USA > Illinois > Madison County > Alton > Gazetteer of Madison County : containing historical and descriptive sketches of Alton City, Upper Alton, Edwardsvile, Collinsville, Highland, Troy, Monticello, Mairne, Bethalto, and other towns, including some account of the resources of the various townships, to which is added a directory of the Altons,. > Part 11
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1852-3-Mayor Thomas M. Hope; Aldermen First Ward W. T. Miller, W. A. Platt, Charles Skillman. Second Ward N. Hanson, T. Souther, B. Mueller. Third
89
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Alton.]
COMMERCIAL.
Winthrop S. Gilman, William Manning, Edward Bliss, Mr. Fleshman, Simeon Ryder, Godfrey, Gilman & Co., Stone, Manning & Co., Sloo & Co., H Miller & Co., as individuals and firms were among those, now either deceased or retired from business, who established the first mercantile houses of Alton. To the industry and enterprise of them and their asso- ciates was the town indebted for the position it held as a commercial depot. The following are the names of those who have been long identi-
Ward Wm. McBride, Wm. Shattuck, Peter Gutzweller. Fourth Ward L. S. Met- calf, J. P. Ash, Joel Neff. John W. Calvin Clerk.
1853-4-Mayor Samuel A. Buckmaster, Aldermen First Ward W. T. Miller, W. A. Platt, Arba Nelson, Second Ward Wm. Hayden, Isaac Scarritt, George T. Brown. Third Wurd Peter Gutzweller, Henry Weigler, Patrick Maguire. Fourth Ward O. M. Adams, Samuel Wade, Lewis Kellenberger; John W. Calvin, Clerk.
1854-5-Mayor O. M. Adams, Aldermen, First Ward D. E. Brown, John Chaney. W. H. Turner. Second Ward William Hayden, Isaac Scarritt, Wm. G. Pinckard, Third Ward Thomas Middleton, G. H. Weigler, J. E. Coppinger. Fourth Ward J. H. Murphy, J. D. Baker, J. P. Ash; J. Wesley Ash Clerk.
1855-6-Muyor Samuel Wade; Aldermen, First Ward Abraham Breath, Arba Nel- son, Edward Levis. Second Ward Isaac Scarritt. J. R. Stanford, Wm Hayden, Third Ward John E. Coppinger, Thomas Middleton, Henry Fish. Fourth Word D. J. Baker, John H. Murphy, George S. Kellenberger; J. Wesley Ash, Clerk.
1856-7-Mayor, Joseph Brown; Aldermen, First Ward, John J. Mitchell, Arba Nel- son, Leverett B. Sidway; Second Ward, Joshua R. Stanford, Isaac Scarritt, Nathan Johnson, Third Ward, Paul Walters, John E. Coppinger, Jacob Haas; Fourth Ward, Moses G. Atwood, John H. Murphy, John L. Blair; Joshua G. Lamb, Treasurer; John W. Ash, Clerk; Henry Wissore, Marshal.
1857-8-Mayor, Samuel Wade; Aldermen, Third Ward, Dr. Benjamin K. Hart, A. S. Barry, Daniel Ryan; Second Ward, Joshua R. Stanford, Nathaniel Hanson, D. C. Martin; Third Ward, John E. Coppinger, Martin Fishbach, Jacob Haas; Fourth Ward, Moses G. Atwood, Lewis Kellenberger, Lyne S. Metcalf ; Joshua G. Lamb, Treasurer; Guy Covell, Collector; Utten Smith, Register; Henry Wissore, Marshal; John W. Ash, Clerk.
1858-9- Mayor, Lyne S. Metcalf ; Aldermen, First Ward, Benjamin K. Hart, Hand James, Sebastian Wise; Second Ward, D. C. Martin, Nathaniel Hanson, Timothy L. Waples; Third Ward, John E. Coppinger, Louis Haagen, Michael Steiner; Fourth Ward, John H. Murphy, Orlean M. Adams, Moses G. Atwood; John W. Ash, Clerk; Henry Wissore, Marshal; J. G. Lamb, Treasurer.
1859-60-Mayor, William Post; Aldermen, First Ward, Benjamin K. Hart, Hand James, William A. Platt; Second Ward, Timothy L. Waples, Henry G. McPike, James E. Starr; Third Ward, John E. Coppinger, Andrew Ma ley, George Jackel, Fourth Ward, Moses G. Atwood, John H. Murphy, George H. Weigler; J. G. Lamb, Treasurer; Henry Wissore, Marshal; J. W. Ash, Clerk.
1860-1-Mayor, Lewis Kellenberger; Aldermen, First Ward, Benjamin K. Hart, John J. Mitchell, Henry Weaver; Second Ward, Henry C. Sweetser, Webb C. Quig- iey, Charles W. Dimmock; Third Ward, John E. Coppinger, George Thorp, John Banner; Fourth Ward, Moses G. Atwood, Lyne S. Metcalf, John H. Murphy; Geo. Weigler, Treasurer; James H. Hibbard, Clerk; Henry Wissore, Marshal.
1861-2-Mayor, Lewis Kellenberger; Aldermen, First Ward, Benj. K. Hart, John J. Mitchell, John W. Calvin; Second Ward, Webb C. Quigley, Timothy L. Waples, David Simms; Third Ward, George Jackel, Andrew Maley, William McDowell; Fourth Ward, M. G. Atwood, John H. Murphy, William S. Gaskins; Fred Wendt, Treasurer; Henry Wissore, Marshal; James H. Hibbard, Clerk. 13-
-
90
A GAZETTEER OF
[Alton.
fied with the commercial interests of the City, and are still engaged in active business :
NAME.
WHEN ESTABLISHED. PRESENT BUSINESS.
Samuel Wade,
lumber-1831,
Banker.
Dr. E. Marsh,
druggist-1832, Banker.
Arba Nelson,
1836,
Hardware.
P. B. Whipple,
October 1835,
Dry Goods.
H. B. Bowman,
January, 1839,
Dry Goods.
Isaac Scarritt,
1837, Dry Goods and Banker.
Richard Flagg,
1837,
Dry Goods.
Robert De Bow,
Autumn 1835,
Grocer.
Thomas G. Starr,
January 1838,
Grocer.
Mr. S. opened the first Family Grocery in Alton.
Charles Phinney, Autumn 1838,
Grocer.
Amasa S. Barry, located 1837-1842,
1844,
Clothiers,
J. W. the senior member came
1837.
William Hayden,
May 1831,
Lumber,
Henry C. Sweetser,
1838,
Lumber,
George Quigley,
1832,
Tinware.
M. W. Carroll,
1832,
Harness and Saddles.
E. L. Dimmock,
1838,
Boots and Shoes.
The principal mercantile interests of Alton are now represented by ten dry goods, nine clothing, one wholesale, five drug, two wholesale, and three hardware and agricultural implement stores, two wholesale grocer- ies, fifteen to twenty family groceries, three boot and shoe stores, se ven lumber yards, three furniture, three watch and jewelry, and several gen- eral stores, three photograph galleries, two confectionery, four tobacco, five stove and tin ware stores, three wholesale liquor stores, seven grain dealers, together with a corresponding number of produce dealers, fruit stores, restaurants, &c., &c.
HOTELS .- Alton House .- In 1832 J. T. Hudson had a substantial frame built on the north-east corner of Front and Alby streets for a hotel known
1862-3-Mayor, Samuel A. Buckmaster; Aldermen, First Ward, Benj. K. Hart, John J. Mitchell, Patrick H. Regan; Second Ward, Henry Armstrong, David Simms, Timothy L. Waples, died Nov. 3rd, 1862; Third Ward, John E. Coppinger, William McDowell, Philip Deitz; Fourth Ward, Henry W. Billings, Moses G. Atwood, Sam'l Wade; J. H. Hibbard, Clerk, (Charles A. Murray, Clerk from December,) Fred Wendt, Treasurer; John C. Simpson, Marshal.
1863-1-Mayor, Edward Hollister, jr .; Aldermen, First Ward, Benjamin K. Hart, P. F. Regan, Joseph W. Wise; Second Ward, David Simms, Isaac Scarritt, John W. Schweppe; Third Ward, John E Coppinger, James D. Burns, James Bozza: Fourth Ward, Moses G. Atwood, H. W. Billings, Samuel Wade; C. A. Murray, Treasurer; Christopher Coyne, MMarshal; Utten Smith, Clerk.
1864-5-Mayor, Edward Hollister, jr .; Aldermen First Ward, Jacob Wills, James H. Hibbard, J. Shooler; Second Ward, Isaac Scarritt, Jno. W. Schweppe, David Simms; Third Ward, John E. Coppinger, James Bozza, Anthony L. Hoppe; Fourth Ward, Moses G. Atwood, John L. Blair, George H. Weigler; Frank H. Ferguson, Clerk; Charles A. Murray, Treasurer; Michael Steiner, Marshal.
1865-6-Mayor, Edward Hollister, jr .; Alde. men, First Ward, James H. Hibbard, (died May 14th, 1866,) Patrick F. Reagan, John Shooler; Second Ward, David Simms, Isaac Scarritt, Henry G. M'Pike; Third Ward, J. E. Coppinger, James Bozza, John H. Kuhn, (died Oct. 22d, 1865,) Emil Guelich; Fourth Ward, M. G. Atwood, John L. - Blair, G. H. Weigler; J. W. Ash, Clerk; Charles A. Murray, Treasurer.
Druggist.
J. W. & H. Schweppe,
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES OF THE COMMON COUNCIL FOR 1866-7.
[Elected since the printing of this portion of the book.]
MAYOR .- William Post.
ALDERMEN .- First Ward, Frederick Wendt, Henry N. Pierson, Thomas Biggins. Second Hard, David Simms, Henry G. M'Pike, Samuel V. Crossman. Third Ward, John E. Coppinger, Leonard Stutz, John Seaton. Fourth Ward, Moses G. Atwood, Samuel Wade, George Yakel.
STANDING COMMITTEES .- On Finance, Samuel Wade, Frederick Wendt, Thomas Biggins. On Streets and Alleys, John E. Coppinger, Moses G. Atwood, Samuel V. Crossman, Thomas Biggins. On Levee, Henry N. Pierson, David Simms, Henry G. M'Pike. On Schools, Moses G. Atwood, Leonard Stutz, Samuel V. Crossman, Frederick Wendt. On Ordinances, Henry N. Pierson, Samuel Wade, John E. Coppinger. On Markets, Thomas Biggins, Henry N. Pierson, George Yakel. On Paupers, Frederick Wendt, John Seaton, Henry G. M'Pike, Samuel Wade. On Public Roads, Henry G. M'Pike, Leonard Stutz, Frederick Wendt, Moses G. Atwood. On Railroads, John E. Coppinger, Frederick Wendt, David Simms, Samuel Wade. On Health, Samnel V. Crossman, David Simms, George Yakel. On Real Estate, David Simms, George Yakel, Frederick Wendt. On Police, John Seaton, John E. Coppinger, Samuel V. Crossman. On Public Buildings, Leonard Stutz, David Simms, Henry G. M'Pike. On Fire Department, Samuel V. Crossman, David Simms, Moses G. Atwood. On Gas, George Yakel, Thomas Biggins, John Seaton. On Cemetery, Moses G. Atwood. John Seaton, David Simms. On Claims, Samuel Wade, Leonard Stutz, George Yakel.
Council meets on the First and Third Monday in every month. Quarterly Re- port days, First Monday in September, December, March and June.
OFFICERS ELECTED BY THE COUNCIL .- City Clerk and Janitor, Frank H. Ferguson. City Engineer, City Physician, Dr. A. DeGrand. Inspector and Gauger, Frederick Inglis. Wood Measurer, First Ward, Charles Kuehn. Weigher, First Ward, William Young, Measurer and Weigher, Second Ward, Henry Behrens. Wood Measurer, Third Ward, Leonard Stutz. Weigher, Third Ward, James Bozza. Measurer and Weigher, Fourth Ward, W. Claflin. Market Master and Watchman, Christopher Coyne. Fire Warden and Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, John Seaton. Secretary and Superintendent of Cemetery, Wm. Brudon. Assistant Super- intendent, Auditor, Frederick Wendt.
INSPECTORS OF ELECTION .- First Ward, William Young, Henry Weaver, Henry C. Sweetser. "Second Ward, Henry Armstrong, William Brudon, Philip Peters. Third Ward, John Mellen, Benedict Elble, George Yakel. Fourth Ward, W. Claflin, Alfred Dow, James Whitehead.
OFFICERS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE .- Treasurer, Patrick F. Regan. Collector, Lee D."Covell. Register, Frank H. Ferguson. Attorney, A. H. Gambrill. Marshal, Mieliael Steiner. Harbor Master, Win. J. S. Betts. Street Commissioner, Jolm F. Thomay. Assessors, Benedict Elble, Daniel Hogan, Ilenry Armstrong.
BOARD OF TRADE OF THE CITY OF ALTON. Organized August 31, 1866.
PRESIDENT .- Capt. John A. Bruner.
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT .- Eli T. Hollister.
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT .- James Newman.
RECORDING SECRETARY .- S. Williams.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY .- J. C. Doblebower.
TREASURER .- L. A. Parks.
DIRECTORS .- H. G. MePike, John S. Topping, W. T. Miller, John Seaton, E. M. Crandal, Silas W. Farber.
COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND COMMERCE .- F. Wendt, R. W. Hawkins, H. Weaver. COMMITTEE ON MANUFACTURERS .- E. Washburne, S. F. Connor, J. T. Drum- mond.
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS .- Capt. E. Hollister, Jr., A. S. Barry, L. Pfeiffenberger.
COMMITTEE ON RIVER AND HARBOR .- Capt. Geo. E. Hawley, Anstin Seely, F. J. Shooler.
Regular Meetings every Friday Evening in Council Chamber.
91
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Alton.]
as the Alton House. Among those who kept it were Andrew Miller, a Mr. Delaplain, Samuel Pitts, and Washington Libby. This building was burned in 1837. Calvin Stone afterwards rebuilt it of brick about 50x25 ft. and three stories high. About the year 1844 it came into the possession of Col. Burke, of Carlinville, who remodeled it toits present size. Various parties since then leased it for short periods each, but for a greater portion of the time it has been kept by Amos L. Corson, until the spring of 1866, when it was leased by its present occupant, William Siemens.
The Franklin House was originally built by a Mr. Blakeley. It was afterwards purchased and additions to it built by Beniamin Godfrey. During about ten years subsequent to its erection Geo. W. Fox, was the "host," succeeded by Ephraim Bliss for four years, and Samuel Pitts for six years preceding 1861. Edward S. and Rufus H. Lesure afterwards kept it a short time, when it came in the possession of its present proprie- tor W. H. K. Pile.
The Piasa House was built by Judge Hezekiah Hawley, previous to 1835. Of those who have there kept "hotel," we have learned the names of Mrs. Wait, succeeded by a Mr. Reno, William Wentworth, Capt. William Post, Samuel Brooks, Jacob C. Bruner, John Hart and sons for ten years succeeded by the present proprietors.
MANUFACTURING INTEREST.
In its facilities for becoming a manufacturing city of the first order Alton is not excelled by any locality west of Pittsburg. Being located near the confluence of three rivers-two of them the largest in the Union, it has direct communication with all points on the navigable streams of the Mississippi Valley ;* and situated at the junction of three great rail-
*ALTON AND ST. LOUIS PACKETS .- As they have been intimately allied to the commercial and manufacturing interests of Alton some items are here given re- specting the history of the Steamers that have been engaged in the Alton and St. Louis trade.
In 1837 the steamer "Alpha" commenced running as an Alton and St. Louis packet; she was succeeded by the "Eagle," Captains Wilson, Reed and Clay, of St. Louis. In 1843 Capt. Wm. P. Lamothe of Alton bought her, and the Alton and St- Louis packet became an Alton Institution. In January 1844 Lamothe in connec- tion with Starnes & Springer of St. Louis, built the "Luella." In 1845 Frink & Walker, the old stage proprietors of Chicago, put the steamer "Gov. Briggs" Capt. James E. Starr in opposition to her, and the two boats were soon made a stock company. In 1848 Messrs. S. & P. Wise in connection with Capt. Thomas G. Starr and other citizens of Alton bought the steamer "Tempest," and started an opposition to the old line; at that time the fare to and from St. Louis was one dollar. In 1849 the old company gave the Tempest a hot opposition, the "Luella" Capt. George :E. Hawley put the fare down to seventy-five cents, then to fifty, then to twenty-five, then to ten cents, and finally carried passengers free, and freight for nearly nothing; botlı boats carrying a band of music, and leaving at the same hours, burning rosin and turpentine in connection with their wood for fuel, carry- ing all the steam they could make; (at that time there was no law restricting en- gineers as the amount of steam they should carry.) The consequence was a com- promise, and both boats were made one concern, in the fall of 1849. The Luella ran in the trade during the spring of 1850, and the Tempest the balance of the year, and the whole of 1851. Frink & Walker sold out to Capt. Joseph Brown, who in connection with S. & P. Wise and Gaty, McCune & Co. of St. Louis built the "Altona," which commenced running in December 1851, and was the fastest boat on the western waters. She made the run from St. Louis to Alton in one hour
92
A GAZETTEER OF
[Alton
way lines, that in their course intersect the net work of railroads now al- most universal throughout the States, it has the benefit of at least two rival routes to the pineries of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Central Missouri- the lead regions of Galena, the iron mines of Missouri and Tennessee, and the cotton fields of the South. Manufacturers are thus enabled to im- port the raw material at the lowest possible rates, and at the same time are furnished the ready means of shipping the products of their factories to those sections of the country where they will command the highest prices. The staples most important to the manufacturer are obtained in this im-
and thirty-seven minutes; the fastest time ever made to Alton from that city. In Sept. 1852 the Chicago and Mississippi railroad company bought the Altona, D. C. Adams Captain; thus completing their line to St. Louis. They also bought the steamer "Cornelia," Capt. Lamothe, the same year for the passenger business, making two trips per day. She sank in December 1853, and the Altona sank the first day of January 1854. The St. Paul Capt. Lamothe then did all the business, until March,! when Capt. Adams bought the Reindeer, and Capt. S. J. Owings bought the Winchester for the company. These boats not proving to be profitable investments were sold. J. J. & W. H. Mitchell, W. P. Lamothe, Joseph Brown and Gaty, McCune & Co. were the purchasers, they contracting to do the Road's busi- ness between the two points. There were some changes in ownership to 1857, when we find the company with three boats, the Reindeer, Baltimore and York State. On November 10th the Reindeer sank. On September 10th 1859 the York State sank, and the company bought the "David Tatum" in October same year, and in December the Baltimore sank. There were several different boats chartered to do the work, until the company built the famous City of Alton, Capt George E. Hawley, which came out in the fall of 1860. She ran in the trade until the war broke out, when on account of the railroad company sending their passengers through by rail over the Terre Haute and Alton railroad to St. Louis, she was withdrawn from the Alton trade, and ran from St. Louis south in command of Captain Willlain Barnes. In June, 1862, the company bought the steamer B. M. Runyan, Captain James S. Bellas. She ran in the trade until 1864, when she was sent south, and sunk July 21st, proving a total loss. The company then ran the Tatum in the Alton trade until the Chicago and St. Louis company extended their road to St. Louis, taking all the railroad freight from the boat in the winter of 1864. The company run the Tatum during January and February, 1865, but not paying expenses she was withdrawn and sent elsewhere, thus abandoning the trade to the through line packets. There was no packet for a month or more when Captain John A. Bruner, in connection with Tunstal & Holmes and others, of St. Louis, put in the steamer May A. Bruner. She was withdrawn and the steamer South Wester took her place and is now running under command of Capt. Bruner.
THE REGULAR LINE STEAMERS afford daily facilities for transportation of freight and passengers, both up and down the river. Among them are the follow- ing:"
The St. Louis and Keokuk Pucket Company runnng a daily line. Also the Illinois River Packet Company daily from St. Louis to Peoria. J. Lock & Brother Agents. The Northern Line daily from St. Louis to St. Paul, and the
Naples Packet Company whose steamers make three trips per week, connecting with the Great Western Railway, R. T. Largent agent. Beside these there are other independent packets; St. Louis to Havana, "W. S. Hays" and "Gem" St. Louis to Peoria, and others.
93
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Alton.]
mediate vicinity. The City stands upon a foundation of rocks of which the neighboring bluffs furnish sufficient for all building purposes, and for the manufacture of excellent lime, cement, etc. In the adjoining counties of Illinois and Missouri, there are tracts of timber land, affording material for factories of agricultural implements, household furniture etc. Vast and ex- haustless veins of bituminous coal are being mined throughout this County, some within two miles of the City, from which an abundance of fuel can be obtained at very reasonable rates. In large commercial cities the ground adjacent to the railway depots or the levee is valued at such a high price and must pay such enormous taxes as, in many cases to consume the invested capital within a few years. To avoid this manufactories are frequently built beyond the city limits, where the cost of transferring both the material and the manufactured articles to and from the depots is not unfrequently as great as that of carrying them thence to their destina- tion. In Alton land can be had near the wharf or depots on very reason- able terms; an item of much importance to the manufacturer.
The adjoining country, including the American Bottom, has a soil un- surpassed in fertility, producing the most abundant crops of grain, fruits and vegetables, affording the means of subsistence for a dense population as reasonable as at any other point in the Union.
"It has often been remarked by Eastern business men, men of judg- ment and experience, that they had seen no place in all their Western travels, better suited to become a large manufacturing city than Alton. It is true that she is already noted for her manufactures, but that is no rea- son why they should not be idefinitely enlarged both in degree and in kind. The place is capable of indefinite expansion in this respect, and if her citizens awake to their true interests in this important matter, if they will rise above all petty and selfish private ends, and be willing to make some personal sacrifices for the public good, the hills and valleys of Alton will yet echo to such a humn of busy industry, as is heard in no other city in the Mississippi Valley."
As a part of the City's history some statistics are here presented of the manufactories already established.
HANSON & Co.'s Alton Agricultural Works .- About twenty-five years ago, Mr. N. Hanson, lately deceased, began work in a small frame build- ing, which is still on Second street east of Market. He afterwards remov- ed to another frame building on Front street foot of Easton, where he remained until it was destroyed by fire some fifteen years since. He then erected the buildings now occupied on Front corner of George street. They are built of brick 100x50 ft. and three stories high.
Since the death of Mr. Hanson, which occured July, 1864, Mr. Silas F. Connor has been connected with the establishment as partner. They employ from eighty to ninety workmen, manufacturing from one hun- dred and fifty to two hundred threshers, seventy to one hundred gang plows, and about the same number of cider mills, per annum; also, corn shellers, cultivators, and other farming implements. During the past year they have sold threshers and other machines in Texas, Utah, Nevada, Nebraska, Minnesota, and elsewhere throughout the West. Their orders,
94
A GAZETTEER OF
[Alton.
increasing from month to month, are constantly ahead of their most active efforts to supply the trade; a substantial evidence of the excellence of their manufactures.
PATTERSON'S IRON WORKS were established by Stigleman & Co. some years since as the Illinois Iron Works. They came into the possession of Mr. JAMES PATTERSON in 1863, and the name changed as above. The Works occupy a large brick building 100x45 ft. and four stories high as a machine shop, a second 75x45 as a foundry, with a smith shop 50x28 ft., with a capacity for the employment of one hundred workmen. Mr. Pat- terson now employs about forty workmen in the manufacture of threshers, engines, sugar mills, saw mills, and all kinds of mill machinery. He has recently purchased the right of an excellent thresher that is already be- coming very popular among the farmers of the West.
DUNFORD & BROOKS, builders of engines, mill gearing and machinery, first began in December, 1864. Their buildings, situated on Front street, consist of a machine shop two stories high and 60x56 ft., foundry 50x55 ft., and a blacksmith shop 50x26 ft. They employ an average of about forty- five men. Although so recently established they have already all that they can do, having built machinery for millers and others in the Western States from Louisiana to Minnesota.
Mr. D. V. Brooks, now of this firm, brought the fifth locomotive (The Marengo) into Illinois. It was run on the Chicago and Galena railroad.
Among the home manufactures of Messrs. D. & B. is the engine and machinery in Farber, MePike & Co.'s new flouring mills, and in Shooler's Corn Meal Mills now being built on Front street.
NATIONAL MILLS .- These Mills were built by the firm of S. & P. Wise in 1858. In 1863 they were purchased by Mr. SHOOLER, who is the present proprietor.
The building is of brick, eighty-three feet front on the Levee, ninety- three feet deep to Second street, and four stories high upon a basement of stone. There are five run of fifty-four inch burrs with a capacity of manu- facturing five hundred and fifty barrels of flour in twenty-four hours.
The cylinder is twenty-two inches diameter, forty-eight inch stroke, and the fly wheel twenty-eight feet in diameter, with forty revolutions per minute. The cost of building these Mills was about $75,000.
The old stone ware house of Godfrey, Gilman & Co. formerly stood on a portion of the ground now occupied by them.
Mr. Shooler also has a building on Front street, below the Alton House, built of brick, 100x40 ft., and two stories high upon a basement of stone, with two run of forty-eight inch burrs, used for the purpose of manufac- turing kiln dried corn meal. Attached to the same building are their cooper shops, where some thirty workmen are employed who turn out five hundred barrels per day.
ALTON CITY MILLS .- Messrs. FARBER, McPIKE & Co., Proprietors, began the erection of these Mills in August, 1865, and completed them in running order in twelve monthsthereafter. The building is 110x77 ft. with a basement of stone three and a half and two and a half feet in thickness, surmounted by brick walls eighteen inches in thickness, and four stories high, with five floors in all. Provision is made for a wagon way along and within the western wall, from Second street to the Levee, and adja- cent to this passage there are four grain receivers, two hoppers permanently fixed to beams and two others on cars that can be used to wheel the grain wherever desired in the Mill. There are five run of burrs for grinding wheat, with two others for middlings, corn, &c. The engine in this, as well as in the National Mills, is of great power, having a cylinder twenty-three inches in diameter, and thirty-eight inch stroke. Thefly wheel is twenty- one feet in diameter and of 22,000 pounds weight. S. F. Ross, of Quincy, Ill., was the millwright. The mill gearing and machinery was manufac- tured by Messrs. Dunford & Brooks of this city, The entire Mills com- pleted cost about $75,000.
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