the use of factories or mills, anything in this ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding. All buildings of the same kind spoken of in these sections of any larger dimensions, or buildings constructed for any other purposes than are mentioned, must be fire-proof.

CITY SCALES.

These were set up by the city in 1877, and have proved a great convenience to the community. There are three of these scales ranged one on the east, one on the south and one on the west of the weighing room Those on the east and west sides have a capacity of 4,500 pounds each, and the one on the south, 12,000 pounds. Besides the Weigher, James Kevin, two men are kept steadily employed, who are kept busy breaking stones for the streets when not employed at the scales. By this method, the expenses are fully met, which are ordinarily but $4.50 per day, while the fees derived from weighing often foot up $6. As many as fifty-five loads of wheat have been weighed in an hour for several hours in succession. It has been a common occurrence to weigh 250 loads of grain daily. If the scales were kept steadily employed, they would earn $50 per day very readily. During the summer less that fifty loads per day are weighed, while in the winter one hundred is a fair average. During the latter season, six men are employed. The agents of both the Howe and Fairbanks' Scales sought to obtain the contract for furnishing them for the city, which was thus enabled to secure for about $1,000 what would ordinarily have cost $1,300.

CITY PARKS.

Cemetery Park. This park is designed for a driveway to the cemetery, and, in time, when the multitude of trees now set out have attained a larger growth, will form a triple archway of shade at once beautiful in appearance and most conducive to comfort. It extends from Twelfth and Pine to La Crosse street, and is eighty feet in width. A space of twenty feet is reserved in the middle for a walk, which is sufficiently wide to admit of four walking abreast, and a grass plat of about six feet in width on each side, which is lined with trees, as are the roadways on either side, which have a width of thirty feet each. It was laid out by H. I. Bliss, under the superintendence of J. W. Losey, Esq., who also has in charge the improvements of the cemetery to which this ornamented roadway is an adjunct. The probable expense of this park will be $5,000.

Main Street Park-Is situated between Seventh and Eighth, opposite the Congregational Church, and is an oblong plat of ground comprising half of the square. It has two diagonal walks, and is set out with young trees, which in time, will form a dense grove, giving ample shade.

Fourth Street Park. This is on King street, between Fourth and Fifth, and is nearly double the size of the one on Main street, being about 380 feet on King and 183 on Fourth and Fifth. It has two diagonal walks, and has a large number of young thrifty trees. When these are large enough to give the needed shade to make this a place of resort, a fountain will, without doubt, be added to enhance its attractions. The last two parks are in the most thickly settled parts of the city, and will add much to the beauty of the place, and give a most attractive place of resort to the citizens.

POST OFFICE.

Postal facilities were first extended to La Crosse in 1844. Nathan Myrick, the pioneer of the village, became its first Postmaster. At that time the official was placed on a par with Congressmen in having his postage free. This was about the only benefit then attached to the position. Myrick soon grew wearied of the place, and turned it over to E. A. C. Hatch, an employe of the firm of Myrick & Miller, and a fellow-townsmen of Myrick's, both having been residents of Westport, N. Y., the latter coming here in 1841, and the former in 1843. Hatch was succeeded by H. J. B. Miller, whose commission, bearing date of September 5, 1848, is still to be seen at the post office. Bond was given for the faithful performance of duty October 10, and the appointment made October 28. It is claimed that "Scoots," as he was familiarly

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called, carried the letters in his hat, and delivered the mail in person. In his absence, his wife, acting as assistant, placed them in her bosom, thus making it necessary for "Scoots" to caution an ambitious youth, who became impatient for his mail, not to break into the post office. Miller held the position till 1852, the total receipts footing up only $7.50. Simeon Kellogg succeeded to the place in August of that year. His first mail east had but eight letters, and the last in May, 1853, had 887. At that time, H. E. Hubbard was appointed, and held the position through the Presidential terms of both Pierce and Buchanan till 1861. Kellogg had the office at first in the Levy building on Front street, then moved into a small building near by owned by George Farnum, from which it was moved by Hubbard a few doors north into a building owned by Lieut. Gov. Burns. Here the first boxes were introduced, about three dozen being ample for the needs of the community. In a year or two, the office was removed to a room on Main street, near Front, where it remained two years, when it was again changed, going into a room under Barron's hall, on the west side of Front street, where, after a sojourn of two years, a last removal by Hubbard was made to the Levy Block, one door west of Frankle's present stand. The receipts for the first year under Hubbard did not exceed $100; a steady increase from that time until at the close of his term it amounted to about $1,200.

W. C. Rogers, founder, and then editor of the La Crosse Republican, was commissioned Postmaster in May, 1861, and removed the office to the northeast corner of Main and Third streets. It was now determined to give the office a local habitation as well as a name, and a subscription was raised to procure the one-story frame one door east of the McMillan, Sill & Bliss Block. in which it remained from the spring of 1861 to December 31, 1870. Rogers dying in the summer of 1862, was succeeded by Leonard Lottridge, of Lottridge & Seymour, editors of the La Crosse Republican, who held the position till July, 1870, the office being continued in the small frame. In July, 1870, W. W. Webb, agent of the American Express Company, became Postmaster. In that year, the frame was moved east 200 feet, to permit the building of an elegant three-story brick building, by McMillan, Sill & Bliss, on the completion of which the post office was moved into it December 31, 1870, and remained there ten years to a day, when, on the same date, in 1880, it was moved into its present commodious rooms in the Giles Block, on the southeast corner of Fourth and Main streets. The present occupant, Charles Seymour, was appointed April, 1871. Through his courtesy the writer is enabled to present the following facts:

Revenues in 1860, $3,000; 1871, $9,000; 1875, $12,830; 1880, $19,113. Nothing is so sure an index of the growing intelligence of the people as the increase of schools, books, news papers and of mail matter. In this regard La Crosse has an exceptionally enviable record, as a glance at the above figures will show the first eleven years, showing the enormous increase of 200 per cent, the next four years of about $1,000 per year, and the last five of $1,200 per year. This is far in advance of the ratio of increase in population, as will be seen by contrasting the statistics of 1870 and 1880. The census for the first year shows a population of 7,800; of 1880, 14,900, the ratio of increase being nearly 100 per cent, while of mail it is about 120

per cent.

The geographical position of La Crosse has made it the greatest transfer office of the Northwest, even exceeding Milwaukee, the nearness of which to Chicago precludes the necessity of its performing that duty. In no particular is it more apparent that this is the "gateway city," than the fact that the transfer is here made to points on the C., M. & St. P. R. R., S. M. R. R., C. N.-W. R. R., and G., B. & M. R. R. The extent of this business may be inferred from the fact that fifty-one railway mail agents, postal clerks, etc., register and transfer at this point. Two registered pouches, containing registered and money letters, orders and packages arrive at La Crosse Post Office daily from Chicago, and the same number leave daily for Chicago, for which there is no key save at the two terminal points, and those are securely fastened to the inside of the safes of the terminal offices. A still further security, were any needed, is guaranteed by the signature of all mail agents daily in a record-book, so that their presence and charge of the mail is definitely known by their own sign manual. The money

order and registry business are comparatively new features, and a very great public convenience, though adding much to the work of the office while it does not increase the productive emoluments or revenues of the post office. The magnitude of this labor is shown by the statement that 75,000 letters and packages are registered yearly, of which 8,500 are for La Crosse alone. The present large and commodious room in the Giles Block, on the corner of Main and Fourth streets, was built expressly for the purpose, and has all the latest conveniencies and improvements. The boxes, 1,000 in number, are arranged in horseshoe form, thus enabling the attendant within to deliver mail without loss of time, which is still further aided by using the system of indexing now becoming common in all large commercial houses. The lock boxes are protected by a light iron ornamental lattice-work, which shields them as fully as the old prison grating originally used, while admitting a better view of their contents. A rent of $1,600 is paid by the Government for the room, which is made up by the rental of the boxes, amounting to $2,100, leaving the handsome surplus of $500. Among the items of the early mail history, Myrick states that in 1842, William Miller carried the mail from Prairie du Chien to Fort Snelling, making semi-monthly trips by canoe in summer, and dog train in winter.

In 1851, Postmaster Kellogg makes an application to the Galena office for blanks and stamps, and is told in reply, "the blanks you are entitled to and can have on application at the Chicago post office. The stamps you must pay for at your own expense. We can let you have any amount for cash, and will send by return mail on a cash order. It would seem as if even this privilege must have suspended, as in February, 1852, Kellogg received an order from the Post Office Department upon the office at Prairie du Chien, to furnish him stamps on application. During the year 1852, Kellogg is charged with $131 for stamps, as follows: April 1, $30; July 23, $56; November 4, $45. In the second remittance it is stated that these are for the supply of deputies and all others paying for them, an evidence that other places were expected to look to this office for their supply. May 17, 1853, George Farnum is credited with a payment $9.50 for carrying mail to Prairie du Chien and return.

CUSTOM HOUSE.

The city of La Crosse was established as a port in 1873. I. H. Moulton was appointed Surveyor, and F. A. Benton, Deputy Surveyor, the same year. Charles Ottillie, Acting Assistant Marine Hospital Surgeon, received his appointment to that post in 1879. This port is one of the greatest in importance above St. Louis, having a larger enrollment than any point on the whole length of the Upper Mississippi. Fifty-one steamboats are here enrolled and licensed, being a greater number than at any other port above the Missouri River. The same remark holds good as to the licensing of masters, pilots and engineers, and also as to the number of sick and disabled river men who are here taken care of, at an average cost of but forty-eight cents per day, which is claimed to be a less rate than at any other port. This expense is provided for by an assessment of forty cents per month upon the wages of all that class of employes who are eligible for the benefits of the hospital. As an instance of the work done by the custom house, it may be stated that on the 1st of June last, fifteen steamboats were inspected and four licenses granted. This is an unusual occurrence, however. It is made the duty of the office to exercise supervision over all steam craft, and restrict them from overloading, taking on more than the required number of passengers, supervise the taking of excursions, etc. All steamers are required to renew their licenses and inspection certificates yearly. Of these, as before stated, this office grants, more than at any port on the Upper Mississippi.

BOARD OF TRADE.

The first steps toward the formation of this organization were taken at a public meeting of the citizens of La Crosse, on the evening of January 28, 1868. Here the usual initial steps were observed, and an adjourned meeting was held on the evening of Friday, February 7, 1868, at which a permanent organization was effected by the election of the following officers: President, C. L. Coleman; Vice President, W. W. Jones; Recording Secretary, James McCord;

Corresponding Secretary, Ira H. Hill; Treasurer, G. Van Steenwyk; and a Board of twelve Directors, consisting of Mons Anderson, G. C. Hixon, W. H. Luman, S. Steinam, H. T. Rumsey, W. W. Crosby, S. Newman, Joseph Clarke, J. B. Jungen, S. L. Nevins, M. F. Colton and I. A. Shepard. The admission fee for that year was fixed at $10, and, at the next meeting, a Committee of Arbitration was elected, consisting of S. L. Nevins, Joseph Clarke, C. B. Solberg, S. Newman and M. F. Colton, also a Committee on Appeals, composed of G. Hixon, Mons Anderson and J. B. Jungen. It was determined that the rooms of the society be kept open every Tuesday evening, for social and informal meetings of the members, and that the following publications be taken for their use: Hunt's Merchants' Magazine, Journal of Commerce, Washington Globe, Philadelphia North American, St. Louis Democrat, Cincinnati Commercial, and Boston Journal. At the first meeting in March, the Corresponding Secretary was instructed to write to agents of transportation companies in Milwaukee, Racine and Chicago, to see if cheaper freights could not be obtained. James McCord was also appointed to confer personally with the same lines for the same purpose.

At the meeting on May 26, it was reported that a reduction of 10 per cent for 100 pounds had been secured on all freight shipped over the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, from Milwaukee, and Chicago & North-Western Railway, and Milwaukee & St. Paul from Chicago, from May 1st.

In July, there were several meetings and conferences with the City Council, to determine upon what inducements should be given the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company to extend their track from North La Crosse to a point in the city near the foot of Main street, and erect freight and passenger depots on the same. It was resolved that the City Council offer an amount, not exceeding $20,000, to assist in procuring right-of-way and depot grounds.

The first annual meeting was held January 5, when the following were elected officers: President, C. L. Coleman; Vice President, W. W. Jones; Recording Secretary, James McCord; Corresponding Secretary, Ira A. Hill; Treasurer, S. L. Nevins; Directors, Mons Anderson, G. C. Hixon, L. Newman, W. H. Luman, M. F. Colton, J. W. Toms, Joseph Clarke, S. Steinam, J. B. Jungen, Thomas Servis, W. W. Crosby, Joseph Gutman; Committee of Arbitration, S. L. Nevins, Joseph Clarke, M. F. Colton, S. Newman, C. B. Solberg; Committee of Appeals, G. C. Hixon, Mons Anderson, Joseph Gutman. A committee appointed to secure reduction in freights, subsequently reported that they were unable to obtain any concessions on all railway lines to the Mississippi River above Alton.

At the annual meeting, January 4, 1870, the total receipts were reported as $379.35; expenses, $366.11.

In June, 1870, a committee, consisting of Messrs. Rodolf, Nevins and Michel went to Chicago to confer with parties representing the North-Western Railway, Baraboo, Air Line and West Wisconsin Railroad. They reported that a road would doubtless be built from Chicago to Baraboo, and, as a matter of commercial necessity, extended to La Crosse.

On the 17th of November, 1870, an excursion was given by the Southern Minnesota Railroad, from the western terminus of their road to business men along the line to La Crosse. A reception was given them by the Board of Trade. A balance of $24.57 remaining unexpended, it was given the Leader Printing Company to send out the balance of pamphlets at that time gotten up to exhibit the advantages of La Crosse. At the annual meeting in 1871, the membership embraced fifty-eight members. W. W. Jones was elected President; Alexander McMillan, Vice President; Fred Tillman, Recording Secretary; M. T. Carlton, Corresponding Secretary; G. Van Steinwyck, Treasurer. Directors-Mons Anderson, W. W. Crosby, John M. Levy, James McCord, Joseph Clark, Michael Funk, C. B. Solberg, Lute A. Taylor, S. L. Nevins, C. C. Smith, Charles Michael, Lemuel Drake. Committee of Arbitration-C. L. Coleman, James I. Lyndes, S. Steinam, G. C. Hixon, B. E. Edwards.

At the last meeting in 1871, resolutions were adopted, offering a bonus of $100,000 in six per cent twenty-five-year city bonds, and a further sum not exceeding $41,000 for depot grounds and right of way in the city. This was conditioned upon the Chicago & North-Western Railway

building, and maintaining a track via Mormon Cooley through the city, and track and depot grounds to be located west of Sixth street and near the Mississippi River. Owing to the enormous grades and increased expense of this route, the offer was declined. At the meeting of January 2, 1872, the following members were elected to serve for the ensuing year: President, W. W. Jones; Vice President, W. W. Crosby; Recording Secretary, Theodore Rodolf; Corresponding Secretary, M. F. Colton; Treasurer, G. Van Steenwyck. At a special meeting on February 24, a resolution was adopted offering the Green Bay & Lake Pepin Railway $100,000 in bonds, beside necessary depot grounds to make La Crosse their western terminus. Gov. Washburn, who was present by invitation, made a speech, giving his views on narrow-gauge railways and various railway projects, and the future of the city.

About this time a difference of opinion arose as to the location of a bridge across the Mississippi, between the citizens and the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. As the location of bridges over navigable streams was subject to approval by the War Department, a protest was sent to Washington, signed by the Mayor of the city and President of the Board of Trade, asking the Secretary of War to withhold his approval till the citizens could make their wishes known. Col. Rodolf was authorized to visit him also, and did so with very satisfactory result apparently, and so reported to Gen. Van Steenwyck and Losey, but in the end the railway company carried their point. At the annual meeting in 1873, W. W. Jones was elected President; W. W. Crosby, Vice President; Theodore Rodolf, Recording Secretary; M. F. Colton, Corresponding Secretary; G. Van Steenwyck, Treasurer. In February, the sanctum of M. M. Pomeroy was rented at $100 per year for the use of the Board, which, from its previous use was called "Sanctum Hall."

The officers elected for the year 1874 were: President, W. W. Jones; Vice President, James McCord; Recording Secretary, Theodore Rodolf; Corresponding Secretary, M. F. Colton; Treasurer, G. Van Steenwyck. Fifty dollars was appropriated to pay the Secretary. Within the year the Board was instrumental in having the track of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway extended and a depot erected south of La Crosse River. A flour-mill was also secured by a bonus of $5,000, which, it was claimed, would cost $40,000, and requires a capital of $30,000 for running expenses.

For the year 1875, the following officers were elected: President, W. W. Jones; Vice President, James McCord; Recording Secretary, Theodore Rodolf; Corresponding Secretary, M F. Colton; Treasurer, W. A. Sutor. In the Secretary's report of this year, two projects are discussed to facilitate communication with the Minnesota shore, one being to build a low water wagon-road across Barron's Island, with a pile bridge or ferry west of it, with a ferry on the east side to La Crosse. The other proposition was to build a pontoon bridge over the main channel of the Mississippi and pile-roads across the island and channel west of it. The cost was estimated at from $50,000 to $60,000. A discourse is also given of the benefits of a narrowgauge railway to Viroqua. The latter was indorsed and the former postponed till the action of the Wisconsin Valley Railway should be known, the building of a pontoon bridge being one of two contemplated works.

At the annual election of 1876, the old officers were elected, save the Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer. For the former post, J. S. Medary was chosen, and for the latter, G. Van Steenwyck. A loan of $75,000 was made to the Green Bay & Minnesota Railroad, which was extended into the city this year. In the report of the Secretary of this year, the pontoon. bridge and narrow-gauge railway projects are again advocated.

For 1877, the following members were severally elected for the year ensuing: President, James McCord; Vice President, Joseph Clark; Recording Secretary, J. S. Medary; Corresponding Secretary, W. W. Jones; Treasurer, G. Van Steenwyck.

A report was made at a meeting in March, to the effect that the new flouring-mill had secured to the farmers five cents more per bushel than if it had not been here; that bran and feed had been reduced at least $1 per ton, and that the two mills of White and Hirshheimer had bought 43,687 bushels of wheat, and the two had disbursed among the farmers of the vicinity $4,120.35