The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-22
THE GROWTH SINCE 1856
A COMPARISON OF THE LOCAL IN
DUSTRIAL CONDITIONS.
Unusual Development Up to 1875
Comments of the Early Direc-
tory Publishers,

An old-time resident of this city day or
two ago was discussing the development of
the manufacturing interests of the city
since 1855. when the first directory of In
danapolis was published by A. c. Grooms
q Co., and was printed by the indianapolis
Journal Company In 1855 the leading man
ufacturing establishment of the city was
that of Osgood & Smith. manufacturers of
lasts. pegs, spokes, hubs and felloes. The
ground is now occupied by the Parry Man
ufacturing Company and the saw works of
e. c. Atkins & Co. The Osgood & Smith
Company in 1855 employed fifty to sixty
men, Now on the same grounds are works
that employ at least 14OO men. There were
five foundries-the Washington, the Eagle
machine works. the Franklin and a brass
and bell foundry on South Delaware street.
The Sinker-Davis Company then manufac-
tured only boilers and the five concerns, it
is estimated, employed $50 people. The
same concerns or ir successors, now en-
ploy, 1t is estimated, one thousand men,
and, in addition to this is the Atlas engine
works. employing over six hundred men.
A number of other machine shops employ
from twenty to one hundred men each. The
Dean Brothers came shortly after. Then
there began a general Improvement In the
manufacturing interests which brought the
Nordyke & Marmon, the Allfree Touring
mill manufacturers, the Standard wheel
works, the several packing houses, which
give employment to one thousand or more
men, the stock yards the tile works, the
coffin works and dozens Of other concerns
which manufacture almost every article
known to the trade.
Between 1855 and 1875 it is stated that the
manufacturing interest increased in num-
Der more than of late. but to offset this
there is hardly a manufacturing interest
that does not employ proportionately one
hundred men to twenty then employed 1t
would require columns to set out separately
the various industries of Indianapolis
which, like the Atkins saw works, the
Parry Manufacturing Company, the Udell
woodenware works, the Atlas engine
works, the malleable iron works, the
Brown Ketcham works the Indianapolis
Foundry Company, the Chandler & Taylor
works, the Indiana cotton mill, the two
wooden mills. the Dean Brothers pump
works, all from small beginnings, come to
be the important industries, giving employ
ment to many thousand people.
In railroad shops there has been very
marked improvement. From small affairs
they now employ fully loo men, AS
packing point of hogs. poultry, eggs ana
butter, Indianapolis has made rapid strides
and now stands at the head in tonnage OF
poultry and eggs shipped annually, ana us
wholesale grocery trade has grown from
one wholesale house to twelve The whole
sale grocers of this city now sell more
goods annually than do those or Clncln-
natl. and the commission houses have in
tn fU-fIU
1897. and from a business of a few thousand
dollars year to one of over one million
per annum.
The publishers Of the 1866 directory, in
its introduction, says: "In presenting to the
public a directory of our young and hour
ishing city it is expected, and is necessary
that we should give at least short history
of the city, it's location, improvements and
growth. to it's present high commercial po-
sition. Indianapolis e'vRas located and laid
out in 1920, and INCORPORATED JAM 6, 1921. In
October following, 314 lots, central IN the n
old plat Of the city, were sold Tor $5o,oso
Lots which then sold for 800 and $SVV Wo 6no
now readily command from SLOW 70 $@o, 49,
Al the period referred to, the site was
covered with dense forests, ana Tor Iorty
or fifty miles around the country remained
in its pristine condition of an tntrencheo
wilderness The original town plot was one
mile square, but, like all progressive towns,
Indianapolis has overstepped It's arunclaI
limits and extended itself on all SloeS. VI
late years 1t has become a chief terminus
or center of railroads, and is very appro-
priately termed the railroad city, and from
its position is likely to maintain its as
tendency in this respect. There are several
railroads now in the course or construction
in addition to the eight railroads n, now IN
successful operation, pouring in daily their
thousands of passengers, and conveying IN
merchandise, etc, to and from it the wealth
of an empire 1t is also on the line or the
No from
several macadamiZed and plank ROADS
pointing to all the important places within
and beyond the limits of the State.
"Its manufactures also have made rapid
progress, and at the present time have me-
chanics employed in every handlcraft Few
cities in the States north of the ONO, IN
deed, have so excellent a prospect for flu
ture grea tnesS, and there are those who
wisely anticipate it's becoming one Of the
prominent cities of the great West In the
number of it's people, the amount or its
trade and in that enterprise. which is so
necessary to the fulfllment Of all high ex-
pectations. To give some idea of the rapid
growth of the city we give the population
at the different periods from 1880 to 1855:
Population in 1890, LOSS: in 1894; l,GOo In 1870
1892; in 1S47, S.5O4; in 1855, 5000, showing an
increase in six years of nearly 1OO per
cent. The last enumeration, taken in July,
1855, has been confined strictly to the cor
poratiop. Should we add to this the popu-
lation of West Indianapolis and all those
on territory adjoining the city on the north
with the city in their business transas-
tons and looked upon as citizens. and add
to this also the colored population, who
were not enumerated, 1t would swell the
number to about 20 900 souls"
The publishers add: "Our issue at this
time will not be so complete and definite as
we could wish. In consequence of so many
persons being prejudiced against it, and
considering it a rather superfiuous work;
many actually refused to give us their
names. Many could not tell on what street
they lived and one individual-one of the
proprietors of an establishment where there
are some forty or fifty hands al work, re-
fused to give US their name and address
Imperfections arising from this cause
therefore. cannot be regarded as our fault
Some persons refused to give either names
or residences through fear of having taxes
to pay, while others would assign no rea-
son. but steadily refused to give us any
satisfaction. Because we happened to in
form one lady that she was mistaken with
regard to the nature Of her husbands Office
we were called on by her husband and
threatened to have a dornic bounced on
our devoted head operation which we
by no means relished, and tried to pacify
the gentleman but could not. and had to
allow him to go ct large, breathing ven
geance on us if we ever did it again. Such
cases, we are happy to state are few or we
would, no doubt, long ere this have been
on an exploring expedition among the stars
or buried in oblivion and covered deep by
the anathema naranat haS Of persons made
furious by such mistaken grievances"
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MENC I'M CIIMR n VIC TNIIDMUT