History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 98

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1358

USA > Missouri > St Louis County > St Louis City > History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men > Part 98

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Gr. 9 Barnett

In 1850, Mr. Barnett made a professional tour of Europe, and examined with well-trained and culti- vated faculties the monuments of art which the great masters left for the instruction of their followers. St. Louis gained much from the results of his observa- tion and comparison at this period, and his career from that time forward was one of constantly-increasing

honor and influence. While impressing his individ- uality on the most noted and beautiful of the struc- tures of an ambitious and growing city, he has estab- lished a stainless record as an architect of incorruptible character. He is a kind-hearted, modest, and unpre- tentious gentleman, of genial nature and rare social qualities, and while honored as an artist he is also loved as a man.

Mr. Barnctt has two sons, who have been bred to his profession. George (the younger) is associated with his father in business, and is a young man of extraordinary proficiency for his age, who in the judg- ment of those who have watched the development of his youthful powers, must ultimately take rank among the architects of the coun- try.

"The removal of the post-office," it was stated in a newspaper of May 20, 1852, " has had the effect to turn the attention of cer- tain classes of dealers to property in its present vi- cinity, and the consequence has been to increase ma- terially its valuc."

The erection of the build- ing proceeded until April, 1859, when the post-office, which occupied the whole of the main floor, was estab- lished in its new quarters.

The building is one hun- dred and thirty-nine feet three inches long, eighty feet nine inches wide, and sixty six feet seven inches high on the west front, and seventy-seven feet seven inches high on the east front. It is of the Roman Corinthian order, and in all its details is in strict con- sonance with that style of architecture. The entire structure is faced with a peculiar stone known as the " Barrett stone," selected for the purpose by Capt. Bowman, United States supervisor of public buildings, and containing a large proportion of silex, rendering it almost time- and fire-proof. On the west or princi- pal front are six massive rusticated stone piers, con- nected by large arches the height of the first story, and forming a sub-base, which supports the six fluted columns of the portico, which is two stories high.

The building has been used for the post-office,

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HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

custom-house, United States courts, and government offices generally, but for a number of years has been inadequate for those purposes, and in 1872 the gov- ernment determined to erect a new building for the custom-house, post-office, etc., which should not only provide ample space and facilities, but should be an ornament to St. Louis commensurate with the dignity and importance of the city. A site was accordingly determined upon, comprising what was known as the Crow block, bounded by Olive and Locust, Eighth and Ninth Streets, which was condemned and pur- chased in the autumn of 1872, and plans were pre- pared by A. B. Mullett, United States supervising architect.

The structure, which is now in course of completion, has a frontage on Olive and Locust Streets of two hundred and thirty-two feet, by a depth on Eighth and Ninth Streets of one hundred and seventy- seven feet. It is three stories in height with an attic, and the central compartment of four stories is crowned by an immense convex dome, the distance from the ground to the apex of the dome being one hundred and eighty-four feet. The height of the cornice of the wing building is ninety-six feet. Each façade of the building is divided into three parts, each central division being crowned by pitched pediments, over which are ornamented windows of corresponding style. The main front on Olive Street is surmounted by the immense dome, and so decorated as to produce a grand and imposing effect.

This floor is but two feet higher than the sidewalk on Olive Street, and is easy of access, a decided im- provement on the present post-office building in that particular. The whole of the first story will be used for post-office purposes, and is lighted not only from the four fronts of the building, but from the interior court or quadrangle, thus avoiding the necessity of burning gas during the day, as is the costly and un- healthy experience with the old building.

The facilities for the reception of mail matter are to be made a chief feature. They will be unequaled by any building, either in this or any other country, from the fact that the mail-cars will be carried across the St. Louis bridge into the tunnel, and so on until they are switched off in front of the basement of the post-office. For this purpose the tunnel will be widened opposite the post-office so as to afford a broad platform between the two tracks for the delivery and receipt of all mail matter, and from every direction. The mail matter is then to be placed on elevators and run up into the distributing-room, and there classified. The same course is to be pursued with reference to all bonded goods, and all this immense business is

made easy of transaction without the distraction or disturbance in the slightest degree of the ordinary business of the railroad through the tunnel, or the business above or on the streets.

The height of the basement from its flooring to the sidewalk is twenty-eight and one-half feet, di- vided into two stories, to be known as basement and sub-basement. The foundation of the sub-base- ment extends eight feet below the floor, which makes the entire depth from Olive Street to the bottom of the foundation thirty-six and one-half feet.

Over the first story or post-office floor will be ar- ranged the United States District Courts, with suitable apartments for associate judges, clerks, district at- torneys, marshals, and deputies, grand and petit juries, etc., with ample room for all other government offices demanding accommodation. These offices are ap- proachable from the main Olive Street front, as well as from others, affording spacious stairway to every part of the building. The main staircase is colossal in its proportions, and elaborate and beautiful in its design, with return flights, continued from floor to floor to the upper story. Exclusive of this principal stairway are two of the largest passenger elevators, placed one on either side of the staircase, and acces- sible from the same vestibule as the Grand or Olive Street stairway.

The imposing edifice has already influenced the erection of handsome business houses in its immediate vicinity and for blocks around. The basement of the building is of red granite blocks with a plain finish. The color of the stone is a pale, delicate red, not usu- ally employed in buildings in St. Louis. The mate- rial employed above the basement is Maine granite throughout. The principal stone-work was done on Hurricane Island, the lower story being rusticated and having orders above, in style of composition so fre- quently employed by the Venetian school during the renaissance period, and which owes its origin to San Micheli. The second and third stories, of the Corin- thian order, have pilasters resting on moulded bases, the intercolumniations being filled in with square-headed windows, having arched pediments in the second story and in the third triangular ones. Of the triple divis- ions and façades, the central one on either side, which forms a projection, is adorned by porticoes and crowned with a pedinient. Two porticoes, one above the other, over the grand entrances have very elegant proportions and details wrought with extraordinary care. The porticoes are formed by a couple of granite columns resting on massive plinths and having Corinthian cap- itals. In each portico are four fluted columns, with balustrades between the couples.

INSURANCE, TELEGRAPH, POSTAL SERVICE, GAS, AND HOTELS.

1437

Piers supporting statuary stand at the base corners of the lower portico, which is that of the second story. Over the upper portico the fourth-story windows are semi-circular headed, have finely-moulded corniees, and are surmounted by a massive pediment enriched with seulptures. A finely-wrought entablature is sur- mounted by a balustrade, and above this appears the quadrangular dome, having its windows eneased with grooved and coupled pilasters, and their richly-designed cornices furnishing support for statuary.

The building when completed will be one of the most elegant and perfect in its interior arrangements in the country, and although not as complicated in

letters advertised, 32,515 ; total number registered letters received for distribution, 213,311 ; total num- ber registered letters handled, 350,175 ; total number of packages made up and forwarded, 66,042; number packages received in transit, 566,430; total number of registered packages forwarded, 632,472; through registered pouches made up and dispatched, 19,775 ; registered packages in pouches made up and dis- patehed, 540,949 ; total number of registered paek- ages in pouches received and dispatched, 1,019,638 ; total amount money orders issued, $852,771.68 ; total amount money orders paid, $4,520,090.58; amount received from depository offices, $6,240,986.22 ; re-

CUSTOM-HOUSE AND POST-OFFICE, Corner Eighth, Ninth, and Olive Streets.

architectural design as other post-offiees, notably tliose of New York and Boston, it will undoubtedly exceed them all in the simple grandeur of its architectural proportions and the quiet beauty of its general details.

The following statisties were returned by the St. Louis post-office in 1881 :

Annual eash receipts from sale of stamps, stamped envelopes, ete., $730,539 ; letters delivered at general delivery, 124,465 ; letters delivered at daily call, 21,514 ; mail letters delivered by carriers, 13,119,988; mail postal eards delivered by carriers, 3,008,926; drop letters delivered by carriers, 2,366,852 ; letters and postal cards delivered from boxes, 1,852,375 ; .

mitted to New York, $2,489,000. The total number of paekages handled during the year ending Dec. 31, 1881, containing letters, was 78,578, amounting to 47,797 pounds. During the same time there were 13,941 saeks of papers handled.

The following is a list of the postmasters of St. Louis, with the dates of their appointment, from the establishment of the office in 1805 :

Postmasters.

Date of Appointment.

Rufus Easton

Jan. 1, 1805.

Robert Simpson .Jan. 1, 1815.

Aaron T. Crane

. Sept. 11, 1818.

Elias Rector. Jan. 1, 1820.

Wilson P. Hunt.

Oct. 10, 1822.

Thomas Watson

June 26, 1840.

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HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

Postmasters.

Date of Appointment.

Samuel B. Churchill July 9, 1842.

John M. Wimer.

June 14, 1845.

Archibald Gamble

April 24, 1849.

David HI. Armstrong.

April 3, 1854.

John Hogan.

March 30, 1858. .

Peter L. Foy.

April 1, 1861.

Joseph S. Fullerton

Feb. 21, 1867.

Andrew J. Smith.

April 6, 1869.

Chauncey I. Filley

March 12, 1873.

Samuel Hays

.Sept. 4, 1878.

GAS COMPANIES.

St. Louis Gas-Light Company .- In 1837 the Legislature of Missouri granted a charter to the St. Louis Gas-Light Company, vesting in it the power to erect works and necessary apparatus for lighting St. Louis and its suburbs with gas. This charter was amended in 1839 and again in 1845. Under the original charter and the acts of Assembly amendatory thereof the company had the exclusive right to manufacture and vend gas in the city of St. Louis, and was also authorized " to receive on deposit or loan, and upon such terms as the parties interested may agree upon, any funds, the temporary or perma- nent use of which may be offered them, and the use of which may be beneficial to the company." By these acts it was also provided that the city of St. Louis should have the right, at the expiration of a period of either twenty or twenty-five years after the 1st of January, 1840, if it should so resolve, to pur- chase the gas-works from the St. Louis Gas-Light Company, upon the terms and conditions and by the means (the appointment of arbitrators, etc.) men- tioned in these acts, and that the charter should con- tinue in force for twenty-five years from Jan. 1, 1840, unless the company should convey to the city its prop. erty, etc., but should the city not determine to purchase at either of the times provided for, then the charter was to remain in force another twenty-five years. In 1839, after the first amendment to the charter was passed, an office was opened on Chestnut Street near Main for the purpose of engaging in the business of a general deposit and savings institution. At this time the officers and directors of the company were : President, N. Paschall; Secretary, A. Chadwick ; and Directors, Theodore L. McGill, John D. Daggett, R. S. Tilden, J. T. Swearingen, N. E. Janney, M. L. Clark, L. B. Shaw, and P. R. McCreery. In 1840 negotia- tions were entered into between the company and the city with reference to lighting the streets with gas, and a bill authorizing the city to subscribe to the stock of the company to the amount of fifty thousand dollars passed the City Council and was approved by the mayor. In 1841 the construction of the works was commenced on ground between Second Street and the river, nearly opposite the bridge. Only a beginning

was made, however, the banking branch of the busi- ness continuing to engage the entire attention of the directory.

This soon proved unsuccessful, and it was not until 1846 that the company bent its energies to the con- struction of its works and the business of making and selling gas. At this time it found itself, with im- paired capital, unable, unless extraordinary efforts were made, to complete its undertaking. Looking to this end, and for the common benefit of the contracting parties, an agreement was entered into between the city and the company Jan. 9, 1846, in which the company engaged to furnish gas, etc., at a stipulated price, and the city agreed to relinquish its right to pur- chase the gas-works, etc., at either twenty or twenty- five years from Jan. 1, 1840, provided it should have the right to purchase at a period of thirty years after Jan. 1, 1840, and at the period of every five years thereafter. On June 17th, G. F. Lee, of Philadelphia, entered into a contract with the com- pany to build the needed works and furnish the city with gas. The whole cost was to be $130,000, the contractor agreeing to take the bonds of the company, payable three years after the completion of the con- tract, for $50,000, and to subscribe for and pay $40,- 000 of the capital stock, leaving $40,000 to be raised by subscription, the real estate and personal effects of the company being valued at $40,000. The old stock was scaled down and new stock to the amount . of $40,000 issued, making a total capital of $170,- 000. The work was pushed rapidly forward, and the city was lighted with gas for the first time on Nov. 4, 1847. During 1848 about 6,600,000 cubic feet of . gas was consumed, and in 1868 the consumption had increased to 247,480,000 cubic feet. The success of the company was assured. The city, through its counsel, notified the company on Feb. 27, 1869, that it had resolved to purchase the gas-works on the 1st of January, 1870, under their agreement of 1846. The city appointed arbitrators, etc., as required by the company's charter, but the company made no move in the matter, and failed to appoint arbitrators to agree upon the price, etc. The city instituted action against the company in May, 1870, in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County, to compel the company to comply with the terms of the agreement.

Pending the litigation, in 1873 a compromise was effected between the city of St. Louis, the St. Louis Gas-Light Company, and the Laclede Gas-Light Company (then recently organized), in which it was agreed that the Laclede Company should furnish gas to all that part of the city lying north of Washington Avenue, and that all litigation between the city and

Libi Any OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LE NOIS.

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INSURANCE, TELEGRAPH, POSTAL SERVICE, GAS, AND HOTELS.

the St. Louis Company should cease. This compro- mise, however, failed to put an end to the litigation, which was renewed in 1875, and in 1876, under a de- cree of court, the company's property was placed in the hands of a receiver, Socrates Newman, and the company was restrained and enjoined from manufac- turing or selling gas. From this decree an appeal was taken to the Missouri Supreme Court. While awaiting the decision of the court, the affairs of the company prospered greatly in the hands of the receiver. In No- vember, 1879, the opinion of the Supreme Court was delivered adverse to the claim of the city and com- pletely overruling the decisions of the lower courts. On Dec. 24, 1879, Mr. Newman, under an order of the court, delivered the entire property of the com- pany to R. J. Lackland, its president. Later in the month, at the election for directors, the following gentlemen were chosen : Gerard B. Allen, E. N. Leeds, Rufus J. Lackland, and John R. Lionberger, who with Oliver A. Hart, Charles H. Peck, E. A. Manny, George S. Drake, and W. F. Ferguson, who held over, constituted the board.

The capital stock of the company is six hundred thousand dollars, divided into twelve thousand shares of fifty dollars each. The present board of directors is composed of R. J. Lackland, president ; G. B. Allen, vice-president; George A. Madill, Samuel Hays, E. A. Manny, W. H. Ferguson, Dwight Durkee, and Charles H. Peck. George M. Paschall is secretary, and Socrates Newman assistant manager.

The boundaries of the company are from Washing- ton Avenue to Keokuk Street and from the river to the city limits.

On Sunday afternoon, Dec. 13, 1874, Thomas Pratt, chief engineer of the St. Louis Gas-Works, was killed in an explosion. He had gone into one of the purifier-rooms to examine a purifier tank, when an explosion was heard; and the employés, rushing in, found him lying on the floor, having been thrown some twenty feet with such violence against one of the tanks that his chest was crushed in, and he was then quite dead.

Mr. Pratt was one of the oldest and best-known gas experts in the country, and one of the most popular citizens St. Louis ever had. He was born at Longborough, county of Leicester, England, in 1802; was of humble parentage, and had to rely entirely on his own resources in waging the battle of life. In 1827 he came to America, but during the same year returned to Europe, settling at Calais, France, where he remained five years. He then went to London, where he resided nearly two years, working in both places at gas-fitting.

In November, 1834, he again came to America, and having spent some time in New York, removed, in 1837, to Pittsburgh, where he worked for the gas company. In 1842 he went to Cincinnati, and be- came superintendent and chief engineer of the gas- works there. He arrived at St. Louis in 1848 to accept a similar position, which he held until his violent and sudden death.

Mr. Pratt was a prominent builder of gas-works, having planned and constructed the works at Pitts- burgh, Cincinnati, Quincy, St. Louis, Peoria, Bloom- ington, Denver, and Kansas City, and was a large stock- holder in the gas companies in several of these cities. He possessed business talents of a high order, and although on coming to this country he had practically nothing, his ability enabled him to command the highest salaries, and his management was such that at the time of his death his fortune had reached a handsome sum. Although nearly seventy-three years of age, he was to the last a youth in energy, and had in contemplation several schemes of great interest to his profession. One of his projects of a public nature was the revival and working of the Chihuahua silver- mines of Mexico.

Mr. Pratt was a deacon in the Second Baptist Church, and for many years was classed, with the honored McPherson and Gale, as one of the pillars of that society. He loved his church, and cheerfully and generously contributed to her support, he and his wife being among the largest subscribers to the beau- tiful edifice which the Second Baptist Church now occupies. He also gave liberally to various charities. In church work he was one of the most aggressive of inen, and while old in years was youthful to the last in ideas, fervor, energy, and zeal. In the funeral dis- course his pastor, the Rev. Dr. Burlingham, summed up his character as that of a " well-balanced, con- scientious, considerate, and devout member and officer of the church." After his death the board of direc- tors of the gas company adopted resolutions eulogizing his integrity and other estimable qualities, and de- claring that his capacity and efficiency in the eco- nomical management of the gas-works made his loss severely felt.

The Laclede Gas-Light Company was chartered under an act of the Legislature in 1858, and reor- ganized in 1871. The works, situated on Main, bc- tween Mullanphy and Mound Streets, were erected in 1872-73, and gas was first supplied in June, 1873. The original incorporators were S. L. Husted, H. Y. Attrill, Frederick Cromwell, J. H. Porter, Henry Fitzhugh, S. B. Chittenden, and Charles Gibson. The first board of officers was composed of S. L.

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HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

Husted, president ; Frederick Cromwell, vice-pres- ident ; and J. F. Magoreen, secretary. The territory occupied comprises all that portion of St. Louis north of Washington Avenue. The company has about one hundred miles of pipe laid, and supplies light for over four thousand public lamps. The works have a capacity for making one million feet per day. The officers at the present time are Erastus Wells, presi- dent ; John H. Maxon, vice-president ; and J. D. Thompson, secretary. The directors are Erastus Wells, John H. Maxon, Charles Gibson, John J. Mitchell, Samuel Simmons, Frederick Cromwell, and J. H. Porter.

The present capital stock is one million two hun- dred thousand dollars. The offices of the company from 1873 to 1881 were located at No. 701 Wash- ington Avenue, but during the latter year they were removed to the present commodious quarters at No. 1100 Washington Avenue.

Carondelet Gas Company .- On March 3, 1857, a charter was granted to the Carondelet Gas-Light Company, the object of which was to light that city with gas, but for some reason the provisions of the charter were not complied with. In April of 1874 the company was reorganized with John M. Krum as president, T. C. Hogan secretary, and A. C. Judge superintendent, with a capital stock of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The incorporators were Frederick Hill, Henry T. Blow, Louis C. Picot, Madison Miller, William Taussig, Francis Kellerman, Joseph Taussig, Michael Conrad, Delphy Carlin, Ber- nard Poepping, August Blumenthal, Jacob Stein, and Michael Jod.

Its presidents have been, in order, Frederick Hill, John M. Krum, John H. Terry, Charles H. Thorn- ton, Frank Erskine, and John R. Lionberger. Its first officers were Frederick Hill, president ; William Taussig, treasurer ; and Madison Miller, secretary. After the extension of the city limits so as to include Carondelet, the latter grew quite rapidly, and the de- sire of the people to have their streets and dwellings lighted with gas was of such a character as to induce the company to ereet works to supply that want. Ground for this purpose was broken June 17, 1874, and on December 31st gas was lighted for the first time in Carondelet.

The present officers and board of directors are John R. Lionberger, president; Charles Green, vice-presi- dent ; Nelson F. Constant, superintendent ; Henry C. Scott, secretary ; Directors, John R. Lionberger, Charles Green, George A. Madill, John Scullin, Erastus Wells, Thomas E. Tutt, and J. H. Lion- berger.

HOTELS.

In the matter of hotels St. Louis enjoys facili- ties not surpassed by any city in the West, and from the old Missouri of half a century ago, with its many historical traditions and reminiscenees, down to the celebrated Lindell, Southern, Planters', and others of to-day, its fame for conveniences and hospitable en- tertainment to the traveler has been justly proverbial. In the earlier days of the city, when it was but a little town, some of its best citizens were tavern-keepers, but the term tavern-keeper had a different meaning then from that which attaches to it at the present time. The ancient tavern-keeper was in some sense a publie benefactor, and often occupied a most honor- able position in the community.1

Among the earliest notices of taverns is that of the Missouri Hotel, in the old government man- sion, southeast corner of Main and Walnut Streets, kept by Maj. William Christy for several years prior to 1808. In the latter year he engaged in farming and grazing, and was succeeded in his hotel business by Maj. Richard Webster, who changed the name of the house to the Eagle Tavern. In 1810, tiring of farming, Maj. Christy assumed charge of his tavern again, and renamed it the Mis- souri Hotel. He continued to operate it until 1816, when Thomas Pechels (or Poebles) bought it and called it Union Hall. In September, 1809, James H. Audrian opened the Grove Tavern at the upper end of Main Street, nearly opposite P. Chouteau. In 1810, Joseph Charless kept a " boarding-house" 011 North Main Street. In 1811, Frederick Weber, . baker, notified the publie that he had commeneed keeping a house of entertainment. In 1811, Maj. Delauney kept a boarding-house in St. Louis, and in the following year Horace Austin opened a tavern " in the house lately occupied by Madame Robidoux." In July, 1816, Hugh C. Davis opened the Green Tree Tavern on Second Street. The Green Tree was taken in 1820 by John Simonds, Jr. About this time the Mansion House was also started, and at the beginning of 1823 became the property of George S. Greene, who changed its name to the City Hotel. In 1829 it passed into the hands of Ephraim Town, and in 1840, Col. Theron Barnum, who had just reached St. Louis, bought it. Col. Barnum kept it for twelve

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History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 98

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898 Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts Number of Pages: 1358

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1358