Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-01
COUNCIL BLUFFS PROSPERS
Both Wholesale and Retail Merchants HAv,
Had Good Year.
ALL HOME BUILDING RECORDS BROKEN
Real Estate Men Have Done Well,
Sales Being Numerous, and Prices
show Steadily Advancing
Tendency.

II
| another notch In the record of years of
| prosperity, with every prospect for 1907
| adding another. The wholesale and retail
| business If the city has prospered during
| the last twelve months, the banks show an
| increased business and on every hand are
| signs Of a continued era of prosperity.
The demand for skilled and unskilled labor
during the year past has exceeded the
| supply and no artisan or laborer of any
/ kind lacked work at good wages during the
year brought to close yesterday at mid
| night. While perhaps public improvements
have not kept pace with private enter
prises. still the city has during the last
| year carried out some important improve
ments and the, new year promises to witt
ness considerably more.
/ Mr.. e. w. Peterson, local manager for
the mercantile agency of r. @. Dunn & Co.
Of New York, makes the following report
| on the business record for 1906 and the
prospects for 1907:
The year which has Just closed has been
| in general a prosperous one for this vicin-
tx as evidenced need by the folio facts
| view with the principal business men of
the city.
Wholesale Trade.
The wholesale trade report their sales to
have advanced materially over 1905, and
this statement is almost universal in all
| lines.
| There are about twelve large jobbing
/ implement houses in Council Bluffs, whose
| aggregate sales are i'm the neighborhood
| of 5,OO0OOO and 1t is estimated that a SINH
lar amount of merchandise In this line Is
| also transferred at this point.
One of the leading wholesale implement
concerns here reports that nve ma. mas h peen
been in business in this city, and this fact
| speaks will in general for the prosperity
| OF the implement trade. Other houses In
| this line likewise report a very satisfactory
year in the volume of business done and
4 the profits encouraging,
Collections have been delayed in certain
/ quarters of late, caused by wet weather
1 and bad roads, but as soon as the farmer
I is able to move his grain II Is the impress
| sion that a prompt resumption Of the
1 liquidation of debts will appear. A famine
| Of cars has also caused delay in moyins
\ the product Of the country and is q hind
4 rance in the settlement of accounts, but as
soon as this difficulty is obviated Il is
] thought a perceptible Improvement will be
/ noted in the adjusting OF claims.
The abundant crop of the past season has
enriched the country and the steady price
| good times and the ordinarily prudent
trader ought to have been able to make
seemed 10 aro of our
Council Bluffs still stands prominent in
the west as one of the leading implement
1905 the city has sold more merchandise
In that line than in any previous year of
Advices from the different manufacturing
establishments In the city are likewise en-
couraging: One factory has had day
and night force employed for several
months past and although running to their
full capacity were not able to supply the
= demand for their goods: Other factories
report a good volume of business and an
increase in their output over last year.
Some local factories have enlarged their
plants. the increase in their trade neces'
The wholesale grocery, hardware, carpet
cigar and drug trade report the business OF
ha We va "A q n n
and the large floral plant, nursery, axle
grease. seed companies lumber and other
Industries speak quite favorably OF theis
| business for the year.
The retail merchants Of the city almost
universally report healthy increase In
some of the prominent firms reporting an
increase of 20 per cent over last year. In
addition to the volume of business being in
advance OF 1905 their profits also have been
on the whole satisfactory.
Another manifestation OF local prosperity
Is the fact that a large number of resi-
dences have been erected during 1906 and
stu houses to rent are IN demand This in;
increase in population.
Prospects for New Year.
In speaking OF the prospects Of the city
1t can be noted with some qualification that
during 1907 the Alfalfa Meal company ex-
has been necessitated BY a liberal increase
In its growing patronage.
The Uncle Sam OIL company has an
here and making this point the center OF
its operations.
of being erected at this place. backed by
, | considerable capital.
The Commercial club has continued ag-
, gressive IN its operations and every favor
able project during the last twelve months
has been duly considered To its efforts
Is largely due the prospects OF the aifalfls
sble location of oil tanks by the Uncle
| Sam OIL company. Every enterprising citi-
zen ought to recognize the benefits Of and
In every way possible assist the efforts OF
this organization.
In conclusion attention rs called to the
excellent shipping facilities OF COUNCIL
Bluffs, IL has ten trunk lines running into
the city and they extend In every direction.
offering unusual inducements as location
Amy eastern concern that is looking west
ward with view Of changing it's location
ought to consider the advantages of this
point as railroad center. In addition
thereto we have plenty Of room, cheap
land and enterprising citizens to help along
every desirable. manufacturing establish
ment or other mercantile venture that may
be looking In this direction.
Public improvements.
The principal public improvements car
ried out by the city during the last year
were the commencement of the paving of
Lower Broadway the principal thorough
fare between this city and Omaha. seven
blocks between Thirteenth and Twentieth
streets being thus improved. and the deep
ening and widening OF Indian creek from
Sixteenth avenue to Seventh street. The
money for this Improvement, which cost
$4,000. was furnished by the several rail-
roads centeriDg in Council BLUFFS.
The total amount OF paving laid during
the year was 2slSs square yards. at a cost
OF s6S. 5S5.20. The streets paved were
Broadway, from Thirteenth to Twentieth
street.
Ninth street, from First avenue to Sew
Tenth street, from broadway to First
! avenue.
First street, from Graham avenue to PEN
] avenue,
end.
MINISTER street. from Eighth street.
Park avenue, from High School avenue
10 park entrance
Pomona street. from Glen avenue to Park
| avenue.
CURLING to the extent of 1.S7O lineal feet
was laid. at cost OF S1,Oa269
Cement walks TO the extent of II, 2S5
square feet were laid, at a cost Of s.s7SH
Brick sidewalks to the extent of a69O