Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1886, Part 4

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Publication date: 1886
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USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1886 > Part 4

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Business men desiring a location will find many advantages embraced in the territory traversed by the Des Moines & Fort Dodge railroad. The officers are, C. N. Gilmore, Des Moines, superintendent; G. W. Ogilvie, Des Moines, general freight and puissen. ger agent; William Musson, WABASH,

local freight and ticket agent, Des Moines. ST. LOUIS AND PACIFIC.

Only those persons who have given the subject careful study, can realize the importance of this road to Des Moines, not only giving us a shorter and cheaper outlet to the seaboard for our products, but also another direct and through line to St. Louis, New York and; Chicago! This new outlet of transportation opens to our tradet a new field of opera- fion for our manufacturers and business men. The company has 3,482 miles of road, 382 miles being in Iowa. The officers are, A. A. Talmadge, St. Louis, general manager; F. Chandler, St. Louis, 'general , passenger agent; M. Knight, St. Louis, general freight agent; C. F. 'Meek, Des Moines, division superintendent; L. M. Martin, general agent, Des. Moines.

DES MOINES AND NORTHWESTERN.

Thisis a part of the great Wabash system, extending from Des Moines into the rich agricultural region northwest of this point through the coun- ties of northwestern Iowa, where it is cordially welcomed as a valuable accessory to the development of that portion of the State. It is being rapidly extended into the great wheat-growing regions of Minnesota and Dakota!

ST. LOUIS, DES MOINES AND NORTHERN.

This is another branch of the Wabash line, extending north to Boone, and it is proposed to extend this line through northern Iowa and Minne sota to St. Paul. This will give a direct line" from St. Louis to St. Paul via Des Moines, by means of the Wabash.

THE WISCONSIN, IOWA AND NEBRASKA.

This gives, direct communication between Des Moines and the north." eastern portion of Iowa, and to Chicago via the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul, and we understand it is the intention of the company to build.a Jine from this city southwest to St. Joseph and Kansas City, giving us an; other important line southwest as well as northwest.

DES MOINES, OSCEOLA AND SOUTHERN ..

This road opens to us a field of rich territory and adds largely to the aggregate value of our network of railways. It is anticipated that this line will extend' southwest to St. Joseph and Kansas City, giving us an! 1

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.

35 -1

other important southwestern connection. The road is under good man- agement, and ere long will be made broad guage, which will add largely to our transportation facilities .. The officers are, E. R. Mason, receiver at Des Moines; N. T. Jones, local freight and ticket agent.

CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE AND ST. PAUL,

This company, which we believe should have built their main line into Des Moines before this date, changed their route running north of this city directly west, between the C., R. I. & P. R. R. and C. &. N. W., but we have been informed that they intend to build a branch into Des Moines at an early date.

At present their trains come into the city over the track of another company. From the importance of this road of connection with the network of roads in this city, and of securing a southwestern outlet, we feel reasonably sure of this road the present year, and we hope it may be built. This connection with the markets of Milwaukee and St. Paul is of great benefit to Des Moines. The officers are! Roswell Miller, Milwaukee, general manager; J. T. Clarke, Milwaukee, general superintendent; A. V. H. Carpenter, Milwaukee, general passenger agent; A. C. Bird, Milwau- kee, general freight agent; John Thompson, jr., Des Moines; local freiglit. .. and ticket agent.

MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. LOUIS.

This is another road connecting Central Iowa with Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the lumber regions of the north. "One of the principal objects in the building of this road was to reach the rich coal fields in this sec- tion, and to build a road from Minneapolis, through Minnesota and Iowa, to both .St. Louis and Kansas City. .. The line south has not yet been defi- mitely located. The trains of this road come into the city at present over the line of another company, The officers are, R. R. Cable, Chicago, president; T. E. Clarke, Minneapolis, superintendent; S. F. Boyd, Min- neapolis, general passenger and ticket agent; J. A. Hanley, Milwaukee, general freight agent; William Musson, local freight and ticket agent.

RAILROADS IN PROSPECT.

Already Des Moines has railroad communication with every county in the State, and direct lines running into Nebraska, Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri and Kansas, with all of which States it has a large and rapidly growing traffic, and every line projected either north, south, east of west, is endeavoring to reach Iowa's metropolis. We believe that the year 1886 pou which we are just entering, will show even greater improvements in 1 railroad building than 1885, which may. bo, enumerated prospectively as follow's:

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.

The changing of one at least and perhaps two of the three narrow guage railroads that are now here into standard guage, and with this the : completion of another line between Des Moines and Minneapolis and St. Paul. The entrance of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Road, and the investment by it of money in improvements here -- giving us the fifth of the five great trunk lines of the West. The building of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Road into Des Moines, and its extension to the great coal fields near the city. The building of another Diagonal Road into Des Moines from the northwest admitting the trade of this city directly'to a dozen counties now not tributary to it. The advent of the Central Rail- , rond of Iowa, either by its own line, or by a trackage arrangement over some of the lines we now have. A standard guage railway from Des Mbines to Kansas City and St. Joseph, thus admitting Des Moines directly to the railway system of the southwest. Everything is to be made ready for the widening, and for the building of the extension to St. Joseph and Kansas City,

LA CROSSE, IOWA AND SOUTHWESTERN.

We learn that tho prospects of this road are good, and that the line has been located from La Crosse as far southwest as Ackley, and thus deti- nitely determined. [ Engineers have been looking for the best route from Ackley to Des Moines, which will undoubtedly i be the end of the second division. Leaving Des Moines, we will take a direct diagonal course to Str Joseph, Mo. This will be another important iron arm, and from the con- versation we have had with the men connected with the project we believe the road will be built.

MINNESOTA, IOWA AND SOUTHWESTERN.

A company has been organized and incorporated under: the laws of Iowa and Minnesota for the purpose of building a railroad from LaCrescent, Minn., through to a connection at Des Moines with a proposed line.to Kan- sas City, and thus gain a through line, from the Mississippi to the Missouri river, intersecting this State from northeast to southwest. This line will connect the great lumber producing regions of Wisconsin with the Iowa, coal fields, and also the stock raising districts of Kansas and the south- west.

TOLEDO, OSKALOOSA AND WESTERN,

Is the name of a new corporation, proposing to build a line through the southern portion of Iowa. Surveys are being made between the C., Bl & Q. and C., R. I. & P; lines.Des Moines will be reached, and west of this point there will be two branches, one to Council Bluffs and the other to Kansas City.

'DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY

37'

BURLINGTON, OSKALOOSA AND DES MOINES.

We understand there are three frontes under discussion. One is to Newton and on Northwest, another is by way of Peoria and on northwest, crossing the C., R. I. & P. at Colfax and the last one is through Pella. The narrow gange can compete successfully with the standard gauge roads and it will pay, Des Moines is at present the objective point, but it is expected to be extended soon in the direction of Sioux City, giving us a: diagonal through the State from southeast to northwest.

DES MOINES AND SIOUX CITY.

This company proposes to build the railroad from Des Moines to Sioux City this year-the survey for which is to be made immediately. This will give us direct communication with the great wheat raising dis-j . tricts of Dakota and the northwest.

FAST FREIGHT LINES.

Five lines have established agencies in Des Moines, the Star Union, the Red Line Transit, the Merchants Dispatch, the Baltimore & Ohio, and the Globe Line. These lines contract for freight to be delivered to New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Albany, and the principal eastern cities of the United States and all European points. They slip all perishable goods, such as butter, eggs, fruit, poultry, &c., in superior refrigerator cars. The question of transportation, and of the quickest and cheapest routes, are and always will be of primary importance in connec- tion with successful business. These lagencies afford increased facilities for carrying, and impart additional vigor to trade, . These lines are repre -: sented in this city by gentlemen of enterprise and recognized ability in business management,

ANOTHER RAILROAD .

(The Kansas City, Des Moines & St. Paul railway, has been organized for .' the purpose of constructing and operating a railroad, from Des Moines 'to Kansas City | The new corporation hasalso in view acquiring possession of. the rights, interests and franchises of the Des Moines, Osceola & Southern failway, as they now exist, including all improvements, enlargements, ex- tensions and additions which may thereafter be made, and all property which is mow owned, Including its locomotives, cars and other equipment, and to construct an extension of the present line from the southern ter minus, or some point adjacent, to Kansas City; and also to construct an additional extension from neur the southern terminus to St. Louis! The amount of capital'stock is placed at $7,000,000. The provisional direc- tors, who shall hold office until the annual meeting of the corporation in'

38.

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.

1885, or until their successors are duly chosen, are J. S. Clarkson, F. M. 5 Gilbert, C. F. Meek, J. S. Runnells, W. T. Alexander, E. A. Mason and Fosliay Walker.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

Des Moines is especially calculated for a great manufacturing center. Here fuel is cheap with abundance of coal and wood, and we have good water power which, if utilized, would turn thousands of wheels. Among the many cities and towns of this great State having excellent advantages, and which are endeavoring to induce manufacturers and capitalists to locate in their midst, is Des Moines, and we claim that there is no city in Iowa which can offer to the manufacturer so many natural and acquired advantages.

Those looking for new locations generally visit different points which offer inducements, and the questions which present themselves to the wide-awake business man are, what are the facilities for securing the raw material and for shipping the manufactured product, and what is the extent of territory tributary from which trade naturally comes? In reply to these questions you have but to consider our superior transportation facilities in the many railroads reaching out in every direction; also, cheap fuel, good water power, cheap lands for the location of factories, or for residences for operatives, healthy climate, low price of living, and building material as cheap as any place in the West.

All articles of food and provisions are in the market at greatly reduced rates, in comparison with eastern markets. | The success of the factories already established and the rapid settlement of the adjacent country, are warrants for the establishment of many more. Our factories are shipping all over the world, as our goods are orderedl in large quantities from all parts of the country, Manufacturing lies at the foundation of industrial life in all towns that flourish. It means a manufacturing population which 'would otherwise be elsewhere-an aggregation of people in cities .and: villages. These people are to be fed. They want precisely what the farmer has to sell; they provide him the very market he desires, and either directly or indirectly benefit all classes. Our broad acres of cheap lands give us a great surphis of agricultural and| meat products, and pur labor- saving machinery and the skill and ingenuity of our artisans, enable us to increase our manufactured products and reduce the cost, to successfully compete in quality, quantity and price with the old established factories of Europe

We are pleased to notice the progress of our home manufacturing, and our people appreciate the value and importance of this great interest, New, factories are springing up and the old ones are increasing their

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY ..

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capacity and works to meet the demand. Our great agricultural resources make this a most profitable field for manufacturing,

Situated in the center of the State, is one of the richest agricultural regions of the world, ' where is found an inethaustible supply of the best coal; even within the limits of the city, as fine a water power as there is in the country, large bodies of timber along our main water courses, convenient of access to the city, and suitable for manufacturing purposes for for fuel; and having rail- roads; leading east, wiest, north anh south, with intermediate lines in pro-

1 cess of construction and in contemplation, our city is the place to ,which manufacturers should come, as we have so many advantages which assure' success.

It is no exaggeration to state that there is now no city in the West which has better advantages for manufacturing, and few as good, but there 1 are yet many open fields of enterprise, untaken. ' The city has grown so fast and developed so rapidly in its railroad system, that, while it has advanced remarkably in manufacturing, not nearly all the good appor- tunities, have been taken.

1 Iowa has attained to a proud and enviable position in the list of agricultural States. Generous as our soil is, in yielding a bounteous frealth at the touch of the plow, it repays the farmer no more liberally for his dabor than the manufacturer would be rewarded for his, if he would but embrace the opportunity afforded by the superior location and re. ', sources of Des Moines.

BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.

Iowa is a most inviting field for capital. . It is more inviting, presents more advantages to capitalists, than the business men of the country have yet been brought to, discern .: Our rich fields prove to capitalists, that here are superior inducements for investment in various branches of wholesale business, as well as manufacturing !!

Next to' our manufacturing interests, the wholesale business is most important to the commercial growth of the city, and that Des Moines bas grown into prominence as one of the leading commercial cities of the West, is largely due to her wholesale trade. , As' a business center, no city in the State can compare with her, as evidenced in the statistics of business for 1885, when compared with other cities of Iowa. The" busi- ness directory of Des Moines shows that she also has more wholesale" houses than any other city of Iowa. Cet there is still room for others in most Bnes, as well as for capitalists, manufacturers and skilled workmen. The excellent facilities. for the distribution of merchandise in every direction make thisth desirable place for the jobber, as well as the mann- facturer.

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY. .

The leading branches business are are represented by first-class houses, which carry stocks equal to any west of Chicago, and there is hardly a special branch of busines not represented by good firms. " The large and, varied stocks carried here have the natural tendency to limit those in the neighboring towns to the ordinary articles used by the household, giving. the 'merchants exclusive control of the trade in the finer and more costly lines. People will frade, as a general thing, where they can find the largest stocks, and where there is most competition. For these, and other reasons, the mercantile interests of Des Moines are increasing at a ratio - much greater than the natural increase of the population.

To single out and dwell upon every advantage that this city offers to the wholesale merchant who is in search of a location would fatigue |the readers, and we shall only notice the more important.

The capitalist must have positive knowledge of the advantages of the location, before he can be induced to establish a business in any locality. Convinced of these advantoges, all doubt is removed and his enterprise becomes permanent.

If he selects Des Moines, he will be surrounded by one of the best, if not the best, agricultural State in the Union. Her fertile fields with a rich, luxurian growth of golden grain stretching out on all sides, buoys the new enterprise and fills its owner with expectation that not only causes hind to hope for great things, but to hxereise that energy and push 'so necessary to the success of all business.

The immense trade that centers here is supported by the country for hundreds of miles in extent," reaching out into the territories beyond. With the rapid growth which Des Moines has made in the past few years, and with the many iron arms extending in almost every direction, reach- inglout for the trade not only of Iowa, but of the entire Northwest, we must say, our city is one of the best points in the country ror the location of wholesale houses of all kinds.

There has never been a period in the history of Des Moines ;when business men in such numbers have come within our borders, many es- tablishing large industries, as during the past five years ... 1

Des Moines is acknowledged to be one of the best retail cities . in the. West, and the business of the past year, estimated by those who are in a position to 'get at facts from which to make a careful and fairly accurate, conclusion, is placed at twenty million dollars. The great increase in! population, the three thousand five hundred workmen who filt our coal mines, shops, mills and factories, nearly all of whom receive constant em- ployment at good wages; the unsurpassed agricultural territory adjacent. to the city on all sides, thickly settled . with well-to-do farmers, and the

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY

vast amount lof trade that comes from the hundreds of prosperous towns which dot the railway lines in every direction from the city, all combine to give to Des Moines its deserved reputation of being the best retail point in this section of the West.

We give the statistics of the wholesale business of the city for the past year. In the wholesale trade some of the houses report that they really had more business last year than the year before, but that owing to the decrease in the value goods, their reports are not so great. .The wholesale dealer does not wish to give his competitor any insight into his business. This point was impressod on the compiler by almost every one in trade.

It was in strict confidence that the figures were obtained, to be used not separately, but in aggregates, and to keep faith with those who Have so kindly furnished us data, we are obliged to give the aggregates, as follows, and as these figures are especially indicative of present prosperity and future greatness of Des Moines as the commercial, jobbing and financial city of the State.

Any information with reference to the business or manufacturing interest, or inquiries from any one desiring a new home or business loca; cation, will receive prompt attention by addressing the secretary.

BUSINESS STATISTICS 18S5.

The figures given below which have been ascertained from a careful canvass, represent the amount of business done in wholesale and manufac- : Juring during the year 1885:

MANUFACTURING.

Agricultural implements.

119,000

Elastic goods, (six months). 3,500

Alcohol.

2,749,326

Files.

100000

Artificial limbs

.5,000

Flour and feed 865.000

Artificial stone!

127,250

Folding mach nes. 40.000

Axle lathes. .

4,500

Foundries and machine shops

218.000

Bakeries !:

126,150

Furniture and upholstery

165,000

Baking powder and spices

175,000

Galvanized iron cornice.

117,000, 35.000

Beer and ale

45,000

Harness, collats and saddles

172,000

Boilers

53,500

Lithographing

121.000

Book binders

175,125

Marble and granito

155.445.

Bettling /works.

65,000

Millipery

122,000

Boots and shoes

68,250

Medicines

270,000

Brooms

29,200

Oxtineal

200,000

Brick and cut stone.

302,500

Oil's |

135,000

Bronze.

86,000

PaintB

Carriage and wagons.

87,350

Painting and paper hanging

Cigars.

79,803

Pumps and wind mills.

125,000 175,000 27,975 154,000 1.63,450

Contractors and builder

783,420

Pintteries

115,000

Confectionery

135,2

Park packers!

1.695,000

Cooperage

274,000

Printing (news and job)

1,243,500 25,000

Crackers

275,000

Scales.

Dye works

93,000

Sidewalk, (concrete and stone) ...

155,000.

Clothingi.

258,000

Plumbing and gas fitting

'Coal screens

13,000

Planing milley

Barb wire

940,450

Hair goods ...

DES MOINES CITY' DIRECTORY.

Shirts.

25,500 | Tile and sewer pipe.

126,000 *|

Show cases.

43,500

Trunks.

10,000

Soap

115,000

Vinegar, pickles and cider

95,000

Starch.

500,000

Woolen goods.

150,000 1

Steain engines and furnishings.

75,000

Stereotyping and electrotyping.

65,000

Total.

$15,596,891

Stores and tinware.

126,000

WHOLESALE TRADE

Agricultural implements. Alcohol . .

3,947,326

Leather and saddlery hardware

175,000

Brick, stone, lime and cement. Barbed wire

750,000

Lime, stone and cement.

360,000

Barbers' supplies

34,500

Lumber

590,000 .......

Beer and alog

65,000

Knit goods.

35.000

Books and rationery

682,000

Mill furnishings

145,000 i

Bpots and shoes.

585,000

Millinery and fancy goods.

566,1:00 1

Brooms

45,000

Musical merchandise.

7,500

Carpets and oilcloths.

270,300

Notions

345,000

Cigars and tobacco. Coal .

1,797,050

655,000

Crockery, china and glassware. Coal screens.

350.000

Paints

106,500

Confectionery

279,000

Pumps and wind mills!

65,000 1

Commission and produce.

784,000

Proprietary medicines,

195,000

Cheese, butter and eggs

495.000

Rubber goods.

285,000

Clothing

162,000

Scales

62,500

Crackers .

275,000

Seeds!

10,000

Dental supplies ..

50,000

Silk, threads, needles, etc.

50,000

Drugs and chemicalsį

612,000

Soap

195,000

Dry goods.

303,000

Show cases. .

43,000 13,000

Engines and furnishings. Folding machines (newspaper). Fish and oysters.

225,000

Stoves and tinware

235,000

40,000

Stock

2,725,000

Flour and feed.

941,000

Subscription books

320,000

Furniture

255,000

"Teas, coffees and spices

275,000

Glass.

168,810

Tile and sewer pine

1.45,000

Grain

2,671,270

Vinegar, pickles and cider Wall paper

315,000

Hay .

.830,200

Hides and tallow.

180,000

Total.

$33,975,004

Hats, caps and furs:

45,000

Capital

$ 1,600,000 | Real estate loans. 435,500

3,900.

Average deposits

1,826,000

Total.

$ 7,761,500

FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS-1SS5 ..

Postoffice receipts.

93 809 | Home insurance companies

1,235,000

U. S. mternal revenue. ..

1.500.000

U. S. Pension Office.

3.723,173

$ Total.

$10,381.487

Real estate transactions

3,750,000

. MISCELLANEOUS.

.Improvements

$ 3,101,209 | Miscellaneous.

10,361.467

Manufacturing

15.596 891

| Wholesale trade.

83,975,604

Total

$70,796,691

Banks and loan associations .. .. 7,761,500 1

13.000

Pork Packing.

1,983,000 1

Elastic goods.

·8,500

Spring beds and mattresses.

Starch

500,000

Groceries 1 Harness, collars and saddles. Hardware

3,465,255

500,000

Wool

85,000

1,085,554

Woolen goods

250,000

BANKS AND LOAN AND TEEST COMPANIES.

Surplus

45,000

Stamps, stencils and seals. 7,500

Sundry factories.

475,000 Y

# 1.135,000 Jewelry

475,000

962,000

Liquors

230,000

483,000

)at meal Oil

200,000

85,000

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Em-

Houses.

ployes

Houses. . ployes

stracts of Title

Dress and Cloak Makers 29 125

fricultural Implements

53:

Druggists, wholesale

.48.

Cohol Works.

85; Druggists, retail. 35

chitects

Dry Goods and Notions

235

Art Rooms.

Dye Works

Artists ..

Elevators.

Electric Light

Companies 3

2 39 .

Bakeries.

55 Express Companies

Banks. .

56 Fast Freight Line Agencies .. 5

Barbed Wire (Mhfrs).

157 Files (Mnfrs).

1 4

Barbers' Furniture and plies.

Sup-

Florists

25 27

Bath Rooms.

10 Flour and Feed

Bill Posters.

Flouring Mills

Billiard Halls.

28.

Blacksmithis

57 Fresco 'Artists.

Blank Book Mnfrs

. 3 1

Furniture manufacturers and wholesale dealers." 2

56 59

Boiler Works.

3 5.

54 Galyanic Good

Book Publishers

Book's and Stationery, whole sale!

Grain |Dealers!

Book's and Stationery, retail. .

16.

Grocers, wholesale.

Boots and Shoes, wholesale.

35 Grocers, retail

Boots and Shoes, retail.

Gun Smiths.

Bottling Worksd.

Hair Goods ..

Brass| Works ...

Hardware, wholesale.

Brick (Mafrs)

9 275

Hardware, Stoves and Tin-

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Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1886, Part 4

Author: Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: