USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume I > Part 39
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Milwaukee's possibilities, it was realized, must be found in the industrial rather than in the commercial field. One factory employing 100 men will be worth more than ten new retail stores. Industrial productivity precedes commercial activity.
Association Purpose and Mission. The primary purpose of the Milwan- kee Association of Commerce has been to round out and bring to the highest stage of development the possibilities of the city. These possibilities were studied and analyzed and the prospective growth and development of the commercial and industrial interests summarized ;
First : That there are great possibilities. The natural advantage as well as a favorable location are there. The capital, brains and energy essential to further commercial development may be found.
Second: That it is necessary to develop a clear vision as to future pros- peets, a proper comprehension of the means at command and the application of that enterprise which must lie behind every bold and determined effort.
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THE MILWAUKEE ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE
The business men realized that an organization, representative in char- acter, infused with enthusiasm and a broad progressive spirit, free from selfish motives, safely guided, and amply finaneed, with a helpful public press and a wholesome publie sentiment to cheer it on, can become a dominating and beneficent force in the community.
The self-assertive spirit which served to found every industrial and com- mereial enterprise in Milwaukee and maintained it successfully also found an enlarged expression in new and renewed efforts. The association realized that there was ample room for enlargement, for new factories, new firms, new connections and an extension of trade into both old and new territory.
It has also realized that the country is expanding its productivity along agricultural lines at an enormous rate, and that with this expansion comes the increased demand for manufactured products if proper propaganda for such prodnet is made. Thus Milwaukee could continue to grow numerically, commercially and industrially : in educational and civie strength ; in social and moral advancement.
W. G. B.
Corner of Wisconsin and Milwaukee streets
THE OLD MILWAUKEE POST OFFICE
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CHAPTER XXVI
THE MILWAUKEE POST OFFICE
The first postmaster at Milwaukee was Solomon Juneau, who began his term of service early in the summer of 1835. His commission was signed by President Andrew Jackson. The post office was opened in charge of AAlbert Fowler in a building situated at the corner of Wisconsin and East Water streets. This building had been occupied by Mr. Fowler as a real estate offic .. The rates of postage ranged from 6 cents to 25 cents on each letter, arcord- ing to the distance traveled and its bulk. There were no envelopes or postage stamps in use at that time. The mail arrived once a month at first, but soon a contract was let and mail came after that from Chicago once each week and from other points whenever convenient.
Mr. Juneau continued in office until 1843 when he was succeeded by Josiah A. Noonan. The change in postmasters in the latter year occasioned much dissatisfaction among the residents of the village, as Mr. Juneau was ex- credingly popular and Mr. Noonan was not approved generally by the spokes- men for public opinion. However, Noonan was retained as postmaster until 1849 when he was succeeded by Elisha Starr. In 1851, John H. Tweedy held the office during a portion of that year in succession to Mr. Starr. James D). Merrill became postmaster and held the office from 1851 to 1853. and was succeeded by Josiah A. Noonan in the latter year notwithstanding his unpopularity during his former term.
In the spring of 1857, John R. Sharpstein was appointed postmaster and held the office for a little more than a year, when Mitchell Steever received the appointment and continued as postmaster until 1861. He was succeeded by John Lockwood who remained in office until the appointment of his sue- cessor, C. K. Wells, in 1864. Wells was succeeded by Henry A. Starr in 1868, who in turn was followed by Samuel (. West in 1870.
Henry C. Payne received the appointment after the expiration of West's term, namely, February 4, 1876, and was reappointed February 1, 1880. The mention of this name recalls the fact that Mr. Payne became postmaster- general in President Roosevelt's cabinet in 1901, and continued as such until 1904.
Those who followed Mr. Payne as postmaster were George H. Paul, Wins- low A. Nowell. George W. Porth, E. R. Stillman, David C. Owen and Frank B. Schutz, the present incumbent of the office.
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HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
Post Office Locations .- The first location of the post office in 1835 was as mentioned above at the corner of East Water and Wisconsin streets. It was soon after removed to Mr. JJunean's store on the opposite corner of the same streets. Somewhat later Mr. Juneau erected a building for a post office on the north side of Wisconsin Street. When Mr. Noonan became postmaster in 1843, the post office was removed to the City hotel, afterwards to Tweedy's block and was again removed by J. D. Merrill when he was postmaster, to a building at the northwest corner of Mason and East Water streets.
Here it remained until 1860. A new building was constructed by the Gov- erment for a post office and enstom house at the northwest corner of Wis- consin and Milwaukee streets, which was completed and occupied Jannary 1, 1860. This structure resembled in its general outlines the building com- pleted in the same year for a similar purpose at Chicago which was destroyed in the great fire in that city. This building has long since disappeared in the march of improvements, and a splendid new building was constructed on the bloek bounded by Wisconsin, Jefferson. Jackson and Michigan streets.
A half century of steady growth of the city in population and commerce is demonstrated in the following postal receipts :
1870
90,437.75
1880
186,771.00
1890.
368.882.79
1900 666,863.51
1910 1,630.288.96
1920.
3.187.570.66
On January 1, 1922, Postmaster Frank B. Schutz reported the transactions of the post office for the previous year as follows :
"Approximately two hundred million pieces of mail matter of all classes were handled at the Milwaukee post office during the year 1921. This be- ing an increase of about fifteen million pieces over the previous year. Of this number 50,544,910 pieces were for local delivery. Machine cancellations muum- bered 94,158,100, an increase of 4,781,500 over the year 1920; 95,919 pouches of first class mail were dispatched during the year 1921; 1.440,589 sacks, con- taining second, third and fourth class matter, were dispatched, an increase of 464,207 saeks over the previous year. Of this number about 705,000 saeks were made up for dispatch at the Milwaukee terminal and 17,996 sacks con- tained circular mail : 10,049,208 pounds of newspapers, magazines, and other second elass publications were mailed, an increase of 238,767 pounds; for which $195,753.78 in postage was paid, an increase of $22.183.06 over the year 1920.
"Directory Section .- One million, one hundred thirty-six thousand. oue hundred and seventy-eight letters received withont street address, or bear- ing incorrect address, were given directory service during this year. This is an increase of nearly two hundred thousand over the year 1920, and shows an increasing tendency to 'let Unele Sam do it.' when it comes to supplying
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THE MILWAUKEE POST OFFICE
addresses. As a result of bad addressing, a total of 73,480 letters were sent to the dead letter offiee, in comparison with 58,085 in 1920. Over four hun- dred parcels and pieces of third elass matter, of obvious value, were given directory service daily, on account of deficiencies of address.
"It is not generally understood that if the sender will place the words 're- turn postage guaranteed' on third and fourth class matter it will be returned promptly if undeliverable, and return postage collected on delivery to the sender.
"The government-owned motor vehicle service, operating on a twenty- four hour schedule, transported an average of 3,235 tons of mail per month during the last year.
"The fleet has, in the course of the year, been augmented by four trucks of one ton capacity and now consists of twenty-eight three-eighths ton; fif- teen one ton, and five one and one-half ton trueks. Five hundred and sixty thousand miles were covered in 1921 in the transportation of depot and sta- tion mails, the collection from 850 street letter boxes and parcel post de- liveries throughout the city.
"All chauffeurs assigned to transport registered pouches carry forty-five ealiber firearms as a means of affording the necessary protection while the mails are in their eustody.
"The fleet is housed at the post office garage, corner Huron and Milwau- kee streets, and a foree of mechanics, garagemen and dispatchers is engaged day and night to enable proper maintenance of this service. All repairs are made there and every truck is repainted and finished by the garage force each year. The long standing mail blue body with the white panels and vermillion chassis color scheme, has this year been discarded and the more serviceable olive drab body with black chassis is now the standard color.
"Special Delivery Section .- The following is a comparative report of total pieces of special delivery matter delivered during the last year, which shows an increase of about two per cent over the previous year :
Special delivery matter delivered during the year of 1921. . 526,518 Special delivery matter delivered during the year of 1920. . 514,718
Increase. 11,800
"We now employ thirty-six well trained messengers, thirty-one of whom are equipped with motoreyeles, three with autos and two with bicycles.
"Three hundred and twenty-eight carriers are employed in making de- livery and collection. Two hundred ninety-nine are assigned to delivery and twenty-nine in making collection from 850 street letter boxes. Twelve addi- tional carriers were added to the delivery force during the year. This in- crease was made necessary by the large number of new residences erected, and delivery service limits being extended.
"There was a twenty-seven per cent increase in the receipt of parcel post and second class matter for local delivery over the year 1920. Vol. I-27
POST OFFICE AND WISCONSIN STREET
FIFIFIFIFI
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THE MILWAUKEE POST OFFICE
"Registry Section .- Comparative report for the years 1920 and 1921 on registered, insured and collect on delivery artieles handled :
Domestic letters and parcels. 335,394
Foreign letters and parcels. 111,437
Total pieces registered. 446,831
Inerease over 1920 25,081
Articles received for local delivery, 449,537; increase of 55,380 over 1920. Articles received in transit, 287,180.
Artieles dispatched, 539,487; increase of 10,446 over 1920.
Total pieces insured, 642,107, an increase of 115,671 over 1920.
Total C. O. D. parcels mailed, 200,836, an increase of 56,932 over 1920.
1921. 1920. office $1,374,670.28 $1,063,342.24
Amount to be collected on parcels mailed at this
Number of parcels received from other post offices
for delivery 51,957 32,258
Amount collected and remitted to the senders. $ 400,615.81 $ 354,713.16
"The registration of mail matter is growing greater each year on account of the special safeguards provided for the transmission of money, securities, jewelry and other valuable mail to domestic and foreign destinations. For the registration fee of 10 cents the department pays a limited indemnity in case of loss. A receipt is given to the sender for each article registered. In addition to this the sender may secure a receipt showing delivery of the ar- tiele if the envelope or wrapper is marked, 'Return receipt desired.
"Inquiry Section .- Within the last year the personnel of the inquiry see- tion was increased from five to nine. Since December 15, 1920, all claims on insured and C. O. D. parcels were investigated and paid through the in- quiry section of the Milwaukee post office, originating at this office and all third and fourth elass offices throughout the state. This resulted in a con- siderable saving of time in the settlement of these claims, which formerly were paid through the office of the third assistant postmaster general, Washington, D. C. Twenty-one hundred claims on insured and C. O. D. parcels, amounting to $15,673.73 were paid during the year 1921. Claim eases and investigations handled : In 1920, 10,500; in 1921, 15,109. Articles found loose in the mails : In 1920, 3,000; in 1921, 2,642.
Clerks 379
Carriers ( Del. 303, Col. 25) 328
Laborers 20
Chauffeurs, mechanies and elerks in motor vehicles service. . 79 Clerks in charge, sub-stations 100
Total 906
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HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
"Following is a comparative statement of postal business at the Milwau- kee post office during the year ending December 1, 1921 :
"Gross receipts for 1921 were $3,379,062.08, compared with $3.182,203.05, an increase of $196,859.03 or six per cent.
Receipts.
1921.
Stamps
1920. $2,869,112.81
$3.023.968.12
Envelope excess
166.48
150.48
Seeond class matter
175,464.17
195,753.78
Third and fourth class matter
128,996.80
150,161.62
Waste paper
1,581.39
1.442.43
Box rents
6.881.40
7.585.65
$3,182.203.05
$3,379,062.08
From Wisconsin post offices
2.046,308.28
1,771,719.56
Stamps sold to distriet post offices
1,480,148.88
1,637,910.39
Total.
$6,708,660.21
$6.788.692.03
Disbursements.
Rural delivery service
$3.056,813.89
$3.176,072.61
Clerk hire
615,654.14
660.881.61
City delivery service.
574,507.27
624,821.41
Motor service
91,568.85
94.044.41
Special delivery service
40,714.64
41,084.24
Total.
$4,379,258.79
$4,596,904.28
Money Order Business.
1920. 1921.
M. O.s (domestic ) issued :
1
Number
404,501
410.300
Amount . $ 4.715,166.45 $ 4,318,944.88
M. O.s (domestic) paid :
Number 757,563 817,497
Amount $ 6.847.489.41
$ 6,898,561.17
Money order Funds from Wisconsin post offices $11,147,085.44 $10,214,741.23
"The postal savings bank elosed the year 1921 with a balance on deposit of $1,051,741.00."
CHAPTER XXVII
THE MILWAUKEE AUDITORIUM
The Auditorium may be justly designated as the model structure of its kind in the United States. This faet alone would entitle it to fulsome atten- tion here. But, it deserves extended consideration also because it performs an important function in the civic and social life of the community, and be- eanse of the peculiar features which attend its creation and its administration.
There is no other similar structure which is at once publicly and privately owned, possesses in larger degree the utilitarian features of that sort of an enterprise, and has proven itself a greater success. It is not in any sense a money making enterprise, but fortunately it has escaped the financial embar- rassments which attend large buildings of this character.
The desire to capture and house the great national political conventions prompted a number of enterprising American eities some years ago to ereet huge convention halls which these cities have not been able to maintain on a self-sustaining basis. This has been mainly due to the fact that the eom- minities have not had a sufficient member of large functions during the year to keep these monster structures profitably employed.
The Milwaukee Auditorium has been on a self-sustaining basis from the day it was opened. Besides, it has been able, out of its earnings, to make improvements and to enlarge its equipment, and these have from year to year increased its services to the public. This has been due to the fact that, in addition to the main Auditorium, the building is provided with a series of smaller halls which are in constant service for a great variety of functions.
The several halls and entrances are so arranged that various functions may be carried on simultaneously without disturbing each other. Thus it has happened that six or seven different functions, such as publie meetings, expositions, lectures, dinners, danees and other civic, social or educational affairs were conducted at one and the same hour under one roof without the slightest interference to each other.
Some of the leading opera singers and musical artists have appeared at the Auditorium and pronounced the acousties excellent. The main arena, too, has proven its utility for winter cireuses, athletic sports and industrial shows.
How the Project Was Realized .- The movement to provide the city with a commodious anditorium building received its first inception on July 28, 1903, when the Merchants and Manufacturers Association appointed a com- mittee of business men to consider the subject in all its phases and advise upon
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THE SOLDIERS' HOME FAIR BUILDING, ERECTED IN 1865
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THE MILWAUKEE AUDITORIUM
a suitable course of action. The old Exposition building was destroyed by fire on Sunday afternoon, June 4, 1905, nearly two years later.
While the desirability of a suitable convention hall was generally rec- ognized the actual necessity for such a new structure became more pressing with the passing of the old Exposition building. It awakened the public mind to the fact that the city was without any building in which could be housed any gatherings of an unusual size. The theatres, some of which had a large seating capacity, were not always obtainable for functions of a publie character. It also prompted publie-spirited men to recognize the movement already begun, and to respond to the call for cooperation and support.
The conditions which confronted the so-called Committee on Convention Hall were somewhat complicated. A portion of the site ocenpied by the Ex- posit on building had originally been deeded to the city by Byron Kilbourn, an early pioneer, upon the condition that the same be used for market pur- poses. The balance of the site belonged to the city. The Exposition building had been erected by private subscription and had been condueted without profit and in the interest of the community as a whole.
The condition provided for in the original deed gave rise to some appre- hension as to the use of the site for the purposes in hand. The first step, therefore, taken by the committee was to establish the legal status of the site question. Here it was found that the city could not be dispossessed of the site providing it was used for publie purposes.
The question of erecting a suitable convention ball, or series of convention halls, that would accommodate large as well as smaller gatherings involving an expense of nearly half a million dollars was serionsly debated. It was not likely that such a sinn could readily be raised by private subseription nor was it deemed probable that the municipality would furnish the needed money.
The solution, it was believed, could be found in some arrangement by which the municipality and the public could join hands in providing the necessary means. A measure was framed under the direction of the com- mittee, and enacted into law by the Legislature in the month of June, 1905. which authorized "cities of the first class to provide for the erection and maintenance of anditoriums and music halls by cooperating with private as- sociations or corporations."
It was resolved to raise the sum of $250,000 by private subscription and ask the municipality to vote an equal sum, thus providing a total building fund of $500,000. A campaign committee consisting of twenty active citizens was chosen to seenre the subscription fund which was completed by the fall of 1906. The bond issue, providing for the city's portion of the fund, was voted and the common council perfected the jointure with the Milwaukee Auditorium Company which had been organized in the meantime and which represented the citizens who had subscribed to the private fund. Subsequently the city council voted $25,000 more and a like sum was subscribed by the citizens, thus making a total investment in the building of $550,000.
The fact that the city was the owner of the site bounded by Cedar, State, Fifth and Sixth streets, proved most fortunate in that it obviated an invest-
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THE MILWAUKEE AUDITORIUM
Erected 1908. Total seating capacity, 13,520. Total exhibit space, 104,952 square feet
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THE MILWAUKEE AUDITORIUM
ment of a sum of money which would have been even greater than that re- quired for the building.
Legal Complications .- Few enterprises of a public character have been sub- jected to greater annoyances and difficulties than the Auditorium project, notwithstanding the fact that the same enjoyed the ardent support of the gen- eral public.
The men who were first to consider the feasibility of replacing the old Exposition building with a modern convention hall were well aware of the doubts which existed as to the title of the land upon which the old structure rested. They proceeded, therefore, with care and circumspection, and not until the best legal minds in the city had determined that the municipality was in complete legal possession of the premises in question, were steps taken to provide a new building.
In deeding a certain parcel of land to the municipality, the late Byron Kilbourn, an early pioneer, stipulated that the same must be used for market purposes. To what extent these stipulations were valid proved a subject of serious consideration.
It was found that the heirs of Byron Kilbourn had brought suit against the city soon after the completion of the old Exposition building for having violated the terms of the deed. This document provided that the city must maintain a publie market as a part of the building. Any failure to comply .with this condition would cause the title of the land to revert back to the heirs. The suit finally found its way into the Supreme Court, but that body failed to act because the building had been erected, was in use and served partially at least for market purposes.
It was found that the Exposition grounds were owned by the city in the manner as follows: The piece of land bounded north by State Street, east by Fifth Street, south by Cedar Street, and west by 14 Section line, being the east half of the square, was donated to the city, conditioned that the city may erect a market house thereon, and that no buildings be erected in the space in front of Block 52; Block 165, which is the west half of the square, was purchased by the city in 1880, for the sum of $54,339. The estimated value by the city authorities in the city records of the two traets was in 1900 $52,000 for the east half, and $64,000 for the west half.
In October, 1835, Byron Kilbourn dedicated by plat a part of the locus in quo, and particularly that part which upon the plat at that time was marked "the four vacant spaces marked Public," conditioned that the said spaces be left vacant as publie grounds, and that no buildings be ever erected thereon by anybody, corporate or public, except in the case of the town being in- corporated, and that then the town authorities may ereet a market house on either of the spaces laying in front of Blocks 36, 52 or 76, but no buildings should be erected in the space in front of Block 52. At the time the plat was made, Milwaukee was not incorporated, either as a village or a city.
In 1867, certain residents erected a large building covering the south half of the square, and two years thereafter it began to be used as a publie market house, until 1880 or 1881, when the building was torn down. In 1875, a corporation was formed called the West Side Market Association, and the
426
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
city leased in that year to the corporation, all of the part dedicated by Kil- bourn, including the building, for five years, at a nominal rate.
In 1880, a number of Milwaukeeans formed a corporation with a capital stock of $150,000. called the Milwaukee Industrial Exposition Association, for the purpose of constructing and maintaining an Exposition Tor industrial and other purposes. The city leased to this association, the public square of ground west of Block 52, to be used only for industrial exposition and other purposes of public nature, as the directors of the association might see fit. for the term of fifty years. This was done under the authority of Chapter 461 of the Laws of 1885, which provided that "The City of Milwaukee is hereby authorized to lease the piece of ground (describing the piece in ques- tion) to any association, for the purpose of maintaining a building thereon. to be used for ammal industrial exposition or for public museum."
Subsequently, one of the Kilbourn heirs brought suit in ejeetment, but was defeated, the Supreme Court intimating that an adjoining lot owner might enforce the trust and compel the city to refrain from misappropriating the simmare for other purposes than for those dedicated.
The committee set abont to procure and did procure certain contracts of option from the Kilbourn heirs, with the intent of securing the options from all those that might be interested as heirs or abutting owners in the premises in question. Thereafter, and for the purpose of inquiring how the city's interests may be affected or promoted, the committee had various con -. sultations with the city authorities and the mayor, which resulted in the draw -. ing by Louis Bohmrich, of the bill, enacted into law by the Legislature. and known as Chapter 426 of the Laws of Wisconsin of 1905.
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