Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
BARKER AND SPILMAN
BARKER AND SPILMAN. In 1854 the company of Barker and Spilman was the first to receive a Dubuque gas franchise. First valued only for its ability to provide light, gas was introduced to the city on Julyy 18, 1855 from a plant constructed at the corner of Dodge and Bluff.
The company faced many disputes with city officials over gas street lights and consumer rates but survived to construct a larger plant across the street. The main office at 57 Main Street was opened in 1863 for customer convenience. This later moved to Fifth Street between Main and Iowa.
The company's ownership was taken over by M. Moberly, F. S. Jessup and Company, J. L. Langworthy and Brothers, W. J. Barney and Company and Cincinnati parties. Later Caleb H. BOOTH, William CARTER and Julius K. GRAVES became the company owners and leased the plant to Howard and McArthur. Neither group made the company any more profitable and the KEY CITY GAS COMPANY assumed the franchise and properties in 1880.
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Source:
"Gas Introduced to Dubuquers Just One Hundred Years Ago," Telegraph Herald, Oct. 24, 1954, p. 20