USA > Michigan > Muskegon County > History of Muskegon County, Michigan: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 14
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Owing to the strike which prevailed, and also the shortness of the season, Muskegon was behind hand in her lumber shipments and manufacture. 1882 bids fair to be a lively and prosperous one. The first vessel to arrive was the schooner Spy, which put in an ap- pearance on April 25. For the year 1881 the arrival of schooners, propellers, etc., engaged in the lumber traffic from April 25 to No- vember 28, were 2,880, of which the following are the monthly clearances: April, 56; May, 440; June, 469; July, 464; August, 494; September, 397; October, 369; November, 191.
The first boat to leave Muskegon in 1881 was the schooner H. B. Moore, which left on April 23. The total number of clearances from April 23 to November 28, 1881, was 2,881, and the monthly departures were: April, 64; May, 455; June, 470; July, 467; August, 391; September, 413; October, 372; November, 186. Be- sides these a vast amount has been shipped by rail to the outside world.
MUSKEGON AS A SUMMER RESORT.
Nearly every town of any importance along the lake shore makes some claim to special advantages as a place of summer resort, and, perhaps, more or less justly, for it cannot be denied that in the matter of climate both in summer and winter, and more especially in summer, shore towns have a decided advantage over those inland; aside from the refreshing lake breezes in summer, many of these self-styled summer resorts have little to recommend them for that purpose. There are at almost all times of the day and night re- freshing breezes blowing either toward or from Lake Mchigan which, in the most sultry days of the year, while life in inland towns is al- most unendurable, render existence a pleasure in Muskegon.
MINERAL SPRING.
There is in the limits of the city and convenient of access to the public, as it is on the most public street of the city, a mineral spring of constantly flowing water, and which has as many ben- eficial properties as the greater part of the more famous springs, and with a little more care and ornamentation it can be made an at- tractive as well as beneficial resort.
FISHING.
For those who enjoy fishing and who occasionally long for a vacation in which to enjoy this fine sport, Muskegon and vicinity has many attractions with her three beautiful lakes, Muskegon, Mona and Bear. A man can take his fishing tackle and a boat and enjoy rich sport in fishing and rowing on any of these lakes, and every summer many come to these places and spend days and weeks in angling for the finny denizens of the water, and generally seem well pleased with the result.
The markets are unsurpassed on the western coast of the State, and all the delicacies of the season can be obtained about as early as in Chicago, and nearly as cheap, and many things, in fact, cheaper. In the summer season there are thousands of bushels of strawberries and tons of grapes and other fruits and berries in bounteous profusion.
Convenience of access is one very important requirement in a summer resort, and in this respect Muskegon is well situated. In the C. &. W. M. Railway and the Goodrich line of steamers, there is direct connections both by land and by water with other parts of the world, and in a trip of a few hours by either rail or boat, one can reach here from either Chicago, Detroit or Milwaukee, and when business calls return, the means of conveyance are at hand and ample.
The hotels are well kept and commodious, and afford luxurious apartments and advantages to those who visit the city, but the great summer resort hotel of the future for Muskegon remains yet to be built by some enterprising man. The man who will have the enter- prise to erect a fine hotel at the mouth of Muskegon harbor on the bluff at the south, will in the near future reap a rich reward. This location is not only beautiful but affords one of the most delightful rides to the city imaginable, either by boat or carriage, requiring only a few minutes for the trip by boat, and a little over half an hour by carriage. The place for the hotel at Port Sherman is on the bluff facing Lake Michigan just as you turn on the beach road in going down by carriage. That location would be about thirty feet above Lake Michigan, and would afford a magnificent view of miles of lake as far as the eye can reach, with a grand stretch of beach for surf bathing, and the murmur of the waves to lull one to - sweet sleep at night. The ground back of this location is all that could possibly be desired. It is broken into little miniature hills and hollows and is dotted over with trees and bushes forming some of the most romantic shady retreats imaginable, and with proper care could be beautified tenfold. The rise to the top of the hill is grad- ual, and along the outer part of the hill is a pathway thrown up like a breastwork in places from fifteen to twenty feet above the hill on the inside and inclined some places almost to a perpendicular on the outside, so that the whole background of hill and hollow and trees and brushwood is all that could be desired, and is included in only a few acres space. For those who would want bathing, the surf is right before them at a distance of only a few rods; for those who prefer rowing or fishing the facilities are unsurpassed; and those who like riding, driving or walking can find opportunities to their heart's content, and when they want something stirring in a business way, or desire to attend places of amusement, a short trip brings them up to the city; and for those who want to remain quiet and
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take things easy we think it would be difficult to find any thing more beautiful than would be the views from the piazza of a hotel located as we have stated. The man who has the enterprise to put up a fine hotel at this place properly equipped for the accommodation of pleasure seekers will make his fortune.
MANUFACTURES.
There is no city in the Great West that offers better advantages and facilities for manufacturing than the Lumber Metropolis of the world-Muskegon-with the best natural harbor on Lake Michigan, the mouth of which never freezes, giving direct communication by water with all the principal ports on the Lakes. The railroad facil- ities are constantly increasing, and in direct connection with the leading trunk lines of the country-the Michigan Central and Southern railroads, with their leased lines and important connec- tions; also the Detroit & Milwaukee. Then the extension of the Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan Railroad will reach the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad at Benton Harbor, and Muskegon will ac- quire another through route south, especially to Louisville, Ky., and intermediate points. It is expected that the extension at both ends will be completed within the coming twelve months. In short Muskegon has every facility for shipping, either by rail or water offered by any point in the country, while ground, rent, and fuel are much cheaper than in any metropolis on the continent.
A city thus located, and with the start in population, commerce and manufacturing which has been obtained by Muskegon, cannot fail to become a business centre, offering unusual advantages for the location of manufactures of a miscellaneous character, but especially of articles needed in the west. Every implement or ar- ticle into the manufacture of which wood enters will find here a most inviting location, and a wide field for their disposition. No better point could be found for the location of iron furnaces.
No city on the great lakes can have a superior location as a point for the manufacture and distribution of useful articles, and certainly there is none possessing greater commercial advantages aside from the great cities.
THE MUSKEGON CAR AND ENGINE WORKS.
These works are situated to the east of the city about a mile from the post office, on a dry, sandy tract of forty acres, covered with a scrubby growth of small oaks, and convenient to the C. & W. M. Railway. The story of the inception of the enterprise, and its marvellously rapid completion, reminds one of Aladdin's wonderful lamp, which required only to be rubbed and a gorgeous palace arose, and is a forcible reminder of the rapid strides of human progress in this eve of the nineteenth century. The company was organized in March, 1881; the buildings were commenced on the first of April; the works were in operation on the first of July, and they completed $100,000 worth of work in 1881. The Muskegon Car and Engine Works consist of a foundry 200x40 feet, a machine shop 200x80 feet, car shop 200x80 feet, a brick engine room 30x50 feet, a drying kiln 70x40 feet, and an elegantly equipped office on two floors 35x 35 feet. The office and store room are at opposite ends of the works, which are symmetrically arranged in a series parallel to the railway track, and have side tracks running between them, and in some instances into the buildings themselves. Besides these struc- tures, which are lofty, well lighted and ventilated, and painted with reddish brown fire-proof paint, there is a large lumber yard into which side tracks run here and there, and in case of fire the com- pany have eighteen hydrants, 600 feet of six-inch pipe, and an im- mense steam force pipe with an 18x18 inch-cylinder.
The chief stockholders in the enterprise are the Messrs. Thayers, the Boston millionaires, and Mr. G. C. Kimball, and the capital stock is $100,000. The officers are G. C. Kimball Presi- dent; Robert Caithness, Vice President; H. Park, Treasurer; F. A. Nims, Secretary.
The officers at the works are R. Booth Superintendent; H. M. Perry, Assistant Superintendent and Draughtsman; John B. Mc- Laren Storekeeper, and Chas. Conley, Engineer. It is expected when the company gets fully under way that the present buildings will be duplicated and the staff trebled. The site was selected on account of the central and favorable position of Muskegon, the facility of rapid and cheap communication by rail or water, the high and dry location of the grounds, and the proximity to the supply of lumber in the greatest lumber manufacturing city in the world, the only article of import being iron. The company manufactures all kinds of freight cars, flat, box and stock cars, steam engines, mill gearing and iron store fronts.
REPAIR SHOPS OF THE C. & W. M. RAILWAY.
The works are erected in the northern extremity of the city, in the First Ward, and consist of the following large and substantial structures: An engine house, commonly known as the " Round House," with eighteen stalls for engines; a machine shop 80x150 feet; car shop 250x72 feet; paint shop 162x50 feet; blacksmith's shop 40x70 feet; brass foundry and tinshop 24x40 feet, an oil room and a supply store. The works were in 1881, under the efficient supervision of Mr. R. Booth, Master Mechanic, under whom were: A. D. Sherry, foreman of Round House; Robt. Bloss, foreman of machine shop; J. D. Warner, foreman of freight car repairs; Frank Snyder, foreman of paint shop; W. H. Waters, foreman of black- smith shop; A. D. Smith, foreman of tin shop; John Duffy, store- keeper; J. H. Whipple, timekeeper and bookkeeper of mechanical department.
The works are kept in full blast and over 150 men are on an average employed.
For the month of August, 1881, which is probably a fair average month, the number of men in each department, and their monthly pay-roll was:
Sixty-two machinists and helpers $2,536.26
Twenty-four blacksmiths - 893.37
Forty-eight in carpenter shop 2,063.65
Thirteen in paint shop - 608.67
Total, one hundred and forty-seven men $6,101.95
Besides this may be reckoned a dozen more employed as wipers. The total amount paid out in the single month of August for repair shops, engines and bridge men was $15,817.33, so that the annual outlay for wages is not far short of $200,000, which vast sum is chiefly spent in the city, and does its part in the upbuilding of its high financial status.
The shops were commenced in 1875 and have been added to from time to time, two new buildings having been added no later than last spring. Their construction was superintended by the Master Mechanic, Mr. Booth, who is a thorough master of his art, which he first learned in Guelph, Ontario, although a native of New York State. He was an old employe of the C. & W. M. Company, having been selected for his present post by them seven years ago. His experience has been gained in similar works in Chicago, Joliet, and also three years with Mr. Alexander Rodgers, of this city. He has recently been appointed to the Superintendency of the Car and Engine Works.
C. & W. M. GENERAL OFFICERS. The offices are located near
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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.
the upper depot, and the staff is as follows: Geo. C. Kimball, general manager; A. M. Nicholls, general freight agent and assistant gen- eral superintendent; H. Park, auditor; W. B. Bourn, assistant treasurer; G. A. Magoon, paymaster; Geo. McNutt, assistant su- perintendent.
H. PARK, auditor of the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad Company, came to Muskegon in 1875 from Marquette, where he was general freight agent of the Pere Marquette road. Mr. Park has held his present position since 1874.
W. B. BOURN, late assistant treasurer of the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad, came to Muskegon from Kansas City in 1876 and entered at once upon the duties of the office which he has since held. Before coming here Mr. Bourn was connected with the Mis- souri, Fort Scott & Gulf Railway Co., and for six years was cashier of the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Railway Co. In the spring of 1882 Mr. Bourn resigned his position in the C. & W. M. Railway Co.
TATE STARKE, assistant agent at Muskegon of the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad, is a native of Virginia and came to Mus- kegon to enter the employ of the above named company in 1879. In August, 1881, he was appointed to the present position.
C. W. M. MURPHY, train master of the Chicago & West Michi- gan Railroad, came to Muskegon in 1871 from New York State and for three years was conductor of a passenger train running between Muskegon and Big Rapids. In 1874 he was appointed train mas- ter. Mr. Murphy enlisted in the service at Lyons, N. Y., in 1861, as a private in the 98th New York Infantry. In 1863 he was pro- moted to 2d lieutenant and 1st lieutenant in 1864. In February, 1865, he received a captain's commission. He served until the close of the war in 1865.
THOMAS DELANTY is cashier of the freight department of the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad Company at Muskegon. For several years Mr. DeLanty was lumber inspector, and in July, 1881, was appointed to his present position.
J. B. WARNER, foreman of the passenger repair shop, at the Chicago & West Michigan Car Works, is a native of New York State, and came to Muskegon in 1854. In 1861 he enlisted in the service as a member of the 8th Michigan Cavalry. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Sun Shine Creek in Georgia, and was held a prisoner for seven months. He was promoted to lieutenant and was afterward made captain. Was discharged in 1865 and re- turned to Marshall, Mich. In 1873 he came to Muskegon and en- gaged in carpenter work until 1877, when he entered upon his pres- ent position.
JOHN DUFFY came to Muskegon from Hudson, Mich., in 1880, and entered the employ of the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad Co., and in August, 1881, was promoted to the position of store keeper at the car shops of the company.
MONROE MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
The Monroe Manufacturing Company, an institution on ground adjoining that of the Car and Engine Company, was organized Oc- tober, 1880, and its officers are Thomas Monroe, President; F. A. Nims, vice President; H. Park, Secretary and Treasurer; M. W. Teeple, Superintendent. The office is down town in the Thayer Lumber Company's office, and Mr. Teeple, an energetic Canadian, has the immediate supervision of the works. The works have been in operation since January, 1st 1881, and the pay roll foots up to $1,500 a month, and number of employes about forty.
The mill is a spacious and substantial structure 82x120, with a shed 112x48, engine room 46x32, with a boiler of 100 horse power from Bay City, with 20x24 inch stroke, the boilers are three in number, with two flues each, and are from Turnbull's Boiler Works
here. The machinery, which is of the latest and most improved pattern, consists of five planers, one large ten inch moulding ma- chine, two exhaust fans, and one siding saw. The capacity is 80,000 feet planed in ten hours, and twenty-five men are employed. The land owned by the company is twelve acres, as that amount of land will be necessary for their lumber yards, etc. The advantages of the site are the same as those enumerated in the case of the Car and Engine Co., and the work is chiefly done for other parties. Lum- ber when dressed shrinks from one-eighth to one-fourth per cent, and consequently saves a corresponding amount in freight, so that the company is pressed with orders by parties abroad, who have lumber passing Muskegon-whole trains of lumber arrive for dress- ing at once.
There is one machine in the shop, that worked to its full capac- ity, will plane 40,000 feet of 12-inch boards in a day, and so ex- hausting is the machine in feeding that a man cannot stand the work without relief almost hourly. The works are convenient to the railway and 750 feet of side tracks to the yard and buildings have already been constructed. They manufacture largely of car roofing and car siding, and the prospects of the company are very flattering. The institution is a model of neatness and is well worthy a visit.
WISELOGEL'S PLANING MILL.
The large mill of W. F. Wiselogel is on the corner of Terrace and Clay Avenues, and has been established since 1877, has two large planers, employs twelve men, and in 1880 did a business of $12,000, with still more in 1881. The proprietor, Mr. Wiselogel, was born in Ohio, enlisted in Co. D, 3d Mich. Inf. in 1862, and fought bravely till close of hostilities, came to Muskegon in 1869, married in 1867 Miss A. D. Dyer, of Albion, Mich. He was elected an alderman of the city in 1882.
WM. JONES & CO.
have a compact little planing mill at the foot of Market street, op- posite the American Hotel, which was established in 1867. The present building was first occupied in 1877, being formerly occupied by Kelly & Cavenaugh. Jones & Co. attend promptly to custom work, and have an excellent reputation for promptness in filling orders.
MUSKEGON IRON WORKS.
In 1858 Alexander Rodgers, one of the most enterprising citi- zens of Muskegon, and foremost in all that can develop the city, arrived in Muskegon. He is a sturdy son of Auld Scotia, and a thoroughly skilled machinist. He soon erected on the lake shore a rough looking building 25x50, in which was conducted the entire business of engine building, repairing, and foundry work, employ- ing but one hand, and that hand himself, in which capacity he filled the various occupations of draughtsman, pattern-maker, moulder, machinist, engineer, book-keeper, errand boy and general factotum. At the end of the year business so increased that more capital was needed, and accordingly Adam Patterson and Jack Dodge were for some time partners. At the end of the third year, owing to a gen- eral falling off in business, Dodge withdrew. In 1861 a foundry 50x70 was erected, with a cupola of 75 cwt. capacity, and the room in the old shop was utilized for more lathes and other machinery. In 1864 Mr. Rodgers bought out Mr. Patterson's interest, also in- creasing his building room and his machinery. This new addition was 80x100, three stories high. About this time Mr. Rodgers per- fected and patented his "Muskegon Spike Roller Edger," which has supplanted all others. His business has continued to increase so that he has now hundreds of workmen. His Tooth Bar Log Tur- ner, or "Nigger Head," is a great invention of Mr. Rodgers, and is in general use, and besides he owns and operates many other im-
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provements in saw mill machinery, among which may be mentioned Rodgers' Patent Head Block. In 1868 the business was reorgan- ized under the name of the " Muskegon Iron Works," with the fol- lowing stockholders: Alex Rodgers, Jr., and Adam, John and Hugh Rodgers. Alex. Rodgers, Sr., having entrusted the care of the works to his sons, is now owner of one of the best appointed saw mills on the lake.
THE FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOP
of Joshua Davies, on Western avenue between 4th and 5th streets, was established in 1857, below the present site, and in two years after in its present place. In it are done all kinds of foundry work and general repairing, employing 15 men with an annual product of $40,000. Mr. Davies is a native of Maine, and came to Muskegon from Wisconsin in 1859.
TEMPLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
This institution, which is popularly known as the Curtain Roller Factory, is situated to the west of Watson & Co.'s Box Fac- tory, not far from the western terminus of Western avenue, and on the lake shore. The business was started in Milwaukee in 1869, by A. F. Temple and a partner, and in 1871 the former came to Grand Haven for material, starting in on his own account for one winter. In the spring of 1872, at the solicitation of E. P. Ferry, he commenced in Montague with Mr. Ferry as partner, and they did a good business, but were burned out twice within six months, and Mr. Temple lost all as he had no insurance. Certain enterpris- ing men, such as L. G. Mason, C. Davis, A. Rodgers and others, formed a stock company with Mr. Temple as manager, built exten- sive buildings, and they are doing a good business. Outside capi- talists, such as Mr. C. C. Parish, of Chicago, have taken stock, also. The officers in 1882 are, A. Rodgers, President; C. C. Parish, Vice President; Frank Alberts, Secretary; A. F. Temple, Superintendent and Treasurer; and John Tait, F. Alberts, Temple, Rodgers and Parish are Directors. They have not declared any dividends as yet, although the business is paying, as they prefer to add to working capital. The shipments average 150 car loads annually, with a pro- duct of about $60,000. The great feature of the institution is that the material costs nothing but the hauling from the mills, as it is mainly the refuse or waste material that is worked up. The capi- tal is $40,000, of which $27,000 is taken. The factory is 150x62 feet, warehouse 75x50 feet, eight dry kilns extending 100x30 feet. They employ 50 to 100 hands; monthly pay roll $2,000 on an av- erage.
MUSKEGON WOOD PACKAGE AND BASKET FACTORY.
This institution was organized Jan. 1st, 1880, with a capital of $40,000, and commenced operations the following June. Charles S. Davis has been the manager ever since the inception, and as usual, has made the- institution a success. The officers are, Mr. Davis, President; C. T. Hills, Treasurer; and Wm. Chrystal, Sec- retary. One of the early difficulties of this institution was to edu- cate the workmen to do their special work, but this has been over- come, and the dexterity of the young people on the ingenious basket machines, specially patented in this factory, is something marvelous. One hundred and seventy-five hands, chiefly young boys and girls, are employed, and some of the latter make as high as $2 a day. The work is all piece work. Baskets of all descriptions are made; also fruit packages, and a specialty is the maple plate for butter, of which 25,000,000 are made annually; also 250,000 peach baskets, and other work in proportion. A ready market is found for all that is produced.
CHAS. S. DAVIS came to Muskegon in 1863, from Boston, and has been largely en-
gaged in lumbering, having been for years a partner of the Hon. L. G. Mason, when they built the Thayer and Blodgett & Byrne Mills, and tested for salt. The partnership was dissolved in July, 1881. Mr. Davis was also president of the Temple Manufacturing Co., and aided largely in developing the resources of the city and county.
NEW BOX FACTORY.
Kirke & Co., of Chicago, in the spring of 1882, removed their box factory from Grand Rapids to Muskegon, at the same time ma- terially increasing its capacity. The new building is situated near McGraft & Montgomery's mill. They expect to consume from twelve to fourteen million feet of lumber annually.
W. G. WATSON & CO.'S PLANING MILL AND BOX FACTORY.
About one hundred and twenty-five hands are on an average employed, with a monthly pay roll of $3,000, and in April, 1882, one hundred and fifty car loads of boxes and prepared lumber were shipped from the Box Factory of W. G. Watson & Co. The men are paid by the hour for their time, and the work generally is on the ten hour system.
In October, 1879, the business was commenced by the present firm, who are from Burlington, Vt., where they have an old estab- lished business of the same nature. That firm is named Pope & Watson, and as they had acquired a large western market, and much of their material came from Michigan, they wisely resolved to locate another institution here, owing to the excellent facilities for manu- facturing at Muskegon. The firm here is styled W. G. Watson & Co., and the resident partners are W. G. Watson and O. M. Field, who are both busily engaged at the factory. The other members at Burlington are W. and D. G. Crane and E. A. Pope. The foreman of the mill is S. Wakefield, also a Vermonter, as are also, many of the workmen.
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