Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1886, Part 7

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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 7

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FIRE DEPARTMENT

Des Moines has ja fire department equalled in its efficiency by but few cities in the country, and surpassed by none of the same' population. The paid department consists of fifteen men, besides the chief a fireman of long experience-his assistant, and the six drivers. There are in the city nearly 27; miles of water mains with 259 hydrants !! There are tour engine houses -- two on each side ot the river -- four hose carts with 4,950 feet of house, two hook and ladder trucks, and three chemical engines, which have proved very effective in extinguishing fires,and two patrol wagons. The department has fourteen horses, all selected with the greatest care and trained for the work. They are

kept constantly | har-

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.

nessed, and the drivers sleep in a room immediately above, in which is a gong which sounds by connection with the telephone. The harness ist fastened everywhere with snaps, so that hitching up is the work of an instant. The efficiency of the fire department is greatly increased by the American District Fire Alarm Telegraph, and the average time occupied from the time the first alarm is sounded until the firemen are in 'their places and the horses on a wild fun through the streets, is from twelve to fifteen seconds. Every second of time is made the most of, and it may be said that Des Moines was never so nearly fire proof as at present. The city has spared no pains in perfecting its fire department, and it is an honor and credit to Des Moines.

ELECTRIC LIGHT. -

The electric light is now well introduced into Des Moines, and proves wery satisfactory. Of the three companies now in the 'business here, the Des Moines Edison Light Company is the oldest and occupies a two story brick building 52x44, in which they use one two hundred and fifty horse power, and one two hundred horse power Heine Safety boiler, one two hundred horse power Buckeye automatic engine, and one one Hundred and twenty-five horse power Armington & Symes automatic engine, two eight hundred light Edison dynamos, and two six hundred light Edison dynamos, with all the necessary apparatus, including autumatic iregula-

tors. During the year they increased their machines from two of twelve hundred to two of sixteen hundredl lights. They use the Edison Incan- descent Light, which is a thread of carbon heated to incandescence in a sealed glass globe, and run night and day furnishing light and power, at rates much less than steam power, the latter from one-tenth horse power- to; ten horse power, over about nine tons of copper wire for main, They now furnish three thousand two hundred lights, and can furnish four thous- and five hundred if necessary. 1 .2

The Capital City. Electric Light Company have two Armington & Symes engines of fifty horse power, and two forty light dynamos. Theirs is the Van Depoele system, and they furnish the city with sixty arc lights. Regan Bros. Electric Light Company use the Thompson-Houston system.

They have one of the finest engines to be found in the West, a West- inghouse Ifigh Pressure of sixty-five horse power, which runs as noiselessly as a sewing machine. They have two large Thompson-Houston dynamos driven at the rate of one thousand revolutions a minute, producing sixty arc lights, each of two thousand candle power. The firm has ordered another engine and two additional dynamos. The apparatus is under the skillful management of Joseph Deemer, who is very proficient in this line,

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.

They are so located that they can furnish light to both sides of the river, and they intend enlerging their building as soon as the weather will permit.

WATER WORKS.

Des Moines uses the Direct Pressure system of water works, and the subterranean aqueduct, supplemented by the Raccoon river, from which the water is taken, is soft and pure. The water company have made exten- sive improvements to the works, during the past year, involving an outlay of many thousands of dollars.

GAS WORKS:

Of the gas works it is only necessary to state that they are first class, and amply supply the demand, with gas of excellent quality. The lights upon the streets are numerous, and ato kept in good condition. There are five hundred and twenty-five gas lamps and four hundred and seventy- three in which oil is used.

CMINIBUS ; LINES.

No Better omnibus line can be found in any part of the country than that of Johnson & Son, of this city. They are always at the depots. at the arrival and departure off trains, day or night, to take passengers to ; any part of the city. They have kept pace with the city's progress, in furnishing transportation accommodations for all occasions, and have recently added a line of carriages to their othel conveyances for the con .. . venience of passengers.

SIGNAL SERVICE. -

The United States signal service establishedl a station in Des Moines, August 1, 1878. Five observations are taken chilly and reported to Wash- ington by telegraph, from which, together with the reports received from other stations, of which there are one hundred and thirty-five, indications and predictions of the weather are made for the next twenty-four hours. The Des Moines station is one of seventeen printing signal stations in the spel United States, and has been of special benefit to residents of this locality. This station is under the management of a thoroughly competent officer, Sergeant W. F. Conrad, who is fully informed ontall matters pertaining to the weather. . It was established here August 1, 1878, and supplies one hundred and one postoffices with printed bulletins. | The cold wave signal Was established in 1883 and has proved of great benefit to dealers in per ishable goods and to railroads.

STREET RAILWAYS.

" Des Moines has two street railways) of which that known as the Des

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.

Moines Street: Railway Company. Dr. M. P. Turner, president, is the old- 'est and most prominent. " This company made extensive improvements Hast year in additional track and new cars, and are contemplating lother improvements for this season. They have now twenty-one cars, fifty-five men, and one hundred and twenty horses, and run over twelve miles of track. They intend to extend their lines by laying from three; to five miles additional in 1886. Dr. Turner has shown remarkable energy h the management of the affairs off the company, having had much to con- tend with during the past few years, as his track has been disturbed more or less on account of paving and sewering the streets on which it was laid. thus necessitating much trouble and expense to the company. ; Much has been said about the cost of our improvements and the amount the city : pays for water and gas, but the street railway instead of being an expense to the city, is paying a revenue into the treasury. While the gas and water companies have been worth in building up the city all that they have cost, the street railway has been of equal benefit without any expense to. the city. It is the intention of the company in the near future to meet all demands calculated to benefit the city and the public. The Des Moines" and Sevastopol Street Railway 'is an enterprise which was inaugurated during the past year, by which the suburban town of Sevastopol is con- nected with the city. It is two miles long, and cars run at frequent inter vals, affording a great convenience to the residents of South Des Moines

EXPRESS COMPANIES.

The United States, American! Wells, Fargo & Co .. and the Pacific Express companies, have offices here with connections in all directions.

TRANSFER COMPANIES. .

Some idea of the great amount of business transacted in transfer of goods between the business houses and manufactories, and the depots may be gained from the statement that six large and well disciplined com panies are engaged in fit, and the transfer business has become a large and important interest in Des Moines.

MERCANTILE INTERESTS.

1 EMBRACING THE PROMINENT MANUFACTURERS AND LEADING WHOLESALE INTERESTS OF IOWA'S METROPOLIS, In our general review of the business, manufacturing, etc., we have " spoken of the various interests of Des Moines, and we now mention the 1

DES MOINES .CITY DIRECTORY

leading industries, manufacturing and wholesale, of our city. i Every line of trade is represented by men whose characteristics are such as justify us in speaking of them in the highest terms of praise !!!

The 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 last few years, and the trade not only of Iowa, but of the entire , north west, tributary for whole- saling goods and distributing manufactured products, our city is fast becoming one of the best commercial points in the country.

MANUFACTORIES.

1. FLOURING 'MILLS.

: The flouring mills of Des Moines are four in number. The capacity of these flouring mills is about five hundred and fifty barrels per day, and the increased facilities for the transportation of grain from the great wheat growing districts of the Northwest, enables our millers to successfully compete with other portions of the country | in the production of flour. Radikal changes have been made during the past few years in the system of milling; and the result| is the production of flour of the very best quality. ... 1

!. We have also a large mill for the production of oat meal, which is dne of the most important industries of the city. This mill is situated | be- tween the Rock Island and the Wabash railroads, thus giving the best possible facilities for shipment, and the elevator connected with it has a capacity of 580,000 bushels of grain; while the oat meal manufactured is of the best quality, for which orders are correspondingly large.

FOUND RIES AND MACHINE SHOPS. j

The iron works of Des Moines, which number six establishments, are among our most important industries. This branch of basiness has been constantly increasing, and a large trade is controlled, as our manufacturers slip machinery to all parts of the West. The buildings occupied are large and commodious, provided with all requisite machinery and conveniences, skilled labor is employed and liberal wages paid, hence they can guaran- tee work done here as perfect in finish, and in quality and durability equal to any made in the East.

WAGON AND CARRIAGE FACTORIES.

We have three houses engaged in this important branch of manufac-

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.

ture, who have acquired a well-merited popularity throughout the city and State for the superior quality, and uniform reliability of their vehicles, from a handsome phaeton to a heavy transfer wagon. | Many of the finest carriages seen on our streets are the workmanship of Des Moines artisans; and they also manufacture farm and spring wagons, and buggies of varit ous styles.

SCALE WORKS.

Two firms in Des Moines are engaged in the manufacture of all vare; ties of scales, making a specialty of railroad and other large scales, whis for accuracy and durability are not surpassed by any received here freut eastern factories. They have in their flarge buildings every facility fori doing first-class work, and the product of these factories is creditable to · home industry.

LINSEED OIL MILLS.

The rich spil of lowa and especially the central portion of the Statelist: well'adapted to the growth of flax, which is one of the most profitable crops the farmer can raise. The linseed oil, oil cake and meal, is oneof the important industries of Des Moines, and two houses are engaged this manufacture, one of which is the largest in the State. The productof these mills is of the best quality, and well-known to the trade. A ready market is found for all the oil which they can produce, and although at present much of the cake is shipped to foreign markets, yet it is rapidly becoming popular at home as feed for stock, and large quantities are sold to dairymen, stock raisers'and farmers. The value of this article as a. most nutritious food for cattle is well known,' and has been attested by its successful use. These firms furnish seed to farmers in order to encourage the growth of this crop.

MILL FURNISHERS.

Two house's here are engaged in this industry, employing- about fortf five men, and have built up a business which is not only ereditable and profitable to themselves, but of value to the city also. : This has become one of the most important industries of Des Moines, increasing from 3 comparatively small beginning a few years since to its present large pro protions.

They are fully conversant with the details of the business, fand in the advantages offered to the trade compete successfully with any.

With the advancing tide of business in Des Moines, their buildings are becoming too small for their increasing trade, reaching out into many of the Western States and Territories

MARBLE WORKS.

There are three firms in this city engaged in the marble and granite

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY

business, who import foreign marble and granite direct, and in American goods they buy from first hands, which enables them to duplicate eastern prices. They manufacture, in elegant and artistic designs. all varieties of marble and granite, for cemetery or ornamental purposes, employing a large force of skilled workmen, and produce some of the most beautiful specimens of artistic vork in this line to be found in the West. Many of the costly, monuments and headstones in Woodland Cemetery, specially 'noticeable, for the elegance and taste displayed in design and execution, are the product of Des Moines marble works

WHITE BRONZE WORKS.

The White Bronze industry of Des Moines is one of four factories in the United States, each of which is independent as to the amount of terri- tory they supply. The Western Bronze Co. of this city control Iowa, Mis- souri, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming and Dakota. Over one thousand monuments have been sold in dowa, some of them costing thou- sinds of dollars. The Des Moines Company represents a capital of $100,- who, and the stockholders are among the best of our business men whose aggregate financial rating represents upwards of half a million dollars. Over fifty thousand hijonuments of white, bronze have been erected; and scientific men endorse the lasting properties of this material, and pro- nounce it the coming; and crowning material for monuments. The com- pany not only manufactures monuments, but statuary of all sizes and styles, and are prepared[ to erect life-size statues, modeled from photo- graphs or portraits, and they can justly claim to be one of the best mant -. facturing institutions in this rapidly growing city,

BRICK' AND TILE WORKS.

There are six firms in the city who are engaged in the extensive man- ufacture of brick, igiving employment to a large number of workmen. the clays of this vicinity being of superior quality for the manufacture of brick and tile. The brick manufactured here is of excellent quality, as evinced by their general use in the city, especially for the better class of both resi dence and Business houses. Not only common brick of the best quality is manufactured here, but also pressed brick.

We have the largest drain tile works in the state, two firms being en- gaged in this branch of manufacture. The product of these establishments is'in great demand in various portions of the country, for' use in reclaim- ing low and moist lands. | These large industries are prominent among the mayufacturing interests of the city, and add largely to her voluine of busi- ness.

ARTIFICIAL STONE AND SEWERAGE PIPE.

This branch of manufacture has attained immense proportions, and :

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.

includes drain sewer, well pipe, chimney flues, lawn vases and urns off various styles. The stone is manufactured of fine sand, cement and other ingredients, and may be made to imitate almost! any variety of natural stone in appearance, while for durability and hardness, it is equal to any. 1 quality of quarried stone. It hardens with age, takes a smooth surface' and polish, and is easily moulded into any desired shape.

BOILER WORKS.

The immense mining and manufacturing operations in Iowa, create a :

.---- great demand for steam boilers, jand Des Moines manufacturers receive their full proportion of trade in supplying this demand, besides a large business outside the state. They have a merited reputation for excellence of workmanship.

PLOW FACTORIES.

The rich agricultural region about Des Moines and the large territory opened to the trade of the city by the advent of new railroads, creates an almost unlimited demand for agricultural implements of all kinds, fore- most among which in Importance is the plow, and although we have two. factories for the manufacture of plows, cultivators, harrows, etc., yet they are unable to keep pace with the demands of the trade. |Their plows are of the best quality of material and workmanship, and well adapted to our soil. .

BARBED WIRE FACTORIES.

This industry is one of the most prominent in Des Moines, even as it has become one of the most important in the United States, and the coun try rendered tributary to Des Moines by her numerous railroads, opens a. field almost limitless in the trade if barbed wire, which is gradually superseding all other styles of farm fence. There are three companies manufacturing this staple, and the trade extends throughout most of the western States and territories. This is a business which must necessarily increase in importance under the rapid development of the country tribu- tary.

STARCH FACTORY. 1

The Gilbert Starch Works is the most extensive factory operated in Des Moines. Their five story buildings were erected at a cost of $100,- 000, while their machinery necessitated a correspondingly large ontlay, and their works have a capacity of 8,500 bushels of corp per day. They have an elevator connected with the factory having a capacity | of 150,000 bushels. The corn crop of Iowa is easiest of access here, the water supply good, coal in any quantity, railway facilities are the best, both for bring- ing material to the works and shipping the manufactured product. This

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.

is the largest establishment of the kind west of New York, and employs a large number of hands constantly. The reputation of the Gilbert Starch, for purity and general excellence, is established far and wide, and it is one of the brands which is most in demand for the trade.

ALCOHOL WORKS.

Des Moines Has one establishment for the manufacture of alephol, which is said to be the largest in the country. These works have a capac- jity of about five thousand bushels of corn per dayy and their immense pro -. duct is largelyi shipped to foreign parts. There are in connection with these works, cattle sheds sufficient for the accommodation of five thousand head of cattle, and large numbers are annually fed here for market. The) , magnitude of this establishment largely augments the grain' trade of the v city, and also gives employment to a large number of workmen in the man- ufacture of barrels and casks for the transportation of the alcohol. .

NEWSPAPER |FOLDING MACHINES,

It has remained for a Des Moines man, Mr. T. C. Dexter, to invent one of the best labor-saving machines known in the work of publishing a newspaper. We refer

to the Dexter Folder Cutter and Paster, which is a marvel of mechanical ingenuity, and does its work as though endowed Å with human thought,

and with the greatest precision and accuracy) It is attached in the rear of the press receives the sheets as they pass from the press, folds and delivers them in a packing box without the aid of a feeder. Its speed is limited to the capacity of the press| to which it is attached, and when so desired will cut, paste and fold a quanto paper, allowing its leaves to be opened like those of a book, and though it handles the papers before the ink has Had time to set, it does not soil them. All'the change required to fold different sized sheets, is simply to move the gauges. It - will fold sixteen-page periodicals of various sizes; delivering them page Asize, folded three times. It will fold, paste and trim eight-page work; and deliver at either the third or fourth fold.

The factory: has now been in operation over five years, and these .

1 folders have been sold in nearly every State in the Union, giving perfect satisfaction. They Have been placed in all the principal cities of the East. where a critical market might be expected, but the result has been very satisfactory, with a constantly increasing demand, and although the com- o party has floubled the capacity of the works, their orders are received more `rapidly than they are able to fill them. || Entire priginality is claimed for „this machine, the inventor never having seen a paper folded by machinery ¿until he witnessed the operation upon his own invention, and its simplic- city is only equalled by its perfect accuracy

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY.

CRACKER MANUFACTURERS.

Des Moines has two firms engaged in the manufacture of crackers for the trade, and the goods sent out by them are unexcelled by any in the market, and with an established reputation for excellence, the demand for them is constantly increasing. BROOMS. ·1

The manufacture of brooms has become an important industry in Des Moines, and gives employment to a large force of worknjen. 'Two houses are engaged in making brooms of every description, and they produce an article which meets with universal favor. A stock of materials and manu- factured articles are kept on hand at all times, and they have an extensive, trade.

PAINT WORKS.

Des Moines has one factory for the production of paints, which is 'thoroughly equipped and furnished with all the machinery and appliances' for the manufacture of prepared paints of all colors and shades. ; In its; general appointments it will Compare favorably with any in the west. while for quality and reliability of products it has gained an onviable reputation.

GALVANIZED IRON CORNICE.

From the inception of this innovation in the construction of our build ;. ings, it has met with universal commendation, from the fact of its general. utility, and the ease with which it is wronght into the many pleasing and artistic shapes in use in the architecture of the present time. It is impossi -. ble to estimate the amount of labor and capital saved in the substitution. of. galvanized iron, in dormer windows, door and windowi caps, cornice and other front ornaments. It is in use on most of the large buildings in' our city, and three houses are engaged in its, manufacture.

PLANING MILLS.

The manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, inside finish, mouldings. balustrades, newel posts, etc., is an important factor in the business of the city, and engrosses the attention of seven firms, whose trade is widely extended throughout a large territory of the Northwest. One of these; houses is also extensively engaged in the manufacture of school and office furniture, and the character of their work has established for them a fine. reputation throughout the West. "Within the last few years, machinery : adapted for woodwork has been so improved and perfected, that there seems scarcely; any limit to the range of operations performed by this class

! of time and labor saving inventions.

DES MOINES CITY |DIRECTORY.

POTTERIES!

The superior quality of clay found in the vicinity of Des Moines for the manufacture of stoneware and tiling, and its great advantages as al distributing point, has induced the , establishment of several works for the production of these goods. The combined annual product of these works ja hundreds of thousands of gallons of ware. The most approved appli- 'ances have been added to the effect of the business, which now produces a superior quality of carthenware, as well as flower pots, hanging baskets, pros and vases in many beautiful desighs. ...

SPICE MILLS

We have one firm, which is located in a spacious business block, fully equipped with the latest improved machinery and appliances; for roasting And grinding coffees, and manufacturing pure spices and baking power. Amply supplied with coffee roasters, coffde mills, spice mills; etc., the facilities are as nearly perfect and complete as any mills in the West, and their business is conducted with systematic regularity and precision. The process used at these mills insure' absolute purity, while; they reain the original strength and tlie most pungent and valuable qualities, and from personal knowledge of their spices, coffees and baking powders. we feel warranted in the statement that for these qualities they are very popular wherever they'are known. Their baking powder has been pro- nounced by hethal test to be of the highest standard of quality in the market .. Their business Has increased year by year since it was established in this city. Their goods are sent throughout the Northwest, and never fail to give entire satisfaction. Conducing in so great a degree to the substantial benefit of the community, and' contributing so' largely to the reputation of the city, this house is entitled to high consideration and widespread trade.

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Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1886, Part 7

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

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