McLean County, Illinois - The whole text, 1879 (part 11 of 42)

The new college building is beautifully located in the northern portion of the city, surrounded by an area of nearly ten acres of luxuriant greensward, dotted here and there with clumps of forest and ornamental trees, making all in all a most picturesque effect. The main building is a splendid example of architectural beauty and symmetry, of imposing dimensions, 70x140 feet, five stories in height, and erected at a cost of nearly $70,000. It is pronounced by competent authority as unsurpassed by any similar structure in this State in point of external elegance and internal convenience. It is the finest looking building in Bloomington. The first floor is divided into eight large recitationrooms, arranged and furnished after the usual style of such apartments. The second floor is occupied by the library, which contains a large and carefully selected list of valuable volumes. This apartment is also used as a recitation-room. The museum contains a varied and interesting collection of specimens of minerals, insects, birds, reptiles, etc. Rare and valuable additions are constantly being made to the already extensive list. The entire eastern half of the second and third floors is occupied by Amie Chapel. This is so arranged that it may be converted into one of the largest auditoriums in the city, by removing a temporary partition, thus throwing open the galleries, giving a seating capacity of 1,200. Regular Sabbath services are conducted in this chapel by the University Methodist Episcopal Church. The halls of the Munsellian and Belle Lettres Literary Societies occupy the third floors. The halls are equal in size and similarly furnished, in a neat and appropriate manner ; their walls are hung with pictures of society members, the Faculty, graduates, etc. The fourth floor and basement are as yet unfinished. The old college, which stands just north of the main building, is brought into requisition as a boarding-hall for young men, with accommodations for forty. The commodious old Major College building, further west, has been rented, remodeled and furnished for a dormitory and dining-hall for the accommodation of young lady students. This

In 1873, Rev. 0. S. Munsell having resigned, Rev. Samuel Fallows, D. D., was elected President and entered upon the discharge of his duties in January, 1874.

The Trustees now added a Law Department and elected a Law Faculty, which entered immediately upon their duties, and, at the Annual Commencement of 1875 was graduated the first class in the department of law.

At the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees in 1874, they adopted the plans similar to the London University of Non-resident Students and Post-Graduate Examinations which had, during the year, been matured by the Faculty and were now for the first time laid before the Board for adoption.

Major College

The announcing of a definite course of study in both undergraduate and postgraduate work for non-resident students, publishing of plans for examinations, and holding examinations and conferring degrees only on examinations, mark an era in the history of the University in advance of all other universities of the West. The appreciation of the plan has been shown by che increasing numbers of gentlemen eminent in scholarship and literary reputation, who annually avail themselves of the opportunity thus offered, and, after a thorough examination, have received from the University the highest honors known to any university on this continent. The year of 1870 was rendered memorable on account of the admission of women. The question, after some discussion, passed in the Faculty. The resolution to open the doors to ladies passed the Board of Trustees, and was seconded by the patronizing Conferences, so that during the first college term of the same year a large number enrolled their names and entered theseveral classes. The number has steadily increased and now many women are numbered among the graduates at the Annual Commencements.

Literary Societies

Three literary societies have, since their first organization, been well attended, and have each attained a good reputation for oratory and elocution. These societies, at &. cost of some $4,000, have fitted up and furnished their halls with the finest carpets and appropriate furniture.

Courses Of Study

Two courses of study are pursued - the classical and scientific. These require after entering the college the same length of time for completion, namely, four years.

In 1875, after the resignation of Rev. Samuel Fallows, D. D., the Board of Trustees called to the chair of the presidency, Rev. W. H. H. Adams, D. D.

During the year 1874, a society was organized and chartered by the women, under the name of the Women's Educational Association of the Wesleyan University. The object is to aid young women striving for an education, and second, to endow a chair of the same name in the University. The results of this organization are the opening of a commodious hall on the Mt. Holyoke plan, and the securing of a considerable amount for endowment. During the year 1875, a gift of $ 10,000 was made by Hugh Meharry, Esq., of Indiana, to apply on the endowment of the President's chair.

The growth of the University has been steady, and now its halls are crowded with students, and its honors sought by numbers of the first scholars of the land, whilst the boundless resources of Central Illinois and the growing liberality of a generous and wealthy people afford great promise for the future that the growing wants of the University will receive ample aid ; and, on the broad foundation which has been wisely laidr will be built up and sustained a university of the highest standing in all the departments of art and science.

Literary Department

- W. H. H. Adams, D. D., President and Professor of Ethics and Metaphysics. '-H. C. DeMotte, Ph. D., Vice President and Professor of Mathematics.

~"R. M. Benjamin, A. M., Dean, Elementary Law. "O. T. Reeves, LL. D., Torts and Equity. O. W. Aldrich, LL. D., Contracts and Real Property. -L. Weldon, Pleadings. -A. G. Karr, LL. B., Evidence and Criminal Law.

College Of Music

The Faculty of the University is now composed of teachers of large experience, many of whom have occupied their chairs for a series of years, and now bring to their work a ripe scholarship. The University, under their direction, has reached a degree of influence and importance scarcely anticipated by its early founders and patrons. During the year 1878, an art department was added. Mrs. Prof. Moss was placed in charge. This department, though the last added, is steadily growing in favor and importance.

Old Wesleyan University

Another department, that of medicine, is about to be added to the institution r making it more thoroughly deserving the name of University. During the month of April, 1879, a medical college was organized, of which Ger^^A. Gridley was elected President of the Board of Trustees ; Presi&ejrLilewitt, of Normal, Vice President ; W. H. H. Adams, of the Wesleyan, Secretary, and Dr. T^J^JVorrall, Treasurer. This college*~fe to be attached to the Wesleyan on a similar footing to that of the law school. The regular term will be during the months of November, December, January and February. The course of study will occupy two years. There is little doubt of the success of the new institution. The following Professors were appointed April 24 ?

1879, and will, probably, the most of them, accept of the positions : Theory and Practice of Surgery - W. Hill, M. D. ; Theory and Practice of Medicine^JV. A. Elder, M. D. ; Anatomy - J. L. White, M. D. ; Physiology^!, F. Worrall, M. D. ; Materia Medica and Therapeutics - J_ Little, M. D. ; Obstetrics-^-C. T. Orner, M. D. ; Mental and Nervous Diseases - A. T. Barnes, M. D. ; Diseases of Women and Children - R. Wunderlich, M. D. ; Demonstrator of Anatomy-^A. H. Luce, M. D. ; Chemistry - C. Owen, A. M. ; Emeritus Professors^A. H. Luce, M. D., George W. Stipp, M. D.

Temperance

Bloomington is entitled to the credit of being one of the first places in the West to organize a temperance society. The town was but little over one year old when the movement was made. Mr. A. C. Washburne, who organized the first Sabbath school here, took the first step in the great work. With the assistance of those friendly, he called a public meeting November 17, 1832, at 4 in the afternoon, at the schoolhouse. At the appointed hour, the small room was well filled with an interested assemblage. One of the two physicians of the place made rather an excited speech against the movement. He complimented Mr. Washburne by remarking that he had no great fear of the weak movement now being made in itself considered ; but there was something behind the curtain which he feared. He said the people " away down East" were sending their agents out West and all through the country to form Sunday schools and -organize temperance societies, and these were all tied to the East as with a big, long cartrope, and the Eastern people thought by these means to get control of the country, unite Church and State, and then woe to any who thought and acted different from them ! He was glad of the opportunity to express his views. A speech of this character was not anticipated, and the temperance movement came near being strangled at its birth, as the public generally sympathized with the objections thus eloquently set forth. Mr. Washburne had prepared a constitution and by-laws for the McLean County Temperance Society, and also a temperance pledge. In his quiet, unobtrusive manner, he circulated this pledge, and obtained nine names ; but there was too much excitement to organize, and this was not accomplished until December 15, 1832. Mr. Washburne was the first Secretary. Among the first to assist in the temperance movement were Benjamin Depew, David Trimmer, Solomon Dodge, and their wives.

The first temperance lecture was delivered February 3, 1833, by Rev. Neal Johnson, of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His text was, " Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Ten more signatures were then obtained to the pledge, and the temperance bark was fairly launched in Bloomington, as the Society soon numbered two hundred members. This Society lived and prospered, doing a good work, until the time of the great Washingtonian movement, about the year 1840, which took its place, bringing to the temperance cause an army of new workers, carrying its banners higher up the walls, where they have ever waved triumphantly. Among those who gave vigorous assistance in the latter movement, we may mention Jesse W. and Kersey H. Fell, Dr. John F. Henry, Dr. W. C. Hobbs, A. J. Merriman and many others.

This Washingtonian temperance movement created great interest and accomplished a vast amount of good. It was successful in appealing to men by moral suasion, and is always referred to as that era of the temperance reform which has been entirely free from all objections.

In the early part of 1842, this Washingtonian movement was at its full height ; and at this time there was formed a juvenile temperance society, which included nearly all the children in Bloomington. It appeared to the adults as if the next generation would most certainly do away with the traffic in intoxicating drinks, inasmuch as, if the children stood firm, there would be none who would demand these indulgences. On the 4th day July, 1842, the juveniles had a celebration and picnic at the grove, where is now the oorner of Center and Wood streets, which was an occasion of great public interest. Among the boys of that day who took part, we have the names of John L. Routt, Robert A. Miller, John W. Allin, Charles Lander and John W. Haggard. The effect of this juvenile movement, added to the regular Washingtonian influence, lasted for several years, and carried the temperance banners high up on the walls of morality and reform ; but, in time, these lost their novelty, and society must be acted upon in a different manner, though, in the interim, the cause was greatly depressed.

About the year 1848, the Sons of Temperance, a secret organization, with Dr. W. *C. Hobbs as the first Worthy Patriarch, commenced the great work which was kept up for a good many years. Among those who took a prominent part in this, were Rev. George W. Minier, Dr. E. Thomas, A. T. Briscoe and John M. Scott. Through the labors of the members of this order, a large number of drunkards were reformed, and in various directions the temperance movement was kept alive and in good hands. In the year 1850, there was not a saloon in the city of Bloomington, showing us they were up and doing.

We do not profess to write a full history of the temperance work of Bloomington, as our space is too limited. The materials exist for an history of this matter that shall be of intense interest, and of great local, we may almost say of great national, importance, as here in Bloomington have originated several highly important projects in the good cause, whose carrying-out became of national interest. Furthermore, while these materials of history exist, they are very difficult to obtain. The cause of temperance is like that of the Christian religion in this respect, that it is found in a great variety of shapes and methods ; in other words, it has taken upon itself the most remarkable forms in the way of organizations. But unlike Christianity, which is historically traced through the various sects and societies - the cause of temperance seems to run through the most wonderful changes. As soon as one particular form of labor has lost its interest to the public, the friends of temperance re-organize, and are found laboring in a different manner. Hence, we find it impossible to trace properly, in the short space allotted us, the history of the different forms and shapes in which the friends of temperance have been organized. We have mentioned a few of these, but we cannot dwell upon the Temple of Honor, an Order rather higher than the last-mentioned, or trace the history of all the various temperance societies intervening between the years 1832 and 1879.

We should mention that when the Maine Law excitement swept over the land in 1854 and 1855, it found Bloomington people ready to take hold and do their share in the movement. Society here was stirred deeply, and every means possible was resorted to, in order to secure what the friends of the movement believed would be to the best interest of the cause. These efforts culminated in 1855, by the election of a full antilicense City Council, with Franklin Price for Mayor. A strong prohibitory ordinance was passed, and a tremendous effort to enforce it was made for several months. Saloons were raided by the city officers ; liquors poured into the streets, and a series of legal prosecutions ensued that were very expensive to the city, as well as vexatious and provoking to all concerned. In the end, the city government adopted the license system and adhered to it for many years. In all probability the anti-license ordinance would have been sustained, and Bloomington would have remained permanently on that side of the question, but for the immense increase in population which took place here during these days - from 1854 to 1856 - when the newcomers were, many of them, persons who were little in sympathy with the people who had long been living here, and who had been laboring together in the temperance cause. About the year 1857, the order of Good Templars was organized, and again there wjis something of a revival of temperance effort. During the war, this order was allowed to disband, but before its close it again re-organized, and from the year 1865 to 1876, it was a tremendous power in Bloomington, and it is even yet in a good condition for future usefulness. At one time, there were several different lodges, at least three being in operation ; while at the same time, as in truth we may as well state, was the case from the time of the organization of the first secret temperance lodge in 1848 - there were in existence powerful societies of a public nature, all laboring in the same good cause.

While Bloomington people were at work in the local temperance field, they did not forget that in this, as in the cause of Christianity, " the field is the world," and they took part in wider enterprises. We furnish from the pen of John W. Haggard, a history of our city's connection withfthe organization of the National Prohibition Party.

On the 12th of December, 1868, a mass State Convention met at Bloomington, for the purpose of considering the status of the case, and, if possible, to adopt some additional and better modes of action than had heretofore been employed. This was one of the largest and most enthusiastic temperance conventions ever held in Illinois. After discussing the question nearly a whole day, it was decided to go into political action, and they proceeded at once to appoint a State Central Committee, and provide all the machinery of a modern political party.

The National Prohibition Party was first organized at Chicago, September, 1869. On the 22d of February, 1872, the second National Convention met at Columbus, Ohio, and put in nomination for President and Vice President, James Black, of Pennsylvania, and John Russell, of Michigan. The ticket received about seven thousand votes.

The third National Convention met May 17, 1876, at Cleveland, Ohio, and nominated Green Clay Smith, of Kentucky, and Gideon T. Stewart, of Ohio. They received about thirty-five thousand votes, notwithstanding old party lines were closely drawn, and the party lash more vigorously plied than for many years past, whereby thousands of Prohibitionists were led to believe it their duty to vote one or the other ticket for the purpose of " saving the country."

In the fall of 1877, we had State tickets in eight or nine States, and polled about sixty thousand votes, showing a healthy steady growth from the beginning. The same ratio of increase will in ten years from this date give us control of the National Government and a majority of the States.

A complete organization exists in the following States, to wit : Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, with several others yet to follow this year.

That God will hasten the day when the liquor traffic shall be overthrown, is the prayer of every consistent temperance man and woman in the land.

On the 16th of March, 1874, the Woman's Temperance League was organized in Bloomington. Mrs. Jennie F. Willing was first President, Miss Mary Dean, Secretary, and Mrs. M. D. Marquis, Treasurer. The above-named organization co-operating with the Good Templars, and with all temperance bodies in Bloomington, obtained a vote of the

This action was taken by the Woman's Temperance League after careful thought and prayerful deliberation. They marshaled their forces and managed the campaign with great ability, even to sending delegations of representative ladies to each votingplace in the different wards. The majority for " no license " was 159. The election took place on the 20th of April, 1874. One half of the newly-elected Aldermen were opposed to license, but as one-half the Council held over from the election of 1873, and this portion were mostly in favor of license, the Council contained a majority of the latter class. Its " prohibition " ordinance, voted in accordance with the wish of the people, was not such an ordinance as the real friends of temperance desired. It left dealers at liberty to sell under the State law in quantities of one gallon. A weak effort was made to enforce this " gallon " ordinance, and, after a few months, the city returned to the old system of license. Even as it was, the statistics of the Police Department show that for this year the number of arrests for drunkenness was 30 per cent less than in the following year.

In the latter part of the summer of 1874, a call went out from Bloomington for a meeting of the temperance women of Illinois, and the result was that in October the State Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized here. Our ladies who were engaged in the narrow field of Bloomington did not forget that there was a larger sphere of labor, and they assisted in organizing a more comprehensive Society. The Woman's Temperance League here now became a sub-organization of the State Society, which soon had a foot-hold in most of the prominent towns in this State. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Bloomington is the mainspring of the Temperance work in Bloomington, and keeps a watchful, steadfast, prayerful guard over the cause. Its present President is Mrs. Crego ; its Vice President is Mrs. G. H. Read; Mrs Merchant is its Secretary, and Mrs. James Winslow is Treasurer.

In 1875, this Society organized a very large number of the children of the city into the Star Temperance Union, and, in all, nearly two thousand boys and girls have become members. These all take the triple obligation - abjuring intoxicants and tobacco, and refraining from profanity. The strength of this society is such that, as in 1842, it seems as if the next generation might be a temperate people. The first President or this Society was Mrs. G. H. Read, and Dr. Sitherwood now holds that position. From this Society there is now a uniformed company of boys, called Temperance Cadets, who make a beautiful appearance.

In May, 1875, occurred at Bloomington a Good Templars' Meeting of the Grand Lodge of the World. It was an event long to be remembered. There were in attendance delegates front thirty-three States of the Union, and several of the provinces of the Canadian Dominion were represented. There were a number of delegates from England, New Zealand, Bermuda and other foreign countries. This meeting indicates plainly that the temperance people of Bloomington have a world-wide reputation. It was in session on the 26th, 27th and 28th days of May.

We must repeat our observation as to the impossibility of obtaining or publishing a full history of the different organizations of the temperance movement. We are even in danger of overlooking the fact that among our Irish citizens there are several powerful temperance organizations. The Father Mathew Total Abstinence and Benevolent

Society, and the St. Patrick Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society, are both strong organizations, and are doing, perhaps, as much good as any others in our city.

We will close our sketch with a brief mention of the " Washingtonian Club," which was organized May 25, 1876. This Club is a very remarkable institution. Its success in rescuing drunkards and moderate drinkers from their impending fate, has endeared it to the hearts of our citizens. The society leaped into life and power with wonderful rapidity. In the fall of 1876, it rented the auditorium of the old Methodist Church, and there it holds weekly meetings, frequent social gatherings, and constantly meets for Sabbath-afternoon lectures. It has saved hundreds of the victims of intemperance, and has accomplished a wonderful amount of good. As far as the human eye can see, this organization is entitled to stand at the head of all agencies for good now in operation in Bloomington, not excepting our churches or other organizations.

From this society influences for good have radiated in all directions. Other clubs have been formed in this State, organized upon a similar basis, and under the same name. The Bloomington club is known as the Washingtonian Club No. 1. Mr. A. B. Campbell, one of its prominent members, has devoted the past two years to lecturing and laboring throughout this State. He is a powerful speaker, and has acquired a very enviable name.

- Our Club has increased so that it is one of the largest in the world. Its membership is now 5,460. The President is Joseph 0. Pullen ; First Vice President, M. Mclntire; Second Vice President, J. H. Sprague ; Treasurer, G. H. Read ; Secretary, B. W. Mason. Its Trustees are William W. Ives, Henry M. Waite, Arthur J. Means and N. N. Winslow. Its Chaplain is R. A. Curtis. Its first President was Dr. George S. Smith ; Vice President, Mrs. C. H. Waite ; William Munger, Secretary ; Mrs. Hattie Allin, Assistant Secretary ; John Magoun, Treasurer. Mr. Magoun gave the organization of this Club his hearty co-operation and assistance ; and, but for his aid, it might not have become established. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union are entitled to much of the credit for the inauguration of this movement, over which they have kept a watchful care ever since its organization.

In all the years that have passed since the organization of the McLean County Temperance Society at the little log schoolhouse in 1832, the cause of temperance has passed through most wonderful changes. Whenever a particular form of organization has lost its charm ; when the novelty has left it, we find the movement has taken another shape, and the great cause has on the whole gone forward and upward better than ever before. This historical record should be an incentive to all who are now engaged in the work. From it they can see their way clear to labor unceasingly in the good cause - confident of final success.

As early as 1848, fruit trees were sold in Bloomington by Robert Fell, and about the same time by Nelson Buck. There may have been something done before this on a small scale, but it was not until after this that Bloomington became widely advertised as a tree-growing point. Dr. Schrceder was perhaps the first to make his busines known to the outside world, more particularly in the line of grapes, which were not cultivated in this neighborhood with much success, until he made the public aware that the climate would admit of the production of the grape. Dr. Schroeder was one of the earliest to advertise Bloomington as a nursery town, and his circulars, advertisements articles in newspapers, and his enthusiasm at horticultural and pomological conventions contributed largely to make known the fact that Bloomington was the center of the business. He deserves to be classed among the foremost in this branch of Bloomington's development.

In the year 1854, Mr. F. K. Phoenix, then from Delavan, Wis., made a beginning of the famous nurseries that have so long been a credit to his energy and an advertisement to Bloomington. He saw that the completion of the two new railroads then building would give Bloomington shipping facilities that rendered it an important point for the business. He embarked his means and carried on his transactions on a gigantic scale. At times he employed over two hundred men ; and during the height of his business, from 1866 to 1870, his sales were immense. He had as many as six hundred acres under cultivation, and engaged in the sale of nursery stock, both at wholesale and retail, including seeds, plants, trees, and everything that could be desired in this line of business. Other nurseries were owned here by different parties, amounting, in theaggregate, to almost as much more, and Bloomington became known all over the United States as the "Rochester of the West." Probably no one single business has carried the name of Bloomington to as many homes, as did that of Mr. Phoenix, advertised in nearly all the publications of the land.

Orders were received here from all the countries where the English language is spoken, and often from other parts of the world. It was a heavy loss to Bloomington and Normal, and a source of public regret, when this business began to fall off in 187& to 1879, and it is feared we shall never see it as nourishing again. The rapid increase of nurseries in Iowa, Kansas and Missouri, explains the changed state of affairs. The Phoenix nurseries, Dr. H. Schroeder's, F. A. Bailer's, J. D. Robinson's, and several others are still engaged in the business, which is even yet one of considerable importance. What has been stated in relation to the Phoenix nurseries, applies to Normal Township,, as they are in that town ; but from having been called the Bloomington nurseries so long,. it seemed best to speak of them in the history of the latter corporation.

Coal

The first blacksmith's coal used in Bloomington was teamed from Danville, Peoria, or some distant point. No one dreamed of finding coal under our soil until scientific geologists conceived the idea from their knowledge of the formation of the crust of the earth, taken in connection with what science taught from the appearance of the coalbearing strata, at places where coal was mined on the surface, as at Danville and places along the Illinois River. For a long time, science made but little headway in convincing our citizens where to look for coal, and train-loads of the article arrived from Duquoin from Peoria and La Salle. Lecturers on geology, among whom was Prof. C. Wilber, for many years in charge of the museum at the Normal University, continued to teach the public, and the newspapers aiding them, it was finally decided to bore for coal. The first attempt was made in 1863, in a field west of the Chicago & Alton Railroad shops, where dwelling-houses have since been constructed. The City Council spent $2,000, and quite a sum was raised by private subscription, all under the superintendence of Eliel Barber. The men who did the boring could run a machine of that sort, but could not tell what their auger passed through. After going down over five- hundred feet, the most they could report was having passed through a black shale slate, and in which it could not be possible coal existed. The trouble seemed to be that their auger mixed the coal, sand, clay and other material most inextricably, and there was no such thing as ascertaining what was discovered. Of course our citizens were discouraged by the result, and coal was still imported at enormous figures. There were many of our people who were firmly of the opinion that uoal would be found by boring with suitable tools, and another effort was made in 1866, this time entirely by private subscription. The following is a copy of the subscription paper :

Bloomisgton, 111., May 28, 1866. We, the undersigned, agree to pay on demand, to John Magoun and C. W. Holder, or order, the sums set opposite our respective names, for the purpose of prospecting and boring for coal in or near the city of Bloomington, said work to be commenced within ninety days from this date. The amount so collected and paid to John Magoun and C. W. Holder to be by them disbursed for the securing of the above object. If eoal is found in paying quantities, the company formed for mining purposes shall re-imburse the subscribers by giving them stock, money, or coal as they elect. If coal is not found in paying quantities, the money shall be lost by the respective subscribers.

There were many other subscribers who gave money, amounting to $1,700, of which about $1,200 was paid. Boring was commenced at once, near the present city well.

November 15, 1866, when at the depth of 160 feet, the drill was lost, all attempts to recover it having proved fruitless ; and it is an historical fact that the auger still remains in that " bore." The money was expended ; the tools lost ; the public generally took a very desponding view of the situation ; coal continued to be shipped into Bloomington at the rate of 20,000 tons per year, and the coal-mine owners at points then supplying Bloomington were in great spirits.

But a few energetic young men, whose names deserve to be written among the benefactors of our city, who had been watching the operations with careful attention, conceived the idea that, with proper care on the part of those who managed the auger, after the experience gained in the two former attempts, success would be almost certain, and they boldly undertook the third trial, in the face of an almost despairing public sentiment, asking no aid from any and using their own money. Their operations were conducted with great care, at an expense of $l,'-500, and the result was that coal of a good quality was discovered, at a depth of 302 feet, on the 27th day of February, 1867. These gentlemen were Thomas J. Bunn, Judson L. Spauldine, Dr. H. C. Luce and James L. Ridelhuber.

History compels us to add that they never made any money out of the North Shaft Coal Company, which they organized in June, 1867 - another reason why their names should be held in grateful remembrance.

Before this coal company had been long in existence, a second was formed, in 1867, and a shaft put down near the crossing of the Chicago & Alton and the I., B. & W. R. R., where the McLean County Coal Company is in successful operation. Their shaft is now 540 feet in depth, and they employ 200 men. During the past winter, this company has furnished coal of a good quality, at the shaft, at the wonderfully low price of $1.50 per ton. This company is an immense advantage to Bloomington and to all the surrounding country, and should be encouraged in every possible manner. It is one of our most worthy enterprises, being, in fact, the employer of a larger number of men than any company in the place, except one, to say nothing of the great advantages it gives in keeping the price of coal down to such remarkably low figures.

Could our first settlers have imagined the day would ever come when coal would be mined under their feet, and sold at such prices, they would have had vastly more faith in the future of this rich country, of which the worst that could then be said was that it contained little fuel, and that on that account it would sustain but a small population. This company raises as much as five hundred tons in twenty-four hours, on extra occasions, though its average daily out-put is about two hundred tons. During the year, its sales amount to over sixty thousand tons, and its pay-rolls in the winter season often exceed $10,000 per month.

Water

For many years after the settlement of Bloomington, no one supposed the town could ever obtain a supply of water for public purposes. Rival cities with a visible supply of muddy river-water, have delighted in taunting Bloomington with its condition in this respect. Various were the expedients devised and talked of for obtaining a supply of water sufficient to meet the public demand. One engineer, eminent in his profession, with a national reputation, proposed the most feasible scheme that was devised, which was nothing less than a pipe all the way from the Mackinaw River to the high ground north of Normal, where a reservoir could be made that would force the water all over the city of Bloomington. Another project was to "impound" the water of the low ground northeast of the city, by building a dam and thus retaining the surface water in a pond that might answer all purposes, similar to the Jacksonville plan. This would, of course, render the neighborhood of the pond unhealthy ; would be very expensive and would not insure good drinking-water. The dry year of 1854 caused great distress for water in this part of the State, and Bloomington people were very much exercised with fears that the location and building of their rapidly-growing city might after all, have been a serious mistake. We find that a public meeting was called July 23, 1854, when Mr. J. W. Fell offered the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted after a discussion, in which the mover, Judge Davis> Dr. Freese and others, participated.

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, whose duty it shall be - having previously associated with them one or more persons of practical skill in hydraulics and civil engineering - to institute an examination on the following propositions, to wit : 1st. The practicability of obtaining at Sugar Creek, or at any other point or points, in or near the city, an adequate supply of pure water at all seasons of the year, and for all wants of the community. 2d. The best method of elevating the same (should a supply be deemed advisable) to a reservoir of sufficient capacity to be located on the public square, or at some other suitable point in the central part of the city, whence it may be drawn off to meet the wants of the community. 3d. The probable expense attending the execution of such a system of hydraulics ; and lastly, the best mothod of defraying the expenses incident to such an undertaking ; and the probable length of time for its accomplishment. ,

Resolved, That in the execution of the duties intrusted to said committee, they be authorised to make whatever surveys and examinations may be necessary ; and that the Mayor and City Council be respectfully requested 10 co-operate with them and provide the necessary means to defray the expense attending the same.

Resolved, That said committee be requested to proceed with all practicable dispatch in the -execution of the aforesaid duties ; and that they report the result of their examinations to the

Resolved, That we recommend our City Council to build six or more cisterns at suitable points in Bloomington, to hold 200 or 250 barrels each: provided, the city does not adopt the hydraulic system of obtaining water.

It will thus be seen that the question of proper water supply has long been before the public. Tn the twenty years intervening between this public meeting and the final solution of the problem, a great variety of projects have been discussed.

It appears that in digging the coal-shaft which was first sunk, the one northwest of the city, a vein of water was encountered of great volume - so powerful that the first attempt was abandoned - and a success only made after moving a few rods and procuring very heavy pumping machinery. This discovery led the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company, in 1869, to dig in the vicinity a well which struck the same vein, and proved sufficient to supply the immense amount of water needed for that large corporation. From this time the attention of our citizens generally was turned to that point, and public opinion finally settled on the advisability of attempting to obtain the city supply by digging a well, and experimenting still further with that wonderful underground reservoir.

In the summer and fall of 1874, at the end of a series of four very dry seasons, the City Council made the attempt. It proved remarkably successful. The water, found at a depth of only forty feet, was sufficient to keep three powerful engines busy, whose united efforts threw a solid six-inch stream, which removed the water as fast as it flowed into the well. On Christmas Day, 1874, the whole population that wished, examined the fountain - the well having been finished the day before. As a sample of what had been discovered, the engines were kept at work, throwing the water in a stream which, as it flowed off, was equal to a good-sized brook. There was but one opinion, and that was that the fountain was large enough to justify the erection of a system of water works ; and in the summer of 1875, the stand-pipe was erected, 200 feet high, an engine and pump placed in position at the well, two miles and a half of pipe laid in the streets, and a full sytem of water works inaugurated, which has since been enlarged by additional pipes and more machinery. The total cost of the whole, up to April 30, 1878, has been $86,944.83. This includes about eight miles of water-mains, the engines and machinery, the stand-pipe, four drinking-fountains, seventy hydrants and everything connected with the Water Department.

The water is of a medicinal nature, rather heavily charged with mineral deposits, but is very healthy and much liked by those who have been using it for any length of time. Its value to the city can only be reckoned by millions.

The present city well is on the same tract where the first coal-shaft was attempted, which enterprise in reality demonstrated the existence of our valuable supply of water.

In tracing the early history of manufacturing, we shall be quite brief. We will mention that the first machinery of which we read, appears to have been a " dog.

power," used by Henry Miller, the first wheelwright, in the manufacture of spinning wheels. He was here in 1831, and probably used this machinery near that date. He owned the first turning-lathe in Bloomington, about the year 1835. Seth Baker owned the first saw-mill. His machinery was propelled by oxen in a tread-mill. This must have been about 1832 or 1833. Solomon Dodge ran the first corn-mill about this time, also impelled by the patient ox. Perhaps we should except the " corn-cracker," erected by Dr. Baker in the winter of 1830 and 1831, at the time of the Deep Snow. This mill was on his farm in Blooming Grove, and was in running order at a very late date. There were also other "hand" corn-mills, as well as horse-mills in Blooming Grove at a very early date, earlier than either of the above-mentioned. Rev. E. Rhodes is said to have had a " hand corn-mill " as early as 1824, and, by the winter of 1831 and 1832 - the year after the Deep Snow - there were several " horse-mills " at the Grove.

It would be pleasant if we were able to follow the improvements that have taken place in the last fifty years, to return to the spinning-wheels of Blooming Grove and exhibit them with the finest machinery in our modern looms ; to compare the homemade hoe and wooden plow of the pioneer with the polished implements turned out to-day by Brokaw and Walton, or to bring the old ox-cart and rude wagon into comparison with Ferre's phaetons and Matern's buggies. But we must pass to a hasty examination of what we find, leaving comparisons to the reader.

The Chicago & Alton Railroad Company's shops are our most worthy manufactories, and shall be first examined. But for these, one-fifth of Bloomington's population would be out of business to-day. The company generally pays out each month the sum of $30,000 to about 700 men. No wonder that Springfield offered to exchange the State Capitol for this single manufactory ! The establishment is full and complete - will turn out everything needed, from a locomotive of the heaviest class to a finelyfinished and elegantly-upholstered sleeping-car, while anything in use by the company, be it a pump, an engine, a car or a wind-mill, can be repaired by the ingenious workmen with the fine machinery of the different departments. When, in the autumn of 1853, the first train of cars on this road entered Bloomington from the South, the enterprise was in its infancy. There had been no less than four separate companies owning the line from Chicago to St. Louis, and there was little to indicate the future enormous proportions of the Chicago & St. Louis Railroad. The Illinois Central, which had been the topic of conversation in Illinois for more than fifteen years, was looked upon as the only railroad of importance. Bloomington had made an effort to secure what were regarded as the remarkably valuable machine and repair shops of that company, and had seen itself, in 1852, beaten by the insignificant town of Wapella. The attentention of men like James Allin, Jesse W. Fell, A. Gridley, W. H. Allin and David Davis - men of eagle eye and sound judgment - was at once turned to the little " Alton & Sangamon Company," as the new line was at first called, then the " Chicago & Mississippi Railroad," and they determined to secure here the railroad-shops, hoping that in the future it might grow into a large establishment. They took steps to this end early in 1853, each of them making a donation to the company for this purpose, and they stimulated others to do the same. These efforts were successful and a tract of land of over six acres was donated to the railroad company for railroad purposes. This land was bounded on the east by the track, on the north by the township line, on the west by the section line, being triangular in shape. It is on this spot that the original shops were built, but it bas been greatly enlarged. On tbe east side of tbe track, the piece of land bounded on the west by the track, on the east by Catharine street, and south by Chestnut street, the site of the old passenger depot, was also donated, the whole having been paid for by the gentlemen named above, with others, and deeded to the company by W. H. Allin with full warrantee deeds, for the sum of $3. In all there were over seven acres.

During the years 1853 and 1854, the shops needed for the little railroad company were built, and a beginning made in the great enterprise of which we are now so proud. These were added to from time to time, so that, in the year 1858, nearly two hundred men were employed in the different departments. As the business of the road increased - the different pieces of the road being consolidated into one corporation - the shops were enlarged four times, until at the time of the fire, November 2, 1867, nearly as many men were employed as there are now. These buildings were not well arranged, however, and that event compelled the company to face the problem of permanent construction. Plans were prepared carefully during the winter following the fire, for the best system that could be devised, taking into account what was then needed, and considering the probable increase of business of the present road and the possible growth from future consolidations with other railroads, and the result is seen in the splendid shops now finished.

At the time of their construction, there were no railroad shops weit of Altoona, Penn., that surpassed these in Bloomington ; but in the last few years it is possible they may have been equaled. The ground upon which the old shops stood at the time of the fire was not large enough for the needs of the present establishment, and before the new works were commenced the company obtained quite an addition, and secured from the city the closing of streets and alleys that were in the way. The conditions of rebuilding here in Bloomington, in preference to removing the shops to Springfield, Joliet or Chicago, were, that the additional ground should be furnished and those streets and alleys vacated by the city. This was agreed to by the City Council ; but before the matter could be consummated legally, considerable time must elapse, and hence there was doubt whether the city might be able to accomplish all that was desired. In order to insure this, a guarantee was signed by nearly all the leading citizens of Bloomington, agreeing that all should be done as desired.

The space occupied by the company for shops and tracks is equal to forty acres. Here we find more than a dozen very large buildings, in which are carried on the immense operations of the company. Among the principal shops we will mention :

All these buildings, except the rolling-mill and the old machine-shops, are built of Joliet stone, have iron-trussed roofs covered with slate, and several of the largest are two-stories high. Beside the above, there are several smaller buildings, the pattern-shop, brass-foundry and several others. Taken all in all, it is seldom we find such a magnificent collection of manufacturing establishments as are here grouped together upon the forty acres and more of land belonging to the company. These shops are filled with the finest and most substantial machinery that can be found. One can form some idea of this from the simple statement that in the blacksmith-shop there are fifty forges, and eight steam trip-hammers, the latter weighing eight to fifteen hundred pounds. Several of the largest and most powerful steam-engines in the West are in constant use to propel the ponderous machinery of the different departments. Even the pumping-engine, which forces water from the company's magnificent well, is a large engine. These different structures were over two years in building, having been finished nearly as they now stand, about the beginning of the year 1870. When the machine-shop is rebuilt to correspond with those now in use, the appearance of the whole will be superior to anything of the kind in the State.

Here the company are able to build locomotives and cars, or to repair the same - doing all portions of the complicated work, and they employ some of the most ingenious and skillful mechanics that can be found. The presence here, in Bloomington, of the large number of intelligent mechanics, foremen and superintendents required, has a very elevating and beneficial effect upon the city. Bloomington can boast of these shops and of their occupants, they being the most important and valuable of anything in the place. Their size and industry entitles the city to be classed as a manufacturing center. Here are employed from six hundred to nine hundred men, the number varying with the condition of the company's business.

Among the company's officers who have been prominently identified with the material development of Bloomington in the past, we may mention Hon. Hamilton Spencer, Lessee, 1860 ; Charles Roadnight, Treasurer in 1858 ; Mr. R. Parke, Agent in 1864 ; Asa H. Moore, Superintendent for several years ; J. A. Jackman, Superintendent of Machinery from 1864 to 1879 ; Rufus Reniff, Superintendent of Car-shops from 1861 to 1879 ; Matthew L. Steele, Train- Dispatcher ; William Hughes and A. Moulton, of the Iron Departments; 0. Vaughan, present Assistant Superintendent, and there are many others equally deserving of mention.

It has always been the policy of the company to retain good men in any position they are fitted for, and there are a large number of the officers and employes who have been in service nearly twenty years. Taken as a class, the railroad employes are much superior to the average mechanics of the country, and their presence in Bloomington in such large numbers adds largely to the character of our population.

The Railroad Company pays out monthly a very large sum of money, which enters at once into circulation, giving life and reliable activity to the retail trade of Bloomington and furnishing constant proof of the value of this immense establishment. The policy of the company toward our city is quite liberal, its managers realizing that their interests here are large enough to make the public good a matter of self-interest to the corporation. Several illustrations of this good-will have been given in the past, one of the most important being its liberality in assisting in macadamizing the street from the

The whole policy of the company, under the management of President Blackstone and Manager McMullin, has been liberal, one evidence of which is seen in the share the company is taking in the great work of underdraining the farms of Central Illinois. This tile-drainage improvement marks a new era in the development of this country almost equal to the invention of the harvester, and this railroad has been carrying tile for farmers' drains at the simple cost of carriage, or at less than cost, thus being willing to perform its share in one of the most important of our modern agricultural improvements.

The Chicago & Alton Railroad Company ranks among the foremost corporations in the country in its care of its rolling-stock, and has been one of the readiest to adopt new improvements. Could the full history of these shops be written, as at some future time we hope it will be, we should all be astonished at the record of valuable inventions that would be presented. We might mention Reniff & Buttolph's Patent Ventilator, President Blackstone's Car-coupler, and many others, but must leave this subject with one more reference - that of the Pullman Palace-Car. In 1859, George M. Pullman arranged berths in two cars for the use of this company, and, in 1863, he manufactured here the first two palace cars ever made. They cost $18,000 each. It is said that the frame-work of the first sleeping-car Pullman ever made is now lying by the side of the railroad in Bloomington.

We might add that the total cost of these magnificent shops is in the neighborhood of $1,000,000, and that they are owned by one of the wealthiest corporations in the Northwest. The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad now owns or leases 876 miles of road, having built, in the year 1878, 162 miles, giving it a completed line from Chicago to Kansas City. The repairs of this immense road, with its several branches, being mostly concentrated at this one point, demand an amount of labor that will be more likely to increase than diminish.

The agricultural development of this region has received great benefit from the railroad, the reaper and the plow - the last being an implement of more importance than the present generation can realize possible. The railroad and the reaper are understood by all, but the advantages of our modern self-polishing plows are imperfectly realized, except by our old settlers. The new-comers, down to about 1845, brought plows with them, and various styles were in use, but none of them would work well in our fine prairie soil, and the cultivation of the land was toilsome and imperfect. It was impossible to plow but a few rods without a stop for the purpose of clearing the implement from the accumulation of soil. Cast iron, wrought iron or wood were almost alike - worthless - and for many years our farmers despaired of ever seeing the right plow for this soil.

Lewis Bunn was one of the first blacksmiths here, and made plows as early as the year 1833. He tried to make the best plow that could be devised. In the year 1838, he made a lot of the "Sprouse" pattern, which had a boiler-iron mold-board, placed at such an angle, that the heavy friction of the soil would "scour" them better than any previously in use. These plows had the handles and wood-work much like a "shovel" plow, and did not run steady - were "jerky" and severe on a team. The next year they were improved by a different attachment of the beam. Mr. Abraham Brokaw made the wood-work of these plows for several years. In 1840, Mr. Bunn made the " Rathbone " plow - an improvement - the mold-board was still boiler-iron, but the implement was more steady. The mold-board was ground smooth, and in some soils these would scour well. Oliver Ellsworth was Mr. Bunn's partner at this time, and together they made 300 of these Rathbone plows - quite a manufacturing business for the times.

In 1842, the firm made the " Tobey & Anderson," or "Peoria," plow, of which the mold-board was common steel, ground, but not polished. This gave great satisfaction - was further improved - and by the year 1844 and 1845 they were in great demand. Farmers came long distances for these celebrated plows, and at one time the firm rented a large pasture in which teams were kept while waiting their turns. At this time, it was fully demonstrated that plows could be made that would work freely in any soil, and the result was a very decided improvement in the cultivation of prairies. Bloomington's mechanics - Bunn, Ellsworth and Brokaw - contributed largely to the result. About the year 1859, these three men went into partnership together, and continued several years.

It was not till 1857 that these steel mold-boards were polished perfectly, and since that date the improvements in plows have been of comparatively little importance. About the year 1845, is the date when practicable plows first came into general use, so as to be found upon all our farms, as near as we have been able to ascertain.

The plow-shops of Abraham Brokaw, at the corner of Main and Market, are among the oldest in Central Illinois. Mr. B. has been in the business nearly forty years, and has acquired a splendid reputation. He employs from twenty to forty men. John T. Walton, who started in business in 1857, employs over twenty men in the busy season, and makes a large variety of the different plows and cultivators required by the Western and Southern trade. His business is carried on in the fine block fronting on Washington street, just west of the People's Bank.

There are smaller plow-shops in the city, the several repair and general shops to be found in a town like Bloomington, with machinists, boiler-makers and other iron-workers, who employ a large number of men.

There are several large wood-working establishments, of which some of the most important are those of J. W. Evans, and the wagon and carriage factories of L. Ferre, L. Matern, S. Hayes, and others.

One of the most important manufactories in Bloomington is Dr. C. Wakefield & Co.'s medicine factory, as well as one of the most interesting. Dr. Wakefield spent two years in this place as early as 1837, having been a school-teacher in the Orendorff district. He then lived in De Witt County until 1850, when he made his home here. His brother, Dr. Zera Wakefield, who died in 1848, had remarkable success in treating the malarial diseases of this country, having been in demand over a large territory radiating from his home in De Witt County. His remedies were so good that before his death, in 1848, many packages were sold, and a demand grew up, to supply which, in 1850, Dr. C. Wakefield moved from De Witt County and started a factory in Bloomington.

His business was pushed with great energy, and soon became well established and profitable. Dr. W. built the first three-story brick store in Bloomington, which, with his factory and drug store, was burned in the great fire of October 16, 1855. His large factory on East Washington street, built about the year 1856, has grown with his business, until it is now a large and very convenient establishment. Here he manufactures a variety of medicines, mostly fever and ague specifics, balsams, cough-sirups, pills, etc., in all, about ten different remedies, and a number of essences and other preparations. In their preparation, great care is taken to secure the purest and best ingredients, and the result is that his medicines rank with the best that are offered to the public. They are sold largely in the States of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa, while there is a good demand in all the Western and Southwestern States. He has a team, with a fine wagon, in six of these States, and thus keeps a watch over the territory through salaried agents, while he has over six thousand local agents, mostly druggists and dealers, who sell his medicines on commission. He employs from twenty-five to fifty hands, according to the season. He has four printing-presses, run by steampower, by which he prepares his advertising matter. In 1860, he got up 100,000 almanacs for his agents to circulate, and he now sends out 1,500,000 annually. He consumes nearly fifty tons of printing-paper each year.

" Wakefield's Almanac " is thus one of the best known of any of Bloomington's publications. At the present time, this carries the name and fame of Bloomington over a wider area than any other medium. It is printed in the English, German, Norwegian and Swedish languages.

This business is conducted in a straightforward, honorable manner, and is one of the instrumentalities by which our city is always favorably spoken of abroad. Such men as Dr. Wakefield are the ones who have built up the reputation of Bloomington ; and we are glad to see they are honored at home. He has always been one of our most liberal citizens, being among the foremost in all public enterprises. The amount of capital employed in the business, including the building, presses, engine, the stock of medicines on hand here, and the very large amount in the stores of his 6,000 agents is over $150,000.

There are several manufactures of light articles such as brushes and overalls, and there are the usual variety of miscellaneous artificers to be found in our best Western cities. It is probable that, in the line of these light manufactures, Bloomington will in time become quite an important point.

In past times, our distilling interest was quite important, but the building, which stood on the bank of Sugar Creek, west of the fair ground, was destroyed by fire several years ago and has not been rebuilt.

The Bloomington Pork-Packing Company, now consisting of Van Schoick, Winslow & Tryner, have been established since 1872. During the past season, they have packed over 13,000 hogs, and given employment to over forty men. They have very materially advanced the interests of Bloomington. This establishment is one of the most important in Central Illinois.

We should also mention our breweries, which employ a large number of men. The tile-factory of N. B. Heafer & Co., situated in Bloomington Township, a mile southeast of the city, is ooe of our most important manufactories, and is rapidly extending its business. It is one of the very few in the West with first-class facilities for drying tile in the winter.

Besides the establishments enumerated above, there are a large number equally deserving of mention, but space forbids. There are also a very large number of small shops and establishments that employ in the aggregate many men, including the usual variety of industries to be found in any city situated like this in a fine agricultural district. Taken altogether, we have quite large manufacturing interests in Bloomington, which seem likely to grow with the growth of the West. Our coal is as cheap as can. be found, water is easily obtained, and we possess an industrious and energetic people. Several of our manufacturing establishments are spoken of in our chapter entitled- -

The first mills in tbis locality were the old horse-mills, " corn-crackers " as they were called, followed or accompanied by the " nigger-head " horse-mills, for grinding wheat coarsely, which, when sifted, made a kind of flour, the ** best to be had," and accepted as cheerfully as possible. Good flour was made only at distant water-mills, and Mr. James Allin and his associates in the new town of Bloomington, as late as 1832 and 1833, longed for a good steam flour-mill. A wind-mill, owned by Gridley & Covel, located near the corner of Oak and Market, is mentioned as among the early institution8 of Bloomington. Steam saw-mills were built here as early as 1835, several of which went the way of all saw-mills, upward in smoke. Steam grist-mills were not much more fortunate, several being burned from first to last. Among those burned, we will mention Myers' mill, on South Main street, and one owned by E. Rogers, which burned in 1864, situated just east of the Illinois Central Depot. Bloomington can now boast as fine mills as any in the West. The total capacity of all our flour-mills is about three

October 16, 1855, occurred a large fire, where Phoenix Block and other buildings now stand. It swept over nearly the whole square bounded by Front, Main, Washington and Center streets. The loss was estimated at from $80,000 to $120,000. The McLean County Bank and the building adjoining, subsequently used by Dietrich & Bradner as a hardware store, both nearly new buildings at that time, were the only ones of importance that escaped. The four-story building now called Phoenix Block arose from the ashes very speedily. September 8, 1856, a fire occurred on Front street, which destroyed property to the value of $50,000. In September, 1871, a large fire consumed buildings on the east side of Main street, north of North street, destroying property to the value of $60,000. October 31, 1867, the Chicago & Alton Railroad Shops burned, a loss to the Company of at least $100,000. During the year 1877, the city's entire loss by fire was only $9,885 ; insured for $9,305.

Public Debt

From this there should be deducted a certain sum - whose value is unknown - being the amount of back taxes that will actually be paid, which will be large enough to justify the statement that the net debt of Bloomington, city, city school, and township, does not much exceed $400,000, a sum that is large enough to be somewhat burdensome, but not so large as a " larger debt," to use Abraham Lincoln's homely illustration. May 1, 1867, the actual debt of Bloomington, exclusive of school debt, was only $6,497, but the votes for railroad aid taken in 1867, of themselves, added over $200,000 to the township and city debt in that year.

When Bloomington was laid out, the low ground now known as the North Slough was properly named, it being wet and marshy, as was also the South Slough, now called Pone Hollow ; but these were at the time, so far from the village plat as to be thought valuable for drainage, and were considered a long distance out of town. But the city spread itself in all directions, soon overleaped these obstacles, and then went back and occupied the low land, now become dry ground, through which meandered a little stream, with a deep bed and high banks. These water-courses have cut so deep that they have been sufficient to carry off the water without overflow, ever since the wet seasqn of 1858. The land adjacent has been closely occupied by residences and manufactories for many years. The city has now commenced to build a sewer through each of these tracts. The northern one is now completed from Main street, nearly to its western outlet at the main branch, and the southern one has been commenced. When these are finished, our whole city will be of equal value for building purposes.

Public Buildings

The Court House will be spoken of in the history of the county, and we will merely mention here thatjt is one of the best in the State, was commenced in 1868, and cost entire, furniture, sewer, heating apparatus, iron-fence, sidewalk and all, in the neighborhood of $400,000. Prices were then very high, and it is probable the same would now cost about $250,000. The Jail is at the corner of Market and Center streets, and was erected in 1857. It should at once be replaced by a more suitable structure. The city owns two steam fire-engine houses, which answer all purposes, but are not particularly ornamental. During the year 1878, the new City Hall was erected at the corner of North and East streets ; total cost, building and lot, was about $14,000. It is a fine-looking structure, considering its small cost, and will be used as a City Hall and City Prison. The public school-buildings will be described elsewhere. They are the most important of the public buildings owned by the city. The Wesleyan University, which may be considered as a public building, is really the most beautiful structure in Bloomington.

Incorporated Companies

Bloomington has never organized as large a number of incorporated companies as many Western towns have done in the past. There have been several failures, and there are several companies now in existence ; but, as a rule, our citizens have not depended on " by-laws " and " charters " for aid. There was a Bloomington Fire Insurance Company, which comprised our best citizens, and was honorably and fairly conducted ; but, after doing business from 1867 down to 1870, it honorably withdrew from the field. We ought to mention the Bloomington & Normal Railroad Company, which has been of great benefit to the two cities connected, but never a paying venture to the company. The line was built in 1867, and its total cost has been about $60,000.

The Bloomington Manufacturing Company, which purchased Flagg's factory in 1865, after a successful general business, was succeeded in August, 1873, by the

Bloomington Furniture Manufacturing Company. This company has about sixty-five men in its shops, and furnishes employment to over one hundred men, women and -children in this city who take materials to their homes ; while it sends abroad enough more to different reformatory institutions to keep busy about seventy-five persons. The work sent out of the factory is the caning of the seats and backs of chairs, of which this firm makes about fifty different patterns. It manufactures over thirty-five thousand chairs per annum, consuming about two hundred and fifty thousand feet of black walnut lumber, much of which comes from the groves of McLean County. Its capital is $60,000. This company is of great assistance to the laboring people of Bloomington, among whom it disburses about $100 per day. Though the wages paid for outside work seems small, it must be remembered that most of those employed have no other avenue of employment open, and would otherwise remain idle. The President of the company is Peter Whitmer ; Secretary and Manager, I. P. Fell, who has been in office ever since 1873. The Directors are P. Whitmer, K. H. Fell, E. B. Steere, B. F. Hoopes, P. Folsom, C. Wakefield and I. R. Krum. This company has been a success from the start, and appears to demonstrate Bloomington's ability to carry on manufacturing at a profit.

The People's Bank is another successful company, which has built one of the finest buildings in the city. It has stood all the financial storms of the past ten years, and is strong in the confidence of the community. Peter Whitmer is the President, and William Ollis, Cashier.

The National Bank of Bloomington was organized soon after the passage of the national banking act, on the 23d of January, 1865, and has been in operation ever since. It is the successor of the Bank of Bloomington, which was organized in 1857, an institution with a proud record, having withstood the severe crash in 1861, and maintained its notes at par with gold. Its present President is D. M. Funk ; Cashier, E. Thorpe. Among the stockholders of this bank in the past we find the names of Isaac Funk, David Davis, J. H. Robinson, W. W. Orme and others well known in Bloomington history. Mr. Thorpe has been its Cashier ever since its organization as a national bank. Capital stock of the bank, $150,000 ; surplus and undivided profits, about $195,000, making the entire banking capital $345,000.

The National State Bank was started in the summer of 1878. Capital, $50,000. President, Frank Hoblitt ; Vice President, Jacob Funk ; Cashier, A. B. Hoblitt.

Thdse three banks are incorporated, while the McLean County Bank, and that of T. J. Bunn & Co., are private banks or partnerships. The entire banking capital of the city is estimated at nearly $1,000,000.

We can add to these the Bloomington Stove Company, which was organized in 1870, and has been one of the most successful institutions of the place. Its President is Dwight Harwood ; Superintendent, W. P. Brophy. Its stoves are sold all over the West, being of the most approved patterns, of one hundred and fifteen different styles. The company has in its employ from thirty to sixty persons, according to the season. Its factory is located in the northwest part of the city, in the township of Normal. The Empire Machine Works are also within the limits of the town of Normal, though generally classed as belonging to Bloomington.

The Bloomington Gas-light and Coke Company was incorporated in 1855 ; works were soon erected, and by the year 1857, a street was lighted extending all the way from the Illinois Central to the Chicago & Alton Depot, the latter then being near the machine-shops, north of the crossing of Chestnut street. There were also a few lamps around the public square. In 1867, the gas works at the corner of Market and Oak streets were abandoned, and entirely new ones built at the present location. G-en. A. Gridley had then become sole owner. He constructed very permanent buildings, extended the gas mains in every direction, and used every honorable means to induce the City Council to establish lamps on all well-settled streets. There are now about twenty miles of streets upon which there are gas-mains, and the city possesses about four hundred street lamps. Bloomington is a remarkably well lighted city.

California Emigrants

Few of the rising generation have any idea of the excitement that ran through the country at the time of the "gold fever" of 1849 and 1850. For a long series of years - more than twelve - the nation had been passing through a period of the most terrible financial depression. Money had become almost an unknown quantity, and people had about settled into despondency, when suddenly the wonderful stories of the gold discoveries in California flashed through the land. As soon as the truth was ascertained, and it was known that immense quantities of gold had been found, and it was seen that a new empire was to be founded on the Pacific Coast, the rush of adventureous spirits was sudden and enormous. Bloomington - always ready to make a move as quick as any other part of the world - sent a large company in the summer of 1849, who, with teams and outfits mostly gathered here, went the whole distance overland - a toilsome, tedious journey of several months duration.

Among those who went in 1849, we have the names of Col. J. H. Wickizer, Levi Hite, Asa Lillie, Solomon D. Baker, Joseph Duncan, Hiram Baker, Samuel Ashton, J. Jackson, John M. Loving, Daniel B. Robinson, John Greenman, S. A. Adams and John Walker. Out of this number there are now living here in Bloomington, Col. J. H. Wickizer, John M. Loving and John Walker. S. A. Adams lives in Missouri ; S. D. Baker in Virginia City, and Joseph Duncan in San Francisco ; John Greenman, Capt. D. B. Robinson, Hiram Baker and Levi Hite are dead.

On the first of March, 1850, a very large company left Bloomington for California, made up in part from the adjoining towns. At St. Joseph, Mo., they organized in military shape for protection against Indians ; there were about twenty-five wagons, and nearly one hundred men. Hugh Taylor was chosen Captain. The company had tolerably good luck until they nearly reached the gold-fields, when some of them were destitute, and their teams were badly worn down ; but on the whole it was a successful journey.

G. B. Larrison, Lyman Ferre, M. W. Packard, Isaac Strain, J. R. Murphy, Lee Allin and Robert Barnett. Capt. W. P. Withers lives in Missouri ; T. S. Howard in Iowa, and Carey Barney in California. It is a remarkable fact that but two or three of the whole number made even a moderate fortune in California ; but the most of those who

Remarkable Weather

Those who find enough of interest in the state of the weather to furnish daily themes for conversation as they meet casual acquaintances, will do well to read this chapter, and forever after refrain from the common unmeaning remarks they so often drop in regard to the "remarkable weather we are now enjoying." The " Deep Snow," the Freeze," and the "Great Hurricane" which the early settlers witnessed stand out in bold relief as the most wonderful phenomena of the times.

The great hurricane came on the 27th day of June, 1827, or, as given by several authorities, on the 19 th of June. It struck Old Town Timber with fearful severity, and leveled large tracts of heavy timber. There were then no settlers on the prairie, no villages or cities to be leveled, no church-spires to be demolished, or the record of loss and damage would be larger. Some injury is recorded in Blooming Grove, where small tracts of timber were leveled.

The fall of 1830 or 1831, was remarkably mild. Tobacco sprouts are said not to have been killed until December 2, which, if correct, indicates a wonderful state of affairs, as this plant is one of the most tender raised in this latitude.

December 29, 1830, occurred the heaviest fall of snow ever known in the West The first snow was nearly three feet deep, and there were more than a dozen storms subsequently. The full depth appears to have been about forty inches on a level, and this when several snows had fallen and become so compacted that in many places the crust would bear a man. The deer broke through, and wolves chased and caught them frequently, a very unusual circumstance. It was impossible for the pioneers to travel, and families caught without provisions suffered severely. In some settlements the supply of corn and hay was so small that cattle starved, it being impossible to move food any distance. Much of the stock was kept alive by felling trees, and the stock subsisted on the branches. Most families lived on meal obtained by pounding corn by hand. There were a few of the settlers who were caught away from home, and who nearly lost their lives in the toilsome homeward journeys.

The pioneers in Blooming Grove did not suffer much, but were compelled to keep indoors most of the time. Blooming Grove was then old enough to furnish plenty of provisions for such a siege, but those living in detached settlements, particularly new comers in small communities, suffered severely. When the snow went off, after about six weeks of intense cold, the streams were remarkably high, considerably higher, in all probability, than they have ever been since that event. It is probable that a similar winter now would cause immense suffering. Our prairie towns could not obtain coal, or even flour and groceries, as in such a case the railroads would be totally unable to keep open for business.

A few extracts from experiences related in Prof. Duis' " Good Old Times in McLean County " will illustrate the hardships caused by the " Deep Snow." From Robert Guthrie's statement, page 192, we quote the following:

The winter of 1830-31 is remembered as tbe winter of the deep snow. Three days before the snow began falling, Mr. Guthrie and Frederick Trimmer started for St. Louis with teams and wagons to haul goods for James Allin, who had opened a small store where Bloomington now is. 'Ihey intended to be gone only ten days or two weeks, but they did not see their families again for five weeks. They were obliged to leave their goods, wagons and Mr. Guthrie's oxen about fifteen miles the other side of Springfield, and came through with Mr. Trimmer's horses to break the way. During this time, their families were in a state of anxious suspense, and were obliged to live on boiled corn ; indeed, during the whole winter, they had very little to eat except pounded meal. During that winter, Mr. Guthrie sent his children to school, though they had to work their way for a mile through snow that reached nearly to their necks ; but when it became packed, they walked over the crust.

Jonathan Maxson states that during the winter of the deep snow (1830), he and his brother went out where it did not drift nor blow away and took a careful measurement of the depth of the snow with a stick and found it four feet deep. During the early part of that terrible winter, deer were very numerous, but when the deep snow came they were starved and were hunted by famished wolves and by settlers with snow-shoes until they were almost exterminated. Shortly after the snow fell, Mr. Jesse Hiatt killed a very large deer, which he was unable to carry home. He buried it in the snow and covered it with his coat to keep the wolves away. But the snow afterward fell so deep that he was unable to visit the spot for two weeks. At last, he put a harness on one of his horses and went to drag it home. On his return with the deer, he killed three others and attached them also to his horse ; but the load was so hard to drag that he did not return until late at night, when he found the frightened neighbors collected at his house, about to start on a search for him. They had collected on horseback with trumpets and horns and various things with which to make unearthly noises, and were, no doubt, disappointed to find that there was no occasion for their fearful shrieks. The remainder of the night was spent in dressing the deer.

Some of their neighbors caught deer alive by putting on snow-shoes and running them down ; but, toward the latter part of the winter, they were so poor and emaciated that they were hardly worth catching.

The fall of meteors November 14, 1836, though not exactly coming under this head, will be mentioned here. It was a wonderful sight. The heavens were full of shooting stars and meteoric phenomena, which, when witnessed by people living in scattered settlements, may well have caused a feeling of awe, wonder and astonishment.

December 14, 1836, occurred a very sudden change of weather. From a mild, thawy condition of the atmosphere, with the thermometer standing about forty degrees above, the change was almost instantaneous to twenty degrees below zero. The wind came from the northwest, with a howl and a roar, a perfect moving wall \j£ cold, with its edges apparently square and perpendicular. It traveled at the rate of about thirty miles per hour. People were caught on the prairies at various distances from shelter, and quite a number of persons perished, some of them but a short distance from home. Cattle, hogs, and even wild animals were frozen to death. It is evident, from the accounts we have of the effects of the cold, that the thermometer fell much more than twenty degrees below zero, but we have no records of the degree of cold experienced. In modern times, we have read of changes almost as remarkable, in Iowa and Minnesota, but none that will compare with this for suddenness. The people living in those States call these storms "blizzards," a term not invented in 1836. Our sudden freeze must have thrown a chill over the frontier such as we can hardly imagine.

June 23, 1837, a fall of snow surprised our pioneers. It was heavy enough to make the green-leaved trees look white, but no damage resulted.

November 7, 1842, there was another remarkable, sudden freeze, but, while startling in itself, it was not to be compared with its predecessor in 1836.

The year 1844 is known to Western history as the wet season. It rained nearly all summer, only ceasing late in August, and crops were very light indeed. Traveling was a constant succession of wading and swimming, as most of the streams were destitute of bridges. This was the year when the river was so high at St. Louis, and when the old town of Kaskaskia was nearly ruined by the overflow. Those of our pioneers who remained at home did not suffer particularly, except from the annoyances incident to constant mud and moisture.

The summer of 1854 will long be remembered as the " dry season," almost as long as that of 1844 will be spoken of for its opposite characteristic. Sugar Creek went entirely dry ; wells dried up all over the city ; water was purchased by many people, and at one time it began to be feared that Bloomington would not be able to obtain a supply. People traveling through the country often suffered with their teams before they could obtain water, and cattle ran wild with thirst, rushing to the Mackinaw and streams that were not exhausted, like droves of demons. Some of our citizens conceived the idea of artesian wells, and efforts were made in that direction, but none of them gave any encouragement.

January 9, 1856, was remarkably cold, the thermometer being twenty-eight degrees below zero. There were several intensely cold days during the winter, some of them having followed soon after warm weather, and thus causing the death of apple and peach trees all through this region. All the peach-trees were killed down to their roots, and many whole orchards of apple-trees were entirely, others partially, ruined.

The summer of 1858, was another wet season - nearly as bad as that of 1844. McLean County suffered very severely during that summer, as wheat and corn both were injured. Wheat was killed the winter previous, and as at this time, the whole county was raising winter wheat - induced by the high prices of the Crimea war - it happened that great financial distress was caused by the unfavorable yield of both wheat and corn.

June 7, 1859, a severe cold spell formed ice in Bloomington one-eighth of an inch thick. The frost cut all the corn to the ground and killed the young leaves on hickory and other forest trees. The corn crop was supposed to be ruined, but, fortunately, the weather was so favorable that late-planted corn matured finely. The largest and earliest of the crop was the most injured, that which had just come out of the ground at the time of the frost or that which was only two inches high, came up from the roots again and went forward at once. Some of the early corn was six inches high and was, of course ruined. Most of the youngest corn that was left to nature came on better than that which was replanted, and there was a fair crop.

The year 1863, is noted as the one in which there was frost every month in the summer. In August, a very heavy frost destroyed much of the corn, and in September, another ruined most of that which had escaped in August. Owing to this cause and the war demand, the price of corn ran up to $1.15 a bushel in Bloomington before the next crop was harvested.

January 1, 1864, occurred a terrible snowstorm. The wind blew a perfect gale from the northwest, and at the same time a heavy fall of light snow filled the air and made travel almost impossible. The thermometer was twenty degrees below zero during the storm and it continued as cold for the next two days. Cattle and sheep gave- nip to the fury of the storm, drifted away before the wind and large numbers of sheep lost their lives. The railroads were blockaded, the Chicago & Alton trains not being able to pass from Springfield to Bloomington for three days, nor from Bloomington to Joliet for eight or nine days.

The great sleet of January 13, 1871, was an event that should be noted. The forest trees around Bloomington and the shrubbery in private yards were irreparably injured. The sleet was equivalent to more than an inch of rain. Telegraph poles were broken, and in many cases all the large limbs broke from trees. Nearly one-third of the foliage-bearing branches were thus crushed ; whole trees fell down and the damage to our fruit and shade trees is still plainly visible.

In the winter of 1873, during an intensely cold spell, when the thermometer had fallen about twenty degrees below zero, the wind changed in the night to the south, and, for a few hours, there was most a remarkably low temperature, with a high south wind. At one time, the thermometer was from twenty-six to thirty-two degrees below zero, according to the instrument and its exposure.

The winter of 1877 and 1878, will long be remembered on account of its extreme mildness. At no time was the ice in the vicinity of Bloomington over three inches in thickness. The entire winter was about as mild as average April weather. Rains were frequent, often very heavy, and, before the 1st of January, the roads were impassable, and remained so from about January 1 to the middle of March. Business of all kinds was nearly suspended, and a general gloom pervaded the community.

The following winter was just the reverse. Snow fell early in December, followed by fifteen inches of level snow on the 13th of December, which remained for nearly six weeks. The sleighing was the best ever known, and was enjoyed to the fullest extent. Washington street was, by general consent, given up to the fast-stepping horses for which Bloomington is so famous, and was crowded with gay and happy parties every afternoon - often as many as fifty-five teams being visible at one time. Near the close of the sleighing season, on the 11th of January, 1879, there was a grand sleighing carnival, or free ride, for all the children of the city, participated in by nearly three thousand. It was a sight long to be remembered. There were over two hundred -sleighs, of all sorts and sizes, many of them gayly decorated with flags and streamers. Thousands of spectators lined the streets, and the excitement and enthusiasm were both novel and pleasant.

Our list will close with the mention of the five cold mornings in January, 1879. January 2, the thermometer was twenty degrees below zero; on the 3d, twenty-eight; on the 4th, seventeen ; on the 5th, twenty ; and on the 6th, ten degrees below - making, probably, five of the coldest days ever known in such close connection.

Events During The War

Bloomington is entitled to rank with the most patriotic cities in the land. It can show a proud record from the time when its citizens volunteered to aid the settlers of the exposed northern frontiers of Illinois to the last day of the civil war. Its list of heroes must be included in the county's record, as there is no way of fairly separating the city from the county ; but it is proper that we mention some of the stirring events that took place in the city itself.

When Fort Sumter was fired on, and the President's call for volunteers appeared, in April, 1861, our city was not behind the rest of the land in its readiness to respond,

A public meeting was held at once, when speeches were made that gave evidence of the patriotic feelings of the people. The enthusiasm for the old flag was deep and earnest. shouts and excitement abounded. Volunteers were called for, and in an incredibly short time, a company was raised for the three-months service called for, largely made up of energetic, enthusiastic young men from this city. In three or four days, the company left for Springfield, under Capt. Harvey, and it served its time at Cairo.

As soon as this company was full, several other companies were at once organized, For a few days it seemed as if every able-bodied man would volunteer. Four or five companies were drilling daily, made up from all classes of citizens. Had the Government been able to take all the troops offered, there is no doubt that at least six hundred men would have enlisted at once, in the month of May, from Bloomington alone. The day that the first company, under Capt. Harvey, left town, and also the day of their return from Cairo, are memorable events. On both occasions, the streets were literally crowded with spectators. The first was a time of the deepest and most poignant affliction ; the last was a season of joy and gratitude. These two events were repeated over and over again during the next few years ; but never were equaled in intensity of feeling, except on the days of the leaving and returning of the entire McLean County regiment - the Ninety- fourth Illinois Volunteers - which left August 25, 1862, and returned August; 9, 1865.

August 26, 1861, about three hundred of the men of the Thirty-third Illinois Regiment left this city and county for Springfield, and again was there leave-taking and patriotic excitement in our streets. This regiment included one company (A) of students from Normal, and one company made up largely from Bloomington. The latter was Company C, of which E. R. Roe was Captain. Roe edited the Democratic Statesman at the time. He was soon promoted, and his place was filled by Capt. E. J. Lewis, who unlisted in the company as a private soldier. Lewis edited the Pantagraph at the time the war broke out, served with great credit until the close of the war, and again edited the same paper for five or six years after his return.

It was noticed, as the war became an old story, that the departure of troops grew to be more and more an individual matter, left by the public mainly to those interested - the departing soldier and his intimate friends and relatives ; but at the close, every detachment that returned was welcomed most enthusiastically.

The excitement caused by the destruction, in August, 1862, of the Bloomington Times, a sheet with Southern sympathies too strong for this latitude, was most intense. The soldiers of the Ninety-fourth Regiment performed this job, aided by uncontrollable spirits who were willing to assist when sure that the blame or praise would be awarded to the departing volunteers.

On the 2d of September, 1862, a dispatch was received from Springfield at about midnight, calling for 200 men, instantly, to guard a large detachment of rebels stationed at Camp Butler. The fire-bells were rung; the public responded; the state of the case explained ; the required number was enlisted in a few hours, and a little after daylight made their appearance at Springfield, creating the utmost astonishment at the patriotic promptitude with which our citizens volunteered. Old men, boys and cripples went on this expedition as readily as the able-bodied. It appeared some one at Springfield had an idea the rebel prisoners might make an attempt to escape, and relied on Bloomington's well-known habit of prompt and instantaneous action, to call together,

During the early part of the year 1862, several soldiers' funerals took place at Bloomington, stirring the city to its very heart. Among the most noted, we may mention that of Lieut. Joseph G-. Howell, who had enlisted at the first call in 1861, resigning his place as Principal of the Model School at Normal. He was a noble young man, with troops of warm friends. He was killed at Fort Donelson. Capt. Harvey, killed a little later, at Pittsburg LandiDg, was honored with a public funeral, and the city was plunged in grief once more. We should also mention Col. Hogg's and Col. William McCullough's funerals, and others.