The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-04
WHOLESALE BUSINESS
INDIANAPOLIS RANKS AMONG THE
FIRST IN GROCERY TRADE.
A Meridian-street Merchant Becomes
Reminiscent and Tells of Days
Gone BY.

A day or two ago one of the older of the
wholesale merchants on South Meridian
street said to a reporter: Are you aware
OF the fact that each of two wholesale gro
ceries in the year 1894 did more business
than either of the leading wholesale grocers
in Cincinnati, which for years was looked
upon as the greatest wholesale center for
groceries? Figures show such to be the
case" He then spoke quite freely of the
past, the present and the prospective future
of the business in this city.
The rise of the wholesale grocery bust
ness of Indianapolis makes a chapter in its
growth WHICH deserves to be rescued from
unrest" said he. This unrest-the main
spring of energy-has changed Indianapolis
modern iobbing center into a strong Compel
itOr with the older and more experienced
mercantile cities of the country Whereas,
within the memory of many who are still
youthful, it was a reasonable assumption
that either Cincinnati or Chicago were the
only jobbing points worth considering and
indianapolis was but a little blur in the
center of the State map, it is now a mark
Of either prejudice or ignorance to assert
us in any particular whatsoever. None
know this better than those whose lives
and White river and compared experiences
In the East and the West; from out of these
experiences the deductions arc clear which
assumes for Indianapolis an Incompatible
supremacy.
aRurniLg back to 1861 the history of Me-
ridian street, as a jobbing focus. actually
begins to appear in a very mild form; in
that year the house of A. & H. Schnull re-
moved to their new home in SShnuli's Block
street. They had barely become installed
before the firm of Grassland, Mcguire & Co.
was form ed and became owners of the old
horse whose partners retired temporarily
from the field-one of them permanently.
In a few years the firm of Grassland. Ma.
sulre * Co. passed through a succession of
changes, first as Grassland, Hanna & Co,
then Hanna. Caldwell & Co.; Lands, Cald-
well a. Co, succeeding next, to be followed
shortly after by the firm of Lands, O'Con-
ner & Co., finally resulting in the present
prosperous house of NJ. O'Conner e Co.
to the new wholesale district there were
many 1rms whose histories, as Wright, Bates
4 Mcguire John W; Holland & Son. and
afford, Talbot & Co. / can only briefly
refer to. These houses were all located on
Washington street and in their days were
have left a creditable impress.
MERIDIAN street once opened to the whole
sale trade the disappearance of residences
and the erection of business blocks followed
III rapid succession. f.. E. Alvord & Co.,
Co.. were among the most prominent houses
to follow the lefd of the Messrs. Schnull.
changes, or give in detail the numerous in
cidents which are interviewer in more than
through this quick run along the street
to lead the itineranLs down to the year 1895
where, an ample object lesson certifies to
the wisdom OF those who early placed their
faith in tie future of Indianapolis.
The daring grace of q city's business is
Its young men and these are fast displacirg
the old-timers; young men of to day are
brighter, more advanced, broader and less
provincial than were our elders; they do
Eot keep wholly within their shells. but get
out into the world. see how others make
business. then come home and do as Others
do; quickly adopt modern ideas and grasp
new thoughts.
This market is not the weak against
the strong; it Is the equal of any; words
books tell the story and Indianapolis need
not feel at all backward in claiming a seat
with any of it brothers on the top rail of the