The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-09-13
WEDNESDAY. SEPT 10.
IndianapoIIs -Present and Futare.

En0laEApOls -f-EescnN anu utarcs
The growth of Indianapolis In populs-
ton and wealth, is we'll calculated to ar
rest the attention of thoughtful men. We
do not care 10 record it as Marvellous
result that has been accomplished in def
ance Of natural lsws-s triumph over for
midsbIe obstacles-by virtue OF lavish
expenditure of money and strstegical man.
euveIs so often resorted to to build up
mushroom eities-on the contrary, Indiana
polls has grown in population, wealth and
commercial importance because OF her
manifold natural advantages. These have
exercised pote ntisl influence in the past,
and must, in the nature OF things, continue
in steadily increasing ratio to attract
capital, population and business. We are
not unmirdiul of the fact that Indianspo-
lis, being remote from nsvigable waters,
lnust look to artificial means of transports.
ton for receiving the products of the fertile
regions of which she is q geographical CEN
land forthe distribution of her wsres and
merchandise, and just here Is shown her
great sdvanta e of locality. Railroads,
which in their construction, obeg natural
laws almost as certainly as navigsble
streams, have, in a measure, almost un-
known to other cities, converged upon
Indianapolis. Her citizens have not been
compelled to build these roads,
or scarcely TO ask for their
construction, they have come to her in
obedience TO geographical arguments that
could not be ignored, and, as consequence,
indianapolis has grown into one OF the
great commercial centsrs OF the West. To
illustrate this point and place it beyond
anything bat csrping controversy, it may
be well to look az the facts. Fortunately
these are at hand:
Total value of tsxsbles in 49, 100
Total value Of taxables in lS75-........ 6s25l749
Increase in 10 years. 762 50
an annual increase of wealth of s., 224. $50.
Population In 4S9l4
Population in Isle (estimated)
gain in six ye us ................... 5l,7oo
Or more than 100 per cent. Such figures
can not fail to be gratifying to those who
have bad faith in the future OF the me-
tropolis of Indiana.
II population and wealth have in
creased in a gratifying ratio, bus-
mess enterprises in almost every
department have been equally prog
ressive. This viii appear from authentic
date. In 1547-s the pork packing business
commenced in this city, and during that
year $4,000 bead OF hogs were slaughtered.
In the year 1875 6 the business had ex-
banded to 323, ls4 head. In l847-8 TO co the
business stated, required for the purchase
of the hogs about $4,000. In 1875 the
amount was nearly 100000 or the
-four Uiils now in operation the
first was erected in 1910 with
q capacity OF 200 barrels per day
We now have nine mills with a capacity OF
1870 5-ls. per day, requiring when running
to tbeir full capacity about 2. SOC, 900 BUSH
els OF wheat. Such progress must be most
gratifying and encouraging to every citi-
zsn of indianapolis, as also to every citizen
OF the state, 81 least, to those who have any
state pride. The items we have given
however, are not the only evidences we
have of the strides of this city towards
commercial Importance. Upon this point
the following figures showing receipts and
shipments for the past IL months of lead
ing articles will be found worthy OF con-
si5SrafioU.