USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 67
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389
HENNEPIN ISLAND TUNNEL.
The danger was near the large and expensive Pillsbury A, but fortunately its foundations are seeure.
Still another and the most dangerous tunnel, was the excavation on Hennepin Island, begun in 1868 by W. W. Eastman and others, at the foot of IIennepin Island, and intended to extend under the island and under the river to Nicollet Island, where the manufacturing establishments were to be located. Before the work approached completion, and while it was progressing under the river above the island, dangerous percolation began which continued through new and enlarged apertures, but the alarm did not discontinue the work until the laborers were driven out by the rapidly increasing torrent, by which one of their number was swept away into the current below and narrowly escaped drowning, while the re- mainder hurried out by a perpendicular shaft that had been sunk at the head of Hennepin Island.
The power of the falls was thus turned to their own destruction; the sides of the tunnel dropped in and down went the rocks forming the river's bed, with logs and debris in a tangled mass. The alarm was given "The falls are going ont!" and citizens as well as proprietors joined in the effort to stay the destruction. The alarm was well grounded, for the rock bed of the river only extended twelve hundred feet above the falls, having at the time of the settlement of St. Anthony ent its way nearly through the limestone layer. The temporary expedients resorted to were continued, renewed and changed, until by an appropriation from the national government, municipal aid and private contribution, elaborate plans were carried out for permanent preservation of the falls. The companies controlling the water- power made, in 1866, an attempt to protect the crest of the falls by a timber apron, but this was car- ried off in the spring following.
A survey. made in 1869, by Major G. K. War- ren, called the attention of the general govern- inent to the necessity of arresting their destrile- tion. James B. Franeis, of Massachusetts, was summoned to examine the falls and report as to the best means of averting the catastrophe. IIc recommended as a protection against the recess- ion of the crest, a substantial apron of timber with heavy erib-work at the bottom; for the dangerous tunnel, that it be filled for four hundred feet with
a puddle of clay and gravel; against the third danger, the action of frost, that the limestone be kept flooded by low dams.
No time was lost in carrying out energetic measures. A "Board of Construction," appoint- ed by citizens, set about building the apron, and private enterprise and government aid, united in the work. Government appropriations amount- ing to $555,000 were made, beginning in 1870 and ending with that of March 3d, 1879. A concrete wall was laid in the bed of sandstone, beneath the limestone ledge, six feet in thickness at the base and four feet at the top, and forty feet in height, extending entirely across the river, thus effectually preventing any further leakage. The amount contributed by the citizens of Minneapo- lis toward the preservation of the falls was $334,- 500. The whole cost of the improvement thus buried out of sight, was nearly a million of dol- lars, but from it came the preservation of the falls with its one hundred and twenty thousand horse-power and the future hope of Minneapolis.
CHAPTER LXIII.
MILL BUILDING-A LARGE GRIST-FIRST SILIP- MENT OF FLOUR-WEST SIDE MILLS-THE EX- PLOSION-NEW PROCESS-MILLS AT PRESENT.
Vill building began with the old government mill built in 1822. To the saw-mill was attached a single run of stone for grinding corn, for the use of the large number of cattle and horses employed at Fort Snelling. A penstock was constructed from the crest of the falls to the wooden "flutter- wheel" of the old-fashioned mill. The mill oceu- pied the site of the present mill of Sidle, Fletcher, Holmes & Martin. Twenty-five years passed away before further progress was made, when Franklin Steele built the dam, saw-mill and other improvements already mentioned in this history.
Steele's mill was above the location of the pres- ent structures on the east side, and run under a head of six feet. In 1856, the "St. Anthony
390
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
Water-Power Company" was chartered. with Thomas E. Davis. Fred C. Gebhardt and J. F. A. Sandford of New York. Richard Chute and Franklin Steele of St. Anthony, and John S. Prince, of St. Paul. as incorporators. To this company Mr. Steele and Mr. Ard Godfrey, who had purchased one-twentieth of the power, trans- ferred their entire east side water-power. Feb- ruary 27th of the same year. the "Minneapolis Mill Company" was formed. with R. P. Russell. M. L. Olds. George E. Huy, Jacob Elliott, Rob- ert II. Smith and D. Morrison as incorporators.
In the fall of 1851, R. C. Rogers started a small feed and grist-mill in a rude way at the end of the row of saw-mills, built by Mr. Steele on the east side. On the same site. the following year. Mr. Steele built a one-story mill and Mr. Rogers put in two run of stone. one thirty-six and the other thirty inches in diameter. The bolting reel was twelve feet long and thirty-two inches in diameter, and the cleaning machinery . was zine and sheet iron. perforated with a hand punch. What a constrast is here afforded to the immense strnetures now lining the banks of the river. In 1853. Mr. Larpenteur. a farmer, brought in a thirty-two bushel grist which was recorded as a marvel, and the largest grist ever ground at the falls.
The Island mill was completed in 1851, by Captain John Rollins. JJohn Eastman and R. P. Upton. 10x60 in size, three stories high above the basement, and began running with three run of stone, which was soon increased to five. The wheat for so large an enterprise could not be furnished by the surrounding country, and was therefore transported from lowa by boats to St. Paul, and thence to St. Anthony by teams. The flour found ready sale among the thousands of new settlers in the territory, at $9 to $12 per barrel in sacks ; but the bran and middlings were difficult to dispose of. The former was frequently spouted into the river, while the middlings were ground over and sold as " red dog." a low grade of flour, to the Indians. In 185%, a little flour was shipped to the east, the beginning of the great business now carried on so extensively with New England, as well as with all parts of this, and other countries, The circumstances attend- ing the first shipment of flour were said to be as follows : Mr. Getchell, of Champlin, sent a con-
signment of flour to New Hampshire, this being in his estimation a safe. though an awkward method of sending money, resorted to for the want of bills of exchange, and, as it proved sat- isfactory. an order for one hundred barrels soon followed. the first ever received at Minneapolis. The next difficulty was to obtain barrels in which to ship the flour. since there was no barrel maker short of Anoka: this man. a "wet cooper," split out the staves by hand, and manufactured very uncouth packages, compared with modern coop- erage. The packing of flour, too, was by old fashioned prod or mangle, and the barrels brand- ed " Minnesota Mills " were sent on at an ex- pense of $2.25 per barrel. In 1863. improvements were added, including cooper-shops, additional runs of stone, and the modern style of packers. In 1869. the mill was rebuilt, and in 1870, the first flour. made from middlings, purified as well as could be done then, was shipped to New York. To the surprise of the shippers, it sold for fifty cents per barrel more than their best brands. In 1871, Brown and Martin became proprietors of the mill. and under their management the mill was remodeled and improvements made in the machinery. Eight middlings purifiers were ad- ded, and the mill was just ready to start, with a full supply of wheat in store, when, March 5th. 1872, the very night before they expected to start, the mill was borned to the ground without in- surance. Thus ended the first effort to man- ufacture flour according to the modern pro- cess, just on the eve of its success.
- Three other mills were erceted on the East Side, viz: the " River Mills." afterward called the "Farmers' Mill, " built in 1856 by B. C. Mor- rison and N. M. Prescott. a grist mill with first two, then three and afterward four run of stone. which was burned after a few years ; the "St. Anthony Mill," built in 1861 by Messrs. Stam- witz and Schober, burned about three years after its completion, while the property of Peter Schussler and Company : the "Summit Mill." built on the island in 1865, by Messrs. Erb and Kassube, with four run of stone. This mill did not burn but came to an untimely end by reason of its foundations being undermined by the tun- nel before mentioned.
We quote bere from a valuable series of articles in the "North-western Miller," written by F. E.
391
THE MILL EXPLOSION.
HIesler, to whose researches there published, we are indebted for many facts relative to the his- tory of the mills at Minneapolis. IIe writes : "So perished the mills of the East Side or St. Anthony, the pioneer structures that fathered the industry which has since grown to sneh vast proportions. What a marked change from the paltry shipment of ten barrels of unbranded flour sent to the seaboard by way of team and river, to the thousands of barrels, under brands whose names are legion, packed to-day and landed in three short weeks in the European markets. One run of stone then made one hundred barrels in twenty-four hours; now twenty-two to twenty- five barrels per run is considered an abundant yield. Then the dark, uncomely straight flour was diffienlt of sale; now the bright, snowy. patent process, world-wide in fame, is eagerly sought in every land, commanding the highest price in the markets of the world, and bringing millions of dollars annually to our coffers."
Milling on the west side began as soon as the "Minneapolis Mill Company" made preparations by a dam, sluices and other appliances, for utiliz- ing the power. This company was organized, as we have seen, in 1856, and immediately began their improvements. A coffer dam was built to hold the water in check, and the solid limestone rock, which forms the bed of the river, varying from eighteen to forty feet in thickness, was blasted out, and the canal thus formed was extended to "Cataract" street, now Sixth Avenue sonth, a distance of over three hundred feet, sey- enty feet wide and fourteen feet deep. The first mill on the west side was built by Messrs. Eastman and Gibson, commeneed in 1859, and called the "Cataract Mill." It was first built three stories in height, from the stone of the canal, with four run of stone, but has since out- grown the first modest pretensions. It has been operated since the first owners, by Welles, Gardi- ner, by Gardiner & Barber and now by D. R. Bar- ber & Son.
The "City Mill" was built by Messrs. Perkins & Stirn in 1860, a two-run, frame mill, two stories in height above the canal, and near the site of the original government mill. This mill did a large custom business, and passed through several hands, but in 1879, it was destroyed by fire.
The "Union Mill" was built in 1863, by Henry
Gibson. It was a limestone structure, with four run of stone, but has been several times en- larged until it bears little resemblance to its first appearance.
In 1865 the canal, made in 1857, was extended six hundred feet further down the stream, giving room for many new mills, and increasing the fall at the lower end of the eanal to forty-five feet.
In 1866, the "Arctic Mill," with three run of stone, was built by Perkins & Crocker; the "Min- neapolis," by Frazee & Murphy, with six run; the "Taylor" mill, by Taylor Brothers, with six run, and the mill now called "Washburn B," with eleven.
The "Dakota" was built in 1867, by Messrs. Russell & Iny, a frame structure still standing, and operated by Il. F. Brown and Company, the only wooden flouring mill in Minneapolis. The following mills were soon built: The Zenith, Pal- isade, Holly, Galaxy, Hennepin, Immmboldt, Washburn A, Anchor, Pettit-Robinson, Excel- sior, Washburn B addition, Morrison, and Model. The North Star was built in 1870, the Empire in 1872. The building of the Standard, Crown Roller, Northwestern, Trades, and the rebuilding of the Washburn A and Washburn C took place in 1879. The Galaxy, first built in 1871, was rebuilt in 1875, and again four years later.
THE EXPLOSION.
The event which is most famous in the history of the mills of Minneapolis, and which called the attention of the whole civilized world to the milling enterprise of this city, was the terrible explosion of May 24, 1878, attended with great loss of life and property.
At seven o'clock in the evening, soon after the day-hands had given place to those employed at night, a terrific explosion took place in the Wash- burn A Mill, which shook the solid land like an earthquake, breaking thousands of dollars worth of glass in the city, and felt distinctly at St. Paul, ten miles away. The first shock was followed almost immediately by a second, and in a trice the whole vicinity of the mills seemed in a blaze. The rapidity of the flames was so great that the few inmates, even if not covered with the debris, could not escape, and, in the Washburn A, every man perished, to the number of fourteen. When investigation could be made, it appeared that the
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HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
entire walls were thrown down outwardly by the conenssion. which was said to be due to the ex- plosive character of the dust of the mill mingled with common air, when brought in contact with flame. Explanation from the occupants of the mill could not be obtained. since only their man- gled and charred bodies remained a silent testi- mony to the horrors of the catastrophe, and their faithfulness to duty was proven by the positions in which the bodies were found. The testimony of witnesses outside, or in neighboring mills, was to the bursting out of fire on the lower floor just before the explosion. and appearances indicated that the victims of the disaster were fighting the fire at the time the fatal explosion took place.
The disaster was not confined to the Washburn 1. but communicated to the other mills in prox- imity, with loss of life and great damage. Five of these were destroyed in addition to the Wash- burn A, and five more were damaged. Eighteen persons perished, fourteen in the Washburn Mill. one each in the Zenith, Diamond and Humboldt, and one outside the mills. The mills destroyed were the Washburn A. called the "Big Mill," 100 by 138 feet on the ground and seven and a half stories high, filled with the most approved machinery and having forty-one run of stone; the Humboldt, eight run: Diamond. six run: Pettit, Robinson & Company, fifteen run; Ze- nith, six run; Galaxy, twelve run. The dam- aged mills were the Washburn B, badly shaken up; City, a wooden mill, considerably shattered: Morrison, slightly disarranged: Dakota, consid- erably disturbed: Palisade. much damaged.
The scene of the disaster was a tangled mass of debris, not one stone left on another. The total loss was estimated at nearly a million dol- lars.
The sympathies of the citizens were aroused, and liberal contributions were made to a relief fund for the widows and orphans, caused by the disaster. Many thousand dollars were paid over to the families of the victims, and the charity and liberality of the citizens was demonstrated.
Mill owners were here taught a lesson in regard to the management of their mills, and the risk to which they had unconsciously been exposed. In the new and larger mills which have since covered the scene of disaster, appliances have been intro- duced to remove the dust from the mill, and this
prevent the reeurrenee of a similar eatastrophe.
As the present process of milling differs so materially from the old method of grinding by mill-stones. it will be attempted here to give a description of the new process as it appears to a tyro, avoiding the use of technical terms and without minute descriptions of the machines or processes. At the same time, taking one of the many mills as a sample, we shall attempt to ex- hibit the amount of business in the different branches connected therewith. to which milling gives rise. The basis and cause of the reforma- tion in milling was economy. It was found that by the old method of erushing the wheat between mill-stones, the rough treatment of the grain broke up the bran and mixed a portion of it with the flour, which with the dirt adhering to the kernel and in the crease and the germ, not only colored the whole product but compelled a large portion of it to be sacrificed at low prices. The milling reform began in Hungary under the name of the Hungarian process. Their plans were im- proved on in this city and improvements are still making in methods and machinery. Milling, as at present carried on, can only be said to be three years old; indeed, some improvements are now for the first time making in the new mills in process of construction. The method. in brief, is as follows:
The wheat at Minneapolis is purchased by the Millers Association, an organization formed by the various millers for mutual profit and protec- tion, when it is taken in and weighed at the elevators of the different companies. The cleans- ing process is the first step, consisting first of large separators by which straw and foreign matter is removed; second, it is passed through two oat and weed extractors, and through a cockle ma- chine: it is next scoured and then passed through two sets of brushes, after which it is brought to the crushing machinery, which consists first of corrugated rollers. The first reduction or break. aims to crack open the berry without breaking it in fine pieces. It may be stated here that the outside coating or bran is tougher than the berry itself. and by careful breaking of the kernel it remains nearly entire and can be removed. which could not be accomplished if the kernel was crushed at once. It is now passed through what is called scalping reels by which any remain-
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ROLLER PROCESS.
ing dirt and the beard is removed. A little flour comes out at this stage, of a very low grade, called red-dog. the market for which is whotly in foreign countries, and among the Indians. It next passes to the second reduction. by corru- gated rollers set closer, when it is broken again. At this stage three separations are made: some of the middlings, the finer portion, go to the purifiers, and the coarser to the third reduction, while some flour is saved, about live per cent, of a quality similar to the okt process flour. At the third reduction, still by corrugated rollers, four grades of middlings are separated called accord- ing to their coarseness, No. 1 coarsest. No. 2. No. 3, No. 4, and some flour is obtained of a better quality than the flour from either of the fore-going reductions, and called baker's.
The fourth break is a repetition of the process of the third with a similar result. At the fifth reduction only three grades of middlings are separated, No.'s 2, 3, and 4, as the successive
eductions and separations have removed the coarser No. 1. The flour obtained at this point is baker's, but of a poorer quality than at the last stage. At the sixth and last reduction the middlings are all removed and are of the grades 3 and 4: the flour obtained here is of a lower grade than the last, Init higher than the red-dog which was obtained after the first reduction. What remains is the bran. Thus far the process has been mainly one of cleaning and preparing the middlings for the manufacture of flour. The middlings are the best part of the wheat, and from them is now made the choice flour of market. The flour hitherto obtained has been only that part which was too much pulverized and therefore sifted out in preparing the middlings for the milling yet to come. Each of the four grades of middlings is purified separately by different machines, adapted to each grade, pass- ing through four sets of machines. They are next sent to smooth rollers, of chitted steet, and highly polished, in order to remove small par- ticles of the germ and bran that may remain, and to pulverize them finally. The flour now goes to the bolting chests and the product is the best patent flour. Any residue that has not been thoroughly reduced is sent to the old-fashioned mill-stones and the product, if from the No.'s 1 and 2 middlings, is a good patent flour, if from
No.'s 3 and 4, second grade patent. This gives in plain language the plan of the new milling process.
We will now attempt to give an idea of the business by describing the plan of operations laid out by C. A. Pillsbury and Company in con- nection with the Pillsbury A mill, now nearly completed. From the daily product of the mill, forty cars of flour and ten of bran are anticipat- ed, which will form three full trains of cars with sixteen or seventeen in each train. In running to New York, five days at least is required by a freight train, and fifteen trains will therefore be required constantly to convey the product of the mill to New York, besides the returning of cars after their freight is discharged. in addition to this, a greater number of cars with wheat must arrive daily from the country to supply the huge monster with his daily food. The company will own and operate their own engine and train for removing grain from their elevator and transfer- ring cars to different roads. The ears will be constructed according to a new plan, shaped like a hopper for unloading the grain by a spout. Two hundred coopers, with modern machinery, will be required to manufacture barrets for the mill.
As an instance of rapid transit and prompt business management, we report the following in reference to the Washburn A mill, the largest flouring mitt in the workl. A contract for four to be delivered in Liverpool was to be filled at a certain day. but unforeseen difficulty prevented its manufacture until it seemed nearly impossi- ble to fulfil it. In the emergency, arrangements were made with a through line to run a special train to New York without interruption, and the managers of the Inman line of steamers for Liv- erpool were ready to receive the freight on its ar- rival. By this means it reached New York in four and one-half days from the time of its man- nfacture. the steamer made the passge in eight days, and the seventeenth day from Minneapolis, the flour was sold as bread in Liverpool and Lon- don. Twenty-nine mills are now in operation in Minneapolis, or building, with a daily capacity of 25,225 barrels. The foreign demand is large and flour is shipped to all parts of Europe and even to Alexandria. Egypt, and South America. The first exporting of flour was attempted in 1878,
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HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
and its superiority procured a sale of 109.183 barrels during the first year: in 1879, the export was increased to 112.595 barrels. and in 1880. to 769.442 barrels.
The Pillsbury . A " Mill. C. A. Pillsbury and Company. who already operate several large mills at the falls, are just pressing to completion their "A" mill. which. it is anticipated. will have greater capacity than any other touring mill in the world. It is located in the East Division, corner of Main Street and Third Avenue sonth. and is built of stone, with seven stories and an attic. The dimensions are 115 by 175 feet. and the height from the bottom of the wheel pit to the roof is 187 feet. Work began on the mill in March. 1579. and about Jume Ist. 1581. one half of the mill will begin operation. The entire mill it is expected. will be completed January 1st, 1882. It is building under the management of William F. Gnnn. engineer. James Pye. assistant engi- meer. A canal was built at great expense by the new Water-Power Company. to supply the power for the mill. for which C. A. Pillsbury and Com- pany pay an annual rent of $5,000. The motive power consists of two vietor turbine wheels. of twelve hundred horse power cach, and are so placed as to secure fifty-two feet head: the wheels are so adjusted as to be operated either combined, or by the separate power of one. The building is heated by two large steel boilers, and is the most complete in all its appointments. of the mills at Minneapolis. Much taste is exhibited in the elegance of its architecture and internal finish. The entire cost of the mill, when completed, will be about half a million dollars, and its capacity is estimated by Engineer James Pye, at about Four thousand barrels per day. though reported by the Board of Trade at four thousand eight honderd. It will have four hundred pairs of rollers, two hundred middlings purifiers of the Smith pattern. twenty run of stone, two hundred bolting reels, and all other machinery in propor- tion, and is provided with every convenience that modern improvement can suggest. It comerts by a branch with the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway. two tracks running in front and three in the rear of the mill. About one hundred and fifty men will be employed in the legitimate business of the mill. besides the out- side industries to which it contributes employment
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