Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1922, Part 2

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Publication date: 1922
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USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1922 > Part 2

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WATER SUPPLY.

The water supply is municipal, being administered by a Board of five Trustees appointed for a term of years by the city authorities. . The approximate investment is $4,000,000; Mile's ofmains, 215; Capacity in cubic gallons daily, 60,000,000; Average daily run, 10,000,- 000. (This insures an adequate supply for fires and other emergencies). . The pressure is 30 to 110 lbs. The number of meters is approximately 25,000.

The charge for the first thousand gallons.per dayis 30 cents; for .the next 4,000 or less, 20 cents; and for all in excess of 5,000 gallons per day, 10 cents per thousand.

"Water works engineers regard the typhoid death rate as an indi- cator of the water supply. The latest available data furnished by the National Board of Health for cities of over 100,000 population shows Des Moines as being at the head of the list."

(Signed) A. T .Luce, Eng. & Supt. Des Moines Municipal' Water Plant.

The supply is secured from the Coon River water bearing sand and gravel beds through a system of galleries extending over a broad catch- ment basin. Gravity propels the water to suction wells from whence it ¿ is pumped into the general distribution system. This infiltration process has been very successful and is capable of unlimited extension.

SEWAGE DISPOSAL.

The mileage of the sewer system of the city is over 250 miles, costing $3,144,113. It takes care of the health situation in excellent shape as evidenced by vital statistics! The city has invested some $87,500 in a 'garbage plant. incinerator, and sewage disposal pumping system addi- tional.

STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.

There are over 60@ ymiles of city streets, the municipal area being 54 square miles. Paved streets number approximately 200 miles, represent- ing an outlay of some $8,000,000. The investment in bridges alone amounts to over $2,000,000 additional.

Des Moines is on a number of National Highways and through the efforts of the Des Moines Automobile Club these routes have been marked through the city. Among them may be named the Jefferson Highway, Woodrow Wilson Highway, Daniel Boone Trail| River to River Road, D. L. D. Highway, Yellow Diamond Trail, White Pole Road, Panora Speedway, Pawnee Trail. These trails are all well outlined and are rapidly being placed in first class order. The Iowa Highway Commission, with State and Federal aid, is carrying out a program that will eventually give us many miles of paved highways.

TELEPHONES.

The Northwestern Bell Telephone Company serves over some 35,000 instruments. The average number of calls for twenty-four hour period during 1920 was 219,000.

TAX RATE AND ASSESSMENTS.

The actual valuation of Des Moines property for taxable purposes in 1921 was $172,706,840/

The general levy in 1921 on a 25% valuation which prevails in Iowa, totaled 157 mills on the dollar. This was divided as follows: State 8.89; County 26.01; Municipal, 54.64; Special Water & Light, 10; School Dis- trict, 67.46. There is a 5 mill light and a 2 mill garbage levy additional within certain districts.

, Moneys and credits amounting to $41,442,816 are not included in taxable valuation shown above. They are taxed at the rate of .5 mills on actual worth.

(1922). R. L. POLK & CO.'S

Corporation stock is taxed on a 1-5th. instead of 14 th; valuation and is included in taxable valuation above.

BANKS AND TRUST COMPANIES

Des Moines has twenty-four Banks and Trust companies.

-----

Bank Clearings:

1917

$394,955,564.59

1918.

496,481,567.26

1919

556,733,520.37

1920

641,737,319.62

1921

459,177,930.29

POSTAL RECEIPTS.

Fiscal Year, 1911 $826,032.1S

Fiscal Year, 1916. $1,305,900.68

Fiscal Year, 1921. $2,146,381.72

With sixty odd publications, producing a total of 11,135,000 copies each month, weighing over 1,000 tons, Des Moines ranks fifth in the United States in volume of outgoing second class mail matter. Sixty thousand sacks are used monthly by Des Moines publishers. Every year they print enough to furnish a copy to every' man, woman and child in. the country.

SCHOOLS, CHURCHES and LIBRARIES. 1.

Des Moines has 110 churches of practically every denomination.

The value of church. hospital and lodge property is roughly placed at $5.000,000.

There are five well equipped hospitals in addition to the one belong- ing to the city and several private institutions.

The Independent School District operates 72 buildings, represented in some 60 distinct units. The teaching staff numbers approximately 900 instructors. The enrollment at present exceeds 30,000. The valuation of the property exceeds $4.000.000. Sites have been secured for two new high schools, for which bonds have been voted. Construction has been started on one of these :. B

Des Moines has twelve universities, colleges and special schools,. with a yearly attendance exceeding 8,000, probably 50% of which is non- resident except through the school year.

The Des Moines Public Library is municipally owned and adminis -; tered. The property owned is located in the Civic Center on the river front and is valued at $475,000. Last published report shows 119,821 volumes, in addition to 10,040 pamphlets. The circulation for the fiscal year ending April 1, 1921[ reached a total of9358,571.

The Iowa State Library is located in Des Moines. It numbers 177,- 303 volumes. It is largely made up of reference works.

FACILITIES FOR RECREATION.

There are $50 acres devoted to parks, valuation over $3,000,000. This includes numerous playgrounds, athletic fields, bathing beaches and two eighteen-hole public golf courses. There are in addition two private golf clubs with eighteen hole links, and one with a twenty-seven hole course.

There are sixteen exclusive motion picture houses, ranging from suburban shows to the larger down-town houses representing outlays of several hundred thousand dollars in single instances.

We have an Orphaum vaudeville house; two popular priced vaude- ville shows; the Berchel with legitimate road attractions and part-time burlesque; and the Princess, a stock company of the highest class, River- view Park, an amusement resort, attracts large crowds during the summer months.

The Coliseum and the Auditorium, controlled by civic bodies, present ample space for the larger presentations, including world famous musical artists. These buildings also take care of the steady stream of convention visitors. Many national gatherings convene in Des Moines yearly. The attendance in 1921 figured on a one day basis was 329,295, the number of events 132.

The Iowa State Fair occupies grounds valued at $1 500,000. The attendance has averaged 400,000 for several years.

DES MOINES.

CITY DIRECTORY (1922) .

The first thirty downtown hotels contain over 4,000 guest rooms. The Des Moines River, offers bathing, fishing, boating and skating in season.

INDUSTRIAL SITES.

Due to the network of rail lines entering the city there is a large amount of trackage available for industrial uses, much of which is served by several main lines and a considerable portion by the Des Moines Union |Railway Co. and the Des Moines Terminal Co. with their : belt system.

There is a great variety of choice of acreage in and adjacent to the city limits, practically every portion of which is readily accessible to the service rendered by the Des Moines Street Railway company. Detailed information on the cost of well located tracts will be furnished in answer to specific inquiries. Tracts possessing the necessary industrial require- ments have sold during the past year for as low as $1,000 per acre, which is not a great deal above its worth for agricultural purposes. Tracts of 'lesser size, improved and unimproved, either on or off trackage, may be secured clear up to the business center.

Locations are available for purchase, long term lease, on a flat or revaluation basis, or rental for shorter periods. The price is dependent on the usual factors entering into such transactions, but equally fair with other centers of like size and industrial importance. There is at present somewhat of a shortage in warehouse and factory housing due to the rapid growth of the city and curtailment of building program during the war period and readjustment days.

LABOR.

Factory workers are available in sufficient numbers and wages are dropping with commodity prices and cost of living. The number of persons employed in factories in Des Moines increased 40.1 with 5 year period up to the last Federal census. There is some unemployment at this time, and an evident increased efficiency on the part of those at work. -

The total number of persons engaged in business is naturally much larger than those employed in industry proper. It would be safe to say . that sales, clerical, educational, civic, utility and miscellaneous classifica- tions amount to many times those of factory workers.

Statistics compiled by the Federal Census Bureau in the 1914 Manufacturers Census (later national figures not assembled)

connection with show the relativity of male to female factory workers to have been 79.5 to 20.5. Figures gathered by the Iowa State Bureau of Labor Statistics as of 1919 show the percentage in Iowa to be approximately 16% as re- gards women. . 1919 figures. for Polk County, practically identical with the City of Des Moines, show the percentages here to be some 75% Imen; 25% women. This variance as regards Des Moines is traceable, it is believed, to the absence of large steel and machinery fabricators and to. the importance of printing and publishing, proprietary medicines, com-'. pounds and apparel lines.

The following statistics based on 1920 Federal Census for Des Moines are applicable here: 1

White

(native parentage) 78 779

White

(foreign parentage)

28.158

Wirite

(foreign born) 15,218

Negro

4 278

Other

races.

Total

126.468

The following countries lead in number of foreign born residents:

Sweden

2.921

Germany 2 089

Russia (old .empire) 2.027

Greece

1,800

England

1 645

Italy

1.361

Ireland

1.174

(1922) R. L. POLK & CO.'S

The great majority of help in factories is native born as may be surmised from the fact that we have such a small foreign element. In ; fact, eliminating several Southern cities where there is a very large native colored population, Des Moines ranks third among the cities of the United States in percentage of English speaking andnative par- - entage.

Another fact that stands out is the countries from which our foreign born conje, indicating a much higher degree of intelligence, industry and thrift than the average the country over and particularly in other industrial centers.

The ratio of skilled to unskilled workers is probably very similar throughout the United States and local industry is representative.

The wage scales, in the various industries of Des Moines witnessed the marked increases um versal the country over during the war period and is now feeling the effect of curtailment in production, falling com- modity prices, and considerable unemployment, resulting in gradual readjustment of wages in conformance with the general level.

Hours per day range from 8 to 91% and per week from 48 to 54,

The average for semi-skilled is approximately 15% higher than com- mon labor.

The average for skilled is approximately 30% over semi-skilled.

Strictly speaking Des Moines factories are practically without excep- tion open shop. Unionization occurs in the large publishing plants, the street railway, packing house, and the field of construction. The Des Moines Business Men's Leaguei has for years effectively stood for the American Plan in industry and the Chamber of Commerce in addition to the Manufacturers Bureau has expressed itself in the same manner.

Des Moines has been unusually free froin the radical element in in- dustry, die in large part to the preponderance of native citizens. Rela- tive freedom from business congestion and continuous 'attention to labor. matters have also been beneficial. There have been few, strikes of con- "sequence in the city's history.

TRANSPORTATION.

Nine of the railway systems of the country enter Des Moines.

Des Moines is not only the logical distribution center for the state of lowa but for the Mid-West.'

She reaches 9.376 [miles of lowa's railroad points (approximately SSCe) by a one-road haul -which is not approached by any other point. The systems and the number of radiating lines operated by each follow: Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Ry. (2) Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Ry. (7)

. Chicago, Great Western Ry. (2) Minneapolis & St. Louis Ry. (1) Wabash Railway (1)

. FY. Modge, Des Moines & Southern Ry. (fr

Des Moines Central & lowa R. R. (2)

There are eight freight depots at present, although only four pas- senger stations. `Plans are under way to consolidate into a new and ex- tensive passenger terminal.

The package or merchandise car service out of Des Moines exceeds one hundred eighty cars daily, in addition to which refrigerator and hot-car service brings the total each day to approximately two hundred.

Des Moines enjoys fifth morning delivery from New York City daily in its own merchandise car routed via Lackawanna, Nickel Plate and Rock Island.

STREET RAILWAYS.

The Des Moines Street Railway Company, privately controlled, with fourteen distinct lines covers the city quite thoroughly. "One hundred thirty-two cars are operated during the rush hours at a present fare.of 8 cents. The company operates under a sliding scale "service-at-cost" franchise adopted at an election Nov: 29, 1921, and an early reduction in fares is anticipated. 1

Chicago & Northwestern Ry. (1)

. . Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Ry. (2)

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY (1922)

MISCELLANEOUS PERTINENT TOTALS.

Total Bank transactions, '1921

Bank deposits Dec. 1921

Manufacturing establishments

.$2,419,956,432.00 70,000,000.00 400.00

Distinctive products made

300.00

Value of annual output

Number of operatives

Factory payroll, per annum

Primary horse power used in mfg.

Wholesale trade

Home insurance companies

53.00

(Life, fire, casualty)

Capital and surplus, exclusive of mutuals 'Total combined assets over.

$102,000,000.00

Leading agricultural journal publishing center in U. S.

Miners, Des Moines industrial district.

13,000.00

THE DES MOINES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The Des Moines Chamber of Commerce stands today, not as a new organization, not as the successor of old ones, not founded upon wreck- age, not the result of spasmodic and intermittent organization, but as a consistent and potential civic factor dating back to 1888; it has kept pace with the times; it is an ancient and honorable body, and has pride in its heritage as well as in its visions of future possibilities: It is essen- tially democratic-as, any civic and commercial organization must be, It has wisely and constantly widened its horizon, and has been helpful of every phase and factor in city life. It has assisted the women and the boys in their work; it has not forgotten labor; and it has cultivated every outlying nook and corner of the municipal corporation, that there might be known of all citizens that the Chamber of Commerce existed for the general good. It has maintained that hospitality and courtesy, in an organized and distinct fashion, are community assets. It has developed service. The motto of the Chamber of Commerce is this: "To 'Pro- mote the Welfare of Des Moines and of Iowa." It inclines to the theory that people who are brought to sober thought, and who are wisely led, and whose public conscience is quickened, will make a better citizen- ship. The Chamber of Commerce is a public forum. It is a clearing a social club. It house. It is a business organization, a civic body, and seeks to put into men the very best of thought and zeal and motives, that .the outcome may represent the sum total of achievement. It seeks to "be a leader only in that it masses the groups of individual leaders and may perhaps make cumulative the value and strength of their leadership.

DIRECTORY LIBRARY.

A library of City and County Directories and State Gazetteers has been installed by us in the offices of the Chamber of Commerce in the | Savery Hotel for the free use, of our patrons. As the latest Directories are issued they will be added to the Library, thereby keeping it up to date from year to year. (We extend a cordial invitation , to each and every : . one of our subscribers to make frequent use of the Library and to consult the Directories on file as often as desired, when information in regard to any individual, firm, corporation or: institution located in other cities is . desired.

MUNICIPAL PUBLICITY-ADVERTISING DES MOINES.

An important function of the Directory is to set forth the character- istics and advantages of the city as a place of residence, as a business location, as an industrial site and as an educational center. The Direc- tory acts as a mirror, reflecting all that is noteworthy in the city in the " "above respects; . In order to spread this information regarding the city broadcast over. the country the publishers place copies of this issue of the Directory, in Directory Libraries which are maintained in all of the larger cities of the country where they are readily available for reference ase by the public. There they serve as perpetual advertisements of Des Moines for business men the country over realize that the City Directory represents the community as it really is.

R. L. POLK & CO., Compilers and Publishers.

$60,000,000.00 10,000.00 $13,000,000.00 17,341.00 $150,000,000.00

$12,500,000.00

(1922) R. L. POLK & Co.'S

GENERAL INDEX

Abbreviations'

Advertisements, Index to.

Alphabetical List of Names

67-1388

Alterations. Removals, etc

Automobile Dept, opp page

1712

Business Directory

1693

Contractors Dept opp page.

1766

Introduction

Legal Dept opp page.

1874

Miscellaneous Information

Street and Avenue. Guide

1421

Valley Junction Residence and

Business Directory

1389-1419

Index to Miscellaneous Information

Page

Alarm of Fire, Directions for

Giving

Asylums and Hospitals 46

Banks and Trust Cos 46

Cemeteries 4$

Churches 48

City Government

Clubs and Societies .:

Colleges and Schools.

County and Township Officers Courts

Department of Health 4

Federal Officers

53.

Fire Department 33

Government of the State of Iowa. 45

Grand Army of the Republic 55

Hospitals and Asylums 46 Insurance Companies 53

Labor Unions 65

Libraries 54

Medical Societies 55

Military Societies

Page Miscellaneous Clubs and Societies 55

Missions 52 Newspapers and Publications 58 Police Department :33

Post Office

Public Schools,

Officers,

Inde

dependent School District .. . 34

Rural Routes 59

Schools 34

Secret Societies 60 1

State Board of Control 45

State Board of . Health. 45

State Board of Medical Examiners 45 State Board of Commissioners .45.

State Officers 45

Town Assessors 43

Township Assessors 44

Township Clerks 44

Township Constables :45

Township Justices of the Peace 44 Township Trustees 44

Ward Boundaries

Fire Alarm, Stations

DES MOINES CITY DIRECTORY (1922)

INDEX TO ADVERTISEMENTS

Page

A & D Signal Light Co, Auto Dept Acme Building Material & Fuel Co 11742 Advance-Rumely Thresher Co .. 73, 1697 Aetna Life Ins Co of Hartford Conn right top corner cards Aetna Life Ins Co of Hartford Conn (Accident and | Liability Dept) 1830

Allen Clark L Co 1763

Alpha Floral Co front cover American Bankers Securities Co .... 1725 American Life Ins Co right top corner cards

American Lithog & Printing Co .... 1920

Anderson Mufg Co left sides lines and :1772 Apperson Iowa Motor Dept Co, Auto

Architects-Engineers Supply Co ...... 1732 Arntz Lew right side lines and .... 1905 .

Art Mnfg & Sales Co .... 1875 Associated Business Counsellors .... 1922 Atherton Garage, Auto Dept

i B & B Garage, Auto Dept

Backman Sheet Metal Works 1945

Badgley U S G.

1765

Bailey Roy E. 1828 Bailey The Dentist 1776 Bair & Freeman left bottom cor cards

Baird-Taylor-Crawford-Lewis Co right top cor cards

Bankers Accident Ins Co right top cor cards.

Bankers Life Co right top lines Bankers Mortgage Co backbone and 13

Bankers. Trust Co ,top edge and opp 123

Barr | M. E. 1729

Barrick & Son left bottom lines and 1935

Beamer & Wissler, Auto Dept

Bechtel Geo M & Co 1896

Beck Realty Service .1925 Becker F Asphaltum Roofing Co. .. 1936

Beckman Bros 1867

Bell's Garage, Auto Dept Benedict Towel Supply .. Benson J A Construction Co right top lines and Contrs Dept Bernhard & Turner Auto Co, Auto Dept.

146

Best by Test Garage, Auto Dept

Bianco J

1756

Billings, Prouty & Tompkins back cover and .1694

Bilz Sign Co left bottom dor cards

. Bishop-Jones Co 1926

Bissig & Kullander 1868.

Blackman Auto Co left bottom cot cards and Auto Dept

Page

Blue Line Storage Co opp 1965 Bootz Frederic Cd .. 1894 Boston Market Co right bottom cor cards

Bragg Rubber Go, Auto Dept

Brainerd J. E.

1815

Brewbaker J MI 1802

Brown Auto & Supply Co, Auto Dept

Brown-Camp Harware Co opp 1820

Brunswick-Balke Collender Co 1731

216

Buck T M Co opp

214

Bullard Optical

Burke J S right bottom cor cards and* 1749

Burns Bros Co right and left side

nternational : Detec-

lines and

Burns. Wm J.

tive Agency

1778

Cahill Annette 1750

Caldbeck Tool

& Mnig Co

1964

Canfield Bros

1813

Canfield Engineering Co.

1793

Capital Battery & Electric Co, Auto Dept

Capital City Boiler Works.

1733

Capital City Commercial College,

left top cor cards

Capital City Nurseries Co.

1900

Capital City Printing Plate Co ...... 1895 Capital City State Bank left top lines

Capital City Clay Co The left top

cor cards and ..

1736

Capital Garage, Auto Dept

Capitol Hill Monument Co.

1891

Carbon Coal Co.

1759

Carey Thos & Sons, Contrs Dept

Carlson's Furniture Shop. 1808 Carr & Baal Co index Streets and .. 2, Cascade Laundry Co. right bottom

lines . and

1871

Cavanagh B

left .bottom

cor

cards

Cellly W W Optical Co.

1906

Central Art Glass Works

1813

Central Auto Market right

.top

lines and Auto Dept

Central Land Co

1926

Central Life Assurance Society of

the U S.

262-

Central National Fire Ins Co

1846

Central Trust Go of Des Moines

Central Wire & Iron Works .!

1867

Century Lumber Co left bottom

lines and

1879

Chambers & Chambers Ins Agency left side lines and Auto Dept

1804

Chase I E & Son ...

Chase & West ( Inc) right top lines Chevrolet Motor Co, >Auto Dept Christensen Engineering Co .... :1754

(1922) R. L. POLK & CO.'S

Page

Citizens Electric Co right bottom lines 1.

City Auto Exchange & Salvage Co, Auto Dept

Claiborne-Reno Co, Auto Dept 1

Clancy P J & Co front cover and .. 1847

Clemens Automobile Co, Auto

Dept

Clergy Auto Co, Auto Dept

Cleveland Metal Products Co.

.... .1904

Commercial

Building & Securi-

ties Co 1825

Conklin & Shanley

1917

Consigny ' Motor Truck Co, Auto Dept

Consumers Consolidated Coal Co ; right sides lines

Continental Mortgage & Loan Co .. 1798

Coon River Sand Co. 1742

Corwin's Master Cleansing Serv-

.ice

1756

Cox Delivery Service

1723

Cram Frank & Sons

1743

Dahlberg C L & Co 1954

Daniels Preston

1823

Darwin Co The.

1863

Davis & Campbell, Auto Dept Davis & Davis 1751

De Brown Auto Sales Co.' Auto Dept

Dempster : Mnfg & Supply Co 1924 , Denny Wall . Paper & Ice Co. 1863

Des Moines Auto Exchange right bottom lines

Des Moines Bat-O-Meter Co, Auto Dept

Des Moines Battery & Supply Co, Auto Dept

Des Moines Blue, Print Co. .1732 Des Moines Building Material Co .. 1743

Des Moines Chiropractic Sanita- 'rium 1751

Des Moines Clay Co. 1737

Des Moines Cycle Co 1730

Des Moines Foundry & Machine Co 1802 Des Moines Garage and Auto Co, Auto Dept

Des Moines Ice & Fuel Co. 1759

Des Moines Life & Annuity Co left top cor cards

Des Moines Machinery Exchange .. 1882 Des Moines Marble & Mantel Co left bottom lines

Des Moines Morris Plan Co. .... .1877 Des Moines Motor Sales Co, Auto Dept

Des Moines National Bank front edge and 10 Des Moines Pattern & Model

Works 1911

Des Moines Rubber Stamp Works .. 1939 Des Moines Sand & Fuel Co 1941 Des Moines Silo & Mnfg Co 1950 Des Moines Steel Co. 20

Des Moines Stock Exchange. 1955 Des Moines Storage Battery Co, Auto Dept

Des Moines Tent &. Awning Co ...

Des Moines Title Co ...:

Des Moines Trust Co 1726

Dewey R L.

1957

Diamond Dress Club ...

1757.

Dickson Mercantile Agency 1762

Diller Battery Mnfg Co, Auto Dept Drake Auto Servicel Station, Auto Dept

Dudley M L Agency left top cor

cards and

1829

Duffield Motor Co, Auto Dept

Dunn's Funeral Home front cover

Dyer-Martin Inv Co 1865 E & W Clothing House right side lines

Eagle Coal

Co left bottom lines

Eagle Iron

Works.

1740

Edman Electric Co. .1790

Electric Garage (Inc), Auto Dept

Electric Service : Co.

1789

Electrical Engineering

& Con-

struction

1790

Elimino Medicine Co .. .1886

Employers Mutual Casualty Assn

1839

of Iowa

Equitable

Life Ins

Co of Iowa

back. cover

and.

Fair Lawn Milk Products Co.

1774

Family Cleaners & Dyers.

1756.

Farmers Bond & Mortgage right top cor cards

Farmers Live Stock. Ins Co. 1857

Federal : Printing Co 1921

Fletcher & Company left side lines

Flint Brick Co.

1737

Flynn Dairy |Co.

1774

Ford Insurance Agency back cov-

'er and

1848

Fort Des Moines Garage, Auto

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Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1922, Part 2

Author: Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date: 1922
Publisher:
Number of Pages: