USA > Minnesota > Hennepin County > Minneapolis > History of Hennepin county and the city of Minneapolis, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 86
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At this time the east side post-office was merged into the one on the west side. This was affected by means of a petition presented to the post-office department signed by the citizens residing within the delivery of the office discon- tinned. This is the only instance in the annals of United States postal history, where a post-office has been discontinued under such circumstances. January Ist, 1874, the present carrier system was adopted, requiring the services of eight carriers on
495
BUSINESS OF THE CITY.
both sides of the river. The carrier force has been increased to twelve regulars and two substitutes, who delivered in 1880. 3,611,809 packages of mail of various kinds.
In 1880. the total receipts of the office were $81,883.60, from the sale of stamps, envelopes, postal cards, paper and periodical stamps, post- age on unpaid letters. etc .; the total expenses were $18,234.96, and the net income of the office. $63,148.64. In 1870. the entire force of the office including postmaster was six; at present it num- bers thirty-five, viz: the postmaster, the deputy postmaster, T. E. Hughes; the superintendent of carriers, A. A. Keith; the superintendent of mailing department, R. L. Woodworth; one spee- ial agent, one local agent, fourteen clerks. and the carriers. The office under the present admin- istration is the pride of Minneapolis, and a mon- ument to the 'executive ability of George II. Keith and his efficient corps of assistants.
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CHAPTER LXXV.
BUSINESS OF THE CITY-CITY PROPERTY-PUB- LIC AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS,
Before turning the leaf on the city of Minne- apolis a brief resume of its interests and indus- tries will be given. When railroad communication was deficient, Minneapolis contested the point of the head of navigation with a zealous neighbor, because ready means of communication is a vital point to a city claiming the position of a distri- buting point or centre of trade, white it is nearly as essential to a manufacturing centre. When the issue of the struggle was reached and Minneapo- lis was compelled to occupy a secondary place so far as river transportation was concerned, it seemed that her prestige as a centre of interior trade was forever decided. During the years in- tervening between the settlement of that con- troversy and the present time, however, such im proved facilities of railroad transportation have grown with the country, that the question is
again an open one whether Minneapolis shall not become the commercial centre of the north-west, in addition to her acknowledged supremacy as a manufacturing eentre. The growth of cities and their control of trade are never arcidental, nor always due to natural situation, though that must always be an important factor in the pro- duct obtained. At one time in the early history of America, New York city was over-shadowed by Newport, Rhode Island, and letters from Eng- land were addressed to "New York near New- port." The superiority of the harbor at Newport and many natural advantages, conspired to make it the chief city of the continent. In that case the cupidity of citizens was the cause of the greater growth of the rival city. Other instances of like character might be given. Capital and the disposition to employ it in business enterprises, must in Minneapolis be the determining factors. The problem of transportation is solved by the construction of a net-work of railroads centering at this point, and a survey of the business of the city will show to what extent the facilities are already utilized; at the same time it must be admitted that importation of articles which should be manufactured here, has in- creased in a four-fold ratio to the growth of man- ufacturing capacity. The manufacture of lumber and four will not be included in this resume of business, except in the general summary.
Next to flour and lumber in importance, are the the manufactories of iron, carriages and wagons. Seventy-six establishments are employed in these branches of industry, with a total capital of $811,- 450, and a product of manufactures amounting $1.646,349 during the past year. employing 1210 men, paying out $537,216 in wages. Prominent among these are the North Star, Minneapolis, Variety and Union, which companies are em- ployed in constructing machinery adapted to the extensive mills of various kinds in the city and north-west. The manufacture of farm machinery is extensively carried on, and the wholesale trade in this department is large and increasing. The Minneapolis Harvester Works is the most exten- sive establishment of this kind in the city, fur- nishing employment to a large number of men. An account of this institution is given under the manufactories of the city. Two paper mitts are in operation, employing $310,000 capital and seven-
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HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
ty-right men. paying annually in wages $34.000 ; value of paper product $208,900. Planing mills. sash. door and moulding factories, twelve in all, employ $217.150 capital. 151 men and pay annu- ally in wages $115. 154: product $605,770. Thir- to-four boot and shoe factories employ $152,000 capital. 151 men. and pay annually $60,900 in wages; product $235.660. Eleven brick yards employ $128,500 capital. 120 men and pay an- ally $42.350 in wages; product $93,700, Sixteen printing and publishing establishments employ $151.500 capital.312 men. paying $110.200 ammally in wages : product $370,400. Twenty-five slangh- tering establishments employ $65,500 capital. J01 men. jaying : 13.1sl annually in wages : product $553.129. Stone quarries, ten in number, employ $31,500 capital. 113 men, paying $35.000 annually in wages : product $2-1.000.
The following statisties taken from the annual report of the board of trade for ISSO. gives another exhibit of the product of miscellaneous manufac- turing: Iron works and farm machinery, car- riages and wagons, $3.260,000; furniture and kindred goods. $520,000 : builders goods of all classes. $1.173,000 ; woolen. cotton goods $510.000 : clothing and fishing goods. $725 .- non : boots, shoes, harnesses and trunks. $730,000 : crackers, candies and cigars. $121,000 : linseed and other oils and chemicals. $311,000 : cooperage of all kinds. $$51.000 : soap and fertilizers. $110 .- 000; brown paper. .. 200 brewers and gar rectifiers. >260.000: brick. and manufactured stone. >275,000: printers and book binders. $320,- 0010 : total $10.333,000, exclusive of flour and lum-
Items in regard to the wholesale trade have al- ready been embodied in chapter sixty-six. The growth of this branch of trade has been remark- able, as will be seen from the following compara- tive statement. for the last five years: In 1876 it amounted to $5.373,651 : in 1877. 10 $8,117,275 ; in 1875. 10 -10.106,250; in 1579. 10 $11,001.700 ; 1 1-0, 10 -21.209.200; showing that the trade has more than quadropled during that time. Five important wholesale and retail hardware stores do each an extensive business. viz .: I. D. Wood and Co .; Janney. Brooks and Eastman: A. R. Miller : South and Day, 529 Washington Avenue south, Sinth and Sendmer: 523 Washington Iv- chue south. Four wholesale and retail grocers
do business aggregating nearly four millions. Seven wholesale wine and liquor dealers; seven- teen queensware. drug and oil dealers: ten dry goods, clothing. hats and caps ; seven cracker and confectionery : four agricultural implements: Ten furniture and carpets: twenty-six produce commission : sundry. boots, shoes, leather and hides: also paper and stationery. These com- prise the great bulk of the wholesale trade of Minneapolis, aside from flour and lumber.
The retail trade embraces too mmerons a list for special mention. A few of the most import- ant branches are given. Twenty-eight dealers represent the retail trade in boots and shoes, be- side the forty boot and shoe makers: twenty- six. cigars and tobacco; seventeen, clothing : twenty-eight. confectionery and fruits: twenty-six druggists: thirty-two, dry goods: five fancy goods only: eleven, furniture; fifteen. gents' furnish- ing goods; one hundred and eighteen. groceries; eleven, hardware: forty-two. meat markets ; twenty-one, millinery : twenty-five. watch-ma- kers and jewelers : fourteen, wood and coal; other establishments in proportion. The aggre- gate business of the city, wholesale and retail, including flour and humber makes a grand total of over $50,000,000. Places of amusement are the Academy of Music, Pence Opera House, and two others of inferior grade: billiard saloons. twenty; drinking saloons, one hundred and sixty- four; boarding-houses. fifty-one; hotels, forty- six; restaurants. twenty-three: baths, eight; bar- bers, thirty-six; city hacks, ton; circulating libra- ries, two.
The professions are represented by one hun- dred lawyers, eighty-four physicians, twenty-two dentists, six civil engineers, fourteen music teachers, and clergy as shown under churches. Real estate dealers are fifty-four, loan agents seventeen, insurance agents twenty-six, repre- senting one hundred and twenty-seven compan- ies. Photographers are thirteen in mumber; tax- idermists, three : florists, seven; carvers two : carpenters. builders and contractors, forty-two.
Cooperage is quite an important industry, stimulated by the flouring business, and is car- ried on by several large firms, with modern ma- whinery.
The city property consisting of bridges, city hall. city prison. real estate, fire department
497
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
property; gas fixtures, sewers. water-works, pumps, horses, funds invested, office furniture, ete., is $1,290,639.68, besides the school buildings and property not inelnded. The bonded debt of the eity is $1,101,000; bonded school debt not in- cluded, $96,500. The assessed value (abont two- thirds) of real and personal property in 1880, was $28,013,315. The rate of tax levy for 1879-80. was 16.1 mills.
Prominent buildings; the city hall located on an angular piece of ground at the junction of Nicollet and Ilennepin, is the property of the city. The building is four-stories high with a basement; built of the blue limestone, quarried within the city limits. A large portion of the building not required for city purposes is occupied by the post-office. Tribune, Pioneer Press and others by means of which it proves a valuable investment to the eity.
Other buildings, the property of the city, are not worthy of mention, as ornamental structures and some, especially the county buildings, are in- adequate to the large and increasing demands of business. The fire stations, however, seven in number, located in different parts of the city are of handsome design. Station "G" corner of Washington Avenue and Thirteenth Avenue south, recently completed, cost with the lot $8,- 475.92. "This building is, without doubt, one of the most convenient and complete fire stations in the north-west, and will compare favorably with any in the United States."
The city market mentioned elsewhere, is locat- ed on Bridge square. It was built in 1876. by the present proprietor Harlow A. Gale, under a special contraet with the city by virtue of which he controls and receives the rents during a term of years, for booths, stalls, and locations on the streets and side walks surrounding the building. Ilere hucksters congregate, affording a great con- venience to citizens in the purchase of supplies.
Many business blocks are of such elegant and extensive proportions as to attract the notice of visitors, and are worthy of special mention. 11 will be possible, however, to mention only a few of the most prominent.
The Academy of Music, located on Hennepin Avenue, corner of Washington, is a brick struct- ure of four stories, with a mansard roof, and is an elegant block.
The Andrews block, built of brick, four stories, is a striking buikling, well adapted to the whole- sale trade by which it is occupied.
The Casey block is a magnificent building with forty-four feet front on Nicollet Avenue, in depth 112 feet. It is four stories in height, built of briek, faced with Lemont limestone.
The Eastman block, four stories high, with a front of Ohio sandstone, the Day block, of pressed brick on Washington Avenue, the Domestie block of Ohio sandstone on Nicollet Avenue, the Johnson block, corner of Washington and Hennepin Ave- nues, and many other fine business structures are features of the city.
Hotels. Many of the hotels deserve mention among the fine buildings of the city. The fol- lowing in regard to them is of interest : The first hotel in this city was, as has been previously stated, the St. Charles, built in St. Anthony, in 1850, and kept by Anson Northrup. The Wins- low llonse, in which many thousand dollars were invested, was at one time the leading hotel of the north-west, and a popular resort for southern people previous to the war. After its sonthern patronage ceased, it continued for a time at a loss. but was subsequently closed, to be opened no more as a hotel. The building was used as a tenement for a time and finally became the prop- erty of Macalester College, and is now occupied by that institution. The first hotel on the west side was erected by Anson Northrup, near the falls, in 1853, known as the Minneapolis House. The Nicollet House was built in 1857, by Eustis and Nudd. It was begun in May of that year, and when completed. had a frontage of 110 feet on Hennepin, and 100 feet on Washington Ave- nue, containing about ninety guest rooms, com- modions dining room, office and parlors. The cost of the building was $80,000. The house was under the management of Eustis and Nudd until 1861, when the latter sold his interest to Eustis, who leased the house, the same year, to 1. P. ITill. From that time until 1866 it was conducted by va- rious parties. In that year, F. S. Gilson and Company purchased it, for $40,000. This firm managed the house umtil 1870, when, their in- creasing trade demanding more room, they built an addition, making the house its present size, and giving one hundred and twenty-five rooms. The new part was opened in July, 1871. Two
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HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
years later, the house was leased to MeKibbon anul Vosburg, and in 1878 Mr. Gilson again took it. and continued until May, 1880, when it was leased to John T. West. In 1879 Mr. Gilson made some important changes, building a new of- tice and rotunda. with entrances on Washington Avenue. This house has been, since its first opening. the leading hotel of the city.
Among the remaining forty-five hotels in Min- neapolis, seven of them rank high as houses of the second class: The Clark, Merchants, Wind- sor, National. St. James, Bellevue and Panty. The others are of the various grades. In addi- tion to the hotels. there are a number of public and private boarding houses, that are largely patron- ized by citizens and those sojourning tempo- marily.
In this connection. the places of amusement and their history, with the fine buildings occu- pied by them is introduced.
Previous to the creation of Harrison's Hall, about 1860, the public hall of Minneapolis known as Boardman's Hall. was located on the corner of Washington and Second Avenues south. This building is now the First National Hotel. Har- rison's Hall, with seating capacity of about four or five hundred was used for amusements until 1566. when . W. Pence. seeing the need of an opera house. built and furnished Pence Opera Honse. It is located on the corner of Hennepin Avenue and Second street, and when erected had a seating capacity of seven hundred. The building isof brick, three stories high and basement. The first floor is used for stores, the second floor is di- vided into offices, and on the third floor is the hall. During the summer of 1879. the rear of the floor of the auditorium was raised. giving it an in- cline towards the stage, the seating capacity increased from seven to nine hundred and folding opera chairs put in. It was opened October 21. 1-79, with a stock company under management of John Murray, who was followed in the season of Isso by the Bryton and Carver stock company and called the "Criterion Theatre." Bryton and Carver closed before the season was over. Miss Phes McAllister opened January 21th, 1651. with a full stock company of thirty people and is enjoying mented success.
Joseph Hodges, who came from Providence. Rhode Island, about JS70, concluded that anilise-
ment-going Minneapolitans would support a lar- ger and finer opera house than the city then pos- sessed, and in 1870 71, erected the Academy of Music on the corner of Hennepin and Washing- ton Avenues. The building is 80x113 feet. four stories in height. with a truss roof. The first floor is occupied by stores. the second floor is di- vided into offices, and on the third and fourth is the opera ball. The auditorium seats 1,400 persons, 591 in the gallery and 806 below. Over 2,000 persons have congregated in the hall on several occasions. The structure and ground was pur- chased in May, 1873, by the Derrick Bros. and Thomas Lowry. The present owners are D. Mor- rison. Herrick Bros., and the estate of C. G. Goodrich. It is valued at $150,000, and is the finest structure of the kind north-west of Chicago. Since the ownership of Mr. Hodges, the Academy of Music has been under the management of W. W. and E. W. Herrick.
The University. on University Avenue. is a stately building, occupying high ground, and visible from nearly all parts of the city. It is constructed from native limestone and occupies spacious grounds a little removed from the noise and bustle of the business portion of the city, but convenient of access. The high school build- ing with its towers. is another noticeable feature. built of limestone and Kasota sandstone, situ- ated in the heart of the city.
Among the many private residences on which wealth and taste have been lavished to such an extent as to invest them with general interest to citizens. we can here mention but few. The Judd residence, situated on Sixth Avenue south and Fifth street, is the most showy resi- dence in the city. The grounds ocenpy the en- tire block. and are adorned with beautiful shade trees and landscape gardening. The house is of cream-colored brick, and is princely in its pro- portions and architecture.
The residence of Jesse G. Jones, corner of First Avenue south and Tenth street, is a model of fine taste and beautiful architecture. The houses of C. 11. Pettit, corner of Second Avenue south and Tenth street, and Thomas Lowry, city limits, are of cream-colored brick, and among the finest of the city.
Hon. A. C. Rand has a stately mansion, corner of Seventh street and Sixth Avenue south,
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BIOGRAPHIICAL.
built of asbestine. L. Christian's residence, eor- ner of Fifth Avenue south and Eighth street, that of Ilon. George A. Pillsbury, corner of Tenth street and Third Avenue south. and that of Hon. J. S. Pillsbury, corner of Tenth Ave- me and Fifth street south-east. are palatial es- tablishments.
It is a matter of regret that limited space pre- vents the acknowledgement of the debt due from the citizens at large. to the numerous other wealthy gentlemen who have beautified the city by expending large sums in the construction of fine residenees and laying out ornamental grounds.
Of banks, churches, newspapers and societies such extended notice has already been given, as to leave little of fresh matter for this summary. Of banks. more are needed: the board of trade report placed the deficiency of banking capital, that would be profitably employed, if immediately invested here. at $1,000,000 or more. Of churches, the number and seating capacity appears large, though new structures are now building. Of newspapers, there are more than twenty. The professions are largely and ably represented; room, however, is always found on the "top shelf" for new-comers qualified to assume the position.
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CHAPTER LAXVI.
BIOGRAPHICAL. A AND B.
Judge Isaae Atwater. In few men are more rare combinations of talent required, than in pio- neers of new countries; invincible courage, enter- prize tempered by prudence : promptness and decision united with calm reflection; sagacity combined with enthusiasm, are indispensable requisites. Trades, professions, creeds, in short all that has a tendency to make a snecessful (om- monwealth must be represented as near the be- ginning as possible. Among those who planted the foundation for the future city of Minneapolis, and assisted in laying the corner stone of the state of Minnesota, none contributed more zeal- ously than Judge Isaac Atwater, who arrived at St. Anthony Falls, in 1850. He is a native of Homer, Cortland county, New York, where he
lived and worked on the farm until he was six- teen years of age. which life he then abandoned for the necessary preparation incident to a pro- fession. Ile received a thorough classical eduea- tion, and graduated at Yale college, in 1844, and two years subsequently in like manner graduated at Yale law school. Promptly upon being ad- mitted to the bar he commenced a successful practice of law in New York city, which was continued until his removal to St. Anthony, where immediately upon his arrival, he entered into partnership with Hon. John W. North, and con- tinued the practice of his profession in the dis- triet and supreme courts of the Territory. A few months subsequently to his arrival, he was appointed one of the regents of the state univer- sity of Minnesota, and. on the organization of the board, was made secretary, which responsible position he held for nine years, performing the duties in the most satisfactory manner, and this, too, without compensation. It is proper to re- mark that had if not been for the judicious course pursued by Judge Atwater and his col- leagues in these early days. none of whom ever received any compensation for their services, but on the other hand contributed large sums of money from their own pockets in the interest of the institution, there is no probability that the stately edifice which we all are so proud of would have been built at all, or at least not in this neighborhood. To the first board of regents are the citizens indebted for the inauguration of the the University of Minnesota, at the Falls of St. Anthony. Several liberal citizens, then residents on both banks of the Mississippi, such as Calvin A. Tuttle, Esqr., also subscribed and paid, large subscriptions to enable the regents to commence the erection of suitable preparatory buildings for the use of the university. In 1851, upon the ad- vent of the St. Anthony Express. Judge Atwater, in addition to his numerous other duties, became editor-in-chief of that paper, and conducted the editorial columns with great ability until his eleva- tion to the supreme bench upon the organization of the state government in 1857. His vigorous and able pen soon gave this paper, then published on the extreme frontier, a national reputation, and it was the source of the introduction of thousands and thousands of emigrants into the territory as permanent settlers.
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HISTORY OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.
In 1553 he received the suffrages of the citizens of Hennepin county for district attorney. This office, in a new country, where the inhabitants are concentrated from the four quarters of the globe. is attended with difficulties which are unknown in old settled communities. in 1557 he was elected one of the associate justices of the su- preme court. Ilis elevation to a seat on the su- preme bench necessarily caused him to vacate the editorial chair of the St. Anthony Express. but his habits of industry were contimed in frequent contributions of articles of rare merit, which ap- peared in the leading periodicals of the day. In ISit he resigned the office of supreme judge, in consequence of a determination to visit the l'a- cilie States for the purpose of resinning the prae- tice of law. He opened an office in Carson City, Nevada, extending bis practice to Virginia City, in that state. He remained three years on the Pacific slope, when he returned to Minneapolis, and has since that time continued the practice of his profession, occupying at the same time, for years, a seat in the city council. a portion of which time he was president of the board of al- dermen. For eight years he was a member of the board of education, an important trust for which his knowledge, halats, and interest in schools pe- enliarly fitted him. The three last years of his service with the board. he was president of that lanly. It will be seen that Judge Atwater has bestowed a good deal of his valuable time to mu- nicipal as well as educational purposes, and to his influence and services are the citizens largely in- debted for the healthy and prosperous condition of the matters closely connected with the city af- fairs, as well as the excellent system of schools which abonds in Minneapolis, He is also a val- nable member of the board of trade, which in a measure, shapes the future destinies of the city. Judge Atwater belongs to the Protestant Episco- pal Church, in which he has occupied numerous positions and trusts in the interest of Christianity. and is always ready to bestow aid and assist in the elevation of mankind.
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