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 16
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
The city election took place May Sd, the city officers being elected for two years, and the councilinen for four years, under the amended charter adopted by the assem- bly March 1, 1850. At the same time a proposition was submitted to the general vote of the people to divide the first and seventh wards, so that two new wards should be created, forming the eighth and ninth wards, but the result of the vote was largely, against it. The proposition was again submitted to vote in May 1861 and carried by six hundred and twenty-one majority. Councilmen were elected from the new wards, but were refused their seats, aud the wards were unrepresented for a year or two afterward.
The city clerk reported the receipts from May 8, 1858 to May 30, 1859, at $71, 211, expenditures the same, with a debt of $9,- 317. The total city assessment for the year was $7,146,677. The treasurer re- ported the receipts from May 8, 1858 to May 1, 1859 at $59,108. Expenditures $56,442, the leading items being $10,232 for the fire department; gas $1,771; watch- man $4,882. The salaries of the city of- ficers were raised in May and June. The
77
INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.
bouldering of Washington street, between Illinois and Meridian streets, ( the first done here, ) had been ordered in April and was done in May, and further street improve- ments were designed. The council, in view of the probable expenditures, fixed the tax levy at sixty cents, which so aroused the taxpayers that they held a public meeting June 22d, to protest against it. They lit- tle knew what was in store for them in the future.
A proposition was entertained by the couneil, during the spring, to build a City Hall on the lot south of the Journal office on Meridian street, but no final section was taken. The city offices and council room were located in the Odd Fellows Hall where they remained till May, 1862, when a lease, for ten years, was secured of the upper stories of Glenns' block. Efforts have often been made to secure the erec- tion of a City Hall and prison, but without success.
The General Assembly of the Old School Presbyterian church met in the basement room of the Third Presbyterian church, May 18th, continuing in session till the 2d of June. Tho eminent men of the church were in attendance, and the de- bates between Dr. MeMasters and N. L. Rice, and others, on the establishment of theological schools and the policy of the church on the slavery question, excited great interest and attracted crowded audi- ences.
The national anniversary was celebra- ted with unusual display. The City Coun- cil appropriated $500 for the purpose, and large subscriptions were made by individ- uals. The procession comprised the ar- tillery, cavalry and infantry companies, three bands, Turners, Butchers, Fenians, Catholic societies, Madison firemen and our own fire department, seven companies with eight engines, reels, hook and ladder wagons and a long line of carriages. The engines were beautifully decorated. The procession, which was nearly two miles in length, marched through the principal streets to the old fair ground, where the usual exercises cecurred, Caleb B. Smith delivering the address. A great pic-nic dinner was spread, after which the mili tary were reviewed by Governor Hammond. A grand fantastic parade took place in the evening, and a fine display of fire-works at night. Over twenty thousand persons were present at the celebration. It was rumored in the evening that the " Sons of Malta," a mysterious organization, which had rapidly increased in number during the spring, would parade at midnight; their rigid rules preventing public demon- strations at any other hour. The report
caused much excitement, especially among country visitors and the ladies, thousands of whom impatiently awaited the strange display. It proved to be all that fancy painted it, and the procession was necom- panied through its midnight march by a multitude of half crazy spectators, though the gravity of the puissant Knights and reverend prelates was sadly disturbed by the noisy advice of the street boys, "go faster old tin-head," "' step up brass moun- ted man."
On the 23d of August, Adam Deitz drank eight gallons of lager beer together with a bottle of brandy, inside of twelve hours. attaining a wide notoriety thereby and winning a wager.
Much improvement took place during the summer and fall, and a number of good business houses were erected. Yohns', Rays' and Glenns' blocks being among them.
The Daily Atlas was first issued by Jolin D. Defrees as editor and publisher, in July, from an office in Van Blaricum's block, on south Meridian street. The presses were run by a small Ericsson hot air engine, (the only one ever used here,) which at- tracted many visitors. The paper was regularly issued till about the end of March 1861, and then discontinued, the material and subscription list being sold to the Journal office. Several other newspaper enterprises have been started here before and since the Citizen and Atlas were estab- lished. The Brookville American was transferred to this point by the editor and proprietor, Thomas A. Goodwin, in 1557. It was afterward sold to Downey & Co., who issued it as a daily for a short period, and then sold the establishment to Jordan & Burnet. They changed the name to the Evening Gazette. Dr. Jordan afterward issued it till the spring of 1865, when he sold it to Smith & Co. They afterward sold it to Macauley, Shurtleff & Co., and they sold the office and list, in May or June 1867, to the Journal Co. The Gazette was issued most of the time froin an office in Hubbard's block, and latterly from the Sentinel office on Pearl and Meridian streets. It was well conducted during s part of its existence, and attained a con- siderable circulation during the war.
The Daily Telegraph, the only German daily in the city, was issued by the Free Press Co., in 1866, and has continued to the present time. The office is on west Maryland street.
The Evening Commercial was estab- lished in 1867 by Dynes & Co., and issued from Downey & Brouse's Publishing House in the Sentinel building on Pearl street. It was subsequently moved with their of-
78
HISTORY OF
fice to the old Journal building, on Circle and Meridian streets, and is now pub- lished by M. G. Lee.
The year 1859 was dull so far as lectures, concerts and amusements were concerned. Geo. D. Prentice lectured at the hall on the 6th of February, and Henry S. Foote, of Mississippi, at Roberts' chapel, December 2d. Dr. Boynton delivered a series of geo- logical lectures, at the hall, in December and January, 1860. Miss Laura Melrose sang there March 24, and the Cooper opera troupe April Ist.
The coming political contest began to excite attention. Gov. Corwin addressed & large serenading party at the American House, on the 6th of July. Abraham Lin- coln visited the city for the first time, and addressed a large audience at Masonic Hall, on the 19th of September. He was personally unknown to the great mass of the citizens, and considerable curiosity was manifested to hear the man who had so gallantly struggled with Senator Douglass, then at the zenith of his power.
Richard Cobden, of England, then on a visit to this country, reached the city on the 5th of May, but remained a few hours only, passing on to the north-west. The year closed with excessively cold weather.
1860. The military grounds being thought too small to properly accommodate the visitors and exhibitors, at the State fairs, the agricultural board determined in 1859 to secure a large tract for the pur- pose, and locate the fair permanently at this point. Proposals were invited in the fall of 1859, and an unsuccessful effort was shortly after made here to form an as- sociation to buy the grounds for the board. An appropriation of $5,000 was then asked from the city, and the proposition being submitted in February to a vote of the peo- ple, it was authorized. A question arising, however, as to the legality of such an ap- propriation, it was not made. The rail- ways and the board finally made an ar- rangement for the purchase of the grounds, and after much competition between the advocates of various sites, the Otia grove, of forty acres, north of the city, was bought in the spring of 1860. Extensive and costly improvements were made du- ring the summer, and the fair held there, October 15th to 21st. It was not as suc- cessful as had been desired. $11,900 only were realized, and a part only of the award- ed premiums were paid. The board was seriously embarrassed for several years afterward, but is now getting out of debt.
In April a Mr. Bell, of Rochester, New York, submitted a plan for water works to the council. The project was discussed at a number of meetings. Estimates were
made, but no definite action was finally taken. It was again broached by the cen- tral canal company in July, 1864. They proposed to furnish water from their ditch. This project was also considered, and com- mittees appointed who reported on it, but the subject was finally dropped without definite results. In October, 1865, the Mayor again brought up the subject by a message, urging the building of such works, and recommending Crown Hill as the point for a reservoir The council passed a resolution declaring it expedient that such works be built, and that it was inexpedient for the city to undertake them. This action was intended to invite propo- sals from private companies, but had no immediate effect. In Msy, 1866, the Mayor again brought the subject before the coun- cil, introducing questions propounded by him to James B. Cunningham, civil engin- eer, and the answers and estimates made by that gentleman in reply. The subject was again brought up October 15, 1856, on a proposition by R. B. Catherwood and his associates to build water-works if a liberal charter was granted them. The council thereupon by resolution declared it expe- dient that water works be built, and inex- pedient for the city to build them. A committee on the subject was appointed. - It reported an ordinance on the 22d of Oc- tober, authorizing R. B. Catherwood & Co. as the Indianapolis water works company, to build such works, and furnish the city and people with water for fifty years. The ordinance, after various amendments, was finally passed, November 3, 1866. It gave the company the right, for fifty years, to furnish the people and city with pure water, to be taken from White river or its tributaries, several miles above the city .- To use the streets and alleys for pipes, the company to repair the streets wben torn up. The city reserved the right to buy the works after twenty-five years; required operations to be commenced within one year, and & given sum to be expended within two years. Hydrants and fire-plugs were to be located where desired, and the city was to pay from $40 down to $25, ac- cording to the number ultimately erected. The amount of capital was specified, and the amount of profit on it limited to fif- teen per cent., water rates to be placed as low, froin time to time, as practicable. The company was organized under the charter, with R. B. Catherwood, president, Jno. S. Tarkington, secretary, and accepted the ordinance, November 5, 1866, filing it with the mayor, who, on the 6th of November, issued his proclamation, stating that fact, and publishing the ordinance. The com- pany, within the year, and to save their
79
INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.
charter, nominally began operations by laying about fifty feet of pipe on North street. Nothing has since been done with the work.
So far as a convenient and plentiful sup- ply of water is concerned, the works will doubtless be of great benefit, but no sur- face water will ever equal in purity and healthfulness the water now drawn from wells sunk in the great gravel and sand- beds underneath the city, and if surface drainage was carefully prevented, no dete- rioratian in its puritywill occur for scores of years. No artificial filters can equal those nature has given us, and the phos- phates and carbonates dissolved by the water in its passage through the sand are those most needed in the human system.
By the treasurer's report in May, the re- ceipts for the past year were $87.262, ex- penditures $80,172, balance $7,090, debt $11,553. The leading items were for fire department $11,353, bridges $13,915, street improvements $14,875, police $5,986, gas $6,445. The city duplicate showed an as- sessment amounting to $10,700,000.
Street railroads in the city were first proposed in November of this year, and an unsuccessful attempt was made to form a company to build them. No further action was taken in regard to them until June 5th, 1563, when a number of our citizens formed a company under the general law. electing Thomas A Morris president, Wm. Y. Wiley, secretary, and Wm. O. Rock- wood, treasurer. They filed an application with the council on the 24th of August, setting forth their organization, and ask- ing a charter from the city. The applica- tion was referred to a committee, who pro- pared an ordinance and submitted it for the consideration of the council. Amend- ments were proposed, and while the ordi- nance was still pending, R. B. Catherwood, of New York, associated with several of our own citizens, formed the Citizens' Street Railroad Company, with John A. Bridgland as president, and proposed more favorable terms to the council, agree- ing to begin the construction of the lines at once, and finish a greater number of miles in a given time. The competition between the two companies grew warm. It was charged that the Citizens' company was not responsible or able to fulfill their offers. Tney responded to this by paying down nearly $30,000 of their capital, and offering bond of $200,000 to fulfill all their agreements. The council finally decided the contest in favor of the Indianapolis company, granting them a charter on the 11th of December, 1863. They declined to accept it on the 28th of December; and the mayor having telgraphed that fact to
Mr. Catherwood, at Brooklyn, New York, he immediately answered that he would accept the charter, re-organize the com- pany, and begin the work. On the 18th of January, 1564, the council passed an ordi- nance giving the Citizens' Street Railroad Company, (which had re-organized, with R. B. Catherwood, president, E. C. Cather- wood, secretary, and Il. If. Catherwood, superintendent,) the right to lay single or double tracks of railway on all the streets and alleys of the city, or its future exten- sions. Horse-cars were to be used only for transportation of passengers and bag- gage. The council retained the right to govern speed and time. The tracks were to conform to the street grades, and the company were to boulder between the tracks and two feet each side. The tracks were to be laid in the center of the street, or, if double, on each side of the center, and not nearer the side-walks than twelve feet. Fares on any route were not to ex- ceed five cents. The company to repair all damage to the streets, relay tracks when the street grades are changed, and be liable to private parties for all dama- ges they might sustain. They were to re- turn annually, on the first of January, & full statement of all property for taxation; but each separate line was to be exempt from taxation for two years from its com- pletion. Rules were prescribed for the running and management of the cars, and the cars were given right of way against all other vehicles. The charter was given for thirty years, subject to the following conditions : Three miles were to be built and fully equipped by October 1, 1864, two additional miles by October 1, 1865, two additional miles by December 25th 1866, unless a further extension of time was granted by the council, otherwise all rights, &c., under the charter were to be forfeited. The council reserved the right to order additional lines constructed after the first seven miles were finished; and in case of failure, the company was to forfeit the right to that particular street or route. If, after ten years, the company had not built and fully equipped ten miles of track in the best style, the council might order an appraisement and pay the company therefor, or transfer the property and fran- chise to another company. The ordinance was to be in force after two weeks publica- tion in the weekly Journal.
The company accepted the charter, and immediately began preparations for build- ing lines. Materials were collected du- ring the spring, cars ordered, and property secured for stables and car-houses. Their operations were somewhat delayed, and the iron and cars detained by the use of
80
HISTORY OF
the railways by government. But on ap- plication, the council, on the 27th of Au- gust, 1864, extended the time for sixty days, and no forfeiture of their franchise occmired. Track-laving began on Illinois street at the Union depot, and the line was finished on that street to North street with- in the year. Tracks were also laid on Washington from Pennsylvania to West streets, and thence to the military ground, in time for the State fair in October. The line on Illinois street had been opened for travel in June, 1564 -- the mayor driving the first car on the first trip, accompanied by the council, city officers and officers of the company. In the fall of 1864 the citi- zens along Virginia avenue, having sub- scribed from $25.000 to $30,000 for a bo- nus, the company built a single-track road from Washington street to the end of the avenue, making the route along the avenue and Washington street (which had a double track from Illinois to Pennsylva- nia street,) to West street. The route was afterward limited to the avenue alone, cansing much dissatisfaction, and the com- pany subsequently changed to the old route, limiting it to the avenue and Ten- nessee street. In March, April and May, 1865 the Massachusetts avenue line, (which had a double track, ) was laid from Washington street up Pennsylvania, Mas- sachuseets avenue and New Jersey street to St. Clair street. In June, 1857, one of one of the tracks ou New Jersey street was taken up and used to extend the line on Ft- Wayne avenue, and thence east on Christ- ian avenue to College street. In October, 1865, the Washington street line was ex- tended on Washington street and the Na- tional road, ( which had been adopted by the council, September 18th, as one of the city streets, ) to the White river bridge- the line to military ground having been taken up in 1864 after the fair. The coun- ! also give the company the right to lay it,cks on all new streets. In the spring 'I'summer of 1866 the Washington street line was extended east by single track to the culvert over Pogue's run. The Illinois street line was extended to Tinker street in June and July, 1806, and the line to Crown Hill, (built by a separate company, ) was begun in the fall of 1866, and opened for travel in April or May, 1866.
opened, the company placed about thirty two horse cars upon them, and continued using them with drivers and conductors till April, 1868. At one time an effort was made to dispense with conductors, but after trial for some days, the company resolved to adopt a different car. Thirty or thirty- twoone-horse cars, requiring a driver only, were procured during the spring of 1868, ' and placed on the different lines on the 3rd of April. The driver now merely fur- nishes change, the passengers themselves place the fare in safety boxes. The cars are turned on turn-tables at each end of the route, and trips are made at greater speed than under the old system. The old cars are used only on the Crown Hill route, or in case of pic-nics, or unusual demands on the rolling stock of the company. A portion of them have been sold, eighteen or twenty only being left at the present time. Mules are now almost exclusively used by the company. No bouldering has been done by the company on their tracks, except where they run along bouldered streets, as it is claimed that bouldered streets injured and crippled the animals.
Five hundred and fifty round trips are run, and four thousand passengers carried over the lines daily.
At present, including the Crown Hill line from Tinker street, and including side and double tracks, the company have about fifteen miles of finished and equipped road, costing $468,000. They also own fifty cars, employ sixty-four men, and one hundred and fifty mules and horses. The enterprise has not been as profitable as it was expect- ed to be, but with the future increase of the city, its success will be assured.
R. B. Catherwood in September or Octo- ber 1865, sold the controlling interest in the company to Messrs. English, Alvord and others. A reorganization took place, E. S. Alvord becoming President, R. F. Fletcher, Secretary, W. H. English, Treasurer, and H. H. Catherwood, Superintendent. J. S. Alvord is the present Secretary, and R. F. Fletcher, Superintendent.
A tornado swept across the State from west to east in the afternoon of May 20th, 1860, passing just south-cast of this city, between 5 and 6 o'clock, p. m. It was a' rapidly moving, whirling cloud, of small diameter, described by those who witnessed
In the spring of 1868, a new line was laid it. as hanging from or cutting through the from Washington street down Kentucky avenue and Tennessee street, and east on Louisiana to Illinois street, being opened for travel in April. The first stables and car house were built on Tennessee and Louisiana streets, in October, 1864, and extended and improved in the summer of 1867. After the first lines were built and
clouds above and around it, swaying about like an elephant's trunk, rising and falling as it sped forward. Considerable damage was done to houses, timber, gardens and fences in its path. The residence of Gard- ner Goldsmith, at the end of Virginia I avenue, was thrown from its foundation and partially destroyed, and Goldsmith was
81
INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.
seriously injured. It was much more de- structive both east and west, however, than near this city.
Great preparations were made for the celebration of the fourth of July, the peo- ple feeling that it might perhaps be the last under a united government. The proces- sion included five bands, the entire fre de- partment with beautifully decorated en- gines and reels, three military companies, the butchers, gardeners. various societies, and a long line of carriages. The usual exercises took place at the fair grounds. A very large frame building had just been completed on University square, by Mr. Perrine, and in the afternoon the military companies drilled there for a prize of $100. A balloon ascension by J. C. Bellman, took place at 4 o'clock. p. m. He rose to a great hight, and landed ten miles from the city. The best display of fire works ever given here took place at night in the enelo- sure. The "Coliseum"-as it was termed- could accommodate fifteen or twenty thou- sand persons, being, perhaps, the largest structure of the kind ever built in this country. It was torn down some weeks after.
The political struggle of this year was unprecedented in its interest and bitter- ness, each party holding repeated monster conventions and toreh-light processions; every effort being made by each to surpass the last display by the opposite party. The democrats held a great meeting at the State house yard on the Sth of July, George E. Pugh and C. L. Vallandigham being the leading speakers. The republicans far surpassed this demonstration on the 29th of August, at the old fair ground, Corwin, Blair, Stanton, Lane, Morton and others being the speakers. A great procession marched thither in the, day time, and at night a toreh-light procession, which in- cluded several thousand Wide Awakes. formed on University square, and filed through the principal streets, saluted along its line of march with a constant blase of fire works and illuminations. This demon- stration was equalled if not surpassed by the democrats on the 28th of September. Much money had been spent by them in tasteful arches and other decorations, and the display was a very grand one. Dong- lass, Il. V. Johnson, and other leaders of the party were present, and delivered ad- dresses at the fair ground. There #33 a grand torch-light procession at night, and the fire works and illuminations equaled if they did not surpass the display by the republicans. The crowds in attendance at these conventions were to be measured only by the acre, and sufficiently dearon- strated the perfection and extent of our
railway system. At no other place in the country could such immense throngs have been concentrated or dispersed so readily as at this point.
The first rope-walking exhibition here was given in September, by Theodore l'rice, in the presence of an immense crowd, the rope being stretched from the roof of the Palmer house to that of the Bates house. Several subsequent exhibitions have oc- eurred, the most notable and dangerous one occurring in the summer of 1865, on a rope stretched from the roof of Blackford's block to that of Yohn's 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.