USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Logan's History of Indianapolis from 1818. Giving a carefully compiled record of events of the city from the organization of the state government > Part 13
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of 1853, and were supplied with gas at the expense of the property-holders ou that square, the tax for gas lighting having been defeated at the elections in 1851-2. The first contract for supplying street lamps was made by the Council and Com- pany in December, 1854, and portions of Washington and some of the adjacent streets were lit in 1855. In 1858-9, a large increase was made in the length of streets lighted and number of lamps, and the increase has been steady since that date. In May, 1800, there were eight and one- half miles of street lit, two hundred and sixty-five lamps were used and eighty- five more were being erected. At present twenty-one miles of streets are lit and nearly nine hundred lamps have been erected, only seven hundred and fifty of which are used, the Council having re- cently decided to light only those at the street corners. The lamp posts and lamps are put up at the expense of the property- holders and kept in repair by the city. Twenty-three miles of mains and nearly seventy-five miles of service pipe are now in use. There are one thousand five hun- dred and fifty consumers. Extensive changes, additions and repairs have been made to the works, and they have also been largely extended. In 1863, the Company built, on Delaware street, & Dew receiving reservoir, or gas-holder, of about 300,000 cubic feet capacity, at a cost of about $120,000. The retort house, which originally held six retorts, now has fifty- five. The average daily production of gas at present is about 175,000 feet.
No rule was at first adopted as to the number and position of street lamps on each square, and some trouble and irregu- larity resulted from it, but on the 12th of February, 1859, the Council fixed the number at four to each square, placed at equal diagonal distances, and so arranged that the opposite street corners should be lit.
As the charter granted, March 3, 1851, for fifteen years, by the city, would ex- pire March 4, 1866, the Council, in May, 1805, ordered the clerk to advertise for proposals to light the city for twenty years with gas. It was done, and on the 4th of September the Gas Company submitted the only proposition that was received. They had been charging private comsumers $4.50 per 1,000 feet, and the city $20.00 per lamp, with $8.44 per annum for light- ing and cleaning. They now offered to supply the city and citizens, for the en- suing twenty years, at $3.48 per thousand feet, light and clean the lamps at $5.40 each per annum, all payments to be in currency at par, free of Government tax,
which was to be paid by consumers. They also claimed the exclusive right, under Legislative charter, to supply the citizens for five years longer with gas. The com- mittee on gas made long reports in July and October on the subject, setting forth that eighteen miles of mains had been laid, five hundred and thirty three lamp posts erected and one hundred more being erected : that the gas used by private par- ties in ISCI amounted to about 17,000,000 feet, and by the city to 4,500,000: that one thousand two hundred meters were in use, and 90,000 bushels of coal consumed. They considered the question of cost and price here and elsewhere, and submitted & proposition that the Company be given the contract for fifteen years at $3.00 per one thousand feet, and the lamps at $28.80 per year, consumers to pay tax, and the city to light and clean the lamps-a gas inspector was recommended. They also denied the Company's asserted right to continue for five years longer than the pe- riod fixed by the original contract with the city. It was afterward proposed to capi- talize the property of the Company at $350,000, the city to divide profits above 15 per cent., and on the 22d of January, 1866, a gas ordinance was passed granting the company the right for twenty years on a capital of $850,000. The Company, on the 31st of January, declined to accept it, and said they would continue to furnish gas to all consumers at $3.75 per thousand by actual measurement, consumers to pay tax. Matters remained in this state till the 5th of March, when R. B. Catherwood & Co., offered to take the charter for thirty years, with the exclusive privilege, and furnish gas at $3.00 per thousand feet, the city to contest the claim of the old Company. In response to this offer the Gas Committee, on the 12th of March, re- ported an ordinance giving Catherwood & Co., or " the Citizens' Gas Light and Coke Co.," the exclusive right for twenty years, reserving the right of the city to buy the works after ten years, and all profits over 15 per cent. on the capital were to be di- vided equally between the Company and city. The new Company was to test the claim of the old Company by suit. The capital was to be appraised every five years, and the Company was to fix the rate on the first of March annually for gas, at not over $3.00 per thousand feet. They were to extend mains whenever fifteen burners were promised to the square, and lay them and repair streets at their own cost. The company were to insure the works against fire, and forfeit their charter if the conditions were not fulfilled. While this ordinance was pending, the old
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INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.
company got alarmed. and came forward with another proposition, offering to fur- nish gas for twenty years at $3 per 1,000 feet, to make no charge for meters, to charge only actual cost of pipe connections, to extend mains whenever fifteen burners to the square were promised, &c. This offer was accepted, and on the 19th of March the council passed an ordinance rechartering the old company for twenty years from March 4, 1866. Good gas was to be furnished at $3 per 1,000 feet, with no charge for meters, the company to lay mains when fifteen burners to the square were promised, and make all pipe connec- tions at actual cost. The price of gas was to be reduced if improvements in its man- ufacture were adopted; all streets to be repaired when torn up to lay pipes, and damages paid by the company in case of injury to any party. The city was to light and clean the lamps, and have the quantity and quality of the gas tested. The company accepted this charter on the 21st of March, and has since been acting under it.
It was found, shortly after the new con- tract was made, that the city gas bills were rapidly increasing under the meter-meas- urment system; and on investigation, in the spring and summer of 1867, it was discovered that the city had been paying for sixteen or twenty lamps beyond the actual number, and for all of them whether lighted or not, and that by defective burn- ers and too heavy pressure, more gas was consumed than was necessary - nearly 6,000,000 feet having been burned in elev- en months in 1866-7. The committee recommended the election of a gas inspec- tor, and George II. Fleming was chosen to that office in the spring of 1868, and fur- nished with a set of instruments at a cost of $800. Rules were adopted for testing quantity, quality and pressure of the gas, and the number of hours the lamps were to be lighted. It was also resolved to light the lamps only on the street cor- ners, and to shut off the gas at midnight. By this action the cost to the city has been reduced from nearly $40,000 to little over $20,000 annually.
The original capital of the gas company was $20,000; but the works and mains, as first built, cost $27,000. They were rebuilt in 1856, at an additional expense of $30,- 000-making the total outlay, before the works proved profitable, about $57,000. From that time the enterprise has been successful. Few or no dividends have been declared, the profits all being devoted to the additions, repairs and extensions of the property; the works being again en- tirely rebuilt in 1860, and an additional
gas-holder of 75,000 feet capacity built. Three reservoirs, one of 20,000, one of 75,- 000 and oue of 300.000 cubic feet capacity are now in use; 700 bushels of coil ure daily used in making gas, the average product being 175,000 feet. In the spring of ISCS the company built a three-story brick office on the north-east corner of Pennsylvania and Maryland streets, at a cost of about $12,000. The present value of the property and franchise of the com- pany is over $500,000. D. V. Culley, D. S. Beatty, E. J. Peck and S. A. Fletcher, Jr., have been the presidents, and Il. V. Bar- ringer. Christopher Brown, E. Bailey and H. E. Stacey superintendents.
The State Board of Agriculture was char- tered by the Assembly, February 14th, 1851, and was organized May 27 with a board of directors, Gov. Wright being chosen president, John B. Dillon, secretary, and R. Mayhew, treasurer. The first fair was held bere on the military grounds October 19-25, 1852-1,365 entries were made, a large crowd of visitors attended, many of whom experienced difficulty in procuring food and lodging, but the railways enabled most of them to come and return the same day. The citizens were then first aston- ished with the numberless side-shows, since so common, at such gatherings. The fuir of 1853 was held October 11-13, at Lafayette; that of 1854 in October, at Madison. Those of 1855, '6, '7 and 'S at Indianapolis. Receipts, respectively, $11,- 000, $13,000, $14,600 and $11,000; that of 1859 at New Albany, receipts $8,000. Those of 1800, '2, '3 and '4, were held at Indianapolis, receipts $11,000, $4,200, SS,- 000, $10,000. That of 1865 at Ft. Wayne, receipts $10,500. That of 1806 at Indianap- olis, and of 1867 at Terre Haute. No fair was held in 1861. It will be seen that the most successful fairs have been held at this point, and the fact would be still more marked by the comparison of the entries mnade at each. The most successful fair was that of 1857, both in receipts and in number of entries. The fairs here until 1860, and during the war, were held on the military grounds, which were fitted up by the Board and citizens for the purpose. Those held elsewhere were on grounds fur- nished and fitted up by the citizens of the respective cities. In 1850 the Board de- termined to locate the fair permanently at this point and procure larger grounds. Proposals were invited, and during the winter and following spring much compe- tition arose between the partizans of dif- ferent sites adjoining the city, and some ill feeling was caused. The Otis grove, north of the city, was bought by the board and railway companies in 1860, and ex-
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pensively fitted up during the summer, and the first fair held there in October. It was not very successful pecuniarily ; many of the premiums were left unpaid, and for a number of years the board was much embarrassed financially, being re- lieved at last by State appropriations and damages received from the general govern - ment. The fair of 1861 was announced, but the war intervening, it was aban- doned.
With the first rush of troops to this point, the fair ground was occupied, cal- led Camp Morton, and used at intervals afterward until the capture of Fort Don- alson when it was selected as a prison camp, and used as such till after the close of the war-having, often, 5,000 inmates.
Its use as a camp and prison injured the | and W. MeK. Scott, treasurer and librari- grounds exceedingly and destroyed nearly all the trees. It is now being improved, the city having voted $3,000 for that object ; and when the improvements are completed will again be used by the board. The State fairs have all been alike in their es- sential features, and are now what they were at the beginning. Gov. Wright, Jos. Orr, A. C. Stevenson, G. D. Wagner, D. P. Holloway, J. D. Williams, Stearns Fisher and A. D. llamrick have been the presi- dents of the seciety; and J. B. Dillon, W. T. Dennis, Ignatius Brown, W. H. Loomis and A J. Holmes the secretaries.
Nine hundred and fifty-five votes were east at the city election, April 26th. H. C. Newcomb was elected mayor, but resigned November 7th, and the council elected Ca- leb Scudder for the balance of the term. A tax of five cents was authorized at the | Chapel steeple in 1854, and remained there April election for the fire department and purchase of engines.
John B. Gough made his first visit to this city in May, and gave a series of temper- ance lectures in Masonic Hall. He has lectured here many times since before dif- ferent societies, but never equalled the impression he then made, when he was in his prime, and before his English trip injured his voice and manner.
A violent storm of wind and rain oc- curred on the 16th of May, blowing down fences and trees, and prostrating the M. & I. R. R. car house, and on the 22d a heavy hail-storm broke thousands of panes of glass. On the 28th of May Gov. Reuben Wood, of Ohio, visited the city and was suitably received by the authorities.
The papers in May stated that there were then two foundries, three machine shops, and a boiler factory in operation ; fifty steam engines had been built, and the manufacture of threshers had been commen . ced at the Washington foundry. Charles Mayer was also building a three. story bu-
siness house with an iron front, the first fone in the city. An "old resident," in a communication, asserts that "nobody is erazy enough to think the city will have 30,000 inhabitants during this century.' The receipts of the city treasury for the year ending May 1st, 1851, were $10,515; expenditures the same; debt $5,407; school fund from last year $3,305, amount co !- lected $2,851, expended $5,935 on build- ing; balance $221. The number of chil- dren in the city was stated to be 2,126.
W. MeK. Scott started the first com- mercial college here in March, 1851, continuing it for several years, and in Oc- tober 1851, he originated a library and reading room association. Rev. N. W. Camp, president, A. M. Hunt, secretary, an ; but the enterprise lived only about a year. lle also started the first real estate agency that had existed here for many years. Commercial colleges have been founded since that date by Bryant, Hayden, Gregory, Purdy, and others, graduating many young men for active business pur- suits.
It being proposed to light Washington street with gas, and to buy a town clock, a vote was taken September 13, to author- ize a gas tax of eight cents, and clock tax of one cent. The first was heavily de- feated, and the last authorized. It was levied, and a sufficient fund having accu- mulated, Jno. Moffatt was employed in April, 1853, to build the clock for $1,200, and after much dissension as to where it should be placed, it waslocated in Roberts'
till July 1868, when it was removed and put in charge of the chief fire engineer.
The first express office here was opened September 15, by the Adams Express Co .. the line being over the Madison road, and Blythe & Holland, agents, till December, when Charles Woodward was appointed. Hle was succeeded a year or two after by John H. Ohr, who held the office till it was discontinued in March, 1868. Offices of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express, of the Uni- ted States Express, of the American and Merchants' Union have been established here at different dates. Since the consoli- dation of the companies in March, 1868, the Merchants' Union and American have been the only offices open here.
The county agricultural society was formed in August, and held its first fair in October. Fairs have been held nearly ev- ery year since with moderate success, do- ing well when the State fairs were held elsewhere.
On the 23d of September, twenty-two members of the First Presbyterian
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INDIANAPOLIS FROM ISIS.
church formed the third church. Rev. Da- vid Stevexson was called to the pastorate Nov. 17. He has been succeeded by Rev. Geo. Heckman, and Rev. Robt. Sloss. The church building on the corner of Illinois and Ohio street, was begun in 1852, and partly completed in May, 1859, at a cost. of about $25.000 for house and lot. The towers have not yet been built. The con- gregation occupied College and Temperance Ilalls till January, 1854, when they went into the basement of the church, using it till 1859. The United Brethren Church Was built during 1851-2, on the corner of Ohio and New Jersey streets.
Washington street had formerly been planted along portions of its sidewalks with trees, but they had gradually been cut away, and on the first of October the old locust trees in front of the present Dun- lop corner, the last ones in the center of the city, were cut down.
Madame Anna Bishop and Bochsa, the first noted musicians who visited the place. gave a concert at Masonic Hall, on the 24th of November.
In November the experiment was tried of having markets at noon instead of at daylight, but it was abandoned after a short period. The weather in December and Jannary was excessively cold.
185.1. On the 10th of January a fire broke out in the old frame and brick houses extending east of the Capital House to the alley, utterly consuming them, mid burning up nearly all the records in the City Treasurer's office. The pres- ent buildings were erected there during the summer and occupied in the fall.
P. J. Ash opened a theatre with a small company at Masonic Hall, in February, but failed and discontinued shortly after- warde.
The Assembly, on the 20th December, IS51, hai invited Kossuth to visit the city, and at a subsequent public meeting, fifty citizens had been appointed a commit- tec of reception. They met him February 26th, at Cincinnati, and on Friday, the 27th, he arrived here via Madison, and was escorted by a procession across the muddy valley of Pogue's run to the State House, where he was welcomed as the guest of the State by Governor Wright, and replied in an address of some length, to the vast crowd assembled in the yard. The party was quartered at the Capital House, (now the Sentinel office, ) then the best and largest hotel in the city. A re- ception was held at the Governor's resi- dence at night. On Saturday he was re- ceived by the two houses of Assembly, and received delegations, and contribu- tions for Ilungary. Sunday be attended
Roberts Chapel and the Sunday schools. On Monday he received delegations and contributions, and at night delivered a long and elaborate address, at Masonic Hall, before the society of "The Friends of Hungary." On Tuesday he left for Louis- ville, after collecting about $1,000.
Dr C. G. Mebean built, during this summer, a three-story brick building, on the corner of New York and Meridian streets, and opened the first session of the McLean Female Seminary at that place in September; one hundred and fifty pupils were in attendance during the first year, and the school soon took high rank. Dr. McLean died in 1860, and the school was continued until 1865, under Professor C. N. Todd, Professor Sturdevant, and others. It was then discontinued, and the property bought by the Indiana Fe- male College, which was located there till June, 1868, when it was discontinued, and the property sold to the Wesley Chapel congregation for about $16,000, as the site for their new Church.
The North Western Christian Univer- sity was chartered by the Assembly, Feb., 1852. A meeting of the commissioners was held June 22, and stock subscriptions reported, amounting to $75,000. Twenty- one directors, with Ovid Butler as Presi- dent, were elected July 14th. A site of twenty acres of fine woodland was donated to the institution by Ovid Butler. Plans by Wm. Tinsley, architect, were adopted, and the contracts were let in July, 1853, for the west wing of the building. It was erected in 1854-5, at a cost of $25,000, and dedicated November 1st, 1855, by Horace Mann, who delivered an able ad- dress on the occasion. John Young, J. R. Challen and A. R. Benton were the first Professors. John Young, S. K. Hoshour and A. R. Benton have been the Presi- dents. The institution has been prosper- ous under an able corps of instructors. Three societies, Pythonean, Mathesian and Threskomathian, are sustained by the students. Pupils of both sexes are in at. tendance at the institution. The College buildings are still incomplete.
The City Assessor returned the popula- tion of the city in July, at 10,812. The fourth of July was celebrated with more display than usual. The Sabbath School procession, embracing about two thousand children and teachers, marched to the State House square. The firemen and military, comprising the City Guards, the . Marion, Western, Independent Relief and Invincible fire companies, and the O. K. bucket company, headed by Downie's band, (which had been formed in August, 1850,) also paraded the streets, with the
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HISTORY OF
fire engines and hose reels fancifully dee- orated.
The first balloon ascension here, was made at 4 o'clock p. m., July 29th, at the State House square, ( which had been en- closed for the purpose,) by Wm. Paullin. The balloon rose to a great height, re- maining above the clouds for an hour, and lighting in the evening near Greenfield. At night, Diehl of Cincinnati, gave a fine exhibition of fire-works inside the en- closure. The show was gotten up by Jas. H. MeKernan, and the ascension was wit- nessed by over 15,000 persons, nearly all of whom held curb-stone tickets. Since that time balloon ascensions have been made here by Pusey, Bannister, Bellman, and a number of others.
Much improvement was made in the place this year, and many buildings erected or begun; among these were the Bates House, Morris (now the Sherman) House, McLean's Seminary, three brick school houses, Lafeyette and Union depots, Terre Haute shops, Washington foun Iry, Sinker's boiler factory, Osgood & Smith's peg and last factory, Geisendorff's woollen factory, Drew's carriage factory, Shella- barger's planing mill, Macy's pork-house, Blake's Commercial Row, Blackford's building on Meridian street, and others. The railroads were being actively con- structed, streets improved, and cisterns built for the fire department, as voted for in October by a small majority. The first State and county fairs were held by the present societies, drawing large crowds ; great conventions were also held during the summer, by the political parties.
1853. . Among the side shows in atten- dance at theState fair, in October, 1852, had been Yankee Robinson's atheneum, or tent theater, placed where Gallup's building now is, east of the State House. He returned here during the winter, and on the 21st of Jannary opened in the Washington Hall, (which had been fitted with stage and rais- ed seats, ) with the Alphonso troupe of vo- calists, the concert being a blind for the theatrical performance which followed. Af- ter ten days or two weeks, he announced himself as manager, and continued the performances till March 7th, drawing very good houses, and employing a good compa- ny; among them were Henry W. Waugh, J. F. Lytton, D. W. Waugh, Robinson and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Wilkens, and others. After Robinson left, H. W. Brown opened the ball as a theater, with Sidney Wilkens and wife, Meehen, and others, forming a good stock company. The season lasted from July 1st to the 26th, and Uncle Tom's Cabin was first represented here to crowded houses. Sidney Wilkens
again opened it as manager, on the 10th of August, and continued for a short time with nearly the same company. Wilkens was an actorof considerable merit.
The first old settlers' meeting was held at the State house, January 31st. Speeches were made, anecdotes of the early settle- ment related, and an organization effected with arrangements for annual meetings. These were subsequently held till 1860, at Calvin Fletcher's and James Blake's, and at the fair grounds, but were abandoned during the war, and have not since been revived.
The Odd Fellows had determined to build a grand lodge hall here, and during the winter had organized a stock company .- Subseriptions to about $45,000 were taken by the grand and subordinate lodges and eucampments, and by individuals, and in February the lot at the corner of Pennsyl- vanin and Washington was bought for $17,000. A plan was adopted, afterward modified by F. Costigan, architect, and du- ring 1854-5 the present building was ereet- ed on the site of the two-story briek and frame houses which had formerly occupied the lot. It cost about $30,000, and was oc- enpied in the summer of 1855, the city eoun- eil room and city offices being on the sec- ond floor, where they remained till the present offices were occupied in Glenns' block, in May, 1862. The style of the hall is peenliar, probably unlike any other on earth. The lower floor is occupied as bu- siness rooms, the second as offices, and on the third are two large halls and ante- rooms, used by the lodges and encamp- ments, who occupy them each secular night of the week. The house is stuccoed inside and out, and is surmounted by a dome, de- signed by D. A. Bohlen architect. The hall was dedicated, with appropriate cere- monies, May 21, 1856.
The dates of organization of the several lodges and encampments, and the names of their first officers are as follows :
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