Sioux Falls City (part 3 of 6)

Sioux Falls Brewery. - The Sioux Falls Pantag-raph in its issue of October 7, 1873, stated that John McClellan had sold four lots on the side hill to Messrs, Krudnig- and Foerster of Yankton, on which they would commence the erection of a brewery as soon as materials could be procured for that purpose. These lots were located near by, if not the same lots now occupied by Heynsohn Bros., but no attempt was made to build a brewery upon them. In an issue of the same paper of August 29, 1874, we find the followingitem: "Parties are now engaged in building- a brewery, and will have it completed so as to offer the genuine lag-er by Christmas," and that "Knott and Nelson arethe names of the gentlemen building it." The boiler reached Sioux Falls October 27, 1874. About January 20, 1875, the firm of Knott & Nelson was dissolved by mutual consent, S. S. Nelson retiring; and C. K. Howard became associated with Mr. Knott, first under the firm name of George A. Knott & Co., and then the parties incorporated as the Sioux Falls Brewing- Company.

The business was conducted for several years bv this firm, with a capital stock of 840,000, Georg-e A. Knott taking S15,000 of the stock, C. K. Howard 815,000, and the oificers of the First National Bank of Sioux Falls the balance. Mr. Knott was the general manager of the business until the aifairs of the company became involved in litigation in 1886.

In January, 1886, R. J. Wells became president and W. F. Furbeck cashier of the First National Bank of Sioux Falls. The bank got into trouble during the month of January, owing to complications arising from issuing to C. K. Howard, ccninty treasurer, the famous cashier's check of $16,571.61, and it became necessary for the bank to make some changes in the securities it held. Among those it decided to dispose of, was the brewery stock it owned and held as collateral. On the 17th day of February, 1886, a contract was made between the bank and Moriz Levinger, the bank selling to Mr. Levinger all the personal property outside the city of Sioux Palls belonging to the Sioux Falls Brewing Company, Mr. Levnnger agreeing in consideration of such sale, to pav the bank in cash $2,000, March 3, $2,000, April 3, $1,000, June 3, $1,500, and July 3, 1886, $2,500. Upon the cash payment being made the bank agreed to make a good and valid assignment of three hundred and twenty-five shares of the capital stock of the brewing company to Levinger.

Levinger agreed to purchase all the real estate belonging to the company, and to pay for the same $20,000, within eighteen months from date of contract, the bank then holding a mortgage on said real estate in the sum of $20,000, agreed to foreclose the mortgage and procure for Levinger a good and valid sheriif 's deed of the same. The bank also agreed to save Levinger harmless from all indebtedness of the brewing company. This contract was signed by Wells and Furbeck in their official capacities. The capital stock of the brewing company was divided into 400 shares of SlOO each, and the bank claimed to own 325 shares. Levinger made the cash payment of $2,000, executed and delivered his notes to the bank for the several sums specified to be paid on the third days of March, April, June and July, and went into possession of the brewery.

Soon after this, the condition of the bank became more and more embarrassed, and a receiver was appointed March 11, 1886, who took possession March 31. When the March payment became due, Levinger tendered the bank officials payment and demanded his note, but the bank owing to its attachment or other disposition of the note was unable to produce it.

This mortgage of $20,000 was assigned to P. P. Peck before the receiver took possession, and he brought foreclosure proceedings, making the Brewing Company, W. F. Furbeck, J. Leslie Thompson as receiver, and Moriz Levinger defendants.

It was an interesting law suit. Boyce & Boyce appeared for Peck, McMartin and Gamble Bros, for Receiver Thompson, and Bailey & Davis and H. H. Keith for Levinger. The attorneys for the receiver acted with Boyce & Boyce, both opposing the claim of Levinger.

Before the case was tried, Levinger had paid $5,000 to third parties to whom his notes had been assigned by the bank, and had also been compelled to pay several thousand dollars of the indebtedness of the brewing company that the bank had agreed to pay.

Levinger in this action demanded judg-ment that his interest in the premises be declared superior to that of the plaintiif ; that he be entitled to all beneficial interest in said mortgage; that the bank by its receiver be required to specifically perform said contract, or to account to the defendant for all monies received thereunder, and that the same be applied as a set-off or counter-claim in reduction of the mortgage debt, and that the plaintiff's action be dismissed.

J86 History Of Minnehaha County

This case was on the calendar of the supreme court of the territory at its February term in 1888, and was arg-ued by the attorneys at that time. The supreme court held that the contract entered into "was atrainst public policy and could not be enforced by specific performance, nor allowed to be declared upon by way of recoupment."

At the May term, 1888, a rehearing- was granted as to the right of Levinger to recover the money paid under the contract. Again the court declared the contract against public policy and one which a court of equity would not lend its aid to enforce specific performance.

In a great many cases new trials have been granted and judgments reversed upon newly discovered evidence, but in this case, after the second hearing before the supreme court, Park Davis discovered some new law, or in other w^ords, found that a contract, similar to the one that had been declared to be against public policy by the supreme court of the territory, had been held not to be against public policy by the supreme court of the United States. Davis took this decision and went to Yankton to see Chief Justice Tripp, who, upon reading the case, remarked that "either the supreme court of the territory or that of the United States was in error in the matter." At that time, to obtain a rehearing, it was necessary first to obtain the indorsement upon the petition for the rehearing- of one of the judges w^ho had concurred in rendering the decision sought to be reviewed. Judge Tripp, upon being asked for his indorsement for a second rehearing, said he would do so if one of his associates would also indorse the petition; that it was not usual to grant a second rehearing, and that he would not like to assume the responsibility of doing so alone. However, he did indorse it, with the understanding that another judge's indorsement should also be procured. Judge Spencer was applied to, who upon reading the decision of the United States supreme court indorsed the petition.

The case came on for hearing upon the petition at the October term of the supreme court at Deadwood,at which time the most elaborate brief was presented on the part of the petitioner. The court declined to grant a new hearing upon the ground that it would be a bad precedent under any circumstances to grant a second rehearing, but the chief justice stated to Mr. Davis that he hoped the case would go to the supreme court of the United States, and that if the brief presented at that time had been presented at the first hearing it was quite likely the case would have been decided the other way. The case was then appealed to the supreme court of the United States.

This put a new phase upon the case, and it was not long before a settlement was made of the whole matter, much to the satisfaction of Levinger and Kaufman.

Another piece of litigation in connection with the brewerv was an attempt made by some of the stockholders to have a receiver appointed a few months after Levinger had taken possession of the property. The proceeding was commenced by C. O. Bailey, and Bailey & Davis and Judge Parliman were emploved bv Levinger and Kaufman to resist the appointment. The grounds upon which the application was made were numerous charo^es of fraud on the ])art of Leving-er and those associated with him in conductino- the Inisiness. The case was foug-ht vig-orously, but finally resulted in the defeat of the stockholders.

A very few days after Thompson had taken possession of the bank, a large block of the stock of the brewing- company was found to be in the possession of Jacob Schaetzel, Jr. An action was broug-ht in the nature of trover, to recover of Schaetzel for the alleg-ed conversion of 150 shares of stock of the brewing* company, demanding- a judg-ment for S25,()00. This stock the plaintiff claimed belong-ed to the bank, that it had been assig-ned to it bv Georg-e A. Knott as collateral for his indebtedness to the bank. Schaetzel claimed that he had only 100 shares of the stock sued for, and that it had been turned over to him by the bank as security for services rendered the bank by him; and that he had transferred the stock to Leving-er under the contract made by the bank with Leving-er, and that Leving-er had paid the bank, and that this contract had been ratified by the receiver.

This case was tried to a jury at a term of the district court in Minnehaha county, T. B. McMartin appearing- for Receiver Thompson and C. O. Bailey for Schaetzel. It was foug-ht vig-orously bv both parties, resulting- in a verdict ag-ainst the defendant. An appeal was taken to the supreme court, and H. H. Keith was retained with C. O. Bailev. The case was reversed and remitted for a new trial, but was afterwards settled.

In September, 1890, proceeding-s were commenced in the circuit court of Minnehaha county, to abate the brewery as a liquor nuisance under chapter 101, sections 1 and 13, of the session laws of 1890. The writer, then state's attorney, refused to act in this case, as the firm of Bailey & Davis had gfiven a written opinion in March preceding-, to the brewery company upon the question whether the brewery could be interfered with under the nuisance provisions f)f the law. W.A.Wilkes, employed by the Law and Order Leag'ue, aj)- peared as prosecutor in behalf of the state, and Judg-e Carland appeared for the defendant. Judg-e Aikens declared it to be a nuisance, but the defendant appealed, a stay was g-ranted and bond g-iven and the case went to the supreme court. While this case was pending-, new proceeding-s were commenced ag-ainst the brewery as a nuisance, but were never prosecuted to the end.

At the hearing- of the case before the supreme court, Robert Dollard arg-ued the case on the part of the state and Judg-e Carland in behalf of the defendant. The opinion was handed down March 3, 1894, and the syllabus of the decision is as follows:

Under a statute which does not specifically name the liquors the sale of wiiich as a beverage it prohibits, but considers and holds all liquors intoxicating which are spirituous, malt, vinous, or fermented, as well as all mixtures thereof which will produce intoxication, the malt or intoxicating quality of beer, when in question, should be shown by the evidence, the weight and sudicicncy of which is for the court or jury, as the case may be.

It being a matter of general knowledge that there are varieties of the beverage denominated " beer," and used in this state, that contain no malt and are not intox'caling, we hold that the term " beer," in the absence of evidence as to its quality or effect, does not import an intoxicatirg liquor.

mere statement of the witness that tliev bought beer, without any evidence as to the purpose for which it was bought, or that it contained malt, or of its effect upon persons using it, or of the manner in which it was made, is not sufficient to show that it was intoxicating; and a court will not take judicial notice that beer so sold was a malt or intoxicating liquor.

The opinion was written by Justice Puller, and in closing; he said: "For the reasons we have mentioned and upon the authorities examined, we conclude, that the judo-ement and decree of the trial court should be reversed."

The foreg-oino- comprises a brief synopsis of the manag-ement of this institution and the obstacles that have stood in the way of its success. The first vear the quantity of beer manufactured was 250 barrels, the second year 500 barrels and the third year 1,500 barrels. The last vear it was under the manag-ement of Mr. Knott the output was nearlv 10,000 barrels. Since the brewery came into the hands of Leving-er and Kaufman expensive improvements have been and are now being- made, and the quantity of beer manufactured has been constantly increasing-.

The Sioux Falls Water Works. - April 8, 1884, W. S. Kuhn of Pittsburg-, Pa., submitted a proposition in the form of a contract to the city council for the establishment of a system of water works in Sioux Falls. Prior to this time the project had been presented to the council by Mr. Kuhn, and it was evident that he desired to obtain a contract from the city, and it was also evident that the city authorities were anxious to have a system of water works constructed as soon as possible. Mr. Kuhn did not then know as much about water works as he does at this writing-, and there were no water experts on the council. The Daily Press of April 9, printed the proposed contract, and requested the citzens "to scan it closely," and advise the aldermen whether or not in their opinion the contract should be accepted. The evening- of the 9th the council met, and after considerable discussion the question was put to a vote. Aldermen P. P. Peck, John F. Norton, N. E. Phillips, True Dennis and Georg-e A. Knott voted in the affirmative, and C. S. Bowen and H. M. Stearns in the neg-ative - M. Grig-sby absent. The council then instructed Mayor Schaetzel and Clerk Holt to sig-n the contract in behalf of the city.

By the terms of the contract the work was to be commence on or before June 1, and completed on or before October 15, so as to be in full operation by November 1, 1884. It was also understood by all the parties concerned that the water would be taken from the Sioux river, althougfh the contract required that "pure water for ordinary house use" should be furnished.

The works were completed on time. On the 8th day of October, 1884, in the lang-uag-e of the Press "the water works' smoke-stack belched forth its first puff of smoke." From this time a series of complaints arose from the people of the city ag-ainst the water works. They claimed that the water was impure and unfit for use; that the fire pressure was inadequate; mains burst and flooded cellars; hydrants froze up; the tank overflowed - and worst of all - that the use of the water had caused an epidemic of typhoid fever. In short, nothing- was right and everything- wrong-, and to such an extent were the people prejudiced ag-ainst the Water company, that on more than one occasion the council was requested to ignore the contract and make no further payments to the company.

The first eno-ine house was located on the bank of the river opposite the Cascade mill, and the water pumped from the mill pond, but the complaints in reference to the quality of the water were so numerous that the temporary expedient w^is resorted to of extendinoa lart>-e supply pipe up stream past the island. But this did not satisfy the consumers, and in the summer of 1886, another enjj-ine house was built on the bank of the river between Tenth and Eleventh streets, and the water taken from there. But the water still remained too impure for domestic use, and in February, 1888, a larjj-e filter was put in throug-h which the water had to pass before beingsent on its way to the consumers. But the water did not prove satisfactory, and the Water company having- exhausted all known methods of procuring- g-ood water from the river, begfan to look elsewhere for a supply.

Early in may, 1890, the Water company i)urchased 100 acres of land about three miles north from the center of the city, after havingascertained that underlying- it there was a g-raveled bed about 50 feet in depth containing- an inexhaustible supply of pure water. As early as the season would permit, the company commenced the improvements necessary to obtain water to supply the citv from that source.

About this time another element of trouble to the company came to the surface. J. H. Drake had a spring- on the east side of the river, and he claimed it was absolutely pure water and that there was a suificient quantity to supply the city, and he was not dilatory in endeavoring- to influence the city council to take such action as would make his spring- the source of water supply for the city.

On the 14th day of July, 1890, althoug-h the company had a larg-e force of men at work north of the city putting- down wells and constructing- building-s for the necessary machinery, a committee of aldermen appointed by the city council made a report recommending" "that the contract with the Water Company be rescinded, and that the city attorney be instructed to commence suit for annulling the same," and at the same time submitted a proposition from Col. Drake. Accompanying- this report was an opinion by City Attorney Brockway in reference to the rescinding- of the contract with the company and the leasing- of Drake's spring-. As to the first proposition he practically said the council could rescind or not as they chose, and as to Drake's spring- he referred them to Drake's proposition. In the report of the committee appeared a statement in reference to the quantity of water that Drake's spring- would supply, and it was amusing- to the writer at the time to compare the g-reat capacity of the spring- as reported by the committee, with the report of one of the finest water experts the country afforded, \jho liappcucd to be present when the test was made by the committee and its expert. One of them found an adequate supply for the city, the other thought that the amount of water demanded by the city would exhaust the supply in a few hours. Mr. Drake's proposition was to lease his spring- to the city for fifteen years; the city to pay $3()0 monthly for the first five years, $4-00 monthly for the next five years, and $600 monthly for the last five years; he reservino- the rig-ht to take water from the spring- for sale outside of the city. This proposition was based upon the assumption that the city would take prompt action. Failing- to secure a contract of this kind, Mr. Drake offered, if the city would g-ive him a franchise similar to the one g-iven the Water company, he would put in a first-class system of water works and push it to completion as fast as men, money and g-ood business judg-ment could accomplish it.

The city council had at last arrived at the brink of the Rubicon, and notwithstanding- Drake's spring- was near the opposite shore, the most conservative members hesitated to cross, and asked for further time before they committed themselves to a project that was sure to result in expensive litig-ation to the city, and leaving* them nothing- by which they could justify their action but the unsolved problem that Drake's spring- could be obtained, and was of sufficient capacity to supply the city with water for all purposes. The council adjourned without taking- any action. The next day a petition was circulated, and secured a larg-e number of sig-natures, calling- a mass meeting- of the citizens to advise the city council what to do upon the water question. This meeting- took place Thursday evening-, July 17. It was larg-ely attended, and was one of the most interestingmeeting's ever held in the city. It would surprise some of the g-ood citizens of Sioux Falls if they should review the speeches they made on that occasion. It was a wild meeting- until near the close, w^hen a mild resolution of confidence in the city council was passed, asserting- that the meeting- believed that the council would take all necessary steps to furnish the city with pure water. This meeting- was followed by a special meeting- of the city council on July 18, to take action on the report of the special water committee. Alderman Lewis at once moved "that a demand be made upon the Water company that they demonstrate within one week that they can furnish a supply of pure water for all purposes." This opened the debate, which lasted two hours and concluded upon Alderman Brooking-s moving- to lay the motion on the table; the vote resulted in a tie, and Mayor Peck voted in the affirmative. The city attorney was then instructed to draw a resolution "to serve as a warning- and demand upon the Water company to furnish g-ood water." Col. Drake then said, if it took till November for the council to find out whether the Water company violated the contract, then the city, if it wanted his spring-s, would have to pay a fair round price for them. Wm. Van Eps then made quite a speech, advising- the council to g-o slow, and be careful about involving- the city in unnecessary litig-ation. The council adjourned until the next day. At the adjourned meeting- July 19, a preamble and resolution drawn by the city attorney was introduced. The preamble recited the g-rievances the city had suffered, and the resolution demanded from the company a full compliance with their contract on or before October 15, and notified the company that the council would not consent to an emerg-encv pipe from the eng-ine house to the river. After a two hours discussion the preamble was stricken out, and then the reference to the emer- g-ency pipe was stricken out, and then what was left was adopted. From this time on until September, the Water company was pushingits work with g-reat vig-or, while a few people were trying- in everv way to discredit the character of the water it was obtaining-. Sam- ])les of water from the wells of the company and from Drake's spring had been sent to a chemist of world-wide fame for analysis, and on the first day of September, 1890, his report was laid before the city council. From this report itajopeared that the water works' water was slig-htly the purest, and three per cent softer than the water in Drake's spring-. This settled the water question, which had so long- ag-itated the people of Sioux Falls. On November 2(), 1S*)(), the water pipes throug-hout the city were slushed, and the next day (Thanksg-iving- day; the g-reat pump forced the water to the consumers for the first time from the new station.

At the g-eneral election in November, 1898, the question of bonding- the city for the purpose of purchasing- or constructing- a system of water works was submitted to a vote of the electors of the city of Sioux Falls. The vote was 821 /or 3.nd 405 a n-a/}/st the proposition. During- the session of the leg-islature in 1899 a law was enacted authorizing- the city to bond for the purpose above mentioned, provided a majority of all the electors of the city should at a special election so vote, the number of electors to be determined by the total vote cast for mayor at the preceding- city election, according to which it required 954 affirmative votes to bond. The election was called for the 4th day of April. For ten days prior to the election an active campaign was waged, but the indebtedness of the city was so large that a great majority of the people were opposed to increasing it for any purpose, and the measure was defeated by a vote of 587 /or, and 684 ag-ahist.

The plant at the present time has greater capacity and is more complete than any system of water works in any city in the United States of the size of Sioux Falls. The water is obtained from twenty-eight six-inch wells of the depth of thirty-five to forty-five feet. There are three pumps in use, with a capacity of one, three and five-million gallons, respectively. The fire pressure is 125 pounds to the square inch, and can be increased to upward of 150 pounds. There are thirty-five miles of mains, 115 hydrants and five ])ublic drinking fountains. The private consumers number about 900.

The water has been thoroughly analyzed by chemists, and found suitable for domestic use, and has received the indorsement of the local physicians as the best water attainable in Sioux Falls.

The first superintendent was J. H. Purdy, who was succeeded by L. C. Winslow, Doc. Hoffman, C. H. Martien, R. W. Barnes, C. N. Berry and H. G. Smith, in the order named.

Gas Works. - In August, 1882, J. H. Miller, Jr., came to Sioux Falls and asked the village trustees to grant him the right of way through the streets and alleys for laying gas pipes. He represented that if this privilege should be granted to him he would put in a gas plant with capacity sufficient for a city of fifteen thousand inhabitants. The trustees assured him his request would be granted, and the followino- September Mr. Miller purchased the present location of the plant and commenced its construction. On the 31st day of March follo\vin«-, the villag-e trustees passed ordinance No. 43 (the last one passed by the village of Sioux Palls), g-iving- John H. Miller, Jr., his associates, heirs and assig-ns the privilege, for the term of ninety-nine years, of using the streets, alleys and public grounds of the village for the purpose of laying pipes for the conveyance of gas, for the use of the village and its inhabitants. By the provisions of this ordinance the plant was to be completed in six months, and to have the capacity of meeting all demands for gas, both public and private. The price of gas was fixed at three dollars per one thousand feet, with a discount of ten per cent upon payment on presentation of bills; the price to be increased or diminished as the cost of bituminous coal should be greater or less than eight dollars per ton, which was the cost of the coal at that time in Sioux Falls. On the 8th day of May, 1886, the City of Sioux Falls, by ordinance of that date g-ranted to the Sioux Falls Gas Company the exclusive rig-ht, privileg-e and franchise for twenty years to manufacture and furnish gas within the limits of the city of Sioux Falls, reserving the right to forfeit and declare void the franchise conferred by the village and confirmed by the City of Sioux Falls, in the event of the failure of the company to perform each and ev^er}^ condition assumed by them. On the 19th day of June, 1885, the City of Sioux Falls by ordinance approved of village ordinance No. 43, and authorized the Sioux Falls Gas Company, the successors of John H. Miller, Jr., to mortgage the gas works, and confirmed to said company the franchise as granted to Miller. May 11, 1886, J. Leslie Thompson, receiver of the First National Bank of Sioux Falls, sold the interest the bank had in the Gas Compan3^ In September following the company issued its bonds in the sum of S25, 000, drawing six per cent interest, which were negotiated by F. W. Little.

As in all other cities the subject of Gas caused considerable discussion in Sioux Falls. The granting of the exclusive franchise by the city council was denounced by many of the citizens, and the newspapers were filled with interviews both for and against it, and when the council entered into a contract with the company in July, 1886, to furnish fifty street lamps for five years at the annual cost of S2,200, the air was full of electricity, as the Electric Light Company had offered to furnish eleven electric arc lights for S2,244 per year. The final outcome was in the nature of a compromise and a contract for street lighting with both companies. In 1887, the Gas company extended its mains and otherwise enlarged its works at a cost of about S18,000. The National Gas and Fuel company of Chicago were contracted with to furnish the plant with appliances to manufacture gas, and the company had the whole work completed on the 26th day of October. About seven o'clock in the evening of that dav the people of Sioux Falls were startled by a loud report followed by the breaking of glass and a general shaking up of things in an unaccountable manner. It did not take long to locate the cause of the trouble - the gas had exploded at the gas house, completely demolishing the buildings. Large plate glass windows were broken in business huildintJfs on Phillips avenue, and w indows in residences a (luarter of a mile away met with the same fate, hut amon<i- the many stran^v thino-s resulting- from this explosion none was more so than the breaking- of every other window on the south side of the Commercial hotel, O. Barrett, who was passing- over the Tenth street bridge near the west end, had some bones broken, and two young- men who were driving- near the works, were blown out of the carriagfe nearh' fifty feet, and the horse and carria^ge thrown over the embankment. The report of the explosion was heard at Baltic, a distance of aboiit fourteen miles. Although the damag-es were larg-e, the company with considerable enterprise continued to suppU^ g-as after a dela\' of about two days, and the works were at once rebuilt. At half past iive o'clock in the afternoon, January 4, 188S, there was another explosion at the g-as works. This time the damag-e was not so serious as in October, but the force of the explosion was sufticient to unroof the building- and throw down the walls, and other l)uilding-s in the \icinity were perceptibly shaken. This explosion was caused 1)\' the escape of g-as from the purifier. The manufacture of water gas had been discontinued after the October explosion, so that it could not be attributed to this g-as, ag-ainst which a strong- prejudice had grown up in Sioux Palls. In May, 1888, a sale of the works was made to outside parties, and the companv reorg-anized under the name of Sioux Falls Gas Lig-ht Company; the former owners still retaining- a larg-e interest. Since that time to the present writing- (xeo. H. Brace has been president of the company, and the g-as furnished has been satisfactory to its patrons, althougfh they occasionally exercise their inalienable rig-hts to accuse the company of charg-- ing- too much for the g-as. But the history of the g'as works in Sioux Palls would not be complete without recording- the third explosion which occurred at 11:45 o'clock in the forenoon, January 28, 1807. The explosion took place in the purifying- building-, and unlike its predecessors the report of the explosion was heard only for a short distance, and the damag-e was confined to the apparatus and buildingwere the gas was manufactured. This building- was constructed of brick with a slate roof heavily trussed, but it was completely demolished. The loss of the company amounted to several thousand dollars, but as on former occasions, the works were immediately rebuilt.

Electric Lights. - An electric light ])lant was started in the city of Sioux Palls by several g-entlemen of that place, prominent among- them were Charles E. McKinney, D. L. McKinney and John McClellan. The capital stock of the association was S7o,00(). The arc lig-ht was first started in the summer of 1884, and the Edison incandescent light was added in 1887 after the plant had been purchased by the Cascade Milling Co. This company erected a stone building- 50 bv 60 feet south of the Cascade mill to be used exclusively for the g-eneration of electricity. Starting- with onl> about 400 lig-hts it now has over 5,000, and is one of the most perfect electric light manufactories in the Northwest, not only lighting- the streets in the city, but also furnishing power to manufacturing- establishments.

consin org-anization, built the first telegraph line to SiouxPalls duringthe fall of 1876, and in November of that year opened its office in the land office building- located on the southwest corner of Phillips avenue and Tenth street. E. W. Coug-hran was the first telegraph operator, and remained in charg-e of the office nearly five years. E. J. Mannix succeeded him and remained in charg-e until 1890. During- the first few months under Mr. Mannix's charg-e the business of the office was carried on at the Milwaukee and Omaha depots and in the German bank building opposite the first location of the office, but for the last fifteen vears, although the location of the office has been changed frequently, it has never been more than a half a block from the Cataract corner. There was only one operator in the office until 1883, except for a few months while the Queen Bee mill was running. At the time Mr. Mannix left the employ of the company he had five assistants including the messenger boys. The city of Sioux Palls now has ten wires, and the local office has been under the efficient management of J. M. O'Neill since September, 1890.

Telephone. - In March, 1882, the Northwestern Telephone Exchange Company was org-anized with a capital of ten thousand dollars, with a view of establishing a telephone system in Sioux Palls. The instruments arrived the September following, and soon after a telephone system in the city was an accomplished fact. In July, 1883, this company transferred its property to the Erie Telegraph and Telephone Co., a New York corporation. There was quite a war between this company and the city authorities during that year, an account of which will be found in the chapter devoted to the incorporation of the city of Sioux Palls.' It was only a short time before the property was transferred to the Northwestern Telephone Exchange Co., and under its managment the system in Sioux Palls has been greatly improved. During the spring of 1895 this company extended its line to Dell Rapids, and on the 21st day of June of that year the first message was transmitted from Dell Rapids to Sioux Palls by George D. Sherman, then manag-er of the company at this point. In 18%, lines were extended by the same compan}^ from Sioux Palls to Valley Springs, Hartford, Humboldt, Montrose, Salem, Canton, Worthing, Lennox and Parker. The system was completed to Brandon and Valley Springs during the first week in October, 1896, and to the other towns above named, on the 12th day of the same month. On the 3d day of March, 1897, the long distance telephone service of this company was completed, and Sioux Palls for the first time was placed in telephone connection with St. Paul, Minneapolis, Winona, La Crosse, Pargo and Grand Porks. The event was made memorable by an entertainment given by the company to the people of Sioux Palls, at which time they enjoyed the novelty of listening to music furnished by orchestras in Minneapolis, Winona and Pargo. In the fall of 1897, this company, having purchased the Iowa Telephone Company's line connecting Elk Point and Vermillion with Sioux City, extended its line from Canton to Sioux City, and from Vermillion to Yankton, and in September, 1898, extended the line from Yankton to Parker.

material improvements, putting- in tall poles in the city of Sioux Falls, with one mile of 100-wire aerial cable, and during- the fall the line of this company was extended, taking- in Eg-an, Plandreau, Coleman and Madison. It has at this writing- fJulv, 1809,) about four hundred subscribers in the cit\' of Sioux Falls, and is engaged in making- extensive improvements. C. W. Rees is managvr.

Cigar Manufacturing. - D. J. Fischer commenced the manufacture of cig-ars in Sioux Falls in June, 1879, and continued in the lousiness about one year. In September of that year F. F. Ang-el & Son started a cig-ar factory on Phillips avenue, and in Aug^ust, 188(1, Henry Pontz came to Sioux Falls and eng-ag-ed in the same business. Since that time largfe quantities of cig"ars, for the size of the place, have been manufactured in Sioux Falls, amounting- in 1885, to seven hundred thousand, and in 1892, to one million five hundred thousand cig-ars. The larg-est business in this line was done by Wuest Brothers - Victor J. and Theodore C, - This firm commenced the manufacture of cig-ars in Aug-ust, 1883. in a small way, but as it prospered the business was enlarg-ed, and for several 3'ears it employed a large force in its factory. May 1, 1896, the plant was removed to Chicag-o. At the present writing- there are quite a number of persons in Sioux Falls eng-ag-ed in manufacturing- cig-ars, where trade in this line is undoubtedly larg-er than in any other city in the state. The Greenleaf Cig-ar Co. heads the list of cig-ar manufacturers in the city at the present time.

Stone Industry. - The only stone in Minnehaha county of any commercial value is the Sioux quartzite. State Geolog-ist J. E. Todd in his preliminary report in 1894, says of it in substance, that it consists almost entirely of an intensely hard and compact quartzite, and occurs in strata nearly horizontal, and is cut into blocks by vertical joints from six inches to several feet apart, crossing- one another nearly at rig-ht ang-les; that the occurrence of it in cliifs from fifty to sixty feet in heigfht, may be seen at Palisade and Dell Rapids, and in broad and level areas at Sioux Falls; that it varies g-reatly in color, and in hardness from a rock harder than steel to beds easily excavated with a spade or pick. In the opinion of Mr. Todd, this stone in this county may reach a depth of 1,500 feet. So much for a description of the stone of which there is an inexhaustible supply in the city and its immediate vicinity.

From the first settlement of Sioux Falls until the present time, it has been used more or less for building- purposes. The Dubucpie House, already noticed, was constructed of this stone in the roug-h, in a roug-h way, but that structure tumbled down long- ago. The Queen Bee mill is constructed of this stone, but it was erected by workmen who were masters of their trade, and it stands to-day without any appreciable sig-ns of decay. But it was not until about fifteen years ag-o that the valuable properties of this stone beg-an to be appreciated, especially its commercial value. J. H. Drake opened the Monarch quarry in the city on the east side of the river, and another quarry was opened about two miles southeast of the city, followed ])y the opening- of quarries at Dell Rapids and East Sioux Falls. It was not known until about this time that it could be easily manufactured into paving- blocks, and the methods now in use in preparing- it for Imilding- purposes were in a crude state. But paving- blocks were manufactured and shipped to Omaha and other cities, and were found to be all that could be desired for the paving- of streets upon which there is a larg-e amount of traffic. In 1888, when the question of paving- Phillips avenue in Sioux Palls came before the city council, the material to be used was thoroug-hly discussed, and althoug-h its first cost would undoubtedly be g-reater than other materials in common use for paving-, still, the well known durability of this stone, and the fact that it would be a lasting- advertisement of its admirable qualities for such purposes, broug-ht the members of the council to a unanimous vote for its adoption.

For several years quite an eifort was made to attract the attention of contractors and builders, and others eng-ag-ed in public improvements, to the properties of this stone and it resulted in quite extensive shipments from this city, Dell Rapids, and East Sioux Falls. Some fine public building-s were erected in Chicag-o and other cities of this material. The manufacture of paving- blocks was also quite extensively eng-ag-ed in at the points enumerated above, but the hard times lessened the demand, and the quarries, so active for awhile, have for the last few years been comparatively idle. It is a dinner-pail-brigade industry, and now that prosperity has returned, it requires only an org-anized well directed effort to bring- this inexhaustible source of wealth into the channels of commerce.

Wholesale Trade. - In 1883, the firm of Houser & Woodland established a tobacco house in Sioux Falls, and for a few years engaged in both the wholesale and retail of cig-ars and tobacco. In June, 1886, a wholesale g-rocery house was established by AVard & Frick, who continued the business until June, 1888, when it was sold to Jewett Brothers & Jewett. From that time the wholesale trade has been constantly g-rowing- in importance. New lines have been added from year to year, until Sioux Falls has become a recog-nized wholesale center in the commercial world. One feature, and the most important one of all, is the larg-e percentag-e of trade in g-oods manufactured at home, which g-ives employment to a larg-e number of laborers. Some of these manufacturing- industries have alreadvbeen noticed, but a long- list mig-ht be added. The manufacture of flour, carriag-es, brooms, candy, cornices, awningfs, blank books and readyprints, help to materially swell the wholesale trade of Sioux Falls. All the leading- manufacturers of farm implements make Sioux Falls a distributing- point for their g-oods, and some of them have erected extensive building-s to accommodate their business. Residents of the city eng-ag-ed in this line of trade have also been compelled to erect building-s on a larg-e scale to meet the requirements of their rapidly increasing- business. The wholesale trade in fruits, liquors, root beer, mineral waters and summer drinks is not inconsiderable in amount. Perhaps no more striking- proof of the rapid strides the wholesale trade has made during- the last decade could be mentioned than the fact that Jewett Brothers & Jewett shipped into Dakota in 1884, the first carload of sug-ar, and during- the year 1898, shipped into Sioux Palls alone one hundred and twenty carloads of the same commodit} . If the annual amount of the wholesale trade of the city should be expressed in dollars, it would undoubtedly surprise even those who are eng-ag-ed in contributing- to the same. It g-ot into the million column several years ag-o, during- the hard times, and since the clouds of financial depression have rolled awav it has increased with surprising- rapidity, three wholesale firms doing- a business of upwards of a million dollars annually. The packing- house industry, so long- of doubtful realization, is now an assured fact. Other industries upon which a larg-e amount of capital has already been expended, will soon be taken f:-om the doubtful list and add larg-ely to the volume of trade.

Prophesy is at all times uncertain, but when all the elements of fulfilment are discernible above the horizon, advancing- towards the zenith with military precision in battle array, it is only calling- attention to the inevitable when the assertion is made, that the wholesale trade of Sioux Palls, now in its infancy, will prove to be one of the great factors in her future g-rowth and prosperity.

Commercial Associations

Board of Trade. - The first association which could be properly called a board of trade was org-anized in Sioux Palls, January 9, 188-1-. Associations had previously been formed for the advancement of the commercial interests of the city, but they were short-lived and accomplished very little in that direction. But at this time the business men took hold of the matter and perfected a strong- org-anization. Major E. G. Smith was its first president, and the board for several years did some g-ood work in advancing- the commercial interests in this locality. During- the time of its g-reatest activity H. H. Keith and R, F. Pettig-rew were presidents of the board. About the time the commercial depressions beg-an it was merg-ed into or superseded by the

Commercial Club. - The members of this club for two or three years made g-reat efforts to keep up the interest and promote the objects for which the board of trade was orig-inally org-anized, but like everything- else it financially had to yield to the force of circumstances, and after having- for several years been devoted almost exclusively to social matters, it finally on the 3d day of January, 1899, ceased to exist.

Business Men's League. - This org-anization was perfected in April, 1897, and meets in the council chambers the first Tuesday in each month. Since its org-anization the leag-ue has been activelv eng-ag-ed in promoting- the commercial interests of the city, and it is not too much to say that no org-anization of its kind in the city has been more enterprising- and successful than this leag-ue. It is a business men's leag-ue in all that the name implies, and the people of Sioux Palls are proud of its efficient manag-ement. Its first officers were D. L. McKinney president, B. H. Lien vice president, G. Schlosser secretary, and E. J. Daniels treasurer. In 1899, H. H. Keith w^as elected president of the leag-ue.

Sioux Falls Jobbers' and Manufacturers' Association. - This association was org-anized in Sioux Palls July 1, 1893, with the following*- charter members: Jewett Bros. & Jewett, wholesale grocers; Fred A. Miller, g-eneral ag-ent McCormick Havesting- Machine Co.; B. C. McCrossan, wholesale fruit; C. G. Ferg-uson, manag-er St. Olaf flour mills; Scott & Thompson, wholesale machinery; D. F. Smith, sug-ar broker; Geo. E. Wheeler, Cascade Milling- Co.; Foley & Wadsworth Implement Co.; W. W. Brooking-s, linen mills; Geo. E. Hill, wholesale stoves and hardware; Brown &' Saeng-er, book binders; Wuest Bros., cig-ars and tobacco; John W. Tuthill Lumber Co.; Sherman Bros. & Bratagfer, threshing- machines; J. K. Haugfhton, wholesale butter and eg-g-s; Eureka Milling- Co., oatmeal manufacturers; Halev & Chase, wholesale fruit; Hickev & MacNamara, wholesale liquors; L. T. Dunning-, drugg-ist; Sioux Falls Candy Co.; Sioux Falls Brewing- Co.; Sioux Palls Gas Co.

The first officers were C. A. Jewett president, D. P. Smith secretary, and P. A. Miller treasurer. On the 19th day of October, 1893, the railroad from Sioux Falls to Yankton being- completed, this association, in order that the event mig-ht be properly celebrated, g-ave a banquet to the railroad officials and all the business men alongthe line, entertaining* about seven hundred people. It was a success in every way.

The purpose of the association is to advance the wholesale interests of the city, and its work has not been confined to g-iving- entertainments. The freig-ht tariff for Sioux Palls, and railroad leg-islation h; effect.

Insurance Companies

Insurance Company of Dakota. - This companv was incorporated the latter part of February, 1883. William G. Taffinder, Charles H. Wvnn, Homer W. Johnson, W. W. Brooking-s, Edwin K. Sag-e, L. D. Henry, T. S. Goddard, C. H. Vincent, Andrew C. Phillips, and H. L. Hollister were the incorporators. The capital stock was $100,000, with the r\ght to increase it to S500,000 at the pleasure of the company. A. C. Phillips was its first president and T. S. Goddard secretary. The Daily Press published the foreg-oing- list of charter members on the 24th day of February, 1883, and also said that the incorporators were among- the leading- business men of the city of Sioux Palls. Of these ten incorporators only one, C. H. Vincent, is a resident of the city at this writing-; three are dead, and the others are living- elswhere.

The first policy of the company was written on the 29th day of May, 1883, and on the 1st day of July, 1883, the company had" received in premiums the sum of $1,377.91. During- the balance of the year the business g-radually increased under the g-eneral managfement of Mr. Taffinder.

Vincent, E. E. Sag-e, T. S. Goddard, D. J. Brown and J. P. Eastman. H. S. Hills was elected president, Eastman vice president and D. J. Brown secretary. During- the spring- of that year a chang-e was made in the manag-ement. H. S. Hills resig-ned the presidency and H. E. Hollister was elected in his place, W. C. Hollister was elected treasurer and E. A. Ayerst of Iowa, an insurance man of larg-e experience, arrived in Sioux Palls the 17th day of May, 1SS4, and assumed the duties of secretary.

Prom this time on the business of the company g-rew rapidly for a few years. Its report for the vear 1884 showed the receipts to have been S182,000, and the expenses $92,()30, (S10,0()0 of which was for a ten per cent dividend declared and paid). At this time the office was located in the Masonic Temple, and the office force numbered twenty-five persons.

The manag-ement of this company remained practically the same until April, 1888. The volume of business was larg-e, but during- the latter part of 1887, various rumors were afloat as to the solvency of the institution, and the business methods of the company were severely criticised. At the last mentioned date there was a consolidation of this company with the Western Pire & Marine Insurance Company; the new company retaining- the name of the Insurance Com pan V of Dakota. The capital stock of the reorg-anized company was S200,000.

After the reorg-anization, the affairs of the company became more and more complicated and its business was at a stand still. On the 22d day of Aug-ust, 1888, an entire new board of directors took charg-e of its aifairs, and it was then hoped that the company would soon secure the confidence of the public and the business become prosperous. The new board consisted of A. M. Crosbv of Luverne, Minnesota, J. M. Searle, E. G. Butts and P. W. Gail of Stillwater, Minnesota, Georg-e E. Wheeler, Charles E. Johnson and C. C. Crandall of Sioux Palls. A. M. Crosby was elected president, Georg-e E. Wheeler vice president andC. C. Crandall secretary. But this reorg-anization did not restore public confidence, and within a few days Mr. Crosby was appointed receiver of the company. His appointment did not meet with the approval of the creditors, and an application was made by them for his removal and the appointment of a new man in his place. This resulted in the resig-nation of Mr. Crosby and the appointment of John Lewis of Sioux Palls on the 24th day of September, 1888, who at once proceeded to close up the affairs of the company, and the Insurance Company of Dakota passed into history.

Dakota Mutual Life Association.-- This association was org-anized on the 1st day of October, 1884. It was org-anized on the mutual assessment plan, and its first directors and officials were men of integ-rity and well known business capacity. Andrew C. Phillips was its first president, and associated with him as directors were H. S. Hills, C. E. McKinney, W. E. Alexander and A. R. Bryan. The plan was defective, and after two or three years, the direction of its affairs having- fallen into less competent hands, it became one of the thing-s of the past, but it faded out of the business world sog-radually that no one can fix the exact date of its demise.

Westp:kn Fire and Marine Insurance Company. - This company was incorporated by Sioux Falls capitalists December 10,1886. The office was located in the Van Eps block, and quite an extensive business was done. J. H. Westover wna its president, and durin<^ the month of April, 1888, it was merg-ed with the Insurance Company of Dakota, and as a matter of course, when this company failed a few^ months later there was nothing- left for the Western Fire and Marine to do but settle up its affairs.

The Fargo Insurance Company. - This Company was chartered in December, 1880, with an authorized capital stock of S100,000, as a fire and hail insurance company, with headquarters at Farg-o, D. T. Until the fall of 1884 it did a prosperous business, but that year the hail losses were so gfreat that they crippled the company. About the 10th of September, 1886, it transferred its headquarters to Sioux Falls, and commenced business in the Masonic Temple. At that time the company had a larg-e amount of liabilities, and the real purpose for chang-ing- its place of business to Sioux Falls was to obtain new capital with which to continue its operations. Its managfers were not very successful in g-etting- the people of Sioux Falls involved, and its insolvency was soon apparent by judg-ments being- rendered ag-ainst it which it was unable to pay. On the 20th day of January, 1887, an execution having- been returned by the sheriff unsatisfied, supplemental proceeding's were commenced by a Chicag-o creditor, and the company enjoined from transferring- any of its property. On the 27th day of January, an examination was had, and it developed that the company's liabilities were at least $110,000, iind that it was hopelessly bankrupt.

In 1885 the company had been so financially embarrassed, that its manag-ment had soug-ht for and obtained new stockholders, who soon found that after having- paid in their money they had $80,000 of liabilities to pay off before the company could do business. This they finally concluded to do, and the indebtedness was canceled. It was after it had been ag-ain admitted into the business world that unbusinesslike methods w^ere adopted by the manag-ement and the integ-rity of some of its officials questioned. One of the victims in 1885 was W. P. Johnson, a banker of Toledo, la., who had put in $30,000, which was a total loss.

In conclusion we will only add that this company which came to Sioux Falls with g-reat flourish went into the hands of a receiver on the 23d day of February, 1887, W. L. Baker being- appointed to conduct the funeral exercises. He did not find assets enough to defray the incidental expenses of the receivership but did find about $200,000 of liabilities, which condition of affairs he reported on the 30th day of June, 1887.

Race For Register Of Deeds Office

An incident occurred in 1879 which will for a long- time to come be referred to by the residents of Sioux Falls, and as it played an important part in settling- the title to one hundred and sixty acres of the land upon which the present residence portion of the city is principally located, although it will hardlv classify with anything- else, we insert it here, believing- that as an interesting reminiscence it will fully compensate for the abruptness of the order of its insertion. Senator Pettig"rew, with his usual foresiifht and resource, was equal to the occasion, as will appear from what follows, which is the result of an interview with him.

In 1870, R. P. Pettio-rew purchased from Russell Bennett, of Detroit, Michig-an, the southeast quarter of section 17, township 101, rang-e 40, being 160 acres, embracing- the best residence portion of the city of Sioux Palls, and received from Mr. Bennett a warrantv deed of the tract. The record showed a g-ood title in Mr. Bennett and that he purchased the land of Arkang- Reed and J. Reed, her husband. They were half-breeds, Winnebag-o Sioux Indians; that the purchase of this tract was made by Mr. Bennett previous to the location of the scrip upon the same, by which the title was acquired from the government; that several years afterward Mr. Bennett secured a deed from Arkang Reed and J. Reed, her husband, for the same tract. That the first deed was not delivered to Mr. Bennett at the time of its date, but was deposited in escrow with parties in St. Paul, to be delivered when the title was completed by the location of the scrip.

Mr. Bennett's attorney in this transaction was Byron M. Smith, of Minneapolis, and therefore he was familiar with all the facts in connection with the title. Of course there was nothing in the abstract to show that the first deed had been deposited and delivered after the title was perfected, and as it was a quitclaim deed, there was a serious difficulty in Bennett's title; but the second deed from Arkang Reed and J. Reed apparently made the title perfect. But the fact was that the second deed was from Arkang Reed, the daug-hter of the original Arkang Reed, to whom the patent was issued, she having married a man by the same name as that of her father, and thus the second deed only conveyed a title to one-fourth interest in the property. Byron M. Smith knew these facts, and after the death of Mr. Bennett, whose evidence was necessary to protect the title, secured a deed from the other three heirs of Arkang- Reed, the first, from an attorney by the name of Shillock, who claimed to be the attorney in fact for the heirs. The deed which Smith had ])rocured was made to Milton D. Brown, of Minneapolis, and placed upon record, and a suit commenced ag-ainst Mr. Pettigrew to recover the property, some time in the spring of 1870. When Mr. Pettig-rew came to answer in the case he claimed a chain of title from Arkang- Reed and her husband, but upon taking the deposition of witnesses discovered that the second deed only conveyed a quarter interest in the property, and therefore he determined to hunt up Milton D. Brown, ascertain who he was and what interest he had in the litigation, and after hunting several weeks found Mr. Brown livings- with his mother near the Minnehaha Palls, about four miles from Minneapolis.

Brown knew nothing about the fact that the title had been placed in his name; said he did not own any land in South Dakota, had never made any investment there, and that he was willing to give a special warranty deed of the tract involved, together with aifida- vits dismissing- anv lawsuit that might have been commenced in his name. Thereupon Mr. Pettigrew secured the services of Judge Atwater, a prominent lawyer in Minneapolis, and procured a deed from Brown. A few- hours afterwards, Brown having met Smith, he returned and demanded a return of the deed from Judge Atwater, and afterwards on the same day, gave another deed to the property to parties in Minneapolis, who "started on the same train with Mr. Pettigrew for Sioux Falls to place the same on record. Mr. Pettigrew, mistrusting that an effort of this sort might be made, and knowing of no other way by which his title might be defeated, persuaded the conductor and 'engineer of the train to allow him to go upon the locomotive at Valley Springs, and to detach the locomotive from the train when about four miles from Sioux Palls, giving as an excuse of course, to the passengers that the locomotive ran into town for the purpose of securing water. A large number of people were at the depot, waiting for the incoming train, but saw nothing but the locomotive, which ran through the station down to the water tank and took on w^ater, as suggested. Mr. Pettigrew getting off the train at the water tank, went to the recorder's office and recorded the deed. Meantime the locomotive went back for the train and brought it into the station. The attorney for Smith had telegraphed for a livery team, and scrambling out of the train as fast as he could, got into the carriage and drove furiously for the recorder's office, Mr. Pettigrew standing on the corner watching his flight against time. The attorney, whose name was Bottineau, rushed into the register of deeds' office and said that he wished the deed which he handed to the register recorded first. Thereupon the register informed him that he would have to record the deed which had been left with him by Mr. Pettigrew a few minutes before, before he could record his deed. It dawned on Mr. Bottineau that Mr. Pettigrew w^as on that locomotive wdiich had gone for water.

The deeds filed by Bottineau, although dated many months previous and acknowledged many months previous, were written in Arnold's ink, the acknowledgment, signatures and description, and the ink had not turned black. At Mr. Pettigiew's request the register of deeds exposed the instruments to the air while they remained in his office, and the color of the ink was changed during the two or three days while in his possession.

Literary And Benevolent Organizations

First Public Reading Room. - One of the residents of Sioux Falls in 1875 was the late Mrs. Louisa Churchill Gale, wife of Artemas (Tale. During the summer of that year she w^as in the habit of taking daily walks about the little village, and had noticed the hospitable looking wide open doors of the saloons, inviting within the youth and homeless men by their bright allurements and apparent good cheer. With Mrs. Gale to think was to act. She at once enlisted the S3^mpathy and aid of several public-spirited citizens, and secured a room over Williams Brothers' store on the site of the present Edmison-Jameson building, for a public reading room, and at once commenced fitting it up with chairs, tables, lights, draperies, mottoes and pictures. Newspapers, relig^ious as well as secular, and periodicals, were subscribed for, and books purchased, and the lirst reading- room in the county was opened to the public. For more than a year Mrs. Gale was in attendance, and the rooms were kept open from nine o'clock in the mornino- until ten o'clock in the evening-. But she was not permitted to prosecute her g-ood work without obstacles being- thrown in her way. What petty persecution could not accomplish, the g-rasshoppers did, the closing- of the readingroom. A few years later Mrs. (xale erected a small frame house on First avenue, and ag-ain established a reading- room, but owing^ to its location and the want of public interest, she was compelled to abandon the project which was so dear to her heart. This building- was afterwards remodeled, and is at the present time occupied as a dwelling- house.

Ladies' History Club. - One of the oldest and most popular and prosperous literary org-anizations in Sioux Falls is the Ladies' History Club, which had its beg-inning- as early as December, 187'), when the following- six ladies met with Mrs. A. M. Washburn at her residence, namely, Mesdames W. A. Wilkes, C. L. Norton, C. H. Vincent, D. S. Glidden, Alice Watson and Miss Belle Pettig-rew. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a plan for a course of reading- for the winter, and it was decided to take up Rngflish history, with Dickens for a g-uide. That which had beg-un for a recreation soon g-rew into a serious study as the members became interested and the club g-rew. For nearly three years the study was almost exclusively confined to Eng-lish and American history and literature, but later French history was taken up. During- the first years, there was no reg-ular org-anization, but the meeting-s were held regularly and the interest deepened. During- the winter of 1881, when the town was blockaded, there was no abatement, though the rooms in which meetings were held were for a time heated by burning screenings from the mill. In the midst of a storm a Dickens' party was given. The club also gave a Longfellow and a Scott evening.

In December, 1881, the membership becoming so larg-e, and the work demanding more preparation, it was decided to draft a constitution and by-laws, and to elect officers. Mrs. A. J. Watson was elected president and Mrs. T. A. Robinson secretary; the former holding- her position as president of the club until she removed from Sioux Falls in the spring of 1884. From that time until October, 1885, Mrs. W. A. Wilkes and Mrs. D. S. Glidden officiated as presidents, and Mrs. T. A. Robinson and Mrs. S. E. Blauvelt as secretaries of the club.

During the evening- of January 28, 1884, a Dickens party was given at the residence of Edwin Sharpe, which was a grand success, there being over one hundred characters represented in costume.

On the 12th day of October, 1885, the club was reorganized, a constitution adopted and a new corps of officers elected. Mrs. R. F. Pettigrew was elected president, Mrs. T. A. Robinson vice president, Mrs. W. P. Carr secretary, Mrs. C. L. Norton treasurer. At that time there were about thirtv members of the club. July 25,

1892, it joined the General Federation of Women's Clubs of the United States, of which it is still a member. Mrs. D. S. Glidden was for four years the state chairman of correspondence for the Federation, and was succeeded by Mrs. W. G. George. Mrs. Nettie E. Beattie is president at the present writino- (1897), Mrs. E. S. Carter vice president, Mrs. W. H. Lyon secretary, and Mrs. G. W. Burnside treasurer. The membership now numbers fifty.

The club for many years was entertained by prominent members at their homes, and especially is Mrs. Glidden entitled to great credit for her untiring- efforts in its behalf during- all these years. At the present time reg-ular meeting's are held every Tuesday afternoon in the Public Library rooms in the Norton-Murry block, and social sessions are held every third week at the homes of the members.

Sioux Falls Public Library. - The Sioux Falls Public Library Association had a small beg-inningf, but not so small nor obscure that its parentag-e is unknown. In December, 1879, a number of ladies met at the residence of Mrs. A. M. Washburn and matured a plan for a course of reading during- the winter, which course continued for two years. In December, 1881, an organization was effected and was called the Ladies' History Club, with a view of establishing- a public library. Previous to this organization a reading*- club had accumulated about fifty dollars, to which was now added about eighty-five dollars, and Mrs. Wilkes was appointed a committee to invest this money in books, which was to form a nucleous of this library. About one hundred volumes were obtained and rooms fitted up, and a public library in the village of Sioux Falls was an established fact. Shortly after, through the efforts of the History Club, a second installment of books were added, at the cost of about S1()0. In 1884, a literary society was organized in the city, called the Humboldt Club, and the two clubs through a joint committee secured the incorporation of the Sioux Falls Library Association on the 4th day of August, 1886, with a membership of fourteen and the following board of directors: W. J. Skillman, E. P. Beebe, W. R. Kingsbury, Mrs. Eliza T. Wilkes, Mrs. M. A. Kinney, Mrs. Lona I. Robinson. Besides these, the list of charter members included Mrs. D. S. Glidden, Mrs. M. A. Leavitt, T. H. Brown, S. A. Brown, Wm. Beckler, Joel W. Parker, S. E. Young and H. T. Root.

In 1890, J. M. Bailey, Jr., opened his private library to the public, and the books of the Sioux Falls public library were placed there. Mr. Bailey's library was closed during the summer of 1891, owing to his decease and the books belonging to the public library from this time until January, 1892, were not obtainable.

On New Year's Day, 1892, the books belonging to the public library were transferred to rooms in the Edmison- Jameson building. At this time there were about five hundred books, but the number has been constantly added to until it now numbers over two thousand volumes.

This association has an annual and a life membership, and from the fees obtained therefrom the association is maintained. The selection of books has been carefully made, and embraces such a variety of subjects that the readiii"' ])uh]ic is well served. The lil)rar\' is o]ien three afternoons and Saturday evening- of each week, and is now located in the Norton Murry block.

The Rev. W. J. Skillman was elected ])resident in 18S(), and received five annual re-elections thereafter. In 1892, the Rev. A. H. Grant was elected president for one year. At the annual election of officers in 1893, E. A. Sherman was elected president, and has been re-elected at each subsequent annual election. Mrs, Eliza T. Wilkes, Mrs. T. A. Robinson, Mrs. D. S. Glidden and Miss Anna Emerson have been prominent officials of the association, and active promoters of its interests.

Ladies Musical Society. - This society oro-anized November 4, 1892, with the following- charter members: Miss Anna Strom, Mesdames F. H. Gillet,R. F. Pettig-rew, R. G. Parmley, U. S. G. Cherry, D. S. Glidden, and Miss Mikkelsen. The first officers were Miss Anna Strom president and Mrs. Glidden vice president.

The mere mention of the names of the charter members discloses the fact that this org-anization was well supplied with musical talent. The June following-, w^hen the first season's work had been completed, the membership had increased to forty, and on Aug-ust 1, 1895, it had fifty-four members enrolled. Musicales were held ever}^ alternate Saturday afternoon during- the months from October to June, inclusive, and at the close of the season a g-rand concert was g-iven.

Several of the members of this society, notably Mrs. Etta Estey Bovce, Mrs Anna Strom Smith, Mrs. E. A. Sherman, and Mrs. U. S. G. Cherry, are hig-hly cultured musicians. It is to be reg-retted that this org-anization which on many occasions g-ave the people of Sioux Falls rare musical entertainments, throug-h removals from the citv and the assumption of other important duties by its most devoted members, found it necessary to disband.

Minnehaha Mandskor. - This sing-ing- society org-anized December 21, 1890, with the following- charter members: G. Bie Ravndal, J. A. Jacobson, T. Hamann, Dr. J. S. Johnson, John Solberg-, G. H. Kiland, O. S. Swenson, A. Nesheim, R. A. Strom, K. E. Lomen, G. C. Christopherson, A. S. Johnson, Ole Oleson, O. Johnson, P. A. Sorum, A. Kiland, M. Olson, C. E. Christopherson, P. Elling-- son, P. J. Morstad, Rev. H. B. Thorg-rimson.

The Minnehaha Mandskor is worthy of a more extended notice than the mere mention that it is a sing-ing- society and g"iving- a list of its officials, for it was this org-anization that first conceived the idea of bring-ino- all the Scandinavian sing-ing- societies of the Northwest into a musical union. With this end in view, invitations were sent to the diiferent Scandinavian sing-ing- societies of the territory mentioned, with the result that a meeting- was held in Germania hall September 24, 1891, when the Northwestern Scandinavian Sing-ing- Association was org-anized. Their first festival was held in Sioux Falls on July 12, 13 and 14, 1892, when 250 sing-ers participated, representing- eleven societies.^

This association held another g-reat festival at Sioux City in Julv, 1894, and the Minnehaha Mandskor won the prize banner. But the winning of the banner is a little matter of consequence to the Minnehaha Mandskor, in comparison to the pride its members may justly feel in seeing- their little plant so modestly born, result in an org-anization extending- over so larg-e a territory, and annually bring-- ing- tog-ether hundreds of its members to enjoy a g-reat sing-ing- festival and revive the beautiful song-s of their native land.

The Minnehaha Mandskor is one of the societies org-anized in Sioux Falls that has been constantly g-rowing- in public favor, and the people of this county hope that it will "live long- and prosper."

Prior to this time, a few ladies of Sioux Falls known as the "charity committee," had devoted considerable time to charitable work among- the poor and afflicted of the city, and while so doing-, had become convinced that there should be more laborers in the field, and a more systematic course pursued than could be done without a thoroug-h organization. With this end in view, this committee framed a constitution and by-laws, and made an earnest appeal to the women in the city to come tog-ether at the Presbyterian church on the 11th day of February, 1890. This appeal brought tog-ether quite a number of earnest women, who at once proceeded to adopt a constitution and by-laws, and to elect officers of the association. Committees were appointed to have in charge special work, and as one of the objects was to encourage people to become self-supporting-, as well as to afford temporary relief to the unfortunate, an employment bureau was established. A room was secured in the Syndicate block, and a woman employed and put in charge. In addition to securing situations for the needy, a school was organized for the purpose of teaching young girls to sew, and how to care for their persons in cleanliness and dress.

From the beginning this association has been doing agrand work, and one of its features that is particularly worthy of commendation, and one that gives it so much of the public confidence, is the systematic and thorough investigation that is made of all applications for relief.

is being- done by this associations, if we failed to record the fact, that it does not wait to receive applications for relief, but promptly investig-ates all reports of suffering's from poverty or sickness in the city, and when found to be true, temporary relief is afforded.

This association has at all times had an efficient corps of officials, and throug'h its g'ood work has become estal^lished as one of the institutions of the city that the people will not suffer to want for material support.

In September, 1891, Mrs. Hattie Phillips was elected president, Mrs. Hartsoug-h vice president, Mrs. W. P. Carr secretary, Mrs. J. G. Eddy treasurer.

In 1892, Mrs. T. B. McMartin was elected president, Mrs. Hattie Phillips vice president, Mrs. J. W. Butterlield secretary, Mrs. A. Beveridge treasurer.

Since 1892, Mrs. McMartin has been annually elected president of the association, and as the chief executive officer, has conducted its affairs to the g-reat satisfaction of the association and the public.

Hospitals. - A hospital was established in the city of Sioux Falls during- the fall of 1888. It was located on the east side of the river, and was principally the work of the Rev. Frederick Gardiner, then rector of the Episcopal church in Sioux Falls. But there was not at that time sufficient interest taken in such an enterprise to make it a success, and after a few months the project was abandoned until the summer of 1894, when a few g-entlemen of Sioux Falls and vicinity conceived the idea of establishing- a hospital in the city. It was incorporated June 14, 1894, and was called the Sioux Falls Hospital. The first directors of the corporation were B. H. Lien, A. Christopherson, J. W. Jensen, A. Mikkelsen, Rev. N. Boe, A. Hovde, M. D., G. Bie Ravndal, C. G. Leyse and G. H. Kiland of Sioux Falls, J. A. Blilie of Flandreau, E. Dale of Spink county, John T. Lee of Brandon, and R. Malmin of Yankton. The capital stock is S10,00(), divided into shares of SIO each. The Seney residence property in the northwestern part of the city was leased and comfortably and appropriately fitted up for hospital purposes, and opened to the public the first week of September following-. At the expiration of the lease in the fall of 1896, the Cameron residence on Dakota avenue was procured, and the hospital removed to that place. Dr. Zetlitz has had g-eneral charg-e of the patients from the first, but the hosj)!- tal is open to all physicians of the city. It has been well conducted, and is now recog-nized as one of the established institutions of the city of Sioux Falls.

Temperance Societies

The first organization of a temperance society in ]\Iinnehaha county of which there is any reliable record, was established l)y the ladies of Sioux Falls on the 22d day of April, 1872. At that time Mesdames Phillips, Coats, Covell, Dickson, Franklin, Sharpe and a few others, believing- that the welfare of the little villag-e would be

The iirst meetings of the society were held in the barracks, of course, and aside from its reo-ular business meeting-s, one meeting- was had to which the ]niblic had been invited, and it was larg-ely attended. xV platform had lieen made of dry-g-oods boxes and decorated with flag-s made bv members of the society, one of these flag-s is now in the possession of Mrs. Hattie Phillips, of Sioux Palls. All of the appointments were of a primitive character - a dirt floor, and seats constructed of boards laid upon boxes - but it was the first public temperance meeting- in the county, and it was a pronounced success. Mrs. Wm. VanEps, Mrs. Covell and Mr. O. O. Holman sang- several temperance songfs. This society kept up its org-anization for about a year.

On the 7th day of December, 1874, a lodg-e of Sons of Temperance was org-anized in Sioux Falls, with a membership of twenty. This org-anization flourished for a little more than a year, but did nothing- of an ag-gressive character, confining- its work principally to the dissemination of temperance literature and endeavoring* to save young- people from the evils of intemperance.

The first of April, 1878, the Rev. J. H. Lozier commenced a course of temperance lectures in Sioux Falls, and at its conclusion on the 10th day of April, a pledg-e of total abstinance was sig-ned by 2(^1 persons. At this time it was proposed to make an ag-g-ressive campaig-n ag-ainst intemperance; in short, to take a step in advance of what had hitherto been done, and prosecute the illeg-al selling- of intoxicating- liquors.

On the 25th day of June, 1878, a lodg-e of Good Templars was org-anized in Sioux Palls, called the Dakota Temple of Honor No. 1, and the following- oificers were elected: W. H. Phelps chief templar, A. E. Welsh vice templar. Prank Van De Mark recorder, Wm. Bainbridg-e treasurer, G. W. Howard financial recorder, C. V. Booth chaplain, Georg-e Place usher, Geo. Thompson deputy usher, Archie Smith g-uardian, E. Booth sentinel, J. C. Kahl past templar. This org-anization flourished for awhile, but in the course of a year it ceased to exist.

In March, 1881, another lodg-e of Good Templars was org-anized with about fifty charter members, and this org-anization was kept up for several years.

The officers in 1881 were: President, Mrs. Hartsoug-h; vice presidents, Mrs. David Brown Methodist, Mrs. R. E. Watson Cong-reg-ational, Mrs. I. P. Loundsbury Baptist; recording- secretary, Mrs. Robinson; treasurer, Mrs. Morris.

18S3. President. Mrs. Watson; vice presidents, Mrs. Sava^-c Episcopal, Mrs. Fairhead Con<>-reo'ational, Mrs. Hartsono-h Metliodist; recordino- secretary. Miss Carrie Parker; corresponding- secretary, Mrs. R. P. Pettig-rew; treasurer, Mrs. R. M. Kenney.

The Scandia Total Abstinence Society. - This society was org-anized January 26, 1894, and the following- officers were elected: President, J. J. Brag-stad; vice president, Albert J. Norem; secretary, Miss Gunda Fjeld; treasurer, Miss Mary Fanebust; second term, president, A. Norem; vice president, Gunda Fjeld; secretary, O. E. Myre; treasurer, Mary Fanebust; third term, president, T. Gunderson; vice president, Peter Johnson; secretary. Miss v\. E. Sanderson; treasurer. Miss Julia Brag-stad.

Good Templars Lodge No. 255. - Lodg-e No. 255 of the I. O. G. T. was org-anized in Sioux Falls January 27, 1801, with the following- charter members:

Young Men's Christian Association. - On the 28th day of March, 1886, twenty-two young- men assembled at the German American Loan & Trust Company's office in the city of Sioux Palls, for the purpose of org-anizing- a Young- Men's Christian Association. W. P. Furbeck was elected temporary chairman and Charles R. Dean temporary secretary. At this meeting- it was decided to hold a mass meeting- at an early date and to invite H. F. Williams, state secretarv of Minnesota, to be present.

On the 18th day of May, 1886, four rooms in the Sherman-Richardson block were rented by the association at the monthly rental of twenty dollars; and on the 26th, T. M. Blowfield was elected temporary secretary, at a salary of twelve dollars and fiftv cents per week.

In June, 1886, the association invited G. R. Simpson of Faribault, to become its g-eneral secretary, at a salary of eig-ht hundred dollars a year, which was accepted, and Mr. Simpson removed to Sioux Falls.

The first Sunday afternoon meeting was held on the 12th dav of September, 1886, the Rev. P. E. Holp and the Rev. Joseph Ward of Yankton conducting- the exercises. The first meeting- for men onlv, was held on the 19th day of September of that year.

The first of January, 1887, Secretary Simpson resig-ned, and on the 2d day of February^ C. D. Decker of Minnesota was called by the association to the office of g-eneral secretary, to serve to June 1, 1887, at a salary of sixty-five dollars per month, and very soon after he came to Sioux Falls to serve in that capacity.

The first annual meeting- for the election of officers was held on the 3d day of May, 1887. C. S. Palmer was elected president. Dr. S. A. Brown vice president, A. Beveridg-e treasurer, and a board of six directors was also elected. At a meeting- of the association on the 6th of June following-, a resolution was passed expressing- g-reat satisfaction with Secretar}^ Decker and offering- him the position for another year at a monthly salary of seventy-five dollars, which offer was accepted.

The second annual meeting- for the election of officers was held on the first day of May, 1888. U. S. G. Cherry was elected president, T. G. Brown vice president, W. H. Sherman treasurer; a board of six directors was also elected. On the twenty-second day of September, 1888, Secretary Decker resigned.

In February, 1889, the officers of the association resiofned, and an election was held to lill the vacancies. L. T. Butterfield was elected president, Professor L. McCartney vice president, L. 1\\ Root treasurer, Benjamin Jones recordin^jf secretary, and a new board of directors. At the annual election in May, the officers elected in Pebruar}' were re-elected. On the 6th day of May, 188'), a unanimous call was extended to Pred B. Smith to become the <ivneral secretary of the association, at a salary of one thousand dollars per year, which he accepted. The first of October the association perfected articles of incorporation, and held an election on the 6th day of October, 1889, when L. T. Butterfield was elected president, H. M. Avery vice president, L. R. Root treasurer, P. L. Os^-ood recordino- secretary, and a board of directors consistino- of ei<>dit members. On the 25th of November a special meeting- was held, and it was decided to select a suitable location and erect a buildini^- for tlie association.

On the 13th day of January, 1890, rooms were leased of E. G. Ledyard at a rental of one thousand dollars per year; and the association moved into the rooms the following- Pebruary.

On the 21st day of September, anniversary exercises were held in the opera house, at which time C. L. Gates of New York, the international secretarv of the railroad work of the association, delivered an address upon the branch of work which he represented. President Butterfield reported that at the time P. B. Smith took hold of the work as g-eneral secretary for the association the membership roll numbered 49 only - 37 bein^ active and 12 associate members, but that throuo-h the efficient work of Secretary Smith the membership had increased to 259, of which 112 were active, 91 associate and 56 sustaining- members.

On Wednesday, October 22, 1890, the seventeenth annual convention of the Young- Men's Christian Association of the states of Minnesota and the two Dakotas commenced at 7:15 o'clock in the evening- in the Cong-reg-ational church in Sioux Palls. This convention lasted until the Sunday evening- following*. A larg-e number of people were present, including- several noted speakers from New York, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. The concluding- exercises of this tri-state convention were held in the opera house and were larg-elv attended. A series of resolutions were passed, one of which protested ag-ainst the opening- of the World's Pair on the Lord's day.

About this time Mrs. Hattie Phillips offered to g-ive the association a lot on Phillips avenue, if the association would erect a buildingthereon at a cost of $25,000. This offer was accepted, but the project was never carried out for want of the necessary funds.

October 6, 1890, H. M. Avery was elected president, C. E. Baker vice president, and at the same time a treasurer, recording- secretary and a board of directors were elected.

On the 13th day of April, 1891, Secretary Smith sent in his resig-nation, to take effect the first day of July following^. In May, neg-otiations were entered into to secure the services of A. M. Wig-ht of Summerville, Massachusetts, as secretary, which resulted in his coming- to Sioux Palls and assuming- the duties of the office on the 1st day of October, 1891.

On the 6th day of October, 1891, at the annual meetino- L. D. Spra<i-le was elected president, C. E. Baker vice president, P. C. Pinkham recording- secretary, L. T. Butterfield treasurer, and a hoard of eight directors.

At a meeting of the association on the 12th day of September, 1892, it was unanimously voted to retain the services of Mr. Wight as secretary for another year, at a salary of twelve hundred dollars.

On the 22d day of January, 1895, at a special meeting. Secretary Wig-ht tendered his resignation, which was accepted. On the 28th day of January, 1895, P. C. Pinkham was elected g-eneral secretarv, to serve until Mav 1, and in April was elected to serve until October 1, 1895.

There were at that time 328 members of the association, but the hard times made it impossible to keep it up, and it g-radually subsided into a state of inactivity, until January, 1899, wdien some youngmen of Sioux Falls again organized an association, a constitution and by-laws were adopted, and the following- officers were elected: Geo. P. Knappen president, B. C. Mathews vice president, Roy Wyman secretary, Chauncey Tuthill treasurer, Max P. Beveridg-e member at large.

During- the years 1888 and 1889 several industries had been established at South Sioux Falls. The South Sioux Falls Railroad and Rapid Transit line of road had been completed to this point, and evervthinof looked prosperous and promising- for a rapid and wonderful growth of the lively little burg- which had sprung- into existence so suddenly.

All the prerequisites having- been duly complied wnth for the organization of a town, a petition was presented by the residents and landowners of the southwest quarter of section 28, the south half of sections 29 and 30, sections 31, 32, and the northwest quarter of section 33 in Sioux Falls township, and sections 25 and 36, and the east half of sections 26 and 35 in Wayne township, asking- the board of county commissioners to order an election to determine whether the inhabitants of such territory desired to incorporate as the Town of South Sioux Falls. The prayer of the petitioners was g-ranted, and the board ordered an election held on the 20th day of February, 1890. The election was held at the Woolen Mills, and all the votes cast (thirty-seven) were in favor of incorporation. The territory was divided into three districts, and on the 21st day of March, 1890, J. M. Eley, Fred Frost, Sr., and S. D. Perkins were elected trustees, Fred Spoerl clerk, M. F. Drake assessor, C. S. Law^rence treasurer, J, P. Wilbur marshal and William Ging-erich justice. July 1, S. D. Perkins was elected president of the board, and a corporate seal was ordered procured. July 9, the board, upon the petition of the owners of hve-eig-hts of the property, passed a resolution submitting to the voters the question of bonding- the town in the sum of S7(>,0()() for the purpose of constructing- a system of water works and sewerage, and to defray the expense of a plant for lig-hting- the town. The election was held June 31, and all the votes cast (fifty in number) w^ere in the affirmative. November 3, C. S. Lawrence having- moved away, C.E. Fickes was appointed treasurer; and on the same dav the board allowed bills which had been incurred to the amount of 81,673.08.

R. F. Pettig-rew was not only the promoter of the packing- house, but he was the prime mover in establishing- several industrial enter- ])rises at South Sioux Falls. The woolen mill enterprise was one of the first. These mills were in operation in 1889-90. A soap factory was built about the same time, and an axle g-rease factory a little later. A starch factory was built in 1892. A larg-e hotel was erected in 1889, and opened for business in the fall of that year. The foundation for a Presbyterian church building- was laid, but the project went no further. The packing- house plant, the most important of the enterprises, is within the town of South Sioux Falls, and is the only one in operation at the present time. But the other plants onh' require to be set in motion to make South Sioux Falls one of the most active and important manufacturing- points in this part of the state.

Buffalo Park. - In 1888 R. F. Pettig-rew and S. L. Tate purchased seventeen. buffalos, and broug-ht them to South Sioux Falls. They enclosed sixty acres with a hig-h board fence, and turned the buifalos loose within the enclosure to obtain their su])sistence. They then purchased quite a number of imported (killoway cows, and let them in with the bisons. Young- buffalos and buffalo-g"ill(»- ways was the result, and they were reared together. Deer (blacktails and white-tails), and moose were also procured and put in the park. A boy living- near the Missouri river upon hearing of the park, supposed the proprietors would be pleased to add to their variety of animals, and shipped to them twenty prairie dogs. Eig-ht of them g-ot awav, but twelve were left in the park, and they at oncecommenced to take up homesteads and file pre-emptions, and in a few years, if a census had been taken, the number of prairie dogs would have run up into the thousands. In 1894 the buifalo-galloway herd was disposed of, but the prairie dog-s remained until the high water in the spring- of 1898 overflowed their habitations and drowiUMJ them.

This illu^.tration is of the last Initfalo in Minnehaha C(.unt\ . Ikwas born in Buffalo park, and having- special advantag-es for growth, was a splendid specimen, weig-hing- 2,400 pounds. He never realized his captivitv, and his behavior was unexceptional in the park. In

Auo-ust, 1894, he was sold and put into a box-car and shipped to Buffalo, New York. When he found himself coniined in the car he was g-reatlv enrao-ed, and before arrivino- at his destination the car needed repairs. He was purchased for the park at Buffalo, but when he arrived there the park commissioners were at a loss how to transfer him to his new home, and they wired Senator Pettigrew for information. They finalh- made a chute for his passao-e and opened the door of the car, but he did not approve of the arrang-ement, and being- prodded in order to drive him out, he knocked out one end of the car and made his exit.

List Of Officers 1801-1899

The receipts from taxes during- the year amounted to S()18.23. The expenditures during- the year amounted to S2,132.91. September 12, T. J. IIa\mes having- moved away, Thomas Hobart was appointed trustee to fill the vacancy.

1892. April 12, the salary of the trustees was fixed at S25. May 2, at the annual election, the following" officers were elected: trustees, Samuel Simons chairman, Fred Frost, Sr., Wm. Wolley; clerk, J. M. Eley; assessor, Wm. Ging-erich; treasurer, Percy Frost; justice, Fred Spoerl; marshal, John Nichols. July 12, J. M. Eley resig-ned as clerk and Wm. Ging-erich was appointed to fill vacancy. At the end of the fiscal year the amount of taxes received was $2,911.11, and expenditures S2, 266.66.

1893. Ma}^ 1, the following- officers were elected: trustees, Fred Frost, Sr., Samuel Simons, W. J. Wolley; clerk and assessor, Wm. Ging-erich; treasurer, Fred Frost; justice, C. D. Fickes; marshal, M. F. Drake. October 2, W^m. Ging-erich resig-ned as clerk and Fred Frost was appointed to fill vacancy. November 13, the tax levy for 1890 having- been declared void by the courts, the board of trustees authorized the county to charge back the amount of taxes collected and paid over to the town, and retain the amount from future taxes collected by the treasurer.

1895. The annual election took place at the appointed time, with two tickiets in the field. One ticket was nominated bv a caucus, and there were some persons dissatisfied with the nominations. Thev kept quiet and at the last moment a ticket was made up bv petition and properly filed. The caucus ticket was not filed in time, but it was voted and had a majority, and the persons named on the ticket were declared elected, and became the dc facto town officials. The matter g-ot into the courts, and the following- October the court decided tba,t the persons naiiied upon the other ticket were leg-ally

1896. The town officials for this year were in part as follows: trustees, Fred Frost, Sr., J. E. Nixon^ M. F. Holt; clerk, James E. Connolly. January 1*), 18')7, J. F. Nixon having- moved awav, H. W. Connolly was appointed trustee to till vacancy. February 2, 1SM7, Harry Pratt was ai)p()inted trustee in place of M. F. Holt for the same reason.