St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-04
MILWAUKEE LETTER.
John L. Mitchell. Chairman of the
Democratic County Committee.
A Change Of Management at the Gas Works.
: The Plankinton Residence.
Extent of the Growth of the City--Sliort
Notes of Interest.
Especial Correspondence Of the Globe.

| Especial Correspondence of the Globe.
| MILWAUKEE, August 2-Nothing worthy
| Oh special notice has occurred in political
circles during the past week except the quiet
resignation of Fred Reitbrock, chairman of
the Democratic county committee, and the
election of John L. Mitchell to fill the va
cancy. Mr.. Mitchell cordially received the
| committee which notified him of his election,
at the palatial residence of his father, and
while entertaining and refreshing them dis
cussed campaign topics and methods for 81
vigorous canvass. The Democratic organi-
zatlon is moving without friction. Clubs
are being formed all over the city, and the
lines are being laid for vigorous work in the
neld later on At present organization is
occupying the attention Of both parties to the
exclusion of more vigorous and tangible dis
plays of strength, which will be reserved for
September and October. A short and crisp
campaign is more effective than slow fight
covering too many months, and will cost
less The methods of conducting business
at the headquarters of the two parties. Is truly
characteristic. at the Blaine barracks on
Wisconsin street, the doors and windows are
Kept open, and as much display as possible is
made. The 'b'hoys'' sit around and smoke
and the document clerks peddle out their
campaign literature SO that he that runs
may see if not read This is the
hurrah style of doing things.
At the Democratic headquarters on Broad
way the workers gather and talk business
quietly. No display is made and meetings
are for counsel, not buster. The reporters
OF The Republican papers find fault with this
way OF working, and hint about star-chamber
sitttings and political plots They have
printed several states for the Democrats thus
lar, but none of them are worth repetition
When the true slate is made up they will
nave something to chatter about and abuse.
ABOUT GAS.
Thursday evening Chas. R. Faben, who
resigned the position of superintendent of
the gas works several months ago, turned
over his keys to his successor and stepped
down and out. During the seven years that
Mr. Faben held the position Of superinten-
dent the works were more than doubled in
capacity, and its methods so thoroughly
systematized that the waste is now a mere
nothing in comparison with that character
1stic of the management of his predecessor.
lie was urged to come here from Toledo by
the officers of the company, with the promise
OF life position The works were running
down at the heel and needed the saving
labor Of q N
put in seven years of hard work, giving Mil
waukee pure gas and systematizing the man.
facture to such an extent that the price to
consumers has been reduced from $2 50 per
thousand feet to $1.60. The
price to the city during Mr..
Taben's administration was cut
down with the renewal of the contracts from
s2.25 per 1000 to s1.3O With all this re-
duction the company has paid such dividends
on about $500 900 worth of stock that the
stock is not in the market. Its holders
deem it too good to sell. Besides the big
dividends the company has had a good sur
plus in the treasury. Mr.. Faben has been
displaced by cheaper man who will give
cheaper gas. Good gas and the reductions
mentioned have Kept out competition thus
far, but new company will soon be asking
for privileges If the poor light and misman-
agement Of years ago follow the change Of
superintendent. Mr.. Faben has returned
to Toledo with his family. The day before
he left the works he was presented with lot
of elegant silverware by his appreciative en-
ployes.
MGEoCH AND WELLS.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, in
Commissioner Bloodgood's office, Peter Nc
Geoeh, who met with crushing financial
reverse through the collapse of corner on
lard, was examined In regard to the relations
which existed between himself and Daniel
Wells, who is suing for proper accounting
OF the transactions in connection with the 4
famous deal. MeGeoch was questioned and
badgered by Winkeld Smith, counsel for
Wells, but lodged adroity, and exhibited
such lapses of memory that nothing definite
was elected. The court proceedings are
spicy reading for the friends of the litigating
spectators, and the impression seems to be
general that "Mc' will come out ahead.
McGeooh, since his failure, hBs been attend
ing to the management of the West Side
Street Car company. The line was his prop
erty before the collapse, but it is now proba-
bly, encountered to such an extent that the
great Spectator is virtually an employee. IF
hands were shown, Mitchell would probably
appear as the real owner OF the line, as he is
of the greater portion of the ''downed'' spec
ulator's property. Mitchell has been strong
supporter of McGeoch, and had tided him
over difficulties previous to the great lard
trouble; but the load or lard was too heavy
for him Cat any rate he refused to shoulder
it) and ''Mc'' went down, McGeoch has re-
tired from the speculative arena for the pres
emit He has had enough. But it should not
be set down as sure thing thrt he will re-
main out. He was buried under mortgages
years ago through an unfortunate bull deal
in wheat, but he so slyly managed a corner
on the boys that he was able one, afternoon
to walk into the chamber of
commerce and shake big package of can
celled mortgages at the occupants of the pit,
as a sign of his release from the thraldom
of debt. McGeoch will rise again, when he
sees an opening.
THE PLANTATIONS.
The family of John Plankinton, Milwau-
KEGS enterprising provision king, moved
back into the old Piankinton mansion to-
day. But '.the old home amt what it used
to be- it now holds place among the pala-
tial residences of the northwest. Since the
family vacated the old homestead several
years ago, the place has been in the hands of
busy artisans who have improved it TO the
extent of 5000, 600. So much has been done
internally and externally that the old house
is entirely lost in the grandeur of its re-
rnndeled self. Rennrters of the city naners