PART 3 : History of Outagamie County Wisconsin, in PDF Format

200 HISTORY OF OUTAGAMIE COUNTY In January the ice gatherers harvested and put in storage the largest crop of ice ever saved in any one season at Appleton. Thou- sands of tons of ice were thus stored away. The citizens of Appleton, in January, 1867, considered the question of building a bridge on Prospect street at Appleton street as well as a new draw-bridge across the canal in the Fourth ward. Those were important improvements and it was desired that the citizens should vote upon the question. The bridge question was submitted to the voters and very few votes were polled against it. The canal bridge and the Prospect-Law- rence street bridge were both carried by substantial majorities. The authorities were therefore urged to take immediate steps to construct these bridges, or at least to haul the timber before the frost was out of the ground. It was stated that $3,000 could thus be saved by prompt action. In 1867 the Legislature incorporated the Appleton Lieder Krauz society of Appleton, the original incorporators being Freder- ick Peterson, August Nitschke, John H. Otto, Henry Roden, Chris- tian Fuhrberg,Heinrich Harbeck, Julius Lohlegal,John Jennesjahn, Louis Schintz, John Koffend, Frederick Rockstroh, Joseph Koffend, August Kaestle, Christian Roemer, Charles Muench, George Kessler, Fritz Rohrbach, Charles Leimer, Wilhelm Schmidt, John Peterson, John Berg, Wilhelm Scheck, Louis Fisher, Rudolph Schmidt, Anton Koffend, Sebastian Ostertog, John Roemer, Mathias Werner, Fred- erick Dannenfelser, William Peterson, Wilhelm Sielof, Edward Becker and others. The object of the society was to give active sup- port in the cultivation of vocal and instrumental music and to afford encouragement and aid to literary, scientific and social improvement and the advancement of art. In 1867 the Legislature authorized the Appleton council to' cause a survey, plat and map to be made of the land lying south of College avenue and east of the Wolf river plank road in the third ward; also of the tract in the Second ward lying east of Elm street and of a line drawn due north of the courthouse center to a point directly west of the center of Lawrence street to River street. At a meeting of the firemen held in Firemen hall in April, the following officers were chosen: .George Kreiss, chief engineer; B. Douglas, first assistant; T. McGraft, second assistant; A. L. Smith, third assistant. Fire wardens, James Smith in the First ward; C. J.' Greiger in the Second ward; Z. Patton in the third ward; Webb Ketchum in the Fourth ward. In the spring the lack of vacant houses in Appleton was as great as ever. People had ceased to in- quire for houses. They now were content to get a room or a few rooms or a shanty for temporary use and still the rush continued. Several of the towns received many accessions. New buildings went up in every direction in Appleton and the small villages grew just as rapidly in proportion. Prices began to come up, not only of houses and lots, but of acreage. At this time also people planted many trees in door yards, vacant lots, along the streets and around the borders of farms. Evergreens began to make their appearance in yards, cemeteries and parks. It was stated late in April 1867 that HISTORY OF OUTAGAMIE COUNTY 201 over 400 Hollanders were on their way to this country and would come to Green Bay and no doubt many of themn would find homes in Outagamie county. Kaukauna, Buchanan and Freedom, it was stated, would receive the bulk of these immigrants. There were urgent calls here for the establishment of a brick manufacturing plant. It was sadly needed; as it was, the builders were compelled to import brick from other localities and could not get enough. The Crescent was chosen the official organ of the city. The report of the city treasurer showed total receipts $28,227 less $2,460 on hand at the beginning of the year. The expenses were the same except $3,582 on hand at the end of the year. The Supreme court, in March, 1867, decided the following points in regard to the license question: First-The fact that spirituous liquors had been sold for medicinal purposes was no defense to an indictment for selling them without a license. Second-Under general police power the legislature might prohibit entirely the sale of spirituous liquor within the state. Third-The court explained .the point that the excise law vested in the town board discretionary power to refuse absolutely to license any sale of intoxicating liquors. Fourth-But even if this were not so, still the refusal of a town board- to license any sale of such liquors was no defense to an indictment for the unlicensed sale. Robert R. Bateman, mayor elect of Appleton, delivered his inaugural address in April. He stated that at a special election the people had voted $2,000 for two bridges, a draw-bridge over the canal and the Prospect street bridge. Both were well advanced toward completion and should be promptly finished. He referred to the fact that numerous roads were being built throughout the county and were authorized by special enactment of the legislature. These roads he thought should be and no doubt would be finished at an early date. He regretted that the votes of the county had decided against the road bill passed by the legislature in March, which meant that "Outagamie county must continue to live in mud, move in mud and have its being in mud for several years longer." There were some complaints in regard to streets and sidewalks, but these were fast being removed by the active work on city improvements. He urged the city to take additional action concerning the extinguishment of fires by providing reservoirs and wells for a supply of water. He noted that there was a great diversity of opinion concerning licens- ing the sale of liquors. He said that public opinion was divided in regard to the morality of the business, and that the board no doubt had discretionary power to grant or not to grant licenses. The board thus must determine whether they should or should not. He stated that owing to the presence here of Lawrence university and to the presence of several hundred young men and women, Appleton should set an example of morality and not provide the means by which any of them should be led astray. The fact that many for- eigners who were in the habit of drinking had come here to reside was no reason why license should be granted, if for other good rea- sons it should not be. A tax necessary to raise means to build the 202 HISTORY OF OUTAGAMIE COUNTY draw-bridge was ordered levied; also the sum of $3,000 to be used in building the bridge across the ravine from Prospect street to Law- rence street. Some changes were made in the boundaries of the school districts. The accounts of William Johnston, city treasurer, of receipts and expenditures of the previous year were received, audited and approved. At the May term of the common council the following proceedings were had: Numerous petitions for sidewalks were received and referred to a committee. Seven petitions for saloon licenses were received and likewise referred to a committee. Other petitions for such were refused. The fire department had held an election and presented the list of firemen for confirmation. The salary of the poor-master was fixed at $125 per year. W. S. Warner resigned at city attorney. The pay was insufficient. A petition was presented at this meeting to establish the fire limits in Appleton, or rather to extend the fire limits to certain additional streets. It was referred to a committee. The fire company were authorized to rent the upper part of the engine house for a juvenile school during the session when stoves were not needed to warm the building. At the June session of the council the following proceedings were had: A petition from the citizens to repair the bridge across Fox river in the First and Fourth wards was presented and accepted. This petition was signed by Wilbur Allen and 58 others. Steps to purchase block 9 in the Second ward to be used for an ornamental park and play ground, city hall, fire engine house and other city buildings were taken at the June session of the council. Other localities were considered at this date. The committee on finance was instructed to investigate and report on this question. The city pound was ordered partitioned. The city charter provided that all contracts let by the city exceeding $50 in value should be offered to the lowest bidder. Therefore the previous action of the council to appropriate $200 to repair the lower bridge was recinded, because it was a violation of this law. Steps to build a bridge across Fox river at the foot of College avenue and directly across to the canal locks on a line with the state road from Appleton to Maple Grove were taken. There was opposition to the building of this bridge, owing to the fact that already the city had an indebtedness of an unusually large amount to pay for improvements and the additional expense would make too heavy a burden upon the tax payers. In July, Col. Henry Pomeroy retired from the management of the Appleton Post and was succeeded by Major C. W. Baker, who had for a long time been in charge of its business and mechanical department. Two suits were instituted at Appleton against persons selling liquor without a license.

Load more