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 8
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The election of city officers in April, 1843, was held at B. Rupert's office ; Dr. T. Mason and Gen. F. Gehon were judges of the election. Wilson and Keesecker of the Miners' Erpress did the city printing for several years about this period. David & Crawford. attorneys, represented the city in the case of City of Dubuque vs. United States Commissioners. At the April election, 1843, James Fanning was chosen mayor, and Timothy Fanning, David Sleator, P. C. Morhiser. John H. Thedinga, F. K. O'Ferrall and Joseph Ogilby, aldermen. There were bridges at Bluff, Locust, Iowa, Clay and other streets, for which -lumber was obtained from Hale's mill. W. B. Smith was city clerk. An ordinance prohibiting the opening of saloons and stores on Sunday was lost in June, 1843 ; ayes-Fanning and Ogilby ; nays-Thedinga, Morhiser and Sleator. New bridges were built on Bluff, Main, Iowa, Clay, Locust and White streets and Lorimier Hollow. In June, 1843, citizens peti- tioned for the erection of a market house. The city had great trouble to get its dues from the land office. It was necessary to dig drains from Bluff street to the slough across Locust, Main,
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Iowa, Clay and White streets on Eighth, Seventh and others. Lum- ber from Sage's mill was used on city bridges. A suitable place for the fire engine was obtained in January, 1844. At this time the council resolved itself into a board of health for the suppression of smallpox.
By May, 1844, the notes of the resuscitated Miners' bank were at par with specie. About April 1, 1844. H. H. Houghton sold the Transcript to Royal Cooper. The paper expired in September, 1845, at which date the materials were removed to Rock Island.
In April, 1844, F. K. O'Ferrall was elected mayor, and Fanning, Thedinga, Blake, Rogers, Dwelle, Shields, aldermen. Grocery (wet) license was fixed at $100. The town lots remaining unsold in Dubuque were listed in 1844. A general examination of the public improvements going on here was ordered in April, 1844. Culverts on all the cross streets had to be built. Again on May 9, 1844, the council asked the receiver at the land office why the money due the city was not paid over. Eleventh street to the canal was opened in the spring of 1844. The ordinance closing groceries (wet ) and stores on Sundays went into effect in May, 1844. Several mines were discovered in the forties on city property, which were leased for mining purposes. J. P. Farley was authorized to build a pow- der magazine, and all persons who sold powder were required to deposit the same therein. The council met in a room owned by R. Cox in 1844-45. In November. 1844, Farley & Bonson pre- sented a bill of $206.85 for building a powder magazine. E. Lang- worthy was asked to appear before the council in November, 1844, to report the amount of mineral due the city from the Third street mines. The city's share of this mineral was one-fourth and was worth $83.30 in specie. Immense suis in the aggregate were spent on street improvements. The survey of the harbor in detail was duly considered in December, 1844. Captain Barney, in charge of the government surveys of the harbor, was consulted and assisted. The question of a market house was again considered in February. 1845. Levi and Simplot agreed to donate to the city ten feet front- ing on their lots on Fifth street between Main and Iowa. providing the same should be used for a market-house. Steps to raise the means to erect the building were taken in February, 1845. James Wilson and E. Dwelle leased the city mines on Third street.
In April, 1845, F. K. O'Ferrall was again chosen mayor, and Elisha Dwelle, Robert Rogers, Timothy Fanning, John H. The- dinga, John G. Shields and John Blake, aldermen. Twenty feet on the south side of Fifth street between Main and Locust streets, owned by Charles Miller, was obtained for a market house. J. P. Farley improved and fenced the public square and was paid therefor $136.50. The Couler Hollow road was greatly improved in 1845, so also was Dodge street up Madden Hollow. Captain Barney gave the council the hydrographical map of the upper Mississippi in
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
April, 1845. The council considered the contemplated improve- ments on the harbor. L. H. Langworthy having exchanged with the city important lots on the Couler, was required to furnish the city as a part of the compensation 10,000 good building brick. G. W. Starr was paid $5 "for fixing and hoisting the American flag on July 4, 1845." M. Hooper prepared specifications for the market house at this time. A stone wall sixty-four feet long and two and one-half feet thick was ordered built on the west side of Locust street between Second and Third. In July, 1845, Warner Lewis informed the council concerning instructions received at the land office in regard to the unsold town lots and issued instructions as to what should be done to enter and pay for the same. December I, 1845, was the day set to close the sale of such lots. "Cash or its equivalent in city scrip" was a term often used at this date in the payment of bills. It was necessary to build a bridge on the landing. Mr. Cook's plan for a market house was finally accepted. Sealed proposals for the building were called for. A cistern was ordered built in the market house-to hold 200 barrels of water. All slaughtering within the city limits was prohibited from September I to November 1, 1845. This order was in response to a petition to that effect. Todd & Humboldt offered to build the market house as per plans for $883.
In January, 1845, A. Keesecker sold his interest in the Miners' Express to George Green, who had formerly been a member of the territorial council from Cedar, Linn and Jones counties. Through the exertions of Charles Corkery there was subscribed in Dubuque in 1845 $1,000 for a hospital; he also managed to secure the title to eight acres within the city limits for a site. In 1846 the ladies of Dubuque, among whom were Mrs. G. W. Jones and Mrs. J. P. Finley, gave a public supper by which to raise funds to buy a fire engine. They gave several others and by 1848 the fund amounted to $125.60, which the council endeavored to obtain, but without avail, unless they should furnish an equal amount. The sum was put in bank and continued to draw interest. In January, 1845. pursuant to act of Congress of December 26, 1844, Col. J. J. Abert and Capt. T. J. Cram, of the United States Topographical Corps. made the following report of the survey of Dubuque harbor.
The chart of the survey of Dubuque harbor showed that the harbor was not in the main river, but in one of its collateral chan- nels, of which there were several near Dubuque. In times of high and medium water boats of the largest class could enter the harbor, but during the usual low and the extreme low stages of the water boats of that class could not enter all the secondary channels leading to and from the harbor, owing to the shoaliness of the water. The shoals were the result of sand and mud deposits due to the currents and the islets. At a stage of four and one-half feet above extreme low stage the mean maximum velocity of the running prism of
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water in these channels was only .962 miles per hour, maintaining an average maximum depth of nine feet ; while the velocity in the main river in the contiguous reach was 1.5 miles per hour with an average maximum depth of fourteen feet. It was shown that there would be no difficulty in removing the existing shoals by the simple process of dredging so as to allow steamers of the largest class to enter the harbor at the lowest stages; but the dredging would have to be repeated periodically.
In the law making the appropriation for the harbor the following language was used: "For the improvement of the harbor at the town of Dubuque, Iowa, seven thousand five hundred dollars. Provided, Upon due examination and survey, under the direction of the secretary of war, it shall appear that a permanent improve- ment can be accomplished and completed for this amount so as to admit the landing of steamers of the largest class navigating the river at the town of Dubuque at all seasons of the year." It was stated that "the upper Mississippi rose in June and July, 1844, to an elevation of twelve feet two inches above its extreme low stage at Dubuque and did not subside to a stage admitting of taking the soundings until in October following, when it was down to a stage lower than the elevation of the June and July flood by seven feet eight inches. This is the stage to which the soundings recorded in the chart are all referred and which is four feet six inches above extreme low stage."
Among the plans proposed for the improvement of the harbor were the following :
Ia. Dredge the bed of the main river near Eagle bluff for an extent of 1,000 feet ; cost, $2,000.
2b. Excavate a steamboat canal from bank of main river from lower extremity to the head of Lake Peosta for 1,800 feet ; cost, $12,690.
3c. Dredge present bed at head of Lake Peosta for an extent of 1,600 feet ; cost, $2,37I.
4d. Dredge bed of chiannel from near foot of Lake Peosta to head of existing artificial canal ; cost, $750.
5e. Deepen that canal, also the head of the natural basin just below as far down as the foot of Orange street-dredging 2,250 feet ; cost, $5,087.
6f. Dredge head of natural channel from Langworthy's ware- house down to Jones street, 1,600 feet ; cost, $1,501.
7g. Dredge head and remove from natural channel from Jones street down along bluff into the main river, 7,000 feet ; cost, $9,240.
8h. Machines, superintendence and contingencies, $9.400. Total cost, $43,039. This plan carried out would give open navigation at the lowest water for the largest class of steamers then on the river from the main river near Eagle Bluff down to the main river below the town, four and three-quarters miles.
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
The second plan was not to use Lake Peosta at all, but to deepen the secondary channel just east of that lake about 1,200 feet, and then dredge. All of this would cost $34, 181.
The third plan was to improve the natural channel, abandon the existing canal and in lien cut a new steamboat canal south from that channel into the basin; total cost, $31,857.
The fourth plan was to improve natural channel, dig a deep feeder for the basin, open a steamboat canal from deep water in the basin to deep water in the secondary channel; dredge bed of the channel, and by dredging keep the channel free of deposits; cost, $25,042.
The fifth plan contemplated constructing a deep feeder to supply the basin from the channel, a steamboat canal, dredging the bed of the channel, construction of a dam, etc. ; cost, $15,689.
Plan six included a deep feeder, a steamboat canal, dredging the bed of channel, etc. ; cost, $10,277.
Plan seven embraced a long canal straight through everything out to the main river, with dykes to protect its sides, a dam across lower end of basin, sluice-gates in the canal, etc. ; cost, $25,375.
Plan eight contemplated a causeway from the town to the bank of the main river, where good landing would be found for all classes of boats at lowest stages ; cost, $64,875
Plan nine embraced a causeway that would be submerged and would cost $22,333.
The total amount of money paid out by the corporation from April 1, 1843, to March 31, 1844, was $1,491.61 ; total city indebt- edness, including the above amount, $5,461.84. The total actual receipts were $1,434.65; and the total resources, including this amount, were $6.302.27.
The total amount of money paid out by the corporation from April 1, 1844, to April 1, 1845, was $2,926.11. The corporation owed W. A. Trask $565.67 and interest for the fire engine which was bought in July, 1840. On March 31, 1845, there was yet owed for the powder magazine $206.85, and city orders to the amount of $3,337.36 were outstanding. At the public land sale on March 27, 1843, there were sold 170 city lots for about $1,700. The total receipts of the city for the year ending March 31, 1845, were $2,662.55. This sim and the other resources due the city and the public property were estimated at $8,263.06.
The council continued to have much trouble in getting the funds due it from the land office. Heavy grading on Main street was done in 1845. Clay street was ordered graded in November, 1845.
In 1845 amendments to the city charter were discussed; a com)- mittee was appointed to make suggestions of changes. Saucier and Mattox were permitted to mine on Fifth street, they to pay one- fifth of the mineral found to the city. The council paid $20 for having the willows cut from the island opposite the canal made by
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the government under the superintendence of Captain Barney. The assessed valuation of $600 on the library of Bishop Loras was reduced to $300 in January, 1846. It was ordered in January, 1846, that 110 city scrip should be issued for less than 75 cents on the dollar.
On March 10, 1846, the citizens petitioned to have the city divided inio wards. Accordingly the council immediately formed the fol- lowing wards: First ward-All of the city lying south of Third street. Second ward-All of the city between Third and Eighth streets. Third ward-All of the city north of Eighth street. It was decided that two aldermen should be elected from each ward and a mayor from all the wards jointly. Todd & Humboldt were paid $135.61 for extra work on the market house.
In April, 1846, in spite of their efforts to prevent it, the city fathers saw city scrip fall to 70 cents on the dollar. In April, 1846, F. K. O'Ferrall was re-elected mayor, and Hugh Treanor, Michael McNamara, W. H. Robbins, Mordecai Mobley, Amos Mat- thews and Lewis L. Wood, aldermen. W. B. Smith was rechosen clerk. Mr. Trower was the first market master-chosen in April, 1846. John T. Cook was paid $io for his plan for the market house, the same having been accepted. In April, 1846, the citizens petitioned to have the public square ornaniented. A council room was prepared in the new market house in 1847. The rent of inside stalls in the market house was fixed at $15 per annum ; choice stalls were offered publicly to the highest bidder. In May, 1846, C. J. Leist succeeded Mr. Trower as market master. All articles of produce or meat were required to be sold in the market house. A cannon was ordered for $25 for city use. Market hours were from 3 a. m. to Io a. m. each day except Sunday-from May to October. Mr. Fulweiler's slaughter house was ordered removed from its then location, it having become a declared nuisance. The same of Mr. Straper's butchering establishment. Billiard license was fixed at $25. The beer license was $25. George L. Nightin- gale became city clerk in 1846. The market receipts from May 12, 1846, to August 10, 1846, amounted to $36.25. The city advanced William Rebman $25, to be used in buying a cannon ; but as he had not done so by August 24, 1846. he was ordered to refund that amount. J. P. Farley and Charles Corkery were paid $40 in August, 1846, for improvements on the public square. John D. Bush, owner of a slaughter house, was ordered to change his location in August, 1846.
In September, 1846, the council appointed a committee to draft a new charter for the city of Dubuque, to be submitted to the Legis- lature the coming winter.
In 1844 Congress appropriated for the improvement of Dubuque harbor the sum of $7.500, and later $7.000 more was appropriated for the same purpose. In November, 1846, the work not progress-
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
ing as well as expected by the council, they called upon Captain Barney, superintendent in charge, for a report as to how much of the money had been spent, amount on hand, time yet required to com- plete the work, etc. In December, 1846, the council caused to be enumerated all of the islands opposite the city for the purpose of petitioning Congress for a donation of the same to the city, previous to the public sale which was to take place in March, 1847. Such a petition was prepared by the city attorney.
To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled :
"We, the undersigned, the mayor and aldermen of the city of Dubuque, would most respectfully solicit your honorable bodies to enact a law donating to the city of Dubuque certain islands situate, lying and being opposite said city and between the city and the main channel of the Mississippi river; or otherwise, if your honorable bodies should deem it inexpedient to donate the same, to grant to the city the exclusive right and privilege of purchasing the same at the same rate that other lands of the United States are sold. We would most respectfully urge upon your consideration the following rea- sons, as among numerous others, for our request : The situation and locality of the islands are such, that if they should fall into the hands of private individuals, the city of Dubuque would be almost entirely cut off from the main channel of the river, and subject the citizens to great inconvenience, and the most unconscionable exac- tions from them on the part of private speculators. For the purpose of more fully exhibiting to you our peculiar situation and the dilemma the city would be placed in should the title to those islands happen to fall into hands other than the city, we have caused a map to be made and hereunto annexed, by which it will appear that what has been and is alleged by ns is true; and by which it will also appear that we ask from you to grant the city only those lands which are absolutely necessary to its growth and commercial impor- tance; in which also the whole nation as connected with the great national thoroughfare-the Mississippi river-have a deep interest and must be materially benefited ; to grant to the city the following lands, to-wit : All of sections 19 and 30, township 89 north, range 3 east. and a fraction of section 25, township 89 north, range 2 east, as is more particularly marked and designated upon the map afore- said, and must in our opinion most clearly manifest itself to the Con- gress of the United States. We are fully impressed with the opinion and firm belief that after the national legislature has, in its liberality, granted us a tract of land upon which is located the city of Dubuque, they will still continue to exhibit their regard for our welfare, by granting us a boon which is so essential and necessary for its future prosperity and happiness and which cannot, at the present time, in any material way affect the previously vested rights of private indi-
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viduals. We would further most respectfully state to your honor- able bodies, that unless Congress pass a law enabling the land before described to become the property of the city of Dubuque, the appro- priations which have already been made by that body for the improvement of the harbor, a part of which has already been expended, will prove to be entirely useless, worthless and of no avail to the city. We would further represent that the lands above described are entirely unfitted for cultivation or habitation, and can only be useful to the city for commercial business, and for city pur- poses, and that they would be valuable to the city alone and to none other, except for those who designed speculating upon the necessi- ties of the city, and the rise of property in the neighborhood of a growing city.
"F. K. O'Ferrall, mayor ; William H. Robbins, L. L. Wood, M. McNamara, M. Mobley, Hugh Treanor, Amos Matthews, aldermen. Attest : George L. Nightingale, clerk. Dubuque, December 15, 1846." (Senate Documents No. 256, 29th Cong., Ist session. )
The total amount of money paid out by the city for the fiscal year ending April 1, 1846, was $3,438.51 ; the total receipts were $3,432.15.
In a communication to the Senate committee dated January 29, 1847, James H. Piper, acting commissioner of the general land office, stated that "there would not appear to be any preemption claim preferred for any of the islands in the Mississippi river opposite the city of Dubuque ;" that "with regard to their probable value this office has no means of knowing;" and that "the bill enclosed by you gives authority for the entry of 'the islands in the Mississippi river opposite the said city' and then characterizes them by saying, 'which are fractions within sections 19 and 30, township 89 north, range 3 east ; and in section 25, township 89 north, range 2 east ;' while, from the diagram referred to, it will be seen that the above special designations include only parts of said islands, leaving out the following, viz .: Fractions in sections 17, 18, 20 and 31, township 89 north, range 3 east, amounting in the aggre- gate to 73.13 acres." (Senate Docs., No. 109, 29th Cong., 2d session. ).
In 1847 George L. Nightingale was appointed public bidder at the sale of the mineral reserve. He performed his arduous and delicate duties to the satisfaction of all.
In 1847 members of the Mechanics' Institute debated in the hall over Terry's saloon the question: "Resolved, That the Wilmot proviso is right and ought to be sustained by the American people." Late in 1847 the Dubuque Philharmonic Society gave a series of concerts at the Congregational church, rendering both secular and sacred music to large audiences. Captain Barney's work on the harbor was still in progress. Many new and fine residences were erected in 1846 and 1847-notably by General Jones, Gilliam, Reed,
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
Gildea, Rogers, Peacock and others. A Mr. Spencer gave exhibi- tions of animal magnetism as it was then called. In 1847 George Green was editor and proprietor of the Miners' Express and Wil- liam H. Merritt was associated with him as editor.
In 1847 the Waples House was kept by H. Curtis; the Western hotel by W. S. Berry: George McHenry had formerly kept the Western hotel; David Jones was architect and builder ; H. P. Leach kept school in the basement of the Methodist church. In 1847 many Dubuquers attended the immense river and harbor conven- tion at Chicago. Early in 1847 A. P. Wood established a weekly newspaper called the Tribune. It was about this time that the first large steam flouring mills were put in operation here by Nadeau, Rogers & Co.
Steps to organize three fire companies were taken in January, 1847 ; the old fire engine was found to be practically useless ; fire ladders were ordered for the upper, lower and central sections. The Hibernian Benevolent Society was permitted to occupy the city hall. The Fulweiler slaughter house was ordered removed from the city limits in February, 1847; but evaded the order and remained. The islands in front of the city were reserved from public sale. By paying $50 the council obtained permission to use for fire purposes the well of Emerson Shields on Fourth street. Upon the payment of $100 Timothy Fanning was given exclusive ferry privileges in 1847-8. The grading of Bluff street from Dodge to Twelfth was ordered in May, 1847. A room for a calaboose was ordered rented and fitted up; it was ready in July. In August, 1847, the mayor was authorized to buy the islands in front of the city-three of 85.47, 149.75 and 4.22 acres, respectively.
In December, 1847, Martin L. Morris succeeded Chauncey Swan as proprietor of the Morris hotel. Before this date the Masons and Odd Fellows had strong organizations here. Doctor Reynolds lectured on "Astronomy" over Terry's saloon in December, 1847.
"Variety-Wood, butter, cheese, lard, eggs, flour, potatoes, wheat, corn, chickens and pork will be taken in payment for the Express." -(Miners' Express, December 8, 1847.)
Many bogus half dollars were in circulation here late in 1848; they were made near here. Late in 1848 Harrison Holt and A. Keesecker were proprietors of the Miners Express. William A. Adams was president of the Dubuque Debating Society late in 1848. The Dubuque Mutual Fire Insurance Company began operations in April, 1848, with C. H. Booth presi- dent, and Mordecai Mobley secretary. The following merchants had immense stocks of goods in 1848: S. M. Langworthy, Curtis & Waite, Murphy & Burke, P. & R. C. Waples (had in stock over $36,000 worth of goods), Waples & Zirkle, Goodrich & Bro., the Smiths and Emerson & Shields. The wholesale trade was very
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
large. Dan Rice, the famous Shakespearean jester, was here iu June, 1848. Performances were given at the Waples House. Yankee Hill gave representations of down-east characters.
The Express failed to make its appearance on time late in Janu- ary, 1848, the reason being that someone entered the office on the Sunday night before, threw all matter into pi, except one form, which was almost entirely destroyed by blows from a hatchet. "The monster who would perpetrate this act would be guilty of the worst species of robbery, rapine and murder. Let those row- dies who were engaged last Sunday evening in interrupting the service at the Methodist church by touching off trains of powder upon the fence mark well their future course," said the editor January 26, 1848. The questions of importance in the spring of 1848 were the improvement of Lorimier Hollow, the harbor being built by Captain Barney and his dredge-boat; regulation of the liquor trade, and removal of filth from the streets.
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