The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-18
REPORTS OF INDUSTRIES
THEIR BUSINESS DURING FIRST
HALF OF 1898 WAS GOOD.
Last Three MOnths-At the
Bicycle Plants.

The general tenor of the remarks of local
manufacturers is that they have no reason
for complaint in their business the first six
months of 1858. To find a manufacturer
who would say that it has not exceeded ex-
pectations on the first day of the year would
be difficult matter. While there has been
with some a falling off in business in the
last thirty days, which is usually the case in
midsummer, none will say that his business
for six months has been disappointing, and
with some it has been a great surprise.
The lockwood Manufacturing Company is
enjoying a very prosperous season. The
first six months of this year it sold more
sawmills than in any one year in the his
tory of the company. except in 1892 1t
has just closed a contract to supply saw
mills to one of the largest machinery houses
in San Francisco, Cal, which has large
trade in the Western States, Alaska and the
Hawaiian islands. Last week it shipped a
portable sawmill for export to Central
America and IL large standard mill to Little
Rock, Ark. The paper-pulley and friction
departments are crowded with orders, and
the company often finds it difficult to salts
fy customers demands for prompt delivery.
Collections are easy, and as the company
ships to all parts of the United States the
conclusion is that the financial condition of
the country generally is quite satisfactory.
The Atlas engine works have been work
ing for six months past the largest force in
the history of the works, about seven hun
dred men, and the company is shipping it's
make of engines to all parts of this country
and has large foreign trade besides. Dean
Brothers, the first four months of this year,
were. swamped with orders, but the last
sixty days there has been some falling off.
Still, their orders have been sufficient to
keep their full complement of men at work
full time, and the works are now employing
more men than at any former period. The
Sinker-Davs Company is well settled in its
new quarters and employing more men than
ever before and has plenty to keep the
men busy. Ellis & Helfenberger report a
great Improvement in business of late. Last
week they were awarded contract for sew
SERIAL thousand feet of heavy iron fence for
a newly laid-out cemetery in Illinois. The
AT xins saw works have had the best six
months business in their history, working
in some departments overtime for weeks.
The Parry Manufacturing Company has
sold more four-wheeled vehicles since Jan.
l than in any corresponding period since the
months behind in orders. Hetherington &
Berner, the last three months, have been
quite busy. The portable asphalt plant
they build is proving bonanza for that es-
The manufacturers of shirts, pants. over
alls, ETC., have experienced a good year
thus far, and this is more of an industry
than many credit it with being. At the FIVE
manufactures some 1900 people, chiefly
women, are employed and besides, these
establishments furnish a good deal of work
for the sewing women in the western and
southern parts of the city.
The report from the lounge manufacture
ers is that they are having the best bust
ness in the last three years, but it is not up
to it's maximum volume of 1884, 1892 and 1893.
The furniture manufacturers do not give
of the year they were unable to fill the or
derS, but since May their business has not
been as satisfactory.
The bicycle works are doing more than
reached their high-water mark of years
past. About one-third as many men are
employed in the manufacture of bicycles as
there were in 1895 and 1896. The bicycle
chain manufacturers, however, have been
kept busy with local and outside orders.
The Dugdale Can Company has turned out
more goods than in any former year, it's
storage house having been of great advan-
tage in getting stock ahead to fill orders
when the rush set in. The large fruit crop
makes it evident that it is to be a good year
with this industry.
The Interior Hardwood Company has got
well settled in its new and enlarged plant,
and is quite busy, having built up ex-
cellent outside trade, as well at home.
The Adams Veneering Company never was
more busy than in the last six months.
These works furnish ven eering for the Pull
man Company and for a large per cent of
the piano, organ and sewing machlne build
ers in the East
AS shown in their semi-annual exhibits,
published some days ago, the Indianapolis
stock yards and packing houses have en-
joyed since the 1st of January the largest
business in the existence Of either Of the
industries.