USA > Iowa > History of western Iowa, its settlement and growth. A comprehensive compilation of progressive events concerning the counties, cities, towns, and villages-biographical sketches of the pioneers and business men, with an authentic history of the state of Iowa > Part 21
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In 1859 William Freney purchased an interest in the paper, and the year following it was consolidated with the Eagle. The Regis- ter was continued under the management of Ziebach & Freney un- til 1862, when Mr. Ziebach withdrew, leaving Mr. Freney to continue it alone, which he did until 1871, when its publication was suspended.
Shortly after the consolidation of the Register and Eagle, in 1860, Pendleton & Swiggett started the Sioux City Times-Re- publican in politics. It survived only a few months.
Three years later, another attempt was made, by J. C. Stillman, to establish a Republican paper, The Sioux City Journal, but it ceased to exist before the publication of a dozen numbers. August 29th, 1864, it was resuscitated, under the editorial management of J. V. Baugh, and its publication has been continued uninter- ruptedly ever since, though it has passed through many trying ordeals, with several changes in its management.
In October of the same year, S. T. Davis, then Register of the Land Office, succeeded Mr. Baugh as editor, but only remained in charge until the close of the Presidential campaign in 1864, when the paper passed into the hands of Mahlon Gore, a brilliant writer and an accomplished journalist. In 1868, B. L. Northrup' pur- chased an interest in the paper, but retired in a short time, leaving Mr. Gore to continue it alone, which he did until May 1st, 1869, when he disposed of it to George D. Perkins, who has been its editor ever since.
The following January, H. A. Perkins bought an interest in the paper, and the firm of Perkins Brothers was formed, and con- tinned until July, 1875, when H. A. Perkins retired; but after an absence of nearly two years, he returned; the firm name of Per- kins Brothers was restored, and continues to the present time.
In 1870 a morning edition was issued from the office, and has appeared regularly ever since. The Daily Journal has grown and strengthened with its years, until to-day it ranks with the fore- most papers of the State. It is a handsome, nine-column folio, printed on a press of the latest pattern, and has a large and in- creasing circulation. The mechanical execution is in the highest style of the art. Its editor, George D. Perkins, is a polished, con- scientious and able writer, and a gentleman who has a high ideal of journalism.
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The Journal building is a fine establishment, and the whole enterprise is an illustration of what may be accomplished by talent and energy, directed by sound financial ability and good management. Few papers have achieved a more decided and per- manent success, than The Sioux City Journal, in the hands of its present proprietors, and, it may be added, none are more deserving of the grand success they have won, as they have built up an in- stitution of which Sioux City may well feel proud.
In May, 1869, a stock company began the publication of the Daily and Weekly Times, a journal neutral in politics, with Charles Collins as the editor. In a short time Mr. Collins became sole proprietor, changing the publication from a morning to an evening paper. In 1872, the daily edition was discontinued, but the weekly was maintained until 1874, when it was purchased by Warner & Gore, made Democratic in politics, and the name changed to the Sioux City Tribune, under which name it has been con- tinned until the present time, though many changes have occurred in its management. At the close of the Presidential campaign, in 1876, Mr. Warner retired, being succeeded by C. R. Smead, the style of the firm becoming Gore & Smead. August, 1877, Mr. Gore left the paper, because of ill health, Mr. Smead continuing its publication until December 6th of the same year, when Albert Watkins purchased an interest, and assumed editorial manage- ment. May 1st, 1879, Mr. Watkins bought his partner's interest, and continued the publication of the paper alone until July 1st, 1880, when he disposed of it to John C. Kelley, its present editor and proprietor. The Tribune is a six-column quarto, well printed, ably edited, and is on a solid financial footing, with a rapidly in- creasing business. It is an unfaltering advocate of Democracy, and the recognized organ of the party in the Northwest.
There is also issued from the Tribune office the Anpao, a monthly journal, in the Sioux dialect, in the interests of the Niobrara Mis- sion. It is edited by Rev. Joseph W. Cook, and Rev. J. W. Cleve- land, and published under the management of James R. Fraser.
The only German paper ever published here is the Sioux City Weekly Courier, which made its first appearance in 1870, under the management of Wetter & Danquard. After a short time, Mr. Wetter purchased his partner's interest and continued it alone for a few months, when he disposed of it to Dr. C. J. Krejci. Subse- quently the paper passed into the hands of Chas. F. Schroeder, who, however, sold it to Herman Schorning. Mr. Schorning con- tinued it until it became the property of its present publisher, Fred- erick Barth, in November, 1877. The Courier is Democratic in politics, under its present management, is well conducted, the only German paper in this section, and has a wide circulation.
The Cosmopolite, a sixteen-page monthly, was established by D. H. Talbot July 1st, 1879, and continued for two years. It was is-
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sued mainly in the interest of private enterprises, but contained much matter of general interest.
In August, 1881, Charles Collins commenced the Sioux City Daily Times, an evening sheet, independent in politics. The Times is a sprightly six-column folio, devoted to local news, and rapidly estab- lishing itself on a firm footing. Its editor and proprietor, Mr. Charles Collins, is a veteran journalist and a ready and forcible writer.
Two weeks after the first issue of the Daily Times, another can- didate for public favor made its appearance, the Sioux City Daily News, published by Watkins & Jay. Like its contemporary, The Times, it is a six-column folio, independent in politics, but with Democratic tendencies.
The Sioux City Grocer, established in 1881, is a handsome monthly, published by E. C. Palmer & Co., and issued in the in- terest of the grocery trade.
In August, 1877, Alex. Macready began the publication of the Industrial Press, a weekly newspaper, advocating the Greenback doctrine. It was continued about a year, when it ceased to exist.
The Sioux City Gazette was commenced by R. Goldie & Son., December 1st, 1877, but after a few issues suspended publication.
PORK PACKING.
Pork packing was begun, in a small way, in Sioux City, in the winter of 1872-3. The building occupied was a small wooden affair on Water street above Fifth. That season H. D. Booge & Co. killed 5,000 hogs. The experiment was a success, and the follow- ing summer a large brick building was put up on the site of the frame one, where the business first started. Additions to this building were made from year to year, until its capacity was in- creased to 500 hogs per day, and there was no room for further ex- tensions. In the spring of 1881, work was begun on the pork house now occupied in the east part of the city. The site is all that could be wished. The Floyd furnishes drainage, and the nearness to railroads allows the cars of the different lines center- ing at the city to deliver hogs directly into the yards beside the packing house, and to load the manufactured product directly from the storage rooms into the cars. There is plently of ground, some fourteen acres of city lots having been bought. The new building cost over $100,000, and more than a million and a half of brick were used in its building. It is pronounced by competent judges the most complete structure of the kind in the State. The ice is run directly from the Floyd River into the great 6,000 ton ice house. For summer packing this ice in skidded from the ice house into the refrigerator that occupies an entire story of the main building. A steam elevator connects the different floors. In the fertilizer room, the parts that would otherwise go to waste, are worked over into an odorless powder that is in demand for
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enriching the worn-out fields of the east. Every part of the de- funct porker is utilized, from the tough terminus of the snout, to the brush of bristles that beautifies the tip of the tail. The house has a capacity of 1,000 hogs per day, the capacity being measured by the hanging capacity. This has been found insufficient for the hogs offered, and the coming season an addition will be built that will increase the capacity about 50 per cent.
The firm conducting the business of Jas. E. Booge & Co., consists of Jas. E. Booge, of Sioux City, and John L. Merriam, A. H. Wilder and Wm. R. Merriam, of St. Paul. The first named gen- tleman has been connected with the business from the first, and the three others for several years. As appears from the report made to the Board of Trade, the pork house had, during the two months ending January 1st, 1882, killed 37,000 hogs, and paid for these $580,000. The labor bills during this time footed up $14,000 and the pay roll showed 188 men employed.
No other business in Sioux City does so much to advertise the name of the town. The hams made can be found on hotel tables from Chicago to San Francisco. The side meat goes mostly to the south, Memphis, New Orleans and Mobile being the principal points of sale. The lard goes to Chicago and the bacon finds a ready market all over the west, the heaviest demand coming from the mining camps and military posts of the Upper Missouri. The Sioux City Pork house has a practical monopoly of supplying hog products to the military posts in the northwest, having, during the past year, secured more than eighty per cent. of the contracts let. The position of the town as a railroad center, in the midst of one of the best corn growing sections of the Union, makes the steady supply of swine certain, and the exceptional advantages for the distribution of the product, allows prices to be paid that while renumerative to the hog grower, leaves a fair margin of profit to the packer.
THE CITY LIBRARY.
There is nothing perhaps that speaks higher for the culture and enterprise of the city, than its valuable Public Library and Read- ing Room. Both are well patronized and supported. About two thousand well selected volumes are on the shelves, and mostly all the popular magazines and leading newspapers of the country, re- ligious and secular, are kept on file. The Library is a large and pleasant room. situated in the City Hall, on one of the leading business streets. Miss Helen Smith is at present. and has been for some years past, the Librarian.
FOUNDRY AND MACHINE . SHOPS.
The Sioux City Foundry and Machine Shop, is the pioneer manufacturing establishment of the city. Started in 1871, in a small way, and doing work only of the simplest kind, it has grown
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with the city, until now its buildings extend over several acres of ground, and its manufactures embrace everything in the different branches of the business, from the plain castings in iron and brass, to the building of heavy machinery for steamboats, saw mills, quartz mills, planing mills, etc. As the growth of the city and the wants of the trade demanded, new buildings with the required machinery, have been added, from time to time, until the works are now undoubtedly the largest and most complete of the kind in the West. The main building is of brick, two stories high, with a frontage of 120 feet. There is also an extensive boiler shop, de- tached from the main building, 70 by 80 feet. The works give employment to 40 men, and their trade extends throughout the Northwest, even reaching to the Black Hills. The establishment is in every way creditable to Sioux City, as well as to the country tributary.
Plow Works .- The broad and liberal policy of the citizens of Sioux City towards manufacturing enterprises of merit, is in strik- ing contrast with the narrow, selfish course of many western cities. At all times they have been ready and willing to extend a helping hand to any enterprise that would add to the material wealth and advance the interests of the city, and the many manufacturing industries that have located here of late demonstrate, beyond ques- tion, that the policy which has been pursued is the only true one, and one that will ultimately place Sioux City in the front rank of the manufacturing towns of the State.
The Board of Trade, of which appropriate mention is made else- where, has performed an important part in attracting many desir- able manufacturers hither, and among the first brought here, through its influence, was the Sioux City Plow Company, an insti- tution of which the city feels justly proud. In May, 1880, a stock company of practical mechanics was organized under the above name, and commenced the erection of a suitable building for the manufacture of plows, and in the following September the first plow was turned out. The next season, their goods were placed upon the market and immediately sprang into public favor; and though the works have a capacity of fifty finished plows per day, so great has become the demand that the company has not been able to fully meet the requirements of its trade, and an increase in the building capacity of the works has become an imperative ne- cessity. The Sioux City Plow is made with special reference to its adaptability to the peculiar soil of this section, and possesses many points of superiority over those of Eastern manufacture. The works of the company, situated in the southeastern part of the city, are substantial, two-story brick buildings, supplied with all the necessary machinery for the turning out of first class work.
THE GAS WORKS.
Long before Sioux City had a population of five thousand souls her streets were lighted with gas. Through the untiring energy
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and public spirit of a few of her leading citizens, in February, 1872, the Sioux City Gas Light Company was incorporated with an authorized capital of $100,000. D. T. Hedges was President, George Weare, Treasurer, and John P. Allison, Secretary. A sub- stantial brick building was soon erected, and on the evening of March 17th, 1873, the city was illuminated by gas, the event being duly celebrated. It was not expected by the projectors of the en- terprise, that the works in a town like Sioux City then was, would be self-sustaining; but they had an abiding faith in its future. Time has demonstrated that their confidence was not misplaced. The hazardous venture of ten years ago, is now a paying in- vestinent. The city has always lent the company a helping hand, and encouraged and fostered it with its patronage, oftentimes when its finances would hardly justity the outlay. The works are now operated by private parties, under a lease from the incorporators of the company. About three million feet of gas is made annually, of which the city is a large consumer, all the leading thorough- fares being lighted by gas.
SIOUX CITY BOARD OF TRADE.
During the autumn of 1872, the first Citizens' Association, for the general advancement of the business and manufacturing in- terests of the city was formed. The first meeting for the forma- tion of this association was held November 21st, 1872, at the court room, which was at that time in the Hubbard block, on Fourth street. It was called by the Mayor, G. W. Kingsnorth. Hon. A. W. Hubbard introduced the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted:
" Resolved, That this meeting is in favor of organizing an association, the object of which shall be to induce manufactures to come to this place."
A provisional board was appointed; also committees to draft a constitution, by-laws, and for procuring members.
December 9th the committee reported a constitution, which was adopted; and that they had secured 221 names for membership. The name this association adopted was "The Sioux City Cham- ber of Commerce."
January 13th, 1873, the following officers were elected for the year: President, J. C. Flint; First Vice-President, A. W. Hub- bard; Second Vice-President, S. T. Davis; Directors, J. H. Swan, M. C. Bogue, J. J. Saville, L. C. Sanborn, C. E. Hedges, A. Gronin- ger, J. P. Dennis, E. W. Skinner, A. R. Wright, H. L. Warner. Board of Arbitration, J. C. C. Hoskins, W. L. Joy, L. Wynn, J. E. Booge, L. McCarty; Secretary, F. C. Thompson. Treasurer,
J. M. Pinckney.
During the year the organization secured the location of Joseph Trudell's wagon shop; entertained the St. Paul Chamber of Com- merce on its visit to Sioux City, September 10th; published a
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twenty-four page pamphlet, containing statistics and description of the city, and did a good deal of miscellaneous work toward se- curing railroads, Government improvement of river, etc.
In January, 1874, the following officers were elected for the vear: President, J. C. C. Hoskins; First Vice-President, J. H. Swan; Second Vice-President, L. C. Sanborn; Directors, James E. Booge, Thomas J. Stone, William R. Smith, Joseph Schulien, L. McCarty, James M. Bacon, E. B. Crawford, George W. Kings- north, E. E. Lewis, C. J. Kathrens. Committee on Arbitration, W. S. Joy, H. L. Warner, D. T. Hedges, J. C. Flint, A. W. Hubbard. F. C. Thompson was re-elected Secretary, and J. M. Pinckney, Treasurer.
This organization-The Chamber of Commerce-was quite ac- tive during the year in working up the material interests of the city; but a quorum of members did not respond to the call for the annual meeting of 1875, and the officers previously elected held over.
In October, 1877, the merchants of Sioux City met and formed the Merchants Exchange, and the following officers were elected for the year: President, J. M. Bacon; Vice President, L. C. San- born; Secretary, E. H. Bucknam; Treasurer, A. C. Davis; Direc- tors, H. L. Warner, H. A. Jandt, E. W. Rice, F. L. Goewey,
During the year, the subject of cheap ferriage to Covington, the adjusting of railroad freights and the commercial interests of Sioux City in general, had the attention of the Exchange with marked success. They raised by voluntary subscriptions $1, 929.60 during the year, and paid to secure cheap ferriage, $1,500.
In October, 1878, the following officers were elected for the year: President, J. M. Bacon; Vice President, E. C. Tompkins: Secretary, E. W. Bucknam; Directors, H. L. Warner, H. A. Jandt, M. W. Murphy. S. Schulein, F. L. Goewey.
In October, 1879, the following officers were elected: President, H. A. Jandt; Vice President, M. W. Murphy, Secretary, E. G. Burkam, Jr .; Treasurer, A. C. Davis: Directors, J. M. Bacon, William Tackaberry, F. L. Goewey, W. H. Livingston, G. H. Howell.
During the year, the Exchange, in addition to other important work, raised quite a boom for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad towards the purchase of depot grounds.
The officers elected October, 1879, held over until July, 1881, when the exchange was reorganized, the name changed to the Sioux City Board of Trade, its scope extended so as to include as eligible to membership all citizens of Sioux City and to embrace in its work the securing of manufactories. The following officers were elected for the balance of the year: President, H. A. Jandt; Vice President, John Hornick; Treasurer, A. S. Garretson; Secre- tary, E. W. Skinner; Directors, F. H. Peavey, H. A. Perkins, W. H. Beck, F. L. Goewey, E. C. Palmer, Geo. H. Howell, J. P. Dennis.
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In November, 1881, the following officers were elected: Presi- dent, F. H. Peavey; Vice President, John Hornick; Treasurer, A. S. Garretson; Secretary, E. W. Skinner; Directors, H. A. Jandt, F. L. Goewey, E. C. Palmer, W. H. Livingston, W. H. Beck, H. A. Perkins, R. S. Van Keuren.
During the first six months of the new organization, the Board of Trade has aided in securing for the city several important ad- ditions to its industrial and mercantile institutions, among which may be mentioned, a button factory, a chemical paint and color works, a branch of R. G. Dun & Co's Commercial agency, Cum- mings, Smith & Co.'s large wholesale boot and shoe house, a branch of the Consolidated Oil Tank Line Company; a United States Express Company's office, an iron pump factory, chemical works, increased telegraph facilities, and has in prospect a paper mill, a flax, twine and bagging mill, and several other industries.
The subject of railroad extensions, and increased rail facilities, and the improvement of the Missouri River by the Government, have also had consideration.
BUSINESS TRANSACTED.
The following extracts are taken from the Journal's last annual review of the city's business acchievements:
"During the year 1881, Sioux City merchants and dealers sold goods to the value of $6,427,626, giving employment to 412 per- sons, who received for salaries $197,425. These figures can be ac- cepted as being as nearly correct as it is possible to give them, and if they err at all, it is in being too small, and that they are too small is clearly indicated by the amount of exchange sold by our three banks during the past year, as per figures furnished the Board of Trade, which was $10,256,127.02.
"It may also be stated that several dealers refused to state the amount of their business, and as no estimated figures are given, it must be evident to all that the total of $6,427,626 falls far short of naming the full volume of business. It would probably not be an exaggeration to place Sioux City's merchandise sales in 1881 at fully $8,000,000.
MANUFACTURING.
"This branch of industry is yet in its infancy in Sioux City, and yet, a very flattering showing is made, the value of manufactured articles in 1881 reaching a value of $1,189,050, in the production of which 555 persons found employment, and who received for wages $237,410. In these figures are not included the business of the St. Paul machine shops, which give employment to hundreds of men, and pay out many thousands of dollars for wages. Nor do they include the immense transactions at the new pork-house. which, during the two months it has been in cperation, has killed 37,000 hogs, bought at a cost of $580,000,and which, during the
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time, has also paid out $36,000 for packing material, which includes cooperage, etc., and $14,000 for wages. This establishment has 188 men now on its pay-roll. Several new manufacturing enter- prises have been started here this fall, others are projected with a certainty of their being put in operation, and another year Sioux City can make a much larger showing in this direction.
THE BUILDING RECORD.
"The opening of a late spring found Sioux City almost destitute of building material. The wrecking of the railroads by the spring floods delayed its arrival, so that it was nearly the middle of May before much progress was made in building. When this material did arrive, our contractors took hold of the work with a will.
"Our building record this year, in its sum total, very largely ex- ceeds that of any previous year since the present writer has made his compilations. The amount expended is nearly $400,000 greater than in 1879, and $300,000 greater than in 1880. The number of buildings built is 308 greater than in 1879, and 265 greater than in 1880.
"In the erection of buildings for manufacturing purposes, the showing is still more gratifying, as the increase is over six fold. Our great pork-packing establishment, the butter and egg house, and the button factory, are valuable additions, not only in them- selves, but from the fact that they give employment permanently to a great many men, and necessitate the building of many new homes, and very largely increase our population.
"Our tables again show. that Sioux City workingmen are build- ing their own homes, and the vast majority of them are neat, warm and comfortable.
"The increased cost of building has not been as great as expected, and will not average over 15 per cent. above the amounts paid for similar work in the two previous years. This increase is not greater than the increase in the earnings, and profits of almost any busi- ness in the city, and ought not to deter anyone from building.
"We ought not to lose sight of the fact, that all of these new houses are full of people, and the smaller the house, the more peo- ple it seems to hold, and that our tables show the completion of nine large hotels and boarding-houses, all of which have all of the rooms that they can spare from transient guests let to permanent boarders. There can be no reason to doubt that the population of the school district of Sioux City, which takes in all of the town, is now fully 11,000 people."
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Mayor, W. R. Smith; Treasurer. G. R. Gilbert; City Solicitor, J. M. Cleland; Clerk, F. Barth: Marshal, J. R. Thompson; Dep- uty Marshal, John Colvin; Street Commissioner, James Scollard; Night Police, Thomas Budworth and Mike Ahern; Engineer, G.
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