Industrial survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Part 1

Author: Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce (Ind.)
Publication date: n.d.]
Publisher: [n.p.
Number of Pages: 246


USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Industrial survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9



GEN


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01715 7303


Gc 977.202 F77in= Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce ( Ind. ) Industrial survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


F


LE


T


EE EL LL


INTRODUCTION


Those interested in the industrial activity and progress of a city, from the stand- point of the possibility of locating in that city. want facts. The many ramifications of modern industrial sites make the facts an absolute necessity. No longer is a manu- facturer interested in the purely optimistic visions of the citizenship of any community when he is considering plant location in that community. He is demanding a wealth of reliable information which is free from bias and which can be substantiated by any engineering analysis which he may wish to make on his own account. The many factors entering into industry must be carefully set forth in as much detail as may be necessary to give a complete picture of a city's advantages and in such a manner as to be clear to those who are not familiar with the particular community in question.


In preparing this industrial survey of Fort Wayne it has been the object and purpose of those having the survey in charge to present in a logical sequence data which will be informative in character and which will represent a scientific and honest appraisal of the city's resources, services and advantages from an industrial and com- mercial standpoint. This survey has been made under the direction of the Industrial Commissioner of the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce and the data contained herein is comprised of various records, reports and the results of individual study made by the Industrial Commissioner and those assisting him in this work. It represents an accurate analysis of actual conditions which obtain in Fort Wayne and surrounding territory, presented in a businesslike manner without error or omission.


This survey has a two fold purpose:


1. To enable the Industrial Commission of Fort Wayne to have an accurate knowledge of Fort Wayne and its facilities. It enables the Chamber of Commerce to correct any of the unfavorable conditions which may develop as a result of this survey and to anticipate the growth which this city is bound to have.


2. It enables the Industrial Commission to present to manufacturers a com- plete analysis of conditions of interest to them in considering Fort Wayne as a place for their industry.


An intelligent study of this survey will indicate that Fort Wayne has decided advantages from an industrial standpoint. Its growth has been normal and healthy, its characteristics purely American. its living and working conditions such that assure a healthy business growth and its location from a standpoint of manufacturing and industry being one which cannot be overlooked. Fort Wayne merits the serious consideration of industrialists engaged in any of the many lines of manufacture.


Page one


Inty Public Library uster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270


223983 INDEX


TOPIC


PAGE


TOPIC


PAGE


Agricultural Data


.. 4. 62-63


Forestry


6]


Airways


51-54


Fort Wayne Buildings


30


Allen County-Data.


4


Fort Wayne Industrial Plan


58


Analysis of Foreign Born


29


Fort Wayne Institutions


20-21


Analysis of Population


29


Fort Wayne Stock Yards


63


Arca


6


Fort Wayne Theaters


33


Assessment


14


Fort Wayne Wages


58-59


Auto Bus Service


54


Fraternal Orders


22-24


Automobile Registration


42


Freight Classification Territory


49-50


Available Labor Supply


56


Freight- Days to Market


49


Freight Service


44. 47-48


Banks


17


Freight Tonnage


44


Bank Clearings


16


Bell Telephone Service .


76


Gas Rates


73-74


Gas Service


73


Building and Loan Associations


18


General Data


2


Buildings Available


89


Good Roads


50


Building Permits


11


Government-City


8-9


Building Sites


89


Grain and Hay -- Annual Value


63


Building Statistics


10


Gravel


61


Buying Power of Fort Wayne


40


Growth-Indexes of


31


Growth ( chart )


Cattle


4. 63


Center of Population


43


Hay 4. 62-63


Charitable Work


27


Health and Vital Statistics 36


Chicago Wages


59


Historical Fort Wayne 2. 3. 4


Chickens


4.63


Hogs 4. 62-63


Churches


25-27


Home Telephone & Telegraph Co 75-76


City Light & Power Co.


72-73


Horses 4. 63


Class Rates


49


Climatological Data


5-6


Hotels


19-20


Coal


62


Housing Facilities


37


Commercial Clubs


22


Commercial Fort Wayne


34


Important Cities in Trade Territory 40


Indexes of Growth Graph 31


Indexes of Growth Table


32


Corn


4. 62-63


Incoming Raw Materials


84-86


Indiana Service Corporation


67-71


Distribution Facilities 43


Industrial Analysis


88


Industrial Commission 90


90


Educational Facilities


12-13


Education-Other Departments


13


Electric Power 67


Industrial Growth Graphs 87


89


tion


68-71


Electric Rates- Municipal


72-73


Fabricated Materials


64


Labor Organized 58


Factory Sites


89


Labor Organized-Table


58


Financial Fort Wayne


14-16


Labor -- State Regulations 56-58


Fire Department


9.10


Labor Statistics 56


Fire Insurance


28


Labor Supply


56


Fish and Game


61


libraries


32


Commodities


64-66


Conclusion


90-91


Earnings of Industrial Employees 59


Industrial Development Fund


Industrial Fort Wayne 78-83


Industrial Groups Table


+2


Electric Rates -- Indiana Service Corpora-


Industrial Opportunities


Introduction I


20-21


Hospitals


32


Bonded Indebtedness


14


INDEX


TOPIC


PAGE TOPIC PAGE


Limestone


62 Raw Materials.


61


Livestock-Annual Value


63 Raw Materials Incoming


84-86


Living Conditions General Lumber


62


Recreation


8


Retail Houses


35


Manufacturers


79-83


Rye


62-63


Map-Freight Classification Territory


50


Map-Good Roads


50


Sand 61


Map-Markets


41


Schools


13


Map- Municipal Airport.


51


Sewer Mains


6


Map-Sweebrock Airport


53


Sheep


4. 63


Markets-Fort Wayne


41


Sites-Factory


89


Market Center-Fort Wayne


42


States in Trade Territory


40


Minerals


61


Stock Yards


63


Motor Trucking Service


55


Street Illumination


32


Mules


4. 63


Streets -- Miles Paved


6


Street Railways


49


National Distribution


43


Summary of Survey


88


National Distribution by Rail Chart


43


Surrounding Towns


42


Natural Resources 61


18


Taxes and Assessments 14-16


Tax Dollar-1928


14


Number of Industries 78-83


Tax Table


15-16


Telegraph Service


77


Oats 4. 62-63


Telephone Service


75-76


Oil


61


76


Organized Labor


58


Temperature


5-6


Organized Labor Table


58


Trade Radius


41


Organizations Business and Professional


25


Transportation


44


Organizations -- Miscellaneous 27


New York Central R. R.


44


Pennsylvania and G. R. 8 I. R. R


45


Parks and Playgrounds


7


Wabash R. R


45


Pavement


6


Indiana Service Corporation Nickel Plate R. R.


45


Pay Roll Savings Theoretical


59


Police Department.


9-10


Transportation Facilities-Table


47


Population


28-29


Population Characteristics


29


Population of Trade Territory


_41-42


Value of Manufactured Products 79-80


Value of Products -- Estimated Table 42


Wage Scales 59


Wage Scales-Weekly Earnings Table 59


75


Public Utilities 37


Water Mains


6. 75


Radio Broadcasting. 38-39


Welfare Work


27


Rail Distribution.


46


Wheat


4. 62-63


Railroads Serving Fort Wayne


44


Wholesale Houses_


34


Rates 68-76


Rates, Light and Power-Chart 71 Zoning- City 6


Transportation Service 47.48


Postal Receipts


36


Post Office Data


36-37


Power Rates 67-73


Precipitation


5-6


Publications


18


Water


Water Rates


75


Pay Roll-Industrial Groups. Estimated


42


46


Transportation Analysis


44


Telephones in Service


Newspapers and Publications


Number of Industrial Employees 42, 56. 78-83


38 Raw Materials -Freight Rates On 64-65-66


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


GENERAL DATA ON FORT WAYNE


Fort Wayne is the County Seat of Allen County, Indiana. It lies 183 miles due west of the Indiana-Ohio line, 126 miles due east of the Indiana-Illinois line and 4878 miles due south of the Indiana-Michigan line.


Fort Wayne has a city plan which is now being re-developed and which will add to the already attractive physical appearance and utility of the community and which will make this city one of beauty as well as of utility. Well developed indus- trial districts are surrounded by belt line railroads. also beautiful residential sections and parks, all of which make this city an attractive as well as a practical community in which to live and transact business.


HISTORICAL FORT WAYNE


The ground on which the city of Fort Wayne rests is the oldest. historically. in the State of Indiana.


Dr. Charles E. Slocum and others believe that the first French post was estab- lished here as early as 1686. Certain it is that Jean Baptiste Bissot. Sieur de Vin- cennes, whose death occurred here in 1719, was assigned to the post at the head of the Maumee, previous to 1700-probably in 1699. The names and deeds of an almost unbroken line of French commandants are a matter of authentic record. until 1760, when the French post on the St. Joseph river was surrendered to the English as one of the prizes at the close of the French and Indian war.


For three years, the spot was held by the English, but the commandant. Ensign Holmes, was destined to become the first victim of the Conspiracy of Pontiac. in


Page tiro


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


HISTORICAL FORT WAYNE


1763, and from that time during a period of thirty-one years, including the time of the Revolutionary war, the spot was the scene of strife and turmoil, emerging from the Revolutionary period as an anti-American center of the west.


President Washington dispatched three armies to the west for the purpose of erecting an American post here. The first of these, under General Josiah Harmar, was defeated on a battlefield which now forms the Lakeside area of the city of Fort Wayne. The second, under General Arthur St. Clair, was defeated by the savages on the site of the city of Fort Recovery, Ohio. It remained for "Mad Anthony' Wayne to meet the combined tribes and their English abettors on a field known as "Fallen Timber", on the north bank of the Maumee, near the present Toledo, and deal such a blow that the treaty of the following year brought peace which endured until the outbreak of the War of 1812. Fort Wayne, the stockade. was dedicated October 22, 1794.


During the month of September. 1812, the fort was under siege for a period of two weeks, when the relief army of General William Henry Harrison arrived in time to save the lives of the members of the garrison. The fort was evacuated in 1819.


The question is often asked: "Why was this spot so attractive to the explorer. the adventurer and the military leader of the French period, and why did President Washington send three American armies to the west for the purpose of erecting a fortified post at this point?"


Chief Little Turtle referred to this place as "that glorious gate through which all the good words of our chiefs had to pass from the north to the south and from the east to the west". He meant that this spot marked the "cross-roads" of the river travel of the savage period. It was on the portage connecting the waters of the Great Lakes with those of the Mississippi. It was on the direct route between Lake Michigan and the Ohio river. This made the spot extremely valuable in the conduct of the fur trade.


Washington, referring to the place as early as 1785. as "an important post for the Union", felt that without control of this "cross-roads" spot, there was great danger of losing the entire west to the English, who, after the Revolution, continued to provide the Indians with the firearms, ammunition, and other means of discour- aging the westward movement of the American pioneers. The building of Fort Wayne in 1794 brought to an end the anti-American agitation and encouraged the settlement of the new west.


Four races of people have struggled to possess the territory now occupied by the city of Fort Wayne-the Indians. the French, the English and the Americans.


Originally the land about Fort Wayne was a vast. unbroken forest of mam- moth black walnuts, white and red oaks, ash, poplar and elm trees.


The first Post Office was established in Fort Wayne in 1820. The first fra- ternal organization was Wayne Lodge No. 25. Free and Accepted Masons, whose charter was obtained November 10th. 1823.


The original plat of Fort Wayne was recorded August 16th. 1833, and the land covered by the lots sold for $1.25 per acre. Some of the lots now in the heart of the city were sold for $10.25 and the highest brought $25.00. Today this land is worth many millions of dollars. Fort Wayne was incorporated as a town in 1829 and as a city in 1840. In 1825 the population was about 200.


With the coming of the Wabash and Erie Canal. completed in 1832 and operated from Fort Wayne to Huntington in 1835, the commercial supremacy of this section began.


Được this


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


HISTORICAL FORT WAYNE


In 1878 the first water works was constructed.


It will be seen from this brief history that commercial and industrial prog- ress in Fort Wayne is a heritage handed through many generations, and with the same loyal spirit of vision and cooperation which has always existed in this city. the future of Fort Wayne is assured.


DATA ON ALLEN COUNTY


Allen County was named after Colonel John Allen, a distinguished Kentuckian. who held an important command in the army of General William Henry Harrison in the war with England in 1812. Colonel Allen was killed in the battle of River Raisin in Michigan while the American Army were maneuvering for the capture of Detroit, held by the British.


The legislative action creating Allen County took effect April 1st. 1824, at which time the first Board of Allen County Commissioners was organized.


Allen County is a rich agricultural section and is well traversed by highways. railroads and interurban lines.


AGRICULTURAL DATA


Allen County's agricultural situation is a favorable one. In the county there are 4,038 farms, representing a total of 391,772 acres of land, which land, with the buildings thereon erected, is valued at $43,469.600.00.


The following statistics indicate the importance of the county from an agricul- tural standpoint. The above mentioned farms produced the following crops during the year 1928:


CROP


ACREAGE


YIELD Per Acre


TOTAL


Corn


74.000


38.0


2.812.000


Wheat ( Winter )


9.000


14.0


126.000


Oats


65.000


44.0


2.860,000


Rye


600


12.0


7.000


Tame Hay


55,000


1.14


63.000 T


Total


203.600


On these farms are kept: (1928)


11.602 dairy cattle 379 mules 16,297 sheep


6.063 brood sows


29,374 swine


19,668 poultry (Doz. )


18.188 cattle


Allen County raises a variety of garden vegetables to supply local markets. Sta- tistics, however, indicate that vegetables for canning purposes can be raised on a large scale, providing a market is secured close enough to the farms to consume the various products. This suggests canneries.


With the rapid growth of dairying, it is only a matter of time until the milk industry will find this section a fertile field for milk and by product plants.


Further statistics on agriculture will be found on pages 62 and 63 of this survey.


Page for 1930 Supplement


7.158 horses


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


HISTORICAL FORT WAYNE


In 1878 the first water works was constructed.


It will be seen from this brief history that commercial and industrial prog- ress in Fort Wayne is a heritage handed through many generations, and with the same loyal spirit of vision and cooperation which has always existed in this city. the future of Fort Wayne is assured.


DATA ON ALLEN COUNTY


Allen County was named after Colonel John Allen, a distinguished Kentuckian, who held an important command in the army of General William Henry Harrison in the war with England in 1812. Colonel Allen was killed in the battle of River Raisin in Michigan while the American Army were maneuvering for the capture of Detroit, held by the British.


The legislative action creating Allen County took effect April 1st. 1824. at which time the first Board of Allen County Commissioners was organized.


Allen County is a rich agricultural section and is well traversed by highways. railroads and interurban lines.


AGRICULTURAL DATA


Allen County's agricultural situation is a favorable one. In the county there are 4,038 farms, representing a total of 391,772 acres of land. which land, with the buildings thereon erected. is valued at $43,469,600.00.


The following statistics indicate the importance of the county from an agricul- tural standpoint. The above mentioned farms produced the following crops during the year 1926:


Crop


Acreage


Yield


Per A


Total


Corn


72.600


36.4 Bu.


2.646.000


Wheat


31.700


28.0 Bu.


896.000


Oats


75.900


39.0 Bu.


2.968.000


Hay


62,300


1.08 T.


67.000


Total (4 crops)


242.500


On these farms are kept:


12.350 dairy cattle 352 mules 14,012 sheep


4.633 brood sows


22.323 swine


18.545 dozens of poultry


18.428 cattle


Allen County raises a variety of garden vegetables to supply local markets. Sta- tistics, however, indicate that vegetables for canning purposes can be raised on a large scale, providing a market is secured close enough to the farms to consume the various products. This suggests canneries.


With the rapid growth of dairying. it is only a matter of time until the milk industry will find this section a fertile field for milk and by product plants.


Further statistics on agriculture will be found on pages 62 and 63 of this survey.


Page four


7.595 horses


CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA


The following information in connection with Fort Wayne's climate was fur- nished by the United States Weather Bureau at Fort Wayne, Indiana.


Although the climate of Fort Wayne and vicinity is characterized by consider- able variation, this fact in itself makes the location one of the best in the country for year-round residence. The greater part of all weather disturbances passing over the country from west to east have their effect in this section and for that reason Fort Wayne does not experience the extremes of hot and cold, wet or dry. for any extended period.


A few winter seasons have passed entirely without zero temperatures, although the average number of days per year with zero temperature is about seven. Upon one occasion within the past sixteen years there has been as many as seven consecutive days with zero temperature. but the usual number of extremely cold days in a cold spell is not more than two or three and the usual number of cold spells per winter is two or three.


In a similar way, the extremely hot weather of the summer season is usually con- fined to not more than a week at the most and generally the hot spell will be for two or three days. As a rule, the warm season will have one or two of the longer periods of hot weather and perhaps four or five of the shorter hot spells.


The precipitation is unusually well distributed throughout the year. It is unusual to have continued heavy rains and on the other hand it is unusual to have long dry spells. It may be said that the section of the country in which Fort Wayne is located never has anything approaching a complete crop failure. When a season has been unfavorable for a certain crop it will be, at the same time, quite favorable to certain other crops.


The total amount of snowfall in the winter season varies considerably and as a rule there is only one or two snows a winter that are deep enough to interfere with highway traffic and then only for one or two days at a time.


Some of the more interesting climate statistics of Fort Wayne are as follows:


Mean annual temperature 50.1 degrees.


Mean maximum temperature 50.9 degrees.


Mean minimum temperature 40.3 degrees.


Mean temperature for January 26.4 degrees.


Mean temperature for July 73.7 degrees.


Relative humidity, average at 7:00 A. M. 80', , at noon 60', at 7:00 P. M. 68% .


Percentage of sunshine: Annual 53 ' , for January 39 '; , for July 70'; .


Average hourly wind velocity for the year 9.4 miles: for March 11.5 miles: for August 7.1 miles.


PRECIPITATION


Total annual


35.22 inches.


Average for March 3.54 inches.


For October 2.70 inches.


Average number of days per year with one-hundredth of an inch or more of precipitation. 122.


Average number of thunderstorms per year 34.


Average annual snowfall 31.3 inches.


Average number of clear days per annum 127.


Partly cloudy days 110.


Cloudy days 128.


Page fire


AREA


The area of Fort Wayne as of January 1st, 1930, was 17.45 square miles or 11,168 acres.


Fort Wayne has a total of 314.9 miles of streets of which 218.4 miles are paved. It has 40.5 miles of paved alleys.


Fort Wayne has a park area of 719.43 acres.


Paved sidewalks


291.7 miles


Sewers


193


miles


Gas Mains


320


miles


Water Mains


252.1 miles


Ornamental lighting 44 miles


Elevated Crossings


26


19 in Supplement


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA


FORT WAYNE, INDIANA


MEAN TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION FOR 26 YEARS


Elevation *781.487 ft


Jan.


Feb.


Mar.


Apr.


May


June


July


Aug.


sept.


Oct.


Nov.


Dec.


Annual


Mean Precipitation, In. 2.32 2.03 3.542.933.503.41 3.48 3.32 3.10


Mean Temperature


26 . 4 26.2 38.0 49.060.268.8 73.7.71 4 65.2


50.1


Ext. Lowest


24 10


() 18 30 39


49 43 34 (13)


20


10


17


24 Jan 1918


Ext. Highest


65 77 87 92


98 100 102 96(22) 88


75 61 102 Aug


Temperature*


1916 1925 1918 1915 1919 1913 1911 1918


1925


1922 1915 1916 1918


Average Snowfall, Inches


8.8 7.2 5.6 1.4 0.1


0.3 1.5 6.4


31.3


Average No. Days with


0.01 or more inches of rainfall


11.3 9.511.411 411.810.1 8.9 9.3 8.6


9.210.010.8


122.3


*S. E. Corner of doorsill of women's waiting room of Penn. R. R. Station. The thermometer (dry-bulb) is 112.8 higher or 894.3 above sea level.


Average Date of last killing frost in spring


Average date of first killing frost in fall


Average length* of growing season


Latest date of killing frost in spring


Earliest date of killing frost in fall


April 25


October 13


171 days


May 4, 1926


Sept. 23, 1913


*Frost Data highest and lowest for 16 years


AREA


The area of Fort Wayne as of January 1st, 1928. was 16.8 square miles or 10,752 acres.


Fort Wayne has a total street mileage of 297.7 miles. It has 208 miles of paved streets and 95.5 miles of unpaved streets.


These unpaved streets are kept in first class condition and are found in the out- kirts of the city.


Fort Wayne has a park area of 630.6 acres.


Paved Sidewalks 273 miles Sewers 185.5 miles Gas Mains 278 miles


Water Mains


226 miles


Street Railway Tracks 54 miles


There has been a city plan and zoning commission appointed in this community and complete plans are under way for zoning and planning the city, which when com- pleted and executed will bring about a decided improvement in the physical appear- ance of Fort Wayne.


Pame xix


2.70 2.45 2.44 53.540.6 28.4


35.22


Temperature*


1918 1912-1913 1923 1926 1913 1911 1915 1916 18 68


1925 1911 1924


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS


Views of some of Fort Wayne's Parks


Fort Wayne has 29 city parks averaging from one-half acre to 237 acres. Of this 304 acres have been donated and 326.6 acres have been purchased by the city for park purposes.


The estimated value of park lands is $1.362.000.00. Other parks are contem- plated as rapidly as the city can acquire them under the Park Law now in effect.


In addition to the parks the city has 9 playgrounds which showed an attend- ance for the season just ended of 77,301 boys and girls.


Some interesting statistics on the playgrounds are as follows:


Total registration 3,472.


Library books on seven of these grounds 3.123.


In the tennis tournament 225 boys and girls entered. There were 36 games of inter-playground ball.


There were 8 hikes under the direction of the Director. Four groups carried on a course of swimming instructions.


Basketry and sewing was taught to a large number of boys and girls.


There are a number of school playgrounds not listed in the above total of 9.


Page seren


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


FORT WAYNE GOVERNMENT


The following statistics on parks and playgrounds are herewith given :


J. B. Franke Park 80 Acres Pontiac Place Park 214 Acres


D. N. & S. M. Foster Park


237 Acres


Hayden Park


2 Acres


Col. Thos. W. Swinney Park 47 Acres


Nicholas Klug Park 2 Acres


West Swinney Park


45 Acres


Hanna's Ford Park


2 Acres


Major Gen. Lawton Park


39 Acres


Bridge Approach Park


2 Acres


World's War Memorial Park


42 Acres


Williams Park 31 Acre


Lakeside Park


22 Acres


Sieling Park


3-5 Acre


Weisser Park


20 Acres


Old Fort Park


15 Acre


John H. Vesey Park


14 Acres


Orff Park


1 2 Acre


Reservoir Park


13 Acres


Albert R. Hirons Park


1 2 Acre


Three Rivers Park


12 Acres


Bloomingdale Park


10 Acres


Total


630.6 Acres


Rockhill Park


7 Acres


Gravel Pit Park


5 Acres


Bowser Playground


Memorial Playground


Oak wood Park


5 Acres


Clay Playground


Sherman Playground


Guldlin Playground Park


4 Acres


Holman Playground


Swinney Playground


McCulloch Park


4 Acres


Lafayette Playground


Weisser Playground


Camp Allen Park


312 Acres


McCulloch Playground


Roosevelt Park


3 Acres


Many of these parks and playgrounds contain up-to-date apparatus, swimming pools, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, football fields and other recreational facilities. In connection with the South Side High School there is a large stadium for athletic events of all kinds. There are picnic grounds and beauty spots adjacent to the city where automobile and picnic parties may find modern facilities for outdoor gatherings of this character.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.