USA > Missouri > Buchanan County > St Joseph > History of Buchanan County and St. Joseph, Mo. : from the time of the Platte purchase to the end of the year 1915 biographical sketches of noted citizens, living and dead > Part 13
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BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH
.. Creal, 1857-59 ; Thomas Byrne, 1859-60 ; Charles Lehman, 1860- o1; John Sheehan, 1861-62; John B. Harder, 1862-65; Wm. B. Gil- more, 1865-66; J. L. Bowen, 1866-67; John Sheehan, 1867-68 ; John Bloomer, 1868-69; G. B. Skinner, 1869-70; Wm. Frick, 1870-72 ;. Nat Hammond, 1872-74; John Clark, 1874-77; Florence Kiley, 1877-80; Isaac N. Brooks, 1880-81; Henry W. Dunn, 1881-82; H. N. Turner, 1882-84 ; Patrick McIntyre, 1884-86 ; Thomas A. Carson, 1886-88; W. G. W. Ritchie, 1888-90; Henry Luchsinger, 1890-91; J. B. Vance, 1891-92; Peter Bowen, 1892-93; Samuel J. Jeffries, 1893-94; Francis M. Posegate, 1894-96; Henry Gibson, 1896-98; Abraham Furst, 1898. The street commissioner formerly superin- tended the workhouse and fed the prisoners, but such has not been the case since 1885. The street commissioner's duties are now per- formed by an attache of the board of public works. Charles G. Gates has the position now (1915) .
LICENSE INSPECTOR-This office was created in 1885, and James W. Fowler was the first incumbent. He was succeeded in 1889 by Joseph E. Cook, who served until 1893. Edward Burns served 1893-95. John D. Clark served 1895-97, and was succeeded by Louis Herwig, who was followed by Charles Craighill in 1899. Two years later John P. Remelius was appointed. He was followed by Harry Lucksinger in 1906; James J. McGreevy, 1909; E. M. Gilpin, 1912; Thomas Dear, 1914. In 1905 the license inspector was attached to the auditor's office, the incumbent being appointed by the auditor. It has since been restored to the mayor's list of appointive offices. This office is charged with the enforcement of the license ordinances and the incumbent is also the inspector of weights and measures.
SUPERINTENDENT OF BUILDING - This office was created in 1886 and Seymour Jenkins was the first inspector, serving two years. He was followed by Myron Lytle, 1888-90; Joseph Massard, 1890-92; Thomas Winn, 1892-94; George W. Bulger, 1894-96; Lyman W. Forgrave, 1896-1902; William Fredericks, 1902-04; Thomas W. Stamey, 1904-06; Daniel J. Semple, 1906-08; L. W. Forgrave, 1908-12; E. Gray Powell, 1912-14; Frank Siemens, 1914. This officer issues permits for the erection of buildings. He is charged with the enforcement of the ordinances relating to con- struction, and has the power to condemn unsafe or insanitary build- ings. He is appointed, holds his office during good behavior, and receives $1,800 per annum salary.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS-When the two-house legislative body was abandoned in 1903, a board of public works was created, hav- ing general supervision over public works and such matters. The board appoints the city engineer, superintendent of city light plant, street commissioners, sidewalk and other inspectors that formerly
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were named by the mayor. The following named have constituted the board since its creation: 1903-04, John C. Landis, B. F. Bua- zard, August Nunning; 1904-05, John C. Landis, B. F. Buazard, W. A. Bodenhausen; 1905-06, B. F. Buazard, W. A. Bodenhausen, John F. Johnson; 1906-07, John F. Johnson, John B. Ryan, Harry Hansen (appointed to fill the unexpired term of W. A. Boden- hausen, resigned) ; 1907-08, John F. Johnson, John B. Ryan, Harry Hansen; 1908-09, John B. Ryan, Harry Hansen, Alfred Meier; 1909-10, Harry Hansen, Alfred Meier, J. W. Haight; 1910-11, Harry Hansen, Alfred Meier, J. W. Haight; 1911-12, Harry Han- sen, Alfred Meier, J. W. Haight; 1912-13, Harry Hansen, Alfred Meier, Charles Nowland ; 1913-14, Charles Nowland, Alfred Meier, Rudolph F. Heim; 1914-15, Charles Nowland, Alfred Meier, Ru- dolph F. Heim; 1915-16, A. W. Horn, Alfred Meier, Rudolph F. Heim. In September, 1915, the entire board resigned. W. D. Mor- rison, C. E. Dickey and were appointed by the mayor to fill the vacancies.
Until 1909 the members of the board were appointed by a com- mittee consisting of the mayor, comptroller and auditor; since that time the appointive power has been vested in the mayor.
George F. Barnes was the first clerk of the board. He served until September, 1910, when he was succeeded by J. P. Srite, who gave way to Fred W. Lauder, the present clerk, in April, 1913.
MINOR OFFICERS-The city weighmaster is stationed at Patee market. At one time there were public scales at the workhouse, at the east end of Frederick avenue, at Tenth and Francis streets, and at Seventh and Messanie streets. These have all been abandoned.
The market-master and the city chimney sweep are appointed by the mayor, as is also the public impounder.
The boiler inspector, appointed by the mayor, is charged with the inspection of steam apparatus. Phillip Hart, the first inspec- tor, was appointed in 1886 and served until 1892, when he was suc- ceeded by George Zipf, who served two years and was in turn suc- ceeded by Phillip Hart, who served until 1898, when he was suc- ceeded by Gustav Geis, who was succeeded in 1900 by William Horigan; Joseph Williams, in 1901; Phillip Hart, in 1906, the present incumbent. In connection with this office there is a board of two examiners, appointed by the mayor, who pass upon the qualifications of steam engineers.
During the days of steamboat traffic there was a wharfmaster, whose duty it was to regulate affairs at the landing. During the latter 60's and 70's there was also a wood inspector, whose duty it was to certify to the quantity of wood in a load.
TERMS AND SALARIES-There is a city election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April every alternate year. The mayor, city treasurer, auditor and police judge are elected for two- year terms. The councilmen are elected for four-year terms. The
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other city officers are appointed by the mayor and council. The terms of all officials except the building inspector and attaches of the fire and police departments, are two years. The salaries are fixed by ordinance before the term of office begins. At this time. the mayor receives a salary of $3,600 per annum. The treasurer receives a salary of $2,400 and 5 per cent on all delinquent taxes he collects; he is authorized to employ one deputy and one clerk. The auditor receives $2,400 per annum and is provided with a clerk. The police judge receives $1,200 per annum. The aldermen are paid at the rate of $10 for each meeting they attend, but can- not draw to exceed $300 per annum.
The following are the officers appointed in the even years, to- gether with their compensation: Superintendent of workhouse, $600 and 15 cents per meal; license inspector, $1,200; comptroller, $2,400; impounder, $300 and fees; market-master, $780; weigh- master, $600.
The following are appointed in the odd years: Counselor, $3,600 ; assessor, $1,800; boiler inspector, $1,000; two examining engineers, $75 each ; chimney-sweep, fees.
One park commissioner and three members of the library board are appointed each year, the terms being three years. No salaries or emoluments are attached to these places.
The chief of the fire department is appointed by the mayor and holds his office during good behavior, as do also the employes of the fire department. He receives a salary of $2,400 per annum, and his assistant receives $1,800.
The superintendent of electric light is appointed by the board of public works. His salary is $1,800 per annum.
Workhouse guards are selected by the superintendent of that institution. They receive $50 per month.
The superintendent of streets employs the men engaged in cleaning streets. The repair of streets, however, is with the engi- neer's department.
The park board employs those engaged in the public parks, and the library board those engaged at the free public library.
CHAPTER XIII.
MUNICIPAL EQUIPMENT - THE WATERWORKS - ELEC- TRIC LIGHTING-GAS COMPANIES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT-TELEPHONE. COMPANIES-STREET RAIL- WAYS-OMNIBUS AND HERDIC COACH LINES-HIS- TORICAL FACTS CONCERNING THE ABOVE MEN- TIONED INSTITUTIONS.
In 1875 an unsuccessful effort was made to secure a public water system for St. Joseph. The matter was not permitted to slumber, however, and the close of 1879 saw the project well under way to success. On December 1, 1879, the council passed an ordi- nance agreeing to contract with W. S. Fitz, John W. Rutherford and their associates for waterworks, when these men had formed a corporation to build such works. The sum of $5,000 was depos- ited with the city treasurer as a guarantee that this company would be formed and incorporated within ten days.
On December 10, 1879, the council passed an ordinance grant- ing the St. Joseph Water Company the right to construct works on the reservoir gravitation plan, to lay mains, etc. The city reserved the right, at its option, at the expiration of ten years from the date of the approval of the ordinance, to purchase the waterworks, in- cluding all pipes, attachments, extensions, franchises, etc., upon giving six months' previous notice in writing; the city and water company each to appoint a person and the two to select a third to appraise the property. The city contracted for one hundred and sixty hydrants for a period of twenty years, the company agreeing to place ten additional hydrants for every mile of pipe to be laid in the future extension of the service. This contract was, as provided for in the ordinance, ratified by the people at a special election, held on December 23, 1879, and only four votes were cast in the negative.
The water company was organized as follows: W. Scott Fitz, president; T. J. Chew, Jr., secretary ; J. W. Rutherford, chief engi- neer. The company agreed to have sixteen miles of pipe laid und the system in operation in one year. One hundred acres of land, some miles north of the city, were purchased and work was begun on January 4, 1880. There was but one reservoir at first, located on a hill 320 feet above the river at low water mark, and 112 feet higher than any point in St. Joseph. The pumping station was located at the river. The original cost of the works was estimated at $300,000, but before they were offered for acceptance the com- pany had expended $700,000.
On January 12, 1881, the works were accepted by the mayor and council, and placed into active service. Theodore W. Davis was
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the first superintendent and was succeeded by Louis C. Burnes, who served until the spring of 1897, when he was succeeded by Charles H. Taylor, the present superintendent. In October of 1889 the stock and franchise of the company were sold to the American Waterworks and Guarantee Company of Pittsburg, Pa., a combi- nation of capitalists owning and controlling the water systems of thirty-one other cities. The stockholders at the time of the sale were Col. James N. Burnes, Calvin F. Burnes, T. J. Chew, Jr., and William M. Wyeth.
The system has grown and expanded materially since the be- ginning. The water is pumped from the river, through filters, to the reservoir on the hill, and thence it flows to the city through pipes. The pumping plant consists of two Worthington pumps, each of three million gallon capacity in twenty-four hours ; one Gas- kill high duty pumping engine, of six million gallons capacity in twenty-four hours; one Northberg engine of eight million gallons capacity, and an Epping-Carpenter pump of six million gallons capacity. The water is lifted to the filters by a Worthington low service pump of eight million gallons capacity, an Epping-Carpen- ter and a Lawrence pump of ten million gallons capacity. There is also in service a rotary pump with a capacity of eight million gal- lons. The filtering plant consists of fifteen O. A. H. Jewel filter- ing tanks, each fifteen feet high and twelve feet in diameter, and eight concrete filters of six million gallons capacity every twenty- four hours. There are now four reservoirs with a combined capa- city of twenty-one million gallons. The company has 140 miles of pipe, ranging from four to thirty inches in diameter, and there are 1,153 double nozzle hydrants on the streets for fire protection.
The period of the city's first contract with the water company expired in December, 1899, and negotiations for a renewal were started about that time. After much agitation, including the un- successful attempt on the part of the Seckner Contracting Company to build for the city a water plant on the installment plan, the pres- ent contract was ratified at a special city election March 24, 1900. This contract will expire in 1920.
ELECTRIC LIGHT-In 1883 The St. Joseph Electric Light Com- pany, composed of J. F. Barnard, L. D. Tuttle, Joseph A. Corby, A. N. Schuster and R. E. Turner, secured a franchise for stringing wires through the streets, and erected a plant at Fourth street and Mitchell avenue for the production of electric light. Walter C. Stewart, later city electrician, was the superintendent. Only arc lights were furnished, and no attempt was made at street light- ing. This plant was absorbed by the People's Street Railway, Electric Light and Power Company, in 1887, which company had a contract to furnish a small number of arc lights to the city. This company introduced the incandescent light. It is now known as the
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S. Joseph Railway, Light, Heat and Power Company (see street railways), and its plant is located near the river, between Francis and Felix streets.
GAS COMPANIES-In 1856 the city went into partnership with J. B. Ranney and others for the purpose of manufacturing illumi- nating gas. The capital stock of the concern was $50,000, one-half of which was owned by the city. A plant was erected at Fifth and Angelique streets, in a building now used as a stable. Gas came high in those days, at least to private consumers, who were charged $5 per thousand cubic feet.
The people were soon sick of the city's bargain. The treasury being empty, the city's stock in the company was sold to James M. Wilson for 20 per cent of its face value. In 1861 the interest of Ranney & Co. was sold under execution to Thomas B. Weakly, who, with James M. Wilson, operated the works until 1864, when Weakly purchased the interest of Wilson, paying therefor $8,000. Previous to this the works were burned to the ground, but had been rebuilt. At this time Weakly advanced the price of gas to $6 per thousand feet to private consumers, at which price it was held until the pur- chase of the works in 1871 by James Clements and associates of Detroit, Mich., under the name of Citizens' Gas Light Company, at the sum of $50,000. This company at once enlarged and improved the works and secured the contract for lighting the street lamps, which had remained unlighted for several years. They supplied private consumers at $4.50 per thousand feet, and afterwards re- duced the price to $4. For street lamps the city paid $30 per year for each light.
In 1878 the Mutual Gas Light Company came before the city authorities and, through their president, Charles H. Nash, offered to supply private consumers at $2.50 per thousand feet and the street lamps at $25 per annum. They were awarded the contract and granted franchises in the streets equal to the other company. The beginning of work was but the commencement of hostilities between the rival companies, which finally resulted in the sale of the entire works and franchises of the Citizens' to the Mutual Gas Light Company. This company was reorganized some years ago and called the St. Joseph Gas and Manufacturing Company up to the summer of 1897.
In 1890 a franchise to lay gas mains in the streets was granted to the late Charles McGuire of St. Joseph, his heirs and assigns. Upon this was founded the St. Joseph Light and Fuel Company, with Samuel Allerton of Chicago as president and L. C. Burnes of St. Joseph as vice-president and general manager. This company manufactured what was called "water gas." It was used for illu- minating purposes also, but required a magnesium burner, shaped like a comb, to produce the desired result. The gas burned against the teeth of the burner, heating them to an incandescent point and
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producing a brilliant light. The process was afterward changed, and the gas was used for illumination as the ordinary coal product. The works of this company were located at Fourth and Cedar streets. There was lively competition, rates went down, and pre- viously unheard-of concessions were made to consumers.
In the summer of 1897 both of the existing companies were absorbed by the St. Joseph Gas Company, of which Emerson Mc- Millan of New York is president, W. A. P. McDonald of St. Joseph, vice-president; V. L. Elbert, general manager, and A. V. Schaeffer, secretary and treasurer.
The price of gas in St. Joseph for many years to ordinary con- sumers was $1.25 per thousand cubic feet, with a discount of 25 cents per thousand if the bill was paid before the tenth day of the month. In 1905 natural gas was brought here from the fields in southern Kansas. The price was 30 cents for a while, but has since been raised to 40 cents.
TELEPHONES-Within a year after the first general public exhibition of the telephone at the Centennial Exposition in Phila- delphia, in 1876, this invention was practically applied in this city. John Kenmuir, a jeweler, who is generally remembered, first used the telephone in St. Joseph. His place of business was at No. 509 Felix street, and he connected this with his residence at 1211 Fred- erick avenue. In the same year a line was strung that connected the two fire department houses-one at the foot of Edmond street, and the other east of the Tootle theater-with the residence of W. B. McNutt, who was then chief of the department. In February of 1878 another fire alarm line was built from the engine house to the International Hotel, at Eighth and Olive streets.
The St. Joseph Telephone Company, a partnership consisting of John Kenmuir, P. LeB. Coombes and Joseph A. Corby, was formed in April of 1879. Work was begun soon thereafter, and on August 12th of the same year an exchange with 150 subscribers was opened, the central office being in the rear of Kenmuir's jew- elry establishment. At about the same time the Western Union Telegraph Company opened an exchange with about the same num- ber of subscribers, the central office of which was located in the third floor of what was then known as the Board of Trade building, and which is now part of the Hotel Lee, on Third street. A lively fight ensued, and rates ranged from nothing up to $2 per month. This continued until 1879, when both rivals were absorbed by the National Bell Telephone Company under the name of St. Joseph Telephone Company. The exchange was moved to the third floor of the Fairleigh building, at the southeast corner of Third and Felix streets. In 1882 the Missouri & Kansas Telephone Company pur- chased the system and maintained its exchange in the Fairleigh building until December 12, 1896, when it was moved into a fire- proof building erected by the company on Seventh street between
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Felix and Edmond streets.
The Citizens' Telephone Company was organized in 1893, the incorporators being C. M. Shultz, E. J. Peckham, A. B. Sowden and M. M. Riggs. A franchise was secured from the council, and in 1894 an exchange was opened in the Hughes building. In 1909 a new exchange was built on Tenth street north of Frederick avenue and the plant was improved and extended. In 1912 the Missouri & Kansas and the Citizens' telephone companies were consolidated.
STREET RAILWAYS-St. Joseph has over sixty miles of street railway, operated by electricity. Like all other public conveniences of this kind that existed prior to 1885, St. Joseph street railways were first equipped with horses and mules.
The first street railway line in St. Joseph was built in 1866 by Richard E. Turner, Thomas J. Chew, Jr., Arthur Kirpathrick, John S. Lemmon and others, and extended from Eleventh street and Mitchell avenue to Third and Felix streets. The barns were located on Eighth street near Seneca. In 1881 the line was extended down Eleventh street to Atchison street.
In 1876 Adolph Steinacker, the Krugs, Seymour Jenkins, Louis Streckebein and others built a line from Market Square to New Ulm Park. In 1880 this line was extended to Sixth street and down. Sixth to Atchison street. This was the best street railway in the city, its horses being of a high quality and its cars being equipped with stoves.
At about the same time that the Sprague electric motor was being placed into practical operation at Richmond, Va., the late Adolph Steinacker was experimenting upon the Union line with the same machine. Electric cars were run between the power house at Highland and St. Joseph avenues, and New Ulm Park, in the fall of 1887. In the spring of 1888 they were run to Market Square. The Union was the first electric line in the West. It was a horse line from its southern terminus to Market square, where passengers changed to the motor cars. The southern line formerly ran down Second street to Charles, and thence east to Fifth street.
The Frederick avenue line was built in 1878, when a charter was granted to the St. Joseph & Lake Railway Company. The road was narrow gauge, and the iron and rolling stock had been brought by August Kuhn and Charles A. Perry from Leavenworth, where it had been the equipment of an unsuccessful venture between the city and the state penitentiary. The line began at Eighth and Edmond streets and ran to the end of Frederick avenue, where the barns were located. The company went into bankruptcy shortly after the line opened, and was acquired by Thomas E. Tootle, Joseph A. Corby and others. In 1887 a franchise was secured to run down Edmond street to Market Square. In the same year both this line and the Citizens' line were acquired by the People's Street Railway, Electric Light and Power Company, a corporation composed of Eastern capitalists, and at once equipped with electricity.
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In 1888 Charles W. Hobson, Dr. J. M. Huffman and others built the Wyatt Park line, which began at Seventh and Edmond streets and ran south on Seventh street to Olive street and thence, to the power house on Thirty-sixth street. At the same time the People's company built the Jule street line, which began at Seventh and Felix streets, ran north to Jule, and thence east. In 1889 the People's company built the Messanie street line. In that year the Wyatt Park, the Messanie and the Jule street lines were extended to the New Era Exposition grounds.
In 1890 the People's company absorbed the Union line, which was now fully equipped with electricity, and also the Wyatt Park line, gaining control of the entire street car system of St. Joseph. The gap on Seventh street between the Wyatt Park and Jule street lines was at once filled, and a delightful trip could be made around what was called the belt. People could start, say, at Seventh and Felix streets, and go north and east on the Jule street line, pass through the eastern suburbs and the ruined New Era park, and return through Wyatt Park to the starting point. A line was also extended to Vineyard Heights, located on eastern Michell avenue, but neither the belt line nor this spur proved remunerative, and were discontinued.
The Citizens' line was extended to South Park and Gladstone Heights in 1890, but runs only to South Park now. A spur was run from Frederick avenue north on Twenty-second street to High- land Park at about the same time, and is still in operation. In January of 1898 the Union line was extended to the stock yards, over a track leased from the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company. The following year, upon the completion of the via- duct connecting South Sixth street with King Hill avenue, the Union line was built from Atchison street south on Sixth street and King Hill avenue through South St. Joseph to the stock yards, and thence one branch was extended to Lake Contrary and another to Hyde Valley. In 1900 the Grand Avenue line was built from Fran- cis street north on Sixth, east to Eleventh and north to Grand avenue. In 1904 the Messanie street line was extended from Twenty-sixth and Messanie streets through Wyatt Park to Jack- son street. In 1908 a line was built from the northern terminus of the Union line at Krug Park to Industrial City, two miles north.
The Prospect avenue line was built in 1909. It is on Main and Franklin streets, Dewey and Prospect avenues. A franchise was granted for an extension of the Frederick avenue line to State Hospital for Insane No. 2, in 1909, and another in 1914, but the line has never been built. The Jule street and Twenty-second street lines were extended at their termini in 1912.
The People's company was reorganized in 1895 as the St. Joseph Railway, Light, Heat and Power Company, being at that time part of the Harriman interests. It furnishes electric light and power and heats a number of buildings in the city. W. T. VanBrunt was general manager for fourteen years. Early in 1903
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