USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Hyman's Handbook of Indianapolis : an outline history and description of the capital of Indiana, with over three hundred illustrations from photographs made expressly for this work (1897) > Part 14
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The Belt Railroad and Stock Yard Company of Indianapolis was organ- ized in 1877. The many advantages that Indianapolis possessed for the proper administration of a business of its character impressed those engaged in the live stock trade so forcibly that from the date of its organization the business conducted here has been exceedingly large and constantly growing. The geographical location of the yards has made this the most important point in the country for the unloading, watering and marketing of stock des- tined for New England and export slaughter. From November 12. 1877. to January 1, 1897, there have been received at the yards over 20,000,000 hogs, 2,000,000 cattle, 2.500,000 sheep and 250,000 horses. The total receipts for 1896 were 1,255,405 hogs, 135.253 cattle, 120,890 sheep, and 22,546 horses.
The system of railroads centering at Indianapolis makes it the most ac- cessible point in the country for live stock shippers. The great capacity of the yards and the facilities for unloading, resting and reshipping are un- equaled by any other yards in the country, east or west.
The Belt Railroad, having been built and owned by the Stock Yard Com- pany, gives this market a decided advantage over others in the respect that no terminal charge is ever imposed on its shippers : besides, the shipper is as- sured of a prompt service in the handling of his shipments into the yards.
Shippers and owners are furnished with separate pens for feeding, water- ing and resting their stock. All pens are entirely covered with composition gravel roofs, furnishing protection to stock from the storms of winter and the hot suns of summer, which is a very great saving to the shipper in the way of shrinkages in weights, and a great protection in all sorts of weather to buy- ers and sellers in their daily trade operations.
This is a strictly cash market, and is noted the country over for its steady prices and the limited range of its fluctuations as compared with other mar- kets.
This company makes but one yardage charge during the entire time stock remains on the market. The only other source of revenue is the charge for feed, from which sources the revenue is derived to cover all expenses inci- dent to the operation and maintenance of the yards, comprising construction and betterments, maintenance of property, cost of hay, corn, oats, weighing of live stock, water-works system, taxes, insurance, fuel, gas, electric light- ing, tools lost, stock yards cleaning, labor of a vast number of employes; cur- rent expenses, such as attorneys' fees, books, stationery, printing, salaries of officers, agents and clerical force and of police and fire departments, interest on bonds and capital invested, all of which expenditure is incurred for the maintenance of this market, and accrues to the direct benefit of its patrons and shippers of live stock. The charges at these yards are lower than at any other yards in the west, there being no yardage charge on live stock in transit unloaded here and destined for other points. The unloading, varding, watering, feeding and weighing of live stock is done by the
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ELCEO
OFFICE
THE BELT RAILROAD AND STOCK YARD COMPANY.
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company's employes, re- lieving the shipper from all such responsibility and care.
The beef and pork pack- ing interests are showing a steady and substantial growth at this point, three different firms having at present under process of construction additions to their plants for the manu- facture of dressed and can- ned meats. The buying interest for eastern slaugh- ter and export is also more fully represented than ever before. all packing houses at New England and seaboard points being represented by buyers on our market for all classes of cattle, hogs, sheep, lambs and calves.
The commission sales- men and buyers of live stock on this market enjoy the reputation of being thoroughly reliable and energetic, and at all times alive to the interests of their patrons.
HORSE AND MULE AUCTION BARNS. - The horse and mule market at this point has shown a phenomenal growth since the auction and sale barns were built a little over two years ago, over 75,000 horses have changed hands on this market in that short time. Addi-
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HORSE AND MULE AUCTION BARN, UNION STOCK YARDS.
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tional barns were built to meet the demands of this rapidly increasing branch of the business. Private and auction sales of fancy drivers, coachers, cobs and park horses, and all other grades, are being conducted all through the week by the reliable and energetic firms, Messrs. Blair, Baker & Walter, and Warman, Chamberlain, Black & Co., who have brought to the support of this market large numbers of European, eastern and southern buyers for all grades of horses, all of whom concede that this is the coming horse market of the country. The facilities for stabling, moving and showing horses at this very attractive market are unsurpassed by any market in the world. Shippers or others having horses to sell will find it to their advantage to bring them to this market.
STOCK YARD HOTEL .- The Exchange Hotel, connected with the Ex- change building, under its able management, offers every accommodation looking to the convenience and comfort of its patrons at the very low rate of
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EXCHANGE BUILDING-STOCK YARDS.
$1 per day. This rate was made and is held at this nominal figure for the benefit of stock men and shippers to this market. The hotel is kept thor- oughly renovated, and is heated by both steam and natural gas. It has also a first-class lunch room in connection with it, which is kept open day and night for the benefit of shippers arriving during the night.
The officers of this company are: Sam E. Rauh, president; Julius A. Hanson, vice-president; H. C. Graybill, traffic manager; Jno. II. Holliday, secretary, and H. D. Lane, auditor.
The following reliable firms of commission salesmen are located at the Union Stock Yards: M. Sells & Co., Middlesworth, Benson, Nave & Co., A. Baber & Co., Stockton, Gillespie & Co., Tolin, Totten, Tibbs & Co., Capital Commission Co., Clark, Wysong & Voris, Dye, Valodin & Co., Jeffery, Fuller & Co.
Among the list of buyers at Union Stock Yards are the following well- known firms: Kingan & Co., Moore & Co., Coffin, Fletcher & Co., Indianapo-
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lis Abbatoir Co., Chas. J. Gardner, Geo. C. Beck & Son, R. R. Shiel & Co., A. Kahn & Son, Joseph Corwin, John Powell & Sons, P. Sindlinger, Coburn & Weelburg, Chas. Kramer, Chas. Woldt, John Meuser, II. Temperley, D. Bryan & Sons, S. K. Barrett, Schwarzchild & Sulzberger Co., Eastmans Company, Nelson Morris & Co., Myers & Hausman, Swift & Co., and other large western buyers.
M. Sells & Company enjoy the honor and distinction of selling the first consignment of stock that arrived at the new Union Stock Yards, in Novem- ber, 1877, and they have been continuously at it ever since, conducting busi- ness under the same style of firm name, and without a single change in membership during the past IS years, the present firm at that time succeed- ing Sells & McKee, the original firm. Mr. Sells was engaged in this line for 12 years prior to the opening of the yards.
For many years past the firm has been recognized as one of the largest handlers of cattle, sheep and hogs at the stock yards, and their business an- nually reaches a large magnitude. The house owes its prominence and val- uable clientage to a career of strict business integrity. Sales of consignments of any magnitude are conducted by them with the utmost promptness, and buyers of the choicest grades of cattle, hogs and sheep, have naturally come to depend upon the firm for the best offerings in the market. In either respect they render the best service to buyers and shippers. Of the two members of the firm, Mr. Sells gives his exclusive attention to cattle, while Mr. T. S. Graves takes care of the consignments of hogs. There is no firm of live stock salesmen in the country which stands higher than this, and its long and honorable business history is the best recommendation that can be offered shippers of live stock to this market.
Jeffery, Fuller & Company, of which Mir. Thomas A. Jeffery, the head of the firm, has been actively and prominently identified with the live stock in- terests of this market prior to, and ever since, the opening of the Union Stock Yards in 1877, having been the principal business head of one of the earliest firms to engage in this business. The new firm was organized and began business in October, 1895, and has rapidly taken rank among the larg- est handlers and firms doing business at the yards. Mr. George W. Fuller, of the firm, has had many years experience in the handling and sale of hogs; en- joys an intimate acquaintance among the leading buyers for both local packing and shipment; he is assisted by W. J. Shinn, who has been actively con- nected with the stock yards for the past eighteen years. Mr. F. F. Church- man is the financial man of the house. Mr. Wmn. E. Deer looks after the sale of sheep, and Mr. Will Stanton handles the hogs which arrive by wagon, both being well qualified for the transaction of business in their departments. Messrs. Jeffery, Fuller & Company, have at their command every possible facility for the prompt sale of all lots entrusted to them or consigned to them direct, and are always ready to take immediate charge of shipments, and through their knowledge of the local market, and acquaintance with heavy buyers, are enabled to effect satisfactory sales without delay.
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Warman, Black, Chamberlain & Company, who conduct the large commission sale stables at the Union Stock Yards, began business in Indianapolis in IS94. The business has always ranked as one of the largest of its kind in the West, and in order to se- cure the facilities afforded at the Union Stock Yards, moved to their present location October 13, 1896. Their barns were built especially for their purposes and they have a capacity for over one thousand head of horses and mules. The principal stables are 66 by 340 feet and the mule barn 72 by 172. Sales are con- ducted every Tuesday. The members of the firm are Enoch Warman, one of the oldest and best known men in the trade in Indiana, who was born in this city, nearly sixty years ago ; George W. Black, J. H. Cham- berlain and J. C. Davis. The business of the concern extends throughout this and foreign countries.
D. Bryan & Sons, Wholesale Beef and Pork Butchers, with offices at the Indianapolis Abat- toir, is one of the representative firms engaged in this line of business in this city. The trade is devoted entirely to local job- bing and are extensive dealers in lard and fresh and smoked meats, etc. The business was originally established by Dennis Bryan, in 1877, and has mate- rially helped in the growth of the packing trade here.
WARMAN, BLACK, CHAMBERLAIN & COMPANY, UNION STOCK YARDS.
-4413
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HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
A. Baber & Company, live stock commission salesmen, a firm of great financial strength, was established here shortly after the opening of the stock vards. There has never been a business change in the history of the firm, but an unbroken and continuous record of complete and honored identification with the sale of live stock on commission in this market.
With the annual growth and expansion of receipts and shipments at the yards, the business proportionately increased in volume, and during several years past they have been credited with doing as large a business as is done in the Indianapolis market. Mr. A. Baber, of the firm, is an extensive land own- er, and a resident of Illinois, the business of the firm being ably and success- fully managed by the other members. Mr. J. B. Sedwick gives his attention to sales of cattle exclusively, and in this respect he has no superior in this market.
Mr. E. Nichols and Mr. Chas. W. Sedwick handle the hogs, and of which the firm handle an enormous number annually, while Mr. J. R. Wilhite looks after the selling of sheep.
Stockton, Gillespie & Company began business in 1SS9. The firm is com- posed of young men, all of whom have practically grown up in the business. They are alert, active and quick to take advantage of every opportunity which can in any way further the interests of their patrons. The sale of cattle is directed by Mr. W. W. Stockton and Mr. J. F. Clay, the latter gen- tleman having only recently become a member of the firm. Both are thor- oughly expert cattle men, and capable of promptly disposing of the largest offerings. Mr. B. W. Gillespie, with the assistance of Mr. S. J. Acklen, give their exclusive attention to consignments of hogs, and are thoroughly well- posted and experienced salesmen. Mr. James Tolly handles the sheep, while the office is capably managed by Mr. C. II. Clark. The heads of this now well-known firm are among the best known and respected members of live stock salesmen who do business at the Union Stock Yards. They are known among shippers as successful salesmen, to whose good judgment it is always safe to trust. Consignments of any magnitude may, therefore, be entrusted to their care, with the full confidence that sales will be made promptly, and that returns will be satisfactory. The firm keep their custom- ers constantly posted as to the condition of the market, the offerings and opportunities, and give all matters relating to the sale of live stock the closest and most careful attention.
Clark, Wysong & Voris was established seven or eight years ago, as C. J. Clark & Company and continued, with the usual minor business changes. until a year ago, when the present firm was formed. Under past and present management the firm has always occupied a significantly leading position in the live stock commission circles of the country, and enjoys a wide and valuable patronage among the largest shippers of cattle, hogs and sheep to the Indianapolis market. It has been the rule of the firm during its entire existence to be prompt in all its business transactions, to guard carefully the interest of consignors, and to be perfectly accurate in the character of re-
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ports rendered the trade, so that large and small shippers alike have come to place implicit confidence in the judgment of the firm. The firm is com- posed of C. J. Clark, B. F. Wysong and W. C. Voris, all experienced and well-posted salesmen, who enjoy the confidence of a large list of buyers, and who are capable of handling all business entrusted to them to the best ad- vantage and to the complete satisfaction of consignors.
Tolin, Totten, Tibbs & Company, the well organized firm of live stock salesmen, is a consolidation of the business of A. B. Tolin & Co. and Fesler, Totten & Co., and has enjoyed a uniformly successful business since their estab- lishment. As now constituted the firm comprises in its management that long experience in the trade and knowledge of the market so essential in effecting prompt sales at prices satisfactory to shippers. Mr. A. B. Tolin, J. J. Totten and J. B. Harrell, who give their personal attention to consignments of cat- tle exclusively, are thoroughly experienced salesmen, who keep fully posted as to the needs of buyers, for both local consumption and re-shipment, conse- quently they are enabled to dispose of all lots offered through their hands with out delay. D. W Tibbs, who looks after the receipts of hogs, is equally well posted in this branch of the business, and enjoying, as he does, the confidence of every shipper who has ever entrusted his sales to him, naturally secures his full share of the shipments to this market. E. C. Rockwood, a capable and energetic business man, will give his attention to the office and the gen- eral business of the firm. With its present excellent facilities, well estab- lished reputation for promptness and large business, the firm of Tolin, Tot- ten, Tibbs & Co. is prominent among the live stock commission salesmen of Indianapolis. The firm is very conveniently situated for business in Rooms 15 and 17 of the Exchange Building, and makes it a rule to keep its custom- ers in constant touch with the market.
R. R. Shiel & Co., live stock purchasing agents, located in the Exchange Building, Union Stock Yards, is one of the representative concerns in this line of business in Indianapolis. The business was established in iSS4 by the present proprietors, Messrs R. R. Shiel and R. R. Reeves, and since that time has grown to large proportions. The firm purchase on orders for Eastern markets, purchasing annually to the enormous amount of between three and four millions of dollars. They handle mostly hogs and cattle, and are everwhere recognized as expert buyers, whose judgment can be im- plicitly relied on. The firm have developed unlimited facilities in their spe- cial line, and this business is rapidly increasing in their hands.
A. Kahn & Son, live stock purchasing agents, began business with the opening of the stock yards in 1877. The specialty of the firm is to buy on order only, and they have enjoyed the confidence to the fullest degree of all those they have served in the capacity of buyers throughout their long business career. Prior to 1877, and running back to 1868, Mr. A. Kahn, the senior member of the firm, was engaged at different times in the live stock trade, and in the wholesale butchering business. Associated with him in the business is his son, H. A. Kahn, an energetic young business man. There is no
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firm of buyers at the yards that is more deserving of confidence and the large business transacted by them has been earned by straightforward and upright methods, good judgment, and a strict and prompt attention to business.
The Capital Live Stock Commission Company, which was chartered under the laws of Indiana about the first of March of the present year, is a very strong enterprise in point of capital and management. The new enter- prise, which has a full-paid capital of $30,000. is really the incorporation of the business of the old and well-known firm of Fort, Johnston & Helm, which, with its predecessor, Fort & Johnston, dates back to 1877, to the open- ing of the Union Stock Yards. The members of the old firm, who stand deservedly high in Indianapolis live stock circles, for probity, enterprise and honorable business methods, continue with this new organization, Mr. John W. Fort being president; T. B. Wilkinson, vice-presdent; II. B. Lewis, sec- retary ; R. F. Helm, treasurer, and W. M. Johnston, manager.
As now organized and directed, the Capital Live Stock Commission Company is one of the best equipped at the Stock Yards, and offers the most superior advantages to shippers who desire the highest ruling quotations. immediate sales and prompt settlements. The long experience of the man- agement of this substantial company, their knowledge of the market. ac quaintance with resident and visiting buyers, gives them superior facilities for handling all grades of cattle, hogs and sheep, realizing for their owners the best possible sales and affording the most satisfactory business relations. Under the new style of firm name and organization the company enjoys largely increased facilities for the transaction of a general live stock com- mission business.
Blair, Baker & Walter are the headquarters for the sale of horses in Indi- ana, at the commission, auction and sales stables at the Union Stock Yards, and it is beyond question one of the largest, best arranged and finest estab- lishments of the kind in this country. The stable covers a ground area of 62 x 340 feet, and is constructed on the latest and most approved plan for the care, comfort and handling of horses and mules, there being accommodations for 1,000 animals. The stables are provided with all modern conveniences, there being padded stalls, private compartments and complete veterinary hospital, where animals which require it, receive attention from thoroughly skilled vet- erinarians. There are also ample exhibition facilities, where the good points of horses offered for sale are shown by expert horsemen to the best advantage. Messrs. Blair, Baker & Walter are recognized as among the most expert horse- men in the western country. They enjoy the intimate acquaintance of the lead - ing owners, trainers, and stock men in all sections, and have earned for them - selves the reputation of being thoroughly honorable and reliable business men. The finest animals may be entrusted to their care with absolute confi - dence, that the interests of both sellers and buyers will be fully protected. They hold auction sales of horses and mules every Wednesday throughout the year, and these sales are always attended by horsemen from all parts of
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the United States. There are also permanent resident buyers at the stables for Glasgow and Paris, who each ship a car-load weekly.
E. Rauh & Sons, manufacturers of high-grade pure bone fertilizers and dealers in hides, pelts, tallow, grease, etc., rank among the oldest and most prominent manufacturing concerns in this city. The business was established in 1864, at Dayton, Ohio, by Elias Rauh, father of the gentlemen who are now conducting the business. The firm is now operating two large manu- facturing plants in this city, one located at the intersection of the Belt rail- road and South East street, and another at the Union Stock Yards. Both plants are well supplied with the latest improved machinery, and employment is furnished to more than fifty hands. The product, which consists of ammo- niates, phosphates and bone fertilizers, have a large market throughout the
E. RAUH & SONS FERTILIZER FACTORIES.
central, western and southern states and finding increasing favor in European countries where there is a growing demand for goods of this character. The fertilizers manufactured by this concern under the " Star " brand have an es- tablished and recognized reputation for excellence of quality, purity and high standard among agriculturists.
Besides the fertilizer factories, the firm have a large hide warehouse, at 219 South Pennsylvania street, where the offices are located. Employment is furnished to 12 men in this branch of the business. In this particular line the firm ranks among the heaviest in the west. The members of the firm are Leopold Rauh, who conducts the business of the Dayton branch, and Henry and Samuel E. Rauh of the city. Both of the latter named gentlemen have
KINGAN & .G
KINGAN & CO.
KINGAN & COMPANY, LIMITED,
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been prominently identified with many of the progressive movements of the city, and are closely associated in many growing enterprises of Indianapolis. Mr. Henry Rauh was a member of the Board of Aldermen of this city dur- ing 1893-4. Sam E. Rauh is president of the Belt Railroad and Stock Yards Co.
Joseph Allerdice & Company, 128 Kentucky avenue, has been prominently identified in the hide, pelts, tallow and wool trade, and is one of the largest firms in this line in the state. The business was established by Joseph Aller- dice, the present head of the firm, in 1877. The trade of the house extends throughout Indiana, Illinois and points west of the Mississippi river. The firm furnishes employment to twenty-five people.
Coffin, Fletcher & Company, pork packers, rank among the first in the country to engage in this line of trade. The business was originally estab-
COFFIN, FLETCHER & CO.
lished by Barnabas Coffin in 1840, and there have been minor changes in the personnel of the firm since its establishment. The firm kills during the win- ter period about 50,000 hogs, the trade supplied being throughout the eastern, southern and central western states. The present plant, which was erected in 1873, is as substantial as it is extensive, covering a ground area of about five acres, and is well supplied with modern appliances. Over 200 hands are employed during the winter season. The present members of the firm are A. W. Coffin, L. W. Fletcher and S. H. Fletcher. Mr. L. W. Fletcher is the oldest living pork packer in America to-day, beginning his career in the trade when it was in its infancy. The Primrose brand of hams, breakfast bacon and lard, put up by this firm, have earned a reputation for excellence and high standard of quality second to no other in the country.
Kingan & Company, Limited, pork packers, by far the most important and extensive in Indianapolis, was established in 1863. The first plant was
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destroyed by fire in 1865, and was immediately rebuilt. This was the first house in America to prepare meat for the English market. In point of com- pleteness and amplitude of facilities for every process of this vast and ex- tended business, it is second to no other. The extent and magnitude of its business can be judged from a few facts. Fifteen acres of ground are occu- pied by the extensive plant with its new buildings; all the buildings are from three to five stories high, with cellars, and generally sub-cellars. Over $3,000,000 are invested in the business, and from Soo to 1,250 hands employed, according to the season of the year, and from 600,000 to 700,000 hogs are slaughtered annually. The warehouses have a storage capacity of 30,000,000 pounds of cured and smoked meats. To cure the meats it requires nearly 14,000,000 pounds of salt, 500,000 pounds of saltpeter, 1,000,000 pounds of sugar, and over 20,000 tons of ice. To ship, it requires 175,000 boxes and crates, and 100,000 tierces for lard and hams. The hogs, when killed and scalded, are scraped by machinery invented in the house. In addition to the above come numberless bi-products, made from the materials that but a few years ago the packers paid to have taken away as entirely useless. So thorough and rigid is the process of utilization, that absolutely nothing is wasted. The trade of the house, as its operations will indicate, is of vast proportions, and the celebrated Kingan's hams have an enviable reputation that extends beyond the bounds of this country.
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