Jasper County Democrat, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1902 — INDIANAPOLIS AS GREAT MANUFACTURING CENTER [ARTICLE]

INDIANAPOLIS AS GREAT MANUFACTURING CENTER

Industries That Have Produced More Than $80,000,000 During the Last YearGreat Growth in All Branches of Productive Trade,

It U after all In the field of menufaoturea that Indianapolis has achieved Its hlgheet distinction tmon, the cities of the West. The rapid Increase of its lndustrtee forms the most Interesting chapter In Us development. It doss not require the aid of statistics or detailed statements to verify the assertion that the manufacturers of Indianapolis bars fully doubled their output and value during tbs pest decade. In fact the history of manufacturing In the whole state of Tmti.na >i«« been one of steadily developing enlargement, the Industries of the state having Increased nearly 2,000 per cent. In Invested capital and yearly products since IX7O. Indianapolis Is an especially diversified center of manufactures, itst prominence as a producing point having steadily increased and the output of Its factories last year having exceeded *75,000,•00. When the figures for the present year have been completed It will be found that tlfis Immense aggregate has been passed by at least $*,000,000. The extraordinary prosperity Indicated by these facta will, under existing favorable conditions, doubtless continue to Increase In like proportion. Many of the oldest concerns have enlarged and are enlarging their faculties and output, but the most favorable sign U found In the many accessions to the number of our manufacturing enterprises greatly the Industries which cover a great varlet) of productive lines. Institutions for Mstal Working. An Important group of the city's Industries Is that which Includes the factories and works where articles from steel, Iron, copper, brass and other metals are fabricated. The first Important enterprise of this kind, outside of the ordinary village blacksmith shops, was that of ths Eagle machine works, established In I*so. Afterward, In rapid succession other foundries and machine shops were inaugurated, some of which have grown to enormous proportions and find markets for their wares all over the world. In various lines of engines, machines, electrical apparatus and other devices for furnishing motive power or saving labor, Indianapolis ranks as on# of the foremost producing centers of ths country. Certain types of engines made In this city, for use with various kinds of fuel, have met With very wide approval and demand. Agricultural implements also constitute an important production of Indianapolis and many specialties In iron, steel and other metals are turned out upon an extensive scale and find an active market everywhere. Especially la this trus In the lines of flour mill machinery, saws and saw-mill machinery, etc., some of the most extensive establishments In the United States in these lines having their homes and headquarters in Indianapolis. The manufacture of architectural iron work is an Interest that has grown here to Important proportions because of the greatly Increased use of Iron as a material la all ths largsr clasps of buildings. The same la trus of tMsmanufacture of sheet iron, galvanized Uon and metal work for uaj^^bulldWoodworking Establishments. Indianapolis Industries in ths woodworking 11ns aft of the first Importance. The manufacture and handling of lumber to supply the, locel building demand and for distribution through tributary territory la very extensive, while the production of hardwoods In the city has always been an Important Interest because of ths convenient location of Indianapolis with reference to an extensive area of hardwood forests that has made It the central and most important market for this class of material. Wagon stock constitutes a prominent feature in this trade in Indianapolis. and various kinds of hardwood for furniture and Interior work are also largely handled here. There are a number of mills devoted entirely to these materials. while the output of many more in different parts of the state is handled by Icdl-uiapolls firms The manufacture of veneers is a branch of the trade that Is represented with especial completeness. These woodworking Industries of Indianapolis not only extend to the preparation of building material and the raw materials for various manufactures, but they form a prominent factor in a large line of our Industries Among those in which the various kinds of wood form the sole or principal material may be enumerated the extensive industries In the branches of household, office and physicians' furniture, wagons and carriages, wheels, staves, woodenwa.ro, boxes, coffins. Implement hkhdles and many other lines represented by concerns, large and small, whose products reach every section of the United States. Institutions for the manufacture of chemicals form another valuable and lm-

portant group of the activities of Indianapolis, headed by ths large esta bllanmenta which have riven to this city Its reputation as one of the leading centers of production In the line of pharmaceutical goods covering practically all the standard articles of ths pharmacopia as wall as a number of specialties that have become deservedly popular and have been approved as valuable medicines by ths druggists of ths whole country. Other chemicals are produced on an extensive scale in this city, such as washing and bleaching compounds of various kinds, meat preservatives and other articles In wide use and demand. Prepared Qoods. • In this department, which Is becoming more and mors Important every year, Indianapolis has a conspicuous group of entsrprlses. The most prominent Is the flour mill Industry^ and the establishments devoted to the manufacture of corn goods Other notable concerns are the bread and cracker bakeries and the Industries connected with the manufacture of such articles as are distributed by wholesale grocers, among which may be specially enumerated baking powders, roasted cofrees, spices, canned goods preserves, pickles, condiments and starch. Many other articles of food supply might be added to the list. Some of these special Industries have extended their operations over a wids territory and have earned for their wares a high place in the markets of the country snd Europe. Textiles and Other Lines. Ths group of textile manufactures of Indianapolis covers a diversified rang* from the production of the raw material to ths manufacture of finished goods and articles of wearing apparel. Woolen mills for ths production of various lines of fabrics as well as establishments for the making and bleaching of cotton goods are extensive and prosperous and there baa been a marked development In our textile Industries. The manufacture of bags on a very large scale has been recently added to ths other leading branches. Others of the more prominent lines are awnings and tents, mattresses, knit goods, rugs and handwoven carpets. The clothing industry In various departments Is represented on a large scale, while the production of ladles' shirt waists and workingmen's garments, such as shirts and overalls, has grown to large proportions. The various leather Industries, such as the making of saddles, harness, boots and shoes, etc., are carried on very extensively, the volume of trade In these lines showing gratifying growth and the demand extending over a wide territory In Indiana and adjacent states and In the South. City of Small Industries. While boasting some of the largest msn.ufactories In the United States and, in a few Instances ths largest In the world. Indianapolis Is essentially a city of small industries. It would be impossible In an article of this nature to enumerate tne hundreds of small shops and works employing anywhere from five to fifty persons In the fabrication of thousands or different articles that find their way Into the markets of the world and con. tribute vastly to the wealth and reputation of Indianapolis. It Is not alone our large enterprises, but the multiplicity of , little ones that have gained for this city Its distinction as a manufacturing center. There are at least five thousand workpeople distributed In every quarter of tho city, who produce every year. In small shops and In single rooms In the tops and basements of buildings. In the neighborhood of *10.000.000 worth of various wares. And this element cuts no figure In the ordinary calculations of our Industrial activities. , Open Opportunities. Even the marked diversity of manufactures and the large volume of business represented by the list of industries briefly referred to In this article by no mean* bounds the manufacturing possibilities of Indianapolis. The location of this city Is such as to give it great advantages for the manufacture of many articles not made here, and there is still room for a great enlargement In all manufacturing lines and the Introduction of new and specialized industries not yet represented In our lists. Because of Its exceptional location the growth of Indianapolis as a manufacturing point has been remarkabfk, yet this growth will doubtless continue and will augment from year to year the fame of the capital city of Indiana throughout the world In all the principal markets of which our products are already used and consumed.