The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-03
BUSINESS
AS 1T WAS, AS 1T IS AND AS 1T WILL
BE IN THE OHIO VALLEY,
INDIANA GAS BELT AND FALLS CITY

INDIANA GAS BELT AND FALLS CITY.
EXPRESSIONS OBTAINED FROM
LEADING MERCHANTS AND
MANUFACTURERS.
With this issue is presented to our read
ers a supplement presenting the views of
| leading mercbants acknowledgements and pro-
fessional men ON their respective business.
These interviews are not confined to the
present exclusively, but compared to that
of the past, and a forecast of the future as
viewed by those whose sentiments are Civ
en- Every branch of business is represented,
and interviews obtained from men who are
individually a power in the commercial and
| industrial world of the country. There is
no narroWneSS of the range over which
! this sentiment extends Manufacturers and
! leading merchants OF the Ohio valley and
the Indiana gas belt give expression to bust
| ness past, present and prospective as they
| find it. No better business barometer could
| be furnished our readers, and in stating
| that the result of this work, undertaken at
| great expense and by staff of men en-
gagged especially for that purpose, will be
| found of the greatest interest and benefit,
| there is no fear of successful contradiction.
| To give this stupendous undertaking local
| color in the general picture, many men who
| are prominent and potent factors in local
| mercantile and manufacturing circles are
| quoted. From Cincinnati, Louisville, Indian
| apolis, Terre Haute, Muncle, Anderson,
Akron and many OF the cities tributary
| thereto are heard expressions Of this most
interesting subject, business as it was, as it
| is and as it will be-
Some of the firms quoted were the same
as those approached by representatives of
the Sentinel-Gruelle calamity literary
bureau last week. A few are given. They
are on a par with the others that filled
about twelve columns. The expressions re-
produced below are from Indianapolis con-
Germs alone but they voice conditions just
as did those from other parts of Indiana
and the other States mentioned in the in
PRODUCTION:
INDIANAPOLIS PAPER BOX FACTORY.
From the indianapolis ssntinel Feb. II
Mr.. w. S. Grouse manager of the Indian
apolis paper box factory; 1--WE have ex-
perienced very considerable improvement
in our line and find the outlook much more
encouraging. During the panicky season we
have not been asleep, but have been adding
new machinery and other facilities for turn
ing out paper boxes of every description.
We invite correspondence from manufacture
ers and jobbers of office desks for prices
on pigeonhole boxes, of which we make
speciality. We manufacture fancy candy
and wedding cake stock, shoe, hardware and
all kinds of boxes, and at such reasonable
prices that it enables merchants through
out the country to use the convenient paper
box for their wares instead OF wrapping
paper and twine."
INDIANAPOLIS CHAIR MANUFACTURE
ING COMPANY.
From the Indianal is Sentinel Feb. IL
Mr.. e. G. Cornelius, president OF the In
| danapolis Chair Manufacturing Company,
manufacturers Of oak and mahogany chairs,
and, by the way, one of the largest and
best equipped chair factories in the United
States, has this to say: "A large improve
meat in our particular line is noticeable
this year when comparing it with the BUSH
ness of 1885, A more healthy condition eX-
lists all along the line, orders are larger,
collections are better and more Sangulne
expectation as to next years prospects
seems to prevail with our trade. Failures
have been less numerous this year and
marked disposition on the part of our trade
to rapidly decrease their Indebtedness. Our
factory is operating full force and time for
this season of the year, a condition that aid
not exist in 1896 at this time. We feel great
ly encouraged over the turn in business af-
fairs and look for a still better condition in
1885,
PARRY MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
[From the indianapolis Sentinel, Feb. ~
Mr.. d. NJ Parry, president of the Parry
Manufacturing Company, makers of all
kinds of buggies and light vehicles, Indian
apolis: Il am pleased to say for the Parry
Manufacturing Company that since our or
ganization we have never found trade to be
in more elegant shape than it now is 1t
is evident to us that the demand for buggies
the coming year will be in excess of any
thing that we have heretofore had. The
prices of vehicles for several years past
have declined each year, but for the coming
year we are inclined to think the prices will
be advanced all along the line, so that with
increased demand and increased prices we
see no reason why we should not all be
satisfied. Our collections never were bet
ter than they now are. The trades people
in our class of business are making more
cash inquiries than heretofore. We expect
to add several hundred employees to our al
ready large force for the coming years
trade"
THE INDIANA MANUFACTURING co.
IFrom the indianapolis Sentinel, Feb. ~
MIR. A. A. McKain, president of the In
diana Manufacturing Company, makers of
the Farmers Friend straw stacker Indian
apolis Eyes. sir, you may say that bust
ness with us is all that could be desired
Al in every respect We have no fault to
find with collections, as they are of the
very best"
MODEL WOODEN MILL co.
From the Indianapolis Sentinel, Feb. II
Mr.. McCrohan, manager of the Model
Wooden Mill Company, manufacturers of
textile goods, fine blankets and standard
fiannels, indianapolis, said: zone year ago
our business was practically at stand
STILL and had been for four years owing
to the tariff. The new tariff of 1897 put us
again on the market, and we are now run
ming full force day and night, having been
obliged to refuse a great many orders which
We're offered. In order to meet the large
demand we have been obliged to add con-
siderable new machinery. The price Of raw
wool has advanced a least 10 cents per
pound"
THE CITIZENS STREET RAILROAD
COMPANY.
[From the indianapolis Sentinel, Feb, IL
Mr.. Miller Elliott. superintendent of the
Citizens Street-railroad Company, Indianap-
oils: Il believe there is an apparent i'm
provement in general business circles
Traffic is quite heavy now, in fact, our
o'clock passengers demand more cars.
think the Wage-earner is realizing more in
come now for the reason that he, as we'll
more prosperous season upon us and if we
can all work in harmony l am sure there
will be little cause for any complaint as
far as hard times are concerned"
E. c. ATKINS & co.
From the indianapolis Sentinel, Feb. III
Mr.. Z. c. Atkins, president of e. c. At
kins & Co, saw and tool manufacturers,
with factories located at Illinois, South
and Eddy streets and Capitol avenue, In
dianapolis said: 1.-THE business during the
last six months ending Nov. l shows an
increase over the corresponding period of
1896 of about % per cent. We are employing
about one-fourth more help in our factories
the standard of the volume of business and
much better than 1886. Notwithstanding the
yellow fever in the South has materially
affected both sales and collections. We con-
slider the outlook for 1898 much brighter
than for several years past"