Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1889, Part 60

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Publication date: 1889
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USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1889 > Part 60

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Between ten and fifteen miles of paving and an equal mileage of curbing and sewerage have been ordered for the present season

#tone yorks.

Storage-

Stoves (mnfrs).

Stoves (dealers)

Street Railway Companies. 3

Subscription Books

Suspenders (mnfrs)

.Tailors 14

"Taxidermists 1

Tea Stores . 4

Telegraph Companies

Telephone . Companies. 1

Tents and Awnings (mnfrs). 1 Tent and Awnings (dealers) .:

Ticket Brokers 2

The und Brick Machinery omnirs)

Tiling-Encaustic.

Tinware -.

Toys (wholesale)

Toys (retail).

Transfer Companies

Trunks (mufrs) . 1

Typewriters (agencies) 3

Tobolstering

Variety Stores

Veterinary Surgeons

1 Vinegar Factories

Wagon (mnfrs)_ .

Wall Paper (wholesale) 1

Wall Paper (retail) - 12

Washing Machines (mnfrs) 3

1 Water Works 1

Sign Writers

Silver-and -lated Ware (wholesale} .)

-Soap Works. 3

Pop Corn Stands 3 Pork Packers 3

Potteries. 3

Stereotypers

Stock Yards

DES MOINES-DLAYS, SANDS

(summer of 1889). The gas and water mains are being extended, and several .miles of additional electric railway are in process of con; struction .: Extensions are also being maile to motor lines, and same are being equipped with the latest improved motive powers. A costly viaduct is also to be built by the several railroads for the convenience of travel to and from the south part of the city. Two new wagon_ fridges. each over fff feet long, will be built during 1889.

Des Moines is a comparatively new city and a rapidly growing -one. The opening, grading, and paying of streets, building of new bridges. and other improvements, necessitate large outlay .-.

Clays.

__ The clays found in the hills in and about the city, add no small -value to the industries of DesMoines, as evidenced by our extensive brick yards, mint the buildings of- our city, small and great. demon- strate the excellence and stability of their product. Not only is clay for the manufacture of common brick abundant, but the finest quality of white or "Milwaukee." brick may be made in our vicinity. Fire clay abounds in connection with our coal deposits, as well as the best and most valuable "of coal measure clays-potter's clay-which .is found of a superior quality, and the products of our extensive potteries - find markets hundreds of miles away. "We have the largest drain tile works in the state, and their product is greatly appreciated by farmers.' ' in every direction, andthis is afsatine of om and sewer- age pipe manufactories. Clays have been tested which proved unex- - celled for the manufacture of mineral paints. Actual experiment has shown that all around our city, near the surface of the ground, there. exists excellent clay, suitable for the finer grades of brick and terra cotta manufacture. .

Parties who have made a study of the ceramic arts for years, in the interest of terra cotta manufacture, and have visited the leading establishments of Europe, where clay is manipulated for manufactur- ing purposes. declare that our clays are peculiarly fitted for this work, and tests prove them of a quality equal to the European clays. To some localities imported to manufacture the finer grades of pressed brick, terra cotta and fancy pottery wares. In fact there are more than six- teen distinct varieties of clay suitable for the manufacture of all varieties of wares, from the finest to the coarser and rougher, and these beds have been barely touched, but lie awaiting the development which will - surely come to them in the future.

Sands.

An. extensive deposit of silicious sand of excellent quality exists

mar Des Moines, which has been proven, by actual test, capable of making glass of superior whiteness and brilliancy, equal to_that made

DES MOINES. - BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

ng, Gas and Steam Fitting

Pop Corn Stands.

Stagionery ( Wholesale)

Pork Packers

Steamship Agencies

Potteries

Stenographers

Preserving Companies-

Stereotypers

·1

Proprietary Medicines

Storage .:

Pulleys and Shafting

Stoves-(mnfrs)

Rags-and Old-Metals

Street Railway Companies:

Raifroad Agencies

Subscription Books

Railroad Contractors

Suspenders (innfrs)

Railroads 15

. Tailors

: Ranges (innfrs).

Taxidermists

Real Estate. 156

Tea Stores

Rendering Works

Telegraph Companies

Restaurants ..:

Telephone Companies

Rooting

Tents and Awnings (mnfrs)

Rubber Goods.

Tent and Awnings (dealers)

Rubber Stamps

Ticket Brokers

Saddlery and Sa Illery Hardw

{wholesale)

Tiling-Encaustic

Saddlery and Saddlery Hardware (Hetail ).

Toys ( wholesale) 1~

Safe and-Lock Companies. 1 Toys (retail). 7

Sanitary and Cremation Companies. Scales (mufrs). 1

Transfer Companies 15

Trunks (mufrs)

School Supplies 1 Typewriters (agencies)

Seals. Stamps and Stencils

L'ndertakers

Second Hand Co.

Lpholsterjny

-1

Seedsmen

Veterinary Surgeons

Sewing Machines (minfrs)

Vinegar Factories 1

Sewing Machines (agencies)

Wagon (mufrs) 5

Shirt Factories 3

Wall Paper (wholesale).

Shoe Findings (wholesale).

Wall Paper (retail) 12

Shoemakers 21

Washing Machines (mnfrs). 3

Water Works 1

Well Diggers x

Sign Writers.

Window Burglar Alarm (mnfrs); 1

Silver and Plated Ware (wholesale)

SORTE Works

Wood Dealers

Spice Mills

Woolen Mills

-Spring Beds and Mattresses

Yeast -Compressed (mnfrsi

Stained Glass

Zoological Gardens -1

"Stamping and Patterns.

Paving, Sewerage. Water, Gas, Electric Light, Etc.

Cedar block and brick paving. 20 milese Stone, iron and concrete - curbing. 25 miles; water mains- ( N. Des Moines. 6 m. ) 60 miles: sewers. 25 miles; gas mains, 35 miles: are electric lights, about 375: incandescent electric lights, about 5,700, was firstse. it and you feet long: railway bridges. 7. each 000 feet long.

Between ten and fifteen miles of paving and an equal mileage-of curbing: and sewerage have been ordered for the present season

Printing Presses and Machinery

Stock Yards

Printing ITouses

275 4

Stone Forks

Pumps. 15 4

Stoves (dealers)

Tile And Briek Maebinery #frs)

Tinware : 15

112

Show Cases (mnfrs)

Sidewalks-Cement, Stone and Con- crete_

Wind Mills (mmtrs)

Wire Goods ... 3

Sewer Pipes.

Starch Works.

DES MOINES -- CLAYS, SANDS.

( summer of 1889). - The gas and water mains are being extended, and several miles of additional electric railway are in process of, con -. "struction, Extensions are also' being-made to motor, lines, and same are being equipped with the latest improved motive powers. A costly viaduct is also to be built by the seyeral railroads for the convenience "of travel to and from the south part of the city. Two new way bridges. each over 600 feet long, will be built during 1889.

- Des Moines is a comparatively new city and a rapidly growing .one, The opening, grading, and paving of streets, building of new bridges. and other improvements, necessitate large outlay.

Clays.

The clays found in the hills in and about the city,add no small value to the industries of Des Moines, as evidenced by our extensive . brick vards, and the buildings of our city, small and great, demon- strate the excellence. and stability of their product. Not only is clay for the mann foeture of-common iniek + want. but the finest quality of white or "Milwaukee" brick may be made in our vicinity. Fire I clay abounds in connection with our coal deposits, as well as the best. and most valuable of coal measure clays - potter's clay =which is found of a superior quality, and the produets of our extensive_potteries - find markets hundreds of miles away. We have the largest drain tile works in the state, and their product is greatly appreciated by farmers in every direction, and this is also true of our artifical strage and sewer- age pipe manufactories. "Clays have been tested which proved unex- , celled for the manufacture of mineral paints. Actual experiment has shown that all around our city year the surface of the ground there exists excellent clay. suitable for the finer grades of brick and terra cotta manufacture.

Parties who have made a study of the ceramic arts for years, in the interest of terra cotta manufacture, and have visited the leading establishments of Europe .- where clay is manipulated for manufactur- ing purposes. declare that our clays are peculiarly fitted for this work. and tests prove them of a quality equal to the European clays. to some . localities imported to manufacture the finer grades of pressed brick. terra cotta and fancy pottery wares. In fact there are more than six- toon ilistinct varieties of clay suitable for the manufacture of all varieties of wares. from the finest to the coarser and rougher, and those heds.

. have been barely touched. but lie awaiting the development which will surely come to them in the future.

Sands.

An extensive deposit of silicious sand of excellent quality exists near Des Moines, which has been proven, by actual test. capable of . making glass of superior whiteness and brillianev. equal to that made

--- 30

DES MOINES -- POSTOFFICE.

from sand brought from other States. The fact that the quality is unexcelled and the quantity inexhaustible, should be sufficient.induce- ment for the establishment of a, large glass factory here, in the near future, which we believe will be an accomplished -faet before another year, from the correspondence we have had with parties contemplating a change of location. The sands lying in bars along our two rivers are extensively used in the manufacture of artifical stone, and for build- +ing urposes.

Post Office.

The United States Court House and Post Office is a fine structure built of Joliet stone, three stories and basement, and is occupied by the post office department and, United States Courts, and all Government officials residing here.' The transactions of the post office are-a very fair index to the general business of a eity, and the showing in the annual statement. is certainly very gratifying.

The following report from Postmaster Merritt shows the business of the Des Moines post office for 1888.

RECEIPTS.

Stamps. envelopes, postal cards, ete; sold Box-rents collected

75104399.85-

1.566.35.

Total

$108,966.70

Clerk's pay roll. :

$14.085.30

Letter carriers' my roll

20,256,97

Post master's salary and other expenses

7,371.27 $41.743.54

Net to the Department.

SGT.223.16

Railway postal clerk's pay roll

37.596.44 40,315.87

Deposits received from other offices.

MONEY ORDER BUSINESS - ISSUED,

8,143 Domestic money orders

9,649 Postal notes

Fees-

Total

$91.059.02

616 Foreign Fees

$8,119.61 103.60

S.222.21-

-Total

47,013 Domestie money orders.

$412.553.78

51 Domestic money orders repaid to remitter

503.55

26.639 Postal notes

62.622.6

238 Postal notes repaid to remitter

$42.37

Total

SUITE 15: 30

210 Foreign notes

5.354.71

Total

"Deposits received from other offices

720, 103:17

872.309.47 : 17.778.16 941.3

508312.23

DES MOINES-BANKS, HOME INSURANCE-COMP.

REGISTRY BUSINESS

- Number of pieces registered:

-23.458

Number of pieces received in transit

25AÑOS

Number of pieces received for city delivery

14,155

Total

MATT DISPATCHED.

Approximate. Number of letters dispatched -

6.128.435

Number of postal cards dispatched: 1.0001.370

Number of pieces of merchandise and miscellaneous matter 535.040

Total

7.773.845 Number of pounds of newspapers received from publishers (exact) 781.600

MAIL DELIVERED AT POSTOFFICE AND BY CARRIERS-APPROXIMATE.

Letters

Postal cards ...

$44.165

Newspapers, circulars. etc

1.084.187

Total

-5.399.529

Banks ..

There is no more accurate criterion of prosperity-or the reverse in. any city than the degree of activity shown in the reports of the clear- ing house, so closely related to its producing and distributing-indus- tries are the banking facilities. Comparative statements rank us far in advance of any city of the same popways number find - amount of surplus deposits. + The banks of Des Moines draw from the principal mercantile and corporate institutions throughout-western and." northern-Iowa, and furnish a safe deposit for the bankers and mer- chants in the counties of central Iowa. They are as follows:

Citizens' National; Iowa National; Des Moines National: Valley National; Capital City; and the Des Moines, Polk County, and Amer- ican Savings Banks. Besides those. there are several Loan and Trust Companies. as follows: Iowa Loan and Trust Company, New England Loan and Trust Company. Central Loan and Trust Company, Security -Loan and Trust Company, Des Moines Loan and Trust Company, and- : the Continental Loan and Trust Company. :

Home Insurance Companies.

Des Moines is frequently and justly styled the "Hartford of the West," from the number and character of the insurance companies established here.

These companies, including fire, life. live stock, and accident. . have done much for Dos Noivos and as their settlement. In

been promptly and liberally made: confidence on the part of the public has been established.

241

DES MOINES -- REAL ESTATE.

These companies give employment, not including officers ;or agents, to about three hundred people, and their total assets are $3.000.000. They are as follows :=

Fire, the Hawkeye, State, Des Moines, Capital, Fidelity, Mer- chants and Bunkers, and Mill Owners' Mutual. The life companies Tare the Equitable Life of Towa, Royal, Umion Mutual, Bankers Life. . Des Moines Life Association, Western Mutual Aid Society, Security Mutual. Farmers' Mutual. Accident, the National Masonic Accident Association; and the Northwestern Live Stock Association.

Real Estate.

City property is in good demand, especially for business or man- : ufacturing purposes, which can be obtained at reasonable rates and in. desirable locations .. Some of our real estate dealers are offering- special inducements. to parties desiring to establish factories, in some ... cases donating the grounds for this purpose while others are offering - land in most desirable localities, at very low rates. There are many inviting sites adjacent to our different railroads .-. The indenements- . offered by our city, in giving a remittance of taxes for five years, to factories employing a sufficient number of operatives. is_worthy of special_note,

There are numberless inviting sites for residences, surrounded by native groves, and overlooking the tufacent country amt the business - portion of the city, and residence lots. though in good demand. can be - obtained at reasonable vates as well as lots for business or manufac- turing purposes.

The activity in real estate is not confined to property intended for. large-business houses and office buildings, or for magnificent resi- dences, but the demand is great for manufacturing sites, for smaller. business houses for homes for tradesmen -and artisans, and for the necessities of a constantly growing population. New additions are being laid out, which, while sufficiently near to the business center to be easily reached by our lines of rapid transit, are sold at prices which offer unsurpassed inducements to those of modest means-working men, clerks, and those doing business upon a small capital, to secure homes at a comparative economy of cost, and which will increase in

value. from year to year. The confidence of its residents in the future of the city is evinced by the general demand on the part of those able to invest for a site for a business house or a home. The advantages of Des Moines are being extensively advertised, and the consequence is a. rapid increase in population, as well as in manufacturing establish- ments. This. of course. creates a corresponding activity in real estate; , and while the appreciation of values in real estate has been steady, it has never passed beyond a reasonable limit: The recent purchase of

DES MOINES-CHURCHES. Y. M. C. A., EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES.

-large tracts by syndicates and capitalists indicates: the confidence; =reposed in the destiny of the city by men of sound judgment and bus- iness experience. ".The real estate transfers for 1SSS amounted to the sum of $12,549, 073.04.

Churches.

Over fifty churches are located in Des Moines ant many of the ... buildings are ciegant and imposing. - Several new and handsome." church edifices are now being erected which. when finished. will be among the finest in the West. "The denominations represented are the". Baptist ( including Swedish and African ); Catholic (including German.) Christian. Congregational, Episcopal, Evangelical ( including: German and Swedish ). Friends, Hebrew, Lutheran (including German and 'Swedish j. Methodist Episcopal (including- German, Swedish, Norwe- gian-Danish and African), Presbyterian. Seventh-Day Adventists, Unitarian and United Brethren.

Young Men's Christian Association.

Des Moines has a large and Nourishing branch of the Young- Men's Christian Association. "This is an organization whose efforts for good are known and appreciated throughout the civilized work, and whose membership is numbered by hundreds of thousands. - The Des: Moines Y. M. C. A. has now in course of erection a large and hand- -some-building, which will be-fully equipped withrreading rooms,"par -. lors library, music hall, gymnasium, baths ete, and frequent social and titerar Lentert ten Their rooms are always open- for young men to visit, and to spend their evenings or leisure hours during the day, and assistance of any kind that can be furnished is cheerfully given.

Educational Advantages.

It is.fortunate for Des Moines that the controlling minds in the public policy of the city have, been in favor of liberal measures for increasing and perfecting her educational facilities, which are a matter of pride and pleasure to our citizens, and with our three colleges, our : excellent system of public schools, our commercial, law, medical, music and art schools. it woukt seem that one might obtain-an education which would fit him for almost any department of business or profes. sional life. - Education is the corner stone upon which Iowa has built such a superstructure, that she ranks fifth in the Union in number of school-houses and teachers employed, and this without respect of popu- lation. In proportion to population sh

smallest percentage of illiteracy. Her school system is the admira- tion of the world. and in no portion of the State are the educational facilities so varied and complete as in our city.

-- 34

DES MOINES -- COLLEGES, PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Colleges

- Des-Moines College is the oldest of our collegiate institutions, having been established in 1500 as the University of Des Moines. -

. "under the auspices of the Baptist denomination. It occupies fine, "large' grounds on Ninth street. The curriculum of this school em- braces a full collegiate course: it aims to keep pace with the scientific methods of modern instruction; its corps of instructors is energetic and ambitious, and fully alive to the demands of the State and the age. The past year has-been the most successful in its history and the - Inture of this college in its new location is most encouraging.

Callanan College, which was formerly an independent school. is - Howentre of the colleges of Drake University." It owen its existence to the liberality of Mr. Jamos EnHamn for whom it is named. The ele- gant college building at Pleasant and Eleventhestreets was recently destroyed by-fire, but is being rapidly rebuilt. And will be ready for occupancy in a few weeks. Here are located the law medical musical and commercial departments of Drake University. The grounds of ; Callanan College are admirably adapted for the purposes of the school. and command one of the most beautiful views about the city. -

Drake University is under the auspices of the Christian denomi- It is located in a beautiful grove in the extreme northwestern portion of the city, the college bunding is a hamismine somnieture, amE the college campus contains eight acres. on a slight knoll, beautifully diversified with magnificent forest trees. The plan of the institution embraces literary, medical, law, business, theological, normal. art and . . musical courses of study. This school is on an excellent financial basis, and has about two hundred and twenty-five students. Large.

and commodious buildings, cheap boarding. home-like surrounlings moral and Christian influences, active literary societies, railroad con- nections with all sections of the State and other States. court sessions of all-grades, legislative assemblies-all secure to the student of Drake University excellent-advantages.

There is now being built at a cost of $160.000 another fine edu= cational structure to be known as Highland Park College. The plans for the curriculum of study are not yet fully matured but it is under- stood that it is to be an industrial as well as theoretical institution.

Public Schools.

The public schools of Des Moines are a matter of pride and grati- fication to all her citizens. No more worthy or better qualified corps of touchers are to be found in the United States than in our schools. "

The curriculum of study is very thorough and comprehensive. amt the. per cent of attendance ant punctuality is excellent, - The kindergarten was made a part of the school system of our city in 1>>3, being the.

.35

DES MOINES-BUSINESS COLLEGES, MUSIC SCHOOLS.

second city in the west to introduce it, and five years in advance -of Boston and Philadelphia If it is true -as-has been said. that " The - High School is the crowning glory of the public school system." it is just as true that " The Kindergarten is the enchanted entrance to the Temple of Learning. The Des Moines Public Schools won a bronze medal at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, for excellent work: csand slou a diploma at Neir Orleans in 135.

They occupy twenty-two handsome and commodious buildings. installing the finest High School in the State, erected Inst year at a cost of sixty five thousand dollars. The number of teachers employed is two hundred and fifteen, whose salaries range from $45 to $145 per month .-- There is also in connection with the public schools. a school for the training of young ladies in the theory and practice of teaching. and tho gradtantos of this school have given excellent satisfaction where they liave been employed as teachers.

Besides the public schools parochial seboule pia, the Catholics and Hebrews. St. Joseph's Coulom is a chi young ladies. under the auspices of the Catholics, and they also conduet three denominational schools. There are.also severalexcellent private schools.

Business Colleges.

Des Moines has four institutions which impart instruction in - book-keeping. penmanship, business arithmetic and law. telegraphy. stenography, and those branches which especially prepare young men and women for active-business-life. The knowledge obtained in these. .schools is not only theoretical, but practical as well, fitting the student for the busy scenes of real life, putting this knowledge to use as fast . as it is acquired. Their graduates found in many of the business _ houses of the city. and throughout the northwest, are the endorsement : of the good work they are doing for the young men and women of the -land. - -

Music Schools .-

The advantages offered by our music school the requirements of a thorough _ musical education are unsurpassed in the west. it whether the student is desirous of obtaining a theoretical or apractical knowledge of music, instrumental or vocal. the instructors in these schools are fully competent to import the information desired. He have among our teachers of music in Des Moines a few_who are not. surpassed as instructors in any part of the country, and who pursue-a system of training admirably adapted to the object for which it is desigual

`DES MOINES-MEDICAL-COLLEGES, HOTELS, NEWSPAPERS.

Law Schools.

The Towa College of Law is located hore Des Moines cannot be - excelled as a location for legal training. - As the capital of the State. it - "affords the student rare advantages." The student has free access to the State library, which contains about ten thousand volumes of law books alone, including the reports of all the States and many foreign coun- tries complete, and is one of the fullest. collections of legal text books in the West, ranking fifth among the law libraries of the United States. The aim of the faculty is to give thorough- instruction, and the final -examination is strict, requiring faithful work of the student in order to. graduate.

Medical Colleges."

Des Moines has three medical-schools, the lowa College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, the Iowa Medical College, and the King Eclectic Medical College, which offer excellent. advantages for the acquirement of a thorough medical education.

Hotels.

Good hotel accommodations is one of the best advertisements for Des Moines i unquestionably the hotel city of Iowa. It - is not unusual for commercial travelers to come into the city Saturday from a radius of one hundred miles, to spend Sunday, because of the hotel accommodations. There are over twenty good hotels and scores of .. smaller "ones and boarding houses. Our Savery House would be a source of pride to any city, white the Kirkwood and Aborn retain their : reputation and popularity second to none in the State. " The principal houses are elegantly furnished, the cuisine is amexceptionable and they are noted for their excellence in everything which pertains to first-class . accommodations. Besides those mentioned, prominent houses are the Morgan, Ardmore, Gault, Windsor, International and two excellent European hotels, Munger's and the Sabin House. Des Moines com- fortably.entertains 30,000 to 40,000 visitors per day during the State Fair. which is beyond the capacity of any other city in Iowa- to do.

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Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1889, Part 60

Author: Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher:
Number of Pages: