USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > History of Dubuque County, Iowa; being a general survey of Dubuque County history, including a history of the city of Dubuque and special account of districts throughout the county, from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 21
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Late in 1890 the street car line was completed to the old Stewart farm; cars began to run to the new park there in April. The new fire steamer "R. W. Stewart" arrived early in 1891. On March I, 1891, the bonded debt was $730,602.50 and the floating debt $124,120.46; the total receipts were $356,806.53; the expenses were the same less $39,438.52 on hand ; the saloon license amounted to $19,510.65. The council at this time insisted on direct water pressure and better service from the water company.
In March, 1891, Julia Ward Howe lectured on "Is Polite Society Polite?" The city now for almost the first time took steps to secure in all cases compensation for street and other public franchises. In April the mayor's salary was raised from $600 to $1,500; there were earnest objections to this advance. New paving for Main street was considered. At the opera house in June Evan Lewis threw J. C. Comstock, a local wrestler, in three straight falls with ease. Robert W. Stewart, mayor, resigned in June. There was war in the council. The Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows met here in October. The Key City Insurance Company began business about this date. The council after due deliberation decided on brick for the paving of Main street. Paving bonds to pay the expense were to be issued. The liquor interests were called "River Rats of the Rum Counties" by the prohibition orators.
On March 1, 1892, the bonded debt was $857.708.89: it was increased in 1891-2 owing to the enormous expense on the streets ---- $70,000 about. Atkinson and Oloff, of Rock Island, were awarded the contract to pave Main street with brick at $57,323: there were
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
to be 28,000 square yards covered and 7,000 feet of new curbing laid. The Dubuque Malting Company secured leases on four breweries (Heeb's, Glab's, Schmidt's and Schwind's) in 1892 and organized with Nicholas Glab, president ; Paul Traut, vice president ; A. F. Heeb, secretary and treasurer, and Titus Schmidt, superin- tendent : its capital was $150,000. Should the city buy the water works or let them pass to a syndicate? was asked in 1892. In July, 1892, an humane society was organized here. The Labor Day celebration in 1892 was immense and imposing. John R. Sovereign, labor leader, was the principal orator ; 6,000 people gathered at the shooting park. The city assessment in 1892 was $19,770,395. In September the twenty-ninth annual conclave Knights Templar . assembled here ; their parade was a brilliant scene. A large delega- tion left in October to participate in the opening of the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The Nutwood Park Company planned a mile race course in October. The state rifle contest was held here at this date. The Young Men's Christian Association planned a home on Eighth street. In 1892 the number of city arc lights was increased to 200. An offer of C. H. White to accept for the city bondholders about $700.000 of 5 per cent thirty year bonds in exchange for the 6 and 7 per cent city bonds soon to become due, all at par, was rejected by the council in November, 1892.
Dubuque grew rapidly in manufactures and other industries in 1892. Among the improvements were the following : Irving school. Adams foundry, water company, Central Union Telegraph Com- pany, pressed brick, basket factory, Diamond Jo yards, stamping and enameling, malting, court house, brass works, Forester's fac- tory, Finley hospital, Hotel Paris, Odd Fellows' Temple, Ryan packer, Mother House, Sisters of Charity, United States Electric Light & Power Company, etc. The new engine house cost $35,000. The Star Electric Company bought out the United States Electric Company late in 1892. The city receipts in 1892-3 were as follows:
Taxes
$246,500.90
Licenses
27,531.25
Improvement bonds.
155,500.00
Bridge bonds. 15,000.00
Rents, etc. 74,512.10
On hand March 1, 1892
28,734.86
Total $548,001.II
On March 1. 1893. the bonded debt was $723,925.52 and the floating debt $137,523.45 : outstanding improvement bonded debt, $161,500.
The baseball club in 1887 was not as strong as it had been in former years; it played several matched games; the players were
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
Rose, Lear, Loftus, Dean, Burns, Brown, N. Elligan, F. Elligan, Conners and Coffey ; they played La Crosse, Oskaloosa, Webster City, Independence, Rock Island. Rockford and other clubs; the receipts of the club in 1887 were $6,314 and expenses $6,077-77.
In 1888 the Interstate League embraced the following cities : Dubuque, Rockford, Davenport, Peoria, Bloomington, Decatur, Danville and Crawfordsville. In July, 1888, the club, not meeting with satisfactory support, disbanded and the players joined other clubs.
In 1889 the players were Valkert, center; Gandalfo, left ; Coffey, right ; Ahern, first ; Burns, second ; Lear, short ; King, third ; Duane, catcher ; Keas, pitcher. They played the Chicagos here in October to 1,000 people and were defeated 9 to 5.
In 1890 the league embraced Dubuque, Ottumwa, Monmouth, Ottawa, Cedar Rapids, Aurora, Joliet and Sterling.
The claim of George W. Jones against the government "for funds advanced in the transmission by special messenger of reports of a revolution in progress in Bogota when he was United States minister" was allowed by Congress in 1893, largely through the influence of Senators Allison and Sherman. In 1893 the Dubuque Light and Traction Company was formed to succeed the Dubuque Electric Railway, Light and Power Company ; G. K. Wheeler was president. In May, 1893, the Fourth street elevator was destroyed by fire. The corner store of Odd Fellows' building was laid in April, 1893; Mr. Langworthy was the orator. General Booth's new sand pump barge was formally christened "Mound Builder" by Fannie Couch.
Notwithstanding the immense debt about to fall due and the vast and expensive improvements in progress, the credit of the city was good in 1893. Mayor Saunders said in his valedictory in 1893 :
"I also wish and hope that the incoming council will at an early clay get used to that double issue of political life, namely : Petitions signed by prominent citizens for the opening of streets, etc., that would be a very large expense to the city and then in less than three months afterward the 'prominent' citizens shout their lungs weak for reform."
The city assessment in 1893 was $20,232,049. Gen. William Vandever died in July, 1893. The Young Men's Library had about 14,000 volumes and 475 members at this time.
On August 16, 1893, the First National Bank closed its doors. This was caused by its inability to realize as promptly as expected on collateral and by the enormous amounts recently paid out-over $543,000 in about three months. Examiner McHugh said the bank could and would open in a few days. The depositors signed an agreement to accept for their balances certificates of deposit bear- ing 4 per cent interest and payable in four equal installments three months apart, beginning January 1, 1894. This gave the bank time
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
to realize on its assets. Mr. Eckles permitted the bank to resume business August 30. At no time had the bank lost the utmost con- fidence of the people.
In January, 1894, prize fighting here was stopped by Mayor Daugherty. In January the Masons celebrated on a grand scale the fiftieth anniversary of their organization in Iowa. M. M. Ham became postmaster this year. The newspapers and citizens observed with much resentment the increase of the city's floating debt, as follows, omitting cents, on March I of each year :
1888.
$ 68,672
1889
88,950
1890
104,519
1891
124,120
1892
133,783
1893
147,523
1894
244,134
1895
245,766
1896
220,988
1897
278,588
1898
350,470
The old debt on March 1, 1894, was $708,291.68, which, added to the floating debt, gave a total indebtedness of $952,526.27. This year the police force consisted of thirty-six men. Efforts to get rid of the smoke nuisance were taken. It was planned to refund the bonds falling due in 1896 with 4 per cent gold bonds, based on an assessed city valuation of $20,800,000.
The repeal of special city charters such as the one under which Dubuque operated was considered in 1894. At this time Mr. Jaeger was president of the Dubuque Personal Liberty Association. There were 210 saloons here. In the spring of 1894 Gen. George W. Jones, then ninety years old, was honored by the State Leg- islature with a request to pay that body a visit at Des Moines. The Governor's Greys and a large body of citizens escorted him to the capital city, where he was received like a king or conqueror. About this time Henry L. Stout donated his residence property at Iowa and Ninth streets to the Young Men's Christian Association, to be converted into a gymnasium. The Bank and Insurance Building was the pride of the whole city. Ten thousand people attended the reception when it was thrown open for inspection. Jesse P. Far- ley died here in 1894. He came here in 1833 and became very prominent and wealthy.
A pest house was established on a flatboat in 1894. The Dubuque & Wisconsin Bridge Company was organized this year to build a bridge over the Mississippi at Eagle Point. An embalming school was opened here in June. A $500,000 lumber fire in June was the
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY-
heaviest this city had ever suffered. All the employes of the city street railways struck in June and July, 1904. There were many acts of violence. Mr. Jaeger and Mr. Hancock, two old settlers, died this year. The first white child born in Dubuque, Susan Ann McCraney, born January 10, 1833, died in 1894. She married John D. Byrnes. Many fast horses were at Nutwood in September. A mile was paced in 2:101/2. A free bridge was broached in 1894.
The year 1894 was a prosperous one for Dubuque. There were started the Catholic Mother House, to cost $300,000; the Bank and Insurance Building, to cost $350,000; the Dubuque Malting Com- pany's brewery, to cost $450,000; a high school building, to cost $75,000; a new Methodist church, to cost $40,000, and other large improvements.
In 1895 Thomas Loftus was elected president of the Eastern Iowa Baseball League, composed of the Dubuque, Waterloo, Clin- ton, Marshalltown, Burlington, Davenport, Cedar Rapids and Galesburg clubs. The Stout Auditorium opened on Ninth street in February. In 1895 the St. Valentine Herald, issued by the Dorothea Dix Circle, was a unique issue. It netted about $1,000 to the circle. How much the Herald lost was not stated. There were a score or more of valuable contributions to the columns. The isstte consisted of twenty-six pages and many illustrations. Gen. O. O. Howard was a guest of honor here in April. The bicycle parade in April was a striking affair. Robert G. Ingersoll lectured here in 1894 on "Shakespeare" and again in 1895 on "The Bible." The attendance was large and the newspaper comments kind and complimentary.
In 1895 all the saloons were listed under the mulct law. Judge Husted was largely instrumental in forcing the execution of the law. The baseball season of 1895 began May 10, lasted four months and comprised 120 games. There were about seventy-five fast horses at Nutwood in June. On October 31, 1895, several dis- tinct earthquake shocks of about thirty seconds' duration each oc- curred here. The city donated $25,000 to the Eagle Point bridge approach. The monument to Dubuque was again considered late in 1895. In a few months his remains were buried in a stone sarcophagus at the old grave by the Old Settlers' Association. The Dubuque Monument Association was busy securing funds.
The Dubuque Ladies' Literary Association, which was organ- ized in 1876, celebrated its twentieth anniversary in January, 1896. Mrs. D. N. Cooley, Mrs. B. W. Poor, Mrs. Harger, Mrs. McArthur, Mrs. Solomon Smith and other early presidents were present.
In 1896 the city complained that while it had nearly 40,000 of the 60,000 population of the county, it had only one of the seven mem- bers of the county board, a manifest unfairness. In Deceniber, 1896, $356,000 old city bonds were refunded in new twenty-year 4 per cent bonds. They were refunded at about par. On March
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
I, 1897, the total bonded and floating debt was $970, 184.01. The bonded debt was $691,595.16.
Early in 1897 a Mr. Slimmer, of Waverly, Iowa, offered to donate $50,000 to Finley Hospital providing the citizens would raise as much more, which was done in a few weeks, Henry L. Stout alone donating $25,000. In August, 1897, the Iowa Institute of Science and Art was organized.
The total city debt on March 1, 1898, was $1,042,065.68; the bonded debt proper was $691,595.16, and the floating debt proper was $350,470.52. Prior to 1898 the Iowa Iron Works constructed over 100 different vessels, the most of them with iron or steel hulls. Joseph S. Morgan was postmaster at Dubuque in 1898. He was connected with the Globe-Journal and the Times about this date. The city expenses in 1896 were $338,846.65; in 1897, $456,117.87. At this time the city had built or was building a num- ber of high, strong stone walls to hold the bluffs here and there.
In January, 1898, Dubuque had thirteen public school buildings and had in all seventeen buildings used for schools. There were enrolled 5,756 children and 125 teachers. There were 20,000 books of all kinds in the Public Library. There were also eighteen Catholic parochial schools, with 2,470 scholars enrolled. In 1897 there were sent out from Dubuque about 300 traveling salesmen for the wholesale houses here.
It was about 1898 that the Council and citizens concluded it was time for the city to own the water works, as it had a right under the provisions of the franchise. It was at first thought by the city fathers that about $150,000 would be a fair compensation for the works, but the water company did not agree and said they did not want to sell. The city prepared to enforce the transfer and experts were called to make estimates of the value of the plant. One placed the value at $664,076 and another at $799.767.75. This opened the eyes of the Council. The water company's experts placed the value from $664,076 to $815,000. The city's experts averaged $475,000. It was now seen that a much larger sum than anticipated would have to be paid for the plant. Later city estimates were as low as $313,755. The city's expert finally said $449,243, and a nonpartisan expert said $549,958. It was then thought best to leave the whole matter of the transfer to Judge Shiras as arbitrator, but he was unable to act. At length the price was fixed at $545,000. But the city debt was already over a million dollars, and would the people stand this additional burden? it was asked. Men and women voted on the question, "Shall the city buy the water works?" with the following result : Women, for the pur- chase, 275 ; against the purchase, 33; men, for the purchase, 3,133; against the purchase, 459. So it carried and the plant was bought for $545,000. Trustees were placed in charge of the works. Bonds were prepared and a sinking fund provided. Four per cent bonds
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
were offered, but there were at first no bids, though local capitalists had previously held forth alluring promises. All capitalists seemed afraid until the Supreme Court should affirm the legality of the issue. Local banks bid par with a premium, provided the legality of the issue should be affirmed. After some sparring local concerns and individuals took all the bonds at par, but were allowed 472 per cent, a mortgage on the plant and a definite and rigid funding tax. Since that date to the present the bonds have been regularly re- deemed as they fell due-$20,000 at a time.
In 1899 the Eighth street motor line was offered for sale at pub- lic auction. The population of Dubuque in 1890 was 30,311; in 1900 it was 36,297. The racing at Nutwood Park in 1898 was excellent. The wells at Eagle Point for the city water supply sta- tion were two in number and 1,308 and 1,310 feet deep, respectively. Another just built was 1,437 feet deep. Four trained nurses were in Finley Hospital in January, 1900. About this time F. D. Stout gave Nutwood Park to the city upon condition it should be kept in good condition. There were seventy-two acres, valued at $36,000. Dubuque & Wisconsin High Bridge Company took its first steps about this date.
The races at Nutwood Park in 1899 were very fast-pace, 2:0514 ; trot, 2:1034. Twenty thousand people were present the best day and 10,000 on another day. Idolita won the Futurity. This stake, called the "Horse Review Futurity," was worth $20,000. Others were $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000. There were boxing con- tests here at the same time-Joe Choynski, Clarence Forbes, Tommy Ryan, Jack Moffatt and others.
The sports ended with a street carnival in October. Miss Maud Atkinson was queen. It was about 1899 that the first Monday newspapers began to make their appearance here.
In January, 1900, the Eleventh street elevator began to be oper- ated by electricity. The actual net revenue of the city for the fiscal year 1899-1900 was $367,000. A steam road roller was bought in 1900. In March, 1900, $200,000 of the old Hayes bonds were re- funded. Ten new cells were built in the calaboose under the City Hall. The vote on the library tax of 14 mill was : Yes, men, 2,061 ; yes, women, 1,027 ; total, yes, 3,088 ; no, men, 694; no, women, 38; total, no, 732. The bridge at Eagle Point was commenced in the fall of 1900.
The Dubuque Enterprise was established in October, 1901, with John Inghram and W. J. Glynn in charge.
Smallpox appeared in Dubuque in January, 1901, and it required considerable time to be driven out. In August, 1901, there were refunded $120,000 in old bonds, and a little later $15,400. The city gave $25,000 to cover the expense of building the west ap- proach to the Eagle Point bridge. This bridge was ready in 1902. A new steam roller, street harrow and rutter plow cost $3,550.
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
The water tower, northwest of Linwood Cemetery, cost about $600 and had a capacity of about 500 barrels. The city used Finley Hospital and paid expenses. Grand View avenue engine house was built at a cost of $6,000.
The year 1902 was a record-breaker for the wholesale jobbers and manufacturers of Dubuque. M. M. Ham, who had so long edited the Herald, died Christmas night, 1902. Night schools were established in 1903. Tlie Tri-State Fair held its first meeting in 1903. In 1903 the comptroller of the currency named Dubuque as a reserve city for the deposits of the smaller banks. In the spring of 1903 Dubuque had nearly fifty private gasolene launches. The street car employes struck in 1903, and rough men from outside were secured to take their places. Considerable ill feeling and riot- ing occurred. Armory hall was leased to the Governor's Greys in 1904, but they soon surrendered the lease. In January, 1904, Prof. F. T. Oldt served as chairman of the committee on phonetic spell- ing at the State Teachers' Convention in Des Moines. He intro- duced resolutions, which were adopted, endorsing the simplified spelling of such words as thoro, thru, demogog, thorofare, etc.
In 1904 Nutwood Park was improved to the amount of $7,890. The Union Electric Company gave the fair association the use of the park without charge. In 1904 over $1,000,000 was spent in improvements here of all kinds. The city subscribed as individuals $151,000 for the Dubuque, Iowa & Wisconsin Railroad. A new engine house was built at Rhomberg and Reed avenues. Patrol wagons were in use. The art division of the Woman's Club peti- tioned to have the surroundings of the Eleventh street elevator beautified. It was at this time or before that the Dubuque Boat & Boiler Works grew out of the Iowa Iron Works. The Iowa Social- ist suspended publication in 1904. In 1904 the German Bank be- came the German Savings Bank.
In 1905 it became clear that something was wrong with the water works management and an investigation was soon ordered. Charges were finally lodged against the trustees, who were asked to resign, and did so finally. The books were in bad condition and a large debt for supplies of all kinds, particularly coal, was disclosed. In the end this debt reached $49,000, was bonded and was added to the city's regular bonded debt. This is considered one of the worst instances of official malfeasance in the history of the city.
A number of residents of Dubuque have distinguished themselves in the flowery fields of authorship. Marion Hurd ( McNeely ) has written poems and, with Mrs. Stokely, collaborated "Miss Billy" and collaborated others with Jean Wilson. Mrs. Mary Bingham Wilson has written interesting poems, and Mr. Herman Ficke magazine articles. Mrs. Eunice Gibbs has written two books- "One Thousand Smiles" and "The Cats' Convention." Harold Wallis has written a volume of poems entitled "Youth." Miss
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
Marie Gannon is the author of several attractive poems ; so is Miss Louise Harragan. Herr Laubengeiger has a book of German verses, and Mr. Walsh is the author of "Mirage of Many." Mrs. Edith Keeley Stokely's poems are sweet and beautiful, as will be seen from the following verse :
"The greenest grass, the sweetest flowers, grew at Aunt Polly's door.
The finest apples, miles around, Aunt Polly's orchard bore. Aunt Polly's cows were sleek and fat, her clicks a wondrous size, And Jabez Smith, the hired man, was witty, great and wise. I used to go with Jabe at night, with clinking pails to milk, Sometimes he let me feed the colts and rub their coats of silk. And the moon that rose in those days, just behind the cattle bars, Was twice as large as now, with twice as many stars."
A juvenile court was instituted here in 1905. In December, 1905, Mr. Oehler, of Dyersville, sued the Smith-Morgan Printing Company for $20,000 damages for libel. In 1905 the races at the Tri-State Fair were unusually fast. Twenty-one thousand persons were present one day and 20,000 were present "Dubuque Day." The J. R .. a new steamer, was launched at Eagle Point in the spring of 1905. The Iowa Dairy Company and Commercial Club were active at this date. The gunboat Dubuque, previously launched, was yet in service. The city assessment in 1905 was $23,832,460. A dynamite bomb was feloniously exploded, shattering the entrance to the Dubuque Club house, August, 1906. In 1906 the Eagle Point Bridge Company spent $21,000 for a new span. Several dynamite bombs were exploded late in 1906. One wrecked a watchman's shanty in the Illinois Central yards. A reward of $300 was offered for the miscreant. Lawther's candy factory burned down in Sep- tember, 1906, entailing a loss of about $150,000. Work on the Albatross, a steamer costing about $80,000, was commenced in 1906. At the Tri-State Fair in 1906 Dan Patch lowered the track record 51/2 seconds. The Dubuque Baseball Club ended the season of 1906 in fourth place. By January 24, 1906, the citizens had sub- scribed $125,000 to the Dubuque, Iowa & Wisconsin Railroad. In January, 1906, the Dubuque Woman's Club celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. Slot machines were banished from the city in 1906. Speaker D. B. Henderson died here February 25, 1906. In March 500 voters petitioned to divide the Fifth ward. A bomb was hurled in the Casino in June. It was about 1907 that Dubuque became a member of the League of Iowa Municipalities, a body organized to promote civic purity. The eight banks of Dubuque had over $10,- 000,000 resources. In 1907 the Bertillion system for the identifica- tion of criminals was adopted. The city appropriation in 1907-8 was $266,650. Nearly a million and a half dollars were spent here
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
in 1907 for all sorts of improvements. It was a very prosperous year until the panic arrived. The banks here, as soon as the action in Chicago was known, met and resolved to pay out on deposits not to exceed $100 per day, and no time deposits were to be paid until the full time had expired. This act was approved by the leading business men. A valuable tract of land along the north side of the ice harbor was granted to the Boat & Boiler Company.
In 1907 the Illinois & Western Railway was granted the use of certain streets and alleys for railway purposes. The city appropria- tion for 1908 was $285,256. The Dubuque Woman's Club asked for a room for the Juvenile Court.
In 1907 funds for the Young Woman's Christian Building were subscribed and the structure was commenced. In March, 1907, a mass meeting against illegal saloons was held at the opera house. Archbishop Keane was the principal speaker. The saloons were violating the Sunday and night closing ordinance. The Law and Order League began numerous legal proceedings against them. Arthur McArthur confessed to having embezzled water works funds. He was superintendent and was sentenced to four years in the penitentiary. The Union Electric Company was a merger of the previous companies here. The Dubuque Booster Club was much in evidence in 1907. The Eagles held a brilliant carnival in July. Bad saloons were steadily eliminated. At the Tri-State Fair in August Dan Patch trotted a mile in 1 :001/2 ; several watches said as low as 1:58. Dubuque Baseball Club was having a hard time to retain its place in the Three-I League. For the first time in history not a saloon was open in Dubuque on Christmas day, 1907.
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