USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1879 > Part 5
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Bushnell's Des Moines City Directory
Six feet wide, furnished with tables, chairs, lights, two beds and bedding, stove, fuel, and to be under the care of a faithful stew-
1 ard. There is a Secretary's office, Buxet, with a wing 18x32, with a- veranda on front and sides six feet wide.
JUDGES AND REPORTER'S STANDS.
A judges stand, octagon in shape, sixteen feet in diameter, two stories high, with flag and flag staff. Also, a reporter's stand near by, supplied with seats and tables. There is also to be a comfortable room supplied in some other building for the head-
quarters of visiting editors and reporters, where they can meet and prepare their reports.
HORSE AND CATTLE STALI.S.
There are 315 horse stalls built on the grounds 125 of which are single stalls 6x11 feet; 75 double stalls sx12, and 75 open stalls: The first 200 close stalls with door, and hasps for locks. There are also 10 stalls for jacks and mules. All these stalls are covered with board or shingle root, and each stall numbered in large figures. "Also 200 cattle stalls, and more- if necessary.
HOG AND SHEEP PENS.
There are built 250 hog pens, Sxs, well floored and roofed, and supplied with troughs, doors, etc., and lo sheep pens, as with troughs. All the boy and sheep pens are numbered in large figures. There is also a potitry covered stand ample enough to accommodate 500 coops.
Good weeks are dug on the premises, and barrels are placed at different phices and kept supplied with ice water and cups. And if necessary, Mr. Brown will keep the main thoroughfare from the city to the grounds well sprinkled. Also water troughs for stock are to be supplied with water.
DINING HALL AND AMPHITHEATRE.
The dining hall is fox o feet, with door .. The amphitheatre with a capacity to seat six thousand permon on top, is closely boxed on the under site, and the lower floor used for booths, divided off in sixteen feet roongs the front hund with doors in a way, when raised, to form a roof, and so ar ranged as to be tightly and securely closed at night. and the whole covered with a shingle roof.
The fair ground is fixed up as a permanent thing whether the State Fair is continued here or not- In this enterprise the
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as of the Moines will be indebted To the liberality and enter- prise of Mr. Brown. STATE . FAIR RACES. .
$+300 IN PERSES .- The Iowa State Agricultural Society, at their annual fair from September 1st to 5th inclusive, propose to offer St, infor trotting and running races, the entries to close August 27th:
THE PREMIUMS OFFERED FOR EXCELLENCE IN INDUSTRIAL WORK BY BOYS AND GIRLS.
A new and excellent feature of the. State Fair, to be held in Des Moines the first week in September, is the large number -of premiums, amounting in the aggregate to several hundred dollars to be contested for by the boys and girls of Iowa. A separate department will be provided especially for the class of accomplishments to be exhibited in this line, and there ought to be lively competition from all parts of the state. This is the first time this feature has been introduced into our State Fair, and we do not think it has been adopted by any other Fair. - GIRLS' DEPARTMENT. - No entries can be made in this class be girls over fourteen yearsof age
BOYS' DEPARTMENT. - Entries in this class must be made by boys who are under sixteen years of age.
The C. R. I. & P. R. R. are building a track from their road to the Fair Grounds and will run regular and frequent trains from the city during the Fair so ample as to take all the passengers at very reasonable rates. - In this and other matters connected therewith, that company has been liberal in action.
STREETS AND AVENUES
The city has widened the grade of the west end of Syca- more street, to the west limits of the city. From the west side. of the city to the Fair Grounds a grand boulevard one hundred feet wide, has been nicely graded, and there is to be a street all round outside the Fair Grounds, thus giving free and pleas- apt access .:
There will be a decided trade offered to all who come to Des Moines. That in itself is not a little circumstance. Fare will be cheap to Des Moines and all who visit us may rest assured they will be more than compensated for the outlay our merchants. Visitors from abroad are assured that the whole city of Des Moines is behind this enterprise and every expedient known to enter- prising merchants will be used to attract and amuse the thou-
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Bushnell's Des Moines City Directory
sands expected. Many merchants are in the cast purchasing goods with a view to an immense trade this fall. They have gone to buy cheap and propose to sell so as to establish repu -. tations throughout the length and breadth of the State.
We learn through the officers of the State Society that the prospects for a complete and satisfactory State Fair were never more promising than at present. The grounds have been fitted up in first class style, and very convenient; water will be abundant; forage of the best quality secured; the track has been put in excellent condition; everything has been done to make the Fair valuable to exhibitors, and profitable and -pleasant to visitors. The premiums are on a liberal scale, and every effort will be made to give satisfaction.
The preparation is only commensurte with the resources and pride of the Capital City, of Iowa, and what is demanded by Western Enterprise and Industry, that will be exhibited.
BUSINESS REVIEW.
EMBRACING ADVANTAGES OF LOCATION; BUSINESS AND DRIVE PORTA FACILITIES: COMMERCIAL, MANUFACTURE ING, AND JOBBING INTERESTS: HOME ENSTRANCE
COMPANIES; NEWS PAPERS, HOTELS, BANKS. BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS. IMPROVEMENTS.
. AND FUTURE PROSPECTS, BUSINESS MEN. ETC. ETC. ETC.
lowa is a most inviting field for capital. It is more inviting, presents more advantages to capitalists, than the capitalists ofthe country have yet been brought to discern. Our rich fieldsopen to view, and prove to men of money that here are superior induce- ments for investment.
We have run a remarkable career, and attained to a proud and enviable position in the list of agricultural states. Generous as our soil is, in yielding a bounteous wealth at the touch of the Flow, it repays the farmer no more liberally for his labor than the manufacturer would be rewarded for his, if he would but wisely use the superior location and resources he here would find.
If the history of the growth and development of western towns and cities teaches anything, it is this: that in the growth of cities, as in everything else, the saying holds good that "Prov- - idence helps those that help themselves." Those who wait for
Bushnell's Des Moines City Directory
mmellung to turn up, who wait for improvements to come of their own accord, generally have to take it out in waiting.
Among the several cities of lowa rivaling each other in rapid growth and solidity of prosperity, Des Moines now claims for itself indisputable pre-eminence. This proud claim, however warmly contested by other localities, certainly has basis in facts that may well challenge careful attention by the traveler. Rarely indeed can the record possession of position and sur roundings, by a city site, of natural advantages and attractions, excelling or equalling those so richly bestowed upon our city. Des Moines has water power enough to runcall the machine ery that would be necessary in manufacturing; and in addition there is coal in such great- abundance that manufacturing es- tablishments can be created anywhere in the city and run at comparatively little expense. Every year is adding to our knowledge of, and attesting the importance of our vast coal de posits. Des Moines, in a word, has all the advantages and sur roundings that are requisite to make a great city. It is safe to say that more Eastern capital is to-day looking toward Des Moines for investment than Toward any other Towa town. In regard to railroad facilities but few cities of the west are better provided for. We recognize the fact that the railway possesses an unlimited power for usefulness, and nothing con tributes more rapidly to the wealth of a country than the iron horse.
We have spoken of the various roads previously, but would add here that we do believe the time is not far distant when Des Moines will be the great railroad center of the northwest, as with almost every rising and setting of the sun our city takes an important step towards material greatness.
Viewed in the light of these facts, Des Moines possesses no ordinary interest: and he who studies the situation disinterest-
ally, will not undervalue its importance, or ignore its well- grounded hopes of future prosperity and greatness. It cannot. hope to rival Chicago, or eclipse San Francisco, but it may reasonably expect to be the metropolis of Iowa.
It would require more time and space than we can now de- vole to the subject to enumerate the improvements and addi- tions made during the past season. A large number of sob- stantial and commotions business blocks, and costly and che- want residences have been created: while the smaller homes built for and by our mechanics are almost innumerable. The Building associations, (which are given elsewhere, I have con- tributed largely in aiding our laboring dasses to secure homes.
. Bushnell's Des Moines City Directory.
East and West also South Des Moines have been alike pros- perous: The low rates of building material the past year of two has greatly aided us. Real estate in Des Moines is a good investment. There is now a prospect that our city will be more prosperous the coming year than ever. The new rail- roads that will be completed, the freeing of our bridges from toll, ( which will make our city one in all her interests, ) and the completion of the new capitol, together with the many improve- ments now in progress will add largely to our property the coming season.
We should make special mention of the improvements made. (in what is called Brown's Addition in the northwest part of the city near Cottage Grove, ) by Mr. T. E. Brown the past year, who has erected many fine residences and laid out the streets and blocks in first class style, which includes some of the finest residence sites in our city
We learn from our builders and contractors that there will probably be an unusually large number of business-blocks ant dwelling houses erected the coming season, which will be one of unusual activity in building, and will witness a large and -- rapid growth to our city ... Few cities in the west can present more actual progress than Des Moines .-
The business of Des Moines has of late been most marked in the direction of its wholesale trade and manufactures. In - dry goods, clothing, notions, boots and shoes, furniture, saddlery hardware, tinware, hardware, crockery and glassware, tobacco and cigars, and doors and blinds, there are wholesale houses whose customers are to now befound at all-points west, north and northwest. = Several of these are large establishments that would be no discredit to such cities as Chicago or St Louis. These-houses have so energetically and successfully pushed their respective lines of trade; that not only a large part of lowa, but Nebraska, Kansas, and the Territories are supplied with goods from our market.
The principal manufactories are furniture, foundries and machine shops, brass works, boiler works, plows and cultiva- tors, wagons, carriages, sewer pipe, drain tile woolen mills, mar- ble works, barbed wire fence, scale works, spice mills, homing mills, flouring mills, oat meal mills, file works, broom factories, and many other smaller industries too numerous to mention, all of which are in a prosperous condition.
PACKING HOUSES.
"Des Moines ranks among the most extensive pork packing ... cities in the Union, and our establishments equal in extent and
Bushnell's Des Moines City Directory.
capacity some of the largest houses in Chicago and St. Louis. The amount of bulk meats shipped by Des Moines establish- ments yearly is simply immense.
BANKS
The banking institutions of Des Moines contribute much to sustain business enterprise in our midst. The solidity of the banks is a fair indication of the prosperity of the city.
The manufacturing and pork packing interests, together with many other worthy enterprises, have been aided and as-
sisted by the accomodation's they receive from the banking houses, and in no city in the west have the banks been found more ready to contribute towards any legitimate enterprise. Their officers and directors are among our shrewdest and -
wealthiest citizens, and it is with pride that we can say that. Our banks are sound and reliable. . The following are our principal banking institutions. The Citizens National, Samuel Merrill, president, J. G. Rounds, cashier; lowa National, 11: K. Love, president, George II. Maish. cashier; Capital City, A. W. Naylor, president, William Christy, cashier; Des Moines, l'. M. Casady, president, Simon Casady, cashier; Valley, J. J. Town, cashier, and the Bank of lowa, Ira W. Anderson, cash-
WS PAPERS
No city in lowa can show the same number of news papers and publications that Des Moines Can, and certain in propor- tion and extent of circulation no other city, we may say, of the same population in the country can make a better exhibit. Our dailies and weeklies are always filled with able editorials. spicy and full reports of all local. occurrences, and contain-full and reliable market reports. As advertising mediums they -cannot be excelled. Each of the papers has also a job depart-
ment where they do all kinds of printing. Our papers will always be found alive to the interests of Des Moines, and will in the future as in the past use their utmost endeavors to pro- : mote the wealth and prosperity of our city. The whole edito- ral all are a wide awake and enterprising that predict for our leading dailies and weeklies a most prosperous career. The following are the principal papers: The lowa State Register, daily and weekly, J. S. and R. P. Clarkson ed- itors and proprietors: Iowa State Leader, daily and weekto W. W. Witmer, W. H. Welch, and J. C. Kelly, editors and pub- ichons lowa State Journal, weekly, John G. Blair and S. ] Loughran, editors, J. G. Blair business manager; Des Moines Yes, weekly, titan Bros editors and proprietor : Plain
Bushnell's Des Moines City Directory .
Talk; weekly, Bishard Bros."editors and publishers; Western Farm Journal, weekly, George Sprague editor, F. R. Sprague manager; lowa Staats Anzeiger; weekly, (German and English) Joseph Eiboeck editor- and proprietor, The Lowa Printing Company, auxiliary publishers of upwards of one hun- dred Iowa and Nebraska weekly papers, A. R. Fulton, editor, W. E. Andrews manager. . This company has become" one of the solid institutions of our city. They have recently. erected a fine three-story brick block located just south of the Aborn House where they will be found furnishing ready print- ed sheets to the news papers of this and adjoining states. They will advertise for you at ont cent per line per paper
HOTELS.
Des Moines is noted for her fine hotels. If a commercial traveler arrives in a place and finds good hotels, well patron- ized, he knows that its- merchants will make: good customers; and he will conclude that the place is in a prosperous and thri- ving condition. It is an object with traveling men to make head quarters for the Sabbath at such places as have first-class hotels, thus it is that Des Moines hotels have a generous. pat- ronage over Sunday.
The hotel accommodations of Des Moines are equal to those."
of any elly in the State, and furnished in as elegant style, and we may say better; while the tables are celebrated for always presenting all the luxuries the markets afford.
The principal houses are the Kirkwood, (formerly the Savery House, Bogue & Wyman, proprietors: Aborn, C. F. Wight- man manager; Capital City, C. E. Dean proprietor; Morgan, P. Morgan proprietor, International, William Ziosmaster prietor; Given, L. Frantz proprietor; and the Monitor, P. J. McAtee proprietor.
HOME ISSER
The home insurance companies deserve special mention. They are perfectly sound and reliable. - Asan evidence of this, we find them endorsed by our best business men and wealthiest citizens.
EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE CO. OF IOWA. - This Company was organized in 1265, under the very stringent Life Insurance Law passed by the legislature that year, which required com- panies organized under it to deposit in public securities with the Auditor of State the full amount of their insurance liability -a provision similar to that of the United States National = Bank law which requires a deposit by National Banks for all notes issued by them and circulated as more
Bushnell's Des Moines City Directory.
It is only fair to state that the Equitable Life Insurance (. is the only company that has fully organized under that statute
and report its deposit of securities with the Anditor of State in excess of the sum required by statute from 20 to 40 per cent .: its present degosit being $315, 766.98 on a liability of $219,009. 16. twenty-eight per cent more deposited than the very stringent law requires,
The following figures, taken from official sources. illustrate
its growth .
AMOUNT
AMOUNT
DE ISSETS
DE REVENTE
TEAR.
1848
$126, 48
$ 19,295.12-
1869
119,005.75
1871
1872
231, 865.69
96, 26.41
IST8
267,237.91
123,177.41
1874
207,215.12
1875
335,376.00
189,529.66
1576
354,644.18
223, 726.75
1877
424,513.73
The history of the Company is familliar to most of our busi- ness men. It has been managed with prudence and economy, has paid its losses of every character promptly, and made hand- some returns in the way of dividends to its policy holders, and- its growth as shown by foregoing figures indicates financial strength and prosperity. Any one needing life insurance, and who does not, will get a policy absolutely secure in its final pay- ment, at as low rates as any other legitimate company can turn- ish the insurance, and besides patronizing the only strictly lite insurance company in the State.
The Equitable Life -takes rank as one of the safest, most theroughly solvent institutions in the land. It is now in its new home, Equitable Block, Fifth St. corner Post Office Place. Hoyt Sherman, President ; J. S. Polk, Secretary.
STATE INSURANCE CO. OF DES MOINES. Among the MATH enterprises of the State of Lowa, none is more successful or de- servedly more popular with the people than the above named company. It is wholly a State institution and managed by our mag citizens? It was organized fourteen years ago, and from a small be sinning it has grown judo one of the soundest.
Bushnell's Des Moines Citu Directory
insurance companies doing business in the State to-day. .. The the finest business. blocks in the city of Des Moines."The block is on Fourth street, and is ++ feet front by 100 feet deep, and three stories high. The entire front of the building is made of Ohio Buff stone, a most beautiful and tasty style of material. The company occu- pies the north half of the second floor, where they are always at home ready to receive their friends,
The rest of the building is occupied by the Odd Fellow Hall, one of the finest in the State: United States Pension, and other offices, and Bird's mammoth div goods house. The building is an ornament to the city and a paving investment to the company
The fairness and promptmess with which the losses by the late fire in the Garver Block were settled by this company- should lead our citizens to place a fair share of their business ·with them, thereby keeping their money at home where it will do the most good and at the same time helping to build up a sound and reliable home company.
The officers of the company are :
Hon. John A. Ellion President: F. M. Mills, Vice-President: Matthew Long Summary: Gen. M. Maish, Treasurer: 1 .. ... Hazen, Adjuster.
HAWKEYE INSURANCE CO. OF DES MOINES. This Company was organized March 8th. 1865, with E. J. Ingersoll as presi- dent, James Callanan vice-president, B. F. Allen treasurer, and J. B. Tillin as secretary. The only change that has been made in its officers since its organization is that of Treasurer And secretary: Samuell Verril being its present treasurer, and. A. Howell secretary, with W. C. Cole asassistant secretary. As the company has been under the same management since its organization it has been enabled to profit by its own ex- periences 11. 000 is an ample capital, and its resources are Constantly increasing. January Ist 1879, as per published state- ment by the Auditor of State, the assets were $508, 135.79. This company is taking the lead, in the amount of its assets, of. other Iowa companies. The long and varied experience it has had has enabled it to determine from its own records what risks are desirable and what rates are adequate, and by its careful and prudent management and selection of risks, this `company commands the respect of ali regular companies and business men. In fact we think we can safely say that the Hawkeye commands and entertains the respect and confidence of all who know it or its manager T
companies, the pride and admiration of our citizen -.-
Bushnell . De Mon Fer Director!
The home office is in the Company's building, au and 200
Tomthr street.
LOW ESTATE MARTIAL BEALTER ANOCE TION OF DES MOINES.
Incorporated under the laws of the State of Joun.
xed April, DIS Officers: John J. Nach, 1). D., President H. Monroe, Vice President. B. C. Sewall, Secretary .John Wyman, Treasurer.
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There are many men who would like to make some provi
sion to seethe to dependent and loved one appistance and refer in case of death, who will not take out a policy in a life insurance company and do not care to join a secret organization to secure the benefits of the Reliet Associations to their families
To all such the Iowa State Mutual Benefit Association of Des Moines, Lowa, of which Rev. John AV. Nash is President. mothers a safe plan. In this association none bin healthy men and
women are insured. The assessments are graded from one dollar for persons live
Jar for those between do and to years of age ..
It is managed and patronized by leading business men in the State. Amount of death benefits limited to $2.000 10 TheHI-
bership unlimited, Lo accumulated funds for others to Invest,
only losses by death to be paid, and those only whenthey occur.
Circulars and full particulars can be obtained of B. C. Sewall,
Secretary, at the home office, TO Party's Block, Walnut street.
Having given in a previous article somewhat of a gente'd. it -
view of our business. manda ring intres mention the leading business Trongs . and Mandat!
city. Please notice their advertisement: DR given in the front part of This work.
mention, but space limita us in our present
have the pleasing back of noticing every person de in Des Moines.
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-Bushnell's Des Moines City Directory.
Every time of trade is represented by men whose character isties are such as warrant us in speaking of them in the highest forms of praise. . Des Moines manufacturers and wholesale dealers are not afraid of rivalry with St. Louis, Chicago, or other eastern cities. Business in Des Moines rests upon a solid healthful basis; the trade aggregating millions of dollars annu -- ally. . The immense trade that centers here is supported by the Country for hundreds of miles in extent, reaching out into the territories bevond, and will continue mercasing in importance. We recommend and endorse our business houses as we do. our city in general, believing that the advantages both natural and acquired by Des Moines and our merchants and manufact urers to be equal to and in some respects in advance of any city_ in the northwest. We commence with the well known house of
J. D. SEEBERGER .- Wholesale and retail hardware at 122 and 124 Court avenue, where you will find one of the finest. hirsiness blocks in our city filled from top to bottom with every. thing usually kept by any wholesale hardware house in the country. The building occupies in area to be das feet with three Hoors and basement; and has all the modern improve ments of steam fixtures, elevators, and conveniences to supply the needs of his rapidly growing trade, which has given they
house rank among the first and most extensive in its line. But only in Des Moines, but anywhere in the State.
The house of
R. C. WEBB & CO. Wholesale grocers, 101, 108 and the Third street, is deserving of special mention. founded in Ists by R. C. and C. L. Webb, and since that time - it has sustained for itself a widely extended reputation, having wwwred a large trade throughout lowa and the northwest. Their building possesses all area of fishin fect, two Hours and basement, and is arranged for convenience and dispatch in receiving and forwarding goods by a switch of the C., R. I. & P. R. R., which runs directly in front of their building. . They have constantly a full line of all goods on hand, and are pre -. mited to till orders at the shortest notice, and at prices that will suit the times.
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