USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I > Part 65
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CENTRAL PARK.
The main feature of this system, Central park, has been beautifully laid out with lakes and drives, and makes for the children a playground and a place of en- joyment for everyone. The park is ornamented with rustic bridges, fountains, a large and spacious greenhouse and floral gardens. It also has a small space set aside for animals and birds. A very pretty pavilion for musicians sits upon a prominence near the southern extremity where concerts are given at frequent
HIRAM PRICE. 1859.
JAMES B. CLADWELL. 1860.
GEO. H. FRENCH. 1861-2.
JOHN E. HENRY. 1863 81.
ROBT. LOWRY, 1864.
JOHN L. DAVIES. 1865-6.
MICHAEL DONAHUE, 1867 8.
JAMES RENWICK. 1869
DAVENPORT MAYORS
697
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
intervals during the summer months. A refectory has also been established there. Under the plan adopted by the city a boulevard system has been laid out, and is given the same care and attention as the parks. The portion completed is known as Kirkwood boulevard. It will eventually connect McClellan Heights on the east with Fejervary park on the west, with drives reaching to the other breath- ing spots. These boulevards are laid out with flower beds and shrubbery, and please the eye of the beholder exceedingly.
FEJERVARY PARK.
The grounds for Fejervary park were presented by Miss Celestine Fejervary, a daughter of Nicholas Fejervary, a Hungarian refugee, who came to Davenport in the '40s, following the collapse of the insurrection in his native country. This park site was formerly the homestead of Mr. Fejervary. The house is still re- tained upon the grounds and the main features of the interior have been pre- served. To the exterior have been added porticos and here those who desire may be served with lunches and other refreshments. The landscape gardener has done his very best here. The hills have been preserved and the ravines have been spanned with rustic bridges. At the northern part of the park is a zoo wherein is a herd of buffaloes, which add greatly to the attractions of this resort. There are also elk, deer, bears, leopards and other animals confined within concrete dens fenced around with steel.
PROSPECT AND RIVERVIEW TERRACES.
In the eastern portion of the city is Prospect Terrace and in the western Riverview Terrace, both of which occupy commanding sites which overlook large portions of the city and great expanses of the Mississippi river.
LAFAYETTE AND WASHINGTON SQUARES
Are located in the business heart of the city. They are maintained by the park commissioners for the benefit of the public and are filled with beautiful shade trees. There are also benches and fountains.
In addition to these beauty spots may be mentioned McClellan Heights, where Camp McClellan was established during the Civil war; also Walling court, Arlington court, Dover court, Grand court and Riverview place. There are also a number of private parks, such as Schuetzen park and Surburban island park, situated on Credit island, the scene of the battle between General Taylor and his American troops and the British and Indians under command of Lieutenant Gra- ham, of the British army.
In their last annual report the park commissioners reported the following expenditures, which give the reader a pretty clear idea as to the amounts of money and care expended upon these breathing spots in the city: For the fiscal year ending April 1, 1909, there was expended on Central park $9,111.24; on Fejervary park, $8,086.87; on Washington and Lafayette squares, $2,290.01 ; on Prospect Terrace, $294.44; Riverview Terrace, $291.98; Kirkwood boulevard, $309.95;
698
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
on gardener's grounds, $6,523.33 ; other expenses, including superintendent's sal- ary, commissioners' salary, etc., brought the total of expenses for the year to $28,798.88.
CITY'S ASSETS AND LIABILITIES IN 1909.
Capital Assets.
City hall-land and building $ 125,000.00
City hall-furniture and fixtures
5,000.00
Parks
500,000.00
Police headquarters-land and buildings including armory
30,000.00
Police headquarters-equipment
5,950.00
Fire department-land and buildings
100,000.00
Fire department-equipment
48,500.00
Library-land and buildings
100,000.00
Library-furniture, fixtures and books
25,000.00
Levee and City island
5,000.00
Street commissioners department
16,525.00
Board of health department
7,000.00
Paved streets and alleys
2,134,934.00
Sewers
571,366.00
Total
$3,677,275.00
SUMMARIES.
Assets April 1, 1909.
Unremunerative but realizable-buildings, land, etc.
$ 970,975.00
Unremunerative and unrealizable paved streets and alleys
$2,134,934.00
Sewers
571,366.00
2,706,300.00
$3,677,275.00
Cash on hand in office
1,682.37
Cash in bank
242,347.96
Cash in banks (sinking fund)
103,970.52
Total cash on hand
$ 348,000.85
348,000.85
Total April 1, 1909
$4,025,: 35
LIABILITIES.
Bonds outstanding (41/2 per cent due August 1, 1909)
$275,000.00
Floating indebtedness (borrowed from banks) 175,000.00
$450,000.00
Building corner Front and Brady streets
3,000.00
JOHN M. LYTER. 1870.
JOHN C. BILLS. 1871-82-92.
A. H. BENNETT. 1872.
J. H MURPHY. 157- 79.
JOHN W. STEWART. 183 7 -4
RODERICK ROSE. 1875-6 80
T. 1 DOW. 1877
JOHN W. THOMPSON. 1878 83.
DAVENPORT MAYORS
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
701
Four per cent bonds are to be issued to retire the 41/2 per cent bonds maturing August 1, 1909, and the floating indebtedness, for the amount of
450,000.00 The sinking fund of $100,000.00 will be used to retire part of issue .. 100,000.00
$350,000.00
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Valuation of Property.
Real estate
$100,000.00
Apparatus and equipment
24,000.00
Furniture and supplies
2,500.00
Fire aların telegraph
18,000.00
Horses
4,000.00
Total
$148,500.00
PARKS.
Central Park
Washington and Lafayette Squares
Prospect Terrace
Riverview Terrace
Kirkwood Boulevard
$500,000.00
Gardeners' Grounds
Walling and Arlington Courts
Fejervary Park
STREET COMMISSIONER DEPARTMENTS.
I Tool house on Front street (storage) $ 1,000.00
I Tool house on Fifth and Main streets 2,000.00
I Electric sprinkler 4,000.00
II Wagon sprinklers 3,500.00
4 Sweepers
2,000.00
I Steam roller
2,000.00
5 Horses
500.00
2 One-horse wagons
150.00
I Buggy
125.00
2 Road graders
200.00
6 Wheel scrapers 300,00
Tools and supplies . L. 500.00
Total
$16,275.00
702
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
BOARD OF HEALTH.
I Garbage scow
$4,500.00
7 Garbage wagons
2,500.00
Total
$7,000.00
CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT.
Brick paving 43.00 miles
Asphalt paving 9.58 miles
52.58 miles
$2,242,372.52
Deduct for repaving on Second and Third street .... 1.50 miles
107,437.56
Sewers
.71.57 miles
571,377.II
INCOME FROM USE OF LEVEE.
Annual Rentals.
C. M. & St. P. railway $ 600.00
Rock Island, Southern Ry. Co. & Iowa & Illinois Ry. Co.
200.00
Rock Island & Davenport Ferry Co.
100.00
Chr. Mueller Lumber Co. 390.00
Hugh Mullen
10.00
Total
$1,300.00
STREET RAILWAYS.
The first street railway to be operated in Davenport was the Third street line, which was built by the Davenport Central Railway Company. The larger part of the utility was built in 1868 and the first car started March 2, 1869. A. C. Fulton was the first president. Next came the Brady street line, from Second street to Central park, and Judge James Grant was its president. This road had two branches, one running east to Oakdale cemetery, and the westward branch from Brady to Washington Garden. These branches were subsequently aban- doned and then a line was built by way of Second, Fourth and Sixteenth to Northwest Davenport. In 1888 the Brady street was equipped with electric motive power. A Chicago syndicate bought the other lines and operated them after making general improvements to their betterment and additions to the services by building the Harrison and Locust street belt line and another on Sixth, Tremont avenue, Kirkwood boulevard, Perry and Main, which were after- ward taken up. Subsequently all the lines were merged into one system.
In its system of street railways Davenport is very fortunate indeed, and there is no other city in the country that surpasses her in that regard. The service and equipment is excellent and fully meets the present wants of the community. The
51.08 miles
$2,134,934.96
From 1889 to 1909.
NICHOLAS FEJERVARY
705
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
lighting system is equally good, both in the business and residential sections. In the fall of 1909 boulevard lamps were placed on the lower portion of Brady street, making the illumination of that locality a beautiful feature, and gave rise to flattering encomiums by strangers on first beholding the novel sight. Of these things, Sherman W. Searle, at one time editor of the Davenport Leader, has written interestingly and with the data at hand that makes the following au- thentic :
THE MERGING OF UTILITIES.
"The merging of the street railways, electric power, electric light and gas companies of the cities of Davenport, Rock Island and Moline, in 1906, has re- sulted in great benefit to this community. It has given to the manufacturing interests cheap gas and power and has brought the power generated by the rapids of the Mississippi river to the door of every factory. In addition to this it has made Davenport one of the best lighted cities in the country and has given to her sister cities a system of street railways unequaled in any community of their population.
"In the spring of 1906 three New York banking firms, N. W. Halsey & Com- pany ; Mackay & Company; and J. G. White & Company, purchased all the lines in the three cities. They included the lines of the Tri-City Railway Com- pany, the Davenport & Surburban Railway Company, the Davenport Gas & Electric Company and the Peoples Light Company of the city of Davenport, the Moline & Watertown Railway Company and the Peoples Power Company of Rock Island and Moline. The reorganization of these companies was ef- fected with the Tri-City Railway & Light Company as the holding company of the different properties. These properties were consolidated into four companies, each with its own officers and executive board. J. F. Porter is president and H. E. Weeks is secretary of each of the four companies, while the Tri-City Rail- way and the Moline, East Moline and Watertown Railway have J. G. Huntoon, the Peoples Light Company has H. G. Blackwell and the Peoples Power Company has F. W. Reimers as their superintendents.
"The purpose of this amalgamation was the introduction of economies in the production of power and gas and in the operation of its plants. It was be- lieved by the purchasers that the economies introduced would warrant in sav- ings sufficient to justify the expenditure of large sums of money to put the properties in first class condition, and their judgment has proven to be correct. Already this company has expended $1,800,000 in cash in the improvement of its different plants, and it will require another million to place the properties in the high state of efficiency that is contemplated. All of its improvements are in charge of J. G. White & Company which, in addition to being a banking firm, is one of the leading engineering companies in the United States. All the work of reconstruction is of the highest class. Wherever new track is laid or old track replaced eighty-pound rail, laid upon concrete sub-structure, is used. The equipment of the street railway system is being constantly improved and the rolling stock is kept in the best possible state of efficiency.
706
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
ELECTRICITY FROM WATER POWER.
"The electricity used in the operation of the cars of the street railway com- panies, and used also for lighting and commercial power purposes, is generated by water power secured by utilizing the rapids of the Mississippi river. This water power furnishes electricity not only sufficient for all of these purposes, but for an overload capacity of 12,000 kilowatts, or 15,000 horse power. The sys- tem is provided with sub-stations and storage stations from which extra power is drawn in case of emergency. It has, in addition to this, an auxiliary steam power plant sufficient to carry the entire load of the different properties in the event of accident, high water or other casualty to the water power plant.
"The people of Davenport received immediate and direct benefit by this amalgamation in the reduction of prices of both gas and electricity. The com- pany, upon assuming control of the properties, authorized a reduction of thirty per cent in the price of electricity and twenty per cent in that of gas, the con- sumers being the beneficiaries.
"Another feature of the economies in this consolidation was the reduction of electricity to large consumers. So great was the reduction that many large manufacturing plants have abandoned the generation of power by steam and are buying their power from this company. Indeed, this fact is becoming gen- erally known throughout the west and is attracting manufacturers to the lo- cality. The same may be said of such concerns as use gas in their manufactur- ing enterprises. Gas is delivered at as low a rate as can be found anywhere in the west. The reliability of the power furnished by the amalgamated com- panies, and the excellence of the gas, are matters of favorable comment among all its consumers.
"When the merging of the different properties took place, the Tri-City Rail- way & Light Company became the possessors of the City Steam & Heating plant of the Davenport Gas & Electric Company. This plant had been run down so that the service was not considered of the best. The new owners, however, installed a new heating plant at the corner of Third and Rock Island streets. Immense water tube boilers are being placed which will furnish an abundance of steam for the heating of the entire business section of the city. The steam mains have been relaid and re-inforced, and with the extensions made, the busi- ness houses find it more economical and more satisfactory to heat their office buildings, stores and shops in this manner."
DAVENPORT WATER COMPANY.
One of the public utilities of which the citizens of Davenport are justly proud is their waterworks system and filter plant, operated by the Davenport Water Company. In the early 'zos, the citizens of Davenport began to plan a water- works system, but the city being in debt to the constitutional limit, it was im- possible to undertake the work. Hon. Michael Donahue, a former mayor of the city, stepped to the front and offered to install a water system provided the city would give him a resonable franchise under which to work. The conditions of
707
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
the franchise were agreed upon, passed and approved on December 4, 1872, and accepted by Mr. Donahue December 5, 1872.
In the early spring of 1873 ground was broken for the erection of a suitable pump house and system of pipes. The system laid at that time consisted of twenty miles of main pipes and 245 fire hydrants, and provided fire protection not only for the business section but for the bluffs and residence portions. While this plan was successful in providing fire protection, to do this work endangered both the pumps and the main pipe system. For that reason a reservoir, with a capacity of 5,000,000 gallons, was built, and a pumping station erected on Ripley street between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets. The system of mains was then divided into high and low pressure service, the reservoir supplying the bluff district and the river station supplying the downtown district of the city. By this system fire service is given under lower pressure with better results and the danger of the pumps and mains is minimized.
For the first few years after the installation of this system the company did not receive the patronage expected on account of the turbidity of the water and it was to provide pure, clean water that eighteen years ago, investigations were made by Colonel James P. Donahue, son of the late Michael Donahue, with the view of filtering the water for the entire city. Careful search was made for a source of supply other than the river, but quality and quantity were not to be found. Colonel Donahue then visited a number of cities where mechanical filtration had been installed but not successfully operated. Notwithstanding the defects in other companies, the Davenport Water Company had the courage to invest a large amount of money in installing the filtering plant which has proven so very satisfactory.
In February, 1908, they again started to enlarge their plant, adding more filters and remodeling the old ones. They also put in a new independent system for washing the filters and erected a large air compressor for aerating the sand beds. This is done every night, to keep the sand beds in sanitary condition. In fact, the filters are the most spectacular pressure filters in the United States, and are daily delivering millions of gallons of pure, sparkling water to the citi- zens of Davenport.
No description can give an adequate account of the magnitude of the plant at Station No. I, and only by a visit to this institution can a full idea be ob- tained. The company is always willing and pleased to show visitors about its plant.
ELSULLA
1
-
STREET SCENES
Second Street looking west from Brady; Main Street looking south from Fifth; Third Street looking east from Harrison; Brady Street looking north from Second; Main Street looking north from Front; Second Street looking east from Harrison. Davenport has over 140 miles of streets. 50 miles of which are well paved with brick or asphalt
CHAPTER XXIV.
A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE.
EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GROW IN CULTURE AND USEFULNESS IN DAVENPORT-PUB- LIC BUILDINGS PROVIDED FOR ALL LINES OF INTEREST-A FINE LINE OF HELPFUL INSTITUTIONS-PLACES OF INSTRUCTION AND AMUSEMENT-HOTELS, HOSPITALS -SOMEWHERE FOR EVERYBODY TO STAY-A GREAT ARRAY OF ORGANIZATIONS FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN BANDING TOGETHER.
A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE.
For the social side of its citizens and also for the higher plane of intellectual life Davenport makes adequate provision for its citizens. The parks with their fine refectories and dining halls supplement the accommodations offered by the Outing Club, the Commercial Club, the Turner Hall, hotels and private homes for entertainments. There are social organizations by the hundred. The clubs for study are numbered by the score. One organization of men, the Contempo- rary club, has a long and useful history. A similar one among the German- 'American men is the Tafel Runde. One community only antedates Davenport in maintaining University Extension lecture courses. These lectures are annu- ally given in the spacious auditorium of the High school and are generously main- tained. Among the societies for philanthropic work are the Ladies' Industrial Relief society, the People's Union Mission, the Rummelpott club, the Visiting Nurse's association, the Babies' Friendly society and the many organizations connected with the various churches.
One of the newer organizations which holds regular meetings in its handsome home on Western avenue is the Ethical society. The Public library offers ac- commodations in handsomely appointed club rooms and here a number of literary and scientific organizations hold regular sessions.
This chapter will be devoted to mention of public buildings and organizations of various kinds.
712
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
The Academy of Sciences was organized in 1867, on the evening of December 14th, by four men who met in a business office to consider plans for the institut- ing of a scientific society, and within a year from that time the society had fifty members on its roll. As soon as possible a cabinet of natural history specimens was begun and placed in the rooms of the library. In 1873 a small back room was rented, in which three or four cases of relics were displayed and the follow- ing year saw the society installed in better quarters in the Odd Fellows' build- ing, where weekly meetings of the members kept alive an active interest in the academy's work. In 1877 a building lot was donated by Mrs. Patience V. New- comb and the desire to erect a home for the academy took possession of its en- thusiastic members. The building soon assumed proportions and in 1878 was finished, giving the devotees to scientific research meeting and library rooms and an apartment for the collection of relics. Prior to this, or in 1873, the academy had become interested in the exploration of mounds in the neighborhood of Davenport and many valuable relics were secured by their efforts in the way of carved stone pipes, skulls, copper axes, objects made of skulls and bones, pieces of pottery and stone arrow-heads, spear-heads and the like. Later valuable pieces of pottery were secured from mounds in Arkansas, Tennessee and states contiguous, most of which were collected by Captain W. P. Hall, who had made long voyages in his skiff on the Mississippi and many of its tributaries. To give to the world a description of these valuable "finds" the "Academy's Proceed- ings" appeared in book form in 1875, the money for its publications having been raised by the Women's Centennial Association in subscriptions and home enter- tainments. This volume was one of the exhibits at the Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia in 1876. Since then many volumes have gone to press and today the academy has at its command a permanent publication fund, the foun- dation of which was established by a bequest of Mrs. Mary P. Bull, of $10,000, and which was given as a memorial to her brother, Charles E. Bull, and a nephew, J. Duncan Putnam. This fund was increased in 1903 by Mrs. M. L. D. Putnam, who left to the academy $24,000. This makes it possible to keep up the publica- tion of the "Proceedings" which are sent to leading libraries, learned societies and similar institutions in various parts of the world. As a result the academy in turn receives similar publications, which assures to the building up of a sci- entific reference library that is now one of the most complete west of Chicago. The library is classified and catalogued, making any subject readily obtainable. Twelve large rooms are now devoted to the display of the academy's collection of anthropological and natural historic relics.
In 1899 the academy came into possession, by purchase, of the Presbyterian church building, adjoining its property on the south, which is now known as Science Hall. It is located on the corner of Seventh and Brady streets. In 1902 a curator was employed, whose duties are continuous and the academy is today quite frequently visited by teachers and their classes of the various schools of the city. In 1904 the Davenport school board gave official recognition of the academy's work by appointing its curator as special instructor in science in the schools.
BURTIS OPERA HOUSE IN LATE '60s
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION BUILDING
715
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
The first president of the academy was David S. Sheldon, who was professor of natural science in Griswold college, and Dr. C. C. Parry, an eminent botanist, became his successor, with a number of others of prominence to follow him in that office.
The Putnam family have for many years taken a deep interest in the Academy of Sciences. The will of W. C. Putnam who died in 1896 provided for an en- dowment of property approaching a quarter million dollars in value, the income to become available for the Academy's enlargement when the property has been put into its most productive condition. In accordance with this provision the trustees commenced in the spring of 1910 the erection of an eight-story office building on the historic site of the famous hoted of 1839, LeClaire House, the old structure being razed to make room for the new one. The many friends of the academy are looking forward to the time when the institution may benefit greatly. by the bequest.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
In 1867 the birth of Young Men's Christian Association took place in Dav- enport and from a small and humble beginning the city has the splendid society of Christian men and its magnificent home, built from funds donated by broad- minded and liberally disposed citizens. The association's home at one time was in the Metropolitan block, then in Moore's hall, later in the old postoffice block and afterwards in the Forrest building. The expenses were maintained (?) by voluntary subscriptions and a useful and beneficent work was carried on by the members. The association had many ups and downs and from time to time almost ceased to exist. This was the condition of its affairs when, in 1908, new courage was aroused by a movement for a re-organization on different lines and the offer of $50,000 toward the erection of a building by Davenport's lumber king, E. S. Crossett. This gave impetus to other subscriptions and after the committee selected for that purpose had made a canvass of the city, the total amount subscribed for a Young Men's Christian Association building amounted to $102,000, and it may be here related that within ten days after the subscriptions were closed $100,000 was placed in the bank to the credit of the association, a record for prompt payment probably never surpassed or equalled in any other city in the country. A further gratifying fact to be noticed is that of the $102,000 subscribed and the $100,000 paid in, the dif- ference has been more than made up in accrued interest and special subscrip- tions by individuals and church societies since the erection of the building, which has been placed in the fund for furnishings. Another fact, which is still more gratifying and substantial, is that the association is absolutely free of debt.
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