The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-22
BALCH, FRAZER & co,
Growth Of the Lime Trade.

Among the most enterprising and sue
cesstul OF our business houses stands the
hrm OF Balch, Frazer & Co., who are the
largest dealers in lime, cement, plaster and
hair, in theWest. We have watched with no
little interest the history of this firm, since
1861. Lit we remember correctly it was
In that year that Mr.. George Balch, ST.,
commenced the business in small frame
building on the levee, in Davenpo rt, Just
below the Scott House, by receiving lime
in wagons from the burners and selling the
same to customers, on commission. Dur
ing the three succeeding years, by close at
tention to business, Mr.. Balch, succeeding
in getting comfortable start on the road
to success, and in di scovering that his son,
Frank A. Balch, possessed more than Or
binary business tact, and disposition to
enter the same business, and in 1864 Frank
opened retail store in this city, on Eagle
street, to supply the increasing demand
from this side Of the river, and at the same
time continued his studies, during the win
ter, at the Davenport High School, from
which he graduated with honor in 1866.
During these two years he succeeded in
building up an extensive retail trade sup
plying the city builders and farmers for
thirty and forty miles around the city and
this and adjoining counties. Having fin
ished his school studies, Mr.. Frank Balch
turned his attention to building up large
and profitable retail trade. He employed
one of his old school companions, Mr. E. G.
Frazer, and in two years saw his hopes in
this direction realized. In 1868. Mr.. Fra
ger became partner in the business under
the firm name of Balch & Frazer. Up to
this time they had confined their business
to retailing, and it was in this year they
commenced to attract some attention by
putting their profits into building neat,
comfortable homes for sale here in the city
After putting up several houses and not
finding ready sale for them, they turned
their attention to jobbing. On the COM
pletion of the Rockford road they estab-
lished agents at the various points from
Sterling to Bushnell, and soon extended
their agencies to towns on the c., r. |. &
P. r. R. from Tiskilwa to Omaha, and on
the Southwestern to LeaVenworth and
Atchison; on the Peoria & Rock Island
road to Peoria; on the Davenport & ST
Paul road as far as built; at various points
on the c. B. & @. R. R. from Monmouth
to Nebraska City, aud at all points on the
river as far south as Burlington. To meet
the demand from this new territory they
now take almost the entire produce of
Five kilns at Port Byron,
| Two Cordova,
Two LeClaire,
One g ON Moline Avenue,
which comprise all of the lime manufac-
| tories in this section, except one small con-
Germ at Port Byron. Since 1871, when the
Rock Island branch united with the Daven-
port house under the present firm name of
Balch, Frazer Il CO., they have worked for
the jobbing trade. Mr.. Geo. Balch man.
aging the Davenport branch, Mr.. F. A.
Balch managing the Rock Island branch
and Mr.. E. g. Frazer doing the travelling,
which their rapidly increasing business de-
mauds. Ihe advantages of this business
to our city cannot we'll be calculated, except
to the large number of men to whom it
gives employment, and in the business it
gives our railroads, the Western Union
road alone bringing to this city and DAY.
export from three to five cars per day.
Last year the sales of this firm amounted
! to over $4,000, with reasonable encour-
agemept that this year they will exceed
! 100000.
| Such, in brief. is the history of the lime
business in Rock Island and the enterpris-
ing young managers. Their success is not
an accident, but the result of close atten-
| ton to business and the daily practice of
| correct business habits, and it gives us
pleasure to bespeak for them all credit and
future prosperity, which their energy and
enterprise demands. 1t is to just such
men as T. A. Balch and L. G. Frazer that
the city looks for future public spiritedness
and the fair reputation of its business men.
Are there not other young men who can
and will do likewise and not wait for op-
portunities ?"