The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-18
FOOD FOR THE EAST
Local Commission Men Furnish
Supplies to Far-Off Markets.
Growth of the Business-Highest Ship
ments in Day-Growth of the
Wooden Market.

Investigation would without doubt devel-
op the fact that in no branches of Indian
apolis business has there been so remarka-
BILE an increase as with the commission mer-
chants and the poultry and egg packers
in the last thirty years. the business hav-
ing increased from $3O0,0O0 year in 1862 TO
100000 in 1892. The first man to estab-
lish what could be termed a strictly COM
mission house was G.. G.. Holman. This was
in 1860. In 1862 Van Camp & Jackson estab-
lished commission house on a more ex-
tensive scale than Mr.. Holman's as Mr..
Holman had largely confined himself to
supplying the local grocers with poultry.
butter, eggs and game. Van Camp & Jack
son took in a larger field, and received
goods on commission from not only this
but other States, and furnished goods to
some of the important cities and towns Of
the State. The next year Barnes G. VIII
liams opened up, and competition then be-
came sharp, the last firm being more ag
gressive than either Of its predecessors
For several years these three commission
houses held the field, and were doing about
5000 600 in business, in 1870 reaching about
half million dollars year in business
In 1871 Henry Syerup, a grocer on Massachu-
sets avenue, sold out, and established a
commission house. He began buying goods
a we'll taking them commission The
next year L. +. Adams joined the ranks
of the commission men, competition became
sharper and the business began to grow
very healthy. Now there are fourteen COM
mission houses which do business on a
large scale, and the business Of last year
exceeding three million dollars. OF the orig
inal number mentioned above Henry Syerup
and l.. +. Adams are still in business, and
in the last few years the commission houses,
which were scattered, have all concentrated
on South Delaware street. While the COM
mission merchants have increased their
business in a remarkable manner, another
branch has been increasing fully as rapidly.
This is the packing of poultry, eggs and
butter for Eastern markets, and Indian
apoliS now outranks any point in the Union
in the way of furnishing Eastern markets
with such articles. The first carload of
poultry shipped from Indianapolis was In
1860 by ]. r. Budd who a year afterwards
took into partnership William Hinesly, and
they enlarged the business until they
shipped one to three carloads a week. A
year later A. V. Lawrence. engaged in the
same business and the next year Lawyer
& Hall The last firm was short lived. In
1880 Arthur Jordan entered the field and
began shipments on much larger scale.
This gave stimulus TO the. other and older
dealers
Not until 1887 did Indianapolis take the
rank it now occupies as a produce ship
ping point. In that year Mr.. Jordan moved
into his present quarters and greatly en-
larged his business, establishing branches
all tributary TO the indianapolis house.
There are now four houses which do eX-
tensive business. To name the markets
which draw supplies from this market would
be quite a task. Within the last year as
high as fifteen carloads per day of dressed
poultry have been shipped to Eastern mar
ketS, and often many carloads OF live
poultry, although less of the latter is han
died than formerly. A few years ago most
OF the shipments were made in certain sea-
sons of the year Now the refrigerator car
has come into such general use that the
season of the year. climate and temperature
cut figure, the temperature being regu-
lated by the conVenences the Refrigerator
car furnishes. There is class of freights
which pays the roads as we'll as poultry,
eggs and butter, consequently the business
is closely watched, and nothing left undone
to make good time in transportation TO
Eastern markets. While the distant mar
kets have not opened extensively to the
commission merchants for produce and the
articles they handle as has the poultry,
egg and butter markets. the commission
men have largely extended their business
in this State, portions OF Ohio and Illinois.
The excellent railroad facilities Of Indian
apolis are very favorable factor to both
industries