Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-10-23

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the fixtures which serve to make an i'm
posing display of the wares which are
kept for sale. The drug business repre-
sents SO many specialties that the drug
house doesn't represent the drug trade.
In this city almost every speciality is sold
by concern which deals wholly in that
article. but orders are filled by wholesale
druggists. In smaller places all rticles
exclusive OF medicines which are sold by
druggists can only be found in wholesale
stores, but here it is different. The drug
houses are beginning to make spe-
cial feature of some one article
which is sold all over the country.
although the territory, which is tributary
to this market, extends from the western
boundary of Illinois to the Pacific.
Owing to the fact that almost everything
needed by druggists is sold here by firms
which deal in no othe Eyline. this is the best
drug market in the country. The railroad
facilities are better, and the service is so
quick that the dealers In outlying points
can obtain their goods with little delay,
and secure the benefit Of cheap rates. The
trade in apothecaries' supplies alone will
exceed $5,OoO,OO0 year.
FLAyoRING EXTRACTS.
Until thirty years ago retail grocers had
to depend on Eastern dealers for the
liquids which housewives put in various
articles of food to give them pleasant
flavor. At that time one day upon the
streets man with basket appeared,
who visited the small grocery stores an d
sold vanilla and lemon extracts. This
was the first establishment in Chicago
which dealt exclusively in favoring ex-
tracts. From this small beginning the
business grew until now between
100000 and $1,OOOO0O is paid
every year to the favoring extract
concerns. Much of this sum is
by the local Wholesale grocers, who, in
turn, sell it to the retail dealers and their
customers in outside towns. The terri
tory supplied from this market embraces
the country west of Ohio, including
the West, Northwest and Southern States.
Besides the extracts from fruits the IA
vorirg extract trade also includes such
articles as liquid, laundry and dry blue,
castor oil, sweet oil, olive oil, machine OIL
benzine, ink, mucilage, glue, glycerine,
cologne, perfumery. toilet waters, "a N onia,
shoe dressing, etc. Large quantities of
benzine are shipped south to New Mexico
All of these products are manufactured
here, which is the central market for this
class of goods, as there are no large man
other cities in the manufacture of this
class OF goods, which can not be made at
less cost anywhere else than they are here.
The mpetition between the Chicago and
Eastern markets is close, and the local
merchants in this line are deter mined to
keep the trade in their territory to them
selves. Freight does not cut much of a
figure, as this class of goods occupies but
small amount Of space. The trade is
increasing year by year and new extracts
are constantly being made which tickle
the palates of mankind. One thing that
annoys the best man ufacturers is the line
of cheap and inferior extracts which
small concerns are placing upon the mar
ket and which are purchased bys the
poorer class Of grocers.
BRUSHES
The business in brushes amounts to
100000 ann ually, and Chicago has the
second largest factory in the country.
The trade extends from OHIO to the Pa
cific coast. The competition with East
ern houses is very sharp, but by reason OF
lower freights aud shorter dista noes, Chi
time goes ON the business increases
steadily.
CAN-MAKING.
In all parts OF the country have been
established factories for canning fruits,
vegetables, ETC., on large scale, and each
season sees the number increase. Form
erly these canneries had departments of
their own for making their cans, but about
ten years ago 1T was conceived that can
making could be made business of itself
and cans turned out in large numbers by
the use of the proper machinery. This
idea, like most Innovations, was ridiculed
as both impossible and impracticable.
Machines, it was said, could not make as
perfect and strong a can as hand-work.
Regardless OF all adverse criticisms, how
ever, the busin ess was begun in small
way by Chicago firm, the proper ma
chinery created, which has beer gradually
perfected and added to, until to-day Chi
cago leads the world in the manufacture
of tin cans for fruits and vegetables.
This one factory makes 100000 cans
day entirely by machinery; q sheet of tin
starts in at one end and, without any
further handling, it is delivered a perfect
can, the whole process bsing automatic.
Chicago supplies all the West and South
with most of their fruit cans, the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts having each factory
which is either a branch of the parent con-
Germ, or has leased the machinery. I'M
mense stocks of cans are kept on hand, as
many as 100000 having been shipped in
one day. Thus has been added another
item to that long list of interests in which
Chicago takes precedence over all other
places and practically monopolizes the
trade of the country, and thus is once
more Illustrated the superior pluck, in
domitaols energy and perseverance of the
Chicago business man.
PRODUCE AND COMMISSION.
The produce and commission business
is the oldest in the city, for farmers used
to bring their products here as Nearly as
Chicago was of any Importance at all.
The business then was not much like it is
now, for it extends to almost every
locality in America. People VINO are not
connected with the business have no idea
of the immense amount of business that
is carried on. Ia the absence of
reliable statistics, which would be exceed
ingly difficult to secure, no accurate esti-
mate can be made of the amount
of business done during year, although
it undoubtedly reaches into the millions.
The products of all sections OF the conn