USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, Ohio, from the founding of Franklinton in 1797, through the World War period to the year 1920 > Part 40
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The first barn of the original street railroad company in 1863 was on High street just north of Goodale, a location then far out in the country. The second barn on North High street was at the corner of Chittenden. In 1891 that building, together with 25 cars, was burned. The present carhouse for that end of the line is near Olentangy park. Carhouses are also maintained on Merrit street, Rose avenue, West Broad street, and Cleveland avenue. Besides the power station at Spring street and the river, a larger one was built and equipped and put into operation in 1918, furnishing power, not only for its own cars operated on its 135 miles of track, but also for the cars of the Ohio Electric Company, within the city, the Ohio & Southern and the Columbus, New Albany & Johnstown (inter- urhans). Its own extensions beyond the city limits are the lines to Arlington, Westerville and Bexley.
Olentangy park was laid out and completed by the Columbus Street Railway Company in 1896, and was operated by that company till 1899 when it was leased to West & Dusen- bury. A subsequent lease was to J. W. and W. J. Dusenbury.
The Columbus Railway, Power & Light Company in 1918 operated 309 motor passenger cars and 58 work and miscellaneous cars. Its capital stock was: Common, $6,041,230; 4% prior preferred, $13,000; series A preferred, $1,634,916; series B preferred, $1,188,125. Total, $11,877,271.
Except for the brief periods in which Council, in order to help out a losing business, permitted the company to charge seven cents for a single fare, the prevailing charge at first was five cents. The early consolidation of three separate companies in 1879 relieved that situation by giving for five cents what had previously cost 10 or even 15 cents, the transfer system having been then introduced, though there were new connections and extensions of routes that made transfer in many cases unnecessary. In 1889 began the period in which six tickets were sold for 25 cents. On February 4, 1901, after long discussion, Council passed an ordinance renewing for 25 years the franchise of the Columbus Railway Company on all the lines owned by it as well as on those bought from the Columbus Central Railway Company. As this franchise was meant to cover all the lines and bring all franchises to an end at the same time, it was called the "blanket franchise." Among its provisions was one that tickets should be sold seven for a quarter from the date of the acceptance of the franchise and that, when the aggregate of receipts from fares should reach $1,750,000 annually, eight tickets should be sold for a quarter. That aggregate was reached April, 1912, and the universal fare became 32 cents, with transfer for a continuous ride in the same general direction.
Early in 1918, the company sent to Council a statement to the effect that increased operating costs, due to the war conditions, had made its income inadequate; it therefore asked permission to charge a higher rate of fare. Council took no action. In the meantime the employes of the company were asking for higher pay and in July struck. For two days no
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cars were operated, the company asserting its inability to pay more unless its revenue was increased. The dispute was referred to the National War Labor Board, and operation was resumed. The board soon made its award, allowing large wage increases, adding to the annual payroll more than $560,000, according to the company's computation. Consequently, on August 20, President MeMeen sent a communication to the Mayor and the Council announe- ing that the company had discontinued the sale of tiekets and would charge a 5-eent fare for every ride and that for a transfer a charge of one eent would be made, transfer to be used only at designated points. In justification of this action he cited the fact that Council had failed to offer any relief and declared that to a deficit already existing the War Board had added a wage charge of $560,000 more. He said it had been arranged to give the passenger a receipt for pay- ment in excess of the charge provided for in the "blanket franchise," the money to be re- turned if it were found that the company's action was unjustified. He elaimed for the eom- pany prepetual franchise rights in six streets-Main street from High street to Rose avenue; State street from High street to Grant avenue, thence to Oak street, thenee to Sherman ave- nue; Long street from High street to Parkwood avenue and thenee in Parkwood to Broad street; Cleveland avenue from Long street to Mt. Vernon avenue and thenee to Washington ave- nue; West Broad street from High street to the Columbus State Hospital, and Glenwood to the Harrisburg pike and thence to Green Lawn cemetry. All other franchises he surrendered, adding that the company considered itself a tenant at sufferanee and would vacate on proper official demand.
At the time of making this change, the company brought suit in the Federal District Court to enjoin the city from seeking to enforce the terms of the franchise ordinanee of 1901. The court refused the injunction. Mayor Karb asked the Federal War Board to undertake a settlement of the dispute, but the board declined to act. The situation con- tinued, nearly half the passengers offering to buy tickets at the old rate, and, getting none, refusing to pay and the conductors not seeking to enforee payment. The Couneil refused, four to three, to give even temporary relief until the results of an expert investigation of the company's business was laid before it, and in November employed E. W. Bemis, of Chicago, to investigate and report.
W. R. Pomerene, one of the company's attorneys, was elected vice president and, owing to President McMeen's illness, became the spokesman for the company. At the December meeting of the directors, E. K. Stewart was re-elected vice president, with supervision of dam- ages and elaims ; Harold W. Clapp was promoted to general manager and W. B. Campbell to general superintendent, while Norman McD. Crawford was elected treasurer.
At a stockholders' meeting January 28, 1919, new directors were elected and the policy and conduet of the business were put into the hands of an executive committee consisting of Charles L. Kurtz, who had been clected president of the company, F. R. Huntington and W. B. Beebe. The former rate of eight tickets for a quarter was restored. C. C. Slater was made general manager vice Clapp. E. K. Stewart retired as vice president and W. B. Campbell as superintendent, the latter position being abolished. A serious effort was then made to regain the public good will, and the Council, on further representations that the eom- pany was in financial distress, passed an ordinanee permitting a return to the rate of six tickets for a quarter, but the ordinance was ordered to a referendum vote in August and defeated. Following another period of unsatisfactory service, Council passed an ordinance providing for a eash fare of six cents or five tickets for a quarter, with universal transfer, for two years, the rate of fare for the remaining years of the franchise to be six tickets for a quarter. In consideration, the company agreed to share in the cost of certain street improve- ments. This ordinance was attacked, but the referendum petitions were found insufficient, and the ordinance went into effect in April, 1920, the company redeeming in cash the receipts for the excess charge in 1918.
The Columbus Transfer Company was incorporated September 17, 1881, with Edward Denmead, T. J. Janney, R. E. Sheldon, Edwin A. Dawson and W. A. Harrison as stock- holders; capital stock $50,000. subsequently increased to $100,000. At the outset the eom- pany bought the property of W. B. Hawkes & Company, omnibuses, horses and all other equipment. In 1882 the company erected a stable and warehouse on Naghten street between High and Third streets. The company is doing business with inercased capital, motorized vehicles and under new management, most, if not all, of the projectors being dead.
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STREET AND INTERURBAN TRANSPORTATION
Interurban Electric Roads.
Soon after the advent of electricity as a motive power, there began the development of a system of electric roads reaching out into the country and eonmeeting the city with neigh- boring eities and towns. The first of these lines was that to Westerville, built by the Colum- bus & Westerville Railway Company, which was incorporated October 3, 1891, eapital $100,000, by M. H. Neil, Lewis Huffman, Adam G. Innis, George W. Williams, G. W. Meeker, F. H. Houghton, J. W. Everal, E. H. Reasoner and C. E. Bell. This road later fell into the hands of the Columbus Street Railway Company, and is now operated as a part of the city system.
The Columbus, New Albany & Johnstown road, as yet built only as far as Gahanna, was projeeted by L. P. Stephens in 1899. The company was incorporated that year, eapital stoek $200,000, but construction did not begin until July, 1901, W. D. Briekell, George B. Cox, Daniel J. Ryan, Thomas N. Fordyce and L. P. Stephens providing the money to build it as far as Gahanna, and an arrangement having been made with the Columbus Street Railway Company for power and the use of its traeks from Taylor avenue to High street. Operation was begun in January, 1902. The original owners operated the road until November, 1910, when it was sold to Eastern parties under an agreement to complete the road to Johnstown. The purehasers were unable to carry out their part of the contraet, and the property fell into the hands of Cineinnati bankers from whom they had made large loans. L. P. Stephens has been manager of the road from the first.
The Columbus, Urbana & Western (originally Urbana, Meehaniesburg & Columbus) was incorporated for $100,000, April 17, 1900, by H. A. Axline, Colin McDonald, G. W. Hitt, J. B. Johnson, E. M. S. Houston, Julius Weber, W. B. Marvin, D. J. Burnham, T. B. Owen, F. M. Clemens and John P. Taylor. The road was built to a point just beyond the Seioto storage dam, a distance of seven and a half miles, at a cost of $400,000. The Columbus Savings & Trust Company made large loans to the traction company and the paper was found among the assets of the bank when it failed. The road was seized for the debt and about 1915 was sold by the State Banking Department for $36,000. The present owners are the J. B. Foraker estate, Eli M. West, Seott M. Webb, John T. Adams, L. P. and Mary J. Stephens, Harry Stafford and John J. Chester. L. P Stephens is the manager.
The Columbus, Buckeye Lake & Newark Company was incorporated October 19, 1899, by M. Spellaey, A. J. Warner, W. A. Carlisle, M. Q. Baker and W. R. Pomerene. The Columbus, London & Springfield Company was incorporated January 26, 1900, by John G. Webb, John M. Good, Hart A. Fisher, Emmett Tompkins and Fleteher S. Penfield. These roads were built and operated separately for a time. In 1907, the Ohio Electric Railway Company was incorporated and aequired them. The station was first on Rich street between High and Third, but a few years ago was moved to Third street between Town and Rich streets, where a commodious and convenient building had been ereeted.
The Columbus, Grove City & Southwestern Company was incorporated March 14, 1901, by Adam Grant, H. A. Fisher, F. W. Merrick, Emmett Tompkins and George B. Darnell, This road also was acquired by the Ohio Electrie and is operated as far as Orient as a part of its system.
The Columbus, Delaware & Marion Company was incorporated, October 24, 1901, by John G. Webb, Osear M. Gottschall, E. M. Campbell, N. J. Catrow and H. B. Hane. The original eapital was $2,500,000. It was consolidated with other power and equipment com- panies along the line in the same year. After five years of operation, the company fell into finaneial difficulties, and on August 7, 1909, Eli M. West was appointed receiver. In 1918 the road was sold to the Eastern trust company that held its bonds, Mr. West was made president and the offices of the road were removed to Marion, where the company's larger loeal interests are eentered.
The Ohio & Southern Traetion Company was incorporated October 1, 1906, by S. B. Hartman, F. W. Schumacher, James M. Butler, W. V. Baker and Jonas A. Hodges, with a capital stoek of $75,000. The road was built from South Columbus 6.85 miles south to accommodate the traffic to and from the Hartman farm. Earl S. Davis, Samuel Matthews, E. C. Sehwab and J. W. Spetnagle have been added to the directorate. Mr. Davis is treasurer and Mr. Schwab is general manager.
The Seioto Valley Traetion Company was organized September 8, 1899. The ineor- porators and original stockholders were W. F. Burdell, Alex. Reniek, T. King Wilson, E. K.
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Stewart, W. J. Weaver, H. D. Bennett, Edwin R. Sharp, H. M. Daugherty and B. Mahler, the last named representing the Everett & Moore Syndicate, of Cleveland, with which the local projectors had associated themselves. The original charter contemplated only a road to Chillicothe but in 1901 the charter was amended so as to include a branch to Lancaster. Some work had been done on the road when the Everett & Moore Syndicate fell into financial straits and a local pool, of which Frank A. Davis and Edwin R. Sharp were members, was formed to complete the road. The road was completed to Lancaster and Circleville, with a power house at Reese's Station and operation was begun in 1904. The next year the line from Circleville to Chillicothe was completed and put in operation. A third rail, instead of the usual overhead wire, carries the current for this system. The total mileage, including track rights in Columbus and Lancaster, is 74.71. The company's stock is $3,466,300; bonds $1,520,000. Its present officers are: Frank A. Davis president and general manager, E. R. Sharp vice president and treasurer, A. C. Moorhous secretary.
The Columbus, Newark & Zanesville Company was incorporated July 2, 1902, with a capital stock of $1,500,000, by J. R. Harrigan, A. C. Ralph, C. A. Alderman, H. A. Fisher, and J. A. Godown. It built the road from Newark to Zanesville. This road also has been incorporated into the Ohio Electric system, the total mileage of which is 617.4.
Adding to this the 56 miles of the C. D. & M., the 6.85 miles of the Ohio & Southern, the nine miles of the Columbus, New Albany & Johnstown, the seven and a half miles of the C. U. & W., the 70.15 of the Scioto Valley Traction Company, we have a total of nearly 767 miles of interurban electric road leading out of Columbus. To this should be added the lines to Westerville and Arlington operated as parts of the city system, making about 783 miles. These lines have ministered to the growing city and materially aided in its development, but few have been without their financial troubles and losses. The period of stability and steady growth is believed to be at hand.
CHAPTER XXX. CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.
Public Relief Work-Female Benevolent Society-Hannah Neil Mission-Hare Orphans' Home-Humane Society- Florence Crittenton Home and Other Similar Work-Care of the Aged-District Nursing Association - Tuberculosis Society - Neighborhood Guilds-Associated Charities-Salvation Army-l'olunteers of America-Catholic In- stitutions-Federated Jewish Charities-Central Philanthropic Council.
The people of Columbus have never failed to respond to the appeals of the suffering either at home or abroad. They have helped other cities in time of fire, flood, earthquake and pesti- lence. They have sent money and foodstuffs for the relief of famine abroad, and their help- fulness in the earlier years of the city was a fair introduction to their exceptional efforts, since the great war began in 1914 to relieve suffering wherever it appeared in the world area of madness and destruction. The record of these benefactions is incomplete, and it is just as well that it is, for to name them even might seem like boasting of good works. Of the benefactions at home it is permitted to speak for they are continuing agencies which need the personal support of other generations.
The Female Benevolent Society.
The oldest organized charity in Columbus is the Female Benevolent Society which had origin in a meeting at the Methodist Episcopal Church on Town street, between High and Third streets, January 5, 1835. A constitution was adopted and Mrs. James Hoge was elected president, Mrs. E. W. Schon vice president, Mrs. Noah H. Swayne treasurer, Miss M. Kelley (afterwards Mrs. James L. Bates), secretary, Mrs. Wm. M. Awl, Mrs. Demas Adams, Mrs. Ralph Osborn, Mrs. Moses Jewett, Mrs. Samuel Crosby, Mrs. John Bailhache, Mrs. Benjamin Blake, Mrs. Joseph Ridgway, jr., Mrs. D. Woodbury, and Mrs. A. Van Horn, managers. The first business meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Demas Adams. A visiting committee for each of the three wards was appointed, and a committee was ap- pointed to purchase supplies for the poor who might be found. In April, 1836, a committee was appointed to provide education for destitute children, and on a lot donated by Alfred Kelley (present 64 South Fourth street) a small school house was erected and continued to serve till the public school system was established. D. T. Woodbury, Joseph Ridgway, jr., and P. B. Wilcox were an advisory committee.
On March 5, 1838, the Columbus Female Benevolent Society was incorporated by act of the General Assembly in the names of Mary P. Cressy, Maria M. Espy, Sarah Asbury, Maria S. Preston, Mary S. Kelley, Caroline Dryer, Keziah B. Stone and their associates, "for the purpose of ministering to the wants and alleviating the distress of the poor and afflicted of their own sex, and of affording moral, physical and intellectual instruction and improvement to orphans and other poor children." In the constitution of the society an- other object specified is "to aid and care for worthy women in the perils of childbirth, and for infants." The first revenue was from life and annual memberships and from memorial offerings, and from donations by various organizations. The receipts up to 1854 ranged from $110 to $900 a year.
The first permanent fund of the society was derived from the sale of the lot donated by Alfred Kelley (now known as 64 South Fourth street) and amounted to $500. The society was the beneficiary of several efforts that left a surplus. In 1868, Dr. Lincoln Goodale died, leaving a bequest which yielded $16,885.67. In 1876 Mrs. Elizabeth E. Noble gave a $1,000 bond as a memorial to her mother, Mrs. Matilda A. Edmiston. In 1886. Benjamin S. Brown gave $10,000. In 1887, Wm. G. Deshler gave $100,000 in memory of his mother Betsy Green Deshler, and in recognition of the great sympathy she had expressed with her Columbus neighbors in 1817-27; also $33,000, in memory of his daughter, to be known as the Kate Deshler Hunter fund for special use in maternity cases. Two years later, Mr. Deshler gave $17,000, to be known as the Deshler Hunter Fund and to be used for the physical improvement of orphans and other poor children. In 1887 Sylvester Medbery gave
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to the society $5,000 for its general work. By these and other gifts, the permanent fund of the society grew until, in January, 1891, it aggregated $205,507.32.
Mr. Deshler's gifts were so conditioned that a portion of the earnings should annually be added to the principal and that a fraction of the income annually received from the $100,000 gift, varying from one-fourth to one-sixth, should be paid to the Hannah Neil Mission and Home of the Friendless. The treasurer's report, January 7, 1914, showed that the Betsy Green Deshler Fund had grown to $194,895.22; the Kate Deshler Hunter Fund to $59,000 and the Deshler Hunter Fund to $29,000. The permanent fund and bequests January 1, 1918, aggregated approximately $359,000. The average number of families helped each month in 1917 was 135, the average amount of money spent each month was $3.50 per family. There was help in 128 maternity cases and in 109 cases of children.
In connection with this society there have been some notable services- those of Mrs. H. M. Hubbard, who was president for 36 years, Mrs. W. A. Mahoney, who was secretary for 18 years, Mrs. Harriet E. Ide, a prominent worker, much of the time as vice president, for 30 years, Mrs. Wm. M. Awl, a visitor for 52 years, and Mrs. D. A. Randall, a visitor for 35 years. Other zealous workers of long service were Miss Mary E. Stewart (Mrs. Joseph Geiger), Mrs. Richard D. Harrison, Mrs. James L. Bates, Mrs. Alfred Kelley, Mrs. John N. Cham- pion, and Mrs. John Butler. Mrs. A. B. Adair is now president, Mrs. James H. Sells vice president, Mrs. Edward Damron secretary, Mrs. Frederick Shedd treasurer.
The Hannah Neil Mission.
The first industrial school for girls was opened about 1855 by Mrs. W. B. Hubbard in Mechanics' Hall at the corner of High and Rich streets. In 1858, this school was trans- ferred to the City Hall in the old market house and Mrs. Hannah Neil became president. There in 1862, Mrs. S. J. Haver instituted a mothers' meeting and the same year, assisted by Miss Kate Hunter, opened a Sunday school which was maintained for many years. At the close of the Civil War there were many homeless children in the city, and the industrial school which had for a number of years been conducted under the superintendency of Hannah Neil, was reorganized as the Industrial School Mission, with Mrs. M. B. Taylor, president, Mrs. Sarah J. Haver vice president and Miss Lucy Peters secretary and treas- urer. Its home was the building on Maple st cet that had been used during the war as a soldiers' home. In 1868-69, the institution was renamed the Hannah Neil Mission and Home of the Friendless, and Mrs. S. M. Smith and Mrs. Wm. Ide canvassed the city, raising $12,000, with which the Neville property on East Main street, a house and three acres of ground, was bought as a home for the work. Support was for a few years secured through monthly solicitations by Mrs. Starling Loving and Mrs. Yeatman Anderson. In 1880, a County Children's Home having been provided, the children were transferred to it, and the work of caring for sick and homeless women was taken up, though the facilities of the Mission were in 1883-86, under contract with the City Council, used for the care of children of the Harc Orphans' Home.
Wm. G. Deshler's gift through the Female Benevolent Society constituted the first per- manent fund. Since then Catherine M. Tuttle has given $30,595.85, Mrs. Anne E. Denni- son $5,000, Mrs. E. J. McMillen $5,000, Wm. E. Ide $1,600, Henry C. Godman $1,000, and other smaller amounts making a total of $56,000.
The institution is conducted by a board of managers of 26 and a board of trustees of five. The presidents have been: Mrs. Martha B. Taylor, 1866-73; Mrs. Isaac C. Aston, 1873-75; Mrs. Harriet E. Ide, 1875-76; Mrs. R. D. Harrison, 1876-87 ; Mrs. E. A. Fitch, 1887-1906: Mrs. R. D. McCarter, 1906-07; Mrs. Linus B. Kauffman, 1907-now serving. Emma A. Doe has for some years been the efficient matron.
The Hare Orphans' Home.
The Hare Orphans' Home is the result of the combination of two efforts, the first of which had origin in a meeting of women representing the various churches, at the Second Presbyterian Church, November 16, 1858. Dr. Wm. Awl presided and a committee was appointed to prepare a constitution for a society which should establish a home for orphan children. At a later meeting the constitution was adopted and managers were appointed, one from each of the Protestant religious bodies in the city. Mrs. A. M. Gangewer was
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the president and Miss Kate M. Tuttle was the first secretary, succeeded in January, 1859, by Miss Kate Chase. A house on Front street was engaged and fitted up and a matron appointed. In April, 1859, John W. Baker donated as a permanent site for the home a lot near the Insane Asylum, then on Broad between Eleventh street and Garfield avenue, and John Noble, Luther Donaldson, C. P. L. Butler, N. B. Marple and M. B. Batcham were appointed trustees. In November, Mrs. John S. Hall was chosen president, Mrs. E. King secretary, and Mrs. W. B. Hawkes treasurer. The matron was Mrs. Force and the physi- cian, Dr. W. L. McMillen. October 1, 1860, the City Council appropriated $300 for the work of the home. Twenty-six children were cared for in 1863; 205 in 1865.
The other effort referred to was that of Jacob Hare, who died November 3, 1860, aged 79, after a residence here since 1812. He bequeathed an annuity to his wife, nothing to his children, and gave the rest of his estate, the total value of which was $46,000, to the city, vesting the City Council with control and directing that, when the fund should justify it, a suitable building should be erected and an orphans' home maintained. The wife and children brought suit to set aside the will, and in 1863 a compromise was reached, whereby the city received from Hare's executor assets valued at $7,036.57. February 19, 1866, the trustees of the other enterprise offered to turn over to the city all its property, real and personal, valued at $6,000, provided that alike sum was appropriated from the Hare Fund for the necessary buildings. The proposition was accepted and the consolidation was effected, January 28, 1867. But no building was then erected; instead the home was moved to one of the four-story buildings on West Town street, known as the "Eight Buildings." The location was bad, the management unsatisfactory and the service indifferent. In 1878, George B. Okey offered for the Town street building and $3,800 a lot of one and a third acres with building, on Woodland avenue. Council accepted the offer. In 1883, Council sent the ten children then in the home to the Home for the Friendless, agreeing to pay $130 a month for their care and leasing the Woodland avenue property. This arrangement was terminated in May 1888, the Woodland avenue property was occupied as a home and a matron was elected. In 1890, a legal inquiry into the administration of the fund showed that it had been very neglectful.
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