History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 127

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

USA > Minnesota > Stearns County > History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 127

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The first movement toward something practical was in 1879 when the legislature passed a bill authorizing the people of the city to vote on the issuing of $50,000 in bonds to secure the construction of a dam across the Mississippi river within the city limits. It was two years later before soundings were made with a view to de- termining on a location for a dam. At the regular charter election, April 4, 1881, a vote was taken on the issuing of the $50,- 000 in bonds and it was carried by 449 to 24. Prior to this time considerable work had been done on a dam at Sauk Rapids, but the undertaking had been abandoned.

Negotiations were begun having in view the completion of this dam and bringing power into the city by means of a canal, but they were fruitless.

In the fall of 1883 the St. Cloud Water Power and Mill company was organized with a capital of $200,000 to build a dam across the Mississippi river opposite or be- low the Normal school grounds, with a canal 700 feet long and 100 feet wide on the west side of the river, this being con- ditioned on the amount of the bonus be- ing increased to $100,000. The proposition was submitted at a special election in Jan- uary, 1884, and was carried by a decisive majority. It was agreed by the company to deed to the city a mill site and a per- petual lease of 150 horse-power to be used for municipal purposes. At the same time the St. Cloud Land Improvement company was organized to receive, hold and dispose of such lands as might be given by inter- ested owners of real property to aid in the work. These two companies were con- trolled by the same board of directors, which consisted of seventeen persons rep- resenting different interests in the city. An executive committee, consisting of N. P. Clarke, D. B. Searle, W. B. Mitchell, H. C. Waite, J. F. Stevenson, J. G. Smith and J. E. West had full charge of all the busi- ness of both companies.

After a thorough canvass of the city stock subscriptions to the amount of $47,000 were obtained, single subscriptions being limited to sums not exceeding $1,000. Aside from these, $10,000 was subscribed by James J. Hill, president of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba railway com- pany.

Authority having been previously se- cured from congress and from the legisla- ture of Minnesota for the construction of a dam across the Mississippi river at St. Cloud, active work was begun under the direct management of Capt. J. E. West, in August, 1885, extensive borings having shown that the bottom of the river was underlaid with a bed of blue clay, while the east bank, where the end of the dam was to be made fast, was solid clay. The work continued without interruption until January, 1887, when the dam was accepted by the city. The engineers connected with the preparation of the plans and the prog- ress of construction were Col. Smith, of

1527

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

St. Paul, for the city; C. J. A. Morris, also of St. Paul, the company's engineer, and F. H. Todd, city engineer.

The dam, which is 750 feet long, not in- cluding the abutments, is a most substan- tial structure and has stood successfully the test of the intervening twenty-seven years. The foundation rests on 2,500 large oak piles, six feet apart, driven sixteen feet into the bed of the river through the sand and gravel into the bed of clay. The crib work built on these was filled with stone and gravel. Rows of sheet piling made of 2x8 oak plank were bolted to the dam, 350,000 feet being used. Thousands of yards of gravel were piled in above the dam, making it water tight. The abut- ments by which it is attached at either end run into the banks one hundred and fifty feet. In its construction, 6,000 cords of stone were used, besides a large amount of gravel, about 3,000,000 feet of timber, oak and pine, and 125 tons of iron. The canal is 1,100 feet long, 100 feet wide and 18 feet deep, being filled by means of thir- teen large gates. The cost of the dam and canal exceeded $200,000.

As a direct result of the improvement of the water power a plant to manufacture tubs, pails and packages from wood fibre was established, but the machinery not be- ing adaptable and the general methods faulty, the enterprise was a failure after a large amount of money had been expended. A paper mill and pulp mill were also lo- cated on the canal and were doing a profit- able business when destroyed by fire. The financial conditions at the time were not such as to justify their rebuilding, the situ- ation resulting that the Water Power com- pany was left without any source of in- come save from the Tileston mill. The in- terest was defaulted on an issue of $100,- 000 in bonds negotiated after the dam had been completed, and a receiver was ap- pointed by the court to take charge of the property.

In 1893 the St. Cloud Water, Light and Power company was incorporated. This was a consolidation of the Water Power, the Gas and Electric and the Water Works companies, and the business of the new company was to provide and furnish wa- ter, light, heat, power and transportation in and about St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids. The capital stock of the company was

$300,000 and the officers were H. M. Byllsby, president; Chas. S. Benson, vice- president; Jesse A. Chase, secretary; F. E. Searle, treasurer. The times proved gen- erally disastrous for the public utilities of the city, and in September, 1897, C. S. Ben- son was the receiver for four companies- the Water, Power and Mill company, the Gas and Electric company, the Water, Light and Power company and the Water Works company. In January, 1898, the mortgage to secure the water power bonds was foreclosed and the property purchased by Baltimore parties representing the bondholders, for $124,619.44 and E. E. Clark was appointed local manager.

The St. Cloud Water Power company's franchises and property, including the dam, canal, headgates, etc., which had remained in the hands of the Eastern bondholders headed by Richard D. Fisher, with local management, was purchased May 5, 1908, by A. G. Whitney, who organized the Union Power company and at once began the building of a new hydro-electric plant, located at the foot of the canal. This com- pany has 29 miles of high voltage trans- mission lines, tying with St. Cloud the vil- lages of Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, Cold Spring, Richmond, Rockville and St. Jo- seph, as well as the granite quarry dis- tricts, the Great Northern shops, the State reformatory, etc. The latter work was be- gun in 1912. In October, 1913, the Union Power company completed the construc- tion of an auxiliary steam plant at the dam of 1,000 horse-power, and also a 500 K. V. A. water power plant. The steam plant is planned for four units of 1,000 horse-power each, for use at the St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids dams in case of accident to the water power or of very low water. At the present time there is installed elec- trical machinery of 2,575 kilowatts in wa- ter power and 1,000 kilowatts in steam. A large addition to the water power in- stallation will be made during the year 1915 at the east end of the dam, this being the first improvement at that end. The dam is capable of developing 7,500 horse- power.

Gas and Electricity .- The St. Cloud Gas and Electric company was organized and incorporated in August, 1883, with a capi- tal of $20,000. The officers were Wm. Wes- terman, president; Geo. Setzler, vice-presi-

1528

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

dent; A. L. Cramb, secretary; D. H. Free- man, treasurer; Wm. Westerman, Geo. Setzler, J. P. Hammeral, A. L. Cramb, D. H. Freeman, J. E. Hennemann, F. E. Searle, Wm. Powell, J. F. Bradford, R. C. Junk and H. J. Rosenberger, directors. The stock was all held by local subscribers. During the year of organization and sub- sequently three and a half miles of gas mains were laid, the gas furnished being "oil gas," the plant being located near the west end of the St. Germain street bridge.

In November, 1887, a majority of the stock was purchased by Ex-Governor Wes- ton and H. D. Upton, of New Hampshire, and the capital increased to $100,000. In December the Electric Light and Power company's franchise and plant were pur- chased, the consideration being $4,500, the actual amount of the outlay to that date. A lot with one hundred horse-power was purchased at the dam and preparations were made to erect the necessary buildings for an electrical plant. In the meantime the power for running the machinery was obtained from the wheel at the Tileston mill. Light was turned on for the first time December 17, 1887, and by the begin- ning of the year 1888 five hundred fifty in- candescent and two arc lights were in place.

The venture did not prove profitable, and the company went into the hands of a re- ceiver. In 1901 the property was sold un- der foreclosure for a total of $127,664, by A. F. Howard, of Portsmouth, N. H., chair- man of the bondholders' committee. The plant of the Gas and Electric company in- cluded the west flume, penstock and build- ing at the dam. It was purchased later in the year by A. G. Whitney.

In 1899 C. M. Hertig, who had organized the Benton Power and Traction company, erected a building 66x100 feet on Fifth avenue north, for the joint use of an elec- tric light plant and the street railway line .. This power became available December 25, being substituted for the power which had been obtained from the elctric plant at the dam for running the cars on the street railway. This building was also used as a contral heating plant, pipes being laid in Fifth avenue as far south as the Union school building, and the "dead" steam used for heating a number of business buildings and the school building.

In March, 1900, on application of the St. Paul Title Insurance & Trust Company, E. E. Clark was appointed temporary receiver of the Benton Power and Traction com- pany by reason of default in the payment of the interest on $18,000 bonds. In No- vember A. G. Whitney purchased of C. M. Hertig his equity in the plant, and organ- ized a new company, known as the Light, Heat, Transit and Public Service company, having previously acquired the bondhold- ers' interest, the total investment being about $100,000. He at once rebuilt the steam plant, putting in new boilers, en- gines, etc., starting it up in 1901. The fol- lowing year the pole line was extended to Sauk Rapids for furnishing that village with lights. The central heating feature was found to be unprofitable and the lines of pipe were taken out.

In December, 1904, Mr. Whitney organ- ized the Public Service company, taking over the properties of the Light and Power company, owning the hydro-electric plant at the dam and the old gas plant; also the Light, Heat, Transit and Public Service company, which included the Hertig steam power plant on Fifth avenue north, and both companies' pole lines.

A new modern coal gas plant was built in 1906, the first product being furnished in January, 1907. There are now eleven miles of gas mains in the city, which will be materially extended during the year 1915. The Public Service company has about ninety miles of 2,300-volt lines in the city and immediate vicinity, furnish- ing light and heat, as well as power for manufacturing purposes. This company has been active and progressive in all of its building operations by extending its pole lines, and there is no city of its size anywhere which is better lighted or has better service than St. Cloud. The com- pany is given a front rank by electric and also by gas authorities.

Street Railway Company .- While sev- eral street car and motor companies had formerly been organized at different times they were without practical result until 1887, on February 28 of which year the St. Cloud City Street Car company filed its articles of incorporation. A franchise was granted by the city council April 9, 1887, exclusive for thirty years. The capital stock of $100,000 was all subscribed by

1529

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

local parties, viz .: C. P. McClure, A. G. Whitney, O. W. Baldwin, L. T. Troutman, H. E. Tolman, R. L. Gale, C. C. McClure, W. B. Mitchell, J. G. Smith, A. T. Whit- man, A. Smart, W. L. Beebe and F. Tol- man. The officers were: President. C. P. McClure; vice-president, O. W. Baldwin; secretary, Frank Tolman; treasurer, A. G. Whitney. These gentlemen, with R. L. Gale, L. T. Troutman and H. E. Tolman, constituted the board of directors and were the incorporators.

A contract was made with W. M. Hewitt, of Superior, Wis., for the construction and equipment of the line. Work was begun September 10 and the first round trip made October 3, 1887, the line extending from Eleventh street, south up Fifth ave- nue to St. Germain street, out St. Germain street to Ninth avenue, north two blocks and east one block to the (old) Manitoba passenger station. The equipment con- sisted of two cars drawn by horses. On this initial trip the lines were held by J. R. Boyd, as the driver of the first street car ever run in St. Cloud. The regular drivers were N. F. Reynolds, Ed. Cullen and - Smith. The party aboard in- cluded a band, with a number of the offi- cers and stockholders of the company. The time required in going from the dam to the Manitoba depot was forty minutes. R. L. Gale was the first superintendent.

After the expiration of about four years with horse-car service, it was decided ad- visable to change to electric power and se- cure an extension of the lines. Following a period of negotiations the sale of the street car line was completed September 28, 1891, the purchaser being Howard C. Levis, of St. Paul, vice-president and treas- urer of the Northwest Thomson-Houston Electric company. The stock of the St. Cloud City Street Car company, 1,800 shares, was surrendered, and with it the plant, the holders accepting a price con- siderably less than its cost. Electric power was substituted for horse power and the track was relaid with new and heavier rails. The line was extended from the dam to the Great Northern car shops and to Sauk Rapids, through East St. Cloud, for each of these branches a bonus of $10,- 000 in city lots adjacent to the line being given. With the reorganization of the company, H. M. Byllsby of St. Paul was

elected president and W. P. Johnson, sec- retary.

The line was completed from the dam to the Great Northern shops and the official opening made June 24, 1892. Three cars were put on by the company, giving a car each twenty minutes, with a fourth car held in reserve. The force at the time of the opening was composed as follows: J. S. Bassett, superintendent; Chas. Beidle- man, assistant superintendent; barn fore- man, F. O. Wood; conductors, J. Lind- baum, C. P. Baxter, J. Harris, W. F. Gul- lett; motormen, C. F. Winters, J. Gustave, W. H. Baddy, J. H. Rice.

The line to Sauk Rapids from the east end of the St. Germain street bridge was completed in October, 1892, but it was not until June 16, 1894, that the first car pro- pelled by electricity crossed the bridge.

In August, 1895, the St. Paul Title, In- surance and Trust company again began proceedings for the appointment of a re- ceiver by reason of default on $125,000 in bonds, and E. E. Clark was appointed re- ceiver, until a reorganization was effected.

In 1899 the reorganized company also de- faulted and went into the hands of a re- ceiver. The stock was purchased by C. M. Hertig, who, as has been already said, organized the Benton County Power and Traction company, put up a building with machinery to generate power by steam for use both by his electric plant and the street car line. At the end of a few months Mr. Hertig's property was in the hands of a receiver. A. G. Whitney came into possession of the street car line as well as the electric plant, continuing how- ever to operate the former through the re- ceivership until December 27, 1905, when it was reorganized as the Granite City Railway company, with a capital of $100,- 000. Mr. Clark, who had been the receiver, after the reorganization of the company by Mr. Whitney, was continued as manager until his death, March 15, 1914, and to his untiring labors under great difficulties is due much of the credit for the final suc- cess of the enterprise. It is now in a pros- perous condition, furnishing not only the city with good service, but also Sauk Rap- ids, Waite Park and the Great Northern railway company's shops. There are nine miles of track, seventeen cars, and a large

1530

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

brick barn, 64 by 114, to house the rolling stock, provide a workroom, etc.

As will be seen from the foregoing out- line these corporations, comprising the public utilities of the city, are under the control of one man, Albert G. Whitney, who has shown great business ability in taking them when they were wrecks, hav- ing all passed through repeated stages of bankruptcy, and placed them on a good, sound foundation, to his own interest and to the interest of the people they serve.

Fire Department .- The history of St. Cloud's fire department begins with a pub- lic meeting held at the courthouse Decem- ber 16, 1864, in accordance with a resolu- tion previously passed by the town coun- cil, at which St. Cloud Pioneer Fire Com- pany No. 1 was organized, with the fol- lowing officers: J. L. Wilson, foreman; James K. Miller, first assistant; Addison Gilmore, second assistant; G. S. Mattoon, secretary; C. C. Tobey, treasurer; August Riehm, steward.

It was on November 27, 1865, that Little Giant Engine Company No. 1, the first company of real fire fighters, was organ- ized in George Herberger's paint shop. The engine secured was a small hand-tub, the old "Prince" machine of St. Paul, the first fire engine brought into the state of Minnesota, purchased second-hand, with 300 feet of rubber hose, which had to be filled with water and soaked before it could be used. The first foreman was John R. Clark, who served one year; succeeded by Henry Lunkenheimer and Gerhard Lie- ser, the second year; and these by C. A. Leagle, who served for twelve years, broken only by the terms of Sheriff Mick- ley and B. Overbeck. In 1864 he was suc- ceeded by Sebastian Schaefer. During all these years until 1871 the outfit was stored in any old shed or barn that was available. In that year the company at its own ex- pense secured and fitted up fairly satis- factory quarters and later bought two fire bells. In 1873 the city voted $3,000 in bonds with which a first-class Hanneman hand engine was purchased with 600 feet of hose, received in July.

In 1873 the first department was organ- ized with Frank D. Hall chief; in 1875, Lorenz Enderle was chief; in 1876, J. M. Rosenberger, for six years; 1882, J. An-

drew Benson; 1883, Jos. H. Kostenholz; 1884, Chas. Leagle; 1885, John Coates.

In March, 1876, the Hook & Ladder Com- pany was organized, with a farm wagon for a truck and a set of old ladders, a good outfit being secured later. L. A. Evans was the first foreman, succeeded by C. W. Kingsbury, L. W. Collins and P. R. Grieb- ler.

Immediately after the completion of the water works system Hose Company No. 1 was organized, with G. S. Curtis foreman, succeeded the following year by J. E. Hen- neman. This company had a fine cart and 1,000 feet of hose. At this time the Little Giant Company disbanded, its hand en- gine, which had done duty so long and faithfully, being useless.

Hose Company No. 2 was organized Jan- uary 5, 1886, at which time 1,000 feet of new hose was purchased to be divided as equally as possible among the three com- panies.

December 22 following, the Little Giants reorganized as a hose company, with Frank Beste foreman; M. Burkle, first as- sistant; Jos. Griebler, second assistant; W. P. Remer, secretary; H. Tenvoorde, treasurer. This company fell heir to the apparatus of the original company.

The Fireman's Relief association was or- ganized January 30, 1884, with 26 charter members, the first officers being: J. M. Rosenberger, president; C. A. Leagle, vice- president; B. Vossberg, secretary; H. J. Rosenberger, treasurer.

St. Cloud has an excellent fire protec- tion and a well-equipped Fire Department. The Central station is located on Seventh avenue North, between St. Germain street and First street North. Plans are under way for the building of a combination city hall, fire house and city offices, to be lo- cated south of the postoffice on Eighth avenue South.

The Fire Department consists of a paid department of six members, a Fire Mar- shal and a Fire Police.

The equipment consists of one hose cart, one hose wagon, one American La France fire auto truck, which is a combination chemical, ladder and hose truck of the most up-to-date type, being 70 horsepower and is one of the best automobile fire ap-

1531

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

paratuses in the United States, one Ameri- can La France hook and ladder truck equipped with extension ladders, chemical hand fire extinguishers and other miscel- laneous equipment, 3,500 feet of good hose, a Gamewell fire alarm system with a siren whistle at the pumping station, this sys- tem consists of 18 alarm stations and is fed with electric storage battery. There is also an alarm by telephone connection.

The Department is organized as follows: Fire chief, L. A. Moosbrugger; fire mar- shal, George G. Magnuson; assistant chief, Vincent Lorinser.

The paid department and the volunteer department was organized in the spring of the year 1892. William Albrecht was ap- pointed chief of the Fire Department and served from 1892 to 1900. In the spring of 1900 John Coates was appointed chief and L. A. Moosbrugger was appointed assistant chief. In April, 1901, Louis Moosbrugger was appointed chief of the Fire Depart- ment and city fire marshal and served un- til April, 1912, when Geo. G. Magnuson was appointed chief and fire marshal and served until April, 1912, when he was ap- pointed to the position of city fire marshal and city clerk, L. A. Moosbrugger being again appointed chief of the department which position he still holds.

During the spring of 1911, Fire Marshal Magnuson with the assistance of the State Fire Marshal's Department made a vigor- ous campaign of removing old buildings and fire traps by condemnation, each owner was given 30 days' notice in which time they were to remove the buildings and in most cases all complied.

During the year 1911 and the year 1912 forty-seven buildings were condemned and removed, among the most prominent build- ings were the following: Grand Central Hotel barn, located on St. Germain street, between Fourth and Fifth avenues. The Spicer building, No. 811 St. Germain street; E. E. Clark barn, located at the corner of Fifth avenue and Second street South; McGregor Sash and Door factory, located north of the high school, known as the Union school building; Reichert barn, situated on First street North, between Fifth and Sixth avenues; Market Hotel and Market Hotel barns, located on First street North, between Seventh and Eighth avenues; Geo. Wakely dwellings, situated

at the corner of Seventh avenue and First street South; Lahr blacksmith shop, same location; McClure store buildings and warehouses, No. 415 St. Germain street; McClure barns on Tenth avenue North; six barns located in the alley, between Fifth and Sixth avenue between St. Germain street and First street South; the Collins' barn, situated on Second street South, be- tween Seventh and Eighth avenues.

Nineteen fire escapes were erected on all three-story buildings, including hotels, schools, and mercantile establishments with public halls, although it was neces- sary to cause ten arrests and convictions to complete the work. All doors on public buildings of the city were changed to swing outward-all of which greatly re- duced the fire hazard.

The fire losses from and including the year 1892 to date were as follows: 1891, $89,980.45; 1892, $56,500.00; 1893, $8,- 595.00; 1894, $56,428.00; 1895, $39,837.85; 1896, $50,924.14; 1897, $13,451.50; 1898, $32,- 847.77; 1899, $5,159.00; 1900, $2,244.71; 1901, $115,400.00; 1902, $1,175.00; 1903, $29,- 540.00; 1904, $7,829.00; 1905, $4,116.25; 1906, $6,260.00; 1907, $720.00; 1908, $20,- 752.25; 1909, $11,165.87; 1910, $9,616.27; 1911, $50,676.00; 1912, $13,194.00; 1913, $17,- 195.00. Which makes a total loss of $643,- 608.06-from April 1, 1890, to April 1, 1913. (By George G. Magnuson.)

St. Cloud Bridges .- An act of the terri- torial legislature of Minnesota approved March 2, 1856, designated J. L. Wilson, H. T. Welles, S. B. Lowry, F. Sisson, G. F. Brott, J. P. Wilson and R. C. Burdick as incorporators of the St. Cloud Bridge com- pany. The project lay dormant, with the exception of a survey, until March 2, 1865, when the original act received a number of important amendments. On the 15th of January, 1866, almost exactly ten years after the passage of the territorial act, books were opened for the subscription of stock and May 10th a meeting was held for the purpose of electing a board of direc- tors. An adjournment was taken until June 5th, when the following directors were elected: H. C. Waite, J. P. Wilson, L. A. Evans, H. T. Welles, N. P. Clarke, Chas. Taylor, H. C. Burbank. The direc- tors organized by electing H. C. Waite president, and L. A. Evans secretary and treasurer. A survey of the river was or-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 127

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