USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Discovery and conquests of the Northwest, with the history of Chicago, Vol. II > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
Texas was originally settled by Mexico, and did not come into possession of the United States till 1848, at the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo, at which time large portions of the state had been settled and sur- veyed by metes and bounds.
The meridians on which our public surveys are based are independent of the geographical meridians of the earth's entire surface.
May 20, 1785, congress passed an act for the sur- vey of our public lands under direction of Thomas Hutchins, the geographer of the United States, from which date our system of surveys began, and it is fair to assume that the whole plan of them was the work o a special committee, or a committee of the whole, in congress.
The surface of the earth is divided up by parallels
492
Public Surveys.
of latitude and longitude, the former running east and west around the globe at a distance of 1º apart. The latter run from the north pole south across the equator to the south pole, also 1º apart.
A degree is sixty geographical miles in length at any part of the globe, but geographical miles, extend- ing east and west at the equator, decrease in length all the way from the equator to the pole, at which place they concentrate to a point.
The length of a degree is the same on meridian lines in all parts of the globe, as can be seen by looking at a map of the world; 360° constitute the circumfer- ence of the globe, but lines representing them on maps are placed 10° apart, and while both parallels and meridians are straight lines, on the earth's sur- face they have to be curved on maps, the better to represent a spherical surface on a flat surface.
On globes both run straight.
The English reckon longitude from Greenwich, the Spanish from Madrid, the French from Paris and the Americans from Washington since about 1840; but longitude is also reckoned from Greenwich here, in order to make descriptions, based on English records, coincide with ours.
The old colonial charters and grants to American colonists were limited and measured, to a large extent, by geographical meridians and parallels, at which time no other measurements of lands seemed necessary or practical, as private ownership of lands was then un- dreamed of.
The old feudal tenures of Europe were described by geographical lines only. Neither Spain, Portugal nor Great Britain ever made any public surveys of any countries in North, Central or South America to which they held national claims. No public surveys have ever been made in Africa by any nation. Much of this dark continent is still in possession of its aborigines.
THE CHICAGO MANUAL TRAINING SCHOOL.
This school owes its existence to the Chicago Commercial Club, an association of prominent business men, whose monthly meetings are devoted to the dis- cussion of social, civil and political questions. To this body of thoughtful and observant men the subject of education early commended itself as of vital import- ance to the welfare of the commonwealth. The need of something more than, and different from, the usual grammar and high school education was fully recog- nized.
At a meeting of this club held March 25, 1882, it was resolved to raise a sum of $100,000 to establish a manual training school. The money was raised, and the same evening a committee was appointed to draft a plan for the organization of the school. This com- mittee reported December 30, 1882. The Chicago Manual Training School Association was formed, con- sisting exclusively of members of the Commercial Club. The following trustees were elected:
E. W. Blatchford, president.
R. T. Crane, vice-president.
Marshall-Field, treasurer.
William A. Fuller, secretary.
John Crerar, John W. Doane, N. K. Fairbank, Edson Keith, George M. Pullman.
June 9, 1883, Dr. H. H. Belfield, at that time prin- cipal of the North Division High School, was elected director.
The object of the school is thus stated in its charter:
"Instruction and practice in the use of tools, with such instruction as may be deemed necessary in mathe- matics, drawing, and the English branches of a high school course. The tool instruction, as at present contemplated, shall include carpentry, wood turning,
(493)
494
The Chicago Manual Training School.
pattern making, iron chipping and filing, forge work, brazing and soldering, the use of machine shop tools, and such other instruction of a similar character as may be deemed advisable to add to the foregoing from time to time, it being the intention to divide the work- ing hours of the students as nearly as possible equally between manual and mental exercises."
The site of the school, the northwest corner of Michigan avenue and Twelfth street, was purchased March 28, 1883. The corner stone was laid with appro- priate ceremonies September 24, 1883, and the school opened its doors to pupils February 4, 1884.
It was intended that the course of the school should be three years, since it was believed that the essentials of a high school curriculum, with five hours per week of drawing and ten hours a week of shop work, could be thoroughly accomplished in that time. This belief was well founded. About 50 per cent of the graduates of this school have entered technological schools abund- antly well equipped for their work. Twelve of the class of '93 were fitted for the sophomore class of Sibley college, Cornell university. The acceptance by the technological schools of the shop work and drawing of manual training school graduates as an equivalent, wholly or in part, of similar work demanded by the school of technology for the degree or E. E. or M. E., saves much time to the students possessing it. Dur- ing the sixteen years of the school's existence its gen- eral purpose has been maintained without essential change. As the pedagogical value of manual train- ing became recognized, the optional study of Greek was added, that boys desiring to prepare for classical colleges might have the benefit of drawing and shop work.
The technical skill of boys when directed by com- petent and enthusiastic teachers is well illustrated by some of the products of the school. Besides two dozen or more steam engines, from 6 to 10-horse power each,
495
The Chicago Manual Training School.
the pupils have made three sensitive drills, a large drill press, a dozen and a half speed lathes, a pattern maker's gap lathe, weighing 1,500 pounds, and many other arti- cles in wood, iron and steel. The tower clock, with 60-inch dial, Westminster chime, etc., in use for years, was designed and built by pupils.
The drawing includes free-hand machine and architectural. About 50 per cent of the graduates of the school go directly into business. The others, as has been said, enter college, chiefly in engineering de- partments. Over 160 college degrees are known to have been conferred upon graduates, and about 140 others are now in college.
On July 9, 1897, the school was presented by its trustees, with the unanimous approval of the Chicago Manual Training School Association, to the University of Chicago. Its legal ownership is now vested in a board of nine trustees, elected by and from the board of trustees of the University of Chicago. This trans- fer of ownership is commemorated by a handsome bronze tablet, placed in the vestibule of the school, which reads as follows:
"The Chicago Manual Training School, the first independent school of this character in the United States, was founded by the Commercial Club, of Chi- cago, was incorporated April 10, 1883, the corner stone of its building, corner of Michigan avenue and Twelfth street, was laid September 24, 1883, and regular school exercises began February 4, 1884.
"The school was designed to give instruction and practice in the use of tools, in mathematics, drawing, modern languages and the English branches of a high school course.
"That, during the fourteen years of the existence of the school, it has instructed over 1,600 pupils, of whom 603 have been graduated, that it has caused the establishment of many similar institutions-and, espe- cially, that it has secured the incorporation of this sys-
496
The Chicago Manual Training School.
tem of education into the public schools of this city and of many other cities, is evidence to the founders of the school that it has successfully accomplished the pur- pose for which it was organized. In the belief that the usefulness of the school will thereby be enlarged and its perpetuity secured, the membership of the Associa- tion has been, by unanimous action, so changed that the administration of the school, with its building, grounds, equipment and the endowment (a bequest of the late Mr. John Crerar) has been this day intrusted to a membership composed of trustees of
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 1896-97.
E. W. Blatchford, president. John M. Clark, vice-president. Marshall Field, treasurer. William A. Fuller, secretary.
John W. Doane, Christoph Hotz, Edson Keith, H. H. Porter, George M. Pullman.
July 9, 1897. Henry H. Belfield, director." Mr. Crerar's bequest was $50,000.
It will be noticed that Messrs. Blatchford, Field, Fuller, Doane, Keith and Pullman were members of the original board of trustees. Messrs. Crerar, Keith and Pullman were members of the board at the time of their death.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE CHICAGO ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
The Chicago Academy of Sciences is believed to have the honor of being organized at an earlier date than any other scholarly body now existing in Chi- cago. In the year 1856 a small circle of enthusiastic gentlemen united in a society for the promotion of scientific investigation, and adopted the name, "The Chicago Academy of Natural Sciences." These, the original members of the Academy, were: James V. Z. Blaney, Nathan S. Davis, Sr., James W. Freer, C. A. Helmuth, Hosmer A. Johnson, Edmund Andrews, Henry Parker, J. Young Scammon, Franklin Scammon, · Richard K. Swift, Joseph D. Webster, Eliphalet W. Blatchford and Henry W. Zimmerman. To this list many other names were soon added, and the new society grew and developed rapidly.
A definite organization was completed at a meeting held January 13, 1857, in the office of Dr. Edmund Andrews, and the following officers were elected:
President, Professor James V. Z. Blaney.
Vice-presidents, Dr. Nathan S. Davis, Sr., Captain Joseph D. Webster.
Secretary, Dr. Hosmer A. Johnson.
Recording secretary, Dr. Henry Parker.
Treasurer, Col. R. K. Swift.
Curator and librarian, Dr. Edmund Andrews.
The need of funds soon became apparent, and sub- scriptions to the extent of about $1,500 were readily obtained. A room was rented in a building located at the southeast corner of Clark and Lake streets, a few cases were procured, and the foundation of a mu- seum was laid. This favorable beginning, however, was of short duration, for the financial crisis of 1857 and 1858 left but few of the subscriptions in a condi- tion for collection. The society was unable to pay the
(497)
499
The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
salary of a curator or to increase its museum accom- modations. The publication of transactions had been planned, but this, the most ambitious wish of the members, was necessarily postponed. However, a few of the members worked on the cabinet in their leisure hours, and interesting monthly meetings were sustained.
In the year 1859, under the provisions of a general law, the society was incorporated under the name, "The Chicago Academy of Sciences," and at a meeting held April 26, of that year, it adopted the following resolution :
WHEREAS, A majority of the members of the Acad- emy, acting in accordance with a vote of the Academy, have incorporated themselves under the title of The Chicago Academy of Sciences; therefore,
Resolved, That this Academy do now resolve itself into the above named corporate body, and transfer to the same all its members, property and interests.
Renewed activity and interest was the result of this reorganization. Much of the stimulus to this activity, as in the earlier period of the society, was furnished by Mr. Robert Kennicott, a young naturalist of great promise. He, with Dr. Edmund Andrews, had placed in the museum the larger number of the many thousand specimens already on exhibition. About this time Mr. Kennicott joined a scientific expedition to northwestern Arctic America. In the year 1862, after an absence of three years, he returned, bringing an abundant supply of material in all the departments of natural history and ethnology.
The expenses of this expedition, defrayed by the Smithsonian Institution, and by several residents of Chicago, were materially lessened by the unprecedented liberality of the officers of the Hudson Bay Co., acting both as officials and as individuals. The expedition was undertaken with the understanding that the Smith- sonian Institution should be the first beneficiary; but that any other institution that Mr. Kennicott should designate, and which would suitably provide for their
500
The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
reception and care, should also have a full series of the specimens. Mr. Kennicott naturally desired that this series should have a home in Chicago, and designated the Academy as the second beneficiary.
In the winter of the years 1863 and 1864 the affairs of the museum began to assume a more definite form. The value of the collections already offered, and the readiness of the Smithsonian Institution to fulfill its agreement as to duplicates and to add much other ma-
-
EZRA B. MCCAGG.
terial from its abundant stores, induced several promi- nent citizens of Chicago to undertake the founding of a permanent and more extensive museum of natural and applied sciences in this youthful metropolis of the central west.
Professor Louis Agassiz, of Harvard University, ac- cepted an invitation to address a meeting of those in- terested. This meeting was held February 22, 1864, at the residence of Mr. Edmund Aiken. Both the lecturer
501
The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
and the occasion aroused great enthusiasm. A subscrip- tion paper was started, to which the names of about 125 persons were soon appended, each agreeing to give the sum of $500. The leading spirits in this movement were J. Young Scammon, George C. Walker, Ezra B. McCagg, Eliphalet W. Blatchford and Daniel Thompson.
The gentlemen present at this informal gathering, stimulated by the enthusiasm of Mr. Kennicott, adopted the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the creation of a museum of the natural sciences for the increase and diffusion of knowledge is highly desirable, and especially so at the present time, in order to secure to this city the large and valuable collection now'apparently within its reach.
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to devise ways and means and to act as trustees of any funds that may be raised for the accomplishment of this object.
Resolved, That the committee above designated consist of J. Young Scammon, Ezra B. McCagg, George C. Walker, Edmund Aiken, Daniel Thompson, Eli- phalet W. Blatchford, Henry G. Loomis, William E. Doggett and two others whom they may name.
The success of this committee was extraordinary, and the generosity of Chicago's citizens was amply demonstrated, for only a very few weeks of soliciting were required to obtain the large list of subscribers already mentioned.
This movement was distinct from the work of the Academy; but on April 13, 1864, by an amendment to its constitution, the committee, acting as trustees of the fund, was made the board of trustees of The Chi- cago Academy of Sciences. The subscribers to the museum fund were made life members, with all the privileges of membership.
On June 10, 1864, the board of trustees of the museum fund adopted the following resolution, which had been proposed by a committee at a previous meeting:
Resolved, That the ' purposes of our temporary organization having been accomplished, the board of
502
The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
trustees of the museum fund be and the same is hereby merged in and consolidated with the board of trust- ees of The Chicago Academy of Sciences, and the officers of this board be and the same are hereby declared to be the officers respectively of said board of trustees of The Chicago Academy of Sciences, and that they hold their respective places as such officers sub- ject and according to the provisions and regulations heretofore adopted by this board, so far as the same are applicable; and that upon the adoption of such
-
J. YOUNG SCAMMON.
resolution this board of trustees be merged in the board of trustees of The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
At a meeting of this new board of trustees of the Academy, held June 10, 1864, the trust imposed upon it by the constitution of the Academy was unanimously accepted, and the following officers were elected:
President, J. Young Scammon.
Vice-President, William E. Doggett.
Secretary and Treasurer, George C. Walker.
503
The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
This action completed the consolidation of the museum fund and The Chicago Academy of Sciences, and all the property and effects of the two organiza- tions became vested in this board of trustees.
No words can better show the bright outlook of the Academy at this time than the following quotation from the records: "The committee, to whom was referred the subject of the disposition of the funds of this Association, would respectfully recommend that subscription notes and money to the amount of $50,000 be set apart and securely invested, as paid in, as a permanent fund, the income from it to be used for the payment of the current expenses of the Association. The remainder of the subscriptions will not be sufficient to meet the estimated expenditures for the next three years; but the committee think that additional sub- scriptions may be safely relied upon within that time to meet those expenditures."
Rooms were secured in the Metropolitan block, and the cases and other property of the Academy were removed to them from their old quarters. New cases were also constructed to contain the additional collec- tion received from the Smithsonian Institution.
In order that the interests of the Academy might be placed upon a firmer foundation, and its property vested in the board of trustees, it was deemed neces- sary to obtain a new charter. Application was made to the state legislature, early in the year 1865, with the result that the following enactment was adopted:
WHEREAS, An Association has heretofore been formed in the city of Chicago, called "The Chicago Academy of Sciences," the object of which is the increase and diffusion of scientific knowledge by a museum, a library, by the reading and publication of original papers and by such other suitable methods as shall from time to time be adopted;
Now, therefore, in order to encourage and promote the above declared objects of the said Association:
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That
504
The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
J. Young Scammon, George C. Walker, Horatio G. Loomis, Daniel Thompson, Edmund Aiken, Ezra B. McCagg, Eliphalet W. Blatchford, William E. Doggett, Robert Kennicott, Edmund Andrews, Hosmer A. John- son, Oliver F. Fuller, James W. Freer, William Bross, James V. Z. Blaney, Belden F. Culver, and their asso- ciates and successors forever, are hereby declared and created a body corporate by the name and style of "The Chicago Academy of Sciences," and by that name shall have perpetual succession, shall be capable in law to contract and to be contracted with, sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, within all courts of competent jurisdiction; may receive, acquire and hold real and personal property and effects, and may sell and dispose of the same at pleasure; may have a common seal, and alter the same at their pleasure; may make such constitutions, regulations and by-laws as may be requisite for its government and for carrying out the objects of the Association, and not contrary to the laws of the land, and may alter the same at their pleasure.
SEC. 2. The constitution and by-laws of said Association, now in operation, shall govern the cor- poration hereby created until regularly altered or appealed by the Association; and the present officers of said Association shall be officers of the corporation hereby created until their respective terms of office shall regularly expire or be vacated.
SEC. 3. All the money, property and effects of said "The Chicago Academy of Sciences" shall be held and managed by, and the title thereto, as also the title to all the real estate owned or to be owned by said Academy of Sciences, shall be vested in the board of trustees, from time to time, being as provided in the constitution of said Academy of Sciences; and all contracts and conveyances of said Academy of Sci- ences, to be binding, shall be executed by the president and secretary of the board of trustees.
SEC. 4. This act shall be a public act, and shall be in force from and after its passage.
ALLEN C. FULLER, Speaker of the House. WM. BROSS, Speaker of the Senate.
Approved February 16, 1865.
RICHARD J. OGLESBY.
505
The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
In March of the year 1865 the Western Union Telegraph Co. planned an expedition to survey along the northwest coast of North America for the purpose of establishing a route for a telegraph line intended to connect this continent with Asia by crossing the Behr- ing Straits. The company very generously offered to naturalists the opportunity to conduct scientific inves- tigations in a country at that time scarcely known, and
WILLIAM BROSS.
nearly inaccessible. Mr. Kennicott, who had been elected the curator of the Academy early in the pre- vious year, with other young naturalists as his asso- ciates, eagerly availed himself of the unusual facilities thus granted. The outfit for scientific investigation and collecting, costing about $1,000; was furnished by the Academy.
On March 21, 1865, Mr. Kennicott sailed from New York on the steamer "Golden Rule, " and made his first
506
The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
stop at Nicaragua. While crossing the isthmus, con- siderable collecting was done, and many interesting and valuable specimens were gathered. The remarka- ble energy of Mr. Kennicott, always apparent, was most marked at this time, and he was unanimously chosen by his associates as captain of the voyage. Continuing their journey, the party arrived at San Francisco on April 25. While there, Mr. Kennicott was notified of his election to the office of "Director of the Academy." This action of the board of trustees
ROBERT KENNICOTT.
was taken at a meeting held April 7, 1865. He tele- graphed his acceptance of this added honor.
From this expedition, so auspiciously begun, and so successfully conducted, Mr. Kennicott never returned to resume the duties of his office. He died very suddenly, and while alone, May 13, 1866, on the banks of the Nulato river, amid the eternal solitudes of that remote and desolate region.
In his death the Academy and science lost one of their most devoted followers-one who from early boy- hood had pursued his investigations with ardor and
507
The Chicago Academy of Sciences.
enterprise, ever regardless of the necessarily attendant dangers and privations. An enthusiastic, successful and indefatigable worker in the Academy from its very beginning, it is fitting that a few words regarding his characteristics should be quoted from one who knew him: "None who ever saw him will forget his high spirits, which were always contagious, and the energy with which he followed his favorite pursuit of animated nature brought a glow to his cheek. Seeing him full of life, fun and irrepressible energy, it was impossible to resist an impulse of admiration; and one of his bitterest opponents and rivals on this expedition confessed, long afterward, that one glimpse of Kennicott in the field gave him a totally new and different opinion of the man. 'If I had known him sooner,' said he, 'we should have been always friends.' "'
Notwithstanding the great loss sustained in his death, the Academy reaped a substantial harvest from this enterprise.
When Mr. Kennicott departed for the north the care of the museum was intrusted to Dr. William Stimpson, the secretary of the Academy, who was elected curator for one year. Dr. Stimpson studied under Agassiz, and had for years been in charge of the department of invertebrate zoology in the Smithsonian Institution. During this period he had made large col- lections of invertebrate animals from all waters, and had acquired such proficiency in this branch of natural history that he was recognized as the leading Ameri- can authority in this special line of research. The Smithsonian Institution deposited with the Academy a full series of the specimens that had been collected by Dr. Stimpson, including specimens of his types. They also paid him the rare honor of sending to the Academy a large collection of its own specimens for his determination.
November 12, 1866, Dr. Stimpson was elected direc- tor of the Academy, to fill the vacancy caused by the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.