who was the principal organizer of the Des Moines Loan and Trust Company, occurred on the 23d of February.
The next move in the waterworks contest was taken early in February by Hugh Brennan and William H. Baily, attorneys for the city-a petition to the District court, to enjoin the water company from demanding or receiving from the city or its citizens higher prices than those established by the city council, January 23, 1879, and from discontinuing its service to the city or its consumers. The company resisted the petition on the ground that the ordinance was confisca- tory. On the 14th of April, Judge Balliet decided the case against the city in so far as the city itself was concerned, and for the city in so far as concerned the suburbs.
The widow of Dr. J. A. Nash did not long survive her husband. Her death (February 12), like that of her husband, was the result of a fall.
The consolidation of the Electric Light Company, the Des Moines Edison Light Company and the Des Moines Water Power Company, with a capital stock of $600,000, was made a matter of record February 13.
Lieutenant Peary, long years afterward world-famous, visited Des Moines in March, ''93, accompanied by his wife, and made a much better impression appar- ently than when in 1910 he came to tell the story of his North Pole explora- tions.
In the spring of '93 the evolution of the city streets approached, but did not reach the asphalt stage. Proposals for paving included one for asphalt, offering to put down the paving for $2.80 a square yard and keep it in repair for ten years ; or, for $2.40 with a five-year guaranty. The Board of Public Works took the case under consideration, finally deciding in favor of brick paving, because asphalt had not proved satisfactory in other cities, and the cheaper brick paving-$1.70 on a concrete foundation --- was a known quantity and a product of home industry.
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E. R. Clapp came out strongly for asphalt, deeming it best to have a variety of paving and so study the relative degree of excellence. Dropping into a remi- niscent mood,2 he said :
"We first began to improve our streets in 1851, when J. S. Dix took his ox team and, commencing with a back furrow in the middle of Second street, plowed it up and scraped the dirt to the center to provide drainage. It was quite an improvement for that time and the same method was pursued until nine or ten years ago, when we decided to try cedar blocks and found them a vast improvement over any dirt road. Walnut street has lasted very well, but later trials of the cedar block pavement indicate that it would be a very expensive pavement in the long run. Macadam has been tried on Court avenue with the result that no one drives on it if they can help it. We have also tried brick and in some cases have had good work done, and in others very poor. If we can get uniformly good brick, properly laid, we will have good streets of that material."
After a thorough canvass of the question of cheap gas, the voters of Des Moines at a special election, April 4, by a vote of 1,452 to 1,252, decided to authorize John Sherman to construct and operate gas works in the city, and for five years to have exclusive right to supply the city and its citizens, Mr. Sher- man agreeing among other things to pay to the city five cents on each 1,000 cubic feet of gas sold; when the consumption should have reached fifty million cubic feet per annum the sum turned into the city should be 71/2 cents per 1,000 feet, etc., etc. The consumer was to have gas at $1.00 per 1,000, with 10 per cent off for prompt payment. The passage of the ordinance was hailed as the ushering in of a new era of cheap illumination. But nothing came of it.
The death of Recorder J. Addison Hepburn, May 3, removed a man of great popularity. On the previous November "Ad" had been unanimously elected Recorder of Polk county. He had been a resident of the city since 1855, and knew and was known by everybody in the county. He died at the age of 64.
The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. George Schramm, in the spring of '93, was a gala day for the pioneers and their descendants. Mr. Schramm was sena- tor from Van Buren county in 1851, and came to Des Moines a representative from that county in '62. Later, after the war, the family removed to Des Moines. Mr. Schramm took an active part in public affairs. He was prominent in the Lutheran church and in Masonic circles.
The next move in the waterworks imbroglio was in the spring of '93 .- a recommendation, signed by a large number of the leading taxpayers of Des Moines-that the city acquire the waterworks by purchase, and so end the liti- gation in progress, the purchase price to be one million dollars. The citizens' committee met the petition with a declaration that the works could be duplicated for a half-million, and, that being the case, favoring the continued assertion and maintenance by the city of all its legal rights arising under the ordinance of January 23, 1893.
The death of B. F. Kauffman, May 19, removed a man who could not well be spared from the community life of which he had long been an active partici- pant. Though only about 46 years of age, he had acquired a prominence and an influence accorded to few. He was a lawyer of large practice and an organizer whose services were always in demand in the growing community which com- mended his best service.
Dr. J. E. Hendricks, a citizen of Des Moines since 1866, died June 8. His vocation as a physician was somewhat overshadowed by his fame as a mathema- tician. He was regarded by contemporaries as one of the world's greatest mathe- maticians.
The Good Templars' International Institute of Juvenile Workers spent ten days in Des Moines in June, perfecting the work of the order. The meeting brought together many prominent workers with the young. After the final ses- sion they were given a reception by the ministers of Des Moines.
2 In the Daily News, March 20, 1893.
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