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 (1907) > Part 10
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the state. The canals are still used to a considerable extent, although the section of the Wabash & Erie canal between Ft. Wayne and Lafay- ette has not been used for many years. In 1847 the first railroad was completed into Indianapolis, and connected this city with the Ohio river at Madison. This was the beginning, and the transportation facilities have continued to increase, until now there are sixteen com- pleted lines in Indianapolis, connecting in the state with many other lines, which all bring their passengers to one magnificent union depot. The erection of the present union passenger station was begun in 1888. Over 184 passenger trains enter and depart every twenty-four hours, so that the advantages of the city for reaching any railroad point in the country are unsurpassed, the lines that center here radiating like spokes of a wheel in every direction, and the equipment and service on the roads entering Indianapolis representing the very highest quality of con- venience, ease and comfort. No capital city in any of the states is more advantageously situated with reference to convenience of access by the citizens of the state, and there are but few county seats in the entire state from which it is not possible to reach Indianapolis and re- turn the same day.
Indianapolis Union Railway Company-The Indianapolis Union Railway Company succeeded in 1883 to the enterprise inaugurated in 1853 by the Union Railway Company. The company operates four- teen miles of track known as the Belt railroad, which is double-tracked and extends around the city, and also has a mile of track in the city, connecting the Belt with the union passenger station, which is also owned by this company. The depot is one of the finest in the United States, has a train shed 300x650 feet, and has a handsome three- story brick building surmounted by a lofty tower, which is a beautiful structure in Romanesque architecture, used for offices and waiting rooms of the depot. The business done by this company is very large. Over one million freight cars are handled annually] over the Belt railroad. It was the first switching railroad to be built in the country and transfers freight from factory switches to all roads regardless of distance for one dollar per car, the lowest switching charges in the United States.
Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railway Company operates two divisions between Indianapolis and Chicago and Louisville via Monon.
Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railway operates two divisions out of this city-Indianapolis to Cincinnati and Indianapolis to Spring- field, IlI.
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway ("Big Four" route, New York Central lines) operates seven divisions from this city, reaching Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, Peoria, Springfield, Columbus and Benton Harbor.
Belle Fountain & Ind. Depot.
Cincinnati, Lawrenceburg & Ind Depot.
E
tet
Lafayette Depot.
Madison & Ind. Depot .
FIRST RAILROAD DEPOTS IN INDIANAPOLIS, 1854.
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Pennsylvania Lines operate five divisions running out of this city- Indianapolis to Louisville, to Chicago, to Pittsburg, to St. Louis over the Vandalia line, to Vincennes.
Lake Erie and Western Railroad operates one division out of this city between Indianapolis and Michigan City, connecting with the main line of the road at Tipton, Ind., for points east and west.
The Indianapolis Southern Railway operates between Indianapolis and Effingham, Ill., connecting with the Illinois Central system.
Interurban Railways-Coming into its million-dollar terminal sta- tion, the finest in the world, are fourteen independent electric traction lines, connecting with more than twenty-five tributary roads, tapping one of the richest and most densely populated sections of the country and operating over 400 cars in and out of Indianapolis every twenty- four hours, which carry more than five million people annually. Indian- apolis secured its first interurban lines in 1900, when two short lines were completed, one between Indianapolis and Greenfield, a distance of sixteen miles, and between Indianapolis and Greenwood, a distance of twelve miles. Today Indianapolis has as its greatest asset the finest electric railway service in the world.
Indiana Union Traction Company operates two divisions out of this city-to Logansport, Ind., to Muncie, Ind., and by connection to Fort Wayne, Ind., Lima, Ohio, Toledo, Detroit and other Indiana, Ohio and Michigan points.
Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Eastern Traction Company op- erates five divisions out of this city- eastern division to Richmond, Ind., and by connection to Dayton and other Ohio points, Northwestern di- vision to Lafayette and Crawfordsville, Martinsville division to Mar- tinsville, Brazil division to Terre Haute, and by connection to Sullivan and Clinton, Ind., and to Paris, Ill., Danvile division to Danville, Ind.
Indianapolis and Cincinnati Traction Company operates two di- visions-to Connersville, to Greensburg.
Indianapolis, Columbus and Southern Traction Company operates one division to Seymour, and by connection to Louisville, Ky.
Indianapolis, Crawfordsville and Western Traction Company, "Ben-Hur route," operates one division to Crawfordsville.
Indianapolis, New Castle and Toledo Electric Railway Company operates one division out of the city, and by connection to Muncie and Richmond, Ind.
Fort Wayne and Wabash Valley Traction Company operates two limited trains daily out of Indianapolis to Fort Wayne, Ind.
Ohio Electric Railway operates three limited trains daily to Day- ton, Ohio, out of Indianapolis.
Additional Electric Railway Service-In addition the Indiana Union Traction Company operates independent trains to Fort Benjamin
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UNION RAILWAY PASSENGER STATION.
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Harrison U. S. army post and to Broad Ripple, one of the most im- portant suburbs and resorts near Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Terminal Station, for the use of the electric roads entering Indianapolis, was the idea of Hugh J. McGowan, president of the Indianapolis Terminal and Traction Company. It is the greatest station of its kind in the world, and was built at a cost of a million dollars. It is not the only monument in this city to the business sagac- ity and public spirit of this gentleman, as much of the marvelous de- velopment made in and about Indianapolis in recent years is due to his energies and enterprise. The building, in addition to being the terminal for all electric traction interests, is one of the finest office structures in the city.
The Indianapolis Terminal and Traction Company-The complete- ness of the street car service of Indianapolis is one of its most notable features, and for admirable equipment and excellence of service is not excelled in America. Over 135 miles of track are in operation, reaching all sections of the city, parks and suburbs. The first street car line was built in this city in 1864, and from this grew the present magnifi- cent system. Under the management of the present company, which was organized August 4, 1902, many notable improvements and exten- sions have been made. The company pays $30,000 annually to the city in addition to the taxes paid on the valuation of its property, and em- ploys about 1,200 men. The fare to any part of the city is fixed at five cents cash, six tickets for twenty-five cents and twenty-five tickets for a dollar, with transfer to all lines.
Cold Storage Facilities-It has not been generally known that In- dianapolis is provided with cold storage facilities unequaled by any other city in the interior of the country. It is an important factor in our commerce that perishable goods in transit or intended for distribu- tion in the markets of the middle west can be stored here to better ad- vantage than elsewhere, and when this is made clear to the growers, shippers and handlers of the various classes of food products, tropical and semi-tropical fruits, etc., which find an extensive market in this section, it is doubtful if even our present cold storage capacity will be adequate to the demands upon it.
The Indianapolis Cold Storage Company, the main storage plant in this city, is one of the largest and most complete in America. The building is of brick, stone and steel, seven stories and basement. It contains within its fireproof walls nearly five acres of floor space; it is situated at the junction of the Union Railway tracks and Pennsyl- vania street, in the business center, in close proximity to the wholesale and commission merchants. Three railroad switches (two of which enter the building) give ample accommodation for twenty-five carloads of merchandise per day, and enable the company to receive and ship
T
INDIANAPOLIS TERMINAL AND TRACTION COMPANY STATION.
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all perishable products within the building. Direct connection with eighteen lines of railroad, which comprise Indianapolis' great system, afford advantages of prompt distribution of produce that no other city can claim. The exterior walls of the building average thirty-six inches thick. The interior being isolated throughout in the most approved manner, perfect control is had over atmospheric conditions. The stor- age rooms are so arranged that the atmosphere of one can not permeate another. Articles are stored with respect to their peculiar odors, and a stable temperature is steadily maintained, proper attention being given to cleanliness and sanitary conditions of all rooms. Rooms devoted to eggs, to fruits and to delicate products, where an even temperature is necessary, are provided with a brine circulating system, both direct and indirect, and by means of electric fans for the distribution of air a uniform temperature throughout the rooms is secured. There is a complete ventilating system by which all foul air and gases are removed from any room in the building without changing the temperature. A system is also maintained for controlling the humidity of the atmos- phere of all rooms where desirable. The entire building is furnished with electric light; no other kind of light is permitted. There are six high-speed elevators, each capable of lifting four thousand pounds, two for each section of the building, which provide equal service and per- mit a separate handling of articles of high odor. In every desirable or necessary adjunct this immense plant affords to the growers, ship- pers and handlers of all classes of perishable products an institution for safe, economical and advantageous storage and shipment of their goods unequaled in the United States. The officers of the company are: Linton A. Cox, president; G. A. W. Dodge, treasurer, and Theo. E. Myers, secretary.
Express Companies-The United States Express Company, Ameri- can Express Company and the Adams Express Company have offices in this city and forward freight directly over their lines and through the agency of other lines throughout this and foreign countries. They also issue money orders and act as purchasing agents.
Transfer and Storage Companies are well represented in Indian- apolis and are a necessary and valuable adjunct to its magnificent ship- ping facilities.
The Hogan Transfer and Storage Company, the foremost in the line in this city, began business in 1892. Wm. J. Hogan, who is the sole owner of the company, began business with one wagon, and today has about thirty wagons for moving furniture, pianos, building ma- terials, machinery, safes, etc., and about five carloads of equipment for hoisting and setting stacks, boilers and engines, safes, machinery, etc. The accompanying engraving is a view of the warehouse where household goods and pianos etc., are stored and packed. Employment
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TER&STORAGE CO.
HOGAN TRANSFER AND STORAGE COMPANY.
is furnished to one hundred experienced white men, and the endeavor is to please the patron, no matter the size of the job. The business is not confined to Indianapolis but covers the entire state. Among the notable contracts handled by Mr. Hogan are the following: All the vault work in the Indiana, Merchants' and Columbia national banks were placed by him; the Hoe printing presses and linotypes for the In- dianapolis News and Indianapolis Star; the marble, elevators, furniture and safes in all the larger buildings of Indianapolis were handled by him, and the entire plant of the Star was handled by him without a cent of damage or a moment lost. He raised six steel stacks for the An- derson, Ind., Wire Nail Company, each stack weighing eleven tons, and were 140 feet in length and six feet in diameter. He has been the offi- cial transfer man for the Indiana state fair for the past ten years. Because of his aggressiveness he has been styled "the man who does." His offices are 125 East Market street.
The Belt Railroad and Stock Yard Company of Indianapolis was organized 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 destined for New England and export slaughter. From November 12, 1877, to January 1, 1907, there have been received at the yards over 36,000,000 hogs, 4,000,000 cattle, 3,000,- 000 sheep and 500,000 horses. The total receipts for 1906 were 1,869,- 353 hogs, 350,016 cattle, 76,570 sheep and 30,101 horses. The system of railroads centering at Indianapolis makes it the most accessible point in the country for live stock shippers. The great capacity of the yards and the facilities for unloading, resting and reshipping are unequalled
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by any other yards in the country, east or west. The Belt Railroad having been built and owned by the Stock Yard Co., gives this market . a decided advantage over others in the respect that no terminal charge is ever imposed on the shipper.
The shipper is assured of a prompt service in the handling of his shipments into the yards. Shippers and owners are furnished with sepa- rate pens for feeding, watering and resting their stock. All pens are en- tirely 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 buyers 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 markets, 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 incident 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, lahor of a vast number of em- ployes; current expenses, such as attorneys' fees, hooks, 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 ac- crues 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, yarding, watering, feeding and weighing of live stock is done by the company's employes, relieving the shipper from all such care and responsibility. The com- mission salesmen and buyers on this market enjoy the reputation of being thoroughly reliable. There are between twenty and thirty firms located at the Union Stock Yards.
Stock Yards Hotel-The Exchange hotel connected with the Union Stock Yards under its management offers every accommodation looking to the convenience and comfort of its patrons, at reasonable rates. The hotel has a first-class lunchroom in connection with it, which is kept open day and night. The officers of the company are Sam E. Rauh, president: Julius A. Hanson, vice-president; H. C. Graybill, traffic man- ager; John H. Holliday, secretary, and H. D. Lane, auditor.
Horse and Mule Auction Barns-The horse and mule market has shown a phenomenal growth since its beginning in the fall of 1896. The new brick barns for the accommodation of this branch of the busi-
BELT RAILROAD AND STOCKYARDB.
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HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
ness are considered by all dealers as far surpassing any barns in the entire country. There have been sold on the market since its beginning 413,277 horses. Private as well as auction sales of fancy drivers, coachers, cobs, and park horses are conducted throughout the week by the reliable and energetic firm of the Blair-Baker Horse Co., and the Reardon, Black & Quade Horse Co., who have brought to this market the fullest representation of eastern, southern and European buyers, all of whom concede that with the superb facilities for stabling, handling and speeding horses Indianapolis ranks highest in the whole country and is destined to become one of the world's greatest horse markets.
H. H. Fletcher & Co., live stock commission merchants, is one of the best known firms doing business at the Union Stock Yards of Indianapolis and it has an established reputation for fair and equal treatment to all patrons. The firm was established by Horace H. Fletcher, who was born on a farm, on which a part of the city of Indianapolis now stands. It does not necessarily fol- low that Mr. Fletcher is an old man, for the growth of the city has been very rapid and extensive. Mr. Fletcher has been identified with agriculture in its various branches all his life, and ten years ago be established the firm of which he is now the senior member. Charles W. Reynolds is a native of Jacksonville, Ill. His edu- H. H. FLETCHER. cation as a stockman was acquired first as a country buyer and shipper and afterward as a salesman in Kansas City, St. Lonis and Chicago yards. Mr. Reynolds' special line is cattle, calves and sheep. Walter A. Moore, third member of the firm, is from Casey, Ill. (Effingham being his birthplace). Early in life be chose the live stock commission business for a vocation and went to the Chicago yards. Sixteen years' experience as a car hog salesman has developed Mr. Moore's talents and ability in this line.
JOURNALISMAND PUBLISHING
NEWSPAPER, BOOK AND MUSIC PUBLISHING, COUPON AND MERCANTILE PRINTING AND ENGRAVING.
Indianapolis had a newspaper before it had mail facilities, roads, or even the most primitive means of regular communication with the outside world. There are at present over ninety daily, weekly, bi- monthly, monthly and quarterly publications issued from this city. In class or industrial publications Indianapolis is exceptionally well rep- resented, some of the most influential journals of their kind in the coun- try being published here. In recent years this city has also become prominent as a book and music publishing center. In the mechanical and manufacturing branches of the printing business it has kept pace with the largest cities in the country, and it affords advantages in the production of blank books, coupon books, bank and county office sup- plies not excelled elsewhere. There are several large plants located here engaged in this work, and Indianapolis ranks fifth in size as a pub- lishing center in this country.
The Indianapolis News is now the oldest daily paper published in Indianapolis. It was founded by John H. Holliday in 1869, and has had a continuous existence from that date. It was the first two-cent (ten cents a week) daily paper in the West. Though not an old paper, as compared with other publications in the East, yet its career spans practically the period of development of the modern newspaper. From a small four-page affair, for which two cents was charged, it has grown so that now it averages 20 eight-column pages, and on Fridays and Saturdays prints from twenty-eight to thirty-two pages. Its equipment is ample for a paper of this magnitude, requiring twenty-four linotype machines and four presses, two sextuples and two quintuples. Eqnip- ment does not make a newspaper, yet a modern plant is a necessity for an up-to-date daily publication.
The News was the first paper, so far as is known, to drive its presses electrically. Mr. Charles J. Jenney made his experiments in this line in the News pressroom, and finding the process practicable. the paper adopted it. For years every piece of machinery in the equip- ment has had its individual motor.
Few newspapers carry more advertising than does the News, It
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HYMAN'S HANDBOOK OF INDIANAPOLIS.
averaged for 1906 and 1907, for instance, 74 columns daily, of which 18 columns were classified. It is not, therefore, altogether from choic that the News is a large publication, but its theory is that there should be as much news and editorial matter iu the newspaper as there i advertising, and even to approximate this it is necessary to publish : very large paper.
A newspaper's prosperity and influence ought to grow with the city with which it is identified. So with the Indianapolis News. Indi anapolis had less than 48,000 people when the News was established Now the city numbers more than 200,000 and the News prints and sell: more than 75,000 copies daily. It has always been an independent paper but never neutral, and is admired by its constituents both for the friend: and the' enemies it has made. Few of the subscribers to the first copy of this paper, and doubtless none of its early employes, supposed that it would outlive its once powerful rivals. . The old Indianapolis Journa. and the Indianapolis Sentinel, which had been the morning papers ever since Indianapolis was a city, and which had gained wide influence throughout the state and even the nation, one after the other suc. cumbed. The last one to suspend was the Sentinel which, after an existence of over eighty years, ceased publication in the Spring of 1906. Its physical plant and effects were bought by the News, which had previously also taken over the Indianapolis Press, a comparatively re- cent and well-equipped afternoon paper.
The News has virtually had but two owners, its founder and his associates, and the present proprietors, Delavan Smith and Charles R. Williams, the latter of whom is the editor. Change by way of growth in the News has been constant, but the changes for change's sake have been few. There are employes in every department of the paper who have grown up with it. The present General Manager, Hilton U. Brown, began with it as market reporter a quarter of a century ago. The first foreman of the paper, E. H. Perkins, is still living and is still on the pay-roll, though no longer actively at work. His successor, Ed. Harding, of an old and well known tribe of newspaper men, is the sec- ond foreman the paper has had. His assistant, William Ellis, and some others of the composing-room force have been with the paper sub- stantially since its organization. The Business Manager, O. R. Johnson, was for many years Telegraph Editor of the paper, and the State Editor, Gideon B. Thompson, has seen two generations of newspaper men come and go, and is still one of the youngest men on the force. The Managing Editor is Richard Smith, long connected with the Asso- ciated Press and other news agencies. For many years the News has shown an active interest in the welfare of its carriers. Among the adjuncts of this department is a fully-equipped brass band. One hun- dred boys are under constant training, from which the band itself, of
THE INDIANAPE LIS NEWS.
INDIANAPOLIS NEWS BUILDING.
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about fifty pieces, is recruited. Probably the ablest band master for juvenile organizations in the country has direction of this department -J. B. Vanderworker.
The paper bas frequently demonstrated its interest in affairs col- lateral to newspaper work. As for instance, its maintains a fresh air station in the summer for children and disabled women. In the winter it hunts out the suffering and sick families and supplies them with coal and medical treatment out of funds contributed by its subscribers. It started a fund with which a monument to General Lawton was built. It sent a correspondent to the Japanese-Russian war. One of its repre- sentatives is now traveling around the world. It takes an active part in all municipal and state affairs. The paper is permanently housed at 34-36 West Washington Street, with a fireproof mechanical building in the rear.
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