USA > Kansas > Reno County > History of Reno County, Kansas; its people, industries and institutions, Vol I > Part 28
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RENO COUNTY, KANSAS.
There were a number of additions to the business part of the town as soon as the new hotel was finished. Jordan & Bemis started a dry goods store: E. Wilcox started a hardware store; J. C. McClurg, who had settled in Sedgwick county, moved his livery and feed stable there; T. F. Leidigh opened a grocery store and a Mr. Bailey, of Emporia, opened up a general merchandise store. The winter of 1871-1872 was a very severe one. The principal loser by reason of the severe weather was J. H. D. Rozan. He had no feed except buffalo grass and no shelter for his stock, and his loss was heavy. In the spring the streams were all high and greatly delayed the hauling of lumber from Newton. To remedy this, a raft was made, on which stuff was loaded, and it was then pulled over the stream by teams with ropes attached to the raft.
There were no stones in the county for corner markers, so buffalo bones were substituted to mark the boundaries. Main street was to be the principal street. Another street was surveyed so as to be the business street. The lots on both Main and Sherman streets were made twenty-five feet wide, while residence lots were laid out thirty-three feet wide. Sher- man street was named after Miss Gertrude Sherman, of Castleton, Vermont. a lady whom C. C. Hutchinson expected to marry soon, he being a widower at the time he started Hutchinson. Miss Sherman was a daughter of Carlos S. Sherman, a marble quarry owner at Castleton. Later, Mr. Hutchinson remembered the place of his prospective wife's residence when that name was given to a township and a town in the southern part of the county.
CHAPTER XLIV.
HUTCHINSON, A CITY OF THE THIRD CLASS.
Hutchinson was incorporated as a city of the third class on August 15. 1872. The petition for the organization of the city was presented to W. R. Brown, judge of the district court. The petition contained the names of a majority of the legal voters of the city to be organized and declared that there were more than two hundred and fifty people within the boundary lines of the proposed city and less than one thousand inhabitants. The district court granted the petition and fixed the time of the first election to be held for August 26, 1872. William Ingham, E. Wilcox and Josiah S. Fay were appointed by the court as judges of the election.
At the first city election Taylor Flick received 71 votes for mayor and C. S. Martin received 17. For police judge J. B. Brown received 67 votes and W. P. Brown, 27. There were eleven candidates for councilmen. The result of this first election for council resulted in the following vote: John McMurray, 59; G. A. Brazee, 56; E. Wilcox, 66; R. C. Bailey, 66; Gus Williams, 24: G. Mills, 1; S. S. Williams, 32; W. W. Hastie, 30; William Mills, 19; M. Sanders, 29; D. M. Lewis, 61. Of this number the following were declared elected: E. Wilcox, D. M. Lewis, R. P. Bailey, G. A. Brazee and John McMurray. H. W. Beaty was appointed city clerk and city treasurer.
The first ordinance passed was one to "provide means of getting the smoke out of the buildings." It provided that stove pipes might be run up through the roofs of buildings, but specified that a double tin safety device should be inserted in the roof through which the pipe should run. There were nothing but frame houses in Hutchinson at that time, and the first ordi- nance was a fire-protection guarantee. The second ordinance regulated the running of stock within the city limits, and the third ordinance was one prohibiting the discharge of firearms in the city limits.
The petition for the organization set out the boundaries of the city. Prior to this time there had been no organization, all of the county being then in Reno township, and all of the business of the county was transacted by Reno township.
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RENO COUNTY, KANSAS.
EARLY CITY ORDINANCES.
Among the first measures introduced in the city council was one author- izing the mayor to take the necessary steps to protect the city from prairie fires. The buffalo grass that surrounded the town was burning up in the August heat and it was thought necessary to have a sufficient number of fire guards placed to protect the new city. So the first fire-fighting appar- atus ever used in Hutchinson was a sod plow and a yoke of oxen. The corner "stones" used to mark out the street crossings were buffalo bones. The streets were covered with buffalo grass, and there were no bridges then completed, Cow creek being forded where the Main street bridge now stands. The track that led down into the water did not cross it squarely, as the banks were three or four feet high, and it was necessary to angle down to the water so as to have an easier grade out. The first city marshal for Hutchinson was J. R. Lindsay, who was also principal of the city schools for the first term. The records do not disclose who was on duty in the school house when Lindsay was discharging his duties as city marshal, nor who was protecting the public from disorder and riot while this dual official was discharging his obligation as a school teacher. It was probable, how- ever, with this combination, that it was not thought necessary to add the modern school official of "truant officer."
The second election, which was held on April 7, 1873, resulted in the · selection of C. L. Kendall for mayor. J. B. Brown was the candidate against Kendall, receiving one vote less than the latter. G. W. Hardy, S. M. Bell, R. C. Brazee, T. W. Cochrane and C. Chambers were candidates for mem- bers of the council. Hardy, Bell and Cochrane were elected, there being a difference of only one vote between the losing and the winning candidates for the council. H. W. Beatty was appointed city clerk and city treasurer, and George Shields was appointed city marshal. This administration was the first one to start public improvement. The building of sidewalks was agitated. The first walk put down was on the west side of Main street, from Cow creek to the Santa Fe railroad. Later some of the citizens living farther north. Dr. N. T. P. Robertson, W. R. Marshall and others, asked for sidewalks along their property-on property now between Fourth and Sixth streets. on the west side of the street. The council also appropriated "five hundred dollars to grade Main street and put in street crossings." This council also had trouble getting a city marshal to stay on the job. M1. Hale was chosen marshal, but he declined to accept the office. Then the
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council selected George S. Shields for city marshal. but he was not satis- factory. In just what way his services did not suit the council is not stated. They removed Shields and put Robert Chism in as city marshal. He lasted just a month. The city clerk. W. R. Brown, also resigned. H. A. Jeffs was selected marshal in Chism's place, and C. P. Bailey was put in Brown's va- cated place. During this year an ordinance was passed that indicated that a better class of houses were being erected. Up to this time one-story wooden buildings, generally "sided up and down," unplastered and unpainted, were about all the town afforded. But an improvement era had started and more substantial buildings were being erected: so the council repealed its first ordi- nance that provided that stove pipe might be used as flues, if it had a shield around it to keep the pipe away from the wood of the roof. The principal fuel of that day was "cow chips," which make a quick, hot fire. and the pipe would get about as hot as the stove. The council, early in the year 1873, ordered that thereafter no flue should be built that was not made of stone or brick, and it was specified also how much above the roof the chimney should extended. Hutchinson was improving and, in anticipation of better buildings, this ordinance was passed.
HITCHING-POST QUESTION AN AGITATING ONE.
The third city election was a real campaign. There were twenty-four candidates for councilmen. Four men wanted to be mayor, and there were four candidates for police judge. The election resulted in the selection of the following: Mayor. J. B. Brown ; police judge, R. A. Soper ; councilmen, W. M. Ingham, G. W. Hardy. C. B. Winslow. S. M. Bell and James Crow. When the new council met it chose H. W. Beatty for city clerk and city treasurer. They made no appointment for city marshal. but R. M. Cheney was allowed pay as city marshal by the council until May, when George B. Alford was chosen as city marshal. This administration began to wrestle with a proposition that not only worried it, but all succeeding councils, and which the progress of the times and the almost universal use of the auto- mobile has eliminated from the worries of the city council of today. It was the question of hitching-posts on Main street. This was one of the questions that all administrations from the first until hitching-posts were not needed found to be the subject of endless debate, both in the city council and the Commercial Club rooms, and among idle men in front as well as men behind the counters. It was a real question in those days-one that the present gen- eration cannot appreciate. The country people, the farmers, wanted places
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at which to hitch their teams when they came to town. They likewise wanted the teams hitched in a convenient place. generally in front of the store where they did most of their trading. The merchant did not want to object. as he was afraid of offending his best customers, the farmers. The merchant had to put up with the odor arising from uncleaned streets and, in the summer. with the pest of flies that the teams attracted. But he complained not. It was the town people who complained. Many a lady has had a dress ruined by some big-footed horse splashing mud on her while she walked along the street. The council of 1874 was petitioned to "do away with the hitching- post nuisance." But the members generally "ducked" the question. They didn't want to offend the farmer, for the town could not live without the trade of the farmer. The merchants were interviewed. They didn't want to have anything to do with it. They would lose if they got caught express- ing their opinion. They would lose the farmer trade one way and the city trade the other way. A merchant is the last man to take hold of any propo- sition that involves the good will of his customers. It was true in Hutchin- son in 1874 when the "hitching-post nuisance" was up for consideration, and it is true today when any proposition is presented that might lose the mer- chant trade. This controversy would be unsettled today in Hutchinson, had not the automobile put the horse out of business. The solution was dodged by the council of 1874 and by all succeeding councils. The council of 1874 started the "ducking."
BY WAY OF CONTRAST.
A review of an ordinance passed in 1874 reveals the difference in the Hutchinson of 1874 and the Hutchinson that the present generation knows. And it is set down here that the present generation may have an idea of the changes they can only know of as others tell of them. Hutchinson was sub- ject to overflow from Cow creek. In 1874, as a result of the first of these high waters in Cow creek, pools of water stood over the town. There was a good-sized "fishing pond" on West First avenue, close to Main street. The council wanted to drain it, so they cut a ditch across Main street and ran the water down past the Methodist church and on south to Cow creek. With a sewer system now that provides for the drainage of surface water the people of Hutchinson today can look back and see what conditions were in the early days, and see what the early settler had to contend with and how well he has done the work of making the city a beautiful. healthful place in which to live.
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In the election for 1875. there were only ten candidates for city council- men. The race was a very close one. The highest vote cast for any candi- date was seventy-nine, and the lowest candidate received seventy-four votes. E. Wilcox was elected mayor, he receiving 78 votes, while J. B. Brown re- ceived 74 votes. The councilmen chosen were: E. A. Smith, George W. Hardy. John Paine and R. E. Conn. J. F. Dunkin and James Crow received the same number of votes and the election judges "flipped dollars" to see which one of the two should have the office. Crow got "heads" and was added to the names of the councilmen for that year.
ANOTHER OLD POINT OF CONTROVERSY.
Another matter came up during this administration for the first time in the history of Hutchinson, which, like the hitching-post matter, was one long-drawn-out controversy, and also, like its companion in agitation. was one that was settled by events in which the council and people of Hutch- inson had only a small part in settling. This was the question of having saloons. For the first time since the town was organized a petition was presented to the council asking that license be issued for the sale of intoxi- cating liquors. A remonstrance was also filed and the mayor appointed a committee composed of C. B. Winslow and G. W. Hardy to examine both petition and remonstrance, to "examine and compare" the two documents and report to the next meeting of the council. The committee reported against the saloon. What their "examination" consisted of, how they "com- pared" the two, is not related: whether there were more names on the re- monstrance, or whether it was simply a means to side-step the whole con- troversy, is not disclosed in the record. Later, in 1879, on June 19, the first saloon license was granted. Later in that year two more licenses were issued by the city. The license fee was fixed at five hundred dollars a year, payable quarterly in advance.
In the granting of these licenses, the council went squarely against the wish of the founder of the city. C. C. Hutchinson. So anxious was he that no saloon ever be allowed in the town that he put a clause in every deed to every piece of real estate, which stated that "in case intoxicating liquor should be sold on that lot the title should revert to the grantor." But the supreme court overruled this clause, as being "against public policy." and Hutchinson had her saloons. But the controversy in the city, that was the issue in every political campaign, was ended by the passage of the prohi- bition law. Even then it was not entirely ended, but the controversy changed
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to a contest to enforce the laws. But through the various enactments of the Legislature that have made the conviction of the one who sells liquor an easier matter, and through the development of a more acute sentiment against liquor among the citizens, which has quickened the activity of the officers having this in charge-the enforcement of the law-the prohibitory law is now as well enforced as any other criminal statute of the state.
PROMOTION OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
The election of 1876 brought out two candidates for each office except that of police judge. George W. Hardy and F. R. Chrisman were candi- dates for mayor. Hardy was elected, receiving 99 votes to 95 for Chrisman. John Jones, John McCollough, S. C. Smith and R. E. Conn each received enough votes to get a certificate of election to the council, but William Ing- ham and J. B. Brown each received the same number of votes, and in the drawing Ingham was the successful candidate and was made a member of the council for the year 1876. J. C. Linsday was chosen police judge, he being the only candidate. He received 191 votes. H. S. Fitch was chosen city clerk by the council. He served until December 20. when he resigned and Lewis Mills was chosen as his successor. J. H. Leeman was chosen for city marshal.
This year was one in which considerable improvement was made in the city. The Water Power Company began to dig a mill race to direct the water from Cow creek to the mill site ; a couple of new bridges were built, one over Cow creek on Main street, and one over the mill race, which ran on what is now Avenue B, and emptied into Cow creek on the east side of town. A great many sidewalks were put down and Main street was filled from dirt from the mill race, so as to raise it above the water in times when Cow creek was more than bank full.
In the election of 1877, E. Wilcox and John McCollough were candi- dates for mayor. Wilcox received 166 votes and McCollough 78 votes. J. M. Jordan, Vernon Roe, L. A. Bigger. William Ingham and D. B. McKee were chosen for councilmen. There were three candidates for police judge. John McMurray received 147 votes : J. C. Linsday. 89 votes, and Lon Mead. one vote. C. B. Winslow was appointed city clerk: J. T. Norman was elected city marshal.
During June of this year Cow creek overflowed its banks and covered most of the town. In August the city voted bonds to straighten out the creek, cut out the windings of the stream, build levees on the banks, and by
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this means protect the city from further overflow. The water in the creek this year was the highest known since the county was settled, and the work done was of great value in later years when the stream got out of its banks.
In 1878 the annual election brought out two candidates for each elective office. E. Wilcox and 1 .. . \. Bigger were candidates for mayor. Bigger polled 132 votes and Wilcox. 126. John McCollough, H. S. Sidlinger, M. J. Ruddy. I. M. Carter and H. Raff were elected councilmen and John McMur- ray was elected police judge. When the new council met the mayor appointed Gus Mead as city clerk and Pat Holland for street commissioner. The city council's work for this year was largely confined to the completion of the work on the mill race. the straightening of Cow creek, and the building of bridges. . \ large number of sidewalks were put in and the general improve- ment of the town continued. Several ponds in the city, places washed out by the flood of the previous year, were filled up. During this administration for the first time the sprinkling of Main street was begun. During this year the city also took an active part in locating the East Side cemetery, moving the burial ground from its old locality northwest of the city to the present site. . \ part of this cemetery was allotted to the public, in consideration of the financial aid given by the city for the purchase of the twenty acres of ground originally bought for burial purposes.
SHADE TREES MAKE THEIR APPEARANCE.
The election of 1879 resulted in the usual number of candidates, and a largely increased vote disclosed evidence of the growth of the city. A. K. Burrell and C. L. Pennington were candidates for mayor. Burrell polled 196 votes and Pennington, 149. J. T. Lane led in the fight for councilmen, polling 339 votes, while Ruddy received 197: Carter. 189; Sidlinger, 180. and C. V. Decker. 211. D. W. Stimmel received 203 votes for city marshal as against John McMurray's 141 votes. Gus P. Mead was continued as city clerk. as was Pat Holland for city marshal. The financial statement of the city treasurer, made at the first meeting of the city council, showed the entire receipts for the previous year as $2.786.03. The expenditures for the year were $2.726.03. leaving a balance of $60 on hand.
A feature of the activity of this council was the planting of trees. The city purchased a thousand cottonwood trees and planted them along the "mill race." Five thousand willows were planted along Cow creek. The idea was that the tree roots would be a help in keeping the banks of these waters from washing in flood time.
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RENO COUNTY, KANSAS.
As referred to in another part of this chapter, this council distinguished itself in being the first to grant licenses to sell liquor in Hutchinson. These continued but a short time and were a constant source of controversy while they were running. The passage of the prohibition amendment to the con- stitution took away the right of city councils to pass such ordinances. One thing is noticeable, however. in the proceedings of this council. It became necessary during this administration to have a night police force, arising out of the disorders caused by liquor sales. This was the first time the city felt it necessary to have night policemen, and is sufficient comment on what the presence of liquor for sale in a city does for the orderliness of the city.
On March 3. 1880, a census was taken of the city for the purpose of changing the corporation from a city of the third class to one of the second class. The census showed there were 2,006 residents of Hutchinson at that time. But the resolution to change the form of the city government was beaten in the council. Lane, Carter and Ruddy voted "No," so the matter was dropped temporarily, but became an issue in the spring election in later years.
DEVELOPMENT OF "PUBLIC UTILITIES."
The election in April 5. 1880, brought forth the usual number of can- didates. John McCollough was elected mayor, receiving 212 votes, and A. K. Burrell. 168 votes. E. Wilcox, G. W. Hardy, A. E. Taylor, O. P. Mayer and John Brehm were chosen councilmen. George Barclay was elected police judge. he being the only candidate, receiving 381 votes. C. H. Longstreth was elected city marshal after several ballots. Ted F. Halverson was elected city clerk. George Hern was elected night watch "during good behavior." Just what was meant in that qualifying term of the period of his employ- ment is not declared by the records. The report of the council proceeding: showed that four saloons were running in Hutchinson at that time. The election of 1881 had the usual number of candidates: S. H. Sidlinger re- ceived 212 votes for mayor, and Leo H. Albright. 63 votes. G. T. Empey, J. B. Brown. M. J. Ruddy. W. R. Marshall and .A. W. West were elected members of the city council. George Barclay and .\. J. Higley were candidates for police judge. Barclay received 96 votes and Higley. 54 votes.
When the new council met D. S. Alexander was elected city clerk, .A. R. Scheble was chosen city attorney and C. B. Winslow was nominated by the mayor for city treasurer. The first vote on the confirmation of this nomi- nation resulted in a tie-two for, and two against. A second vote was taken. and the result was a rejection of the nomination, three against and two for.
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At a later meeting, Winslow was again nominated for city treasurer by the mayor, and was confirmed, only three votes being cast-two for confirma- tion and one against. Allen Shafer was chosen city marshal by acclamation.
In order to show further how public improvements grew. how public utilities developed. the council of 1881 erected a wind-mill and tank for fire protection of the city. This was considered sufficient in that day. It offered a contrast for those of today who are accustomed to the highest degree of efficiency from the very best forms of fire-fighting apparatus, in connection with an elaborate waterworks system. The people of today can hardly think of the method of travel of the early days of the county-the ox-team, or the horse and wagon, and roads that never received the slightest attention. in many cases on "angling" roads on the prairie across what are now cultivated fields. This in contrast with the automobile and the graded road ; the concrete bridges, where once were simply fords in the stream. In a like manner they can hardly realize, unless they have lived through the changes, the difference in municipal matters now and what the city was thirty-five years ago, and the action of the council of 1881 in putting up a wind-mill and a tank for fire protection shows the great progress of Hutch- inson in a little more than a third of a century.
The election of 1882 resulted in the usual number of candidates. S. H. Sidlinger and E. A. Smith were candidates for mayor, the former receiving 194 votes and the latter 163 votes. G. T. Empey, L. A. Bigger, W. R. Marshall, M. J. Ruddy and J. T. Lane were elected councilmen. George D. Barclay was continued as police judge; D. S. Alexander was appointed as city clerk and C. B. Winslow was continued as city treasurer, as was Allen Shafer as city marshal. Very little of general interest appears in the min- utes of the city council. The usual sidewalks were ordered in, and the usual occurrences were provided for, but nothing of interest above other years appeared during 1882.
BETTER FIRE PROTECTION DEMANDED.
The election of 1883 resulted in the selection of J. T. Lane as mayor. He received 199 votes, and G. T. Empey, 176 votes. J. B. Brown, S. A. Atwood. J. F. Blackburn, H. Dice and A. K. Burrell were elected council- men. George Barclay and A. J. Higley were both candidates for police judge. Barclay beat Higley, as he did the year previous. W. H. Lewis was appointed city attorney. J. P. Dillon was elected city clerk: S. H. Craig was elected city marshal, and J. H. Young was elected city treasurer.
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