of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 412-419
CITIZENS RAILWAY & LIGHT COMPANY. Plans were laid in 1882 for the building of a street railway in Muscatine. The city had grown to the proportions necessary for rapid transit and in 1883 a company was organized for the purpose of constructing and operating a railway, and the following officers were elected: Peter Musser, president; George Dillaway, vice president; T. R. Fitzgerald, secretary; Orange Chapman, superintendent.
The road was built according to plans and on September 11, 1883, there were something over two miles of tracks in the city and the first car was run over the line. The motive power was of mule and horse flesh. Since that time a number of changes have taken place, both in the personnel of the men owning the utility, the physical conditions of the concern and the power used for locomotion. As the city grew in numbers and importance, its citizens desired being up with its neighbors in the matter of street car service. May 29, 1893, saw a change. Mules were discarded for electricity and on the day above mentioned the present electric, or trolley system was inaugurated. At this time the Citizens Railway & Light Company serves the city in a three-fold capacity. It furnishes the people its gas, electricity for light and power and street railway service, doing it in a matter that meets with no complaint.
It is difficult to realize at this distant day the state of feeling of the pioneer settler of Muscatine when the first iron steed came thundering over the Iowa prairie, cutting time to an unheard of degree and connecting the embryro city with the great marts of the world. Some of those who saw the first train approach the town were not treated to anything new, as they were from the east and a locomotive and a train of cars were no novelty to them. But most of the settlers looked upon the monster iron horse for the first time in their lives and were truly amazed. Every one witnessed the innovation in transportation with the utmost degree of pleasure and renewed hopes for the future. They could see the vast possibilities made certain by this new means of travel and conveyance to market for the products of their farms; and the occasion of celebrating the arrival of the train of cars, ever seen in the state of Iowa within the confines of Muscatine, was made a joyous one. The Journal, then published by J. W. Logan and C. H. Wilson, reported the celebration and as a matter of history it is deemed proper to reprint the account of the festivities as it appeared, word for word. The article here follows:
THE CELEBRATION. Tuesday was introduced amid a sea of mist and rain. Above, the heavens were arrayed in a shroud of gloom, and beneath, the earth presented one magnificent mass of mud. It was a day above all others best calculated to dampen the spirits and chill the ardor of our citizens, and doubtless succeeded in keeping hundreds at home, who had every preparation made to spend a joyous day in our city. Pardon us if we say that the mist, mud and rain were much in greater abundance than should have been visited upon our heads were our sins mountain high compared with those of any other city in the land. In spite of all opposition of this sort, our streets were thronged with citizens at an early hour, active in preparing for the reception of the guests of the city. Guests from our neighboring inland towns arrived during the morning and indeed, such was the condition of the roads leading into our city from all parts of the state that many were unable to reach us before the evening. At twelve o'clock First street, in the vicinity of the Ogilvie House, and that spacious edifice were thronged with strangers, together with almost the entire population of our city. They were there to witness the advent into our city of the First Train of Cars ever run in the State of Iowa, one of the most sublime triumphs of mind over matter that perhaps the history of the world records. It was an event that can never have its parallel in Iowa. It inaugurated the railroad era of our state, the beginning of a period in our history from which the present and future generations will ever date. From this event civilization with all its attendant blessings of religion, the arts and sciences, literature and commerce, will start apart in the great work of redeeming, purifying and saving the world. Can it, in all its vastness of interest and importance, be justly and wholly appreciated? At one o'clock the welcome "snort" of the Iron Horse announced the approach of the cars. They came, six of them, drawn by the new locomotive, "Muscatine," gracefully and proudly, ornate with the ensigns of our country, the glorious stars and stripes, and crowded with the invited guests and many others who enthusiastically united in the general rejoicing. They arrived amid the stentorian shouts of the assembled people and the soul stirring strains of music which threw a charm into the moment beyond the power of language to describe. Immediately thereafter the guests were welcomed by the mayor of our city, J. H. Wallace, in the following beautiful and appropriate address.
Gentlemen :--As the representative of our city and of the gentlemen associated in its government, it is made my duty to welcome you to the hospitalities of Muscatine. The occasion upon which we are met, considered either in a social or commercial point of view, is full of interest and importance not only to us but to generations which will succeed us. The "bans" have been duly published, the contracts signed and sealed, and here today in Nature's own cathdral, we celebrate the nuptials of Chicago and Muscatine. The wedding ring, of material more precious than gold, has been duly placed and found of sufficient capacity to span the "Father of Waters" and unite the contracting parties. This is not a union of childhood with decrepit old age, but both are in the fullest vigor of youth and have a long, bright and prosperous career before them. Scarcely arrived at their majority, and already putting forth efforts and constructing works that almost supersede the mighty stream that rolls at our feet, who shall declare the results of the wisdom and strength of maturer years? That task must be performed by some of the countless thousands whose footsteps we now hear wending their way to this goodly land. Eighteen years ago the spot on which we now stand was only known to that unfortunate race that has melted from our sight as the snow melts under the blaze of the meridian sun. Now, instead of war whoop we hear the ear piercing whistle of the locomotive, and instead of the council fire at which was determined the scheme of some bloody foray, representatives from different states are here assembled, feature of proffering their congratulations at the triumph of mind over matter. Then, the citizens of Iowa were counted by scores--now, by hundreds of thousands; then the riches of her soil and salubrity of her climate were neither acknowledged or believed, and the prophet who then would have foretold the event which we today celebrate would have been called either a dreamer or a fool. In that short period how much our state has been changed! The woodman's ax resounds in every grove, the sturdy plowman whistles in every plain, and waving fields and lowing herds declare the general wealth. If this great change has been wrought in so brief a period and all our commercial relations circulated through the one great artery on our eastern border, what will eighteen years more produce with an equally available artery in hailing distance of almost every hamlet! Wonderful has been the past, it is but a very faint foreshadowing of what will be the future. The iron horse, which has so gallantly greeted us today, stops in our young city but for a breathing spell, and on he dashes, across river and valley, mountain and plain, nor tires till he reaches the mighty Pacific, and returns bearing the riches of nations and empires. But in individual and national wealth his mission is not half told; he is one of the great reformers of the day and wherever he goes superstition and ignorance must give place to intelligence and virtue. The social advantages it is our happy privilege this day to initiate.
At the close of the Mayor's address, a loud call was made for Mayor Boone of Chicago. Mr. Boone presented himself and apologized for not being prepared to respond to the request, as no notice had been given him that he would be expected to make a speech. He said that Chicago was glad to receive Muscatine into her great family. Chicago had gone on several matrimonial excursions and had married several wives, so that the charge was made that she had become Mormon in her practices. Chicago greeted the city of Muscatine as the fairest and most prosperous of her brides, she had been looking at her wistfully as one most worthy to be grappled to her with hooks of iron. He hoped that the intercourse thus begun in such friendly feeling might last forever, increasing in interest and mutual benefit each successive year.
The guests were then conveyed in hacks to the places respectively assigned them by the committee of arrangements. The streets were in such a condition that it was very prudently determined to omit the intellectual entertainment at the court house. The afternoon, in the effort to apologize for the inclemency of the morning, dried the streets about sunset, and the citizens, taking advantage of this favorable circumstance, circulated the guests, introducing them to our citizens, showing them the beauty and natural advantages of our city. Many of them expressed their astonishment at the extent and beauty of the city. It so far exceeded their expectations in size, style, in the splendor of private residences, number and capacity of business houses, natural beauty of location and extent of population that many of them who have visited every city and town of any note in the state, expressed their belief that the prospects of Muscatine City were such as to warrant the belief that she is destined to be the commercial emporium of Iowa and that, ere the lapse of many years.
The supper--We shall attempt no extended description of this, the grand feature of the occasion. We not only feel ourselves inadequate to the task but we doubt very much whether language with all its wealth could furnish words fitted to portray the magnificence of this part of the entertainment. In expressing ourselves thus--to many it may seem extravagantly--we but reiterate the common remark. There were twelve tables, each graced with handsome pyramids of cake. The principal table was honored with a pyramid standing full seven feet--a monument to the skill and taste of the fair architect. At least twenty kinds of meats, embracing all the varieties of game, and an endless variety and style of cake. There was turkey, quail, chicken, venison, tongue, ham--a la mode--beef, oysters, chicken salad, pineapples, apples, jellies, blanc manage, ice cream, peaches, pears, hen's nests and a hundred other nice things that for the present must be nameless. It gave universal satisfaction and must figure largely in the notices of those from a distance who will refer to it. All honor to the noble hearted committee! After a free discussion of the viands, Unger's Brass Band, which elicited universal praise for the high degree of skill displayed, struck up a popular air, during which the audience prepared for the feast of reason which was about to be furnished them. ]. Scott Richman, chairman of the committee on toasts, arose and proceeded to read the following:
REGULAR TOASTS. 1st. The Mississippi and Missouri Railroad--the first opened in Iowa. Those engaged in its construction have fairly won the palm, long and proudly may they wear it.
Mr. Price of Davenport arose in response to a general call. (The reports we give of the following addresses are necessarily imperfect, having been taken by us under the most unfavorable circumstances and without any practice or skill. We may except the address of Mr. O'Connor which we noted pretty fully.) He said that we lived in an age of progress, of commerce, of the arts and sciences, and of railroads. The occasion was one of pride to his own city, as one of the three links, Chicago, Davenport and Muscatine. The present occasion can be aptly styled the Poetry of Railroads. But there was a bitter prose connected with them also. It was only at the expense of labor, toil and untiring energy that the present glorious result was reached. He referred to the embarrassment attendant upon the work, the accomplishment of which the occasion was intended to commemorate. The result could not be estimated in dollars and cents, only when the fleet winged locomotive, laughing at every opposing obstacle, laved his iron hoofs in the white waters of the great Pacific, would the importance of this line be known and acknowledged as the greatest railroad on the face of the globe. Mr. Price concluded his interesting and exceedingly appropriate address by offering the following sentiment. Long may the men who have succeeded thus far in their efforts to unite distant cities, live to bless future generations with their energy, enterprise and liberality.
2d. The Event we Celebrate.--A new era in the history of our state, an earnest of her growing greatness.
No response, although a loud call was made for different gentlemen.
3d. The Iron Horse.--A steed that never tires, the wilderness recedes at his approach and the emblems of civilization adorn his path.
No response.
4th. The nuptial ceremonies were lately celebrated between the cities of Chicago and Burlington and we call upon the mayor of the former city to explain how it is that the city of Chicago is now looking with eyes askance upon Burlington's younger and fairer sister.
Loud calls brought Mayor Boone of Chicago to his feet. He complimented the ladies for the beautiful display of their handiwork. It was an exhibition of taste and skill he had never seen surpassed. Had he a "harp of a thousand happy strings" he might touch a cord that would give forth sweetest music. He was a doctor--all doctors like to talk about themselves and their professions; so do the lawyers who often carry the matter so far as to bore the company. As a doctor he wished to raise a physiological question. The spleen had no greater functions in the human system, at least the books assign it none. He had been thinking what function in the system of railroads Muscatine should sustain but was unable to appoint her any, hence he called her the spleen of the system, no special but a general function, excelling in them all. Chicago was the great heart, and the lines of railroads, so many arteries of one grand system. Cities lose their individuality when bound together by iron ties. Muscatine is no longer in the back ground but within a few hours ride of Chicago--but a rail's distance. He remembered when the whole shore of the Mississippi was uninhabited; when scouting parties of white men marched in quest of the wily Indian, trembling in their boots lest they might possibly meet them. Now, how changed! Prosperous, vigorous cities meet the eye at almost every hand and commerce and agriculture reach clear through the state. But he had not a "harp of a thousand strings," and took hls seat amid unbounded applause. We can give but a miserable apology of a report of Mayor Boone's speech, which frequently drew forth shouts of laughter and the most enthusiastic applause.
5th. The City of Chicago.--The emporium of the west, the granary of the world.
To this sentiment, Mr. Bross of the Chicago Democratic Press, responded in an excellent address of some length. We wish we were able to give his speech entire. It would be read with great interest by every citizen of the great northwest, and indeed, of the entire country. It abounded in truest patriotism, interesting and valuable statistics, genial wit and good sound sense. He was proud of hls own city. The statistics of the commerce of the city exhibited the most wonderful increase history affords. Chicago had been toasted as the Granary of the World. It was, and the figures proved it. And why? Because she was located in the midst of the greatest grain growing country in the world. Her eleven trunk railroads and their hundred branches brought to her the products of twenty such states as the good old buckeye, equal in fertility of soil and in energy of population. He would not say that Iowa was the first state in the Union, because he was from Illinois, but if he was a citizen of the glorious young state of Iowa, he would claim for her what she nobly deserves, a position second to none, if not the very first in the sisterhood of republican America. The true farmer desired but one-half acre, give him a whole acre, and Illinois with her 36,000 square miles would sustain a population of 35,840,000 souls,--Iowa over 80,000,000. Who could realize the wealth and power of the northwest but a few years hence? We wish it were in our power to report Mr. Bross' speech in full but it can be imagined from the skeleton we here give. He closed with the following sentiment, which was received with shouts of applause. "The Democratic Press of Chicago, the greatest newspaper in the west."
6th. The State of Iowa.--Her natural beauty is only surpassed by the fertility of her soil.
Henry O'Connor being called for, responded to this toast in a few brief but happy remarks. He said it was difficult on an occasion like the present, when most of the company were visitors from other states, for a citizen of Iowa to say much in praise of his own state, to give fair expression to his own feelings without violating the rules of modesty and good taste, but happily the gentleman on his right from Chicago (Mr. Bross), who had but a few moments ago taken his seat, had saved him the necessity of saying anything for Iowa, for, in his just; generous and eloquent speech, he has fairly anticipated all that might be said in response to the sentiment just proposed. But we of Iowa love the young but noble state of our adoption, and ladies and gentlemen from abroad, will you not admit that Iowa is something to be proud of? Twenty years ago the white man, save for purposes of curiosity or pleasure, had not left his footprints within her borders; today her white population numbers 750,000. She is the youngest of the sisterhood of the great valley, but I trust, ladies and gentlemen, you will pardon my vanity if I say her prairies are as fertile, her sons are as free and her daughters as fair as those of any of her elder sisters. I hope, ladies and gentlemen, that the event of today will satisfy you that Muscatine is worthy of Iowa. Within the time I have named, nay within the last twelve years, she was an insignificant village of some dozen indifferent houses, or rather in western phrase, cabins; now she numbers a thriving population of 8,000 and we live in houses, and in every house you will find a bed for a friend. Statistics are dry things, ladies and gentlemen, but they are facts and it is right that you who are strangers should know something of Muscatine. We have two distinct schools, employing eight teachers and educating about 500 children; nine churches; and we do some business in a small way. Last year our lumber trade in manufacturing and selling amounted to about 7,000,000 feet; we slaughtered and packed about 18,000 hogs, and this year we expect to double the number. I dare not undertake to tell you what our merchants have done in the way of selling dry goods, boots and shoes, and "all other kinds of hardware." We rejoice in the auspicious event of today. Railroads will make us greater and richer, will add to our wealth and our power; but we hail its advent into our state for others and to me, at least, high reasons. It affords us such reunions as we have tonight. Railroads bring our friends to see us. Railroads bring us from the Empire and the old Bay state, schoolmasters, and what is still better, schoolmistresses. Railroads enable us to spread and propagate an enlightened and exalted Christianity; to tear down the distillery and the grog shop, and to raise in their stead the church and the schoolhouse, in short to advance civilization. In conclusion, fellow citizens from abroad, let me say that we want you to come and come often, and as many of you as can, to stay in Iowa, and young gentlemen of the east, I beg of you to get rid of the illusion you labor under that we have no ladies in Iowa. I trust the company and festivities of the evening will satisfy you, that Iowa's daughters are not only fair but they will all make good housewives.
THE BALL. And here we pause, half tempted to fling from us the editorial quill, ashamed of its impotence; for what array of words, arranged in homely prose, can convey to the reader a faithful picture of the splendor, of the mirth, of the fascination and the poetry of a ballroom? We might dwell, 'tis true, upon those details that formed the externals of the scene, or recount such incidents as claimed a prominence among the festivities of the evening; but we feel that the harmonious tout ensemble--the gorgeous whole--must be left, for the most part, untold. Thus, we might describe the musicians, but how the music? We may dwell upon the merits of the cotillion band, who, with A. M. White as its leader, came from Le Claire to enliven the entertainment and certainly the influence of its music was such as to incline the most sedate to resistless mirth and restore to the aged the hilarity of their youth. Or we might venture to speak of the accomplished Miss _________, or the fascinating Miss Some-one-else, and relate how their wealth of smiles was scattered with lavish profusion around and on all sides, enriching many and yet increasing their own stores. Or we might pause to descant upon the exceeding grace of one, the loveliness of another, or the correct taste in dress exhibited by the many--and yet all this were but unsatisfactory and vague and would leave the ball itself still undescribed. The evening was far advanced when we reached the festive scene. The hall was crowded, yet not to excess; there was room for all, yet not a seat yawned in lonely vacancy, and there was mirth and joys for all, with not a discontented look to cast a marring shadow amid the all prevailing merriment. And when, soon after our entrance, the band "struck up" and seats were vacated, promenading ceased and flirting was for the nonce arrested, the floors resounded to the pattering of happy feet and eyes and hearts all danced, till the very lights shone with giddy luster and the echoes of the music seemed themselves to have gone delirious. It was a brilliant scene--one to dwell long in the memory with unsullied radiance, one that made us proud indeed of our young city, very proud of its noble sons and gentle daughters, of its beauty and its wealth. We know that the late guests of Muscatine bore away with them a sense of homage to our youthful society. We know that all who were present drank deeply in the delights of the occasion--ambrosial draughts that nourish and refresh the mind, giving it a renewed zest and earnestness in the great diurnal struggles with life. We know that all who were not there were greatly losers, and we hope that this ball, the first and opening step of our gay season, will be the herald of a series of evening festivals that will enrich our social existence, strengthen the bands that link our citizens, draw our youth into that relish for social pleasures that form man's brightest earthly ornament and exalt our place to that preeminence. in point of society, which as a business mart, she already holds.
Wednesday morning, to our surprise, brought us good walks and dry streets, which enabled a goodly number of our guests to visit portions of our city which inaccessible on Tuesday on account of the mud. And here let us remark that it is something unusual for our streets to present such a muddy appearance, especially at this season of the year. We do have mud, but we must say that Tuesday exceeded anything we have seen since we became a resident of the city. At nine o'clock the locomotive whistled and our citizens hurried to the cars to see the guests depart. Just before the cars started, the mayor of Chicago was presented with the tree that graced the pyramid on the principal table at the supper, in behalf of the ladies of Muscatine. The guests all aboard, the cars started and three hearty cheers went up from the congregated mass, for Chicago and Davenport, which was returned by the guests in three tremendous cheers for Muscatine. The mayor of Chicago, presenting himself at the door on the last car, and waving the tree, our citizens gave him three cheers, and in an effort to make a graceful bow, backed himself out of sight. Thus ended the first and second day of the celebration, everyone retiring to their homes well pleased and in good spirits.
Back to Historical Index Page
