USA > Indiana > Porter County > History of Porter County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests > Part 19
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"Whereas, For several days last past, large numbers of persons have been engaged in assembling on and about the premises of citizens pur- suing a lawful business, and remaining on said premises against the will of the owners thereof, and for the avowed purpose of interfering with their business ; and
"Whereas, Many of said persons declare their intention of persisting in such conduct. Now, therefore, all such persons so assembling and remaining, are hereby notified that such condnet is unlawful and against the ordinances of the city of Valparaiso, and they are admonished as good citizens to desist from the same, and that it is the duty of the authorities of said city and of all law-abiding citizens, in the interest of public peace and order, to enforce the said ordinances and disperse such assemblages."
The women engaged in the crusade were not backward in accepting the' gage of battle as presented by the mayor's proclamation. Within a few hours the executive committee of the "Crusaders" formulated the following reply, which was posted in public places and distributed about the streets :
"Why do the Heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The Kings of the Earth set themselves, and the Rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his Annointed, saying-Let us break their bands asunder, and east away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision. -- Psalm 2, 1-4.
"And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and
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said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken net you more than unto God, judge ye .- Acts 4, 18-19.
"We ought to obey God rather than men .- Acts 5, 29.
TO TIIE PUBLIC
"In the temperance movement we have undertaken, we have had .. purpose to violate the laws of the State, or interfere with the right of any citizen. We have maliee in our hearts toward none, but charity toward all. We believe we have the right to persuade men to . from strong drink, and to plead with the liquor seller to cease from. ... traffic. Beleiving, too, that God has called us to the high duty of st our fellow-men, we will not cease to pray and labor to this end. !. our solemn purpose, with love in our hearts to God and man, to go night forward in the work we have undertaken, and if the hand of viol. ; be laid upon us, we make our humble and confident appeal to the fil whom we serve, and to the laws of the State, whose faithful citi. 14 we are."
Mayor Skinner's proclamation had the effect, however, to make Or women a little more cautious in carrying on their work. In time the movement spent its force, and the great temperance crusade is now a matter of history. That much good was accomplished by these heroic women cannot be gainsaid. In a few instances saloon keepers gave up their business and sought some other line of endeavor, and none will ever know how many young men were persuaded to give up strong dritth In some of the Valparaiso homes may still be seen the mayor's pror ... mation and the women's manifesto, which have been preserved as his- torie relies of the crusade. .
A fire department was established carly in the year 1876, consisting of four companies, with two engines, a ladder wagon and a lose com. It was thoroughly reorganized by the ordinance of January 29, 1x50. and at the present time Valparaiso has as good a fire department as . usually found in cities of its class. The police department was organized
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by the ordinance of January 25, 1884. The city hall was built in 1878, on the south side of the public square. In the lower story is kept part of the fire-fighting apparatus, and the city offices and council chamber occupy the upper floor. Just back of the city hall the city prison was erected in 1881.
The first waterworks in Valparaiso were established in 1866, the city receiving some financial assistance from the county. This system con- sisted of several cisterns, and was never adequate to the demands of the city. In the fall of 1882, Joseph Gardner made an estimate that a waterworks plant, such as the city ought to have, would cost something like $34,000, exclusive of labor. At that time the city was in debt up the constitutional limit, having voted $50,000 in ten per cent bonds in 1868 to secure the Peninsular (now the Grand Trunk) railroad, and incurred other indebtedness in making municipal improvements. Under these conditions it seemed impossible to erect a waterworks plant. Nevertheless, in February, 1884, the city council entered into a contract. with Micaiah Walker, of Port Huron, Michigan, and Don A. Salyer, of Valparaiso, "to establish, construct and maintain a system of waterworks in the city of Valparaiso." A franchise was granted to the company for fifty years, with the privilege of using the streets and alleys, which were to be restored to their original condition and left free from obstructions. It was stipulated in the contract that the water should come from Flint lake, and that the company would lay mains enough to supply everybody with water who wanted it. Failure to carry out this provision meant a forfeiture of franchise rights. It was further stipu lated that any time after fifteen years from the completion of the water- works, the city should have the right to purchase the same by giving the owners one year's notice, the value to be fixed by three disinterested hydraulic engineers, etc.
Immediately after this action by the city council, Joseph Gardner instituted injunction proceedings in the Porter circuit court, setting forth in his complaint that the municipal authorities were about to let a contract to a waterworks company for supplying the city with water
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for a period of twenty years at an annual expense to the municipality 01 $6,000; that the corporate indebtedness exceeds five per centum of the assessed value of the taxable property of the eity and there is no money in the treasury."
In answer to this the city admitted an indebtedness in excess of two per cent of the assessed value of the taxable property, but that the city, with a population of over 5,000, had "no facilities for extinguishing fires except three eisterns, which are wholly inadequate." The answer also set forth that the annual revenues were sufficient to pay all ordinary expenses and the $6,000 water rent; that a sinking fund had been pro- vided for as the law required, and that no money was to be paid until after water had been actually furnished. Mr. Gardner's attorneys filed a demurrur to the answer and the lower court sustained his position. The city then appealed the case to the supreme court and in November, 1884, Chief Justice Elliott handed down an opinion in which he carefully reviewed all the points at issue and voneluded by saying : Judgment is reversed, with instructions to overrule the demurrer to the answer, and proceed in accordance with this opinion."
Thus supported by the highest legal tribunal in the state, the city council, at a special session held on Monday evening, February 16, 1885, entered into a new contract with George P. Smith, of Bay City Mich- igau; Mieaiah Walker, of Port IInron, Michigan; and Don A. Salyer, of Valparaiso, to carry out the provisions of the franchise granted the year before. A pumping station was built at Flint lake, and in the fall of 1886 the water was turned into the mains. Under the terms of the contract, the city had the right to purchase the plant at any time after fifteen years. The question therefore came up in 1899 of giving the company the required notice that the city would buy the waterworks the next year. A great many people were in favor of municipal ownership, but the indebtedness was so great that the eity could not legally issue bonds for the purchase of the plant. It was then proposed that a company be formed to take over the city's option and operate the plant until the revenues derived from the sale of water might be sufficient
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to pay for the same, when it should be turned over to the city. This question also went through the courts, and it was finally decided that an arrangement of this character could be made. A company was then formed-composed of O. P. Kinsey, John Sich, M. J. Stinehfield, Stephen Finney and S. C. Billings-which bought the plant, with the under- standing that at least $5,000 should be paid annually upon the purchase price and when clear of all incumbranees it should be turned over to the city. As high as $12,000 have been paid in one year under this arrangement, and it is estimated that the waterworks will become the property of the city by 1920, or sooner. The new company has put down several deep wells and established a $16,000 filter. There are about twenty-three miles of main pipe, 137 street hydrants, and the daily con- siunption of water is approximately 1,000,000 gallons.
On September 10, 1879, the city council passed an ordinance giving the gas company a right-of-way through the streets, highways, publie grounds, lanes and alleys belonging to the city, on condition that after gas pipes were laid said streets, alleys, etc., should be restored to their original condition. A gas works was erected, and for nearly twenty years gas was the chief source of light for the residents of the city. The Messenger of October 6, 1887, said editorially: "Our city council is wisely investigating the matter of lighting the city with electricity. Of course, this move will meet with stern opposition, nevertheless we hope that the council will go right on and thoroughly investigate the matter, and, if they find that the city will receive better service for less money than they are now receiving, it is their duty to act and act decidedly."
The editor admitted, however, that no action should be taken that would jeopardize the interests of Mr. Stratton, the owner of the gas plant, and suggested that he should be given an opportunity to own both the gas and electric light franchises. Evidently the investigation of the city council at that time did not result in a favorable opinion, as more than six years were allowed to elapse before any definite action was taken. By the ordinance of April 9, 1894, Edwin S. Tice, of Chicago, was granted the right to establish and maintain an electric lighting plant in the city of
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Valparaiso. In September following Tice sold his franchise to Ele Noe, also of Chicago. Charles II. Sweet ultimately became the po s' of the franchise and erected the plant. Subsequently he purchase. !! gas company from Mr. Stratton and consolidated the two as the Vali .- raiso Lighting Company, with offices at the corner of Main and Lafive. streets.
Telephone service was introduced into the city under the protis of the ordinance of November 4, 1881, which authorized the (Praze Telephone Company to ereet poles and maintain an exchange in Val !- raiso. In this instance, as in many others in the state about the : it was easier to secure a franchise than it was to establish a tel . system. An independent company was organized under the grant 5 Chicago Company, and an exchange opened. After a time the plant passed into the hands of the Bell Telephone Company. a l . exchange and office building was erected on North Lafayette strola the system generally overhauled and improved. At the present the company has in operation about 1,300 telephones, with long dist. connections to all parts of the country.
Valparaiso has never achieved a wide reputation as a manufacturing center. The earliest attempts in that direction were intended merely to supply articles for local demand and consumption-such as wage is harness, briek, etc. White & Kellogg started a planing mill in 1858, ?! in 1864 Daniel White built a sash, door and blind factory. In 18. woolen mill was started in the southwestern part of the city, and in his a sneeessful business for a number of years. The building is now ( 1 .. pied by the Chicago Mica Company. A year after the woolen mill ..... established the paper mill was built. Korn & Junker erected a breve .. in the early '70s and in 1873 a branch of the National Pin Company wa established at Valparaiso, being the only pin factory at that time west of New York. Among the manufacturing establishments at the press time the most important are the MeGill Manufacturing Company, v.her; makes electrical appliances; the Chicago Mica Company, manufart ... insulating materials; the Chautauqua Manufacturing Company, mal is
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of furniture, charts, etc., and the Parker Varnish Company. (See the chapter relating to Finance and Industries for a more detailed descrip- tion of these and other concerns.)
Just who preached the first sermon in the town of Portersville (now Valparaiso) is a matter of some dispute. It is generally believed that. the honor belongs to Rev. Alpheus French, who conducted religious ser- vices in the house of William Eaton, on Mechanie street. There is no doubt that Mr. French did preach there, but the date when he did so is not definite. Some authorities say it was in 1838, but when it is known that the First Baptist Church was organized in June, 1837, it seems reasonable to presume that some preaching had been done before that. time. It is claimed by some that Rev. Asahel Neal was the first minister to preach in the town, and that he organized a Baptist church in Center township as early as 1835 or 1836. In 1912 the churches in the city were The First Baptist Church, at the northwest corner of Chicago and Lafayette streets; the Christian church, at the northwest corner of Franklin and Chicago; the First Methodist Episcopal Church, at the northwest corner of Franklin and JJefferson; the Presbyterian Church, at the southwest corner of Franklin and Jefferson ; St. Andrew's Protest- ant Episcopal Church, at the southeast corner of Franklin and Erie; Im- manuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, at the southeast corner of Wash- ington and Institute; St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, at the corner of Franklin and Lincoln avenue; St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, at the corner of Chicago and Campbell; and the First Church of Christ, Scientist, at the corner of Washington and Monroe. (See Chap- ter XIII.)
As an educational center Valparaiso stands far above most cities of its size. The Valparaiso University, an account of which is given in the Chapter on Educational Development, is one of the best known educa tional institutions in the Middle West, and there are three publie school buildings, viz: The Central School, at the junetion of Franklin, Eric and Institute streets; the Columbia School, located at the corner of South Locust and Indiana avenue; the Gardner School, located at the
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CENTRAL SCHOOL BUILDING
MANRAY
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corner of Jefferson and Campbell streets. AH three are fine . amples of modern school architecture. The city high school is located in the Central building, and during the school year of 1911-12 employed seven teachers, viz: Engene Skinkel, Mabel Benney, Minie Melntyre. E. S. Miller, Albert Wedeking, Mabel Young and Olie Welty. During the same year the teachers in the Central School were: H. M. Jessec, Fannie MeIntyre, Mary Deegan, Bess Stinchfield, Bessie Way, Caroline Stinch- field, Geneva Pierce, Edna Forney, Martha and Nellie White and Ida Jones. Seven teachers were employed in the Columnbia School during the same period, as follows: Estella Diefenbach, Ada Sievers. Freda Bruns, Flora Philley, Sarah Parks, Mabel Herrick and Margaret Pierce. In the Gardner School Margaret C. Beer was principal, and her assis- tants were Pearl Miller, Cartha Card, Clara Crosby, Kathry ne Blancy, Ella Vincent and Laura King. In addition to these regular teachers there were four special teachers and supervisors. W. G. D. vis had charge of the manual training; Mae MeKinnis, domestic art : Mus. Mary Hemstoek, kindergarten, and Helen J. Single, music.
On March 7, 1889, the Valparaiso Improvement Association was organized with a capital stock of $10,000 "to aid the business of the city, locate new industries, cte." Another meeting was held at the mayor's office on the 12th, when the following officers were elected : President, Charles H. Parker; vice-president, M. L. McClelland; secretary, George W. Carr; treasurer, J. S. Louderhaek; directors, A. D. Bartholomew, M. L. MeClelland, II. D. Newton F. W. Rice D. A. Salyer, { \ Dodge, J. S. Louderback, M. A. Salisbury and M. Barry. One hundred and eighteen shares of stock, of five dollars each, were subscribed at this meeting. For a time the organization displayed considerable activity in advertising the advantages and possibilities of Valparaiso. Then the interest began to wane and the association finally ecased to exist. Several subsequent attempts to organize similar associations met with a like fate. The present Chamber of Commerce was organized in 1909 under the name of the Valparaiso Commercial Club, but when application wa. made to the secretary of state for a charter it was ascertained that a chanter had
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previously been granted to an association of that name. The name w. then changed to the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, which was dies incorporated on June 8, 1912, with a capital stock of $25,000 and the fol- lowing officers: President Jolm Sievers; first vice-president. William F. Spooner ; second vice-president, W. J. Henry ; secretary. E. 11. Heilsto . treasurer, George F. Beach ; directors, C. F. Specht, L. R. Skinner, E. Gardner, John F. Sievers, E. H. Heilstedt, P. W. Clifford, J. Loweustino and J. W. Sieb. The motto of the association is "A larger and better Valparaiso," and the most prominent business and professional mon of the city are included in the membership. .
In 1892 a portion of Jefferson street and the south end of Locu street were paved with brick, the first paved streets in the city. Tien was then a cessation in making improvements of this character for sont years but in 1905 the work of street improvement began in carnest. Ti .. result is that all down-town streets and several of the alleys are pate. with brick, giving Valparaiso about six miles of streets that are as good as any to be found anywhere in the country. Cement sidewalks have been laid upon all the principal streets.
Three great trunk lines of railway-the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago, the New York, Chicago & St. Louis, and the Grand Trun !. - . furnish ample transportation facilities. The city has three banks -tlu Valparaiso National, the Farmers' National, and the State Bank of Valparaiso-and two trust companies; three large department stores and a number of other mercantile concerns, drug, jewelry, hardware :... implement stores, etc. ; several bakeries, candy factories, cigar factories. eight printing establishments, three dealers in automobiles and access ories, etc. But Valparaiso is preeminently a city of homes. Its broad, shaded streets, the will kept lawns, the cozy residences, impress the visitor to Porter county's capital with the prosperity and progressive sport its inhabitants .. The people are democratic, and nowhere will ode in! with more genuine courtesy and politeness than in Valparaiso. Lod. of all the leading seeret and benevolent organizations cultivate a fratern. feeling among the inhabitants. In very few cities do the people shoy a.
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high respect for law and morals as in Valparaiso. A police foree is maintained, but arrests are seldom made. Every one seems to be inelined to mind his own business, and taken altogether Valparaiso is a good place in which to live and rear a family, as the climate is healthful and the environment is free from the contaminating influences usually found in larger eities. Valparaiso has never experienced a "'boom. " but its growth has been steady and substantial. In 1850 the population was 520; in 1860 it had grown to 1,690; ten years later it was 2,760; in 1880 it was 4,461; in 1890 it was 5,090; in 1900 it had reached 6.280, and in 1910 it was 6,987.
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CHAPTER X
FINANCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
PUBLIC REVENUES - BONDED DEBT - EARLY BANKING CONDITIONS - FIRST BANK IN PORTER COUNTY-FIRST NATIONAL-ITS SUCCESSORS-FARMERS' NATIONAL-STATE BANK OF VALPARAISO-TRUST COMPANIES-CHESTER- TON BANK-BANKS AT HEBRON-BANK OF KOUTS-PORTER COUNTY BINK -POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS - VALPARAISO BUILDING ASSOCIATION - AGRI- CULTURE-VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS-LIVE STOCK-FARMERS' ALLIANCE -FARMERS' INSTITUTES-FARMERS' INSURANCE COMPANY-GAS AND OIL -MANUFACTURING-FOSTER'S AUGER FACTORY-WAGONS AND CARRIAGES -FOUNDRIES-PLANING MILLS-VALPARAISO WOOLEN MILL-PIN FAC- TORY -- PAPER MILL-PAINTS AND VARNISHIES-EFFORTS TO SECURE NEW INDUSTRIES-CLOCK FACTORY-MICA WORKS-CHAUTAUQUA MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY-MCGILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY-ORGAN FACTORY HYDRAULIC-PRESS BRICK COMPANY-GLASS WORKS-"'FEATHIERBONE" -TILE MILLS-MINOR CONCERNS-GENERAL INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS.
The public funds of Porter county have generally been handled by men who believed in a conservative policy and economie administration of county affairs. Consequently there have been very few instances of misappropriation of public revenues or wanton extravagance in expen- ditures. The county auditor's report for the year ending on December 31, 1911, shows the receipts from all sources, including balances at be- ginning of the year, to have been $762,858.32, and the expenditures for the year were $612,683.22, leaving a balance in the county treasury of
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$150,175,10. At that time the bonded indebtedness of the county was as follows:
Asylum bonds, issued October 18, 1905. $10,000
Pavement around court-house, issude December 16, 1908 4,600
Bridge bonds, issued July 16, 1909. 12,000
Ileating plant, court-house and jail, issued July 15, 1911. .. 8,500
Total, 35,100
These amounts were unpaid balances of the original issue and con- stituted the entire bonded indebtedness of the county, against which the balance of $150,175.10 shows a healthy condition of the public finances. For the construction of gravel roads bonds have been issued to the amount of $948,580, of which $274,748.50 have been paid, Jeaving an unpaid balance of $673,831.50. Diteh bonds aggregating $27,701.95 have been issued, of which $16,218.74 have been paid, leaving the unpaid balance of $11,218.21. Gravel road and ditch bonds are not strictly county in- debtedness, being a lien upon the property benefited by the improve- ment and paid by the holder of such property the same as taxes.
According to the report of the State Bureau of Statistics for the year 1910, the bonded indebtedness of the city of Valparaiso, less cash in the sinking fund, was $69,772.57. Of the three incorporated towns in the county, Porter reported a debt of $847.25, while Chesterton and Hebron were out of debt, the former having a cash balance in the treasury of $797.27, and the latter a balance of $1,909.26. Taken altogether, these figures show that the county and municipal affairs have been managed with a view to promoting the general welfare of the people, the indebted- ness of the city of Valparaiso having been incurred for the purpose of making much needed improvements.
During the territorial days in Indiana, very little money was in cir- culation. Few banks had been established northwest of the Ohio river, and these few were conducted under laws so lax in their operation that
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the people had no confidence in the banks, and very little . midence in a majority of the men who conducted them. The territori legislat. of 1814 charted two banking institutions-the Bank of Madison and U . Bank of Vincennes-both of which were recognized by the first state constitution, adopted in 1816. and the first state legislat. & passed .1. act making the Bank of Vinemes a star istitution. No settlements , been made in Porter county at that time, the land still being held by th. Indians. The first bank in Porter county was a private concert conducted by Franklin W. and Hubbard Hunt. Both were natives of Coos copaf . New Hampshire, where Franklin W. was born on February 6. 1817. In was one of the early settlers of Valparaiso, where he engaged in the air goods business. Hubbard Il & t learned the trade of machin land ) : finisher with the Fairbank . Scale Company at Johnsble. Negen Upon coming to Porter county in 1846 he became associated with. .. brother in the store. In 1813 he went to California, but related to V: paraiso in the spring of 1851 and again entered into partnership with r brother. In 1855 they disposed of their dry-goods business and opened a banking house. The following year Hubbard Hunt withdrew, bar Franklin W. continned in the business for some years. In later years he owned a farm near Valparaiso, where he lived a part of the time. His death occurred on February 3, 1892. Ilubbard Hunt, after withdrawing from the bank, was engaged in stock raising for a short time, and was later in the hardware business with John M. Felton. He married Finett Dunning in 1851 and died on May 6, 1895. The old homestead on North Washington street was given by him and his wife to the city of Vai- paraiso to be used as a public library building. Franklin W. Hunt finally liquidated the business of this early bank and retired from active pursuits.
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