Washington County, Minnesota - Chapter 29: Principal a Vents from 1868 to 1881, 1881

Chapter 29: Principal a Vents from 1868 to 1881

A Ptnod tf Inflation.- Rapid Railroad ConatmoUoo. - Propo^d Rtmoral et tba Capital. - Attempted Adjustment el the Railroad Bood*.~L<v<sUllT* Control ofFnipht Tarifc.- PralrW Finn In 1ST1. - An iretlo Cyclone. - Impeeohmemt of Btata Troaaoror. - Tho Jej Cooke Panic. - Ratolatin* Railroad Tarib. - Grasshopper Rarafea. - BoBarin* on the Prontler. - Relief Measures Adopted by the Legislature. - Kurd erooa Raid by Missouri Ontlawe. - Porther Attempts to Adjust the Railroad Loan Debt. - End of the Grasshopper Beoan*.-Rebini ef " Good Times," and Rapid Growth la Prosperity.

The year 1866 was one of great financial ease. The large expenditure of money by the govern¬ ment, in the pay of discharged troops, bounties, and various war claims, made money unusually plenty.

The railroads of the State were pushed this year with great vigor. By winter, 816 miles were in operation. There was a continuous line from St. Cloud, via Owatonna, to Winona, a distance of 246 miles. These roads were an important element in aiding the settlement and business of the State. Formerly the sole dependence for travel and freight had been on the river, and the winter was a season of dullness and depression. This was now largely changed.

At the State election in the fall of 1867, Wm. R. Marshall had 84,874 votes, and Charles E. Flandrau 29,602. This would indicate a popula¬ tion of about 820,000, showing a heavy immigra¬ tion during the years 1866 and 1867. At this election, a negro suffrage amendment was again voted on and defeated. The following year [1868] the amendment was a third time voted on, and adopted; ayes, 39,498; noes, 80,121.

Proposed Removal Of The Capital

At the session of the legislature in 1869 , a bill was introduced to remove the seat of government to a spot near Big Kandiyohi Lake. The bill was at first regarded as a joke, and it met with small opposition, passing both houses with little delay. Gov. Marshall vetoed the measure, and an at¬ tempt to pass the act over his veto, failed.

At the state election in the fall of 1869, Horaoe Austin (rep.) was elected governor, by a vote of 27,848, over George L. Otis (dem.), who had 26,401.

Proposed Adjustment Of The Railroad

At the session of the Legislature in 1870, an act was passed submitting to the people an amendment to the constitution, providing for the sale of the five hundred thousand acres of what was known as the "Internal Improvement Lands," and the use of the proceeds in extin¬ guishing the state railroad loan bonds, in the fol¬ lowing manner: Two thousand of the bonds were to be deposited with theState Land Commis¬ sioner on or before the day of sale, by the hold¬ ers, they agreeing to purchase with them the lands at $8.70 per acre, etc. The amendment was adopted by a popular vote, but as only 1,032 bonds were deposited by the owners, the measure failed.

The unusual low water of 1863, '64 and '66 had now given way to a series of years of the oppo¬ site extreme. In 1870 occurred great freshets, doing much damage, and the water was reported " higher than for twenty years."

Railroad construction had been pushed with great vigor for the last year or two. At the close of 1870, there were 1,096 miles in operation, 829 of which were built that year. A road had been completed to Lake Superior during the season, thus connecting the river and lake systems, while the Northern Pacific Railroad was under full headway.

Outlines Of The Uist011Y Of Minnesota

the State. Governor Austin, in his message, January, 1871, called attention to the subject very pointedly. An investigation was made by a legislative committee, which resulted in the en¬ actment of a freight and passenger tariff, and the creation of the oflice of Railroad Commissioner. The tariff so fixed was disregarded by the rail¬ roads, and in 1871, an action, as a sort of test case under the statute, was commenced by John D. Blake, of Rochester, against the Winona and St. Peter Railroad, for unjust freight charges. The presiding judge decided the act unconstitu¬ tional, but the Supreme Court of the State re¬ versed this decision, when the railroad company appealed the case to the Supremo Court of the United States. It was not until 1870 that a de¬ cision was rendered, sustaining the right of legis¬ lative control over railroad tariffs.

An act was passed by the legislature of 1871 to "Test the validity and provide for the equitable adjustment" of the State railroad bonds, by the creation of a commission, to ascertain and award the amount due on each. The act was voted on in May following, and rejected by the people. Another important measure passed at the same session, was an act dividing up the 500,000 acres of Internal Improvement Land, among various railroad conqHinies. This was vetoed by Gov. Austin. Two years later the constitution was amended so that no act disposing of these lands should be valid, unless approved by a vote of the people.

In the fall of 1871, destructive fires, driven by high winds, swept over a number of frontier counties, lasting several days, and inflicting great damage on the settlers. Hundreds lost their houses, crops, hay, fences, etc., and several per¬ sons were burned to death. During the summer, many had also lost their crops by destructive hail¬ storms. Gov. Austin appealed to the people of the state, by proclamation, for aid for the suffer¬ ers. lie received in response $14,000 in money, and clothing, provisions, etc., worth $1 1 ,000 more, while the next legislature appropriated $20,000 for the purpose of purchasing seed wheat for those who had lost their crops.

From 1870 to 1873, was a period of great infla¬ tion and speculation. The money market was unprecedentedly easy, and real estate partook of the same excitement ns characterized the flush times of 1850 ami 1857. Railroad building was carried on to a remarkable extent, and the entire SUite was enjoying an unusual i>criodof material progress and development.

The winter of 1872-3 was an unusually early and severe one. On January 7th, 8th and 0th, 1873, occurred an " Arctic Cyclone", or " Polar "Wave ", of a violence and intensity never l>efore experienced in this State. The worst effects were felt in the prairie region. Gov. Austin, in a spe¬ cial message to the legislature, reported that sev¬ enty lives were lost, thirty-one persons suffered loss of limbs, and about three hundred entile and horses perished. The legislature voted $5,000 us a relief fund to aid sufferers.

During the session of 1873, charges of corrupt conduct and misdemeanors in oflice, were made against Wm. Seeger, State Treasurer. On March 5th, the House of Representatives impeached him, and the Senate, on being presented with the arti¬ cles, appointed May 20th as the date to sit as a Court of Impeachment. Prior to that date, Mr. Seeger resigned his oflice, and Gov. Austin ac¬ cepted the resignation. When the Senate met on May 20th, this fact left that body uncertain whether to proceed with the trial or not. On May 22d, Air. Seeger sent in a written plea of "guilty" to all the charges. A resolution was then adopted by the Senate, declaring that the judgment of the court was, that he be removed from oflice, and disqualified to hold and enjoy any oflice of honor, trust or profit in this State.

On September 19th, 1873, the news was circu¬ lated in this State, of the failure of Jay Cooke's banking house in Philadelphia, occasioning a financial panic. Its effects here were far dif¬ ferent from those of the panic of 1857. There was some stringency in the money market, rail¬ road building ceased, and real estate was very dull for several years, but not a bank in the State closed its doors, and but few mercantile houses failed. Immigration was large, good harvests added annually to the wealth of the State, and it advanced steadily in prosperity.

Principal Events From 1806 To 1881

During the summer of 1873, a species of grass¬ hopper, called the "Rocky Mountain Locust," made its appearance in myriads, in some of the south-western counties, almost totally destroying the crops. Hundreds of families were /eft in great destitution. These facts being reported by the press, an energetic movement was made in the towns and cities in the eastern portion of the state, to send relief to the sufferers, and large quantities of clothing, provisions, medical sup¬ plies, etc., were collected and distributed to them, beside quite an amount of money.

When the Legislature of 1874 assembled, it promptly voted $5,000 for the temporary relief of the frontier settlers, and on March 2nd, a further sum of $25,000 for the purchase of seed grain. With the aid thus furnished, the settlers planted their crops again, but soon the ground was fairly alive with young grasshoppers, hatched from eggs deposited the year previous. As soon as these were large enough, they laid bare tho region about them, then fell on other localities near by, and thus destroyed the crops in a number of coun¬ ties again. The people were once more in a state of great destitution.

Gov. Davis addressed a circular to the com¬ missioners of the counties not ravaged by the lo¬ custs, asking them to advance money propor¬ tioned to their property, for a relief fund. Con¬ tributions were also solicited from the people of the state. By the latter, $18,959 was raised, to¬ gether with very large quantities of clothing and provisions, and forwarded to the sufferers. Even with this aid, there was much Buffering the next winter.

The legislature of 1876, immediately on as¬ sembling, appropriated $20,000 for immediate relief, and later in the session, $75,000 for the purchase of seed grain. Only $49,000 of this was used. The farmers again planted their crops, in hope, but early in the summer they were, for a third time, destroyed. The situation now became serious. All the state was beginning to feel the effects of this calamity, though tho portions yet unharmed kept up an active collection and for¬

By the state census this year, the population of Minnesota was found to be 597,407. At the state election, John S. Pillsbury was elected Gov¬ ernor, by a vote of 47,078, over D. L. Buell, who had 35,276.

The season of 1876 saw the grasshopper devas¬ tations repeated, and over a larger area than be¬ fore. Tho crops were more or less a failure, and again an appeal was made to the benevolent people of the rest of the State for aid, which was liberally and cheerfully responded to.

On Septeml>er 6tli, a daring crime was perpe¬ trated at Northfleld. A band of eight outlaws from Missouri, attacked the National Bank in that town, with the intention of robbing it. The cashier and another citizen were shot dead, and two of the robbers killed by persons who hastily armed themselves. The rest of the desperadoes fled, and, after a chase of several days, four of them were surrounded in a thicket in Watonwan county, where one was killed, and three token prisoners. The latter, who were brothers named Younger, plead guilty of murder, and were sent to the State's Prison for life.

The legislature of 1877 prepared an amend¬ ment to tho constitution, providing for biennial sessions of that body, and the amendment was adopted by the people at the fall election.

Five acts were passed at the same session, re¬ lating to the grasshopper scourge. One of these appropriated $100,000 for bounties to pay for the destruction of grasshoppers and their eggs. [This was never put into effect.] A State loan, to raise the money therefor, was also authorized. In ad¬ dition, townships or villages were authorized to levy a tax to pay similar bounties. The sum of $75,000 was also appropriated to purchase seed grain for those who had lost their crops, and $5,000 was voted for a special relief fund.

At the same session was passed an act provid¬ ing for the redemption of the Stato railroad bonds, by giving for each outstanding bond sur¬ rendered, a new bond for $1,750, at 6 per cent, interest. The amendment was defeated nt an election held on June 12th.

Outlines Of The History Of Minnesota

the crops. The" fanners' endeavored to destroy them by fires, ditching-, and catching them in pans smeared with tar.' A day of fasting and prayer for riddance from . the calamity, was ap¬ pointed by* the Governor,' and generally observed throughout the State. 8oon after this, the grass¬ hoppers disappeared,- and a partial harvest was secured in the region formerly afflicted by them. For five successive seasons, the farmers in that district had lost their crops, more or less entirely.

The legislature of 1878, appropriated $150,000 to purchase seed grain for destitute settlers, the amounts issued, to such, to be repaid by them. Over six thousand persons, in thirty-four counties, received loans under this act, enough to plant 223,727 acres. Most of these loans were repaid.

At the same session an act was passed, propo¬ sing a constitutional amendment, offering to the holders of State railroad bonds, Internal Improve¬ ment Lands, in exchange for such bonds. The

During the year 1878, railroad extension, which had been almost suspended for four years, was renewed again with much vigor, and the mate¬ rial progress of the State was very marked, the western counties, especially, developing rapidly.

At the election in 1879, John S. Pillsbury was re-elected Governor for a third term, by a vote of 67,471, over Edmund Bice, who had 42,444, and other candidates, who received 6,401.

On November 15th, 1880, the Hospital for the Insane, at St. Peter, was partially destroyed by fire, and twenty-seven of the patients lost their lives, by burning, or in consequence of exposure and fright

The census of 1880, showed a population in Minnesota, of 780,082. The assessors' returns give a valuation of real and personal property, of $268,277,874. These figures show a proud and gratifying condition of growth and prosperity in the short space of thirty-one years, since Minne¬ sota began its political existence.