Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1882-3, Part 1

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Publication date: 1883
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USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1882-3 > Part 1


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DWA


ZES and TINW


Dis ati


: 2°


E. V INGERSOLL;


SAMIL MERRILL


Preside WAS: CALLANAN


TZ,


Presidi


INSURANCE


COMPANY,


Issets Jan.


1882. $650.203.98.


This Company, organized March 13. 1885, has done more Business And more Losses, has a larger Surplus over all Liabilities, and a larger Samplos and Capital than any łowa Company


Office in Company's Building Fourth St., Cor. Court Att


BUSHNELLIS IDES MOINES DIRECTORY!


-


1


BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES DIRECTORY.


W. G. ANKENEY.


J.A. ANKENEY.


CENTRAL OIL WORKS!


ANKENEY BROTHERS


MANUFACTURERS OF


Pure, Raw @Double Boiled


1


LINSEED OIL,


Oil Cake, and Oil Cake Meal.


Screened and Ground Flaxseed for Druggists.


Wepay the HIGHEST MARKET PRICE for FLAXSEED


Cor. East Fourth and Vine Ste.,


DES MOINES, IOWA.


PHO TO


4


`DES MOINES;


IOW


BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES DIRECTORY.


I. N. RICE & CO


: (Successors to MASON & CO.,)


-


Wholesale Tinware


No, 1og Second Street,


DES MOINES,


IOWA.


B. S.,Schermerhorn.


.J. J. Bousquet.


H. Rhensburger.


B. S. SCHERMERHORN & CO.,


Wholesale Dealers in and Shippers of .


EGGS and BUTTER.


113 Walnut Street,


DES MOINES, IOWA.


S. BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES DIRECTORY.


GEO, LENDRUM, President.


D. E. PERKINS, See. and Trees.


EAGLE IRON WORKS


House and Building Castings,


COLUMNS, PILASTERS,


Lintels, Girders, Sash Weights, etc.


= FLOURING MILLS AND ELEVATORS FURNISHED COMPLETE.


Engines,


Shafting,


Pulleys,


Bolts and Washers.


Boiler Fronts, Gearing, Grate Bars


Bridge Castings,


BRASS CASTINGS,


Foundry, Machine and Blacksmith Work


EAST COURT AVE,, COR. THIRD STREET


DES MOINES,


IOWA.


MOINES DIRECTORY.


00 BUSHNELL'S DES


GEO. LENDRUN, President


D. E. PERKINS, Sed. and Treas.


EAGLE IRON WORKS.


House and Building Castings


COLUMNS,


PILASTERS


Lintels, Girders, Sash Weights, etc.


FLOURING MILLS AND ELEVATORS


FURNISHED · COMPLETE


Engines, Shafting, Pulleys,


Boles and Washers,


Boiler Fronts, Gearing,


Grate Bars,


Bridge Castings.


BRASS CASTINGS,


--


Foundry, Machine and Blacksmith Work


EAST COURT AVE, COR. THIRD STREET,


DES MOINES,


IOWA.


BUSHNELL'S


=


DES MOINES


DIRECTORY


CONTAINING


A COMPLETE RESIDENCE AND BUSINESS DIRECTORY; A CHURCH, SCHOOL AND SOCIETY DIRECTORY, STATE, COUNTY AND CITY OFFICERS; PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS OF THE BUSINESS, COMMERCIAL AND MANUFACTURING INTERESTS; MAP OF THE CITY OF DES MOINES; AND CARDS OF THE LEADING BUSINESS HOUSES OF DES MOINES.


ALSO,


A POST-OFFICE DIRECTORY OF IOWA ...


J. P. BUSHNELL, Compiler!


VOLUME IX.


-


PRICE THREE DOLLARS.


1882-83.


DES MOINES, IOWA. I. P. BUSHNELL & CO., PUBLISHERS, STATE JOURNAL PRINT, 18824


.


-


10


.BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES DIRECTORY


W. G. TOWN, Ass't Cashier. J. J. TOWN, Cashier.


VALLEY BANK OF DES MOINES, JOWA .!


Capital Paid in,


$60,000.


Surplus,


$22,000.


Transacts a general banking business. NO INTEREST, PAID ON DEPOSITS. -


Proprietors-O. NOBLE, Erie, Pa .: J. J. TOWN, Des Moines, Iowa; T. H. DELAM'ATER Meadville, Pa.


:Correspondents-Chemical | National Bank, New York City ; · First National Bank, Chicago; St. Louis Bank of Coinmerco, St. Louis. '


JAMES T. ALLEN & CO.,


Merchants Transfer Company.


Deliver Goods to all parts of the City, Collect and Pay Freight Bills. and do a General Delivery Business. 1 Moving Pianos, Safes, and Household Goods A SPECIALTY.


All orders by Telephone promptly attended to.


We solicit your patronage.


OFFICE, 309 FIFTH STREET, IN OMNIBUS OFFICE,


DES MOINES,


1


IOWA.


For


PREFACE


In presenting this, our ninth volume of the Des Moines Direc -. tory, to the citizens and the public, the publishers believe that it will meet with approval. We do not claim that the work is entirely free from errors, yet it is presumed that it is as nearly so as it is possible to makeja publication of this character. To commit no error in spelling a name, to give with exactness. every initial, to give with accuracy the residence of every citi- zen, and to locate each house properly, requires no small amount of care, and no little expenditure of time and patience. The city has been thoroughly and faithfully canvassed,, every resi- dence and place of business having been visited, and neither time, care nor expense has been spared to make the work as reliable and attractive as possible.


It contains a review of; the resources, industries, and the various interests of the city, a complete business and resident directory, a full list of the churches, educational institutions, orders and societies, etc., a complete post-office directory of Iowa, a new map of Des Moines, also cards of the leading busi- ness houses of the city


There are 8,794 families in the city, which, (computed at 3} to the name, and this has been found by actual count to be the average) gives us to-day a population of 30,770, indicating a healthy growth, as the population given by the United States census in 1880 was 22,690, an increase in two years of 8,083, making Des Moines the largest city inl Iowa.


We therefore ; congratulate our fellow, citizens upon the unprecedented development of the city. The growth has been principally in the number and importance of our new railroads, new manufactures and wholesale houses, and the public improve- ments, all of which, together with the heathfulness and beauty of Des Moines as a place of residence, is attracting more peo- ple than any other city in Iowa, or the Northwest. The many changes in business and residence, and the great influx of pop- ulation in ouricity from year to year, necessitates the publica- tion of the Directory oftener than' heretofore, and we ! shall henceforth issue it annually., We return thanks to all who! have so kindly assisted us in obtaining the information, and to all who have so liberally supported the enterprise we extend our hearty acknowledgments.


Respectfully, J. P. BUSHNELL.


1


,


,


19


BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES DIRECTORY.


-


J. S. CLARKSON, Vice President. JOHN WYMAN, President. 1 W. E. HAZEN, Cashier.


Des Moines National Bank


1


DES MOINES, IOW


Has twice the Capital of any other Bank in the State.


AUTHORIZED CAPITAL, $800,000. PAID-UP CAPITAL, $400,000.


Collections promptly made at reasonable rates, and correspondence of all kinas will receive careful attention.


1


CORRESPONDENTS.


Fourth National Bank, New York.


---


Maverick National Bank, Boston.


Northwestern National Bank, Chicago.


Fourth National Bank, St. Louis.


DIRECTORS,


J. S. POLK, President of Des Moines Northwestern Railway.


J. S. CLARKSON, Clarkson Bros. " Lowa State Register."


J. H. WINDSOR, Des Moines Packing Co, and Pres. Board of Trade. R. L. HARDING, President Des Moines, Osceola & Southern R. R. JOHN A. ELLIOTT, President of State Insurance Company. 1


. F. M. GILBERT, Gilbert Starch Works.


G. W. SEEVERS, Seevers & Sampson, Attorneys, Indianola and Des Moines JOHN WYMAN, PRESIDENT; W: E. HAZEN, CASHIER.


0


CONTENTS


PAGE.


Abbreviations.


119


Advertisers' Inflex:


15 and 16


Bands and Orchestras


81'


Banks


44


Loan Associations:


44


Loan and Building Associations


..


77


Boundaries of Wards


.117


Business Directory ; .


431


Manufacturing .f


27


Business Enterprises needed


53


Map of Des Moines


10


Building Associations


44


Miscellaneous Industries


65


Business Interests


36.


New Capitol Building


52


Business Statistics


39


Newspapers


43


Church Directory


65


Polk Co. Medical Association -83


·


Churches


47


Preface


11


Cemeteries


51


Public Libraries


40


City Officers.


84


Railroads.


19


Coal.


28


Real Estate.


44.


Colleges and Public Schools


47


Resident | Directory


119


Colleges and Schools


78


Retail Trule for 1881


37


Commissioners of Pharmacy


83


Signal Service !.


50


:


'County Officers,


83.


Societies and, Orders. . ... . :49 and 08.


Des Moines Board of Trade


76


State and Judicial Officers


82


Des Moines Post Office.


State Board of Health.


83


Early History.


18


State Officers .. .


82


Fire Department.


51


State Militia of Iowa.


82


Grain and Profluce ...


39.


:State of Iowa ...


60


Statistics of Manufacturing,


1881.


28


Growth and Population.


,17


Home Insurance Companies


.45


& 75


Street Directory.


113


Suburban Towns


57


Hospitals . 50 Hotels. . . 45 1 Title Page 9


Improvements


53


Iowa Post Office Directory.


..


499


Transportation by the Mississippi. 20


Water Power. 28 *. Iowa State Agricultural Society .. 51 || Wholesale trade for 1881 38


PAGE . ..


Iowa State Fair Grounds


52


Iowa Travelling Men's Association 77


Leading Business Houses.


86


-


14


BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES DIRECTORY.


.


DES MOINES BANK,


Cor. Walnut and Third Streets


DES MOINES,


=


IOWA.


----


PROPRIETORS:


P. M. CASADY, SIMON CASADY, Cashier,


-


G. M. HIPPEE.,


GED. B. HIPPEE, Ass't Cashier.


-


A GENERAL BANKING BUSINESS TRANSACTED.


DRAFTS ON EUROPE BOUGHT AND SOLD,


WE INVITE CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARTIES DESIRING U


TO BUY OR SELL UNITED STATES, COUNTY; CITY OR SCHOOL BONDS


Correspondents: -


COMMERCIAL NATIONAL BANK, CHICAGO. HANOVER NATIONAL BANK, NEW YORK. SAINT LOUIS NATIONAL BANK, SAINT LOUIS


ADVERTISERS INDEX


LEADING BUSINESS HOUSES OF DES MOINES.


-


PAGE.


Aborn House, Riseldy & Vail, Props. 178.1


Adams, K. J. & Co .. real estate .. 142 Allen & Co., shirt manufacturers and


ateain laundry. 166


Allep, Jas. T., & Co. merchants' trans- fer. 10


Anderson, A., florist! 298


Ankeney Bros., oil malla 4


Anneberg, Justus, bakery 470 Atkins, O. H., real estate. 267


Aulmann, Lorenz, Capital City Iron


Works .. 490 Baker Manufacturing Co,, barbed wire. 448 Banker's Life Ase'n. .... inside back cover Beckington, Cll agt D). Appleton & Co., school book publishers 138


Bentley, Jaquith & Co., wholesale boots . and shoes. 116 Berg & Rasck, Ornamental wood work. 150 Booton, Jobn O .. jol printing! 186 Bowen Business College, B. W. Bowen principal . 194


Braden, Tom, agricultural implementa 150


Brewater & Co., job printing. Burnside & Kchoe, plumbers, gas' and


303


.steam fittera. 462


Bushnell, J. P. & Co.] publishers. 472 Butin. D. F., real estate : 139


Butz Bros. & Co., wholesale grocers


Callanan College. 464 Capital City Ice Col, H. E. Teachout ( prop 211


Capital Publishing Co 600 Carter & . Hussey, printers and book.


binders, books and stationery 270


----


Carver & Young, planing mill ,218 Central lowa Coal Co :outside back cover Central lowa R. R. 490 Chamberlain; & Co., proprietary medi-


¡cines .. outside front cover and 514 and 515 Chicago and Northwestern R. R .. . .... 488 Chicago, Burlington and Quincy R. R . 501 Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific R. R. 468 Chrisinger, J. H., grocer and commin. jsion merchant 250


Chrisinger, J. M., restaurant


Citizens Nat') Bank .. . outside front cover Clark. M. M. Mre., inillinery 182 Coggeshall & Ilunt, real estate 205 Colline, E. H & Son, steam heating. 167 Commercial Printing Co .. .118 and 271 Comparet |& Stark, hardware, stoves and tinware .. 915


Compton, I., feed and coal. .. 476 Cono W. K., attorney at law and teal


:estate .. 436 Cooper, E. J., real estate and insurance 267 Crane. C., fancy goods and notione outeide back cover


Crone, R. W. pumps 440


Cross, D. If., photographer 462


Dawson, Garyer & Miller, hardware. 195! Dean, F. W., dentlet 8 ter, płop. 500


Des Moines and Ft. Dodge R. R ...


PAGE. 4S2


Des Moines Bakery Ce., cracker manu facturere


198


Des Moines Bank


14


Des Moines Brick and Tile Co. 139


Des Molhes Daily News 481 Des Moines National Bank. 12


Dexter Manufacturing Co., brass foun- I. dry . 516 Dickerson, A. 1,. Mis., dress and cloak - .making 174 Dicks, A. F., hardware, stoves and ware.i 460


Domback, C. W., commission /merch't. 199


Dorr, C|W. & Co., seedsmen


250


Dunlap, S. M., blacksmith


.. 231


Eagle Iron Works.


8


Eclipse Coal and Mining Co. 906


Edwards, B. L., dentist .ontside back cover Ensminger & Tyler, boller manufact'rs 442 Entwistle & O Dea, hardware, stoves and tinware .. 434


Eureka Coal and Mining Co. . 452 Ewing, Jewett & Chandler, lumber. 185 .Ferree & Slecth, shirt manufacturers ... 513 Fisher, I .. & Son, commission merch's 474 Foster, J. P., real estate, outside front cov. Freberg, J. Q., merchant tallor 291


Fuller, S. L. & Co.,- Agricultural Implementa .... 154


Seedemen ....


159


Garfield Plumbing Co., plumbers, gas


Gardner, George, abstracts of title.


J1. 513


and steam fitters


. 990


Giant Chal Co .. 446


Gibbs & Co., commiarion merchants. 203


Gibeon. J. A., contractor and builder! 492 Given House, F. F. Frantz, prop. 199 Givin, Robert & Co., dry goode 3


1


Goldstone & Redstone, dry goods and clothing .. ... 28.3


Hahnen, Henry, shoemaker


184


Hallett & Faller, dentists outside front cover


Hamilton & Katon, mill furnishingel .:. 258 Harbach| L., furniture and carpete .. .... 255 Bastic, Alex. & Co., abstracte of title .. 142 Hatch, W. H., clothing ..


Hawkeye Ina. Co., ...... . Inside front cover Hawthorne Grocery, W. R. Durand,


manager.


JJ .. 298


Hitchcock, 8. 8., scale manufacturer ... 327 Hedges. N. G. & Co., abstracte of title,. 22 Hewitt, Chas., wholesale groceries. [ ... 163 Holland & New, paints and wall paper, paintere and paper hangers. 190 : Hollingsworth &, Jones, agricultural implements . .. 335 Hossack. F. N. & Co., dry goods 230 . Howell. George J., veterinary surgeon. 454 Hyde, R. N., fabor office 476. International Hotel, William Zinsmas- 1


1


16


BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES DIRECTORY.


-


FAGE.


Robinson. T. B., grocer 470 Ross. Foster, books and stationery 183 Rudd, Thomas Ell bakery


Sanders Gas Machine Co. 456 Sandford, L. M. & Co., real estate and


Iowa Loan and Trust Co. 513 insurance. 294 Jowa National Bank L. ,. outilde back cover Saturday Evening Mail Car 166 299 Iowa State Agricultural Society Schermerhorn, B. J., & Co., wholesale eggs and butter. 6


Iowa State Fair 450


Iowa State Leader 246 Iowa State Register 830


James, Thomas, photographer 5


Johnson & Jarrett mill furnishings 438 Kahler, Chas. L. & Cd, boots and shoes 243


Kirkwood House!


Bogue & Wyman,


proprietors ... 506 Kirkwood, J. O .. Ifvery 497


Landfors & Wilson, merchant tallore ... 143


Lehman, W. II., pisnos and organs. 162 Lewis, J. A., Asbestine Stone Works .. 452 Lockwood, B. C., grocer 170 Smith. Gus, grocer 834 Snavely. John V.,meat block 139


Longley, B. F., boots and shoes. 186


Loughian & Hillle Jour dry 210


Madden & Co., druggists 175


Matthews & Ledde, hardware, stoves


¡ and tinware.


510


McConkey, Thomas, wood and native


. lumber


295


McConnell. G. E., subscription books .. 476 McDonnell, N. S.) & Co., Des Moines Steam Boller and Iron Works 458 McNulty & Copperstond, china, glads and queensware 187 McPherson, J. R., vegetables and plants 138 Miles, A, H1 .. dragkist,


.. outside back cover and 146 Miller, Gitton & Watters, printers and. hinders. outside back Miller & Huntington, artificial stone pavements 211


Mills & Abdill, books and stationery ..


247.


Mills & Co., printers, stereotyperp and


+ book binders ...


Minneapolis & St. Louis R R. 17


491


Mogelberg & Franz, Metropolitan Bar-


i.ber Shop and Bath Rooms, barbers' forniture and supplies. 508


Montgomery, Willlain, real estate 327 Morgan House, F. Morgan, prop .. 191 Mosfer. C. A., stenographer.


.Muelhaupt, 8., books and stationery. 182


New England Loan and Trust Co 134 Newlen, Gust .. furoiture and undertak'g 323 Newman & Bardoist, galvanized iron cornice 143


Noble, Samuel, contractor and bu 250


Northwestern Pothshing House, aub.


scription bookd


131.


Orwig. T. G., Iowy Patent Office. 183 Osgood, Harris & Co., dry goods 235 Pearson, O. E., photographer.


454 Plain Taik Publie ing House 155 Plumly, J. S., bakbry .. . outelde back cover Ray, W. C., veterinary surgeon ... 138 Redhead. Wellslager & Co., books and .. stationery ...:


Regan Bros. & Mcforrisk, stone, lime and cenient 450


Rice, I. N: & Co., wholesale tinware ..


6 Risser. C. E., & Btos., dry goods,


outside back cover, and 478 and 479 Robertson, S. A., contractor and build:


er, and stone, lime and cement. $07


151


Shoemaker. Frank! M., plasterer and contractor .. 202


Sickels, H. fl., agricultural implemente 146 Sloenm, T. L., gen ] agt. Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co .. 803


Sueer| Geo. S., Hardware, stoves and tinwaro. . .. outside, back cover


Sperry, Watt & Gaiver, wholesale groc's 251 Standard Coal and Mining Co 144 Stato Ins. Co ... outside front cover and $66 State Journal Publishing House $30


Stewart, A. T.f & Co., wholesale, cut- lery


Stewart, L. A., & Co., wholesale olle.


Stewart, S. F., wholesale and retail car- . pets .. . 186


Stewart, W. R. Jr. &, Co., wholesale china) glass and queensware Tebay, J. M .. piano tuher and repairer. 492. Therapeutic Co .... 286 1


Thomas, M. W., Des Moines Medical And Surgical Institute 214


Turtle & Corey, Iowa Carbonated Stone Pipe Works . 458


Union Loan Association 512


Union Scale Co 226 United States Express Cu


Valley Bank 262 10


Vorge, Frank. W. ments ..


agricultural imple- -


Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific R. R 486 Waere & Cottle, wholesale dour and produce. 454


Walsh, N. E., pluthber, gas and. steam fitter 219


Ward,'C. H. & Co; wholesale druggists 158 Warfield & Howell, wholesale grocers. 436 Warner & Carrothers, plumbers, gas and steam fitters. 188


Washington LAffe Ine. Co., outside front cov. Watrous, C. L., Capital City Nurseries. 500 Welsher & Springer, printers and .ster. cotypers 474


Western Mutual Aid Society 517


Western Newspaper Union ..


White, W. L., boots and shoes


Whiting, F. S .. contractor and builder .. 189 Williams & Fairall, real estate


William. & Sweeney, hominy and feed mills ... 323


Wilson, J. A., carriage manufacturer ... 331 Witmer & Paige, Insurance ... 135 White, B. C., & Co., Capital Roller Mills 151 Youngerman, Conrad, contractor and builder


337


PAGE.


Iowa Business College, A. C. Jennings, :


proprietor .


302


Iowa College of .Law .. 251


Iowa Homestead| And Western:


Journal


Farm


498


Scribner, Q. F., grlicer 444 Seeberger. J. D., hardware. 130 Semple, William, Frank manufacturer .. 175 Sharman. J. P . portrait artist. 492


Sheberman Bros , Capital City Woolen Mills


-


THE NEW CAPITOL OF IOWA.


J. M.ROSS:


!


MILLIS'& COMPANY


LITHOGRAPHERS


AND


DESMOINES. IOWA,


ELLERS


PUBLISHE


5.


MILLE


FUBAISHING HOUSE.


CZ


:


1


ISSE OTWENTY SIXTH YEAR @ 1882


ITHOGRAPHERS,


Manufacturing Stationers. AND


LAW BOOKSELLERS.


FOP


EVERY DESCRIPTION


DRAWN, ENGRAVED, COLORED & MOUNTED


Haps for tuvaising purposes a specially.


NEW JNOCKED R R. MAP -. JOWA.


MOUNTED POCKET


3.00


50


ENGRAVERS, STATIONERS


PAPER BOX MAKERS


AND


:


DES MOINES. 1


THE CAPITAL AND METROPOLIS OF IOWA-THE GREAT RAILROAD CENTER OF THE NORTH WEST-HER MANUFACTURING RESOURCES AND BUSINESS INTERESTS.


L


GROWTH AND POPULATION.


The progress made by Des Moines during the year 1881, is a mat- . ter of gratification to our citizens. New railroads were added to our excellent facilities for transportation, many new factories and busi ness houses were established in our midst, and business in all depart ments was very prosperous. Numerous elegant and commodious buildings were erected, for business or residence, and many strangere from abroad located in our city. The records of the year show an : road los era of unprecedented prosperity. The following figures demonstrate the advance in population made by Des Moines: In 1850, the town contained 502 inhabitants; in 1860, 3,965; in 1870, 12,035; in 1875, 15,782; in 1880, 22,696, and to-day we can safely' claim a population of: 100. Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa, and, we doubt not the next United States census will show her population to be at least 50,000. 1


THE OUTLOOK: 1


The commercial outlook for the year 1882 is most encouraging. During the past year, more business blocks and manufactories were erected than during any year in our previous history. With the in- crease of transportation facilities, Des Moines has become the best radiating center for trade, in Iowa, and constitutes a supply depot for a large extent of territory.' The orders received by our manufac- urers and wholesale merchants last year exceeded their capacity to meet the demand, and there is urgent need of largely increased facil- aties for trade. Several of the largest factories and wholesale houses


1


18


BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES DIRECTORY.


now in Des Moines located More last year, and present indications warrant us in the statement that more largo industries will be added to the business interests of the city, and our trade and com- merce will be widely extended during 1882. In proportion to the growth and prosperity in business circles, is the improvement in the residence portion of the city. . Many imposing and elegant residences were built in 1981, while those of a smaller and less expensive class, can be counted by hundreds. Schools and colleges are enlarging, and in all departments of the city's life there is a steadily increasing , development.


LOCATION AND EARLY HISTORY.


Des Moines is situated nearly in the center of the State, and in area includes twelve square miles. Two large rivers, six hundred feet wide, spanned by eight handsome, substantial, bridges, unite within the corporate limits of the city, and from the confluence of these rivers, .- on either side, stretches a beautiful plateau, skirted by bluffs, rising by geritle acclivities on all sides, affording fine residence sites, while the level portion is extensive enough to accommodate the business of 1 a large city. Never had a city fairer location or finer promise, and i


. Des Moines now claims for herself indisputable pre-eminence among the cities of Iowa. This claim, however warmly contested in the past , by other cities, is now conceded by all, and Des Moines is becom- ing more and more the center of Towa life. Our central location, and our unrivalled railroad system, have contributed largely to this growth and prosperity. The first survey of the town was made July 8, 1846. On the 22d day of September, 1851, the citizens voted to have it incorporated as a town, and articles of incorporation were adopted by the people on the 8th day of October, 1851. The first election occurred October 20th of the same year. This was ratified by the Legislature in 1853, and in' 1854 an act was passed by which Des Moines became the capital of the State. In 1857, the archives of the State were removed here from Iowa City and deposited in the new State House. During the same year, also, Des Moines was in -. corporated as a, city. . 1 The surrounding country is abundantly supplied with streams of. the purest water; upon the banks of which are found numerous vatie- ties of valuable timber. Underlying the whole city and the country adjacent are inexhaustible beds of coal. The Des Moines and Raccoon rivers furnish a never-failing water power, and clays and sands' found in this vicinity are of superior quality.


BUSH NELL'S DES MOINES DIRECTORY.


19


Taking its location in such a field, its distance from any overshadow- ing city, and adding to these considerations the great natural ad- vantages it bas, in the inexhaustible supplies of coal for cheap motive poiver, and also its two rivers with the milling power to turn thousands of wheels, it is plain that it is marked by destiny asla future' city of power and eminent rank. There is not 'a city in the United States that stands on a better basis or has a better country to support it, and we must recognize the importance of a location command- ing the highways of the continent. It is already the metropolis of lowa-the Eden of American agriculture.


RAILROADS.


1 Des Moines is pre-eminently a city of railroads, and the past year received such an impetus in this direction as has never been known in the history of an Iowa city, during a single year, and under the . impetus given by the building of these roads into the capital, our city experienced a growth in population, wealth, manufacturing en -. 'terprises and general prosperity hitherto unknown. In February, 1854, the first engine crossed the Mississippi river at Davenport, on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad, August 29th, 1866, the first train entered Des Moines over the Des Moines Valley road, now the Keokuk and Des Moines branch of the Rock Island. | Since that time, the development of the railway systen has been rapid, placing : all points in the State in almost direct communication with this city; A glance at the map shows a network of roads extending in all direc- tions, indicating our city as the railroad center of Iowa.", These lines are developing some of the richest agricultural regions of the State, and gather into Des Moines an iminense find growing traffic: The facilities this system gives to, wholesale interests, manufacturing, coal mining, lumber, stock and grain shipments cannot now be fully estimated. With tlie increase of railway facilities, the cost of transportation has been greatly lessened, as the result of competition between the various. lines. The hearty welcome that has been given in Iowa, to the move, ment for the establishment of a north and south system; of railroads, shows that the people of the State are fullv alive to the benefits to be derived from such a system. The reduction in freight charges Des Moines recently made by the trunk lines extending through .


1


State, has been favorable to the business interests of the city.


relief from high rates for transportation is to be expected from the acquisition of new railroads, Des Moines' prospect in this regard is


to the If


20


BUSHNELL'S DES MOINES . DIRECTORY,


certainly flattering, as last year witnessed the advent of four new roads, while an equal number are regarded as a certainty during the : present year. We recognize the fact, that the railway possesses an almost unlimited power for usefulness, and nothing contributes more rapidly to the wealth and prosperity of a country than the iron horse. With eleven lines of railway, and others looking in this direction, there is every reason to believe that Des Moines will continue to at- tract the better classes. -




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