The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 1

This section contains Editorial. Book Review, the Dramatic features, and the second installment of "Blindfolded." THIRD SECTION PES PINKS. IOWA. 11)07. 1 The first automobile in the world was invented by a Des Moines man, manufactured in lii' Moines and run on Dps Moines streets.

At the lime it was as great curiosity as an airship was a couple of years ago. Today there is something like a quarter of a million automobiles In the I'nited States; possibly a million horseless carriages, all lold, in the world. The electric carriage Invented II ll Ih I I f'" mm.iiM.ii ui.pnipiHnn mil mil wiiij I yfiyW't; imi'il I though it has been in operation nineteen years, carried something like a half million people and has run. all told miles. It is still successfully operated.

It was this identical carriage, which oc-lasioned Biioh excitement in Chicago when it was iirwt exhibited there in The Western Electrician, of date September 17, 1SDJ. telling of its tirst appearance an the streets ot the city which now boast horseless earrings of all makes and descriptions, says: "The sight of a well-loaded carriage moving along the streets at a spanking: pace with no horse in front and apparently with nothing on board to give it motion, was a sight that has been too much, even for the wide awake Chicagon. is most amusing to see the crowd gather whenever the vehicle apppara down town. In a number of Instances so gnat has been the curiosity of those on the streets that the owner when passing through the business section of the city ha had to appeal to the police to aid him in clearing the way for his carriage." which is shown in ihe accompanyinR il-hiFtratinn. It wa.i that carriage hlch was exhibited at the World fair In Chi- I ftl ft I DAC.

r-a rriac the world ever fhw, Thl machine whs built that In. the body part of it -at the Shaver Carriagp company's wniks Kast te Moines. That horseless carriaK i still in Nisl nee. is still in op- Hiid for somthini; like eighteen years hap been making surcrsaful jfMirney-s e.ir after year." It v.as the second horseless earriair, which us Mr. Morrison tsaya whs really the first, for it whls the successful ene, University Grand Old Man HI rison.

1 1 cf the storv of his Invent ion. "That nutontfbile eo-i me no than I a- tualiy i xjmied Urn! amount cf mom in experuivntins ail pi-rftetiim my plans. And. truth be told, that lin-t hor.sles i-arrhie Wits mu a jiUCMTss. lrip it about f'-r a tim.

hut It was not what 1 wanted or expected, und so it was ilisciird-'d. "It was jn reality (he second automobile which was the first successful horseless Ji, 4 i.T by William Morrison of Des Moines as the very first one In existence In the world. Mr. Morrison Is still a resident of lies Moines, with quarters at the Victoria hotel. That Des Moines had the distinction to surpass Chicago, New York, Paris and every other city In the world in seem a horseless carriUKe sufely and swiftly manipulated over its streets is a fact nut Kenerally known.

Six years before the first automobile race in Paris. however an event so notable, that journals, large and small, all over the world, devoted columns to it on the streets of Des Moines, In a Senl Oin Kcd parade, a horseless carriage made successful Journeys. So astounding was the feat that on being told to the world by means, tirst of The Iowa State Register, later by Tlio Associated I'ress, arid subsequently by I such journals as the Western Klectrlclan and the Scientific American, mail literally by the wagon load poured into Des Moines from all parts of the civilized world. Within three months from the time when the announcement of the successful test of a horseless carriage had heen given to the world, no less than 16.000 let-lers were received by the Des Moines inventor from all parts of the world, 3,000 lrom Spain alone. For the greater part of ten weeks Mr.

Morrison, lie inventor, and his business associate, Douis Schmidt, were kept buey opening the wagon loaxls of mail that came in. After the first few hundred had been opened and found to be simply letters asking for further particulars, for a description of tiie horseless carriage and details of its operations and successful test, the letters were opened only to see if postage stamps had been enclosed. The stamps were taken out and the letters thrown away. From the lli.fluo letters received by tho Des Moines inventor of the automobile, two bushel iiaskets of postage Mamps were taken. "lies Moines had the honor to see the first automobile, not only America, but In the entire world; 1 invented that machine.

There Is nnt the slightest doubt but that my electric biifrgy preceded every horseless carriage in the world, save only those cumbersome machines built on the order of traction engines. I will give to any person who can show the cuts of any horseless carriage designed to carry passengers and which Prof. Amns Koys Currier, dean nf the faculty of tho college of liberal arts In the State University of Iowa for twenty years, and a professor for forty years, has an educational record which extends from December of 1MR, when at the rkc of IS he commenced to teach a country school, down to the end of the present school term, when he closes hig long cureer as an instructor, lust Monday he gave his last lecture ami heard the last recitation in regular university work, although he conducted some examinations and did other work pertaining to the closing of the year. Speaking of this today he said: "I came down this morning with feelings of sadness. I could not help thinking of the fact that my active work is nearing an end.

I determined a year ago to retire at this time, so the Carnegie pension allowance had nothing to do with it. It Is not an easy task to lay off the work and associations nf a half century, especially when the work and surroundings have been so pleasant as have mine. There Is an Inspiration In a class room tilled with bright young people which must bo experienced to be appreciated. I have always found helpful lnsplralion from the students. A man cannot grow old.

In spirit at least, under such circumstances. I have often gone to my work when not well, thinking that I could not remain at work during the day. but soon after recitations began 1 would get the spirit of the hour, and when It was over would be feeling physically perfect. I feel as young today as I did forty years ago, and attribute my good health to the Influence of the young people with whom I have associated." When Professor Currier retires from his position us professor and dean he will retain an office In tho liberal arts building and will devote some of his work to preparing historical matter regarding the university and its former fcraduates. The university has a fairly accurate list of the graduates, with their present address and occupation, but no record is kept of the non-graduates, and It will be Professor Currier's endeavor to try to locate them and learn of their doings.

Speaking of these he says that many of them are as noted In the professions and In business and public lile as the graduates. There Is much In the life of Professor Currier that Ih commonplace, but It Is a career marked ail the way with painstaking thoroughness, the doing well of everything that was to be done. He came of good' New England stock, blessed wth virtues, but not so much of that which Is now valued highly-worldly possessions. He was born at Canaan, N. October 13, 1KU.

He attended the village schools and then the Canaan academy. There was not then a high school In the state and few places where young men could prepare for college. He began teaching school In the fal of IMS. and taught several terms, at very low pay, alternating the time with attendance at the Kimball Union academy, at Merldun, N. till when he entered Dartmouth college, from which he graduated in IK.

In January, NOT, he came to Iowa to visit an uncle, Rev. Joshua Currier, a well known pioneer Baptist minister, then stationed at LaMotte, Jackson county. He conferred with his uncle as to his future occupation. Medicine was discussed, but he had no liking for It. and a to law, he did nnt feel himself suited to that calling.

His uncle proposed advancing him the money wilh which to buy a quarter section of Iowa land, but Just at this time a Baptist minister culled there In the Interest of Central university, at Pella, a new Baptist Institution then Just being opened. Learning that young Currier was a teacher and college graduate he solicited him to go to Pella. The proposition was accepted, and April of the following spring found him at that place. Iowa was successfully operated before mine was put on the streets of Des Moines So says the inventor, William Morrison, after iielng induced to retell the story of his labors. Kimm-nt trade puhliea lions, notable amoiif; them being the Western Electrician of Chicago and the American of New York, corroborate i ha claims made for the Des Moines man.

The. story of how the automobile, came to tie given to the world i-i Interesting in the extreme. The excitement which the appearance of tin firs; horseless carriage created nineteen yctr ao' this fall, when it appeared on De Moines streets, tan tie imagined. The crowd. which rushed out of metropolitan stor and offices to gaze at 1 he first airship of Santo? Ditmont and Roy Knab'-ns'iue were no more astounded than were the crowds of eighteen and nineteen ytars ago at the sight of a carriage propelled ithout horses or other visible mi Man had Ions dreamed of the d.ty when he could travel without the aid if the horse, hut the day seemed to be long distant.

Stephenson had brought into existence the locomotive, successfully drawing a line of passencer coaches filled with human freight. Man dreamed of the day when, over ordinary roads, without rails, enclne or locomotive, he could rifle as easily and even more speedily than his horse drawn carriage. Rut for years and years the dream was unfulfilled. Forty years ago this summer, to he sure, man did. Indeed, ride without horses.

H. fercy Holt is given credit by the Scientific American for designing a horseless carriage that year which made a successful test. but Mr. Holt's carriage was nothing more nor less than a traction engine which slowly and cum-bersomely tolled over the roads, snorting, puffing, panting like a threshing machine. From ISttS to 1W no progress was made Professor Currier Rives a sraph'c description of his trip to Pella ami what he found when he rearlied lu re.

He wen by way of Clinton, I Witt, and passed down Clinton street In Tow a City In iru.it Of the old canitol building, where he was to'ld the legislature had J.ist adjourn'd, or were about to do so, and that ihe capital was to go to Des and tile state university was to taise its place. Kc itching Pella, Professor Currier lound the one building, which is still standing, im oni-piete, with only the third floor In um. There was but one teacher and he was to lake that person's place while lie returned east on a visit. So for the spring term he was the only Instructor connected with what was then known by the somewhat high sounding title of Central university. His salary was a.

month. He continued his work at Pella till At the first call for troops many of his students volunteered. He advised them to wait till school was out. us the government was setting men faster titan they could be equipped, but after Ihe battle ot Bull Run Professor Currier felt that patriotism had its claim, and while on a visit to Washington, he enlisted as a private In Company Eighth Iowa Infantry, well known as General Geddes' regiment. At the battle of Shlloh, with his regiment he founlit in the terrible Hornet's Nest and was captured.

He was in prison at Cahaha, and Macon, but was paroled and sent to Chattanooga. The bbat on which they were sent was able to carry only half the men, and It was announced that those who wanted to go first should step to the landing, while breakfast awaited the others. Professor Currier says heading for God's country, even when they knew nothing of their destination, or of the fact that they were to be paroled, looked better to him than breakfast. Theywere landed within the union lines at Chattanooga and when the other section of prisoners came General Mitchell refused to receive them, claiming that It wag a part of the rebel plan to load him down with prisoners to feed and prevent a forward movement. Many of the prisoners died before they were finally received by the union officers.

Professor Currier and the prisoners were then sent on to Nashville, such as could not walk being sent by tioat, where they were received by Governor Andrew Johnson, afterwards president. LAter he went to Cairo and then to St. Louis. After he was exchanged Professor Currier enlisted in the Eleventh Missouri cavalry and was regimental commissary. He served till 1W5 In Arkansas, most of the time under General Steele.

Ho was discharged on account of Illness. Read Virgil in Prison. Professor Currier possesses a souvenir of his prison life which he prizes very highly and most fittingly. It Is a volume of "Vigil." While at Macon. the prisoners were visited by Episcopal minister from Rhode Island, and In answer to a request for reading matter he gave Professor Currier the Latin book.

It was a tieusure to him and to many of the soldiers who had been college students, and even many a farmer lad passed away his time digging at the Latin. When paroled, the book was given to another prisoner, and It was kept among them, and finally renehed Llbby prison. Two years later, while Biting as parole clerk at Benton barracks, a prisoner arrived with the book. He had received It from a dying comrade with the request to take It to Professor Currier. When captured Professor Currier had In his possession a few pages of an old ledger.

On this he wrote the names of all the captured men of the Eighth regiment, and he managed to Keep this till he was discharged, when It was turned over to the officers and became a record In the war reports. On returning from tba army, Professor I This, it should be remembered, was three years before the first automobile i ace in the world, in which only a score of cars entered, between Paris and Bordeaux, an event that, occasioned more excitement than the airship races of today. A description of that historic carriage, which deserves to go down in history alongside Stephenson's Rocket, will be of Interest nowadays, when cars of 60 or even PX horse power are to be seen on the streets where that first four-horsepower horseless carriage operated amid such excitement. The Morrison electric; carriage was Intended for operation on ordinary city and country roads, carried twelve people rom-fortably and could be arranged to accommodate double that number of passengers. The power was furnished by twenty-four storage battery cells placed beneath the scats.

These accumulators were of Mr. Morrison's own designs, the combined output of all the cells being equal to lu' amperes at volts. Each cell weighed 3'J pounds, making the total weight 7X pounds. The cells were charged without being removed from the cm iage. the process taking ten noura.

This was generally done at night. The motor was of four horse power, although on a pinch could he worked up to eight horse power. It was of the ordinary street car type, with a Siemens armature, The motor was sustained by a framework underneath the carriage and was "eared to the rear axle. The steering apparatus was attached to CONTINUED ON PACE 8. wiiieh Is regarded among scholars as a authority In addition to being a thorough educator in ela.is room work Professor Curlier has always been allentivc to ail tho oilier duties devolving; upon a professor In such an institution.

He seldom, practically never, misses a faculty meeting and tin- faculty and special committees Willi which be is connected always have llieir work promptly and well done. Helpful To Students. In 1ts7. when Professor Leonard retired from the university. Professor Currier succeeded him as dean of the faculty of the college of liberal arts, a position he still holds, and at the end of the present eollejie year lie will he succeeded by Prof.

1. t5. Weld: This position brought him into close relationship with the faculty. Instructors and students. He unooubtedly knows more students personally than any professor now or heretofore connected with the university.

He is the confidant of the students. They tell him of their situation, of their financial shortages, consult him as to studies, us to hours, as to their courses of study, and in Professor Currier tin- student always finds a sympathetic friend and a wise counselor. As an Illustration of his helpfulness, a student a number of years ago found his source of Income exhausted and he was about to quit work in the university and go to teaching, but a friend suggested thai he consult Professor Currier. As a result of the conference the young man Joined one of the well known fraternal orders to get life Insurance and the money was forthcoming to meet the expenses of his senior year In the university. Member Baptist Church.

Professor Currier is a member of the Baptist church and Is active in all Its work. He has served as deacon and for twenty five years has been Its treasurer. Aiming the Instructors In the university when Professor Currier becume connected with the institution was Miss Celia A. Moore, who was assistant to Professor Leonard in mathematics. In lsiis Professor Currier and Miss Moore were married.

She then became his as-sisiant In Latin and filled that position till IS74. Mrs. Currier is a woman of rare accomplishments, but It Is in her homo thet her womanly nature best asserts Itself. They have two living children, one riving in infancy. Their daughter, Helen, Is now Mrs.

Roy A. Cook of Independence, and Albert Currier is a civil engineer at St. Louis, being connected with the Missouri Pacilie railway. He is to be married in St. Louis next week.

Professor Currier has uttended practically every session of the State Tear Iters' association for forty years. He has missed possibly two or three meetings when tin weie held in midsummer. He has been president of the association, held chairmanships of many of the committees, been chairman of the college section, and In other ways lias been helpful and influential in shaping educational work In the state. Also he has been a general attendant upon all the other Important educational gatherings In the state, us well as many others beyond the state. The strength of Professor Currier lies In his ever present good nature; his disposition to always attend strictly to his own work; his spirit of fairness; his ability to keep abreast the times and not become set In his ways, as many p'ofes-nors do.

Midst every storm that haa swept over the. university, and they have been numerous, Professor Currier has been able to so conduct himself as to have the respect of the warring factions, and while others have outlived their usefulness or been dropped In order to restore harmony, he has ever been the one indlspenslble man, with nobody to Interfere with his words or draw him down from the high standing he long ago attained and ever since has held civ'40 in lSX. won all the honors and awards for horsetesp carnages, brine tli(" only one lo be exhibited on the grounds, and which has Plnce been shown in every state of the union and Is htill in operation, beir.K owned by Harold Slurgis of Kan; us City. The first siicht the world at lare had of this tirst enccestuful automobile was in tho Sent Cm Fed pir.id.- in Des Moines In the fall of Issm. The inventor, Mr.

Morrlinon. drove the machine alt over the city, attaining a speed as hish as twenty miles a it hour and having several notable races with the street cars along Sixth avfiiue and other thoroughtan-s. It was this machine which way exhibtti In the electricity building at the Chicago fair and wat operated in he World fair ground enclosure, something like GuDmO visitors to the fair being curried about by the carriage. It was impossible to fulfill the plans of the inventor and his associates and secure concession for he carry mg of visitors about the fair grounds ciu losuie, lor the reason that the Intcniiural company had the exeluslvt contract tor carrying pass tis i's. 'I hor.sele'-s carriage was taken out almost daily, however, and exhibited on turn made, being filled up each lime with excited, amazed sightseers who doubtless to this day p-memwf the automobile the greatest wonder of all seen at the f.ur.

After the world's fair came to an end this first automobile waw Ui'a mi all over the country by its owner. Mi rold Suir-gis, and exhibited in every state of th union for advertiaing purposes. It is now Id the of Mr, Sturgis. who Is a resident of Kansas I'lty, and al stat" university it was not Ihe great Institution it now it. "Ih" normal depart ment its most important work, or at least that depart nient, then presided over by Prof.

N. Kellow. had the Greater number of students. The coll.g:ate mid normal departments cun-stituied the islly. There wen- three buildings, the central, north and south halls, familiar to all old students nf thai time ami more than a dozen years lo follow.

The other professors then connected with the univeiiily N. H. Leonard. Charles A. White.

Clmrlis A. Ktffiert. T. S. Parvln nnd Gustavus Hinrichs.

wilh five instiuet'its. The university then had two yiars of subfreii men work and most of the stud, nts wore 111 the lower classes. At the first commencement followlns Pro-lessor Currier's connection with ihe university the collegiate liep.ll'l Hunt prail-llaleil a class of two. In isi.7 President Fcti-cr was appointed eoinil to Genoa, llalv. and Prof, ssm- Leonard acted in his pliec President Black was installed.

The regular presidents since then haw been Timelier. Single, Pickard. tichacnVr. M.icl.can. with Professor Currier as acting president between the last two.

The university was cmbar-rassid for many years. When Professor Currier enured the university the best saury is 1.0 a year. He tells of f-forts to get money from the state. On one occasion when C. W.

81a Rle was president, he visilod the legislature and urifed a better appropri.it Ion. A hid was reported allowing the iinixersity a year for two years. It was doubtful whether the bill would pass, and when a leading senator was by President Single to vote for It. be so far relented as to say, "Mr. Slagle.

1 will vote for this lull with the distinct understanding that tills is to put tiie university on its feet and that no appropriations are to be aslccti In the future." Also Was Librarian. Tor twelve years Professor Currier was librarian, although he never made that his leading work. But he lie got mui enjoyment anil great benefit from and If the pay hud hern sufficient, he says he would have been Inclined to accept til at position, hen the librarian was required to give that work his entire-time. Wliile he was in charge of the library he laid out the work and had it carried to a successful conclusion of mahing an Index covering all the books and publications found In the library. He hid seen a printed one at Dartmouth and tried to find one for the university, but was Informed tin' publication was out of iirlnt.

Always a Worker. Professor Carrier, as every student who has attended his classes knows. Is preeminently a class room worker. He has an abundance of enthusiasm In his work and his students catch his spirit. Many students have testified that If tliey had to go to a recitation unprepared, they always were preimred In Currier's work If anyrfhere.

Speaking of this pjrt of his work. Professor Currier s.tys: "1 never missed a class If It could be helped. I hive never Indulged In lectures away from the university, not that such werk Is not important, hut have always preferred to be Willi my classes." Professor Currier was relieved of all work except teaching Latin soon after his connection with the university, when Prof. L. F.

Parker, now of Grlnnell, became professor of Greek, and the title of the former then became and ever has remained, professor of Latin language and literature. Professor Currier frequently has been solicited by publishers to write text and other books relating to classical language and literature, tout he never has Indulged himself as an author except In periodicals and the publication of a little booklet covering Latin suffixes and prefixes, I rnwis hitn In thf prt.M in tf dis, rising w.iih faithful inH.f. in iS7. in Dos Moines, th l-ng rontiniiftj efforts of D's Moinrs invf-nior hepun lo fruits. William Morrison saw his drram of years about to ho His fir-t ucre.sf ul Hutomohiio was rapiJly nfarlng eomjwe-tion.

"Th first autoninhUr in the world was the one built for me in 17 by ihe Des Moines tiuRpy said Mr. Mor 1 'Ml in 4 -i Currier took up the work he had laid down five years before at Pella and continued It till IStii, when he accepted the position of professor of undent languages In the state university. Speaking of his work at Pella. Professor Currier says he never spent six years of his life pleusajitcr or more profitably Who closes a memorable fit Jy AMOS NOYES d'HRIER. career at Iowa's state university this commencement.

ing, he had to look after supplies, tuition, etc. He recalls that on his return many of the students who left the class room to Join the army came back, among the Judge Ryan, who for several terms was Judge In the district in which Pella Is located or the one adjoining It. When Professor Currier came, to the than these at the Baptist college. Thert, were no high schools and tho work was such as now Is generally done at academies. The pay was small mid the work very hard, but there was the satisfaction of knowing that the Influence of the Instructor and the school Itself was (ur reaching.

In addition to teach.