USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > Madison > A history of Madison, the capital of Wisconsin : including the Four Lake country : to July, 1874, with an appendix of notes on Dane County and its towns > Part 27
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appropriated proving insufficient-the amount of the lowest bid being $151,500 - the commissioners decided not to take any further steps in the matter, but to refer the same to the next legislature. The steam heating apparatus was put in the building during the year, at an expense of $25,000.
The Legislature, at the same session, passed an act approved April 11, for erecting one transverse and one longitudinal wing on the east side of the main building of the Hospital for the Insane. On the 19th of June proposals were received from contractors, and the contract was awarded to A. PROUDFIT for the mason work at $64,500, and ANDERSON, DAVIDSON & Co., carpenter work, $33,500, the whole amounting to $98,000.
Dr. A. H. VAN NORSTRAND succeeded Dr. J. P. CLEMENT as Superintendent, April 20, 1864, and discharged his duties until June 6, 1868, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Dr. A. S. McDILL, who served until April 29, 1873, and was succeeded by Dr. MARK RANNEY, the present Superintendent.
The entire length of the hospital building is 569 feet, the center building being 65 by 120- the first longitudinal wing 'on each side of the center is 132 feet, and the last, on each ex- tremity, is 119 feet. The transverse wings are 87 feet long. These elegant and commodious buildings are surrounded by ornamental grounds, wood and farming lands to the extent of 393 acres, and when the extensions and improvements contem- plated are added, will make it a complete institution, creditable to the enterprise and philanthropy of the people of Wisconsin, and well adapted for the care of the unfortunates needing their protection. The construction of the Madison and Baraboo Railroad, with a station in the northeast corner of the hospital farm, gives the institution a railroad connection, the absence of which has heretofore been a serious drawback to the locality.
From the annual report of the Board of Education for the year 1866, we have the following items: The whole number of children in the city of school age, 3,366. The present school accommodations are for 965 children; the building of the Fourth Ward School House, on lots 1 and 2, block 48, over- looking Lake Monona, was put under contract to JAS. LIVESEY
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for $12,130, and outbuildings, $500. This building was com- pleted during the year, and is built in the Italio-American style, 65 feet front by 422 deep with projections in front of 5 by 22 feet, and 7 by 22 in the rear. It is constructed of buff colored Edgerton brick, with magnesian limestone dressing with a gable or pediment on each four sides, and a bell tower in the center of the roof. It is heated by two furnaces in the basement. Hon. J. G. McMYNN, then State Super- intendent, pronounces it "the best arranged school build- ing in the State." The board propose to purchase lots 2 and 3, block 138, for the Second Ward School, and intend to com- mence immediately the erection of a school house modeled after the Fourth Ward School.
The Board of Regents of the University, in their report for the year 1866, say they have purchased the lands adjoining the University grounds, some 195 acres, which, with lands now be- longing to the institution, 40 and 73 acres, form one tract with an area of 235 acres. These lands were purchased for an experi- mental farm, and the funds obtained from the proceeds of bonds issued by Dane county to the amount of $40,000, to be devoted to this purchase. The Government of the United States having in 1862, donated to the State of Wisconsin 240,000 acres of land for the benefit of agriculture and mechanic arts, the in- come of a fund to be derived from the sale of these lands, was appropriated to the support of the University.
Hon. J. L. PICKARD was elected President of the University, which position was by him declined, and it was then tendered to Prof. P. A. CHADBOURNE, of Williams College, who also de- clined, but reconsidered his decision and entered upon his duties in 1867. The value of the University property reported, in- cluding the University grounds, agricultural college lands and University buildings was $466,709.18. The library contains 2,600 volumes.
On the 21st of May, 1866, a contract was made with J. H. UN- DERWOOD, for sinking an artesian well in the Capitol Park, near the building, with wrought iron tubing, eight inches ex- terior, and six inches wide; to be sunk five hundred feet. No
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water was obtained at that depth, and the work was continued to the depth of 1,026 feet, or more than 100 feet below the sea level, but without success. As will subsequently appear, the well was made serviceable and used to great advantage. Of this well Maj. H. A. TENNEY says: It very clearly revealed the existence of ancient and intense igneous action beneath, and proves that our primary is not only below all other local min- eral ranges, but is equally beneath the deepest borings in the gypsum and salt beds of Michigan and Illinois, the coal reg- ions, and the saline deposits of the great plains, and it is more than suspected that it is the central focus of all the deep drain- age of this portion of the Continent.
The celebration of the 90th National Anniversary was a. great success. One newspaper says: "No celebration ever' passed off more satisfactorily or more creditably to all con- cerned." The stores on the main streets were gaily decorated with banners and flags, and at least 20,000 persons were pres- ent; 700 came from Janesville; a train of 12 cars, with 700 or or 800 from Beloit and way stations. Some 3,000 are presumed to have come by the cars. The procession was very large, one a procession of battle flags, one hundred and forty in number, borne by those who had served under them; a procession of Soldiers' Orphans, Engine Companies, etc. Gen. LYSANDER CUTLER was Chief Marshal, and Gen CASSIUS FAIRCHILD, Mar- shal of the Day. The officers of the day were: Hon. L. S. DIXON, President; Vice Presidents from Dane county towns; Rev. J. L. MAXWELL and Prof. J. D. BUTLER, Chaplains; J. E. MURDOCK, Reader, and Hon. LEVI HUBBELL, Orator. A pre- sentation of the flags to the State was made with address by Col. W. P. LYON, and reply by Gov. FAIRCHILD. The exercises were interspersed with readings by Mr. MURDOCK and singing. by the soldiers' orphans.
The city assessor in July, published a statement of the taxes of the city - the whole amount, city, state and county, to be collected is $57,760. The total valuation of property, $2,799,686, a percentage of about two per cent. against two and thirty hundredths last year.
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The success of Capt. BARNES' little steamer the Scut, induced the owner to build a new one, 50 feet long and 11} wide, cap- able of carrying 15 tons and 80 persons. The boat was made at Whitewater, was launched on lake Monona, April 17, and did a large and lucrative business. The Captain, with his usual foresight, purchased Squaw Point, Lake Monona, and gave it the name of " Winnequah," built a large dance room, with re- refreshment rooms, a fine bowling alley, and fittted up the grounds with swings, etc., making it one of the pleasantest spots around Madison for pic-nics.
Messrs. YOUNG & BRO., built this year on the vacant lot ad- joining the one they owned, a block of two stores, 80 feet long and 40 feet wide, of cream colored brick, three stories high, the third story used as a Masonic Hall.
The Lake Side Water Cure, on the opposite side of Lake Monona, was, in June, remodeled and prepared for a public house. It was advertised as capable of accommodating 120 guests. The building is four stories, and has all the conveni- ences of a first class hotel. B. FRODSHAM, Esq., was the lessee. It soon became known for the beauty of its location, and was and is a favorite resort for summer visitors from St. Louis and other localities.
On the 4th of November, St. Raphael's Church was conse- crated with the imposing ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church. The Rt. Rev. Bishop HENNI performed the service, and a sermon was delivered by Father RIORDAN. The large building was filled to its capacity, over 1,000 persons being present. The Bishop administered the rite of confirmation to 250 persons.
One of the prominent city improvements, this year, was the erection of the RASDALL House on King street. It is a large and handsome building, 85 by 75 feet, four stories high, and basement, with 72 rooms, and a dining room 58 by 25 feet, large rooms for parlor, reading room, saloon, etc.
ANDREW KENTZLER completed his large brick stable, one of the finest in the State, built of Edgerton brick, and is 74 feet by 66 feet, two stories, which, with the old building connected
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with it, makes a building 66 by 132 feet - occupying the whole lot.
L. D. STONE erected a large and elegant dwelling house In the Fourth ward, below the depot of the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. N. W. DEAN, stone barn, 33 by 80 feet, in rear of the American Hotel; German Catholic Church, on Johnson street, near State street; B. W. Suckow's brick dwelling house; SORENSON & FREDRICKSON, stone planing mill and sash and blind manufactory; and framed dwelling houses erected by S. HEGAN, C. HEINRICHS, J. Y. SMITH (double), W. J. SULLIVAN, W. DAVIDSON, W. DEARDS, Mr. McGOVERN, and others.
In December, the first steam fire engine was received, and tried on the shore of Lake Monona, with one thousand feet of hose. Steam power was used five minutes after the fire was made. The engine was a success every way.
An act of the Legislature, approved April 11, 1867, author- izing the Building Commissioners to provide, by contract, for the building of the rotunda of the State Capitol, and roofing the same, to be completed by Dec. 1 of that year, and $85,000 appropriated for that purpose. On the 18th of May, the bids that were offered were opened, and the contract awarded to WM. GOODENOW, for the sum of $83,636.
The Governor, in his message to the Legislature, January 9, 1868, recommends an appropriation for the construction of the Dome. In the message, he states, "that the artesian well in the park has been sunk to the depth of 980 feet, but, up to that date, had not proved a success - that the completion of the present contract will leave the well 1,000 feet deep. There had been expended upon it $8,622.70.
In February, of 1867, Rev. CHAS. H. RICHARDS was called from Kokomo, Ind., to become pastor of the Congregational Church, and, on the 10th of March, entered upon his work, in which he still continues. From the Church Manual, published in 1869, it appears that the church has a membership of 226; an admirably manned Sunday School of about 400 members, with an average attendance of 260 since the year opened; a Ladies' Benevolent Society, worked actively for the poor ; and
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Ladies' Missionary Society, which raises about $300 for the support of a female missionary in India.
On the 23d January. Hon, A. VAN WYCK delivered an ad- dress before the State Historical Society, at the Assembly Hall - the first annual address since the society occupied their rooms in the Capitol.
At the spring election for city officers, held in April, ALDEN S. SANBORN* and JAS. K. PROUDFIT were the opposing candi- dates for Mayor. The former received 856 votes, and the latter 608; Mr. SANBORN being elected by 248 majority. For City Treasurer, WM. HELMS received 579 votes, and GEO. MEMHARD, 895, and was elected by 316 majority. The Aldermen elected were: 1st ward, ROBERT NICHOLS and SAM. ENGEL; 2d ward, A. R. JONES and M. T. BAILEY; 3d ward, M. CHRISTOPHERS and P. B. KISSAM; 4th ward, H. N. MOULTON and SIMON FOREN.
The Grace Church (Episcopal) received, in April, their new pipe organ, which was the first of the kind introduced in the city churches. It has 680 pipes and 20 registers.
The new steamer, "The City of Madison," was completed and placed on Lake Mendota May 15. It has two engines, 6} horse power each, and boiler capable of running a 20-horse power engine; is 56 feet long, 13 feet beam, 18 feet across the paddle boxes, with a cabin 16 feet by 12. It was built by E. & W. HENDRICKS, and very strongly constructed, and is de- signed to run to the Hospital for the Insane, Picnic Point, and other places on the lake. This was the first steamer built for this lake.
The Celebration on July 4 was observed in the usual manner,
* Hon. Alden S. Sanborn was born in the town of Corinth, Orange county, Vt., Oct. 21, 1820; was educated at academies in New England and New York; is by profession an attorney. He came to Wisconsin in 1846, and settled at Milwaukee; was Treasurer of Milwaukee county in 1849; District Attorney of Brown county in 1851 and 1852, and of Outa- gamie county in 1853 and 1854; was member of Assembly for the Third District of Dane county in 1862, 1863 and 1864, and for the Fifth District in 1870; was Mayor of Madison in 1867, and City Attorney in 1869.
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with a large gathering of people from the country. J. C. GREGORY, President; Rev. J. C. C. CLARKE, Chaplain; Prof. B. M. REYNOLDS, Reader; J. M. BULL, Poet; Capt. A. R. McDON- ALD, Marshal; Hon. H. S. ORTON, Orator. The address of the latter was highly spoken of.
From a published account of the sales of merchants of Madi- son, as reported to the Assessor of Internal Revenue for the year ending April 30, 1867, whose sales exceeded $30,000, we extract the following: S. KLAUBER & Co., dry goods, etc., $275,000; S. L. SHELDON & Co., agricultural implements, $250,000; M. E. FULLER & Co., same, $191,500; J. LENZ & Co., (10 months,) $154,000; DUNNING & SUMNER, .drugs and gro- ceries, $105,000; A. FINDLAY, same, $100,000; KLAUBER & OTT, groceries, $100,000; RAMSAY & CAMPBELL, hardware, $88,000; J. N. JONES, same, $70,250; E. W. SKINNER & Co., agricultural implements, etc., $77,500.
From the annual report of the Board of Education, for 1867, we have the following statistics, and also the improve- ments carried forward;
" The whole number of school children, 3,559; an increase of 193 since 1866; number enrolled during the year, 1,626. The following is a description of the Second Ward School House, which occupies, with its grounds, lots 2, 3 and south- west half of 4, in block 138:
" The grounds have a front of 165 feet on Gorham street, and a depth of about 265 feet to Lake Mendota, upon which it has a border of about 165 feet. This site, which contains one acre, is well supplied with native forest trees, and cost $1,650.
"The building is 61 feet front by 42 feet deep, with vestibule projection of five by twenty feet in front, and eleven by twen- ty-six feet in rear.
" The basement walls are of stone, laid upon a concrete foun- dation, composed of broken stone and cement - are eight feet high. The rooms are well lighted, and floored with brick laid in cement, upon concrete of gravel and cement, and afford am- ple room for furnaces and fuel, as well as play room for pupils in stormy weather.
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"The building above the basement is constructed of Edger- ton brick, with limestone trimmings. It is two stories high, with four gables, and a bell tower rising from the centre to the height of about 60 feet from the ground, in which is hung a 600 pound bell.
" There are four school rooms, each 26 by 34 feet, and 13 feet high, capable of furnishing seats for 64 to 72 pupils, with am -. ple wardroom closets.
" The exterior woodwork is painted and sanded. The inte- rior is grained to represent oak. The rooms are warmed by LITTLEFIELD's hot air furnaces, and are each furnished with two ventilating flues, with iron fan registers, which, with the con- veniences for opening windows from top and bottom, it is be- lieved will insure complete ventilation.
"A small room, 10 by 12 feet, on the second floor, may be used as a reception room, or for recitations, or as teachers' pri- vate room.
"The water from the roof of the whole building is conducted to a cistern under the basement of the rear vestibule, which has a capacity of about 250 barrels.
"The water closets, 18 by 26 feet, are in the rear of the rear vestibule, and so constructed as to form part of the building, and by means of the cistern the vaults can be frequently washed and the contents sluiced into a cesspool some 150 feet distant. A ventilating shaft, extending from the vaults to the top of the smoke-stack, affords an escape for gasses and foul air.
"The building was erected by contract with W. T. FISH, Esq., by whom the mason work was done; the carpenter work by Messrs. SORENSON & FREDERICKSON; the plastering by Messrs. E. SHARP & Co .; the tin work and heating apparatus by Messrs. LEWIS & ALLEN, and the painting by Messrs. POLLARD & NEL- SON. The whole work was under the general superintendence of L. P. DRAKE, Esq., and cost $16,000. The architect was G. P. RANDALL, of Chicago."
The United States Government having purchased the lots on the corner of Mifflin street and Wisconsin avenue, for a Court
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House and Post Office, the building known as the CATLIN dwelling house, was removed in July, having been sold to Judge E. WAKELEY, who had it taken apart and removed to Omaha, Nebraska. The first improvements on this corner were a log house put up by JOHN CATLIN, Esq., the first Postmaster, in 1838, and a two story framed building subsequently added to the front, facing the Capitol square. It was a fine building in its day, and, after Mr. CATLIN's removal, had many occupants, among others, N. B. VAN SLYKE, Esq., WM. A. MEARS and E. W. KEYES. To the elegant and costly structure erected on its site, we shall hereafter refer.
There was a number of important improvements made during the year. Among them a fine stone block on Wash- ington avenue by Dr. J. B. BOWEN, on the ground occupied by the Dane county store, the building on which was destroyed by fire the year previous. The buildings are sixty-six feet by sev- enty feet deep, and extend to the corner of Webster, and pre- pared for three stores. The new Lutheran church, corner of Washington avenue and West Canal street, a stone building thirty by fifty feet; SHARP & OAKLEY's brick front building adjoining the Methodist church on Pinckney street, twenty- three by thirty-four feet, two stories; DRAPER's meat market, corner of Miffin and Hamilton streets, brick, twenty-two by forty feet; W. J. SULLIVAN's extension to his block on Pinck- ney street; T. O'NEILL's Hotel near depot of Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, two story brick; GEO. FESS, stone barn in rear of his boarding house, thirty-five by thirty feet, two sto- ries brick, and a large number of framed dwelling houses; S. MILLS, two story brick store on Main street, near the old post- office.
A meeting was held on the 16th of August to organize an association, to be known as the " Wisconsin Academy of Arts and Sciences." Nothing however was done until the year 1870, when it was organized under a charter by act of legislature, ap- proved March 16 of that year.
The following statistics in part, in regard to the railroad business of Madison station during the year 1867, indicates
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something of the amount of business transacted. Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien Railroad: Total tonnage east, 16,495,610 lbs; west, 5,415,070 lbs; of this amount were 232,904 bushels wheat, and 386,500 lbs. dressed hogs sent east. Merchandise sent west, 2,143,200 lbs, and agricultural implements, 866,810. Chicago and Northwestern Railroad - sent east, 279,167 bush. wheat and 638,800 lbs dressed hogs.
In these statements are omitted minor details of shipments.
On the 12th September, 1867, the Rev. HENRY W. SPALD- ING, of Evansville, Ind., was invited by the Vestry to the charge of Grace church, and he entered upon the duties on the 10th of November following.
In the year 1868 the basement of the church building was floored, plastered, and put in complete order for Sunday school and evening services, at an expense of $1,874.49, and in the following year the old brick building erected in 1850, and lat- terly used as a chapel and Sunday school room, was taken down.
In 1868, the Governor of the State, in his message to the Legislature, January 14, 1869, states that the rotunda of the State Capitol is now completed, and that a contract was en- tered into in May, 1868, with C. S. RANKIN & Co., of Cincin- nati, Ohio, for the erection of the dome for the sum of $90,000, the work to be completed on or before December 1, 1869. He also states, that when the dome is finished, the capitol will have cost $528,315.60.
The following account of the internal arrangements of the State Capitol, is taken from the " Legislative Manual:"
" The present capitol exhibits an attractive outside appear- ance, and is generally admired. The stone for its construction was supplied from quarries near Prairie du Chien and Madison. The inside is handsomely finished, and contains complete con- veniences; although more are yet necessary. In the basement are the water closets; boiler room, from which the building re- ceives heat; carpenter shops; book room; the roost of the war eagles, " Old Abe " and "Andy " and some committee rooms. On the upper floor, the four passages of which are neatly laid
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with squares of blue and white flag, are the departments of the several state officers. In the north passage are the offices of the State Treasurer and School Land Commissioners; in the south passage the offices of the Superintendents of Public Property and of Public Instruction and the office of Attorney General; in the east passage the offices of the Governor and Secretary of State, and in the west passage those of the Adju- tant General, legislative clerks and State Agricultural Society, the last of which contains some fine specimens of minerals and other scientific curiosities. From the centre of these passages the rotunda and dome are seen to a great advantage. The sec- ond floor is reached by wide iron stairways, ascending from the south and north passages. This floor is diversely laid with red, yellow and black tiles, and in the centre a heavy iron ballus- trade marks the rotunda. In the east is the Senate Cham- ber; in the west, the Assembly Chamber; in the north, the Su- preme Court Rooms and State Library, and in the south, the choicely filled rooms of the State Historical Society. The first purchase of books for the State Library was made in 1837, and it has received additions since, which make it very complete and valuable. The Historical Society rooms, always attractive to visitors, present an array of books, pictures, sculpture and lit- erary and other curiosities which are not only interesting and suggestive to Badgers, but to residents of other states. In one of these rooms, the torn and pierced flags carried by Wisconsin regiments during the late war, are carefully preserved in a glass enclosure, and in another room is a rare collection of ani- mal, mineral and vegetable curiosities belonging to Mr. ISAAC LYON, father of Judge LYON, of the supreme court, and the greatest delight of this courteous gentleman is to give all visi- tors information concerning them.
" The collection in these rooms have for years past been re- garded as very creditable to the State, and to Hon. LYMAN C. DRAPER, the patient and persevering originator of them. Mr. D. S. DURRIE, the Librarian, has held that office since January 1, 1856, and has taken an active part in the management to the present time. Since the Chicago fire destroyed the histori-
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cal depository there, these collections can be recognized as the largest and most valuable in the Northwest.
" More iron stairways lead to the galleries and committee rooms of the chambers, and yet more, but narrower ones, lead to the store room where the arms and munitions of the state are kept and to the tholus; from which topmost elevation impressive downward view of the whole rotunda is obtained. The outside of the tholus affords convenience for enjoying an an exceedingly fine view of the city, lakes and surrounding country.
"The height of the Capitol from the basement to the gold gilt eagle on the top of the flag-staff is 225 feet and six inches, and exclusive of steps and porticos, the total length of the north and south wings is 228 feet, and of the east and west wings, 226 feet.
" Some impressive scenes have been witnessed in this Capitol during the war, when the legislature were acting on war meas- ures, and also when the veteran soldiers, on their return, were welcomed with song and feasting in the chambers.
" As characteristic of the vim and energy of the residents of Wisconsin, it must be stated that the Capitol building pro- gressed and heavy expenditures were made on it, while they were sharply pressed to raise their share of men and means for the war.
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