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 11
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The Indianapolis Sun-The first number of the Indianapolis Sun was issued on May 12, 1888. The proprietors were young men from Cleveland and Detroit, who had been educated along the distinct Ilnes of one-cent newspaper work. The first number was a small, six-column, four-page paper, and it contained local matter principally. The Sun was so well received by the Indianapolis public that it was soon en- larged to a seven-column paper. In 1893-in the midst of the panic- it had progressed to a degree that warranted it in adding a fast per- fecting press to its equipment. When the panic had passed into his- tory the Sun became an eight-page paper, six columns to the page, and its success in a field that had witnessed the rise and fall of many daily newspapers attracted attention all over the state. On January 29, 1901, the Sun's plant and buildings were destroyed by fire, but the paper was issued daily and on time from the Indianapolis Journal office. In the meantime an elegant new three-story building was erected on the old site at 123-125 East Ohio street, and equipped with the best printing material obtainable, including a fast quadruple Hoe press, capable of printing 48,000 papers per hour. On May 8 the Suu occu- pied its new building and enjoyed the advantages of its improved facil- ities. Since that time its strides forward have been more marked than formerly. The Sun has always been independent in politics, giving its indorsement to competent candidates rather thau party tickets. Its influence in this field has always been marked. It has also been a con- sistent advocate and supporter of the best interests of Indianapolis. In its twenty years of life it has been enlarged to about five times its original size, and has broadened from a local paper to one of general and comprehensive strength. Aside from its home force, it has cor- respondents and readers all over the state and receives a total of 15,000 words of telegraph from all parts of the world daily. Its present edi- tor and manager is Fred L. Purdy; business manager, A. C. Keifer,
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THE INDIANAPOLIS SUN BUILDING.
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and managing editor, W. L. Burns. Messrs. Purdy and Keifer were among the original projectors of the Sun, and have contributed largely to its success.
The Indianapolis Star was established in 1903, the first issue ap- pearing on June 6th. The first home of the paper was at 115 East Ohio Street in an eight-room building that for years had done service as a residence. In these cramped quarters the editorial and mechanical forces conducted their work, the business department having rooms several doors east. On Sept. 27th of that year the editorial and art departments, together with the composing room forces and pressmen, were removed to the Sentinel building on South Illinois Street. The paper was published from here until March 22, 1904, when it took possession of the four-story building at the corner of Circle and Mar- -ket Streets, known as the Hendricks block or Iroquois Hotel, and began publication on its own presses and with all departments assembled in one building. Immediately after it was started the Star associated itself with the Muncie Star and the Terre Haute Express, now the Terre Haute Star, the three forming the chain of papers known as the Star League. At the time the Star was established there were already four other English daily newspapers in the city. It was the belief of the Star management that though each of these papers had merit in their own respective ways, none of them fully met the needs or successfully filled the requirements of the general public. From the first, there- fore, the endeavor was to meet the popular taste, and its success in this direction is proved by the fact that in one month after its first issue it had 27,249 bona fide subscribers; in three months it had 41,645; in six months 70,836, and in one year 80,644, In February, eight months after it was started, its circulation passed that of any other Indiana newspaper. The circulation growth steadily continued, and the average daily circulation for March, 1907, was 100,000. On June 8, 1904, the Star management bought the Indianapolis Journal, its morning con- temporary, a high-class newspaper established as a weekly in 1823 and as a daily in 1850. The Journal was merged with the Star and some of its best features incorporated in the latter paper. In February, 1906, the Star bought the Sunday Sentinel and combined it with the Sunday Star. Thus the Star became the only Sunday and only morn- ing newspaper in Indianapolis. In October, 1904, the three papers composing the Star League passed into the hands of its present manage- ment, under whose administration the Indianapolis, Muncie and Terre Haute papers have achieved even more marked popularity and success than in their earlier history. In June, 1907, the Indianapolis Star re- moved to its present quarters at the northeast corner of Pennsylvania and New York Streets, a building built especially for its use, and one of the most completely equipped and commodious newspaper establish- ments in the country. The Star is independent in politics.
INDIANAPOLIS STAR BUILDING,
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The Reader Magazine-Early in 1904 The Bobbs-Merrill Company acquired The Reader Magazine, a periodical which had made its slender beginnings in New York. The editorial and business offices were trans- ferred to Indianapolis and the magazine was henceforth printed by The Hollenbeck Press, a corporation affiliated with The Bobbs-Merrill Com- pany. Under the control of the firm The Reader has grown into a splendid illustrated monthly, at once entertaining and informative, in- fluential in its opinions and thoroughly imbued with the spirit of America. The Reader is a force in public affairs. It contains serial stories that invariably become the country's most popular novels, short stories by the best writers, feature articles of an intensely personal and concrete interest by distinguished men and women who know whereof they speak, and editorial comment that is trenchant, sensible and enthu- siastic. Its circulation is national, its advertising of the highest class.
The Home Magazine was inaugurated by The Bobbs-Merrill Com- pany in May, 1906, as a result of the consolidation of Madame, the official organ of The National Council of Women, with The Home Maga- zine, founded by Mrs. John A. Logan in Washington in 1886. This new and greater Home Magazine was designed along original lines to appeal to every member of the family circle. Its interest centers in the home as an institution. It regards everything in its relation to the home. Its fiction is for the delight of all the group that gathers around the lamp in the sitting room. Its departments are conducted by men and women of authority, with the direct purpose of showing how to make the home more comfortable, more attractive, more interesting. They are not technical, but practical ; not for the expert, but for the home-lover ; not for the millionaire, but for men and women of moderate means. These departments cover snch subjects as cookery, housebuilding, in- terior decoration, housekeeping, florticulture and vegetable garden, the horse and the stable, poultry and the kennel, fashions, embroidery and needlework, health and hygiene. All the departments are fully illus- trated. Like The Reader, The IIome Magazine is printed in Indianapolis by The Hollenbeck Press, which is taxed to its utmost capacity to com- plete the long monthly ruu of hundreds of thousands of copies. The best advertisers of America use, and continue to use, the columns of The Home Magazine.
The Indianapolis Trade Journal, established in 1890 by William H. Robson, editor and publisher, represents the jobbing interests of the city, and circulates throughout the middle west.
The Daily Reporter, published by the Reporter Publishing Com- pany, makes a specialty of court news, etc.
The Indianapolis Daily Live Stock Journal is devoted to the inter- ests of shippers and is published at the Union Stock Yards.
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The German Daily Telegraph and Tribune, established 1865, is the only German and the oldest daily newspaper published in this city. It is independent-democratic in politics, and is a member of the Asso- ciated Press. It is published by the Gutenberg Co. The Sunday Spott- vogel, a humorous and literary paper, established in 1865, is also pub- lished by this company.
Other Publications are numerous, embracing weekly, semi-monthly and monthly issues, among which are a number of the most influential trade journals in America.
The Clay=Worker was established in January, 1884, by Mr. J. J. W. Billingsley, F. W. Patton and Theo. A. Randall. Mr. Randall soon afterwards acquired a controlling interest and has edited and man- aged the magazine ever since. Under his direction the Clay-Worker has attained a world-wide reputation, having subscribers in every civi- lized country. Through the influence of the Clay-Worker and its editor the National Association of Brick Manufacturers was established in 1886, and has proven a potent factor in advancing the brick industry. Mr. Randall has been secretary of the association since its organiza- tion. In 1897 the Clay-Worker was instrumental in establishing a school for clayworkers at the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, and at the national convention held there in 1899 the American Ceramic Society was organized. Indeed, the Clay-Worker has been intimately connected with every progressive move made in the world of ceramics since it was established twenty-three years ago, and has made Indianapolis a household word in many localities where but for it the people would scarcely know that the Hoosier capital was on the map. It was the first paper in the world published in the interest of clay-workers. Mr. Randall is still secretary of the National Brick Manufacturers' Asso- ciation and the Clay-Worker remains unequaled in its field.
Municipal Engineering, published by Municipal Engineering Com- pany, the best and most important magazine devoted to the particular field which it fills, was established in 1890. It is recognized as the fore- most representative of the interests connected with the improvement of cities, embracing the field of paving, sewerage, waterworks, parks, etc. It circulates throughout the United States, Canada and foreign countries. From an unpretentious journal of sixteen pages it has grown to a magazine of nearly 180 pages. Its editorial policy has been to rely on men whose technical education and experience have distin- guished them as best qualified to discuss questions treated in the maga- zine, and civil engineers, analytical chemists, contractors and others who have achieved the distinction of being foremost in their class, are among its contributors. The officers of the company are: William Fortune, president ; Charles C. Brown, editor, and W. P. Cosgrove, ad- vertising manager. The company also publishes the directory of the
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American Cement Industries, the standard reference and credit rating book of the cement field. They also publish the Hand-Book for Cement Users and various other publications. A branch office is conducted in New York City.
The Bobbs=Merrill Company, publishers, booksellers and station- ers, traces its existence back without a break to the house founded in 1838 by Samuel Merrill, one of the earliest citizens of Indianapolis. The present officers of the corporation are: W. C. Bobbs, President ; John J. Curtis, Vice-President ; Charles W. Merrill, Secretary and Treasurer. The Indianapolis offices are at 9-11 West Washington Street. The New York office is at 34 Union Square; the Chicago office at 337 Marquette Building. In the course of nearly three-quarters of a century the business has developed until now it embraces the following depart- ments :
Retail Department : Books and Stationery-The large, friendly, well-lighted store invites customers ranging from the man who wants a pen point to the man who wants a whole library of books. It aims to have at hand or at easy call every book published. To accomplish this necessitates the carrying of an exceptionally heavy stock in every field of literary effort. Towers of recent novels line the aisles. On the many tables and in the shelves, to which the customer has free access, are to be found innumerable editions of the standard authors, and the works of note in poetry, art, belles lettres, religion, science, etc., etc. In the rear of the store the handsome booth erected by the firm at the St. Louis Exposition has been made over into a Book Nook, where the book-lover may browse at his leisure among rare first editions and edi- tions de luxe, write his letters in peace and discuss with his cronies the progress of the world. On the magazine counter are displayed the cur- rent issues of one hundred and eighty-six periodicals. The stationery side is no less complete, including, besides the expected equipment iu the commercial and society branches, the best of fine engraving, all sorts of filing devices and an elaborate assortment of brass, copper and leather goods.
Law Book Department-As publishers of law books The Bobbs- Merrill Company ranks among the very greatest houses in the world. This department maintains a large staff of editors exclusively at work upon the preparation of its books, and a selling force equally large to dispose of them. Among its publications are many of the standard legal treatises, books that are accepted as authority in both England and America. Its list of authors contains the names of the most prominent legal writers in the United States, including Judges Leonard A. Jones, Seymour D. Thompson, Byron K. Elliott, R. M. Benjamin, John M. Van Fleet and John II. Gillette. One of the most important under- takings of the house has been the compilation of Burns' Indiana Statutes,
THE WALLENDEAV POCOS
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which has had a continuous influence on the legislative and judicial history of the state. Among the legal educational works are the books of Professors Horace L. Wilgus, James H. Brewster, Charles A. Graves, V. H. Roberts and E. H. Woodruff. In addition to works of its own pub- lication the Law Book Department carries a complete stock of the lines of other law publishers. It engages also in the publication of text- books for commercial schools.
Publishing Department: In the last ten years The Bobbs-Merrill Company's list of general publications has been lengthened and strength- ened until it has made Indianapolis rank third among the publishing centers of America, surpassed only by New York and Boston, and until, furthermore, it has made publishing rank third among the industries of the city. While this list embraces the works of authors from every quarter of the country, The Bobbs-Merrill Company has been particu- larly active in the recent remarkable development of literary output in the Middle West. The heart and center of this development is Indiana, and among the distinguished writers of the state whose books have been published by the firm are James Whitcomb Riley, Benjamin Har- rison, David Turpie, Daniel W. Voorhees, Albert J. Beveridge, Maurice Thompson, Mary Hartwell Catherwood, Meredith Nicholson, George Ade, Elizabeth Miller and John T. MeCutcheon. The success of the department has been achieved by the acceptance of only clean, whole- some and spirited manuscripts, by the frank application of commercial methods to the sale of the books and by the exercise of originality in promotion and advertising.
The Hollenbeck Press, one of the most notable printing estab- lishments in the city, was established by C. E. Hollenbeck, successor to Carlon & Hollenbeck. This is one of the oldest establishments in the city and has always enjoyed the distinction of producing fine work, and has had a continuous existence since 1864. The new plant at the northwest corner of Market and New Jersey streets was erected in 1904. It was built especially for the business and is equipped with the most modern printing machinery and appliances for the production of large edition work. The line of work done by this house enibraces everything in job, book and publication printing and binding, and the character of the work done is not excelled in this country. Many of the well-known illustrated publications published in this city are issued from this press and are fine examples of first-class printing. About 150 persons are employed in the various departments. The officers of the company are : W. C. Bobbs, president; C. W. Merrill, treasurer, and R. E. Darnaby, manager.
Levey Bros. & Co .- The growth of a community is the growth of its institutions, and no other concern in the city has contributed more liberally to greater Indianapolis than Levey Bros. & Co., Inc. For
LEVEY
U. S. BANK NOTE COMPANY, OPERATED BY LEVEY BROS. & CO.
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sixty years the name "Levey" has been identified with the bank supply business, and there is not a bank in the United States that is not familiar with it.
In 1848 the business was founded in Madison, Ind., by Wm. P. Levey. In the early days the field was limited. Banks were not so numerous, and the business of Levey Bros. & Co. was comparatively small. It was necessarily confined to Indiana and adjacent states, but back of it there were men who saw the great possibilities in the growth of the country, and the business was aggressively carried into con- stantly widening territory. Today Levey Bros. & Co. cover every state in the Union, Canada and our island possessions, and are conceded to ocenpy the foremost position in the manufacture of bank supplies.
Two separate manufacturing plants take care of this enormous business. The main factory, shown by the illustration, is located at Ohio and Senate Avenue, on the famous State House Square. Here every detail of lithographing, printing, embossing and binding is handled. Every manufacturing department is located on one floor, under saw- tooth skylights, and every facility and appliance known to the stationery manufacturing business is employed. The accounting, advertising, cor- respondence, order and mailing departments of this concern make up one of if not the largest office force of any manufacturing concern in the city.
At Willard and Merrill Streets is located the Furniture and Fix- ture factory, where bank interior fittings are made exclusively. This factory has built fixtures for financial institutions in every state in the Union, and in addition has equipped banks in Manila, P. I .; Juneau, Alaska, and Ponce, Porto Rico. There is no other bank supply house in the country that can handle the equipping of a bank from the vacant room to the opening for business, every detail of such equipping being accomplished under one management and withont subletting any part of the contract. Just how phenomenal has been the growth of this coucern can be appreciated when it is known that it is operated entirely on the mail order plan. Levey Bros. & Co. do not have any traveling salesmen.
The building of this business to its present magnitude has not been an easy task. The result has been achieved in the face of steadily in- creasing competition, and is due to close and watchful attention to the enormous detail of the business, and to the ability of the management to direct the application of the most economical and practical mechanical inventions in mannfacturing.
Thornton-Levey Co .- Established twenty-five years ago as a small stationery store, the firm of Thornton-Levey has grown to be one of the leading manufacturing industries of Indianapolis, employing over one hundred people. The amount of business transacted by this firm in
UNITED STATES BANK FURNITURE COMMANI
U. S. BANK FURNITURE CO., OPERATED BY LEVEY BROS. & CO.
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CO
THOR
T
THORNTON-LEVEY CO.
wholesale and retail commercial stationery is more than that of all similar houses in Indianapolis combined. In addition to this, the manu- facturing establishment includes a modernly equipped printing office, ruling room, blank book bindery and lithographing and engraving de- partments. It has been the special pride of this company to use nothing but the very highest grade and latest improved machinery, and the quality of work produced attests the wisdom of this "nothing-but- the-best" policy.
Every office requirement of the up-to-date business man is carried in stock ready for immediate delivery, and the name of Thornton-Levey Co. is known throughout the entire length and breadth of Indiana. Commercial stationery, county and township records and supplies of all kinds, bank printing and lithographing, and catalog and booklet printing. In these lines Thornton-Levey Company stands pre-eminent as manufacturers of strictly high-class goods and at reasonable prices.
The general offices are located at the corner of Pennsylvania and Maryland streets, in the heart of the wholesale district, and within convenient walking distance of both the Union Depot and the Inter- urban Station. Out of town customers are requested to call and make
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it their headquarters while in Indianapolis, and a day seldom passes without from twenty to fifty customers dropping in from all over the state.
Indianapolis can well be proud of having such a complete office equipment repository.
Allison Coupon Company-An enterprise of Indianapolis which has attained world-wide fame and patronage is the Allison Coupon Company, conducting business at 536-8 East Market street, as manufac- turers of coupon books. The business was established in 1887 by the
ALLISON COUPON COMPANY.
late N. S. Allison, and in August, 1893, the present company was incor- porated. Has a paid-in capital stock and surplus of $150,000.00, the officers being: John S. Berryhill, president; Wallace S. Allison, secre- tary, and D. C. Allison, superintendent. The premises utilized com- prise a three-story and basement brick structure, 50x205 feet in dimen- sions, and there is a complete equipment of machinery adapted to the husiness, and eighty hands are employed in the extensive operations of the company. They manufacture coupon books for railroad eat- ing houses and railroad systems, street railways, merchants, ice com- panies, restaurants, commissary stores, clubs and various other uses ; their coupon books being arranged upon methods which have been
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approved by experience and are recognized as the hest devices of their kind. The demand for them has not only extended all over the United States but practically all over the world with an extensive foreign de- mand.
Indianapolis Electrotype Foundry, 341 to 349 E. Market Street, was established in 1875. In 1888 it was incorporated under the laws of Indiana with a paid capital of $15,000, A. W. Marshall being the president; Geo. L. Davis, vice-president; D. G. Wiley, secretary and treasurer. The officers are thoroughly practical and able business men, fully conversant with every detail of this industry. They have recently removed to their new building located at the corner of Market and New Jersey Streets, where they have a model plant, well lighted, well ventilated and equipped with the latest improved machinery and appli- ances. They do a general line of electrotyping and nickeltyping and make a specialty of high grade work. Their long experience and mod- ern equipment and the special methods they employ place them in the front ranks in their line. As evidence of this, they have a large trade among the consumers of their product who appreciate quality. Their nickeltypes from halftones are far above the average and are as nearly perfect as can be made. In addition to their electrotyping and nickeltyping business they carry a line of printers' supplies, consisting of cabinets, cases, stones, leads, slugs, brass rule, etc. They carry only the best grades, each article being made by the leading manufac- turer in the line. The goods in this department are sold at manufac- turers' prices and satisfaction guaranteed. The policy of this company is that every customer must have full value for his money, prompt service and courteous treatment, and a conscientious effort is made by the management to see that this policy is carried out.
The Indianapolis Engraving and Electrotyping Co. was estab- lished in 1894. About two years ago the company was completely reorganized. The quality of the output they insisted upon demanded a plant strictly up to date in every particular. To meet this demand the building at New Jersey and Market streets, in which they are now located, was erected, planned to meet every requirement for quality, speed and economy; the equipment installed containing every modern device to aid in achieving the best results. Operating this they have a force of skilled workmen with the knowledge, taste and training which fits them to utilize their plant and equipment to its utmost capacity. Probably the greatest factor in the remarkable success of this concern, which in the last two years has more than doubled its business, is found in the fact that in direct control of each department is one of the proprietors, each of whom is a progressive, thoroughly competent man in his line who insists that what should be done done must he done. As a direct result of this arrangement very superior results have
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