USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 36
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 36
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The largest single furniture factory in the world, the Showers Brothers Company.
The Home Glove and Mitten Manufacturing Company, established in 1902, burned in 1913 and rebuilt same season. Ten thousand pairs of gloves produced daily, by the employment of eighty hands and modern machinery.
The Indiana Basket Company, largest in southern Indiana, established in 1907 ; eighty-five persons employed ; 600,000 feet of lumber used annually. Fruit baskets, melon and berry crates and packages are the specialties.
The Indiana Creosoting Company, in 1911. treated and shipped II,- 400,000 feet of ties and paving blocks.
The Brown & Smith Battery Works, organized in 1907, make a com- plete line of storage batteries, including auto, lighting and ignition batteries,
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telephone exchange batteries, electric lighting service for country homes, and batteries for electric vehicles and trucks. The product of the works goes to every nook and corner of this country and to many foreign lands.
The glass factory of Mr. Nurre, of Cincinnati, was installed about 1912, for making mirrors, glass shelving and glass novelties.
Other important branches of industry include these: Veneer plant, harness factory, two flouring mills, two machine shops, water heater plant, book bindery, electric and power plant, ice cream factory, ice plant, two daily papers, four saw mills, three planing mills, foundry, four printing offices, gas plant, two power laundries, creamery, washing machine, factory, broom factory.
In round numbers, the amount of two million dollars' worth of manu- factured products are shipped from Bloomington annually.
THE GREAT FURNITURE INDUSTRY.
The Showers Brothers Company, of Bloomington, is one which perhaps ranks with the stone industry in making the reputation of Bloomington and Monroe county, being one of the largest furniture factories in the country. This mammoth establishment originated in a small shed in the eastern part of Bloomington in the year 1868. The two brothers, William N. and James D. Showers, began the work with equipment which consisted of a small upright engine and a few second-hand tools. The industry grew and grew. until today the yearly output of the immense factory equals fifteen hundred thousand dollars. James D. Showers retired from the business in 1903. giv- ing his interest to his brother and partner, William N. Showers. The latter is now the president of the company and still takes an active part in the con- duct of the daily business routine.
The slogan which has been used by the company in its advertising ex- plains well their methods. It is "From Tree to the Trade." The forestry department attends to the securing of the native timber, and then, step by step, until the finished product is sold, the work is executed by Showers men. In the first place, most of the timber used is obtained from lands owned directly by the company. The logs are sawed in a mill owned by the Show- ers Company and which is one of the largest mills in the state, and later are converted into veneer in the company's own veneer plant. From here the timber goes into the two great factories, each with its own glueing rooms, machine rooms, cabinet rooms, carving rooms, finishing rooms, power plant.
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storage warehouses and loading platforms capable of reaching twenty-four cars at one time. The mirrors are also made by a mirror plate factory operated in connection with the main plant. The articles of furniture are designed by the company's own designer.
It is estimated that millions of feet of rough logs lie in the log yards adjacent to the factory, with a value of seventy-five thousand dollars. The veneer mill to which these logs are taken after being sawed has a capacity of twenty-five million feet of veneers annually, and the glueing rooms make up over four million feet of drawer bottoms and back panels every year. One million feet of beveled French plate glass mirrors are made annually in the mirror plate plant. The dry kilns, where the lumber is seasoned after leaving the saw mill, has a capacity of four hundred and forty-two thousand feet of lumber. In the finishing rooms thirty thousand dollars' worth of varnishing and polishing materials are used every year. Fully one thousand men are employed by the Showers Brothers Company, and the monthly pay-roll reaches a total of forty thousand dollars.
The buildings which make the Showers factory are models of scientific and well-appointed construction. The walls are of brick and concrete, with metal and glass saw-tooth roofs. Electricity is the motive and lighting power, and heat is supplied by steam. The ventilating system in every build- ing insures a complete change of air every four minutes. All waste product is consumed, all sawdust and refuse being conveyed to the boilers by means of a blower system. The factory is practically fireproof on account of the very efficient sprinkler system installed, which reaches every corner of every building. Lines of piping are suspended from the ceiling every twelve feet apart, with sprinkler heads every ten feet apart. In case of a fire the heat would melt the sprinkler heads next to the fire and a stream of water would result. Every department of the two great factories is connected with a private branch telephone exchange, and thus constant and instant communi- cation may be had from any given point to another. In all, the two factories have a floor space equaling an area of fifteen acres, a truly stupendous estab- lishment. Railroad facilities are excellent. there is a good loyal spirit among the hundreds of employes, the owners are liberal, and everything tends to make the Showers Brothers Company not only one of the largest furniture factories in the world, but one of the easiest of operation.
The present officers of the company are: William N. Showers, presi- dent ; W. Edward Showers, general manager: Sanford F. Teter, secretary and treasurer, and Charles A. Sears, superintendent.
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BANKS AND BANKING.
Banking is not among the first lines of business established in the de- velopment of any country, but after a time such institutions become a neces- sity, and here business requirements have been well cared for by the presence of strong, reliable banking concerns. Before going into the organization of the local banks in Bloomington, it is well to note the disadvantages under which the earlier business men had to conduct their business, for lack of stable money systems and good banks at home.
The "shinplaster" era in this county began in about 1855. when, for lack of money. Tarkington & Akin commenced to issue such medium of ex- change. The denominations issued were for fifty cents and one dollar, and at first were received at their face value. J. M. Howe also issued some such "money " This was done to facilitate exchanges, for the government failed to provide small denominations. Several thousand dollars of this species of money was issued by the firm above named. In a year or two they began to depreciate in value, when trouble ensued. In 1858 the following action was taken by the then leading business men of Bloomington, and the resolution published in the Republican: "SHINPLASTERS .- We, the undersigned citi- zens of Bloomington, Ind., pledge our word and honor that we will not take any 'shinplaster' currency after the first day of February, for more than ninety cents to the dollar : and that we will not circulate any more after that date-nor any other paper currency not regularly chartered according to law. January 20 1858." Signed by William O. Fee, Thomas Mulliken, A. W. Campbell. Kahn Bros., Howe & Co., W. D. Owen, O. L. Draper, Tuley & McCrea, Benjamin McGee. B. S. Gowgill, J. S. Tibbetts, A. Helton & Co .. M. L. McCollough, Millen & Moffatt, A. Adams, Mason & Faris, P. Henoch, A. S. Mercer. E. E. Sluss, Dunn & Co., E. Johnson, S. J. Wade. J. O. Mc- Collough
Good money was scarce at an early date in this county. Paper bills were in existence and were worth all prices below par. As the value of the bills constantly fluctuated, they were really merchantable property, as gold and silver during the Civil war period, when, in Wall street, gold reached as high a quotation as $2.87 in greenback money. Silver was scarce and gold still scarcer. Small denominations were almost unknown in real practi- cal circulation, save as they were created and used by common consent. Silver pieces were cut in two and four pieces, for change-making purposes. Goods, as well as farm products, were bought and sold on the barter plan.
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The first banking in the county was done by Tarkington & Akin, in the fifties, and at first they issued only "shinplaster" money. About 1857 the Bloomington Bank was regularly organized, with a capital of $20,000. Soon bank bills, or notes, were issued, signed by the above men. Missouri and other state bonds were deposited with the auditor of state, but in 1860 these bonds so depreciated in value as to cause the suspension of this home bank. Its paper was only worth about thirty cents on the dollar. Soon after this a private bank was organized by Buskirk & Hunter. continuing until about 1871. when it was transferred into the First National Bank, with a capital stock of $50,000, which later was increased to $100,000.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
The history of this concern may be stated as follows: The date of its organization was September 14, 1871 ; its first officers were George Bus- kirk, president ; J. Smith Hunter, cashier ; its first capital was $120,000, same as carried now. Its surplus was, in September, 1913, $33.000. Its officers are: Nat U. Hill, president: Ira C. Batman, vice-president; Charles S. Small, cashier : Reg. B. Stull. assistant cashier. The deposits in the month of August, 1913, amounted to $508.092.29. This one item shows the con- fidence the people have in this old institution. It is now working under its third charter from the United States government. The first charter was issued on September 14. 1871: the second September 14. 1891, and the · present September 14. 1911.
During all the years of its existence, including the three panics. this banking house has withstood the tide and stands today unquestioned, as a solid institution, conducted on business principles.
THE BLOOMINGTON NATIONAL BANK.
This solid institution was organized October 26, 1906, with a capital of $100,000, which it still carries. Its surplus in August. 1913, was $17,500; its deposits, $250,103.88. The incorporators were William H. Adams, B. F. Adams, James K. Beck, William J. Allen, James A. Woodburn, E. G. Hogate, William T. Breeden and Harry A. Axtell. The first officers were : William H. Adams, president : William J. Allen and B. F. Adams, vice- presidents : James K. Beck, cashier: Samuel Pfrimmer, assistant cashier. The first directors were William H. Adams, James A. Woodburn, E. G. Hogate. W. T. Breeden, Harry A. Axtell. B. F. Adams.
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The present ( 1913) officers are: William H. Adams, president; E. G. Hogate and B. F. Adams, vice-presidents ; James K. Beck, cashier; Samuel Pfrimmer, assistant cashier ; William H. Adams, B. F. Adams, James A. Woodburn, E. G. Hogate, William C. Fess.
. This bank does a general banking business, being counted among the most conservative financial institutions in Monroe county, and is doing an excellent and safe business. It is also a United States depository bank, mak- ing it doubly safe and popular.
CITIZENS LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY.
This was organized in February, 1900, with a capital stock of $25,000. In 1907 it increased its capital to $55,000. Its first officers were: P. K. Buskirk, president ; Fred Matthews, vice-president; John T. Woodward,. secretary ; William N. Showers, treasurer. Others who aided in the organi- zation of this corporation were W. T. Hicks, W. S. Bradfute, H. C. Duncan, Ira C. Batman, L. V. Buskirk, N. U. Hill, Mary Waldron, Ed. Corr, J. T. Woodward and John Thornton.
The present officers ( 1913) are: J. D. Showers, president ; Roy O. Pike, secretary and treasurer; S. O. Harrell, assistant secretary; L. D. Rogers. insurance ; directors, J. D. Showers, Fred Matthews, W. T. Hicks, Ira C. Batman, W. S. Bradfute, W. N. Showers, Roy O. Pike. The present surplus of this corporation is $30,000, while its statement for August, 1913, shows its deposits to amount to $450,000.
THE MONROE COUNTY STATE BANK.
This bank-now over twenty-one years old-was organized under the banking laws of Indiana, its charter being dated October 27, 1892, by Bloom- ington capital to the amount of $25,000. The first stockholders included Messrs. H. E. Wells, S. C. Dodds, James M. Andrews, S. K. Rhorer, W. B. Hughes and W. A. Fulwider. The first officers were: H. E. Wells, presi- dent : S. C. Dodds, cashier ; H. E. Wells, James M. Andrew, W. B. Hughes, S. K. Rhorer, W. A. Fulwider, directors. The bank is located on the corner of Walnut and Kirkwood streets, and now has a surplus of $57,310; deposits amounting to $287,coo. The bank was chartered the second time, October 27, 1912. Its present officers are : W. A. Fulwider, president ; C. L. Rawles, cashier : S. E. Alexander. assistant cashier : S. W. Collins, W. A. Fulwider, J. W. Cravens, Edwin Corr, F. R. Woolley, directors.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY.
The first attempt at making Bloomington an incorporated town was March 5. 1827-eighty-six years ago -- when a call was made and the leading citizens met at the old court house. Ellis Stone was chosen president of that meeting, and Benjamin F. Peele acted as secretary. As a result a vote was there taken to get an expression of the will of the men of the new town. There were eighteen for incorporating and only three against the measure. An election of the necessary trustees was ordered, and resulted as follows, the same being a report of the election officials :
"At an election held in the town of Bloomington on the 8th day of September, 1828, to elect trustees for the incorporation of the town, agree- ably to the act of the General Assembly, we hereby certify that the following persons were duly elected : Joshua O. Howe, William Alexander, Asher Labertew. Robinson Graham and James Evans. Given under our hands and seals this 17th day of September. 1828.
"Truly and duly done.
"JOHN B. LOWE, Clerk.
"ASHER LABERTEW, "JAMES EVANS, Judges."
This started out well, but for lack of unison and general interest in the new incorporation the municipality soon died out. In the middle of the forties, the matter again revived and we find this proceeding of the Legis- lature :
"Section I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That such part of the township of Bloomington in the county of Monroe as is included within the following limits and boundaries, that is to say, beginning at the northeast corner of out-lot No. 21, thence west to the northwest corner of out-lot 39, thence south to the northwest corner of out- lot 28. thence west to the northwest corner of out-lot No. 41, thence south to the southwest corner of fractional lot No. 26, thence east to the northeast corner of out-lot No. 35. thence south to the southwest corner of fractional lot No. 9, thence east to the southeast corner of the University square, thence north to the southwest corner of out-lot No. 72. thence east to the southeast corner of out-lot No. 75, thence to the northeast corner of out-lot No. 21, the place of beginning, including all the inlots and out-lots of said town, be and the same is hereby erected into a town corporate which shall henceforth (25)
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be known and designated by the name of the town of Bloomington, subject, however, to such repeal, alteration and regulation as the Legislature may from time to time prescribe."
Section 2 of this act provided for the election of a mayor, recorder and five trustees, who should constitute a body corporate, with perpetual suc- cession and to be known as the common council of Bloomington. This act was approved by the Governor, January 13, 1845. An act of the Assembly in 1849 made some changes in the limits of the town, also provided that eleven trustees, instead of five, should be elected and simply bear the name "Council of Bloomington."
The election of the first town officers occurred in March. 1847, when these were duly elected: John Lawrence, mayor; Robert Acuff, recorder; A. Labertew, treasurer; D. B. Judah, marshal; W. M. Smith, Samuel Kirk, J. M. Howe, John Graham and Joseph G. McPheeters, councilmen. The first meeting of the town board was held March 6, 1847. in the office of the re- corder. The first act was to appoint a committee to draft ordinances. Orders were also given to procure necessary record books, when the council adjourned.
At the second meeting the appointment of David B. Judah as street supervisor and commissioner was made. The same session sixteen ordi- nances were passed upon, among which was this very appropriate one :
"13th. No person shall be allowed to keep a dog within the limits of the incorporation. Any person violating this ordinance shall be fined fifty cents for each dog so kept, provided that no person shall be fined more than once during the same year for the same dog." This really amounted to no more than a fifty cent dog tax levy. However, in August of the same year, upon petition of one hundred and three honorable citizens, the last named ordinance was repealed .:
About that date Samuel M. Orchard was allowed to place hay scales on Market street. Much time was spent in amending the city charter, which was then turned over to the representative in the Legislature from this county, to be passed at the next session. In January, 1848, a tax of ten cents on each hundred dollars' worth of taxable property was levied for town purposes.
The town records show that in 1851 an ordinance to tax retail liquor dealers with a town license of five hundred dollars additional to the county license, was, after a long discussion, finally passed. That was the great cholera year in ndiana and other states, and the council purchased two hun-
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dred bushels of lime to scatter about the streets and alleys, and also ordered all drinking saloons closed during that fearful epidemic. For a number of years after that much money was expended on street and other town im- provements, until the people began to question the wisdom of continuing the town's incorporation any longer. On January 10, 1858, an election was held to determine this question "Shall the corporation be dissolved?" The result was, for corporation, one hundred and one; against corporation, one hundred and fifteen. Thus, by a majority of fourteen, the town government was brought to a close. The property of the defunct town government was invoiced, and some of it turned over to the county auditor for some future municipality, while other amounts were paid back in way of taxes already paid in. Thus ended Bloomington's second incorporation history.
The following year, 1859. however, the place was again incorporated, under the new state law regarding such corporations, and not by legislative act. From that date to the present the place has enjoyed an uninterrupted period of municipal government. The town government continued until 1866, when, at the October election of that year, the question of making the "town" into a "city" was voted upon, and resulted as follows: For chang- ing to "city," one hundred and seventy-eight votes; to remain as a "town," ninety-three votes. But as a matter of fact there were five hundred and thirteen voters in the place at that date, and as a majority had not voted at that election at all, the result was considered questionable, and it was allowed to rest for the time being.
In 1873 the total tax of the town was seventy-five cents on every hun- dred dollars worth of taxable property. The poll tax was then fixed at one dollar and twenty-five cents.
BECOMES A CITY FINALLY.
In July, 1876. upon petition to the council (the same signed by two hun- dred and seventeen citizens), the call for an election was made. It was held- and the result was one hundred and eighty-four for becoming a "city" and one hundred and sixty-nine against the proposition. Having carried, the election of city officers was in order, and resulted as follows: C. W. Hender- son, mayor ; John Waldron, H. H. Voss, W. N. Showers, A. T. Massey, Andrew Hoover, M. B. Dillon, councilmen. The first council meeting was held September 13, 1876. R. C. Greeves was clerk: C. H. McPheeters, treasurer, and James Slocum, marshal.
By April, 1877. the bonded indebtedness of the city was thirty-nine
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thousand seven hundred dollars, there having been paid twelve thousand three hundred dollars. The city council ordered new bonds, bearing seven per cent., issued to the amount of sixteen thousand dollars, that amount and one thousand seven hundred dollars more being then due, for the purpose of refunding the old bonds at a lower rate of interest.
The old Pioneer Fire Company was re-organized in 1877, and fully equipped with fire-fighting appliances. In January, twenty-nine street lamps were erected around the public square and along the principal streets, at a cost of seventy-five dollars. In 1880 permission was granted to S. Solomon & Company to erect gas works and lay down pipes through the streets of Bloomington. In 1881 permission was granted the Bloomington Electric Telephone Company to erect poles and stretch wires over the streets. In March, 1883, the city council of New Albany presented Bloomington with a fine fire engine, as a return for five hundred dollars sent by the latter to the former a few months before during the great flood on the Ohio.
It was written thirty years ago, of Bloomington, that "Ever since the Civil war the town or city board has been constantly engaged in improving her streets. The paving, macadamizing, guttering, etc., have gone on until all the leading streets of the city are almost water and mud-proof. The city is, without single exception, the cleanest of any in the entire state."
What was said then is doubly true in 1913, and is so acknowledged by careful observers who travel throughout the commonwealth.
Bloomington is now rated in the fifth class of cities, that is, under ten thousand in population. The city has about two and a half miles of brick paved streets, and several miles of excellent sewerage. The police depart- ment is composed of five men, two night officers, two day officers and the chief. Besides Marshal Joseph B. Hensley, there is Henry Dudley, Krit Shaw, Hugh Hinkle and Ira Robinson. The fire department is unusually well equipped for a city of this size. There are six men, including the chief, and there are approximately one hundred and sixty fire plugs at advantageous points within the city limits. The equipment includes an Ahrens-Fox chem- ical combination motor truck, one steam engine, and one horse-drawn com- bination wagon. The department owns about fifteen hundred feet of hose. The gas and electric plants are owned by the Central Indiana Lighting Com- pany.
The following have served as mayors of the city, since its organization as such in 1876: 1876-78, C. W. Henderson, resigned: A. J. Hoover filled vacancy : 1878-1885. Clelland F. Dodds: 1885-1887, James B. Mulky : 1887-
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1891, M. M. Dunlap: 1891-1897, L. V. Buskirk ; 1897-1902, Arthur M. Hadley ; 1902-1904, Frank J. Dunn : 1904-1910, Claude G. Malott; 1910. John G. Harris.
The elective and appointive officers of the city in 1913 are as follows: Mayor, John G. Harris; city attorney, R. L. Morgan (appointive) ; city clerk, WV. A. Wellons ; marshal, Joseph B. Hensley ; treasurer, Jesse A. Howe (appointive) ; councilmen, at large, S. C. Freese and L. C. McDaniel : first ward, W. S. Sentney ; second ward, E. R. Fletcher : third ward, Henry Beard.
FINANCES-1913.
In the report made by Jesse Howe, city treasurer, on September 1, 1913, there was a cash total in the treasury of $54.556.36. The records of the city show that the bonds outstanding equal the amount of $71,077, which in- cludes $42,000 in water works bonds. In valuation, the water works plant is worth about $170,000. Other city property and value includes the fire department, with a value of $12,000; Rose Hill cemetery, $5,000; and the street department, $700.
WATER WORKS SYSTEM.
Bloomington for many years had difficulty in obtaining sufficient water, of standard purity, for the use of its citizens. At first people depended largely upon wells, which did not prove satisfactory as the city grew in population. Then came the era of using cistern water, which nearly every family was provided with. It became a fad and generations of people here were educated to the notion (possibly true) that filtered rain water was the best drink for the people. But he who has drunk from some cold mountain stream or spring will never be converted to the theory that rain water is best to cool the parched throat and burning lips! Even today most of the resi- dences depend largely upon the chain pump and cistern system, and in many cases, when properly filtered and cooled by running through coils, surrounded by ice, the water is very good for drinking purposes.
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