USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska > Part 33
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" An attempt will be made to save the south wing. Contractor Smith has been instructed to employ a force of men and work night and day until this portion of the building is in a safe condition. He stated that he would put iron rods through the
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.
building at intervals of ten feet, and if this could be accomplished before an accident occurred the structure could be saved.
" If the south wing should fall without a moment's warning, as did the corridors of the north wing, the loss of life would be great, as the administration rooms, the insane and sick wards are all in that por- tion of the building.
"The falling of this wing is attributed to two canses, the first and principal one being poor construction by Ryan & Walsh, the contractors. The second cause was that for months water had run down the eave spouts and into the ground around the foun- dation walls, causing them to settle. By the settling, the walls had been drawn apart, leaving nothing to support the brick arches over the corridors.
" The falling walls this morning nearly resulted in a panic among the inmates, but by the coolness and presence of mind of Mrs. Mahoney several serious accidents were prevented.
" When the arches went down, all the steam pipes in that portion of the building were broken, and great clouds of steam hissed through the south corridor, where the insane congregated. As this steam enveloped them, they made a wild dash for the south windows, preparatory to jumping to the ground, twenty feet below. Mrs. Mahoney, although frightened nearly to death, rushed down the corridor and was the first person to reach the windows. There she held them back, and, by her nerve and coolness, held them at bay until the steam was shut off and until assistance arrived."
During the construction of the building, from common reports, it was almost impos- sible for the contractors to keep the walls standing; and, as there was a large bill for extras, we give herewith a few of them:
After the north wing had been repaired, Ryan & Walsh put in a bill of $5,880 for 196 beam arches, $7,840 for turning the brick over the same, $130.90 for tearing out
those portions of the arches that did not fall, $165 for putting the material back, 8432 for seventy-three yards of cement placed in the floor that was broken, $152 for lumber used in the new floor and 850 for nails. Then there was another bill for extras for making the same repairs. These figures were $1,890 for sixty-three center beams, $2,520 for turning the brick arches, 8182.12 for brick used in the gable and $386.10 for extra brick used in repairing the walls of the corridors.
These bills of extras were not all, by any means. They kept on until they had piled up to the enormous sum of $50,612.49 over and above the price at which Ryan & Walsh contracted to erect the building. Messrs. Coots and Shane, the superintendents, al- lowed, after a careful inspection, 87,852.82 of the bills, rejecting $42,759.67. Then the balance went before the commissioners, where it was again rejected, after which Ryan & Walsh brought snit in the district court for the full amount. The case was tried and a verdict rendered in favor of the county. An appeal was taken to the supreme court, where the decision of the lower court was set aside. The supreme court issned its mandate, instructing the county to pay Ryan & Walsh 837,000, but it is doubtful when the judgment will be paid, as suit has now been brought against the contractors and the bondsmen to recover, and hold them for the damage to the hos- pital caused by the recent falling of the corridor arches.
On the night of May 17, 1892, a heavy wind also wrecked the new brick barn at the poor farm, and so frightened the inmates of the hospital who were in the south wing, that they remained up all night, expecting the remaining portions of the building to collapse at any moment. Fortunately, the iron rods which had been put in so strength- ened the structure that it remained unin- jured.
When the Convent of St. Mary's was sold in 1888, the proceeds were used to erect the
211
HOSPITALS AND MISSIONS AND THEIR OFFICERS.
building at the corner of Fifteenth and Castellar, known as the Convent of Mercy Orphanage. It is a substantial structure, supplied with all recent improvements for buildings of its character, with ample play rooms, school rooms, dormitories and chapel. It is also the mother house of the Sisters of Mercy in Nebraska. But a more retired sit- uation is now deemed necessary, and ground was broken in July, 1890, for another or- phan asylum on a much larger scale, at Ben- · son Place, where a tract of ten acres has been secured, and will be handsomely devel- oped. There are many private charitable organizations connected with the Catholic Churches, notably, the St. Vincent De Paul's, the Catholic Knights of America. the Catho- lic Mutual Benefit Association, and the Catholic Young Men's Union.
The Methodist Episcopal Hospital and Deaconess' Home Association, at Omaha, was organized March 3, 1891, and soon after in- corporated with Rev. J. W. Shank as presi- dent, J. J. McLain, vice-president, and J. E. Cowgill, secretary. The constitution declares that the purpose of the association is to care for the sick, regardless of race, color, or religious belief. Free member- ship tickets are to be given bishops, elders, and the editors of religious papers, but a membership fee of ten dollars a year is charged other applicants, the payment of two hundred and fifty dollars securing a life membership, and all members of the associa- tion not in arrears for dues to receive free treatment at the hospital. A suitable build- ing was purchased, and furnished, on Twen- tieth Street, between St. Mary's Avenue and Harney Street, and the institution opened on the 28th of May, 1891. During the first year 243 patients were treated, fifty-seven of whom were charity patients. The following named persons are the officers for the present year: president, J. W. Shank; vice president, J. J. McLain; secre- tary, H. R. Day; treasurer, S. W. Lindsay; auditor, W. C. White. The trustees are B.
R. Ball, Rev. G. M. Brown, S. W. Nichol- son, S. W. Lindsay, J. J. McLain, F. W. Hills, Rev. H. A. Crane, John Dale, Rev. A. Hodgetts. Miss Pfrimmer is matron.
The Presbyterians of the city, in 1890, established a hospital at 1626 Wirt Street, with accommodations for a limited number of patients. Dr. W. O. IIenry is the medical superintendent, and the following are the board of trustees: Robert McClelland, C. A. Starr, W. R. Drummond, Colonel Charles Bird, Lew Anderson, L. B. Williams, J. L. Welshans, G. W. Hervey, M. M. Van Horn, W. C. McClain,, Alex G. Charlton, Z. T. Lindsay, J. C. Denise, Harry Lawrie and Frank Koze. The following rules govern the institution: Five thousand dollars will endow one bed permanently; 8300 will sup- port one bed one year; $20 will support one bed one month; 87 will support one bed one week. Permanent endowment of one bed entitles the donor to name the bed. Churches, Sunday Schools, societies, or individuals who make donations as above, will receive a cer- tificate from the Presbyterian association of Omaha. Donations of all kinds of hospital supplies and medicines are solicited and will be thankfully acknowledged. Charity pa- tients will receive medical and surgical attention free. Paying patients occupying a general ward will be charged $10 per week. Patients occupying private rooms will be charged $15 per week. Medical and surgical attendance to paying patients will be the usual fees, or as per agreement. All regular physicians in good standing have equal priv- ileges in access to the hospital. It was incorporated as the Presbyterian Hospital in Omaha, May 2, 1892, with the following incorporators: C. A. Starr, R. McClelland, J. C. Denise, S. M. Ware, and W. G. Her- vey. The hospital has a large and talented medical staff.
The Omaha City Mission was organized under the name of the Christian Workers' Association, October 22, 1875, the object being to advance the interests of the Chris-
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.
tian religion by active work. In November of that year it was resolved that a Sunday School should be established for the benefit of newsboys, boot-blacks and other children of the more neglected class. C. E. Brewster was elected superintendent and R. J. Wilbur and T. W. Lemon assistants. In order to reach the children, a grand dinner was given them on Thanksgiving Day in a vacant store- room in the Visscher Block, which occupied the present site of the Millard IIotel. At this spread the boys and girls of the class it was desired to reach showed their appreciation of the efforts made in their behalf, by re- sponding to the invitation to the number of more than three hundred. The purpose of the proposed Sunday School was explained to them at length, and with full hearts (and stomachs) they voted unanimously in the affirmative, when asked if they would all be present at the Second Baptist Church build- ing, on Ilarney Street near Fifteenth (now used as a blacksmith shop), on the following Sunday afternoon, when the opening session of the school would be held. The honr hav- ing arrived witnessed the sad spectacle of an attendance of four of the three hundred and over who had partaken, with so much zeal and enthusiasm, of the society's hospi- tality but three short days before. However, the superintendent and his two assistants divided these four-all boys-among them, as best they could, without resorting to Solo- mon's proposition for securing an absolutely equal division, gave them much sensible and seasonable instruction and told them to come again, with judicious hints as to May day festivities the following spring. As events indicated, these four lads were present, evi- dently, as spies sent out to inspect the land, and that their report was favorable was evi- denced by the largely increased attendance the following Sunday. In a short time more room was found necessary, and this was se- cured in the quarters then occupied by the Y. M. C. A. Later on the school was held
in the Academy of Music, and then in Gise's Hall, in the Caldwell Block. In January, 1876, an industrial school for the instruction of girls in habits of industry was established, with Mrs. J. B. Jardine as superintendent. During this year a building on Eleventh Street, formerly used for public school pur- poses, was offered the association free of charge, by the city authorities, and the free lease of a lot by Dr. G. C. Monell, in the same block, on Tenth Street, was promptly accepted. A number of citizens contributed to a fund to pay for the removal of the school building on to this lot, and there it has since remained. At the annual meeting in October, 1876, a change to the Omaha City Mission was made, in the name of the association. Three departments have been successfully conducted by the mission for many years: The industrial school, Sunday School and a relief department. By means of the latter, charity work is done dnring the entire year, but especially in the winter months, on an extensive scale and in a thor- oughly practical way. In the two schools the attendance averages about the same- one hundred and twenty-five. In connec- tion with the mission the Provident Dispen- sary was instituted in March, 1892, and Dr. E. T. Allen, who had done much for the work, was made physician in chief of a corps of about forty physicians. Here indi- gent persons may receive treatment for ten cents a visit, including medicine. The officers of the association arc: A. P. IIop- kins, president; J. A. Gillespie, first vice- president; E. T. Allen, second vice-presi- dent; Miss Mary Goodman, secretary; Alfred C. Kennedy, treasurer; P. S. Leisen- ring, superintendent Sunday School; Mrs. A. P . Hopkins, superintendent industrial school; Mrs. J. B. Jardine, chairman relief commit- tee; Rev. A. W. Clark, missionary; J. B. Jar- dine, Thos. Kilpatrick, C. F. Goodman, W. J. Broatch, Wm. McCague, and George O. Calder, trustees.
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LOOKING NORTHWEST FROM SOUTH NINTH STREET, 1876.
CHAPTER XXIII.
FINANCIAL FACTS -PUBLIC AND PRIVATE IMPROVEMENTS - GRADING DOWN HILLS AND FILLING DEPRESSIONS - PRESENT CITY OFFICIALS.
Omaha's increase in population and com- mercial importance has been rapid. In ten years, 1880 to 1890, she has advanced from the sixty-fourth place in the list of Ameri- can cities to twenty-first place. The first years of her history were marked by wild speculations which the financial panic in 1857 suddenly blasted, and business depression fol- lowed. Then the gold discoveries at Pike's Peak, and in the sands of Cherry Creek, in 1858, resulted in this city's becoming an outfitting and freighting point. The inaug- uration of the Union Pacific Railway enter- . prise, in 1864, with Omaha as the initial point, gave the town a new impetus. The financial crash of 1873 was damaging to Omaha, as it was to all western towns, and for three years thereafter real estate could be bought for a song; and, in view of the enormous increase in city property since, it is surprising that no one took advantage of the prices quoted in those days of depres- sion. Lots fronting east on Pleasant Street, now a choice residence location, were offered at $300 each, with no takers; east front lots on Twenty-fourth, between Farnam and Dodge, were offered at from $500 to $800; and in Byron Reed's Addition, west of the High School, lots now worth thousands of dollars were offered in vain at from $300 to $400 each. In the spring of 1877 there was a slight demand for Omaha real estate, which, steadily increasing from that date, has re- sulted in the general up-building of the city. Additions have been made north, south and west, until the city contains twenty-five square miles of territory within her borders.
In 1860 Omaha had a population of 1,861;
in 1870, 16,083; in 1880, 30,518; in 1885' 61,835; in 1886 (estimated), 70,410; in 1887 (estimated), 96,717; in 1888 (estimated), 121,112; in 1890 (United States census), 140,452, an increase of 358 per cent. in ten years. The present growth of the city is all that could be desired. In the business por- tion, substantial blocks are being erected, in many instances by eastern capitalists, and in the residence localities thousands of work- men are engaged building homes for a pros- perous, enterprising people.
An insight into public receipts and ex- penditures in the early history of Omaha is shown by a report made by an auditing committee at the council meeting held March 23, 1859. For the year preceding, the ex- penses of the city clerk's office were 812,- 593.48, but disbursements were made by that office in those days of a character not now within its province, as is shown by the fol- lowing " bill of particulars."
EXPENDITURES.
Pre-emption cases $ 382 15
Capitol Building
6,998 09
Scrip (bill for printing) 95 00
Elections 14 00
Repairs 90 50
Printing
50 00
Rent
81 73
Stationery
46 64
Solicitor
253 00
Recorder
531 50
City Physician 100 00
Treasurer
43 75
Street Commissioner
152 00
Marshal. 468 60
Collector 192 35
Assessor 153 00
City Engineer 134 00
Protection of the Poor
331 59
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.
Criminal Proceedings 100 00
Improvements. 1,153 67
Incidental Expenses
1,221 41
RECEIPTS.
The total amount returned by
ccity ollector was. $ 3,901 45
Scrip received for taxes. 1.658 94
Warrants received for taxes 1.678 26
Cash
561 20
$7,799 85
The receipts of the treasurer's office were $5,875.89, as follows:
Scrip. $ 2,767 89
Warrants 2,169 64
Cash 938 36
The disbursements for the year footed up $5,806.07, leaving the magnificent total of 869.82 in the city treasury.
The report of the city assessor, dated November 22, 1858, fixed the assessed valu- ation at 8202,074; personal property, $178,- 362; total, 81,491,114. On this amount a tax of five mills was levied, which would make the city revenue from this source $7,455.51, for the fiscal year ending March 10, 1859. To the above amount was added $347.50 derived from licenses, and $39.84 received by the mayor in the deed- ing and redeeming of city lots; and, as the total expenditures were 812,593.48, the com- mittee found a deficit of $4,750.57. They took a cheerful view of the situation, how- ever, saying: "As a large portion of the expense was to defray the liabilities of the city on account of the capitol improvements, which will not again occur, and as other items of expenses can be dispensed without detriment to the general prosperity of the city, it is hoped that, by a judicious and economical administration of the city finan- ces, the receipts will defray the expenses of the present fiscal year, and perhaps cancel a portion of the city debt." The amount of scrip issued to that date, $60,000, warrants then outstanding, $12,414.14, and a floating debt of $275.45, brought the total liabilities up to $72,689.59. To offset this large snm, the committee presented the following as assets:
Taxes due the city $ 3,554 12
Amount received at tax sales. 1,286 03
Bond and mortgage of Hotel Company, 15,000 00
City engineer's instruments, etc 200 00
Scrip on hand redeemed. 2,868 68
City warrants redeemed. 3,130 39
Cash in treasury 69 82
Balance in collector's hands 83 03
Four lots in block H, estimated value .. 3,000 00
Eight lots in block D, estimated value. 3.000 00
Two lots in block G, estimated value. 1,000 00
Fifty-six lots in J, K, L, M, N, O, P, es- timated value. 5,'00 00
Four lots in block 128, estimated value 5,000 00
Eight lots in Jefferson Square 4 000 00
Twenty lots in Market Square. 1,000 00
Interest in court house, say 3,000 00
Total $51,197 07
These represent a total of $51,197.07, which left a balance of 821,492.52 on the wrong side of the ledger. The committee close their report by recommending that the city property be sold in order to cancel the debt.
The financial standing of Omaha in the money centers of the East is now so well established that for several years past her bonds, bearing but five per cent. interest, have commanded a handsome premium. The bonds sold during 1890 bore interest at but four and one-half per cent, and sold for a premium of three per cent. The as- sessed real estate and personal valuation for taxation for 1891 was $20,000,176.50, though the actual value of real estate alone is conservatively estimated at ten times that amount. The tax levy for city pur- poses for the year 1891 was 8761,128.34. The total collections from all sources, for the year ending December 31, 1891, were 81,595,038.83. January 1, 1892, the city's bonded debt was $2,036,109, while the value of the real estate owned by the city is $1,- 792,255, and of personal property, $95,- 904.91; total $1,888,159.91. In 1860 the revenue from taxes was $5,299; in 1870 it was $134,446; in 1880, 8177,478; in 1885, 8374,773; in 1886, 8475,932; 1887, 8625,- 000; 1888, $739,331; 1889, 8994,881. The
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CLEARING HOUSE REPORTS.
increase in the city debt has been as follows: 1879, 8200,000; 1880, $228,900; 1881, 8328,- 900; 1883, 8528,900; 1884, 8698,900; 1885, $848,900; 1886, 81,048,900; 1887, 81,223,- 900; 1888, 81,458,500; 1889, $1,661,100. There is an additional amount of $1,614,450 of bonded indebtedness, but this is not a city obligation, proper, but represents bonds issued on account of paving, curbing and guttering, which amount is taxed up against the abutting property, and is paid for by yearly installments, extending over a period of ten years. The paving at intersections of streets and alleys is paid for by the city.
Omaha now ranks seventeenth in the list of clearing house cities, and the banks showed aggregate deposits, March 1, 1892, of $20,109,563.97, distributed as follows: nine national banks, 816,623,467.99; nine savings banks deposits and two State banks, $3,486,095.98. The aggregate capi- tal of the national banks is $4,000,000; of the savings banks. 8625,000; and of the two State banks, 8104,000. The clearing house, W. H. S. Hughes, manager, was estab- lished in 1885, for which year the clearings were 861,384,000; 1886, 893,793,000; 1887, $147,714,000; 1888, $175,714,000; 1889, $208,790,000; 1890, 8255,557,652; 1891, $214,758,386, with some of the banks not reporting through the clearing house. In addition to the figures given above, the South Omaha banks, of which three are national, are really a part of the Omaha banking system, and make quite an addition to the capital and the business of the city. During this period the percentage of annual increase has varied from nineteen to fifty- two.
The public improvements carried on by the city were insignificant in extent, until about 1882, when the necessity therefor became so apparent that a general system of grading, sewerage, and paving was inaugu- rated. In January of that year, a board of public works was appointed by the mayor and council, consisting of James Creighton,
chairman, Joseph Barker and John Wilson. The first meeting of the board was held January 22d. In July, 1884, Mr. Barker was succeeded by Clark Woodman, and in March, 1885, Fred. W. Gray was appointed as the successor of Mr. Wilson. In July, 1885, J E. House was appointed chairman of the board in place of Mr. Creighton, re- signed, and in October of that year T. C. Brunner succeeded Mr. Gray. Mr. Wood- man resigned and Albert Schaul was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy November 22, 1885, and in September of the following year Henry Voss succeeded Mr. Brunner. In 1887 the board was legislated out of existence by the new charter, and in May a new one was appointed by the mayor and council, consisting of St. A. D. Balcombe, for three years; C. E. Mayne, two years; and Louis Heimrod for one year; the first named being designated as chairman. In October, 1888, John B. Furay succeeded Mr. Heimrod and William I. Kierstead was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Mayne; he was re-appointed in July, 1889, for three years, and resigned Jannary 13. 1891. A. A. Egbert was appointed to fill the vacancy, February 17, 1891.
Previous to the appointment of this board, a very considerable sum had been expended by the city, under direction of the street commissioner, for grading, and Far- nam Street had been macadamized from Ninth to Fifteenth at a cost of $25,000; but general improvements were conducted so loosely that the aggregate amount thus ex- pended cannot now be ascertained. The work done on Farnam proved a useless expenditure, and a few years later that street was paved with Sioux Falls granite in the most sub- stantial manner. Originally the Waring system of sewerage was adopted, but that also proved to be a costly experiment, the remarkable growth of the city since not having been anticipated or provided for when the sewers were huilt, and they were soon found to be entirely inadequate.
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.
At the close of the year 1888, the Board of Public Works reported (including an estimated expenditure for 1882) a total out- lay by the city for public improvements, from 1882 to 1888, inclusive, of $5,035,- 518.07, but did not take into account sundry expenses, inspection, etc., which would amount to nearly 860,000 more. The Eleventh Street viaduct cost $95,734.92, and that on Sixteenth Street, $38,793.05, botlı being built in 1887. The foundation for the city hall, practically lost by the change of plans in 1888, cost $38,650.95. With the close of the year 1888, there were forty miles of street pavements laid and sixty-six miles of sewers constructed. Pre- vious to 1882, 850,000 had been expended on sewer construction, which amount is in- cluded in the total given above. The material used for paving is Sioux Falls granite, Colorado sandstone, asphaltum, cedar and cypress blocks, and vitrified brick. In addition to the outlay by the city, the street railway companies have ex- pended many thousands of dollars in paving their right-of-way on various streets.
During the year 1889 the Board of Public Works expended $846,665, paying 877,415 for nineteen miles of curbing; $103,668 for six and seven-tenths miles of sewers; $483,- 482 for eleven miles of paving; $182,000 for twenty-two miles of grading. The cost of sidewalks (taxed against property owners) laid during the year was about $112,000. The sum of 855,000 was expended in park improvements by the South Omaha Com- pany, and about 820,000 by the Omaha Park Commission. Since January 1, 1883, fifty- one miles of streets had been paved, at a cost of 83,182,952, the largest disbursement for this purpose having been made in 1888, when $1,000,464 was expended. There had been nineteen miles of stone curbing laid, at a cost of 877,415; over seventy-two miles of sewer built, costing $1,217,172; and one hundred and three miles of streets graded, making a total outlay for this class
of public improvements to January 1, 1890, of $6,540,472. June 25, 1890, P. W. Birk- hauser succeeded St. A. D. Balcombe as chairman of the board.
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