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 80
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Members of Council: Major Boutin, Major Schooler, Captain Clark, Lieu- tenant Patrick, and Mr. W. T. Clarke, Des Moines.
The Iowa Commandery has been devoted to the gathering of facts relative to the War of the Rebellion by procuring the preparation of papers covering the various expeditions and campaigns in which its members participated. A mass of war literature has thus been accumulated, of much interest and of great prospective value to the historian. Two volumes of these papers, called "War Sketches and Incidents," have been published and others will be pub- lished. The commandery's annual banquets in commemoration of the birthday of Lincoln have been attended by many notable commanders of the war. In later years addresses have been delivered by Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, Gen. Lewis A. Grant and others of high military rank.
Abigail Adams Chapter, D. A. R.
To the Abigail Adams Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution be- longs the credit of initiating the movement commemorating the founding of Fort Des Moines. On the 14th of June, 1908, the chapter dedicated and pre- sented to the city a granite monument, erected upon the site of the fort, near the junction of the Raccoon and the Des Moines. Set into the stone is a bronze tablet which bears the following inscription :
SITE OF OLD FORT DES MOINES Established 1843 . Evacuated 1846 Abigail Adams Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Assisted by Park Commissioners and Early Settlers of Des Moines DEDICATED JUNE 14, 1908.
The monument is enclosed by a substantial iron fence, and is a permanent object of interest to citizens and strangers.
The chapter was organized Aug. 17, 1893. Its principal officers are: Mrs. S. S. Still, regent ; Mrs. Frank Miner, vice regent ; Mrs. Corbin Dana, correspond- ing secretary ; Mrs. Harry Wallace, recording secretary ; Mrs. Mary D. Ariethe, treasurer ; and Mrs. Hal. Howell, historian. Its present membership in 180.
Beacon Hill Chapter, D. A. R.
A second chapter of this order, the Beacon Hill, was organized October 7, 1908. Its principal officers are: Mrs. C. B. Van Slyke, regent; Mrs. George A. Wells, vice regent; Mrs. Herbert Towner, registrar; Mrs. Charles Clarke, recording secretary ; Mrs. Charles H. Trisler, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Carl Weeks, treasurer ; Mrs. F. I. McGraw, historian. Its present membership is 28.
CHAPTER III.
PROMINENT INSTITUTIONS.
No institution for the betterment of the public has made a firmer place for itself in Des Moines than the Roadside settlement. This institution is part of a general movement which has had its best exemplification in the Hull house, Chicago. The first settlement house in Des Moines was opened in September, 1896, under the auspices of the Des Moines Union of King's Daughters, with Professor Taylor as its godfather. After several years, the King's Daughters turned the work over to the Roadside Settlement House association. The first "head resident" was Miss Clara Adams. At the time, her only assistant was a nurse in the day nursery. In 1901, Miss Adams resigned and was succeeded by Mr. and Mrs. N. H. Weeks, with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lynde and Mrs. Frances Lynde as residents. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks remained until September, 1903, when Mrs. Lucy Bitting took up the work. The coming of Miss Flora Dunlap, present head-resident, in September, 1904, was an auspicious event in the his- tory of the settlement. Ever since Miss Dunlap, fresh from the inspiring ex- periences in Hull house, took up the work in Des Moines, the growth and in- fluence of the Roadside settlement has steadily increased, until now Miss Dunlap is a recognized power for good in Des Moines. Self-poised, well-educated in all the essentials, gifted in speech, genial in conversation and broadly democratic in her relations with all classes and conditions, she is admirably equipped for settlement work. In June, 1907, the settlement took possession of the new house at S. E. Seventh and Scott streets. Here the usual settlement classes are carried on,-sewing, cooking, dressmaking, carpentry, gymnasium, dramatic, singing and social clubs. Public baths and a public wash-house are maintained and largely used. A penny savings bank, an employment agency, a station of the public library, a milk station, a woman's club and children's gardens are features of the work." The neighborhood is English-speaking, but largely of German, Irish and Scandinavian ancestry, with small groups of newer immi- grants. During the winter, about fifteen hundred people weekly use the house. The settlement's support is non-sectarian and by public subscription. The work undertaken by the Roadside settlement is general, but in order to secure best possible results, a degree of specialization has been developed as experiences have suggested and warranted. Its plans originally included a day nursery for the accommodation of mothers who have to go out to work, and yet are burdened with children too young to leave at home; also mothers' socials, where working mothers may find restful relaxation, with music, conversation and informal talks. It operates boys' clubs and girls' clubs, with gymnasium, games, music, stories, etc. It is collecting a library for children. It conducts a sewing school, and a "Utility club" and opens its house to neighborhood social gatherings, clubs, etc. With every year the settlement functions become more numerous and compli- cated. Its summer work is almost wholly confined to baths, a laundry, an em- ployment agency, the day nursery, a milk station and a children's garden. In winter its gymnasium is a veritable social center for the youths and young men of South Des Moines. Many are the exciting games of basketball "pulled off" in the Roadside gymnasium. Its dancing classes are an attractive feature of the winter work. Its sewing schools, cooking schools and kindergarten are well
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attended. Its small library has been reinforced by the establishment of a branch of the City library in the building, with about 500 books and an attendant. The settlement has been used as a headquarters for the Visiting Nurses' association. It has cooperated with the Associated Charities, the Jewish Associated Charities and the Juvenile court.
The officers of the association having charge of all these activities, represent all the leading churches in the city and those who do not affiliate with any church. Jew and Gentile, Catholic and Protestant, orthodox and liberal Chris- tian-all unite in furthering the work of the Roadside settlement. The present management is,-Miss Flora Dunlap, head resident; C. A. Rawson, president ; Mrs. Meyer Rosenfield, vice president; Mrs. F. O. Green, secretary ; Miss Helen Witmer, treasurer. Members of board: Mesdames B. F. Elbert, R. J. Fleming, F. O. Green, H. R. Howell, J. C. Hume, W. C. McArthur, R. B. Peters, Meyer Rosenfield, and Miss Helen Witmer. Messrs. D. J. Haines, Harvey Ingham, Morris Mandelbaum, S. A. Merrill, H. S. Nollen, A. M. Parker, C. A. Rawson, B. S. Walker.
The Cumming School of Art.
That was a great day for pictorial art-as distinct from handicraft-which marked the opening of a school of art in Des Moines. The event occurred in 1895. Prof. Charles A. Cumming, formerly of Cornell college, but more recently returned from an extended and successful art course in Paris, conceived the then audacious scheme of making Iowa's capital an art center. At first the encour- agement was slight, but after years of struggle, the city government, recognizing his success as an artist and as an educator, turned over to Professor Cumming the capacious and well-lighted attic of the new city library building, the one con- sideration being that he should grant six free scholarships yearly to deserving and promising students of art, resident in Des Moines. The Cumming School of Art has won its way to prominence, and of its hundred or more students annu- ally enrolled, not a few have already won a sure foothold in the world of art. An art institute, with Professor Cumming at its head, is one of the promises of the Des Moines of to-morrow.
Y.W. C.A.
The Young Women's Christian Association was organized March 16, 1895, with Mrs. J. J. Hamilton, president, Dr. Frances Carothers, secretary, Mrs. J. M. Kneeland, treasurer. The first quarters were the rooms back of the old News office, corner of Fifth and Mulberry. Before the end of the first year the mem- bership had reached 670. In October of the first year, a new home was found in the Redhead block, corner of Fourth and Locust streets. In 1909 it moved into its $90,000 building on the corner of Ninth and High streets.
During the sixteen years since the organization, its growth has been marked. A General Secretary has oversight of the entire work, which comprises Religious Work, Extension, Physical training, Domestic Science, Domestic Art, Traveler's Aid and Educational classes. Two features of the association are the lunch room on the first floor and the dormitories on the third floor. The membership is 1,335. Its officers are: Mrs. S. Baylor Keenan, president; Mrs. Charles A. Rawson, first vice president; Miss S. Laura Ensign, secretary ; Mrs. James M. Cushman, treasurer. Its general secretary is Miss Harriette M. Shultz.
Y. M. C. A.
The Young Men's Christian association, soon to enter upon a new career of usefulness in Des Moines, is part of the history of the year 1868 and of subse- quent years. Its new $150,000 six-story and basement, fire-proof building, on Fourth and Chestnut, is rapidly nearing completion. The building includes a dormitory which will accommodate one hundred and twenty-five persons. The building and its furnishings together will represent an expenditure of nearly a
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quarter-million dollars. Its first secretary was Daniel Sloan. Its present secre- tary is J. H. Fellingham. Its present board of directors headed by J. G. Olmsted, who has long and faithfully served as the president, are A. M. Linn, S. A. Mer- rill, A. G. Kenworthy, T. P. Bond, C. R. Chase, H. C. Harris, H. R. Howell, F. L. Miner, A. M. Piper, Will E. Tone, J. P. Wallace, W. V. Willcox, H. C. Hargrove, G. C. Carpenter, J. P. Montrose, and E. H. Jones. Its charter mem- bers numbered eighty-four. The present membership is about twelve hundred. The association expects to occupy the new building in the spring of 1912.
Capital City Commercial College.
Among the institutions that are practically working out the problem of de- veloping young men and women into useful members of the community none rank higher than "C. C. C. C.," the Capital City Commercial college, an institu- tion which was organized in a small way in 1885, and which has survived all the vicissitudes of new institutions and come out successful and with a future full of promise. The death of Professor Mehan, several years ago, placed the reins of management in Professor McCauley's hands ; and he in turn has passed them on to Prof. B. F. Williams, now president of the college. The 1910 enrollment in this institution was seven hundred and ninety-six.
Business Women's Home.
There is no more worthy institution in Des Moines than the Business Women's Home, supplying to business women the home life of which many of them are temporarily deprived. Several prominent women of Des Moines have given to this institution most generously of their time and means. Its officers are : President, Mrs. J. C. Cummins; vice presidents, Mrs. B. S. Schermerhorn and Mrs. T. A. Cheshire; corresponding secretary, Mrs. A. L. Smouse; recording secretary, Mrs. Frank J. Camp; treasurer, Mrs. W. W. Wheeler; auditor, Mrs. F. E. Marsh.
Home for Friendless Children.
The Des Moines Home for Friendless Children-2018 High street-is a local institution which appeals strongly to the sympathies of the public. Its benefac- tions of themselves would make a history. The popularity of this charity may be measured by the tag-day benefit already noted, in which nearly three thousand dollars was the total of a single day's soliciting. Mrs. A. B. Cummins is presi- dent of the association; Mrs. E. H. Carter, secretary ; Mrs. Elizabeth E. Cook, superintendent.
Anti-Tuberculosis League.
The Anti-Tuberculosis League of Des Moines has done much already to re- lieve local sufferers from the ravages of consumption, and its efficiency affords abundant promise for the future. Dr. E. Luther Stevens is its president, Rabbi Mannheimer its vice-president; Neal Jones, secretary, and Homer A. Miller, treasurer. The league has established a camp near the city in which patients in the earlier stages of the disease have made wonderful progress.
The Home for the Aged.
The several stages of progress made by the Home for the Aged and Infirm have been chronicled in these pages. The history of the home is one of labor and sacrifice and of ultimate success. The home, on University avenue, between Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth streets, is a monument to womanly courage and devotion. Judge Callanan, Mr. Slimmer, of Waverly, and others are en- titled to much praise for their generosity ; but the women who took up this work gave not from their abundance, but because they felt they could not withhold. The Public Library.
The public library of Des Moines, standing on the west bank of the river, on ground made historic by association with the early home of General Crocker, is
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an institution of which every citizen has reason to be proud. It was built en- tirely with money which came from the taxpayers of Des Moines, and is main- tained by the taxpayers as one of the educational institutions of the city. Fre- quent references have been made to this institution in earlier chapters of this work. It had its beginning in 1866, when Col. Gordon A. Stewart prepared a paper setting forth the plans and purposes of a few public-spirited citizens. This paper was used as a campaign document. Col. C. H. Gatch, the first to sign the pledge to support the movement, was later-from 1891 to the day of his death in '97 -- president of the library board. Over one hundred and thirty names were obtained to this pledge, which took the form of a call for a "Young Men's Asso- ciation," * *
* "for the purpose of permanently establishing a reading room and library," etc., the members agreeing to pay four dollars a year for its sup- port. On December 13, '66, a first meeting was held, and on the 17th the Des Moines Library association was formed. The first officers of the association were Rev. H. S. De Forest, president; J. M. Ellwood, vice-president; W. S. Pritchard, treasurer ; Samuel A. Ayers, secretary ; J. R. Cary, corresponding sec- retary ; with the following named directors: John McWilliams, C. H. Gatch, F. M. Mills, W. W. Williamson, W. S. Peterson, George W. Jones. On January 16, 1867, the association became a corporation of record. C. A. Dudley, now a prominent Iowa attorney, was the first librarian appointed. There were twenty- three hundred books in the library, when in September, '67, the institution was thrown open to the public. After a year's service Mr. Dudley resigned, retaining however, an active interest in the library, serving five years, in the early Nineties, as treasurer of the board. The history of the library is one of struggle, with ulti- mate success through partial failures. In 1876 the library was turned over to the public-spirited women. Two years later the city council voted the new man- agement $500 a year as a maintenance fund. In October, 1882, the library was turned over to the city, that it might be made free to all. That was the re-birth of the institution. It then had 3,192 books on its accession list. Originally, it had a board of five members, three from the library committee of the council, two from the association. Under the library law of '94 the board was increased to nine members, all appointed by the mayor of the city. Among its librarians have been Mrs. Ada North, Mrs. W. T. Dart, Miss Stella Bebout (Mrs. A. B. Morse), and Miss Ella McLoney. Miss McLoney has served since July, 1891. The library has had several halting places on its way to its present permanent home. It was opened in rooms now occupied by the Register and Leader. In '76 it was removed to the Youngerman building. In '90 it found lodgment on the first floor of the Y. M. C. A. building. In '95 it was removed to the Rogg build- ing on Eighth and Locust. In October, 1903, it was installed in its spacious and elegant home-the first substantial movement toward the beautification of the river front. The building was erected, furnished and equipped at a cost of about $350,000, which, with the original price paid for the grounds, represents a cost to the city of about $367,000. The present members of the board appointed by the mayor are: J. G. Olmsted, Mrs. A. E. Shipley and James B. Weaver, Jr.
Des Moines' Conservatories of Music.
Des Moines developed a love of music early in its career. An interesting chap- ter might be made of the early attempts of the city to find itself musically. At the present time Des Moines is very much alive to "concord of sweet sounds." The . city is much indebted to that pioneer of our time, Dr. M. L. Bartlett, also to the lamented Dean Howard, of Drake University, and that tireless missionary of art, Dean Frank Nagel, of Highland Park college, for generously passing on the torch of genius to younger generations of musicians. Latterly younger men and women have entered the steadily widening local field and brought their talents to the service of the public. Surely as a music center for Iowa, Des Moines is a city of certainties.
BOOK III. DES MOINES.
PART XII. PAST AND PRESENT.
CHAPTER I.
STORY OF THE NEW CAPITOL.
One of the traditions of the Capitol, which old habitues delight to relate, is a visit from Rev. John Hall and Mr. Robert Bonner, of New York Ledger fame, in the early summer of 1894. These two, in attendance on a meeting of the Scotch-Irish Association of America, were escorted by Hon. Robert S. Finkbine through the new Capitol from cellar to dome. On their way to the carriage, Mr. Finkbine modestly received the broad words of praise alternately bestowed upon him as the builder of the Capitol, and, pointing with pride to the work of his hands, said :
"Gentlemen : I will admit I am proud of one thing. The building cost less than three hundred thousand dollars-and from dome to cellar there's not a dishonest dollar in it !"
"That's nothing," quickly retorted Dr. Hall. "We know-don't we Bobbie ?- a State Capitol that cost over thirty million dollars; and not an honest dollar in it from top to bottom!"
The anecdote, whether literally true or not, is founded upon a fact to which every citizen of Des Moines, and of Iowa as well, may point with. well-founded pride; the fact that Iowa's capitol building was erected within the limits of legis- lative appropriations, without a dollar's indebtedness, and without even a sus- picion of graft-a record to be proud of at a time when public plunder in the guise of legislation is equaled only by the rapacity of individuals to whom public office offers nothing better than opportunity for betrayal of public trust.
THE LONG FIGHT FOR THE NEW CAPITOL BUILDING-1868-1872.
The location of the Capitol in Des Moines, and on the east side of the river, and in the building guaranteed the state, was at most a temporary settlement of the capitol location question. The building erected in fulfillment of the citi- zens' pledge, concerning which the local press of the period lavished a wealth of adjectives-such as "splendid" and "magnificent," was at best a temporary affair, too small, ill-arranged, and, when subjected to the strain of crowds at inaugurals, unsafe. Even before the occupancy of the building, it was evident that the state would soon be compelled to do for itself what it should have done at first-build a state house adequate for the needs of the future-the near future at least.
The legislative contest for a new capitol building was deferred for ten years, and was not settled until 1872,-fourteen years after the first General Assembly convened in Des Moines.
Several names stand out prominently in the history of the long struggle-be- ginning in 1868, among them Jonathan Cattell, B. F. Allen, George W. Jones, and J. H. Hatch, respectively representatives of Polk county ; but the one man to whom the palm of leadership was cheerfully conceded by his compeers and to whom the glory of successful leadership is given by every survivor of that legisla- tive period,-whether he was for or against the' measure,-is the late John A. Kasson. In fact, Mr. Kasson was chosen, and twice re-chosen, a representative from Polk county that the movement for a new capitol might have in him a leader
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of large experience, rare tact in handling men and persuasive eloquence. "At the time of the fall election, in 1867," he says,1 "I was far away seeking rest and recreation after several years of hard public labors, when notice came to me that I had been elected to the house of the Twelfth General Assembly, with J. H. Hatch for my colleague. On my return they told me of the special object of Polk county sending me to that legislature."
Jonathan Cattell, of Polk, was serving the second half of his senatorial term. With three strong men, and one of them a giant in the arena of debate and a diplomat by nature and education, Polk county was "all fit for a fight." And fight it was from the start. Arrayed against the proposed new capitol were various interests which together proved formidable. The representatives of state institutions at other points were easily lined up against the measure as one in- volving an outlay which might jeopardize their own anticipated appropriations. Most representatives of districts dependent on other trunk lines than the Rock Island were rounded up by appeals to local interests. Disappointed representa- tives of other localities which had failed to secure the location of the capitol, were eager to reopen the question of location. The times were flush and con- servatives in the matter of expenditure were of the opinion that the time had come for a halt in the expenditure of public money. With not a few of this class, the inadequacy of the old capitol was regarded as a pretext and the danger, a scare, and the measure a selfish scheme of the Polk county trio to strengthen themselves with their constituents at the expense of the state.
On the other side, were the citizens of Des Moines and Polk county who best knew the inadequacy of the old structure, and were continually haunted by the ever-present possibility of a re-opening of the whole question and the ultimate loss of that which had cost them so much of effort and of money which they could ill afford to lose. Behind these locally interested parties was a con- siderable number of legislators who approached the question on its merits.
This, in general, was the strained situation which confronted the young states- man from Polk in 1868 as he entered upon his arduous home missionary labors.
The initial move on the legislative chess-board was a resolution proposing a joint committee to examine the capitol building and, report on its sufficiency for the forthcoming inauguration. The committee reported the building safe for all who could be accommodated within its limited area.
The next move was the creation of a strong house committee on public build- ings of which Polk county's representative, Mr. Hatch, was chairman. February I, the committee reported a bill providing for a state house at a cost not to exceed $1,500,000. The bill was taken up March 3, and was confronted with a substi- tute, which was promptly voted down by an amendment limiting the cost to $1,000,000; and the next day by an amendment reducing the cost to $600,000. The amendments were voted down ; but, later, a million-dollar compromise amend- ment was temporarily agreed upon. On the third day other embarrassing amend- ments were carried. The war of diplomacy continued until the 7th of March, when the bill, as amended, passed the house by a vote of 55 to 36.
The bill had comparatively smooth sailing until it reached the senate. There it was confronted by anti-capitol memorials, notably from Webster and Buchanan counties. It went to a committee favorable to the project, and was reported out on the 14th and made a special order for the 19th of March.
The bill, once fairly before the senate, was confronted with a substitute which was promptly voted down. A motion was made to table it, but that also failed, by a vote of 25 to 20. A move to indefinitely postpone was defeated by a vote of 23 to 22. The bill then ran the gauntlet of unfriendly amendments. One of these amendments prevailed, striking out the building committees of the two houses from the board of commissioners on plans. Another volley of amend- ments followed. Some of these carried, thereby seriously endangering the fate
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