Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1891, Part 5

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Publication date: 1891
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USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1891 > Part 5

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The State Arsenal is used as a reposi- tory for-millthry records.

The Y. M. C. A. reading room on Fourth street is well supplied with books, papers and magazines.

HOTELS.

Good hotel accommodations is one of the best advertisements for any city, and Des Moines is unquestionably | the hotel city in' Iowa. It is not unusual for com -!! mercial 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 itwenty gool hotels and scores of smaller `ones and boarding horses. Our Savery House with its elegant . appointments throughout, would be a source of pride to any city, while the Kirkwood, Aborn, Morgan and | Goldstone, retain their reputation and > popularity. The prin- cipal houses are elegantly furnished, the cuisine is' unexceptionable and they are noted for their excellence in every -. thing which pertains to first class accom- modations. Besides those mentioned, prominent . houses are the Ardmore, Logan, 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.

NEWSPAPERS. 1

The press is a reflection of the ideas sentiments and aspirations of the age. In all the rapid advances made by Des. Moines, nothing impresses the mind more than the wonderful progress in journal- ism and the eminence attained by our newspapers, and the power which they have exerted in the growth of our city. The general character, appearance and professional rank of the newspapers of a city constitute a criterion, by which to es timate its people, their intelligence and .

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their prosperity. No other city in Iowa has as many newspapers and publications as Des Moines; and certainly in propor- tion and: extent of circulation, no other city of the same population in the coun- try can take a better exhibit. In all that relates to journalistic enterprise Des Moines; apers have reached a high stand- ard. The following are the principal jour- nats: patate Register, daily and weekly; Des Mothes Leader, daily and weekly; Des Moines News, daily and weekly; Iowa Capital, daily and weekly; Iowa Home- stead weekly; Des Moines Trade Journal. 'weekly; Polk County Advocate, weekly; . Kell's Iowa Turf, weekly; Iowa Staats An- zeiger, weekly; Sunday Post, weekly; Haus Schatz, weekly; Iowa Staats Zeitung, weekly; Svithiod, weekly; Mail | and Times, weekly; Saturday Review, weekly; Plain Talk, weekly; Grand Army Advo- oate, weekly; lowa Tribune, weekly; In- land Christian Advocate, weekly; Iowa W .. C. T. U. Messenger, weekly; Des Moines Graphic, weekly; Peoples Week- ly; Highway and Banner, weekly; Iowa Sabbath School Teacher, weekly; The Epworthian, weekly; Live Stock and Western Farm Journal, semi-monthly; Rural Northwest, semi-monthly; Polk County ( Farmer, semi-monthly; Eclectic Medica and Surgical Journal, monthly; North western Library, monthly; Iowa Endeavorer, monthly; Iowa Legion of Hon- or Herald, monthly; Northwestern Legion of Honor Helper, monthly, and the Western Newspaper Union, auxiliary publishers of Iowa and other weekly papers. There are also several college papers published by the students, reflecting credit apon their, respective institutions. SOCIETIES AND ORDERS.

The; raternal and benevolent societies usually found in large cities . are well represented in Des Moines, there being numerous organizations of Masons, Odd Fellows; Knights of Pythias, Legion of

Honor, United Workman, Modern Wood- men, Knights of Labor, American Me- chanics, Red Men, Druid's, Grand Army of the Republic, and many others of minor importance, while in the temper- ance organizations there are the State Al- liance, Good Templars and Woman's Christian Temperance Unions. The visi- tor from abroad, it matter's not from what portion of the world he 'comes, may find among the benevolent and so; cial organizations in the city, some one to extend the hand of welcome, and ex- press a fraternal interest in the stranger, These various societies and orders are numerous, and most of them are strong, in numbers and influence. Many of them have departments of life insurance, thus constituting them mutual benefit asso- ciations.

HEALTHFULNESS

With regard to healthfulness, the lo- cation of Des Moines is unsurpassed, a broad plateau, skirted with undulating bluffs, rising about one' hundred and seventy feet, the latter covered with for- est trees, with two large rivers, hav- ing eight feet fall, and a velocity of about three miles an hour, afford a nat- ural surface drainage adequate to insure against malarial diseases. There is a marked absence of malarial diseases, and of such as are traceable to improper sanitary regulation. Epidemics are not known. Sanitary appliances, supple-) mental to the natural conditions, are be- ing added adequate to the increase and solidarity of population.

The average annual death rate, per one thousand of the living population, is less than four-fifths of one per cent of which more than two thirds is from pre- ventible diseases-diseases that are myotic.

The climate is what may be called me- dium, healthful and invigorating The city 18 elevated eight hundred and forty

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feet above the sea level.

One of the greatest blessings a com-

munity can have is good water. That Des Moines possesses water of sup rlative quality is shown by chemical analysis bi sample taken from the water works. 'In regard to healthfulness, which is a : very important feature in the growth of a city, Des Moines presents unusual at- tractions to those in search of a loca- tion for a home.

PARKS.

Des Moines Zoological Garden is the principal resort of this character and is la most delightful place in which to spend (the day or evening. 4 WVinding carriage ways. under over arching branches; meandering walks among the trees; over. rustic bridges and creeping along the bluffs; artificial lakes, grottos, swings, summer houses. and rustic Beats, have already been provided, and the improve- ments made have rendered itadapted to the comfort and convenience of visitors. The grounds contain sixty acres include fing a charming lake, on which there are a steamer, a beautiful gondola, and al large number of row boats. There are many delightful spots within the inclo- sure, for picnics and pleasure parties, and the place abounds in' beautiful

and picturesque scenery. The manage- ment have already secured a large and interesting collection of animals, and ir- tend to add steadily. to the number. The company are now making some rad-, ical changes which will further entertain visitors andl'add to the amusements of- fered. A fine half-mile track for bicycles bas just been completed and tennis courts will soon be added. They are now .putting in an electric light plant, and the grounds will soon be brilliantly illuminateil with sixteen arc lights.

Prospfet Park is also a delightful and much frequented pleasure resort. ! , No other place in this region affords scenery more romantic, varied and picturesque ..

Oaks, elms and other native trees afford protection from the heated rays of the sun, and render the place delightfully cool in summer. From the summit of the heights near the entrance to the park may be obtained a magnificent view of the river and valley, together with a vast extent of prairie | covered with the verdure of meadows and green fields.1 Art has added much to the natural beauty of Prospect Park. This park has a fine pavilion for concerts &c., is free to the public, and numerous picnic parties and pleasure seekers avail them- selves of its attractions. i Both these parks lie on the banks of the Des Moines river in the north part of the city, and are accessible by steamer or row bout of which there are more than a hund ed now in use. Twolines of electric cars alto run to the entrances. The Iowa State Band gives frequent concerts- here, and their audiences are numbered by thous- ands;

IOWA STATE FAIR.

The State Agricultural Society a few years ago, - purchased, with money do- nated by the citizens of Des Moines, and an equal amount appropriated by the . State, two hundred and sixty six acres 'of land, now in the eastern part of the city for a permanent location for the Iowa State Fair. Since that time fully! $200,000 Have been expended upon the grounds in the erection of permanent buildings, parks, race tracks, etc., and to-day the grounds are as fine as any in the whole country for the purposes for which they were designed. The location s a very sightly one, overlooking theen, tire city proper as well as the large man .- ufacturing districts, the two rivers, etc. Thisgreat Fair, which is the largest state fair in the UnitedStates, is held annually, and is attended by thirty to sixty thousand people daily, some days show- ing even a greater number. Every year the shrewd manufacturers' of this

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and other states take advantage of these immense throngs by advertising and ex- hibiting their various products, knowing that they will reap rich returns for their outlay of time and money. Besides this, those business houses and factories lo- cated in the samecity in which this great annual fair is held have the people brought to their very doors and can thus show them the method of produc- tion, capacity of works and many other details that are'always interesting to the dealer. Our producers generally take advantage of these immense gatherings, : jand are frank to say that they ;have been very important factors in extend -. ing .their business in every direction. The Rock Island railroad has a double track from the business part of the city .1 to the fair grounds and runs ten minute trains during the fair. The last fair was the grandest exhibition of products of the soil and the dairy, of agricultural implements and manufactured products, and of fine stock ever held in the west.

CEMETERIES.

Woodland Cemetery, our beautiful -

"city of the dead," is situated in the northwestern portion of the city. The land is gently undulating, uplands and dells and shady groves abound, and a small stream quietly pursues its way through the grounds. It contains many elegant designs in statuary and monu- mental sculpture, and with the care be- stowed upon it, and the improvements, constantly being made, it is fast assum- ing the appearance of a landscape gar- den, as well as that of "God's Acre." A ·handsome residence for the sexton is lo- :cated at the entrance, and also a pretty chapel, where services for the dead are frequently held. Immediately north of Woodland cemetery is the Catholic, and the Jewish Cemetery adjoins it on the northwest.

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.

Cottage Hospital, in the north part of the city, is a beneficent and praisewor- 'thy institution. It was opened for the reception of patients in July, 1878, and' the demands upon it increased, so rapid- ly that it was compelled to enlargeits fa- cilities for usefulness and is now estab- li-bed in 'a pleasant and commodious building. It is well managed and has ac- complished great good. No patients are received having contagious diseases but any and all who are sick and have no where to go, are cordially welcomed and kindly cared for.

The Tracy Home for Invalide is a large and admirably arranged institu- tion, where patients may receive the best of private surgical treatment and nurs- ing. It is located on an eminence in the north part of the city, where the air is delightiully pure, and which overlooks the city and the river. The institution is provided with superior facilities for the care and treatment of patiente !!

The Christian Home for Self Support- ing Women is one of the most beneficent institutions of our city, and though but recently established, is quietly accomp- lishing a good work. Its object is to pro- vide a Christian home for working girls and women in the city, and for strangers coming from other' places in search 'of employment. Ilere they receive aid, en- couragement and protection fromn . the evil influences incident to large cities. If they can bring reliable recommendations they are assisted to procure situations at good wages. They receive board at a nominal cost, and have the comforts of a home.

THE BENEDICT HOME is an institution having for its object the reclamation of fallen women, and is under the auspices of the state organization of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. It receives its support partly from contributions . from the local Unions throughout Iowa,

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;and partly from the state treasury. "It has been in existence about, nine years and has been instrumental in accom- plish og much good.

THE DES MOINES HOME FOR . FRIEND- LESS CHILDREN is a| most worthy . insti- tution. Its object is to cate for friend. less and destitute children under four- teen years of age providing. them with board, clothing and Christian training until they can be placed in good perma- nents homes. It is upon public charity, tablished five years. dependent entirely and has been es- During that time it has taken a large number of children from the lower walks of life and placed them in goodl, Christian homes, thereby insuring to, chem such training as 'shall make them good citizens and useful members of society. The control of this institution is vested in a Board of Man- agere, consisting of thirteen ladies who are members of the various churches. Through the kindness and generosity; of the public toward the Children's Home, there is now in course of erection, in a pleasant location in the western part of the city, a commodious and well arrang- ed building capable of accommodating, several hundred children, which when ready for occupancy, will' have cost about $10,000.

PUBLIC CONVENIENCES.

The industries of Des Moines which have shown duch a remarkable improve- ment during the past few years, and. which draw their supplies from all por- tions of the United States, demand an extensive system of telegraphic commu -. nications, which is furnished by the Wes- tern [Thion Company, with three offices in the city, under the management of Mr. T. A. Yearnshaw, and the Postal Cable Telegraph Company, which also has three offices here, and fs under the management of C. F. Fox. The American Distiet and Telegraph Fire Alarm Com- pany is composed of the best Des Moines

business men, and is rapidly growing in popularity. Nearly all the fire alarms are being sent in over this system. This messenger department is something long needed in the city and is highly appre- ciated. This system putsevery home in direct communication with the public department for the small sum of $6 per year. The lines extend to all parts of the city An excellent telephone sys- tem is another very valuable feature of Des Moines life, with neir y one thous- and subscribers. Des Moines has tele- phonic communication with "over one hundred cities and towns in the sur- rounding country.

Des Moines has a fire department equalled in efficiency by but few cities in the country, and surpassed by none of the same population. The present effi- ciency is due to many years service and careful training. The fact that the pro- portional loss by fire in Des Moines is 80 very small, speaks with emphasis of the faithfulness of the firemen, andis a cause of just pride. There are seven engine houses located in various porions of the city, and the average time occupied from the sounding of the first alarm until the men are in their places and the horses on a run through the streets is from fil- teen to twenty seconds. The city has spared no pains of expense in perfecting ite fire department, and it is an honor and credit to Des Moines.

The electric light is ingeneral use for bus- iness houses and the principal business streets in Des Moines, and proves .very very satisfactory. There are three elec- tric light companies, and they furnish both the arc and incandescent light. They also furnish many of our business houses with power at rates much ; less than steam power.

Our gas works are first class, and amp- ly supply the demand with gas of excel- lentquality. Thelights upon the streets are numerous, and are kept in good con- ditioa.

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The United States Signal Service estab- lishad a etation in Des Moines August 1,1878. Five observations are taken daily and reported to Washington by telegraph, from which, together with the reports received from other stations, of which there are one hundred and thirty- fiye, predictions of the weather are made for the next twenty-four hours. The Des Moines station is one of seventeen print- ing signal stations in the United States, and has been of special benefit to resi- dents of this locality. This station is under the management of a thoroughly competent officer, Sergeant G. M. Chap- . pel, who is fully informed on all matters pertaining- to the weather. The cold wave signal was established in 1883, and has proved of great benefit to deal- ·ers in perishable goods and to railroads. The city |has 32 miles of cedar block and brick paving, 69 miles of . stone iron and concrete curbing; 32 miles of sew- ers, 52 miles of gas mains, 74 miles of water nains; 500 arc. . and from 8,000 to 10,000 incandescent electric. lights; nine wagon and eleven railway bridges, each 600 feet long.

STREET RAILWAYS.

The splendid system of electric street railway in Des Moines, is a matter in which ber citizens take great pride. There are eleven diceinct lines all owned and operated by onecompany who have expended many hundreds of thousands! of dollars in bringing it to perfection, until it has attained to such a degree as is scarcely equalled in the United States .. It has over forty miles of trackage and every cor in the entire city is propelled' by electricity. By a system of transfers passengers are transported from one end of the city to the other, for a single fare of five cents. A prominent business man of New York City who recently visited Des Moines said, "I had no idea of the electric cars. We haven't them in New York. I am astonished at the western

enterprise. your system. You can be justly proud of I do not know of any of equal size or that will compare with it, in any way. It seems to be as nearly perfect as you can get it." The employes, as a rule, are courteous and obliging and the cars are well patronized. Everybody rides, showing conclusively that the peo- ple appreciate this safe and expeditious means of transit. This evetem. has aid- ed greatly in the development of the suburban portions of the city, inasmuch as the rapid transit enables thermechah- ic and and artisan, as well as the capi- talist and business man, to live at a dis- tance from the noise and dust of the business center, and yet reach their places of business in good time, and this accounts for the rapid development of many new additions which have been laid out during the past few years. The company have recently built a new power house on the east side of the river above Des Moines street. It is a two story brick covering about half an acre, and is divided into three departmente, the repair and manufacturing shops, the power house and the boiler room. : This is the heart of the whole system where, the power which drives the cars along the streets with such rapidity and ease, is produced and where the constantly necessary repairs are made. An emer- gency can scarcely arise which cannot be met in their shops. ' No idea of the mag- nitude of power produced here can be had without a visit to the power house.

A CITY OF HOMES.

The homes of a city is a good criterion by which to estimate acity, and by this tet we think Des Moines the best city in the west, for it has scores of charming and beautiful homes. As the capital . f Iowa, with its many educational advan- tages and influences, such as universities, splendid public and private schools, law, medical and musicalschools, art stores. and art studios this city posseses unusu-

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aladvantages and it isa noteworthy fact that nothing has contributed more to the growth of Des Moines than the loca- tion here of wealty people from other portions of the state, who have made their fortunes and are retiring from busi- ness, and who are constantly coming to Des Moines in order to secure for their, families the social and educational ad- vantages of the capital city.

: Des Moines has many lovely nat- ural residence sites. Grand avenue is, perhaps. the most : pretentious resi dence street, and on this spacious thor: oughfare are built some of the most charming homes west of Chicago. Few. 'cities are : so' beautifully adorned with trees. Des Moines is a city of homes, of churches, of schools and of colleges, and .in this respect it embodies some of the most striking characteristics of this no. ble state. Here one finds the beautiful homes | of the wealthy numerous surrounded by all the evidences of com fort and luxury that, wealth can com mand, and good taste suggest;, and the more modest homes of the mechanic or business man neat and attractive with ite bit of lawn and its' blooming flowers There is probably not another city in the Union of the same population. that contains so few tenement houses as this, and it is a fact that nearly all the private residences built are for the oc- copandy of their owners and are conven; ient and tasteful. The churches and substantial school buildings, modern in design and well equipped are erected in every portion of the city while several colleges and two normal schools crown Our splendid facilities for the acquire- mente of a finished education.

The homes of this city and their sur- rounding and furnishings, give evidence of.an appreciation of the refining in- fluences of life. .. The sessions of the leg- islature, and of the Federal and State Courts attract leading professional and prominent men here from all sections.

This is also the convention city of Iowa! and not only of thestate, but usually. one or more each year of the national orga- nizations hold their annual meeting in Des Moines.

For many years music and art have had many patrons and admirers, and the taste of the general public has been eleyated in this regard until it has made an appreciation of these refining influ- ences, characteristic of our city. The social element is very prominent, and everything considered, no city in the west presents a greater attractiveness to those in search of a new location for a home. | Des Moines is eminently a moral city. It is a place in which chil- dren can enjoy the best opportunities for culture and, grow up in a healthful, moral atmosphere, largely due to the influence of our many churches and schools. It was largely owing to the en- lightened public sentiment of Iowa's cap- ital that this city of 60,000 inhabitants is without a single saloon, which speaks volumes for the morality and law abid- ing spirit of her people. The statistics, in comparison with cities of the same population, or with the leading cities, of our own state, show a much smaller number of arrests | for vagrancy and drunkenness, which speaks well for the ·morality as well as the industry of our people. One very significant fact which adds to the credit of Des Moines is that, we have more families in circumstances of comfort than any city of the same population, as statistics show that we have less pauperism. |

INDUCEMENTS : TO CAPITALISTS, BUSINESS MEN AND . HOME SEEKERS,

There are peculiar inducements to in- vest in business or residence property in Des Moines. It will increase in value rapidly and money expended in lots will Ireturn ore long with good profit. There are numberless inviting sites for resi-

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dences, surrounded by native groves, and overlooking the adjacent country and business portion of the city, and residence lots though in good demand, can be obtained at reasonable rates, as well as for business or manufacturing purposes.

Business property is steadily advanc- ing on its real merits, and not owing to any fictitious value, and the opportun- i ies for investment are good. Many Kne business blocks and factories have been erected during the past few years, and many more are contemplated in the near future, which will repay the build- ers well as an investment, while parties erecting suitable residences will do equal- ly well, as the property would be in demand at a good profit.

From her central and commanding position, her intellectual and commercial conditions, Des Moines is destined to be the best and most attractive city in the West. This city has been richly en- dowed by nature with varied resources, which are the basis of prosperity and wealth. She has done her part in sup- plying the great desideratum, fuel and water. Our railroad facilities are ample; and are being increased every year; our advantages in every particular are sufficient. ¡ Millions of dollars are. lost annually by the people of Iowa by not having within her own borders the necessary establishments for manufact- uring the thousand of articles in daily . ase, and the preparations of, the products of her own rich soll. There is ¡hothing which is calculated to develop a city faster, nothing that gives more prominence and commercial value, or enhances the condition of her' business men more rapiy, than the operating of large manufacturing establishments.

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Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1891, Part 5

Author: Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date: 1891
Publisher:
Number of Pages: