History of Linn County Iowa Part 69

"Dated December 31, 1890."

The franchise asked for by these stockholders was for twenty-five years.

Although the above application was warmly supported by the leading newspapers of Cedar Rapids, the city council refused the franchise so asked for, but instead on May 1, 1891, granted to the Thomson-Houston Electric Co. a franchise for fifty years, for lines covering substantially the same territory on the east side of the river as that served by the horse cars, and also for three miles of new lines on the west side of the river, to be afterwards located.

So these gentlemen who had put up their money to save the city of Cedar Rapids from non-resident owners.h.i.+p of transportation lines, found their purpose frustrated and with a fair prospect of losing their entire investment. Rather than suffer this, a majority decided to acquire this new franchise at the best price obtainable, and then go ahead with construction according to its terms. After this decision Mr. Ives and Mr. Magnus retired from the enterprise and took back their money.

Previously, during the negotiation for the franchise, Mr. S. C. Bever and Mr. U. C. Blake had sold out. On the organization of the new company to take over the Thomson-Houston franchise, Mrs. Frances R.

Greene, C. G. Greene and Geo. W. Bever sold their interests to the remaining stockholders.

Neither the Cedar Rapids and Marion Railway nor the Cedar Rapids Street Railway ever paid a dividend, so that all of the stockholders who had invested their money in these enterprises went out with entire loss of income, and most of them with considerable loss of princ.i.p.al.

J. P. Messer was superintendent from January 1, 1881, to February 22, 1883, when he resigned and was succeeded by Wm. Elsom, who remained superintendent until after the system had been changed into an electric railway.

CEDAR RAPIDS AND MARION CITY RAILWAY COMPANY

The Cedar Rapids and Marion City Railway Company was organized May 14, 1891, and immediately thereafter purchased the franchise for electric railways in Cedar Rapids recently granted to the Thomson-Houston Electric Co., and also took over all the rights, property and franchises of the Cedar Rapids and Marion Railway. A franchise for twenty-five years for an electric line from the terminal point in the city of Marion to the southwesterly city limits of Marion was granted to this company at about that time. The first officers were: Jas. L.

Bever, president; Walter D. Douglas, vice-president; Chas. H. Clark, treasurer; Glenn M. Averill, secretary.

Within a few months Jas. L. Bever and A. T. Averill sold out and retired from the enterprise. After the reorganization resulting from this change in owners.h.i.+p, the officers were: P. E. Hall, president; W.

D. Douglas, vice-president; Chas. H. Clark, treasurer; John S. Ely, secretary.

The stockholders were: Chas. H. Clark, Geo. B. Douglas, John S. Ely, J.

S. Cook, Walter D. Douglas, Henry V. Ferguson, and P. E. Hall, of Cedar Rapids, Horace Williams, of Clinton, Iowa, J. E. Ainsworth, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, now of Williamstown, Vt., David P. Kimball and L. C.

Kimball, of Boston, Ma.s.s., and J. Van Deventer, of Knoxville, Tenn.

No change of owners.h.i.+p except through division of estates of deceased stockholders has taken place up to the present time.

The work of construction and reconstruction was begun at once and vigorously pushed during the season of 1891.

All tracks were entirely new excepting from Sixteenth street to Marion.

Those across the First avenue bridge were laid with strap rails, nailed to the bridge plank. The balance of the double track with 58 pound girder rails. All other new lines with 45 pound "T" rail. The strap rail was taken off the bridge and girder rail subst.i.tuted a few years thereafter. The city lines on the east side of the river were open for business in November, 1891, the west side lines in December, 1891, and electric service begun to Marion in February, 1892.

The main line mileage of the road at this date, not counting spur and sidetracks is, within the city of Cedar Rapids 12.85 miles, of which 2.28 miles is double track. From the city limits at Kenwood to Marion, 2.80 miles; total 15.65 miles.

The Marion line above Twentieth street through to Marion has been entirely rebuilt with new rails, the grades cut down, the alignment changed, the track ballasted, a new steel and concrete bridge built over Indian creek; so as to make that portion of the road fully adequate for the business.

Within the last three years all of the girder rail tracks east of the river have been relaid with 60 and 80 pound "T" rails and the number of ties increased fifty per cent.

The service has been increased to once in fifteen minutes each way and extended to twelve o'clock at night on all the lines excepting the Marion line, where the service is once in twenty minutes during the day and up to 12:30 a. m.

The power plant first installed consisted of two 125 horsepower engines connected by belts to two 75 k. w. generators. It now consists of one 400 horsepower engine belted to a 300 k. w. generator, and one 750 horsepower engine directly connected to a 450 k. w. generator. The output of power is equalized by a storage battery of 272 cells. The boilers, smoke stack, switch board, condensers and all minor machinery have been correspondingly increased and improved.

[Ill.u.s.tration: U. B. CHURCH, LISBON Built 1855

FIRST U. B. CHURCH WEST OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER Built and Presented to Members at Lisbon in 1850 by Rev. Christian Hershey]

The car barn (originally a wooden iron-clad building 80140 feet) has been enlarged and new brick buildings erected with shop room for building car bodies and trucks, and making all necessary repairs to cars and electric equipment; so that the present storage shop and office buildings, with storage for lumber and ties, covers six full sized city lots. The company now builds its own car trucks and car bodies.

For the year 1892 (first year of operation of electric lines) the average number of employes was 81, and the total wages paid $37,610.12.

For the year 1908 the average number of employes was 143 and the annual wages $84,328.73.

William Elsom was superintendent from the organization of the company until June, 1892, when he resigned and was succeeded by F. L. Diserens, who still holds that position.

The present officers and directors are: P. E. Hall, president; Henry V.

Ferguson, vice-president and secretary; John S. Ely, treasurer.

The directors are P. E. Hall, John S. Ely, Henry V. Ferguson, George B.

Douglas, and Edward C. Clark, all of Cedar Rapids; Walter D. Douglas, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and David P. Kimball, of Boston, Ma.s.sachusetts.

THE COMMERCIAL CLUB

FROM THE SAt.u.r.dAY RECORD, JULY 10, 1909

The city of Cedar Rapids has had a number of commercial organizations, formed to advance the business interests of the community, in the sixty years of its existence, but all the earlier a.s.sociations were of a more or less informal character, and while they did good work as long as the enthusiasm lasted, the time came when each and every one pa.s.sed into history. It was not until 1897 that a permanent commercial club came into being and that organization, which is now known as the Cedar Rapids Commercial Club, has for the past twelve years played a most important part in the upbuilding of the city and the promotion of its best commercial and industrial interests.

The events leading up to the organization of the Commercial Club form an interesting story, and as the editor of _The Record_ was personally identified with them, he here takes the liberty of making the facts a matter of record.

In April, 1897, a meeting of the Fifth District Editorial a.s.sociation was held at Excelsior Springs, Mo., and as part of the entertainment, a delegation from the Commercial Club of Kansas City, escorted the members of the Editorial a.s.sociation from Excelsior Springs to Kansas City and devoted a day to showing them Kansas City from every point of view. The stock yards, the packing houses, the fire department, the newspaper offices, the parks were visited, a reception and luncheon were tendered at the Commercial Club rooms and a dinner was served at one of the leading hotels. Following the return of the party to Excelsior Springs, A. N. Palmer, president of the Cedar Rapids Business College and editor of the _American Penman_, and the editor of _The Record_ were discussing the splendid entertainment of the Kansas City boosters and what it meant to a city to have such a live organization; and it was then and there decided that Cedar Rapids ought to have such a club. The matter was talked over at length and the result was that as soon as possible after returning home, Mr. Palmer issued a letter to some 400 of the business men of the city reciting the need of such an organization in Cedar Rapids and calling a meeting for the purpose of considering its formation. That meeting was held in the a.s.sembly room of the Cedar Rapids Business College on the evening of June 8, 1897. It was decided to form the club and at a subsequent meeting, held July 2d, the club was formally organized. A. N. Palmer was chosen the first president and the editor of _The Record_ was elected temporary secretary, serving until the election of the first permanent paid secretary, Ed. R. Shaw, who a.s.sumed office July 15th. The first offices of the club were in the Granby building, the rent being a donation from Mr. E. A. Higley. Subsequently, in May, 1901, came the consolidation of the Commercial Club with the Occidental Club and the removal to the Masonic Temple, which has since been the home of the club.

With the consolidation came the addition of the social feature, including reading room, billiards, and later, the inauguration of the noon-day lunch, which latter has proved to be most popular, and which has done much to bring the members in closer touch each with the other.

Ever since organization the Commercial Club has been fortunate in securing as officers men who have been willing and able to give the organization their time, best thought and energy, with the result that it has been and is now a live and potent force in the community. Such men as Palmer, Anderson, Forbes, Newman, Safely, Rall, and others, have filled the presidency with credit to themselves and profit to the club and the city, and in Shaw, Lincoln, Charles, Simmons, Sessions, Shaver, Bell, and Wunderlich the Commercial Club has had secretaries who have labored faithfully to further the best interests of the organization and city. The present officers, J. F. Rall, president, and John Wunderlich, secretary, are making records in their administration and achieving results that speak for themselves.

The work of the Commercial Club is so wide-spreading and presents so many aspects that it is impossible to refer to it in any detail. The idea of the club is to arrange systematic work to be done by the members, as well as by the officers, and with that in view, there are a number of committees in charge of various departments of the work, as follows: a.s.sembly, Civic, Entertainments, Executive, House, Interurban, Legislative, Manufactures, Mercantile, Members.h.i.+p, Navigation on Cedar River, Public Inst.i.tutions, Trade Extension, Tariff and Transportation, Special Convention, Railway Service, Statistics. These are all regular standing committees. In addition, many special committees are appointed to take up special or emergency matters.

As the result of the labors and aid of the Commercial Club, many prosperous and valuable manufacturing industries have been brought to Cedar Rapids the past twelve years. Many local businesses have been encouraged to start and aided on their way to success. Many established businesses that have needed encouragement have been given it and other businesses that have found difficulties in their pathway have had those difficulties removed through the offices of the Commercial Club and its members. Conventions and public gatherings of many kinds have been induced to hold their meetings in this city through work performed by the Commercial Club. Vexatious local disputes have been adjusted, and when cities like Indianapolis have attempted to entice such organizations as the Order of Railway Conductors away from Cedar Rapids, the Commercial Club has been found stanchly and successfully contesting the removal. When it was found necessary to secure legislation amending some phases of the commission plan law to make it fully applicable to Cedar Rapids, it was the Commercial Club that went before the legislature and secured the needed amendments. It was the Commercial Club that first began the work of running trade excursions, an idea that has grown with each year. The trip of this spring, to Le Mars, via the Illinois Central and return via Sheldon, Mason City, and Calmar on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, occupying four days with ninety in the party, was by all odds the best and most profitable of all the series.

Within the past year a new and valuable department has been created in the freight traffic bureau. The work of this department is to bring about an equitable condition in freight rates for Cedar Rapids, as compared with other cities of like location and surroundings and eliminate discriminatory freight rates as compared with other jobbing centers. In the prosecution of the work of this bureau, the Commercial Club has been most successful, for up to the present time adjustments brought about by the bureau represent a saving of about $24,000 per year to the manufacturers, jobbers and business men of the city. In addition to the work of bringing about an equalization of freight rates, an individual service is maintained for the purpose of examining freight claims against the railway companies. In this particular many claims of long standing have been satisfactorily adjusted.

The Commercial Club has a present members.h.i.+p of 280, made up of the leading business and professional men of the city. It is a live, active organization, reflecting the best and most progressive citizens.h.i.+p of the community. The club apartments occupy a large portion of the fourth floor of the Masonic Temple, are commodious and comfortable, and form a gathering place for the discussion of matters which affect the business prosperity of the city. Regular meetings of the board of directors are held every Monday noon, following a lunch served in the directors'

room, and at these meetings the docket for the week is cleared up. It is a significant fact that these meetings are attended by practically the entire members.h.i.+p of the directory and that no matter is allowed to drag for want of immediate attention.

The officers and directors of the Commercial Club at the present time are: President, J. F. Rall; first vice-president, F. Junkermann; second vice-president, S. G. Armstrong; secretary, John Wunderlich; treasurer, L. W. Anderson; directors, J. W. Barry, J. S. Broeksmit, W. L. Cherry, J. M. Denning, Kent C. Ferman, J. M. Grimm, W. G. Haskell, Geo. T.

Hedges, E. E. Pinney, R. I. Safely, John H. Taft.

WHO PAID THE TAXES IN CEDAR RAPIDS FIFTY YEARS AGO

BY THOMAS DEVENDORF

Cedar Rapids has made many changes and improvements during the past half century. But perhaps no change has been so great as the change in the valuation of property. In 1858 there was a population of only about thirty-five hundred within the city limits, and in the entire county only eighteen thousand. Twenty per cent of the population then resided in Cedar Rapids. Today we claim nearly thirty-five thousand and over fifty per cent of the entire population of the county. At that time the area of the city was very much less than at present. Franklin street, now Eleventh street east, was as far as was platted. Beyond was heavily wooded and used in summers for picnic parties; to the south Carpenter's first addition had already been laid and but very few of the lots had been improved, the lower end, where the packing plant of T. M. Sinclair & Co. is located, was used as a race track, where the local hors.e.m.e.n competed. Kingston, on the west side of the river, was an independent munic.i.p.ality, having its own city government and city officers, and remained so until the year 1870, when it was annexed and became a part of the present Cedar Rapids.

The a.s.sessed valuation of the city for the year 1858 was for both real estate and personal the sum of $535,912--what proportion that amount will bear to the real cash value of the property the writer is unable to state. But it is the rule generally adopted by a.s.sessors to make the value much less than the price parties would buy and sell the same property for, and on this a.s.sessment of $535,912 a levy was made of two mills on the dollar, which, if the collector was diligent and had good luck, would have produced the sum of $1,071.00, which the city officers could use to carry on the affairs of the city--pay salaries, make improvements, grade streets, build crossings, and to meet all other expenses of the city. That this sum was inadequate for the purpose is shown by the fact that the larger share of the taxes of this year were paid in what they denominated "city script," which we call city warrants, so that the city fathers had very little real cash in the city treasury. This city script was issued for work and salaries and such other expenses as were necessary and was not interest bearing, so that a party that had such script was ready to dispose of the same to the best advantage he could, and parties that had taxes to pay would gather up such script at what discount they could get and use it for the purpose of paying their taxes. The larger tax payers all paid in "city script."

The city officials of that time are all dead. R. C. Rock was mayor; George Seymour, recorder; A. S. Koontz, treasurer; A. S. Belt, city attorney.

J. J. Snouffer and John G. Graves were the aldermen from the first ward; D. W. Sprague and R. R. Taylor, aldermen from the second ward; Wm. Richmond and S. A. Shattuck, aldermen from the third ward.