Buchanan County, Missouri - Trade, Commerce, Etc, 1881

Trade, Commerce, Etc

The Board of Trade was ©rganized October 19th, 1878. The following are the names of the officers for each year since its organization, and a list of its members :

Standing Committees for 1881 - Finance - Abe Furst, chairman, John M. Frazer, A. N. Schuster, C. W. Campbell, J. S. Brittain. Railroad and Transportation - Winslow Judson, Chairman, James McCord, R. E. Turner, Wm. M. Wyeth, J. W. Bailey. Trade and Commerce- Samuel M. Nave, Chairman, Hanson Gregg, A. Steinacker, W. A. P. McDonald, F. L. Sommer. Manufactures - T. J. Chew, Jr. Chairman,. James McCord, R. E. Turner, Wm. M. Wyeth, C. H. Nash.

W. J. Fulton, railroad contractor. C. S. Groff, G. A.,H. & St. J. R. R. Co. Milton Tootle, whl'sale dry goods. Philip Rogers, livery. Gilkey and Ullmann, pork packers. Oscar Schramm, vinegar factory. Dr. A. V. Banes, phy'n and surgeon. Winslow Judson, attorney at law. John L. Motter, President St. J. & Joseph Mclnerny, prop. Com. House.

The rapid increase of the wholesale trade of St. Joseph in the past year is simply remarkable. The merchants, last January, looked forward to a greatly increased trade, but they did not think for a moment that it would go far beyond the expectations of the most sanguine of their number. Such, however, has been the case, and there is no telling what proportions the trade will assume in 188 1. To accommodate this increase of business, many of our merchants are compelled to erect more commodious buildings. The many magnificent wholesale structures that have gone up in the past few months bear ample evidence to the truth of this assertion. It can be said that there has been an average increase of fifty per cent., a figure that is beyond the comprehension of many of the older cities.

When it is known that St. Joseph employs over five hundred commercial travelers, who are almost constantly on the road, receiving orders daily for the various lines of goods, some idea may be formed of the importance of our wholesale interests. The St. Joseph wholesale houses have a reputation as broad as the American Continent, and our railroads carry out of the city daily immense consignments of goods for Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, California, Nevada, Oregon, New Mexico, Arkansas, Texas, Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Montana. There are many other cities four times as large as St. Joseph that do not begin to rival her in wholesale business. These are facts that are demonstrated upon every side. Indeed, St. Joseph is known the world over for the number of her millionaires and the character of her wholesale houses. In 1880, the business of St. Joseph aggregated sixty-two millions of dollars. This includes the wholesale and retail trade, and manufactories, and those best qualified to judge say that this figure is in no way exaggerated.

The statistics here given are prepared very carefully from all the evidence to be procured, and are regarded as near the mark as possibly can be approximated. It should be borne in mind that the transactions or sales given are for both the wholesale and retail business taken together, during 1880.

Sewerage

The system of sewerage for the city, which although in its infancy, has been admirably planned for a perfect drainage of all portions. The main sewers are made to correspond to the natural water courses as nearly as possible, so that wherever there is a natural channel or drainage for water it is incorporated into the system. Into these main sewers and living streams of water will be directed all the lateral or smaller sewers which will carry the water and drainage from every principal street and alley in the city.

The principal one is the Smith Branch sewer, running from the intersection of Twentieth Street and Frederick Avenue to the corner of Seventh and Charles Streets; where it intersets the Charles Street sewer. It is about seven feet inside diameter, and is built partly of brick and partly of stone. The Charles Street sewer, the largest and best in the city, is constructed of solid limestone throughout, and is fully nine feet in diameter by inside measurement. The cost of the two sewers above described was about $100,000.

The remainder of the sewers, such as Bush Branch, Sixth Street, Olive Street, Franklin Street and Mitchell Avenue, are constructed of brick, with an average of about five feet in the clear.

Gas Works

St. Joseph has been extremely fortunate in having had a thoroughly reliable gas company here in operation since 1878. Previous to this^ the various companies serving the public were either inefficient in capac- ity or exorbitant in charges. In the year 18 56, J. B. Ranney and his associates proposed to the city authorities that privileges should be granted to a company to be organized, of which the city should supply -one-half of the capital stock and himself and associates the remaining half This proposition was accepted on a basis of $50,000 capital stock and the works were erected and lamp posts placed at principal street corners. The price then charged for gas was $5 per 1,000 feet. The work not proving profitable and the city finances being at a low ebb, in 1858 an ordinance was passed by the council to dispose of the $25,000 stock of the city in the gas works, and James M. Wilson became the purchaser, paying therefore 20 per cent, of par value of the stock. In i86i, the interest of J. B; Ranney & Co', was sold under execution- to T. B. Weakly, who, with J. M. Wifson, operated the works until 1864, when Weakly purchased the interest of Wilson, paying therefor $8,000. - Previous to this, the works were burned to the ground but had been rebuilt. At this time. Weakly advanced the price of gas to $6 per 1,000 feet to private customers, at which figure it was held until the purchase of the works in 1871, by James Clements and associates, of Detroit, Mich,, under the name of Citizens Gas Light Company, at the sum of $50,000. This company at once enlarged and improved the works, and secured the contract for lighting the street lamps, which had remained unlighted several years. They supplied private consumers at $4.50 per 1,000 feet, and afterwards reduced the price to $4 ; and for lighting each street lamp per year they received $30.

In 1878, the Mutual Gas Light Company, which is the present owner of the works, came before the city authorities and, through their President, C. H. Nash, Esq., offered to supply private consumers at $2.50 per 1,000 feet and the street lamps at $25 per annum. They were awarded the contract and granted franchises in the streets equal to the other company. The beginning of work was but the commencement of hostilities between the rival companies, which finally resulted in the sale of the entire works and franchises of the Citizens to the Mutual Gas Light Company.

The latter company has erected elegant new works on the corner of Lafayette and Sixth Streets, capable of supplying a city of 75,000 inhabitants, in addition to the excellent improvements which had been already built by the former company on corner of Fifth and Angelique Streets,

The company now have placed in position over twenty miles of main pipe, supplying over eight hundred consumers and nearly five hundred street lamps.

The officers of the company are C. H. Nash, President ; W. A. Hastings, Treasurer ; A. W. Nash, Secretary, and K. M. Mitchell, Superintendent.

The Union Depot

To John B. Carson, General Manager of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, belongs the credit of originating a plan for the construction of a union depot at St. Joseph.

After various conferences of the Union Depot projectors, the erection of the building was finally determined upon in April, 1880, when the St. Joseph Union Depot Company was organized with the following companies as incorporators and stockholders : Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company; Missouri Pacific Railway Company; St. Joseph & Western Railroad Company, which is a part of the Union Pacific ; Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad Company, which is a part of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy'R^road ; Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad Company; St. Joseph & !!fes Moines Railroad Company

The capital stock of the company was first placed at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, but for the purpose of procuring further funds for the better improvement of the building, the company issued first mortgage bonds to the extent of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and placed them on the market. The financial agent and attorney .of the company, Mr. Winslow Judson, found no difficulty in disposing of these bonds, and they were sold at par, and the money placed in the hands of the treasurer for use in constructing the depot.

The ground which was selected and legally condemned for this enterprise, is situated on the east side of Sixth Street, near the corner of Mitchell Avenue, that having been found to be the most suitable location for i common point of meeting for the different railroads operating their lines through this city. It embraces a tract of six acres, all of which will be required for its buildings, sheds, platforms, tracks, etc.

The style of the building is Eastlake domestic gothic, and contemplates a building 40x3 feet in length and 50 in width, set back from Sixth Street 36 feet, so as to give room for carriage way between present street line and front of building.

The front on Sixth Street will present a central division of 120 feet front, and three stories in height, with a clock tower in the center rising to the height of 150 feet from grade. On each side of this central division there will be wings of two stories in height, and extending 90 feet in each direction to the end pavilions, which are three stories in height.

All exterior walls will be faced with pressed brick laid in black mortar, with elaborate trimmings of stone, black and moulded brick, and encaustic tiles. All windows will have transoms over them filled with stained cathedral glass in varying designs, set in lead sash. This

The first floor of the building will be divided into three parts by open corridors or passage-ways, i6 feet 6 inches wide ; these corridors will be arched over, and faced with pressed brick with trimmings to correspond with the exterior of the building. From these passage-ways, the stairways to the second story of the building will start.

The north division will contain the baggage room, 50x50 feet ; two express offices, 22x50 feet ; mailing room and superintendent's room, each 15x25 feet.

The central division between passage-ways will contain ladies' and gents' waiting rooms, each 50x50 feet ; ladies' and gents' wash-rooms, etc., each 18x25 feet; barber shop and telegraph office, each 18x25 feet; general ticket office, 'lunch counters, etc. The south division will contain the dini'ngroom, 50x50 feet; hotel office with wash rooms, etc.; billiard room, kitchen, all the necessary pantries, etc., and hotel stairway to second story of building.

The second story will contain the railroad offices, 18 in number, and 35 large sleeping rooms, hotel parlor, bath rooms, etc. The third story over north pavilion will contain janitor's apartments ; the third story over central part 15 sleeping rooms for hotel, and that over the south pavilion the servants' rooms.

The finish throughout the building will be rich and massive and of the style generally known as " Eastlake." The trimmings for doors and windows will be of gold bronze of rich design. The building will be heated throughout by steam and be supplied with hot, and cold water.

In making their estimates for the building, the contractors find that there is a mile and fifty feet of base board on each floor ; that there is over a mile of stone belt courses on the building, and that five times around the building makes a mile. It will take about 2,100,000 brick.

Such is the history and description of the Union Depot, and surely the vexatious delays that have from time to time retarded the work will be forgotten in contemplating the elegance, architectural beauty and convenience of the magnificent structure.

Water Works

One of the chief needs of St. Joseph for more than ten years past has been a complete and perfect system of water works, to be employed both as a safeguard against fire and as a means of averting the possibilities of a deficient supply in seasons of drought.

approved an ordinance passed by the City Council authorizing the construction of water works upon the " gravity system," the supply to be obtained from the Missouri River, above the city limits.

On December 23d, 1879, the contract was let to the St. Joseph Water Company, under bond to complete the works and furnish a full supply of pure, wholesome water within twelve months from that date. This company commenced work on the 4th day of January, 1880, and upon the 12th day of January, 1881, the works were accepted as perfectly satisfactory by the city authorities. In order that our citizens and others may know something of the character and extent of the works, a brief description is here given :

Three miles up the Missouri River, the Water Company purchased one hundred acres of land, where they have since, erected their engine and reservoirs, and it is from that point the city is«supplied with water.

Few people have an idea of the immense amount of labor and material it requires to supply a city like St. Joseph with water works. The Water Company was fortunate in .procuring the one hundred acres of land upon which the works have been erected. At the foot of the hill, on the ground mentioned, the great engine house stands, and upon the top of the same hill the splendid reservoirs are to be found. A few hundred feet from the engine house the water is procured from the Missouri River, and the company went to a heavy expense for the purpose of procuring river protection and a constant channel from which to procure at all times the purest water possible. About thirty thousand dollars were spent in this manner, the company well knowing that in order to make the water works of great value to the city, measures should be taken to guard against such a disaster as would result in an insufficient supply of water. All along the banks near the works the ground has been covered with brush and rock, making it perfectly solid, and a piling runs out to the main channel about thirty feet in length. A 24-inch pipe runs from the end of this piling to the engine house and through this pipe the water is forced by the engine into the pipes running along the hill to the reservoirs above.

The building, in which is situated the engine for forcing the water into the reservoirs, is forty feet wide by eighty feet long, and is divided into two compartments. The north compartment is used as a boiler room and in it are placed three boilers, which contain fifty-nine 4-inch flues. These boilers are sixteen feet long, and sixty-four inches in diameter.

The southern portion of the room contains the engineer's room and the engines have been located therein. They have, besides the large one, a small engine set up which is capable of throwing one million gallons of wafer into the reservoirs every twenty-four hours. The large engine is capable of throwing four million gallons every twenty-four hours. These engines are from R. H. Worthington, of New York, and are built upon the horizontal plan. If one of them gets out of order the other can be put into use, thereby preventing the supply of water from giving out on account of accident. On the west of the engine is the smoke stack, which is one hundred feet high, sixteen feet in diameter at the base and six at the top.

The reservoirs are situated upon the hill above. It cost the company $7,000 to make a road from the foot to the top of this hill, and the reader can, consequently, judge how rough it is down this elevation. An immense amount of work has been expended upon these reservoirs. The great basins are supplied with water by the engines below, the water being first forced into a well west of the elevation, and after that it runs through pipes into the reservoirs, of which there are three. The settling basin is 380 feet long by 85 feet wide, and its capacity is three million gallons. Its depth is twenty feet, and its water level is two feet higher than the reservoir on the south. The company proposes to keep seventeen feet of water in this department all the time. At the east end there is an overflow pipe from which water can escape. The largest basin of them all is that on the south side, which is 210 feet wide by 300. feet long. Its full capacity is eight million gallons, and the idea is to keep at least fifteen feet of clear or filtered water in this reservoir all the time. Situated at a point midway between the settling basin and the south basin is the affluent well, and the water flows through a twenty-inch pipe and into the same. There is a strainer of copper at the end of this pipe, having five thousand little holes, which prevents the water from getting anything into it that might succeed in reaching the basins. The city receives its water directly from the affluent well mentioned. It is run through a twenty-inch pipe, which is laid under the ground all the way between the city and the reservoirs, three miles distant. The north basin, which is also intended for the filtered water, is 150 feet wide and 300 feet long, and has a capacity of six millions of gallons. Although partly dug out, this basin will not be put in operation for the present. The company has laid a layer of gumbo one foot and a half thick all over the bottom and sides of the basins. Over the gumbo is placed a layer of brick, with the crevices filled up with cement.

If at any time it should be required to empty these basins there is certain machinery on hand that can be placed at work immediately and the old water can be replaced by that which is fresh and pure.

It is hardly probable that all the basins will ever get out of order at the same time. Should they do so, however, the company still has a way to supply the city with water. There is direct connection between the affluent and influent wells and the water is supplied to the city by opening the valves. If such an accident should happen, the company will not warrant the water to be pure, because it cannot go through the

Reservoir Hill is 330 feet above high water mark, and it is 122 feet higher than any point in St. Joseph. In the business portion of the city the pressure has been, since the works were in operation, 120 pounds to the square inch.

In testing the capacity of the street hydrants it has been demonstrated that in the business portion of the city a stream can be thrown through hose, with a proper nozzle attached, to the height of about 1 10 feet, while at the corner of Nineteenth and Francis Streets, one of the highest points within the eastern corporate limits, a distance of 65 feet has been shown to be the extreme limit of elevation. From the above facts it will be seen that in a majority of cases the hydrants can be utilized in place of steam fire engines now used in connection with the fire department, thus proving a source of economy as well as safety to every citizen.

At first the contract only called for sixteen miles of piping, and 240 fire hydrants, but it has been necessary since then to increase the number of miles from sixteen to twenty-six.

At the present writing, something over twenty miles of main pipe has been laid in place and one hundred and eighty-two hydrants placed at proper locations and in working order. At the junction of the principal streets, and at other suitable points, stop gates or valves have been inserted in the water mains for shutting off the water in cases of necessity or convenience from any of the lines of pipe.

The large supply pipe enters the city at the corner of Third and Middleton Streets, and from there a sixteen-inch pipe runs to Sixth Street, and a twelve-inch pipe to Third. From these points the pipes run in every direction, making the water course every way during day and night.

Anticipating that South St. Joseph is likely to become an important manufacturing point, the water company has run pipes all through that section of the city.

The preparation for drainage in the city are complete. The company has already placed a number of pipes in the lowest parts of the city for that purpose. These pipes are to be kept perfectly clean all the time, so the people can have fresh and pure water constantly.

The works were to cost at first, $300,000, but the company kept adding to the original estimate until the works complete have cost $700,- 000, instead of amount first estimated.

ample arrangements have been made to supply a city of several times the size of St. Joseph, if it becomes necessary, and it is believed that the time is not very far in the future when the company will have oceasion to test the capacity of their works to the utmost extent.

The popularity of the works is evidenced by the fact that nearly two hundred and fifty applications have been made since their completion for water supply for private residences, stores, hotels, factories, mills, etc, This even exceeds the most sanguine expectations of the company and is a gratifying assurance of liberal patronage in the near future.

The officers of the company are : W. Scott Fitz, President ; T. J. Chew, Jr., Secretary ; J. W. Rutherfoord, Chief Engineer ; H. F. Juengst, Ass't Engineer ; Theo. W. Davis, Superintendent of the Works. The company keeps from thirty-five to forty hands constantly employed.

The building of such immense water works is an undertaking that requires great engineering and mechanical skill, and Major Rutherfoord has demonstrated his capacity as an engineer by so successfully completing the work. »

Such is the description of the St. Joseph water works, which are destined to be of so much value and pleasure to the people of St. Joseph, and which constitute one of the grandest enterprises that have been completed in the city in 1880.

St. Joseph Clearing House

The St. Joseph Clearing House was organized in February, 1877, with A. Beattie, as President and E. O. Sayle, Manager. After the death of Mr. Beattie, in 1878, Mr. John Colhoun was elected to the position of President, and the present officers are: John Colhoun, President; E. 0. Sayle, Manager ; C. B. France, Geo. C. Hull and Thos. W. Evans, Managing Committee.

The clearings of a city are sometimes supposed to be a fair index to its business transactions, yet this is a fallacy, and, for obvious reasons, this fact can be easily demonstrated. For illustration : if but one bank did the business of a city there could be no clearings at all ; while if two banks only existed there could be clearings, but they would not show as laTge transactions as if there were ten banks doing exactly the same amount of business as the two. The reason is, that if A, B, C, and D, are all depositors in one bank, though they may have transactions amounting to millions of dollars between each other, yet their checks never go through the clearing house ; while if these same parties, A, B, C and D, were depositors in four different banks their full transactions would pass through clearing house books. From this cause the clearings of St. Joseph do not approximate the figures which would be shown did eight banks do the same business that four are now doing

Union Stock Yards

The Union Stock Yards Company was organized several years ago, but owing to the fact that the railroads have not endeavored to create a stock market in this city, the transactions are consequently small in comparison to what they should be were shippers required to unload as is done in Kansas City. Hundreds of cars of stock go through the city annually which are not permitted to pass through the stock yards. But the prospect of new and rival lines of road will soon remedy this discrimination, and when St. Joseph gets a favorable arrangement in this direction she will soon become a great stock market.

Kind Of Stock Live Stock

cavalry and frontier service. There were about 4,000 horses and mules sold in this market in 1880, of a total value of $350,000. A great portion of this number were shipped out to Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska) Kansas, Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Louisiana and South Carolina.

There were 140,000 head of hogs sold in this city in 1880, of a value of $2,000,000, making the total sales of live stock $2,650,000. This does not include over 200,000 head of hogs bought in this county at the great packing house of Fowler ^ros.

Packing Houses

The geographical position which this city occupies as a center of a large agricultural section, whose products naturally seek this point for a market, brings the city into great prominence as an advantageous point for pork packing. The tendency of this trade is westward, where hogs can be got cheaply and handled at little expense. St. Joseph is steadily growing in importance as a packing point, from the fact that she is surrounded by a section of country producing hogs in marvelous abundance that seek a market here.

Kansas City, which is growing to be a great packing point, depends largely upon this section for material. The additional cost of transportation to that city is a telling advantage in favor of St. Joseph packers. Barrels, fuel and labor are obtained here as cheap as at any point in the west. The total number of hogs packed in the city during the season of 1 880- 1, to March ist, was 120,000.

" We are informed that there have been upwards of 5,000 hogs and about 200 beef cattle slaughtered in this place, besides near 2,000 which have been brought here slaughtered. Averaging the hogs at 175 pounds, and the beef cattle at 600, which is a very low estimate, we have ready for shipment 1,225,000 pounds of pork, and 120,000 pounds of beef, besides upwards of 600 barrels of lard and tallow. From different statements we have seen, there have been more hogs slaughtered in this place than any other of its size in the state, and more than in towns of twice its population. When it is taken into consideration that this is the first season anything of the kind has been attempted, what may we not expect in a few years. Arrangements will be made to carry on extensively next season."

From this we would infer that, in an early day, it was believed that St. Joseph was destined to become a great pork and beef packing center. This anticipation has not, however, been realized. The result is due to natural causes, however, and it is no reflection on the enterprise of the people of Buchanan County that so large a portion of her annual yield of cattle and hogs is shipped abroad alive.

There are at present (1881) three packing houses in the city. The oldest of these was established by the present proprietor, David Finger, in 1853. It was located at first on Blacksnake. It- is now (1881) near the Francis Street Depot. About five hands are generally employed. Slaughtering here is principally done for the butchers,

Hax & Brother were established in 1868. Their packing house and office are on the corner of Fourth and Mary Streets. They employ in the winter season between sixty and eighty hands, and also pack to a limited extent in summer.

The packing house of H. Krug & Co. was established in the winter of 1877-78. H. Krug, President ; James McCord, Vice-President and Treasurer ; George C. Hax, Secretary. The capital stock of the company is $72,000. In the winter of 1879-80, this house packed between 60,000 and 65,000 hogs. In the summer, about 24,000 head were packed. In August, 1881, they slaughtered 1,800 hogs per week.

Connett Brothers, who packed in 1880, about 6,000 hogs, on their farm in the county, are now (1881) erecting a spacious brick structure south of the city limits, which will cost, when completed, about $25,000 or $30,000. Its packing capacity will be from 1,000 to 1,500 per day.

The past winter has afforded the best ice harvest ever before known in this city, and this fact was taken advantage of by all dealers and large consumers to lay in an abundant supply. The following statement shows the number of tons taken from the Missouri River and Lake Contrary and stored for use :

The average cost of storing ice last season was less than $1 per ton, while the average cost of imported ice the year previous was $4.50 per ton.

Opera House

No other city in the entire West can boast of so fine a temple devoted to the dramatic art, nor comparing in size and elegance of appointment, with the Opera House in this city.

and was recently pronounced by John McCullough to be as well adapted to the presentation of the drama as any theatre in England or America< The ground floor is fitted up with six fine stores with plate glass windows, designed for the retail line. The upper stories are for offices, the entrance to which is on Fifth Street. Th6 grand entrance to the auditorium is on Francis Street, and has a width of sixteen feet. It is reached by an easy ascent of four short flights of stairs, which convey the spectators into an exceedingly handsome interior, fitted up with all the accessories of modern opera seats, elegant crystal chandelier and bracket lights, handsome galleries, artistic frescoes, and a proscenium, with its side boxes and drop curtains, that entrances one like a fairy scene. The auditorium is 66x69 f^^t, and 45 feet from pit to dome. The seating capacity is 1,400, which will be large enough for any growth of the city for ten years to come. The stage is 40x60 feet, with a proscenium arclvof 32 feet. It is most perfect in its appointments, being supplied with all the modern machinery and twelve sets of scenery. In the rear of the stage are the green room and dressing rooms - apartments furnished with all the conveniences and comforts of home life ; an attention to the well-being of theatrical performers scarcely ever displayed, which reflects the highest credit on the humanity of the public spirited proprietor.

The City Hall

This spacious, lofty and elegant three-story structure which occupies the area of Market Square, was erected in 1873. Stigers & Boettner were the architects, and R. K. Allen, builder. It fronts 70 feet on Felix, and 70 on Edmond, extending between these streets 140 feet, the side windows looking out on Second Street and on Market Square. The principal material used in the construction of this building is brick. The doors and windows are surmounted with semi-circular arches, trimmed like other parts of the building, with cut stone. The roof and towercaps are of tin, tasefully painted in the South-Americo-Anaconda style. The altitude of the structure to the eaves is 55 feet, and from the base to the top of the cupola is 92 feet.

The lower floor is used as a City Market House. The second story is occupied by city officials, lawyers and others. The third floor is an immense public hall, fitted up with gallery, ante-rooms, and all the appliances of modern conveniences properly pertaining to such places of public assembly. The upper floors are approached by four spacious and easy stairways, each occupying a corner of the building, thus affording, under all circumstances, convenient egress and entrance.

Chamber Of Commerce

In accordance with a resolution of the Board of Trade, recently adopted, a committee appointed for that purpose has prepared articles of association for the incorporation of a stock company to be called the Chamber of Commerce, the object of which is to perfect a plan for the erection of a Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce building in this city. The organization has been completed, and it is thought that the necessary stock can be placed at once. The location has not yet been determined upon, but it is designed to secure a corner lot, if possible, near to the business centre of the city. The character of the building desired will be of the best construction, of brick with stone fronts ; the basement to be on the grade and occupied with ofiSces and stores ; the first floor to be occupied in the same manner, while the third floor is to be used for Board of Trade- purposes. The size of the projected building, it is anticipated, will be eighty by one hundred and forty feet frontage, if suitable ground can be procured, and its height three spacious stories, equal to about the height of an ordinary five story building.

Custom House And Postoffice

St. Joseph has long been neglected in the matter of a government building, but her position now as the leading commercial city west of the Mississippi River, will have the effect of securing at an early day such a building, to be erected by the government, as will be an ornament to the city.

At the last session of Congress, a bill to appropriate funds to purchase the ground and commence the erection of a building was introduced and referred to the proper committee, where it was favorably received, and it is confidently anticipated that the appropriation will be secured at the next session of Congress, through the earnest' efforts of our representative, Hon. Nicholas Ford, who has, since his election, labored with an eye single to this object.

Glucose Works

The Glucose Works constitute another grand enterprise which has been inaugurated in St. Joseph during the past year, which, although not creating so much general interest as the Union Depot or Water Works, has been a very great addition to our manufacturing interests.

Wholesale Drug House Of Samuel L Smith The Buell Manufacturing Company'S Woolen Mill

peas, beans, potatoes or anything that will make starch. It differs from the product of sugar cane, the maple tree and beet roots, which is called by chemists " sucrose," in the fact that glucose will not crytallize or granulate, at least not readily. Chemically speaking, the glucose of commerce is the same as that which comes from grapes, and is seen on the surface of raisins, etc., and from this the solid glucose takes its name of grape sugar. The grape sugar, therefore, of commerce, is glucose in solid form, while the product in liquid form is also called glucose syrup.

Each bushel of corn makes from twenty-six to thirty pounds of glucose, which brings from two and a half to four cents per pound. It is mostly used in the liquid form, for mixing with dark colored cane syrup to make light colored table syrup. The glucose syrup has scarcely any flavor, and so cane syrup is used as a base, though many of our table syrups are at least ninety per cent, glucose. Scarcely any candy is made now-a-days that does not contain more or less glucose. Some of the candy contains as high as ninety per cent, of the product.

Experienced chemists say that it is a wholesome diet when properly prepared, but they .advise the exercise of great care in its preparation.

The St. Joseph Glucose Company was formed in June, 1880, with A. M. Saxton as President and Treasurer ; John B. Hundley, Vice President ; W. W. Macfarland, Secretary ; John L. Hotter, General Manager ; W. Y. Selleck, Chemist and Superintendent of Manufactory.

The name of the company is " The St. Joseph Refining Company.'' It has all of the latest improved machinery, and a capacity for making up 3,000 bushels of corn daily. The building is situated in South St. Joseph, and covers over an acre of ground. The city Water Works Company have laid their pipes to the building, and the water will be turned on whenever called for. The factory is located on two lines of railroad, the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific, and the Hannibal and St. Joseph. The fall of water from the water works reservoirs to the factory is over 300 feet, and the pipes are so arranged that the water can be communicated to all points of the factory at a moment's notice. There will be employed altogether about the works about one hunred and fifty hands, and many wagons, trucks, etc.

Star Preserving Works

Situated on South Fourth Street, in the premises formerly occupied by the Evans, Day & Co., Canning Factory, are the Star Preserving Works, owned and operated by Albert Fischer & Co. They have recently enlarged the premises with additional buildings until they cover nearly an entire square. Entirely new machinery has been introduced and extensive preparations made for an immense business.

The capacity of the works are 40,000 cans, or 1,800 bushels of tomatoes per day, and from 1,000 to 1,200 bushels of peas. During the preserving season these works have about 250 employes upon their pay roll.

Produce Packing

The packing of butter, eggs, apples, potatoes and other produce is assuming immense proportions, and as St. Joseph is situated in the heart of the finest agricultural district in the world, this industry must increase with each succeeding year.

These figures do not include the sales of retail grocers, nor of producers to consumers in the city, and are exclusive of the fruits and vegetables packed in enormous quantities by the Preserving Works.

The Bell Telephone

The first line erected west of the Mississippi River was put up in St. . Joseph; Missouri, in the fall of 1874, by John Kenmuir, manufacturing jeweler and watchmaker. This line extended from his store on Felix Street, between Fifth and Sixth, to his residence on the corner of Fourth and Angelique Streets. At that time, Mr. Kenmuir was general western agent for the company. The second line which he erected was from Dr. Banes' ofifice, on Felix Street, between Third and Fourth, to his residence on Convent Hill.

The first telephone ever erected in the United States for fire-alarm purposes, was put up in St. Joseph, by John Kenmuir, and extended from one engine house to the next, in regular succession, connecting the entire system within the the city limits.

He attempted by means of circulars and notices in the daily papers to get up this exchange. His efforts were generally derided, and' little sympathy was expressed with his enterprise, until the fall of 1877, when Col. Alburger came up from Kansas City with a charter from the Bell Telephone Company, of Boston, Mass., authorizing the establishment of a system in St. Joseph, and turned the same over to John Kenmuir. By virtue of this charter, the said John Kenmuir became President, P. L. B.

The original exchange was located in the rear of John Kenmuir's watch making and jewelry establishment, on Felix Street. The lines radiated thence, east and west, north and south, all over the city.

Military

The military force of the city consists of two battalions, composed of five companies of infantry, all superbly equipped and exceedingly well drilled. Thj second battalion of the National Guard of Missouri, consisting of Company A, Captain Osborn ; Company B, Captain Saltzman, Company C, Captain Dowe, was organized, with Major Joseph Hansen in command. The Saxton Rifle Battalion, National Guard of Missouri, is composed of Company A, Captain Donovan and Company B, Captain Corby, with Major Condon as commanding oiificer.

The military companies of St. Joseph embrace much of the wealth and high social standing of the city, and this fact coupled with the high character of their organization gives them such prestige as few other military organizations enjoy.

The First Telegraph Line

built to St. Joseph was completed to that point on the day of the inauguration of President Franklin Pierce. The first dispatch to come over this line to St. Joseph, was his inaugural address. The name of the telegraph operator who received this message, was Peter Lovell. His office was on the southwest corner of Second and Jule Streets.

The forces of the Adventure and of the Gazette printing offices, combined to set up this long dispatch. George Leader, now (1881) of Nodaway County, Colonel J. H. R. Cundiff, afterwards editor and publisher of the St. Joseph Gazette, and subsequently of the St. Louis Times, Samuel Cundiff, now of Texas, Captain F. M. Posegate, President of the Steam Printing Company, and for seveal years Postmaster of St. Joseph - these four then constituted the force of the Adventure. Leroy D. Carter, now of Andrew County, C. M. Thompson, of St. Joseph, H. C. Patchen, now of Atchison, Kansas, and Ralph Cabanias, composed the Gazette force. The latter was a Mexican who had come to St. Joseph with an officer of Doniphan's command at the close of the Mexican war, and had afterwards learned the printing business in the Gazette office. He is now (1881) a printer in the City of Mexico.

Telegraph Statistics

The following are the statistics collected relating to the operation and amount of business transacted by the various telegraph companies in this city during 1880 :

Express Companies

There are four Express Companies doing business in the city. The oldest being the United States, in charge of J. A. Raynor, agent, which operates over the Kansas City, St. Joseph and Council Bluffs Railroad line. The American Express Company is under the superintendency of N. Worden, and operates upon the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad. The Pacific, with D. L. Bartlett in charge, is the newest candidate for public favor, and transacts busines over the St. Joseph and Western Division of the Union Pacific, the Missouri Pacific and the Wabash Railroads.

The St. Joseph Transfer and Express Company is a local organization, under the management of John Burlington, and it confines its operations to the local business of the city. The St. Joseph Omnibus Company also operates as a passenger and baggage transfer company to and from the various depots, its proprietors being J. A. Finer & Co.

Grain

It is with much pride and satisfaction that reference is made to the year just closed as one which will mark an epoch in the history of our city ; and while nearly all branches of our far-reaching commerce have been in a very satisfactory and healthy condition, and a very large and profitable trade consummated, the same cannot be said of the grain interest in a local point of view. While it is true that several gentlemen connected with the Board are largely engaged in the business on the various lines of roads tributary to St. Joseph, ^the grain handled by them, which should be emptied into elevators at this point, is diverted to Chicago, St. Louis, and other eastern cities by the railroad companies, thereby giving the roads the full benefit of a high tariff from country points direct. This is, in reality, systematic discrimination by the railroads against the city in the matter of terminal freight rates on grain to this point. It cannot be otherwise than that this practice is detrimental to the best interests and future greatness of the city as a commercial .center, a great injury and hardship to the farmer by whose toil and sweat the grain is produced, and very discreditable to the roads themselves.

There can be but one remedy suggested for this state of affairs. It would seem reasonable that if the railroad companies terminating at St. Joseph, would afford facilities for storing grain in elevators here, as is done elsewhere, and concede terminal rates in proportion to the distance hauled, it would be a long stride in the direction of settling this much vexed question, and work incalculable good to the city.

The section of country tributary to St. Joseph, and which is traversed by no less than six railroads, is one of great agricultural richness, and the various cereals are grown in the highest perfection, and to an extent surprising even to the best informed. Therefore, if the facilities above indicated were afforded, men of tact and energy, as well as means, would be attracted to our city to engage in handling these most important commercial products, who, for the reasons given, are unable to cope with those already engaged in this branch of trade.

In the face of these difiSculties, however, it appears that an immense amount of grain has been received and forwarded from this city independent of the grain handled by dealers here, but shipped through to eastern markets. The local figures show as follows :

It is estimated that double the number of bushels given above annually pass through the city on the different lines of road operated, consigned to St. Louis, Chicago or other eastern markets.

City Finances Assets

The entire indebtedness of the city is now being refunded in twenty-year four per cent, interest bearing bonds at par. Between $750,000 and $800,000 have already been refunded, and there is a fair prospect for refunding the balance.

In consequence of the extensive improvements in progress, it is estimated that the assessment lists for 188 1, even -at the reduced valuation, will exceed $10,000,000.