USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Reading > History of Reading, Pennsylvania, and the anniversary proceedings of the sesqui-centennial, June 5-12, 1898 > Part 17
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204
HISTORY OF READING.
STAINED-GLASS WORKS.
Kase Works .- J. M. Kase, trading as J. M. Kase & Co., be- gan making stained-glass work in 1885 at 511 Washington street. He designs and manufactures memorial windows for churches and artistic work for private residences, which he puts up in different parts of Pennsylvania. Investment, $3,500; employees, 6 to 8; product, $10,000.
Heine Works .- In 1895 George W. Miller, Sylvester Weise and James T. Barlow organized the Reading Decorative Glass Co. for manufacturing stained glass work of all kinds and started a factory at 128 Penn street. They carried on the plant until January, 1898, when Joseph A. Heine became the owner and he removed it to Nineteenth street and Perkiomen avenue. In- vestment, $5,000; employees, 8; product forwarded to all parts of the country.
STEAM HEAT.
Reading Steam Heat Co .- In 1887 a company was organized by Isaac McHose, Wm. McIlvain & Sons, Levi Quier, John R. Miller, James Nolan and others, and incorporated under the name of the Reading Steam Heat and Power Co. for the pur- pose of supplying public and private buildings with steam heat, and a large plant was established on Elm street near Reed, com- prising ten boilers with a capacity of 1800 horse power. Mains were put down along Sixth, Fifth, Elm, Walnut, Washington and Penn streets, measuring nearly 11,000 feet. The company now supplies over 300 buildings. Capital, $100,000. Officers: John R. Miller, pres .; Lewis Crater, sec. and treas.
STENCILS AND RUBBER STAMPS.
Paff Works .- In 1873 Francis H. Paff began making stencil work of all kinds, police badges, corporation seals, and rubber stamps. In 1882 he located at 60 South Seventh street and has continued there since. He employs two hands, supplying orders from different parts of Pennsylvania.
Reber Works .- Horatio K. Reber has carried on rubber- stamp making since 1878. He employs two hands and manu- factures a large number of stamps which he ships to all sections of Pennsylvania. He also made stencils from 1878 to 1885.
205
TERRA COTTA.
TERRA COTTA.
Fox Works .- John Lotz carried on a hat factory at the foot of Franklin street from 1800 to 1824; then Riah Gillson pur- chased the property and converted the building into a general store for the purpose of supplying boatmen with groceries, pro- visions, etc. It was continued as a store for about 40 years. In 1868 Eli S. Fox, Walter K. Hagy and Wm. Keely, trading as Fox, Hagy & Co., established a terra cotta works on the premises. In 1870 Hagy and Keely sold their interests in the business, and George K. Whitner became a partner, the firm trading as E. S. Fox & Co. Eli S. Fox died in 1890, and his sons William, Benjamin F. and Eli W. succeeded him, and they in 1896 purchased the interest of Mr. Whitner. They manu- facture all kinds of terra cotta ware, especially stove-lining, sewer pipe and vases which are shipped to all parts of the United States. Investment, $40,000; employees, 25; annual product, $40,000.
TIN.
Reading Tin Plate Co .- In 1895 Howard L. McIlvain, Lewis Crater and Charles A. High associated together for the purpose of manufacturing tin and terne plate, and in 1896 incorporated a company with a capital of $20,000. Their plant is situated at Front and Bern streets. They employ 15 hands, and produce about 9000 boxes of tin-plate annually, which they sell mostly to Reading dealers, shipping the balance to New York and Jersey City. Officers: Howard L. McIlvain, pres .; Lewis Crater, sec. and treas .; and Charles A. High, manager. This is the first industry of the kind at Reading and the only one carried on here.
TRUNKS.
Weightman Factory .- Joseph J. Weightman, of Bridgeton, New Jersey, came to Reading in 1888, and started the manu- facture of trunks, bags, sample and extension cases at 402 Penn square, and has continued the same until now. He employs 3 hands, and produces annually 850 trunks and 500 cases, which are disposed of in Reading and vicinity. The amount invested is $1800, and the annual product is about $6,000. This is the first industry of the kind at Reading. Previously, trunks, etc., were purchased at the different hat stores; now this factory sup- plies many customers.
206
HISTORY OF READING.
UMBRELLAS.
About 1847 Leopold Hirsch came to Reading and, after en- gaging in repairing umbrellas for a time, started manufacturing them, and he continued to do so until 1860 when he located at Philadelphia.
Rolland Factory .- In 1869 August Rolland, a French- man, began the business at 26 South Seventh street, and in 1879 he removed to 639 Penn street. The business has been carried on there since. Mrs. Mary Rolland is operating the factory assisted by her sons. She employs 6 hands.
Others in the business are Mrs. Rose Miller and William M. Parvin, but they are mostly engaged in selling ready-made um- brellas and making repairs.
WASHING MACHINES.
Sunbeam Washer .- In 1890 Reuben Hoffa, Jonah Keim, Thomas Eckert and Franklin Albright organized a company, trading as Sunbeam Manuf'g Co., Limited, for the manufacture of the Sunbeam washing machine. For several years the busi- ness was carried on extensively, producing several thousand washers a year, but now only two hands are employed and 60 machines are made monthly. Investment, $4,000. Trade mostly local.
Lessig Washer .- Samuel Lessig, Sr., was engaged in mak- ing and repairing farming implements at Reading for 38 years, from 1849 to 1887. In 1893 he designed and patented an improved washing machine, which he named the "Lessig." He has manufactured the machine mostly alone, producing an- nually over 100 machines, and selling them in Reading and vicinity.
Queen Washer .- Nathan S. Althouse patented an improved washing machine in 1895, which he named the "Queen," and he and his partner, J. H. Knoll, trading as Knoll & Althouse, (who were engaged in making farming implements, ) then directed their attention to its manufacture. They employ 5 hands in their factory at Muhlenberg and Orange streets, and pro- duce monthly over 200 machines which are sold in Pennsyl- vania and the adjoining States.
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207
WOOLEN GOODS.
WOOLEN GOODS.
Reading Woolen Mills .- Robert M. Shouse, of Easton, came to Reading in 1859, and began the manufacture of gingham and shirting check. Some months afterward his enterprise was destroyed by fire. He then selected a lot on Fourth street be- yond Elm as a suitable location and erected a two-story stone factory with basement where he resumed the manufacture of the articles mentioned, and continued the same until 1864, when he converted it into a woolen mill for manufacturing jeans, plaids ยท and doe-skin cloths. Jonathan G. Leinbach became the mana- ger and in 1867 he was made a partner, the firm trading under the name of R. M. Shouse & Co. They employed 50 hands and their annual production amounted to $100,000, which was shipped to commission houses at New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. The firm continued operations until 1875, when Mr. Leinbach became the sole owner. Shortly afterward he formed a co-partnership with Aaron S. Leinbach and William F. P. Davis, who traded as J. G. Leinbach & Co. In 1880 John Shadel became a partner. In 1887 Rev. Davis died and his interest was purchased by Mr. Leinbach.
In 1889 the senior member gave an interest in the business to his three brothers, Daniel, Albert and Mahlon; and in 1894, appreciating the long-continued fidelity of certain of the older employees who had worked in the mill from twenty to thirty years, he also gave them an interest. In 1896 Aaron S. Lein- bach died, and the surviving partners (Leinbach and Shadel, ) purchased his interest.
After the firm had organized in 1875, improvements were made to the plant, additional ground was purchased, and new machinery was introduced from time to time. In 1880 the manufacture of jeans was discontinued. The volume of busi- ness increased steadily, and with it the number of hands. In 1889 the annual business amounted to over $200,000. The product of the mill is now entirely woolen cloths. Investment, $130,000; hands employed, 75; annual wages, $30,000; busi- ness, $192,000, the amount having fallen off owing to the pre- vailing panic.
The plant is equipped with the best machinery, including 4 self-acting spinning machines with 1508 spindles, and a 100-
208
1
HISTORY OF READING.
horse-power Corliss engine. The enterprise has been named the Reading Woolen Mill, and the manufactured cloths are so known in the market, having a superior reputation. This is the only enterprise at Reading in which the older and more ex- perienced hands have been permitted to share in the profits of the business. The generosity of the senior member has been appreciated and it has resulted in mutual benefits, as well to the firm as to the recipients.
Stony Creek Mills .- On the Friedensburg road at the point where it crosses the Antietam creek a paper mill was carried on for many years. In 1864 Louis Kraemer and others established a woolen mill there, and it has been operated very successfully until the present time. The strong stream provided a valuable water power which was the principal consideration that induced the erection of the mill, but in 1875 the water was appropriated by the City of Reading for an increased supply and steam-power had to be substituted. Different parties were connected with the firm until 1893, when a re-organization was effected with Louis Kraemer, Louis F. Kraemer, Louis F. Grebe and Martin D. Hunter as partners, trading as Louis Kraemer & Co. The mill produces 7,200 yards of men's cassimers weekly; annual product, $180,000, which is sold in all parts of the United States. Employees, 70. This industry, though four miles from Reading, is identified with its establishments and therefore in- cluded in this chapter.
PART IV .- SITUATION OF READING IN 1898.
From the foregoing facts, it is evident that the situation of Reading is exceptional in many respects. Though not by the sea-side or along some great river to afford easy access thereto by navigation, yet the facilities for trading and communicating with all parts of the country are great enough to give it distinc- tion. When the town was laid out, its location was controlled by the ford across the Schuylkill to which public roads had al- ready converged and from which additional roads were likely to diverge. Subsequently railroads were projected in the direc- tion of these public roads, and from that time the growth of its population and industrial activity became more and more won-
209
SITUATION OF READING.
derful. Now, after the lapse of one hundred and fifty years, we find here all the advantages and improvements that consti- tute a thriving community. These advantages will be briefly stated in order to give the reader a just conception of Reading's present greatness as a centre of production, trade, wealth and population, and by comparing them with the general situation of affairs in 1847, a marked improvement in every respect will be made apparent.
The drainage is superior by the natural trend of the surface from the mountains to the river. This was sufficient as long as the population was well distributed and the industrial establish- ments, stores and hotels were of an ordinary size; but after the population had begun to be compact, and the business places of various kinds extensive, an improved system of sewers for streets and buildings became necessary. A system was accord- ingly adopted, and the public expenditure in that behalf exceeds half a million dollars.
The streets have been macadamized throughout the major part of the city, covering an area of three miles long by two miles wide; and a substantial start has been made in putting down sheet asphaltum on Penn and South Fifth streets, measuring about two miles in length, with encouraging prospects for extending this improvement from the central portions of the city towards its limits.
The dwellings number more than 14,000, and nearly nine- tenths of them are constructed of brick. They are substantial in appearance and comfortable in arrangement, with small lots of ground appurtenant, the prices ranging from $1,000 to $2,500. Many beautiful residences have been erected in differ- ent sections of Reading costing from $5,000 to $75,000.
The population in the sixteen wards has been ascertained to be 73,000, over five times the number when the city was erected fifty years ago. A considerable proportion of the natural in- crease of the place, brought here through improving industrial conditions and entirely dependent upon them, has found a pleasant lodgment in the surrounding surburban towns within three miles from the post office building; but these localities should be justly taken as a part of Reading, and being added we should have at least 85,000, or over six times the number
210
HISTORY OF READING.
here in 1847. The buildings in the suburban places are almost entirely brick and compare with those at Reading. The average number of inhabitants to a dwelling in the entire com- munity is less than five. In this respect Reading compares favorably with the most progressive cities in the United States.
The supply of water is superior in character and abundant in quantity. There are five sources with a daily flow of 15,000, 000 gallons, and a total storage capacity of 181,532,000 gallons, established at a total cost of $1,746,953. Rent charges are as moderate as any in the United States. For dwellings and stores, there is a schedule of prices; and for manufacturing establishments and saloons the consumption is measured by meters at low rates.' The management of the water department is highly creditable.
Dwellings are lighted mostly by gas, and the stores, public buildings, and streets by electricity. Many shops and factories are supplied with power by an electric company; and a large plant has been established for supplying steam heat to dwellings and public buildings, large mains having been put down along certain streets in the interior portion of the city, measuring about two miles.
The department of public works was established several years ago and though of recent origin it has shown itself a valuable aid to improved local government in the matter of expenditures for streets and sewers.
Police protection extends throughout the city. The depart- ment comprises fifty-seven officers. The patrol system is com- plete, and the remotest stations, as well as the nearest, (num- bering twenty-seven,) are in direct communication with City Hall, and in constant readiness for dispatching the arrest of transgressors.
The public market houses on Penn square were abandoned and removed in 1871. Since then, seven private market houses have been established in different parts of the city, affording unusual facilities to the inhabitants for purchasing produce twice and thrice a week; and some of the shops are gradually develop- ing into small market houses for supplying daily all kinds of meat, produce, etc.
2II
SITUATION OF READING.
The fire department is voluntary in character but very effi- cient. It comprises twelve companies with 1,600 active and 4,600 contributing members, and they respond to alarms in a prompt manner. The annual appropriations by the city amount to $30,000. The alarms during 1897 numbered eighty-one, and the total losses amounted to $139,324. A superior fire alarm system has been in successful operation since 1873, and there are now sixty-two alarm boxes in use, distributed in seven circuits. The department can be said to afford the community protection against fire equal to any given elsewhere in the United States. Until recently, the alarm boxes were locked and keys for each box were deposited at several places near by for use when necessary, to guard against false alarms; now the lever is exposed at the boxes, (beyond the reach of children, ) and ready for any one to give the alarm without delay in case of fire. Occasionally, some alarms are not warranted, but they are not given maliciously to deceive the department.
The health department is well conducted. Its annual reports indicate a superior sanitary condition. of Reading and a very low death rate in proportion to population. A crematory was erected recently beyond the southern limits of Reading to dis- pose of the garbage by public service, and the first annual con- tract was awarded to remove it two and three times a week ac- cording to the season.
The assessed value of property at Reading for purposes of taxation exceeds $42,000,000. The tax rates are low, being 6 mills for city purposes; 4 mills for school; and 212 mills for county. The annual appropriations for city affairs amount to $433,547 ; and for school affairs, $219,453. The total expendi- tures by the city for the last fiscal year, from April, 1897 to April, 1898, were $604,509; of which the three largest items were for police, $107,456, for highways, $140,000, for sewers, $192,520. But the assessment of property for purposes of taxation does not represent the real value. The expenditures required to establish all the buildings, improvements, factories and plants of every kind have an aggregate value of at least $75,000,000.
The school buildings number 41, and are valued at $737,400. The system comprises 244 schools, 263 teachers and over 11, 000 scholars.
....
212
HISTORY OF READING.
There are 17 religious denominations which have over 60 churches, some of them large and costly structures, and their total valuation amounts to $1, 542, 100.
The stores number nearly 1,000, of which over 600 are licensed; industrial establishments, 500; and small shops of all kinds 400. Some of the stores are very large, including many de- partments, and employing from 35 to 350 salespeople and clerks. The expenses of several of them exceed the total amount of business done by all the stores at Reading thirty years ago. This contrast shows their extraordinary growth and importance in the affairs of Reading. The manufactured productions in 1847 were limited in kind, quantity and value with a local con- sumption excepting hats, iron and brick; now they are numer- ous in kinds and very large in quantity and value, with a distri- bution into all civilized parts of the world; and the largest estab- lishment now employs as many hands as all of them taken to- , gether then, including shops and stores of every kind.
The postal facilities are superior in every particular. There are three general deliveries of letters to all parts of Reading, and three collections from 182 boxes; and five deliveries and seven collections, which cover the greater part of the city for business purposes. The carriers number thirty-five. The post office building is a superb structure, costing $180,000. The money order department handled $563,859 from April, 1897, to April, 1898; and the postal department, $91,020. Since 1894, the annual increase in the former has been nearly $40,000; and in the latter nearly $10, 000.
For communicating with distant places, there are two tele- graph lines and one telephone line; and for delivering packages, two express companies. A local transfer system has been established, which is capable of meeting all possible demands for passengers and baggage, and many persons have engaged in the local express business for hauling freight and merchandise.
Eight banks, two trust companies, two insurance companies and many building and savings associations comprise the finan- cial institutions of Reading. The banks have an aggregate capital of $1,675,020; surplus, $1,853,369; and deposits, $4,887,977. The trust companies are superior institutions, with the unqualified confidence of the people, and trust funds under their management amount to nearly $1,000,000.
213
SITUATION OF READING.
The steam railroad facilities are exceptional. Lines extend in five directions, and numerous trains are operated daily, the passenger trains numbering nearly 100, and the freight trains over 100. Trains are run without change of cars to Pottsville, Sunbury and Williamsport; to Slatington; to Allentown; to Harrisburg; to Lancaster and Columbia; to Wilmington; and to Philadelphia. The several lines are the Philadelphia and Reading; Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley; Lebanon Valley; East Penn; Schuylkill and Lehigh; and Wilmington and Northern. There is a complete system of street railways which enables passengers to be carried from one end of the city to the other for a single fare of five cents, or thirty rides for $1.00. Lines also extend west to Womelsdorf 14 miles; southwest to Mohnsville and Adamstown, 14 miles; and south-east to Black Bear Inn and Stony Creek Mills, 4 miles, with encouraging prospects of continuing the last named line to Boyertown, 16 miles. And mountain railways have been constructed around and upon Mt. Penn and Mt. Neversink which afford great facilities to the inhabitants and to visitors for recreation and amusement, and also for extended views over a picturesque country more than thirty miles square. Nine. resorts are situ- ated along both lines, which are largely patronized from June to October.
Suburban towns adjoin Reading in every direction, and all of them are conveniently reached by street cars, excepting to the north. They are gradually preparing the way for "Greater Reading," which, within the next decade, will cover an area of territory embracing twenty square miles, and containing a pop- ulation about 115,000. The conditions are here to warrant this assertion. The people generally are coming to understand more and more the important elements that constitute a pros- perous community and are directing their efforts accordingly.
Two attractive parks have been established at public expense exceeding $130,000, and they are delightful places for rest and recreation to many thousands of people. A fine park two miles east of the city is operated by the street railway company, being an attractive spot where amusements of a superior class are provided during the summer months. Three theatres are car- ried on during nine months of the year, which are well patron- ized; and more than thirty large halls have been established in
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HISTORY OF READING.
the several sections of the city to accommodate meetings of all kinds, more particularly for secret societies.
The environments of Reading are not surpassed anywhere for general picturesqueness of extended views over rolling hills, flowing streams and fertile valleys. They have induced the construction of two railways on the mountains to the east and south, and the erection of many substantial resorts together rep- resenting an invested capital of nearly a million dollars. The Schuylkill valley extends from the South mountains to the Blue mountains, visible for thirty miles, and the Lebanon (or Tulpe- hocken) valley visible from the river westward for twenty miles. More than thirty towns have been built up in this area of terri- tory, and all have constant business intercourse with Reading.
The licensed places for the sale of liquor number 174. Some of them are saloons, but most of them hotels. Four large hotels are situated on Penn Square equipped with modern improvements, which have a capacity for accommodating 600 to 800 guests in the business centre of the place. The total capacity of all the hotels and lodging houses is estimated at 5,000, evidencing the fact that Reading can comfortably enter- tain large conventions, celebrations and excursion parties.
Twenty newspapers are published at Reading, two morning daily and four evening daily, (one of them German); and four- teen weeklies, (six of them German); and there are seven other periodicals, both English and German, religious and secular, which have a very wide circulation, extending into all parts of the United States.
The musical character of the people is of a superior order. The societies for producing instrumental and vocal music are numerous, and several of each class have a wide reputation.
The secret society has come to be the greatest social feature at Reading, exceeding in total male membership even that of the churches. In 1847 there were only two orders, the Ma- sonic and Odd Fellows, with a limited membership; now they are numerous, embracing all kinds, and the membership of each runs from several hundred to several thousand. The associa- tions for literary, musical, professional, political, religious and social purposes are also numerous, and they exert a powerful influence over the feelings and actions of the people.
215
SITUATION OF READING.
MISCELLANEOUS EMPLOYMENTS.
The following list is presented to show the number and char- acter of the several employments at Reading in April, 1898:
Architects
Furrier
I
Artists
S
Gents' Furnishing, etc. 22
Attorneys-at Law
ICO
Grain Shippers 4
Auctioneers
5
Grocers, retail 297
Barbers II4
Grocers, wholesale 3
Bell Hangers 4
Bill Posters .
2
Hardware I3
Blacksmiths 32
Bleaching Straw Goods
I
Hair Workers, (Human)
4
Boarding Houses 62
Book-sellers, etc.
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