LaPorte County, Indiana - Chapter 27: Architecture and Public Works, 1904

The first court house of LaPorte county, or the first building used as such, was a frame structure owned by George Thomas. This was not George Thomas' first home, which was a log cabin, but a frame building erected after July, 1832. In that month Captain A. P. and James Andrew had set up a steam saw-mill just west of the village, and from that time frame build¬ ings began to appear. Arrangements were made by the county commissioners with George Thomas to occupy his new building for county purposes until the county could erect its own court house. This building was used for the sessions of the commissioners and circuit court, as a post office, and for other offices. Colonel Willard A. Place, who did not arrive in the county with his family until 1832, assisted in erecting this building. He afterwards purchased it and moved it onto his own land for a residence. Its dimensions were sixteen by twenty-four feet. This was the court house until the first court house proper was built. Steps were soon taken to provide the county with buildings of its own. A plan and very careful specifications were adopted for the building of a court house, and the contract was let to Simon G. Bunce. The specifications cover several pages of the county records. The building was to be forty feet square, of brick, and to be located in the center of the public square, at a cost of $3,975. The rooms for the county business were on the first floor, and the court room on the second, to which stair cases led on the inside near the entrance. It may be interesting to note the specifications of the cupola. This was to be three stories in height; the first to be nine feet high, twelve feet square, with a round window on each side, and a fancy sash. The second story was to be an octagon, ten feet in height, with a window on each side closed by a Venetian blind, and the comers ornamented with turned colmuns, and a suitable-sized urn to stand over each comer of the square first story. The third story was a dome, six feet six inches in height, to be covered with tin, and on this was to be a shaft six inches high, above the top of the round dome; and let into the top of the shaft was to be an iron bar or spire holding, at its connection with the shaft, a copper ball two feet in diameter, laid with gold leaf ; half way from there to the top, another copper ball one foot in diameter, and on top of the spire a wooden ball painted black and six inches in diameter. The contract was let in August, 1833, and called for the completion of the brick work by October, 1834, for the house to be enclosed by November 1, 1834, and for the whole to be finished by June 1, 1835. This seems a long time; but in those days, when nearly everything must be made by hand, work could progress but slowly. The people thought that they were getting a grand building, but after a time the brick walls began to crack, and the open- in g became so serious that it was necessary to put iron bands on the house, and run rods through, and by means of threads and nuts draw the walls together. These iron rods were two inches in diameter, and the iron on the out¬ side. which served as a washer and to hold the walls, was in the shape of a large S. The rods ran through the building on the floor of the court room, and in passing along the room each per¬ son had to step over them. Many a ludicrous fall was occasioned by them. The front steps of the court house consisted of two square sticks of timber, eight or ten feet long. The next step was the door sill. The structure had a squatty appearance. Thus protected with iron rods, the court house served as the seat of justice for about fifteen years, and was the scene of many im¬ portant trials, notably the Scott-Coplin murder trial. Late in the forties the subject began to be agitated of building a new court house.

On August 9, 1847, board of commis¬ sioners ordered that West Darling, one of their number, go to Chicago for the purpose of procuring a plan and specifications for a new court house. They appropriated six dollars to defray his expenses. On September 28 the Board de¬ cided to advertise in the LaPorte County Whig and in the Michigan City News for sealed pro¬ posals for building the new court house accord¬ ing to the plan and specifications which had been placed on file in the auditors office, bids to be received until Monday, the 15th day of the next November. On that day the commissioners held a session to examine the proposals, and awarded the conrtact to Luther Mann, Jr., and negotiated a loan of $1,000 from A. P. Andrew to enable Mr. Mann to begin operations. At that time the question was being agitated in LaPorte of build¬ ing a town hall, which was much needed. It was discussed in the LaPorte County Whig and the proposal was made to have the hall in the base¬ ment of the new court house. It was thought by many that this would be a great advantage in the saving of expense. On the same day when they awarded the contract as above stated, the com¬ missioners passed an order allowing the con¬ tractor, Mr. Mann, to build a town hall in the basement of the court house, provided that it make no extra expense for the county, and not interfere with the accepted plan and specifications drawn by Mr. Vanosdell, and that it always be free to the citizens in general of the county and. the citizens of LaPorte. For some time the mat¬ ter was in suspense, and the contractor proceeded slowly, not knowing what the citizens of LaPorte would do about it; but the project was finally abandoned, not assuming definite official form, and the building of the court house proceeded without making any provision for a town hall.

On July 20, 1849, the commissioners, con¬ sisting of Christopher McClure, Joel Butler, and Samuel Burson, considered the court house to be completed in a workmanlike manner according to contract, and ordered the same occupied as a court house, and the sheriff to take charge of the same. No public, religious or political meetings were to be held in it after candle lighting. The structure was built of brick, and had a portico supported by two pillars, with an attempt at the Grecian style of architecture; though in front it had rather a mongrel cupola which resembled a church tower, giving the whole structure more the appearance of a church than a court house. The cupola consisted of a base and two stories, in the lower of which was a new bell which the commissioners purchased for the purpose, and in the upper a place for a clock, the upper story being covered with an unpretentious dome topped with a shaft and weather vane. Inside there was a court room with galleries, and there were jury rooms at the rear. The cost, exclusive of the walks, was $9,681.

In 1862 Luther Mann, Jr., the contractor for the court house, was Indian agent at Fort Bridger in Utah, about one hundred and twenty miles this side of Salt Lake City.

On the same day when the commissioners awarded the contract for building this court house they accepted two buildings which A. P. Andrew had contracted to construct in the court house square for the county offices, and allowed him $1,000 for the same, and ordered that the west room of the easternmost building be used for the clerk's office, that the other room in the same building be used for the recorder's office, that the east room of the westernmost building be used for the auditor's office, and that those officers take charge of the respective rooms as soon as circumstances would admit. These buildings will be remembered by many as stand- ing on either side of the court house, the one .on the east with the gable toward Michigan ave¬ nue, and the one on the west with the gable toward Indiana avenue. For over forty years these buildings served as the county offices, and the court house as the seat of justice. Many important cases were tried in it, and its walls often echoed with the persuasive eloquence of the lawyers; for in the LaPorte county bar there have been able and famous men. During the Civil war, and at other times, speakers of national reputation addressed the people of the county in this court room and from the court house steps, all of which*, if it were preserved in tangible form, would make this historic spot second in fame to no other county seat in the state.

But in the nineties these buildings were thought to be too small, inconvenient and anti¬ quated to serve their purpose, and they gave place to a new court house, the present fine struc¬ ture, the corner stone of which was laid on June 30, 1892, by the Grand Lodge of Free and Ac¬ cepted Masons of the State of Indiana. On that day there was a grand parade. The first division of the procession consisted of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias, headed by a band; the sec¬ ond division consisted of Firemen, Sons of Vet¬ erans, Knights of Maccabees, and other orders, headed by a band ; the third division consisted of Excelsior lodge No. 41, F. & A. M., other Masonic lodges, the Knights Templar, and the Grand Lodge, headed by a band ; and the fourth division consisted of the county commissioners, the Mayor and Common Council of Michigan City, the Mayor and Common Council of La¬ Porte, county officers and citizens. There was a long line of march, with mounted marshals and aids. Uriah Gilbert was grand marshal, George H. Carter - since deceased - was first assistant grand marshal, and E. R. Hart was second assistant grand marshal. The general committee were William Frederickson, James H. Buck, and John W. Pottinger. The corner stone was laid with impressive ceremonies, and it was a great day for LaPorte and the county.

The new court house was completed as to all the walks and grounds in 1894. It has a frontage of one hundred and fourteen feet on Main street, and extends one hundred and forty-four feet at the sides. It is built of Portage Entry red sand¬ stone from the east shore of Lake Superior, and its walls are backed with brick. Its elevation is seventy feet from the ground to the roof. It has a central tower twenty-three feet square at the base, and one hundred and seventy 'feet high, within which are an excellent clock, and a deeptoned bell that strikes the hours. On the upper floor it has a spacious court room in front, a smaller court room at the rear, commodious and convenient jury rooms, judge's chambers, etc. On the second floor it has convenient rooms and vaults for all the departments of the county busi¬ ness. On the ground floor are offices, sitting rooms for the accommodation of farmers and their families when they are in jown, toilet rooms, etc. It is of excellent design and workmanship. It stands in the center of a spacious square with well kept lawns, good stone walks and curb¬ ing. Just outside the wide side-walk at the sides and rear are iron hitching rails, but the front is always kept clear of teams. The cost of the whole in round numbers was over $300,000, and withal it is a structure of which any county might be proud.

When Captain A. P. Andrew, Jr., contracted to erect the office buildings which flanked the second court house, it was stipulated that he also provide a temporary ^place for the sessions of the court for two years, and that in return he receive the old court house and $1000. Where¬ upon the Michigan City News , then edited by Mr. Thomas Jemegan, complained bitterly that the board of Whig commissioners were giving Mr. Andrew a great plum, and outlined several other plans which it claimed would have been better and more economical to the county. In reply Mr. Andrew came out in the LaPorte County Whig and defended himself and showed up the other side ; all of which shows that politics then was very much like politics now, and that the party out of power is bound to complain of the party in power. With few changes, almost the identical words of one party can be used by the other party when it comes into the same cir¬ cumstances, and indeed this is often done.

On the site of the present city hall of La¬ Porte, stood the old city hall, a frame building in which was also the jail. This building became inadequate to the needs of the city, and hence a new city hall was built. The corner stone of the new city hall was laid Thursday, September 3, 1885, under the auspices of the Masonic fra¬ ternity. Brothers Amenzo Mann and Harry Shannon acted as marshals. After the procession the impressive services of the Masonic fraternity took place, and the comer stone was formally deposited in its place. General Packard de¬ livered one of his choice addresses, at the close of which "America" was played by the bands. The exercises of. the day ended with benediction by the grand chaplin, Rev. A. G. Jennings, now of Toledo, then Unitarian minister in LaPorte. The building is 115 feet deep, has a frontage of 41 feet 4 inches, and is three stories high, being composed of brick, stone and wood. It was com¬ pleted April 17, 1886, having been erected at a cost of $17,775. The rear room, the dimensions of which are 35x40, is supplied with iron cages, and was intended for the city jail. The commit¬ tee on public improvements of the city council, who had the entire supervision of the building, consisted of councilmen Jackson, Kreidler and Plambeack, who later resigned and King took his place. The old city hall was purchased by Mr. William Martin and moved away.

The public water works of LaPorte and Michigan City have been described in former chapters. During the last years of the century just closed, it was thought that the inland lakes, from which LaPorte was drawing her water sup¬ ply, would soon prove insufficient. They were lowering rapidly and their beauty as summer resorts were being destroyed. There was much public agitation on the subject, public meetings and elections were held, and the result of it all was that, in 1899, the LaPorte Water Supply Company was organized, a franchise given to it, wires were run and a water main laid to the Lit¬ tle Kankakee, east of town and water works were built there to be run by electricity in con¬ nection with the works in town, all at an expense of $105,000. In the contract with the Water Supply Company, the city obligated itself to pay $10,800 per year, water rentals, for twenty years. It subscribed for $30,000 stock in the La¬ Porte Water Supply Company, for which it paid $30,000 cash. Certain citizens claimed that this was a high-handed proceeding, that there was crookedness in it, and they put it into the courts asking an injunction to prevent the city from paying money to the Water Supply Company. They were beaten in the lower court, gained their case on appeal to the Supreme Court of the state, the case came back to the local court, and is now pending.

Another public work is the harbor at Mich¬ igan City. The builders of that town had to overcome very great obstacles. To say nothing of subduing the wilderness on the land, they had no harbor. Trail creek, deep enough for shipping before it reached its mouth, was obstructed there by a sand bar over which it slowly made its way to the lake, and where the water was so shallow that a person could readily wade through it. No vessel could come over it to the sheltered \yater of the stream. Not only so, but vessels of prdinary size could not reach the wharf, but must anchor some distance away and land merchandise by means of lighters. In this way all of the enor¬ mous importations and exportations of Michigan City was conducted during the first years of her existence. Yet such were the pluck, energy, hope and confidence of these men in the ultimate success of their enterprise, that they persevered. With reference to some of these men a writer of that period says :

"These gentlemen, originally from the State of New York, were among the first settlers here; they have distinguished themselves not only by their enterprise and the urbanity of their de¬ portment to strangers, but also by their many generous sacrifices for the best interests and prosperity of the place. In such hands, with such advantages, and impelled by such a population as now resides here, Michigan City only asks for the single assistance which has been given to almost every state in the Union except Indiana - a harbor; this granted, as doubtless it will be at the next Congress, and Michigan City will be seen rising with giant strength to claim her rank and station among the cities of the Western world."

Sure enough, Congress at its next session, 1835-6, appropriated $20,000 for the purpose of making a harbor at Michigan City, and the work began under the immediate supervision of Cap¬ tain Ward B. Burnet, of the engineer bureau, and has had a checkered history. It would seem that the work began to be felt at once ; for on the

Fourth of July, 1836, the first vessel, the Sea Serpent, was brought over the bar into Trail creek, giving occasion for the general jollifica¬ tion related in Chapter XV.

In 1837 the government made an appropria¬ tion of $30,000, and the further work of the har¬ bor was placed in the hands of Captain Stockton. These two appropriations were made while Jackson was president. The third came during the administration of Martin Van Buren, and Wks made to cover the two years of 1838 and 1839. Captain Stockton continued in charge of the har¬ bor work until 1841, when he was succeeded by Major J. R. Bowes, of the Engineer Corps. With the first three appropriations much valua¬ ble improvement was made, materials were pur¬ chased, such as timber, stone and iron, piles were driven, a dredge and scows built, necessary buildings erected, and all the preparations made for pushing the work forward with the utmost -expedition. Piers were built into the lake until a depth of eighteen feet of water, was reached, and the channel was partially dredged out so as to admit vessels of two hundred tons easily and safely inside the harbor between the piers. But more than one-half the money derived from the first three appropriations was expended for materials, shops, the dredge, horses, scows, etc., including more than $20,000 worth of hewn oak timber. To obtain any benefit from all this it was necessary that the appropriations be con¬ tinued until the completion of the work. But several years were allowed to pass before the fourth appropriation was made. During all this period, everything about the harbor stood still. The shops were closed up, the horses were sold for a small part of the original cost, the dredge, scows* and tenders, tied up in the stream, were going rapidly to decay, the splendid lot of oak timber, which cost more than $20,000, either rotted or was sold to individuals at less than onefifth of its cost to the government, and the un¬ finished pier, left to the mercy of the wind and waves, was soon seriously damaged.

Meantime the people of New Buffalo were putting in their claim for a government appro¬ priation to make a harbor at that place, and the LaPorte County Whig had begun to take sides with them. This was just before Myron H. Orton became editor of the Whig . The editor of the Michigan City Gazette, James M. Stewart, took up the cudgel and went on to show that the Whig was very unfair and unwise; that if New Buffalo got the harbor, while it might make an outlet for Indiana grain, yet being in Michigan, that place would pay no taxes to Indiana; and, moreover, that the people would cut a road through to Niles and have all the travel from the east come to New Buffalo and thence by water to Chicago, so cutting out LaPorte county. The Gazette quoted from Captain Cram, a United States officer who had recently made estimates, to show that the cost of completing the harbor at Michigan City would be less than that of com¬ pleting the harbor either at Chicago or at St. Joseph. Captain Cram did not even mention New Buffalo, of which a good point was made by the Gazette . Then the Niles Republican took the matter up and claimed the government should make its appropriations where there was good prospect of success, and not at Michigan City, where the matter was an experiment. But the Gazette soon demolished that argument. From all this it will be seen that Michigan City was alive to the necessity of making earnest efforts to secure harbor appropriations from the govern¬ ment.

In 1842 Colonel Abert of the United States service, in his report to the government, classed Michigan City harbor among those works for which appropriations should be made only with a view to preservation, and not with a view to the progress of the work. Thereupon the mayor and council of Michigan City drew up a memo¬ rial to the Congress of the United States, expressing regret at the report of Colonel Abert. The memorial set forth the importance of a port at Michigan City, both from a military and commerical point of view; described the remarkable progress which had been made ; stated that about $110,000 had already been appropriated and ex¬ pended on the harbor; and that if it were com¬ pleted it would afford increased facilities for re¬ ceiving and shipping merchandise. As proof of the need of this, the memorial gave the follow¬ ing table of imports and exports : -

The above table was gathered from the for¬ warding merchants alone. Besides all this, thou¬ sands were annually received and exported, the amount of which there was no means of know¬ ing. There were also several forwarding mer¬ chants who had sunk under the embarrassments of the times, and there was no means of getting the amount of business transacted by their houses. At the time the above table was made there were in store, and which could not be ship¬ ped the previous season owing to the danger to vessels of visiting the southern bend of Lake Michigan, over 30,000 bushels of wheat, 20,000 bushels of corn, 700 barrels of whiskey, 200 bar¬ rels of flour, with a large amount of other prod¬ ucts of the soil. The memorial set forth that the government was not dealing as fairly with Indi¬ ana as with other states; that it was incredible that the sum which Colonel Abert had recom¬ mended could be expended "for the preservation and repairs" of the harbor works with the least benefit to the state ; that Colonel Abert must have made his report from an insufficient knowledge of the facts ; that the report of Captain Cram took an entirely different view of the situation; and that Congress should investigate the matter.

This memorial, the substance of which is here given, bears date of January' 15, 1842, and is signed by Andrew McClain, Archibald Stoneman, Oren Gould, W. W. Taylor, and Samuel Dresden, aldermen of Michigan City; and at¬ tested by W. W. Taylor, recorder pro tern.

At length, in 1844, the fourth appropriation of was made by the government, an appropriation of $25,000, which was all expended in patching up the waste and destruction of former years, and then the work ceased. There was no more money to go forward with the work, and that which had been expended might as well have been thrown into the lake, except that it gave employment to laborers. The remains of the material, the toolsand implements, were all sold for a mere trifle, and Ithe buildings were carried away or fell gradually to pieces. The dredge, after its engine was taken out, was removed into the stream, where it sank; though it was afterwards raised and sold for $50, its original cost being $10,000. The scows and tenders were driven by the floods, into the lake and lost.

In the first session of Congress in 1844, the Hon. S. C. Sample secured a liberal appropria¬ tion for the harbor at Michigan City, but it was vetoed by President Polk. On Wednesday, April 7, 1842, a meeting of citizens was held in the common council rooms of Michigan City, at which John Francis, Esq., was president, and Thomas Jernegan secretary. The purpose was to appoint delegates to the Harbor and River Convention, to be held in Chicago on July 5. But a committee was also chosen to draw up a set of resolutions expressing the sense of the meet¬ ing, and report at an adjourned meeting. That committee consisted of J. G. Sleight, T. Jemegan, W. H. Goodhue, C. B. Blair, E. Fulsom,. W. W. Higgins, and J. R. Wells. The ad¬ journed meeting was held on Thursday, April 29, at which the committee reported, and the meeting adopted a set of resolutions setting forth the whole case, and expressing regret for, and condemnation of, the President's unwise use of his prerogative in vetoing the harbor and river bills. On the 12th of June there was a county meeting at La Porte to choose delegates to attend the Harbor and River convention. The object of the convention was to place before the whole country the national importance of improving, by government appropriations, our navigable rivers and lake harbors. It was a protest against, and rebuke of, President Polk's policy.

Meantime the Blairs and others had built piers, and the country had come under the ad¬ ministration of President Taylor, who promised that bills for river and harbor improvement would receive his approval. In 1852 a fifth ap¬ propriation was made by the government, which seems to have been used in destroying what little was yet left of the former work. A new outfit of tools and some material were pur¬ chased, and the remainder was spent in a futile experiment with a new kind of crib which was sunk without the support of the proper piles, and was dashed to pieces by the storms and ice of the succeeding winter. To build the neW crib, the stones which had been placed in the old pier were removed and used, and they too were all washed away and lost, leaving literally "not one stone upon another" to tell the story of the many thousands of dollars which had been sunk in sand and water. From this time noth¬ ing was done by the government for fifteen years on the harbor, and hope fled from Michigan City.

But despondency was not to last. The ener¬ getic spirit of enterprise which characterized the men of Michigan City soon asserted itself, and they determined to build a harbor themselves. In 1865 they obtained from Congress a relin¬ quishment of the old works and the right to build where they had been. Then they organized the Michigan City Harbor Company, of which John Barker was president during its whole ex¬ istence. In 1866 and 1867, having procured heavy voluntary subscriptions from the citizens, they proceeded with the work, expending in a most judicious and economical manner about $109,000. Two piers were built into the lake; one extended a thousand, and the other a thou¬ sand two hundred feet.; they were strong and well secured, supported by piles driven through the sand and into the tough blue clay which forms the bottom of the lake. The entrance between the piers was two hundred feet wide, and the water was at that point from fifteen to twenty feet deep. Thus these men proved what had been doubted, that a permanent harbor could be made. They who are opposed to socialism will find here an argument that private enterprise is superior to that of the government. But on the other hand it was held by the men of Michigan City, that harbor and river im¬ provement was of such a nature that private enterprise necessarily could not carry it on. This was the argument which they used to the government. And ultimately they were compelled to return to it. For they expended all their available means and were unable to obtain further subscriptions, and hence they applied to Congress to finish the work they had so well begun, and that body in 1867 made an appropriation of $75,000. With this assist¬ ance the work was pushed forward with energy and success, under the supervision of a govern¬ ment officer, Captain E. Bennett. The next year, 1868, the secretary of war, out of the general appropriation for rivers and harbors, allotted $25,000 to Michigan City. In the spring of 1869 Congress again made a general appropria¬ tion to be distributed by the secretary of war, and out of it this harbor received $31,500. This amount, with the unexpended balances of former appropriations, enabled Captain Bennett, who so managed the funds entrusted to his charge that not a dollar was misapplied or wasted, to extend, enlarge and deepen the channel until vessels of ordinary draft could enter it with ease and safety, and a large trade arose in lum¬ ber, iron ore, lath, lime, plaster, salt, and other heavy commodities. It was evident that with further enlarged* facilities a large commercial trade would center at this point.

But while the harbor was of vast importance to Michigan City in a commercial point of view, it was clear that a good harbor here would be of equal importance to the general commerce of the lakes. The chief of the bureau of engineers. General A. A. Humphrey, became convinced of the necessity of its use as a harbor of refuge for lake shipping, and he recommended to Con¬ gress increased appropriations for this purpose. In 1870 Congress appropriated $25,000, in 1871 $15,000, in 1872 $50,000, in 1873 $50,000 and from that day to this other appropriations have from time to time been made. In 1872 steps were taken to build an outside harbor or har¬ bor of refuge; that is a sufficient surface area of deep water sheltered by piers or breakwaters from the great waves and storms of the lake, so that vessels could enter and ride safely at anchor or moorings. This outside harbor has been built, and the inside harbor has been en¬ larged by dredging farther up the creek, until Michigan City now has plenty of dock room which is perfectly safe. The inside work has been done by the corporation of Michigan City. In 1869 the city created the office of harbor mas¬ ter. Later in the same year the city passed an ordinance compelling property owners on Trail creek to build sea walls, and still later in the same year an ordinance for regulating dock charges. In 1870 the city passed an ordinance for dredging Trail creek and establishing a line of docks there. In 1871 the dock and sea walls were improved. In 1872 sea walls were con¬ structed on the north side of Trail creek. In 1874 property owners along Trail creek were compelled to build docks and keep them in re¬ pair. In 1875 the harbor was further im¬ proved. In 1878 docks were built along the ex¬ tension of the harbor. In 1900 an ordinance was passed for the widening, extension and im¬ provement of the harbor, all of which shows that the city has been interested in its inside harbor facilities.

Meantime work on the outside harbor has progressed. New breakwaters were built at the harbor entrance, but since their construction there has always been a current constantly sweeping past the harbor's mouth from east to west, accentuated by north to* northeast gales, causing shipmasters to dread entering the river, and many wrecks have come from it, including that of the big steamer Tuttle several years ago. Sailing vessels have been more particularly menaced by it. Government engineers have made many plans and tried several expedients, but they have not until recently succeeded in freeing the harbor from the danger.

The old harbor entrance comprised two par¬ allel spurs of pier, extending from 400 to 500 feet from shore, the width being but 300 feet, and the entrance had no protecting sea walls. In planning to divert the current and to make the entrance larger and safer, the government built a 6oo-foot extension to the east breakwater and also constructed a detached breakwater 1,300 feet long, and situated several hundred feet from the entrance, to protect the harbor from the north¬ west gales.

The entrance formed by the two new struc¬ tures is 600 feet wide. The last of the cribs for the detached breakwater was sunk in August, 1903, and the superstructure was finished in June. 1904. With solemn and impressive cere¬ monies the last drift bolt was driven home on June 10th. in the presence of quite a large gath¬ ering. The ceremonies occurred shortly after 2 o'clock and were under the supervision of Junior Engineer E. C. Bowen and G. G. Oliver. The former furnished the brawn that sent the bolt to its new home and the latter acted as spon¬ sor for the new structure. The new detached

Marine men now regard this harbor one of the safest on the lake, but some further improve¬ ments are needed to make it one of the best. The government engineering department in charge of *the Lake Michigan district of the great lakes has plans for widening a portion of the inner harbor and cutting out a sharp bend above the life-saving station, around which large boats have difficulty in turning. It is designed also to make this a deep-water harbor by dredg¬ ing it to a depth of 18 feet. The land that is needed for widening the inner harbor has been acquired by the city. On March 7, 1904, the common council of Michigan City by resolution urged upon Congressman E. D. Crumpacker the necessity of making these last improvements, and it is believed that an appropriation will be made for the purpose, after which the harbor will be not only one of the safest but also one of the best on the lakes.

Michigan City has been interested in her navigation. In 1878 she declared that she was jealous of LaPorte since the streets of LaPorte had become navigable. This cause of jealousy no longer exists, for the streets of LaPorte are no longer flooded and miry but well kept and paved, and bordered by fine cement walks. The highways of Michigan City also have been given much attention, and many of the streets are ex¬ cellently paved with brick and have cement walks. And it is remarkable how this shortens distances. Once there were no walks on Wash¬ ington street in Michigan City, and there was no building of any importance from the Ames cor¬ ner at Sixth street to the Wells or Thornton corner, the lot now occupied by Mr. Norton Bar¬ ker's house, and it seemed a long distance ''away up on the barrens" as the people used to call it, or "away up on the sandy woods," which was quite appropriate as the place was almost sur¬ rounded by a grove of grand old native oaks. But with our modern walks it is but a step.

Closely associated with the harbor and Trail creek, is the iron draw-bridge across the creek at the foot of Franklin street. It is an excellent bridge, revolving on its center, swinging around lengthwise with the current so as to allow boats to pass either side of it, and easily operated by the keeper. On December i, 1890, the city bonded itself for $10,000 to pay for it, and the county commissioners allowed $5,000, which was accepted by the city September 14, 1892. Its use is regulated by ordinance.

The present life-saving station was built in 1889, when, by an act of Congress* twelve or fourteen stations were established in the twelfth district, which includes practically all of Lake Michigan. Captain Henry Finch was the first captain, and it was he who fitted out the present station. He was captain of the crew until the year 1895, and for a year his position was filled by No. 1, who is the man next in rank to the captain. In 1897 Captain A. A. Kent took com¬ mand of the crew, and he holds the office of cap¬ tain at the present time. The station has done good service, many are the lives it has saved, and some thrilling stories might be related con¬ cerning its work.

Once Michigan City had a public square and cared for it, but it was sold. Again, Block 47 of Elston's survey was dedicated as public grounds. But these did not compare with the present City Park. There, John H. Winterbotham erected the Soldiers' Monument, at a cost of about $15,000. In the year 1893 it was com¬ pleted and dedicated to those who fought and died in the Civil war. By an act of the legisla¬ ture the city was enabled to open the park in which the Soldiers' Monument stands. The land was obtained partly by condemnation and partly by purchase. It is beautifully situated on the lake shore. The funds were obtained by selling a part of the old public square. The artistic bandstand and peristyle which stand in about the middle of the park were donated by the Hon. John H. Barker, of Michigan City, to whom, as a true philanthropist, the city owes most of this beautiful breathing spot, and for all time will the park remain a monument to his liberality and public-spirited enterprise. A certain portion of the park has been set aside for amusement pur¬ poses, and once a week in good weather band concerts are given in the bandstand, and the attendance of thousands proves their popularity.

The first board of park commissioners was appointed June 30, 1892, and the same board stands at the present time. The members of the board are: J. G. Mott, president; Charles Por¬ ter, secretary ; W. H. Schoeneman, treasurer. These gentlemen serve without pay. The park is maintained by a six-cent levy on every hun¬ dred dollars. This tax brings in about $2,600 annually. Its name is Washington Park.

In the original grant for the land upon which the city of La Porte is built, a small tract con¬ taining about two and one-fourth acres was donated as a '"grave yard." The grounds were free and no provision was made for any separate ownership of lots. As occasion required any un¬ occupied ground could be appropriated by any person, and thus the interment together of de¬ ceased members of families soon became impos¬ sible. It was also found that the amount of ground set apart for the purpose of sepulture was entirely inadequate to the necessities of a grow¬ ing population, and the subject of a cemetery containing enough ground and under proper law's and involving the idea of private ownership was frequently discussed, but no steps were taken for its realization until the summer of the year 1856, when articles of association were drawn up, and a subscription of stock procured amounting to $2,000. The stock thus subscribed had been ex¬ changed for lots in the cemetery and retired.

The first meeting of the members of the as¬ sociation was held at the court house on August I, 1856. The number of trustees was fixed at seven ; Amzi Clark, George L. Andrew, Gilbert Hathaway, Abraham Teegarden, Ferdinand Roberts, Don J. Woodward and Lycurgus Sher¬ man were elected the first board, and the organi¬ zation was completed by the election of G. Hath¬ away as president, and Don J. Woodward as sec¬ retary and treasurer. All of these except Dr. Andrew have since passed away.

Immediately after its organization the trus¬ tees invited proposals from all owning real estate in the vicinity of the city for sale of such lands as were suitable for cemetery purposes. Not only the tracts offered but all the lands within proper distance were visited and carefully con¬ sidered, and the result was the selection of that portion of the "County Farm" which lay south of its bi-secting highway and east of the Mich¬ igan City Plank Road.

Lake was purchased of the county, giving the cemetery the ownership of its entire frontage upon one of the most beautiful lakes in the north¬ west, and a total of about 56 acres. The grounds are beautiful, undulating and diversified, a por¬ tion of them being covered with a second-growth forest of oaks, hickories, etc., presenting many fine views of the lake with its islands and sur¬ rounding country, and admirably adapted in every important respect to the purpose for which they were selected. They are laid off into divisions, such as "Maple Hill," "Cherry Hill," "Poet's Hill," "The Forest," &c., and sections separated from each other by avenues, and these sections divided into squares and lots with direct access to every lot. The lots are I2x26y2 feet each, and are sold at from $20 to $40 each ac¬ cording to locality, fractional lots being sold at about the same ratio per square foot.

The price of lots at the first sale and for several years thereafter was fixed at $10 and $20 each, according to locality, with such annual as¬ sessments as could be collected for their care. This being found inadequate, it was resolved, in 1873, to double the prices of those sold there¬ after and to set apart 30 per cent, of the gross proceeds of all sales as a trust or endowment fund, the interest of which was to be used for the per¬ petual care and maintenance of such lots without additional cost to their owners. The same obli¬ gation was extended to such lots then already sold as would pay $15 into that fund for each lot. It was ordered at the same time that lots not then contributing should be charged $1.00 per year per lot. This rule is still in force.

Owing to the general financial depression which immediately followed the organization, succeeded shortly afterwards by the great Civil war, its earlier years were by no means free from pecuniary embarrassment. In fact, for some years its very existence was seriously threat¬ ened, but it subsequently participated in the re¬ newed prosperity of the country. By means of a liberal subscription it was finally freed from debt, a superintendent's lodge was built, a re¬ ceiving vault was constructed, the avenues were improved, and the natural beauties and general fitness became more widely recognized. Since that revival the grounds have been still further improved, and are maintained in a condition

The present condition of the associaton is highly satisfactory. It is out of debt and has an endowment fund of about $7,000, all loaned and secured by first mortgage. This fund is con¬ stantly being increased by the sale of lots, 30 per cent, of the proceeds of which belongs to it, and occasionally by donation.

The trustees feel that they can safely, and therefore do, guarantee the proper care and maintenance of the grounds for all time to come, without assessment or any demand whatever upon lot owners. The purchase money not only pays for the lot but it provides for its perpetual care and maintenance. Under no conceivable circumstances can there be any failure in this regard.

The trustees therefore confidently claim that no one familiar with its past history and present condition, can doubt that its affairs have been wisely, prudently and economically administered.

The remains of those buried in the first ceme¬ tery of La Porte were long ago removed, the most of them to Pine Lake cemetery, and the old ground has given place to other uses. James Andrew, Sr., who died in LaPorte March 16, 1839, the father of William P. Andrew and his brothers, was buried as to his mortal remains in the old LaPorte burial ground. When it came time to remove the remains the task was super¬ intended by William P. Andrew in person. The coffin was so heavy that he decided to open it, and on doing so he found the remains of his father thoroughly pertified, with form and fea¬ tures preserved.

LaPorte has other burial grounds, among which is Patton cemetery, situated west of the city, a very beautiful place, though acknowledged not equal to the one at Pine Lake. There also is the Lutheran burial ground, south of the city, with a Catholic cemetery adjoining it on the south ; another Catholic cemetery adjoins the one at Pine Lake.

On the 14th of August, 1864, the mayor of Michigan City sold, at public sale, lots in the new cemetery which had been lately purchased and laid out under the direction and by the authority of the common council. On November

26, 1864, the council prohibited the burying of any more dead within the corporate limits, ex¬ cept in Greenwood cemetery. On March 11, 1865, an ordinance was passed establishing Greenwood cemetery and providing rules and regulations for its government, which was fur¬ ther regulated on June 10, 1872. Michigan City has two beautiful cemeteries, Greenwood and Calvary. They are located less than two miles from Lake Michigan, and are among the most picturesque and naturally beautiful "silent cities" in the country. They are situated in a charming woodland park, with hills, winding driveways, and serpentine walks, and containing numerous handsome monuments, tombs and mausoleums.

There are also many other cemeteries in the smaller towns and in the country, some of them of great rustic beauty, and those in the towns in many instances beautified by art.

On riding to Chicago over the railroad, many have noticed, near Hammond, a small monu¬ ment which marks the western boundary of the state. In a sense it is one of the public works of LaPorte county. By act of Congress, June 23, 1836, the present boundary line was made permanent. By act, June, 1834, a monument was ordered on the lake shore and the boundary line authorized. The Hon. Charles W. Cathcart of this county retraced that line and built that monument, and the Indians of the locality

The Michigan City light was put under con¬ tract in 1833. The old light-house stood on the same site as the present one, and in the early fifties was one of the most attractive spots in the city; not only the house itself but its surround¬ ings. It was a cottage, plastered on the outside and dazzling in its whiteness; more of a por¬ tico than veranda ornamented the front, and this was covered with trailing vines which reached well over the eaves of the house. It fronted the south and was surrounded by a grove of small oaks on the west. The smooth, well kept lawn was dotted with flowering plants and shrubbery, the whole enclosed by a low rustic fence, and from the little wicket gate led a white gravel walk to the residence proper. The light was detached and shone from one of those coneshaped towers seldom seen now on any coast. For very many years the light has been kept by Mrs. Towne. Living with her is a sister, Miss Coit, and the two are inseparable. Their home is the home of both, their duties are mutual, and a gift or contribution to the church or other good cause comes from both; a beautiful companion¬ ship which, like the rays which gleam from the tower out on the dark waters, is a light and an example.