davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-29
.CONWELL SPEAKS
Well Known Lecturer Heard at
the Illinois Theatre Last
Evening.
LARGE AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE
Last of the Seasons Entertainments
Under Auspices OF
YIN. G. A.

Russell IL. Cenwell, preacher. wri-
ter, educator and journalist, lectured
here last night at the Illinois theatre
under the auspices of the y. NJ. c. A.
He took as his topic the Jolly Earth
quake" and advocated laughter as Il
cure-aH for ills, mental, moral or
physical. The noted lecturer certain
~ practices what he breaches, for he
was brimful and bubbling over with
contagious mirth and his audience
laughed with him until tears came.
There were serious portions TO the
lecture, but they were not allowed to
spoil the text. The house was well
filed for an event of the kind, and it
was quite evident that the manage
ment had made happy and popular
choice when they dated Mr.. ConweH.
The Jolly Earthquake.
The Jolly Earthquake" from which
the speaker drew many of his illustra-
tions, occurred in 1905, when the ISL
and of Oshima, in Yokohama harbor.
was shaken by mighty CONFUSION
of earth and sea. Up to that time it
had been a high, rocky, barren place,
with steep cliffs, and no place on
which vegetation could flourish. The
effect of the earthquake was to re-
duce the level of the island to about
thirty feet above the water. and over
its entire surface the seas washed
great reaches of sand, which shortly
afterward gave birth to a luXuriant
vegetation, and many of the rarest
and finest modern flowers had their
origin there. One of the strange
features of the phenomenon was that
through it all the inhabitants of the
vicinity were seized with fits of I'M
comfortable laughter. This is thought
to have been due to the gases which
filed the air, and instead of fear and
trembling, there was mirth on every
hand,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-29
nhrnnio nronchlt,. Cured.

''For 10 years l had chronic bron-
.chitis so bad that at times 1 could
not speak above a whisper" writes
Joseph Coffman, of Montmorenci,
Ind. 81 tried all remedies available,
but with no success. Fortunately my
employer suggested that try Foley's
Honey and Tar. Its effect was al
most miraculous, and i am now cured
of the disease. On my recommends
ton many people have used FoIey's
Honey and Tar, and always with sat
isfaction." All druggists
now Are y our Abldneysr
m Hobbs sparagus Pills cure all kidney lila sam
sie n - Afd. SLariln1 Ramedv Co. Chicago 0g ~ "
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-29
A Thoughtful Man.

NJ. NJ. Austin, of Winchester, Ind
knew what to do in the hour of need
His wife had such an unusual case of
stomach and liver trouble, physicians
could not help her. He thought of and
tried DR.. Kings New Life Pills and
she got relief at once and was finally
cured. Only 25c, at Hartz q Ullemey-
eT's drug stocS
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-29
Shake Into Your Shoes.

Aliens Foot-Ease, a powder. II
cures painful, smarting, nervous feet
and ingrowing nails. and instantly
takes the sting out of corns and bun
ions. It's the greatest comfort dis
covery of the age. Aliens FootEase
makes tight or new shoes feel easy
1t is certain cure for swea ting, cal
lous and hot. tired, aching feet. Try
it today. Sold by all druggists and
shoe stores. BY mail for % cents in
stamps Trial package free. Ad'
dress Allen S. Olmstead, lie Roy, n. y
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-29

We are willing to publicly testify
for Kid-Ne-Oids. We know that Kid
Ne-OidS cured our kidneys and be-
lieve Kid-Ne-Oids will cure yours.
Mr. z. z. Eynian. ara Broadway. Lorain. Ohio
Mrs. E. L. Reeder, $40 Bank St. Lorain, Ohio.
p. Coffey, broker, Anderson. Ind
Solomon Sawyer. Jackson St, Brazil, Ind
r {. Green. Grand Ave- Waukegan, Ill.
w. R. Beebe. CentTalia. III.
Mrs. w. E. Lefever. II 18th ST.. Fon-du-Lac, Wis,
Sugar-coated tablets, SOC. Try them.
7 H, THOMAS. leading Druggist
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-29

the interclass meet if and gives
a list of plausible explanations for
their defeat. Some are hard digs at
the other classes, but most are di-
rected toward the senior boys them
selves.
viii Schroeder left last night for
st. Louis to attend the dedication.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-29
Close to Record.

The time on the quarter-mile is re-
markable, considering the high wind.
Fifty-two seconds is the record in IL
linois and 40 the worlds record. Rock
Island can count on places in the
qGarter-mile in larger meets.
The mile was also very fast, and
though no official time was taken it is
generally supposed that the time was
some under five minutes. This is very
good time for this part of the season
and appearances are that Rock Island
will again capture first and second in
this event at GalesbuTg.
Griffith was surprise in the broad
jump, Hoffman leading up to the last
jump, when Griffith beat Hoffman,
work by an inch. Aster was another
surprise, as he has done very little
training in this line. In the 220-yard
dash Hoffman had the lead up to with
in n yard or two OF the finish. He
looked around here and fell, barely
succeeding in getting third place
from Griffith.
In the two-mile bicycle race Hues-
ing, Roche and Nicholas were spilled
at about two-thirds of the third lap.
In the hurdle race finals Clark made
an excellent run for the training he
has done this year, defeating HOff-
man several yards.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

and found foreign market for the
first time in the history of their bust
ness. BY that time they had con-
WINGED the world that Minneapolis
spring wheat -four was the equal II
not the best of any in the world.
Much stress is laid upon this de-
velopnent of the flour industry be-
cause it became then and has ever
since remained the center Of the indus
trial life Of the city and the north
west. Time is -sreducing its relative
ton in city andsfon farm Is bound to
still further lessen Its position Of lead
ership. But it will remain true that
twas the development Of this dual
industry in the seventies which made
Minneapolis. Had it fallen behind and
failed to make its point in the world,
the northwest and with IT the city,
would have been much slower In it's
progress.
In considering the great influence
Of the wheat and flour industry the
work in other lines must not be lost
sight Of. The foundation building Of
the early seventies included earnest
and Intelligent effort in almost every
branch OF the city's interests.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26
ZsAsp.hAe1a sseeeA.s

The banks Of the Mississippi river
at the Falls Of st. Anthony seemed
destined by nature as the site Of a
great city. At the head Of naviga-
ton Of the great inland waterway,
with water power to nourtsh young
Industries, adjacent to the largest body
of pine timber, in one watershed on
,the continent, near to the head of the
Great Lakes waterway system, and the
natural outlet of the vast prairie coun-
try to the westward; with all these
conditions it was inevitable that a city
must spring UP at this place.
Some Of the earlier explorers real
lied the Importance Of the location,
tho they could not see it's full sig
niflcance; but the world to which they
made their more or less veractous re-
ports took but little interest in the
subject for several centuries.
However, the falls remained one Of
the chief objective points for the ex-
plorer. Just who was the first of these
Of Minneapolis cannot be deter
mined. Father Louis Hennepin, who
accompanied a party sent out by La
Sale and headed by Michael Accault,
in 1880, gave the first written account
of the falls. Perrot, LIE Sueur and
bother Of the early explorers undoubt-
eddy visited the falls. Soon after the
northwest GUILTY. pdSSSu 1llIO IAAC
hands Of the British, in 1868, Jonathan
Carver spent some time in the vicinity
of the Falls of st. Anthony and at
tempted to establish trade with the
Indians on behalf Of the English. In
1888 that part Of the northwest east
Of the Mississippi river passed into
the hands Of the United States, and
the Louisiana purchase Of 1903 COM
pleted the title Of the United States
to both sides Of the river. y
Then came the first real attempts to
develop the country. Captain Pixies
expedition, soon after the Louisiana
purchase, was notification of United
States authority to the scattered trad
ers in the northwest and to the
Indians. Captain Pike obtained by
treaty tho tract Of land including the
present site Of Minneapolis Con the
Ywest side Of the river) and Of Fort
Smelling The fort was built In 1921
land during the same year the Falls
Of st. Anthony were first utilized for
power, the soldiers constructing q. rude
mill for grinding Hour and lumber for
their own uses.
| The First Houses Built.
Not until 1888 was the land on the
east side Of the river opened for set
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

- - MINNEAPOLIS Is the product
/ IA III Of what has been called the
AH "Age Of Electricity" "a
/ name which as applied to-
- - the latter part Of the nine
tenth century suggests the
period Of the worlds history in which
khe greatest and most rapid advances
have been made in invention, COM
knerca, education and social conditions.
In no other half-century Of history
pould suoh a city as Minneapolis have
baen built; in no other period could
there have been such a transition
from the wilderness to the highest
state of commercial and social life
within the space Of fifty years. When
the first houses were being built In
the frontier village by the Falls Of
st. Anthony, that greatest of all mod
arn forces, the railroad, was still in
q crude and ineffective condition, and
the telegraph WAS little more than the
dream of an inventor All the other
Inventions connected with the utiliza-
hon Of electricity had not been thought
of. Nine-tenths Of the inventions OF
machinery, implements and processes
which now are SO much part OF
everyday life as to be accepted as
necessities without thought had not
been conceived In the brains OF the
brightest men in 1850.
Let one stop for moment and
think of even the moro important
items which have been added to the
worlds comfort and convenience since
1850 and imagine what life would be
10 the twentieth century man with
out these things. He will then get
something Of an idea Of the social
and commercial conditions which
surrounded tho pioneers Of Mime
apols.
Minneapolis was therefore just in
time to receive the impulse of for
ward movement which the latter part
tof the last century brought to the
world. And, quite naturally, the new
and growing and progressive COM
immunity accepted the things that were
new with much greater readiness than
older communities. The young city
had no traditions or customs to over
come. Accustomed to fighting their
way against the wilderness, the wild
men, the forces Of nature, even against
the contempt and ignorance of older
communities, the people Of Minneapo-
lis were always ready to lay hold Of
what was new and good, to quickly
appropriate 1t to their own uses and
advantage. So Minneapolis, as the
half-century unfolded it's wonders, had
little Of old things to discard for new
and nothing Of prejudice to prevent
the instant utilization Of anything
which might aid her progress.
And while all this is true Of the
half century Of Minneapolis history, it
is especially true Of the latter half of
the period. For 1t Is since 1878-the
year In which The Minneapolis Jour-
nal was founded-that modern inven-
ton and progress has most completely
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

and future development, it remained
to be proved to the world that what
had been regarded rs almost q part
Of the frigid zone could produce crops
Of value year in and year out; and that
it could produce a sufficient variety
to make it prosperous. It also re-
manned to be demonstrated that the
spring wheat of the northwest could
compete with the other wheats Of the
world as a food; and. further, that it
could be ground into flour and trans
ported to distant markets in competi-
ton with other flour at a living profit.
At the opening of the decade the al
most unknown spring wheat -four was
looked upon with distrust in many
markets Of this country, and was quite
unknown abroad.
To the clear-minded men of the
time wheat seemed the hope of the
northwest. They knew that good
spring wheat could be grown here;
but even the most advanced Of them
could not believe that corn, other
coarse grains, fruits and stock rails
ing would ever be very generally a
part Of the farm program of the
northwest. On wheat, therefore, they
must depend; and they set about prov
ing to the world that northwestern
Evolution of Milling.
To group of Minneapolis mtllers
belongs much of the credit for the
foundation laying Of the seventies
which established most so1idly the
great dual industry Of the northwest
and Of Minneap olis-wheat raising
and -four milling. These men set
about improving in every way posi-
BILE the processes. Of flour grinding.
In 1870 every mill at Minneapolis was
equipped with old-fashioned mill
stones and primitive purifying pro-
cesses. Five years later the roller
mill had come in; the middlings puri-
fer had been adopted. and other valu-
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

Eugene M. Wilson, George A. Brack-
EFT, Daniel R.. 5Barber.Richard Chute,
,JohnsB:M Gilfillan, SC. Gale, c. b.
Heffelfnger, T. A. Harrison, Hugh G..
Harrison, E. S. Jones, William S. King,
w. w. McNair, j. K. and H. G. Side,
John C. Oswald and others, later, to
become prominent in the affairs Of the
city, cast in their lots with the frontier
village and gave their best efforts to
building up the place. Those were
days when public spirit was rife; when
everybody in Minneapolis worked for
Minneapolis.
AS the decade drew to q. close Min
neapolis experienced her first great
Encouragement In common with the
rest Of the state, and, indeed, with
many parts Of the country, she had
overboomed The rush of population
to the northwest and the rapid in
crease in values had turned peoples
heads. There was speculation OF the
widest kind. and protects most CHM
ericaI were backed by the popular
voice. 1t wanted only the general
panic Of 1873 to cause the bursting
Of the bubble. Minneapolis suf-
fered with the rest, altho, perhaps
not as badly hurt as some other COM
munities.
Growth Under Difficulties.
But there was a vast recuperative
power in the town and In the north
west in those days, as now. No dis
aster could be long continued in a
district SO naturally rich and SO earnest
in it's work for development. Right
thru the civil war, which followed
hard upon the panic times, Mime
apolis continued to grow, slowly, tc
be sure, but steadily. Even while
sending the best Of her manhood te
the front, she made advances at home
and had enough surplus energy to con-
tribute generously Of men and means
for the suppression Of the Indian out
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

population many Of the men who
were few years later to make the
name of Minneapolis famous thru their
commercial achievements. The foun-
dations Of many Of the older banks
and business houses were laid. def
mite plans for future commercial en-
terprises and transportation routes
were made. OF course, they were
crude and incomplete; but, on the
whole, the men Of e1S5O-60 had a
very fair conception of the main lines
along which Minneapolis was to de-
this decade that John s.. Pillsbury
came to Minneapolis and commenced
a business which lives until the pres
ent time; that William D. Washburn
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26
MINNEAPOLIS IN 1873
The City AS 1T Was in the Year T h Q
Journal Was Founded.

The City AS 1T Was In the Year T h
Journal Was Founded.
Minneapolis twenty-five years ago.
or at the time T h e j on a ! was
established, was a young city of much
promise, but crude and undeveloped-
years 1t has been unkindly character
lied as an overgrown village, that de-
scription was certainly accurate in
1878. II q panorama Of the city of
1878 could be produced, even the resi-
dents Of that day who still survive,
would, be almost unwilling to believe
that the Minneapolis Of to-day has
grown from such conditions in only
twenty-five years.
With the panorama out Of the ques-
ton, T h e J gu n a has reproduced
in this issue large number Of views
Of well-knoWn corners. streets or 10
calities as they appeared in 1878, and
contrasted them with the same places
BIS they appear to-day. An attempt
will be made to supplement these pic
torial contrasts with some description
of the town in 1873
In territorial extent Minneapolis
was perhaps not. one-fourth Of its
present size twenty-five years ago.
There was little building north Of
Fourth avenue N or south of Cedar
avenue. When G. H. Petit built his
nome at IenLa street GnQ second ave-
nue. S, in that. year.; many people
thought he was visionary in expecting
that the town would ever extend that
far out. Seventh street was one Of
the best residence streets, but many
Of the prominent people of the city
I lived north Of Hennepin. avenue on
Washington. Third and Fourth streets
The business center was along lower
Nicollet and Hennepfn. avenues, from
Washington to the river, and down
Washington avenue towards the mills.
Retail business was beginning to push
| up Nicollet avenue, but that now
handsome thorofare presented very
ragged appearance. Only. the west
half of the Nicollet house had been
built. On the site Of the building
now occupied by w. K. Morrison &
Co. there was livery stable and
shanties occupied theMremainder of
the block towards Washington avenue
and towards Third street. The build
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

Element. Early in the spring Of that
Year Franklin Steele successfully fore
Istalled all com etitors and built a hut
on the east bank at the falls, estab-,
| fishing. claim to the most valuable
site then available and becoming the
first settler of what afterwards became
minneapolis. The first house on the
west side Of the river was built a
dozen years later by Colonel John H.
Stevens, who obtained special permits
Esion to build on the government reser-
walton. The west side village soon
outstripped its older neighbor, and af-
| forwards absorbed it completely, even
ltoNits name. It was at about the time
THAT Minneapolis proper was founded
by Colonel Stevens that real growth
and development began at the falls.
A territorial government was formed
in 1S49, and the community. hitherto
! hampered by the absence Of those
signs Of official administration which
are generally associated with civil
lization and progress, began to attract
large numbers of enterprising and in
telligent people. Local government
was perfected, the press appeared,
i schools were established, churches
built, business commenced and manu-
4 featuring undertaken. The first news
paper was the st. Anthony Express,
Of which Judge Isaac Atwater was
editor General stores were started
which became the forerunners of the
4 city,s commercial system. A sawmill
was built at the falls in 1S4S; a flour
mill in 1854. In 1851 the state uni
lyersity was established-by legisla-
tive enactment-and located at Min
lneapolis. For years it was little more
than a name, but it gave promise of
becoming what it has since developed
into-the educational center Of the
Estate.
A Formative Period.
From 1850 to 1861 was a formative
lperiod. Within this decade the vii
llages at the falls received into their
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

break Of 1852, which at first threat
ened to wipe out the entire white pop
ulation.
apolis enjoyed to the utmost the bene-
fits of the commercial reaction and the
rebound Of the nation. Railroad
building, almost abandoned in the west
during the war, was taken up, and
thousands Of settlers came into the
state each year. The increased supply
of wheat produced by these new farm
ers gave an impetus to flour milling.
The end Of the decade found a trans
portation system outlined for the
northwest with Minneapolis as the
center; 1t found the milling business
firmly established, the numbering in
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

w MINNEAPOLIS IL the product
III Of what has been called the.
cage Of Electricity "a
name which as applied. to,
-A- the latter part Of the nine
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26
The period covered by the early sew

The period covered by the early sew
enties was one Of curiously blended
progress and detention. - The decade
opened with much PROMISE, but the.
panic Of 1873 seriously crippled many
northwestern enterprises. Railroad:
building-the hope of the city and the,
state-was set back, and most of the:
railroad corporations were forced
into reorganization or downright bank,
ruptcy. All kinds Of business was af-
fected. The tide Of immigration was
in part held back. And. as If dnan-'
years 1875 to 1878 brought to the
northwest the so-called "grasshopper.
plague" which for a time threatened
to paralyze the agricultural interests
Of three states. In 1875 this pest Of
locusts had reached such proportions
as to destroy the entire crops in some
parts of the northwest; and no one
knew where it would stop. Five years
Of total or partial destruction Of crops
reduced whole counties to perjury and
led many farmers to abandon their
farms; while immigration, under such
conditions. Of course, absolutely
stopped.
Just at the close of this plague,
early in 1873, a great disaster assailed
the food producing industry at the
other end. This was the explosion Of
the -four mills in Minneapolis, with
great loss of life and the destruction
Of millions Of Investment. The five
years had indeed been bad ones for
the great wheat and flour industry Of
| the northwest; and Minneapolis felt
the effects in full measure.
Great Events Of the Decade.
On the other hand, this same decade
saw the greatest events leading to the
future prosperity Of the city. which
had yet occurred, Previous to this
period the future of the northwest had
/ been somewhat in doubt. While many
OF the brightest men Of the time had
lunbounded confidence In its resources
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

stood, or appreciated. Minneapolis,
commercially, socially, physically, was
but in its infancy in 1878; the twenty
five, years have brought it to full
stature city Of progress, wealth, re-
sources, high ambitions and high at
tainments. Altho it is almost too soon
to rite'the history of the past TWEEN;
ty-five years, it is the purpose here
to sketch the significant events and
facts Of that period and draw certain
contrasts between the conditions ex-
listing when T'h e journal was
founded and the present day. First,
however, the early history iof Min
neapolis and the northwest will / be
briefly. considered "A
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

made itself felt and In which Mime
apolis has made the most remark
able development. 1t happened that
The J o ur nal was born just at the
beginning Of a new movement re-
covery from depression, an adaptation
Of great inventions, discovery of re-
81 urces even then not fully under.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

able improvements and inventions
brought into use. At the same time
the self-binding harvester had cheap
.ened,. the cost Of production on the
farm, and the extension Of railroads
and the opening Of lake commerce had
lowered the cost Of marketing. The
Minneapolis millers had revolution
lied their business-and incidentally
the milling business Of the country;
and Z this during period Of hard
times" And ini1878 they went abroad
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26

commenced the improvement Of the
water power on scale and with
comprehension wlaici.siaid the {ounda--
lions for a great milling ndustry;; that
vens, gave away lots nowa:worth mill
lions, for the good Of the town.; that,
such men as R. p. Russell, William r.
Marshall, H. T. Wells, C. HI. Petit,