Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-01
PAST YEAR PROSPEROUS ONE
Business Activity Greater Than Any Yea
in History Of Council Bluffs.
RECORD FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
Some Statistics of what Has Been
Accomplished During 1902 in the
way of Material Prog
ress In City.
RECORD FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS

When the ClOCh on tue biOOmeT SCHOOL
house tolled the midnight hour last night
1t sounded the passing OF a year which in
the history of Council Bluffs will go on
record as the most prosperous 1t has en-
joyed and the ushering in Of a new year
which Indications point to being equally
prosperous.
Not only have public improvements kept
pace with private enterprise. but the de-
v%elopment Of the city along all lines has
surpassed all former records. Handsome
business blocks have replaced the old-time
frame buildings, landmark Of the city when
1t was a frontier town; elegant residences
have been built in every section of the city
until the year closed with improvements,
public and private, estimated to aggregate
at least 81, OOO, 900.
The last year has seen the advent into
the city OF another great railroad system.
The Chicago Great Western has expended
during the last twelve months thousands
upon thousands Of dollars for its right-of-
way and for its terminal buildings in this
city. Other railroads centering in Council
BLUFFS have also expended large sums for
improvements within the city limits, and to
which must be added the large expenditure
Of the motor company in improving its re-
sort at Lake Manawa and its general street
system in this city and between Council
Bluffs and Omaha.
Merchants Have Banner Year.
For the retail and wholesale merchant
1902 was a amer year, and It was the same
for the many large wholesale agricultural
houses on Implement row. The banks have
had a most prosperous twelve months, as
evidenced by their December statements.
Never in the history OF the city has the
volume Of business in the real estate mar
ket reached the magnitude II did durfns
1902 and more business buildings and pri-
vate residences were erected during the last
twelve months than ever before.
The indebtedness OF the municipality has
materially decreased, and the city starts
out on the new year with its finances In
better shape than for many years past.
Several new manufacturing enterprise
have located in the city, and several large
implement houses have established head
quarters here for this section of the coun>
try during the last twelve months. The
public schools have enjoyed an era Of
marked prosperity along with everything
else, and the year closes with the larRes;
enrolment of pupils in the history of the
city.
Record of Public improvements.
Public improvements in Council Bluffs
during 1902 kept pace with the times, snd
today this city IS one of the best paved
towns in western Iowa, During thsaslas
twelve months approximately GO, 900 square
yards of vitrihed brick pavement were laid
at an average price OF S1.75 a yard. The
streets thus improved during the last year
were as follows: =
North Eighth street from Broadway TO
Mynster, issl.S yards; Des Moines top ano
First avenue from Pearl to Eighth street
9,VSssS yards; Galesburg top and Council.
Willow avenue from Seventh to Eighth
streets; l,9f9.O6. yards; Galesburg top and
Council Bluffs base.
South Eighth street from Broadway to
seventh avenue, 0,4O6 yards; Galesburg
top and Council Bluffs base.
South Seventh street from Broadway to
t1tth avenue. R,047.66 yards; Galesburg top
and Council Bluffs base.
Fifth avenue from Main to Eighth street,
4,5Sl yards; Galesburg top and Council
Bluffs base.
Sixth street from Eighth avenue to Six
teenth avenue, u,0O yards; Galesburg top
Ninth avenue from Main to Sixth street.
425O yards; Des Moines top and Council
Tenth avenue from Fourth TO Main street.
gI0 yards; Des Moines top and Council
Ninth street from Broadway. to First
avenue. 1850 yards; G~aiegburg top and
Council Bluffs base.
Pierce street from North avenue TO Oak
street, $3.50 yards; Galesburg top and Coun-
ell Bluffs base.
Owing to the demand for brick being In
excess of the supply only about a mile and
a half Of brick sidewalks were laid dur
ing the last year, although contracts had
been let by the city for nearly six miles.
In addition to the paving and permanent
sidewalks the city erected a new bridge
over Indian creek at the intersection OF
Main and MINISTER streets at a cost OF
$4,000. expended nearly 1000 on The bridge
at North First street and contracted for a
new bridge at Twenty-third avenue.
Record Real Estate Transfers.
One Of the most notable features Of the
last year and one Of the particular strik-
ing evidences OF the general prosperi.y
which prevailed in Council Bluffs and
Pottawattamie county was the remarkable
activity Of the real estate market. TIL
sale OF farm land and the prices obtained
were unprecedented in the history of this
county. Never before has there been such
a volume Of real estate business in this
section of the state and the remarkable
feature Of IL all was that the sales wer,
bona hde transactions. the majority beinl
cash sales. That the advent Of the Great
Western railroad int. this county and city
necessitating the purchase Of its right OF
way, increased the sales is not disputed
but this was but a minor feature of the
years transactions. The total transac,
tions for the twelve months Just passed
represent almost S.. 900. 900. OF whicl
amount $3.5OO,00o is credited to the first sl
months Of the year. In the month o
March, the banner month by long odds, tn.
transactiors reached the sum Of 81, 1853.
OsO.O1. During the year 2.s4s deeds wer,
hled for record, the total considerable
amounting to sl.sss.5O 1 The transaction
and considerations. divided into months
were as follows;
Deeds Consldera
Filed. ton.
January 27 s 352B4SO
epruary ................... 209 5e9,4l2s
AiaIch 40 l.443,s59.
SPIN 0J 05l.Ioos
may Zl S3ls60A
June ls zlO1Uol
July k4 11l,l6-l
August l63 l6l.67l4
September .................. 15 ls7. La.
OCTOBER ..-.-..~.......-... w uo,b4As
November .................... Isl 1b.94o.i
december ......s.sss...sss-.. 1l Nos43A,