USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 69
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400
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
CHAPTER LXIV.
WATER POWER COMPANIES - PRODUCT OF LUM- BER -BOOM COMPANIES-LUMBER MILLS.
Saint Anthony Falls Water Power Company. By an act approved February 26th. 1856, the Saint Anthony Falls Water Power Company was incorporated for the purpose of improving the water power on the east side. The following gentlemen appear as incorporators: Franklin Steele. John F. A. Sanford. Frederick C. Geb- hardt. Richard Chute and John S. Prince. The capital stock was placed at $160,000, divided into shares of $100 each. The act authorized Frank- lin Steele to call the first meeting and act as pres- ident pro tem .. until a president should be elected regularly. The act also provided that the officers of the company should be a president. secretary. treasurer and three directors, with power to in- crease the number of directors by a majority vote of the stock. The first meeting was held in 1856, in New York city. pursuant to a call issued by Mr. Steele, which was attended by all the cor- porators. The officers elected were: Franklin Steele. president; Richard Chute, secretary and treasurer: and Franklin Steele. Thomas E. Davis, Fred. C. Gebhardt. John S. Prince. Richard ('inte and John F. A. Sanford, directors.
A question arose as to the legality and validity of the organization, on account of the first meet- ing being held outside the territory of Minnesota. and in 1857 an act was passed. legalizing the ale- tion of the New York meeting; also allowing meetings to be held in the territory only. In 1866 an act was passed, which gave the corpora- tion the privilege of holding meetings at any place its officers might deem most convenient. In 1871 an act was passed authorizing the company to change its corporate name and changing the offi- cial list to that of president and twelve directors, but made no provision for secretary and treasurer, consequently was not accepted by the company. as it was not passed at its request. In 1875 an amemulatory art was passed, providing that the officers of the company should be. president, ser- rotary, treasurer and six directors, permitting the stock-holders to increase or diminish the number of directors by a majority vote, also allowing
them to issue one or more classes of preferred stock and to carry on any kind of mechanical or manufacturing business. The capital stock was increased to $640.000. and April 16th. ISSO, the whole was purchased by James J. Ilill. acting for a syndicate. The officers of the company are R. B. Angus, president: Edward Sawyer. secretary and treasurer: R. B. Angus, James J. Hill and Edward Sawyer, board of directors.
The Minneapolis Mill Company was incorpor- ated February 27th, 1856. for the purpose of im- proving the water power at St. Anthony Falls, from the center of the main channel to the west side. The incorporators were, Roswell P. Rus- sell. M. L. Olds, George E. Iny, Jacob Elliot. Robert II. Smith, D. Morrison, George K. Swift. C. C. Washburn, Leonard Day. J. N. Newton, B. F. Brown and B. F. Friday. The first officers of the company were, Robert Smith, president; D). Morrison, treasurer, and George E. Huy, secre- tary. The board of directors R. P. Russell, D. Morrison and Jacob Elliot. This company own a number of mill sites located upon the canal con- structed by them, and also operate the lumber mills, known as the Platform Mills. The present officers of the company are. C. C. Washburn. president: W. D. Hale, secretary, and II. 11. Donglass. engineer and agent. The business office of the company is on the canal, at the foot of Sixth Avenue south.
The business to which Minneapolis owed its growth entirely for many years was that of lum- ber. This industry has been extended and is now one of vast dimensions. Situated near the sonthern boundary of the extensive pineries, the falls were first utilized in reducing its logs to lum- ber. Providentially, in these extensive forests lumber for building, and wood for fuel was stored centuries ago, a fortunate provision against the inclemoney of the vigorous climate.
Every ray of sunshine ever shed here has been accumulating in various forms of pent up heat, waiting for the progress of civilization with its subtle alchemy to utilize it for comfort and for the development of the resources of the country. Every log that comes down the river bears testi- mony by the rings of its successive year's growth, to the preparation of centuries for the habitation of enlightened men. Important and necessary as this material is to the welfare and progress of
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BOOM COMPANIES.
the country, it is nevertheless true that the de- struction of the forest which it entails, may at some future day be a source of regret, for forests exereise a modifying influence on climate and rain fall, and besides add greatly to the beauty of a country, easy to destroy but difficult to re- place. Still lumber for building and wood to burn must be had, and Minneapolis is well sup- plied with both.
Twelve lumber mills located at Minneapolis furnished, in 1879, 149,754,547 feet of lumber; in 1880, 195,452,182 feet, 67.058,500 shingles and 31,432,500 lath. The waste from these mills furnishes summer fuel to the citizens and pro- vides a large portion of the wood supply of the city. Employment is furnished by them to a vast number of men, who are seen in the fall in pic- turesque costume, conspicuous by flaming red frocks and buskins, preparing for their winter camps in the pineries. Again they appear on the streets in March, with the earnings of the winter in their pockets, but out of employment until the ice goes out of the river, which usually hap- pens about the middle of April. During the few weeks of interim between the breaking up of the lumber camps and the opening of the river and starting of saw-mills, thousands of idle men spend too freely the hard earned wages of the winter, and often make the streets noisy by dis- orderly earousals. Some are, however, employed in the necessary work of breaking up the ice. a work done annually in the spring, from the falls up two miles on the river, by the use of saws and dynamite to avoid the dangers attending an ice blockade which would be inevitable, where ice forms during the winter to a thickness of three or four feet. After the season opens, sparks fly from the high chimneys, and the lmm of the busy saws continues night and day. The logs, resulting from the winter's work in the upper streams come down in great numbers guided to their respective destinations by the booms of the boom company.
The Mississippi Boom Company, F. Steele, J. R. Brown, Daniel Stanchfield, and their assistant construction company, was chartered February 3d, 1851, for a term of fifteen years, subject to alteration and amendment after five years. C'ap- ital stock was placed at $25,000, and shares at $100. Stock-holders liable between St. Paul and 26
St. Anthony. They were permitted to charge for all logs sorted, rafted and delivered at foot of boom, fifty cents per thousand, besides scalage, or cost of measurement.
The St. Anthony Boom Company, W. Getchell, F. Steele, J. G. Lennon, S. W. Farnham, Ard Godfrey, Joseph Libbey and assistant construc- tion company, was organized, their charges being forty cents per thousand. These companies were subsequently merged into the Mississippi and Rum River Boom Company. On November 29th, 1856, a meeting was held by the projectors of this company, and articles of incorporation drawn up, in expectation of recognition at the ensuing ses- sion of the territorial legislature, and stock to the amount of $9,200 subscribed. March 21st, 1857, the act of incorporation was passed, with capital stock at $15,000. The first board of directors was composed of C. F. Stimson, R. Chute, J. B. Bas- sett, John R. Lovejoy and D. M. Hall. The first regular meeting was held November 29th, 1856 and the following officers elected: Jolm S. Prince, president ; G. W. Buckmore, vice-presi- dent and James A. Lovejoy, secretary. Al that time the limits of the company extended from the limits of the St. Anthony Boom Company four miles above the falls, to a point five miles up Rum river. In 1862, by a legislative act, the limits were extended up the Mississippi to Crow river and down to Nicollet Island. This act took from them all jurisdiction on Rum river. In 1867, another amending aet, enabled them to in- crease their capital stock to $100,000, as fast as improvements in the river were made, and also to condemn lands needed for improvement, and reg- ulate the admission and discharge of logs. In 1868, the limits were extended up Rum river to Cedar creek, and in 1877 extended up the Missis- sippi to Monticello, the present boundary. The offleers of the company are: S. II. Chute, presi- dent; O. C. Merriman, vice-president; James A. Lovejoy, secretary and S. B. Lovejoy, treasurer. Board of Directors, S. II. Chute, O. C. Merriman, James A. Lovejoy, J. Dean and L. Day. The business office of the company is at No. 36, Cen- tral avenne.
In 1850, S. W. Farnham commenced the man- ufacture of lumber in the first saw-mill at Saint Anthony, the one ereeted by Franklin Steele in 1847-8. The equipment of the mill was but one
HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
sash-saw and one sash-machine. Mr. Farnham seems to have got the mills in fair working order. as he states that from 1852 to 1855. the annual production was 1.200,000 feet of lumber. In 1855 Mr. Farnham retired from the lumber busi- ness. but in 1859 he again engaged in it at the present location of the Farnham & Lovejoy mill on Hennepin Island. The establishment then contained one muley saw, two rotaries, one shingle and one lath machine, and furnished employment to fifty men, producing annually from three to four million fort. In 1861 .J. A. Lovejoy became a partner, and the mill was im- proved and new machinery added. From that time until 1573, when the mill was destroyed by fre, the production amounted to from nine to twelve millions annually. The mill was rebuilt and began sawing May Ist, 1874, with two double cirenlars, one forty-saw gang, two double edgers. and other necessary machinery. The mill is in size 65x1 10 feet. and produces yearly twenty-five million feet of hunber. One hundred and fifty men find employment with this company. In connection with the lumber mill the firm have a planing-mill and dry-house located on the corner of Sixth Street and First Avenue north-east, the building and yard occupying one acre of ground. Four planers and other minor ma- chines are operated. driven by an engine of one hundred and forty horse-power. There is also one dry kiln containing four stalls,
The Butler Mill, built in 1877, by L. Butler. was in the fall of 1879 purchased by Eastman, Bovey. and Co. This mill is 50x150 feet. located on the East Side platform. The machinery, con- sisting of one gang of saws, one double circular. one double block shingle machine edgers, trim- mers, etc .. is propelled by a turbine water wheel of one hundred and eighty horse-power. The capacity is 50,000 feet of lumber, 50,000 shingles and 20,000 lath per diem, and the entire out for Isso, amounts to about 13,000,000, The company employs upwards of eighty men and the pay roll is about $5,000 per month. The valuation of the structure is =30,000.
In 1569 Eastman and Bovey bought of the Min- neapolis Mill Company. the Pioneer Mill. located on the West Side platform next to the river. In 1871 the firm was increased by the addition of Il.
D. Eastman. In 1879 Mr. W. W. Eastman re- tired from the company.
The J. B. Bassett and Co. saw mill, located at the foot of Fifth Avenue south, was built in 1870, by its present owners. The building, 80x100 feet. is equipped with one double circular, one forty- saw gang. one shingle and one lath machine, live planers, one re-sawing machine, edgers. trim- mers, and all the fixtures belonging to a first class saw-mill. The motive power is furnished by a sixty inch turbine wheel of two hundred horse power, one hundred and twenty-five of which is used to produce daily 90,000 feet of lumber, 30,000 shingles and 30,000 lath. The valuation of the mill is $60,000, and it requires sixty men to operate it. with a pay roll of $3,500 per month. In con- nection with this mill is a thoroughly equipped planing mill.
Capt. John Rollins built the " Rollins" saw- mill in 1871. and operated it until 1873. At that time it produced from 40,000 to 50,000 feet of lumber daily, using one twenty-four-saw gang, one double circular and one lath machine, run by an 150 horse-power engine. With an increased capacity of 75,000 feet per day. it produced in 1850, about 7.500.000 feet. F. P. Clark, who now owns the mill, purchased it in 1873, and put in a patent trimmer. He employs about one hundred men in mill and yards.
Mill No. 2, on the east side platform was built by Todd, Conner and Gaines, in 1870 -1. About 1876 or 1877, Frederick Butterfield became the owner and allowed it to lie idle until April 1st, 1880, when Cole and Hammond Jeased, and still operate it. Shortly after the date of this lease, W. W. Eastman purchased and now owns the mill. A fifty-four inch, 200 horse-power turbine wheel propels one double fleet gang. two double rotaries, a shingle and lath machine, which man- ufacture daily 100,000 feet of -lumber, 45,000 shingles and 30,000 Jath, requiring eighty men to operate.
The Platform mills are owned and operated by the Minneapolis Mill Company, of which C. C. Washburn is president, W. D. Hale, secretary, and 11. 11. Donglass, engineer and agent. The company control seven of the mills on the plat- form, viz: Pioneer mill producing 15,000,000 feet, of humber annually, with one gang and one cirenlar ; the Day mill having one gang and one
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LUMBER MILLS.
cirenlar, makes 10,000.000 feet per annum ; Jones, one gang and one circular, 17,000,000; Croeker mill, one gang and one circular, 8,000,000; Lin- coln, two gangs and one circular, 18,000,000 ; Pettit, one gang and one circular, 10,000,000. The Morrison mill is at present dismantled and idle.
The Goodnow and Hawley mill was built in 1871, on the site of the mill known as the "Mof- fat Mill," corner of First street and Fourth Avenue north, a small structure with a few circu- lar saws and devoted principally to the manufac- ture of doors, sash and blinds. In 1873 Mr. Mof- fat sold to Mr. Bedford who took as partners Messrs. Boyce and Baker. The mill was by this firm enlarged and new machinery added. In 1875, it passed into the hands of W. C. Baker who operated it until 1878, when he leased it for a term of years to Goodnow and Hawley, the present pro- prietors. The capacity of the mill during a ten hours run is 75.000 feet of lumber, 35,000 shingles, and 15,000 lath. The machinery consists of one twenty-six-saw gang, one rotary saw, one shingle and one lath machine, operated by an engine of 150 horse-power. The firm employs 140 men, and its pay roll amounts to $6,000 per month. In 1879, Messrs. Goodnow and Hawley rebmilt and improved the mill throughout. Its size is 40x80 feet.
Mill No. 1, on the East Side platform, owned by Merriman, Barrows and Company, built by L. Butler, in 1870-71, is run by a 200 horse-power wheel, and gives employment to 150 men, whose pay amounts to $7,500 per month. It was op- erated three years by L. Butler and Company, then passed into the hands of O. C. Merriman and Company, who run it four years, when the present firm of Merriman, Barrows and Com- pany was organized, and look possession. This firm consists of O. C. Merriman, J. S. Lane, L. M. Lane and F. C. Barrows. The daily product of this concern is 120,000 feet, the machinery used being a thirty-eight-saw gang, two circulars, two shingle machines, making 46,000 shingles, and two lath machines making 20,000 lath per day.
In 1872. MeMullen & Company built a mill on the site of their present structure, known as "Saw-mill No. 5," located on the East Side plat- form. Its capacity was 25,000 feet of lumber and
250,000 shingles every ten hours. In the winter of 1878-19 this mill was found inadequate, and rebuilt and fitted with entirely new machinery. This in- creased its capacity to from 80,000 to 90,000 feet of lumber. 100,000 shingles and 30,000 lath every ten hours. The power is furnished by a fifty- four-inch, 250 horse-power turbine wheel. The company employs from 150 to 200 men, and their pay-roll amounts to $8,000 per month. The product of 1880 amounted to 20,000,000 feet of lumber, 15,000,000 shingles and 4,000,000 lath. The firm is composed of Jas. MeMullen and two sons, Albert E. and Wilbur II.
Mill No. 3, on the East Side platform, built by Todd, Haven, Leavitt & Company, in 1873, is now owned by Todd, Martin & Company. The machinery, gang saw, one double rotary saw, one single and one double shingle machine and one lath machine, produces daily over 90,000 feet of lumber etc. The motive power is a 200 horse- power wheel. The company employs sixty men, paying them $4,500 per month.
The "Pacifie Mill," owned by Camp and Walker. This mill is located on the west side, just above the suspension bridge, and is called the largest and most thoroughly equipped Inmber mill in the country. The original mill was built in 1865, by J. Dean and Company, who conducted it until 1876, when the present firm became its proprietors. The old mill was destroyed by fire, October 6th, 1880, and the firm began at onee to rebuild. The mill is in size 66x132 feet, its construction and machinery costing about $85,- 000. Steam is generated by nine two-flue boilers, 22 feet in length, the engine being of 600 horse- power when using steam pressure of eighty pounds. The immense smoke-stack, the founda- tions of which extend fifteen feet in depth, is 150 feet in height, and in its construction, more briek were used, than are in the Nicollet House. The foundations for the main shaft, gangs and circu- lar mills, are of solid masonry, Imilt up from the ledge below. There are two large circular mills, with steam feed and canters, one Wick's gang of thirty saws, and one twenty-six-saw gang, besides the necessary minor machinery, all of modern improved make. The estimated prodnet of the mill, is 150,000 feet in ten hours and 25,- 000,000 feet annually. In 1880, the product of the old mill was 14,036,000 feet of lumber, 15,-
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HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
000,000 shingles and 8.000,000 lath. This firm furnishes employment to 200 men. in the mill and in their extensive logging operations.
The sasha door and blind factory of Bardwell. Robinson & Co., located at the foot of Thirteenth Avenue south, was established by Bisbee. Bardwell & Huntington in the spring of 1875. In the fall of that year Mr. Huntington retired. and in the spring of 1876 P. P. Eddy entered the firm. The following fall Mr. Bisbee sold to S. C. Robinson. and in January, 1877. Mr. Eddy was succeeded by C. N. Robinson, and the firm has since been Bardwell. Robinson & Co. They ent their own logs and have them manufactured into lumber. of which they annually use 2,500,000 feet, besides 1.000,000 feet which they purchase. Their trade, which amounts to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars per year, extends in all directions, and is steadily increasing. They employ one hundred men, paying them three thousand dollars per month.
Camp and Walker's planing mill is on the cor- ner of Fifth street and Fourth Avenue north. Its size is 50x100 feet, contains three planing ma- chines, one siding machine and one rip saw. pro- pelled by a sixty horse-power engine. The engine room and office is a two story brick 18x40 feet. The work done by this mill is exclusively on Ium- ber manufactured by the Pacific Mills, belonging to the same tirm. It furnishes employment to tion men.
Johnson and Hurd's planing mill on Third street and Third Avenue south, was erected in 1866 by Jesse Copeland and Co. Between this date and 1570, several changes were made in the firm. At this time Mr. Johnson purchased of. L. Lingen" felter three-fifths interest in the business and his partners were Jesse and Frank Copeland, who owned the remaining two-fifths interest. The mill was then 50x100 feet, and twa stories high, containing three planing machines, a quantity of sash and door machinery, and a thirty horse-power engine. In 1871. Mr. Johnson purchased Jesse Copeland's interest and enlarged the mill. in the spring of 1576 he purchased Frank Copeland's in- terest and conducted the business alone for a year. In March, 1877, Mr. Johnson formed a stock company, known as S. L. Johnson and Co. In April. 1880, B. C. Hurd having purchased all of the stock except Johnson's, the name became
Johnson and Ilurd. They employ forty men, pay $2.000 per month and enjoy an annual business of about $75.000.
Henry T. Welles built the North Star planing mill. on River street. corner of Third Avenue north-east. in the fall of 1877, and twoyears later Joy and Erb leased it for a period of five years. Mr. Joy manages the North Star, while Mr. Erb superintends Goodnow and lawley's mill. The mill contains three planing machines, one siding saw, one re-sawing machine and one rip saw. A forty-five horse-power engine furnishes power to plane 35.000 feet of lumber per day.
The planing mill of R. B. Langdon and Co. was erected on Third street. near Tenth Avenue south. in 1872. by the firm, and has been in con- finnous operation since. planing. and manufactur- ing monklings. The building is SOx100 feet, has five planers, siding and rip saws, driven by a one hundred horse-power engine. The annual pro- duct is from 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 feet, which requires sixteen men to handle.
E. Moulton and Son's planing mill, corner of Division and Taylor streets. East Divison, is 36x56 fert and was built in 1878. It contains two planers and other machinery necessary to a first- class mill. Employing twelve men, it has a ca- pacity of 70,000 feet every ten hours. Mr. Mout- ton, who was in the business for sixteen years. first built a mill on the island, which was de- stroyed by the tunnel wash-out of 1868.
The St. Louis planing mill, Ninth street and Central Avenue, was built in 1878, by W. (. Stetson and B. F. Nelson. In March, 1879, the firm of Stetson and Nelson dissolved, and Mr. Nelson continned alone until November 1, 1880, when it was leased for a year by the firm of Nelson. Tenney and Co. The structure is 22xs0 feet, all stone and iron. A low pressure one hundred horse-power engine drives four planers, one moulding machine, one siding saw, and one rip saw. The company pays $1,000 per month to twenty-five men, who handle 80,000 feet of humber daily. The firm of Nelson, Ten- ney and Co. are heavy dealers in lumber, sash and doors, occupying a yard containing three squares. Mr. Nelson also owns the large sash factory leased by Smith Parker and Co., who employ one hundred men. This mill isoperated by a low pres- sure, one hundred and fifty horse-power engine.
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PLANING MILLS.
The East Side planing mill, on Fifth street near the depot, was erected by Russell, Tennant and Company, and started up on September 20th, 1878. After this firm had conducted it eighteen months, Mr. Tennant bought out the other two gentlemen, and now owns and con- trois the establishment alone. The building is 16x60 feet, and is fully equipped as a first-class mill, turning out about 1,000,000 feet per month. requiring ten men, whose pay rofl is about $400 per month.
The sash, door and blind factory, and planing mill of Wheaton, Reynolds and Company, Cen- tral Avenue, corner of Sixth street, was built in 1870, by W. C. and H. A. Stetson. The origi- nał building was 30x60 feet, but additions have been made from year to year until the establishment now consists of the sash factory, 40x110 feet, two-stories high, planing mill 20x60 feet, one story, steam department 20x40 feet. dry kiln 18x50 feet, and shed room covering space of one acre; one fifty and one thirty horse-power engine furnish the power. The company em- ploys sixty men, paying them $600 per week. The business for 1880, was $100,000. Their planing mill turns out 80,000 feet per diem.
Jenson, Gilbrathson and Company's planing- mill and sash, door and blind factory was estab- lished in 1880, on Nineteenth Avenue south. The main building is two stories in height, 50 x 100 feet. The engine-room, containing a sixty-five horse-power engine, is two stories in height, built of stone. The second story of this building is used as a drying-room. This mill is fitted up in the most approved style; has elevators, tele- phones, etc. The members of the firm are : James Jenson, business manager, J. N. Gibrath- son, superintendent of factory, and W. H. Stringer.
John Briggs built his shingle-mill on Water Street, corner Tenth Avenue north-east, in the spring of 1880, and commenced operations in June. The structure is 22 x 75 feet, is operated by a forty horse-power engine, and employs seven men to run it. The machinery consists of one shingle-machine, and another will be added.
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