History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 126

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110

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To the Mayor and Common Council of the City of St. Cloud,

Gentlemen :- The Hon. Stephen Miller, lieutenant colonel of the First Minnesota Infantry, Colonel of the Seventh Minnesota Infantry and brigadier general U. S. Vol- unteers, later a governor of the state of Minnesota, was the owner, when he died, of a very fine sword and expressed the wish that when his son died, in the ab- sence of children, it might be presented to the city of St. Cloud. The last of the three sons, my husband, Stephen C. Miller, is now dead, and as he was the last of the Miller family, I wish to comply with Gen. Miller's request and send the sword to the city in which he resided for many years prior to the war. I send this communica- tion through an old friend of Gov. Miller's, L. W. Collins, and also of his son, my hus-

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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

band, who will present it to your body. Very respectfully yours, Mrs. Stephen C. Miller.

The council adopted resolutions express- ing deep gratification at receipt of the gift, and sincerely thanking Mrs. Miller on be- half of the people of the city. The sword was ordered placed in the Public Library for safekeeping ..

The first annual election, held April 5, 1909, under the provisions of the new char- ter resulted as follows: Mayor, Hugh Ev- ans; city clerk, E. C. Scott; city attorney, John D. Sullivan; city assessor, John Schaefer; city engineer, Arthur E. Steiner; city treasurer, L. J. Rocholl; city physi- cian, C. F. Brigham; street commissioner, W. F. Benjamin; water board, Math. Hall, 1 year; John N. Bensen, 2 years; F. Stangl, 3 years; aldermen, 1st ward, James F. Stephens; 2nd ward, John Kaufman; 3rd ward, Jos. E. Schmidt; 4th ward, J. D. Kowalkowski.

1909-10 .- John Kaufman was elected president of the council. The Lake George boulevard matter was again brought up during this year, and the engineer again directed to draw plans and specifications for the improvement, which he presented July 6.

The second annual election under the new charter held April 4, 1910, resulted as follows: Mayor, D. H. Freeman; city clerk, E. C. Scott; city attorney, J. R. Bennett, Jr .; city assessor, W. N. Niskern; city en- gineer, Sam. Chute; city physician, C. F. Brigham; street commissioner, Frank Lorinser; member of water board, Math. Hall; aldermen, 1st ward, H. A. Mckenzie; 2nd ward, F. J. Thielman; 3rd ward, Simon Strobel; 3rd ward, Theodore Streitz, 2 years; 4th ward, Joe Wegler; 5th ward, J. F. MacAuley and Jake Lilliquist (tied) ; 6th ward, Gus Koch and J. A. Harris (tied) ; 7th ward, Eric Larson. There being no election of alderman for the fifth and sixth wards, the council selected one for each ward, pursuant to provisions of the char- ter, and named J. F. MacAuley for the fifth ward and Gus Koch for the sixth.

1910-11 .- Paul Beaudreau was elected president of the council. The charter com- mission prepared amendments to the char- ter, providing for the establishment of the so-called commission form of government and a municipal court, and submitted the

same to Mayor D. H. Freeman, who trans- mitted them to the council with the rec- ommendation that a special election be held on primary election day, September 20, 1910, for the purpose of voting on their acceptance. The council adopted a resolu- tion setting the election on the date sug- gested. The vote resulted as follows: For the commission form of government, 884; against the commission form of govern- ment, 740; for the municipal court, 819; against the municipal court, 643. The propositions, having neither of them re- ceived three-fifths of the total vote cast, were defeated.

On October 3, P. J. Seberger appeared before the council and reported on the Lake George boulevard matter for the com- mercial club committee, stating that much of the property required had been donated by the owners, that some had been pur- chased at reasonable prices, but that. there was still some for which the owners de- manded condemnation proceedings in these cases. He further stated that citizens had subscribed $2,340 to be used to acquire the remaining tracts, and that this fund would be at the disposal of the council as soon as needed. The descriptions of the boule- vard improvement were presented at this meeting and adopted and designated as Im- provement 156, and the engineer was di- rected to prepare new plans and specifica- tions. The committee on city property and the city engineer were requested to confer with the commercial club committee in preparing the new plans.

F. L. Randall and P. J. Seberger, rep- resenting the commercial club, again ap- peared before the council December 12 to urge condemnation proceedings and also recommended further changes in the plans and specifications. The changes were made by the engineer and accepted by the council, and the city engineer was in- structed to make the proper appraisement and assessment for the improvement, the total cost to be assessed against the bene- fited property.

Sewer district No. 5 and 5-A were estab- lished, the city engineer instructed to pre- pare plans and specifications for a sewer for the district, proposals called for and the contract awarded to Carl Kropp for $20,103.06. A sewer district was also es- tablished on the East side. and the con-

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tract for its construction was awarded to Illstrup & Olson for $8,825.87.

The city's bonds in the sum of $75,000 were issued for the purpose of refunding the Water Power bonds, which were ma- turing.

January 5, 1911, C. A. Gilman offered to donate lots 4, 5, 6 and 7 of block 100 of Lowry's addition for park purposes, upon condition that the park should comprise at least all of blocks 98, 99 and 100 and the fractional blocks lying between these and the Mississippi river, and should be named "Hester Park." This offer was later ac- cepted.

The annual election, held April 3, 1911, resulted as follows: Mayor, Peter J. Se- berger; city clerk, E. C. Scott; city attor- ney, J. E. C. Robinson; city assessor, Geo. S. Spencer; city engineer, Sam Chute; city treasurer, L. J. Rocholl; city physician, C. F. Brigham; street commissioner, Frank Lorinser; member of water board, John N. Bensen; aldermen, 1st ward, N. K. Hunt; 2nd ward, George Deering; 3rd ward, Peter Spaniel; 4th ward, Paul Beaudreau; 5th ward, Jacob Lillquist; 6th ward, William McIvor.

1911-12 .- John Kaufman was elected president of the commission. On July 3, 1911, the charter commission requested the council to appoint a committee of three to confer with a sub-committee of the char- ter commission and cooperate with them in drafting the new charter embodying the commission form of government. The char- ter was completed August 25 and adopted by the commission, all signing but two. The draft was then submitted to Mayor P. J. Seberger, who transmitted it to the coun- cil with the recommendation that it be sub- mitted to the voters at a special election to be held November 7. The council set the election for the twenty-eighth day of November, 1911. The election resulted as follows: For the new charter, 942; against, 316. The proposition having received more than four-fifths of the total vote cast was declared carried.

On September 12 the council advertised for bids for a new fire house. Carl Kropp being the lowest bidder was awarded the contract, but the mayor refused to sign the contract, and in a written communica- tion to the council stated his reasons. The

council reconsidered their action, and called for new bids on a combination city hall, police station and fire house.

Four parties owning land in the boule- vard tract took appeals to the district court. Messrs. Randall, Seberger and Jenks, of the commercial club committee, appeared before the council and stated that three of the parties were willing to settle. The council directed the city attorney to enter into stipulation in the matter of the Tessendorf, Karels and Libert properties, and that the McConnell case be settled in court. On January 22, 1912, deeds for all of blocks 98, 99 and 100 and the fractional blocks east were presented to the council.

The first election, held under the new commission form charter, April 2, 1912, which was the primary election, resulted as follows: Mayor, P. J. Seberger; com- missioner, L. J. Rocholl; councilmen, Wm. Campbell, C. F. Ladner, Frank M. Wright, Sam E. Meagher and Wm. McIvor. Chas. J. Metzroth and E. C. Scott were the can- didates for commissioner at the second election. Mr. Metzroth was elected.

1912-16 .- The commission form of gov- ernment went into effect April 22, 1912, and the first officers elected were as fol- lows: For mayor and commissioner of pub- lic affairs and safety, Peter J. Seberger; for commissioner of finance and accounts, Lorenzo J. Rocholl; for commissioner of streets and public improvements, Charles J. Metzroth.

Fire Protection and Water Supply .- The first thing the commission did was to have an expert make a survey of the fire-fight- ing equipment, including the water works system. It was discovered in this survey that for fourth-class rating the pumps were 1,000 gallons per minute short of standard requirements. One of the boilers was found to be in very bad condition. It was also found that owing to the small sizes of mains and lack of cross mains, the pipe friction was excessive and caused an ab- normal loss of pressure. These deficien- cies must all be corrected in order to be given fourth-class rating. The commission desired to get into third class, because that would give a material reduction in insur- ance rates; but to do this it would be nec- essary to meet additional requirements laid down by the underwriters' association. It would be necessary: (1) To increase the

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pump capacity to 3,700 gallons per minute .. (2) To put in through the business district about a mile and a half of large water mains. (3) To increase the fire depart- ment to 17 paid men. (4) To have the fire alarm system fed by storage batteries. (5) To enact an ordinance governing elec- tric wiring, with provisions for inspection, and to install an additional hose wagon or to install a combination chemcal engine and hose motor car.

To meet the requirements demanded the commission installed two 1,000 gallon mo- tor-driven centrifugal pumps, and one 1,500-gallon fire pump. This is to be fol- lowed by another 1,500-gallon pump as soon as the finances will permit. The capacity will then be over 4,000 gallons, which is more than the requirements. Already one- half of the large water mains recommended by the expert have been laid, and there is nearly enough pipe on hand to lay the re- mainder, which will be done during the coming summer. The fire alarm system is now fed by storage batteries. An ordi- nance governing electric wiring has been adopted. The fire department has been in- creased from four paid men to seven, and as conditions warrant more men will be added. There was purchased a combina- tion fire truck. In two years more all the requirements will have been met and the city will then be entitled to the reduction in insurance rates.

But that is not all. By substituting the electric pumps for the steam equipment there is saved annually $2,700 in operating expenses alone .. By installing the storage batteries for the alarm system there is saved about $200 a year, and much very dirty and disagreeable work is eliminated. The auto fire truck saves about $400 per year.

The second thing the commission did was to call in an expert to examine the drinking water, and advise the commission what to do to make it safe to drink. Fol- lowing the recommendations of the ex- pert, there was installed a hydrochlorite plant to sterilize the water, and the com- mission is now levying $5,000 a year for a filtration plant.

Sanitation and Health .- Previous to the advent of the commission government not much had been done in the way of public sanitation to safeguard the public health.

The board of health wanted to do things, but they could not secure the official sup- port needed. There is now a regular and systematic collection and disposal of gar- bage and night soil. Some attempt has been made to have systematic collection of ashes and rubbish. This will be thor- oughly systematized next year. It is also planned to have regular and systematic collection and disposal of manure in the future, commencing with the coming spring.

Apparatus for testing milk and cream has been purchased, and frequent tests of milk and cream, sold by the dairymen, are made, and a record of the percentage of butterfat, the specific gravity, sedimenta- tion and so forth is kept. Cattle are tested once a year for tuberculosis. A tempera- ture record is kept and each animal tagged and numbered. Each dairy is inspected several times a year, and a record kept of the sanitary condition of the barns, sur- roundings, milk house and utensils, the condition of the cows, the ventilation of the barn, the food and water supply, and other matters of importance. The grocery stores, bakeries and meat markets are in- spected once a month and scored on clean- liness and ventilation. A percentage mark is given on the general appearance of the meat market, condition of the floors, meat blocks, tools, counters, scales, wash basins, towels, wearing apparel of the employes, refrigerators, meats, basements, toilet and wagons. This record is made on a score card, a copy given to the proprietor of the market, and the original kept on file. A similar record is made of the grocery stores and bakeries.

General clean-up days are designated three or four times a year, when every- body is urged to give special attention to raking and cleaning up the back yards and alleys and to burning the rubbish. The sanitary officer makes regular inspections of alleys, back yards, closets and cess- pools, makes a record of the conditions, and orders cleaning where necessary. Be- tween two and three thousand pieces of literature on some subject of sanitation are distributed through the school chil- dren to the homes once a year.

Ornamental Street Lighting .- The com- mission early realized that the city was not lighted as well as it should be, that the

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system in use was not up to date, and that the price paid was too high. In less than five months from the date the commission assumed office contracts were awarded for changing the entire system. A "white way," or an ornamental lighting system, was installed on the principal business . streets, the number of arc lights increased 55 per cent, the lights rearranged to give better distribution, and the system changed from the enclosed arc to the luminous or magnetic, which gives about 35 per cent brighter light. The cost of the 80 enclosed arcs formerly in use was $5,800 per year, and the cost of the 124 luminous arcs will be 7,320 per year, or only $1,520 more. But it must be remembered that 80 per cent more light is furnished at only 23 per cent higher cost. The enclosed arcs cost an average of $71.25 per year, and the lumi- nous arcs will cost an average of $59.00 per year. The white way costs $42 per year per post of five lights each, with 60 watts to each light. The Public Service company installed the system, furnishes the current, globes, lamps and other equip- ment, and keeps the posts painted and the globes clean and free from dirt, all for the price above named.

Police and Saloons .- The police depart- ment has been put upon a more efficient basis, although the force was reduced from eight regular and one park and one bridge policeman to four regular patrolmen, a chief and a sergeant. A police alarm and signal system was installed and a police auto purchased. By an investment of a little over $750 a saving of over $1,700 is effected annually. And the department is doing better work than it has ever done in the history of the city. Laws have never been enforced as conscientiously as now, and the city has never been so clean mor- ally and the people so law-abiding as at present.

There was a time when some of our sa- loons were dives of infamy, where lewd women were harbored, where young boys were started on a downward career, where innocent girls were taught to drink and do worse, where gambling was carried on with a high hand, and where no effort was made to live up to any law of morality or decency. But things have changed wonderfully. All sa- loons are closed promptly at 11 o'clock ev-

ery night and all day on Sundays, and their curtains are drawn to give a full view of the bar. No minors or posted men are permitted to frequent or even to enter a place where intoxicating liquors are sold. When a man spends all his earnings for liquor and neglects or abuses his family he is put on the posted list.

The slot machines and all gambling de- vices have been thrown out of all public places. Children are no longer permitted to "rush the can," or in other words to go to a saloon and buy beer by the pitcher or pail for the father or anyone else. Brew- eries no longer sell or deliver beer on Sun- days. Free lunches in our saloons have been abolished and the booths or private rooms have all been taken out.

Sprinkling the Streets .- In 1913 a Sauer auto sprinkler truck was purchased at a cost of $5,800. It is doing the work for- merly done by four horse sprinklers at a material saving in the cost of operation. The sprinkling district in 1913 was ten per cent larger than it was in 1912, and yet after paying operating expenses and $2,000 on the purchase price of the sprinkler and interest on the unpaid portion, there was a saving of more than $1,000. The sprinkling of 1912 cost $4,659, but the sprinkling of the same district in 1913 cost only $3,300, making a saving of $1,359. For every lot in the sprinkling district in 1912, there was paid 36.7 per cent higher sprinkling tax than was paid in 1913. If this rate of sav- ing is maintained during the season of 1915, there will be a total saving of over $4,000 to the owners of lots in the district, besides paying the full purchase price of the truck. After 1915 it will be possible to make a further reduction in the cost of sprinkling.

Inspection of Buildings .- The fire mar- shal and his assistants make regular in- spection of all buildings once a year, ex- cept in the business section, where the in- spections are made once a month. He re- ports upon blanks furnished by the city the location of the premises, the charac- ter of the building, the name of the owner or agent, the name of the occupant, the date of the inspection, the condition of the basement, heating plant, floors, stair- ways, attic, chimneys, exits, passages or corridors, electric wiring, lighting equip- ment, smoke pipes, alleys and back yards,

JOSIAH E. WEST

ST CLOUD WHITE WAY, ST. GERMAIN STREET

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areaways, fire escapes and ash receptacles, the location of stoves and ranges, hot air pipes and registers, how much gasoline and other explosives are stored in the building and where, and other matters of importance .. The condition or location of each matter is specifically approved or not approved. A copy of this report is given to the occupant or owner, and he is at the same time given written notice that all defects must be corrected at once. Twen- ty fire prevention "Dont's" go with each report and notice.

The fire marshal reports to the commis- sion all buildings in a dilapidated condi- tion, which are then ordered razed by the commission or the state fire marshal. By this method during the past few years St. Cloud has had many an old fire trap torn down, thereby removing a menace and an eyesore.

Other Improvements and Savings .- The city has constructed during the past two years more than twelve miles of curbing and boulevarding, laid more than three miles of water mains, put in more than three miles of sewer, paved one of the business streets with concrete, graded a number of streets, acquired about forty acres of land for park and playground purposes, purchased a city hall site for $4,- 818 and levied each year $5,000 for a city hall, fire house and jail, put all water con- sumers on a meter basis, lowered the wa- ter rates about 10 per cent, arranged with the banks to pay 31/2 and 4 per cent in- terest on city fund balances, and paid off $40,000 of the city's bonded indebtedness. During the period of service ending Janu- ary 1, 1915, there were added to the assets of the city new equipment, lands, improve- ments, etc., valued at more than $75,000.

That the affairs of the city were eco- nomically administered is shown by some of the annual savings that have been ef- fected by a change in equipment or in pol- icy, or by the consolidation or elimination of offices, or by the enforcement of ordi- nances or laws ..

The positions of market master, quar- antine matron, and dog catcher have either been consolidated with some other office or entirely eliminated, thereby making a saving of over $1,000 a year, and that with- out impairing the service in the least. By eliminating the service of park and bridge

police and two regular patrolmen, there was a saving of more than $1,700 effected. By enforcing the laws and ordinances jus- tices' fines have increased, and building permit and plumbing inspection fees have been collected, bringing another $1,000 into the treasury. By paying off $40,000 of the city's bonded indebtedness there is an annual saving of about $2,000 in interest. By the installation of new equipment, whereby greater efficiency was acquired, a yearly saving of about $4,500 is made.

Taxation .- The city of St. Cloud has been growing rapidly during the past four or five years, and one would expect the same tax increases here that are found in the cities of the state and nation gener- ally; and so far as the state, county and school taxes are concerned, the increases are revealed in local taxes, but the reverse is true so far as relates to the city taxes. The city rate for 1910 and 1911 was 24.8 and 22.7 mills, respectively, or an average of 23.75 mills. The rate for 1914 is 17 mills, or 6.75 mills less, which is a de- crease of 40 per cent ..

The state rate for 1914 is 82 per cent higher and the school rate is 18 per cent higher than they were in 1910 and 1911, but the city rate is 40 per cent less than it was in 1910 and 1911. The county rate is about the same.

The city rate, instead of being about 25 per cent higher, to correspond to the gen- eral increase of the cities and villages of the state, and as would be expected on ac- count of the higher cost of labor, raw ma- terials, finished products, and the gener- ally higher cost of living, is actually 40 per cent less.

Below is given a table showing the as- sessed valuation and city, state, county and school tax rates in mills for the years 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913 and 1914, given in the order named: Assessed valuation, $3,350,- 000, $3,295,658, $2,942,350, $2,888,087, $2,- 810,856. City tax rate, 17.00, 17.60, 19.20, 22.70, 24.80. State tax rate, 5.03, 3.58, 3.88, 2.70, 2.80. County tax rate, 4.97, 4.72, 4.72, 5.30, 4.90. School tax rate, 13.00, 13.00, 12.20, 10.50, 11.70. Total, 40.00, 38.90, 40.00, 42.30, 44.20.

The following are the budget levies for the same years, being the sums which were necessary in addition to the sums received

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from licenses, permits, etc., to conduct the business of the city for the years named, and upon which the tax rate is based: For 1914, $51,900.00; for 1913, $53,000.00; for 1912, $52,555.00; for 1911, $64,610.00; for 1910, $68,948.49.

It must be remembered that the commis- sion levies taxes only for city purposes. The state, county and school taxes are levied by other bodies, and each taxing body must be held responsible for its own levy. The commission lowered the levy for city purposes to 17 mills. All the sav- ings have been made, all the assets have been added, all this work has been accom- plished in spite of the 40 per cent decrease in the city tax rate. And while this has been done, the total balances on hand have not decreased, but on the con- trary have increased substantially. On April 1, 1912, when the commission as- sumed office, there was total cash on hand in all funds amounting to $50,720.18. On April 1, 1914, there was a total baalnce in all funds, amounting to $52,803.49, or $2,- 083.31 more than was on hand when the commission took office.

The Water Power .- The possibilities of a developed water power in the Mississippi river had been a matter of serious consid- eration with the people of St. Cloud almost from the days of its infancy. The natural conditions were favorable for the building of a dam, the banks on either side being sufficiently high, while it was believed the bed of the river was such as to make the retention of the large body of water en- tirely safe. Surveys made by government engineers showed a fall of eighteen feet between Sauk Rapids and the point where a dam was finally built.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 126

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843- Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper Number of Pages: 1110

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110