History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume I, Part 24

Author: Bruce, William George, 1856-1949; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), b. 1844
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 818


USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume I > Part 24


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Mine Hoists-Constructed the largest mine hoist units in the world, now building one still larger.


Car Works-The third largest locomotive and car works in the United States, the largest owned by a railroad corporation.


Gears and Controls-Milwaukee leads the country in the manufacture of herring-bone gears for power transmission and gasoline locomotives for min- ing and plantation use. Furnished the electrie firing controls for many battleships in the United States Navy and most of the automobile electric controls used in the country.


Refrigeration Machinery-Is an important center for the construction of ice-making and refrigeration machinery.


Enameling-It is one of the largest tinware and enameling producers in the world.


Saw Mills-Manufactures 75 per cent of the heavy saw mills machinery made in the United States.


Boat Motors-Makes more outboard, detachable rowboat motors than any other city in the world.


Motorcycles-Milwaukee leads the world in the manufacture of highest quality motorcycles.


Automobile Accessories-One of the largest general automobile accessory manufacturing eenters in the United States.


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HLA


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RE-ELECT JUDGE GEHRZ


Bejhr


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THE HOTEL WISCONSIN


245


INDUSTRIAL BEGINNINGS AND ACHIEVEMENT


Leather and Shoes-Milwaukee manufacturers a more varied line of leathers than any other eity in the United States. Is one of the leading shoe manufacturing cities in America. Its tanneries are among the greatest in the world.


Temperature Regulation-Was the pioneer in temperature regulating de- viees and leads the world in the manufacture of this line.


Rubber Tires-Maintains one of the leading rubber tire manufacturing plants in the United States.


Dyes-Ilas since the war built up the second largest dye industry in the United States.


Trunks and Grips-Is one of the three largest trunk and grip manufac- turing centers in the United States.


Clothing-Stands as the eleventh city in the production of clothing.


Candies and Chocolates-According to population, makes more candy and chocolates than any city in the United States.


Delicatessen-Sends fresh rye bread daily to nearly all sections of the United States. This applies also to a large variety of fine prepared meats.


Dairy Capital-Is the metropolis of the greatest dairy producing state in the Union.


In bringing to a close this chapter, which must be regarded as the most important in noting material progress, the reader is brought to the inevitable conclusion that Milwaukee is primarily a monster factory town. Moreover, its future must be found in industrial production. It cannot in the nature of things become a successful rival to the world metropolis to the south, either as a great financial or commercial center. Its operations in commerce and finance will always be important and will continue to grow, but Milwaukee's future clearly lies in the industrial field.


As a producing center it has acquired stability and prestige. Its products have demonstrated their utility and value, its markets are established, and its reputation is fixed. The industries are capable of producing efficiently and marketing advantageously. Their future is assured. Just as they have in the past made an ever growing contribution to the material progress and economie stability of the nation so they will continue to grow, and expand and prosper and thus promote the advancement, the well-being and prestige of the City of Milwaukee.


THE TOY THEATRE AND CHINESE RESTAURANT


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疼海上


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INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS SUMMARY .FOR 1920-1921


No. of Firms


No. of Employes


Wages Paid


1920


1921


1920


1921


1920


1921


Metal Trades Industry


377


437


62,125


39,888


$ 96,404.865


$ 51,043,591


Food Industry


116


104


11,271


9,457


15,412,064


12,372,948


Textile Industry


109


125


13,750


14,611


14,459.767


15,444,474


Leather Industry


61


66


12,181


11,144


16,247,853


11,901,955


Chemical, Drug and Allied Industries. . .


51


61


5,712


1,054


10,044,876


6,718,160


Wood Products and Allied Industries. . .


102


107


8,938


7,331


11,924,625


8,942,983


Various Industries


130


156


6,917


5,625


11,728,696


9,083,759


Building Trades Industry.


107


181


4,661


4,659


7,405,267


5,897,338


Total Manufacturing


1,053


1,237


125,555


98,769


$183,628,013


$121,405,208


Jobbing and Wholesale Business.


132


152


5,893


5,687


11,379,132


9,607,115


Grand Total


1,185


1,389


131,448


102,456


$195,007,045


$131,012,323


Capital Employed 1920


Value of Product 1920


Export Business


Metal Trades Industry .


$221,640,613


$207,194,620


$ 330,515,889


$171,051,650


1920 $18,656,878 22.439,015


$ 9,700,491


Food Industry


67,983,848


42,675.396


163.640,564


113,936,824


Textile Industry


26,215,985


30,169,491


76,899,927


61,332,796


1,710,000


1,089,449


Leather Industry


63.463,728


53,974,398


93,452,791


54,694,068


4,723,533


2,718,551


Chemical, Drug and Allied Industries. .


33,345,058


31,088,209


62,269,223


48,251,765


1,074,769


508,869


Wood Products and Allied Industries. .


29,098,237


24,489,405


57,663,390


29,786,186


201,074


60,200


Various Industries


24,546,006


20,282,757


46,746,222


29.430,666


610,730


274,786


Building Trades Industry


5,032,485


7,519,197


22,481,828


21.313,171


8,000


7,000


Total Manufacturing


.$471,325,960


$417.393,473


$ 853,669,834


$529,797,126


$49.423,999


$28.467,820


Jobbing and Wholesale Business.


49,134,250


51,212.795


247,568,416


200,357,324


6,989,117


24,878,171


Grand Total


$520,460,210


$468,606,268


$1.101,238,250


$730.154,450


$56,413,116


$53,345,991


.


INDUSTRIAL BEGINNINGS AND ACHIEVEMENT


247


.


1921


1921


1921


14,108,474


248


INDUSTRIAL GROUP STATISTICS


METAL TRADES INDUSTRY


No. of Firms 1920 217


1921


1920 34,947


1921 22,911


1920 $56,769,834


1921 $27,279.619


Agricultural Implements and Farm Equipment .


=.


9


4.417


2,330


6,671,537


4,913,048


Electrical Supplies


21


24


6,294


3,413


7,975.461


4,294,009


Electroplating .


1


81


78


129,780


90.755


*Furnaces and Stove


6


1


2.199


1,459


2.619.140


1,748,542


Hardware


9


16


119


105


126.023


154,921


** Household Utilities


63,466


Motor Vehicles, Parts and Accessories


32


48


8.172


4,510


13,358,013


6.493.898


Plumbing and Steamfitting Supplies


16


17


1,094


1.138


1,697,353


1,563,353


Stamped and Enameled Goods. ....


7


8


2,675


1,703


3.443.010


2.325.094


Structural Iron and Wire Goods. ..


16


18


1,443


1,232


2,636,534


1,905,220


Sheet Metal Goods.


32


49


525


859


757,534


1.103.532


Wire Goods .


+


113


150


157.180


171,600


Total


377


437


62.125


39,888


$96,104.865


$51,043,591


* As no reports wore received in 1920 from furnace and stove manufacturers, the 1919 figures are shown here for comparison. ** No report in 1921.


HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE


No. of Employes


Wages Paid


Iron, Steel and Heavy Machinery. .


230


46


.


·


METAL TRADES INDUSTRY


Capital Employed 1920


1921


Value of Product 1920 1921 $177,951,390 $ 73.588.919


1920 $12,065,378


1921 $5,236,986


Agricultural Implements and Farm Equipment


14,822,748


11,168,512


20,913,705


14.900,090


33.000


2.003,500


Electrical Supplies


16,099,947


15,868,144


20,766,694


13.270,294


851.500


421,000


Electroplating .


105,373


169,749


280,098


208,126


#Furnaces and Stoves


6,407,736


3.953,005


8,247,170


4.742,098


.


50,000


Hardware


260,303


524.338


512,538


163,832


4,000


300


** Household Utilities


157,000


248,822


Motor Vehicles, Parts and Accessories


25,030,423


24.482,921


66,557,673


37,288,219


5,569,000


1,845.552


Plumbing and Steamfitting Supplies


2,918,070


3.742,158


5,269,489


5.140,530


10.000


8,000


Stamped and Enameled Goods. ....


11.408,926


9.276,256


15.907,539


8,000,984


24,000


14,000


Structural Iron and Wire Goods. .


4,592,011


5,200,975


10,954,524


6,950,893


100,000


121.153


Sheet Metal Goods.


811,420


3,691,934


2,120,247


5.657,811


.


.


"As no reports were received in 1920 from furnace and stove manufacturers, the 1919 figures are shown here for comparison. ** No report in 1921.


FOOD INDUSTRY


No. of Firms


No. of Employes


Wages Paid


1920


1921


1920


1921


1920


1921


Bakery Goods


30


27


1,756


1,128


$ 2,317.497


$ 1.587,379


Beverages


13


S


1.422


483


1,855,675


944,814


Candy and Confectionery


26


24


3,147


2,949


2,825,178


2.470,067


Dairy Products


9


6


148


62


238.352


117,975


Milk Dealers


1


1


264


284


414,285


464,992


Packed Meats


8


2,719


2.777


4.798,202


3,965,794


Sausages


10


11


258


292


354,259


361,096


Flour and Cereals


7


6


613


171


1.041.234


698,558


Unclassified


. .


.


.


45


47.694


Total


116


104


11,271


9,457


$15,412,064


$12,372,948


249


INDUSTRIAL BEGINNINGS AND ACHIEVEMENT


Iron, Steel and Heavy Machinery. . . $138,711,656


$128,726.706


389.922


786,000


839.854


Total


. $221.640,613 $207.194,620


$330,515,889


$171.051.650


$18,656,878


$9,700,491


944


966


1.567,382


1.714,579


Ice Cream


6


.


3


Wire Goods .


315,000


Export Business


250


FOOD INDUSTRY


Capital Employed 1920


1921


Valne of Product 1920


1921


Export Business 1920


1921


Bakery Goods


$ 4,930,494


$ 3,701,612


$ 13.303.297


6.831,803


$


. .


Beverages


23.882,160


6.159,950


11,980,369


2,597,901


28.817


Candy and Confectionery


8,293,644


8,724,958


18,536,677


12,175,822


10,000


3,300


Dairy Products


845,736


484,000


3.620,690


2,127,545


Milk Dealers


2,539,410


2.116,883


10,176,332


8,558,965


Ice Cream


1,493,500


2,126,538


3,526,468


3,135,387


Packed Meats


17,808,160


12.747.000


76,342,819


57,649,604


21,760,000


12,910,000


Sansages


799,980


846,814


3,274,887


3,417,521


105,000


50,000


Flour and Cereals.


7,390,764


5,658,197


22,879,525


17,097,276


535,198


1,131,174


Unclassified


109,444


345,000


14,000


Total


$67,983,848


$42,675,396


$163,640,564


$113.936.824


$22.439,015


$14.108,474


TEXTILE INDUSTRY


No. of Firms


No. of Employes


Wages Paid


1920


1921


1920


1921


1920


1921


Clothing . .


40)


47


4,464


4,168


$ 4,931,807


$ 4,395,849


Ilats, Caps and Gloves ..


19


21


1,447


984


1,186.610


1.167,710


Millinery and Straw Goods.


6


832


886


1,130,709


1.086,163


Tents and Awnings.


86


122


113,150


138,079


Bedding


6


8


210


131


283,494


136,952


Knit Goods


28


29


6,398


7,910


6,129,688


8,055,647


Woven Goods


265


288


282,451


329,874


Unclassified


4


48


122


101,858


134.200


Total


109


125


13,750


14,611


$14,459,767


$15,444, 174


HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE


.. ...


. .... ..


. .


.


TEXTILE INDUSTRY


Capital Employed 1920


1921


1920 $24,162,699


$15,149,537


$ 22,000


$ 45,000


Hats, Caps and Gloves. .


3,507,589


4,326,543


6,496,917


4,648,231


4,700


Millinery and Straw Goods.


1,331,000


1,343,987


4,102.448


3,798,495


13,000


15,000 600


Tents and Awnings. .


234,370


231,473


814,730


702,272


Bedding


874,532


445,120


1,223,250


610,248


Knit Goods


12,282,987


16,072,965


37,852,712


34,955,164


1,675,000


1,024,149


Woven Goods


685,000


606,058


1,679.17I


1,151,849


Unclassified


142,500


184,000 .


568,000


317,000


Total


$26,215,985


$30,169,491


$76,899,927


$61,332,796


$1,710,000


$1,089,449


LEATHER INDUSTRY


No. of Firms


No. of Employes


Wages Paid


1920


1921


1920


1921


1921


Boots and Shoes.


29


31


6,808


6,113


1920 $ 8,292,734


$ 5,682,267


Harness and Saddlery


9


9


77


92


87,500


106,701


Tanneries


17


18


4,865


4,585


7.341.837


5,669,109


Trunks, Bags, etc.


6


431


348


525,782


432,878


Unelassified


. .


. . .


. . .. .


Total


61


66


12,181


11.144


$16,247,853


$11,901,955


LEATHER INDUSTRY


Capital Employed 1920


1921


Value of Product 1920 $44,028,565


1921 $27,613,760


1920 $ 568,533


1921


Boots and Shoes.


$16,902,948


$17,838,839


Harness and Saddlery .


172,538


357.875


586,300


500,000


Tanneries . .


45,836,045


35,128,607


47,022,646 1,815,280


25,406,611


4,155,000


2,576,500


Trunks, Bags, etc.


552,197


609,077 40,000


.


.


.......


. . . . . .


Total


$63,463,728


$53,974,398


$93,452,791


$54,694,068


$4,723,533


$2,718,551


251


INDUSTRIAL BEGINNINGS AND ACHIEVEMENT


Value of Product


Export Business


1921


1920


1921


Clothing . .


$ 7,158,007


$ 6,959,345


.


.


. . . . .


11,000


1


6


Export Business


$ 142,051


Unclassified


1,073,697 100,000


252


CHEMICAL, DRUG & ALLIED INDUSTRIES


No. of Firms 1921


No. of Employes


Wages l'aid


1920


1920


1921


1920


1921


Chemicals, Drugs, ofe.


17


23


1,671


611


$ 4.044,830


$ 938,806


Dyeing


6


6


365


305


391,625


440,896


Gasoline, Oils, etc.


13


13


1,312


928


2,052,145


1,683,175


Paints and Varnish.


8


6


751


526


1,030,591


599.848


Soap and Toilet Preparations


11


1,430


1,616


2,271.489


2,943,185


Glass ..


2


183


68


254.196


112,250


Total


51


61


5,712


1,054


$10,044,876


$6.718,160


CHEMICAL, DRUG & ALLIED INDUSTRIES


Capital Employed 1920


1921


Value of Product 1920 $11,986,113


1921


$ 3.725,237


$


1920 109,042


$ 83,869


Dyeing


520,922


320,518


950,114


848,447


Gasoline, Oils, ofe.


9,750,283


7,070,786


23,451,239


21,424.769


14.000


225,000


Paints and Varnish ..


5,578,814


4,615,771


7,812,340


4,330,000


451,377


Soap and Toilet Preparations.


5,946,888


7,912,055


17,360,713


17,613,312


500,350


200,000


Glass


1,010,000


1,025,000


708.704


310,000


.......


Total


$33,345,058


$31,088,209


$62.269,223


$18,251,765


$1,074,769


$508.869


HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE


Export Business


1921


Chemicals, Drugs, etc.


$10,538.151


$10,144,079


WOOD PRODUCTS & ALLIED INDUSTRIES


No. of Firms


No. of Employes


Wages Paid


1920


1921


1920


1921


1920 $ 4,313,483


1921 $3,142,468


Caskets


2


2


113


96


178,000


158,800


Furniture


19


18


1,486


1,009


1,902,860


1.252,481


Millwork


18


21


1,268


1,386


1,935,894


2,089,926


Musical Instruments


10


12


691


485


1,021.825


610,351


Paper and Pulp Articles


9


10


691


555


710,394


621.337


Wagons, Automobile Bodies Wooden Boats .


16


16


1,167


790


1,862,169


1,067,620


Total


102


107


8,938 .


7,331


$11,924,625


$8,942,983


WOOD PRODUCTS & ALLIED INDUSTRIES


Capital Employed 1920


Value of Product


Export Business


1921


Boxes and Containers


$13.207,540


1921 $ 8.832.822


1920 $28,378,326 690,000


1921 $11,562,658 585.000


1920 $. . . . . ..


$ 3,500


Caskets


558,000


525,000


Furniture


3.803,585


3,594,756


6,834,479


3,557,276


69,500


Millwork


4.285,037


5,032,597


7,119,646


6,236,544


8,085


36,000


Musical Instruments


2,173,630


2.100,056


4,629,810


2,198,661


78,489


Paper and Pulp Articles.


1,350,212


1,132,994


4.060,000


2,462,986


25,000


20.700


Wagons, Automobile Bodies


and


Wooden Boats


4.092.647


3,271,180


5,951,129


3.183,061


20,000


. .


..


Total


$29,098,237


$24,489,405


$57,663,390


$29,786.186


$201,074


$60,200


.


253


INDUSTRIAL BEGINNINGS AND ACHIEVEMENT


Boxes and Containers


28


28


3,529


3,010


and


254


VARIOUS INDUSTRIES


No. of Firms


No. of Employes


Wages Paid


1920


1921


1920


1921


1920


1921


Artificial Limbs


4


3


24


14


28,518


$ 26,361


Brooms and Brushes.


8


9


191


158


221,074


189,788


('igars and Tobacco.


13


22


626


713


732.534


756,622


Dental Supplies ..


-


3


40


40


65,227


66.827


Precision Instruments


2


3


54


26


67,467


32,755


Printing and Allied Trades


86


94


3,097


2,895


4,257,624


5,471,297


Rubber Goods


3


3


2,555


1,400


5,820,000


2.000,000


Unclassified


12


19


330


379


536,252


540,109


Total


130


156


6,917


5,625


$11.728.696


$9.083,759


VARIOUS INDUSTRIES


Value of Product


Export Business


Artificial Limbs .


61.710


$ 35,700


$


1920 118,280


$ 56,151


$ . . . .. .


$


Brooms and Brushes.


270,800


347,253


655,665


552,045


9.700


Cigars and Tobacco.


1,396,391


1,710,717


5,807,235


6,006,233


5.130


4,000


Dental Supplies .


29,300


29,300


122,355


129,355


Precision Instruments


95.236


106,250


148,049


69.568


Printing and Allied Trades


6,030,402


6,736,458


13.842,978


11,552,580


67,950


9.258


Rubber Goods


15,400,000


10,000,000 1,317,079


22,400,000 3.651,660


9.000,000


475,000


250,000


Unclassified


1,262,167


1,828


Total


$24,546,006


$20,282,757


$46,746,222


$29,430,666


$610,730


$274,786


.


Capital Employed 1920


1921


1921


1920


1921


HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE


......


2,064,734


62,650


BUILDING TRADES INDUSTRY


No. of Firms


No. of Employes


Wages Paid


1920


1921


1920


1921


1920 $4,895,846


1921 $2,461.575


Building Materials ..


25


36


535


691


857,747


899,452


Electrical Contractors


11


449


411


526,631


713,516


Painting and Decorating.


18


30


239


465


712,080


670,797


Paving, etc. .


5


6


83


369


67,706


263,000


Plumbing and Heating Contractors.


28


63


198


521


345,257


792,083


Art Glass and Mirrors.


. .


. .


. .


1


20


29,915


Total


107


181


4,661


4,659


$7,405,267


$5,897,338


BUILDING TRADES INDUSTRY


Capital Employed


Value of Product


Export Business


1920


1921 $2.486,281


1920 $12,869,589 5,574,026


$ 8,369,568


$ . . . .


$ .. .


Building Materials ..


1,632,829


2,223,603


4,888,837


Electrical Contractors


761,000


892,200


1,803,264


2.179,000


Painting and Decorating.


281,600


524,990


754,530


1,691,489


8,000


Paving, etc.


121,800


355,000


434,700


1,310,000


Plumbing and Heating Contractors.


448,845


837,536


1,045,719


2,581,277


....


...


Art Glass and Mirrors. .


96,000


223,000


Unclassified


103,587


70,000


7,000


Total


$5.032.485


$7,519,197


$22,481,828


$21,313,171


$8,000


$7,000


.


·


....


INDUSTRIAL BEGINNINGS AND ACHIEVEMENT


Contractors and Builders. .


22


29


3.157


2,125


1921


1920


1921


Contractors and Builders.


$1.786.411


. .


.


.


4


....


255


57


67,000


Unclassified


256


JOBBING AND WHOLESALE BUSINESS


No. of Firms


No. of Employes


Wages Paid


1920


1921


1920


1921


1920


1921


Coal and Coke.


10)


13


1,897


1,642


$ 3,614,314


$2,880,738


Drygoods .


8


8


281


344


597,914


586,250


Groceries and Produce. .


47


54


1,368


1,400


2,840,963


2,277,547


Grain, Flour, Feed. Seeds.


36


38


864


804


1,858,049


1,252,496


Hardware and Machinists' Supplies.


3


5


633


871


1,105,000


1,547,080


Lumber


19


19


639


340


972,072


432.830


Paper


9


10


211


254


390,820


558,990


Unclassified


. .


. . .


32


51.184


Total


132


152


5,893


5,687


$11,379,132


$9.607.115


JOBBING & WHOLESALE BUSINESS


Capital Employed


Export Business


1920


1921


Coal and Coke


$16,657.362


$18,203,092


$ 49.074,645


$ 38,190,065


Drygoods


2,228,246


2,399,600


9,068,469


8,005,000


Groceries and Produce.


7.602.053


7.999,442


47,132,201


45,393,990


120,713


Grain, Flour, Feed, Seeds


11,252,831


10,415,500


115,027,617


81,728,631


6,868,404


24.878,171


Hardware and Machinists' Supplies


5,555,000


8.162,600


13,855,200


15,250,000


Lamber


4,193,982


2,160,000


7,974,559


4,716,466


Paper


1,644,776


1,597,561


5,435,635


3,500,172


Unclassified


275,000


573.000


Total


$49,134,250


$51,212,795


$247,568,416


$200,357,324


$6,989,117


$24,878,171


HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE


1920 $. . . .. ...


$. .


.


.


.


. .


....


.


Value of Product 1920


1921


1921


.


5


CHAPTER XIX


COMMERCIAL RISE AND EXPANSION


The earlier records dealing with the activities of Milwaukee do not always elearly distinguish between trade, commeree and industry. The figures relat- ing to production and distribution are not only imperfect, as might be expected, but frequently too interwoven to afford accurate deductions. Then, too, the business man of the last century was less inclined to submit figures regarding his operations than is the modern business man who, through tax laws and governmental regulations, has been taught to lay all his cards on the table. Besides the old-time merchant was less thorough in the keeping of his business accounts.


Those who were inclined to occasionally summarize the trade activities of the community, in order to demonstrate economie progress, preferred to speak in terms of imports and exports. The figures here employed were designed to demonstrate commercial importance without any attempt at showing what the trade balance in favor of or against the community might be.


It is an economie law in international trade that nations cannot buy more than they can sell. This applies to communities as well. Yet some of the old time records would go to show that Milwaukee usually imported much more than she exported. This, of course, cannot be true. The constant growth and development of the city would prove that the products of its labor were advantageously marketed and that it bought wisely, and kept expenditures well within its means.


. The commerce of Milwaukee had its earliest beginning in the Tur trading engaged in between the Indians and the white men. The latter were the French who came from Canada to gather the trophies of the savage man and carry them back to the marts of civilization. The consideration usually con- sisted of trinkets and articles that appealed to the faney and appetites of the Indian until money became a medium of value and enabled him to purchase what he pleased. When civilization brought its general commercial parapher- nalia, giving the Indian his choice of purchase, he began to appreciate the value of money and exacted it.


The young Yankees who came from the New England States and the young Knickerbocker coming from New York State were decidedly commercial in their inelinations. They soon ontmimbered the few French Canadians who had arrived before them. They were not only traders but builders as well. In the course of time they constructed mills and warehouses, ships and road- ways and railroads. They also became the founders of banks and insurance


257


Vol. 1-17


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EAST WATER STREET NORTH OF WISCONSIN STREET


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259


COMMERCIAL RISE AND EXPANSION


enterprises. They became the land speenlators as well as the constructors of their time.


Imports and Exports .- A report made by Secretary Andrew J. Aikens of the local Board of Trade in 1856 is interesting not only in that it reveals the character of the imports and exports of that period but also because it deals with the comparative value of the two factors.


Articles Imported at the Port of Milwaukee, for the year 1856


Lumber, joists, etc., feet. . . 84.000,000


Tea. chests


21,519


Lath, pieces


18,382,000


Raisins, boxes


16,317


Shingles


21,000,000


Candles, boxes 22,503


Shingle bolts, eords


7,249


Glass, boxes 46,720


Wood, cords


2,000


Nails, kegs


117,720


Park, cords


3,628


Axes, boxes


7,120


Square timber, feet


339,000


Candy, boxes


16,572


Railroad iron, tons


19,846


Starch, boxes


14,000


Coal, tons


20,000


Riee, tierees


2,000


Horses, number


5,000


Tobacco, pounds


2,952,000


Salt, barrels


94,277


Soap, boxes


33,473


Salt, saeks


180,000


Oil, barrels


9,000


Plaster, barrels


8,800


Saleratus, boxes


13,153


Oats, bushels


150,000


White lead, kegs


48,000


Corn, bushels


250,000


Cheese, pounds


1,347,000


Barley, bushels


10,000


Steel, tons


210


Potatoes, bushels


20,000


Bar iron, tons


6,539


Sugar, hhds.


9,072


Cider and vinegar, barrels.


5,201


Sugar, barrels


38,508


Alcohol, barrels


10,000


Molasses and syrup, barrels


18,243


Oranges, boxes


14.790


Codfish, boxes


7,107


Lemons, boxes


27,300


Coffee, bags


28.440


Prunes, pounds


200,000


Mackerel, barrels


4,266


Spices, pounds


240,000


Dried apples, bushels


105.675


Nuts, pounds


600,000


Dried peaches, bushels.


14,582


Pipes, boxes 10,000


Apples, barrels


33,790


Wooden Ware, doz.


25,000


Comparative Value of Imports


Total, 1854


$11,124,000


Total, 1855


18,649,832


Total, 1856


27,974,748


Articles Exported from the Port of Milwaukee During the Year 1856


Wheat, bushels


3,097,000 Beer, barrels 12,000


Oats, bushels


14,000


White fish, barrels 500


Barley, bushels


20,400


lIams 580


THE OLD PLANKINTON HOUSE.


Grand Avenue between West Water and Second streets, which was razed to give place to the Plankinton Arcade.


-


A


THE NEW PLANKINTON HOTEL Corner West Water and Sycamore streets


261


COMMERCIAL RISE AND EXPANSION


Malt. bushels


32,250


Paeon, boxes 990


Grass seed, bushels


10,300


Soap, boxes


3,100


Cranberries, bushels


1,464


Fish, boxes


1,700


Flour, barrels


213,451


Packing barrels 12,700


Pork, barrels


12,000


Ashes, easks


260


Beef, barrels


5,200


Hides


25,550


Vinegar, barrels


546


Pelts


26,305


Lime, barrels


5,900


Wool, pounds


850,000


Lard, barrels


2,800


Briek


560,000


Beans, barrels


220


Broom corn, bales


1,500


Whiskey, barrels


8,000


Hops, bales


500


Peas, barrels


40


Pig iron, tons


200


Tallow, barrels


50


Ship knees


300


Provisions, barrels


2,000


Staves


800,000


Corn meal, barrels


500


Comparative Value of Exports


1854


$ 7,709,571


1855


17,329,531


1856


20,274,300


"By the above it will be seen that the ratio of increase on imports has been about 50 per cent on the year 1855, while the increased exportation is somewhat less. The same circumstances that explain the deficieney of east- ward bound produce on the railroads, will explain this want. of a larger increase. Besides the rates of freights for the last three months of navigation were unprecedentedly high-ranging from fifteen to thirty cents per bushel for wheat from Milwaukee to Buffalo.


"The tables of imports and exports will be defective until Congress makes some requirement of inland ship masters and ship owners in regard to reports made at the Custom houses. Every steamer, propeller and vessel should be compelled to give a duplicate copy of the bill of lading to the collector of each port. The board should take some action in the matter, and see if such a law could not be passed.


"The Lake Commerce now amounts to $700,000,000, and seems to us is of sufficient importance to attract the attention of Congress. The imports and exports for the year 1856 amount, as given above, for the Port of Milwaukee, to the sum of $48,000,000. This does not represent the entire traffic of the city by many millions of dollars. We estimate that the entire imports and exports by lake and railroad. amount to $75,000,000 or about one-filth of the entire commerce of Lake Michigan.


"As soon as our railroads are all in operation from the lake to the Missis- sippi River, the traffic will at onee double or treble its present extent. Not only shall we drain a vast and new region of its products, but we shall receive their supplies of eastern merchandise at our doeks and forward it over onr various and diverging lines of railway.


GRAND AVENUE EAST FROM SIXTH STREET


4


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-


-


-


-


4


DORE


NO.


*+ SENT DE FLOGA FOR RENT


-


N


URUTIRO


UxYO'12


CREAN


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. 1211. 17


263


COMMERCIAL RISE AND EXPANSION


"Speculations upon the future prospects, however well founded, are not the purpose of this report, and we leave them for a simple record of what Milwaukee has done in the past."




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