DOCSLIB.ORG

Meigs Chapter 6--1858

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Meigs Chapter 6--1858 CHAPTER 6—1858 [longhand transcription follows] Captain Montgomery C. Meigs, U.S. Corps of Engineers Diary commencing 1st January 1858. For 1853 to Dec. 31, 1857 see two previous volumes. System of writing as found in Benn Pitman’s works on Phonog- raphy. Cincinnati, Ohio [illegible word] publishing [Printed material inserted.] 1 [shorthand transcription follows] JAN. 1. I begin the year 1858 well in body and of sound mind, charged with the construction of the extension of the Capitol, of the dome of the Capitol, of the Post Office building, of the Washington aqueduct, and of Fort Madison. All these works are now in progress and employ probably 3,000 men or more, for many are employed at the quarries and elsewhere who do not appear upon our rolls. *** [JAN. 1 CONT.] My children are growing up well. John is nearly 16. I have applied, with strong recommendations, for him to go to West Point, and I hope I shall succeed. He is a boy of talent. His teacher at the college says of extraordinary mathematical talent and has a taste for engineering and science, which I think will be best trained at West Point. Mary is a [good] deal as her mother. She begins to sing a little and is a good and rather good-looking girl. Monty is still at school, a schoolboy, rather timid, but affectionate, and good. Our youngest, Louisa, is a weird child. She is passionate, obstinate, bright, lively, nervous and beautiful. And ever darling. My father and mother still live in Philadelphia, where 3 of my broth- ers are still living. John, a widower, practices medicine, with a very large practice. Emlen, who has been by the late moneyed convulsion 1 An article from the Washington Evening Star of December 28, 1857, praising the new House chamber. 575 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 15:59 Mar 18, 2002 Jkt 066601 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 1021 Sfmt 1021 D:\MEIGS\66601.006 APPS17 PsN: APPS17 576 JANUARY 1858 thrown out of employment. Frank, the youngest, who is and always has been doing nothing. They are unmarried. Charles, 2 my 2nd broth- er, and William are both married and settled in Indiana, near Romney, Tippecanoe County. Henry is in Columbus, Georgia, where he is mar- ried and prosperous. Emily, my sister, is a widow in Philadelphia, well off in money but sad in heart at the loss of a father and devoted husband. Mary, my third sister, lives with my father and mother, unmarried. I have the pay of a captain of Engineers, full occupation, money enough to live plainly and keep out of debt. We live with my wife’s mother, Mrs. Commodore Rodgers, keeping house, in her house. She and her daughter [Jerusha] live with us. My wife’s sister Anna—her husband, Captain Macomb is a topographical officer in Santa Fe, New Mexico—lives with us, too, with her 3 children. [JAN.] 2ND. At the office today. Some time with Speaker Orr, who wish- es to have a refreshment room provided. I can find rooms enough, but he does not know how to dispense with the committee rooms. *** [JAN. 2 CONT.] Reverend Mr. Register writes me a good letter about speaking in the Hall. He says that he never in any room spoke with so much ease, that it was less fatiguing than the lllll church, in which all who speak are struck with the goodness of the acoustics. It is small. In this immense Hall, however, he found that he could speak with more ease than even in that. [JAN.] 3RD. I went today, Sunday, to hear the service at the Hall of Reps. Mr. Paul preached a sermon not remarkable for its interest. He promised to send to me a note upon the ease with which he spoke, which he said surprised him. Mr. Paul, to whom I was introduced after the sermon, said that he would with pleasure send me a note of his opinion of the qualities of the Hall for preaching, saying that he found it surprisingly easy to speak in. On my return, I overtook Miss Cass, Mrs. Canfield 3 and Mr. Ledyard. 4 They had been up to the Hall, where they said they were surprised to find so beautiful a room and such perfection of hearing. I told Miss Cass that I hoped she would make a good report to her father, who had never felt any confidence that I should succeed in this 2 Charles D. Meigs, Jr. (1817–1895). 3 Mary Canfield was a daughter of Lewis Cass and the widow of Captain Augustus Canfield. 4 Henry Ledyard, married to Lewis Cass’ daughter Matilda, was elected mayor of Detroit in 1855 and later served in the Michigan senate. VerDate 11-MAY-2000 15:59 Mar 18, 2002 Jkt 066601 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 1021 Sfmt 1021 D:\MEIGS\66601.006 APPS17 PsN: APPS17 JANUARY 1858 577 attempt. She said he had always had great doubts and indeed did not believe that I would succeed, believing as he did that it was an impos- sible problem which was proposed to me for solution. Mr. Healy, the painter, came in this evening to consult me about the form of a letter which he had written to Mr. Pearce, the chairman of the Library Committee, informing him that he had in the Rotunda of the dome a full-length portrait of ex-President Fillmore....5 He showed me a letter from the ex-President, speaking of his ac- count of the Hall of Reps, saying that it gave him pleasure to hear so good an account of it; that he had seen the reporters’ statements and had told Healy, while painting him, that he was distressed by them. *** [JAN. 4] The House of Representatives assembled today, after the holi- days, and went vigorously to work. They got through their business with great speed and ease. So much more knowledge of what is going on can be attained without much effort or attention that the business proceeds with great rapidity. *** [JAN. 4 CONT.] My father writes that the Philadelphia Inquirer on the 2nd of January published the article from the Washington Star upon the new Hall with an awkward preface in which they ate dirt. They had published from the Washington correspondent letters abusing the Hall, and at his suggestion that it was only fair to let their readers of the Star study a [description] of the matter, they published this as an amend. I saw several Members of the House of Representatives today. They said that they were getting more pleased with the Hall and that it was very comfortable. Had some complaints still about the drafts. The fan cone is hung and will be started in about 8 to 10 days. We are at work upon the boilers of the north wing. Mr. Haskin 6 of New York says that he held the committee together in order that they might make a report upon the heating, ventilation, acoustics, etc., of the Hall, doing me justice especially, as he saw the letter writers had made an attack upon me, and that they would do it. I hear that there is a rumor on downtown today that I have been relieved from the aqueduct and from the Capitol extension. For myself, 5 The Healy portrait of President Fillmore is now at the White House. 6 John B. Haskin (1821–1895), Democrat of New York, served in the House of Representatives, 1857–1861. VerDate 11-MAY-2000 15:59 Mar 18, 2002 Jkt 066601 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 1021 Sfmt 1021 D:\MEIGS\66601.006 APPS17 PsN: APPS17 578 JANUARY 1858 after Davis’ conversation with the President, I do not much expect any further interference. The galleries of the House of Representatives today were better filled than I have ever seen them. They did not look too large. *** [JAN.] 6TH. I met the Speaker and Mr. Cobb 7 of Alabama at the Speak- er’s room at 10 a.m., or rather I was there to meet them. They did not come until some time afterwards. Arranged with them and with General Quitman to give up to [George] Houston of Alabama the room now occupied by the Military Committee, upon the proper Military Committee room being made habitable though not decorated. We went to see Mr. [James] Walker, the artist, to see what progress he had made. He could not get for some time the proper canvas for his large painting. He had got a smaller piece upon which he was blocking in the figures of his picture. He had a beautiful landscape and was making good progress, but I regret to see so much labor lost and told him to confine himself to the merest blocking out until he could get into the committee room and, putting up the proper canvas, go on with the picture itself. This preliminary study, of course, will cause the picture to be paint- ed more rapidly when he is ready to begin it. A Mr. [Baumgras] 8 has a room above him at 46 Louisiana Avenue. He seems to have come here in hopes of employment upon the Cap- itol, but the sketches which I saw in his room, he happening to be absent at the time, were very poor. *** [JAN.] 8TH. I was called before the Committee on Public Buildings of the Senate today. They have been ordered by the Senate to present a plan for the assignment of the rooms in the north wing. They went over the plans and over the building with me and made up a list of assignments, changing in some unimportant particulars the assignment which I had made.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Detroit Blue Book
    DAU'S DETROIT BLUE BOOK AND LADIES' ADDRESS BOOK ELITE FAMILY DIRECTORY OFFICIAL CLUB LISTS PUBLISHED ANNUALLY EDITION FOR 1 905 This book is the legitimate successor to the original Detroit Blue Book, published by the Free Press Publishing Company in 188s_. The public are warned against spurious imitations of this publication, and our patrons will favor us by bringing to our notice any misrepresentai.lcns by canvassers, etc. All contracts and subscriptions should bear our name. DAU PUBLISHING COMPANY, MOFFAT BLOCK, DETROIT, MICH. HEAD OFFICE, 54 WEST 22D STREET, NEW YORK COPVftlGHT 1904 8Y DAU PUBLISHING CO. THIS BOOK IS THE PROPE.RTY OF - R. --------------------- :QRRECT 4'v for Social Occasions, Recep­ - tion and At-Home C a rd s , NGRAVING Calling C a r d s, Wedding lnvitatic,ns ~ ~ ~ EVERY FEATURE OF SOCIAL ENGRAVING CORRECT IN EVERY LITTLE DETAIL ~en you order engraving and cards you -want the~ right. There'll be no little defects in the w-orh. done by us. All orders executed -with promptness and despatch. BOOB. AND STA"FIONERY DEPT., SECOND FLOOR ~HE J. L. HUDSON CO. r.', . :;ARD ·pARTIES • • • WHITE TABLES t\..ND CHAIRS ~ ~ FOR RENT~~~ ARTISTIC AND ELEGANT J:4""URNITURE l. R. LEONARD FURNirrURE CO. mcoRFORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF MICHIGAN Michigan Conservator.y of Music Washington Ave. and Park St. ALBERTO JONAS, Director Has acquired National Fame as the representative musical institution of Michigan, and one of the foremost, largest and most exclusive Conservatories in America. A faculty of forty-five eminent instructors, including world renowned artists. 'l'he very best instruction given in piano.
    [Show full text]
  • Recollections of a Long Life - an Autobiography
    Recollections of a Long Life - An Autobiography Theodore Ledyard Cuyler Project Gutenberg's Recollections of a Long Life, by Theodore Ledyard Cuyler This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: Recollections of a Long Life An Autobiography Author: Theodore Ledyard Cuyler Release Date: June 8, 2004 [EBook #12549] Language: English Character set encoding: ASCII *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RECOLLECTIONS OF A LONG LIFE *** Produced by PG Distributed Proofreaders. Produced from images provided by the Million Book Project. [Illustration: THEODORE LEDYARD CUYLER] RECOLLECTIONS OF A LONG LIFE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY BY THEODORE LEDYARD CUYLER, D.D., LL.D. _Author of "God's Light on Dark Clouds," "Heart Life," Etc._ 1902. CONTENTS I BOYHOOD AND COLLEGE LIFE II GREAT BRITAIN SIXTY YEARS AGO _Wordsworth--Dickens--The Land of Burns, etc_. III GREAT BRITAIN SIXTY YEARS AGO (Continued) _Carlyle--Mrs. Baillie--The Young Queen--Napoleon_ IV HYMN-WRITERS I HAVE KNOWN _Montgomery--Bonar--Bowring--Palmer and others_. V THE TEMPERANCE REFORM AND MY CO-WORKERS VI WORK IN THE PULPIT VII EXPERIENCE IN REVIVALS VIII AUTHORSHIP IX SOME FAMOUS PEOPLE ABROAD _Gladstone--Dr. Brown--Dean Stanley--Shaftesbury, etc._ X SOME FAMOUS PEOPLE AT HOME _Irving--Whittier--Webster--Greeley, etc_. XI THE CIVIL WAR AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN XII PASTORAL WORK XIII SOME FAMOUS PREACHERS IN BRITAIN _Binney--Hamilton--Guthrie--Hall--Spurgeon--Duff and others_.
    [Show full text]
  • Sault Ste. Marie, 1853-1854 and After $21.50
    Sault Ste. Marie, 1853-1854 and After $21.50 TO BUILD A CANAL Sault Ste. Marie, 1853-1854 and After John N. Dickinson Nature has surrounded Lake Superior with immense and valuable forests, and has placed near its shores rich lodes of copper and, in the famed Mesabi Range, the world's largest and most accessible deposits of iron ore. But Na­ ture has also, by some quirk of geology and accident of geography, caused Lake Superior to have an elevation twenty-one feet higher than that of Lake Huron, into which it flows, and has connected the two by a river that, though sixty-three miles in over-all length, completes the drop in elevation in a stretch of precipitous rapids three-fourths of a mile long and a quarter of a mile wide, down which rushes 74,000 cubic feet of water per second as Superior races into Huron. The story of the construction of a bypass to this formidable natural barrier to the free passage of raw mate­ rials from the American Midwest to the great commercial centers of the eastern United States and beyond is the subject of this reveal­ ing and entertaining book. Traders who visited the area that the French had dubbed the Sault Ste. Marie had, as early as the eighteenth century, discerned the need to build a canal to circumvent the falls in the St. Mary's River, and one, of a sort, was indeed already in operation in the days of George Washington. A far more efficient waterway than this primitive expedient was clearly required, however, if the iron ore so abundant in Minnesota and Michigan was to join the coal and limestone of Ohio and Penn­ sylvania in the mills and furnaces surrounding the lower Great Lakes; and in 1853, after years of legislative haggling and political maneuver­ ing, construction of the St.
    [Show full text]
  • Recollections of a Long Life
    RECOLLECTIONS OF A LONG LIFE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY BY THEODORE LEDYARD QUYLER, D.D., LL.D. Author of "Help and Good Cheer," "God's Light on Dark Clouds," "The Empty Crib," Etc., Etc. NEW YORK: THE BAKER & TAYLOR CO. 33-37 East 17TH Street, Union Square North Copyright, 1902 3Y \ THE BAKER & TAYLOR CO. Published SeJ>iember, 1903 printed by the Kay Printing House 66-68 Centre St. New York City, U. S. A. CONTENTS I Boyhood and College Life i II Great Britain Sixty Years Ago .... 12 Wordsworth — Dickens — The Land of Burns, etc. Ill Great Britain Sixty Years Ago (Continued) 23 Carlyle—Mrs. Baillie—The Young Queen —Napoleon. IV Hymn-writers I Have Known 37 Montgomery—Bonar—Bowring — Palmer and others. V The Temperance Reform and My Co- Workers 49 vi CONTENTS VI Work in the Pulpit 6i VII Experience in Revivals 82 VIII Authorship 93 IX Some Famous People Abroad 99 Gladstone—Dr. Brown — Dean Stanley — Shaftesbury, etc. X Some Famous People at Home ... iiS Irving— Whittier— Webster—Greeley, etc. XI The Civil War and Abraham Lincoln . 138 XII Pastoral Work 159 CONTENTS vli XIII Some Famous Preachers in Britain . 170 Binney — Hamilton — Guthrie — Hall — Spurgeon—Duff and others. XIV Some Famous American Preachers . 190 The Alexanders—Dr. Tyng—Dr. Cox— Dr. Adams—Dr. Storrs—Mr. Beecher, Mr. Finney and Dr. B. M. Palmer. XV Summering at Saratoga and Mohonk . 224 Bishop Haven — Dr. Schaff — President McCook. XVI A Retrospect . 243 XVII A Retrospect (Continued) 273 XVIII Home Life . 288 vii; CONTENTS XIX Life at Home and Friends Abroad .
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to Manuscripts in the Michigan Historical Collections of The
    L I B RAR.Y OF THE U N IVER.SITY OF 1LLI NOIS oi6.9q74- cop. 2 £ ILLINOIS HISTORY SURVEY LIBRARY Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://www.archive.org/details/guidetomanuscripOOmich GUIDE TO MANUSCRIPTS in the MICHIGAN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS of THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN By Robert M. Warner and Ida C. Brown Ann Arbor 1963 Composition and Lithoprinted by BRAUN -BRUM FIELD, Inc. Ann Arbor, Michigan Oil.. Ill* H INTRODUCTION The Michigan Historical Collections are a special library of The University of Michigan, con- taining the archives of the University and papers of individuals and organizations throughout Michi- gan. In the beginning there were two different projects. One, begun by Professor Lewis G. Vander Velde in 1934, was a program of collecting manuscript and printed materials relating to Michigan history, primarily for the use of graduate students in his seminar. The other program concerned the collecting and preservation of records of the University. To accomplish this purpose, President Alexander G. Ruthven appointed The Committee on University Archives, of which Professor Vander Velde was the secretary. Firmly convinced that a comprehen- sive collection of manuscripts dealing with the history of the University and the State would be use- ful for students and scholars, he began a vigorous campaign of letter writing and personal visits. Housed for a time in a room in the Clements Library, in 1938, needing more space, the papers were moved into the newly opened Rackham Building. In the same year the Regents established the Michigan Historical Collections and appointed Professor Vander Velde the Director.
    [Show full text]
  • Sketches of the City of Detroit, State of Michigan, Past and Present, 1855
    >. •..•< / •!*'' <^ V •!••» C» c«;>^„ '*'- '"ri-^V.l'J,^*/^ fO"^ .'J^' "^°- ^*' -•"-•• "*' : ^°'^<*.. >°-n^. v-^ :MS>:- %.-* •3 .i^nL'- ^•^°^ Jp"'* *^ ..-•. "^^ jP-n^ " '^ -••-^V'**'.4.*^'..^L?*"''<e6 °*'' o^^'j.'^/'^b -*^ t^-o^ <^°^ '^-^^^ ,=)^. (:• :?a.'7 SKETCHES OF THE CITY OF DETROIT, STATE OF MICHIGAN, i^.^r PAST AND PRESENT 1855. •'' o# was^' DETROIT: E. F. JOHNSTONE & CO., PRINTERS, ADVERTISER OFFICE. 1855. ^ M Entered according to an Act of Congress in the Clerk's Office of the Diftrii-t Court of the United States for the District of Michigan, by Robert E. Roberts. .p^7 ol T/ic fvlJinnng iriff ^ilrfcftes of the hhtnry, ptcnniary condUion. resovrrpfi. an I proffrets rf the fttu of Detioit -covfl/cd from aiU/iejitic daia, v>Ul in part supply hiformatio7i fi'equeiUli/ soucjlil ofter. THE CITY — ITS HISTORY. The city of Detroit is situated on the north shore of the Detroit river or strait connecting Lakes Erie and >St. Clair. The river is the boundary line between Michigan and Canada West. The city is 18 miles east of Lake Erie, and 7 miles west of Lake St. Clair, 300 miles west of Buffalo, and .545 from Washington, in Latitude 42 degrees 19 minutes 53 seconds north, and Longitude West S2 dog. 58 sec. or from Washington west -5 deg 56 miu. 12 sec. Difference in time from Washington ?>?•• miu. 44 sec. New Y'ork city 34 min. 48 sec. The history of Detroit is most intimately connected with the history of the whole nortli- west, as its settlement dates among the first on the American continent Founded in the strife for sovereignity between the English and French governments, it became at an early day, a point of central influence, importance and action.
    [Show full text]
  • SELECTED MAYORS of DETROIT.Pdf
    TEACHER RESOURCE LESSON PLAN SELECTED MAYORS OF DETROIT with problems they faced in office. • Be able to identify the consequences of these mayors’ policies and leadership. • Be able to identify unique characteristics of these mayors’ leadership styles. • Propose alternative ways of coping with Detroit’s problems during as least one mayor’s term of office. BACKGROUND ESSAY Each municipal elected official solves problems within the context of his/her times and his/her own personality. Elected officials’ problem solving skills have the goal of keeping the peace and providing for the general welfare. More particularly, five mayors of Detroit – Pingree, Murphy, Cavanaugh, Young, and Archer – have dealt with such matters as required in a large urban area; satisfying basic necessities people need; racism; integrating city work forces; Jerome P. Cavanaugh, 1964 Courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society and keeping the city viable. Their decisions have impacted the generations that followed. This is a INTRODUCTION study of the decision-making responsibilities of the mayor, each of whom was confronted with serious This lesson was originally published in Telling issues during his term of office, and examines how Detroit’s Story: Historic Past, Proud People, Shining each person solved some of these major problems. Future curriculum unit developed by the Detroit 300 The mayors examined are: Commission in 2001. Students in grades six through eight will develop a good background of Detroit’s political history • Hazen S. Pingree: 1890 to 1896 as well as develop an understanding of different • Frank Murphy: 1930 to 1933 leadership models. • Jerome P. Cavanaugh: 1962 to 1970 LEARNING OBJECTIVES • Coleman A.
    [Show full text]
  • Michigan Biographies, Including Members of Congress, Elective State Officers, Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of the Mich
    Library of Congress Michigan biographies, including Members of Congress, elective state officers, Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of the Michigan Legislature, Board of Regents of the University of Michigan, State Board of Agriculture and State Board of Education ... 24-27004 Michigan Biographies INCLUDING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, ELECTIVE STATE OFFICERS, JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT, MEMBERS OF THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE, BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN A. D. MDCCCXXXV. VOL. III. L-Z Published by The Michigan Historical Commission Lansing, 1924 F535 .M62 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RECEIVED JUN 10 1924 DOCUMENTS DIVISION PREFACE. The sketches in this second volume, as in Volume I, end with the date of the last appearance of their respective subjects as public officers in Michigan. Since the material in the previous and present volumes is inaccessible except in the largest libraries, it is believed that the immediate publication of the material at hand in an edition large enough to supply all libraries in the state, will be appreciated by the general public and will take care of their immediate needs. Material is being gathered for a supplementary work which will bring the sketches forward. The gathering of this material is a considerable task and involves research in newspaper files, public records, and the carrying on of voluminous correspondence. To assist in gathering material for the supplementary work that will bring the sketches as near up-to-date as possible, the Commission has appointed a “Council of Michigan biographies, including Members of Congress, elective state officers, Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of the Michigan Legislature, Board of Regents of the University of Michigan, State Board of Agriculture and State Board of Education ..
    [Show full text]
  • History of Detroit and Wayne County and Early Michigan
    HISTORY OF Detroit $/ Wayne Count _ AND EARLY MICHIGAN A Chronological Cy cloijcciici of tlie PAST AND PRESENT By SILAS FARMER, City Historiographer " native here and to the manner born " ®htt:t» ©Mtton— f£et»t*«l> ant* <&tilctv$ett PUBLISHED BY SILAS FARMER & CO Corner of Monroe Avenie and Farmer Street. Detroit for MUKHKLL & CO., NEW YORK 18«0 CHAPTER XIII. WATER AND WATER-WORKS.— PUBLIC DRINKING FOUNTAINS. WATER AND WATER-WORKS. Avenue near Wayne Street. Wells were also pro The first settlers had no need for wells, engines, vided on the commons back of the town, in the pumps, or reservoirs. The water along the shore region of the square now designated as the Campus was not defiled by sewers and refuse from shop and Martius. The digging of wells in this locality gave factory ; instead of containing impurities, it washed great offence to the people. Both cattle and persons and whitened the sandy beach and was everywhere fell into them, and on May 7, 1 808, the Grand Jury as clear as a diamond. presented "the wells on the domain as a dangerous Each farmhouse had its single rough-hewn log or nuisance." In consequence of this action, on De plank projecting into the stream, and barefooted cember 15, 1808, the marshal was " directed to dis maidens, morning by morning, " walked the plank," pose of the pumps, stone and other articles which dashed a bucket into the river, and with the rope to have heretofore been furnished for the wells on the which it was attached drew out the water for their commons." On March 7, 1809, W.
    [Show full text]