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1901 Time Capsule
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41. This 2-page letter was typewritten in blue ink on slightly yellowed paper by Dr. Oscar LeSeur, M.D.
- Description:
- This 2-page letter was typewritten in blue ink on slightly yellowed paper by Dr. Oscar LeSeur, M.D., of Detroit. The paper shows the address of the doctor's office in the upper left corner. The body of the letter gives some history of the development of homeopathic medical practice in the city as well as the names of several early practitioners.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Letter from the Office of the City Controller, Detroit. The cover page shows the letterhead of the office which is printed in black and blue text on slightly yellowed paper which has the watermark "Linen Record, 1896." The names of the officers are shown in the upper left corner: "F. A. Blades, Controller" and "Howard C. Beck, Deputy." The body of the 5-page letter is printed in typewritten text that has been mimeographed in a purple color onto the letter pages. The letter is dated December 31st, 1900, near the upper right corner area on the first page and the last page has been signed and dated in black ink by "F. [Francis] A. Blades, Controller." The letter gives a general discussion of good fiscal practices and comments concerning the Annual Report of the City.
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- 9-page letter handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Carlos E. Warner, President of the Chamber of Commerce. The letter pages are bound at the top with a narrow red ribbon. The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Paper by Carlos E. Warner Subject: The Chamber of Commerce I am requested by the present mayor of the City, Hon. Wm. C. Maybury to prepare a paper on the subject of the Chamber of Commerce, of which organization I am now President, to be deposited in the City strong box, sealed and opened at the dawn of the 21st Century. One must necessarily be impressed with the gravity of such an undertaking. To write for public reading, when it is known that the hand which pens these lines will long since have passed away; that an entire generation will have come and gone, leaving behind it only its works and history; that all living things at the present writing shall have perished leaving not even a memory behind; that the twentieth century, profiting by the accumulated wisdom [of] experience, progress, inventive genius and scientific skill of the century now closing, shall go on and on with rapid strides, well nigh exploring the mysteries of the infinite and making what seems today to be questions of great importance, but minor ones in future thought and progress, then may one well hesitate and ponder. Who shall read these lines and what hand shall pluck them from the strong box of the City and being then for the public gaze; What changes shall occur; What progress shall be made in the incoming century, in the social, physical, political and religious worlds? One can but speculate upon these great problems and the wildcat conjecture of the present day may fall far from that of the reality in the time to come. Regarding the Chamber of Commerce I am requested to write something which if not useful, may be interesting to the people of a hundred years hence. The movement for the organization of a Chamber of Commerce in Detroit had had its inception in September 1891. Wm. H. Beasly then Editor of the Detroit Journal devoted much of his time and energy to it and, in connection with Mr. Alexander A Bonstelle its first secretary, may be regarded as the founder of the association. The first meeting of the association was held at Philharmonic Hall, corner of Lafayette Ave. and Shelby St. on January 5, 1892. Hon. Thomas W. Palmer, ex Senator and ex U.S. Minister to Spain, under President Benjamin Harrison presided at the meeting at which a constitution prepared by Hon. Don M. Dickinson, U.S. Postmaster General under President Cleveland, and Hon. Alfred Russel [Russell], both of whom are now leading lawyers in this City, was adopted and the first officers of the association chosen. The officers consisted of Hon. George H. Barbour, President, Hon. Rufus W. Gillett, 1st Vice president, Hon. Hazen S. Pingree (now Governor of the State), 2nd Vice president, Alexander A. Bonstelle, Secretary, and M. W. O'Brien, Treasurer. The present organization, known as 'The Detroit Chamber of Commerce and Convention League,' is the successor of this primary organization. It has for its object, the advancement of the public interests of the City; the development of all legitimate enterprises tending to increase its prosperity; uniting of the energies and influence of its citizens upon all subjects affecting its welfare; the diffusion of information concerning manufactures, trade and business and the cultivation of friendly relations and the promotion of equitable principles among the businessmen of the City. Its officers and directors at the present time are as follows: President, Carlos E. Warner, the writer of these lines, a lawyer by profession and head of the law firm of Warner, Codd and Warner. 1st Vice President, William J. Chittenden, proprietor of the Russel House. 2nd Vice President, Frederick G. Smith, manager of the Wolverine Manufacturing Company. Treasurer, A. F. Wolfschlager, general passenger and ticket agent of the Wabash Railway. Secretary, Mr. J. F. Walsh. Directors, Messrs. A. E. F. White, John Walker, George M. Black, Joseph, S. Hall, John C. Hutchins, Fred C. Postal, Wm. Livingstone, Jr., Dewitt C. Delamater, James H. Swait, Abram P. Sherrill, Augustus A. Schantz, Orrin R. Baldwin, Wm. A. P----, Clarence M. Hayes, Walter E. Campbell, Homer Warren, A. F. Wolfshlager, Wm. A. C. Miller, and Thomas Craig. The organization is of a quasi-public character and unofficially represents the commercial and industrial interests of the City. It is of a voluntary character and while supported by dues from its members yet is entirely dependent upon their voluntary contributions. The officers and directors hold monthly meetings at which matters affecting the public interests of the City are brought up and discussed and such action taken as may be deemed proper to advance the interests and promote the general welfare of the City. It is only effective by reason of this influence which such a representative body of men is assumed to possess. Its opinion is brought to bear upon questions vitally affecting public interests. One of the questions which have agitated the public of the City in the later years of the nineteenth century is the municipal ownership of public utilities like street railways, another the question of corporate properties and franchises including not only their physical properties but their so called intangible values. Another the problem of municipal government and corruption in municipal affairs. The Spanish War so called now lately ended by the [ceding?] to the United States of Spanish interests in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippine Islands, has emphasized the necessity of an interoceanic canal or waterway between the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the construction of the so called Nicaragua or some other isthmian canal, has lately received the encouragement and endorsement not only of our organization but of other chambers of commerce throughout our country. These questions, and others of like import, are demanding at the present time the best thought of statesmen and economists and their solution will require the best judgment of the incoming twentieth century. In so far as the financial results of the organization in advancing the physical aspects of the City are concerned reference may be had to the twelve (12) story Chamber of Commerce building at the corner of Griswold and State Streets. This building is modern in construction, much of it brick and steel, and strictly fire proof and stands as a graceful monument to the enterprise of the association. The major part of the land upon which the building was erected was bought from Seymour Finney, lately deceased, who during his life was prominent in the social political and religious history of the city and who was one of its pioneers. The land was bought and the building was constructed with the aid of bonuses contributed by the citizens of the City and the adjacent landowners. As the representative head of the organization I trust that I may be permitted to express the hope that its influence has not been entirely lacking in the growth development and prosperity of the City in its [?] and physical aspects and that the citizens who, at the dawn of the twenty first century, shall occupy its century, inhabit its houses, walk its streets and be entrusted with its affairs may be richer and better for this work which it has accomplished and this influence which it has exerted. In the name and behalf of the organization I greet the citizens of Detroit at the beginning of the twenty first century and though long since departed from you, I present this evidence of an existing and more or less potent vitality, who is much interested in the future growth and prosperity of this beautiful City and in making and continuing it a City of which future generations may still be proud. Carlos Edgar Warner Attorney at Law, Ex President of the Board of Education and now President of the Chamber of Commerce and Convention League - aged 53 years. Detroit, Mich. December 31st A.D. 1900."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- This 2-page letter was handwritten in black ink on both sides of a slightly yellowed piece of paper by Frank I. Cobb who signed the letter as the "Leading editorial writer, Detroit Free Press." His letter is entitled, "The Newspapers of Detroit," and the text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "The Newspapers of Detroit. At the beginning of the Twentieth Century there are seven daily newspapers published in Detroit - five in English and two in German. Of the English newspapers the Free Press and the Tribune are printed in the morning, The Evening News, The Evening Journal and Today in the afternoon. The Abend-Post and the Volksblatt, German, are published in the afternoon also. The principal owner of The Free Press is William E. Quinby; of The News and The Tribune, James E. Scripps; of The Journal, William Livingstone; of Today, James Schermerhorn; of the Abend-Post, August Marxhausen; of the Volksblatt, A. Niederpruem. Of these The Free Press, independently Democratic in politics, is the most influential and the worst edited. Little attention is paid to the manner in which news matter is written for it. It is very susceptible to "respectable" influence, and always aims to voice the opinions of so-called better-element. It has no opinions of its own. It is eminently clean - and steeped. The News is the best-edited and most readable, but the least reliable - due largely to its habitual recklessness of statement, and its desire to be "clear" regardless of the facts. The Tribune is a colorless morning edition of The News; but better edited on the whole than The Free Press. It is without editorial influence. The Journal is statistically Republican in politics and is one of the few remaining types of the bigoted partisan newspaper. It is fairly well-edited, and is clean. It, too, is very susceptible to Detroit club influence. Today is a puny monstrosity, printed on cheap paper. It prints news in bulletin form under heaving black head-lines. It has no merit except cheapness. The Abend-Post is the "organ" of the German Republicans and the Volksblatt of the German Democrats. As the old German population dies off, their field is gradually becoming smaller. Detroit newspapers compare favorably with those of other cities of the size. If anything they are above the average. Like all newspapers published at this time, they are unreliable; but seldom maliciously so. Economy explains the maul of accuracy. Good salaries must be paid to good reporters; so as few as possible are hired. All reporters are so overburdened with work that they have little time to verify statements. None of the Detroit newspapers wields great influence editorially; but all more than they deserve. Being expected to prophesy, I venture to predict that the Twentieth Century's chief reform in newspaper making will be in the direction of improving the quality of the news - having it better written, more intelligently written, and more accurately written. If the Twenty-first century has newspapers and those newspapers are reliable - one who will these be dust, would wish to be resurrected long enough to glance over the head lines of one of them. Frank I. Cobb Leading Editorial Writer, Detroit Free Press."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- This 2-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Louis Blitz who was the proprietor of the Detroit City Glass Works. The paper shows the company letterhead across the top of the page and also has the watermark, "Calvert Litho Co." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Detroit, Mich. December 31st 1900 His Honor, the Mayor, having transferred a request that I prepare a paper on "The Jewish People in Detroit in the 19th Century and their relations to Social, Commercial and religious life" I feel that so far as their communal and denominational activity and usefulness is concerned, I cannot do better, than to attach to this letter, a copy of the Souvenir History of Congregation Beth-El, established in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of said the leading Jewish Congregation of our city and state, which faithfully reflects not alone its growth spiritually and materially but is also a fair index of the individual growth and civic standing, of the representative citizens of the Jewish faith, that compose its membership. - The XIX Century has been an eventful one, not alone in the local history of the Jews of our fair city, but throughout the nation and the world. - It was ushered in by the ringing declarations for civil and religious Liberty - Equality - and Fraternity - that have immortalized both the American and French Revolutions - Centuries of Persecution - of passion and repression, had been Israel's hard lot, until the yoke of tyranny and the barriers of fanaticism and bigotry were first thrown down, and hence it is, with undying gratitude and affection, that we the descendants of "the People of the Book" cling to lands and communities, that have given them the opportunities to found farm and homes and endowed them with equal privileges - Thus fitting them for the highest duties of responsible citizenship. How well we have made use of this great boon, the honorable words of our Co-religionists in every walk of life attest and wherever and whenever, public duties. Patriotic devotion and private sacrifice for the common good have been called for, we have not been found wanting; Hence it is with confidence, that I may be permitted to bespeak for them an honorable participation in all that may tend to the future welfare and greatness of our beloved city and country in and throughout the coming century and that in all that different walks of life, in their social, commercial and religious status, they will harmoniously blend their lives, with those of their fellow citizens of every station and denomination - mingling and fraternizing in their respective homes, lodges, churches, public and private charities, commercial organizations. Each added year will bear witness to a closer affiliation with our fellow citizens and may God, keep watch and ward over this our fair city and exalted nation and when these plain but grateful lines are read at the dawn of the 21st Century, may they have indeed arrived [at] that era of "Peace on earth and good will to men" that shall have made possible, that common Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of man, that will have beaten the sword into ploughshares, the spear into pruning hook and nations shall have unlearned war - Amen. #26 Woodward Avenue Terrace Louis Blitz"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- This 8-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by George H. Russell who was the President of the State Savings Bank. The bank letterhead is printed in black text at the top. The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Detroit's Banking, Retrospective" George H. Russel 31 Dec 1900 To Detroit in 2001 A.D. Our worthy and honorable Mayor William C. Maybury has requested me to write a few words for the "Century Box" on the subject of my present occupation, Banking - I much regret that no time is given me to properly prepare an article upon so important a subject as such a city and people as then may be resident here. Now I can only briefly and hastily give such recollections and present facts that may occur to me. Born in Detroit Nov 29. 1847 educated in its Public Schools I have lived in this good city over fifty three years. I commenced work in 1863 and since then have been engaged and actively connected with the manufacturing interests of this city (particularly in the manufacture of Pig Iron, Castings Car Wheels, Cars, Structural Steel, Chemicals, etc.). I did not enter the Banking business until Dec 1889 when I accepted the presidency of the State Savings Bank which then had deposits of about $1,000,000.00 and ranked thirteenth in place. Now the State Savings Bank in its new marble building has deposits of over $9,000,000.00 and holds first place among the banks of this city and state. Living in the city during the last half of this great century in a period when Detroit's population has increased from 20,000 to 300,000 people, I have seen many changes. From a few private and incorporated banks having a total deposit of less than one million dollars, we now have fifteen (15) State Banks, six National Banks, two Trust Company[ies], one private banker having total deposits of over $73,000,000.00. I can remember the Michigan State Bank, The Michigan Insurance Bank, The Peninsular, The Farmers and Mechanic's Bank and the State Bank all incorporated and ably managed under such men as C.C. Trowbridge, John A. Wells, John Owen, H.K. Sanger, H.H. Brown, H.J. Stringham, L.M. Mason, J.C.W. Seymour, Walter Ingersoll, J.P. Hall, Emory Wendell, A.H. Adams and many others whom I knew and pleasantly remember. Then the Detroit Savings Fund Institute a specially chartered Savings Bank, upon the mutual plan, organized by H.N. Walker, Elon Farnsworth, Samuel Lewis, A.H. Adams and others, was our first bank for savings. The incorporated banks after surviving the "Wild Cat" period and the varying values of different state bank currency gave way to the National System in 1863 - which for some years did nearly all the commercial business but through this time the private banks of A.H. Dey, Wen. A. Butler and G.A. Ives and David Preston did a successful business. Then after 1870 the Peoples Saving's Bank organized by Francis Palms and M.W. O'Brien and the Wayne County Savings under S. Dow Elwood, W.B. Wesson and Herman Kiefer occupied this field of State and Savings Banks until 1883 when the State Savings Bank was organized by David Hamilton, T.S. Anderson and R.S. Mason. In 1887 the new banking law was passed and as a Constitutional Amendment was confirmed by a vote of the people in 1888. From this time until the panic of 1893 several banks were organized whose statements and officers names appear in the pamphlet enclosed. These banks enter the 20th Century in strong condition and with the best prospects. The country takes place as the leading nation in the world and New York City soon will become the clearing center for the financial interests of all nations. The outlook is bright but the future of business and banking depends so much upon the political condition in our great Republic that one cannot look far into the future. At present the business is good and it is a pleasure to do banking and to be associated with such men as M.W. O'Brien, D.M. Ferry. F.W. Hayes, Hugh McMillan, Alex McPherson, Wm Livingstone, Alex McGregor and others who lead the chief financial institutions of our city. Wishing that I could see the development of another 100 years I leave to younger bankers and those that follow them my blessing. George Howard Russel. I am the son of Dr. Geo. B. Russel who came here in 1836 and of Anna Davenport born in Detroit in 1827. She was the daughter of Lewis Davenport who came from Vermont and of Sarah Homer born in Detroit in 1809. G.H.R."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- This 14-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Sara M. Philleo Skinner. The paper is printed with light blue lines. The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Woman's Suffrage - Retrospect and Prophecy. One of the largest questions before the civilized world at the close of the 19th century is Woman's Suffrage, for it underlies the just settlement of mans problems of the day. There is no better evidence of the progress of an era than that found in the progress of its women. The line that marked woman's limitations at the beginning of the 19th century was long since broken. 100 year ago, married women in any country could not control their property or will it at death. The Common Law of England and in [the] United States held husband and wife as one and that one the husband. The wife was 'dead in law.' the husband collected and used her wages, he could legally whip her if he wished. Many husbands were so much better than the law that they treated their wives humanely. Very few occupations were open to women; no college admitted her, men did most of her thinking (or thought they did) and most, because women's minds were so inferior, pulpits emphasized women's subordination. But women were thinking and there were premonitions of coming events. Mary Wollstonecraft plead eloquently for greater opportunities for women. In 1809, Connecticut was [the] first state to enact a law giving married women right[s] to make wills. In 1820, Gov. Clinton of New York called attention in his annual address to the 'Academy for Female Education at Waterford, N.Y.' established by Mrs. Emma Willard. In the following year Mrs. Willard combined her school with the Troy Seminary, the first institution in the United States offering higher education to women. Later, Boston had a high school for girls and Mt. Holyoke Seminary in Mass. was opened for higher education for women. The lectures of Abby Kelly, Frances Wright, the Grimke sisters, the book of Lydia Main Childs, 'History of Woman' published in 1832, Catharine Beecher's high school for girls in Cincinnati, the opening of Oberlin College for women, Prudence Crandall's school for colored girls in Canterbury, Conn. (in 1834), Ernestine Rose, in 1836, pleading for enfranchise of women, Margaret Fuller's book, "Women of 19th Century' an appeal for equal rights for women. These and many other events were clarion notes whose sounding roused sympathy in favor of woman's suffrage. States gradually gave women power to make wills, the right to control property and wages, and to have equal guardianship of children, though as late as 1817, husbands could legally will away their children, even unborn ones. In 1840, a world's anti-slavery convention was held in London, Eng. A few women delegates were sent from America, but they were not allowed to have any voice in [the] convention. This circumstance marked a new era for women. Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (then a bride) resolved then and there to call a 'Woman's Rights Convention.' It was held in Seneca Falls, N.Y., July 19 & 20, 1848. When equal rights were demanded for men and women in colleges, universities, trades, professions, the right to vote, to share in political offices, honors and emoluments, equal rights in property, in wages for equal work, equal rights in minor children, etc., in fact, they asked for all that the most radical have ever asked for up to this date. Other conventions followed, many leading men and women, even in the face of ridicule, espoused the cause. Many laws pertaining to women were modified; ridicule and persecution began to abate. The Civil War gave women opportunity to show their ability in many ways. The planned money-making enterprises and millions of dollars were realized for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers. Dorothea Dix, superintendent of nurses, Clara Barton on the field relieving wounded soldiers, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell founding in New York City the Woman's Loyal League which developed into the Sanitary Commission with which Mrs. Mary A. Livermore was so grandly connected, there women and their works proved to the world that women could plan and carry out schemes for good as well as could men, and all was [were] a part in the evolution of woman's suffrage. In 1869, a National Woman's Suffrage Association was formed, and another named American Woman's Suffrage Association. The first had headquarters in New York and Mrs. Stanton and Miss Anthony published there 'The Revolution,' a strong suffrage organ. The other had headquarters in Boston where Mary A. Livermore, Julia Ward Howe, Lucy Stone, Wm. Lloyd Garrison, and L. W. Higginson published 'The Woman's Journal' a paper equally strong in favor of equal suffrage. Later the two associations united under the name 'National American Woman's Suffrage Association.' In 1861, school suffrage was given to women in Colorado and Kansas. In 1869, full suffrage was granted to women of Wyoming Territory. It was in this year that the University of Ann Arbor [Michigan] opened its doors to women. In 1870, the Territory of Utah had full suffrage; it was taken away in 1883, but restored when Utah became a state in 1896. In 1875, school suffrage was granted in Michigan and Minnesota. In 1876, Colorado was granted school suffrage when it was made a state. In 1878, school suffrage was given to women in New Hampshire and in Oregon. In 1879, it was granted to women in Massachusetts. In 1880, it was given to women in New York and Vermont. In 1881, a universal suffrage convention was held in Rome (Italy) where a strong appeal was made by Anna Mazzoni for woman suffrage. During all these years many foreign countries were given municipal suffrage for women. In 1883, school suffrage was given to women in Nebraska and in [the] same year full suffrage was granted to women in Washington by Territorial legislature. It was taken away on ground[s] of being unconstitutional. In 1885, full suffrage given to women of Dakota by legislature of the territory, but was vetoed by Gov. Price. In 1886, school suffrage was granted to women of Washington Territory. In 1887, municipal suffrage was granted Kansas women, and school suffrage to women of Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, North and South Dakota. In 1888, a permanent International Council of women was organized. In 1890, Wyoming became a state with equal suffrage for women. In 1891, school suffrage was given women of Illinois. In 1893, Colorado had full suffrage for women, and Connecticut had school suffrage. The Congress of Representative Women in Chicago, during World's Fair, helped the cause of woman's suffrage. In 1894 Ohio women had school suffrage. In same year 600,000 men and women petitioned New York constitutional convention for woman's suffrage. In 1895 Utah became a state with equal suffrage. 1896 brought same fate to Idaho. In 1899, the 2nd International Council of Women was held in London with delegates from nearly all civilized countries. So we see the gains for women during the 19th century were many. Condensed, it might read: 1. Married women granted control of their separate property in all United States but Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, N. Carolina, Texas, New Mexico, Tennessee. And the same was granted to Great Britain and her colonies; Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Russia. 2. Married women granted right to make wills in all United States in Great Britain and her colonies, and in many, nearly all European countries. 3. Married women given control of their wages in all United States except Louisiana and Texas (although control is not complete) in Arizona, California, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, N. Carolina, S. Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee. The right was granted in Great Britain and her colonies, in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Russia. 4. Mothers were granted control or rather guardianship with fathers over their children in California, Kansas, Maine, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island. In all the other states, the father only is the guardian. 5. The age of consent has been raised in nearly all United States and in Great Britain and her colonies, and this shows influence of women's work. 6. Nearly all professions (not ministry and law in certain states) have been opened to women; the right to labor in nearly all occupations; a voice is given women in most business and church meetings. 7. Women may petition city councils, legislatures, and Congress. Of the 44 United States, 25 have limited suffrage, 4 have full suffrage, limited suffrage is granted in many foreign countries and full suffrage in New Zealand, South and West Australia, and in Isle of Man. Woman has made progress in industries, in teaching, in medicine, in the ministry, in law, in journalism, in social-political liberty, and public opinion has materially changed in her favor in the 19th century. The prophecy for the new century is that she will make greater advance and with less opposition than she has in the 19th century. Popular opinion will be educated to grant woman's suffrage to nearly all parts if not all of the civilized countries. Ignorance, bigotry, conservatism, prejudice, and fear concerning woman's use of the ballot will have passed away, and by her use of the ballot, there will be less evil and a higher civilization. Sara M. Philleo Skinner."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- This 2-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Orrin R. Baldwin, president of the American Harrow Company as well as president of the Merchants and Manufacturers Exchange. The paper has the watermark, "Crane & Co., Dalton, Mass., 1900 Bond No. 21." It was placed in a heavy tan envelope that was sealed with black wax that was impressed with the letter, "B." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Detroit Mich. Dec. 31 1900 To Detroit's First Mayor of the 21st Century Greetings: I have been requested by our present Mayor the Honorable Wm. C. Maybury to look into Detroit's Industrial and Commercial possibilities a full century and make a prophecy thereon. This is quite a problem and I will undoubtedly be wide of the mark but for your assessment and possible enrichment I cheerfully comply. Today we have about 2000 manufactories, none of which have been established a Century and nearly all less than one fourth of that period. Assuming that the number will increase one percent annually and those now in suburban territory, being then within the city limits, Detroit will have on January 1st 2001 about 5000 manufacturing plants. With the increase in number and the natural growth in size, employment will at that time be given to 500,000 employees supporting 2,500,000 inhabitants. (estimated) I predict that nearly all of Woodward Avenue, from the River north to the Grand Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue east to Belle Isle Bridge will be occupied by business houses. I predict also that Detroit then as now will possess its own Capital and maintain its Conservatism as its people will continue to cherish and keep their success and it will take more than one hundred years to make Detroit thoroughly progressive. I predict further that Sandwich, Windsor and Walkerville now in Canada will be a part of the City of Detroit and that Ontario will be a state of the United States of America. Also that the factory products will be largely transported in Air Ships and discrimination against Detroit shippers will then be a thing of the past; that mechanical skill will control the river's current and the rays of the sun to make power for the industries. Also that Detroit will have a Common Council that will adopt and keep a Time that is standard and in harmony with other great cities of our country. With all due respect for you and your posterity. Yours, Orrin R. Baldwin"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- This folded sheet of writing paper was from the personal stationery of Charles L. Freer. It is slightly yellowed and the sender's address, "33 Ferry Avenue," is printed at the top in black text. The paper also has a watermark that shows "Scribner's Vellum." The handwritten text is transcribed as follows: "Hon. W. C. Maybury, Mayor etc., My Dear Sir: In compliance with your courteous request, I have taken pleasure in writing a few lines on the "Possibilities of Detroit as a Manufacturing Center," and beg to hand you the same herewith enclosed. Your plans to entertain our friends of a century hence is excellent and I only regret that my little paper is not more worthy of the occasion. With every good wish and heartiest New Year greetings, I am, Faithfully yours, Charles L. Freer."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- 1-page letter written by William E. Quinby, President of the Detroit Free Press. It is a blue carbon copy which was typewritten onto thin linen paper and has the watermark, "S & B Paragon Linen, Made In U.S.A." The writer has signed in black ink, "William E. Quinby."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society