FIRST BUILDINGS - ORGANIZATION of the TOWN - ACTION of TAKEN by the COMMISSIONERS -
TOWN OFFICIALS 1872-1919 - PROPERTY BELONGING to CITY - PARKS - AMUSEMENT
PARKS - THE FIRE DEPARTMENT - PAVING - SEWERS - LIGHTING PLANTS -
MUNICIPAL LIGHT and WATER PLANT - SOURCES of TAXATION and
REVENUE - GRAND ISLAND'S TAX RATE - THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

PROPERTY BELONGING TO THE CITY IN 1901

Estimated Value

City Hall-South one half of lot 8 in block 66, original town, erected in 1889.	$20,000.00
Water Works-Lots 7 and 8 in block 42, original town, 14 miles of main, 73 hydrants, constructed 1885 to 1888	76,500.00
Pest House-West half of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter, section 22, township 11, range 9	1,600.00
Cemetery-The southwest quarter of the southwest quarter, section 20, the north half of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter, sc\ection 29, and the south half of lot 2 section 19, all in township 11, range 9, containing 60 acres, more or less, (purchased in 1897).	4,000.00
First Precint, First Ward, Engine real estate buildings, etc. House and voting place, lot 2 in block 22 Nagy's addn. lot and building.	500.00
Second Precinct, Second Ward, Engine House and voting place, building only.	400.00
Third Precinct, Second Ward-fractional lot 17 in county subdivision on West Koenig street, lot and building.	230.00
Fourth Precinct, Third Ward. City Hall used for voting place.
Fifth Precinct, Fourth Ward. Engine House and voting place, fractional lot in block 12 original town with fraction in H. G. Clark's addition, lot and building.	600.00

PERSONL PROPERTY FIRE DEPARTMENT

Four hose carriages, 2 hook and ladder trucks, chemical engine, 2500 feet of hose and other property connected therewith.	4,600.00
Other personal property of the city	500.00
Total	$108,930.00

SEWER

Main Sewer system discharging into Wood River put in in 1889 at cost of

50,000.00

IN 1919

The city now has all the property listed above, or better property replacing it, and a great deal more. To the water works has been added a city light plant which well be taken up more in detail later; condiderable new fire equipment has been added; the storm sewer has added to the sewarge value, and many miles of paving are now owned by the city.

Parks

Grand Island has a fair beginning made in the matter of parks. When disposition was made of the old court house several attempts were made to sell teh square, and eventually a Women's Park Association was formed and leased the square from the county for a period of ten years. Through the efforts of these ladies a beautiful small park has been fitted up, which was appropiately given the name of "Pioneer Park." Cement walks criss-cross through the park; a nice fountain occupies the center, drinking fountains are conveniently distributed, benches are profusely scattered through thepark, and the artistic floral beds add a brilliant touch to the attractive resting place this makes ner the heart of the city. This square was originally donated to the county by the Union Pacific railroad and the old court house placed thereon. When the new court house was built at First and Locust streets, on the old Koenig property, the first block was left idle, but has been turned to as suitable a purpose as could have been chosen.

Amusement Parks

Grand Island is unusually endowed with amusement parks under private management. Perhaps the most notable of these is Schimmer's Lake. This lake was constructed by damming up a channel of the Platte River and a skillful course of preparation of the vicinity now covered by its waters. The lake lies to one side of a main road between Grand Island and the south part of the county; it has a driveway clear around its shores, and a large island in the center, which is reache by little bridges. A great many cottages have been buildt on both the island and the shores. Across the rad from the lake is located the resort called Sand Krog, where picnic grounds, a large dancing pavilion with refreshment parlor, and various conveniences required by such a resort are maintained. Mr. Schimmer and Mrs. Scheel conduct this resort, which all through its history has attracted a great many people from distant points.

There are numerous other priveat parks which are well equipped with pavill\ions for dancing, refreshment, and recreation. Some of these will recall very vivid memories in the minds of those hwo have spent many happy evenings with(in) their confines. Midway Park to the south of the city; Harmony Hall to the east end of the county, just beyound the eastern confines of the city; and Lion's Grove, south of the city, are among the most notable of these places which are still in operation.

The Fire Department

The first fifty-some years of the history of Grand Island has on the whole been singularly free from the records of very disastrous conflagrations. Of course in the first few years of Hall County's history, before Grand Island really became a town of any importance, prairie fires swept across the new community and inflicted what was then very serious damage. But at no time has the city ever had a conflagration that took away any condiderable portion of it. It has from a very early date been porvided with volunteer fire departments h\that have extinguished each incipient blaze, and that have kept in touch with most modern devices and methods in the way of equipment and organization. When the time came to establish a paid fore department it was by no means on account of the lack of efficiency in the men who have voluntarily taken charge of this service of protection, but because of the rapid growth of the city and the growing need for a team and dreiver to be constantly on hand in order that distances might be covered by the equipment in shorter time. Grand Island's fire department has seen the same evolution as that of other towns of similar size. First was the loosely formed mutual orgainzation that would rush to the proper barn when the whistle blew, grab a wheel-cart and hotfoot it over to the scene of the fires, reinforced, if necessary, by the citizenry bucket brigade. Then came the firmer organization with equipment that could be hitched to the firest team that could arrive, with a supply of ladders as well as hose carts. Then the chemical wagon, pulled by a team of horses, with a large hook and ladder, and eventually the auto-truck fire equipment which can make the distance in double-quick time.

The First Company

So far as records are immediately available the first fire company was organized June 8, 1874, with C. P. Henderson, foreman; N. P. Kelly and T. C. McCoy, assistants; E. Tomlinson, Secretary; ad James Cleary, treasurer; S. N. Wolbach, James Cleary and J. B. Davis together with the officers were trustees.

Several months later in the same year the hook and laddr company was organized with W. J. Cuddy, later member of the staff of the Porland Oregonian, as foreman; P. Dunphy and H. Baumann, assistants; W. F. Dering, treasurer; Joseph Jenneman, secretary. In 1876 there were twenty-five members of the department, with John Kraft as chief. The city at that time did not exercise any control, but later assumed such, which, however, until more recent years was largely nominal.

In March, 1884 Ch. Neilson, W. Corneluis, Gh. Guenther, Th. Zimmerman, H. Henk and F. Fruse were elected officer of the Hook and Ladder Company. John Riss was captain, succeeding Milisen. The fire department was then presided over with Nabel as chief and C. L. Howard as assistant. At the Fireman's Tournament held here in 1885 the Fremonts took the prize away from the Fitzgeralds of Lincoln, winners at Omaha, by a close tussle.

In 1886 the officers of the department were, John Matthews, chief; A. C. Lederman, assistant; J. H. Mullin, secretary; and John P. Voitle, treasurer.

Protection Hose Company No. 2 completed organization in June 1886 with E. C. McCashland, president; W. F. McLaughlin, foreman; C. Milisen, secretary; S. Elliott, treasurer; E. Dawson, George Hunter and G. H. Geddes, trustees. In March, 1887, H. C. Miller was chosen president of the fire department; Johh A. Matthews, chief; William McLaughlin, assistant; John Voitle, second assistant; J. W. Bartholomew, secretary; Charles Haux and David Zink, treasurer. In 1890, W. R. McAllister was president; D. C. Zink, secretary; J. A. Matthews, chief.

Pacific Hose Co. No. 1 was presided over by George Furstenhofer; Ott's Hose Co. No. 3 and Alexander Hose Co. No. 4 were organized later.

Following the first "big fire" related in the chapter on pioneers of the first colony as having swept the old settlement in the late 'fifties, the next big fire was that of Engle & Siegmund's pearl barley mill, destroyed in 1876. The mill had been erected only a year previously at a cost of $5,000. With the exception of the Union Pacific water tank structure, this was the first conflagration since the town was founded in 1866. An attempt to burn West's store and the Grange Hall was prevented by James Cleary. In December, 1884, there was a fire in the Cleary and Grand Island Banking Company buildings that burt for the thorough work of the dwpartment would have destroyed those blocks. Schaupp's mill was burned to the ground in 1886. This fire, one of the largest in the town's history, destroyed a three-story roller patent mills and a five story elevator. Wilsey's barn and five blooded horses were destroyed in 1887. Rollin's feed mill was destroyed in 1888. The burning of the Sass hotel (known as the Wyoming house) was another big fire. In more recent years the fire a the Martin store, with damages of $30,000, the destruction of the old State Central and later Grand Island Brewery and the total loss of the Pacific Hotel were the most extensive conflagrations. In 1910 the Nebraska Mercantile fire was a cause of enormous loss.

Paving

Grand Island has acquired a goodly nimber of miles of paving in recent years. Probably more impressive and enlightening for future comparison than a mere statement of number of miles would be a brief outline of the present paved districts of the city, in 1919.

Practically all of the streets of the business district are paved. On the south side, Third street is paved from Kimball west about a mile from Locust; Second, with the seedling mile coming in from the east, is paved from the Burlinton tracks subway on the east, westward about a mile or so from Locust street; First is paved from Sycamore to the west end of the residence district; Division, from Locust to the west end of the residence district; and Koenig is just being completed through the western residence district. This gives five streets theroufh the west residence districts, with agitation under way on streets farther south. Locating the new junior high school on Charles street will no doubt hasten along the addition of another east and west paved street. North and South, on the south side of town, Pine, Locust, and Wheeler are paved through the business district, and Walnut some. Numerous cross streets in the west part of town are either paved or districts in process of formation. On the north side of town Pine and Walnut have paving up to Tenth, and Tenth is paved across from Plum to Eddy. Now paving is under way or districts are being formed on Eddy and on Ninth and Sycamore is about to be formed into a district. Another few years will find material additions to the list sketched above.

Sewers

The city's present storm sewer and entire sewerage system has proved sufficiently inadequate that the voters on July 2, 1919, voted $200.000 to begin a program of construction of several main sewers, with a labyrinth of laterals, which when completed will render sewerage available to practically every lot now within the city limits and to a number of prospective additions that may be added to the city within the next few years.

Lighting Plants

The Gas and Electric Light Company was organized in July, 1884, with George H. Thummel, president; H. A. Koenig, vice-president; Dr. M. J. Gahan, secretary; and Chris Wasmer, treasurer. In 1889, Henry Miller was superintendent.

The Grand Island Gas Company was incorporated March 21, 1887, with A. S. Maxwell, Samuel N. Wolbach and John L. Means as stockholders, and Mr. Maxwell, as managing director.

H. G. Leavitt, of Ames, Nebraska, became main owner in this plant.

The Grand Island Light and Power Company was established in 1895. It buildt a plant with a capacity of furnishing 900 incandescent lights and thirty arc lights, and before the end of 1897 had to extend its facilities.

The Grand Island Light and Fuel Co. was a manufacturer of gas. This plant was established prior to 1890, and was built at the foot of East Third street.

Grand Island Electric Company

The Grand Island Electric Co. was organized in September, 1905, with B. E. Sunny, of Chicago, Illinois as president; T. H. Fritts, of Grand Island, as secretary-treasurer and general manager; and with directors as follows: B. E. Sunny, George P. Townsend, A. Burt, A. D. Fonger, A. L. Munroe, of Chicago, and T. H. Fritts and W. H. Thompson of Grand Island. In 1905 the plant had a capacity of 150 K. M. or 200 horse power. In 1915 the company had developed a plant with 625 KVA capacity, or 833 horse power.

Central Power Company

The Central Powrer Company was organized in July, 1915, with B. E. Sunny president; T. H. Fritts, vice-president and treasurer; W. H. Weston, secretary; Directors Frank J. Baker, Edward J. Doyle, Louis A. Ferguson, William A. Fox, John F. Gilchrest, John H. Gulick, Martin J. Insull, Damuel Insull, Chas. A. Munroe, L. E. Meyers, F. S. Peabody, Edward P. Russell, Marshall E. Sampsell, Frederick Sargent and H. L. Stewart, all of Chicago.

During the year of 1916 the Boelus Hydro plant was developed. This is the leading water power plant of Nebraska and has harnessed the waters of the Loup River a few miles west and north of the northwest corner of Hall County and made it possible for the Central Power company with that plant and their reserve plant at Grand Island to become the distributing center of light, current, and power for a great many towns throughout central Nebraska. The capacity in steam and hydro generating plants in 5,133 KVA or 6,844 horse power, or eight times the capacity when the Central Power Company succeeded the Grand Island Electric Company.

From a production of 2,178,485 kilowatt hours in 1915 the annual output has grown until in 1918 it was 7,446,320 K. W. H. and will approximate 8,935,000 K. W. H. for 1919. The company now has 200 miles of high tension transmission lines in operation. The following towns are now served from this company's plants: Clarks, Central City, Chapman, Grand Island, Doniphan, Alda, Wood River, Shelton, Gibbon, Kearney, Odessa, Abbott, Cairo, Boelus, Dannebrog, St. Paul, and also wholsale to C. G. & E. Co. for 25 towns, and serving a population of over 50,000 including Y. G. & E. Co.

Waterworks and Municipal Light Plant

Practically forty years ago Grand Island voted bonds and took steps to secure a municipal water plant. She was perhaps one of the first cities in the state to make this progressive move. At first fire protection was the impelling motive; the necessity of flushing sewers followed, and later the system was tapped for domestic purposes and for the use of the Union Pacific shops. Eventually industrial and manufacturing plants multiplied and uses have piled up one after another, until the plant is an all essential institution.

About ten years ago many citizens became dissatisfied with the existing situation relative to secure electric lighting service, and $35,000 bonds were voted to extend the activities and equipment of the municipal water plant to include a municipal electric plant. The bonded indebtness, outstanding warrants, taxed, interest, and surplus, the items making up the liabilities, for the electric plant on May 1, 1909, were $57,097.21; the assests balancing with the same total; for the water plant, the liabilities and assests shown were $102,348.95

Sources of Reveue and Taxation

Something of the magnitude of the city's business and the amount of property now belonging to the city, as well as the multiplicity of burdens resting upon a city adminstration and the numerous sources of revenue at the city's command may be gained from some comparisons and statements published in the Independent, July 19, 1919:

Just at present time City Treasurer W. R. King is finding money on all sides. There are numberous taxes which must be paid by residents of Grand Island, in common with the residents of other cities. Most of those who owe taxes are paying without complint or without much delay. A few have to be prodded by the treasurer or by the police before thy will dig. Others may find their places of business closed if the don't "come across."

The business occupation tax is one of mnay. It must be paid by non-resident corporations, such as the Western Union, the express comany, the Standard Oil, et., and also is paid by places of amusements, such as theaters. The amojnt of this tax varies from $10 to $50 per year. All of these taxes are now paid with the exception of the tax due from one theater. Twelve amusement taxes have been received.

The pool hall man pays a tax into the same business occupation fund, but under a different ordinance. Bowling alley owners pay under this second ordinance also. Fourteen of these have paid their taxes and only one man is delinquent. Unless the tax is paid the police will close up the place of business. The tax amounts to $10 a table or per bowling alley. One place has nine tables and three bowling alleys, and thus pays a tax of $120, which is the highest amojnt to be paid by any one such business house.

The dog tax is another one in which the city treasurer has an interest. More than 300 such taxes have been paid, which is about the same number as paid last year. According to this there are only 300 and some dogs in the city. Complaints received by the police at times from people who say they are kept awake or otherwise annoyed by canines, indcate that these 300 dogs travel in a body and visit various neighborhoods which have no legal right to be in the community. [This sentence doesn't make sense].

Other licenses include that for peddlers, such as that paid by a stranger who disposed of large quantities of razors and combs on a down town street corner the other day at a price around a dollar.

The circus license is another one which goes into the city treasurer. The Yankee Robinson circus which is to be here this month, has paid a tax of $75 to Mr. King. The tax is based on the number of cars used by the circus. The size of this tax shows the circus has more than 20 railroad cars and less than 30 cars.

The new state law fixes a tobacco tax of $15, which is payable to the city clerk, not the city treasurer immediately.

Mr. King heard of a new tax on Friday when a man called and wanted to pay a milk tax of $1 a year. He told the treasurer this tax goes into effect soon. Mr. King declined to accept the money much to the visitor's disappointment, as the treasurer said he had received no instruction to collect a milk tax and was not authorized to receive the money or issue a receipt.

In additon the city treasurer collects large sums in the way of special assessments for paving, sewers and so forth.

From Daily Independent, August 7, 1919:
A good sized jump in the city tax levy for the new fiscal year beginning the second Monday in August was decided on when the council last night passed the appropriaton voted on is $195,858 as compared with $151,670 the past year, or an increase of $44,288. The total tax levy is 46 mills against 34 mills last year, or an increase of 12 mills.
A few days ago an estimate as to the total tax levy on the city property was published. It was 103 mills. The estimate may be changed now with the following items: City levy, 46 mills; school levy 45 mills; state levy, 13 mills; county levy, 9 mill (estimated); total levy on city property, 113 mills.

The following table shows the appropriations as provided in the ordinances of last year and this year, in comparison:

So far as the water woks appropriation is concerned, it shold be mentioned that the $50,000 put down is meant only to keep the city books straight. The sum appropriated to be raised by tax is only $5,480, the same as last year. The rest of the amount comes from the receipts of the city plant.

The city tax rate of Grand Island is the lowest among twenty cities and towns of Nebraska. The total tax paid by a resident of this city for all purposes is so low that only one of these twenty cities has a lesser rate. Only two of the twenty cities have a lower school levy.

These pleasant facts have been learned by County Treasurer Neumann after making inquireis in othe counties. Mr. Neumann thought he would like to make a comparison of rates so as to have facts at hand to meet some of the chronic kickers who growl about their taxes every time tax paying time approaches.

The replies he received show that residents of this community may add one more item to the list of home-grown articles concerning which they may boast when "out among 'em," for instance:

    "Hullo, pardner. Where you from?"

    "Grand Island."

    "Watcha got here?"

    "Well, just to sorta glance at things, we got one of the biggest beet

sugar factories in the country, the livest Commercial Club a-going, the finest Elks temple in the state, the best auditorium for any city of its size, a people that has met every war quota, one of the most modern collections of Union Pacific buildings on the system, a bunch of horse barns that would make your eyes stand out, the Lincoln Highway, the S. Y. A. road, the Grainland route, and another highway in project, tow of the grandest little railroad systems in the United States, the most active demand for houses to be found anywhere, a Soldiers and Sailors Home colony, a Country Club with eighty acres of club lind, some of the most sizeable rances in Nebraska, the best little automobile and style show you ever say, the lowest fire loss record you can imagine, ten miles of paving and more started, scores of beautiful homes, a neat assortment of mercantile establishments and wholesale houses, a grand market center for farm products, the lowest tax rate in the state, and_."

    "Halt! That's enough. What's the fare to Grand Island? I'm going that way."

The total tax levy imposed on a resident of Grand Isalnd is 88 mills. Out of twenty cities only one has a rate as low or lower and that is Seward with 86.5 mills. The levy for city purposes is 34 mills which is the lowest of any of the twenty cities. The school levy is 37 mills and only Omaha and Seward have lower levies for that purpose. The state and county levy is 17 mills which is the same as that in Hastings, while four places, Seward, York, Wymore and Beatrice, have lower state and county levies.

The following table shows the tax levy comparison plainly:

The Public Library

One of the institutions to which Grand Island can point with pride is her City Library. In the early 'eighties the library sprang up, a rather meagre affair, promoted by private interest. In 1884 a board appointed by the city took cahrge and the service and equipment were graduallyu improved from year to year. The old library was located on East Third for many years, at one time in the Scarff building. It was then located in the City Hall until its spendid home at Second and Walnut was completed in 1905.

This is a postcard of the "new" library built in 1905,
and mailed from Grand Island in 1908.

The presidents of the Library Board have been: From 1884 until 1898, Charles F. Bentley; his successor was Prof. R. J. Barr, and after him, Henry S. Ferrar served for about five years; in 1905, Mrs. O. A. Abbott, Sr., became president, and she has devoted her time and energy very liberally to that position for the past fourteen years. Mrs. Abbott had served as vice-president of the Board for several years before she took the chairmanship.

Nathan Platte served as secretary of the Board for a good many years, until his death in 1897; John F. Matthews then took that work for a couple years, then Bayard H. Paine served for five years when the Board was accepting Mr. Carnegie's generous offer made in 1902, securing a site and an architect, letting the contract and waiting for the construction of their building; Prof. J. F. Matthews, two years; Prof. D. A. Trivelpiece, five years and Mrs. J. A. Costello for the last six years have been the succedding secretaries.

The longest term of service on this Board has been that of Mrs. O. A. Abbott, who has served continuously since the institution of the Board in 1884, a service of thirty-five years. Other rather long terms of service for such a board have been those of Chas. F. Bentley, from 1884 to 1898, and after a lapse of one year, in which the Bentley family did not assist on the Board, Mrs. Charles F. Bentley became a member ans served for eleven years, until May 1, 1911, when death robbed the Board of this helpful and sincere member. Bayard H. Paine served from 1899 until 1904 and after an abvsence of one term retunred to the Board in 1907 and served another twelve years, until 1919, making seventeen years serving on this Board, during a part of which time he was secretary.

Nathan Platt served from 1885 until his death in 1897, making twelve years, during practically all of which time he was secretary of the Board. Mrs. T. O. C. Harrison served from 1884 until 1899, fifteen years. Recently after the death of her husband, Judge T. O. C. Harrison, who left her with a large library she did not sacrifice many volumes to a sale that would net less than their worth, but donated a goodly number of them to the library. Geo. B. Bell served from 1887 to 1899, a twelve year period; Dr. H. D. Boyden was a member from 1884 until 1897, thirteen years; Mrs. Geo. Everett was a meber from 1884 until 1888 and again from 1895 to 1898, seven years toal service; Mrs. R. C. Glanville served from 1891 to 1900, or nine years; others who served two or three terms in the earlier history of the Board were D. H. Vantine, 1887 to 1895; Geo. H. Thummel, 1889 to 1897.

Of the first board, Mrssrs. Bentley, and Dr. Boyden have been mentined, also Mrs. Abbott, Mrs. Harrison, and Mrs. Everett, the other members were H. O. Brown, who served one year, and H. E. Clifford finished his term; W. H. Michael and J. P. Kernohan, who each served three years, and Mr. Sharp who served one year. Chas. Rief and Mrs. E. B. Smith each served a short time on the Board during the late 'eighties.

In 1897 several new members came onto the Board. Rev. Jorden served a short itme; Rev. T. C. Clark served from 1897 until 1905. J. F. Matthews served for nine years, until 1906. In 1899 three neew members came on: Judge John R. Thompson, who served until 1905, six years; Henry S. Ferrar, who served the same period of six years; and Judge J. H. Mullin, who served also the same six years. Geo. H. Sands came on in 1904 and served one three year tern; C. J. Pope likewise came on in 1903 and served one three year term. E. J. Hatch served from 1901 to 1904, during

the latter part of which time he was secretary. C. H. Tully came on in 1904 and has been a member continuously since that time, a service of fifteen years; Mr. Hehnke served one term; I. T. Benjamin served from 1907 until 1914; Ralph R. Horth from 1906 to 1911, resigning upon May 1, 1911, after he had rendered valuble service as chairman of the building committee; J. W. Rose served from 1909 until he resigned on March 23, 1914 when he left the city. Prof. D. A. Trivelpiece served one year, in 1905-6, the first year of the term in which Mr. Trivelpiece came onto the Board.

This brings us down to the recent members. Mrs. Abbott, Judge Paine and Mr. Tully have been mentioned. Since 1915 these three have had practically the same six associates. Mrs. S. D. Ross came on in 1914 and has served since then; Rev. T. A. Dungan came on in 1915 to remainuntil this time; Dr. George Sutherland came on in 1913 and stayed until 1918 when Peter Nelson served one year; Rev. L. A. Arthur came on back in 1907 and has served twelve years. Mrs. F. W. Ashton came on to the Board in 1911 and has served for eight years now, and Mrs. J. L. Cleary came on in 1910 and has served nine years. In 1919 under the new law the Board was reappointed with five members, and these are Mrs. Abbott, Rev. Arthur, Mrs. Ashton, Rev. Dungan and C. H. Tully.

Librarians

A contract was made with C. D. Irvine about 1888 for quarters for the library and he acted as librarian for a short time. For seven years Mrs. Mary Irvine held this position, and upon her resignation, Miss Edith Irvine was temporarily librarian until Miss Clara M. Body took the position. She served about four years, and then went to England upon a leave of absence. Miss Frances Wiseman took the work in her absence. In 1905 Mary H. Ames was brought from Lincoln to take charge of the library. In 1909 she was succeeded by Frances Cunningham, and in 1910 the present efficient librarian, Miss Daisy Houck, was elected. For a time her first assistqnt was Miss Alma Etting, and Mrs. J. A. Costello was second assistant; in recent yers Mrs. Costello has been first assistant and secretary of the Board.

The library contains many thousands of volumes and carries several hundred periodicals, papers and reference works.

Street Railway System

View of Third Street, looking west from Sycamore, probaby from atop the "Hotel Palmer."

Grand Island has never reached the proportions where it could maintain an electric street car system, but thirty years ago had a good horse and mule-car system in operation. The incorporators of this street railway, in 1887, were O. A. Abbott, I. R. Alter, Henry A. Koenig, William Hagge, A. H. Baker, O. B. Thompson, and C. W. Scarff. This company built up a transportation system which served the people of the community for a decade or so. Especially during the vast assemblages occasioned by the annual reunions of the Grand Army of the Republic was this service of immeasurable value. Its equipment increased until the company at times operated twelve or fifteen cars. The route first started at the Soldiers' Home, turned at the corner where O. B. Thompson's residence was located, circled over to Eddy street and came south across the Union Pacific tracks to Third street, where it turned east and went throught the business section of town to Oak street and thence northeast until it reached the Burlington passenger station. Another route turned south at Third and Cleburn, the location of the car barns (present location of J. A. Woolstenholme residence), ran to Second street, and on out westward to the sugar factory, and eastward throught the business section. Later a route came in on Koenig street from the west and north on Locust street, making two circles around which the cars were routed. Eventually an hourly service was established on the northern route to the Soldiers' Home and sourthern route toward the sugar factory, alternated so that cars would pass the points in the business section where the routes doubled every half hour.

During the depression of the 'nineties the business dropped down, and financial institutions which financed and backed the street car company, and in which some of its officers had their large business interests, went under, and these facts cumulated to accomplish the gradual dissappearance of this company, and during the late 'nineties it stopped operation. The tracks were finally sold to parties who had use for the material in them.