USA > New York > Niagara County > Landmarks of Niagara County, New York > Part 22
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The preliminary bridge was but a slight structure of eight feet (roadway) in width, with a railing made from ash wood of oval form, one and one-quarter inches by two inches, locked together at its ends, and the splice bound together by fine annealed wire and woven into the suspenders of the bridge longitudinally. There were four of these on either side, one foot apart, which made a strong and safe railing five feet in height. This bridge was only intended as a scaffolding from which to build the platform of the intended railroad bridge. The mode of construction of this prelimi- nary bridge was not only unique, but was attended by a thrilling incident, which will not be forgotten by those who witnessed it, or its recital uninteresting to those who did not.
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The first preliminary bridge was composed of four massive wooden towers, two on either bank, some eighty feet in height. There were four corner posts two feet square, constructed of four timbers one foot square, each of different length and separated on their inner sides by an oak strip, and all bolted firmly together. The sections were united by each timber being of a different length, and thus built up to the top. There were cross beams twelve inches square running around the vertical posts at intervals of about eight feet and bolted firmly to the corner posts, and brac- ing timbers from each cross beam to the corner posts. These towers were fourteen feet square at the base, terminating at their top at six feet square. These towers were mounted by a wooden roller of eighteen inches in diameter and six feet in length. upon which the cables were to rest.
The cables of this preliminary bridge were four in number, two on each tower. They were composed of about one hundred and twenty strands of No. 10 wire each wire having been stretched at an equal tension on the shore, with each wire passing around an iron yoke at each end as a means of anchoring the cables to the rock. These cables were wrapped transversely by small annealed wire at intervals of ten inches, each wrapping being four inches in length, the cable two and one-quarter inches in diameter. In getting these cables across, one end was anchored to the solid rock, a strong rope attached to the other end, which was connected with a powerful windlass on the Canada side, and by it the cable was hauled across the chasm and the ends anchored to the rock. This left a sag in the cable below the cliff of about eighty feet. By means of rope tackle these cables were lifted to the top of the towers to their final resting place, leaving the lowest point of deflection of the cables some fifteen feet above the level of the surface rock on either side. These cables were spread upon the wooden rollers on the top of the towers, four feet apart, and the transverse wrappings for about four feet at their apex removed for the pur- pose of leaving the wires flattened to give each strand of wire an equal tensile strength, and to enable the oil, with which they were kept painted, to reach each wire to prevent any possible oxidization of the wires, this being the greatest point of strain on the cables.
Next in order were placed strips of pine scantling, two by three, across the two cables on either side, and four feet in length, fastened with wire to the cables, so as to prevent the cables getting out of line, and a cross support for the suspenders, which were composed of two strands of No. 10 wire, each end of the suspender ter- minating at the bottom in a loop to receive the cross or needle beam of the flooring. As these suspenders and supports were shoved out, the floor was laid, which con- sisted of one-inch boards of two layers, each layer breaking joints. These tempo- rary platforms of only four feet in width, were to be carried across from either side simultaneously until being united in the center, and when so united the platform at once assumed its intended form, a beautiful catenary curve to the cables and an up- ward curve to the flooring, each being governed by the calculation of the length of each suspending wire.
Two separate and distinct bridges were thus thrown across, after which they were brought together, side by side, and lashed firmly together, thus giving the support- ing cables a lateral curve from twenty-four feet at the top of the towers to eight feet at the center of the bridge.
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It was while these preliminary platforms were being carried out as above described that a terrific scene occurred. The northerly platform was completed and the other commenced on either side, the one on the Canada side almost one hundred feet from the bank, and on the American side about two hundred feet. There arose a sudden and terrific wind storm. As a first indication of it a two-inch plank was lifted from the top of the tower and was being carried as a feather at the behest of the storm. Its effect on the bridge was that the unfinished part was swinging to and fro for one hundred feet, at last throwing that part on the Canadian side over and across the basket cable. There were two workmen on the Canada end of the structure at the time of the crash, who made their escape to the tower, but on the American side there were four men on the structure, only one of whom reached the shore, the three remaining having no other support than to firmly clutch the two No. 10 wires and resting their feet on the shifting flooring of the platform. Nothing could be done to rescue these men, until the violence of the gale subsided. When the gale had spent its violence a short ladder, twelve feet long, was attached to the iron basket with ropes and a request for some one to volunteer to go out in the basket to rescue the men. A young man named William Ellis stepped forward and said, "I am your man." Ellis sprang into the basket but before starting I instructed him that he under no consideration should bring but one man at a time, as it was impossible to estimate the strain upon the basket cable, as the weight of the entire Canada end of the bridge was upon it, but to take off the one farthest out, and return for the others. Ellis's reply was "all right." Out went the basket, passing the two unfortunates for the one farthest from the shore, the ladder was extended to the wreck, the un- fortunate was eagerly watched until safely landed in the basket. The next un- fortunate's appeals were so pressing to be taken in that Ellis forgot his instructions and the second unfortunate was soon seen crossing the ladder into the basket. The third was reached and the ladder was pushed out again, and he also was landed in the basket. The basket-the capacity of which was but for two-was slowly drawn to the shore laden with four stalwart men, and the four safely landed amid the shouts from the bystanders that silenced the raging elements.
Under this temporary platform was built the wagon bridge of eight feet in width as above described. This road bridge was used as a carriage and foot way for two or three years, awaiting the change of hard times and the railroad it was intended to accommodate should be completed. At last this event happened, and Engineer John A. Roebling, of Brooklyn Bridge fame, was engaged as engineer to complete the original design-a railroad bridge. Massive stone towers took the place of the original ones, and a railroad bridge and a carriage track beneath was erected by Mr. Roebling, which was used for years, and after all the woodwork of the structure was replaced by iron except the floors, which took place about fifteen years since by Engineer L. L. Buck, who about five years after substituted the massive iron towers for the stone towers erected by Engineer Roebling, which began to show signs of decay.
The engineering skill of Engineer Buck was manifested by the substitution of these present iron towers for the stone ones removed, when it is known that this change was made without interfering with railroad crossing for but two hours.
The completion of the great suspension bridge marked the beginning
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of rapid development in this village and soon gave it far-reaching im- . portance through its railroad connections. The Monteagle Hotel, be- gun in 1848 and finished in 1855, was one of the largest and most ex- pensively furnished public houses of that time. During the period of construction of this house, the New York Central Hotel was built and afterwards burned. Since 1850 ten or twelve hotels of more or less pretense and importance, and many places of temporary refreshment, have been opened here. In recent years, however, the more rapid growth of Niagara Falls village and city and the strong attraction of the cataract itself has drawn a large share of travelers to that place.
The Niagara River Bridge Company was organized April 15, 1883, with capital of $1,000,000. This company constructed the well known Cantilever bridge, which was finished in December, 1883.
C. H. Witmer inaugurated the milling business in the village in 1848 and continued to 1859, in September of which year he was accidentally drowned by slipping into the river above the bridge. His sons succeeded to the business and also established the Witmer Brothers' Bank in October, 1874. This mill is now operated by H. E. Wood- ford ; the bank was closed about ten years ago. The post-office was opened in 1849 with Dr. Collier postmaster, who was succeeded by John Fisk.
Extensive cattle yards were here established about 1860 and con- tinued to do a large business until the founding of the stock market and yards at Buffalo, after which the business here declined. In 1863 the port of entry was removed from Lewiston to Suspension Bridge and the commodious custom house was erected.
The petition for incorporation of the village of Suspension Bridge was prepared in April, 1854, and was signed by Marcus Adams, Elihu P. Graves, Lewis E. Glover and Rodney Durkee. A village election was held on May 30 to vote for and against incorporation, at which only two votes out of eighty-eight were against the measure. A census taken in the spring of that year showed the population of the village to be 827. The incorporation took place June 8, 1854, under the name of Niagara City, with the following officers: John Fisk, president ; H. P. Witbeck, Rodney Durkee, George Vogt and Jaines Vedder, trustees; E. Stanley Adams, clerk. Soon after the completion of the
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bridge the place began to be known as Suspension Bridge and finally that name was adopted,
Under the general act of 1875, enabling cities and villages to supply themselves with water, a public meeting was called at Colt's Hall to discuss the subject of establishing water works in the village. The matter was favorably considered and at a later meeting a majority of the tax payers favored the project. After some opposition on the part of the New York Central Railroad work was begun in the spring of 1876 and the plant on the well known Holly system was completed in August of the same year. The cost was about $60,000, to raise which the village was bonded for $3,000 annually for twenty years. This system still supplies that part of the city of Niagara Falls with water, and has cost to the present time about $250,000. There are twenty- one miles of mains and 175 hydrants. H. A. Keller has been superin- tendent since 1889.
In 1856 a bucket company was formed in the village for extinguish- ing fires and in the following year a hook and ladder company was organized. Before the close of that year a fire engine was purchased. for $1,700, a bucket wagon for $150, and other apparatus costing $250. A company was organized called the Rapids Engine and Hose Com- pany. Other hose and hook and ladder companies were soon organ- ized and the fire department was in an efficient condition when the annexation to Niagara Falls took place.
The first newspaper published in this village was the Niagara City Herald, the first issue of which appeared in October, 1855, under edito- rial and business control of N. T. Hackstaff. It was subsequently sold to C. B Gaskill, who discontinued it after a time.
In 1870 A. G. Liscom established the Suspension Bridge Journal. In 1873 he sold it to John Ransom, who greatly improved the paper and secured for it a large patronage. Mr. Ransom was succeeded in the publication of the paper by Liscom Brothers and they by S. S. Pomroy. He was succeeded by the firm of Pomroy & Schultz (Will- iam F. Schultz). In June, 1897, Pomroy & Schultz sold the establish- ment to Edward T. Williams, the present proprietor.
Edward T. Williams, editor and publisher of the Niagara Falls Jour- nal, is a grandson of John Williams, who came from Seneca county to
EDWARD T. WILLIAMS.
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Pendleton soon after 1810, and later became a pioneer of Somerset, where he died in 1880. Abram C. Williams, son of John and father of Edward T., was born in Pendleton and now resides in Somerset. He married Augusta E., daughter of George K. Hood, an early settler of Somerset and for several years a supervisor of that town. She died about 1877. Edward T. Williams was born on a farm in Somerset, Niagara county, April 30, 1868, and was early thrown, in a measure, upon his own resources. He attended the Somerset schools, the Wilson Union School, and Cornell University, and when seventeen assumed the management of his father's farm. While yet a youth he began to write for the newspapers, and in 1889 became connected with the staff of the Lockport Union and Niagara Democrat. About 1890 he was made city editor of the Niagara Falls Journal, and in January, 1892, was appointed Niagara Falls correspondent of the Buffalo Courier, which position he held until May, 1897. On June 1, 1897, he purchased the Niagara Falls Journal and became its editor and publisher. Mr. Will- iams has always been an active Democrat, and in 1895 was his party's candidate for member of assembly. June 21, 1893, he married Minnie F., daughter of W. C. Wilcox, of Somerset.
At the time of the city incorporation in 1892, when the village of Suspension Bridge had a population of about 4,500, it was absorbed by the present city of Niagara Falls. It has never been an active business or manufacturing center, but will doubtless receive an impetus in this respect from its close municipal connection with the larger place.
The first banking business in Niagara Falls was conducted by Riddle & Co. as early as 1855. They were succeeded by White & Hecker, and later John D. Hamlin opened a banking office in the International block. Soon after the war N. K. Van Husen came from Buffalo and started another private bank. In 1873 Dr. B L. Delano became an equal partner with Mr. Van Husen under the firm name of Van Husen & Delano, and in the same year they built and moved into a banking building on Main street. In November, 1874, Mr. Van Husen retired from the business and the firm became B. L. Delano & Co. On July 9, 1877, the Cataract Bank was chartered, with a capital of $50,000,
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and took the business of the former firm. The first officers of the institution were as follows: President, Stoughton Pettebone ; vice- president, Dr. B. L. Delano ; cashier, F. R. Delano; directors, Stough- ton Pettebone, Alvah Cluck, George S. Haines, F. R. Delano, Hiram E. Griffith, Dr. B. L. Delano, Moses Einstein, John Hodge. There were numerous succeeding changes in the officers of the institution pre- vious to 1893, in which year it failed, during the presidency of Peter A. Porter, and while Delancey Rankin was cashier. Mr. Porter was made receiver and the affairs of the bank are not yet wholly settled.
With the rapid growth of Niagara Falls in recent years banking facilities have necessarily been greatly extended. The First National Bank was organized June 1, 1893, with a capital of $100,000, and the following officers : President, David Phillips; vice president, David Isaacs; cashier, Henry Durk. On the 9th of December, 1896, Mr. Phillips resigned as president of this bank, and George B. Rand, presi- dent of the First National Bank of Tonawanda, was elected to the posi- tion. On the 10th a meeting of the directors was held and on the morning of the IIth it was announced that the doors of the bank would not be opened for business. One of the principal causes of the trouble in the institution was the recent failure of the Niagara Falls Glazed Paper Company, with which some of the bank officials were intimately connected. The occurrences in connection with this matter are too recent to need detail here.
The Electric City Bank was organized December 1, 1894, with capi- tal of $75,000, and the following officers: President, Jerome B. Rice ; vice-president, Frank A. Dudley ; cashier, George G. Shepard. This institution is prudently and successfully conducted and now has accu- mulated a large fund of undivided profits, considering the length of time the bank has been in existence.
The Bank of Niagara was organized in 1882, with a capital of $50,- 000, and the following officers: President, Henry C. Howard; vice- president, William C. Cornwell; cashier, Edward J. Mackenna. Mr. Howard is still president; Mr. Cornwell was succeeded by Edward J. Mackenna as vice-president, George J. Howard taking Mr. Mackenna's position as cashier. The present directors are Ethan H Howard, Jacob F. Schoellkopf, Benjamin Flagler, Edward P. Bowen, Arthur Schoell-
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kopf, Henry C. Howard, Eugene Cary, E. J. Mackenna. This bank has now a surplus of $50,000.
The Power City Bank began business June 19, 1893, with a capital of $100,000, and the following officers: Arthur Schoellkopf, president ; Hans Neilson, vice-president; Fred I. Pierce, cashier. These with the following constitute the present board of directors: Eugene Cary, L. F. Mayle, A Kaltenbach, Alfred Schoellkopf, S. M. Clement, Henry Grigg, J. F. Schoellkopf.
The Niagara County Savings Bank began business January 2, 1891. The first president was Thomas V. Welch, who still continues in that position ; the first vice-president was Francis R. Delano, upon whose death Andrew Kaltenbach took the position; Mr. Kaltenbach was the first second vice-president, and was succeeded by C. M. Young ; John Mackay has been secretary and treasurer from the first; W. Caryl Ely is attorney. The following persons were chosen the first trustees of this
institution : Franklin Spalding, Charles B. Gaskill, William F. Evans, Lauren W. Pettebone, David Phillips, Francis R. Delano, W. Cary, Ely, Alexander J. Porter, Francis C. Belden, Thomas Gaskin, Moses Einstein, Michael Ryan, S. M. N. Whitney, Peter A. Porter, Thomas V. Welch, Henry Durk, A. T. Cudaback, John S. Macklem, Andrew Kaltenbach, Ensign M. Clark, John C. Lammerts, C. M. Young, Henry S. Ware, William F. Gassler, Jacob J. Vogt.
Of these Messrs. Spalding, Delano, Einstein and Ware are deceased ; Messrs. Gaskill, Phillips, Belden, Gaskin, Durk, Macklem, Gassler, and Vogt are retired from the board, and the following have been elected : Jacob B. Vogt, Eugene Cary, Arthur Schoellkopf, J. C. Morgan.
The village of Suspension Bridge has two banks in successful opera- tion, both of which were founded prior to the city incorporation, the latest one in the same year. The Bank of Suspension Bridge was char- tered August 10, 1886, with a capital of $25,000, which remains the same. The officers of the institution from the beginning have been as follows : Benjamin Flagler, president ; Henry C. Howard, vice-presi- dent ; Frank E. Johnson, cashier; Thomas J. O'Donnell, assistant cashier. The present directors are the foregoing persons with James Low, Louis S. Silberberg, Konrad Fink, Walter P. Horne, and Henry 29
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E. Woodford. This bank has now in surplus and earnings about $27,- 000.
The Frontier Bank of Niagara was organized and incorporated in May, 1890, with authorized capital of $200,000, of which sum $50 000 is paid up. Jacob Bingenheimer, president; D. D. McKoon, vice- president ; William S. Pierce, cashier.
MANUFACTURES .- One of the old and important manufacturing industries of Niagara Falls was the Niagara Falls Paper Manufacturing Company, which was organized in November, 1855. The company erected a paper mill on Bath Island, where it obtained the necessary water for its purposes. The original mill here, as before stated, was built in 1826, by Porter & Clark. This was burned August 12, 1858, but was immediately rebuilt with larger and improved facilities. At the organization of the paper company L. C. Woodruff was made presi- dent, and S. Pettebone, secretary. In later years this mill and its water power were greatly improved. Lauren W. Pettebone was long officially connected with the company.
The Pettebone Cataract Paper Company was organized and incorpo- rated October 1, 1892, with C. B. Gaskill, president; L. W. Pettebone vice- president ; J. J. McIntire, secretary ; and A. J. Porter, treasurer. Slight changes have made the present officers to include J. T. Jones, president ; Mr. Pettebone and Mr. McIntire remain vice president and secretary respectively, with N. J. Bowker, assistant secretary and treasurer, and John H. Hollingsworth, superintendent. The capital is $350,000. This company is the successor of the Cataract Manufacturing Company, which was organized in 1880 by Gaskill & McIntire, for the manufac- ture of paper pulp. In 1884, the mill on Bath Island, above described, was removed to the main land on account of the transfer of the island to the State, and upon the organization of the present company, be came a part of its plant. The product is news paper and pulp.
The manufacturing works now operated by the Kelley & McBean Company were established in 1891, and the present company was or- ganized in 1895, for the manufacture of silver plated ware, silver and aluminum souvenir goods and advertising novelties, and patent dog collars, chains, etc. The officers of the company are H. W. McBean, president; D. M. Kelley, vice-president ; S. J. Devlin, secretary and treasurer.
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The pulp mill originally started by John F. Quigley was succeeded by the present Cliff Paper Company, which was organized in the spring of 1889, with John F. Quigley, president; Arthur C. Hastings, secretary and treasurer ; C. H. Gilchrist, superintendent. In connection with the pulp manufacture the company has established a large paper mill. The present officers of the company are Jacob F. Schoellkopf, president ; Arthur Schoellkopf, vice-president ; A. C. Hastings, secretary, treasu- rer and manager. The capital of the company is $100,000, and the capacity of the plant is 50,000 pounds of newspaper and 60,000 pounds of pulp dally.
The Central Milling Company was incorporated in 1884 and the present mill was built in 1885, to which a storehouse and cooper shop were added in 1888. The capacity of the mill is 2,000 barrels of flour daily. The capital of the company is $200,000, and the officers are George B. Matthews, president; A. R. James, treasurer; George W. Olmsted, secretary ; Henry Grigg, superintendent.
The Cataract Milling Company, formed in 1854 by C. B. Gaskill, was the first to use the water of the hydraulic canal. It was subsequently incorporated with C. B. Gaskill, president, and G. J. Colpoys, secretary and treasurer; the capital is $200,000. The capacity of the mills is 800 barrels of flour daily.
The Niagara Flouring mill was built about 1877 by Schoellkopf & Mathews, the present proprietors. It has a capacity of 2,000 barrels of flour per day.
One of the largest industries in Niagara county is the Niagara Falls Paper Company, which originated in 1888 as the Soo Paper Company, was incorporated in May, 1889, with a capital of $50,000, and with the purpose in view of building a mill at Sault Ste. Marie. The name of this company was changed in February, 1892, to its present title, and in September of that year a lease was signed with the Niagara Falls Power Company for 3,000 horse power. Immediate preparations were made for the construction of a power house, pits and race-way, and a large modern paper mill. J. C. Morgan, the efficient secretary and manager of the company, located at the Falls in March, 1892, and in May, 1893, the manufacture of paper was commenced. These mills now cover a frontage of 400 feet and have five acres of floor space ;
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about 1,000 hands are employed ; 10,000 pounds of pulp are produced daily, while the immense paper machines have a capacity of 60,000 pounds daily. The company own 50,000 acres of spruce timber land on Lake Superior, with saw mills for preparing the wood for shipment. The capital stock of the company has been increased to $1,000,000. Secretary Morgan is a practical paper maker and has had wide experi- ence in the business; he is also a man of thorough executive ability which enables him to fill his responsible position with gratifying success.
The Francis Manufacturing Company was organized in June, 1893, with capital stock of $55,000. H. A. Francis is president, and A. C. Hastings, secretary and treasurer. The product is hooks and eyes and other dress fasteners.
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