Omaha daily bee., 1895-01-01
Healthy Increase in the Oity's Population
and Building Improvem nt,,
l0BBERS ARE ALL WELL SATISFIED
Her Record for the Year Just Ended is I'm
approached In the Country - Numer-
Gus Advantages Told in Busi-
ness-Like English.

The year 1894 has made a highly salts
factory record for Council Bluffs. Booms
have been scarce all over the country, and
this city is not disposed to grumble over
the scarcity OF the crop. Booms are too
much like bombs-they are likely to ex-
plode and blow everything in the vicinity to
Kingdom come Instead Of climbing so high
as to render a fall and q fracture Of the
neck among the probabilities, Council Bluffs
has gone on in the even tenor of its way, with
no commercial failures of any consequence
and hardly any financial embarrassment to
blacken the memory of 1894. On the con-
trary there was never a time in its his
tory when the prospects were any brighter
Tor the future than they are now. Numer-
Gus business plans are now in the process
OF incubation, and II there comes the re-
vival in business circles throughout the
nation that is naturally to be expected after
30 long time spent in burrowing after
bedrock, Council Bluffs can be looked for
among the first cities of the country to get
up and dust itself
In discussing the past year and the out
look for the future, a representative of one of
the leading commercial agencies of the coun-
try said yesterday: During the year 1894
there have been no failures of any magnitude
AZ SouhSii ioluHS, anu only TWO
of any size. Both of these were
groceries. and their combined liza
bilities were less than $1,000. No dry
goods, hardware, nor boot and shoe m chants
have failed. In view of the general failure
In crops and financial depression, that is
record which will hardly be duplicated in any
city Of the size in the country. Merchants
tell me that Notwithstanding the hard times
the holiday trade this year has been better
than last Among the additions in the com
mercial line. the Terminal bridge, which was
thrown open to the public last spring, is by
all odds the greatest The expenditure OF
$5,O0O,O0O that this bridge indicates was not
made for fun. 1t prophecys great things
Tor the city, and the men who own the stock
will, In the course of very short time, begin
to show that they had purpose in view.
"The Mccormick Harvester company has
concentrated its western business in Council
Bluffs by moving all its great warehouses
from Lincoln, Omaha and Des Moines The
warehouse built cost $50 900, and makes a big
addition to the list of business houses to be
found in the implement district. The Com
bination Fence works has been moved here
from York, Neb. on account of the excellent
Shipping facilities, and will be enlarged as
soon as spring opens. H. A. Rice has opened
an excelsior factory near the Terminal COM
pany's bridge, and has been having a good
trade. He is making arrangements by which
he VIII secure the capital necessary to branch
out his business in all directions.
.The Council Bluffs & Lake Manawa Rail-
way company has been organized during the
past year, with acapital stock of $25 0OO and
Is laying Its plans for the building Of road
between Council Bluffs and the lake. 1t is
composed mostly Of Omaha men with plenty
Of means. and will carry on operations in
conjunction with the Omaha G. Council Bluffs
Bridge company. When the new road is COM
pleted the Main street line will be made
In reality the main line, all Omaha trains
being run down that street instead Of half of
them going up Broadway, as they do now.
The work of building the road will commence
as soon as spring opens so am told, by one
of the leading men of the company. Exten-
sive improvements are projected at Manawa
during the coming spring in view of the pro-
posed new road.
altogether the year has been very sue
ressful one in Council Bluffs and the outlook
from an unprejudced standpoint. is a most
nattering one."
There are now 1856 miles of paved streets
In the city. OF this 2,37 miles are of granite,
4.59 Of brick, and 11.5s of cedar block The
value Of the pavements all told is estimated
by the city engineer at s754,433. About one
mile of new sewer has been laid during the
year, making total mileage of 22. g. valued
at $l25, 900.
The prospect for good times in the future,
particularly for owners of property in the
WESTERN part Of the city, is bettered by the
recent developments In connection with the
Omaha Bridge and Terminal company The
expenditure OF several millions of dollars by
this company appeared year ago to have
been done without any particular purpose.
Comparatively little money was taken in the
way OF tolls, and to the curious public 1t
seemed very much as though the company
had overreached itself. Little by little dur
ing the last twelve months the plans have
been shaping themselves, and the indica-
tions now are that before many months the
company Will be playing an important part
in developing the business interests of the
northwest part Of the city.
Within the past few weeks the company
has secured right-of-way along Union
nu tod NlNa
granting 1t. announces its acceptance. This
ordinance requires IL to expend $75 900 I'm
grading. laying tracks, and other like i'm
provements. The completion of this track
Will enable the company to connect with
almost every railroad company centerng in
Council Bluhs, and a powerful competitor
OF the Union Pacific will thus be put into
the field. Among other things the Terminal
people promise union depot soon as the
railway companies can be induced by offers
OF trackage and depot facilities to use II
The Missouri Pacific has already determined
10 cross the river as result of the Terminal
peoples plans, and energetic and prayerfu
efforts are being made TO induce other com.
panies to unite In the scheme.
The general ieeling that something was
going to happen caused quite a furry in real
estate In the northwestern part of the city
throughout the year. and a large amount Of
property changed hands-not in such auan.
titles at any one time TO create a boom
but enough to keep the real estate men
hustling From compilation made by ].
w. squire IL was found that during the six
months from April to October there were
1s3 transfers. OF total valuation of more
than 100000, in that part OF the city lying
north OF broadway and west of the North
western tracks
unfortunately, no attempt has been made
this year to enforce the law requiring the
taking out OF building permits so that the
record is very unsatisfactory. Only sixty
four property owners have taken the trouble
voluntarily TO comply with the law and the
sixty-lour permits cover only S74425. Had
the city authorities enforced the law strictly
much better showing would have been
made. single firm of architects as will
appear In another part OF this issue has
superintended the construction of over SIS 600
worth Of new buildings during the past
Twelve months in Council Bluffs alone. which
Is the hest indication possible OF the amount
OF pubic improvements that have been made
py private property owners. II is 10 be
hoped that during 1895 strcter watch of
this portion Of the city business will be kept,