Minneapolis City (part 50 of 80)

William Donaldson is a native of Scot¬ land, born at the village of Milnathort, Shire of Kinross, June 16, 1849. The place is an upland glen, midway between Edinburgh and Perth. His father, John Donaldson, was a manufacturer of shawls, and his ancestors for many gen¬ erations were among the industrial class of the Shire. They neither aspired to greatness nor descended to base or igno¬ ble associations. Industry, sobriety and integrity were the inheritances of the family, from generation to generation. William was the second child of a family of two sons and two daughters. He was sent to the village school, and en¬ joyed the advantage of highW learned and accomplished teachers. These ad¬ vantages were diligently improved, giv¬ ing him agood classical education. From bo3diood he was designated by his father and had chosen for himself a mercantile life, and at the age of fifteen years he was bound as apprentice to a draper in his native town, for a term of four 3'ears. The pay was three shillings per week. The duties were such as fall to apprentice bo3"S, beginning with the humblest la¬ bors, and advancing through all the grades of mercantile practice. At the close of the apprenticeship he secured a clerkship in a dry goods store in Glas¬ gow, at forty pounds a 3'ear. There he remained for the next eight 3^ears, being promoted, as time went on, to the most responsible positions in the establish¬ ment, with corresponding increase of salary. Before the termination of this engagement he was married to Miss Mary Turner of Glasgow. After twelve years spent in learning the business, and as an employee of others, Mr. Donaldson felt a yearning for independence, and a growing desire to become himself a mer¬ chant. Opportunities in his native land were not alluring to a young and friend¬ less man. Trade there falls into estab¬ lished channels. Old houses have their attached customers, and it is difficult for a young man to gain patronage. Re¬ ports from America stimulated his am¬ bition, and raised visions of broader fields and better opportunities, prophetic of his future success. So leaving his wife and young children in her paternal home, with the approbation of his friends, and accompanied by his younger brother, and present partner, L. S. Donaldson, he came to this country in 1877; and the brothers took employment in a Scotch dry goods house in Providence, R. I. Here they remained for four years. The business was extensive, and both whole¬ sale and retail. Here were acquired the more enterprising methods of American business, and more accurate knowledge of the advantages and needs of various sections of this great country. Early in 1881 Mr. W. Donaldson left Providence and came to Minnesota, stopping at St. Paul, which had been almost synony¬ mous in Eastern speech with Minnesota. Here for a few months he was employed in the store of Auerbach, Finch, Van Slyke & Co., having charge of soliciting retail trade in St. Paul and Minneapolis. He was soon impressed with the sviperior advantages which Minneapolis of¬ fered for retail trade, and renting asmall store at No. 310 Nicollet avenue, opened a stock of ladies' and gentlemen's funiishing goods. The savings of a small sal¬ ary from the days of apprenticeship, fur¬ nished a meagre capital for the new ven¬ ture, but the^' were carefully invested, and steadily increased. In less than a year, the lease expiring, and not being able to negotiate its renewal, he took a department in the "Glass Block,'' which had just been erected by Colton & Co., and conducted it for his own benefit and at his own risk. After a few months the Coltons failed, and their stock was purchased by Mr. Samuel Groocock,who placed Mr. Donaldson in charge of a stock of general dry goods. In April, 1884, Mr. Donaldson bought out the Groococks, and taking his brother into partnership commenced business in the old Glass Block, as William Donaldson & Co. They continued here for the next three years, laying the foundation for one of the now most extensive and successful retail establishments in the Northv/est. Ample as was the old Glass Block in its dimensions it became too restricted for the enlarging business of the new firm, and they were driven for want of room in 1887 to tear it down, and erect upon its site the present palatial Glass Block. It is situated at perhaps the most com¬ manding point for retail business in the city, at the corner of Nicollet avenue and Sixth street. The building is of iron and glass, five stories in heighth, one hundred and fifteen feet on Nicollet avenue and one hundred and thirty-two on Sixth street. It is of ornate architectural style with an illuminated tower. The interior has a basement and five floors, commun¬ icating by stairways and elevators, with an open interior court, through which a flood of light enters from the glass dome above. In the fall of 1891 this was enlarged by an annex on Sixth street, ninety-nine by one hundred and sixty-five feet. Here is located the great department store. The sales of the firm the present year will reach $2,000,000. It employs no less than four hundred and seventy five persons, and has twelve sal¬ aried buyers in New York, with offices in Paris and London. Goods are bought at first hands, for cash, and customers are given the advantage of bargains. The firm advertises liberalljq and has an order trade all the wa.y to the Pacifie coast. Its annual openings are social events, when the store decorated with marvelous products of the useful arts, in tempting display, with rarest music, at¬ tracts crowds of the best citizens and of admiring customers. The management of so gigantic a business, without fric¬ tion, and with growing popularity, at¬ tests the sterling qualities of its proprie¬ tor, and ranks him easily among the merchant princes of the country.

Intense devotion to building tip a pri¬ vate business has not narrowed his am¬ bition nor contracted his devotion to the welfare of his adopted city. He is a prominent member of the Business Men's Union of Minneapolis, and chairman of its executive committee. The Union is a voluntary association of leading business men for the purpose of promoting the manufacturing and jobbing interests of the city, and has done much toward at¬ tracting such enterprises, as well as in furnishing capital to embark in them. His surplus capital has been liberally in¬ vested in manufacturies. Amongthemis the Minneapolis Linen Mill Company, of which he is vice-president, and a large stockholder. This is a pioneer in a new line of industry, which has already ac¬ complished much, and from which great results are promised - no less than the transfer of the linen industry from the Lagan to the Mississippi. Already from the straw of the flax, heretofore a waste jiroduct, is manufactured crash. Bind¬ ing twine is soon to be added, and as processes are improved and skilled labor procured, the finer and moi'e delicate fab¬ rics will be produced. He is also presi¬ dent of a large clothing manufacturing company, and a director and stockholder in many other like enterprises.

Mr. Donaldson does not allow his business activity to isolate him from social life. Wherever the sons of old Scotia are found in sufficient number a

He has chosen a retired spot on Lake of the Isles for a home, where a well ap¬ pointed, but not ostentatious house, has been erected, which is the center of the family life. Recently he has purchased a beautiful villa, with spacious grounds, at Lake Minnetonka, which will be the summer home. Four children, two boys and t\vo daughters, eonstitute the home eircle, of whom the elder are at school.

Reuben Simeon Goodfellow, a gen¬ tleman who became a leader in mercan¬ tile circles in Minneapolis, is of English birth, but of American training and sympathies. His father, Simeon Goodfellow, was of Scotch ancestry, inherit¬ ing the stem faith of the Covenanters, with the versality and tenacity of his nation. His mother, Mary Cheatham, was a daughter of a respectable and wealthy English family. The family re¬ sided at the manufacturing village of Hyde, in Lancashire, where R. S. Goodfellow was born October 28th, 1840. He was the third of a family of six children, of whom four grew to maturity.

The family emigrated to America early in the year 1841, when this son was a child in arms. They settled in Troy, New York, where the lad passed his infaney and early manhood. His father was a mechanical engineer of an original and inventive turn of mind. He brought with him one of the earliest power looms used in this country. His inventions were some of them of considerable util¬ ity, but brought to others more pi'ofit than to himself. The boy was sent to the common schools of Troy until his ninth year, when his mercantile taste and ambition to help himself caused him to be placed in a bolt and curry¬ comb factory at a trifling wage, but which was doubled after the first month, in consequence of his faithfulness and assiduity. He eontinued in this employ¬ ment for nearly five years, at the end' of whieh he was earning seven dollars per week, and spending little upon superflui¬ ties. At this early age when bo3 S left to their own deviees are apt to indulge in frivolity and excess, he adopted and practieed those virtues of sobriety, in¬ dustry and eeonomy whieh are safe har¬ bingers of suecess in business. He now left the factory and engaged in a store in the suburbs of Troy, where he received a mueh smaller eompensation, but made a beginning of mereantile experience which has step by step led him to a leadership in the ealling.

From the country store he went to a dry goods store, where he remained four or five years, and then went to another firm, where hecontinued passing through all grades of employment until 1859. In the latter year he went into the store of G. V. S. Quackenbush, a dry goods house, where he remained until 1862. An apprentieeship of over eight years in trade was suffieient to give him full knowledge of the business, and fully qualified him to take a more responsible position. These were years of eonstant and unwearied labor. Working hours were long, from five o'clock in the morn¬ ing to nine o'cloek at night in the sum¬ mer, and from six o'elock in the winter. Holidays were few. It was good fortune if a elerk could escape from the store on the Fourth of July in season to witness the evening's display of fireworks, and Christmas and New Years brought little relaxation from the daily round of store duties.

The war was now in progress, and leaving the counter and dropping the yard stiek, with little thought of the eonsequenees to himself, a eity bred lad, he shouldered a musket as a private in the 169th Regiment of New York In¬ fantry. The life of a private in the war, full of ineident and dire hardship, is yet an experience repeated in hundreds of thousands of instances, and too familiar to repeat in detail. History aecords glory to leaders in arms, but has no space to emphasize the no less indispesable work of the common soldier, upon whose eourage and hardihood rests the event.

Returning to eivil life, he took up his old employment in a dry goods store, taking a elerkship with John Flagg & Co., at Troy. When the firm became Winnie, Ford & Clark he eontinued in its service, a term in all of four years. He then went with Flagg & Frear, who were also in dry goods at Troy, remain¬ ing with that house for another four years. He had now reaehed the most responsible position in the business, being buyer and salesman for the last men¬ tioned firms. When Mr. Clark, of Winne, Ford & Clark, died, and Mr. Ford re¬ tired, Mr. Goodfellow beeame a member of the firm under the style of W. C. Winne & Co. Their business was a retail trade in dry goods. In 1877, the firm dissolved, Mr. Goodfellow selling his interest to his partner.

He now joined with Mr. W. H. East¬ man, who had been eonneeted with the wholesale dry goods business in New York, in a trip to the West, proposing, if a favorable location could be found, to engage in business together. They visited many plaees, but were greatly impressed with Minneapolis, but could find no vacant store. They also found St. Louis to be an advisable loeation, but experieneed the like diffieulty in finding a vaeant store; making arrangements in both cities to be informed by wire if a store could be had. Mr. Goodfellow de¬ sired to start in business in Minneapolis, but his associate preferred St. Louis. It was agreed to aecept whichever location should first offer a suitable store. One day in the early part of the 3'ear 1878 a telegram was received at five o'clock p. M. announcing that a store could be had in Minneapolis. At six o'clock of the same evening Mr. Eastman was en route for this cit3^ Early on the following morning a similarmessagecamefrom the other city, but too late to give it a pref¬ erence. Arriving here a lease was taken of Mr. Herrick's store, Nos. 243 and 245 Nicollet avenue, where the firm of Goodfellow & Eastman commenced the dr3' goods business April 17th, 1878. B3' the first of July following, their reception had been so favorable that they made a contract with Mr. T. B. Case3'to put up. the fine store now occupied by R. S. Goodfellow & Co. It is of dressed gray free stone, four stories in heighth, with a basement, and forty -two feet, eight inches, 1w one hundred and twelve feet in dimensions. When occupied it was far the most elegant and conveniently arranged store in the cit3',and none now excel it in these respects. It was occu¬ pied on the 28th of October following.

Mr. Eastman retired from the firm in Februar3% 1885. Mr. Goodfellow then associated with himself Mr. W. S. Ra3', who had been the buyer for the old firm at its New York office, tinder the style of R. S. Goodfellow & Co., which still con¬ tinues at the same stand. The business is exclusiveh" in dr3^ goods. Theirgoods are bought as far as possible at first hands, and for cash, and they are sold largely for readv cash. Mr. Goodfellow has alwa3's given his personal attention to the details of the business. He has always been fond of the kind of life he has adopted and has cherished a laud¬ able ambition to reach the top in his vocation. He has been prudent, indus¬ trious, attentive to details, temperate in his habits, and has aimed to be strictly just in all his dealins^s. A natural apt¬ ness for trade, with good judgment, industr3' and fidelit3' have been the touch¬ stones of his success. He has adopted no sensational expedients, believing that honesty and fair dealing were the best allurements of a lasting patronage. He has been eminently successful. The annual sales of his concern reach $600,- 000, and the conduct of the business gives emplo3'ment to one hundred and thirty persons.

Air. Goodfellow married, in 1866, Miss Sarah C. Ives, of Troy, New A^ork. The3' have had fiv'e children, of whom two onl3" survive, AIrs.AIarion C. Lewis, of Alinneapolis, and Wm. E. Goodfellow, who is 3'et in his studies at the Alinne¬ apolis High School. Airs. Goodfellow died in 1874. Air. Goodfellow married his present wife, who was Aliss Alartha E. Austin, at North Adams, Mass., in 1874. Their residence is at No. 1006 Sixth avenue south - one of the attrac¬ tive, but not extravagant, dwellings of a cit3' of beautiful homes.

Air. Goodfellow has been a vestryman of both Gethsemane and St. Paul Epis¬ copal churches of this cit3'. His present connection is with St. Paul's. He is a member of the masonic bod3', not onh' in lodge, but also in chapter and commandef3^

At the age of fift3^-two 3'ears Air. Goodfellow seems to possess the power of application and the devotion to busi¬ ness which characterized his earh' life. He pursues the business long after a competenc3" of wealth has been secured from an ambition to emplo3^ for a useful purpose the talents which a kind Provi¬ dence has endowed him with, rather than from an3' sordid love of accumulation. With him the facult3' of business is esteemed far above the residts which it yields. If it were not also good polic3', he can afford to indulge the watchwords

Hazen James Burton. One going up Nicollet avenue, the finest business street of Minneapolis, is attracted by a spa¬ cious building at the corner of Third street, in the ver^^ center of trade, whose store fronts are a veritable mirror of fashion, filled with gentlemen's apparel, arranged with such taste as to over¬ power the sense of utility with, the witchery of art. This is the Plymouth clothing house, a mercantile corporation, the name of whose president and chief stockholder stands at the head of this sketch. In this vast and skillfully or¬ ganized establishment the spirit of prog¬ ress, conjoined with capital and wise combination, have brought about the utmost economy in distribution. Mer¬ chandising is a game which only a few can play well, especially when taste and fashion have to be considered, as well as intrinsic value. Prudence, energy, and that "just average of faculties" called common-sense must characterize the suc¬ cessful merchant.

His career, as yet in full course, is a forcible illustration of the truth that success in life is no accident, but awaits upon assiduity, integrity and mental and bodily competency ; and that it is compatible with gentle birth, urban en¬ vironment and high scholastic attain¬ ments. All honor to those who sur¬ mount early disadvantages, lack of edu¬ cation and opportunity, and reach high positions in profeSvSional or business life ! Equal honor to such as overcome the enervating influence of easy circum¬ stances, the allurements of ambition, and devote themselves to a line of practical business, which is too often and mistak¬ enly looked upon as ignoble, if not de¬ grading !

The father of H. J. Burton was the senior of the same name. He removed from Wilton, New Hampshire, in early life to Boston, where he was the head of the firm of H. J. Burton & Co. His first American ancestor was Boniface Bur¬ ton, who came from England and settled in Danvers, Mass., in 1637, and^survived the hardships of pioneer lifeto the age of one hundred and fifteen years. His mother was a member of one of the old and substantial families of Boston, de¬ scended from Ebenezer Smith, who was identified with real estate interests in Haymarket Square.

He was born in Roxbury, now a part of Boston, July 14, 1847. His early education was received at the Brimmer and Dwight schools and at the English high school, where he graduated at the age of fifteen. Though the youngest graduate of a class of seventy, he was first in scholarship, taking the first honor in mathematics and literature, the sec¬ ond in declamation, and receiving the aw^ard of the Franklin medal. The prin¬ cipal of the school was applied to by the director of the United States Coast Sur¬ vey to select the best mathematician of the class for appointment in that service, and designated j'oung Burton, but the appointment was declined, his father advising that he enter the wholesale clothing manufacturing business, in which he had an interest, and obtain a practical business education.

This course was pursued, and he en¬ tered the establishment of C. W. Free¬ land & Co., at a salary for the first year of fifty dollars. The unusual stipulation was made in this engagement that four afternoons in each week, after two o'clock, he should be free. These, with the evenings of the I'eserved days, were devoted to attendance on special courses in the Institution of Technology, where the higher mathematics were pursued under Prof. Runkle, and analytical chem¬ istry and mineralog}' under Profs. Storer and Elliott, now president of Harvard University. At a later period the stud3" of the German and Italian languages was pursued with such proficiencj', French being already- acquired, that he became interpreter with a party of stu¬ dents traveling on the continent. Mean¬ while the work at the store, commenced at the bottom, in the shipping room, in¬ volved hard labor, as well as patience, thoroughness and attention to minute details, but giving a practical education little inferior to that of the schools ; afterwards passing through the variety' of emplo\'ment which a large manufac¬ turing house affords. The salary was increased with the usefulness of the 3'oung clerk from $50 to $500 the second j'ear, $1500 the third j'ear, and $2000 the fourth 3''ear On that 3'ear the sales made by father and son exceeded those made by an3' other two men in the cloth¬ ing trade in Boston.

In 1867, at the age of twent3r 3'ears, having saved a considerable portion of his wages, and being desirous of adding to his scholastic attainments whatever travel in Europe might afford through observation, young Burton joined a part3y of 3'oung architecLs in a trip through England, German3q France and Ital3". Four months were consumed in this excursion, during which no opportu¬ nity for stud3' was neglected. The young architects forming the party have since attained eminence, and are among the leaders in their profession in Boston and Philadelphia.

Soon after returning to America, a partnership in the clothing business was formed, under the style of Keating, Lane & Co., which continued with good suc¬ cess until the great fire in Boston. A more permanent partnership was formed

JuH 20, 1870, by marriage with Aliss Alice Cotton Whitne3v Her father. Rev. D. S. Whitney, was a co-laborer in the anti-slaver3' agitation with Win. LI03M Garrison. Her mother was a lineal de¬ scendant of Rev. John Cotton, the first minister in Boston.

From bo3diood Mr. Burton has greatly enjoyed life in the open air, and is no nerveless competitor in athletic sports. As an amateur, he was known on the diamond, having acquired celebrit3' as the short stop of the Lowell base ball club, of Boston, which for years held the amateur championship of New England, and the silver bell; whose victories on Bos¬ ton Common are yet fresh in the memories of thousands who witnessed their con¬ tests twenty-five 3'ears ago. He delights to dispel the weariness of business cares by a brisk canter in the saddle. Summer vacations were sometimes spent in pedes¬ trian trips among the White mountains and in canoe vo3'ages among the lakes of Maine. To his fondness for outdoor exercise ma3' be attributed his robust health, power of endurance and tenacity of purpose under the severest business trials and the incessant strain of compe¬ tition.

An experience of some twelve 3'ears in Boston business methods was a, preparatoiw school for a broad field of mercan¬ tile enterprise in the West, to which he decided to remove. After a careful emamination of Denver, Omaha and Kansas Cit3', he decided to locate in Minneapolis, and earU' in 1880 engaged in an exclu¬ sively wholesale clothing business. But the long credits extended to the trade were tmfavorablc to success, and the end of the first two 3'ears brought a balance of loss, rather than the hoped for profit. He then adopted a cash S3'stem, and opened a retail department, having the aid of $25,000 special capital, put in Iw Hon. C. H. Sawyer, Governor of New

The ehangewas so successful that the business was incorporated in 1883, with a capital of $50,000. This has been in¬ creased to meet the growing demands of the business to $75,000, $140,000 and $200,000. With the addition of an ex¬ tensive fur manufacturing business, the capital was enlarged to $300,000, and at the present time (October, 1892) in addition to the capital a surplus of $28,- 000 is reported.

The Plymouth clothing house occupies what is regarded as the most eligible corner in the city, which was secured on a twenty years lease. It is probably the largest general outfitting establishment for men and boys in the northwest. The stock comprises not only clothing, fur¬ nishings, hats and caps and shoes, but also the largest fur manufactory in this part of the country. The business is exclusively for cash, and one price to all. No deviation is made to any favored customer; nor even to the wholesale trade. Every article purchased is always regarded as good for the refundment of the purchase money, on demand, if returned in good order, within a reason¬ able time. The Plymouth guarantee is as good as a bank check to their cus¬ tomers, and there is a simplicity and self regulation to the immense business which supersedes chaffering, and places the in¬ stitution on a par with the most reliable savings bank.

The management of so extensive a business by no means exhausts the enter¬ prise and activity which characterize Mr. Burton. His business connections reach to the far east, and extend into the newer west. He is special partner in the Boston house of Burton, Mansfield & Pierce - a wholesale clothing manufac¬ turing concern, of which his only brothei , George S. Burton, is senior partner, and also one of the leading members of the Boston Merchants Association . He holds the position of president of the Mandan Land and Improvement Company - a syndicate of Boston capitalists. In 1885 he built at Mandan, Dakota, a roller flouring mill, which has been successfully operated to the present time. Outside of business connections, he is a director of the Minneapolis Industrial Exposi¬ tion.

From what has been related of his rural tastes and active habit, it will not be surprising that he sought for his home a location in the country. It is at Deephaven, an ample wooded tract, upon the south shore of the picturesque Lake Minnetonka. Here, on a swelling knoll overlooking the placid waters, and near the club house of the Minnetonka Yacht Club, he has erected his homestead, which is named Chimo. The walls are of heav\^ boulders, fitting it for a winter as well as summer residence. The grounds, studded with natural forest trees, and embellished with shrubbery and flowers, are park like, reTninding the traveler of an English estate. Here, re¬ mote from the excitements of the mart, amid rare rural surroundings, he may refresh himself with his favorite diver¬ sions, either on land or water. An en¬ thusiastic yachtsman, ex-commodore of the Minnetonka Yacht Club, he owns and sails the Burgess yacht Volante. In the frequent regattas which are sailed over the Minnetonka waters, his pennant may be seen oftener in the van than the rear, and his promising son, Ward, is no whit behind in successful seamanship.

The present age is sometimes called a mercenary one. The keen competitions of business life too often engross the minds of its votaries; and the habit of acquisition extinguishes the relish for using or enjoying the wealth acquired. Happily, examples like the one under re¬ view, though too infrequent, are not al¬ together wanting, where the keenness of business pursuit is over-balanced by high literar3^ acquisitions, liberality, rural tastes, and attraetive social qualities.

A warm, personal friend of Mr. Bur¬ ton communicates to the writer of this sketch the substanee of a conversation which Mr. Burton held with him, which reveals in him an appreciation of the ideal as an aid and adjunct in practical life, and charaeterizes a peculiar and rare spiritual coneeption of business success. Said he: "I leave the higher consideration aside for the moment, and speak only of the value of high ideas and of an ideal at¬ mosphere as a means of practical success to the business man. What I want speciallj' to say is this, that if I be nothing but a business man, and my mind be given wholl3' to business, than I am by just so much the poorer business man, weaker and lower in judgment, in scope of enterprise, in breadth of view and in practical efficiencj". The more I repair to life and thought in an ideal and spir¬ itual domain, the larger and better will be my judgment, and the clearer will be my sight in practieal anc material af¬ fairs. Therefore, without going now to any higher point of view, I say that as a business man it is m^^ simple interest to keep m^'self in touch and communica¬ tion with high mental life with ideal con¬ ceptions, with practical beaiity and rai'e thoughts. This I say as a business man looking after his interests and efficiency as a business man."

John Albert Sch lexer. Though born in Philadelphia, the pai'ents of John A. Schlener removed to the city of St. Anthony the following 3'ear, so the he is essentially a Minneapolitan of the first generation. His father, John A. Schlener, and his mother, Bertha (Sproesser) Schlener, were of German descent and Lutheran connection. They were indus¬ trious and most respectable people ; the father, by occupation a baker, opened a baker3' and confectionary in St. Anthony, which he conducted for about fifteen 3^ears - until his death. The son was sent to a school kept by the Sisters, after which he entered the public schools of St. Anthony, and then had a short course in a select school. He also attended the commercial school kept by Barnard & Carson, where he received training in bookkeeping and accounts. His school da3"S terminated during his twelfth year. As a boy he developed a commercial spirit, and engaged in such enterprises to turn an honest penny as are open to ambitious 3"Outh. He soon obtained a permanent position in the toll house of suspension bridge, then belonging to the count3'. For two or three 3"ears he took tolls and assisted the toll gatherer in the care of the bridge and in keeping accounts. The position, while calling for no great financial ability, brought him into con¬ tact with the traveling public, and was - a school of no small value in familiariz¬ ing his mind with the active business of the eity.

When sixteen 3'eai's old, 3'oung Schle¬ ner entered the store of Wister, Wales & Co., who were engaged in the book and stationeiw business, as a clerk. He con¬ tinued witli the various firms with which W. W. Wales, the pioneer stationer of the city, was connected, making himself so useful that at the organization of the firm of Bean, Wales & Co. he was given a one-third interest in the business. After the retirement of Mr. Wales hecontinued in the business with his successors. Kirkbride & Whitall, vmtil 1884. At that time, with an experience of twelve 3'ears in the business, he opened a store on Nic- ollet avenue, at the corner of Nicollet and Fifth, which he has conducted with care¬ ful attention and increasing success until the present time. In the line of commer¬ cial and society stationery his business is the largest in the Northwest.

Mr. Schlener became a Mason at an early age. The fraternal spirit and be¬ nevolent purposes of the order appealed strongly to his heart and he entered into fts obligations with great zeal and enthusiam. At the same time his fidelity, devotion and business skill made him a valuable helper in conducting the varied charities of the brotherhood. He rapidly climbed the ladder of degrees, until he has passed through the entire secret work. He was successively honored with official positions in lodge, encamp¬ ment and commandery, holdingthe high¬ est. He was a frequent delegate to Masonic Grand Conventions; he was an officer in several aid and insurance asso¬ ciations connected with the fraternity, and was a director in the Masonic Tem¬ ple association, and is at the present time its secretai'y.

It is not permitted to the biographer to draw aside the veil and exhibit the work which is going on within the hal¬ lowed walls of the Temple. The numbers and character of the men who wear its emblems, their enthusiasm in their work and the stream of benevolence Avhich ffows from the inner sanctuary, irrigat¬ ing and blessing many waste places of life, attest that the Masonic bond is one worthy to be held, and that it calls into play the noblest qualities of manhood.

Mr. Schlener has been honored with other positions of trust and confidence. He was at one time vice-president of the People's bank, and is a director of the Business Men's Union, a voluntary organization which has been and is of great service in building up the commer¬

Mr. Schlener was baptised through parental fidelity in the Lutheran church. His personal choicehas led him to attach himself to the Congregational body, being an attendant at Plymouth church.

Since the death of his father in 1872, Mr. Schlener has been a householder, liv¬ ing in a pleasant home on Nicollet island, over which his mother has presided until the present year. In March, 1892, he married Miss Grace Holbrook, of Lockport, New York, who now presides over the household.

Grain Trade

When the first flouring mills at the Falls of St. Anthony began to grind wheat early in the '50s, the grain raised in the region then commercially tribu¬ tary to the village of St. Anthony was insufficient to supply the few run of stone in operation. There were no railroads as feeders. Though the farmers hauled in grain by wagons from as far as Mankato and St. Cloud, the main supply, for some years, was drawn from the wheat fields of Iowa and Illinois, transportation fa¬ cilities being found in the Mississippi river steamboats. This wheat came at first in small quantities. It was regard¬ ed as a great event when in 1855 a ship¬ ment of 2,000 bushels came in from the South. From this time on for two de¬ cades the history of the early grain trade may be read between the lines in that part of this work devoted to the milling interests. The development was co-extensive. Each was dependent upon the other. The millers were the first grain dealers. For a long time the grain com¬ mission man as he exists to-day was un¬ known. In 1859 the following dealers were classified as handling "grain and produce:'' Kimball, Johnson & Co., Jos.

Moody, Thos. Aloulton, Geo. Perkins, J. H. Green & Co., Nutting, Brown & Co., H: T. Crowell, Fletcher & Gould, and J. G. McFarland. Most of these were also grocers or keepers of the familiar "coun¬ try store." None made an exclusive bus¬ iness o'f supplying wheat for the mills or of buying for shipment. Even as late as 1871 there were only nine firms credited as grain dealers and only a few of these were exclusively in this line. Engaged in the business -at that time were Clark & Linton, W. H. Dunwoody, Harvey & Bradley, John Osborne, E. & B. Palmer, Pratt & Foster, John Scheible, J. M. Varney & Co. and Wright & Fiske.

Both the milling and grain interests received a stimulus in the 60's when the railroad building toward the west was commenced, but for a long time the pro¬ gress was very slow. Previous to the war the Minneapolis mills easily stored all the wheat they had occasion to buy ; and as yet there was no shipment of wheat from the town. But with the rail¬ roads came a new necessity. The loco¬ motives brought grain to market much more rapidly than the farmers' wagons, and there was a tendency manifested to hurry in the grain as soon as a new crop was threshed. For several years the need of storehouses was feltbutthe trade was still so small as to deter capitalists from investing money in elevators. In 1867 the Union Elevator Company, composed of W. W. Eastman, A. H. Wilder, Col. Merriam and D. C. Shep¬ herd, built the old Union elevator at Washington and Ninth avenues soi;th. Its capacity was 130,000 bushels, and it was regarded as an important enter¬ prise. After ten years the Union Eleva¬ tor Company sold out to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Co., on whose line the elevator stood, and the name was afterwards changed to Ele¬ vator " E." In 1891 the elevator and a recently built annex were burned and have since been rebuilt. The next eleva¬ tor erected was the Pacific, put up in 1868 at Washington and Fourth avenues north on the line of the Great Northern Railway, then the St. Paul & Pacific. W.F. Davidson was the pro¬ prietor. The elevator was a small alfair with a capacit3' of only 85,000 bushels, but it did 3'eoman service in those early days of the grain trade. In 1874 a million bushels of grain went through its bins. Elevator "A," belonging to the Alinneapolis Elevator Co., was built in 1879 on the line of the Great Northern near Chestnut avenue. It cost $150,000 and had a capacity of 780,000 bushels, being at the time the largest elevator west of Chicago. Loren Fletcher, C. H. Pettit and F. S. Hinkle were its chief promoters. During the following year the Pillsbury elevator on the East Side was built, and in 1881 Alessrs. Huntington, Potter & Ermentrout put up the Central elevator at Western avenue and Holden street.

Up to the late 70's the flour milling industry had been comparatively small, but the decade saw a marvelous change. The introduction of the Hungarian roller process revolutionized the production of flour; great activity in railroad building, stimulated by and in turn stimulating, enormous immigration rapidly developed the natural wheat fields of Minnesota and the Dakotas; the invention of the self-binders cheapened production ; mill building was contintious and the grain traffic suddenly became tremendous. Elevators of from a half million to a million and a half bushels capacity were erected in cpiick succession ; the Chamber of Commerce was organized, putting the grain trade on a firm business basis ; long lines of elevators sprang up along the railwa3' routes as far as the interna¬ tional boundar3' line. Men simpl3' took advantage of the conditions brought about by a fortunate combination of circumstances ; the result was the estab¬ lishment of Minneapolis as the greatest wheat market of the world as well as the greatest flour producing point. The tremendous increase of the grain traffic at this period is best illustrated in the following table, showing the yearly re¬ ceipts and shipments since 1876 :

Thus in sixteen years the wheat trade of Minneapolis has increased to more than eleven times its volume at the be¬ ginning of the period. The flour mills formerly consumed nearly all the wheat received in the city. Of late years a shippingdemand has arisen, and nowMinn^- apolis supplies scores of millers in the neighboring states and as far east as In¬ diana and Ohio. The table above gives an idea of the increase of this shipping trade.

The storage facilities of Minneapolis kept pace with the increase of wheat re¬ ceipts. In 1881 the elevator capacitj" was about 1,500,000 bushels. Three years later it was about 5,000,000 bushels. At the close of 1885 the total was 9,515,000 bushels. This was in¬ creased by nearly 3,000,000 bushels in 1886, and 3,000,000 more at the close of 1889 when the total storage capacity was 15,415,000 bushels. But the con¬ stantly increasing receipts called for still more room, and at the end of the year 1891 there was room in Minneapolis storage houses for nearly 19,000,000 bushels of grain. This was as much as the total receipts in one year ten years ago, and four times as much as the re¬ ceipts in the centennial year of 1876. The distribution of this storage capa¬ city as compiled by the Northwestern Miller, is as follows :

So much for the rise of Minneapolis elevators. But it is worthy of note that much the larger part of the storage ca¬ pacity controlled by Minneapolis grain men is not in the city. In refering to the storage system ovitside of the city, a re¬ port of the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce says that "in addition to the terminal storage room in the city are the system of warehouses and elevators in the interior, covering all the territory from Northern Wisconsin, Northern Iowa and Nebraska to the Pacific coast in Oregon and Washington. These systems operate about 2,000 elevators, with a storage capacity of about 45,000,000 bushels of grain. This with the termi¬ nal elevators gives a storage capacity of over 60,000,000 bushels controlled and operated by firms connected with and doing business on the floor of the Ex¬ change room of the Chamber."

Nothing shows more significantly the phenomenal growth of the wheat busi¬ ness of Minneapolis than a comparison with the other primary" markets of the country. Such a comparison does not come under the opprobrious title of odious because it is not made in a spirit of boasting, and further because the pro¬ gress of Minneapolis has not been at the expense of any other city. Her tributary country has developed with her; she is the natural market for all wheat re¬ ceived. In 1879 Minneapolis first took her place among the ten leading primary wheat markets in the United States. She then ranked ninth as is shown in the following table :

After two more years the Flour City took the front rank and has maintained it ever since. At the same time Duluth came to the front as one of the ten great grain markets.

Transportation Facilities

Minneapolis entered upon her career with practically no facilities for com¬ merce. When the first mills were built the nearest railroad was over two hundred miles away and the few steam¬ ers plying upon the upper Mississippi seldom came as far as the Falls of St. Anthony. For the most part goods were hauled into and out of the city in wagons and carts; the famous Red River carts being for many years the only regu¬ lar means of conveymncefor merchandise westward bound. Realizing the neces¬ sity for public carriers the earlier Minne¬ apolis merchants took an aggressive position looking to the securing of direct railroad communication with the East, regular trips by boats to and from the South and lines of feeding and distribut¬ ing railroad to the West. For a time not very much was accomplished, but eventually the railroad building began and to the " hustling " propensities of the

Strangely enough, the first develop¬ ment of steam transportation was in a channel long since abandoned for the purpose. In 1849 Captain John Rollins came to Minneapolis from Maine and soon built and launched the steamer " Governor Ramsey " on the Mississippi river above the Falls of St. Anthony. It must be remembered that there were then no railroads in the state ; but thriv¬ ing villages had sprung up along the river for a hundred miles above the falls, and Minneapolis was their natural market. The machinery and iron work for the " Governor Ramsey " were built in Maine and shipped by ocean steamer to New Orleans and re-shipped on a Mis¬ sissippi river boat to St. Paul. All the wooden part of the steamer was con¬ structed in Minneapolis and the boat was the equal in every particular to any of her kind in the East. As soon as fin¬ ished the "Governor Ramsey" com¬ menced making regular trips to Sauk Rapids, under the command of Capt. Benjamin B. Parker. She was the first of a fleet of steamers which continued to carry on a prosperous trade until the war. In 1855 two steamers, the "North Star" and "H. M. Rice," were built and entered the up river trade. Later the "Enterprise" was added to the line. The end of this lively commercial enter¬ prise was quite as interesting as its inception . When the war of the Rebellion was in progress there was need of many light draft steamboats of moderate size for the navigation of the bayous and small streams of the South. The upper Mississippi boats were just the thing for this purpose. They were all purchased by the gOA^ernment, transferred around the falls on rollers, and taken South never to return or to be replaced in kind. After the war railroad building went for¬ ward rapidly. The up river towns were soon way stations on the Northwestern roads, and the steamers were not needed. Later the upper river developed great itsefulness as the means of transporting at small expense the millions of logs needed for the Minneapolis sawmills.

But the people of Minneapolis were not satisfied with steamers of their own above the falls. They wanted the steam¬ boats of the lower river to come directly to their own landing instead of stopping at St. Paul and Mendota. There was complaint on the part of river men that the boulders in the channel rendered navigation dangerous, and to ovei'come this objection a considerable sum was raised at a public meeting held June 20, 1852, and a contract was let to Capt. John Rollins to blast out these obstruc¬ tions. At the same time a committee consisting of Messrs. Stearns, Bristol, Tapper, Cheever and Hall was appointed to have general charge of opening navi¬ gation and securing regular trips to the falls by down river boats. Two years later more effective measures were taken. A company was formed and $15,000 raised for the purchase or construction of steamers to run to and from the falls. The first board of directors consisted of A. M. Fridley, Z. E. B. Nash, R. Cutler, J. B. Gilbert and Edwai'd Murphy, and these gentlemen were so far successful in carrying out the wishes of their consti¬ tuents that in 1855 the steamer " I'alls City" was built at Wellsville, Ohio, and entered the trade between St. Anthony and Rock Island and Dubuque. Edward Murph}", J. B. Gilbert and John Martin, each of whom owned stock in the com¬ pany, acted as captain at different times. The ''Falls City" opened the way and other steamers followed in the trade.

by the river steamers prospered. The year 1856 brought to Minneapolis Capt. J. C. Reno, an experienced river man from Cincinnati, who saw at once the possibilities of river commerce and the advantage to be gained if it were once well established. Through the influence of Capt. Reno four steamers were in¬ duced, in 1857, to enter the trade south from Alinneapolis. During that season there were fifty-two arrivals of steam¬ boats at the landing below the falls. But this was the maximum. Financial depression and the paralyzing effeet of the war put an end for the time to river traffic. After the war much attention was paid to railroad building and a feel¬ ing of apathy towards the river trade seemed to exist. The river channel was allowed to become obstructed. Within a few years the subject has again been agitated, especially since Capt. Reno's return to the city, and appropriations have been secured for clearing the chan¬ nel below the falls. During the summer of 1892 small steamers again made trips to Minneapolis, and the prospects are bright for an early resumption of regular river trade.

There are large possibilities for the future of river transportation, both above and below Minneapolis. The operation of the system of government storage reservoirs at the head-waters of the Mississippi has much improved navi¬ gation below the falls, and has made possible the running of steamboats for hundreds of miles north of Alinneapolis, a few locks being all that is necessary for continuous trips. For heavy freights these cheap waterways must eventualh' come into extensive use.

A detailed description of the railroads centering in Minneapolis is found under the appropriate department of this work. Of their relation to the trade and commerce of the city many pages might be written. That the railroads have made possible the settlement and devel¬ opment of the great hard wheat belt, and that Minneapolis' prosperity has been due in a great measure to this rapid development, has been shown. Minne¬ apolis has used railroads as a merchant uses trucks and carts for hauling his goods in and out of his warehouse. For the most part the carts have backed up to the city's doors whenever their services were needed, but when a new one was wanted and did not appear at the proper time, Minneapolis bought one or built it herself. With few exceptions no subsi¬ dies or special loans have been necessary. Most of the roads were manifestly pro¬ fitable investments from their inception.

There have not been many cases in which the railroads were unfriendly to Minneapolis. As a rule the western lines have shown great fairness, though there are occasional complaints of dis¬ crimination in favor of rival markets. In the matter of Eastern freights Minne¬ apolis was for years practically at the mercy of Chicago, whose influence upon the lines between Minneapolis and the Southeast was detrimental to the inter¬ ests of the Flour City. Chicago was the onl_y outlet to the East and Minneapolis must needs pay tribute. The need of a direct line to the seaboard which should be able to make rates in the interests of Minneapolis was urgent; accordingly the road was built. It was the Minne¬ apolis way. A direct route of 500 miles to Sault Ste. Marie was taken, and the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad, commonly called the " Soo Line," was opened in 1888 in connection with the Canadian Pacific. Tide water was reached at Montreal in less miles and time than was possible via Chicago. The line has proved to be the key of the rate situation and the emancipator of Minneapolis from the domination of any rival point. It has become a favorite line for the shipment of flour and grain to the East, and for export. In 1891 it carried 1,200,642 barrels of flour. The jobbers receive large shipments from the East over the "Soo," and passenger traffic both ways is large and growing: An entirely new section of Northern Wis¬ consin and upper Michigan has been opened up and made tributary to Minne¬ apolis by the " Soo " line.

By such masterly methods has Minne¬ apolis extended her commercial influence. Ten great railways now afford trans¬ portation facilities for the city. Their numerous branches and divisions if counted separately would double the number. Trains arrive and depart daily over a score- of routes. Six railways con¬ nect Minneapolis with Chicago and the Eastern lines there terminating. To the westward there is a choice of four routes to the Pacific coast. Every section of Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Ne¬ braska and Montana is in direct commu¬ nication with Minneapolis.

per cent, in seven 3'ears is clue largely to the extensive building operations carried on by the Northern Pacific and Great Noi'thern railways and to the addition of the great Burlington system to the Minneapolis territory. Below is given the mileage increase of the various sys¬

Banks And Clearings

Banks and financial institutions have contributed their full share to the com¬ mercial operations of the city. They have afforded the necessary financial as¬ sistance and have kept pace with other lines of business. The increase in the number of banks and aggregate capital in the past eight years has been as fol¬ lows:

Bank clearings are an uncertain basis for the comparison of the volume of bus¬ iness transacted in different cities, owing to the dissimilarity of conditions and methods. But the volume of trade from y^ear to year at an\^ one point is well in¬ dicated by the aggregate clearings. Min¬ neapolis clearings have advanced 500 per cent, in ten years. The clearings for each year since 1882 are given below:

Trade Organizations

Minneapolis enterpidse has become proverbial. The spirit of the city has encouraged individual jirogress, and priv¬ ate business firms by their shrewdness and energy have contributed not a little to the success of the community as a whole; but the effectiveness of organi¬ zation has never been better exemplified than in the history of the trade associa¬ tions of Minneapolis business men.

During the early days of thecity there were a number of organizations which were of short life as original^ planned. These early associations though gener¬ ally temporai'y in character were indica¬ tive of the public spirit and progressive tendency' of the peo2jle of Minneapolis. More enduring organizations came later. The history^ of the Board of Trade aiipears in the chapter on Manufacturing. At first the scope of the Board of Trade was very' broad. Its iiur^ioses were set forth as being"to facilitate and ])romotc the commercial, mercantile and manu¬ facturing interests of the city' of Minne- apolis; to encourage just and equitable principles of trade, and uniformity in the commercial usages of the city ; to acquire, preserve and disseminate valuable busi¬ ness information ; to adjust controver¬ sies and misunderstandings that may occur between parties engaged in trade, and to advance the general prosperity of the city of Minneapolis."

With the development of the enorm¬ ous grain traffic of the city it became evident that a distinct organization more especially devoted to the interests of the grain market, was needed, and in October, 1881, the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce was organized. The first officers were H. G. Harrison, president; A. D. Mulford, first vice-president; A. B. Taylor, second vice-president; G. D. Rogers, secretary and T. J. Buxton, treasurer. The office of president has been held successively since the first year by Messrs. E. V. White, Geo. A. Pillsbury (two terms,) C. M. Loring (four terms) and F. L. Greenleaf (threeterms.) C. C. Sturtevant became secretary in the sec¬ ond year and has remained in office ever since. The officers for 1891-2 are as fol¬ lows : President, F. L. Gi'eenleaf; first vice-president, F. C. Pillsbury; second vice-president, J. H. Martin; directors, A. J. Sawyer, F. R. Pettit, C. W. Moor, C. M. Harrington, F. W. Commone, Wm. Griffiths, S. D. Cargill, E. Cardin, A. C. Loring and W. D. Gregory, Secre¬ tary, C. C. Sturtevant; treasurer, H. H. Thayer. From its founding the Minne¬ apolis Chamber of Commerce has grown steadily. It now ranks with the leading commercial oi'ganizations of the world. As a representative of the largest prim¬ ary wheat market in the world it holds a tmique position among similar bodies. In 1884 the Chamber of Commerce com¬ pleted a building at a cost of $180,000 and representing, with the site, a value of $240,000. The membership has sprung from a few score to about 650 and has only been kept from more rapid increase by rigid scrutiny of applications and considerable advances of membership fee. The various fees and dues, together with assessments and rentals of offices in the building pay all the expenses and allow of a large appropriation each r^ear to a sinking fund, which will in a few years be sufficient to pay off the entire bonded indebtedness of the organization. An enormus business is transacted annu¬ ally on the floor of the Chamber of Com¬ merce. Not only is the entire grain bus¬ iness of the city there handled, but a large amount of the dealings in "futures" which formerly went to Chicago, now comes to the Minneapolis brokers.

The Board of Trade retains its char¬ acter as an association of business men meeting weekly during the winter and monthly in the summer to discuss public affairs and to recommend action. The board has exercised a large influence in securing the establishment of new busi¬ ness interests in the city.

Next in chronological order among the commercial bodies is the Jobbers As¬ sociation of Minneapolis, which was or¬ ganized in 1884. It is an association of wholesale merchants for the promotion of their class interests, such as the regu¬ lation of prices and competition, obtain¬ ing favorable railroad rates, and the en¬ largement of the territory for business. It also aims to promote the establish¬ ment of new business concerns in the city. The objects of the association are more formally set forth in the constitu¬ tion, as being; "to unite the mercantile and manufacturing interests for the pur¬ pose of advancing and increasing the trade and business of the city of Minne¬ apolis; to support such means as may be deemed best to promote this end; to use its influence as a bod3"to their rights and influence as merchants, manufactur- ers and citizens, and encourage social in¬ tercourse among its members." Imme¬ diately upon its organization the assocition became a potent factor in the devel¬ opment of the business interests of the city. Its operations have al\va3's been cpiiet but none the less effective. Monthly meetings are held. Standing committees on transportation, legislation, insurance and taxation, suggest the lines of work eovered by the association. The officers for 1892 are J. C. Eliel, president; W. C. Gregg, treasurer, and W. G. B^u'on, sec¬ retary. The following list of members shows that the association includes within its ranks the leading wholesalers of the city: Altman & Co., Barnard Bros. & Cope, Jas. H. Bishop & Co., The Bradstreet-Thurber Co., David Bradley & Co., J. I. Caseimplement Co., Century Piano Co., Dunham & Johnson, Deere & Co., W. J. Dyer & Bro., T. H. Drew Glass Co., Dodson, Fisher & Brockmann, For¬ man, Ford & Co., The Frisk-Turner Co., Goodyear Rubber Co., Harrison, Farington & Co., Hooker & Manley, Herzog Manufacturing Co., Janney, Semple & Co., Johnson & Hurd, Kenned^" Bros., L. D. Kilbourn Boot & Shoe Co., Anthon3' Kelly & Co., L3nnan-Eliel Drug Co., Lillibridge-Bremner F^actory, American Buscuitand Manufacturing Co.; McLeod & Smith, Minneapolis Threshing Ma¬ chine Co., Minneapolis Furniture Co., Minneapolis Glass Co., McDonald Bros., Minnesota Soap Co., Moline, Milburn, Stoddard Co., Alinneapolis Iron Store Co., Northwestern Stove Works, North¬ western Casket Co., North Star Boot & Shoe Co., Geo. R. Newell & Co., W. S. Nott & Co., Northwestern Star Oil Co., Jno. C. Oswald & Co., Paris, Alurton & Co., Patterson & Stevenson, A. M. Pratt & Co., W. H. Peckham, Pioneer Fuel Co., L. Paulle, Robinson & Stringham Co., Russell, Boynton & Co., Rugg, Ful¬ ler & Co., Smith & Wyman, Salisbury,

Within a few years Minneapolis has become one of the most important mar¬ kets in thecountr3' forfruits and produce. Aside from the advantage of a rapidly growing city and an extensive tributary country, the development of the trade in this line was largely due to the Produce Exchange and the individual efforts of the enterprising business men who com¬ pose its membership. The Produce Ex¬ change was incorporated on April 28th, 1884. Its first officers were: President, J. D. Darling; first vice-president, E. G. Potter; second vice-president, H. K. Pratt; secretar3'^, A. M. Woodward; treasurer, Enoch Holmes; directors, S. A. Coe, E. Bach, Frank' Clark, L. Longfellow, M. Whitcomb and A. M. Woodward. It is the purpose of the organization ''to secure more intimate business relations among its members ; to lacilitate the buying and selling of all produce; to inculcate and inforce by mutual agreement, just and equitable principles and rules in trade whereb3'' business controversies or disputes among its members may be speedil3' and fairly adjusted ; to acquire and impart such commercial information as may relate to their mutual interests and profit, and generally to secure to its members the benefits and advantages which experi-. ence has shown to result from co-opera¬ tion in legitimate business pursuits, and to advance and promote the general prosperity and business interest of the City of Minneapolis." DaiW meetings are held as in other similar bodies. The officers for 1892 are: President, H. S. Smith; first vice-president, W. E. Grinnell; second vice-president, S. G. Palmer; secretary, C. Y. Knight and treasurer, D. W. Longfellow.

Exchange of Minneapolis, was incorpor¬ ated for the purpose, as expressed in its constitution, of " advancingthe building interests of the City of Minneapolis, and the maintaining of a club room where its members ean meet for business, pleas¬ ure, mutual improvement, and for united action tending to the purpose above stated, and where others may be invited for discussion and consideration of mat¬ ters of interest to the building fratern¬ ity." The ineorporators were Charles Morse, E. C. Cauvet, C. E. Riehardson, B. Cooper, Frank B. Long, J.S. Homan, Geo. W. Libbey, Robert Cheney, George A. Morse, J. M. Locke, E. F. Dodson, F. A. Fisher, Herbert Chalker, S. C. Cut¬ ter, H. N. Leighton and A. W. Scott. Geo. W. Libbey was the first president, J. S. Homan, E. F. Dodson and F. B. Long, vice-presidents, and C. E. Richard¬ son, treasurer; the same gentlemen form¬ ing the first board of directors. The eorporate membership is limited to master builders; a non-corporate membership provides for branches of business sub¬ ordinate to the mechanieal trades. The Exchange has been of great benefit to the buildinginterestsof the city. Rooms are maintained in the Boston Block and daily sessions are held. The officers in 1892 are, L. S. Gillette, president; B. Cooper, vice-president; C. W. Brown, treasurer; C. E. Richardson, secretary; Chas. Morse, E. F. Dodson, B. Cooper, L. S. Gillette and C. W. Brown, dii'ectors.

The Minneapolis Business Union, per¬ haps the most important of all the trade organizations, was formed in 1890. A full description of its work is given in the chapter devoted to manufae luring interests.

engage in an important branch of manufacturing in this city, and to prosecute it through years of dis¬ couragement, with persistenee, until with the fruits of fortunate, investments, he was able to retire from active busi¬ ness and enjoy a mature age, amid the eomforts procured by an industrious life and surrounded by sons and daught¬ ers settled in honorable positions.

Mr. Warner is a native of the town of Warnersville, Sehoharie countj^. New York, where he was born November 25, 1827, the youngest of a family of five children. His father was George Warner who eultivated a farm upon which he was born and raised. His grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, who, sett¬ ling upon the frontiers of civilization had his house burned by Indians and himself earned a prisoner to Niagara, where after hardships and almost starvation, he made his eseape. The family had em¬ igrated to America from Hamburg, about the middle of the last century and were among the German settlers of the Mohawk valley in New Y^ork.

Mr. Warner's mother was Mary Freeman, whose father and grandfather were of English origin and residents of Nova Scotia, were mariners. His paternal grandmother was a Boulanger of Freneh nativity. His infancy and boyhood were passed upon the Sehoharie farm, with sueh labor and seholastic advant¬ ages as was the lot of the boys of that .period in the rural districts of New York. Surrounded by mementoes of the atrocities of tory animosity, his boyish imagination was filled with visions of military prowess, and his patriotism stimulated by tales of the Revolution, whose survivors were just passing from the stage of active life.

3'^ears in the cabinet making and piano building trade. The j'ears of one's junior apprenticeship, though full of ex¬ periences which go to mould the char¬ acter of a man, are without event of sufficient importance to call for record. When out of his apprenticeship he went to Buffalo and worked at the piano business as a journe3'man. Arriving at his majority he established himself at Buffalo in the manufacture of enameled furniture, a branch of business then un¬ known in that cit\', and onlj' recenth' established in Boston.

He now felt himself at liberty to settle in life with some permanence and contracted marriage with Miss Julia Francis Wilgus, daughter of Nathaniel Wilgus who had been a resident of Buffalo since 1816.

After the furniture business had been conducted for five years, it was closed out and the proprietor joined the eager crowd that was hastening westward. He halted at Chicago and there estab¬ lished himself at thesamebusiness which occupied him at Buffalo. After two years he decided to go fartner west and embark in the lumber business; so clos¬ ing at Chicago he bought the machinery for a steam saw mill and settling at Faribault, Minn., erected the mill and put it in operation. The town is at the edge of the big woods, then heavily timbered with hard wood, and offered to the practiced e3'e of the cabinet maker attractive material for the manu¬ facture of his wares. In the spring of 1857 the mill was burned - a total loss, with no insurance. Left thus without business, and the savings of years of hard work dissipated, he did not 3'ield to despair, but sought to find a new field for his exertions. He visited an old friend at Minneapolis, Wni. J. Parsons, Escp, whose residence was on the site of the Temple Court building, aiid who was among the most enthusiastic of the early citizens of Minneapolis, who pre¬ vailed upon him to tr3' his fortunes in the new town. He accordingh' secured a dwelling and shop at the corner of Itaska street (now Third avenue noi'th) and Fourth street and commenced the manufacture of furnitiire. It was in a small wa3', for his capital had been con¬ sumed in the fire; he was a stranger in the communit3', and he was obliged to take his place at the bench and turn out the work of his own skilled hands. There was a growing demand for furniture and the business enlarged, soon requiring the emplo3"ment of moi'e hands and the enlargement of the shop.

About 1866 Mr. Warner joined with the Sidles in the erection of the present First National Bank building, comer of Washington avenue and Nicollet street, the ver3' heart of the business part of the cit3'. The corner building was erected for the bank, and the next inside store for the furniture business. When completed Mr. Warner opened a furniture wareroom in this building. His business had now gi'own to large proportions and occupied c^uarters commensurate with its importance. But it was a location desirable for other lines of trade, and a few years later it was sold, and Mr. Warner purchased a lot (one-quarter acre) at the corner of Fourth street and Nicollet, where he erected the present Warner Block, and to which he removed his business. At the time of making this purchase, there were no business houses on Nicollet above Washington avenue; the latter itself was covered with a thicket of hazel brush, and the opinion of the wiseacres of the community was that Warner was foolish to think of doing business so far from town. The result has established his sagacit3' for the proi)ert3' still belongs to him, and coidd sell for as many thousands as it

Mrs. Warner died in 1876, leaving a famil^^ of three soins and three daughters. The sons are Maj. N. F. Warner, and Geo. W. Warner of Minneapolis, and James H. Warner of New York. The daughters are wives of Mr. E. W. Grif¬ fin, and Mr D. F. Peek, of Minneapolis, and of A. F. DeSteiger of La Salle, Ills. Four years later Mr. Warner was mar¬ ried a second time, in 1880, to Mrs. George Smith of Natchez, Miss.

He retired from the furniture business in 1876, but has continued to reside in Minneapolis, spending his winters in the south, at New Orleans and elsewhere. He has erected a fine villa at Cedar Lake, in the midst of ample grounds and sur¬ rounded by a grove of native trees. This was unfortunately destroyed by fire, but in its place has arisen a more stately mansion which is the family home.

Some four years ago Mr. Warner was induced by his son-in-law, E. W. Griffin, who had explored the upper country as U. S. Deputy Surve3''or, to invest in ex¬ plorations for iron ore in the western part of the Mesaba iron range, then thought to be valuable only for its pine timber. After years of patient and ex¬ pensive labor in opening up shafts, and sinking the diamond drill, the "Diamond Iron Mine," has been proved to contain a vast deposit of high grade hematite iron ore of "Bessemer" quality. It has been leased to a wealthy eastern corpor¬ ation, which only awaits the opening of railroad faeilities tobeeome a large ship¬ per of iron ore. Messrs. Griffin and Warner were the pioneers in developing the most valuable iron range in the northwest, which is destined to become a very important tributary to the wealth of the state. The Diamond Iron Min¬ ing Company has its offiee at No. 329 Nicollet ave. Geo. F. Warner is presi¬

Mr. Warner is a man of great enthu¬ siasm, tenaeious of purpose, and most pleasant and affable in his manners. He has met many vicissitudes in his business career, but has borne them with fortitude shirking no labor, and deelining no re¬ sponsibility. In his retirement he is able to review a life of industry, which has brought him at the end, competence, with none to anoy or malign.

Henry Poehler. Among the men whom the opportunity of dealing in the great staple product of the Northwest has. attracted to Minneapolis, few occupy a more prominent position than Mr. Poehler. He was a pioneer in the state, in which he has gained great sueeess as a merchant. He was disting¬ uished by long and varied serviee in the state and national legislatures. His life illustrates the opportunities which await, and the honors and successes which American citizenship confer upon one worthy to receive them, though from a foreign soil, and bringing no aid from birth or fortune. A peasant boy from the German fatherland, coming to the land of promise and opportunity in his youth, he has risen by sheer force of industry and eapaeity, through diverse experiences of labor to a position of honor in the eommtnity, and of signal importance in the great mart where the largest part of the wheat of the North¬ west finds a market.

Mr. Poehler is of German nativity, born in the principality of Lippe Detmold, Aug. 22, 1833. His father, Frederick Poehler, was a man of edueation and refinement, pursuing the avoeation of a public school teacher. His family of ten children taxed his means of subsistence so that he was able to bestow upon his

At the age of fifteen years, aecompanying an uncle who was emigrating to America, 3'oung Poehler settled with him upon a farm in the then undeveloped west, near Burlington, Iowa. Five years of boyhood were here passed with hard manual lab'or upon the farm.

At the age of twenty' years, in the spring of 1853, he left the farm seeking in the extreme frontier of the west an opportuniW to employ the powers whieh he felt urging him to a life of aetivity and enterprise. Tarrying a 3'ear at St. Paid, which was just beginning to emerge from a rural village, he found engagement as a clerk at the trad- ,ing post of Joseph R. Brown, in the un¬ settled but rieh Minnesota valley'. In the spring of 1855 he launehed into trade in eompany with a brother, opening a store of general merchandise at the vill¬ age of Henderson, Sible\' Count\', Alinn. The venture was a bold one. The Indian title to the surrounding country had only just been extinguished. The lands had not been surveyed. Goods were brought in over roads from which the stumps were not yet removed, and sometimes almost impassable from the bottomless sloughs of the low lands. There were few pei'inanent settlers. Customers were largely' the new settlers with Indians and mixed bloods, who traversed the wilderness gaining a pre¬ carious livelihood in the chase. But he had come to grow up with the countr3% and in the settlement where onh" a cabin or two stood, built a frame store, which as business increased was replaced by one of brick, and was several times enlarged. The village of Henderson was surveyed and incorporated the 3'ear after his arrival. In village and count3f affairs he held important official posi¬ tions. The state government was not organized until three 3'-ears afterwards. At the first state election in the fall of 1857, Mr. Poehler was chosen to repre¬ sent Sible3' and McLeod counties in the lower house of the legislature. He was allied to the Democratic part3', but the election turned more upon the fitness of candidates than upon their politics, and his election was nearlv unanimous. It was an important position. The foun¬ dations of the state government had been laid in the constitution just adopt¬ ed, but all the manifold details of civil institutions were to be arranged in conformit3' with a state government. The land grant act had conferred upon the state a princeH domain, to be parceled out for the development of the state. Local government and the school S3'stem were to be established. All these ques¬ tions were presented to the 3'et 3'outhful legislator, and so well dealt with that a few 3'ears later, in 1865, he was again chosen to the same position, but repre¬ senting in part a new district, Nicollet and other counties having been joined to Sible3'- in forming the legislative district. Six 3'ears later he was chosen to the State Senate, in which he served a term of two 3'ears, and was again elected in 1875 for another term of two 3'ears. This term had but just expired, when in 1878 Mr. Poehler was transferred from the State to the National legislature, having been elected in competition with Maj. Strait, the popular Republican member, to represent the Second District of the state in the Congress of the United States. He was appointed to the im¬ portant committee of Indian affairs, as also the Committee of Expenses of the post office. His term of service in the Forty -sixth Congress terminated March 4, 1880. The peasant bo3' and 3'outhful emigrant of 1848 had now within thirt3' years from his arrival in the countr3' at- tained one of the highest representative positions in the nation. It was no acci¬ dent, but was won b3' faithfulness in every trust, and capacitj'- developed and demonstrated in grappling with the problems in business, society and politics which anew and free countrj^ presents, and which pointed him out as the most competent to serve them.

In 1887 Mr. Poehler commenced busi¬ ness in Minneapolis, engaging in a broader field of enterprise, and became a resident of the cit\^ in 1890. He opened a grain commission business, having a membership in the Chamber of Com¬ merce, and participating extensiveh^ in the vast transactions in wheat, which has made the Minneapolis exchange the largest in point of sales of actual grain in the country". He is a director of the chamber, and has served on its Board of Arbitration. He is manager of The Pacific Elevator Company, operating a line of twenty-five elevators along the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad.

In 1861 Mr. Poehler was married to Miss Elizabeth Frankenfield, of Bucks County, Pa. Of six children born to them, five are living. They are Alvin H. and Charles F., both graduates of Shattuck School, of Faribault, and now en¬ gaged in business with their father; WalterC., who is a student at the Minnesota State University; and Irene M. and Au¬ gusta, daughters remaining in the house¬ hold.

Forty-five years of association with American society has not entirel}'- oblit¬ erated from his speech traces of his Ger¬ man nativity. He is a fine specimen of physical manhood, tall, broad and stal¬ wart. His conversation is fluent and entertaining, and his personality uncom¬ monly attractive. His business success, which has placed him among the most affluent of his associates on 'change, has been achieved with no stain of sordid am¬ bition. He is enterprising and industri¬ ous, but public spirited and liberal, using his position and acquisitions to strength¬ en the institutions which he has done so much to establish and mature.

Aaron Denman Mulford. A gentle¬ man whose face is familiar to all the fre¬ quenters on 'change; whose name is well known in financial circles throughout the wheat growing belt of the North¬ west, and whose robust form and cheer¬ ful face indicate physical health and serenity of mind, came to Minneapolis twent3"-one years ago an invalid ; whose only hope of life was thought to be in the bracing air and free life of this salubrious region. He came from a community where his ancestral name had come down from colonial times through eight gener¬ ations without blemish, conferring upon those who bore it a title to social rank, to one where the only passport to suc¬ cess was personal merit, and where con¬ fidence and respect awaited those who should demonstrate, in the ordeal of practical life, fitness to receive them. Happily he has shown through these years that his name is entitled to honor in the West through merit, as it is by in¬ heritance in the East.

Mr. Mulford's paternal ancestor was William Mulford, who settled at Lynn, Mass., in 1639; an emigrant of Quaker faith from England, and who a few years latertook up his residence at Southamp¬ ton, Long Island, where he was one of the first settlers. The family passed to Elizabeth, New Jersey, where for five generations they have borne an honored name, and been engaged in active manu¬ facturing pursuits. His maternal ances¬ tors were Bakers, who settled in Connec¬ ticut as early as 1635, and have long been residents of Union county, New

A. D. Mulford was the youngest but one of a family of seven children born to Benjamin W. and Jane (Baker) Mulford. He was born at the city of Elizabeth, N. J., January 10, 1840. In his 3^outh he was thought to be of feeble constitution and early showed sj-mptoms of i^vilmonar\' weakness. His father died when he was of tender ^-ears, leaving him to the care of his mother, who laid no heavy burdens, either of education or labor, upon him. His school life was at a pri¬ vate school in his native cit3% and termi¬ nated in his sixteenth 3'ear. He then spent a 3'ear in a store as clerk, and at the age of seventeen opened an office at Elizabeth for the transaction of real estate, insuranceand brokerage business. For fourteen 3^ears this business was continued with assiduity and success. It gradually led him into connection with large financial interests. He became officialh' connected with the First National bank, the Fire and Marine In¬ surance company, the Dime Savings bank and the Librarv association.

While still living at Elizabeth, on the 17th of Febrviar3', 1869, he married Miss Clari Marondi, whose father, Frances Marondi, was a prominent business man in Boston for over fift3'3'ears. The famih' was of Italian origin, but domiciled in this coLintiw for manv generations.

The cares of an engrossing business, and the burdens of financial trusts de¬ veloped the latent seeds of puhnonar3' disease. Hemorrhages of the lungs so reduced his strength that i)h3'sicians advised cessation of business and change of climate as the onl v hope of prolong¬ ing life. Following the prescription, he closed his affairs and found a new home in Minneapolis. It was in the 3'ear 1871 that he first arrived here. For several

3'ears he did not enter business, giving himself to relaxation and recuperation. As strength returned, and a desire to bear a hand in the bus3' tide of life that flowed around him took possession of his mind, he engaged, about 1875, in the wood and coal business, having an office in the Nicollet house. His observations of the needs of the communit3' led him to plan the organization of a stricth' sav¬ ings bank; and associating E H. AIoulton in the enterprise, the Farmers' and Mechanics' Savings bank was organized. Mr. Mulford was a trustee and the first president of the new bank.

He now turned his attention to the grain business, and opened a produce commission house. Minneapolis had already become a great milling point and a considerable wheat market, but the methods of dealing, and especialH' of handling the vast qualities of grain which the milling business attracted here, were 3'et crude and experimental. Mr. Mulford gave himself, with rare in¬ telligence and good judgment, to the perfecting of these methods. One result was the organization of the Chamber of Commerce - which has become the largest market of wheat in the world. He was vice president of the Chamber at its or¬ ganization in 1881, and has ever since maintained a close connection with it. Another line of investment which he adopted to facilitate the handling of grain was in the construction and man¬ agement of elevators. The Mulford Ele¬ vator Comi)an3'was organized, of which he was president and treasurer. The business of the compan3'has so extended throughout Minnesota and the States of North and South Dakota, that no less than thirty-six elevators belonging to this compan3' are now in operation. In addition to this large business, Mr. Mul¬ ford is vice-president and ti'easurer of the Great Western Elevator Compaiu', which is building near Minneapolis a great terminal elevator, with a present capacity of 500,000 bushels, and a pros¬ pective one of 1,500,000 bushels. In their private business the firm of A. D. Mulford & Co. handle between two and three million bushels of grain per year.

While he has been immersed in busi¬ ness of a magnitude to task the energies of one in full physical health, he has not entirely overcome the weakness which first induced him to eome here. More than once he has been brought low by recurrence of the old trouble and has been obliged to discontinue attention to business for months. During these in¬ tervals he has made two trips to Europe, and spent much time in travel, with winter sojourns in Florida and on the Pacific coast. But he seems to possess a faculty of recuperation, due in part, no doubt, to exuberance of spirits and serenity of mind, which gives him the appearance of robustness and joviality.

Mr. and Mrs. Mulford have been greatly afflicted in the loss of two child¬ ren of tender years. Their only son, Ernest Denman, is now, at the age of sixteen, making preparation for a course at Harvard University.

Mr. Mulford is of asocial disposition. He is a prominent member of the Minne¬ apolis Club, and of other organizations for the promotion of art, rational enjoy¬ ment and the sweet amenities of life.

Sprung from an ancestry that adhered with great tenacity to the calvinistic theology, he has embraced a more liberal faith. He exalts the practical virtues of honesty, eharity and good will above dogmas of scholastie speculation. Upon the question which just now agitates those who deal upon the exchange, he advocates the suppression of future and option trading in non-existant products by the strong arm of federal taxation, in the interest of the producers and of

Alvorado Richardson, lumberman, saw mill owner and machinery manu¬ facturer, was born in Franklin County, Maine, on May 19, 1847. His father was a farmer and his early years brought him the training in hard work and selfdependence which a New England farm¬ er's boy is pretty sure to receive. When eighteen years old Mr. Riehardson came to Minneapolis. He arrived in the afternoon and went to work in a saw mill the same evening. Two weeks later he went to the pine woods in the employ of the old lumbering firm of Ankeny, Robinson & Pettit. This was the be¬ ginning of a six years connection with the firm, during which time Mr. Richard¬ son was advanced to positions of trust and responsibility, at the last having charge of the logging interests of the con¬ cern. He next engaged with Mr. H. F. Brown, looking after the extensive pine land and logging business which Mr. Brown was developing. For five or six years Mr. Richardson and Mr. Brown were associated - part of the time as partners in various enterprises - with uniform success. Mr. Riehardson had become known as an excellent judge of pine lands, and a clever manager in get¬ ting out logs and lumber. During one year, while with Mr. Brown, Mr. Rich¬ ardson was interested in merchandising at Aitkin under the firm name of Knox & Riehardson.

In 1880 the erection of the Diamond saw mill was commenced. Messrs. H. H. Smith, N. G. Leighton and W. S. Ben¬ ton were associated with Mr. Riehard¬ son in this enterprise, but Mr. Benton's interest was soon purchased by the oth¬ ers and two years later Mr. Leighton sold out to the remaining partners, and the firm became Smith & Richardson. Since its completion the Diamond mill has been an important factor in the pro¬ duction of lumber in Minneapolis. It was improved from time to time and had a large capacit3^ On July 3, 1892 it was destroyed by fire, but is now (in the fall of 1892,) being rebuilt at a cost of $90,000, and will be a perfect modern mill in every particular. Until 1888 the firm carried on a logging business. In 1887 a repair shop was built near the Diamond mill at Eighteenth avenue north and First street. This was intended for a limited amount of work and emploA-ed only ten or fifteen men. But the oppor¬ tunities for business developed rapidly and the manufacture of saw and flour mill machinery was commenced. The establishment is now known as the Dia¬

Another enterprise was established in 1891. This was the erection of a $65,- 000 saw mill on Lake Ponchartrain near New Orleans. Air. L. West is associated in this branch of the business. The mill has a ten years contract for sawing cy¬ press lumber. In connection with Air. George F. Warner, Air. Richardson and Air. Smith own 7,000 acres of land in Itasca county on the Alesaba iron range. Though only parti}" developed there is evidence of a rich store of ore on this property.

Air. Richardson was married in 1869 to Aliss Sarah Dorman. They have two children, and reside in a pleasant home at 1811 North Brt'ant avenue.

The Police Department of the city of Minneapolis has grown with thegrowth, and strengthened with the strength of the city, until it has attained an effi¬ ciency commensurate with the import¬ ant interests committed to its care and protection.

The Department properly had its origin at the organization of the city government in 1872. Previous to that time police duties, as well as certain civil services, wei'e intrusted to the city mar¬ shal of the city of St. Anthony, who was elected annually with other cit3^ offi¬ cers, and was assisted by constables. The aldermen were vested with the power of arrest, though seldom, if ever, exercis¬ ing it. The judicial power of the , city was exercised by usuall3r two justices of the peace. The town of Minneapolis, before the incorporation of thecity,from 1858 to 1867, elected annually two con¬ stables, who were sufficient for the police duty of the town and village.

A watch house was built on lots 4 and 5, block 33, Mill Company's addi¬ tion, and occupied after September, 1855. Here prisoners were temporaril3' con¬ fined. When sentenced, they were either sent to the Ramsey county jail, or to the penitentiary at Stillwater, until the court house and jail of Hennepin county were completed in 1857.

At the organization of the city gov¬ ernment of Minneapolis in 1867, H. H. Brackett was appointed chief of police, and six patrolmen were appointed. The3' were Stuart Seeley, Lorenzo Coleman, Samuel Snyder, J. D. Rich, James Parker and A. C. Berry.

Police And Fire Departments

1874-5, John H. Noble. At this time the force had increased to nineteen offi¬ cers and men, and the city provided for the purchase of uniforms, overcoats, clubs, belts and stars, for the men of the force. The salaiy of thechief was $1,500, detective, $1,000, and patrolmen $900 each.

In 1876 to 1883, A. S. Alunger was chief. He was first appointed by Ma\'or A. A. Ames, and re-appointed by Ma3'ors DeLaittre and Rand, and again by Mayor Ames. During the mayoralty of A. C. Rand, a new departure was made in em¬ ploying prisoners in labor, which was provided at a jmrd contiguous to the county jail, and with such good result, that the way was opened for the erec¬ tion of a city work house, which was finally" accomplished in 1886. During the ma\'oralty of A. A. Ames in 1883, the police force was greatly increased, and the salaries raised, and military titles given to the officers, and a high degree of militar^^ discipline introduced. There were sixty-two men on the force. The salaries were fixed at $1,800 for the chief, $1,500, captain of detectives; $1,300, first assistant; $1,000, saigeants; $828, patrolmen for first ^-earof service, and $900 to those who had served more than one j^ear ; $200 in ad¬ dition to salary to mounted patrolmen.

In 1883 A. C. Berrv' was chief. He was succeeded in 1884 bv John West, and the force was increased to one hun¬ dred men. During this period the excel¬ lent work house at Shingle Creek was completed and occupied, and the chief was made its superintendent. In 1886 Charles R. Hill was appointed chief with the rank of colonel.

On the 14th of Alarch, 1887, a Board of Police Commissioners was appointed by the city council in accordance with an act of the legislature. They were Thomas B. Janney for one j^ear, John Baxter for two j'ears, and Michael Hoy for three years. Of this board the maj^or was a member ex-officio, and the ap¬ pointment and control of the police was vested in the board.

In his inaugural message, delivered in April, 1887, Ma\'or Ames, after highlj^ complimentingthe services and character of the police, thus alluded to the change in the control of the force : "At the last meeting of the Legislature a few meddle¬ some fanatics from this cit\', backed b}' the puritanical majority of that bodv, had succeeded in thwarting the will of the people and depriving the Mayor of his control of the police force, and placed the same in charge of a police commis¬ sion." In 1888 the Board of Police Commissioners was composed of Ma^^or Albert A. Ames, president; Michael H03", vice president; George L. Baker, John Baxter and William R. Guile. They ap¬ pointed Jacob Hein superintendent, but made few changes in the men of the force. The military titles were abolished and the chief officer named Superintendent.

The following 3'ear the board con¬ sisted of Ma3^or E. C. Babb, president; N. H. Giertson, vice president, and W. R. Guile. W. M. Brackett was made Superintendent. The total number of the force was one hundred and ninet3'.

The Police Commission was abolished in 1890, and the appointment and con¬ trol of the ])olice restored to the ma3'or. At the election of that 3'ear P. B. Wins¬ ton was elected mavor, and appointed Alajor R. R. Henderson chief, who is now administering the office.

The total number on the rolls of the police force December 31, 1889, was 199. The total number on the force December 31, 1890, was 217, a*s fol¬ lows:

Miscellaneous Service

Our force has been very successful in preventing crime, and it is due largely to the effieiency of both the detective department and the patrolmen in keeping a very close watch of the professional criminal and the disorderly elasses which we alwaj"s have with us as do all large cities. A known professional is "run in" on general prineiples, and we have in a majority of cases been supported in this proceed ure by the municipal judges, who would either order them escorted to the depot to take the first train leaving or send them to the work house for 60 or 90 days. This arbitrary pro¬ ceedings on our part has tended to make our eity a very unhealthy place especially for known crimi¬ nals, and this we consider the principal reason of our immunity from depredations by professionals.

Crimes will be eommitted,no matter how close¬ ly the police may guard against them, espeeiallyin all large communities of wealth and numbers you will find more or less of the criminal classes to prey upon them. It has been my aim to so organize and discipline our force to make it most effective in preventing crime and misdemeanors as well as to detect and bring before the proper tribunal viola¬ tors of the law, and the members of the force as a whole deserve credit for their suecessful efforts in this direetion.

Fire Department

A liberal policy has been pursued by the city authorities, especially during the last fewyeai's,in maintaining an efficient paid fire department, and in supplying it with adequate equipment, and in maintaining a generous water supply.

fire engines, first and second class, seven¬ teen hose carriages, eight chemical en¬ gines, six hook and ladder trucks, one water tower, one suppl3^ wagon, three fviel wagons, one fire alarm telegraph wagon, four chief's buggies and as man\' sleighs, eighteen exercising wagons and an ecpial number of bed sleds, one hun¬ dred thirt v-one horses, 31 ,450 feet of 2% inch hose, 2,850 feet chemical hose, 350 314 inch hose.

A very complete system of fire alarm telegraph has been established, consist¬ ing of 134 miles of wire and poles, 40 miles of underground wire, and 10 cir¬ cuit repeaters, 550 cells batter^", 200 fire alarm boxes, 24 engine house gongs, and 10 engineer's gongs.

The water suppU" is taken from the Mississippi river, by pumps, at three pumping stations, one located at the West Side of the Falls, and one at the East Side, operated by water power, with steam as supplementaiw, and one at Shingle Creek, about three miles above the Falls, which is operated b_v steam. There are 118 miles of water mains, and 1,978 hj'drants.

The cit\' owns eighteen brick engine houses, distributed through its limits. The value of fire department property' is estimated at about $575,000. The total expenditures of the department for the \x'ar ending December 31, 1890, were $261,180.87. During that time the de¬ partment responded to 497 alarms, and run its apparatus 3,025 miles, and as many more in returning.

History Of The Department

The splendid fire department which Minneapolis now boasts is comparativeW of recent evolution from the vol¬ unteer department of the earl}' days of the cit}'.

A primitive fire organization, of which A1 Stone was one of the leading spirits, had an existence in St. Anthon\' in 1851. Each member was required to provide himself with two wooden pails and an immense canvas bag. In the former he was expected to carr}' water to the fire, while the latter served as a receptacle for such household or other goods as could be stowed within its capacious depths.