USA > South Dakota > Minnehaha County > History of Minnehaha county, South Dakota. Containing an account of its settlements, growth, development and resources Synopsis of public records, biographical sketches > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
389
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
people prejudiced against the Water company, that on more than one occasion the council was requested to ignore the contract and make no further payments to the company.
The first engine house was located on the bank of the river oppo- site the Cascade mill, and the water pumped from the mill pond, but the complaints in reference to the quality of the water were so numerous that the temporary expedient was resorted to of extending a large supply pipe up stream past the island. But this did not sat- isfy the consumers, and in the summer of 1886, another engine house was built on the bank of the river between Tenth and Eleventh streets, and the water taken from there. But the water still re- mained too impure for domestic use, and in February, 1888, a large filter was put in through which the water had to pass before being sent on its way to the consumers. But the water did not prove satis- factory, and the Water company having exhausted all known methods of procuring good water from the river, began to look elsewhere for a supply.
Early in may, 1890, the Water company purchased 100 acres of land about three miles north from the center of the city, after having ascertained that underlying it there was a graveled bed about 50 feet in depth containing an inexhaustible supply of pure water. As early as the season would permit, the company commenced the improve- ments necessary to obtain water to supply the city from that source.
About this time another element of trouble to the company came to the surface. J. H. Drake had a spring on the east side of the river, and he claimed it was absolutely pure water and that there was a sufficient quantity to supply the city, and he was not dilatory in endeavoring to influence the city council to take such action as would make his spring the source of water supply for the city.
On the 14th day of July, 1890, although the company had a large force of men at work north of the city putting down wells and con- structing buildings for the necessary machinery, a committee of aldermen appointed by the city council made a report recommending "that the contract with the Water Company be rescinded, and that the city attorney be instructed to commence suit for annulling the same," and at the same time submitted a proposition from Col. Drake. Accompanying this report was an opinion by City Attorney Brockway in reference to the rescinding of the contract with the company and the leasing of Drake's spring. As to the first proposi- tion he practically said the council could rescind or not as they chose, and as to Drake's spring he referred them to Drake's proposi- tion. In the report of the committee appeared a statement in refer- ence to the quantity of water that Drake's spring would supply, and it was amusing to the writer at the time to compare the great ca- pacity of the spring as reported by the committee, with the report of one of the finest water experts the country afforded, who happened to be present when the test was made by the committee and its ex- pert. One of them found an adequate supply for the city, the other thought that the amount of water demanded by the city would ex- haust the supply in a few hours. Mr. Drake's proposition was to lease his spring to the city for fifteen years; the city to pay $300
390
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
monthly for the first five years, $400 monthly for the next five years, and $600 monthly for the last five years; he reserving the right to take water from the spring for sale outside of the city. This propo- sition was based upon the assumption that the city would take prompt action. Failing to secure a contract of this kind, Mr. Drake offered, if the city would give him a franchise similar to the one given the Water company, he would put in a first-class system of water works and push it to completion as fast as men, money and good business judgment could accomplish it.
The city council had at last arrived at the brink of the Rubicon, and notwithstanding Drake's spring was near the opposite shore, the most conservative members hesitated to cross, and asked for further time before they committed themselves to a project that was sure to result in expensive litigation to the city, and leaving them nothing by which they could justify their action but the unsolved problem that Drake's spring could be obtained, and was of sufficient capacity to supply the city with water for all purposes. The council adjourned without taking any action. The next day a petition was circulated, and secured a large number of signatures, calling a mass meeting of the citizens to advise the city council what to do upon the water question. This meeting took place Thursday evening, July 17. It was largely attended, and was one of the most interesting meetings ever held in the city. It would surprise some of the good citizens of Sioux Falls if they should review the speeches they made on that occasion. It was a wild meeting until near the close, when a mild resolution of confidence in the city council was passed, assert- ing that the meeting believed that the council would take all neces- sary steps to furnish the city with pure water. This meeting was followed by a special meeting of the city council on July 18, to take action on the report of the special water committee. Alderman Lewis at once moved "that a demand be made upon the Water com- pany that they demonstrate within one week that they can furnish a supply of pure water for all purposes." This opened the debate, which lasted two hours and concluded upon Alderman Brookings moving to lay the motion on the table; the vote resulted in a tie, and Mayor Peck voted in the affirmative. The city attorney was then instructed to draw a resolution "to serve as a warning and demand upon the Water company to furnish good water." Col. Drake then said, if it took till November for the council to find out whether the Water company violated the contract, then the city, if it wanted his springs, would have to pay a fair round price for them. Wm. Van Eps then made quite a speech, advising the council to go slow, and be careful about involving the city in unnecessary litigation. The council adjourned until the next day. At the adjourned meeting July 19, a preamble and resolution drawn by the city attorney was introduced. The preamble recited the grievances the city had suf- fered, and the resolution demanded from the company a full compli- ance with their contract on or before October 15, and notified the company that the council would not consent to an emergency pipe from the engine house to the river. After a two hours discussion the preamble was stricken out, and then the reference to the emer-
391
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
gency pipe was stricken out, and then what was left was adopted. From this time on until September, the Water company was pushing its work with great vigor, while a few people were trying in every way to discredit the character of the water it was obtaining. Sam- ples of water from the wells of the company and from Drake's spring had been sent to a chemist of world-wide fame for analy- sis, and on the first day of September, 1890, his report was laid before the city council. From this report it appeared that the water works' water was slightly the purest, and three per cent softer than the water in Drake's spring. This settled the water question, which had so long agitated the people of Sioux Falls. On November 26, 1890, the water pipes throughout the city were slushed, and the next day (Thanksgiving day) the great pump forced the water to the con- sumers for the first time from the new station.
At the general election in November, 1898, the question of bond- ing the city for the purpose of purchasing or constructing a system of water works was submitted to a vote of the electors of the city of Sioux Falls. The vote was 821 for and 405 against the proposition. During the session of the legislature in 1899 a law was enacted authorizing the city to bond for the purpose above mentioned, pro- vided a majority of all the electors of the city should at a special election so vote, the number of electors to be determined by the total vote cast for mayor at the preceding city election, according to which it required 954 affirmative votes to bond. The election was called for the 4th day of April. For ten days prior to the election an active campaign was waged, but the indebtedness of the city was so large that a great majority of the people were opposed to increasing it for any purpose, and the measure was defeated by a vote of 587 for, and 684 against.
The plant at the present time has greater capacity and is more complete than any system of water works in any city in the United States of the size of Sioux Falls. The water is obtained from twenty-eight six-inch wells of the depth of thirty-five to forty-five feet. There are three pumps in use, with a capacity of one, three and five-million gallons, respectively. The fire pressure is 125 pounds to the square inch, and can be increased to upward of 150 pounds. There are thirty-five miles of mains, 115 hydrants and five public drinking fountains. The private consumers number about 900.
The water has been thoroughly analyzed by chemists, and found suitable for domestic use, and has received the indorsement of the local physicians as the best water attainable in Sioux Falls.
The first superintendent was J. H. Purdy, who was succeeded by L. C. Winslow, Doc. Hoffman, C. H. Martien, R. W. Barnes, C. N. Berry and H. G. Smith, in the order named.
GAS WORKS .- In August, 1882, J. H. Miller, Jr., came to Sioux Falls and asked the village trustees to grant him the right of way through the streets and alleys for laying gas pipes. He represented that if this privilege should be granted to him he would put in a gas plant with capacity sufficient for a city of fifteen thousand inhabit- ants. The trustees assured him his request would be granted, and
392
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
the following September Mr. Miller purchased the present location of the plant and commenced its construction. On the 31st day of March following, the village trustees passed ordinance No. 43 (the last one passed by the village of Sioux Falls), giving John H. Miller, Jr., his associates, heirs and assigns the privilege, for the term of ninety-nine years, of using the streets, alleys and public grounds of the village for the purpose of laying pipes for the conveyance of gas, for the use of the village and its inhabitants. By the provisions of this ordinance the plant was to be completed in six months, and to have the capacity of meeting all demands for gas, both public and private. The price of gas was fixed at three dollars per one thous- and feet, with a discount of ten per cent upon payment on presenta- tion of bills; the price to be increased or diminished as the cost of bituminous coal should be greater or less than eight dollars per ton, which was the cost of the coal at that time in Sioux Falls. On the 8th day of May, 1886, the City of Sioux Falls, by ordinance of that date granted to the Sioux Falls Gas Company the exclusive right, privilege and franchise for twenty years to manufacture and furnish gas within the limits of the city of Sioux Falls, reserving the right to forfeit and declare void the franchise conferred by the village and confirmed by the City of Sioux Falls, in the event of the failure of the company to perform each and every condition assumed by them. On the 19th day of June, 1885, the City of Sioux Falls by ordinance ap- proved of village ordinance No. 43, and authorized the Sioux Falls Gas Company, the successors of John H. Miller, Jr., to mortgage the gas works, and confirmed to said company the franchise as granted to Miller. May 11, 1886, J. Leslie Thompson, receiver of the First National Bank of Sioux Falls, sold the interest the bank had in the Gas Company. In September following the company issued its bonds in the sum of $25,000, drawing six per cent interest, which were negotiated by F. W. Little.
As in all other cities the subject of Gas caused considerable discussion in Sioux Falls. The granting of the exclusive franchise by the city council was denounced by many of the citizens, and the newspapers were filled with interviews both for and against it, and when the council entered into a contract with the company in July, 1886, to furnish fifty street lamps for five years at the annual cost of $2,200, the air was full of electricity, as the Electric Light Company had offered to furnish eleven electric arc lights for $2,244 per year. The final outcome was in the nature of a compromise and a contract for street lighting with both companies. In 1887, the Gas company extended its mains and otherwise enlarged its works at a cost of about $18,000. The National Gas and Fuel company of Chicago were contracted with to furnish the plant with appliances to manufacture gas, and the company had the whole work completed on the 26th day of October. About seven o'clock in the evening of that day the people of Sioux Falls were startled by a loud report followed by the break- ing of glass and a general shaking up of things in an unaccountable manner. It did not take long to locate the cause of the trouble - the gas had exploded at the gas house, completely demolishing the buildings. Large plate glass windows were broken in business
393
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY
buildings on Phillips avenue, and windows in residences a quarter of a mile away met with the same fate, but among the many strange things resulting from this explosion none was more so than the breaking of every other window on the south side of the Commercial hotel. O. Barrett, who was passing over the Tenth street bridge near the west end, had some bones broken, and two young men who were driving near the works, were blown out of the carriage nearly fifty feet, and the horse and carriage thrown over the embankment. The report of the explosion was heard at Baltic, a distance of about fourteen miles. Although the damages were large, the company with considerable enterprise continued to supply gas after a delay of about two days, and the works were at once rebuilt. At half past five o'clock in the afternoon, January 4, 1883, there was another ex- plosion at the gas works. This time the damage was not so serious as in October, but the force of the explosion was sufficient to unroof the building and throw down the walls, and other buildings in the vicinity were perceptibly shaken. This explosion was caused by the escape of gas from the purifier. The manufacture of water gas had been discontinued after the October explosion, so that it could not be attributed to this gas, against which a strong prejudice had grown up in Sioux Falls. In May, 1888, a sale of the works was made to outside parties, and the company reorganized under the name of Sioux Falls Gas Light Company; the former owners still retaining a large interest. Since that time to the present writing Geo. H. Brace has been president of the company, and the gas fur- nished has been satisfactory to its patrons, although they occasion- ally exercise their inalienable rights to accuse the company of charg- ing too much for the gas. But the history of the gas works in Sioux Falls would not be complete without recording the third explosion which occurred at 11:45 o'clock in the forenoon, January 28, 1897. The explosion took place in the purifying building, and unlike its predecessors the report of the explosion was heard only for a short distance, and the damage was confined to the apparatus and building were the gas was manufactured. This building was constructed of brick with a slate roof heavily trussed, but it was completely demol- ished. The loss of the company amounted to several thousand dol- lars, but as on former occasions, the works were immediately rebuilt.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS .- An electric light plant was started in the city of Sioux Falls by several gentlemen of that place, prominent among them were Charles E. Mckinney, D. L. Mckinney and John McClellan. The capital stock of the association was $75,000. The arc light was first started in the summer of 1884, and the Edison in- candescent light was added in 1887 after the plant had been pur- chased by the Cascade Milling Co. This company erected a stone building 50 by 60 feet south of the Cascade mill to be used exclu- sively for the generation of electricity. Starting with only about 400 lights it now has over 5,000, and is one of the most perfect electric light manufactories in the Northwest, not only lighting the streets in the city, but also furnishing power to manufacturing establish- ments.
TELEGRAPH .- The Northwestern Telegraph Company, a Wis-
394
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
consin organization, built the first telegraph line to Sioux Falls during the fall of 1876, and in November of that year opened its office in the land office building located on the southwest corner of Phillips avenue and Tenth street. E. W. Coughran was the first telegraph operator, and remained in charge of the office nearly five years. E. J. Mannix succeeded him and remained in charge until 1890. During the first few months under Mr. Mannix's charge the business of the office was carried on at the Milwaukee and Omaha depots and in the Ger- man bank building opposite the first location of the office, but for the last fifteen years, although the location of the office has been changed frequently, it has never been more than a half a block from the Cat- aract corner. There was only one operator in the office until 1883, except for a few months while the Queen Bee mill was running. At the time Mr. Mannix left the employ of the company he had five assistants including the messenger boys. The city of Sioux Falls now has ten wires, and the local office has been under the efficient management of J. M. O'Neill since September, 1890.
TELEPHONE .- In March, 1882, the Northwestern Telephone Exchange Company was organized with a capital of ten thousand dollars, with a view of establishing a telephone system in Sioux Falls. The instruments arrived the September following, and soon after a telephone system in the city was an accomplished fact. In July, 1883, this company transferred its property to the Erie Telegraph and Telephone Co., a New York corporation. There was quite a war be- tween this company and the city authorities during that year, an account of which will be found in the chapter devoted to the incor- poration of the city of Sioux Falls. It was only a short time before the property was transferred to the Northwestern Telephone Ex- change Co., and under its managment the system in Sioux Falls has been greatly improved, During the spring of 1895 this company extended its line to Dell Rapids, and on the 21st day of June of that vear the first message was transmitted from Dell Rapids to Sioux Falls by George D. Sherman. then manager of the company at this point. In 1896, lines were extended by the same company from Sioux Falls to Valley Springs, Hartford, Humboldt, Montrose, Salem, Canton, Worthing, Lennox and Parker. The system was completed to Brandon and Valley Springs during the first week in October, 1896, and to the other towns above named, on the 12th day of the same month. On the 3d day of March, 1897, the long distance telephone service of this company was completed, and Sioux Falls for the first time was placed in telephone connection with St. Paul, Minneapolis, Winona, La Crosse, Fargo and Grand Forks. The event was made memorable by an entertainment given by the company to the people of Sioux Falls, at which time they enjoyed the novelty of listening to music furnished by orchestras in Minneapolis, Winona and Fargo. In the fall of 1897, this company, having pur- chased the Iowa Telephone Company's line connecting Elk Point and Vermillion with Sioux City, extended its line from Canton to Sioux City, and from Vermillion to Yankton, and in September, 1898, ex- tended the line from Yankton to Parker.
During the summer of 1898, it remodeled its system, making
395
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
material improvements, putting in tall poles in the city of Sioux Falls, with one mile of 100-wire aerial cable, and during the fall the line of this company was extended, taking in Egan, Flandreau, Cole- man and Madison. It has at this writing (July, 1899,) about four hundred subscribers in the city of Sioux Falls, and is engaged in making extensive improvements. C. W. Rees is manager.
CIGAR MANUFACTURING .- D. J. Fischer commenced the manufac- ture of cigars in Sioux Falls in June, 1879, and continued in the business about one year. In September of that year F. F. Angel & Son started a cigar factory on Phillips avenue, and in August, 1880, Henry Pontz came to Sioux Falls and engaged in the same business. Since that time large quantities of cigars, for the size of the place, have been manufactured in Sioux Falls, amounting in 1885, to seven hundred thousand, and in 1892, to one million five hundred thousand cigars. The largest business in this line was done by Wuest Brothers-Victor J. and Theodore C .- This firm commenced the manufacture of cigars in August, 1883, in a small way, but as it pros- pered the business was enlarged, and for several years it employed a large force in its factory. May 1, 1896, the plant was removed to Chicago. At the present writing there are quite a number of per- sons in Sioux Falls engaged in manufacturing cigars, where trade in this line is undoubtedly larger than in any other city in the state. The Greenleaf Cigar Co. heads the list of cigar manufacturers in the city at the present time.
STONE INDUSTRY .- The only stone in Minnehaha county of any commercial value is the Sioux quartzite. State Geologist J. E. Todd in his preliminary report in 1894, says of it in substance, that it consists almost entirely of an intensely hard and compact quartzite, and occurs in strata nearly horizontal, and is cut into blocks by ver- tical joints from six inches to several feet apart, crossing one an- other nearly at right angles; that the occurrence of it in cliffs from fifty to sixty feet in height, may be seen at Palisade and Dell Rapids, and in broad and level areas at Sioux Falls; that it varies greatly in color, and in hardness from a rock harder than steel to beds easily excavated with a spade or pick. In the opinion of Mr. Todd, this stone in this county may reach a depth of 1,500 feet. So much for a description of the stone of which there is an inexhaustible supply in the city and its immediate vicinity.
From the first settlement of Sioux Falls until the present time, it has been used more or less for building purposes. The Dubuque House, already noticed, was constructed of this stone in the rough, in a rough way, but that structure tumbled down long ago. The Queen Bee mill is constructed of this stone, but it was erected by workmen who were masters of their trade, and it stands to-day with- out any appreciable signs of decay. But it was not until about fifteen years ago that the valuable properties of this stone began to be ap- preciated, especially its commercial value. J. H. Drake opened the Monarch quarry in the city on the east side of the river, and another quarry was opened about two miles southeast of the city, followed by the opening of quarries at Dell Rapids and East Sioux Falls. It was not known until about this time that it could be easily manufactured
396
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
into paving blocks, and the methods now in use in preparing it for building purposes were in a crude state. But paving blocks were manufactured and shipped to Omaha and other cities, and were found to be all that could be desired for the paving of streets upon which there is a large amount of traffic. In 1888, when the question of pav- ing Phillips avenue in Sioux Falls came before the city council, the material to be used was thoroughly discussed, and although its first cost would undoubtedly be greater than other materials in common use for paving, still, the well known durability of this stone, and the fact that it would be a lasting advertisement of its admirable quali- ties for such purposes, brought the members of the council to a unanimous vote for its adoption.
For several years quite an effort was made to attract the atten- tion of contractors and builders, and others engaged in public im- provements, to the properties of this stone and it resulted in quite extensive shipments from this city, Dell Rapids, and East Sioux Falls. Some fine public buildings were erected in Chicago and other cities of this material. The manufacture of paving blocks was also quite extensively engaged in at the points enumerated above, but the hard times lessened the demand, and the quarries, so active for awhile, have for the last few years been comparatively idle. It is a dinner-pail-brigade industry, and now that prosperity has returned, it requires only an organized well directed effort to bring this inex- haustible source of wealth into the channels of commerce.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.