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 18
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Extensivecamps, hospitals, barracks, sta- bles and other structures were built by the government during the war; the most prominent of these may be mentioned here.
ed. Camp Morton was then fitted up as a prison camp. It was surrounded with a high, tight fence and sentry walk ; addi. tional buildings were added from time to time, and the defenses strengthened, until at last it was as complete in its appoint- ments as any other in the country. More than five thousand prisoners were occa- sionally confined in it, and many thou- sands during the war. Among its inmates were the greater part of Morgan's men, captured after their celebrated raid through Indiana and Ohio. Toward the elose of the war many of these men, becoming con- vinced that their cause was lost, enlisted in the Union army for service against the Indians ; others took the oath of allegiance and were discharged, and several thousand were released and sent home after the war ended.
and drafted men. Camp Sullivan, on the military grounds, was not so extensive, well built or arranged as the two former. It had been occupied by the State troops, and afterward by new regiments, transient troops and drafted men.
As the war progressed and this point became more important as a depot of sup- plies, troops and prisoners, all these camps, with others in and around the city, were constantly occupied. Among other im- portant establishments the Soldiers' Home founded in 1862, for the accommodation of transient soldiers, soon became prominent, and was greatly enlarged before the war ended. It was in charge of the veteran reserve corps at first, and afterward in that of the Ninth regiment of Hancock's ments, and regiments of troops, passing
Camps Morton and Sullivan had been occupied by the three-months men and State troops while organizing and preparing for the field, and the last named camp had afterward been sufficient for the regiments subsequently organized, Camp Morton be- ing unused; but after the capture of Fort Donelson, when several thousand rebel prisoners were sent to this point, addi- corps. Single soldiers, squads, detach. tional troops and camps were at once need-
87
INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.
through or temporarily stopping in the a pressing want early in the war; but the city, were accommodated with lodging and government having established an arsenal here, and ammunition being largely m.n- cooked food in this establishment, and it was of great service when the veteran regi- | ufactured elsewhere, the State institution ments were returning on furlough during : was discontinued in 1864,
the war, and at its close, when they return- ed for discharge.
In addition to camps Carrington, Burn- cavalry camp was established near the city; and when the negro regiment was authorized late in the fall of 1863, Camp Fremont was temporarily established in Fletcher's woods, south-east of the city. The government, in 1804, took the old Bellefontaine depot, in the north part of the ninth ward, and fitted it up as an ex- tensive stable to accommodate the thou- sands of artillery, cavalry and wagon horses, bought and brought to this point; and for the storage, also, of the necessary grain and forage. Barracks were also added for the many teamsters and quarter-mas- ters' employees in service here.
It was proposed early in 1865 to aban- don all the government camps, prisons. stables and hospitals then in use in and around the city, and construct new, more extensive and better arranged ones several miles out in the country. The site was selected, the plan approved by the authori- ties at Washington, and the order prepared, but before it was issued, the war termina- ted, and the new buildings were not needed.
The national government in 1861 deter- mined to found a number of arsenals in the west, one of them being located here. east of and adjoining the city, plans adopt- ed for the buildings and improvements. and Captain Jas. M. Whittemore, of the regular army, appointed commandant and superin- tendent. The improvements, consisting of buildings for the storage of small arms and accouterments, artillery and wagons, offi- cers' quarters, magazines, barracks, fen- cing, grading, &c., were begun in 1802, and have been prosecuted to the present time, and are now nearly completed, at a cost of several hundred thousand dollars. The buildings are large, well planned and perfectly constructed. All the improve- ments are of the best design, materials, and finish. Large amounts of arms artil- lery. ammunition, and other government property. are now stored there. The Wal- lace building, on Delaware and Maryland streets, was used during the war as the U. S. Arsenal and storehouse. Wm. Y. Wiley was appointed military store-keeper. Capt. Whittemore served as commander and su- perintendent till the close of the war, be- ing then relieved by brevet Col. W. II. Harris, the present commander. An arse- nal guard of about thirty men was enlist- ed for that special duty in 1804, and is now stationed there.
When the war first began and the three- months troops collected here, but few arms and still less ammunition could be sup- pliedl. It was evident that ammunition The financial condition of the city was greatly influenced by the war, and it is best, perhaps, to consider it in connection with our war history; though, in doing so, many facts already given in the statement of the war movements will necessarily be repeated. would have to be fabricated, and Herman Sturm applied to the Governor for au- thority to manufacture it for the State. Permission was granted in May, and with one or two assistants, he immediately be- gan making musket balls and cartridges at MeLaughlin's gun-shop, on east Wash- It is now impossible, from loss of re- cords, to give a certain statement concern- ing the early financial condition of the corporation. The old books yet in exist- ence are in such shape that no clear ides ean be drawn from them. It is only with- in a few years that a system bas been adopted showing the condition of the finan - ces at any given time. Such facts for for- mer years as were published at the time are given below. ington street. The demand soon extended the business, and a small frame structure was erected in July and occupied in Au- gust, north of the State-house. Ad litional buildings were soon erected and the num- ber of workmen increased; but the facili- ties were not equal to the rapidly growing demand, and a removal took place to Ott's building, on Washington street, south of the State-house. It remained there some time, and was then removed to buildings The valuation of real and personal prop- erty in 1847 was about $1,000,000. In It had grown from a small beginning to 1850 it had risen to $2,326,185; in 1853. to $5.131,5$2; in 1856,to $7, 140,670; in 1858, specially designed for it east of the city. great proportions ; several hundreds of per- sons were employed, and vast amounts of to $10,475,000; in 1860, to $10,700,000; in artillery and small-arm ammunition were 1862, to $10,250,000; in 1863, S10,750,000; daily fabricated-the armies of the west | in 1864, $13.250,000; in 1865. $20, 114.44 ;; being largely supplied by it. It filled | in 1866, $24,231,750; in 1867, it sunk to
side, Sullivan and the Soldiers' Home, a | Eighty acres of ground were bought north-
88
HISTORY OF
$21,943,605. and rose in 1868 to $23,593,- 619. These figures show the steady growth of the place, as well as the temporary cheeks it has experienced. The listed polls in 1847 were about 400; in 1853, 1,460; in 1857, 1,862; in 1860, 2,200; in 1863, 3,200; in 1866, 5,160; in 1807, 5,300 ; in 1808, 5,780.
Taxation under the charter of 1847, for general purposes, was limited to 15 cents on the $100; but special taxes to any amount could be levied, if authorized by the general vote. Repeated efforts were made, from 1847 to 1853, to induce the eitizens to vote special taxes for varione objeets; but with the exception of taxes for schools, clock, cisterns and to pay debts, the movements were generally defeated, and the entire levy,did not exceed 45 cents on the $100. To avoid the trouble in re- gard to special taxes, the council, in 1853, adopted the general incorporation act as the city charter; and though the taxing power was thereby increased, they hesitated, in view of the general opposition of the tax- payers, to materially advance the rate, and it did not usually go beyond 60 or 80 cents before the war. After the war be- gan, a different policy was necessarily adopted, and the people have since become acquainted with heavier rates on vastly increased valuations.
The receipts and expenditures for all purposes, (other than schools,) are given as published at the time, giving generally the actual current receipts without includ- ing balances. The levy for 1847, (includ- ing $865 of delinquencies from former years, ) amounted to $4,826, nearly $4,000 being realized therefrom, and the expendi- tures considerably exeeded the receipts. In 1550 the receipts were $9,327, expendi- tures $7,554. In 1851, receipts $10,515, expenses over that sum. In 1853, receipts $10.506, expenses $7,030, 52,908 being de- voted to cisterns and the fire department. In 1854 receipts $20,500, expenses nearly the same. In 1856 receipts $27,889, ex- penses $46,105. In 1857 receipts $32,697, expenses §31,003. In 1559 receipts $59,- 168, expenses 56, 442; $10,232, being spent on the fire department cisterns. 84,882 for police and $4,771 for gas. In 1860 the re. ceipts were $57,262, expenses $80,172; lead- ingitems being for street improvements, re- pairs and bridges, $28.790; fire depart- ment and cisterns, $11,858; police, $5,986; gas expenditures, $6,445. The actual cur- rent receipts and expenditures, (not includ- ing balances from former years, ) and the leading items of expenditure, as nearly as they can be obtained from the reports from 1861 to 1808, are given as follows :
1861.
$84,508
354,503
15,653
16,249
$6,300
10,180
$7,018
- 1802
79,132
79,132
2,744
12,510
9,693
10,662
8,906
1863.
97,119
99,457
15,809
12,663
10.657
11,524
10,953
$2,842
$5.010
1564.
125,011
166,444
33,322
21,202
18.473
12,040
12,505
5,509
35.155
1SC5
597,531
854,391
20,240
21,612
27,900
14,618
15,220
7,686
713.179
1966.
409,704
404,713
33,350
20.332
23,416
9.638
3,051
11,113
151,197
1567.
445,253
331,525
52,186
27.207
37,511
17,452
38,164
8,116
70,575
431,663
224,941
36,018
33,049
27,509
27,528
97,100
6,336
The old corporation authorities had in- debt to $11.000 in the spring of 1855, and to $15,300 in the spring of 1856. Orders were selling at a heavy discount, and the reputation of the city suffered. The Coun- cil determined to effect a loan of $25,000 curred a debt of a thousand or fifteen hundred dollars at the time the city char- ter was adopted. The street improvements then undertaken by the city government soon increased it to nearly $6,000, and inito meet expenses and fund the debt, and 1849 a tax of ten cents on the $100 was having prepared the bonds, sent Jeremiah D. Skeen to New York City, in August authorized by vote of the citizens to pay it. ! The proceeds of the levy almost extin- ' 1856, as their agent to negotiate them. guished it in 1850, but in 1851 it again Ilfe succeeded in hypothecating them for $5,000, which he applied to his own use, swelled to $5,400. The increased receipts, however, enabled the treasury to meet eur- . and after much trouble and several years rent expenses and diminished the debt to ' delay, they were recovered by the city on $557 in 1854. The employment in that ; payment of that sum with interest. Skeen year of a police force, together with the ; and his sureties were sued by the city, and increased current expenses, enlarged the judgment finally obtained in January
·
Receipts.
Expenses.
Street Improve-
ments, repairs,
Cleaning and
Fire Departm'nt
and Cisterns.
Police and Deteo-
Salaries, Fees &
Per Centage.
Gas Expendit'rs,
Lighting tax,
&c.
Jail Expenses.
Bounties and all
War Expenses.
Bridges.
tives.
89
INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.
1868, for the principal and interest of the defalcation. This unfortunate effort to sell bonds still further injured the city credit, and the debt increased, in 1857, to $23,740. A change in the charter and city officers took place that year, and a gen- eral tax of sixty cents was levied to meet expenses and debts: until that date the entire tax had not exceeded forty-five or fifty cents on the $100. The debt was re- duced to $9,300 in 1959, but swelled to $11,500 in 1850, and to nearly $25,000 when the war began. A considerable part of it was in short-time bonds issued to the makers of the three steam fire engines purchased in 1860, the bonds being the first that were negotiated and sold. The floating debt had not materially increased, but the growing expenditures for gas light and for the police department prevented any reduction in its amount. The salaries and fees of the city officers were also in- creased in May 1861, and the current ex. penses then enlarged.
Immediately after volunteering began for the three months service, a demand was made for municipal assistance for the fam- ilies of soldiers, and on the 20th of April, $10,000 were appropriated to that object, and a committee appointed to supervise its distribution. From this time till the close of the war, many appropriations were made for this purpose, in buying wood and supplying money, and the aggregate sum thus expended was very large. Doubts ex- isted whether bounties could be directly given by the city, and they were generally voted as appropriations to the soldier's families. The various war expenditures early in 1861, soon raised the floating and bonded debt to about $16,000, but the cur- rent receipts enabled the authorities to meet expenses, and make payments on out- standing liabilities, until they were re- duced in May, 1862. to about $16.500. Re- cruiting becoming slack in the fall of 1962, bounties were first paid, a small appropria- tion being made therefor, and about $5,000 were spent in that way by May. 1863. Over $5,000 of the engine bonds had been paid in the meantime, and the debt reluced in May, 1863, to $11,250. This amount was practically paid off soon after, and & close calculation of the finances of the city would have shown her free of debt in the summer of 1863.
A rapid advance in the values of articles, and work, began in the spring of 1863. The officer's salaries, and the policemen and firemen's wages were raised; current expenses increased, large appropriations were made to the poor, and a house of re- fuge undertaken. To this increased ex- penditure was added the expense connected
with the city regiment in the Morgan raid, and on the 11th of December, in response to the request of the citizens, the council appropriated $25,000, to be paid in $50 bounties to the families of recruits credited to the several wards. The ordinance was amended and re-passed on the 14th of De- cember, and six per cent city bonds to the amount of $25,000, due in fifteen months, were prepared and sold within a week, and the money expended. No further bounty appropriations were made till May 9th, 1864, when $5,000 were given to families of one hundred day men: the money to be paid out by the Soldier's Aid Committee. By these appropriations and the largely in- creased current expenses for street improve- ments. salaries, police, gas, &c., amounting to $116,000, the debt had risen in July, to about $80,000, the war expenses amounting to about $16,000. The tax levy for 1864- -'65, was fixed at Sl for general purposes, 50 cents for specific objects, and 25 cents for soldier's families.
The President called for 500,000 men dur- ing the summer, ordering a draft if the call was not filled by volunteers. The response was not as prompt as had been expected, and the draft took place in September. The mayor in August had recommended appro- priations be made for bounties to volun- teers to fill the city quota, but no definite action was taken at the time in regard to it. On the 28th of September, however the council appropriated $92,000 in aid of the drafted men; the sum to be added to that subscribed by the citizens prior to the draft, and to such sums as the drafted men might raise. Twelve hundred cords of wood were also purchased at an ex- pense of $8,000 for the soldiers fami- lies. On the 3d of October, $40,000 were appropriated in addition to the former sums in aid of the drafted men, and the city clerk was directed to collect the citi- zens subscriptions. During October and November, four hundred volunteers were secured at an expense to the city and citi- zens of about $170,000, and the entire cost of relieving the city from the September draft amounted to about $180,000.
Another call for 300,000 men was made December 20th, 1864, and a draft ordered in sixty days, if the call was unfilled. The mayor on the 28th recommended an appro- priation of $90,000, to be paid in $150 bounties. The council appropriatel $20,- 000, together with an unexpended balance ef $2,500 of former appropriations.
The Mayor, on the 2d of January, 1505, again urged appropriations for $150 boun- ties, and suggested the correction of the enrollment lists, and the draft of the city by wards. The Council at once gave
90
HISTORY OF
$125,000, increased the bounty to $200, and sent John Coburn to Washington to secure & ward draft. In the meantime the competition for recruits forced boun- ties beyond $200, and the Council, on the 17th of January, increased them to $400. The Legislature was urged to amend the incorporation law so as to authorize bounty loans. Committees were appointed to sell war warrants, to oversee recruiting, and assign the men pro rata to the wards. Four hundred dollars were to be given each man who bought a $50 order and was subsequently drafted.
On the 20th of February the Council re- ceived a petition from three thousand seven hundred tax-payers, asking a loan to pay bounties and fund all orders, which were now selling at twenty to thirty cents discount. It was laid over for additional signatures, and seven hundred and sev- enty-two more being reported on the 22d, the Council authorized a loan of $400,000 ou twenty year coupon bonds, signed by the Mayor and Clerk, with interest semi- annually, payable in New York, and pledged a tax levy to pay interest and sink the principal. The bonds were drawn, signed, sent to New York, where they remained unsold for several months, and were finally recalled and cancelled. The sale of war warrants and the work of recruiting actively went on in the mean- time, but the draft took place, February 25th, for nearly five hundred men.
The Council then confirmed the gift of $400 to each drafted man who had bought $50 in war warrants, ordering it paid down to those who furnished substi- tutes, and in instalments to those who served. A loan of $100,000 was at once ordered from the banks, and on the 6th of March the Treasurer was directed to bor- row $100,000, at one per cent., for four months, renewable if necessary, deposit- ing orders and bonds at seventy-five cents as security, the banks having the right to sell them at ten days notice if the loan was not met. The loan was at once taken by the First National, Citizens National, Indianapolis National, and Fletcher's and Harrisons' banks, $20,000 each, and the money applied to bounties. A committee was appointed on the Cth of March to ex- amine and report whether, under the new law, one- fourth of the amount of the war debt and bonds could be added as special tax upon the duplicate. The Mayor on the 3d of April, submitted an opinion by James Morrison, that the city could fund her debt by bonds under the existing law. The strictly war expenditures (except in- terest) of the city, in the way of bounties, ended with the February dratt, the war
ceasing in less than four weeks after the quota was declared to be filled. Nearly $155,000 in war warrants were sold and in the hands of the people. The entire war expenses for the year. from May, 1864, to May, 1865, had reached $718,179.
The city war expenditure for the last three years of the rebellion approximated $1.000,000, and the municipal debt reached $368,000 et its close; $100,000 of this sum was in the shape of a bank loan, at 12 per cent., secured by deposit of war- rants at seventy-five cents ; the remainder consisted of six per cent. warrants, part of which were applicable on the payment of taxes for 1805, the rest in 1866-7. These orders were selling at twenty and thirty cents discount, and as the discount was added in all bills against the city, the de- preciation was largely augmenting cur- rent expenses. The Council, therefore, levied a tax of $1 for general purposes, and fifty cents to pay the debt. The bank loan was renewed as it fell due, and in October an ordinance passed to renew it for a year. The unsold war bouds in New York were recalled and cancelled. The finance committee recommended the election of a city Auditor, and John G. Waters was accordingly chosen by the Council, in January, 1866, for two years ; the office was discontinued at the expira- tion of his term. On the 11th of Septem- ber, 1865, the Council authorized the fund- ing of war orders in six per cent. three year bonds, and about $27,000 were 80 converted by May, 1866. The current re- demption of orders in the mean time in taxes was large, amounting to $397,000 at the close of the fiscal year, and the debt had decreased from $368,000 to about $217,000, $151,000 being paid off. In May, 1866, a tax of $1.50 was levied for general purposes, and twenty-five cents for payment of debt, but in November, at the Mayor's suggestion, the outstanding six per cent. orders were funded to the extent of $82,000, in ten per cent. war- rants running eighteen months, and the twenty-five cent tax was struck from the duplicate, materially lessening the burthen for that year. The actual cur- rent receipts (excluding former balance ) for 1806-7, were $327,700. The expendi- tures (excluding bank loan,) $209,700. The total debt on three year bonds, ten per cent. warrants, and to the banks, amounted to $209,600, and $122,929 of a balance was left in the treasury. The debt had been reduced $103,787 during the year. The Council, in May, 1867, voted a general tax for the year, of $1.25, and the actual current receipts on it during the fiscal year, 1867-8, (not in-
INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.
cluding the balance from 1867) were $231,669, the actual expenses, $225,000. The bank bond and warrant debt, in May, 1868, was estimated at $252,000, and the balance left in the treasury amounted to $210,657. The bond and warrant debt has since been paid at its maturity, and the debt now amounts to about $200,000. The levy for the current year was fixed at $1.10 for general purposes, and fifteen cents for sewerage.
The war brought many rowdies here, and in the summer of 1861 scarcely a day passed without affrays in which weapons were used. The police were kept busy in preserving order. Affairs grew still worse in the fall of 1863, and military aid was invoked. A strong guard was detailed, with its headquarters at the l'olice office, and until after the war the soldiery as- sisted in keeping the peace. The conve- Dient position of the place, midway be- tween the large western cities, made it a favorite rendezvous for rascals of all grades, and when large bounties were of- fered in 1864, hundreds of thieves and bounty-jumpers flocked here. They were soon arrested or scattered by the authori- ties, and three of them being tried by court martial, and shot, near Camp Mor- ton, as deserters, the rest hurriedly left the place.
For some time after the war began little or no political excitement existed, but at the democratic county convention in Court Square, on the 2d of September, sev- eral of the speakers indulged in indiscreet expressions ; equally indiscreet retorts were made by parties in the crowd; a per- sonal difficulty occurred, weapons were drawn, and the convention was dispersed by soldiers and others. The leaders were pursued to their homes and compelled to take the oath of allegiance. For some- time a serious outbreak was threatened, and the Sentinel office was in danger. Order was finally restored by the military and police. The affair was discreditable to the city and to all engaged in it.
On the 8th of April 1802, Parson Brown- low, of Tennessee, having just been sent north by the rebels, reached this city, and in company with General Carey, of Cin- cinnati, appeared before our people at the Metropolitan Theater, where both made bitter speeches. Brownlow visited the city again just after the Philadelphia con - vention. and made one of his characteris- tic speeches to a large audience in the Circle.
In 1868 the democrats held a State mass convention in the State House yard, mus- tering in heavy force and generally armed. Anticipating an outbreak the authorities
had taken measures to prevent it. Guards were stationed on the streets, artillery was held in readiness, and the seventy- first regiment put under arms. No trouble occurred, further than the arrest and fining of many persons for carrying concealed weapons. As the delegates were leaving, however, they began random firing from the cars. The Lafayette train got off, but those on the Central, Cincinnati and other roads were at once pursued by the military, the police and citizens. The trains were brought back, the passengers put under arrest and disarmed. They were permit- ted to leave after a detention of some. hours and the confiscation of their revol- vers, a large number of which were turned over to the military.
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