The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-16
AN OLD CITY DIRECTORY
A GLANCE AT ONE PUBLISHED IN
THE YEAR sec
II II Calculated TO Refresh the Mem
cries Of Old-Time Residents
some Peculiar Facts.

Every one has either heard Of or ex-
perienced the rare delight OF rummaging
among the boxes and chests of an ancient,
deserted attic and with the treasure trove
thus brought TO light ccnjuring up alluring
pictures OF days long gone by. In every
way similar to this pleasure and scarcely
less keen is the enjoyment Afforded by
turning carefully the time-stafned leaves
OF a city directory OF several decades past.
An indianapolis directory dated Feb. Z,
1866. came out Of some secluded corner
of a local residents home recently and
kindly consented TO submit itsels TO a
searching examination by an eager anti
quarian. The results of this investigation
were OF absorbing interest, but only the
merest hint can be given in the circum-
scribed space of a newspaper account. The
title OF this musty volume is "Edwards's
annual directory TO the inhabitants. insti-
tutions, incorporated companies, manu-
featuring establishments. business firms,
etc, in the city OF Indianapolis for lS6o-6.
II was published BY the firm of Edwards.
Greenough & Deved. which. like the pres
ent firm of directory publishers In this city,
published similar gazeteers for the cities
of st. Louis. Louisville. Milwaukee, etc.
The business of compiling city directories
seems TO require peculiar talent and fitness
i'm addition TO extraordinary facilities Tor
gathering and putting together statistical
information, and therefore few men and
firms enter IL.
OPENS wITH A COMPLAINT.
One of the first interesting things that
strikes the eye in the Edwards directory
Of 1866 is the complaining preface. Ever
since such books were first given to the
public their compilers have always encoun-
tered difficulties which they have taken In
ordinate delight in recalling through the
medium cf the much-maligned preface.
The canvassers for the 1866 directory were
started out ever the city of Indianapolis in
September. 1865. and by the time they had
completed their canvass they were con-
fronted with the situation that the resi-
dences and business houses had been en-
tirely remembered. making another canvass
necessary. The work was done, however,
and apparently i'm a thorough manner. The
volume contains. besides the names of the
city's householders and others who earned
their living by daily toll. a classified bust
ness directory and an appendix giving a
list OF the societies, banks. churches. pub
lie buildings and schools.
A very unique feature of the directory is
the department giving extracts from a
work entitled Taxpayers Adviser, Issued
by NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Tax Law-Four
Hundred Millions of Dollars Annual Rev.
e~nue-Synopsis of the Law-Every Man to
Make a Report of His Income-Embracing
Also a Complete Alphabetically Arranged
List OF All Incomes as Returned to the
Assessors of the Various Large Cities of
the West-By John Hubbard Jones, At
torney at Law In this portion of the
book one could find the amount Of stamp
duty (Which went into effect April 1, 1865,
on any kline of document. There is also a
complete summary Of rates, licenses, duties
and excuses imposed on various forms of
business and articles of merchandise. This
wonderful volume went still further and
furnished a complete list Of the postoficcs
in the States of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois,
Missouri and Kansas. Just why the great
State Of Ohio should have been omitted
does not appear.
LUDICROUs OBSTACLES.
Thirty-four years ago the publication of
city directories was sufficiently move, to
give rise to many ludicrous obstacles that
are not at the present day encountered by
solicitors for such enterprises. For ex-
ample, the men who went about gathering
Information for the Edwards directory of
KOORAO "AO 1A II
a positive impertinence for any one to ask
them TO allow their names and addresses
TO be printed in a book which would be
open for all the public 10 read. Some of
the citizens objected to having their names
and residences published in the book be-
cause, forsooth, they vainly imagined that
II they could keep out of the volume they
could also avoid the clutches of he tax
collector and the jury commissioner. \
score OF tire most comicai nindrcnces we're
met with by the solicitors for the directory.
The usual amount OF space is Gevo.ed to
q showing CT the city's increase of popula-
ton. The compilers Of the 1866. directory
exulted over the fact that their hook con-
tanned 13,440 names. as against 1850 in the
directory for 1864, an increase OF $3.50,
which. says the compiler, multiplied by the
usually accepted average for a family ca,
gives the increase in the population as
22,s20. The total number OF names in the
book Q3, 400 by the same process shows the
population of indianapolis TO have been
$3.50 in the year 1866. The recent federal
census shows that in the last thirty-four
years the capital Of Indiana has more thar
trenled its population, the present figure
being close TO 10000.
The space of less than two pages was
occupied in giving a full list Of the streets
and avenues OF this city in the directory
of 1856
PAYMASTER'S HEADQUARTERS.
The older inhabitant win be interested in
recalling that the civil war was still fresh
in indianapolis in the year in which this
directory was issued. Here was located the
headquarters OF the pay department OF the
army for the district OF Indiana and IL
linois. in charge OF Brevet Lieutenant
Colonel Daniel Mcclure. chief paymaster
for Indiana, Illinois. Michigan and Wis
consin. Major NJ. l. Bundy was one OF the
paymasters. Brevet Major General Alvin P.
Hovey. district commander. had his head
quarters in this city. as did also Brevet
Lieutenant Colonel William w. Dudley,
judge advocate general c~ourt-martial. The
commissary department in charge of Cap
tain Joseph r. Pope, commissary of sub
sistence, was located at 123 South Meridian
street. Brigadier General T. q. Plastow,
United States Volunteers. who was acting
assistant provost marshal general of In
diana, had his Office al 90 West Washing
ton street The government also at that