Polk's Indianapolis (Marion County, Ind.) city directory, 1938, Part 2

Author:
Publication date: 1938
Publisher: R.L. Polk
Number of Pages: 2004

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Population

The Federal Census for 1930 gave Indianapolis a population of 364,161. It is the capital and largest city of Indiana, and is the twenty-first city in population in the United States. It is the second largest state capital. Indianapolis has maintained a steady, normal growth in population.

1930 CENSUS

Color, Nativity and

Citizenship

Total

Male

Female

1920 Total

1930

1920

Total population

364,161

176,647

187,514

314,194

100.

White

320,064

155,282

164,782

279,411

87.9

88.9

Native

306,324

147,968

158,356

262,453

84.1

83.5

Foreign-born

13,740

7,314

6,426

16,958

3.8

5.4

Negro

43,967

21,263

22,704

34,678

12.1

11.0

Other races

130

102

105

The Bureau of the Census has established a metropolitan district for Indianapolis, having an area of 311.75 square miles and a total population in 1930 of 417,685, of which 364,161 are in the city of Indianapolis and 53,524 outside. The general rule followed has been to include with the central city all surrounding contiguous minor civil divisions having a density of not less than 150 inhabitants per square mile, but to include also any minor civil division of less density, if it directly adjoins the central city or is nearly surrounded by other minor civil divisions that have the required density.

STATE HOUSE

Population

Population 1930

1920

Per cent of Land Area Per Sq. Mi.

increase

Sq. Mi.

Metropolitan District Indianapolis City

417,685

343,868

21.5

311.75

1339.8

364,161

314,194

15.9

54.16

6725.0

Outside City

53,524

29,674

80.4

257.60

207.8

1930

Per cent Distribution

INTRODUCTION

Indianapolis is in the center of and the capital of a state having a population of 3,238,503 in 1930, and is near the population center of the United States. It is nearly in the center of the corn belt and the wheat belt. It is in the center of the Mid-West manu- facturing region that produces thirty per cent of the nation's industrial output. In the heart of the city is a magnificent circle, surrounded by a street ninety feet in width and one-fifth of a mile around, in the center of which stands a 28412-foot massive stone monu- ment erected in honor of the soldiers and sailors of Indiana who participated in the Civil and other wars. Radiating from this circle are four wide avenues affording outlets to all parts of the city. It has been around this regularly-platted area that Indianapolis has grown from a mere village in 1821 to its present population. More than 96 per cent of its inhabitants are American-born.

Topography

The topography of the territory surrounding Indianapolis has never hindered the city's growth in any direction. Indianapolis covers an area of 54.16 square miles.

Climate and Precipitation

There are less than four months in the year in which the lowest daily temperature runs below freezing. Yet summer temperatures do not range excessively high, and are rendered unoppressive by the low humidity which usually prevails. The average January temperature in Indianapolis is 33.2 degrees, and the average July temperature is 75.4 de- grees. There are times during the summer when as much as 16 hours of outdoor work may be performed without artificial light. The precipitation for 1937 was 44.15 inches.

........ .. .

U. S. COURT HOUSE AND POST OFFICE

National Market

Finished goods are sold, not to square miles, but to population. So far as theoretical analysis goes, Indianapolis stands supreme as a center from which to serve the national market, either for finished products going directly to the consumer, or for semi-finished goods requiring further manufacture. Indianapolis is already famous as a center for na- tional distribution and is rapidly increasing its prestige in this respect.

This Middle Western district is the heart of the nation's manufacturing activities. Among the first 18 cities in the United States with respect to the annual value of manu- factured products, 10 are in this great section of the country. The manufacturing density of this district in relation to its area is five times the average for the country as a whole. The center of population of the United States, the center of manufacture, the corn center and other centers are located in the immediate center of this area. The territory as a geographical unit is probably the richest and most intensified producing region in the world. Although representing less than 6% of the total area of the country, it contributes 30% of the total manufactured products. It has a population of 25,000,000, or 20% of the total population of the United States.

INTRODUCTION

Trading Radius

Indianapolis is located in the heart of a rich buying market. Few cities enjoy such stability of commerce and industry. Its security is its surrounding farm land, where great agricultural wealth abounds and where 2,000,000 prospective buyers within two hours' ride, over 10,000,000 within a few hours' ride, and more than 60,000,000 within a radius of 500 miles can be reached over-night. " The immediate trading radius includes the central portion

INDIANA NATIONAL BANK OF INDIANAPOLIS

of Indiana. It extends practically 70 miles in every direction. The business of this district is so closely tied up with that of Indianapolis as to be practically inseparable. To the people living in cities in this district, whether 1,000 population or over 30,000, Indianapolis is the market place. One distinguishing feature of this district is the transportation situa- tion. A network of steam and electric railways, together with numerous motorbus lines, welds this territory in one compact unit. County seats and hundreds of smaller towns and villages around Indianapolis have direct connections with the city. The annual purchasing power of the Indianapolis trading area is estimated to be $750,000,000.

Manufacture

Indianapolis is a city of diversified industries. The products of these are motor vehicle parts, meat-packing and slaughtering products, metal and machine shop products, hosiery, pharmaceuticals, etc. The 800 industries of Indianapolis use a wide variety of raw materials and turn their finished and semi-finished products into many different lines of consumption. More than 1,200 different commodities are manufactured in Indianapolis. The city is not dominated by any one industry or one group of related industries. Diversifica- tion has long been recognized as a desirable characteristic of a city's industry.

Trade

Indianapolis is a wholesale center of importance. In 1935 there were 735 wholesalers and distributors, and 4,757 retail establishments in Indianapolis. The territory has 37 towns of 1,000 population or more, served by these jobbers and retailers. Many of these organizations reach over the entire country. Indianapolis, although 21st in population, is 13th in volume of retail sales.

WHOLESALE

According to the data collected in the Census of Distribution taken in 1935, the volume of business done by the 430 wholesalers proper located in the city of Indianapolis during the year 1935 amounted to $109,154,000. These wholesalers employed 5,401 men and women, paid them $8,011,000 in salaries and wages, and carried a stock at the end of the year, the cost value of which amounted to $11,592,000.

In addition to the wholesalers proper, there is also a large number of establishments in the wholesale field, such as manufacturers' sales branches and bulk tank stations in the petroleum industry, which operate very much like wholesalers. The total volume of business transacted by all establishments in the wholesale field in Indianapolis in 1935 amounted to $306,302,000. This volume of business was reported by 735 establish- ments which employed 8,232 men and women, paid them salaries and wages of $13,- 030,000, and carried a stock at the end of the year, the cost value of which amounted to $15,493,000.

INTRODUCTION

MERIDIAN STREET LOOKING NORTH FROM MARYLAND STREET

The 1935 census of wholesale distribution for Indianapolis covering 430 wholesale establishments (exclusive of manufacturers' sales branches with and without stocks, bulk stations, agents and brokers) lists the following number of firms under each classifica- tion and their volume of business for the year:

NORTH ILLINOIS STREET LOOKING NORTH FROM WASHINGTON STREET

Business

No. of Firms

Sales Volume

Business Classifications

No. of Firms

Sales Volume

Amusement and sporting goods

$ 803,000

Groceries and foods

(specialties)

4.6

5,724,000

Beers, wines and liquors

3,838,000

Hardware

5,417,000

Chemicals and paints

815,000

Jewelry and optical goods

656,000

Clothing and furnishings

1,055,000

Lumber and construction materials

2,119,000

Drugs (full line)

5,716,000

Machinery equipment and supplies

6,056,000

Drugs and drug sundries (specialties)

211,000

Dry goods

2,001,000

Paper and its products 16

3,974,000

Electrical goods

6,796,000

Petroleum and its products 4

1,415,000

Farm products-consumers' goods

11,455,000

Farm products-raw

8,674,000

Farm supplies

4,799,000

4 4,711,000

Furniture and house furnishings

1,676,000

All other products

2,100,000

RETAIL

Indianapolis is a much more important retail center than its population indicates because of the flow of retail trade constantly attracted to the city by its unusual retail facilities from a large territory that blankets central Indiana.

The Retail Distribution Census for 1935 reveals that Indianapolis had a total of 4,757 retail establishments doing a business of $139,084,000, with 3,912 active proprietors employing 20,712 persons who received in wages and salaries that year, $18,911,000.

There were 1,575 stores in the food group which did an annual business in 1935, of $28,663,000. This group had 3,127 employees who received $2,791,000 in salaries and wages.

In the general merchandise group, which includes dry goods, department and variety stores, there were 137 establishments, with $29,634,000 in sales, and 5,451 employees who received $4,923,000 in wages.

Groceries (full line)

9,273,000

Automotive

11,322,000

Coal and coke

1,476,000

Metals and metal work (except scrap) 6

2,387,000

Plumbing and heating equipment and supplies 10

1,456,000

Tobacco and its products (except leaf)

Waste materials

3,229,000

INTRODUCTION

Classifications

FLETCHER TRUST BUILDING

INTRODUCTION

In the apparel group there were 247 stores which did a volume of business in 1935, of $11,442,000, giving employment to 1,615 persons who received $1,611,000 in salaries and wages.

The automotive group, according to the 1935 census, had 311 places of business doing a sales volume of $19,591,000. This group gave employment to 1,717 persons who received $2,112,000 in salaries and wages.

This census also listed 444 filling stations which did an annual business for 1935, of $7,739,000, and gave employment to 890 persons who were paid $950,000 in salaries and wages.

The furniture-household group of retail establishments was shown to have 142 stores which did $7,131,000 in business in 1935. These stores employed 1,160 persons and paid $1,294,000 in wages.

The lumber-building-hardware group was shown to have 144 stores which did $2,458,- 000 in business in 1935 and employed 422 persons who received $403,000 in wages.

This census also revealed a total of 828 eating and drinking establishments in 1935 doing an annual business of $8,612,000 and giving employment to 2,782 persons who received $1,467,000 in wages.

According to the 1935 census, Indianapolis had 295 drug stores which did $9,433,000 in business that year. These stores employed 1,286 persons and paid $1,068,000 in salaries and wages.

All other retail stores (which include cigar stores and stands, florists, fuel and ice, feed, farm supplies, jewelry, periodicals, package liquor and miscellaneous classifica- tions) numbered 503 establishments doing $13,670,000 in business in 1935. These stores employed 2,136 persons and paid $2,187,000 in salaries and wages.

INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC LIBRARY

Transportation

The geographical location of Indianapolis, and the topography of the surrounding region, have operated to the city's advantages as a transportation center. The location of Indianapolis places it in the pathway of the country's great east-west traffic flow, and the absence of any hazards of land formation has made the unhampered development of trans- portation facilities possible. Sixteen steam railroad lines lead in every direction from In- dianapolis. Companies having one or more lines serving Indianapolis are the C., C., C. & St. L. (Big Four), Baltimore & Ohio, Illinois Central, C., I. & L., Nickel Plate and Pennsylvania. The Belt Railroad in Indianapolis has direct connection with sixteen entering lines, and insures rapid interchange of traffic from one to another. It swings around the east, south and west sections of the city, and provides switching facilities for hundreds of acres of ex- cellent factory-site property. All switching and wheelage charges are absorbed by the rail- roads, so that the Indianapolis manufacturer, whether he is located on the Belt or on an individual railroad line, can ship or receive goods via any one of the sixteen lines without cost other than the regular freight charges as established by the Indiana Public Service Commission and the Interstate Commerce Commission.

INTRODUCTION

One hundred twenty-one railroad passenger trains arrive and depart from Indian- apolis daily. One hundred forty interurban passenger cars arrive and depart each day.

Five electric railway lines enter the city, and are of distinct value to its manufacturers in their contact with the Middle Western market. Rapid freight service has been featured by the interurban companies, and covers points in Ohio and Kentucky, for first, second and third-day delivery.

There are more than 120 motor truck lines operating out of Indianapolis, giving sched- uled package freight delivery service and having also the facilities for special contract work.

SECOND HAND WIFE UM SALLY EILER: RALPH DELLA

RAILWAYS

502

INDIANAPOLIS RAILWAYS

Indianapolis has one of the finest transit systems in the country as the result of a comprehensive modernization program begun in 1932 by Indianapolis Railways, which or- ganization operates the street cars, buses and trackless trolleys in the Hoosier capital.

Twelve street-car lines, eighteen trackless trolley routes and fifteen motor-coach lines run into every section of the city, serving a total of 212,000 passengers per day. It is said that the lines of Indianapolis Railways go to within a short distance of every home in the city. In addition to the above, seven feeder bus routes are operated.

Since 1932, Indianapolis Railways has spent $8,000,000 for new equipment. This in- cludes new rolling stock, track, overhead lines and other equipment. Of this amount, ap- proximately $4,000,000 was spent for new street cars, buses and trackless trolleys.

Twenty-three miles of new track have been laid as a part of the modernization pro- gram, at a cost of $1,185,000. New shops buildings, for the servicing and maintenance of the trolleys and buses, have been built at a cost of $800,000.

Schedules have been improved, transfers have been simplified, new safety factors have been made use of, and employees have expanded their usefulness and service to the patron. The Indianapolis Railways system is justly famous for its excellent service-recognized everywhere for its comfort, dependability and economy.

Transit experts from England, Canada, Australia and all parts of the U. S. have visited Indianapolis to see the new equipment and methods of operation.

Until a short time ago, Indianapolis had the largest fleet of trackless trolleys in the U. S. At present the city is tied for first-place honors with Chicago. Each city has 152 trackless trolleys.

Automobiles

The average number of persons entering Indianapolis by passenger automobile per day is estimated to be 30,000. In 1937, 122,709 licenses were issued for passenger automobiles in Marion County. Excellent city paving and connecting hard roads have made automo- bile and truck transportation a most important factor in local distribution.

INTRODUCTION

Aviation

Indianapolis is directly in the line of the safest, swiftest, most direct and most economi- cal airway between the East and the West. There are five landing fields adjacent to the city. Privately-owned, Hoosier and Capitol airports. Governmental, Schoen Field at Fort Benjamin Harrison; Mars Hill, which is the National Guard field, and the Indian- apolis Municipal Airport.

MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

The Indianapolis Municipal Airport ranks among the largest and best equipped in the entire country. It is located six and seven-tenths miles southwest of the center of the business district of the city, and can be reached in from fifteen to twenty minutes. It is just south of the main east and west thoroughfare through Indianapolis, which is U. S. National Highway 40. The port consists of one thousand acres and is one and one-half miles across from east to west and one and one-quarter miles across from north to south.

A $160,000 hangar and administration building houses the following: Control tower, weather bureau, office space for operators, restaurant, Western Union and Postal Tele- graph air mail office, chart room, emergency hospital, ticket office, waiting room and other facilities for handling the public. The hangar is approximately 100x300 feet and is the first unit of a series of hangars and buildings to be constructed in the future. Two con- crete runways are two thousand feet long and one hundred feet wide, running north and south and southwest and northeast. The third is eleven hundred feet long and one hun- dred four feet wide, running southeast and northwest.

The Government maintains a radio beacon station, which is located in the extreme southeast corner of the field. The United States Weather Bureau has installed complete weather forecasting equipment including upper air observation. It is able to give hourly weather reports for all parts of the United States.

The north portion of the airport (107 acres) has been set aside for the development of aviation industries. Industries located on this ground will have the use of one of the outstanding airports in the country. This industrial ground is served by railroad, inter- urban, bus and truck lines and is close to one of the best labor communities in the city.

The Indianapolis Municipal Airport is owned, managed and operated by the City of Indianapolis. The field is for the use of any and all licensed operators of aircraft. Ac- tivity in all phases of aviation is encouraged.

Banks

During the year 1937 the bank clearings for Indianapolis banking houses, members of the Indianapolis Clearing House Association. were $956,086,000. Debits, $2,438,890,000. Re- sources of all Indianapolis banks are $290.993,000.

Building and Loan Associations

There are 27 building and loan associations in Indianapolis, one of which is the largest in the Middle West and the second largest in the country. This major institution has a capitalization of $28,000,000.

Churches

There are 481 churches in Indianapolis, representing all denominations and nation- alities.

Electricity

The local power company has 131,487 meters installed. Direct and alternating current is available in the downtown business district, known as the "mile square." All other sec- tions are supplied with alternating current.

The rates of the Indianapolis Power & Light Co. governing the use of domestic and commercial service compare favorably with those of comparable cities, and due to the wide diversity of the manufacturing institutions on its system, the rates for industrial services are low.

INTRODUCTION

Gas

One of the important requirements of industry is an adequate supply of a refined and controllable fuel. A gas service of excellent quality is furnished in Indianapolis. A total of 82,673 customers were being served with gas in December, 1937. There are 992 miles of gas mains in Indianapolis. Rates are: First 10,000 cubic feet, 95c per 1,000 cu. ft .; next 10,000 cu. ft., 85c; next 10,000 cu. ft., 75c; all over 30,000 cu. ft., 60c.

ANAPOLI POWER E LIGHT CO

EE EE EE EE

ECLEER

ELECTRIC BUILDING

Water

The capacity of pumping units serving the public water supply system is over 185,- 000,000 gallons daily. There are 670 miles of mains, 6,042 public fire hydrants, and 76,271 accounts (December, 1937). Normal pressure in the down-town district varies from 55 to 62 lbs. The primary source of supply from White River is supplemented by deep wells, with Fall Creek as an available source in case of emergency. Treatment of the supply includes coagulation, filtration, sterilization and taste correction. Cost of water varies according to consumption, with industries receiving one of the best rates in the country.

Coal

Reached by three railroads in three hours from Indianapolis are 20 beds containing more than 40 billion tons of bituminous coal. Proximity of these inexhaustible supplies to water sources enable development of generating plants and systems to convert the coal at its source into electric power for industries. The freight rate on Indiana coal into Indianapolis is more than one-half less than on coal from eastern Kentucky or West Virginia.

Factory Sites

Indianapolis has in reserve a vast area for industrial expansion. Many acres are avail- able. These districts are interwoven with a network of railroads, including the belt system, affording a great centralized industrial transportation system. Raw materials, transporta- tion, power, labor and market are available in this city.

Foreign Trade

A survey of foreign trade reveals that Indianapolis firms are doing business in every corner of the world and that the total volume of business, imports and exports, runs into many millions of dollars. While Indianapolis exports a tremendous quantity of merchan- dise, manufactured articles and raw materials, certain articles predominate. Among these are automobile accessories, meat products, metal products and machinery, drugs and pharmaceuticals, food products, flour and grain. Imports come from many countries.

INTRODUCTION

Building

New building and electrical construction in Indianapolis totaled $8,496,019 in value for 1937. During the year there were 6,937 permits issued.

Assessed Valuation

The assessed valuation of property in Indianapolis on which taxes will be paid in 1938 is $517,444,020.

CIRCLE TOWER

Taxes

Indiana revised its plan of taxation recently and the result of the changes should be substantial reductions in property taxes to more than offset the new taxes levied by other means.

Indianapolis, for instance, has a total property tax rate this year of $3.20 on each $100 of assessed valuation.

A gross income tax has been levied, amounting to one-fourth of one per cent. on industrial and wholesale business, and one per cent. on individual incomes.

In addition, the owner of intangibles has been greatly benefited by enactment of a special plan of taxing intangibles at 25 cents on each $100.

Greater dependence also is being placed upon other sources of revenue, including taxes upon the sale of alcoholic beverages.

The Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce maintains a department which has for several years participated with the local officials in formulation of their fiscal programs, helping to guarantee balanced budgets along with economy programs that have helped Indianapolis avoid the financial pitfalls that have greatly disturbed many other large communities, leaving huge tax bills for past expenditures that eventually must be met, and can only be met through great burden upon their taxpayers.

INTRODUCTION

Telephone Service

On Jan. 23, 1933, the new headquarters building of the Indiana Bell Telephone Co., 240 N. Meridian St., was opened to the public, climaxing a two-year building program which included the moving of the old main building to a position at 15 W. New York St. Today the most modern in telephone equipment is available to businesses and homes in the com- munity; and adequate toll facilities reach in all directions, affording speedy and economical communication.

Over fourteen hundred trained telephone workers are employed by the Indiana Bell organization in Indianapolis. The total number of telephones in service in the city is 80,634.

ADMINISTRATION AND EQUIPMENT BLDG., INDIANA BELL TELEPHONE CO., INDIANAPOLIS

Recreational Features

The Indianapolis park system is a major asset in a program of community develop- ment. Indianapolis ranks high among the larger cities in the standing of its parks and recreation facilities. In the 3,000-acre system there are 32 parks, a dozen of which are large ones.

Since 1930 the six municipal golf courses have been self-sustaining. The City of Indianapolis has been recognized by the United States Golf Association as maintaining one of the finest municipal golf layouts in the country.

An important adjunct of the park system is 58 miles of beautiful boulevards bordered with lawns, trees and shrubs, maintained by the park department. The 47 public play- grounds, five swimming pools including one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in the country, two river beaches, eight community houses, 75 tennis courts, and numerous base- ball diamonds are of tremendous significance in the safety and recreation of the city's population.

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Polk's Indianapolis (Marion County, Ind.) city directory, 1938, Part 2

Author: Publication date: 1938 Publisher: R.L. Polk Number of Pages: 2004

Author:
Publication date: 1938
Publisher: R.L. Polk
Number of Pages: 2004