| 222
and employing but ten men. They manufacture all kinds of doors,
windows, blinds, moldings, bank work, etc. In March, 1889, the
business was incorporated, and during that year employed sixty
men and turned out $100,000 worth of work.
The steam heating and plumbing business of, Louis Kettleson was
founded in 1889. In 1890 the business amounted to $40,000, and
employed ten workmen.
The Union Planing Mill Company was organized in 1889, with Daniel
Linblad, manager; O. Soiset, president, and A. Elving, secretary.
The mill is 40x75 feet, with engine room 24x25 feet. Every kind
of planing is done by the most improved machinery. They employ
twenty men. Mr. Linblad is a native of Sweden, and came to America
in 1881, locating at Sioux City.
Union Stock Yards and Packing-houses.-Nothing has been
more successful in the history of Sioux City, than the beef and
pork packing plants, which have sprung up within a few years and
already rank third in the Union. It is now the stock market of
northwestern Iowa, southwestern Minnesota, Dakota and Nebraska.
This business has assumed immense proportions, and is rapidly
growing. The present great cattle and hog industry of the west,
dates its origin to the gold discoveries of 1860. The grassy plains
lying between the Rocky mountains and the Missouri river, were
grazed upon only by the vast multitudes of buffalo, elk, antelope,
etc., running wild over them. It is from the completion of the
Union Pacific road, in 1869, that freighting stock from the vast
western country commenced. The map shows that several great trunk
lines of railway shoot out from Sioux City and traverse this section,
bringing in the live-stock treasure.
The nucleus of what is now a great corporation-the Union Stock
Yards Company-was organized in 1884, with a paid-up capital of
$100,000. D. T: Hedges was president and treasurer; F. T. Evans,
Sr., vice-president, and Ed. Haakinson, secretary and superintendent.
The company was composed of men far-seeing, shrewd, and possessed
of great executive ability. After the immediate wants of the stock
yards proper were attended to, they began buying land on what
is termed "the flats," at the junction of the Floyd
and Missouri rivers, just where the eastern abutment of the railroad
bridge is. The company now owns in that vicinity, over 1,500 acres
of ground and in the neighborhood of 400 city lots. On these grounds
are located the
223
mammoth packing plants of the Silberhorn company, and the Fowler
house, now operated by Ed. Haakinson & Co., and the James
E. Booge & Son Packing Company. These immense institutions
have a daily capacity of 12,000 hogs and 2,000 cattle.
The present officers of the Union Stock Yards Company are D.
T. Hedges, president; J. E. Booge, vice- president; Ed. Haakinson,
secretary; J. W. Hutchings, superintendent. The capital stock
of the company is $1,000,000.
The oldest and best known establishment of its kind, in this
part of the great Missouri valley, is the one conducted by the
James E. Booge & Sons Packing Company, an institution of which
Sioux City is proud, and which for years past has enriched our
local interests on every hand, to the extent of millions of dollars
every year, likewise encouraging the hog product among the farmers
of the northwest, covering an area of nearly 100 miles tributary
to this market. For the past ten years this company has been engaged
in packing and turning out the product of 2,000 hogs slaughtered
each day. For its successful operation, 350 men are employed throughout
the season.
The W. H. Silberhorn company was the second packing-house to
locate at Sioux City. The main buildings consist of four immense
structures of solid brick, four stories high, and are constructed
with every improvement known to science and skill, the best evidence
of the truth of this statement, is in the fact that the total
cost is more than $750,000. The machinery is driven by two magnificent
Corliss engines of 225 horse-power, getting their steam from the
two largest boilers in Iowa.
The capacity of the establishment, controlled by the Silberhorns,
when worked to its full limit, is 3,000 hogs, 1,000 beeves and
500 sheep each and every day; in other words, 4,500 animals can
be reduced to pork, beef and mutton every twelve hours. The methods
employed are skillful in the last degree.
The third packing-house is conducted by Ed. Haakinson & Co.
This great establishment was originally built for Robert D. Fowler,
but owing to the failing health of that great pork packer, the
plant was taken, in March, 1888, by Ed. Haakinson & Co. This
great pork-packing house is supplied with all the latest machinery
for the packing of pork and beef. It is a splendidly laid out
plant, having all those conveniences of the great packing-houses
of Chicago. The house for
224
killing and dressing beef is six stories high, 154x62; storing
and packing, five stories, 160x160; smoke-house, 50x100; fertilizing,
50x98 beef-house, four stories high, 100x100, and ice-house, forty-seven
feet high, 148x60.
Banking.-Sioux City is now a great banking city, with
greater prospects in the near future. Thirteen good banks are
in successful operation, and two more (one with $1,000,000 capital)
are now being organized.
The first attempt at banking was in October, 1855, when Cassady,
Myers & Moore, later known as Cassady, Moore & Clark,
opened a small private concern. The longest-continued bank in
Iowa is the private banking-house of Weare & Allison, the
same dating from 1856. George Weare, one of the firm, came to
Sioux City December 26, 1855, when the town was made up of six
log houses. He opened up an office in the attic of a story-and-a-half
Jog building, on the corner of Pearl and Third streets, which
was then occupied by the United States land office. That winter
he built him a log building on Douglas street, near Sixth, where
he remained until 1857, then moved into a one-story building,
which he also erected.
In September, 1860, Mr. Weare formed a partnership with John
P. Allison. They then opened up a banking office in a building
which was standing on the corner of Douglas and Sixth streets.
The business of the young city changed, in 1862, to Second, Third
and Lower Pearl streets, and in 1869 they erected what was known
as the Spotted building, which was moved afterward and used by
the Iowa Savings Bank. In 1878 they built the brick bank building
on Pearl street, near Fourth, where they are now located. They
still do a thriving business, being individually responsible for
$500,000. Being an old pioneer bank, and having always conducted
their business on correct principles, they now have the confidence,
of all banking concerns in the northwest.
The First National Bank was organized August 30, 1870, with the
following officers: A. W. Hubbard, president; Thomas J. Stone,
cashier. The cash capital was $100,000. This institution succeeded
the private banking house of Thomas J. Stone. Its present cash
capital; and surplus is $200,000, with $8,000 of undivided profits.
Its present, officers are Thomas J. Stone, president; George Murphy,
vice-president; E. H. Stone, cashier. At first they were located
on the corner
225
of Pearl and Third streets, but in 1871 erected the fine banking
bui1ding on the corner of Douglas and Fourth streets, which they
still occupy. They have over forty corresponding banks, east and
west, including the Merchants National, of Chicago, and the Ninth
National, of New York City. By reason of Sioux City's great wholesale
and jobbing trade throughout the northwest, this bank controls
a large business in Nebraska, Dakota and Minnesota.
The Corn Exchange National Bank was organized February 15, 1890,
with a capital of $300,000. The officers then, and at present,
are John C. French, president; C. Bevan Oldfield, vice-president;
W. G. Harcourt Vernon, cashier. Their location is corner of Jackson
and Fifth streets, in United Bank building. Their corresponding
banks are Seaboard National Bank, New York; National of Illinois,
at Chicago; First National Bank, of Omaha; Bank of Minnesota,
St. Paul; Union National Bank, Kansas City. The Corn Exchange
is a strong financial concern, with the following directors: D.
T. Hedges, T. P. Gere, John Hornick, J. F. Peavey, C. L. Wright,
M. Pierce, F. W. Little, Joseph Sampson, J. C. French, C. B. Oldfield
and W. G. H. Vernon.
The Iowa State National Bank, was organized in January, 1889;
with a cash capital of $100,000. Their present capital and surplus
is $106,000. The first, as well as present officers, are D. T.
Gilman, president; H. A. Jandt, vice-president; R. S. Van Keuren,
cashier. Their corresponding banks are Gilman, Son & Co.,
New York; National Bank of America, Chicago; Commercial National,
Omaha; Second National, St. Paul. It is conducted in a correct
business manner, and constantly growing in favor. Its location
is in the Opera House block, on Fourth street.
The Home Savings Bank was organized January 1, 1890, with a capital
of $50,000. Its officers are George E. Westcott, president; W.
S. Irvine, vice-president; H. G. Hubbard, cashier. It is situated
on Fourth street. Its eastern corresponding bank is the Merchants
Exchange National Bank, of New York. While it is a new concern,
its proprietors are well known, and have the confidence of a large
list of depositors.
The Iowa Savings Bank was organized January 15, 1883, with a
capital of $25,000. To-day it has a capital of $250,000, with
a surplus of $40,000.
226
The original officers were: E. Richardson, president; D. T. Hedges,
vice-president; L. Wynn cashier. The present officers are E. Richardson,
president; George W. Wakefield, vice-president; Lo Wynn, cashier.
This bank is situated on the south west corner of Fifth and Pierce
streets, where they removed in the fall of 1887. At first this
concern started in the rear room of the Sioux National Bank building.
Their corresponding banks are Chase National Bank, New York; Metropolitan
National Bank, Chicago. The present directors are Eri Richardson,
William L. Joy, E. B. Spalding, L. Wynn, George W. Wakefield.
They occupy one of the finest bank buildings in all the great
northwest, an elegant seven-story stone block of beautifully designed
masonry.
The Union Stock Yards State Bank was organized November 1, 1887,
with a cash capital of $50,000. Its present capital is $205,000.
Its first and present officers are E. W. Skerry, president, and
C. C. Pierce cashier. Their corresponding banks are Bank of Montreal,
Chicago; Fourth Street National, Philadelphia; Gilman, Son &
Co., New York; Sioux National Bank, Sioux City. This solid banking
institution is situated at the Union Stock Yards, in Sioux City,
and is doing a prosperous business under an able management.
The Commercial State Bank was organized in September, 1886, with
a capital of $50,000. Its present capital and surplus is $145,000.
It is situated on the corner of Fourth and Nebraska streets, and
has for its corresponding banks the First National, of Chicago;
Bank of North America, New York; Omaha -National, Omaha, Neb.
The first officers were Jonathan W. Brown, president; J. E. Booge,
vice-president; Chas. F. Luce, cashier. The 1890 officials are
Jonathan W. Brown, president; J. S. Fassett, vice-president; L.
H. Brown, cashier.
The Security National Bank was organized in February, 1884, with
a capital of $100,000. Its first officers were F. H. Peavey, president;
M. C. Davis vice-president; W. P. Manley, cashier. Its present
capital amounts to $200,000, and the officers are James D. Spalding,
president; M. C. Davis, vice-president; W. P. Manley, cashier.
Their corresponding banks are Importers & Traders National,
of New York; Continental National, of Chicago; First National
of St. Paul; Security Bank, of Minneapolis; Nebraska National
Bank, Omaha. This is one of Sioux City's prides in the banking
line. It
(click on image for larger size)

229
is well located at 419 Fourth street, to which place it moved
in December, 1887.
The Merchants National Bank was organized in April, 1888, with
a capital of 825,000. To-day it runs with a capital and surplus
of 8101,000. Its corresponding banks include the National Park
Bank, Sew York; Metropolitan National, Chicago; American National,
Omaha; American National, Kansas City. They are finely located
at the corner of Fourth and Jackson streets. This concern was
originally the Merchants Bank, but changed to National in 1890.
The original officers were E. W. Rice, president; George P. Day,
cashier. They are the same now, with the addition of Edward B.
Spalding as vice-president. The directors are E. W. Rice, E. G.
Burkham, E. B. Spalding, Thomas J. Stone, William Wells, Alex
Larson, N. Tiedman, George P. Day.
The State Savings Bank was organized November 11, 1889, as succeeding
the private bank known as the Union Banking Company. Its present
capital is $51,420. The officers are H. M. Bailey, president;
S. T. Davis, vice-president. The corresponding banks of this concern
include the National Bank of Deposit of New York.
The Sioux City Savings Bank was organized in 1886, with a paid-up
capital of $50,000. The original officers were J. H. Culver, president;
Thomas J. Stone, vice-president; Edward P. Stone, cashier. At
present the capital and surplus of this bank in $65,000, and the
officers are Thomas J. Stone, president; W. P. Manley, vice-president;
Edward P. Stone, cashier. The bank is situated on the corner of
Fifth and Pierce streets.
The Sioux National Bank was organized in June, 1881, with a capital
of 8100,000. Its present capital and surplus amounts to $600,000.
The original officers were W. L. Joy, president; A. S. Garretson,
cashier, and the same still hold their respective positions. This
solid banking concern succeeded what was known as the Sioux City
Savings Bank. They have for their corresponding banks the Chemical
National of New York and the Commercial National of Chicago. Success
has marked every year's business of the above bank, and people
all over the northwest have the utmost confidence in it.
The Ballou State Banking Company was organized April 1, 1888,
at Storm Lake, Iowa, and succeeded H. S. Ballou & Co. The
capital at first was $100,000. At present it is $150,000. The
original
230
officers were H. S. Ballou, president; I. F. Kleekner, vice-president;
J. A. Dean, treasurer: It is still officered by the same men with
the addition of A. E. Webb, cashier. Their corresponding banks
are Howard National, Boston; Chase National, New York; American
Trust & Savings Bank, Chicago.
The American National Bank was organized in November, 1888, with
a capital of $150,000. Its present surplus is $50,000. Its first
officers were B. M. Webster, president; H. A. Jandt, vice-president,
and Herman Russell, cashier. The present officials are O. J. Taylor,
president; H. D. Booge, Jr., vice-president, and Thomas C. Pease,
cashier. Their corresponding banks are National Republic, New
York; Union National Bank, Chicago; Omaha National, Omaha, Neb.;
Merchants National, St. Paul.
The business men of Sioux City have reason to have a just pride
in their home banks, and none stands higher than the American
National.
The National Bank of Sioux City is one of the latest financial
institutions in the city. It was organized in 1890 with a capital
of $1,000,000, and is the largest banking house in Iowa. Its president
is W. E. Higman; C. L. Chandler is cashier, and C. B. French,
Jr., assistant cashier. Their place of business is in Metropolitan
Block, corner of Fourth and Jackson streets. The demand for more
ready capital in the city, and a large and growing commercial
interest, caused this bank to be organized. The stockholders include
many eastern investors who have abounding faith in Sioux City.
In the building of a greater city and also in the construction
of the various projected lines of railway, this bank must of necessity
do a large business from the outset The directors are George H.
Howell, wholesale furniture dealer; Joseph Schulein, capitalist;
W. H. Fowler, wholesale grocer; F. L. Clark, dry goods dealer;
C. R. Marks, attorney; W. S. Woods, president of Kansas City National
Bank; W. E. Higman, C. Q. Chander and O. B. French.
Miscellaneous Interests.-Bradstreet's Commercial Agency
was opened in Sioux City in 1884, by C. H. Austin as superintendent.
He had previously been engaged in St. Paul as teller in the First
National Bank; also at Rochester, Minn. He is a native of Minnesota,
receiving his education in that state and in Tennessee. Eight
persons are employed under him in the agency.
231
Another business convenience, in keeping with the Sioux City
way o£ doing things, is the A.merican District Telegraph
Company of 416 Pierce street, of which A. B. Gould is manager.
In 1888 the company was granted a franchise to put in a system
of district telegraph, night-watch and burglar alarm service.
Its growth has been steady and paying, haying now over 300 district
"call boxes" in business houses; over 100 night-watch
boxes in packing-houses, mills, factories and business blocks;
also ten banks fitted up with burglar alarm protection.
Another industry that ranks third or fourth in the United States,
is the auxiliary printing business at Sioux City. In 1885 this
business was first established here by two companies, the Chicago
Newspaper Union and the Sioux City Printing Company. But four
cities in America print as many papers each week (of the auxiliary
kind) as Sioux City. Their" ready print" sheets go out
to supply hundreds o£ weekly, monthly and semi-monthly publications
with the latest telegraphic news of the world. Chicago, New York
and Kansas City are the only places which surpass the "ready
print" business of Sioux City. It is one of the great inventions
of the day, by which newspapers can be complete, valuable, and
at the same time exceedingly cheap. News is taken from the wires,
set in type, printed and sent out by fast trains to the various
country offices all over the great northwest.
The Sioux City Printing Company owes its origin to D. T. Hedges
and John C. Kelley. To-day but one other industry employs more
men in the city than this.
The Chicago Newspaper Union is another immense printing plant.
The horticultural business of I. N. Stone was established in 1868
at Fort Atkinson, Wis., about equally divided between growing
berries and small fruit, and nursery stock. In 1883 he commenced
preparing grounds for a similar business, as a branch, at Sioux
City. By 1885 this business was well established in Sioux City,
and he sold his former place in Wisconsin, and has since concentrated
his whole attention to his business here. This being a good point
from which to distribute small fruit and nursery stock, with a
territory almost unlimited, his business is one of a growing and
most excellent character.
The Gas and Electric Light Plants.-The first charter to
light
232
Sioux City with gas was made and granted to Andrew M. Hunt and
his associates, successors, heirs and assigns, under the title
of the Sioux City Gas Light Company, February 26, 1869, for the
term of thirty years, one of the conditions being that the gas
should be furnished through at least a mile of pipe, by the time
the population reached 7,500. The works were put in operation
in 1872, when the city had 5,000 population. The present owners
of the plant live in Pennsylvania. During 1889-90 the works were
greatly improved and the capacity much enlarged. An engine of
great power operates an air blast, and pumps water and steam into
the retorts, of which there are three, measuring five feet in
diameter, by eighteen in length. Oil and steam are pumped in alternately
and being quickly decomposed by the intense heat, and mingling
with the fuel gas already created, the joint product is water
gas, which burns with a brilliant light, but being somewhat dangerous,
it is mixed with coal gas before being turned into the mains.
Four miles of new pipe were laid in 1889, two miles of which were
along Jackson street. The company now has in use 700 meters; gas
is supplied to 118 street lamps at a yearly cost to the city of
$22 per lamp. The building at which this gas is generated, is
the largest in Iowa, being 40x150 feet in its ground plan, and
thirty-eight feet high. The capacity of the plant is 3,000,000
cubic feet per month, which is soon to be trebled.
The first electric light company in Sioux City was organized
in 1883, a charter being granted to E. H. Stone and Thomas Leary.
January 30, 1888, a similar charter was granted to T. J. Stone,
E. W. Rice, W. B. Lower, Thomas Leary, and others for a term of
twenty. five years. The Sioux City Electric Company was formed
in September, 1888, and has acquired the plant owned by the other
companies. The new company is composed of the same members as
the gas company. Its power house is located on Court street, near
the gas works, and is by all odds the largest plant in Iowa. It
has a 250. horse-power engine of the Sims pattern, and a 200-horse-power
Corliss engine. Either engine has power enough to run both dynamos.
In October, 1889, this company entered into a contract with the
city, to furnish all the arc lights needed for lighting the place
for five years. At present seventy-six lamps are in use, and more
can be added under the same contract by calling upon the company,
as necessity demands. The cost to the city is $100 per year for
each light. These arc lamps are 2,000-candle power each.
233
Besides these there are operated 800 incandescent lights and
200 gasoline street lamps, principally in the more remote parts
or the city. The total illuminating power or Sioux City is as
follows: Electric street arc lights, 76; street gas lamps, 118;
private electric incandescent lamps, 800; street gasoline lamps,
200; private gas meters, 700.
The Sioux City Cable Railway Company now light certain portions
or the north part or the city. Electricity is produced at the
power house, and no charge can be made to the city for five years.
Arc lamps appear every two blocks for nearly three miles along
the cable line.
City Water-works.-"Give us pure water and undefiled
religion!" once prayed a chaplain in the Iowa legislature.
In this connection will only be mentioned the water supply or
Sioux City. The source of this supply is believed to be the Missouri
river, by means or a great stratum or gravel and sand extending
under the city between the engine-house and river, a distance
or one-half a mile. The water or this stream, as it percolates
through the vast gravel bed, covered over with the accretions
on which the city is built, is perfectly purified by the natural
filter. The drive-wells that tap this basin are one hundred and
four in number, extending down seventy feet. The capacity of the
present wells is 2,000,000 gallons per day. The system or water-works
here used is what is known as Class No.2, where there is a direct
artificial pressure, with reservoir attachment, the latter being
at an elevation sufficient to give the necessary pressure for
fire purposes.
The "Journal" of January, 1890, gives the following
water-works history:
"The first move toward the inauguration or a system or waterworks
was made eight years ago. A franchise was granted to 'The City
Water- Works or Sioux City,' by an ordinance approved October
6, 1881. The officers or that company were: President, D. A. Magee;
treasurer, O. F. Hoyt; solicitor, George W. Wakefield; secretary,
E. Morley; and the members were D. A. Magee, E. R. Kirk, George
H. Wright, George D. Perkins, George W. Wakefield, Capt. Alex
Barlow, William Wingett, O. F. Hoyt, E. Morley. This company,
soon after its organization, expended over $12,000 in sinking
an artesian well near the base or Prospect hill, on Bluff street,
near West Fourth, in search or a water supply. A constant discharge
was secured at a depth or about 1,800 feet, but it was trifling
in amount and the boring was abandoned at that depth.
234
"In December, 1883, a franchise was granted to the City
Water. Works Company of Sioux City, which conferred the right
to use the streets and alleys for laying water mains, and such
other powers fiS might be necessary in the construction of a system
of water-works, which, when completed, was to be transferred to
the city. The officers of the company were Eri Richardson, president;
Charles Breun, vice-president; T. J. Stone, treasurer; E. B. Spalding,
secretary. C. R. Marks was also one of the incorporators.
"Work was begun by this company in April, 1884, and pumping
began January 12, 1885. The reservoir was not completed until
September, 1885. On July 15, 1885, the company formally turned
the works over to the city, which has since operated the system."
Sioux City Rapid Transit Lines.-No other city on the continent,
and no city on the globe of the size of Sioux City, has had the
enterprise to develop such a system of rapid transit as is here
to-day twelve miles of admirably-equipped street railway, with
electric power; four miles and a half of cable line, after the
latest pattern; two well-developed motor lines, the one of four
miles and a half of track, reaching westward through the "park
side" of the city, and the other running two miles and a
half through the eastern part these lines, finely located, and
each filling a distinctive sphere of its own, together constitute
a consistent system, answering to the needs and convenience of
the public; and they are so situated that extensions, as the growth
of the city progresses, will follow logically, and cover the expanding
field.
But one thing was lacking to make the Sioux City transit system
complete. This was an elevated railway. This is the latest and
most daring feature of rapid transit in Sioux City. The road is
now in process of construction, and will soon be completed. The
enterprise includes the building Of a mile and a half of elevated
railway, connecting the center of the city with the packing-house
district and the Morning Side residence portion on the one hand,
and, by means of connecting surface roads to be built, and the
other separate systems of rapid transit already built, the other
principal quarters of the city, giving them all consistency and
unity. The elevated railway would be a remarkable enterprise in
another city, but in Sioux City it comes in the regular course
of events, and may be taken as a measure of the scale on which
transactions are here carried on. This is the only elevated street
235
railroad in the west, aside from that in Kansas City, and the
cable system here is second to none in the world. The inventor
of this system of cable is a Sioux City man.
The Sioux City Street Rail way company was organized in December,
1883, and three miles of track completed the first year, and had
cars running July 4, 1884. The original company was composed of
Fred T. Evans and others. Each year the lines have been extended.
In April, 1887, James F. and F. H. Peavey bought a half interest
in the line, and, in October, 1888, bought the entire property,
and are still sole owners. The line was started with five "bob-tailed"
one-horse cars. Electricity was employed as the driving power
April 6, 1890. There are now sixteen miles of electric road and
sixty-six splendid cars, including open or summer cars. The plant
represents an investment of $450,000, and is already on a paying
basis. An extension of this line is now being made to Leeds, four
miles away.
The cable line was commenced September 17, 1888, and July 1,
1889, the line was ready for business. It was a great stroke of
enterprise on the part of Sioux City business men, who had unimproved
acres "way out in the country," which to-day-less than
two years' time-are covered with beautiful and costly homes of
some of the best families in the city. The original plant cost
$325,000. The line is three and one-half miles long, and employs
sixteen cable cars. The line runs from the railroads out north
on Jackson street, with the power house midway. In the power-house
is also a plant for generating electricity for running the arc
lights along the line, every other block having one. D. T. Hedges,
John Pierce and others own and control the plant. The entire length
of the line is paved, and the roadbed proper is cemented throughout,
making it one of the finest transit lines in operation in America.
The Highland Park Motor Line to the eastern bank of the Big Sioux
river, some four or five miles to the west, was begun in 1886
and completed the following year, since which time it has proven
a profitable investment. This finely equipped system serves the
entire western portion of the city, and traverses the tract of
rolling land containing over 600 acres, and known as Highland
Park, which overlooks the meanderings of the Big Sioux and Missouri
rivers. It is now designed to soon change the steam motor, with
its noise and coal smoke, for the electric system. During the
summer months this line
236
is packed with passengers going to and from the park, one of
the most beautiful resort spots within the environs of the city.
A hotel, boat. club house and "switch-back" railway
are among the objects of summer attraction. The banks of the river
are dotted, here and there, with tents and campers, from the city
and also from different parts of the country.
The elevated railway is the last triumph in the way of rapid
transit in this city, with such men as the following backing the
gigantic enterprise: E. C. Peters, James A. Jackson, S. M. Jackson,
A. S. Garretson, D. T. Hedges, Ed. Haakinson, J. T. Cheney, James
E. Booge, Taylor & Healy and A. V. Larimer. December 7, 1889,
contracts were let to the King Bridge & Iron Company, of Cleveland,
Ohio, for one and one-eighth miles of double track, elevated road,
to cost (aside from five depots) $242,000. It starts near the
Union depot and runs east, crossing the Floyd river, and then
connects with the surface motor line for Morning Side. The elevated
road is twenty-two feet above the level of Third street, along
which it runs. It is eighteen feet wide and supported by steel
columns with their base planted on solid concrete work, made at
great expense. The stock for this road has found ready sale in
the markets of the east.
|