Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-01-11
CEDAR RAPIDS LEADS
REMARKABLE GROWTH OF THIS
THRIVING CITY.
Population Nearly Doubled In the
Last Decnde-Center of n POpulOus
RcEIOn-Causes of Its Rapid Ad-
ynnccmcnt-Naturn AdynntaEes

ent-NRturnl Advantages.
Referring to the six cities of Iowa
that have each n population in excess
of $1,000, the census bulletin No. %,
issued at Washington Dee. 24, 1900,
says: THE cptirc growth of all these
cities was rapid, but for the last dec
adc the most noticeable rate of in
crease is that of Cedar Rapids, which
shows gain in population of 424 per
cent. Davenport is next, with gain
of 3D."
According to size, Cedar Rapids is
the one hundred and fifty seventh city
In the United States, while in the mat
ter of postOtlicc receipts it is the eighty
second city, passing siXty-tive cities of
larger population. 1t is said that there
are 1,o0o,0o0 people within Il radius of
scvcnty-fve miles of Cedar Rapids,
something that cannot be said of any
other center of population in the west.
not even st. Paul and Minneapolis.
This city is located almost at the geo
graphical center of the eastern half OF
Iowa. on the Cedar river. This Is the
largest river in the state. 1t affords
valuable power and good water.
From Cedar Rapids lines of railway
ra1iate in every direction. -Four great
railway systems compete for business
the Chicago and Northwestern; the
Burlington, Cedar Rapids and North
ern; the Chicago, Milwaukee and st.
Paul; the Illinois Central.
The railroads give direct communica-
ton with scventy-ciGlt of the ninety
nine counties in Iowa and have 79S
stations on their lines in the state. The
general offices and shops of the b.. c.
r. and \. are located in the city
There are more than eighty factories.
There are rye mills, flour mills, can
ming factory, cracker and candy factO-
ricS, brewery, soap works, overall fac
tory, cloak factory, cutlery works, car
riaGc factories, fence works. three
large pump factories, planning mills.
foundricS and machine shops and 9TH
ers.
There is a large volume of wholesale
business, especially in dry goods. gro
cerics and drugs.
Scvcnty-tve leading manufacturers
of agricultural implements make the
city Il distributing point and headquar
ters. This immense business supports
the only exclusive transfer house in the
state and the largest one west of the
Mississippi river.
Conventions and large gatherings are
amply accommodated.
Nincty-nine trains that regularly car
ry Passengers arrive and leave every
twenty four hours Hotel accommodate
tions are ample, having recently been
greatly increased and improved. The
new auditorium, built especially for
conventions and eXpositionS, seats over
5000. Grccnc's Opera House, Il thor
oughly equipped thcatcr, seats 1,GOO.
There are three national banks, four
savings banks, one trust company, twp
building and loan associations. Home
office of Farmers Insurance company
and headquarters of the Order of Rail
way Conductors of the United States,
Canada and New Mexico are located
there.
There are two daily newspapers, The
Republican and Evening Gazette; one
semiwcekly, the Slovan-Amcrica; five
wceklics-The Republican, The GaZctt
The Saturday Record, The Svit and the
DeutSche Xcitung-and one monthly,
the Kvinden og Hjemmet 10000 circu
latiOm.
The city library will soon be con-
Quoted in new building provided for
by Andrew Carnegie's recent donation
of 100000. The 10000 volumes of the
Masonic library and the fireproof build
ing in which they are contained belong
to the grand lodge of Iowa, though they
constantly attract the attention and
patronage Of MasOns in every quarter
Of the globe.
Coc college, under Presbyterian aus
piccS, though nonsectarian in its teach
Ing. is a growing institution of elevated
character. devoted. to the higher edu-
cation of both sexes.
st. Joscph's academy is a well known
Catholic school.
The Cedar Rapids Business college
has students from all parts of the Unit
ed States.
IIc " ONtI-
crowd recently constructed $G0O00
building. There are twelve other school
buildings, having an aggregate value
of $3OO,OO0.
The following organizations have fine
buildings:
st. Luke's hospital, on Episcopalian
foundation, though under nonsectarian
management; Mercy hospital (Catho-
lic); Home For Aged Women; Home
For the FriendlesS; the y. NJ. G. A.
There are thirty-slx churches, repre-
sentlng sixteen denominations.
The city rs fourteen miles of paved
streets. Il complete system of sanitary
sewers and a paid fire department, with
four static and twenty-five men.
The wat, supply is abundant and
pure and mes from the Cedar river
by the IIolI system through the gray
ity system of filtration. The streets
are lighted by 23G are lights, and there
are thirteen miles of electric railways.
The interests of the city are promot.
ed by the Cedar Rapids Commercial
rlub, which is always prepared to fur
hish facts relating TO the city.