USA > Ohio > Picturesque northwestern Ohio and battle grounds of the Maumee Valley, an art and historical work of the worthwest section of the Buckeye State > Part 10
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Toledo's great natural harbor is largely respon- sible for the extension of a number of the railways to this city. Railway builders realized years ago that the wharfage of this city is far in excess of any other lower lake ports and shaped their policy accordingly. In this connection it may be men- tioned that the Pennsylvania, with its usual far- sighted policy, has acquired two miles and a quarter of dock front at Toledo. This includes that which is owned by the Manufacturers' railway.
M. I. WILCOX'S TEAM OF ARABIAN BEAUTIES.
THE BOOK OF TOLEDO.
E
THE LASALLE & KOCH COMPANY. Ohio's leading silk house. Jefferson and Superior Streets.
Not a foot of this dock is being used by the Pennsylvania and this immense investment is made with a view of future developments by this giant corporation. It means that eventually Toledo is to be the great water outlet for the immense Penn- sylvania system.
Straight line measurements, according to the government charts, show that there are 52 miles of available water front at this port. Most of it, strange as it may seem, is naturally superior to that which is in use now. At a comparatively small expense of dredging, docks can be built ex- tending as far out as Cedar Point on the east side of the Maumee bay, to Ten Mile creek or Ottawa river on the west side. The dock line has been established on the Maumee river as far up as the waterworks and Ford's glass works. Of course, tlie dock line will be eventually extended up to Perrysburg and Maumee, but taking straight line measurements, not allowing for slips and the lengthening of the dock line by the curvature of the shores of the river and bay, here is the avail- able dock frontage :
Ford's Glass Works to Cedar Point, 17 miles Water Works to Ottawa River, 12 miles
Both sides of Swan Creek, 7 miles
Both sides of Ottawa River, 10 miles
Both sides of Ottar Creek, 4 miles
Both sides of Duck Creek, 2 miles
Total, 52 miles
These figures are a very conservative statement of the resources of the Toledo harbor. The entire Maumee Bay is a harbor, and the Ottawa river today has greater depth of water than the Maumee had when the government began to dredge it. Then there is what is known as Detwiler's ditch, back of the Casino, which will be dredged, adding two or three miles to the available docks of the port. By going up the, Maumee river to Perrys- burg, Ottawa river and Swan creek to the probable
limit of dredging, and making a con- servative estimate to additions for slips and inlets, it is possible to raise this estimate almost 100 miles.
In the develop- ment of these im- mense dock facilities it will be necessary to fill the space be- tween the established dock line and the shore, as it exists at present. This will do two things. It will deepen the har- bor and make new land for the owners of the water front.
By consulting the government charts, it will be noted that new land which will make this process, is far in excess of the vacant property which now exists on the water front.
Oh & SNELL
christ
IMPORTERS
GROCERS
DEN
SHE
THE DOW & SNELL CO. MANUFACTURERS & PACKERS OF
ROASTED COFFEE.
GROUND SPICES .-
TRADE MARK
EXTRACTS. CLEANED CURRANTS AMMONIA SEEDED RAISINS
BAKING POWDER
THE DOW & SNELL COMPANY'S BLOCK, CHERRY STREET.
THE BOOK OF TOLEDO.
TOLEDO AUTOMOBILE FACTORY.
The dock line between Presque Isle and Cedar Point will be from half a mile to a mile from the present shore line. In course of the devel- opment of the industries in this sec- tion all of this, and more, too, will be filled. It will be a cheap way to secure land for desirable indus- trial sites. Taking the entire dock front of 52 miles, it is estimated that the area of this new land will be equal to that of the built up portions of the city of Toledo.
It is thus seen that there is ample room for any number of great industrial plants on the water front. and all convenient to railway connections, for those which must avail themselves of both lake_and rail for transportation. All the wharves, present and potential, are reached with ease by rail ; examples of this are the Ohio Central, Hock- ing Valley and Pennsylvania docks. Vessels from the Lake Superior region unload their ore on the wharves along the lines of track, and then take on return cargoes of coal direct from the cars.
The location of Toledo at the western end of Lake Erie, makes it the natural grain market for a vast extent of the interior, embracing a large portion of the great winter wheat states; and for the eastern end of the corn belt. Her grain trade has always been a very prominent factor in her commerce. There are eleven grain elevators in Toledo. Three of these belong to the Wabash, one each to the Lake Shore, the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton and the Michigan Central, two to the Toledo Elevator Co. and one each to the National Milling Co., the Iron Elevator Co. and the East Side Iron Elevator Co. Be- sides these, there is elevator room in the mills of the city for 100,000 bushels, giving an aggregate storage capacity of 7,410,000 bushels of grain.
Toledo is the principal clover seed market of the world. This follows from its location, it being the most convenient ship- ping point, as the bulk of the clover seed in the United States is produced in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Southern Michigan and in portions of Kentucky. It is the only clover seed market whose quotations are sent out daily by the press associations, and the weekly receipts and shipments are cabled to Europe by the Reuter news agency. The receipts last year were 96,000 bags of 2} bushels each; for 1901, 131,000 bags; for 1900, 70,000 bags; for 1899, 145,000 bags and for 1898, 200,000 bags. No less than seven firms devote attention to clover seed, Churchill & Co., W. H. Morehouse & Co., S. W. Flower & Co., Crumbaugh & Kuehn, Henry Philipps Seed and Implement Co., Cratz Bros. and the Toledo Field Seed Co.
The vast industrial and commercial interests of Toledo require immense capital and large banking facilities. There has been nothing more remark- able in the astonishing development of Toledo within the past two decades than the growth of the banking bus iness. In 1883, it was one of the poorest cities of its size, in the United States, but the discovery of oil and natural gas in northwestern Ohio proved a veritable gold mine, and hun- dreds of thousands of dollars found their way into local banks. Then came the wonderful development of the bicycle industry and so long as it flourished it furnished another great source of wealth.
The total loans and deposits in Toledo banks 20 years ago were scarcely more than $5,000,000 and to- day, the nineteen banks show a total of $25,745,406 in loans, and $24,623,- 275 in deposits. Of the loans the savings banks contribute $11,822,119 and the national banks $13,923,287. Of the deposits the savings banks are credited with $11,708.210 and the national banks with $12,915,064.
FLOUR MILL, NATIONAL MILLING COMPANY.
THE BOOK OF TOLEDO.
The national banks of Toledo have long been established and oc- cupy permanent places in the local financial system. There is not a weakling in the half dozen, while, combined, they could make a better showing than any other six national banks in Ohio. The Second: Nat- ional stands first in the state in point of strength, and the First National third. In fact there are fewer than sixty national banks in the United States stronger than the Second National, of Toledo. With a capital of only $350,000, it shows a surplus and undivided profit ac- count of nearly a million dollars, giving every share, of $100 par value, an actual book value of nearly $375. The six banks have a com- bined capital of $2,250,000, and a surplus and undivided profit account of $2,744,538.06, giving to every share an average book value of $222.
Of the thirteen savings banks, the Toledo Savings Bank & Trust Co., and the Merchants and Clerks Savings Bank are the oldest and the former the strongest, with a capital of $100,000 and a surplus of over $200,000, giving it a book
-W. H.H.SMITH& CO.
OLD LUCAS COUNTY JAIL ON WATER STREET.
business. At that time there were six national banks, as now, and but two savings banks. But the new comer was given a hearty reception and grew rapidly in popular favor. Another and another were established until today there are thirteen savings banks, in addition to the six national banks.
The list of national banks com- prises the First National, Second Nat- ional, Northern National, Holcomb National, Merchants National and the National Bank of Commerce. In order for a national bank to be placed on the roll of honor, it must have a surplus and undivided profit account equal to its capital. In other words, its stock must show on its books an actual value of $200 per share of par value $100. The roll of
TOLEDO GLASS WORKS.
value of $300. Then comes the Union, the Home and the Ohio Sav- ings in point of age. The growth of the Ohio Savings has been phenomenal, its balances having passed the three million mark months ago. All of these older institutions have had a vigorous and healthy growth stimulated by wise and conservative manage- ment. The younger banks have, for the most part, passed the struggling period and are recognized as factors in Toledo's finan- cial system. The combined capital of the thirteen is $1,934,900, and the surplus and undivided profit fund $806,132, making an average book value per share of $141.
There is on deposit in Toledo banks an amount that if dis- tributed, would give every man, woman and child within the corporate limits $140. On the other hand if the debts of individ- uals to the banks were distributed with equal precision among all Toledoans, the average would be over $147, assuming that Toledo las a population not exceeding 175,000.
It is not so many years since well known business men, commenting on the establishment of a new savings bank in Toledo, predicted that it would not make a success because there were already enough banks in the city to care for the
-
SECTIONAL VIEW OF FORD GLASS WORKS, ROSSFORD.
THE BOOK OF TOLEDO.
NATIONAL MALLEABLE CASTINGS GO
FOUNDRY OF THE NATIONAL MALLEABLE CASTINGS COMPANY.
honor for 1902 added to this roll from Toledo the Northern National, making three in all. For years, the Second National bank has ranked first in the state and well up on the roll of honor, while the First National has been rated second or third in the state. The addition of the Northern National bank to the roll is gratifying to the officers, reflecting credit on their wise and efficient management. There are only twenty-four Ohio banks on the roll, and of these, Cincinnati claims three, the same number as Toledo, although the latter's rank much higher.
The record of Toledo's six national banks is phenomenal. There is not a weak one in the six and all are noted for their conservative and able manage- ment. During the panic of '92, when many banks in all parts of the country were flying the flag of distress, Toledo's Big Six rode through the storm and emerged without a scratch.
Toledo is noted as an ideal residence city. The rapid growth in population since 1887 has developed the West End most wonderfully. There are miles of streets and avenues, on which every residence is thoroughly modern, having been erected within that period, on ground which then was either forest or field. The great trees of the original woodland have been left standing wherever possible, and add a charm seldom found in newly built residence sections.
But the advantages of Toledo as a place of residence do not end with modern houses, with every convenience, on well-paved and well-lighted streets. It is a good place to rear a family. The public schools are among the best in the state with the high and manual training schools at the head of the system. The public library is notable as one of the best in Ohio. All the leading denominations are represented among Toledo's many churches. And in the matter of climate Toledo is exceptionally favored ; Lake Erie is near enough to exert a powerful influence in modifying the intense summer heats and in prolonging the pleasant weather of autumnal days, yet far enough away to protect from the violence of the raw lake winds, such as make it so unpleasant in cities directly on the lake shore, like Chicago and Cleveland.
Then. too, the opportunities for amusement are ample. The beautiful Valentine Theatre, one of the finest in the United States, brings here the very best in the theatrical line, while Burt's, the Empire, the Lyceum and the Arcade add their attractions during the season. The Casino, the Farm and the Bellevue are high-class summer theatres, attracting not only Toledo residents but the summer visitors who come to Toledo from inland points. This has become one of the great
excursion points of the lake region. Thousands come here from the interior, either to visit Toledo itself, or to go by boat to the Lake Erie Islands, or up the lakes.
A Retrospect of Lucas County in Early Days.
Lucas County occupies a conspicuous place in the annals of what was once known as the Northwest Territory. It may be said to be the very center of a wide region of hallowed ground, consecrated in the blood of the patriots and pioneers of the closing years of the Eighteenth and the opening of the Nineteenth Century. Those years were prolific with scenes of carnage, of rapine, of torture, of untold sufferings, of desperate conflict, of indescribable and bitter hostility at the hands of a merciless and savage foe, aided and abetted by the power of Great Britain. Within a circuit of less than 100 miles from the present
MAUMEE ROLLING MILLS OF THE REPUBLIC IRON & STEEL COMPANY.
THE BOOK OF TOLEDO.
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE D. R. LOCKE, " PETROLEUM V. NASBY." Jefferson Street.
confines of Lucas County, history records the bloody massacre on the River Raisin, the battles at different points along the Maumee, the ill- fated expeditions of Harmer and St. Clair, the savage exploits of Simon Girty, the burning of Colonel Crawford, the battle of Fallen Timbers, the gallant defense of Colonel Croghan, the siege of Detroit, the battle of the Thames in Upper Canada, the triumph of Perry on Lake Erie, the prolonged and gallant defense of Fort Meigs, and many other' conflicts that have made this region as classic in American annals as that of the Rubicon, Thermopylae, Marathon, Austerlitz, or Waterloo in the Old World.
The fierce struggles with the savage Indian tribes, inspired as they were by a bandit power in violation of the treaty of 1783, and the final triumph of American valor and patriotism has proven a greater factor in the progress of civilization, and embraces a wider range for the betterment of humanity than all the conflicts on European
RESIDENCE OF S. C. REYNOLDS. Madison Street.
THE BOOK OF TOLEDO.
EAST-SIDE IRON ELEVATOR COMPANY'S PLANT.
was created by proclamation of General St. Clair, July 27, 1780. It embraced that portion of Ohio lying east of the Cuyahoga and Scioto Rivers. The second was called Hamilton and embraced that portion of Ohio lying between the Great Miami and Little Miami Rivers. It was also created by proclamation by General St. Clair. The third was known as Wayne County, created by proclama- tion by General Wayne, August 15, 1796, and embraced a most extensive stretch of territory, including Northwestern Ohio, parts of Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, and the whole of the present State of Michigan. This territory, however, was divided by act of Congress in 1800, and all that part of it lying west of a line drawn from a point opposite the mouth of the Kentucky River, and running due north until it intersects the territorial line between the United States and Canada, was
1 battlefields combined. Such names as Wayne, Harrison, Croghan, Perry, and others, so closely identified with wrenching this territory from the grasp of the British invader and his savage allies, as benefactors the human race, shed a brighter lustre in the world's civilization than Cæsar, Hannibal, Alexander, Napoleon and others, whose names are emblazoned on history's page as military con- querors. The one class contributed to the upbuilding of a free people. The splendid results of their achievements are visible on every hand. The other class was the besom of destruction, -- the agents of simple conquest and despotism. Millions today enjoy the blessings achieved in Northwestern Ohio by the toil, valor, suffering and blood of these gallant leaders and their brave followers, and their names will not perish from the memory of man while liberty endures.
There were but three county organizations originally in the entire Northwest Territory. The first was called Washington, and
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY GO. NO17
ULURA
A DREDGE FROM VULCAN IRON WORKS,
DREDGING THE MAUMEE RIVER.
made to constitute a separate territory, and to be called Indiana. All east of the line was the Territory of Ohio. In the first constitutional convention of Ohio, all this northwestern portion of the State and the entire Maumee Valley, embraced in Wayne County, had no representa- tion. Neither had it any representation in the first Ohio legislature, which met in Chillicothe in 1803. The legislature, however, recognized it as being within its jurisdiction for legislative purposes, and caused that portion of Wayne County known as the Maumee Valley, to be divided into counties, and these were named Greene and Franklin. Champaign was organized in 1805, and embraced this northwestern part of the State, with Urbana as the county seat,
THE BOOK OF TOLEDO.
-
THE SPITZER BUILDING
One of the largest office buildings outside of Chicago and New York.
THE BOOK OF TOLEDO.
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
The same year a law was passed by Congress enacting, that "all that part of Indiana territory, which lies north of a line drawn east from the southerly bend of the extreme of Lake Michigan,
until it shall intersect Lake Erie, shall constitute a separate territory, and be called Michigan." If this line had been established, a strip of land about seven miles in width, running from the western boundary of Ohio to Lake Erie, would have been included in the State of Michigan. This strip of land, 30 years later, became the bone of fierce contention between the state governments of Ohio and Michigan, and very nearly resulted in blood- shed. The conflict, however, which threatened such a sanguinary result, was bloodless, and soon culminated in the ridiculous. In history it is known as the "Toledo War," and whenever referred to its tendency is to create a smile. The Indian title to this territory was not wholly extinguished until 1820, when 14 counties were at once organized by the legislature, and much of the Maumee Valley was included in Wood County.
History and tradition record the fact that a greater number of bloody battles have been fought, and more
PUBLIC LIBRARY, MADISON AND ONTARIO STREETS
THE BOOK OF TOLEDO.
"INNISFAIL," RESIDENCE OF C. M. SPITZER. Collingwood Avenue,
treasure expended for the possession of this rich and lovely region, perhaps, than any similar extent of territory in the Western World. It was in this vicinity that Pontiac hurled his Indian hordes against the white settlers with savage fury. In this vicinity Mad Anthony Wayne, with his fiery impetuosity, dashed his little army against the savage clans at Fallen Timbers, and crushed them with a disaster from which they never wholly recovered. The massacre of the River Raisin, the bloody butchery of Colonel Dudley's command, the seige of Fort Meigs, and many other conflicts of lesser note, fully entitle this region to the appellation of the "bloody ground." In the numerous Indian wars, the war between the French and the Indians, the French and the English, the English and the Indians, the United States and Great Britain, and the United States and the Indians, many severe battles were fought in the Manmee Valley and its western extension. Many others were fought in this immediate vicinity, the direct result of which opened up to civilization an area of a million square miles of territory, now teeming with an active, energetic and prosperous people.
Within the present limits of Lucas County, among the monuments and relics of "grim-visaged war," may be named the old British redoubt, known as Fort Miami, near the Children's Home ; a small earthwork built by General Wayne at
RESIDENCE OF E. D. LIBBEY, Scottwood Avenue.
THE BOOK OF TOLEDO.
THE COUNTRY CLUB.
Waterville, called Fort Deposit, and Fort Industry, near the corner of Monroe and Summit Streets, Toledo, rebuilt by General Wayne in 1794. An excellent paper, by Chas E. Bliven, some twenty-five years ago, now probably in the archives of the Maumee Valley Pioneer and Monu- inental Association, says, "that in 1796 General Wayne, or rather Colonel Hamtramck, took possession of Fort Miami, or Campbell, also of Detroit, or Mackinac, rebuilt Fort Industry, and the latter was garrisoned ten or twelve years. It consisted of a blockhouse, surrounded by a stockade, standing in the center of a clearing of about four acres. What was known as the Fisher-Eaton Bee Hive Store occupied probably the central por- tion of this stockade, and may have extended as far back as St. Clair Street. At that time the shore of the river was much nearer the location of the fort than now. On the north side of Monroe Street there was a very precipitous bluff, forming the original bank of Swan Creek. Evidence is also abundant that a French trading
post was located on the site of Fort Industry as early as 1680, and most reliable authority leads to the conclusion that it was occupied many years earlier, even before LaSalle came down the river in 1669-1671-probably 1640-1648 -- when the French escorted the Hurons to the Miami Confederation.
Fort Miami, or Campbell, situated near the Children's Home, was rebuilt by the British in 1763, after its surrender by the French. It was a regular military work, mounting fourteen guns; four nine-pounders on the river side, six six-pounders on the land side, also two large howitzers and two swivels, and was surrounded with a deep ditch, with horizontal pickets projecting over it. It was, without doubt, the strongest fort ever built in the valley. It has been frequently confounded with Fort Miami, at the head of the Maumee. Fort Wayne, and some writers have ascribed transactions at one which in reality occurred at the other.
Fort Deposit was a mere temporary affair, also built by General Wayne, where Waterville now stands. It was nothing more than a receptacle for the military stores and baggage, pend- ing the battle of Fallen Timbers, which shortly followed. No trace of it can now be found. As it was used only as a place of rendezvous and storage, it could hardly be classed as a fort, although it was so called by General Wayne in his official report.
In Swanton Township, on] the southwest quarter of Section 5, on the west bank of the northeast branch of Swan Creek, was a stockade, and to the westward are several elevations which look as if they might have been constructed for rifle pits. The timbers of this stockade throughout the enclosed area were plainly visible in 1835. When, or by whom this stockade was built is not now known. Toward the mouth of Swan Creek were also the remains of what were evidently earthworks, but of which we have no definite know- ledge.
Within the present limits of Toledo, at some unknown period of time, a fortification was erected on the neck of land formerly
RESIDENCE OF V. W. GRANGER,
Superior Street.
THE BOOK OF TOLEDO.
PAVILION AT WALBRIDGE PARK.
known as "Whittlesey's Point," between Swan Creek and the river, but every trace of it has about disappeared owing to the grading of streets. It followed substantially the course of Clayton Street, extended to the river. It was familiar to the residents of Toledo as late as 1840. It was an embankment five or six feet high and ten or twelve feet across the top, on which quite large trees had grown. About where Broadway crosses there was an opening some- what higher on each side, as if it had been an arched or covered gateway. A ditch was on the inner side. A division embankment extended from the main line to opposite the point or sharp bend in the creek, dividing the enclosure into two nearly equal parts.
A history of Lucas County would be incomplete without a passing note of two intrepid charac- ters, who took no small part in the tragic events of the border history of Toledo and the Maumee Valley About the year 1807 or 1808 a French settlement was established on the Maumee opposite Manhattan. Among those settlers was Peter Navarre, born in Detroit in 1786. He was a grandson of Robert de Navarre, who came to America in 1745. Peter Navarre joined Hull's army and went to Detroit. He returned to the River Raisin and enlisted in Colonel Anderson's regiment. This
DRIVEWAY IN WALBRIDGE PARK.
THE BOOK OF TOLEDO.
RIVERSIDE PARK.
command was included in Hull's ignominious surrender. He served as a scout for General Harrison at Fort Meigs. Navarre discovered the Indians crossing the river when the enemy first appeared opposite the fort. He reported at once to General Harrison, who immediately sent him with three letters, one for Lower Sandusky, another for Upper Sandusky, and the third to Governor Meigs, at Urbana. His mission was success- fully accomplished, the governor receiving his letter near the close of the fifth day. General Proctor offered a reward of $1,000 for Navarre's head, but the Indians claimed it was impossible to capture the wily scout. Navarre received a pension of $8 per month from the government to the day of his (leatlı. It was Peter Manor who first brought news of the declaration of war with Great Britain to the settlers along the Maumee, and the first they heard of the shameful surrender of Hull at Detroit was from a band of sixty or seventy Deleware Indians on their march
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