Smyrna times., 1893-09-06
For the Smyrna Times
A LETTER FROM MARION, INDIANA.
A YOUNG CITY OF WONDERS.


cursions from the East. it occurred +,
me, that descriptive article concern
ing our city, might be read with an
probation by them.
Marion, the county seat of CRAM
county, is beautifully located on tn,
picturesque and somewhat tortuous
Mlsslsslnnewa River, a beautiful stream
OF water, although not navigable. II
Is OF easy access to several of our larpe
western cities, being about centrally
located between them, as "A miles from
[ indianapolis, 157 miles from CHICAGO
, I54 miles from Toledo, 156 miles from
columbus, and $50 miles from Cincin-
natl. 1t is located about the centre of
the Natural Gas belt, and is termed the
Queen of the gas belt," because it is
one OF the largest, if not the largest. as
well as being the most thriving and
prosperous city in the gas belt, and also
because OF its superior gas supply.
Ii IS claimed and has been proven
tnat Its gas supply is far greater, and
the pressure of its gas wells far superior
to the same of any other city or town
in the gas belt.
1t certainly has tie advantage over
It's sister gas cities both in its gas and
water supply; as well as in many other
respects; hence it is entitled to the
name of the "Queen city"
Marion has developed, since the dis
coVery of gas, five or six years ago
from a small agricultural town of about
0OOO Inhabitants, to thriving mann.
featuring city of $4,000 to 10000 in
habltants. In 1888 it could boast of
Out about small factori0s, such as YOU
ma IN our eastern towns of about the
same size-Marion was then
To-day after but FIVE years prosper.
ity' she puts claim to about 1O4 larye
factories, many of which are mammotb
manufacturing plants. Almost every
manufacturing industry is represented
here.
VIII attempt to enumerate but a
q
lew OF the many industries carried op
mere, to give the readers an idea of the
manufacturing interests centred here
In going the rounds of the factories
we would find, large Iron rolling mills
MaIleable iron works, Vice works
otrawboard factories, Zinc smelting
works, Wood Pulp mills, at least a
dozen glass factories-in which are
manufactured all kinds of hollow and
nat glassware, such as plate glass. win
dow glass, opolescent glass, cut glass
druggists ware, fruit Jars, oil cans and
all kinds of fancy toilet and table glass
ware Bicycle works, one large Brick
works-with capacity of $4,000 to 100
QUO per day. Another brick works
the Dubois pressed brick Co.-oom.
posed entirely of Eastern men. will
soon be IN operation. The product of
this plant will be foe, machine made
pressed bricks exclusively. The oanac.
lty will be from $4,000 to $4,000 DER
day.
The last plant to enumerate is tho
huo and Block factory, of which our
friend Mr.. Robert Boone, formerly Of
Philadelphia, but whose parents were
DeIawareans, being residents of Fred.
secretary and Treasurer
One Of the greatest branches in
here is the glass trade
every kind of glassware being made on
a large scale. The National glass
blowers convention met here in their
annual session the last two weeks in
July, and one could meet glass blowers
rom all parts of the country, where
Che glass trade is carried on. All ths ,
various glass factories have been closed
since June 80, as is customary with all ,,
glass factories to shut down during :
July and August. They reopen in Sen
.emLer.
These factories employ from 200 to 2
500 hands each.
nave no doubt that a great manv
't your readers have eaten the prodnct
II one OF our milling industries-Tbe
'aiatable Crystal Rice. All manufac. !
urlng' as well as all heating and H. y
uminating-except street Illuminating 6
which is done by Electric Plants-is
lone by the natural gas. 1 do not sup =
'ose there is cord of wood or a ton of \
oal used during the year. q
One cannot realize or appreciate the o
reat advantage and convenience of n
he gas for cooking, heating and il O
lmlnating purposes. until thew seq q
nd try it. There are two gas COM IL
anles, who control the whole gas sup. el
~, except wells owned by the manu-. ot
lcturers. r.
A property holder can Join either al
ompany by paying $50, thereby OBJ OF
aiming stock, which will entitle him To pl
much gas as can be used in his to
roperty, for all purposes, as long as N
as shall last, should that be 80 wears pC
A renter will have gas supplied him CO
'r all purposes for about 81 per month is
Iere you see the total bill will not ex. pc
BED Sl2.OO per year for a renter. and to
iuch less for property owner. Com. of
are that with the heavy fuel and gas til
oil bills in the East. There ia No II
init to the use of the gas; a person can at,
IN as many fires as be likes-aud no oe
Etra charge is made. They agree to OF
rnish house with all necessary gas ev
lthout Limitation to the amount used. be
ost properties are here, with the
nderstanding that the property owner ma
lys the gas bill and water rent, both w
mounting to very little howev,r an
ne first wells that were drilled g or we
ears ago-are still yielding a good m,
Ipply Of strong pressure gas. as
AS the town grOws-the companies ma
Q drilling more wells. Each wall ba
sting the companies 81 200 to drill he
hey are drilled to the depth of 1000 Of
ct before gas is struck. 1t takes
'out three weeks to drill a well. I lar
I'd the pleasure of ACCOMPANYING a 80
Irty one evening last week 10 saa oe