Democratic messenger., 1892-06-04
MARION, INDIANA.
The Queen City of the Indians.
Natural Gas Bclt-Maryland
and Delaware Editors
Visit il

Visit it.
On Monday May 24th there started out
from Philadelphia some sixteen editors
from Maryland and Delaware bound for
Marion, Indiana. They were the guests
of the Interstate Trust Company. of Phil
adelphia, which is largely interested in
the city of Marion. The officers Of this
company are George l.. Mason, President; !;
Frederick +. Mason, Treasurer; William
II. Wiley, Secretary and Thnd. Butler
General Agent, as fine group of bust
ness men rs il would be possible TO get
together
We left Philadelphia in our special car
the Pullman vestibule "Bandura." in
charge OF Mr.. Mason himself, who pro-
vided us during the trip with every i'm
aginable luxuary in the way oi eatables.
drinkahles aud smokables None of our
We had most enjo yable trip and n good
rest from editorial drudgery.
Arriving Mt our destination, our first
experience was one of disappointment,
for the view of the city from The Pan
handle depot is probably as unattract-
i've AS al any other point. After
we were taken to the York Inn and
given a good dinner we started cut
10 get good look at Marion, aud To soon
change our minds as 10 this lively, hust
ling place We were conveyed in car
riages through the streets of the city 10
the many factories that have sprung up
IN this marvellous city Of the great lndi-
ana natural gas belt. In 1888 Marion
was a town OF only 1000 inhapitanis; to-
day il is city ot $4,000 What is the
cause OF this great increase? The discoy-
cry four years ago that in and around
Marion was located the greatest natural
gas reservoir known IN The whole world.
Here n%turc had provided for years 10
come fuel and light iur great city like
Marion Is destined To he. Here Is found
in abundance gas, coal, oil.artesian water,
a delightful climate and almost every
other blessing which bcneiiccnt Creator
could besiow upon Il worthy people. But
We have not told you the location Of
Marion. Ii is situated almost in the cen
Ter of Indiana, within circle OF lj0
miles ut il is Chicago, Toledo. Columbus.
Cincinnati, Terre llauie and ludianapo-
lis. 1t Is the geographical centre of five
of the most prosperous and productive
States Vi the Union. Michigan. Kentuc
Ky, Ohio, Illinois, and with three great
guaranteeing cheap freight rates there is
nothing 10 prevent the manufacturers of
Marion from selling their products cheap
er than the manufacturers ot other cities,
and at the same time making u good pro
hit, Especially will you believe this true
when we tell you that manuiact urers can
get in Marion, free land upon which 10
erect factories, free fuel. free light, and
free switching facilities.
Our readers have heard of the great
booms of Southern and Western cities
such rs Roanoke. Va, Akron, Ohio, and
many others we could name Marion is
unlike them all. Ii is the Birmingham
OF The West. Il is built ON firm foGn-
dalion ana L. not city ON paper. In
some sections OF the cOunlry where uatur-
al gas has been discovered and has Great
ed It boom, il has been in such quantities
as 10 make il extremely difficult 10 locate
II well, often requiring many unsuccess
ful attempts before strike is made. Here
II is different. All you have 10 do is To
sink yeur well anywhere and you get an
abundant aud everlasting supply of gas.
In Marion The hundred factories are run
exclusively by il, lighted py ii, heated by
il and in the homes and places OF bust
ness il takes the place ol coal, wood, coal
oil, and gas. No wonder the people ot
Marion are living cmeapcr Than those OF
other cities and getting rich quicker.
How could II be otherwise when natures
bountiiui hand is incess,ntly Attending
them. Ii Was the unanimous opinion
OF our usually skeptIcul party after
tlor,. ugh survey Of the city ui Marion
and a visit 10 its rolling mills, glass fac
tories, bicycle works, smelling MOTHS,
wood workIng factories aud various other
upon certainty. That II would take
only year or two AT the most, with such
men as Gco. l.. Mason 10 shove the city
along aud make lis great advantages
known 10 the world, 10 out-distance many
ot the oidcr cities of Indiana Marion
has two iirst-class daily papers, one Dem
ocratic and the other Republican This
alone is AN md cation Of great prosperity
Tor il takes money 10 run daily papers
and Marion has two good ones. The
High School building, Court House ahd
many of the business houses would do
credit 10 city of one hundred Thousand
inhabitants. Ii has AN electric street
railway that Is niue miles in length and
which runs through the best parts of the
city and 10 the National Soldiers Home.
which cost $1,000. 300 and which was
located here ON account of the healihfui-
ness of Marion, aud the fact also that
$4,000 per annum could be saved by
erecting it where fuel and Liz ht could be
obtained without cost We could fill
"A dozen columns with the great p0sibli-
Ties of Marion if we had space, but we
have not so we will confine ourself To its
great advantages as manufacturing cen
Ter.
Rev. ". W. Wilson the eminent divine
who Is the pastor of the Smyrna, Del, NJ
f. Church, was one of our party. In
the evening OF our visit we were greeted
AT the beautiful York Inn by some of
Marions most distinguished citizens and
a fine band Of music. In replying TO the
hearty welcome given our party 10 Mar