USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Hyman's Handbook of Indianapolis : an outline history and description of the capital of Indiana, with over three hundred illustrations from photographs made expressly for this work (1897) > Part 8
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
Other Cemeteries are the Roman Catholic, Greenlawn, German Lutheran, Jewish and Lutheran.
Schools and Libraries-The streets and highways of Indianapolis had hardly been staked off by the surveyor, when the few people who had gath- ered here at this embryo capital of the state began to look around and make some arrangements for the education of the children. At that time there was no provision for public, or free schools, and the only means for education were by private or "subscription" schools. The first building devoted to edu- cation in the city was erected at the intersection of Kentucky avenue and Washington and Illinois streets. From that little beginning has developed the great school system of Indianapolis which has made the Indiana capital take high rank in educational matters among the cities of the country. The magnificently endowed school fund of the state of Indiana, and the open- handed liberality of the people of Indianapolis, have united in building ud the present great free school system. Just when Indianapolis first began to feel the impetus of the legislation in favor of free schools it received a severe set back by an adverse decision of the supreme court. It was just emerging from the first crude efforts to establish free schools, and was getting on a higher place when this decision came. Graded schools were being estab- lished in different parts of the city, and the "old seminary," wherein many of the youth in the early days of the city had been prepared for college, had been changed into a high school under the jurisdiction of the city. Hope was bright, and the young city was buoyant with expectations of the future of the new school system, when the courts decided that the taxation provided for by the legislature was illegal, and the schools were compelled to depend for their maintenance on what was received from the general school fund. In consequence of this decision the schools languished for some years, but
HIGH SCHOOL NO. I.
161
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
after awhile a brighter day dawned, and once again the people were per- mitted to tax themselves to maintain schools for the general education of their children. From that day the progress has been steady and rapid. The city has been fortunate in its selection of those chosen to have general man- agement and control of this great interest. One idea has been steadily be- fore them, and that was to bring the schools up to the highest grade possible while at the same time furnishing ample provision to accommodate all the
-
ANDOLPH-ENG.00.
HIGH SCHOOL NO. 2.
children. For the school year of 1895-6, the number of school children en- rolled in the city was 27,663. Under the law all persons between the ages of six and twenty-one are entitled to school privileges. During the school year of 1895-6, there belonged to the schools 17,094. The average daily attendance during the year was 15,939. The school year opens in September and closes in June. The number registered for the year 1896-7 was 20,083. The aver- age attendance in October, the second month of the school year was 17,340.
11
162
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
The schools are under the management of a board of eleven school commis- sioners clected by the people, with terms so arranged that a part of them ex- pire every two years. The system embraces forty-five graded schools, two high schools, one training school, and one manual labor school, occupying forty-nine buildings, all of them arranged with modern improvements and well adapted for their various purposes. The two high school buildings are especially elegant in all their appointments. The direct management of the schools is under the charge of a superintendent with one assistant. Special branches, such as German, drawing, music, penmanship and physical culture are each under the charge of a supervisor; of these there are seven. Four hundred and fifty-eight teachers are employed, twenty-eight of them being in the Iligh School and six in the Industrial Training School. The amount paid the teachers for the year 1895-6 was $296,034,02. The total cost of the schools for the same year was $434,372.45. The school system embraces a course of study extending over twelve years, or twenty-four half years. The years begin at one and run up to twelve. In the High School the course of study covers four years. Students graduating at the High School are ad- mitted to any of the colleges of the state on their certificates.
Other Schools-The efficiency and number of schools which Indianapolis possesses in addition to those belonging to the public school system is also a matter of pride and importance. Several schools of music are conducted where pupils are brought by eminent instructors to the highest degree of skill and knowledge to which they are capable. In the Indianapolis School of Art, painting, sketching, pen-drawing and modeling are taught by capable artists. This school is maintained and controlled by an association of liberal citizens. The schools which are connected with the Catholic churches are popular and attended by many pupils from distant parts of the country, notably, St. John's and St. Mary's academies. The Knickerbacker Hall, diocesan school for girls, is also a high class academy, and there are schools of elocution, of stenography, telegraphy, business colleges and others in great number. For literary culture the people of Indianapolis have the ad- vantage of two large and several small but very valuable libraries.
The State Library was started soon after Indiana became a state, but for several years it met with but little encouragement from the legislature, and through carelessness and neglect many of its most valuable books were lost or destroyed. Within the last few years, however, the legislature has been much more liberal in furnishing means for the purchase of new books and caring for the library. The library occupies several elegantly appointed rooms in the state-house, and ample accommodations are provided for those who desire to consult the works contained therein. It has been unfortunate that the position of state librarian was for many years made a political mat- ter, the librarian being elected by the legislature, thus making frequent changes. The authorities of the state have at last been brought to recognize that competent librarians are very scarce, and that when one is obtained it is much better to hold on to that one than to change because of political prefer-
EFFE
-
٤٠
٠,١
-
J
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
165
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
ences. The library contains 26,000 volumes, and a large number of pamph- lets.
Public Library is of much more recent origin than the state library, and has already reached proportions which make it one of the best in the west. It was established in IS73 under the authority of the school commissioners. It occupies a handsome stone building erected for its use by the city. It has connected with it a reading room for consulting the books, and for the use of those who desire to read the papers and periodicals kept there for that pur- pose. The reading room is well lighted and ventilated, and is kept open from 9 A. M. until 9 P. M. on each day of the week. Any citizen is entitled to withdraw books from the library for home reading. The whole is under the control of the board of school commissioners. Sub-libraries were es- tablished the latter part of 1896 in various parts of the city, each being sup- plied with 1,000 volumes, and the newspaper and magazines and reading room accommodations for 150 persons. Beside these there are ten delivery stations where books are delivered to and received from the patrons of the library. There are 65,000 volumes in the library. Additions are made monthly by the purchase of new books, about $6,000 being expended annu- ally for this purpose,
Agricultural Library of the state board of agriculture, located in the state- house, contains about 1,200 volumes.
Law Library of the Indianapolis bar association, established in ISSo, con- tains about 3,000 volumes. It is located in the Marion county court-house.
Marion County Library, located in the court-house, was established in 1844, and contains 3,Soo volumes. It is open on Saturdays.
State Law Library, which was separated from the state library in 1867, contains 35,000 volumes. It is located in the state-house.
Horticultural Library, of the State Horticultural Society, in the state-house, contains over 500 volumes.
Other Libraries are Butler University library, at Irvington, the St. Aloysius, St. Cecilia, Y. M. C. A., and excellent special libraries in the different medical colleges.
Mayors of Indianapolis were as follows: Samuel Henderson, 1847-1849; Horatio C. Newcomb, 1849-IS51; Caleb Scudder, IS51-1854; James McCready, IS54-1856; Henry F. West, 1856; Charles Conlon, 1856; William J. Wallace, 1856-IS58; Samuel D. Maxwell, IS58-1863; John Caven, 1863-1867; Daniel Macauley, 1867-1873; James L. Mitchell, 1873-1875; John Caven, 1875-1SSI; Daniel W. Grubbs, ISSI-ISS4; J. L. McMasters, ISS4-1SS6; Caleb S. Denny. ISS6-1890; Thomas L. Sullivan, IS90-1893; Caleb S. Denny, 1893-1896; Thomas Taggart, IS96.
A Convention City-Indianapolis is fast taking high rank in popular favor as a place for holding conventions. Its railroad facilities make it readily reached from all parts of the country, and its fine hotel accommodations eminently fit it for taking care of delegates and others who attend conven- tions. At one time or another all the great organizations of the country,
166
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
those of labor and of the various branches of business, have held their meet- ings here. Scientific and educational, religious and professional bodies look to Indianapolis as the most desirable place in which to hold their annual gatherings. It has also assumed importance with political parties for con- vention purposes. In ISS4 the Greenback-Labor party held its national con- vention here, and nominated Gen. Benjamin F. Butler as its candidate for president. Four years later the Prohibitionists selected Indianapolis as the place for holding their national convention. The most important political gathering ever held in the city, and in some respects the most important ever held in the country, was that of 1896, when a great division of the Demo- cratic party declared it could not support the party candidates for president and vice-president, and determined to put forth a new ticket. The party proper had declared in favor of the unlimited coinage of silver, and against that declaration a large number of the leaders of the party revolted. The revolt finally assumed shape, those of Indiana taking the lead. After numer- ous consultations it was determined to hold a national convention, adopt a platform and nominate a ticket. Indianapolis was chosen as the place for holding the convention, and it is doubtful if ever a political gathering called together more distinguished men than did the sourd money convention of IS96. There was no concealment of the object of the gathering. It was not claimed that the ticket to be nominated would have any reasonable prospect of success, and the only object in putting it forth was to secure the defeat of their party candidate who stood on a platform they believed to be dangerous to the prosperity of the country.
In January, 1897, the Monetary Convention was held in Indianapolis. It was not of a party nature, but was practically the outgrowth of the late political contest. It was a gathering to take into consideration the best method of reforming the currency and banking system of the country, and thereby putting the business of the country on a stable foundation. It was attended by the ablest financiers and business leaders of the country, and a plan was developed for submission to the consideration of congress. All these gatherings liberally advertise Indianapolis, and tend to advance her growth and prosperity. Nearly 400 conventions are held every year in this city.
The Indianapolis Light and Power Co .- In June, ISSI, the Indianapolis Light and Power Company commenced the erection of an arc light plant on South Pennsylvania street, with an immediate capacity of ISo lights and room for as many more. This was the first central station in Indiana, one of the first in the west, and, indeed, among the first in the world. The com- pany had great difficulty and delay in procuring a franchise from the city, as the council had but little confidence in it, and when the franchise was finally granted it was cautiously termed: "The So-Called Electric Light." The first lights were turned on in the Union depot, January 12, 1SS2. In June, ISSI, the company proposed to the council to light the entire city with elec- tricity, agreeing to furnish six times the light it was then receiving, for ten
-
-
-
-
-
LEMCKE BUILDING.
169
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
per cent. less than the city was then paying, but. the offer was rejected, and in August of the same year, nearly the same offer was made and again re- jected. This was the first offer ever made in the world to light an entire city with electricity. In August, ISS2, the company made a third offer to light the city, agreeing to furnish ten times the light it was receiving for 16 per cent. less than it was paying, and this offer was also rejected. Hlad it been accepted in the very infancy of electric lighting, Indianapolis would have had the distinction of being the first city in the world to be entirely lighted by electricity, at the same time saving over $10,000 a year by so doing. In 1SS6 the company erected five towers, one in the circle, 153 feet high, and one
POWER PLANT INDIANAPOLIS LIGHT AND POWER CO.
each at the corners looking out the four avenues, and lighted them several months without charge. Experience proved that the practically useful way to light a city is by lamps suspended from mast-arms at each street crossing, and Indianapolis is so lighted. In 1892 the company obtained a ten-year contract for lighting the city, and the city now has $24 lights; West Indian - polis. 57; Haughville, 30; Mount Jackson, 7. The price paid is $85 per lamp per year, and the company pays a special tax of five per cent, on its gross receipts, which makes the lights cost only about $7S per year, which makes the cost of each light about $69 per year less than the average price paid in the United States in other cities of like rank, and twenty per cent. less than
170
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
what it costs some cities lighting themselves, merely for labor and consuma- ble supplies, leaving out water supply, insurance, taxes not received, interest on the investment and that important factor of loss, depreciation, so often lost sight of.
In some recent investigations in other cities to determine the advisability of municipal ownership, they all select Indianapolis as obtaining its light on more favorable conditions than any other of its rank, and much more so than most. It is now costing the city only about as much while receiving about thirty times the volume of light as it did to light with gas when the city con- tained only about one-third its present territory, and, in addition, the electric
INTERIOR VIEW OF POWER HOUSE INDIANAPOLIS LIGHT AND POWER CO.
lights are promptly turned on when cloudy. even though the moon be full. The company's new station on Kentucky avenue is about seven hundred yards from the business center; is one of the finest in the world, and among the largest, and with capacity for almost indefinite expansion. Owning the entire block, and surrounded by wide streets effectually protecting it from ex- ternal fire, and internally is almost entirely fire-proof, and, with perfect light and ventilation, securing the greatest comfort to the employes-something so frequently neglected. It is equipped with everything of the best to date- with Sterling non-explosive boilers, three Hamilton-Corliss compound con- densing engines of the most perfect type, and with a combined power of 2,000 horse-power and a capacity of 2,100 2,000-C. P. arc lamps and dynamos
LEFE
FF
--
HELL EE EE EE
-
-
7
-
THE STEVENSON BUILDING AT, INDIANAPOLIS IND. HENRY.IVES.COBB ARCHITECT
STEVENSON BUILDING.
-
173
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
with a capacity of 2,100 lights and ample room for more; three self-connected, upright Lake Erie engines with a combined power of 2,000 horse-power and 20,000 sixteen-candle incandes- cent lamps. The lines of two natural gas companies run into their premises, and coal can be thrown from cars on their own switch to the furnace doors, and having a storage capacity of 2.500 tons, and a two-months' supply is kept continually on hand. The company recently completed a three-foot conduit to White river forty-one feet deep and lower than low water- mark in White river, and capa- ble of supplying condensing and feed water for 30,000 horse- power. The engines are all com- pound-condensing engines, and while it might sound a little paradoxical to allege that cold water is a fuel, yet with condens- ing engines this is true, and the colder the better, saving at least 40 per cent. at the coal pile. The company commenced put- ting in under-ground conduits in 1889, and are now under ground in the central square mile. It was the first to adopt the vitrified tile, laid in cement, which will neither rust nor rot, and is acid proof and a non-con- ductor and not affected by elec- trolysis, a combination of merits possessed by no other conduit, and is now being generally adopted. Indianapolis has now twice as many street-lights as London, England, and three
GRULCR.
MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE.
174
HIYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
times as many as Cleveland, where it was invented, and there are few plants in the world that equal the present capacity of Indianapolis. Its under- ground conduits will accommodate the city for a century, and can add to its buildings and power almost indefinitely. Statistics prove that in propor- tion to effective output of results, lighting, heat and power are obtained in no other way with anything like so small a percentage of loss of life and property. The company is purely a local one-the stock and bonds being owned entirely by Indianapolis citizens. Daniel W. Marmon is president; John Caven, vice-president; Charles C. Perry, secretary and treasurer, and Thomas A. Wynne, superintendent.
The Citizens' Street Railroad Company was chartered December 8, 1863, with a capital of $100,000, and operated lines of horse cars for twenty-five years. The company was again chartered in April 23, ISSS, with a capital of $1.500,000, when the franchise of the original company was purchased, and the lines were rebuilt and extended. In 1893, the capital stock was in- creased to $5,000,000. The company began putting in an electric power plant in 1891, and finished the work in 1895. This included relaying the track with heavy rails, the purchase of new cars and the installing of two power plants with the most modern equipments throughout. The company now has over 100 miles of single track, 4 feet by S12 inches gauge, laid with 38 to 95 pound Johnson girder rails; nearly 350 cars of the very finest pattern, two power houses. Nearly 1000 men are employed in the various departments and operating the cars. The equipment and service of this company is not surpassed in any other city in the United States, and all parts of the city are served, as well as furnishing convenient and rapid communication with Brightwood, Irvington, West Indianapolis, Haughville, Mount Jackson, Mapleton, and, by a traffic arrangement with the Broad Ripple line, also reach Broad Ripple. The Citizens' Street Railroad Company also owns and manages Fairview Park, the most beautiful outing place that is patron- ized by the citizens of Indianapolis. The park is located about six miles northwest of the city, and is reached by the College avenue and Illinois street lines. The officers of the company are Augustus L. Mason, president; William L. Elder, vice-president, and W. F. Milholland, secretary and treas- urer. The office of the company is located at 750 West Washington street.
The Indianapolis Gas Company, 49 South Pennsylvania street, in the Majestic building, is an outgrowth of the Indianapolis Gas Light and Coke Company and the Indianapolis Natural Gas Company, which was chartered in 1876, succeeding to this business in 1890. The artificial plant of the com- pany is situated on South Pennsylvania and Louisiana streets and covers an entire square, also owning and operating nearly 200 gas wells in Hamilton, Madison, and Tipton counties, Indiana, with an output of nearly three mill- ions and a half feet of gas per day. The company is also owner of the Ma- jestic, the finest office building in the city. The officers of the company are Charles F. Dieterich, president; E. C. Benedict, vice-president; John R.
--
MAJESTIC BUILDING.
177
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
---
MARION BLOCK.
Pearson, general manager; A. B. Proal, assistant secretary and treasurer, and S. T. Pray, secretary.
The Western Union Telegraph Company is associated with the earliest history of Indianapolis, and to record its growth is to write a business career of its present manager, Mr. John F. Wallick. The first telegraph company that operated from this point was known as the Ohio, Illinois and Indiana Telegraph Company, and the line was constructed from Cincinnati to Chi- cago, via Lafayette, over the highway. This was before any railroads had 12
178
HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
been projected in that direction. The office was opened in 1848, and the first manager was I. H. Kiersted, who is still a resident of Indianapolis. Dennis Gregg succeeded Mr. Kiersted as manager, in 1849, and W. J. Delano was superintendent, located at Dayton, Ohio. In 1850 Mr. Ilenry McNeeley, now editor and proprietor of the Evansville, Indiana, fournal, became manager of the office. In IS91 a new line was built from Cincinnati, known as the Cin- cinnati and St. Louis Telegraph Company, or Wade lines, with Mr. John F. Wallick, the present superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany at this point, as manager. The lines were operated under this name until 1856, when the title changed to the Union Telegraph Company, and soon after became what is known as the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany. At this time Mr. Wallick operated the office with the assistance of one man. Prior to that time he managed the office alone. As the town grew, the business of the company kept pace with it, and more operators were added to the force under Mr. Wallick, and, in 1867, we find the dis- tinguished name of Thos. A. Edison on the pay-rolls of this office. He had just entered on the career that has since made him world famous. About this time the office was located on the second floor of the building at the northwest corner of Meridian and Washington streets. Mr. M. D. Butler, the present manager of the Western Union Company's main office, has acted continuously in that capacity since September 25, 1871. The Western Union Telegraph Company now occupy the handsome building at the corner of Pearl and Meridian streets, with ten branch offices in different parts of the city, and employment is furnished to 150 persons in the offices. Six linemen operate from this point. Many important improvements will be finished in the near future, notably the placing of all wires under ground that are now strung through the mile-square in the center of the city. This company has the largest telegraph system ever established. It has 21,000 offices and 750,- 000 miles of wire. The company leases the two cables of the American Tel- graph & Cable Company from Nova Scotia to Penzance, England, which are extended to New York City by the company's own cable; it also connects with the four cables of the Anglo- American Telegraph Company, limited, from Valencia, Ireland, to Hearts Content, New Foundland, and from Brest, France, to St. Pierre, Miquelon; and with the cable of the Direct United States Cable Company from Ballinskelligs, Ireland, to Rye Beach, N. HI. It has thus service of seven Atlantic cables as well as direct connection with the South American cable at Galveston, Texas, and messages may be sent from any of its offices to all parts of the world.
The Postal Telegraph Cable Company established its office in Indianapo- lis, November 1, 1885, with Mr. H. E. Kinney as manager, occupying a room in North Meridian street, in the Yohn Block. The following month Mr. Kinney resigned and Mr. F. W. Samuels was appointed to the position which he has since filled. The following year the office was moved to Nos. 9 and 11 South Meridian street, its present location. From an office with four wires and one operator, the business of the company has gradually in-
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
-
-
181
HIYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
Y. M. C. A. BLOCK.
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.