History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 47

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II > Part 47

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1884 .- The State Association of Mining Engineers convened in annual session January 9. The associations of woolgrowers, beekeepers, swine, Jersey cattle and sborthorn breeders, and sheep registry, and the State Board of Agriculture all held their annual meetings during the same month. A state convention of miners was held at Union Hall January 22. The Ohio Tile, Brick and Drainage Associa- tion met at the Board of Trade Room January 13. The Ohio Wool Growers' and Buyers, Association held its first annnal meeting at the Capitol April 15. A ditching contest took place at the new State Fair Grounds, beginning May 1. A convention of coal miners was held at Union Hall, June 19. The State Fair was beld during the first week in September. A meeting of the State Miners' Asso- ciation ended September 11. The State Horticultural Society met in the Board of Trade Room, December 3. A Lodge of the United Order of Workingmen was established in Columbus, January 8. A State Trade and Labor Assembly was organized June 24.

1885 .- The usual annual meetings of stockbreeders, woolgrowers and beekeep- ers took place in January. The State Board of Agriculture convened January 14. The Ohio association of mining engineers met on the same date at the office of the State Inspector of Mines. The State association of tilemakers held its sixth annual convention at the Board of Trade Room February 10. The Ohio Trades and Labor Assembly convened at the McCoy Post Hall, February 17. A State convention of miners assembled at Union Hall, May 14, and again November 3. A bricklayers' union was organized April 21. The State Horticultural Society held sittings at the City Hall, September 3 and December 2. The State Fair began August 31. The journeyman plumbers of the city struck December 1, against a cut to 82.55 for 82 hours instead of $3.00 for ten hours. Hon. A. G. Thurman was chosen in December to act as umpire in the troubles between the miners and operators in the Hocking Valley. An interstate convention of miners and operators was held December 12, to arrange a wage schedule. A board of arbitration was appointed.

1886. - The stock and woolgrowers held their usual January meetings. A State association of architects was organized at the Park Hotel January 12. The Ohio surveyors aud engineers held their annual meeting on the same date. The

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State Agricultural Convention was held at the Senate Chamber January 13. A delegate convention of the various trade and labor unions and local assemblies was held January 26. A paperhangers' association was organized January 28. The Tilemakers' and Drainage Association met at the Board of Trade Room February 9. A strike of street railway employés took place in March, and one of watch- makers in April. A landlords' protective association was organized April 2. The National Board of Arbitration and Conciliation met at Columbus May 1. Strikes of sewer pipe makers and brieklayers occurred in May. Little Miami Division Number 34 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Franklin Lodge Number 9 of Firemen held a social reunion at the Princess Rink May 6. The National Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association held its third annual meeting at the Neil House. The Hocking Valley mining troubles were revived in August. The new State Fair grounds were formally dedicated August 31. The Thirty- seventh State Fair -first on the new grounds - began August 31. Columbus Branch Number 9 of the National Association of Stationary Engineers held a meeting at Thurman Hall October 27. The Sixth Annual Congress of the Feder- ation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the United States and Canada assembled at Druid Hall December 7. The amalgamation of the trades unions was completed, the united body taking the name of American Federation of Trade and Labor. The Ohio Poultry, Pigeon and Pet Stock Association met at the United States Hotel October 28, and decided to hold an exhibition at the City Hall in January.

1887. - The stockbreeders, woolgrowers, mining engineers and State Board of Agriculture held their usual January meetings. The woolgrowers held subse- quent meetings during the year on April 6 and September 2. An interstate convention of miners and operators was held February 8, at the City Hall. The Ohio Tile and Drainage Association met February 8. A Henry George Club met March 28. A Grand Union Meeting of the International Brotherhood of Locomo- tive Engineers was held at the Opera House on Sunday, May 29. Welcoming addresses were delivered by Governor J. B. Foraker and Hon. J. H. Outhwaite; Chief Engineer Peter M. Arthur was spokesman for the Brotherhood. The State Association of Watchmakers and Jewelers held its semiannual meeting at the American House April 27. The State Fair began August 30. The Central Ohio Farmers' Institute held its first autumn meeting at the Board of Trade Room October 20. The Builders' Exchange met at the Board of Trade Room Decem - ber 28.

1888 .- The stockbreeding, beekeeping and woolgrowing associations held their usual January meetings. The State Agricultural Convention began Janu- ary 10. The Ohio Institute of Mining Engineers held its eighth annual meeting at Lyndon Hall January 12. A Master Painters' and Decorators' Association was organized January 11. The Lather's Union held its semiannual meeting January 13. The Executive Committee of the American Wheelmakers' Association met at the Neil House January 17. The Ohio Coal Operators' Association held a sitting at the same place on the same date. The Miners' Amalgamated Associa- tion of Ohio held its seventh annual convention also on January 17. The Ohio

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Tile, Brick and Drainage Association held its annual meeting at the Wells Post Hall February 11. The Ohio Trades and Labor Assembly met in Columbus February 21. In May the stonecutters of the city struek for a reduction of work- ing hours from ten to nine. A State Association of Ohio Millers was organized at the Neil House June 27. The Carriage Builders' National Assocation held its sixteenth annual session in Columbus during the earlier part of October. The Brotherhood of Railway Brakemen held its fifth annual convention at the City Hall October 16. A convention of railway employés was held October 23. An Ohio division of the Railway Station Agents' Association was organized at the Neil House December 17. A consolidation of miners' associations was effected by a convention held in Druid Hall, December 5.

On September 4, 1888, the Ohio Centennial Exposition at the State Fair grounds was formally opened. By this exposition the one hundredth year of white settlement on the soil of Ohio, begun at Marietta in 1788, was celebrated. Prep- arations for it begun in 1886. On January 28 of that year a meeting of repre- sentatives of the State Archaeological and Historical Society was held at the Capi- tol, at which the initial steps, so far as Columbus is concerned, were taken. The chairman of this meeting was General S. H. Hurst, its secretary A. A. Graham. A committee, with HI. T. Chittenden as chairman, was appointed to prepare reso- lutions to be presented to the General Assembly, which body, on March 12, 1886, passed a joint resolution in the following terms:

WHEREAS, The year 1888 marks the end of the century since the first permanent settle- ment was made in the State of Ohio ; and whereas, this century has been one of greatest prog- ress in the history of civilization -a progress in which Ohio has taken a leading part; and whereas it is not only practicable but desirable that the people of Ohio should commemorate in some appropriate manner the close of the first century of our history and the beginning of the second ; therefore,

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That the one hundredth anni- versary of the first settlement of the State, now among the foremost in rank and importance in the Union, be celebrated during the mouth of September, in the year 1888, by the holding, at the capital of the State, of an exposition demonstrating the material and educational progress and growth of the State during its first century, said exposition to be held on the grounds of the State used and controlled by the Ohio State Board of Agriculture for State Fair purposes. For the purpose of carrying ont the intent of this resolution there is hereby created a Board of Directors consisting of nine members, five of whom shall be appointed by the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, two by the State Archaeological and Historical Society, and one by the Horticul - tural Society, with the Governor of the State a member and presiding officer of the Board. The Board of Directors shall have the control of all business connected with the preparation and holding of the Centennial Exposition, and shall establish rules and regulations for the govern- ment of the various departments connected therewith, making such rules and extending such encouragement with respect to exhibitors, as shall secure intelligent representation in the- departments of education, history, art, science, agriculture, horticulture, live stock, forestry, mechanics, mining, commerce, transportation, merchandise, journalism, domestic manufac- tures, and all the arts and the industries beneficial to mankind. The Board of Directors shall define the various departments of said exposition, and appoint commissioners in charge of the different departments, who shall conduct the affairs of their respective departments according to the regulations adopted by said Board, and report from time to time to the Board. The Board of Directors shall report to the General Assembly in 1887 the progress made toward

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carrying out the provisions of this resolution, and in 1888 shall make a full and complete report of the exposition.

In pursuance of this resolution a Board of Centennial Directors was appointed as follows : By the State Board of Agriculture, L. B. Harris of Wyandot County, W. S. Foster of Champaign, C. D. Baily of Gallia, J. C. Levering of Knox and Henry Talcott of Ashtabula; by the Archaeological and Historical Society, R. Brinkerhoff of Richland and H. T. Chittendem of Franklin ; by the State Hor- ticultural Society, Samuel H. Hurst of Ross. Governor James B. Foraker was, by the terms of the resolution, exofficio President of this Board, which, on May 5, 1886, elected H. T. Chittenden Vice Chairman, L. B. Harris Treasurer and A. A. Graham Temporary Secretary. In January, 1887, the Board matured and adopted a plan of organization and management which provided for the appoint- ment of a Director-General, one commissioner for each department, a secretary, a treasurer, a manager of transportation, and three centennial commissioners for each county of the State. The classification of the proposed exhibits comprised sixteen departments, viz: History and Archeology, Science and Education, Fine Arts, Agriculture, Horticulture, Floriculture and Forestry, Live Stock, Mining and Metallurgy, Mechanics and Machinery, Manufactures, Merchandise, Com- merce and Transportation, Printing and Journalism, Woman's Work, Public Ser- vice and Charities and Entertainments. In pursuance of an additional joint reso- lution of the General Assembly the States of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wis- consin, which, besides Ohio, were embraced in the original Northwest Territory, were invited to participate with her in celebrating this centennial. The States of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Virginia, from which the North west Territory had been derived, were also invited to participate. In May, 1887, General Samuel H. Hurst, of Ross County, was appointed Director-General, L. N. Bonham, of Butler, Secretary, and A. A. Graham and James W. Fleming, of Columbus, Assist- ant Secretaries. The commissioners appointed for the different departments, were, in the order of these departments as above mentioned, as follows: A. A. Graham, Columbus; Edward Orton, Columbus; W. S. Goodnough, Columbus; S. H. Ellis, Warren County ; N. H. Albaugh, Montgomery ; H. Haerliss, Hamil- ton ; L. G. Delano, Ross ; B. F. Perry, Ashtabula ; I. D. Smead, Lucas ; J. J. Sul- livan, Holmes ; W. M. Bayne, Cuyahoga ; W. D. Hamilton, Athens ; R. B. Brown, Muskingum ; Mrs. D. L. Williams, Delaware; A. G. Byers, Columbus. The Board asked the General Assembly for an appropriation of $100,000, but received, instead, only 820,000 with permission to bond the State Fair grounds for 850,000 more. These grounds lay two and a half miles north of the Capitol, just outside of the corporation boundary. They comprised an area of one hundred and seven acres.

The cooperation of the people of Columbus in the work of organizing and preparing for the exposition was promptly and liberally given. It was chiefly exerted through and under direction of the Board of Trade, which appointed a Centennial Committee of its members, and on December 7, 1866, named twelve additional committees to canvas for a subscription fund of $100,000 to cover expenses of the Centennial Exposition, and of the Grand Army and militia

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encampments. In behalf of the city of Columbus, the Board pledged a contribu- tion of $25,000 toward the expenses of the exposition, and paid over to the State Board the sum of 823,020 for expenditure in its preliminary work.

In addition to the buildings already provided for ordinary use of the State Fair, it was decided to erect ten new ones, to be thus designated : Manufacturers' Hall, Agricultural Hall, Horticultural Hall, Art Hall, Floral Hall, HIall of Metal- lurgy, Commerce and Transportation Hall, Printing and Journalism Hall, Woman's Department Building and an Auditorium which afterwards took the name of Coliseum, and, externally domeshaped, had the interior arrangement of an amphitheatre, with seating accommodations for ten thousand people.

The opening of the Exposition on September 4 was signalized by a parade of six thousand troops of the Ohio National Guard, then in annual encampment at Camp Sheridan, north of the city. These troops, under Major-General H. A. Axline, were formed in column on Livingston Avenue, whence they marched north on High Street to Broad, turning into which, they passed in review before the grand stand, which had been erected for, and was then awaiting the parade of the Grand Army of the Republic. After the military review, which took place in the forenoon, the formal ceremonies of the opening took place at the Centennial Grounds, in the presence of many thousands of people. One of the most strik- ing features of these ceremonies was a chorus of fourteen hundred children dressed in red, white and blue, and so arranged as to represent the United States flag. A centennial ode sung by the children was composed for the occasion by H. T. Chittenden. The voices were accompanied by the Elgin Band, of Elgin, Illinois. An invocation was offered by Reverend Conrad Mees, of Columbus. The chairman and orator of the occasion was Governor J. B. Foraker, who was presented by Director-General Hurst. An Ohio Centennial Ode was read by its author, Hon. Coates Kinney. This admirable ode, for the whole of which, unfortunately, space cannot here be spared, contained the following striking stanzas relating to the industrial progress of Ohio :

In what historic thousand years of man Has there been builded such a State as this? Yet, since the clamor of the axes ran Along the great woods, with the groan and hiss, And crash of trees, to hew thy groundsels here, Ohio ! but a century has gone, And thy republic's building stands the peer Of any that the sun and stars shine on.

* *

A hundred years of Labor ! Labor free ! Our river ran between it and the curse, And freemen proved how toil can glory be. The heroes that Ohio took to nurse, (As the she-wolf the founders of old Rome) - Their deeds of fame let history rehearse And oratory celebrate ; but see This paradise their hands have made our home !

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

Nod, plumes of wheat, wave, banderoles of corn,

Toss, orchard oriflammes, swing, wreaths of vine, Shout, happy farms, with voice of sheep and kine, For the old victories conquered here on these The fields of Labor, when, ere we were born,

The Fathers fonght the armies of the trees, And, chopping ont the night, chopt in the morn.

A hundred years of Knowledge! We have mixt More brains with Labor in the century Than man had done since the decree was fixt That Labor was his doom and dignity. All honor to those far-fore-working men Who, as they stooped their sickles in to fling,

Or took the wheat npon their cradle's swing, Thought of the boy, the little citizen,

There gathering sheaves, and planned the school for him, Which should wind np the clock-work of his mind To cunning moves of wheels, and blades that skim Across the field, and reap and rake and bind.

They planned the school - the woods were full of schools! Our learning has not soared, but it has spread ; Ohio's intellects are sharpened tools

To deal with daily facts, and daily bread.

The starry peaks of Knowledge in thin air

Her culture has not climbed, but on the plain, In whatsoever is to do or dare

With mind or matter, there behold her reign. The axemen who chopt out the clearing here, Where stands the Capitol, conld they today Arise and see onr hundred years' display - Steam wagons, in their thundering career - Wires that a friend's voice waft across a State, And wires that wink a thought across the sea,

And wires wherein imprisoned lightnings wait To leap forth at the turning of a key -

Could they these shows of mind in matter note, Machines that almost conscions souls confess,

Seeming to will and think - the printing press. Not quite intelligent to vote - Could they arise these marvels to behold, What would to them the past Republic seem -

The state historified in volumes old, Or prophesied in Grecian Plato's dream !

After the reading of Mr. Kinney's poem, further musie and remarks by Director-General Hurst, Mrs. Governor Foraker, by the touching of a spring, turned on the steam which started the wheels of the Exposition. Simultaneously with the pressure of Mrs. Foraker's finger, all the machinery on the grounds began to move, bands of music broke into joyous strains, the people responded with enthusiastic shouts, and the children's chorus sang the national anthem " Amer-

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ica." The President of the Day then declared the Exposition duly opened, Rev. Dr. W. E. Moore pronounced a benediction, and the audience dispersed.

On September 5, which was ealled Welcoming Day, Ex-President R. B. Hayes presided, and an address, preceded by music and an invocation by Rev. Dr. Joseph M. Trimble, was delivered by General William H. Gibson. After General Gibson's, further addresses were delivered, in the order named, by Governor Brackett of Massachusetts, Governor Lounsbury of Connecticut, Hon. Frank H. Hurd of Toledo, and Senator L. G. Palmer of Michigan. On September 6, which was called Pioneer Day, Mr. J. E. St. Clair, of Columbus, presided, and after prayer by Rev. Daniel Horlocker, delivered an address of welcome. Mr. St. Clair was followed by Judge W. J. Gilmore, of Columbus, who spoke eloquently of the Ohio pioneers. Rev. Dr J. M. Trimble also delivered an interesting address on pioneer topics. An Old Folks Singing Class, of Bellefontaine, dressed in the cos- tumes of sixty years ago, interspersed the exercises with appropriate music. In the afternoon a poem was read by M. V. Lawrence of Chillicothe, and a further address was delivered by Judge Taylor, of Chardon, then aged ninety years.

Other special days were celebrated during the exposition, in the following succession :

2. Catholic Societies' Doy, September 7, 1888. Address by Rt. Rev. Bishop Watterson.

3. Old Army Reunions, September 12.

4. Grand Army Campfire, September 13. Speeches by General W. H. Gibson and others.

5. Patriotic Order of Sons of America, September 17.

6. State Bar Association, September 19. Speeches by Judge Allen G. Thurman and others.

7. Grangers' and Farmers' Day, September 20. Speeches by Col. J. H. Brigham, Gen- eral S. H. Hurst, Mr. S. H. Ellis and Mr. F. A. Derthick.

8. Knights of Pythias Day, September 21.

9. Emancipation Jubilee Day, September 22. Addresses by Rev. James Poindexter, and Bishop B. W. Arnett. Poem, J. Madison Bell.

10. Labor Day, September 24.

11. Methodist Episcopal Church Day, September 25. Addresses by Hon. Mills Gardner, General S. H. Hurst, Doctor Whitlock and General William H. Gibson.

12. Sunday School Day, September 26.

13. School Children's Day, September 27. Elocutionary contest and competitive spell- ingschool.

14. Ohio Teachers' Day, September 28. Addresses by James H. Fairebild, Oberlin ; Professor W. B. Bodine, Gambier; Hon. John Eaton, Marietta; Doctor N. S. Townshend, State University ; Doctor John Hancock, Chillicothe; Miss Maria Jaques, Dayton.

15. Commercial Travelers' Day, September 29.

16. Presbyterian Church Day, October 2. Addresses by President S. F. Scoville, Rev. W. E. Moore, Rev. R. C. Galbraith, Rev. G. P. Hays.

17. Grocers' Day, October 3.

18. Odd Fellows' Day, October 4. Speeches by Mayor Bruck, F. R. Gay, of Findlay ; W. S. Bell, Zanesville.

19. Ancient Order of United Workmen, October 5.

20. Columbus Day, October 9.

21. Improved Order of Red Men, October 10.

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

22. Prohibition Day, October 11. Speeches by Ex-Governor Clinton B. Fisk, Rev. M. N. Bennett.

23. Woman's Christian Temperance Union, October 12. Addresses by Miss Susan B. Anthony, Ex-Governor C. B. Fisk, Miss Emma Willard.

24. Locomotive Engineers, Firemen and Switchmen, October 16.6

NOTES.

The following description of this singular triumph of a Columbus mechanic's skill and patience appeared in the Ohio Statesman of May 3, 1842:

" The great zodiac will describe a circle of more than fortyeight feet, while Herschel, being thrown off the table, will describe a circle of sixtysix feet. The celestial sphere is about four feet eight inches in diameter, which contains the sun, Mercury, Venus, the earth and the moon. The superior planets are placed upon the outside of the sphere and are to run horizon- tally at all times, making their regular periodicals around the sun in their regular periods ; also Jupiter, Saturn and Herschel, having their satellites revolving around them in their proper order with their inclinations to the plane of the ecliptic; also Saturn, with his two concen- tric rings, with their proper inclinations, retaining at the same time their proper direction. The armillary sphere is a beautiful structure, and is a great addition to the orrery, over and above the first effort of Mr. Russell. This plane sphere contains about five hundred cog wheels, large and small, principally brass. The whole machine will weigh about one ton and a half, composed principally of cast and wrought iron and brass, having but little wood about it."

The machine produced eightyone separate motions.

2. The counties represented were Brown, Belmont, Champaign, Clark, Crawford, Dela- ware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Henry, Highland, Hocking, Jefferson, Knox, Licking, Lorain, Madison, Montgomery, Marion, Muskingum, Perry, Pickaway, Portage, Preble, Richland, Ross, Summit, Union and Wayne. Among the delegates were M. L. Sullivant, R. E. Neil, David Nelson, S. Baldwin, Samuel Medary and Jolin Bishop, of Franklin ; Gover- nor M. Bartley of Richland, J. P. Kirtland of Cuyahoga and Allen Trimble of Highland.

3. The statements here made as to this meeting are taken from manuscript kindly sub - mitted to the author by Hon. Norton S. Townshend. From the same scource the following list of Presidents of the Board, in the order of their service, has been derived : Allen Trim- ble, M. L. Sullivant, Arthur Watts, Samuel Medary, R. W. Musgrove, James T. Worthing- ton, W. H. Ladd, Alexander Waddle, J. M. Millikin, Norton S. Townshend, Alexander Waddle, D. E. Gardner, T. C. Jones, Norton S. Townshend, N. J. Turney, W. B. McClung, Daniel McMillen, James Fullington, J. W. Ross, William Lang, James Buckingham, L. G. Delano, R. C. Cannon. S. Harmount, J. B. Jamison, J. M. Pugh, B. W. Carlisle, L. B. Wing, D. L. Pope, R. Baker, W. N. Cowden, W. S. Foster, C. D. Bailey, L. N. Bonham, J. H. Brig ham, John Pow, and J. G. Russell.

4. Hon. N. S. Townshend.

5. This Fair was described by Mrs. Frances D. Gage, in a series of communications to the Ohio State Journal entitled " Letters Out of the Kitchen."

6. The members of this committee were W. A. Platt, A. A. Bliss, John Miller, William Dennison, B. B. Blake, S. Medary, W. A. Gill, J. D. Osborn, L. Buttles, J. W. Milligan, A. P. Stone, D. T. Woodbury, L. Hoster, H. Crary and Uriah Stotts.

7. Premiums were awarded to Miss McElhenny, of Hamilton Township, Mrs. Phelps of Blendon, Mrs. Williams of Hamilton, and Mrs. Stambaugh of Franklin

8. In reference to the finances of the Exposition the Ohio State Journal of December 17, 1888, contained the following statement :

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 47

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1196

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196