History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 106

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1020

USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska > Part 106

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*Omaha Bee, January 9, 1887. But the "vast establishments," and "armies of men" were drafts upon the imagination which have not yet, iu all respects, been fully realized.

652

HISTORY OF SOUTH OMAHA.

oatlı of office. The village records end with: "Ilere the old board retired with a few remarks from Mr. Hunt." The village gov- ernment lasted a little less than six montlis. Mr. Hunt pronounced its valedictory.

On that day the city council met at the office of Ritchhart & Persons. Present: Mayor Savage, and Councilinen Smith, Strathman. Rafferty, Gary, Loescher and Burke-when an adjournment was taken to April 12, following.

At the meeting of the council on the 12th of April, Frederick M. Smith was chosen president; David Loescher, acting president; J. R. Grice, city attorney; and Patrick Rice, city marshal. George Dixon was appointed night watch. The marshal was instructed to act as street commissioner. The bond of the city treasurer was increased from five thousand dollars to ten thousand dollars. A proposition from Mr. Ritchhart was re- ceived, wherein he proposed to furnish room, lights and fuel for council meetings at one dollar per night. The proposition was promptly accepted. The meeting then ad- journed. It will be seen that the wheels of the city government were now fairly in motion.

"In April, 1887," says a recent publica- tion, " there being the requisite population, the village of South Omaha was organized into a city of the second class. * * *

The moment this movement was talked of it created a breeze, and everybody prepared for a battle of ballots, the contest being be- tween the law-abiding citizens, on the one side, and those who cared more for money and a license to do as they pleased than for for law and order, on the other. The nomi- nating convention, itself, was a picnic which occurs only once in a man's lifetime, and indeed but few men are blest with the privi- lege of witnessing such an exhibition.

" The meeting was held in the old frame school house, near the Union Pacific tracks, and the house was jammed full of embryo politicians, half-drunken bummers, tipsy candidates and rocky heelers, sandwiched in with honest citizens, respectable members of society, business men and capitalists. Colonel Savage was elected chairman, and Edward Stearns, secretary. Nominations for city officers were made, beginning with candidate for mayor, of which there were several, and it was agreed that all nomina- tions should be decided by ballot. There

were many present who had not the slightest idea of what the object of a primary or nominating meeting was, although they were there under instructions, from their candi- dates, to carry the meeting if it had to be done by force. Many of them thought, or, at least, acted as if the nomination of a candidate meant an election, not seeming to know that they could have another whack at an objectionable candidate at the polls. Consequently, when balloting began, and it commeneed to dawn upon the mob that the law-and-order people would succeed in plac- ing their men on the ticket, a scene of wild contusion took place. The multitude surged back and forth, seats began cracking all over the house, like old dry timber, fist- fights occurred in various parts of the room, knives and pistols were drawn, and several heads were broken by policemen's clubs. Brave men became panic-stricken, and in several instances climbed out of the windows at the imminent risk of breaking their necks, and for aught the writer knows, some of them are still running. In the midst of the confusion lights were extinguished, and the convention was virtually broken up. For once in his life Colonel Savage, the chair- man, could not command attention, although he mounted a desk and exercised his lung power to its utmost capacity. However, the ticket was afterward completed, and nearly all of it elected.

" A bitter contest took place at the polls, and some blood was shed, though it came mostly from broken noses. * * *

" It was not without some murmuring that opposing factions accepted the situation, and for a time at least, the most arduous duty of the city officials was to preserve order. But the extraordinary growth of the city, both in population and in commercial importance, soon over-shadowed everything else, and gave the city fathers so much to do to pro- vide for necessary improvements, that the lawlessly inclined had things pretty much as they wanted them. Gradually, however, the reins were tightened, and at least a show of police authority was made, Patrick Rice was made chief, and Pat had a rough time of it. At times it was a difficult matter to say whether he was chief of police, acting under orders of the city council, or whether the saloons and their customers had been clothed with authority to run the chief and his men.

653

SOUTH OMAHA AS A MUNICIPALITY.

" These were small matters-too small to cut much of a figure, except with those who naturally would find fault if they lived in Ilcaven."*

At a meeting of the council, on the 18th of April, another night watch was appointed, and on the 25th, James Lasher was autlio- rized to act as policeman. An ordinanee (No. 15) was introduced at a meeting held on the 29th, establishing and regulating a police department. It was read the first time-put upon its final passage and carried. On the 9th of May, the committee on bound- ary lines introduced the written opinion of Jolm M. Thurston, on the subject of the encroachment of the City of Omaha on the territory of South Omaha. The " en- croachment," here referred to, was the passage of an ordinance, on the ninth day of the previous month, by Omaha, extending its jurisdiction over all of South Omaha north of F Street. However, as Omaha took no action under the ordinance-not attempting to exercise any municipal juris- dietion over the territory mentioned, the City of South Omaha continued to make good the autonomy and integrity of its original boundaries, in all respects, as thoughi her more powerful neighbor had laid no claim to the northern half of her possessions.

" In the following June," are the words of a recent writer who has already been fre- quently quoted, " the city council passed a resolution agreeing to submit a proposition of the Omaha Motor Railway Company and also of the South Omaha Street Railway Company to a vote of the people. At the same time the Union Pacific Railway Com- pany asked the council to donate to them thirty feet of the west side of Twenty- seventh Street, nearly opposite the foot of N Street, for depot purposes.

"In July, 1887, Armour closed a deal with Lipton whereby he became the posses- sor of the Lipton plant and the 'King of Packers' became a South Omaha operator. If any doubts remained in the minds of the weak-kneed, this move of Armour dispelled them. Even the most skeptical from that date forward felt that it was only a question of time when South Omaha would be second if not first in the list of packing centres. From that day the Armour plant began to grow and is still growing.

"On Monday, July 25, 1887, a special

election was held to vote upon the street railway proposition mentioned above. The election resulted in defeating the home com- pany and in granting the Omaha company a franchise. This was the first step towards our present splendid facilities for travel be- tween the two cities. * * *

" On the same day of the election, [July 25, 1887], the City of St. Joseph offered P. D. Armour $100,000 in eold eash and twenty acres of ground, as an inducement to him to establish a packing house there, but Mr. Armour deelined with thanks, preferring to make South Omaha his principal place of business on the Missouri River. That was another example of Mr. Armour's good bus- iness judgment, and another indication of the future of this city. The sequel is all that could have been desired, bothi on the part of Mr. Armour and of the city.

"On August 4th, 1887, the following item appeared in the Stockman:

"' An even half dozen new commission firms have been added to the number doing business in South Omaha, within the past few days. Hill & Smiley, Regan & Lowry, Brainard & Richardson, Ilorne & Sharp, Alexander & Fitch, Gosney & Chumbley.

"' These firms do not count in numbers alone; but are all good, strong, substantial firms of established reputation. In fact there is not a snide live stock eommission firm at the yards whether old or late accessions. They are nearly all men who have been in business for years, in New York, Chicago, and other eastern markets, who have been driven to Omaha by the stern hand of fate, which has from time to time decreed that the live stock markets shall go farther west, nearer the source of supply. They are com- posed of the most enterprising of the large army of eastern operators, who have both the means and experience necessary to a suc- cessful business.'

" It was about this date that Fowler Brothers, packers, served an injunction on the Stock Yards Company to restrain them from issuing a block of shares of their stock to Armour. The matter was afterward amicably adjusted.

" An ordinance providing for the grading of N Street from the railroad to Twentieth Street, was passed in August, 1887; and on the 12th of that month, the School Board met, opened the bids, and let the contract for erecting the High School building.

* The Eagle, July 4. 189t.

654

HISTORY OF SOUTH OMAHA.

Mackey & McDonald put in a bid of $8,400, which being the lowest, entitled them to the contract. 米 * *

"In the same month of August, the K. S. Newcomb Lumber Company located its yards in this city, and the new Union Pacific pas- senger depot was located at the foot of N Street. Many other important improve- ments were inaugurated at this time, and a number of accessions to the ranks of the business men of the city were made, most of whom are [in 1891], still here, and doing well." *

At the meeting of the council, October 17th, a motion was made and carried, that the mayor notify the Governor of Nebraska that the City of South Omaha has a popula- tion of over five thousand. This was a pro- ceeding looking to the incorporation of South Omaha as a city of the second class of the highest degree.

By a proclamation of the Governor of the State, issued December 13, 1887, South Omaha became a city of the second class (of the highest degree), " having more than five thousand and less than twenty-five thousand inhabitants." This change took place a little more than eight months after its organiza- tion as a city of the lesser degree-that is, having over one thousand, but less than twenty-five thousand inhabitants.t

The election for city officers was held on Tuesday, April 3, 1888, and resulted in the choice of W. G. Sloane for mayor, Thomas Hocter for city clerk, Thomas Geary for treasurer. On the 12th of April, J. Mc- Millan was elected president of the council; Eli H. Doud was appointed city . attorney, and E. B. Towle city engineer. Edwin Driggs was authorized to number the houses of the city at the cost of the owners. On the 16th C. J. Collins was appointed inspector of plumbing; and on the 23rd, David IIoban was made street commissioner.

On the 28th of August, the city engineer was instructed to advertise for bids to build the Q Street and L Street viaducts, the issu-

ing of thirty-five thousand dollars in bonds for the former, and forty-three thousand for the latter of these viaducts having the day previous been voted for by the citizens of South Omaha, each proposition receiving a majority of over eight hundred votes. A proposition also carried at the same election to issue sixty-two thousand dollars in bonds for sewerage purposes; another for twelve thousand dollars to pave street and alley in- tersections; and still another for thirty-five thousand dollars to fund outstanding indebt- edness. J. J. Breen was appointed and confirmed building inspector on the 22nd of October following.

Let us now glance at the material progress of the village --- the city-of South Omaha. Ilere is the showing for the ending of the year 1888: It had a population of not less than eight thousand, and the number of firms and individuals doing business was 243. Nothing, in Nebraska, during the four years preceding, equaled that increase, considering the fact that it started from almost nothing.

It was submitted to the city council on the 18th of April, 1889, by a special com- mittee appointed for that purpose, that the total indebtedness of the municipality was $271,912.14; total assets, 816,982.32. The expenditures for the previous year were $190,390.37.

On the 1st of May a committee reported to the city council that the new fire alarm system had been completed and was working satis- factorily. An issue of seventy thousand dollars funding bonds was voted by the South Omaha electors on the 21st. It was soon after shown that the assessed valuation of the city was $2,167,000.

When, in the spring of 1889, it became evident that South Omaha had a sufficient population for the city to be organized un- der the statute [that is, under one partic- ular statute] as a city of the first class "having more than eight thousand and less than twenty-five thousand inhabitants," a' proposition to that effect was submitted to a vote of the people. This was on May 21, 1889, and the question was carried in the affirmative. Thereupon the Governor of Nebraska issued his proclamation in these words:

" WHEREAS, a certificate has been filed in the executive office, by the mayor of the City of South Omaha, in the State of Ne- braska, in which it is certified that the said

* J. B. Erion, in The Eagle, July 4 and 11, 1891.

+ " On October 16, 1886, only a little over six years ago, so many of the people of ' Douglas Precinct' as felt the necessity of having a form of local government established, which should immediately protect them in their homes and at their work, caused to be organized the village of South Omaha, with bound- aly lines exactly identical with those of the present city. The trustees of the village organized by the election of E. P. Savage as chairman, wbo thus became the first chief executive officer of South Omaha. But the very next year (1887), the village be- gan to put on " metropolitan airs." It became a city of the second clasa, of the lesser degree, and Mr. Savage was elected first mayor; then it soon became a city of the second class of a ' higher degree.'"-The Drovers Journal, December 31, 1892.

655

SOUTH OMAHA AS A MUNICIPALITY.

City of South Omaha contains a population of more than eight thousand inhabitants, the said certificate having been given by the mayor acting under authority of law and in accordance with the facts.

" Now, therefore, I, John M. Thayer, gov- ernor of the State of Nebraska, do hereby issue my proclamation and declare said City of South Omaha a city of the first class and subject to all the provisions of an act to provide for the organization, government and powers of cities of the first class, having more than eight thousand and less than twenty-five thousand inhabitants.

" In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused to be affixed the great seal of the State.

" Done at Lincoln this eighth day of June, A. D. 1889.

" By the Governor, JOHN M. THAYER.

"[L. S. ] G. L. LAWS, Secretary of State."*

On Tuesday, April 1, 1890, an election for city officers resulted in the choice of W. G. Sloane, mayor; T. E. McGuire, clerk; Thomas Hoctor, treasurer; P. J. King, po- lice judge.

But just here it is proper to state that the Supreme Court of Nebraska, in the case of the "State ex rel. School Board of South Omaha vs. County Board of Douglas Coun- ty," in a decision handed down February 15, 1893, nullifies the proclamation of Governor Thayer in these words: " South Omaha, as shown by the census of 1890, is a city of the second class, having more than eight thou- sand and less than twenty-five thousand inhabitants, and not a city of the first class."

That Omaha and the " Magic City" would be benefited in various ways were South Omaha to be included in the municipality first named, and become a part thereof, was a proposition that early had advocates in both cities. It was now (April, 1890) agi- tated with vigor. Steps were taken to bring the matter, according to law, before the citizens of Omaha and Sonth Omaha for them to vote upon the proposition. There was no great interest manifested in the city first mentioned, but in South Omaha the excitement was intense. The election was held May 8, 1890.

*Op October 18. [16] 1886, South Omaha was incorporated as a village; and on December 13. 1887, by the governor's procla- mation it was made a etty of the second class, the requirements belng that it should have a population of over five thousand. In March, 1890, [June, 1889,] the city was granted a charter as a city of the first class, having a population over eight thousand and less than twenty-five thousand .- South Omuha Daily Trib- une, December 31, 1892.

Omaha went for annexation, but in South Omaha the result was as follows:

Wards

For

Against

First

235

309

Second

178

302

Third.

191

198

Fourth

123

727

825

Majority against annexation 98

So the annexation project was defeated, and South Omaha is still a city, duly incor- porated under the statute; but there was left them a source of disquietude. It was threat- ened that Omaha had a good claim to all of the territory north of F Street, and that, if annexation failed, the metropolitan city would soon assert its rights in the courts. The attempt was made, but with what success we shall now see.

The City of Omaha commenced suit in the Supreme Court of Nebraska against the City of South Omaha, September 4, 1890, in effect to recover from the latter all the territory lying north of F Street as extended east and west to its east and west limits-the city first named claiming (as before mentioned) this extensive area as rightfully belonging to that municipality, and that jurisdiction over it was wrongfully exercised by South Omaha. But the court decreed the territory to the last mentioned city, which leaves its boundaries exactly as established by the county commissioners, October 16, 1886, when the board fixed the limits of the village of South Omaha .*

On Tuesday, April 5, 1892, the successful candidates for the following city offices were C. P. Miller, mayor; Thomas Hoctor, treas- urer; Henry Ditzen, clerk; James M. Fow- ler, police judge.

Mayor Miller was found in an uncon- scious condition in the weeds in the vicinity of Eighth and Dodge Streets, Omaha, on Tuesday evening, October 4, 1892, at about 5:30 o'clock. There was a hole in his fore- head, showing where a 45-caliber bullet had entered, and his left eye was entirely out of its socket, hanging down on his cheek by only a few shreds of flesh. The patrol wagon was called and he was taken to the Methodist hospital. Dr. Somers probed for the bullet, but was unable to find it. Mr. Miller died at 4:30 o'clock in the afternoon of the next day.

The coroner's jury returned the following

*Nebraska Reports, Vol. 31, pp. 378-385.

656

HISTORY OF SOUTH OMAHA.

verdict on the afternoon of October 14: "After a searching examination we find that ex-Mayor Miller, of South Omaha, came to his death from a gun-shot wound in his left temple, and after having exhausted all means in our power we, the jury, do say that we are unable to determine by whom the fatal shot was fired.

"Gustav Anderson, W. A. Sharp, J. T. Withrow, John P. Durler, C. J. Mentor."

The funeral of Mayor Miller occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, October 9. A large part of the population of South Omaha attended to pay a last tribute to his memory, the streets being crowded with thousands of people. Many houses were draped. The fu- neral was in charge of the Knights of Pythias, of which order Mayor Miller had been a member. The First Presbyterian Church, where the services were held, was filled to its utmost capacity and many were unable to obtain admission, while hundreds realized the uselessness of attempting to gain entrance and remained upon the streets. The remains were buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery, whither they were followed by a long cortege, com- posed of citizens and members of various secret orders.

The successor of Mayor Miller, as chief executive of South Omaha, was J. S. Wal- ters, who, by virtue of his office as president of the council, became acting mayor, in which capacity he is now (January, 1893) officiating.

The councilmen of South Omaha who have been, or are now, in office, with the years of their incumbency, are:

1887-First ward, F. M. Smith .. Bruno Strathman (the latter having resigned, J. M. Glasgow was appointed in his place) ; second ward, Daniel Rafferty, Alfred A. Gary; third ward. David Loescher, John N. Burke (during the year this ward was divided and a fourth ward formed); fourth ward, T. B. Whittlesey and Charles Bogart were appointed by the mayor.

1888-First ward, D. F. Bayless (who re- signed, and F. H. Boyd was appointed to

fill the vacancy), Fred. M. Smith; second ward, John McMillan; third ward, J. J. O'Rourke; fourth ward, S. B. Fenno for the long term, and B. Jetter for the short term. Mr. Fenno resigned and E. P. Savage was appointed to fill his place.

1889-First ward, E. B. Towle; in the second ward a contest between D. Rafferty and Christian A. Melcher was decided in favor of the latter; third ward, J N. Burke; fourth ward, Ed. Johnston.

1890-Patrick Rowley, James J. Dough- erty, Edward T. Conley, and John J. O'Rourke were elected councilmen at large.

1891-First ward, William M. Wood; sec- ond ward, A. B. Haley; third ward, F. Bow- ley; fourth ward, J. S. Walters.

1892-James II. Bulla, Ora Edwin Bruce, John F. Schultz and Walstein B. Wyman were elected from the city at large.

The following persons have filled the position of police judge in South Omaha: G. Reuther, P. J. King, and J. M. Fowler now (January, 1893) in office.

Residents of South Omaha who have held county and state offices are: Peter J. Corri- gan and C. C. Stanley, county commissioners; J. J. Breen, John McMillan and A. L. Sut- ton, assemblymen.

NOTE I .- The City of South Omaha has an efficient fire department. An ordinance creating this department was passed on the 5th of August, 1889, by the council and approved the same day by Mayor Sloane. Fred. M. Smith organized the department. and has served as chief continuously since that time.

The police department is well organized, and its work effective. The number of police is ten. The names of those who have held the office of chief are: Patrick Rice, A. C. McCracken, J. P. Maloney, Thomas Brennan, W. H. Beckett.

NOTE II .- The city has, as before mention ed two viaducts: one on L Street, with a length of 1474 feet, costing $41,717.25; the other on Q Street, with a length of 816 feet, costing $45 300. Bonds have been issued on the L Street viaduct for $43,000, and on the Q Street viaduct for $35.000. The structures are of great utility, crossing, as they do. above the Union Pacific and other rail- road tracks, closely uniting the east and west parts of the city.

CHAPTER VII.

MINOR INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS.

The first newspaper printed in South Omaha was the South Omaha Globe, J. B. Erion, editor and proprietor. It com- menced its existence October 30, 1885. Some of the editor's "locals," in that issue are worthy of preservation:

" The Carroll grocery house is one of the new institutions of South Omaha. They have a large, convenient building, recently finished, and neat and clean as a new pin. It is well filled with a new, fresh stock of groceries and provisions."

" The U. P. Company has had a large force of hands at work for months past, directly opposite this ofliee [the Globe], at the Summit, grading yards and laying switches. The result is extensive yards two hundred feet wide and half a mile long. Next season a union depot will be built at this point by the B. & M. and U. P. [It was built (a small frame building) but was removed in 1890]."

"South Omaha needs a physician. One would naturally think, with the thousand of M. D.'s turned out by the medical colleges every year, some young fledgling or other would stick out his shingle in every village and hamlet in the country, but it seems that no saw-bones has struck South Omaha as yet. The town is supplied with a good drug store, but no doctor."

" H. Rigby & Co. have opened a boot and shoe shop at South Omaha. Mr. Rigby is an Ames, Iowa, man and is a thorough work- man."

"South Omaha now has a coal dealer, which will be quite a convenience. Heretofore the town was obliged to order its supply of coal from the city [Omaha]."

"It has been positively asserted by those who know, that the street cars will run to the Stock Yards next season. If the present company does not extend its line, the syn- dicate will build a line of its own and oper- ate it."

" It may seem rather odd to some people that the Globe office has been established at

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History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 106

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1894 Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1020

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1020