Polk's Indianapolis (Marion County, Ind.) city directory, 1940, Part 2

Author:
Publication date: 1940
Publisher: R.L. Polk
Number of Pages: 2158

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R. L. POLK & CO., Publishers.

INTRODUCTION

INDIANA STATE SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT

Universally admitted to be the grandest achievement of architectural and sculptural art in the world, designed to glorify the heroic epoch of the Republic and to commemorate the valor and fortitude of Indiana's soldiers and sailors in the War of the Rebellion and other wars.

Begun, 1887 ; completed, 1901; dedicated, 1902; cost, $600,000 ; diameter of plaza surrounding monument, 342 feet 7 inches; diameter of terrace, 110 feet ; height of terrace, 16 feet 4 inches ; monument foundation, 69x53 feet ; depth of foundation, 30 feet; height of monument, including foundation, 314 feet 6 inches ; height of monument from street level to top of statue, 284 feet 6 inches ; height of Victory statue, 38 feet ; shaft at top, 13 feet 3 inches ; balcony, 16 feet.

The balcony, 2281% feet above the ground, is reached by an electric elevator or by stairway consisting of 32 flights-324 steps. On reaching the balcony, visitors look over a beautiful panorama of Indianapolis and vicinity-a delightful view, not surpassed anywhere. Below the balcony is a bronze astragal bearing the dates 1861-1865 on the four sides of the shaft. Midway the monument is a second bronze astragal, em- blematic of the Navy, and further down, a third bronze astragal, representing the Army. On the east and west sides of the monument are the two largest groups that have ever been carved out of stone-the one on the east representing War, the other, Peace. On the south front are two heroic statues, each cut out of a huge block of stone ; one representing the Infantry, the other an ideal Cavalry Scout. On the north front are the Artillery and Navy representatives, same as on the south. On the east and west sides of the terrace are magnificent cascades, over each of which flow 7,000 gallons of water per minute. With eight immense candelabra, carrying 48 arc and 150 incandescent lamps, Monument Place is the most brilliantly and beauti- fully lighted spot in this country. On subordinate pedestals occupying positions in the four segments are bronze statues of Gov. Morton, Gov. Whitcomb, Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison and Gen. George Rogers Clark. Above the entrance facing the south is the inscription of dedication :

"To Indiana's Silent Victors"

.. ...

INTRODUCTION

INDIANAPOLIS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE North Meridian St., Opp. University Park

INDIANAPOLIS

"THE CENTER OF INDUSTRIAL AMERICA" CAPITAL OF INDIANA; COUNTY SEAT OF MARION COUNTY

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SERVE TO VISUALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MODERN AND PROGRESSIVE CITY IN ITS COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ASPECTS

THE LOGICAL LOCATION FOR BUSINESS INSTITUTIONS HAVING NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION

Prepared by Industrial Commission, Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce

When Indiana was admitted to the Union in 1816 it became the nineteenth state. Congress adopted a resolution donating four sections of land to the State for its cap- ital. The present downtown square mile, chosen in 1821 as the site for the location of the state capital, after considerable discussion, was named Indianapolis. On this one mile square, at almost the geographical center of Indiana, the city was laid out by the same engineer who designed the street plan of Washington, D. C. Not only is Indianapolis near the exact center of the state of Indiana, but it is likewise near the center of the great Middle West, called the most typically American section of the nation.

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

1930

1920

Per cent of Land Area Per Sq. Mi. Sq. Mi.

Metropolitan District Indianapolis City

417,685

343,868

Increase 21.5

311.75

1339.8

364,161

314,194

15.9

53.62

6725.0

Outside City

53,524

29,674

80.4

257.60

207.8

Per cent Distribution

1930

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 53.62 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 35.9 degrees, and the average July temperature is 76.2 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 1938 was 43.29 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 712 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

INTRODUCTION

Business Classifications

No. of Firms

Sales Volume

Business Classifications

No. of Firms

Sales Volume $9,273,000

Amusement and sporting goods

$ 803,000

Automotive

11,322,000

5,724,000

Beers, wines and liquors

3,838,000

Hardware

4 9

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

Metals and metal work (except scrap)

2,387,000

Dry goods

2,001,000

Paper and its products

3,974,000

Electrical goods

6,796,000

Petroleum and its products 4

1,415,000

Farm products-consumers' goods

11,455,000

Plumbing and heating equipment and supplies 10

1,456,000

Farm products-raw

8,674,000

Tobacco and its products (except leaf)

4,711,000

Furniture and house

Waste materials

3,229,000

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.

. .. .. ...... ...

FLETCHER TRUST BUILDING

5,417,000

Chemicals and paints

815,000

Jewelry and optical goods

Coal and coke

1,476,000

Groceries (full line) Groceries and foods (specialties)

Farm supplies

4,799,000

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. Eleven 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 eleven 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 seventeen railroad passenger trains arrive and depart from Indianapolis daily. One hundred fourteen interurban passenger cars arrive and depart each day.

There are more than 175 motor truck lines operating out of Indianapolis, giving scheduled package freight delivery service and having also the facilities for special con- tract work.

INDIANAPOLIS RAILWAYS

Indianapolis has one of the finest transit systems in the country as the result of a comprehensive modernization program begun in 1932 and completed in July, 1938, by In- dianapolis Railways, which organization operates the street cars, buses and trackless trolleys in the Hoosier capital.

Eleven street car lines, nineteen trackless trolley routes and fifteen motor coach lines run into every section of the city, serving a total of 210,000 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, six 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 approximately $4,000,000 was spent for new street cars, buses and trackless trolleys.

Twenty-nine miles of new track have been laid as a part of the modernization pro- gram, at a cost of $1,451,000. New shops buildings, for the servicing and maintenance of the trolleys and buses, have been built at a cost of more than $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, Norway 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 among the leaders, having 152 of these vehicles.

Outstanding recognition for the safety record of the local transit system recently came to Indianapolis Railways when it was named winner of the Anthony N. Brady Me- morial Safety Medal for "the outstanding accomplishment in safety among the transit systems of the U. S. and Canada."

Automobiles

The average number of persons entering Indianapolis by passenger automobile per day is estimated to be 30,000. In 1939, 118,137 licenses were issued for passenger automo- biles in Marion County. Excellent city paving and connecting hard roads have made auto- mobile 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. When improvements, now being constructed, are completed, the Indianapolis Municipal Airport will provide one of the finest flying fields in the world. It will have approximately 26,000 feet of paved runways, with widths varying from 100 to 150 feet. During 1939 the Civil Aeronautics Authority completed its testing station at the airport and these Federal activi- ties will assure the use of the most modern equipment available anywhere in the world.

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 1939 the bank clearings for Indianapolis banking houses, members of the Indianapolis Clearing House Association, were $976,591,000. Deposits, $318,299,000. Re- sources of all Indianapolis banks are $351,614,000.

Building and Loan Associations

There are 21 building and loan associations in Indianapolis, one of which is the largest in the Middle West and the second largest in the country. These institutions have a total capitalization of $53,898,607.

Churches

There are 250 churches in Indianapolis, representing all denominations and nation- alities.

Electricity

The local power company has 138,274 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 88,815 customers were being served with gas in 1939. There are 1,072.8 miles of gas mains in Indianapolis. Rates are: First 2,000 cubic feet, 95c per 1,000 cu. ft .; next 3,000 cu. ft., 85c; next 5,000 cu. ft., 70c; all over 10,000 cu. ft., 50c.

INDIANAPOUS POWER E LIGHT CO

CE FE BE

ELECTRIC BUILDING

Water

The capacity of pumping units serving the public water supply system is over 185,- 000,000 gallons daily. There are 692 miles of mains, 6,230 public fire hydrants, and 78,539 accounts (December, 1939). 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.

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Polk's Indianapolis (Marion County, Ind.) city directory, 1940, Part 2

Author: Publication date: 1940 Publisher: R.L. Polk Number of Pages: 2158

Author:
Publication date: 1940
Publisher: R.L. Polk
Number of Pages: 2158