USA > Missouri > Buchanan County > The history of Buchanan County, Missouri > Part 56
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THE ST. JOSEPH AND DES MOINES RAILROAD COMPANY
was organized in 1877, with Colonel J. L. Motter as President. Under his able and judicious management, with the active co-operation of his associates, arrangements were perfected, and on the 12th day of Novem- ber, 1877, the contract for the grading was let. On the 18th of the same month the work was commenced, and by the Ist of April, 1878, the first twenty miles of the road was graded and ready for the rails.
Track-laying was commenced June 1, 1878, and completed by the Ist of October. The first engine was placed on the track on June 26th of the same year. This is a narrow gauge road, extending in a
BOND-C
MODERN FARM SCENE NEAR ST. JOSEPH, MO.
585
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
northerly direction, fifty miles, between St. Joseph and Albany, in Gen- try County. The seven stations on the line of this road between the ter- minal points, are Riverton, the first town north of St. Joseph, Cosby, Helena, Union Star, King City, Ford, and Darlington. Some time dur- ing the year 1880, the St. Joseph and Des Moines Narrow Gauge passed under the control of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, that great corporation having purchased it with a view of making it one of its numerous branches, and thus reaching the metropolis of the north- west. The Grand River country, which it traverses, is one of the most splendidly productive sections in the West.
The following were the eight men who built and shared equally in the St. Joseph and DesMoines Narrow Gauge Railroad, till its sale to the C., B. & Q. R. R .: John L. Motter, James H. Pickering, F. L. McLean, Wm. B. Johnson, Isaac T. Hosea, A. N. Schuster, R. L. McDonald and John B. Hundley.
The first officials of this road were : John L. Motter, President and General Manager ; Jas. H. Pickering, Superintendent ; F. L. McLean, General Freight and Ticket Agent; W. B. Johnson, Secretary and Treasurer.
OMNIBUS COMPANY.
In February, 1859, upon the opening of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, Major Holman and Samuel Jerome started the St. Joseph Omnibus Line. In the spring following, Messrs. John L. Motter and C. D. Smith brought out the line, and built omnibus stables near the Patee House. They continued to operate this line until Geo. W. McAleer came to St. Joseph, from Virginia, and bought out the interest of J. L. Motter. The business was conducted by these gentlemen for some time, when Col. J. L. Motter bought out C. D. Smith. Motter & McAleer ran the business in partnership for some time, when Col. Motter sold his interest to McAleer. The line subsequently became the property of William Medaugh, by whom it was sold, in 1867, to Major Thomas Chris- topher. The stock then consisted of five omnibuses, one carriage, four buggies and thirty-six horses. The price paid for the whole was $12,000. Smith Adams afterwards became a partner in the omnibus line with Major Christopher, they continuing in the business as equal partners till 1870, when they sold a one-third interest to A. Sidney Tebbs, Esq., of Platte County. The style of the firm at this time was Christopher & Co.
In the following year, the entire concern, business, stock, etc., excepting the barns and lots, which then stood on the corner of Eighth and Olive Streets, was sold to Captain J. A. Piner, present (1881) Mayor of St. Joseph. At the time of the sale, two-thirds were owned by Chris- topher and one-third by the heirs of A. Sidney Tebbs. The price paid by Captain Piner was $17,000. The present firm is Piner & Co. The
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586
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
Co. of the concern is T. A. Massey. In the fall of 1880, they built, on the corner of Eighth and Mary Streets, a spacious brick stable, at a cost of $5,500. The present equipment of the company consists of six omni- buses, four transfer wagons, one elegant mail wagon, and forty horses.
The Omnibus Company carries to and from the postoffice to the different railroads all the St. Joseph mails.
There are now (1881) three lines of street railway in St. Joseph.
THE CITIZENS RAILWAY COMPANY
built their line, in 1866 from Market Square to the corner of Mitchell Avenue and Eleventh Street. In 1881, this line was extended south- ward to the Exposition Grounds, making its entire length three miles.
The officers of this road in 1866 still (1881) continue in the same respective positions : R. E. Turner, President, and T. J. Chew, Secre- tary and Treasurer ; T. J. Chew, A. Kirkpatrick and John S. Lemon compose the Executive Committee.
TIIE UNION RAILWAY COMPANY,
in July, 1876, completed their line of street railroad from Market Square northward to New Ulm Brewery, a distance of two and a half miles. In April, 1881, an extension from Market Square southward was completed to the machine shops of the Kansas City, St. Joseph and Council Bluffs Railroad, making the entire length of the line several hundred feet over five miles. The present (1881) officers of the road are : J. E. Cox, Super- intendent ; Seymour Jenkins, President, and Thos. Steinacker, Secretary and Treasurer.
In 1878,
THE ST. JOSEPH & LAKE NARROW GAUGE STREET RAILWAY
track and rolling stock were moved from Leavenworth City to St. Joseph, and the former laid down from near Fifth, on Edmond Street, to Eighth and Felix, thence up Frederick Avenue. It was afterwards extended to the common street car line center, on Market Square. It now (1881) extends between that point and Twentieth Street, a distance of over one and a half miles. Thos. Tootle is President of the com- pany. The stables are on Frederick Avenue, corner Twentieth Street.
THE ST. JOSEPH HERDIC COACH COMPANY
was established July 15, 1881, and went immediately into operation .. The officers of the company are : Dr. John T. Berghoff, President ; J. A. Corby, Secretary ; E. F. Mitchell, Superintendent. It is supplied
587
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
with eight coaches and fifty-six horses. The first line runs from Market Square east to Ninth Street, on Felix ; north to Francis, then east to Thirteenth ; thence south, to Sylvanie ; thence east, to Fifteenth Street ; then north, to Edmond; then east, to Seventeenth; then north, to Francis, and east, to Twentieth Street. The second line runs on Sixth to Hall, thence to Ninth, thence to Powell, and from Powell to Mount Mora Cemetery.
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SI.JOE ENG.CC
PATTERSON, NOYES & CO., WHOLESALE BOOTS AND SHOES.
CHAPTER XI.
TRADE, COMMERCE, ETC.
BOARD OF TRADE-ITS OFFICERS AND MEMBERS-WHOLESALE TRADE-SEWERAGE- STREET RAILWAYS-GAS WORKS-WATER WORKS-ST. JOSEPH CLEARING HOUSE- UNION STOCK YARDS-LIVE STOCK-PACKING HOUSES-ICE-OPERA HOUSE-CITY HALL-CHAMBER OF COMMERCE-CUSTOM HOUSE AND POST OFFICE-GLUCOSE WORKS-STAR PRESERVING WORKS-PRODUCE PACKING-MILITARY-TELEPHONE -TELEGRAPH STATISTICS-EXPRESS COMPANIES-POST OFFICE-INTERNAL REVE- NUE-GRAIN-CITY FINANCES.
The following chapter is mainly taken from the admirable report of the Board of Trade for the years 1879-80 :
BOARD OF TRADE.
The Board of Trade was organized October 19th, 1878. The fol- lowing are the names of the officers for each year since its organization, and a list of its members :
1878-Thos. F. Van Natta, President; Samuel I. Smith, First Vice President ; Andrew L. Kerr, Second Vice President ; Isaac Weil, Third Vice President ; George Olds, Treasurer ; W. A. P. McDonald, Secretary.
1879-Samuel I. Smith, President ; Andrew L. Kerr, First Vice Pres- ident ; Isaac Weil, Second Vice President ; John S. Welch, Third Vice · President ; George Olds, Treasurer ; W. A. P. McDonald, Secretary.
1880-Samuel I. Smith, President ; A. L. Kerr, First Vice President; Isaac Weil, Second Vice President ; H. R. W. Hartwig, Third Vice Pres- ident ; George Olds, Treasurer ; W. A. P. McDonald, Secretary.
1881-Samuel I. Smith, President; H. R. W. Hartwig, First Vice President ; T. J. Chew, Jr., Second Vice President ; Samuel M. Nave, Third Vice President ; W. A. P. McDonald, Treasurer ; Frank Motter, Secretary. Directors-Samuel I. Smith, Winslow Judson, Judson Lyon, Joseph Hansen, F. M. Posegate, Samuel M. Nave, T. J. Chew, Jr., H. R. WV. Hartwig, C. H. Nash, A. C. Dawes, Hanson Gregg, Abe Furst, W. A. P. McDonald.
Standing Committees for 1881-Finance-Abe Furst, chairman, John M. Frazer, A. N. Schuster, C. W. Campbell, J. S. Brittain. Rail- road and Transportation-Winslow Judson, Chairman, James McCord, R. E. Turner, Wm. M. Wyeth, J. W. Bailey. Trade and Commerce- Samuel M. Nave, Chairman, Hanson Gregg, A. Steinacker, W. A. P. McDonald, F. L. Sommer. Manufactures-T. J. Chew, Jr. Chairman, James McCord, R. E. Turner, Wm. M. Wyeth, C. H. Nash.
589
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
The following is a list of members of this organization :
C. J. Trowbridge, wholesale lumber. Hanson Gregg, grain dealer. H. R. W. Hartwig, wh'sale liquors. J. P. Emmert, stock yards.
C. B. France, cashier State Savings George Olds, general freight agent Bank.
K: C., St. Jo. & C. B. R. R.
Louis Hax, wholesale carpets and J. W. Bailey, wholesale dry goods. furniture.
C. D. Smith, wholesale grocer.
R. L. McDonald, wholesale dry Wilson & Kennard, wholesale teas goods.
and spices.
W. M. Wyeth, wholesale hardware W. A. P. McDonald, wholesale dry Geo. C. Hull, cashier Bank of St. goods. Joseph.
Townsend, Wyatt & Co., retail dry goods.
S. I. Smith, wholesale drugs.
W. E. Hosea, wholesale dry goods. F. C. Condon, wholesale drugs.
Samuel M. Nave, wholesale grocer. Isaac Weil, wholesale dry goods.
E. M. Yates, cashier Merchants A. Steinacker, Secretary and Treas- Bank.
urer Union Railway Co.
James McCord, wholesale grocer. Abe Furst, wholesale liquors. R. H. Jordan, wholesale hardware. Frank G. Hopkins, wholesale coal F. Westheimer, wholesale liquors. dealer.
Fred K. Maus, wholesale iron and John B. Brady, wholesale and retail heavy hardware.
B. D. Buford & Co., agricultural im- T. F. Van Natta, wholesale grocer. plements.
R. E. Turner, wholesale grocer.
W. G. Tirrell, boots and shoes.
A. N. Schuster, wholesale clothing. Jos. W. Swain, Con. Oil Tank Line.
E. R. McDonald, whl'sale hardware. Tyler & Hall, real estate and ins.
R. L. Lancaster, attorney at law. I. T. Hosea, wholesale hardware. Wm. Kneer & Son, whl'sale conf'y. Sam'l Westheimer, whl'sale liquors. F. L. Sommer & Co., cracker factory. Patterson, Noyes & Co., wholesale Meyer & Meyers, cigar manufact'rs. boots and shoes.
Israel and John Landis, wholesale Buell Man'f' ing Co., woolen mills. harness.
Roberts & Stewart, green grocers.
Woolworth & Colt, wholesale books J. W. Atwill, grain dealer. and stationery.
J. W. Zook, Union Stock Yards.
Jo. Hansen, Gen. F'tand T'ket Ag't. J. W. Dimmitt & Co., whl'sale teas. St. J. & W. R. R. Co.
T. J. Chew, Jr., negotiator of loans.
E. D. Nash, prop. St. Joe. elevator.
A. L. Kerr, grain dealer.
I. N. Speer, grain dealer
carpets.
Studebaker & Welch, wagons and carriages.
W. R. Penick, wholesale drugs.
B. Newberger, wholesale millinery. Studebaker Bros. M'f'g Co., wagons. H. B. Ketcham, retail clothing.
D. M. Steele & Co., whl'sale grocers.
E. P. Smith, grain commission.
Dougherty, Ray & Co., wholesale C. A. & E. H. Perry, grain dealers. lumber.
Chambers & Marney, retail dry goods.
590
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
Krug Packing Co., pork packers. H. A. Russell, G. A., W., St.L. & P. Ry. W. H. Whittaker, prop. starch fac'y. H. M. Garlichs, wholesale drugs. I. Haas, Commercial Wine Hall. Ernst & Brill, book and news dealers.
Burnside, Crowther & Rogers, Union Foundry.
A. A. Grower, Chief Clerk St: Joe. F. M. Posegate, Postm'ter and Pres- & W. R. R. Co.
ident Steam Printing Co.
Dr. Rob't Gunn, Gen'l Sup't St. J. & K. Bridge Co.
D. F. Bombeck, copper and sheet H. J. Seip & Co., whl'sale coal dealers. iron works.
P. V. Wise, insurance.
Koenig, Hauck & Co., cracker fac'try. J: Pfeiffer & Son., steam stone works.
John Hax, pork packer.
R. T. Davis, proprietor City Mills. H. Keene & Co., beer bottlers.
J. J. Tracy, whl'sale and retail grocer. W. P. Sanders, wholesale stoves and tinware.
C. S. Groff, G. A.,H. & St. J. R. R. Co.
W. J. Fulton, railroad contractor. Milton Tootle, whl'sale dry goods. Philip Rogers, livery.
Gilkey and Ullmann, pork packers. Oscar Schramm, vinegar factory.
Dr. A. V. Banes, phy'n and surgeon. Winslow Judson, attorney at law. John L. Motter, President St. J. & Joseph McInerny, prop. Com. House. Des Moines R. R. Bernard Patton, contractor.
Moorby & Fink, wholesale leather R. G. Dun & Co., mercantile agency. and findings. E. V. Snively, grain and mills.
Green, Sherry & Minor, grain com.
H. N. Turner, City Collector.
Bættner & Eckel, architects.
A. E. Mckinney, retail dry goods. J. K. Burgess, livery.
Louis Fuelling, beer and vinegar factory.
C. W. Campbell, whl'sale dry goods.
A. C. Dawes, G. P. A., K. C.,St. Joe C. H. Nash, President Mutual Gas & C. B. R. R.
Light Co.
John Kieffer, Pres't St. Joe Ice Co. J. H. Smith & Co., grain dealers.
A. M. Wright & Co., prop'rs H. & A. Nunning, St. Joeseph brewery. St. Joe Elevator. J. A. Owen, real estate dealer.
S. Lockwood & Co., wholesale hats, J. B. Laughlin, Gen'l Ticket Agent. caps and millinery.
Isaac Motter, grain dealer.
John F. Tyler, at'ty and real estate N. K. Fairbanks & Co., provision Charles G. Hall, provision dealer. dealers.
George Morris, builder and cont'or. Smith, Frazer & Co., whl'sale boots Ira N. Turner, livery. and shoes.
C. C. Pratt, provision dealer.
John DeClue, builder and contractor.
Blackwell & Clark, whl'sale lumber.
Henry Voss, wall paper.
F. M. Tracy, prop. Daily Herald.
Paul Francke, capitalist.
Wm. Bergman, wholesale and retail furniture.
W. H. Floyd, flour and commission. Evans & Son, grain dealers.
J. W. Rutherford, Vice Pres't Water Works Co.
Judson Lyon, wholesale lumber. Hlail & Kingsbury, steam printers.
E. J. Crowther, City Register. H. L. Williams, capitalist.
591
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
T. Pfefferle, wine hall.
Armstrong Bros., whl'sale and retail P. P. Buddy, contractor.
Chicago Produce Exchange, stocks.
J. F. Barnard, Gen'l Sup't K. C., St. News Publishing Co., pub. Evening grocers.
News.
A. J. Foster, agricultural imp'lm'nts.
Walter Eckel, grain commission. Gazette Printing Co., pub. Daily J. B. Kitchen, prop. Pacific House.
Gazette.
H. Marks & Co., whl'sale wool and D. P. McDonald, agent Fairbanks hides. Scale Co.
G. W. Pooler, paints, oils and glass. D. Pinger, pork packer.
A. M. Saxton & Co., prop. Eagle James Walsh, & Co., whl'sale liquors. Mills.
J. A. Corby Pres't Telephone Ex.
J. C. McGinitie & Co., grain com. Consolidated Tank Line Company, refined crude oil.
C. M. Hooper, grain dealer.
Bailey, Fairleigh & Weil, wholesale dry goods.
Eckel & Mann, architects.
Crowther & Rogers, iron founders. A. Furst & Co., wholesale liquors.
Merchants Bank, banking.
Hax & Bro., pork packers,
Judson & Motter, attorneys.
Tootle, Shireman & Co., wholesale clothing.
Turner,Frazer & Co., wh's'le clothing. Snively & Hedges, grain and mills. S. I. Smith & Co., wholesale drugs.
Shultz & Hosea, whl'sale hardware Nunning & Son, brewers.
Lockwood, Englehart & Co., whole- Sanders & McDonald, whl'sale stoves sale millinery. and tinware.
J. S. Brittain & Co., whl's'le dry goods.
WHOLESALE TRADE.
The rapid increase of the wholesale trade of St. Joseph in the past year is simply remarkable. The merchants, last January, looked for- ward to a greatly increased trade, but they did not think for a moment that it would go far beyond the expectations of the most sanguine of their number. Such, however, has been the case, and there is no telling what proportions the trade will assume in 1881. To accommodate this increase of business, many of our merchants are compelled to erect more commodious buildings. The many magnificent wholesale structures that have gone up in the past few months bear ample evidence to the truth of this assertion. It can be said that there has been an average increase of fifty per cent., a figure that is beyond the comprehension of many of the older cities.
Gregg Bros., grain.
Kennard & Fisher, wholesale teas Horace Jackson, grain commission. and spices.
St. Joseph Steam Printing Company, printers and binders.
Schuster, Tootle & Co., wholesale clothing.
Bradstreet & Co., mercantile agency.
Joe & C. B. R. R. Co.
Austin McFarland, Gen'l T'k't Agt.
W. G. Hall, physician and surgeon.
592
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
When it is known that St. Joseph employs over five hundred com- mercial travelers, who are almost constantly on the road, receiving orders daily for the various lines of goods, some idea may be formed of the importance of our wholesale interests. The St. Joseph wholesale houses have a reputation as broad as the American Continent, and our railroads carry out of the city daily immense consignments of goods for Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, California, Nevada, Oregon, New Mexico, Arkansas, Texas, Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Montana. There are many other cities four times as large as St. Joseph that do not begin to rival her in wholesale business. These are facts that are demonstrated upon every side. Indeed, St. Joseph is known the world over for the number of her millionaires and the character of her wholesale houses. In 1880, the business of St. Joseph aggregated sixty-two millions of dol- lars. This includes the wholesale and retail trade, and manufactories, and those best qualified to judge say that this figure is in no way exag- gerated.
The statistics here given are prepared very carefully from all the evidence to be procured, and are regarded as near the mark as possibly can be approximated. It should be borne in mind that the transactions or sales given are for both the wholesale and retail business taken together, during 1880.
Dry goods
. $8,500,000
Groceries
8,000,000
Boots and shoes.
1,800,000
Wines and Liquors 1,900,000
Drugs, paints, oils, etc . 1,750,000
Lumber, lath and shingles
2,800,000
Iron, hardware and cutlery .
3,125,000
1,850,000 Clothing
Machinery and agricultural implements
2,250,000
Hogs, cattle, live stock .
1,700 000
Elevators, grain and produce . 1,800,000
Hats, caps and millinery 1,200,000
Saddlery and harness 1,100,000
Flour, feed and mill stuffs .
1,500,000
Furniture and carpets 1,250,000
Tobacco, cigars, etc . 950,000
Crackers, confectionery and fruits
880,000
Wool, hides, tallow and furs . 850,000 Wagons, carriages, etc 800,000 Teas and spices 600,000
Queensware . 550,000
Watches, clocks and jewelry .
650,000
635,000 Coal, wood and ice .
Printing, books and stationery . 520,000
Stoves and tinware . 550,000
Toys, notions and fancy goods 375,000
Trunks, leather and findings .
350,000
593
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
Gasfitting, plumbing, etc
375,000
Storage and commission
325 000
Oysters, fish, game, meals, etc. .
200,000
Sewing machines, guns and musical merchandise
150.000
Bottled waters, beer and vinegar.
100,000
.
Total sales
$49.385,000
Add sales of manufactures.
12,902,115
Grand total trade.
$62,287 115
SEWERAGE.
The system of sewerage for the city, which although in its infancy, has been admirably planned for a perfect drainage of all portions. The main sewers are made to correspond to the natural water courses as nearly as possible, so that wherever there is a natural channel or drain- age for water it is incorporated into the system. Into these main sewers and living streams of water will be directed all the lateral or smaller sewers which will carry the water and drainage from every principal street and alley in the city.
The principal one is the Smith Branch sewer, running from the intersection of Twentieth Street and Frederick Avenue to the corner of Seventh and Charles Streets, where it intersets the Charles Street sewer. It is about seven feet inside diameter, and is built partly of brick and partly of stone. The Charles Street sewer, the largest and best in the city, is constructed of solid limestone throughout, and is fully nine feet in diameter by inside measurement. The cost of the two sewers above described was about $100,000.
The remainder of the sewers, such as Bush Branch, Sixth Street, Olive Street, Franklin Street and Mitchell Avenue, are constructed of brick, with an average of about five feet in the clear.
The following facts will give an idea of the extent and magnitude of the system :
No. of feet of sewers already completed 16,000
No. feet to be built this year (1881) 2,000
Total length of sewers now used . 3 miles
Total cost of sewers to date $200,000
Amount to be expended for sewers in 1881 20,000
Amount paid for improving streets, 1880.
25,000
Amount to be expended this year, 1881. 30,000
Total length of macadamized streets. 30 miles
Total length of stone and brick paved walks 55 miles
GAS WORKS.
St. Joseph has been extremely fortunate in having had a thoroughly reliable gas company here in operation since 1878. Previous to this, the various companies serving the public were either inefficient in capac-
594
IHISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
ity or exorbitant in charges. In the year 1856, J. B. Ranney and his associates proposed to the city authorities that privileges should be granted to a company to be organized, of which the city should supply one-half of the capital stock and himself and associates the remaining half. This proposition was accepted on a basis of $50,000 capital stock and the works were erected and lamp posts placed at principal street corners. The price then charged for gas was $5 per 1,000 feet. The work not proving profitable and the city finances being at a low ebb, in 1858 an ordinance was passed by the council to dispose of the $25,000 stock of the city in the gas works, and James M. Wilson became the pur- chaser, paying therefore 20 per cent. of par value of the stock. In 1861, the interest of J. B. Ranney & Co., was sold under execution to T. B. Weakly, who, with J. M. Wilson, operated the works until 1864, when Weakly purchased the interest of Wilson, paying therefor $8,000. Pre- vious 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 1,000 feet to private customers, at which figure it was held until the purchase 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 several years. They supplied private consumers at $4.50 per 1,000 feet, and afterwards reduced the price to $4; and for lighting each street lamp per year they received $30.
In 1878, the Mutual Gas Light Company, which is the present owner of the works, came before the city authorities and, through their Presi- dent, C. H. Nash, Esq., offered to supply private consumers at $2.50 per 1,000 feet and the street lamps at $25 per annum. They were awarded the contract and granted franchises in the streets equal to the other com- pany. 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.
The latter company has erected elegant new works on the corner of Lafayette and Sixth Streets, capable of supplying a city of 75,000 inhab- itants, in addition to the excellent improvements which had been already built by the former company on corner of Fifth and Angelique Streets.
The company now have placed in position over twenty miles of main pipe, supplying over eight hundred consumers and nearly five hundred street lamps.
The officers of the company are C. H. Nash, President ; W. A. Has- tings, Treasurer ; A. W. Nash, Secretary, and K. M. Mitchell, Superin- tendent.
595
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
THE UNION DEPOT.
To John B. Carson, General Manager of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, belongs the credit of originating a plan for the construction of a union depot at St. Joseph.
After various conferences of the Union Depot projectors, the erec- tion of the building was finally determined upon in April, 1880, when the St. Joseph Union Depot Company was organized with the following companies as incorporators and stockholders: Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company; Missouri Pacific Railway Company; St. Joseph & Western Railroad Company, which is a part of the Union Pacific; Kan- sas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad Company, which is a part of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad ; Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad Company; St. Joseph & Des Moines Railroad Company
The capital stock of the company was first placed at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, but for the purpose of procuring further funds for the better improvement of the building, the company issued first mortgage bonds to the extent of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and placed them on the market. The financial agent and attorney of the company, Mr. Winslow Judson, found no difficulty in disposing of these bonds, and they were sold at par, and the money placed in the hands of the treasurer for use in constructing the depot.
The ground which was selected and legally condemned for this enterprise, is situated on the east side of Sixth Street, near the corner of Mitchell Avenue, that having been found to be the most suitable location for a common point of meeting for the different railroads oper- ating their lines through this city. It embraces a tract of six acres, all of which will be required for its buildings, sheds, platforms, tracks, etc.
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