USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. I > Part 53
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The southeast corner of Griswold Street and West Fort Street, on which stands the city's first skyscraper, the ten-story Hammond Building, also pre- sents a story of great growth in value. The land was formerly lots Nos. 51 and 52 of section No. 2 of the governor and judges' plan. The former was purchased by Catherine Godfrey in 1809 for a nominal price and was sold by Vol. I-33
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CITY OF DETROIT
her in 1829 to Joseph W. Torrey for $200. Three years later Torrey sold the lot to Judge James Abbott for $1,000. Margaret MeNeal acquired lot No. 52 in 1808. Following her death, the heirs, in 1815, sold the lot to Jacob Smith, who in 1818 sold the property to Judge Abbott and Robert Smart for a small amount. In 1836 Judge Abbott acquired full ownership for $1,500 and pro- ceeded to erect a home on the two lots. Following his death in 1858 his widow and daughter continued to occupy the home until 1877, when the property was sold to Levi L. Barbour, Elijah Smith and Eliza Jane Chandler. Mr. Barbour constructed a one-story brick building nearly surrounding the Abbott home. Afterward George H. Hammond acquired a long time lease of the premises. He died shortly after starting construction on the Hammond Building, and in 1SS9 his estate purchased the site for $350,000 and completed the building. The land value is now more than $1,000,000.
These are but a few instances to show the development of downtown property.
THE CUSTOM HOUSE
Detroit was made a port of entry by the act of Congress, approved by Presi- dent Adams on March 2, 1799, and in June of the same year Matthew Ernest was appointed collector. The act provided that the collector should receive a salary of $250 per year and 3% on the amount collected. For the first twenty years the port records were poorly kept and it is impossible to ascertain the volume of business done with any degree of accuracy. Reuben Attwater, secretary of Michigan Territory, was also collector of customs in 1810. His report for that year shows the expense of the office as follows:
Salary
$250.00
Fees.
356.50
Commission 46.05
Rent
36.00
Stationery
6.00
$694.55
Two years later Detroit was surrendered to the British. It was reoccupied by the Americans in the fall of 1813, but for several years after the War of 1812 trade relations with foreign countries were unsettled and direct impor- tations of goods by Detroit merchants were light. In 1818 the customs report showed licensed vessels belonging to Abraham Edwards, Henry J. Hunt, Benja- min F. and George B. Larned, and David C. MeKinstry. Seven years later there were more vessels registered at Detroit than at Buffalo. This was largely due to Oliver Newberry, a large boat owner and builder, who was known as "the admiral." From 1825 to the present time there has been a steady increase in the exports and imports. The total amount of exports going from the port of Detroit in the year 1920 amounted to a value of $195,926,156, while from the Michigan district, including the ports of Port Huron and Sault Ste. Marie, it amounted to $343,226,322. As in previous years the largest general class of exports was foodstuffs. In direct exports, automobiles and their parts go to a larger number of countries than any other Detroit produet. They go to every continent and to many isles of the sea. The second rank of Detroit pro- duet for exportation is taken by druggists' preparations, and the third is adding machines. Detroit exports in greater amount to Canada first, followed in order by England, Belgium, France, Germany, South Africa, Argentine, East Indies,
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CITY OF DETROIT
Scotland, Australia, Newfoundland, Spain, New Zealand, Netherlands, Sweden, Philippine Islands, Brazil, Uruguay, Ireland, Japan, Switzerland, and China. Statistics regarding freight carriers on the Detroit River may be found in the chapter on navigation.
In order to obtain a glimpse of commercial Detroit as it was sixty years ago, there are interesting items in the board of trade report for 1860 which should be noted. It begins with a list of "imports and exports" by com- modities, comparing them with 1859. Although the terms imports and exports are used they obviously refer to local receipts and shipments and not to foreign trade. The commodities listed numbered fifty-seven. The largest item was wool, which is now a negligible article in Detroit business. The second largest item was wheat and the third butter. Among the other items were pot and pearl ashes; bark and hides, there being eleven tanneries in the town; coal, total receipts 2,583 tons, all coming in by water; furs, for which Detroit was then one of the principal markets in the country; lumber, lath and shingles, an important trade, Detroit then having seven steam sawmills in operation; oils, with 200 barrels a weck, to supply the lard, oil and coal oil refineries; whisky, with twelve houses in either importing or distilling the liquor. There were three standard brands of this consoling beverage, quoted all the way from 19 to 30 cents a gallon. The record of some of the other prices then prevailing is of interest at the present time. Apples, choice fruit, $1.25 a barrel; barley, lowest price 53c a bushel; corn, 40c; flour, from $4.50 to $7.37 a barrel, the latter price prevailing just before navigation opened in the spring; tallow, 9c a pound; butter, 11c to 15c; eggs in April, 9c a dozen, and potatoes just after digging time in the fall 43c a bushel.
COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONS
In a comprehensive and interesting article upon "Detroit Commercial Organizations," published by the Michigan History Magazine, William Stocking writes:
"For about 70 years commercial organizations have played an important part in the history of Detroit. Formed primarily for trade they have even- tually shared in nearly every phase of civic as well as business life. They have taken the initiative in almost all steps for the improvement of railroad facilities and terminals. They have encouraged and supported the immense shipping interests of the city. They have fostered mercantile trade in all its branches and have been among the chief promoters of the great manufacturing ventures which have made the city famous. They have frequently been heard in advocacy of wise legislation; have promoted local charities, and have participated in every phase of municipal affairs. They have written convincing memorials on many subjects and have issued many valuable reports."
About the earliest reference to a commercial organization is a manuscript memorial found among the papers of Gen. John R. Williams, several times mayor of Detroit. It is dated December 31, 1827, is signed by General Williams and James Campbell, is addressed to the mayor, recorder, aldermen and free- men of the City of Detroit, and cites the need of a hall to house the Mercantile Society as the commercial needs of the city had grown extensively. The re- sponse of the officials addressed was to call a meeting for the evening of Friday, January 11, 1828, to consider the matter. No record exists of this meeting,
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CITY OF DETROIT
but the building plan was evidently not carried out, as the Mercantile Society held its meetings at the Michigan Exchange Hotel.
The second attempt at commercial organization occurred in 1847. On October 19th of this year a meeting was held at the office of B. L. Webb, with Charles C. Trowbridge as chairman and John Chester as secretary, and a com- mittee was appointed to formulate a plan of organization. At a second meeting, held October 20th, the report of the committee was approved and the Detroit "Merchants' Exchange and Board of Trade" was organized by the election of the following officers: William Brewster, president; Charles Howard, vice president; John Chester, secretary; Anthony Dudgeon, treasurer; James Abbott, A. S. Kellogg, Samuel Lewis, Franklin Moore, Henry P. Bridge, Zachariah Chandler, and Frederick Buhl. The committee of reference, to whom all dis- putes between members were to be taken, was composed of John Owen, B. L. Webb, and Chauncey Hurlbut. The object of the board was stated to be the promotion of "just and equitable principles in trade, to correct abuses and generally to protect the rights and advance the interests of the mercantile classes." The first part of the association name was dropped and it continued under the name of the Board of Trade. Meetings of the members for business were held daily. Regular meetings of the directors were held quarterly and special meetings on call of the president, vice president or standing committee. The fees were $2 admission and the same amount annually. The membership at the outset was 134. On March 14, 1848 the organization was incorporated by the Michigan Legislature and granted authority to erect a building of its own. A week later a committee, composed of Zachariah Chandler, Samuel Lewis, George E. Hand, Thomas W. Lockwood, and Uriah T. Howe, issued a call for a public meeting to be held "at the room occupied by the Board of Trade on the corner of Woodward Avenue and Atwater Street, on Thursday, the 23d of March, at 3 o'clock P. M., to hear the report of the committee in relation to the erection of a Merchants' Exchange Building in this city." The legislative bill had also authorized the Young Mens' Society and Old Fire- men's Society to take $10,000 each in the proposed structure. The meeting was well attended and much interest manifested, but when it came to putting up the funds for the new building enthusiasm waned and no progress was made. Another trouble also arose. The principal supporters of the association were the forwarding and commission merchants and they had not learned the lesson of cooperation. For the most part each firm had its own clientele and its own warehouse and they were inclined to pursue business each in his own way. Outside rivalries increased, attendance at the daily meetings decreased and after about two years the exchange was abandoned.
Four years later another board was organized on similar lines, with Charles Howard as president. Meetings were held in the old warehouse at the site of the Wayne Hotel, but with the close of navigation in 1853 sessions were sus- pended and they were never resumed.
ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD OF TRADE
The necessity soon arose for some kind of cooperation among the business men and the regulation of trade in Detroit. The first step toward instituting a new association was a meeting at the office of E. G. Merrick on June 5, 1856, when Samuel Lewis and Robert McChesney were appointed a committee to prepare a constitution and by-laws. On July 15, 1856 the board was finally
.
BIOGRAAKS WATSONS
FULTON MARKET.
EXCELSIOR Bac STORE
OYSTERS LEAMS. LAKE AND SEA FISH
LOENTERS, TURTLES
CAME AND POULTRY
SOUTHEAST CORNER OF WOODWARD AVENUE AND JOHN R STREET IN 1883
S
NORTH SIDE OF MICHIGAN AVENUE, EAST OF GRISWOLD STREET, IN OCTOBER, 1891
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CITY OF DETROIT
organized. Henry P. Bridge was elected president; Duncan Stewart and Robert McChesney, vice presidents; Milo D. Hamilton, secretary; Henry K. Sanger, treasurer; Joseph Aspinall, William H. Craig, George W. Bissell, James E. Pittman, Wesley Truesdale, John B. Palmer and John W. Strong, directors.
The constitution bears date in 1857 and has thirty-seven signatures attached, among them several of the names appearing above, and the following of men who for a long time were prominent in Detroit affairs: Augustus E. Bissell, Elon W. Hudson, James P. Mansfield, Moses W. Field, and Richard Hawley. The board held daily meetings until the close of navigation December 1st and then suspended them until March 1, 1857. They were resumed on the latter date and have not missed a day in the more than half century that has passed since then.
FIRST BOARD OF TRADE BUILDING
On March 19, 1863, Governor Blair approved an act of the legislature incor- porating the Detroit Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce, and the former was the first body to take advantage of its provisions. On June 23d a constitution framed by Joseph Aspinall, E. R. Mathews and Bernard O'Grady was adopted. A joint stock building company was organized out of members of the board and on October 20, 1863 the lot at the southeast corner of Shelby and Woodbridge streets was purchased and the cornerstone of a large building laid June 10, 1864. The building, which cost with the lot $38,000, was first occupied February 22, 1865. This continued to be the home of the board and the chief center of Detroit's commercial activity for fourteen years. With the laying of the cornerstone the membership had reached 200, representing 139 firms. The board has moved three times since then. From February 19, 1879 until 1895 it occupied quarters in a building erected mainly for its use at the southeast corner of Jefferson and Griswold, and still standing, then was housed upon the third floor of the Chamber of Commerce Building on the northwest corner of Griswold and State, and upon the remodeling of that struc- ture for the Detroit Savings Bank in 1920, the board rooms were transferred to the Murphy Building on Congress Street East.
In the course of the first thirty years of its corporate existence the board considered almost every transportation problem which came up, including the proposed ship canal on the American side of Niagara Falls, the enlargement of the Erie Canal, enlargement of the Welland Canal, direct shipments to Europe by way of Montreal, the Sault and St. Clair Flats, the Lime Kiln cross- ing and the 21-foot channel from Duluth to Buffalo. It was the chief local promotor of the Wabash Railroad extension from Montpelier to Detroit, and manifested great interest in numerous other railroad projects.
COMMERCIAL CONVENTION OF 1865
One of the most notable achievements of the Board of Trade occurred two years after its incorporation. This was the so-called commercial convention held in Detroit July 11 to July 14, 1865, which brought the interests of Detroit merchants and manufacturers to the attention of the whole country and many other lands. The first move toward securing this convention was a resolution adopted by the board on March 6th, requesting the president "to address circular letters to the presiding officers of the several boards of trade in the loyal states and British Provinces, asking the appointment of delegates to attend
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CITY OF DETROIT
a convention to be held during the approaching summer for a consideration of the following subjects: Commerce, Finance, Communications of Transit from the West to the Seaboard, Reciprocal trade between the United States and the British Provinces, and such other business as may come before the con- vention not of a purely local or political character."
When the convention met representatives were present from boards of trade in nearly every border state and from many of the Canadian provinces, including one from the Canadian Northwest. There were in all four hundred and sixty accredited delegates, among them many men prominent in national affairs of the time. The "Great Convention," as it afterwards came to be known, was purely commercial in character and was composed of merchants almost exclusively; politics had little play upon the floor of this meeting. Again to quote from William Stocking:
"The subject that attracted most attention was that of reciprocity. Con- gress had already given the requisite twelve-months' notice of its purpose to terminate the reciprocity treaty of June, 1854. The question whether a new treaty should be negotiated in place of the old was a vital one. The discussion was long and sometimes heated. The anger roused by raids from Canada into the United States and by the course pursued by the mercantile and govern- ing classes in Great Britain during the progress of the Rebellion in the South found ample expression. But the keynote to the strongest opposition to a new treaty was the idea which had been industriously circulated by a few politicians that the complete abrogation of reciprocal trade with Canada would result in the annexation of the Provinces, 'Starve the Canadians into annex- ation' was the cry. Mr. James F. Joy, at the close of a powerful argument in favor of reciprocal trade, scoffed at this idea as presenting a motive unworthy of a great nation, and as absurd in itself. He argued that by the adoption of hostile trade measures we should re-open the fisheries and other vexed ques- tions and should 'acquire a war instead of an addition of states.'
"Hon. Joseph Howe, of Nova Scotia, whose speech was the great event of the convention, said 'that for one ton of goods and one young man sent to aid the southern cause they had sent 50 tons and 50 able-bodied soldiers to the north.' One of his own sons had been for two years in an Ohio Regiment and had fought in all its battles. He continued: 'I know that it has been asserted by some and I have heard it said, since I came to this convention, that if the reciprocity treaty is annulled the British Provinces will be so cramped that they will be compelled to seek annexation to the United States. I make the assertion that no considerations of finance, no question of balance for or against them upon interchange of commodities can have any influence upon the loyalty of the inhabitants of the British Provinces, or tend in the slightest degree to alienate the affections of the people from their country, their institutions, their government and their Queen. There is not a man who dare, on the abro- gation of this treaty if such should be its fate, take the hustings and appeal to any constituency on annexation principles throughout the entire Dominion.""'
The result of the open discussion of the question resulted in the adoption of resolutions requesting the President of the United States to enter into negotiations with Great Britain for a treaty of reciprocal commercial intercourse. Many other subjects were considered and discussed by the convention before it adjourned. The meeting resulted in the organization of the National Board of Trade, which held its first meeting in Philadelphia, in June, 1868.
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NEWCOMB-ENDICOTT COMPANY
YATES CLOTHING H
LL
CLOTHING STORE SCOTCH STORE
BOSTON STORE
BOOTS SHOES
STEELE YE HOUSE
A AMBERGSCO
DRY GOODS.
SCOTCH STORE, NORTHEAST CORNER OF WOODWARD AND JEFFERSON AVENUES
523
CITY OF DETROIT
FIRST WATERWAY CONVENTION
The question of improved access to the seaboard was the principal subject of another national convention which was held in Detroit on December 13, 1871, in which the Board of Trade took an active part. The first move for this meet- ing was made by the Iowa Legislature in 1870, when it adopted resolutions for the establishment of continuous water communication between the Mississippi Valley and the Atlantic, and asked the cooperation of the legislatures and people of the country. Detroit was finally named as the meeting place. The City of Buffalo objected strongly to the convention, but it was held notwith- standing.
The Board of Trade has always interested itself in problems of transpor- tation and has been a solid backer of any constructive efforts along these lines. While the board has always been interested in extending the trade of Detroit to new fields, its chief object has been the encouragement of the general produce trade and upon the floor of the association grain is the principal staple handled.
THE MERCHANTS' AND MANUFACTURERS' EXCHANGE
In 1878, owing to the increase of the mercantile and manufacturing interests of Detroit, the need of an organization with broader purposes than the Board of Trade became apparent. Accordingly, in this year, the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Exchange was established. The purpose of this association was stated in its constitution as follows:
"The object of this association is the adoption of a plan for the gaining of reliable information as to the standing of merchants with whom the members do business, in all sections of the state, and for the economical and thorough examination of insolvent estates in which members may be interested; to guard against unnecessary extensions of credit, and to encourage the higher personal and economical integrity in and among those engaged in the various branches of business represented in this association; and for all other purposes consistent with the prosperity and advancement of the merchants and manufacturers of this city."
Not alone was the work of the exchange related to the business interests of its members. It took up subjects of public concern and lent its influence toward helpful legislation and other matters of public nature. The exchange planned a number of things of permanent value. Its traffic bureau was active and efficient and laid the foundation for the present traffic department of the Board of Commerce. It was also a pioneer in the movement to bring interior merchants on visits to Detroit and to take Detroit merchants on excursion visits to the interior. It established a very useful credit bureau, the precursor of the Detroit Association of Credit Men of later days. The exchange was also the first organization in the city to have open forum meetings for the discussion of general public and municipal affairs, and it was noted that many of its members were interested in the formation of the Municipal League, precursor of the present Detroit Citizens' League. Finally it took the initial step toward the coordination of diverse interests in the formation of the Board of Commerce.
FIRST DEEP WATERWAY PROJECT
In the year 1891 the Board of Trade, the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Exchange, and the Vessel Owners' Association called together the assembly known as the Deep Waterway Convention, which was in session December 17
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CITY OF DETROIT
and 18, 1891. This meeting was for the purpose of furthering a movement toward the systematic development of the lake and river channels, and which has been only recently taken up again in larger scope. The problem then was the securing of 20 and 21-foot channels from the head of Lake Superior to the eastern end of Lake Erie, in other words, from Duluth to Buffalo. In order to do this, costly improvements were necessary at four points: first where the falls in the St. Mary's River were flanked by the canal, then known as The Lake Superior & Sault Ste. Marie Ship Canal, or The Soo Canal; second, be- tween the canal and Lake Huron there were serious obstructions to overcome; third, a 20-foot channel was needed at the St. Clair Flats Canal; and fourth, the channel at the Lime Kilns crossing near the mouth of the Detroit River needed improvements. Harbor improvements, lighthouses, fog signals, ranges, buoys and other aids to navigation, were also considered, as well as communi- cation between lake ports and foreign countries. Further description of the deep waterways subject as considered by this and other bodies in Detroit is incorporated within the chapter upon navigation.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
In the 'SOs the organization of a Chamber of Commerce was first discussed in view of the rapidly enlarging business interests of the city. Among the foremost in this agitation was William H Brearly, who advocated the idea in his newspaper, The Detroit Journal, in September, 1891. The first active step was the circulation of a petition for signatures, each signer agreeing to take an amount of stock. The Merchants' and Manufacturers' Exchange endorsed the project, and by October enough names had been secured to warrant further action. A preliminary committee of conference was named, consisting of William S. Crane, J. H. Donovan, Don M. Dickinson, George H. Barbour and William H. Brearly. To this committee were afterwards added W. J. Stapleton, Edward C. VanHusan, Alfred Russell and A. A. Boutelle.
On January 5, 1892 a public meeting was held in Philharmonic Hall and . approval given to the acts of the committee. At this meeting an association was formed and the following officers and directors chosen: George H. Barbour, president; Rufus W. Gillett, Hazen S. Pingree, vice presidents; A. A. Boutelle, secretary; Michael W. O'Brien, treasurer; Magnus Butzel, C. C. Bowen, John N. Bagley, Walter S. Crane, Bruce Goodfellow, J. D. Hawks, William Livingstone, Jr., J. H. Donovan, George S. Davis, Archibald G. Lindsay, Cyrenius A. New- comb, George H. Russel, Edward C. VanHusan, and Luther S. Trowbridge, directors. The constitution, which was adopted with the by-laws drawn up by the committee of organization named before, provided for an association with $100,000 capital stock in shares of $100 each. It was a part of the original plan that $100,000 should be raised by the sale of shares and the amount invested in a site for an office building. A finance committee was appointed and the work pressed. By the first of May, 1892, the amount had been subscribed and a meeting was held in Philharmonic Hall, where a committee was named to select a site. Sealed proposals were invited. Many sites were offered and many more considered and for several months the task of selecting a place and of clearing away the many difficulties continued. Gradually, however, public favor inclined to the Finney Hotel Barn site, at the corner of State and Griswold. (Mention is made in the chapter upon the "underground railroad" of the Finney Hotel barn, wherein the owner, Seymour Finney, hid numerous
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