davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-02-12
NOTICE!
Prof. Percy Janis

The world eminent Medium will not
be in St. Johnsbury from now on,
until further notice. All those hav-
ing case work will hear from him
later.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-10-03
RUPTURE EXPERT HERE
Seeley, Who Fitted Car of Russia,
y Called to Duluth.

F. H. Seeley Of Chicago and Phila-
delphia, the noted truss expert, will
be at the Spalding Hotel and will re-
main in Duluth this Tuesday, Wednes-
day and Thursday only, Oct. z, 8 and
9. Mr.. Seeley says: "The Sperma-
tic Shield as now used and approved
by the United States Government will
not only retain any case Of rupture
perfectly, affording immediate and
complete relief. but closes the OPEN
ing in 10 days on the average case.
This instrument received the only
award in England and IN Spain, pro-
ducing results without surgery, harm
full injections, medical treatments or
prescriptions. Mr.. Seeley has docu-
ments from the United States Gov.
eminent Washington, D. G., for In
spection. All charity cases without
charge Or il any interested call he viii
Be glad to show same without charge
or fit them i desired. Any one rep
tured should remember the date and
take advantage Of this opportunity
Adv.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-10-03

An additional concrete storage tank Of.
large capacity was deemed advisable
and installed. From 1906 to 1920 en-
ormous water main extensions to all
parts of the city amounting to many
miles in length were made.
Reorganization, 1909. ~:
The year 1910 found an entirely
new, thoroughly modern plant operat-
ing, one that was far superior to any,
thing in the state in towns Of similar
size. Meanwhile, however, so much
money had been needed and the pros
poets of the company were so bright
that reorganization of the Company
was made in July, 1909, the Virginia
Electric Power & Water Co. sue.
ceeding the Virginia Light & Waite,
Co. The personnel of the company
changed somewhat and bond issue
of $4,000 was floated successful,
to remove the possibility of any fur
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-10-03

prominent pioneers who have fostered
it's growth, and the inn'sa"ae'ee}1ereu
on It, make resume of it's past one
of peculiar interest at this time.
The Present Plant.
The payment Of an amount far in
excess of a half a million dollars has
been the subject of some comment,
and while the different expert ap-
praisals have established the value of
the company's holdings beyond legal
doubt, it is matter Of conjecture as
to whether many Of the taxpayers
really know today what their purchase
covers. The entire holdings of every
description of the light and water
plant become a municipal asset and
include all buildings, light and water
machinery, light and power lines,
poles, water mains, real estate, rights,
privileges etc. Engineers have pro-
nounced the machinery methods of op-
Grating, and the general system Of
the retiring company thoroughly mod
ern, much more so than the average
plant serving a city of Virginia's size.
Present Operation.
AS a source of power live steam is
transmitted by pipes from both lum-
Der mills to the power plant, although
the plant has itself reserve battery
of boilers for emergency use. With
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-10-03
SKILL TEST
BRINGS MANY LETTERS

Everybody in the town and country
is trying diligently to win the 14k.
Solid Gold Omega Bracelet Watch
offered free by the Savolainen Jewelry
Stores. It will be awarded for the
longest list Of correctly spelled words
from the letters in the words "Omega
Watch" Cut out the ad. in today's
paper and start your spelling bee.
The announcement Of the skill test
in last weeks Enterprise has brought
many letters from all over the range
and it is expected that several hum
dred more will be received this week.
Three disinterested judges are to be
appointed to select the winner. Their
names will be announced later.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-10-03

The transfer of the business, prop
critics, and rights of the Virginia
Electric Power & Water Co. to the
City of Virginia consummated on Mon
day last, marks the passing OF one
of the pioneer business concerns OF
the Mesaba range.
The official notice Of the purchase
was made public at Tuesday evenings
council meeting and soon became the
subject of discussion among citizens
generally, particularly among the old
settlers to whom it brought remin-
iscences of early days and different
phases of the struggles, growth and
passing of what has become, aside
from the mining and numbering indus
tries, probably the. largest and most
extensive concern in the city.
The close connection of the utility
company with every person in Vir-
ginia, it's long period of service, the
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-10-03

pipe for the work was hauled from
"Old Mesaba" on wagons. Scarcely
had installation been made than in
June of 1893, the entire village which
under the stimulus Of such active men
as Mr.. Kinney, had been growing rap
idly, was wiped out by a fire of an In
tensity and suddenness that far ex-
ceeded the much better known fire of
1900. Following this fire came per-
iod of rough hardships and slow times
never since known to this section of
the country. The slender income and
prospects of income of the Water COM
pany became Of negligible quantity,
the investment a white elephant, I'M
til the town months later sprang up
Mr.. Kinney's unbroken faith in Vir-
ginia's future again manifested it.
self and when the business Of the
Company was at its lowest ebb, he in.
duced his banking partner, E. z
Griggs, to assume the active contro
of it in addition to his banking duties
; More money was supplied to Mr.
Griggs, who soon arranged for tn
installation of electrical machinery t.
light the city. To Mr.. Griggs friend
it has since become known that h
took charge of the Light and Waite
company at an authorized salary o
$50 per month, which as Manager h
found the company absolutely unabl
to pay for nine years and then onl,
in stock which was considered Of small
, value and doubtful compensation 70
his services.
Electric Service.
, Mr.. Griggs purchased for the com
, pany small Buckeye engine and tn
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-10-03
ther handicap to the efficiency Of the
plant and to extend its field Of opera
ton to all parts Of the city.

ZION TO all parCs OF the Guy.
Griggs Brothers Purchase.
In July 1910, R. L. Griggs took a
.Rnsi+i3sa NTH 4ho-,1
partnership of Griggs Brothers was
formed. It was felt at that time that
it would be for the best interests of
the Company's business if the active
management were to control the pol
icy and upbuilding Of the business,
and in September 1910, Griggs Broth
ers purchased from o. D. Kinney the
controlling interest in the business.
This practically severed Mr.. Kinney's
connection with the business interests
of Virginia after twenty years of as
ISOLATION. Griggs Brothers have since
continued in control and have main
tanned a liberal and aggressive policy
at all times. They have reduced very
materially the lighting rates through
out the city. A ten percent reduc-
ton was given a few months after
their control was established and an
additional ten percent a year later in
1912. They have with Mr.. Kennedy
as operative head improved service
conditions to as great an extent as
possible. They have taken a keen in
terest in the city's activities and well
fare and have had a pride in giving
to Virginia service as good as money
could buy.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-10-03

reading would show ATS amperes.
And the 9 ampere load was after a
wear of hard work for business.
Fire Of 1900.
The plant grew slowly but surely
up to 1900 and it had been found
necessary during the intervening time
to buy new dynamos Of greater capa-
city. Prospects were encouraging and
it seemed that the plant under the
of E. z. Griggs was about
to realize it's ambition Of being en-
tirely self supporting when the fire
of 1900 came. The population Of
virginia at this time was something
over 5000 people. is growth from
the first fire-at that time approx
mately 600 people-spoke well for the
future of the City and all of Virginia's
business men were prospecting to a
marked degree. On June 7th, 1900,
following a severe draught with high
southwest winds, fire broke out at the
Moon & Kew Lumber Mills. Almost
simultaneously it also started in the
center of the city, due either to sparks
from the mill or to local cause in 9
butcher shop, and in an hour and 8
half everything east Of the block il
which The Enterprise building stands
was in ashes. With the exception Of
the vault of the Kinney & Griggs banl
everything in the path Of the flames
was RACED to the ground. Its entire
lighting system destroyed without in
surance, its water system damaged
it's business destroyed, its credit in
volved, and with seven years unpro6t
able operation back of it, the condi
ton of the Light and; Water compan!
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-10-03

was indeed serious and many of the
minor stockholders were DESTROYS Of
getting out on the best terms possible
and sacrificing their investment rather
than pour more money into a strug-
Cling concern. Again the stubborn
perseverance Of o. D. Kinney mani
tested itself when he with E. z. Griggs
and Geo. w. Buck rehabilitated the
finances of the company through their
own personal means and proceeded at
once to not only repair the local plant
under the supervision Of J. A. Ken
nedy, but to further enlarge it and
place it on a solid footing.
Kinney & Griggs, Bankers.
Not alone to the Light & Water
company did Messrs. Kinney & Griggs
offer aid. Through the old Bank Of
Virginia, every business man of the
city Of reputable standing was open
to the same aid. Older citizens vivid
ly recall that it was largely through
Mr.. Kinney's determined stand that
the brick building ordinance was i'm
mediately passed by the City Council
and through his assertion that if the
citizens of Virginia would build SUBJ
stantially he and his associates would
stand back of them to their last dol
lar. The records of the old Bank of
Virginia and the personal accounts of
Messrs. Kinney and Griggs would still
show how completely they fulfilled
this promise and their stand at that
time is largely responsible for the
rapid and substantial: growth of the
New Virginia. With the city, the
business of the Light & Water COM
pany expanded rapidly.
Emerson Mitchell
In 1900 Emerson Mitchell entered
the employ of the company as engi-
neer and is today, with the exception
of John A. Kennedy, the Oldest en-
ployee in the service. To the long
service of such experienced employees
as well as machinery, the Company at
tributes to great degree the unin-
terrupted service it has for many
years been able to furnish:
Plant Side Issue.
With Messrs. Kinney and Griggs as
late as 1904 the Light & Water COM
pany was side issue considered only
in the light Of something necessary to
the city's welfare and growth and the
growth Of their other business inter-
Fay's Municipal Ownership. j
In 1904 Capt. Marcus =. Fay be-
came Mayor Of Virginia and inaugur-
ated Reform Administratio bon. Il
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-10-03

first electrical service was offered to
the inhabitants. Electricity in the
days Of '94 was in small towns looked
upon with question and considered
more in the nature of luxury than a
necessity. The first dynamo driven
by the Buckeye engine was Of IS K
w. capacity and would today be in.
sufficient to operate the Troy Steam
Laundry alone.
After a years hard work a fair
amount of business was added to the
Lighting plant but substantial de-
felt was still carried. It was then
determined to make the service more
efficient and further increase it by the
addition Of a new engine, which was
done in the fall of 1895. After care
fully gauging the possible growth OF
the city for many years to come a
Corliss engine was selected which E.
z. Griggs stated then "would be big
enough to handle the village of Vir-
ginia for practically all time to come. "
1t is interesting to note that the ma
chine if attached to dynamo of its
maximum capacity would with diff
Guilty carry the day load Of the plant
now, which is a small part of the night
load. A good increase of patronage
resulted and the future of the plant
became assured. However, the fnan-
cial depression Of '96 did not greatly
decrease the annual deficit in the
Company's finances and it was found
necessary in that year to further re-
organize and supply more money,
which was done and the Company
was then believed to be on stable
footing.
neutrality-suspicious..
1t was about this time (November,
1866 that John A. Kennedy, the pres
ent superintendent, came to work in
Virginia as engineer under Superin-
tendent Frank Amsler-known to old
timers as "Smoky Amsler" and fam
GUS as member of Virginia's early
day baseball teams. Amsler was sue
ceeded by Leary, who gave way in the
spring of 1897 to John A. Kennedy as
superintendent. Mr.. Kennedy prov
ed permanent fixture and capable
man and during his early supervision
the operating and the service end Of
the plant improved very materially,
Another point illustrating the develop
ment in the use of electricity in Vir-
ginia is of interest in Mr.. Kennedy's
statement that the first load he car
ried in 1896 was less than 10 amperes
at HOO volts or at the more modern
voltage Of $500, amounting to less
than 9 amperes. Today q maximum
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-10-03

Mr.. Kennedy has been superinten-
dent of the plant since 1897. Mr..
Kennedy has had much to do with
making the light and water plant what
it is today. He will continue as SUI
perintendent under the city.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-10-03

IN the power PAM IIAS PAOuUSSAOA VI
electricity is given part Of the build
ing with water confined in another
part, while the operation as unit
has reduced waste to a minimum.
Economical operation has been so ef-
fectively worked out that the entire !
production Of electric light and water |
furnished to Virginia is always under |
the control of one engineer.
Electricity is produced by the up
to date method Of low pressure,
high speed turbine operating from
the waste steam of other units in the
system.
Water is taken from deep wells by
the "air lift" method, insuring
drinking water beyond the possibility
of contamination. On the grounds are
two storage tanks-one elevated steel,
and one buried reinforced concrete, Of
a capacity of approximately $4,000
gallons. Water distribution is by cast
iron mains with lead connections Of
nearly 20 miles extension, an amount
probably beyond the comprehension OF
the average citizen.
The City of Virginia takes up a
business dealing with nearly 1000 in
dividual service connections-ight and
water-bringing in a gross revenue of
! 1900. o. an mn m !, x-oor
Franchise Granted.
The beginning of such plant can
only be realized by the handful of
pioneers who marked it's birth before
the first fire of 1898. Some years
earlier, there came to this section, a
man who rapidly rose to prominence
as constructive pioneer-the late
Honorable o. D. Kinney. His faith
in the great Mesaba Range thereafter
became by-word. He was known as
an aggressive fighter, big in stature
and big in mind and Virginia's sta
bility and development became Ger.
tainty when he moved in over blazed
trail with packsack on his back
Others organized the original townsitt
with little possibility of future finan
cial success and it was to this town
site company that he was first called
He gave the town impetus, studied it,
needs and brought another pioneer
Il: z: Griggs. The firm of Kinney
& Griggs was established and the
bank of Virginia became a reality
an institution that in later years oil
distress became the backbone Of Vir.
ginia's business men. Dense forests
crowded the handful of buildings ther
marking Virginia's present Chestnut
, street, and Mr.. Kinney foresaw the
necessity of water supply for the
upbuilding, health and fire protection
of the people and early in 1892 sci
, about to combine few men of means
, to finance it. The move was warmly
welcomed and franchise granted fol
water, heat, electricity and gas.
r Company Organized in 1892.
The Virginia Light and Water com.
/, pany was duly Incorporated in Novem
. Der, 1892, by 0. D. Kinney, A. E. Hum
: phries and Geo. w. Buck of Duluth
f In April 1898 the franchise was for.
: mally granted by the village under
e Ordinance No. 10. John Owens was
}. then village president and J. F. Burke
village recorder.
8 Water Mains by Wagon.
: Water mains constituted the first
h outlay Of the company under the man
Y agement of John D. Boyd, a vel
j. known pioneer, now deceased. Thu
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-10-03

vas Capt. Fay's belief among other
things that the city should own the
Light and Water plants and he work
ed toward that end. =. Inasmuch as
Messrs. Kinney & Griggs and other
had found the plant of
little renumerative value and source
of much business worry, they were
not adverse to selling to any parties
who would fulfill all obligations neces-
sary to the growth Of the city. Also
they were not entirely satisfied with
the attitude taken by the administra-
ton and offered everything owned by
the Company for the par value of the
stock, $4,000, plus its bonded indebt-
edness of $35, 900. Finding that the
Company was willing to sell, the City
officials of Virginia decided that it
would be inadvisable to purchase. So
ended the first campaign for Munich
pal Ownership.
o. H. Griggs, Manager.
o. H. Griggs, in the fall of 1905, be-
came active head Of the Company to
succeed E.. Z.Griggs, who on account
of i'll health found it necessary to
withdraw from all business as rapid
ly as possible. o. H. Griggs was
we'll equipped for his duties, having
been some time previous admitted to
the Minnesota State bar as lawyer
and having worked for the Company
for considerable time in the capac-
lily of fireman, engineer, outside line
man and assistant manager. The city
of Virginia was developing rapidly
and under his management many
changes were instituted to keep up
with the booming progress Of the
city. The Company moved into their
own offices in the rear of the First
National bank, the old method Of col
lecting from house to house was alb
olished and discount of ten percent
on light bills made for payment at thu
office of the Company. 1904 to 1906
marked the turning point in the finan
cial history Of the Company. TIT
net earnings of the Company early in
creased with the growth Of the cit!
and the plant no longer found it neces
sarY te dsgend upon its stockholder
were good, money circulated freely
and people realized the necessity O
electric light in the home and in tn
store; sewerage became asrea11ty; Wi
ter from the faucet rather than from
the pump was found convenient, an,
the Light & Water company prosper
ed, as did every other stable industr,
of Virginia. 1906 found the plant
husky youngster but with insufficient
capacity and policy Of permanent
improvements was instituted by Man
: ager Griggs with the assistance o,
Superintendent Kennedy that has eve1
!, since Deen 1OllOWeQ OUT.
! Plant Rebuilt.
! The old plant was entirely tori
down, new one built; thorough,
modern condensing Corliss engine in
stalled Of large capacity, new boilers
added and bigger water pumps. AL
this was accomplished without an,
interruption whatever in service. A
water tank of 100000 gallons capac
ity was erected and no expense in any
part of the rebuilding was spared tx
buy the best material and machinery
available. In 1908 larger and more
permanent water supply was secured
by the drilling Of a deep well and wa.
ter was taken from the same by the
installation Of an "Air Lift" system
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-10-03

Mr.. Murphy is secretary and treas
urer of the water and light commits
sion. He has a knowledge of practi-
cal mechanics which will be a con-
siderable aid to him in the discharge
of his duties.
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1913-01-23
Barnhart's PercherOn Sale

J. w. Barnharts dispersion sale OF
Percheron horses which was held in
this city Wednesday, was we'll attend
cd and the excellent offering brought
top notch prices.
The sale totaled $4572 making an
average of 1891 per head, which is
going some for weanlings and year.
lings. The top of the sale was $3.50.
Col. C. E. Robbings conducted the
sale.
Mr.. Barnhart at the conclusion of
the sale said: 81 have held several
fine stock sales and have employed
many famous auctioneers at prices
ranging as high as 500, but none
have ever given me the unqualified
satisfaction that Col. Robbins of this
city has,"
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1913-01-23
A Beautiful Thought, Elegantly
Expressed.

Seldom are we so fortunate as to
be able to publish in these columns
so rare and beautiful thought, so
elegantly expressed as, the following
extract from the New Years sermon
of Rev. C. H. Ticknor, Phi. D., pastor
of the Presbyterian church of this
city.
eve see the wisdom of the great
Creator in dividing our years into
days so that we can live one day at a
time. The unthinkinq do not realize
this. Our days do not come to us in
multitudes, but in regulated success
sion. Dawn, noon, evening and night
are not human institutions. They are
of divine arrangement. A day is
Gods way of distributing time. This
beneficient arrangemet shows us the
loving wisdom of our Heavenly Faith
er.. The variety Of achievement and
changes Of rest and work and the
variety Of voices should awaken
thought and quicken fesIInk: SIS
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1913-01-23
Popular Butler Girl Marries
Western Man.

Miss Myrtle Hartwell, the daughter
of Mrs. r. G. Hartwell of this city
and Mr.. Price Penick, of Barnes,
Oregon, were united in marriage at
Barnes, Oregon, Sunday, January
IL, 1918.
The bride, who is indeed a charm
ing young lady, was reared to young
womanhood in this city. Possessing
a charming personality, amiable of
disposition and highly accomplished
she will make an ideal wife and a
capable helpmate. Mr.. Penick is an
able young hotel man.
The Times joins Miss Hartwell's
many friends here in extending
heartiest congratulations and best
wishes.