USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization. > Part 41
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In regard to the removing of the classics from their usual place of honor, President Welch said that there are two sources of values in any knowledge :
"I-Its effectiveness as a means of intellectual discipline.
"2-The degree of its adaptation to further the interests and employ- ments of life."
His claims for the natural sciences were that they fulfill the need of intellectual discipline, which is the main claim for the classics, and that in addition they meet the second requirement of being adapted to the needs and pursuits of life.
In regard to the admission of women to colleges on equal terms with. men, President Welch voiced a sentiment not by any means universal in his time, but considered now as most sane and judicious. After a generous defense of the mental capabilities of women, and an explanation of the course offered them as one both for general culture and special preparation in home-making, President Welch said :
"We offer, then, to the young women who, from time to time, shall resort to this college, a scope for scientific progress and research as ·unlim- ited and free as that which we offer to the other sex:
"Ist-Because all the faculties of the human mind have, without respect to gender, a natural, unquestionable right to discipline and development.
"2nd-Because the duties of motherhood to which God has appointed her, require, for their complete performance, a wide and cultivated intelli- gence.
"3rd-Because general intellectual and moral culture will sanctify, ele- vate, and purify the influences of the home, and render it a genuine school for the training of the future citizen.
"4th-Because we would enable her to make provision for her own self- support, by a special preparation to engage in many suitable employments on a footing equal with man, both as to the skill and the remuneration of the worker.
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ENGINEERING BUILDING, IOWA STATE COLLEGE, AMES
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"5th-Because we would supply as far as possible one great necessity to woman, namely, a means for the culture and a field for the action of peculiar talent, thus giving relief to the aimlessness of many lives, and add- ing many noble workers to the world.
"6th-Because we would call all learning and culture to the aid of woman in accomplishing her natural mission, the advancement of general morality and virtue."
So the college was opened, without arbitrary restrictions as to the sex of its students, and with a purpose to afford especial opportunities to those who were seeking education in the sciences rather than in the class- ics and belles lettres. And the original program was adhered to about as well as original programs in such cases are likely to be. Starting in with a faculty of half a dozen, the number of instructors was gradually and steadily increased.
The number of students in the preliminary term in the Fall of 1868 was 70. Proceeding upon the original idea of admitting one student from each representative district, there naturally arose an interesting question as to who should be the preferred student from Story County. There were sev- eral applicants and a drawing of lots which resulted in favor of George Mullen as principal and Oscar Alderman as alternate. But John Wells and the others upon conferring with President Welch were cheerfully assured that he thought there would be no difficulty about finding for all of them places as representatives for other counties. As a matter of fact they all got in, and this was about the last that was heard about the rule of one stu- dent from a county. The College started for its regular term the following spring with a few more students and accessions to the student body were duly received from time to time; but an interesting feature of the matter is that they all appear to have started very much upon a level. The Col- lege was not only a new institution, but it was new of its kind and in this vicinity new for any kind of an institution for the diffusion of higher ed- ucation. The time was even before the date of organized high schools and the material which the College had to work upon was essentially the boys and girls who had gotten about as far along as the district schools could take them and who were not too old to consider hopefully the proposition of going on further when the opportunity was presented to them. There were few if any transfers from other colleges with claims for advanced standing, but on the contrary, they all started as freshmen. Those who started at the beginning and who stuck to the proposition, graduated at the end of four years; and those who came in later and also stuck to it, graduated later. The first bunch were never headed except by the faculty and for all four years of their college life they had the fun of being all the seniors there were. They graduated in the Fall of 1872, to the number of 26, undoubtedly the most distinguished class in all the earlier years or per- haps all the years of the institution.
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The College in these earlier years was conducted chiefly in the old main building. Here the students lived, ate, slept and made for the authorities such trouble as they dared. There was a lot of trouble about heat and lights and the arrangement by which the college year began in March continued through the most of the summer and ended in November possessed the dual advantage of enabling the students to get out and teach the winter term of district school for their next year's expenses, and of enabling the trustees to evade the practically insurmountable problem of warming the main build- ing in really cold weather. Once in the early days they even tried the ex- periment of cutting the term two weeks short in order to avoid the colder fall weather; but the season that year shut down two weeks the earlier and the results of the experiment were not encouraging.
All of which illustrates that in spite of the generosity of the congres- sional land grant and the liberality of the state and the diplomacy of the College president there were real troubles about getting the college started. But it did start and the people of Story County never had occasion to be sorry for the $21,000 that they put into its original location.
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CHAPTER XXXIV.
FIXING NEVADA'S BUSINESS CENTER.
One subject that has been repeatedly referred to in these pages has been the division of the town of Nevada, once the question of the Slough. In the beginning there was a north square where the court-house is and a south square where the city park is, each square being the north half of the block indicated. About each of these squares centered a portion of the business of the town; but there never could be an agreement as to concentration in either place and each side was strong enough to keep the other side from establishing a recognized supremacy. The resulting diffi- culties were without number and the troubles occasioned were intermin- able. It has already been recorded that in pursuance of the orders of as many official church meetings the lumber for the First Methodist church was actually moved three times across the Slough; and such waste of en- ergy as is here indicated faintly suggests but does not measure the em- barassment of the local situation. The Republican bolt of 1867 and the enduring factional quarrels that resulted from it were fought essentially over the division of the slough; and the division, in fact, made very much of a mess of politics, business and religion. The editor of the Ægis was very cautious about getting mixed in the matter, but in January, 1865, he let himself go in the following language:
"We note another of those periodical movements, hinting toward a wiser policy by our business men this week. The plan of concentrating the exchange business of the town on one of the streets is again receiving at- tention. Every business man with any experience in trade knows that it is better for all concerned, customers and salesmen, that the buying and selling should be done by merchants in close proximity to each other. Our tradesmen when asked all admit the fact and express the wish that it were so but unfortunately no two of their number get up the working heat at the same time. For a year past each in his turn had had an attack of this concentration fever ; and lately circumstances have transpired which prom- ise a renewed attack of the disease to extend, it is to be hoped, to a suffi- cient number to induce some specific action. We have been chary of much remark heretofore on this question-it has always been a delicate one-a known weak spot which it was dangerous to touch with truth. This much we can say, and risk our reputation as a prophet on it, that Nevada will
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never command that share of public attention and the trade of the county which properly belongs to her, until these perplexing questions of 'the slough,' 'north and south sides,' and scattering business are permanently settled. And there are men enough now looking to the next season as a building season, to settle it effectually-if they will."
Again, late in March of the following year, 1866, the editor relieved himself in an editorial a half column in length, which tells a whole lot of conditions here as they used to be. The editorial was headed, "To Be or not to Be," and it was in full as follows :
"There is an evil which the business interest of this village has tolerated long enough, it would seem. We refer to the division of the business of the village-a portion of our stores and business houses being centered around the south square and another portion about the north square, with a considerable unoccupied space intervening. Not altogether unoccupied either, for the brilliant waters of the 'slough' go cascading, with merry laughter, between the two villages for such they are in effect. No busi- ness man, of himself and without community of action, wishes to raise anything like a respectable business building so long as it is uncertain which side of town will eventually be the business quarter. And this feeling of uncertainty is not confined to one side of the village, it is shared alike by both. Persons there are who this spring feel able and are anxious to va- cate the old shells which have contained their wares during the chrysalis stage preceding the advent of railroad and telegraph, but there arises this never ending slough question, to deter them and keep them shady. Our idea for the settlement of this point is this: Let some six or eight of our 'heaviest men' caucus and if possible agree on which side they will do business, and having so determined, let them proceed to build one or more respectable brick blocks with halls above and store rooms below. This will determine the question in the minds of such small fry as the Ægis fellow and others, who will soon be girting around said brick block and nestling into neat commodious business rooms like a covey of young quail before harvest time. If the aforesaid six or eight men cannot agree where the Broadway of Nevada shall be, then let each one pitch in on his own hook and build and fight, and fight and build, until we grow in spite of evil coun- sels. Again we are suffering for lack of a sufficient amount of business rooms. There is no room of sufficient size not already occupied, where a 'heavy man' from abroad can put a stock of goods and try the market. Such stocks have gone past us within a fortnight, and for just the reason stated. In this the community is playing a losing game, and in five minutes conversation we can convince any man of it. What say you, merchants and others? Shall we continue to poke along 'at this poor dying rate,' or shall we attempt to inaugurate a new state of affairs?"
Such lamentations, be it noted, were written nearly three and two years respectively before the bolt and the settlement of the controversy; and the first of them a year before the aforesaid journeyings of the lumber for
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the Methodist church. If the town had been incorporated and if one side or the other could then have gotten control of the town council, that side might have ordered some public inprovements that would, or ought to, have been decisive. But it was not until after the trouble had been fought out on other than strictly municipal lines that it seems to have occurred seri- ously to the people to incorporate the town. After the matter had been fought out as will be hereafter related, it became necessary for the vic- torious north side to widen Lynn street along the business district. This matter was accomplished with much more of diplomacy and much less of friction, for the distance of two and a half blocks from the south side of the court house half-block to 2nd avenue north. The further widening of the street for another half block south and for three blocks north to the railroad being a much later story. Another matter which came about ten years later but which is so closely related to the present matter as to be best treated with it, was the moving of the Northwestern depot, from east of Pine street to west of Lynn. The removal of the south side business to the north side was effectively started in 1867 and for the most part was actually done in the first part of 1868. The happy agreement for the wid- ening of the street by moving back the west side buildings at the expense of the owners of the east side property was effected in 1872; and the final and conclusive establishment of the business center in its permanent location was clinched by the removal of the Northwestern depot in 1877: In these several enterprises for the consolidation of the city the most ac- tive and efficient agent was Mr. Frank D. Thompson, lawyer, county super- intendent and general promoter of movements for the general public ad- vantage. Naturally, therefore, the editor has availed himself of the priv- ileges of a long standing friendship and has appealed to Mr. Thompson to furnish his story of the movements under consideration. This story which, as we have indicated, is so full of significance for Nevada, Mr. Thompson, wintering in California, has furnished as follows :
F. D. THOMPSON'S STORY OF THE CONSOLIDATION.
Los Angeles, California, January 3, 1911.
FRIEND W. O .- You ask me how and why Lynn Street became the business street of the City of Nevada. Well, I can see why you have asked me for this information, having passed three-fourths of a century, and spent over fifty years in Nevada, would be presumed to know.
The original Town of Nevada in the year 1853 was platted with two half blocks, one north and the other south of a ravine. The first building was erected by T. E. Alderman, (the first settler) abutting the South side of the North half block. It was used by him in a dual capacity, as a residence and for a store (a granite marker now indicates its site in the Court House Park).
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Later business buildings were erected adjacent to and around both of the half blocks.
The two exponents for growth and business development were T. J. Adamson for the South, and T. E. Alderman for the North half block districts.
This was the condition when I came to Nevada in the Fall of 1860. From that time on rivalry continued between the respective sides.
It was in the year 1867 when the business men of the South extended a general invitation to the business men North, to meet them on their own ground to confer and if possible unite the business interests of Nevada in one locality. At that time I was engaged in a partnership with Capt. T. C. McCall under the firm name and style of McCall & Thompson, the former in the real estate, the latter in the law business.
On the evening designated, Gapt. McCall represented our firm in the conference. The result of that meeting was nothing accomplished.
During the conference they offered a very inadequate and insignificant amount of money to the North business men if they would move their business over to the South side. Mr. McCall, being a man with a Summer temperature, optimistic as to the advantages of the locality he represented, and possessing a hair trigger disposition, listened with impatience to the above mentioned offer, and his mental caliber becoming heated, exploded and the conference was annihilated.
He was still in a fermented condition the next day, while he was nar- rating what occurred at the conference. I said to him, "McCall, the way to do a thing is to do it, now let us attend to our own business interests, make our own business street, be united and get to work, ask no further conference nor assistance from any person South of the slough. Let us settle on Lynn Street in front of our office and begin at once to grade it. Let us start a subscription and raise sufficient money to do the work and do it now. I will write the subscription document and be the solicitor." This presentation of a method pleased Capt. McCall, who quickly re- sponded "All right, Frank, put me down for Twenty-five Dollars." I im- mediately wrote the subscription paper, McCall heading the list with Twenty-five Dollars. I put down the same and started out, following my own method of soliciting and enjoined secrecy, asking none to aid but those specially interested and willing to become temporarily deaf and dumb.
In a very short time there was on my subscription paper $250. These mutes by signs appointed me to superintend the work. There was no delay in my accepting the appointment and I immediately employed men and teams and selected George W. Hambleton as foreman, who at once set the men to work plowing and grading Lynn Street North from what is now Court Avenue for two blocks. While this work was being done, the South side people laughed at us, but our plow continued its deeper work and the grading continued. To them it began to look more
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serious and the laughing ceased and a counter subscription started by them for grading on Lynn Street North from the now Third Avenue South. They raised only $125 and started the plow and grader.
Our work steadily and quietly continued, using up the $250, and then an additional $150 was raised in .the same manner and expended in com- pleting the grading of these two blocks. The work on the South side in the meantime had stopped
The lots in these two blocks facing Lynn Street were not divided into business lots, but had been platted as residence lots, 60x140 feet. Now, at this time it happened that McCall and I were the owners of several residence lots on both sides of Lynn Street in these two blocks.
For centralizing business and having what would make more business fronts than McCall's in these blocks, and as an inducement, I publicly an- nounced that I would give a business front to any man who would place a business building thereon. Shortly thereafter, I deeded a twenty foot front to Mr. Wilcox free of charge, where is now White & Bamberger's Hardware Store. Then, as our business center had to survive. I gave to Uncle David Child a sixteen foot front for a meat shop, he being in the "butcher business." It was placed where now stands the building erected by Boardman Bros., for Cold Storage.
Capt. McCall, also, for a small moneyed consideration conveyed busi- ness fronts to parties who would erect thereon business buildings. As is remembered, he conveyed to T. Kindelspire and also to Otis Briggs.
The work done and these conveyances became the starter boosters for centralizing our business on Lynn Street. We then needed better mail facilities, the postoffice was "too far away," being South of the slough, with E. D. Fenn, Postmaster. So I suggested to Capt. McCali that I had a site to convey very cheap for a postoffice if we could persuade Mr. Fenn to move over the postoffice and his clothing business. I would take $125 for it and would contribute $25 of the amount. He said he would give $25 and thought that the balance of $75 could be raised for that pur- pose, which was shortly done.
I then said to Mr. Fenn that I would deed to him a twenty-five foot front free, if he would come over with his postoffice and other business. After considering the matter he accepted and I conveyed to him the twenty- five foot front where now stands the South part of the brick store build- ing of the Ringheims. He immediately erected there a two story frame building and moved the postoffice over.
This movement practically took the heart out of the South-siders, and one by one they moved over. Major James Hawthorn was about the last to yield. He came over to see me about getting a place for his store busi- ness and wanted to know what I would take for the twenty-five foot front just North of the postoffice. I told him $325. He said, "Why, you sold the same number of feet to Mr. Fenn for $125." "Yes, but I have quit giving away my lots." He finally gave me my price and erected
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thereon his two story frame building and moved in. Major Hawthorn had the largest general store on the South side.
We needed a hotel in our business center. The largest hotel in the town was on the South side. I sold my residence Lot 2, Block 16, abut- ting Lynn Street to Major Hawthorn, 'he selling to a Mr. Waring, who moved that hotel and placed it on the lot, enlarged the building, which subsequently was then called the "Waring House," and lastly became known as the "Hutchins House." Later, after being unoccupied for sev- eral years, it was destroyed by fire July 15, 1909.
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After moving the hotel, and the business street being fairly started, it became evident that it was too narrow, being only seventy feet, so we consulted the business men located on each side, as to the widening, and it impressed them favorably. But which side should move back? It was finally agreed that as the East side had more and larger buildings than the West side, the latter side should move back twenty feet, they donating respectively, the twenty feet to the town for street purposes, and the East side paying the expenses of the moving. I wrote the sub- scription to raise the money for the moving, also all the contracts for the deeding of the land. The money was raised and all the contracts were faithfully executed. The date of this widening can be ascertained from the records of the conveyances then made.
We now had our business center located and the business gradually moved northward on our street, only a few business places left South of the slough, but those remaining retained an envious and retaliative spirit.
Through the "underground wireless," there was a dispatch, which was read by those on the alert, of an effort to locate another business point at or near the then depot on Blair's Addition to Nevada, a portion of which had been originally platted as business lots.
I called the attention of our leading business men to the dispatch and suggested a method to check their purpose, by having the passenger depot moved West to a point North on our business street; that I would write to the Superintendent of the Division and see if it could not be done and on what terms. Shortly after I received a reply, stating that their freight depot was in the same building and they would not divide the business; but they needed more ground than they then had, and if we would give them the necessary ground for depot purposes and pay them $1,500, deposit with their agent in Nevada $750 cash and a Bank's Guarantee that the balance $750 would be paid when the depot building was moved, they would move their building to the place indicated. I called my coterie together and submitted the letter received. They said the amount was too large and could not be raised, nor get the land neces- sary. I had more faith and would try to get the money subscribed. My partner, Mr. McCall, was then the agent for J. B. Stewart, who owned the lots adjacent to the proposed site, and he was hopeful.
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I immediately wrote the subscription with a preamble, fully stating the object for which the money was to be expended. No one was to know what was in the wind excepting those approached and no one was to be asked but business men on our business street and those especially interested in its improvement. I fully explained matters and gave reasons for secrecy. I took the name, their business and location on the street and amount subscribed. When I quit my effort, I had every business man's name on Lynn Street, North of the slough to the Railroad track, and other prominent men living in Nevada who desired harmony and were interested in centralizing business, with the full amount of $1,500 subscribed. Capt. McCall had not been idle, but had the promise of J. B. Stewart to deed the necessary ground near the proposed site. I raised the cash amount and had guaranteed the balance of the subscription by Otis Briggs, the President of the Farmers Bank, and deposited the same with O. B. Ingalls, Railroad Agent in Nevada, as required.
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