USA > Minnesota > Stearns County > History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 124
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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
council unanimously voted that a street be laid out around Lake George and directed the city surveyor to make a survey and plat.
On March 2, 1885, the Water Power & Mill Company presented to the council a definite proposition for aid in the construc- tion of a dam across the Mississippi river at St. Cloud and for the purpose of im- proving the water power. At a subsequent meeting the proposition referred back to the company to be amended so as to fully conform with the resolutions passed by the council December 19, 1883 and adopted by a vote of the citizens January 15, 1884. On March 13 the company submitted an amended proposition whereby they agreed to construct a dam and canal within three years from the date of the acceptance of their proposition, and in accordance with the provisions, conditions and limitations imposed by the resolutions of the council passed December 19, 1883, and in accord- ance with the plans, specifications and drawings thereof submitted, on condition that the council would issue and negotiate the bonds of the city in the sum of $100,- 000 in the manner provided by the resolu- tions of December 19, and also to vacate for the use of the company certain streets and alleys designated in their proposition. After many delays, the proposition was finally accepted on August 6, 1885.
At the annual charter election hield April 6, C. F. Macdonald was elected mayor and John M. Rosenberger treasurer. The alder- men elected were: 1st ward, Wm. Powell; 2nd ward, John Coates; 3rd ward, B. Rein- hard; 4th ward, Jas. R. Bennett.
1885-86-President of the council, Wm. Powell; city clerk, H. G. Wire.
Mayor C. F. Macdonald, having accepted a position under the United States gov- ernment and being prohibited under the rules of the federal government from hold- ing any municipal office while so employed, tendered his resignation on August 17th. The resignation was accepted, and a spe- cial election ordered to be held August 31 for the purpose of electing a mayor to fill the vacancy. The election was duly held, and David T. Calhoun was elected mayor for the unexpired term. On June 16 the council passed an ordinance re- naming the streets and avenues of the city.
St. Germain street with too much of the St. Cloud and Maine Prairie road, so called, lying within the limits of the city were united as one street and designated as St. Germain street. Fountain Place and Park Place were united as one street and desig- nated as First street north. The street surrounding the land upon which the court house is located was designated as Court Square. St. Augusta street was designated as Second street north. LeRoy street and that part of the street unnamed along the north line of section 14 to Walnut street and Rengal avenue were united as one street and named Third street north. Spring street and Walnut street and that part of the street unnamed extending from Walnut street along the north line of sec- tion 14 to the east line of section 10 and Smith avenue were united as one street and named Fourth street north. Cable street and Diamond street, to Twenty-first avenue. Waite street to Twenty-second avenue. Searle street to Twenty-third avenue.
The petition of J. A. Lahr, Peter Becker, Nick Lambert, Mike Orth, J. D. Kowalkow- ski and fifteen others to organize a hose company to be known as St. Cloud Hose Company No. 2 was presented to the coun- cil. The petition was granted and the petitioners were authorized to form such company to constitute a part of the fire department of the city.
The annual election, held April 5, 1886, resulted as follows: Mayor, D. T. Cal- houn; treasurer, John M. Rosenberger; aldermen, 1st ward, C. F. Wheeler; 2nd ward, A. L. Cramb; 3rd ward, J. E. Henne- mann; 4th ward, P. R. Griebler.
1886-87-John Coates was elected presi- dent of the council and H. G. Wire city clerk. On April 14, 1886, St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids were swept by a most de- structive cyclone, killing many citizens and destroying hundreds of thousands of dol- lars worth of property. At the request of a mass meeting of citizens, the council ap- propriated $5,000 in relief of the sufferers.
The contract for building a new solid brick fire house on Seventh avenue north was awarded to Kropp Bros. for $2,675. An application from John Callicott for the privilege of putting in an electric light plant for the purpose of furnishing elec- tric light to the citizens of St. Cloud was
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received by the council November 6, 1886. Permission was granted on condition that the work be commenced prior to June 1, 1887, and continued thereafter in good faith.
On March 22 the St. Cloud Electric Light and Power company, in a communication to the council, after reciting that the cor- poration was duly organized under the laws of the state and that the stockholders were resident freeholders and business men of the city, stated that they would present at the next meeting of the council a proposition to furnish electric light for the city and its inhabitants, if the council rescinded its action of November 6th, in which it granted to John Callicott the privilege of establishing an electric light plant in the city. After considerable dis- cussion a motion to rescind was carried by a vote of 6 to 5.
A number of citizens considered this action of the council as injurious and det- rimental to the city's reputation and in- terest, and protested against the repudia- tion of a contract which would be a stigma and reproach on the good name of the city, and in a petition demanded that so much of the proceedings of March 22 as related to this matter be expunged from the rec- ords. This was done by the council by a vote of 8 to 3.
The Little Grant Engine Company, which for twenty years had been the city's band of enthusiastic and efficient fire fighters, reported that the organization had disbanded January 1, 1887. After the water works plant had been constructed in 1884, hose and hook and ladder companies were organized, and the necessity for the en- gine company ceased to exist. The old engine, which had done years of service, was sold. A new engine house was con- structed, and new fire apparatus installed.
The engineer for the St. Cloud Water Power & Mill company, the city engineer and the city's consulting engineer reported that the Water Power & Mill company had constructed the dam and canal with their appurtenances in compliance with the terms of the contract made between the City of St. Cloud and the company, and recommended the acceptance of the work. This was done, and the final amount still due the company under the contract was paid, and thus closed one of the most im-
portant transactions in the history of the city.
The building of the dam across the Mis- sissippi raised the water in the river to such an extent that, in order to prevent damage to the water works plant, it was necessary to raise the pump house and pumps at the upper levee seven feet. The adjustment of the damages was submitted to arbitration. The arbitrators awarded the city $1,517.60, which the company paid.
The St. Cloud Land Improvement Com- pany presented to the city a deed for a lot on the canal for the use of the city for a water works location, and a lease of 150 horse power was presented by the Water Power and Mill Company. Both were exe- cuted in compliance with a contract be- tween these companies and the city dated August 3, 1885.
The council submitted a bill to the legis- lature, amending the city charter so as to give the council authority to levy special assessments for public improvement pay- able in installments.
On March 7, 1887, C, P. McClure and others petitioned for a street car ordi- nance, which was referred to the commit- tee on ordinance. On April 9 the council granted to the St. Cloud City Street Car company the exclusive right and privilege of constructing and operating a single or double track for a passenger railway line extending from the intersection of Eighth avenue north and Second street to Ninth avenue, thence south on Ninth avenue to St. Germain street, thence east on St. Ger- main street to Fifth avenue and thence south on Fifth avenue to Seventh street. The cars to be used upon this line were to be "propelled with animal or other mo- tive power except steam." Animal power was used for a number of years, and no cars were permitted to run at a greater rate of speed than six miles per hour, and "while cars were turning corners or cross- ing bridges the horses or mules attached thereto were not to be driven faster than a walk."
The annual charter election was held April 4. The total vote cast was a little more than 760. David T. Calhoun and John M. Rosenberger were elected mayor and treasurer respectively without opposition. The aldermen elected were as follows: 1st
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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
ward, M. J. Nugent; 2nd ward, L. R. Swift; 3rd ward, Andrew Kraemer; 4th ward, Peter Brick.
1887-88-A spirited contest for president of the council resulted in the election of John Coates on the seventeenth ballot. H. G. Wire was unanimously elected city clerk.
This year marked the beginning of street sprinkling in St. Cloud. The committee on streets and alleys was authorized to con- tract for the work, the cost to be assessed to the property benefited. The territory covered was St. Germain street from Ninth avenue to the Mississippi river, First street south from Fourth to Seventh avenue, Sixth and Seventh avenues from the rail- road track to First street south and Fifth avenue from St. Germain street to the lower ravine. Two teams were engaged for the work, and the season was to extend from May 1 to November 1, or for a period of six months.
The St. Germain street sewer was ex- tended from a point between Fourth and Fifth avenues on St. Germain to Ninth ave- nue, on Eighth avenue from St. Germain to Court Square, on Sixth and Sev- enth avenues from First street north to First street south, on Fifth ave- nue from First street south to a point opposite the middle of Block E, and on Fourth avenue from St. Germain street to First street south. The total linear feet was given as 4,268, the total estimated cost at $12,323.75, and the average cost per foot $2.89. The cost was assessed to the benefited property. Bids were advertised for and received, and the contract let to Sykes & Brooks of Minneapolis.
A joint committee composed of members of the council and the chamber of com- merce, reported that it was the judgment of the committee that it was for the best interests of the city that the water works be offered for sale, and recommended that the council advertise for proposals for the purchase of the plant. The recommenda- tion was concurred in, and proposals were called for and received. The bid of $20,- 000 by Sykes, Phelps & Brooks was ac- cepted, and an ordinance providing for the sale of the plant to them and for its exten- sion, and defining the rights, privileges and powers of the company was adopted by the council.
The street commissioner was ordered September 5 to commence work on the pro- posed driveway around Lake George. On October 3 a plat of the boulevard was ap- proved by the council. On November 7 the city attorney was instructed to insti- tute condemnation proceedings to obtain title to the real estate in and about Lake George necessary for the proposed im- provement.
The annual charter election was held April 2, with the following result: Mayor, William Westerman; treasurer, Charles Dueber; aldermen, 1st ward, Wm. Powell; 2nd ward, John Coates; 3rd ward, B. Rein- hard; 4th ward, John Wimmer.
1888-89-The council was organized with John Coates president and H. G. Wire city clerk.
The Gas and Electric Light company completed its electric light plant and en- tered into a contract with the city to fur- nish twelve arc lamps of 2,000 candle power at $125 each per year, additional lamps to be installed at the same figures.
The bonds of the city in the sum of $15,- 000, authorized by Chapter 146 of the spe- cial laws of the state for the year 1883, were pledged to the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway company to reim- burse the company for sums advanced in acquiring depot grounds, and also to cover advances to be made by the company in providing additional right of way for a spur track to the dam. During the summer of 1888 the company expended $3,961.89 for right of way for the spur track and $11,- 038.11 for depot grounds. The $15,000 bonds were negotiated, and the company was paid.
The charter of the city was revised by the council and submitted to the legisla- ture. Among other things it provided for establishing the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh wards in Benton and Sherburne counties. The bill was passed in the spring of 1889, and the annual election in April was held under its provisions.
The annual charter election, held April 1, resulted as follows: Mayor, William Westerman; treasurer, Charles Dueber; aldermen, 1st ward, F. H. Dam; 2nd ward, A. L. Cramb; 3rd ward, Sebastian Reich- ert; 4th ward, A. Vogel; 5th ward, Martin Connelly; 6th ward, J. P. Wilson; 7th ward, James Murray.
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For Alderman Kraemer's unexpired term for alderman for the third ward Henry Kammermeyer was elected, and for Alderman Brick's unexpired term for alder- man for the fourth ward P. J. Ryan was elected.
The legislature passed an act consoli- dating and uniting the St. Cloud School district and the St. Cloud Independent School district, provided that a majority of the votes cast at an election held for the purpose was in favor of the proposition. The question was submitted at the annual election and carried by a large majority, the vote being 1,051 for and 254 against consolidation.
The matter of issuing $80,000 bridge bonds was also submitted at this election and carried by the following vote: For, 1,001; against, 374.
1889-1890 - John Coates was again elected president of the council, and Peter Brick elected city clerk.
The bonds of the city to the amount of $80,000 were issued for the purpose of building a bridge across the Mississippi river at Tenth street south. The city engi- neer prepared plans and specifications for the proposed bridge, which were submitted to Col. J. T. Fanning, a consulting engi- neer, and approved by him; and on Nov. 13, 1889, the contract for building the bridge was awarded to the St. Cloud Bridge Company for the sum of $81,876. The work was to be completed June 1, 1890.
The city attorney was again instructed May 14 to commence condemnation pro- ceedings to obtain title to the lands in- cluded in the Lake George boulevard im- provement. The city engineer was di- rected to prepare the necessary plat and descriptions for the special assessment, and the ordinance committee was ordered to prepare a grade ordinance for the boule- vard driveway. On May 27 the plats and descriptions prepared by the city engineer were adopted by the council, and the im- provement designated as improvement No. 7. Proposals were called for, and on Octo- ber 11 the contract was awarded to W. W. Murphy. On October 18 new plans, specifications and descriptions for the boulevard property and for grading the driveway and other streets were presented and adopted, and the improvement desig-
nated as improvement No. 22, and one- half of the expense thereof was ordered assessed against the benefited property. The contractor had worked two months in the autumn of 1889 and one month in the spring of 1890 when the council ordered the work discontinued. On June 2 the council was petitioned to complete the work. The city engineer reported that it would cost about $1,460 to complete it, and the work was ordered resumed. A hear- ing on the assessment roll was had Sep- tember 18, D. W. Bruckart appearing for some of the objectors. Other objectors ap- peared at the meetings of September 22 and 26. On the twenty-ninth the assess- ment roll was referred to the board of public works for further consideration, and on November 6th was confirmed. The to- tal amount paid Mr. Murphy on his con- tract was $9,221.90.
A spur track was put in from the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railroad company's main line to the Anderson and Bohn saw mill in East St. Cloud. A number of the property owners refused to settle for the right of way. The council requested the company to institute condemnation pro- ceedings, and guaranteed the payment of all damages caused by the construction of the spur track. On February 6, 1893, the company was paid $4,401.70 in full for sums advanced by them on account of this track.
The sum of $43,500 was levied for the year 1890. This made a tax rate of about 17 mills on the dollar of valuation, the highest the city had ever had up to this time. The amount levied was about twice as much as had ever been levied before.
The Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph company was awarded the contract for in- stalling a fire alarm system at $2,400. The work was completed January 1, 1890, and formally accepted March 11, but the bill was not paid until December 3rd.
The annual election April 7 resulted as follows: Mayor, P. R. Griebler; treasurer, Charles Dueber; aldermen, 1st ward, John N. Bensen; 2nd ward, John DeLeo; 3rd ward, Joseph Edelbrock; 4th ward, D. T. Calhoun.
1890-91-B. Reinhard was elected presi- dent of the council and Peter Brick city clerk. The result of the annual election, held April 6, 1891, is given below: Mayor,
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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
P. R. Griebler; treasurer, Charles Dueber; aldermen, 1st ward, Edw. Maybury; 2nd ward, George Tileston; 3rd ward, B. Rein- hard; 4th ward, Andrew Alstrom; 1st ward (to fill vacancy), George Stewart; 2nd ward (to fill vacancy), Joshua Mayhew.
1891-92-The council organized by elect- ing D. T. Calhoun president and Peter Brick city clerk.
The mayor in his message and the chief of the fire department in his report to the council recommended the purchase of a hose wagon and a span of horses and the employment of one driver and one man to take charge of the property at the Sev- enth avenue hose house, both to be on duty at all times. Action was postponed from time to time, but on September 8 the fire department committee was in- -structed to invite bids for a hose cart. The bid of the Waterous Engine Company, of St. Paul, was accepted and the hose wagon with two fire extinguishers was pur-
chased.
Ordinance No. 111 amending Ordinance No. 70, relating to the St. Cloud Street Car company was unanimously passed Au- gust 19. This ordinance, among other things, provided for the use of electricity as a motive power for the propulsion of the cars. The company at once began extensive improvements, laying new tracks and extending their line.
The city attorney was instructed to ap- peal to the supreme court the boulevard cases.
The services rendered by the Water Works company were very unsatisfactory. So numerous were the complaints and criti- cisms regarding the management and ef- ficiency of the plant that the council ap- pointed a committee to investigate. After careful investigation the committee re- ported that the plant was neglected, that the equipment was inadequate, and that the capacity was insufficient. The com- pany's bill for services from July 1, 1891, to January 1, 1892, $3,800 was laid on the table. Promises were made by the company to make a number of improve- ments in order to put the system in good working condition. After weeks of delay the council allowed $2,000 on the bill as payment in full, which the company re- fused to accept.
The annual election, held April 4, was
very exciting, there being a contest for nearly every office and the figures given show how close the vote was: For mayor, D. W. Bruckart, 701; P. R. Griebler, 693; aldermen for the 1st ward, G. W. Stewart, 140, W. P. Remer, 112; for the 2nd ward, N. P. Kraemer, 112, Joshua Mayhew, 101; for the 3rd ward, Aug. Edelbrock, 163, S. Reichert, 116; for the 4th ward, B. Ren- skin, 168, J. R. Bennett, Jr., 144, A. Vogel, 55; for the fifth ward, O. M. Nelson, 31; for the sixth ward, A. Parish, 60, Geo. Hansen, 32, C. T. Hines, 27; for the sev- enth ward, H. J. Anderson, 48, A. P. Wil- liams, 34.
1892-93-B. Reinhard was elected presi- dent of the council and James A. Martin, city clerk.
On July 1 the water works committee made a complete test and examination of the water works plant, and in an exhaus- tive report to the council pointed out a number of defects. The equipment was found to be inadequate and defective, the capacity insufficient for the needs of the city, the pressure poor, the boilers were not all fired up and kept in readiness for fires, in short, that the entire system was woefully neglected. The committee recom- mended that the city attorney be in- structed to institute mandamus proceed- ings or take such other legal steps to com- pel a compliance with the terms of the contract between the company and the city. They also recommended that the bill of the company for hydrant rental from January 1, to July 1, 1892, for $3,800 be laid on the table.
On February 14, 1893, the water works committee submitted a report upon the bills of the Water Works Company, recom- mending that the city pay to the company $2,000 in full for all claims against the city up to July 1, 1892, for hydrant rental and all other charges. They also recom- mended that the bill of $3,800 for hydrant rental for the six months ending January 1, 1893, be paid in full. Neither of these amounts was to be paid unless the com- pany accepted both as payments in full. These recommendations were adopted by a unanimous vote of the council.
The first step was taken July 12, 1892 to- ward the building of a new iron bridge across the Mississippi river on St. Ger- main street. F. W. Cappelen, of Minne-
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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
apolis, was employed to assist the city en- gineer in making an inspection of the bridge and piers and on August 13th, re- ported on the condition of the bridge, and advised the construction of a new one at once. He submitted three plans, one pro- viding for a 24-foot roadway on the old piers, one for a 28-foot roadway on new piers, and one for a 36-foot roadway on new piers, the estimated cost being $31,200, $40,000 and $49,000, respectively. He was instructed to prepare complete drawings, specifications and details for a 28-foot roadway iron bridge. Bids were called for and received, and the figures ranged from $38,959.90 to $46,821.26 for the superstruc- ture alone. The contract was awarded to the Detroit Bridge company for $39,152.10, but the contract was never signed, and the discussion on the bridge matter was con- tinued for nearly a year and a half before anything definite was accomplished.
The annual election, held April 3 re- sulted as follows: Mayor, D. W. Bruckart; treasurer, Charles Dueber; aldermen, 1st ward, C. L. Atwood; 2nd ward, John De- Leo; 3rd ward, J. M. Donohue; 4th ward, John Wimmer.
1893-94-George Tileston was elected president of the council and James A. Mar- tin, city clerk.
On May 1, the committee on Mississippi river bridges, submitted a full written re- port and recommended that a special elec- tion be called for the purpose of voting upon the question of issuing $50,000 bonds for the building of a bridge across the river on St. Germain street. The election was ordered to be held on the seventh day of August. The plans and specifications adopted in the fall of 1892 providing for a 28-foot roadway, were readopted. The election, held August 7th, resulted as fol- lows: For the bonds, 202; against, 387.
The city engineer was again instructed to draw plans and specifications for a suit- able bridge and the city clerk ordered to advertise for bids for the superstructure. The bids were opened on September 7, and all were rejected. A mass meeting was held at the court house September 8, at the request of the council, to consider the bridge question. It was the sense of the meeting that a new bridge should be built upon new piers, but that the cost for the entire structure should not exceed $40,000 ..
New plans and specifications were ordered prepared by the council for substructure and superstructure and a committee ap- pointed to secure aid from the county com- missioners. Bids were again called for, and the contract for the substructure was awarded to Foley Bros. & Guthrie for $14,- 600, and for the superstructure to the Penn Bridge company for $26,150. The contract for the substructure was awarded Novem- ber 13, 1893, and the entire bridge was completed and ready for use June 15, 1894.
The question of re-purchasing the water works was submitted to the council by the leading taxpayers and business men of the city in a petition presented August 8. The matter was referred to a special commit- tee. The committee held a public hear- ing, at which the question was argued by representatives for the company and for the petitioners, F. E. Searle acting as the spokesman for the company and P. J. Scherger for the petitioners. The com- mittee reported back to the council Au- gust 17, recommending that the city, through its proper officials, notify the Water Works company that the council wished to avail itself of the right to pur- chase the plant. The city attorney here stated that should the city desire to pur- chase the water works and should it be necessary for the city to issue bonds for such purpose, the general law of the state would restrict the city in respect to the amount of the bonds it might issue to ten per cent of the assessed valuation. The assessed valuation of the city was $3,235,- 000. Ten per cent of this amount was $323,- 500. The bonded indebtedness was $220,- 000. The difference between these two amounts, or $103,500, might still be is- sued within the law. The company con- tended that the plant was worth $160,000 but the representatives of the petitioners believed that $60,000 was a fair valuation. The council, however, feared that the ap- praisement might go over $103,500, and so the report of the committee was not con- curred in.
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