The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 80

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical
Number of Pages: 964

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He employs a force of ten men, pays out $900 per week for stock, and manufactures 5,000 barrels of beer per annum, which are marketed in the country adjacent to Dubuque, as also further West.

His investment he considers worth $65,000, and yearly sales about $40,000.

Iowa Brewery, at Nos. 2327 and 2329 Couler avenue, was established in 1855, by Titus Schmid, B. Scherr and F. Beck, under the firm name of Titus Schmid & Co. In the fall of that year, the present improvements were begun, and completed during the following spring. These consist of a brewery, 72x42, four stories high ; malt-house and dry-kiln, 48x46, three stories high, with two wings, each 29x22, two stories high; also fermenting and cool- ing vaults, the latter with an aggregate capacity of 7,000 barrels ; the struct- ures built of stone and perfect in every detail.

In 1857, the house. fronting on Couler avenue was added. It was originally three stories high, but, being injured in a tornado, was reconstructed and lowered to two stories. The total cost of the improvements, supplied with machinery, etc., was $100,000.

The firm of Titus Schmid & Co. ran the brewery until October, 1868, when, its members having deceased, Mrs. B. Scherr purchased a half-interest from the survivors for $35,000, and held it a year. At the expiration of that period, Kiene & Rhomberg became interested, and M. Blumenauer conducted

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

the business until 1877, when William Meuser purchased their moiety, and, with the heirs of T. Schmid, now occupy the premises.

The product. manufactured is estimated at 5,000 barrels of beer annually, furnishing employment to twelve men, whose wages, together with the cost of materials, necessitates a weekly outlay of $620.

The investment is quoted at $60,000; the yearly income at two-thirds that amount, and the sale of the beverage as general throughout the West.

Soda Water Manufactory of Christian E. Kleis was first established April, 1863, near the corner of Sixth and White streets, where he began bus- iness, and laid the foundation for an immense trade in the sparkling beverage. He remained here for five years, but, business increasing, he soon found his quarters too contracted to operate successfully, and, in 1868, completed, at a cost of $8,000, a handsome brick building near the corner of Ninth and White streets, supplied with every convenience and auxiliary for profitable operations, where he turns out, with the help of five men, many gross of mineral water daily, which finds an increasing demand throughout the city, county and the West.

Cushing's Vinegar Works were first established in 1863, by Palmer & Co., remaining under that firm name . until 1864, when it was succeeded by Mr. Cushing, who has since maintained control, excepting about four years, during which period he was associated with Thomas Warnock.

When the business was in its infancy, the works were located on Iowa street, but the absence of room requisite to the manufacture of this commodity necessitated enlarged facilities, and, in 1873, he erected his present building, situated on Eagle Point avenue, near its junction with Couler avenue, which is admirably adapted to the purpose. The building is of brick, 50x80, four stories high, with a capacity of 100 barrels per day, furnishing employment to eight men. The works were completed during the year in which the founda- tions were raised, and supplied with improved machinery, the total cost of which was $30,000.

The business is among the largest of the kind in the West. The produc- tion during the present year will be, it is anticipated, not far from ten thou- sand barrels. The article finds ready sale in the West, and the business, it is stated, will foot up $100,000 annually.

Kaiser's Vinegar Works were established by A. Kaiser on the 1st of Feb- ruary, 1856, at the corner of Sixth and White streets, where, with two hands, he began the manufacture of this article, the pioneer compounder in the city, if not in the State. In the fall of 1868, in order to meet the increasing require- ments of his trade, he built the works now occupied by him, at the foot of Ninth street, providing the same with all modern appliances, and, moving his estab- ment, was enabled, even better than before, to give the most perfect satisfaction to the trade, which is largely local, as also throughout the Northwest.

In 1866, he became associated with A. Kammen in the business, which con- nection, however, terminated at the expiration of a year, since when he has been conducting the undertaking solus.

The business amounts to $25,000 per year, at an annual cost of say 66 per cent of the income.

Mississippi Valley Vinegar Works were first established in the spring of 1875 by John Glab, the present owner, on Iowa, between Second and Third streets, where he remained for the space of two years. In 1877, he removed his estab- lishment to its present site, at the corner of Ninth and Pine streets, for the pur- pose of securing the enlarged facilities his increasing business demanded.

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

Here Mr. Glab employs a force of ten men, at a weekly compensation of $75, and turns out an aggregate of $20,000 worth of vinegar per annum. His investment he values at $15,000, and the goods are sold throughout Northern Iowa, Western Illinois and Minnesota.

Key City Spice Mills was first established and operated in 1858 by W. K. Bowdish, at which time it was a small concern, doing a limited business and employing a small capital. Mr. Bowdish was succeeded by H. A. Dean, and he by R. S. Allison, by whom the establishment was disposed of to Solomon Smith, who, in May, 1862, parted with his interest to N. L. Alden, the present pro- prietor. Under his charge the business has more than doubled in importance. New machinery was introduced and other improvements completed, enabling him, in addition to the compounding of spices, to roast upward of a dozen sacks of coffee per diem. The mills are located on Fourth street, between Main and Iowa, central and easily accessible to the jobbers to whom its products are sold, who in turn distribute them throughout the Northwest-as also to the retailers in the city and vicinity, whose patronage is an important factor in the enter- prise.

The business, although unpretentious, is one of Dubuque's important inter- ests is constantly, increasing in proportions, and the largest of the kind in the State.

Mr. Alden employs three hands, the investment represents a capital stated at $5,000, and the annual sales aggregate upward of $12,000.

Caledonia Mills .- An oat-meal factory, established by F. & C. Schloth, at a cost of $20,000, near the foot of Eleventh street, is a recent acquisition to the manufacturing interests of Dubuque, having begun operations on the 20th of October, 1879. The enterprise had long been contemplated by its founders, and, in August of the year when it was opened to the public, preparations were inaugurated by the Schloth brothers for its establishment, with the stated result.

The capacity of the mill is stated at 900 bushels of oats per day, and all grades of meal, from the finest to the coarsest, as also a superior quality of the kiln-dried product, are placed upon the market. At present, four run of stones, driven by steam, are employed, two for the hulling of the grain and two for grinding, and, when the demand justifies it, two more run will be added.

The trade thus far has been with dealers in New York, New Orleans, Chi- cago, and Glasgow, Scotland, to supply which, together with the local demand, requires the services of seven hands.

This is the only venture of the kind in the city, and, though comparatively risky, promises the most abundant returns to its projectors.

Anton Stine's Flouring-Mill was established in 1879 at the corner of Eighteenth and Pine streets, where Mr. Stine erected a handsome three-story brick mill, at a cost of $10,000, and began operations in the fall of that year.

The mill is supplied with three run of buhrs, capable of turning out 250 barrels of flour weekly, and furnishes employment to three hands.

The trade is almost exclusively local.

Key City Bakery, established in 1878 by J. P. Farley and A. Wolcott, occupies a prominent place on the list of Dubuque manufactures. The prem- ises, located at the corner of Sixth and White streets, consist of a large brick bakery and salesroom, the former supplied with every appliance adapted to the business, was completed and opened on the 3d of July, 1878, after the expenditure of $16,000.

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

The product placed upon the market includes every variety of crackers, jumbles, etc., known to the business, which supply a ready and rapidly increas- ing trade in Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and at various points throughout the West. The firm employ about twenty-two hands, at a weekly compensation of $125; the annual sales aggregate $60,000, and the investment is valued at $26,000.

Fairbanks' Cracker Bakery had its origin in June, 1868, when it was established by Fairbanks, Amsden & Walker, in a building on Main street, opposite the Julien House. During the succeeding winter, the establishment was partially destroyed by fire, when the firm removed to its present locality, from No. 139 to 145 Second street, between Main and Locust.

In 1870, E. W. Albee purchased an interest in the business, which was continued under the original firm name until 1878, when that gentleman bought up the interest of the remaining partners, thereby becoming sole owner, as he is to-day.

The capacity of the factory is 100 barrels of crackers per day, in the manu- facture of which eighteen men are employed, at a weekly compensation of $150, and 240 barrels of flour are used up.

The works are operated by steam power, machinery employed in all the departments, the baking being done in Vale's patent rotary ovens, and a gen- eral market for the products found throughout the Northwest.

The annual sales aggregate fully $60,000, and $20,000 is stated as the amount invested in the enterprise.

The Key City Candy Factory of J. H. Roach, located at 137 Main street, first became known to the trade in 1864, when Mr. Roach opened a store for the sale of confections, bonbons, etc., at No. 58 Main street, adjoining the German Bank. After a sojourn of ten years here, his increasing business necessitated the procuration of enlarged quarters, which were found at 182 Main street, whither he removed in 1875. Again the accommodations were found insufficient for the uses to which they were devoted, and he secured pos- session of his present locality on April 1, 1880, where abundant facilities are afforded for his manufacture and trade.

The former include the choicest varieties, as also the common qualities, of candy, in the compounding and preparation of which steam is exclusively employed, requiring the services of sixteen hands, to whom an aggregate of $120 are paid weekly. The trade is largely jobbing in Dubuque and vicinity, sup- plemented by a large trade in Minnesota, Iowa and Dakota, producing an annual revenue of $50,000. The capital invested is said to be $10,000.

Myers, Tice & Co .- These extensive tobacco works had their origin in 1867, under the firm name of Armington, Myers & Co., at that time being the only enterprise of the kind in this section of the State, and located at No. 63 Main street. In 1868, the firm removed to their present quarters, opposite their old stand, where they still remain. They occupy the three floors of this building, using it entirely for job work, while the factory, a building of the same dimen- sions, is to the rear, and fronting on Iowa street.

In 1870, the present firm, composed of D. D. Myers, J. H. Tice and W. G. Cox, was established and has since remained unchanged.

The force employed in the prosecution of the business is about twenty- eight hands, necessitating the payment for help alone of $250 a week, and fully 350,000 pounds of the weed are annually consumed in the manufacture of fine-cut and smoking tobacco, which is sold chiefly in Northern Iowa, the

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

adjacent portions of Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, as also in California and the Territories.

The sales aggregate upward of $300,000 annually, and the amount invested is figured at upward of $100,000.

Palmer, Winall & Co., composed of W. A. Palmer, S. S. Winall, Joseph Bott and C. H. Berg, blank-book manufacturers, book binders and printers, began business in 1864, at the corner of Fourth and Main streets, employing two men, and doing almost exclusively custom work. . The business increased rapidly, however, and, after enlarging their resources repeatedly, the firm, in 1879, completed a new building at the corner of Sixth and Iowa streets, in which it is now located.

The premises are of brick, 37}x68, three stories high, and cost $6,000. The firm occupy the first floor and basement, while the second story is used by the Daily Telegraph as office, editorial and composing rooms, the third story by a German association.

The firm employ ten men, at a weekly cost of $120; do a business of $25,000 per year, and its work is shipped to all parts of Iowa, Minnesota, Wis- consin and Illinois.

The value of the investment is not stated.

Key City Barrel Factory was established in 1868 by T. C. Pringle and S. A. Atherton at its present site on Iowa, between Second and Third streets, where for eleven years the manufacture of barrels and staves was prosecuted with industry and profit. On the 22d of July, 1879, the factory was destroyed by fire, 'entailing a loss of $18,000, but was immediately rebuilt, completely furnished, and again in operation during the succeeding winter.

The establishment is under the superintendence of S. A. Atherton, works ninety-eight hands at a weekly outlay of $800, manufactures from 1,600 to 2,000 barrels annually, which are, with thousands of staves, marketed in Dubuque and the West, producing an aggregate revenue of $60,000.

The investment is considered worth one-half that amount.

George Richardson's Boot and Shoe Factory, located at No. 74 South Main street, was established in Dubuque in February, 1877, having been removed hither from Galena; enjoys a steadily increasing demand, which taxes the productive capacity of the establishment to meet this enhanced requirement of purchasers. The firm occupy an immense three-story building, 25x120, and employ a working capacity of about forty-five men, at a weekly expense of $300 for the item of wages. The stock manufactured includes all grades of calf and kip boots and shoes, especially what is known to the trade as the "Standard Screwed Fastener," turning out nearly two thousand dozen pairs annually, which find ready sale in Iowa, Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. The raw material is procured chiefly in Milwaukee, Chicago and Buffalo, the finer qualities being imported direct from abroad, and the aggregate amount paid for stock per year is stated at $40,000. The sales amount to not less than $75,000 ; the amount invested is estimated at $35,000 ; and there is no room to doubt that equal qualities are made in Dubuque cheaper than at the East, for the reason that the great bulk of the raw material is produced in the immediate vicinity, saving the important item of freight, to say nothing of other costs incurred in handling, shipment, delivery, etc.

H. B. Glover & Co., Clothing Manufacturers .- Business was established in 1860 by W. B. Glover, graduating from retail into wholesale by successive steps. In 1876, the present firm engaged in manufacturing clothing on a large scale. Their factory is at the corner of Sixth and Iowa streets, where they

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

run eighty-four sewing machines, which, though propelled by steam, require the services of 100 hands to supply and attend to. Their manufacture consists of overalls, shirts, pants, coats, etc., in which 2,600 yards of material are con- sumed daily. Machinery is employed wherever it can be utilized, even button- holes and buttons being fitted to garments by its agency. By the use of steam, introduced recently, the operators are enabled to perform double the amount of work formerly done, in half the time and with less labor.

They manufacture sixty dozen garments daily, each dozen being full size and containing from three to four yards more of material than those made by Eastern houses.

Their trade extends east into Illinois and Wisconsin, to within sixty miles of Chicago, and west through Iowa, Dakota and Minnesota. The firm is preparing to increase its facilities to enable it, at an early day, to engage exten- sively in the manufacture of hosiery, etc.

James Forrester, Clothing Manufacturer, is located in the Globe building, having recently moved there from No. 567 Main street, where he estab- lished himself in 1877, and has since continued, in the manufacture of overalls, coats, vests and trousers, in almost unlimited quantities. The second story of his establishment is used as a salesroom for the goods which are "put in shape" on the floor above. Here he employs 170 hands, mostly women and girls, whose stitching from daylight till dark is evidenced by the noise of the constantly running machines. The house turns out about fifty dozen garments daily, divided into lots made up of articles above mentioned, which are sold at wholesale in Southern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Dakota and Nebraska, as also to the local trade, producing large returns annually.

It requires a total of $350 for wages each week, and the investment is stated at $25,000.

The Dubuque Broom Factory, located at No. 72 South Main street, was first established in 1869, on Eighth street, between Iowa and Clay streets by F. A. Miller. He remained at this point until increasing business necessitated an enlargement of his resources, when he finally moved to his present site in 1872.

The force employed is stated at ten hands, necessitating a weekly outlay of $100 for wages, and manufacturing 400 gross of brooms and 100 gross of whisk brushes annually.

The investment is valued at $2,500, and the yearly sales foot up fully $14,000.

The Key City Gaslight Company .- The deficiencies found in the original means of imparting light throughout the city, though the cause of less incon- venience than is experienced to-day, notwithstanding the adaptation of electric- ity, gas and other agencies for that purpose, procured the organization of this corporation during the year 1854, with a capital of $150,000. This was followed during the same year by the building of gas works in a brief period, and, on the 18th of July, 1855, gas was first introduced into the city as an illuminator.

For twelve years, the means employed in that behalf were deemed sufficient for the purpose, but, at the expiration of that period, they were found too small, and, in 1867, the works were rebuilt at the corner of Bluff and Dodge streets, under the superintendence of Howard & McArthur, and, with the improvements completed to date, cost fully $250,000. The new works are located opposite their former site, and are complete in the minutest detail. The purifying build- ing is of brick, 60x24 feet, containing four purifiers about eight feet square, connecting with pipes to a center " seal," divided into compartments. From this the gas passes into other purifiers, is condensed by a jet of cold water,

John Hougdon

DUBUQUE .

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

which removes the carbonic acid gas and other impurities, leaving the gas proper in a condition ready for use. The retorts are ample, and the reservoir is of vast dimensions, to perfectly accommodate the huge meter, which has a capacity of over one hundred thousand cubic feet. The reservoir is sixty-two feet in diameter, by twenty feet deep, comprehending over half a million brick in its construction, and holding 16,800 barrels of water. The walls are three feet thick at the base, twenty-one inches at the top, and perfectly water-tight. The meter was manufactured by the American Company, of Philadelphia, and provided with every improvement, including a contrivance for accurately marking the quantity of gas produced and consumed each day.

The Company now have about twelve miles of pipe, 180 city lamps, and furnish lighting facilities to consumers at $3.50 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The main office is located on Fifth street, between Main and Iowa, and the officers are J. K. Graves, President ; A. McArthur, Secretary : J. B. Howard, Superintendent.

Dubuque Steam Supply Company .- Dubuque is entitled to a great deal of credit for her enterprise. There is no city in Iowa that can compare favorably with her in point of public improvements. There is no city of her size in the United States that can produce finer residences or more substantial business blocks, while in the matter of streets she has no equal in all Iowa, and few super- iors in the United States.

In keeping with the steady step of progression that Dubuque ever main- tains is the inauguration of the steam-heating project.

Here, again, the Key City shows her enterprise and her determination to keep ever in the van of progress. Indeed, this enterprise was started and pushed forward with so little commotion that one-half of the citizens of Dubuque did not realize when the great city was heated by steam from Dublin to Eagle Point, and from the river to West Dubuque.

The new building of the Steam Heating Company is located near the cor- ner of Sixth and Iowa streets. In the basement the boilers are located, and in the upper stories the varied machinery necessary to disseminate the steam. The company use four large boilers, with which to generate the steam. This is an unusually large number, and will furnish ample steam to heat the entire city. The machinery is all of the most improved and latest manufacture, and such that it may always be relied upon to do its work, and do it well.

Citizens have thought so little about the matter, hardly believing it to be a possibility, that they have never learned the many advantages to be derived and enjoyed by this new steam-heating project. The operation is similar to that of lighting a city by gas. From the building where the steam is gener- ated, large main pipes are laid along the leading streets of the city. From these mains, feeding pipes run and connect with any store, office or residence where the steam is wanted. The supply of steam may be regulated by the user, to suit his or her own convenience.

There will always be a sufficient amount on hand for use, and parties hav- ing pipes in their houses or places of business can use as much or as little as they choose-just as they would use gas.

Besides the advantages of having no fires to build, and security from con- flagrations, there are others-no dust, no ashes, no smoke or cinders ; the rates of insurance have been lowered.

In case of fire, every house has the means to extinguish it right at hand. Perforated pipes may be placed in the rooms of the house, and when the flames break out the steam can be turned on, and the fire quenched. Steam may be

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

taken from the mains and used to run fire engines with. In this way fire engines may be made much lighter and more easily and rapidly transported. Every house will be supplied with hot water at all times. All the cooking can be done by steam, and there will be no more worn and weary women roasting over hot stoves to prepare the daily meals. In fact, the advantages to be derived from this new enterprise are almost without number.

The Company was organized May 20, 1879, with the following officers who 'still serve: George B. Burch, President; John N. * Manning, Superin- tendent ; A. J. Van Duzee, Treasurer, and A. Palmer, Secretary.

The capacity of the boilers is 4,000,000 cubic feet per diem, with which 1,500,000 cubic feet of air can be heated. The pipes start from the feeder near the corner of Sixth and Iowa streets, on Iowa to Sixth, to Main from Second, to Fifteenth, to Locust, to Ninth, to Bluff, to Sixth, to Main, to Locust, to the works. In addition to the advantages cited, steam can be fur- nished to drive forty engines of twenty-five horse-power each, and to other uses that will be developed in time.

The Dubuque Lumber Company .- This Company was organized on Sep- tember 20, 1866, having in view the manufacture of lumber on a large scale. To provide sufficient means to meet the requirements of the enterprise, a joint- stock company was formed, with a capital of $50,000, which was subsequently increased to $100,000, the wisdom of which action has been abundantly illus- trated, as by two destructive fires nearly, if not quite, that amount was lost. The first officers were : Edmund Miller, President ; W. H. Moore, Vice Presi- dent; H. A. Moore, Secretary. In 1867, the Company erected a mille at a cost of $75,000, and operated the same until April 29, 1870, when it was destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of $55,000 ; but ample means were provided at once, and the mills were rebuilt. To the end that the principal mill should be accessible for logs at all stages of water, this was built on timber foundations laid on stone abutments, 5 feet thick at the base and 23 feet high, sunk in the water. Stone piers were also constructed for gangs of saws, engine and boiler

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The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 80

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Number of Pages: 964

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical
Number of Pages: 964