Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 33, Number 332, 4 October 1908 — Page 8

PAGE EIGHT

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM. StTXD AY, OCTOBER 4, 1003.

Richmond of Yesterday Richmond of Today OMANTIC RISE OF COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF THE CITY

Richmond's Fall Festival calls attention to the earlier history of Richmond. The pioneer days had their OTwtj lfiittif vIaq anil niATtonHlA miw

suits which were peculiar to that time and their circumstances. Every visitor to Richmond's Fall Festival will ee the great strides which have been made. The Fall Festival itself is a proof of the enterprise which has built up Richmond In its industrial and mercantile side. Look at the humble beginnings from which Richmond started and then look at the same thing In the Fall Festival displays. The pioneer life of early Richmond was reflected In its mercantile and industrial pursuits. A backwoods settlement without roads, save pioneer trails, was not the place for great enterprises. In the manufacturing line, tanneries were the first industries, for the wild animal pelts furnished in many eases the only currency employed. Indeed there was an extenisve trade with the Indians and it Is related of one of the early merchants that "Tecumseh still owed him a coon skin in payment for a gun and ammunition." The town was started in 1816, and

the tanneries soon followed: A historian of the times 3,says: "Two of these were established here In 1818 the first by John , Smith for Joseph Wllmot, an Englishman, the other by Robert Morrlsson. Smith's tan yard was near his dwelling and is now owned by the Wigginses. Morrlsson's once boasted seventy vats, and was on Main street, north side between Main and Qreen streets." Most of the later industries were of ruch character as arise in a new community to give the Inhabitants what they must use in daily life, such as blacksmith shops and corn mills. The early settlers were much elated at the mills, Inasmuch as the nearest mill was at Germantown, O., and the journey through the wilderness was long and tedious. The trade waa mostly in clothing, and the absolute necessities which could not be made at home. With the outside world the following is enlightening. A merchant of the day aays: "I used to take In eight barrels of country sugar a day. There was an abundance made here at that time. I recollect sending much to Kentucky and Tennessee and exchanging It profitably for cotton. I once sent three wagon loads to Lexington, Ky. The population of the town had grown from 200 in 1818, to 824 In 1828. The opening of the Cumberland or National road, came tothe town's assistance and Richmond merchants opened up a trade with the outside world. The citizens who had despair

ed of the town ever growing into anything were silenced. This was also the era of canal building and the struggle for outlets to the world. The town's merchants subscribed $50,000 for a canal but before the canal was dug, the donation was used up and nothing further came of it.' This was the time of the early 40's. 8TART OF MANUFACTORIES. The beginning of Richmond's modern industrial and manufacturing life may be said to begin with the foundation of the "Spring Foundry" by the Huttons in 1836. This was purchased in 1839 by the Gaar's and was the foundation of the great Gaar, Scott and Co., of the present day. The small amount of machinery was run by water power. It is significant of what went on all over Richmond that we read in the. "Richmond Industrial Magazine," of 1872: "In. 185 4, A. Gaar & Co. introduced steam power into their establishment, the water power being no longer sufficient." ' The Gaar's were men of great courage and great mechanical genius. Their enterprise In the early times is well shown by the extract from the same "Industrial Magazine" of 1872. "When Gaar, Scott & Co. purchased the Spring Foundery (now called the Gaar Machine Works) . only one of them, J. M. Gaar had a cent of cash capital, and he had but ten dollars. After much painful deliberation as to the use to which that all important sum should be applied, it was finally concluded to spend It for coke. Accordingly a four horse team was properly rigged up, hitched to a heavy draught wagon of the old pattern and despatched through the mud to Cincinnati, a distance of seventy miles, to return In the course of about two weeks with the fuel, the proceeds of every cent of money possessed by the firm, which is worth today at least 1400,000." The first threshing machine was a rude affair and was nick named the "ground hog" inasmuch as it was staked to the ground and did nothing but knock the grains of wheat Btill in the husk from the stalk, so that the chaff had . to be separated by hand. The separator was introduced a few years later, F. W. Robinson was another pioneer In the same business. He came here from Baltimore and located here in 1834. In 1836 we find his name in the membership of the Carpenter'3 and Joiner's association, which was one of the first labor unions in the state. With Mr. J. W. Yeo and Mr. Shoemaker he started the shops which are still known by his name. In 1860 the business amounted to

$15,000. In 1870 It had grown 1,000 per cent or to $150,000. COMING OF RAILROAD. The thing which, really turned Richmond into the trading center and manufacturing place it now is, was the coming of the Eaton and Richmond

railroad, which was extended ' from Hamilton. Ohio in the year 1853. We

quota again from the Richmond Industrial Magazine. "From that time forward, the pro

gress of the manufactories in this city was without a precedent in Indiana.

Easy and quick communication being afforded with Cincinnati, it was not long until the amazing development of Richmond and the country west of It superinduced the building of other

railways Including the C. C. & I. C.

and the C. & G. E. "The Richmond manufacturers, thus

provided with outlets to all parts of the United States, soon pushed their

wares into all the great markets and

were among the most successful in contesting for premiums at agricultural and industrial expositions." RICHMOND IN 1li7. There are the conditions of 1857 as

set forth by Dr. Plummer in the front

Total $3,841,025. . The war of the rebellion put a fcrimp In all business life, so that it Is only toward 1870 that it revived and then came the panic of 1873. Chambers encyclopedia of 1870 gives a picture of Richmond as it appeared to the outside world: "Richmond the focus of six railroads. The river gives water power to cotton, wool, flour and several extensive implement factories. Richmond has a brick trade with a fertile and populous country, fifteen churches and five newspapers. Population 1860, 6,603 and 9,445 In 1870. But coming to local authorities, we find that It was in reality the beginning of Richmond's tremendous activities in the implement business. The fertile land lying round about, assured the manufacturers of local trade and national trade was pushing over the "six railroads." A local historian mentions what he considers a great industry, that of the Empire Plow shop, run by S. Homey '& Co., as follows: "The main building of this great plow shop is 130 feet long by 50 wide and a blacksmith shop 76 feet long by 30 feet wide. It employs 33 hands and manufactures 30 plows per day." Others In the plow business at thie time were Oran Perry and D. S. Hor ney. At any rate they turned out 10, 000 plows every year. - FIRST COMMERCIAL BODY. The forerunner of the Commercia'

of the first Richmond directory pub-'club ot Richmond, was the "Rich lished by Holloway and Davis, who ; mond Board of Trade. It was organ

I lzed in 1869 and died and was revived

In 1874.. The president was J. F. Hib

were for forty years the publishers of the Richmond Palladium:

"A little upwards of fifty years ago berd, Andrew Scott served as vice-

where nettle3 and grass arising from j president and Clem Ferguson was a mellow vegetable mold, grew to a (treasurer. height sufficient to hide a horse, there ; In 1874-5 the Board of Trade pubnow stands a busy and thriving popu-.; lished a report showing the attractive lation of more than 6,000 Inhabitants, ' points of Richmond and containing an dwelling In substantial brick build- incomplete report of the state of mail

ings. I "The' gas works were built in 1855 and gas supplied to the city on Main and Fifth streets in the same year. Pipes are now laid on Main, Franklin, Fifth, Pearl, Sixth, Seventh and Spring streets..

ufactures and mercantile life. It reads: "The whole number of manufacturing establishments in Richmond is 127, with an aggregate capital in real and personal property of $1,807,785, consumlns raw material nf t.hn vnlno

?ur are; Ac branch of the of $795f784 of whlch Indlana has fur. State bank begun in 1834, the Citizens , nlshed $303,.i65; employed" 1.507 bank in 1852, the Wayne county bank hand8( Id g to jhe amount (afterward People s bank) in 1853 and $654i4B9 and sold goods vaIued at branch of the bank of the State of In- $2 729 346 diana in 1857 all on the north side of 1.' " vt t - . , mt.t -rs u, Tbere are eight establishments In

house is among the most splendid buildings in the city. "In the vicinity of Richmond we have 22 flouring mills, 24 saw mills, 1 oil mill, 2 paper mills and a large number of woolen factories." We add, also extensive nurseries a florlcultural establishment, 2 sash, blind, door and flooring mills; a cutlery manufactory, a shoe peg manufactory, a soap and candle factory (besides the two In town) and six carriage factories. "Amount of personal property in Richmond in the year 1857, $1,152,734. Amount of real estate, $1,528,S20. Value of additional improvement, $253,440. Amount of manufactured articles $906,531.

Richmond more or less engaged In the manufacture of agricultural implements, but no one of them is engaged in that business exclusively. "Among the leading products are 362 threshers, 234 portable engines, 140 horsepowers, 5,600 plows, 3,000 pairs of hames, sorghum mills, evaporators, etc. "Merchants and traders generally in Richmond, did a satisfactory business during the year 1874. The panic of 1873 made a marked impression on business in all branches, but no failures occurred, and its depressing influence had largely faded before the opening of the season following. Richmond cut last year 27,700 of the heaviest logs in the United States and

Terms $1-00 A Week

Fall Festal Credit

Your Credit Is Good

Everybody Gets Free Credit Here You are surely right if you buy your Fall Clothes here on easy credit. Get hold of the right idea and buy your Fall Clothes of the safe and sure credit house that offers . you the only protection against a reduced income. BRING ALONG YOUR MITE, you're all right for any new clothes you may select. Remember it costs no more than buying for cash. Don't hang back. Don't be bashful in asking for credit here. You will find a warm welcome credit that will go right home to your feelings and put you on friendly and confidential terms with us at once. Open every evening till 9 o'clock. y,- i

6-8 NORTH SIXTH STREET

Phone

GLQ

Wism

2268

Hagerstown cut 14,250 of the heaviest logs next to Richmond, and for these logs was paid $852,106. "This large sum paid in cash to farmers in the country surrounding Richmond gave an impetus to local trade and was a fountain that sent a life giving and sustaining current through every branch of industry. The number of mercantile and trading establishments was 190, with a total capital of $1,445,357, employing 615 persons, and paying $178,832 in wagesand selling goods amounting to a total of $3,970,358. The report of the Board of Trade mentions what is now the Starr Piano Company in terms so modest that it is hardly recognizable. "A piano factory is in the process of

erection

hands." RICHMOND'S

It will employ about

PRO-

MERCANTILE

GRESS. Since 1870 the merchants of Richmond have also made rapid strides.

No longer are there the low frame structures on Main street which characterized the early seventies. Instead of small stores dealing mostly in "notions" and calico, the merchants have become, with ' the times, up-to-date. The department store of the great city Is no more an advance over the former shops than are the many departments which have grown up in Richmond stores. Some of the merchants of Richmond like the industries, had their own small beginnings in the town years ago and have kept pace with the town. As for the many lines which they carry the reader has only to look at the advertising in this .paper and compare the announcements in the advertising columns with the days of not many years ago, to see what an advance has been made. Almost all the stores of Richmond have passed the stage of fifteen years ago, say, when the proprietor waited on his customers over the counter.

Now In many a place, the clerks In one department are more In number than the clerks with which the store started. To show the growth of Richmond's mercantile trade la but to show the growth of Richmond. Take the block between Eighth and Ninth Etreets in the year 1860. On the north side of the street were frame residences. There was a house where the Kittle block jaow stands and on the other corner where the Vaughan block is now, was the old Meredith or "f remont hotel. On the south side ot the street there were buildings low and unsubstantial. The sky line was about the same height as that on Main street In Centervllle but not so pleasing. Each store had a hitching rack in front of it and awnings stretched on wooden frames covered the side walk.

un me aouin siae oi mo umoii us-

(Continued on Page Nine.)

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1 LOCAL ( AND I AmCDISTNCt

RhDhmond

ome

Telephone

Will keep open house during the Fall Festival, and the public in general is invited to visit and inspect one of the most perfect Telephone Systems in the World

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5.1

HIS

1 1

An Automatic phone in your residence will give you service and connections with 2,500 phones in and around Richmond, covering a radius of about 20 miles. Send your subscription in today For the Off ice, For the Store and For the Residence You can't do business with yourself. To do business with others you must first reach them. The one way to reach them quickly is by telephone. No business is up-to-date, no home is complete without an Automatic telephone. Your name should appear in

the Home Telephone Directory. It's a business and social directory. - Prompt connections night or day, instantaneous disconnections, the accuracy and promptness with which the busy signal is always given when the desired party is busy. Our Long Distance excels; we reach everybody everywhere. Don't travel, write or telegraph, BUT TELEPHONE. Call On Us During the Fall Festival and (Set a Souvenir

MON

IF-ID)

COMPANY

25 WORTH MONTH STREET