USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Indianapolis illustrated : the capital city of Indiana : its growth, resources, commerce, manufacturing interests, financial institutions, and prospects, also sketches of the leading business concerns which contribute to the city's progress and prosperity > Part 4
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It is not within the scope of this brief resume of the city's re- sources to detail at length the history of railway development in this section of the state. We have already shown how the original sys- tem embraced eight roads, viz .: Madison & Indianapolis, the Belle- fontaine, the Terre Haute & Indianapolis, the Indianapolis & Lafay- · ette, the Indiana Central, the Indianapolis Initial, the Peru & Indian- apolis, and the Indianapolis and Vincennes. We must now be con- tent to name the various lines which center the city. They are as follows: Ohio, Indiana & Western, Indianapolis to Peoria, Ill., 212 miles; Indianapolis to Springfield, Ohio, 149 miles; Cincinnati, Ham- ilton & Indianapolis, to Cincinnati, 123 miles; Lake Erie & Western, Indianapolis to Michigan City, 161 miles; Indianapolis to Vincennes, to Vincennes, Ind., 117 miles; Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis & Chicago, Cincinnati to Indianapolis, 110 miles; Indianapolis to Kan- kakee, 139 miles; Kankakee to Chicago, 53 miles; Chicago, St. Louis & Pittsburg, Columbus to Indianapolis, 188 miles; Indianapo- lis to Chicago, 194 miles; Indianapolis, Decatur & Western, Indian- apolis to Decatur, Ill., 153 miles; Louisville, New Albany & Chicago, Indianapolis to Chicago, 183 miles; to Cincinnati, 123 miles; to Michigan City, 154 miles; Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indian- apolis, Indianapolis to Cleveland, 283 miles; Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan, Indianapolis to Benton Harbor, Mich., 201 miles; Jeffer- son, Madison & Indianapolis, Indianapolis to Louisville, Ky., 110
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INDIANAPOLIS ILLUSTRATED, THE CAPITAL CITY OF INDIANA.
miles; Indianapolis & St. Louis, to St. Louis, 261 miles; Terre Haute & Indianapolis, Indianapolis to St. Louis, 240 miles.
BELT LINE AND UNION DEPOT.
At as early a date as 1845, when as yet the Madison was the only road entering the city, the business men of Indianapolis foresaw the future importance of their city as a railway center, and the necessity of providing adequate depot facilities. A company was consequently organized under the name of the Union Railroad Company, and was authorized by the council in December of that year, for the purpose of providing adequate terminal facilities. In 1853 a track connecting the various lines which had reached here, and a Union Depot had been built. The company was at that time composed of the Madison & Indianapolis, Bellefontaine, and Terre Haute & Richmond companies. Other railway companies joined the union from time to time, securing tenant rights, and it soon became evident that the Union Depot, extensive as had been its provisions at the time of its erection, was insufficient. The company was consequently reorgan- ized and incorporated in 1883 under an agreement between the Chi- cago, St. Louis & Pittsburg, Jefferson, Madison & Indianapolis, Cin- cinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis & Chicago; Terre Haute & Indianap- olis, and Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis. The new building was completed in 1888. Each of the proprietary companies is represented on the board of management, and the expenses are di- vided pro rata on a train basis between the various lines that use its tracks. The cost of the Union Depot exceeded $1,000,000. It is one of the finest depots in the world, and an architectural ornament to the city.
In 1882 the Union Railway Company secured a perpetual lease of the franchise of the Belt Line Road, at a rental of 6 per centum per annum of the appraised value. It connects by means of its own tracks those of every company entering the city, charging a mileage basis on each car moved plus a fixed charge of $1 a car.
BANKS AND BANKING.
The first bank of which we find any mention in the annals of indianapolis was the State Bank of Indiana, which was chartered by the Legislature in 1834, with a capital of $1,600,000, the state taking half the stock, and private holders the remainder. It began business the same year, and its offices were in the Governor's Circle Building. On the expiration of its charter it was succeeded by the Bank of the State of Indiana, which later collapsed under the National Bank Act. Unlike its predecessor, the Bank of the State of Indiana was solely a stockholders' concern. It began business in 1855 with a capital of $1,836,000, and was wound up in 1865. The first private banking institution of which we have any record was the Indianapolis Insurance Company, chartered in 1836 with a capital of $200,000, to transact both a banking and an insurance business. It later became the Bank of Commerce. The banking house known as Fletcher's was established in 1839 by S. O. Fletcher, Sr. Its capital at the start was but $3,000. E. S. Alvord & Co. opened a banking establishment in 1839, discontinuing it in 1843. Several other banking concerns were established under the Free Banking Law of 1852, a financial system which caused great trouble in the commercial circles of the city, and which resulted in the "Free Bank Panic" of 1855. They were all in time forced to the wall.
The banking interests of Indianapolis to-day are on a broad, sound and conservative basis. Their management is in the hands of able and reliable financiers, and are a powerful and influential factor of the commercial and industrial resources of the city. The principal banking houses are the Indianapolis National Bank, established 1864, capital $300,000; the Indiana National Bank, established 1865, capi- tal $300,000; the Merchants' National Bank, established 1865, capital $100,000; the Meridian National Bank, capital $200,000; the Bank of Commerce, capital $200,000; the banking house of A. Fletcher & Co., established in 1837, capital $1,000,000. There are also several pri- · vate banking houses. A clearing house has been in successful opera- tion since 1871.
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INDIANAPOLIS ILLUSTRATED, THE CAPITAL CITY OF INDIANA.
BOARD OF TRADE.
The business men of Indianapolis early learned the advantages of united effort in building up the trade and commerce of the city. The Indian- apolis Board of Trade was organized in 1864, and was reorganized in 1882. The membership is limited to 500, and its objects, in addition to those of a general character pertaining to all similar bodies, is the payment of mortuary benefits to the heirs of deceased members. The membership fee is $15 per year, and none but active, healthy business men under sixty years of age can become mem- bers. Throughout the history of the organization it has contributed in a material way to the promotion of the interests of trade Indianapolis.
THE COMMERCIAL CLUB.
Another prominent and useful organization in connection with the business interests of the city is the young and vigorous Commercial Club). Its members comprise the leading men in all walks of business and pro- fessional life, and it is. doing much to advance and promote all measures of improvement. In addition to the above mentioned leading organiza- tions there are a number of others, the scope of which is more limited, their business being the facilitating
THOMAS J. COLBERT, CHIEF OF POLICE, INDIANAPOLIS.
of trade in special branches of indus- try. It is not possible to make an extended notice of these, but the fact of their existence goes to prove that in all the aids of organization, the business men of this city are fully alive to the advantages of unity.
REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE.
The real estate market of this city is one of great activity, and the rapid, steady advance of values is the best index to its prosperity. We have in a preceding part of this work shown how town lots in the beginning, could hardly find a purchaser. But in realty, as in every other linc, the advent of the railway worked a won- derful change. The advance in prices has since been steady, and assess- ment of realty has ever had an upward tendency, while taxation has decreased its rate. Residence prop- erty in tlie fashionable quarters of course commands a good price, but there are few cities where the workingman lıas such excellent op- portunities to become his own land- lord. Rents of stores are moderate, while manufacturing sites can be obtained on most acceptable terms. The citizens of Indianapolis are firm believers in the greatness of the future of their city, and have
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INDIANAPOLIS ILLUSTRATED, THE CAPITAL CITY OF INDIANA.
proved themselves to be so by investing their capital at home, and they are at all times ready and willing to aid all industrial ventures of establishment by offering to manufacturers and capitalists excellent sites perfectly adopted for their purposes.
INSURANCE .- The history of insurance in Indianapolis is one of great interest, but it is impossible within the scope of this work to do more than briefly touch upon it. In February, 1836, the first home insurance company was chartered for fifty years, with a capital of $200,000. The charter was renewed in 1865, a new and vigorous company was organized as the Indianapolis Insurance Company. Up to a quarter century ago the insurance business here was mostly done through the agency of representatives of eastern companies. Now it is a vast and important local interest, with many agencies and several sound and reliable home companies. Among the principal among the latter are the Indiana of Indianapolis, chartered in 1851; the Franklin, also chartered in 1851; the German Mutual, incorpo- rated in 1854; the National Benefit Association of Indianapolis, char- tered in 1881; the Old Wayne of this city, organized in 1883; the In- dianapolis Mutual Fire, organized in 1884; the Manufacturers' Mutual Fire, organized in 1866, etc. All the leading European and American corporations are represented here. The underwriters of Indianapolis are an intelligent and progressive body of men, and are always to be found in the front rank of those seeking to promote the welfare and advancement of the community.
TAXATION AND VALUATION.
Indianapolis has a lower rate of taxation than any other city of equal size in the United States. The following is a comparative statement of the valuations of property from 1888 to 1892, both inclusive: 1888, $831,287,368; 1889, $843,483, 466; 1890, $857,674,387; 1891, $1,255,256,038; 1892, $1,266,855,388.
NATURAL GAS.
Although but a few years have elapsed since natural gas was first discovered in Indiana, this is to-day well supplied with it both as an
illuminating power, and as an aid to industry. Gas was discovered in 1886 in Delaware County, and subsequent prospecting has developed the fact that Indiana is a rich gas field. Investigation has shown that wells can be profitably driven in Hamilton, Hancock, Madison, Delaware, Blackford, Tipton, Howard and Grand counties, and in part of the counties of Henry, Randolph, Jay, Clinton, Miami and Wabash. The gas field extends southwest, east, north and north east of this city. The citizens of Indianapolis were not slow to avail themselves of the great advantages to be used by the use of natural gas. Several companies have been formed to supply the city, and many miles of tubing pipe the fluid to this point. The low rate at which manufacturers can be supplied with any amount required for motor power has given a great impetus to local manufacturing. In October, 1892, a contract was entered into by the city with the Manu- facturers Natural Gas Company, providing for the piping of gas into Indianapolis, to be used solely by manufacturers, and to be supplied free of charge in return for certain privileges granted by the city to the company. There are other companies also operating here, most of the capital used being local, and Indianapolis, to her other and previous great advantages, adds that of being to-day one of the lead- ing natural gas consumers on the continent. The great impetus whichi this must necessarily impart to her manufacturing interests cannot be over estimated, while the resultant absence of soot and smoke from the use of natural gas will add one more feature to her attractiveness as a place of residence.
TRADE AND COMMERCE.
Indianapolis, by reason of its central situation and unequaled transportation facilities, has become one of the greatest markets of the United States. It is the central point for distribution and ship- ment of the products of the fertile fields, forests and rich coal mines f Indiana, while its receipts from outside points are fully commensurate with its shipments. The wholesale trade is a very important factor of the city's greatness, and the annual transactions now foot up into the millions. Indianapolis traveling men, or drummers, are to
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INDIANAPOLIS ILLUSTRATED, THE CAPITAL CITY OF INDIANA.
be found in every part of the Union, the operations of the jobbing houses are annually expanding and sales increasing. About 500 houses are engaged in the jobbing trade, as compared with some 200 in 1888, the principal lines represented being agricultural implements, bakers', barbers' and dental supplies, boots and shoes, builders' ma- terial, canned goods, oysters and fish, china, glass and queensware, cigars and tobacco, clothing, coffee, spices and baking powder, prod- uce commission, coal, confectionery, dressed beef, drugs, dry goods, flour and feed, groceries, hardware and iron, hats and caps, hides and pelts, jewelry, leather and findings, liquors, lumber, millinery, no- tions and toys, paper, rags and iron, railroad supplies, roofing slate, roofing material, rubber goods, scales, seeds, stationery, stoves, tin- ners' supplies, tobacco leaf, vinegar, yeast, etc.
As an illustration of the volume of the trade done at this point, we quote the following figures taken from the report of the Board of Trade, and railroads, showing receipts and shipments during the period mentioned:
The receipts and shipments of flour, grain and merchandise are for the eleven months ended December 1, 1892. In nearly every instance they show an increase over the same period of the previous year.
Flour, barrels
117,340
335,370
Wheat, bushels
3,338,800
105,700
Corn, bushels
2,934,600
492,600
Oats. bushels.
953,000
438,000
Rye, bushels
20,500
7,200
Barley, bushels
45,000
5,400
Bran, tons
1,980
8,294
Hay, cars.
1,079
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Broom corn, pounds
2,675,000
45,000
Cement, barrels.
112,879
50,547
Coal, cars
27,213
1,415
Coke, cars.
810
1,324
Cooperage, cars.
868
1,088
Meal and hominy, pounds.
996.322
24,448.030
Cotton, bales.
1,349
117
Cattle, head.
149,980
98,953
Hogs, head.
927,094
462,277
Horses, head.
11,678
9,529
Mules, head
922
2,572
Sheep, head.
64,042
1,494
Eggs, cases.
31,996
12,019
Receipts.
Shipments.
Fruit, pounds.
33,810,855
10,241,572 1,261,300
Hair and bristles, pounds.
1,596,534
Hides, pounds
4,194,997
11,358,900
Ice, cars.
827
211
Iron, cars
4,336
2,682
Lard, tierces
1,561
27,830
Lath, cars
204
34
Lime, cars
1.106
84
Logs, cars
3,726
17
Lumber, cars
11,195
2,283
Machinery. cars
1,076
1,984
Meats, bulk, pounds.
12,234,151
85,408,900
Oil, barrels
113,056
63,931
Pork, barrels
5,099
5,071
Potatoes, busbels.
273,806
677,138
Poultry, pounds. .
1,122,279
6,154,083
Provisions, pounds
27,290,964
15,256,909
Salt, barrels
40,331
44,705
Shingles, cars.
481
22
Liquors, barrels
35,178
59,450
Starch, pounds.
1,668,383
28,174,910
Stone, cars ..
5,897
146
Tallow, pounds.
796,537
2,688,641
Tobacco, pounds
4,593,738
304,813
Wool, pounds.
1,712,823
1,692,758
Miscellaneous, pounds.
354,532,310
262,569,461
Merchandise, pounds.
638,304,544
642,040,659
Receipts.
Shipments.
The retail establishments of Indianapolis are fully equal in management, variety and excellence of their wares, and attractive features as those of any large commercial center. Our citizens, while in no way extravagant, are refined, and none but the best class of goods and perfect attendance will satisfy their requirements. The cost of living is extremely moderate, and our markets and counters are daily replenished with the finest and choicest of everything in season.
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
That Indianapolis is a great manufacturing center is a fact well known not only in every part of America, but also in all foreign markets. We will not enter into any narrative of the first attempts at production in the early years of the town. Previous to the incor- poration of Indianapolis as a city, the manufacturing, except for home demand, was infinitesimal. Occasional attempts, it is true, had been
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INDIANAPOLIS ILLUSTRATED, THE CAPITAL CITY OF INDIANA.
made in iron, wool, oil, tobacco, hemp, etc., but as there were no transportation facilities, and consequently no markets, failure was in- evitable. In 1851 the city had two foundries, three machine and one boiler shop, fifty steam engines had been built, and a firm had com- menced to make threshing machines. But with the advent of the railroad all was changed. Industries at once sprung into being, and as early as 1852 we are told that "the Washington foundry was enlarged, and Osgood & Smith's last factory, Geisendorff's woolen mill, Drew's carriage establishment, Shellenbarger's planing mill, Macy's pork house," were started. Thenceforward the advance has been rapid, and the cities that lead Indianapolis to-day in the variety and extent of her manufacturing interests, can be counted on the fingers of one hand. There are over one thousand manufacturing establishments in the city, representing a capital of $40,000,000, giving employment to 40,000 wage-earners, and having an average annual output of the value of $85,000, 000. The introduction of natural gas has greatly promoted these enterprises by materially reducing the cost of produc- tion, while the close proximity of the city to the magnificent hard- wood forests, stone fields and gas fields, has had a no less beneficial effect. The low freight rates afforded by the excellent railway facil- ities enjoyed have also largely contributed to this success
The leading branches of industrial work performed in Indian- apolis are pork packing, the manufacture of furniture, the manufacture of lumber, wagons and carriage wheel staves, woodenware, car wood- work boxes, engine mills and other machinery, architectural iron work, springs, bolts, malleable iron work, saws, stoves, surgical in- struments, wire, flour, malt, liquors, bricks, clothing, textile fabrics, stone work, boots and shoes, pumps, files, starch, hominy, oils, medi- cines, tinware, varnishes, sash, doors and blinds, pottery, pulleys, pianos, etc. The list can be extended to include almost every article manfactured in the northern states.
THE FUTURE.
We might thus go on detailing all the multiple advantages of Indianapolis as a residential city, as a mart of trade, as the great manufacturing center of this section of the country, but space will
not permit. To those who have seen Indianapolis, who have beheld the rush and hurry of its business thoroughfares, who have examined into the workings of her immense manufactories, mills, and other in- dustrial establishments, to those who have witnessed the calm and serenity of her home life, the courtesy of her sons and daughters, the superiority of her social circles, the inexpressible charm of her social relations, it is not necessary for us to speak. They have witnessed, and are in a fit position to arrive at a proper estimate, and well bal- anced conclusion. Desiring to consider the city from a merely ma- terial point of view, we have purposely omitted any reference to the elements which pertain more properly to the intellectual side of life; we have omitted to enumerate the many advantages to be obtained by a residence here, the pure and exalted literary surroundings, the atmosphere of refinement which is the special characteristic of her society. This much, however, we will add, that there is no other American city which can offer to the capitalist surer or more remuner- ative investments; none other can give to the industrious and intel- ligent mechanic, the skilled artisan, the workingman of every degree, as ample facitities for owning his own home. Here his children will find educational facilities equal to these, provided by any other com- munity, employment is to himself assured, while the higher aims and demands of life are liberally catered to. The conditions which sur- round his daily existence are elevating and favorable to the bettering of his social condition, and assure the future prosperity and success of the members of his family. From a material point of view the advantages of Indianapolis are obvious; the central point of the rail- way system of America, the center of a railroad traffic which cannot but endure and increase, this is the natural and logical side of one of the greatest commercial and industrial metropolis of the Union. The availability of its location, the fertility and wealth of natural products of the territory tributary to it, a salubrious climate, an excellent system of waterworks, a municipality well and economically governed, a low rate of taxation-for all these and many other reasons, Indianapolis must be regarded as the coming city, the Queen of the Central Western States.
WORLD'S FAIR
Largest House Furnishing Establishment in the West, JOBBERS OF ALL KINDS OF HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES,
INDIANAPOLIS, - INDIANA.
ENDIANAPOLIS leads all the cities in the Union, in the possession of the Mammoth House Furnishing Establishment, known as the " World's Fair," and of which Mr. John Clune is the able and enterprising proprietor. His record is emphatically one of progress. Here in Indianapolis he has developed a vast emporium of furniture and every imaginable description of house furnishing supplies, and so great has the demand grown, that he has been obliged to open two additional establishments, one known as "The Great Exchange," at 84 East Washington street; the other known as the " Bargain Store," at 79 West Washington street. The main store was opened in 1890, and occupies the conspicuous and remarkably handsome five-story and basement modern building, corner of West Washington and Tennessee streets. It has a grand plate glass front on ground floor, the pillars being of cutstone, presenting a very fine effect. The show windows make a magnificent display of everything in the house furnishing line, and offer a fitting index to the vast stock within. The building fronts for 85 feet on Washington street, and for 175 feet on South Tennessee, thus affording an enormous area of floor space. The Great Exchange occupies four floors and basement, as also does the Bargain Store. The stock includes a complete line of furniture from the finest cabinet work down to medium grades, all fresh in stock, new in style, honestly made and perfectly finished, and sold at prices, which are the con- sternation of the trade everywhere. Here are large departments devoted to crockery, China ware, glass, stoves and kitchen utensils, carpets, oil cloths, window shades, lace curtains, etc., refrigerators, baby carriages, etc. This immense stock of goods, the largest and most com- plete of its kind in the west, occupies eighteen large store-rooms, requires eighty-five clerks and salesmen, and keeps twelve delivery wagons busy all the time. Mr. Clune does a large wholesale and jobbing trade, as well as that at retail, and sells all over this state and in Ohio, Illinois and Kentucky to dealers, keeping travelers on the road, and offering better goods, better prices, and more liberal inducements than houses elsewhere. He did a business of over $335,000 last year, and sold fully $100,000 worth of goods outside of the city, which is a record hard to beat. He is ever on the look out for bargains and contracts with manufacturers for their entire output. Fresh goods are being received here every day, and Mr. Clune gives close personal supervision over every department. Born in this city thirty years ago, and having always been connected with the furniture business, he became thoroughly acquainted with the wants of the public and the trade, and be- ginning in business for himself some eight years ago, now has the largest store in the state. This is a brilliant record. His success is due to industry, push and marked ability, and his stock is not duplicated elsewhere, because no other house has such a thoroughly broad concep- tion of just what the people want. Mr Clune is a member of the Commercial Club, popular and respected, and has by progressive energy rendered the " World's Fair" the popular center of the house furnishing goods trade for this city and state.
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WORLD'S FAIR STORE
CARTEACCES ONUCENSTARE STOVES FURNITURE A CARPETS.
WORLD'S FAIR
WORLDS FAIF EST STOREIN THE STA
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Railway Officials and Employes Accident Association,
25 to 32 Ingalls Block,
INDIANAPOLIS,
INDIANA.
HE Railway Officials and Employes Accident Association of Indianapolis oc- pies a unique position among the accident companies of the country. It is sui generis. Commencing business with the latter half of the year 1889, its growth bas been remarkable, its success unprecedented, and its example one which might be followed with advantage by like institutions. Confining its business in the first two years exclusively to the insurance of men in the railroad service, it has in little over three years built up the largest railroad business of any company in existence. It had for its competitors in this special class of work, the rich old-line companies.
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