->•* . 1* * - -» ,5 - . " Vv hr 4^' ". r-pc-. '^ ,»~^w- - j.T* - •r / --' ^)t^^ • -** V. •r^\ ' ■^'^■". '-V* " •Vt ' r 4k ^ I. *■" * rr -*'*•. * F 4 7^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. §14* ----- ^jw# l'^- Shelf i.S.l-V^ UNITED STATES OF ABIERICA. THE CITY OF SAINT LOUIS OF TO-DAY: oetical." The lady quickly rejoined, " very well Mr President, I shall be enabled to show you on our return from Missouri next' winter, that if poetical, we are practical, as well." Mrs. Linn stated, that she had often visited the iron mountains, and had knowledge of a competent workman accustomed to utilize the ore; and of an old pioneer, who had seen buffalo m south- ,east Missouri, and preserved several horns of the bison. Upon returning to Ste. AY. 5a EIvKCT^IVK OKKICBRS CITY OF ST. LOUIS. FROM APRIL 188&, TO APRIL 1889. Mayor, Comptroller, Treasurer, .... Auditor, .... Register, .... Collector, .... Mars] I all, . . . . iSupt. Weights and Measures, Pres. Board of As- sessors, Pres. Board Puh. Improvements, Pres. of the Council, Coroner, ..... David R. Francis, Robert A. Campbell, Fred. F. Espenschied, A. J. Smith, Daniel O'C. Tracy, H. Clay Sexton, Martin Neiser, Andrew Haley, John J. O'Brien, Henry Flad, Geo. ay. Allen, Samu'l K. Frazer. 54 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. CHAPTER II. THE BONDED DEBT, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOH THE YEAK ENDING APKIL {», l.ss>s. THE BONDED DEBT OF THE CITY OK ST. LOUIS. THE DEBT IS CON- TUOLLED WnillN LIMITS FIXED BY THE CHAUTEH. A statement of the bonded indebtedness and general financial condition of the City, is made up at the close of «ach fiscal year, the 9th of April. On the 9th of April, 1887, the city's bonded debt was:$22,l()5,000. A reduc- tion of the debt was made during that year of $821,000 by payment and cancellation of maturing bonds. On the 9th of April, 1888, the Bonded Indebtedness of the city was $22,045,000, haYing been reduced $()0,000 by the Sinking Fund during the fiscal year. The debt bears interest, as follows: $ (100,000 at 7 per ceut. per iimiuiu. 14-,0(;4,000 at (I " " " " 1,049,000 at 5 " " " " 3,481,900 at 4 " " " " 2,850,100 at3.6r>" " " " During the fiscal year just ended, the.Mayor and Comp- troller were authorized to provide for the redemption of maturing bonds to the amount of $4,529,000 by the sale of renewal bonds, at a rate of interest not to exceed four per cent, per annum; of that sum all bore interest at the rjite of six per cent, except $122,000, which was at 7 iind 8 per cent., the Avhole requiring an appropriation of $273,210 for annual interest thereon. The renewal bonds were readily sold, and bear interest as follows, viz: 2,850,100, bearing interest at 3.65 per cent, at par; ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. 55 $1,559,000, bearing' interest at 4 per cent., and at a premium of $17.80 for each bond of $1,000; $60,000, bearing 4 per cent, interest, (fo sinking fund), at par; $59,900 not sold, but $27,750.20 of that sum was absorbed by the premium gained in the sale of the 4 per cent, bonds mentioned. viKW IX isKXTox i>ai;k. The sum recjuired to pa}^ annual interest on these enewed bonds of $170,073.33, is a yearly saving to the city of $103,136.67, or for the twenty year term of the bonds, the large sum of two million sixty-two thousand, seven hundred and thirty-three and ,^',|, dollars. The bonded del)t of the cit}' cannot be increased over tJte limit provided for in the City's Charter. The credit of St. Louis is second to none in the United States. If securities were exempt from taxation at this city, as similar securities are in some other cities, where issued, it 5«> 8T. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. is presumed that the renewal bonds mentioned could have been placed at 3 per cent, interest per annum. There will mature during the fiscal year, ending April,. 1889, the sum of $2,038,000 of the city's bonded indebt- edness, which the Mayor and Comptroller are authorized to- renew, for a term of years, whose length is left to their discretion ; but it is under consideration to place the limit at thirty years, instead of twenty, as in the case of last year's renewals, in order to spread the period of the maturiety of renewed bonds. The city has no "floating" indebtedness, nor can it make any debt which cannot be paid during any fiscal twelve months. The Mayor, Comptroller and Treasurer of the city, in 1887, so placed the current municipal deposits as to be allowed interest thereon on the daily surplus at the rate of 3^, per cent, per annum, which is greater than has heretofore been obtained, THE FINANCES. The finances of the city are in a highly satisfactory condition. The total revenue collected during the past year, and the sources whence it Avas derived, was as. follows ; Interest aud public debt revemie $1,491,271 91 Muuicipal revenue 3,7()9,3(i7 19 Water Works revenue 1,531,03(1 12 Harbor fund 98,190 52 Total $(;, 890,405 74 The following amounts, belonging to their respective funds, were the unappropriated balance in the treasury at the beginning of the fiscal year. Interest aud public debt revenue $254,0(!0 92 Muuicipal revenue 105,777 13 Water Works reveuue 700,091 83 Harbor fund 20,714 38 Total $1,212,050 20 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. 57 This sum exceeded the unappropriated balances in the treasury at the beginning of the fiscal year, 1880-87, by $338,760.23, and that was far greater than that of the previous year. The estimated revenue from all sources for the fiscal year of 1888-89 is $6,970,501.47, or about $80,000 greater than that of 1887-88. The assessment of the revenue for 1888, is $224,740,470 against $216,917,720 for 1887, and $214,427,670 for 1886, showing a very satisfactory increase each year. This increase, together with the reduction of the rate of interest on the bonded debt, enabled the city to reduce the rate of taxation for 1888, from $2.50 to $2.30 on the $100.00, which includes State tax of four mills. AUDITOR. The Receipts and Expenditures of the city government durin'g the fiscal year are stated in detail in the Auditor's report. The cash balance in the Treasury on April 12, 1887 was $1,422,037.64. The receipts into the treasury during the year were $9,873,648.39. The expenditures during the year (including unpaid warrants from fiscal jears 1886-87 and 1887-88) were $10,514,143.44, leav- ing the Cash Balance in the treasury on April 9, 1888, $781,542.59. TREASURER. The above figures are also contained in the Treasurer's report. The Treasurer asks that the force employed in his office be increased to meet the increased business appertaining thereto. COLLECTOR. The total collections for State, City and Schools were '^6,911,003.27, of which, after deducting expenses of •collection, there was paid into the State Treasury the sum of $1,066,884.39; into the Public School Treasury, .$85 3,- 386.79; and into the City Treasury, $4,898,650.98. 58 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. CHAPTER III. HOAKD OF PUBLIC IMPKOVEMP^XTS. The Expenses of the Board of Public Improvements were $23,823.65. The number of special tax bills issued was 3,874, covering work the cost of which was $366,247.- 01. The contracts awarded to public work involved an es- timated expenditure of $1,687,938.27. STREET PAVING.* Up to April 1, 1888, the number of miles of Paved Streets were as follows, viz: Miles. Of Macadam-stoiie pavinii 27(J.77 " Limestone Blocks " 1.07 " Granite " " 33.25 " Asphaltiira " " 0.09 " Asphaltuiu Pavement (Monolithic, or Concrete base) 3.8() " Telford Pavement 9.49 <' Wood-Nicholson (old system) 0.39 " Wooden Blocks (ui concrete base 2.72 Len.sth of Streets. Total IMilesf 327. f;4 OF ALLEYS. Paved with Limestone Blocks chiefly, and some Granite Blocks. Length of Alleys. Total Miles 73.14 The Street Commissioner states that for the year end- *NOTE.— The municipal law requires the owner of real estate to pay an assess- ment of not over twenty-five per c.nt on the tax levy for the current year (on a specified lot) of the cost of construction in paving a new street, or the reconstruc- tion of an old one ; the remainder is paid out of the city treasury from the special fund appropriated annually for BtieetB.—Attthor. fNoTE. — The improvement of streets during the yea ending April, 1S8S, was less than the preceding year in consequence of the omission to make timely appropria- tion for that purpose the previous year; but, that did not happen again, and the re- por. of the year ending April, 1889, will show a large increase both in construction and reconstruction. Up to December 10, 1888, the increase in street paving and re- paiiing was as follows: In Granite Block, 6 10-100 miles, in Wooden Block, 2 55-100 miles, and in other descriptions, 89(i5-I00 miles, making a total increase in eight months, from end of city's year, April, 1888, of forty-eight and one-half miles. The entire cost of grading all new streets is paid out of the City Treasury. —Antlior. ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. 59 ing April 9, 1888, the city expended in the construction of new streets and the reconstruction of old ones, exceed- ing one million one hundred thousand ($1,100,000) dol- lars. COMPARISONS— SHOWING THE GROWTH OF THE CITY. In 1861 the aggregate length of the Public and District Sewers was 31 52-100 Miles; in 1871, 117 1(3-100 Miles; in 1881, 202 66-100 Miles; in 1888, 270 68-100 Miles. The Cost of the Sewers up to 1861 was almost $800,000 ; in 1871 slightly over three million; in 1881 tive and a half million; and in 1888 nearly seven million dollars. PUBLIC AND DISTRICT SEWERS completed April 1, 1888, were two hundred and seventy 68-100 miles in length ; and built at an aggregated cost since ihe city began to build sewers of six million, six hundred and sixty-five dollars. The Mill-Creek Sewer is the largest server in the woiid.* Its dimensions are 15x20 feet for 16,389 feet of its length, and 15x18 feet for 3,199 feet length, and has a total length of nearly four miles. It was constructed at a cost of $1,387,030.73, or plus $70.00 per lineal foot, equal to three hundred and seventy thousand dollars per mile ! The Mill-Creek Sewer receives the sewerage and storm-water, of an area com- prising twelve thousand three hundred acres. The mate- rials of this mammoth sewer are stone and brick. It dis- charges into the Mississippi at foot of La Salle Street. * Note. —The Commissioner of I'ublic Improvements so informed tlie Autlior. 60 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY CHAPTER IV ^^' A T K K S U P P L Y. The City's Water Supply althoiigli ample is being largely increased, and the work under progress of con- struction includes a Conduit of Seven Miles in length iind a diameter of nine feei. It is expected to be com- pleted in 1893, and will furnish an adecjuate supply of water for one million population. The cost of this large work will be met by annual appropriations from the city's revenues as the work progresses, and when finished no (Jeht will have been incurred for the work, which had not been i)rovidcd for in advance. There was an unappropriated balance in Water Works Revenues at the beginning of the present fiscal year (April, 1888), of $766,091.88, enabling the pushing of the work during the present year, and the annual surplus from (water rents) revenue will be ample for steady con- tinuance. The increased supply of water will come from the Mississippi river at the "Chain of Rocks," ten miles north of Market street. Forty acres of ground at that point, and the right of way (the seven miles) has been purchased : excepting a small part now under condemna- tion and assessment of its valuation. The average daiJi/ consumption of water for the last regular year was nearly tJiirty and one-half niillion gal- lons, or nearl}' five hundred thousand gallons more than the daily use during the preceding year. The Receipts of the Department for the last fiscal year w^ere $919,975.18 in Avater rents. In 1871, the daily water supply was twelve and a half million gallons, which in seventeen years has increased to two and one-half times that amount. NEW WATER WORKS. 69 The Water Bond.s of 000, bearing interest at six per cent, per annum. In 1901, the Reve- nue on Water Rates will enable a reduction on the principal of the Bonds, and, by grad- ual payment during the succeeding twelve years, it is expected that all will be liqui- dated ; and* in that year, 1913, it is esti- mated that there will be a surplus after full payment. This result will be accomplished out of the annual water - rate revenue, but includes the cur- rent annual interest on the bonds, and all expenditures for new pipes and distributing mains, besides the an- nual sums required in operating the Water System. The New Works are to have a capacity of fifty mil- 4 this city rilK NEW WATKll are in amount $5,200,- lion gallons per day, with provision made in the plant so that the siq)ply may be in- creased ultimately to one hundred million, gallons per day. The location of the New Water Works, at "Chain of Rocks" possesses the follow- ing advantages : that it will secure for all time to come wafer not' contaminated hy sew- erage, as the in-take will be above all influ- ence of town drain- age, shore nuisances or washings incidental! to the suburbs of a city. The estimated cost of the extension to " Chain of Rocks " of a capacity of fifty million gallons per day, is $2,836,520, in- cluding river work, settling basins, filter beds, the- 7 miles conduit TowKi:. and land 70 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. damages. The aforegoing is condensed from the annual report of the Commissioner of Public Improvements to April 9, 1888. MILES OF ^yATER TIPE. The number of mikvs of water pipe laid and in service in the city is as follows, viz: Laid provious to October (itli, 1877 177 miles. Laid siiu-e and up to April 1, 1888 144 " Total April, 1888 321 " Pipes iu service April 1, 1888 314 " THK FIRE DEPAKTMEXT Is in the highest state of order and efficiency. There are thirty steam tire-engines — (an increase of tive over the previous year), tive chemical engines, twenty-seven hose carriages, eight hook-and-hulder apparatuses, fourteen "wagons, 185 horses, and 30,000 feet of hose. The force numbers 339 men and officers.* ASSESSMENT OF THE KEyEXlE. The Total Valuation of taxable property for the year 1888 (in old and new limits), was $222,(>79,760, being an increase of $7,480,670 over the preceding year. BUILDING FOR TWO YEARS, ENDING APRIL 1, 1881). The sum expended for Building for the year ending April, 1888, was about eight million dollars, or one million in excess of the previous year. The year ending in April, 1889, is expected to show a still larger increase; but it has been found that the sums reported are largely less than the actual investments. * XOTE. — Ou December 15, ISSS, two additional Steam Fire Engines, and their .adjuncts, were added to the Are extinguishing department. — Author. EtJilLDilNG PERMITS. 71 The building permits issued from the 9th of April to the 12th of December, 1888, amounted to $6,793,208. 3BANK OF COMMERCE BUILDING. 72 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. CHAPTER V. SAINT LOUIS: THE LATITUDE, TEMPERATURE, RAIN-FALL, TOPOGRAPHY, HEALTH.. "Yes, nature hei'e draws close to iruiu With leuieut eyes, Dissolves with teuder touch the ban Of griefs and sighs." The Latitude is 38 degrees 23 minutes Kortlr, Loiigi- tude 89 degrees 36 minutes West, the Mean Temperature 57 degrees ; the Annual liain-faU is an average^ of forty- one inches ; the average number of clear days dturiiig the year is found to be 142 ; of partly cloudy weather 174, andl of entirely cloudy days 49. The Topography shows a vary- ing rise above the City "Directrix," (the level at top of the Levee of the Mississippi at the East front), of from thirty- five to two hundred feet, or more, at the west side of the city, distant seven miles. Numerous hills, elevated plateaux, and benches afford grand building sites. The environs of the city, and suburban country for more than ten miles west, north and south of the city, is a continuous succession of fine elevations unsurpassed for their beauty of natural scen- ery and grand building sites without number,, reached by rapid transit of several railway lines of numerouis daily trains. Very great extremes of cold or heat in Summer andl Winter are not experienced at Saint Louis. The mean tem- perature for 1887 was 57.50, Fahrenheit, and the normal, 55.3 degrees. Number of days minimum below zero 5 ; maximum above 90 degrees 45 days. Total precipitation, 35.30 inches, greatest rain-fall in any 24 haurs 2.32 inches. RATE OF MORTALITY. 73 The mortality-rate is less than some other hirge cities, as >will be found by comparison. The annual mortality rate for the city of St. Louis for the last ten years is taken from the reports of the Health Commissioner, and is as follows : 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1888, 1884, 1885, 188(;, and 1887. 18.2 18.1 18.9 22.07 19.0(J 20.4 19.9 18.7 20.« 20.67 The progress in "sanitation" at St. Louis is steadily marked each succeeding year; and it will shortly become one of the cleanliest, as now among the healthiest cities of any country ; and for salubrity of situation on the west bank of the Mississippi is not surpassed, hy any city of the United States. MISCELLANEOUS. AREAS OF CITY LIMITS AT DIFFERENT PERIODS. (Excluding the Kiver.) Acres. f q. J.'iles. Territory within Limits of 1839 477.25 0.75 ««, " " 1841 2,8()5.10 4.48 ♦' " " 1S55 8,923.25 13.94 " " " 1870 11,504.75 17.98 " «' " 187G. 39,276.25 61.37 " " " 1888 same same DISTANCES. (Air Lin:'.') Miles. 1. Length of River Front 19.15 2. " Western City Limits 21.27 3. " City from extreme North to South 17.00 4. " " " ■" East to West 6.02 ELEVATIONS. The City Directrix upon wMcli all elevations are based, is the top of a square flat stone, set level with the curb on the west side of the Wharf, between Walnut street and 74 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY.. Market street — 0.00 (being the high water mark of the- year 1826). (Above the City Directrix.) Height of City Directrix above meau tide of the Gulf of Mexico, as- determined by the Mississippi Kiver Coinniissiou 412.71 feet Highest Stage of Kiver— Jau. 27, 1844 7.58 " Stage of Kiver— Juue 10, 1851 2.80 " " " — " 1.5th, 1858 3.30 " «« " — " 2(Jth, 1883 0.99 " (Below the City Directrix.) Lowest Stage of River December 21st, 18(!3 33.81 " Stage of River — December 27th,, 18G0 33.21 " Difference bet. higliest and lowest stage of river. 41.39 " VIEW IX TOWER GROVE PARK. STREET RAILWAYS. 75 CHAPTER VI. THE STREET RAILROADS. The number of Chartered Companies is seventeen, operating twentj-one lines, and covering the city in all di- rections with more than one hundred and sixty miles of street railways, counting single tracks onl}^ but nearly all are double tracked. Four of these companies operate the Cable System, and several others are experimenting with electric power. Again, the project of Elevated City Rail- ways has been broached, and a strong effort is being made to obtain numicipal privileges which have hitherto been denied, partly in consccpience of the opposition of property owners oiT the proposed routes. More Street Railways, Electric or Cable, are demanded for the public convenience, and will b^ constructed at an early date. In December last, 1888, a company, composed chiefly of Chicago capitalists, purchased the property and fran- chises of three important street railway lines in this city. The three roads were consolidated under a single proprie- torship, or syndicate. The prices paid were favorable to the St. Louis companies, the late owners ; and, the new owners assumed all liabilities. Two were horse-car lines, and one cable power. The officials of the new company announced their intention, not only to extend the roads into new territory, but to apply cable or electric power upon all early in the ensuing spring season, of 1889. These purchases are signs of a rapidly growing convic- tion amongst watchful capitalists of other cities — both eastern and western — that St. Louis is a place of prime, but early to become of greater importance. At the pres- ent writing, (February, 1889), capitalists of Philadelphia 7G ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. and Pittsburgh are standinaf in readiness to place large sums of money in elevated street railways, charters for which energetic projectors of this city are pushing in the councils of the municipal legislature. llie PasseiKjer Trajfic on the Street llaih'oads, in 1887, as reported by the different companies to the City Register, was as follows: Number of trips made 3,922,009; and the number of passengers carried was 52,054,242. The pas- senger trafHc for the year, endino- Decend>er 31, 1888, was as follows: The number of single trips made was 4,204, 929 ; and the number of passengers conveyed, 55,043,930 : showing an increase of about 283,000 trips, and nearly 3,000,000 passengers; or a gain of 5| per cent over the year 1887. It is expected, that 10 miles will be added to the length of the street railroads during 1889, and horse power be dispensed with on all the principal lines. STREET NUMBERING. Market Street and Laclede Avenue — running east and west — form the dividino^ line of all streets crossing them. North of this line are North Main, North Second, etc. South of this line is South Main. South Second, etc. The numl)ering of all houses fronting on the public streets is arranged as follows: the odd numbers apply to the north and west sides of the streets, and the even numbers to the east and south sides. The general rule is that 100 numbers shall represent each block going westwardly from the river front, and a like number for each block north or south from Market street and Laclede avenue. THE BUILDING MATERIAL OF ST. LOUIS— FOUND AT ITS DOORS. The City of St. Louis is built on limestone rock, upon the upper stratum of which is found a superior quality of red-brick clav of which all the brick used in building is BUILDING MATERIALS, 77 made. The red shade of color i.s clear and brilliant. The .8t. Louis smooth pressed red brick are so much admired abroad that many places usinu them, notably the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, have constructed the fronts of their tine houses of brick imported from this city. The same clay is used in making l)rick of various forms for the embellishment of fronts of buildings and used with the brick of even shade of color. The cond)ination of forms and figures with the plain brick makes a most attractive front- age, as shown in the New Mercantile Li})rary Building, corner Sixth and Locust streets, the fronts of which present a very handsome effect. Building Sand is obtained for the cost of hauling. Lime is very cheap. Limestone Eock of tine quality is abun- dant and convenient at a low price per perch. Superior 'quality of building material in Sand-stones, red and gray Gr^anite ; and Marbles in wdiite, black and variagated, .are to be obtained at no great distance from the city, in Missouri, in quanlity without limit. Fire Clay. — The deposits of this Clay are inexhaustible within and without the cit}' limits, and are equal to the best ■clays of Europe, numerous factories are engaged in the man- ufacuie of fire-brick, drain-pipe, retorts, house-chimneys, ■etc. Of drain pipe, the largest made by any works in the country is that of the Laclede Works of this city, being six and a half feet in diameter I The Missouri Granite is susceptible of a polish equal to fine steel; and is much used in house fronts, both rock faced jind polished. In side-walk paving, the "Granitoid" description, composed of fine chip-granite and cement, is considerably iused and makes a smooth and durable walk. In Lumber and Timber for building and manufacturing purposes the su])ply is most ample — in Avhite and yellow Pine, in Oak, Maple, Walnut, Sycamore, Poplar, and other varieties, at prices low as elsewhere with the excep- tions of hard woods, yellow pine, and poplar, which are lower than at other large western points, and are obtained from the almost inexhaustable forests of Missouri, Arkan- sas and Tennessee. 78 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY CHAPTER VII. SOME OF THE BUILDINGS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF ST. LOUIS. THE COUKT HOUSE. This imposing struclure cover.s an entire block of ground, bounded by Fourtli, Fifth, Chestnut and Market streets, and fronting on all; it was completed in 1862, at a total cost of i it has never been the custom in the assessment of real estate — to make valuations y^;- outside ffferf, but to lean to the side of the tax payers, and make eacli \ akuition considerably less than the property w(juld Ijcar. ASSESSED AMOUNT OF KEAI. ESTATE PEHTY. * AXIJ rEI{SONAL I'HO- CITY OF ST. LOUIS. KATE OF TAXATION. 1864 I $ 53,205,820 1865 73,960,700 1866 81,901,610 1867 88,625,600 1868 94,362,370 1869 113,626,410 1870 119,080,S00 1871 123,833,950 1872 129,235,180 1873 149,144,400 1874 141,041,486 1875 131,141,020 1876 132,7«5,450 1877 148,012,750 1878 140,976,540 1879 136,071,670 1880 1 35,824, 9S0 1881 139,x97,470 1882 161,679,250 1883 163,479,060 1884 178,596,650 1885 \ 177,H57,240 1886 187,291,540 1887 184,815,560 1888 195,578,249 REAL & PERSONAL. Old LimitB. New Limits. $ 63,059,078 2.60 87,625,534 2.7654 105,24 5,2 ig 3.00 112,907,660 2.95 1]6,5«2,140 2.85 13s,523,4«0 2.85 147,969,660 158,272,430 2.80 162,689,570 2.78 180,278,950 2.76 172,109,270 2.my2 166,999,(i60 SAH/^ 166,441,110 3A2/^ 181,345,560 2.80 172,X29,9S0 2.60 1.35 163,S 13,920 2.60 1.35 160,493,000 2.60 1.35 167,364,230 2.60 1.35 191,948,450 2.58 1.35 192,563,640 2.55 1.30 210,124,370 2.55 1.30 207,910,350 2.55 1.30 218,271,260 2.55 130 and 180 217,142,320 2.50 130 aud 205 227,169,979 2.30 170 f lud 220 Note. — See Appendix: Article "A." — Author. VIEW IN LAFAYETTE PARK. 91 '92 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY THE VALUATIONS WITHIN THP: OLD AND NEW CITY LIMITS, FOR NINE YEARS, WERE AS FOLLOWS:* Year. Saint Louis. Old Limits. New Limits. Real Estate 1 $122,752,440 14(;,l(;2,0(i0 126,205,320 152, 165,210 146,536,400 28,809,580 146,482,410 15,139,180 159,773,580 28,684,600 159,527,340 27,292,990 162,793,920 29,059,560 162,611,250 30,082,110 167,535,870 28,885,540 13,072,540 14,330,940 13,692,150 15,199,020 15,142,850 1880 Real and Personal 1881 Real Estate Real aud Personal Real Estate 1882 Personal 1,459,620 15,0S5,3 90 Real Estate 1883 Personal 1,420,S20 Real instate 18,823,070 1,539,010 18,561,370 1,887,010 1884 Personal Real Estate 1885 Personal Real Estate 22,330,990 1,920,160 1886 Personal Real Estate 22,204,310 1887 Personal 2,244,(150 Real Estate 26,1(12,240 1888 Personal 2,30(1,190 A steady increase in real estate valuations continued up to the year 1874, when a decline set in occasioned by the tinancial depression of that year throughout the nation, and which lasted several years from the same cause. Also in 1878, when a general decline in real estate values was experienced throughout the country as the result of preparation for the resumption of coin payment, Jan. 1, 1879, property at St. Louis fell under a temporary depres- sion in price. But, since then, there has been a steady increase in \alue. Each year has witnessed a growing demand both for desirable unimproved ground and improved property. New districts have been platted into lots, streets opened and extended, followed by sewerage * Note.— The reader is referred to the note at foot of page Hi.— Author. STEADY GROWTH IN VALUE. 93 and general improvements. Of late, the demand has been large for desirable residence plots, and single lots. West of Grand Avenue, ground which seven years ago was sold for at from ten to twenty dollars per front foot, now brings from seventy to one hundred and ten dollars per front foot. "Within the business centres, and beyond, as well, prices have largely increased, and legitimately too; notably on special streets. Most of the purchases, made within the few past years in business localities, were for investment, and the holders are not desirous to give up property that has a still greater future. It will be noticed from the foregoing table of the annual assessment of the real and personal property, that there has been a ijrowth of sixty million dollars within FOUR COURTS. the ten A'ears, from 1878 to 1888. A much greater pro- portionate increase may very reasonably be expected within the next decade. The late extensions of established streets and avenues, including additions of tine plots of ground, are in process of construction and improvement. Several grand public bou- levards and private "places," recently finished, are occupied and in use at the close of 1888, Among them 94 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. is a public houU^vard, of ouo mile in Icuiith, tlio rojul- way 100 feet, and .sidewalks each 25 feet in width. The latter is granitoid and the former Telford pavement Avitli a top layer of jNIaremec red gravel level as a lawn. Another boulexard of e(|ual length and similar eon- struetion, is being made a few blocks distant, and both end at Forest Park. These magniticent avenues and drives, beside others not specially referred to, arc unsurpassed by any others in the land. lUII.DIXt; I'KKMITS FOK TKX VKAHS.* Most of all of the purchases of lots, in recent years, have ])een for early or innnediate improvement, and building permits have kept pace with the transfers of ownership. The permits of the last ten years have been as folk)Ws: 1878 $2,432,r>(;S.OO 1879 ;{,sr)l,(i73.00 1880 3,783,832.00 1881 4,1)80,885.00 1882 (i,l(i3,545.00 1883 7,123,878.00 1884 7,31(;,(;8o.00 1885 7,37(),511).00 188(i 7,030,8 1!).00 1887 8,l(;2,!tl4.00 1888, Besiiuuiug with tlu' inunicipal tiscal yoar, April lUli, to December 12lh, a period of eiuiit moutlis ami tlirec days, the permits were for $(;, 71)3,208.00. These tigurcs do not represent the actual sum expended, since few buildings are ever completed for the estimated cost, and for this reason, the total sum should be at least one- fifth more. This is known to be the case in the estimates of the outlay on several large structures finished, and yet building, in the year 1888. The buildings completed in ♦Note — The bnildins permit otiice keeps its account for the caletidar year, whilst the Mayor follows the./fscrt/ year, endiiiir April 9th. The table here given is that of the permit office. — Author. Tin-: LIGGETT & .MYERS BLOCK. w.> .\)6 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAV .that year, namely, those for banks, offices, stores, churches, pahitial dwellings, etc., excel in architectural splendor and size, with few exceptions, any that have ever been constructed in this city. Within the city limits during the year 1888, several eligible and desirable tracts and plots of ground have •changed hands, each costing with the surface improve- ments from a (]uarter to three-fourths of a million dollars. They have been platted, graded and sewered, and are on sale by the agents of the proprietors. Among the tinest of all the splendid drives is Lindell Boulevard, which with others, vie with those of any city of the laud. ;T. GKOUGK S KPISCOI'AI. CHllUll. DESIRABLENESS OF ST. LOIJIS' REAL ESTATE. 97 CHAPTER IV. ST. LOUIS' KEAL ESTATE. ITS DESIRABLENESS FOR INVEST MENT AND EARLY AI'PRECIATION IN VALUE. 8t. Louis has only recently l)egun to draw the careful and marked attention of capitalists and investors of other localities; it has almost suddenly become apparent to them that here is as promising a spot for investments as Chicago- ever was; and that in the future race for pre-eminence in population, and its accompaniments, of commerce and manufactures, it is a rival, whose grand future may not be disparaged in comparison with the Lake City. Now, at' the threshold of the twentieth century, the time is marked with such improvement, culture and retinement — advancing steadily with the growth of population — that this citv will bear comparison with any other metropolis. The present is a favorable period in the growth and development of St. Louis, for the investment of capital in unoccupied grounds, which may be chosen as promisingly, with slight exceptions, in any portion of the city. Through all parts new streets have been made and others ex- tended. Sewerage advances apace with the improvement and development of new localities. No wild inflation nor ''])o()ming" — as that word is commonly understood — is in- dulged in at St. Louis, l)ut the instrinsic and rapidly a[)- preciating value of its real estate — both url)an and suburban — is manifest to all intelligent observers, and especially to those who take the pains to make examination. There is ample "room for the profitable employment of more capital in banking, in the establishment of more manufacturing industries, and in trade and com- "98 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY'. iiierce in general ; to meet the wants of the great valley, and populous territory beyond, which seek Saint Louis as the most convenient and direct market of supply and demand. THE ADVANTAGES OF ST. LOUIS FOR HOME LIFE. Few large cities of our country have as many solid attractions for the residence of a family, composed of y>I$^7V'^^]i t^gacp^ /"^>\cvry";^^|)rov7r;ji:%3iy^t£ ^3^ parents and children, as this city. To state the facts briefl}', a house may be purchased, or rented, at a reason- ble — even low — price. Schools, churches and modern im- provements are found in every quarter. Stores and markets are convenient. An abundant supply of good water, gas and ADVANTAGES OF ST. LOUIS FOR HOME LIFE. 99 thorough sewerage is found in evei'v developed district. Rapid transit on upwards of KU) miles of street railways, is available, every five minutes and under, at a five cent fare for any distance. Institutions and societies for intellectual and physical improvement, and for rational delight are numerous. Libraries are open to the public at a merely nomial cost. The necessaries and luxuries of life are abun- dant and cheap. Saloons are closed 24 hours on Sundays. Gambling is forbidden by State and Municipal laws, which are rigidly enforced. And the policing of the city being rigid and active, there are few temptations or allurements which youth may not avoid, provided, the training be proper at home, and tJtat made attractive as it can be. Finally, the climate is mild, and in healthfulness St. Louis is equal to the most favored cities of the United States. And, in many x>ther respects, this city is a delightful place of residence. J ^VTff, JBi.. ^\llSl«^4^<:e oj L.L.CuLveft Eso^ 100 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. CHAPTER y. TITLES TO KEAL ESTATE OF THE OIUGINAL "COMMONS, AND OTHER FRENCH AND SPANISH "CONCESSIONS." The titles to the original " Coinmon Fields" of the eavlj Town of St. Louis were derived : i'Vr*-^, from the French and Spanish governments, Avhose titles were after- wards maintained bv special Acts of the Congress of the United States at the instance of the municipalitv of St. Louis, in all to 3837 acres. Secondh/, from the Cit^- of St. Louis. These lands were sold In' the city, and the title conveyed is l)oth undisputed and indisputable. Refer- ence is made to chapter six on the "Common Fields" for a detailed account of these lands. OTHER "CONCESSIONS" OR (iRANTS. The Congress of the United States passed an "Act (dated June 12, 1866) authorizing documentary evidence of titles to the owner of lands in the City of St. Louis." Under this act 109 decrees have ])een issued by the District Court of the United States at St. Louis. Various acts have been passed by Congress, from time to time, ratifjdng or confirming claims made under the former acts, and also the claims of indi\iduals to [)articular tracts. At the present time, all legal principles regulating claims and titles have been thoroughly settled by the courts, and conflicting claims have been adjusted by com- promise or court decisions ; and, accordingly, verj- few spots are any longer in dispute. The facilities for examining land titles with accuracy and dispatch are so complete at St. Louis, that purchasers of property can readily satisfy themselves of the validity of their title should they wish to investigate the work of the abstractor. LAKE AT ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN. 101 102 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAV. THE LIVHES TEKIUENS, OH FRENCH AND SPANISH LAM> HErOUl) HOOKS, rHESEKVEl) "INTACT." The Book of Registry of iinints and transfers of lands at the vilhige of 8t. Louis was called, in French, tJw Livre Terrieii.* The "livres terriens," or provincial land records, together with all the documents and papers of the *' archives," were handed over by the retirhig Spanish Lieut. Governor to Captain Amos Stoddard, U. S. A., -who represented the United States at Saint Louis, in March 1804, the date of the "Cession." The number of the documents, etc., exceeded three thousand, many of which remain on deposit with the Recorder at the present day. Books were provided in 1816, in which all these ■documents were transcribed, and thcv tilled six large vol- umes. All papers and docunuMits of record were invariably •executed in the presence of the Lieut. Governor of the Province (of Upper Louisiana), or of hisotficial representa- tive, and were deposited in his keeping. They were kept in the French language up to 1770, and afterwards in the Spanish. An arpent or arpen comprised 192 feet, (5 inches each way, or 37,756 feet square, and about 85.07 of an acre English measure. A league square contained 7,05(i arpens. THE AKCHIVES. The term "archives" from the Latin (Jejjof-a'toi-ium, originall}^ signiiied a place of deposit for the safe keeping • of official documents, and subsequently included the term "papers," or documents of esteemed value therein deposited. Here at St. Louis, at the present day, when speaking of the French and Spanish "archives" of the early village, *NoTE.— There were iu all six books of "cap" paper bound in leather.— ^H(/jor. ASSESSOR S TAX LIST. 103 ■we apply the term to tlie hooks in which u hirge portion of Iheir early (lociunents were recorded. These were * 'concessions" or gniiits of lots and lands, leases, deeds, wills, inventories, powers of attorney, agreements, mar- riage contracts, and various 'other documents of a miscel- laneous sort relating to persons and things. THE ASSKSSOirs LIST •Of real and personal property at Saint Louis, in 1811, cov- ered only fiixfeeii pa(/es of ordina)-// ^'fool's cap'" paper, but in the assessment for the year of 18reat financial troubles coming on soon afterwards throughout the United States, the result was, that nearly vwvy acre lapsed to the City for unpaid taxes, within a few years. In 1854, or nearly twenty years thereafter, the City having meanwhile become repossessed of the gri'ater part of the "Connnons"" under the tax laws, the nuinicipality again advertised and sold the larger part of them, at public sales^ — during the years isr)4-r)r)-r)() and USnS — for a sum aggregating $(i7(),()()().0(). In lS")i). what remamed were- sold. The prices ranged from ^aOO.OO to $7,700.00 per front foot, and produced $vere largely supersceded by railroads in th? transp :)rtation THE OLD BUSINESS SECTION, 109 of frciirlit and passciiiJfcrs, thut tlic inoxini:' iini)iilse was felt iiijurioii.sly to P^ast-End propcrtyvalues. In 1874, upon the completion of the Eads' Bi-idofo and Tunnel, the Union Depot foi- all the railroads enterinir the city was estal)lished two-thirds of a mile fi'om the i'i\('i-, whieh irreatly impaired the propel ty valuations in the old district. A somewhat similar mo\ement occurred at the City of New York forty yeai's since, and progressed rapidly for a few yeai's ; then. \'ery v tliroiiuli his vt'iiis Lioes tlu' lift- current k'upiiiii." — Whitticr. One of the other most attractive adjuncts of the Great Fair is centered about the grounds of the Jocke}' Club Asso- ciation, sixty-three acres in extent. Its magnificent Club House, with its complete ai)pointments, is the finest of any of its sort in the United States. The Association has semi-annual ''meetings," in June and October, and is pat- ronized from all sections of the Union. A very large cap- ital is invested in extensive grounds and improvements, all which have made this property the first of its class. The Club, and its valual)lc properties in the plant, were the out- come chiefly of a laudable aim to promoti^ and secure the very highest improvement in the breed of trotting horses. COAT OK Aims, STATK Ol" MISSOCItl. THE EXPOSITION AND MUSIC HALL. 113^ CHAPTP:R II, THK PEKMANENT EXPOSITION AND MISIC HALL IUILI)IN(i 'r.ids him foriict what thiiius have l)eL'ii, Life's toil and strain," The Exposition and Music Hall building is the laroest and tinest of all yet constructed in the United States for similar purposes : that of an annual exj)osition of iniin'oNcd machinerv, and of inventions and designs ; of mineral, agri- cultural and pomological productions, goods and wares ; 4ind of paintings and works of art in general. Beside these, are its unsurpassed entertainments in oi'chestral music. Hundreds of thousands of visitors, both citizens and strangers, visit and re-visit all these attractions during the usual autumnal term of six weeks. The magniticent edifice occupies the area of two blocks of ground, and fronts on Olive street 332 feet, to a depth of 5()(j feet on St. Charles street, between 13th and 14th streets. The superficial area covered by the ])uilding is 280,000 feet. The ground was the original ^lissouri Park, of six and one-fourth acres, and was licensed by the Municipality to the incorporators of the Exposition for the term of fifty 3'ears, free of charges for ground rent and taxes (excepting only a tax on the boiler house). The incorporators are an enterprising company of citizens, who seek no direct profit from their investment, but whose design is to provide entertainments, instruction and. 114 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. refined pleasure suited to the tastes and wants of the da}' :and age in which we live. The grand Music Hall has a seating capacity of four thousand persons, and standing space for half os many more. The splendid enterprise and talent of the Board of Directors of this very popular institution, deserve from •citizens the fullest appreciation. Theory is now at an end, and it is an established certainty that the views and aims of the projectors and founders of this most popular addition to the attractions centering at this city, have been fully realized; and, that a foundation has been laid to perpetuate the Exposition and its adjuncts. The very large patronage of the public at home, and from the surrounding states, voices the common sentiment of approbation and -of pride in these institutions. THK G1!AX1> Ol'ElJA HOUSE. AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL ASSOCIATION. 115 CHAPTEE III GRAND ANNUAL STREET ILLUMINATIONS AND PARADES. THE COMING OF THE VEILED PROPHET AND HIS SUITE. 'Ill Fairy-laud, whose streets and to\yers Are made of gems of light and flowers!" — Lallu Iiookh. ILLUMINATIONS. It has come to be an established custom, during each fall season, to present to the public beautiful, taste- ful and grand displays in processions and parades, ac- companied with brilliant illuminations of gas jets, in diversified colored glass shades — arranged in clusters and arches spanning the streets — all which, together with electric lights, give out such dazzling brightness and beauty" — through a number of miles of streets — as to be truly magnificent ! * COMING OF THE VEILED PROPHET! "The Great Mokanna! O'er ids features hung The Veil, the Silver Veil, -vvhicli he had flung ***** to hide from mortal sight His dazzling brow till man could bear its light." Veiled Prophet of I\7)orassan. Upon a stated night, the Veiled Prophet, his embassa- dors and their retainers — accompanied l)y the houri,t in angelic attire — make their appearance on the streets — sit- ting and standing upon "floats " on wheels — in grandeur of demeanor and dress — representing mythology, races of men, individual characters and national customs — in tab- leaux — resplendent in light and charming to the senses ! The pageant comprises a score or more of floats, each accompanied by a band of accomplished musicians. This pleasing, even instructive display to the masses, is witnessed usually by a hundred thousand or more peo- * Note. — Upward of one hundred thousand jets. t " Nymphs of Paradise." — Author. 116 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY pie — and is obtained at a hiv^e cost in pains and money,, throuirli the members of the Veiled Prophet Assoeiation, including- a few other individuals of taste and enterprise. The procession ended, there follows a grand ball and re- ception, held in the largest and most eligible hall. THK STATIICS OF KMIXKNT AND FAMOUS MEN FKFCTKD IX ITBLIC FLACKS. The statues of eminent and fanu)us deceased citizens, and men of foreign birth, have beiMi erected at different times, and placed in the [)ublic parks: the last one is that of Ulysses 8. (irant, only recently 'Mun'ciled." It stands in the center of the north-end of Twelfth Street Place. All the statues occupy prominent localities, as follows: that of Thomas H, Benton, in Lafayette Park; those of Francis P. Blair and Edward Bates, in Forest Park : of Columbus, Shakespeare and Yon Ilumbolt in Tower (irove Park; all are in bronze and of heroic si/.e. The statue of (Jeneral Grant is by a St. Louis artist, and the gift of the (Jrant ^lonument Association of this cit\' to the Municipality. The unveiling took \)\i\ce October 2()th 1(). 000. 00 have l)een- expended annually in develo[)ing and ])eautifying tlu' Park. It is on the western edi>e of the eitv, and is attracting about it a large number of costly family residences. Its surroundings on the west are still rural, while at the east end they are \ cry urban. A'isitors, who enjoy the salubrity of its atnu)spiuM'e, may truly say: "God madethe country,, but man made the town !" The Park has a very tine and extensive oblong trotting course. Singing birds and scjuir- rels are numerous, and the wildness of nature's scenery is still preserved on part of the capacious urea. Forest Park is approached from the east by Lindell and Forest Park Boulevards. The Park can be reached also via Olive street cable road, and other street railroads. The imi)roved drives are of a length of ten miles. Of sunnner roads there is an aggregate distance of thirteen; 122 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. miles tlir()Ui>:li ovorlinnging shado trees, and surrouiided by beautiful artitieial enibellis^liments, wliieh add to naturcV attractions. At the east side of the park are ))i-onze- statues, of heroic size, of two of St. I^ouis' deceased citi- zens, P^dward Bates and Francis P. Blaii-, the former dis- tinguished as a statesman and jurist, and the latter famous both in war and peace. THE TOWER (iHOVE PARK, AND MISSOL'KI BOTANICAL GAR- DENS. (GIFTS OF IIENIIY SHAW TO THE MUNICI- PALITY OF SAINT LOUIS.) "No thouiiht nor care for iraiii, No foolisli wish for ulory's iiildod letter, Have brouiiht these efforts of his lieart and l)rain; But only that tlie world niisiht be the better, For one who lias not spent his life in vain." Henry iShaw was l)()ru in England, and settled at St. Louis in the year 1819. He entered into the hardware business and gave to it the most assiduous personal atten- tion ; closing it about 1840. He has ever since passed an active out-door, yet retired life. Mr. Shaw never married^ resides in winter at his handsome house in the city, and in summer sojourns at his tasteful dwelling in the "(Jar- dens." ]Mr. Shaw, who is as wealthy as he is muniticent in his gifts, long 3'ears ago selected grounds admirably adapted to his proposed objects, mimely, 190 acres of land for a I^ark, and 50 acres for a '■'-Bota nival Garden, When verging uj)()n three score and ten years (in the year 18(i8), he proposed to present to the numicipal tuithorities, the Park and Garden, on certain ti'rnis and con- ditions, which provided^ that the nuniicipality should ex- pend the sum of three hundred and sixty-three thousand dollars upon the Park grounds in improvements, and open them to the public : that a strip of ground of the width of 200 feet on the four sides of the park,, he would i:eservey TOWER GROVE PARK, AND BOTANICAL GARDEN. 12S but lease it to the city for ninety-nine years for a stated sum of money, (as annual rent) to be devoted to the main- tenance of "Shaw's Garden;" and, finally in his "last will and testament," he would bestow the Gardens to this, his adopted city. The terms as proposed, were afterwards some- 124 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. what iiKxlitiod, and then aeceptod l)y ordinance of the numici- pal ii'overnnient. The Park was named Toiri'i- (rvove Park, from its vicinity to the "^^'ater Tower." Tlie city beiran the work of improvement in ISTO, and chirinii' the ensuing five years, expended nearly a half million dollars upon the Park. It is a paralleloiiram in shape, whose width is 1121 feet, and the leuoth (i,lG3 feet. :\Ir. Shaw, a few years since, erected at his own expense three l)ronze statues of a men famous in their departments of discovery, science and literature: Columbus, Von IIuml)oldt and Shakespeare. These are attractions to the visitor, hut arc scarcely noticed amidst the maaniticent scener}' which crovrds upon the senses of the dullest observer as he strolls throuiih the enil)owered jiaths and dells, or drives upon its spacious avenues. The Park is a aem of si)ark- ling beauty — in spring and summer with its bowers and, vine clad houses: its artistic bridges, pagodas, lakes, fountains, and Howing freshwater springs ; while through all are set, by nature and art, beautiful evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs and flowers. The annual expense of maintaining the Park is not less than twenty-five thous- and dollars. THE BOTANICAL GAKDEN. * Mr. Shaw l)egan the improvement of his botanical gar- den many years since with the primary design of present- ing it to the city. If the Park, as stated, be a gent, then the Gardens are sapphires — in clusters of brilliant plants and flowers both native and exotic, (including in the latter a majority of all those found upon the globe) — and resplendent with selections from nature's choicest beauty in flora, spread over the entire fifty acres. But, the Garden must be seen, to be appreciated. Mr. Sljaw has added a Museum of curiosities of considerable value from both the animal and mineral kinodoms. * Note.— Situated in South-west St. \An\'\!i.~- Author. JOCKEY CLUB RACE CCURSE. 125 126 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. The Garden, ]Mu.seiuii and Park are open daily, and may be seen and enjoyed — without money or iwice — by strangers and citizens, it being free to all visitors under reasonable regulations. Mr. Shaw is in good health,* and in the possession of a clear and active brain, at nearly ninety years of age! He still takes special pleasure, and a deep interest in the "children" of his life work: the Gardens and Park. What other plans of munificence, or methods of benefi- cence have been conceived and are in contemplation — if not already formulated and resolved upon — b}' Mr. Shaw, are unknown to the pu])lic. It is certain, hoAvever, that his gifts or ultimate bequests, will be made in pursuance of well considered resolutions, whose shape has been moulded with special care and good judgment — after some wise scheme of liberality toward the people of the city of his adoption — and which shall carry his name down to posterity with a sweet savor. It may be hoped, that the life of this venerable philan- thropist shall be ^.^^ "^^ spared still longer, and his renuiining /^P^ ^^^w ^^'-^y^ on earth con- tinue to be passed i^ ^| in peace and tran- quility. That, final «^o ^^ ly, when he shall be called from wearing ^^ "mK, an earthly crown in his paradise of ^^^^^^q-vj^^P fiowers, the sum- mons shall be to a ^^^^^^^ heavenly home — Avhere only amaranthine flowers bloom — and there his brow be decked with a chaplet of more enduring and unfading verdure ! At the present writing, February, 14tli, 1S89. — Aatlwr. PARKS BENTON, CARONDALET, LAFAYETTE. 127" CHAPTER VI. BENTON PARK Is truly a masterpiece of landscape gardening, but pos- sesses rare natural advantages. It contains miniature hills- and valleys, a lake of two acres, together with facilities. for boating, an attractive grotto, and a selection of the finest shade trees ; whilst its beautifully undulating surface makes it appear double the actual area. Near this park is the so-called English cave. It is a natural cavern, two hun- dred feet in length, and thirtv-iive feet in width. It has special natural attractions, but it is adapted at the present time to utilitarian purposes of propagating mushrooms !. It is in the hands of a company which employs a capital of ten thousand dollars. CAKONDELET PARK. (New Limits). This is a picturesque natural park, Avitli a diversified surface, upon which are well constructed winding road ways. - A bright little spring of water flows out from a rocky source amidst grand old forest trees. These are intermixed with newdy planted shade trees and evergreens, making a most beautiful and delightful combination of park scenery. In the western part of this park is a hill, which affords a magnificent view of the surrounding country. The park commissioner contemplates erecting an observatory on this hill, sixty feet in height, to enable visitors to realize- the beauty of the outlying country. LAFAYETTE PARK Is a gem of natural and artificial beauty, and is one of the handsomest pieces of landscape architecture to be found in the United States. It is not a driving park, vehicles are 128 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. prohibited, and pedestrians only are p:iven entrance. During the suninier it is croAvded with deliglited visitors. A l)and of music is eniph)ved at the expense of the citv, in \ ii:\\ IN lAF A^ 1, 1 ri', v\\:k summer, and on the days set for music, delighted throngs •of ladies and children are in attendance. GRAVOIS PARK Is one of the most beautiful of the promonade parks, and is yisited chiefiy l)y the citizens of its neiolil)orhood. HYDE PARK Is one of the best cared for and most f reqented parks in the il>ly and authorita- tively — at the headciiiarters of the Missouri Pacitic Railway Sj'steni in this city — that it has been detinitely decided to build a new Passenger Depot, and to begin work without any unnecessary delay. The date named for its completion is September 1st, 18i)0. The period of eighteen months, which must interyene, will be found short indeed, in view of the pleasure flowing from the anticipation of such a boon. The advent of a new depot will be hailed with delight by the millions who travel to and from this city €ach year. The estimated cost is one million dollars. The gen- eral plan of the new structure has been derived from ma- ture experience, as to the sort of building, which a modern railway passenger depot should be — for comfort, conyeni- ence and elegance — to secure in its construction the highest demands of utility. But, it should be so planned, that safety to the traveling public shall be assured — at a great depot — where, at all times, surging crowds are has- tening to and fro, almost unconscious of the surrounding dangers. In view of security against accidents — from moving trains and trucks — the Avaiting and eating apartments of passengers will be a story above the track level. Different stairways will be used by the arriving and departing pas- NEW UNION PASSENGER RAILWAY DEPOT. 137 sengers, who will be conducted to their proper tniiu with- out liability of mistake, and promptly from the cars. The first floor of the new Depot will be on the plane of Poplar street, eighteen feet al)ove the level of the rail- road tracks of Mill Creek Valley. The grand front of the building will be on that street. The halls will be so spacious that ingress and egress — by separate doors — will ])e without jostling. The structure \v\\\ have two addi- tional stories — above the w^aiting and eating rooms — for the occupation of officers and employes. Every modern comfort, will be introduced in connection with good taste. The nuiterials used in the construction of this model depot, will be Missouri red and gray granite — both rock- face and polished — and St. Louis i)ressed brick, including those of ornaniental forms. The Komanesque in architec- ture, will be adopted for the north and south fronts. The ])uilding will be fire proof, but as very great strength is not essential, the plan and details will secure — through their com})ination — greater elegance than can be obtained in a commercial structure. The long "debated" question of the locdlioii of the new dep6t being now settled, it is interesting to know ^jrec/.ve/y where it will be built. Its site is between Twelfth and Fourteenth streets, and Poplar street and Mill Creek Valley. A portion of the high ground, together with the buildings yet standing, will be removed and the site adapted to its new uses. The width of Poplar street will l)e increased to «0 feet by adding 20 feet of the depot ground between Twelfth and Fourteenth streets, in order to secure ample space for travelers and carriages, but like- wise to give finei- effect to the front of the structure. The length of the new edifice will be 4r)0 feet, and its breadth !•) feet, which dimensions foreshadow the magnifi- cence of its completed presence. The distinguished rail- way magnate, who controls great systems of roads. 138 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY centering at St. Louis, purchased, privately, during the past two or three years, all the ground needed for the site of the new passenger depot. Certainly, it is eligibly chosen, and fittingly suited to its purpose. When the present passenger depot was built — nearly a score years since — it was both fine and commodious, but now it is wholl}^ unsuited to the wants of the great public, who — cribbed, cabined and confined — chafe under the inflictions imposed upon them through contact with the present ineligible depot. The numerous railway compa- nies using the Union Depot, can well afford to secure a new one, which shall be at once convenient, commodious and magnificent. THE KOE miLDlNCi. DE.scHn'TioNs OK m:\v iuildinus. 1H9 A WAV OF THE lU'ILDINCJS COMPLETED DIKING THE YEAR liS.SH. THE AMEHK'AN CENTRAL (THE "SINCiEH"' lUlLDING, ENLARGED AND RECONSTRUCTED), Oot'upies the N. E. cornei- of Broadway and Locust street, 5ind is eight stories in height. The original cost was $225,000.00, and $200,000.00 more have been expended in THE AMKRICAN CKNTUAI. BUILniXG. the reconstruction. This sphMuhd structure is strictly tire proof. Not a single dark room is in the building. There are several modern elevators which move 400 feet per minute. The corridors are all wainscotted with fine Italian marble, i\ud the interior finish of the building is in solid ([uartered 140 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. oak, and the floors of marble. An iron and bronze stair- way, leads from the basement to the top story, whose step* are of marble. The entrance — corridor walls and ceiling — are in panel work of marble. The lavatory is on the eighth floor, finished in marble, brass and quartered oak; in utility and taste it is not excelled. The American Express Co., and the Wells-Fargo Express Co., have taken a ten years' lease on the first floor, and use it as one gen- eral ofiice. There are fifty office apartments in the five stories next above the Express office, the rentals of which amount to $25,000.00 annuall3^ The American Central Insurance Company occupies the entire seventh story^ which is splendidly lighted, and is the largest single office occupied by any business concern in this city, if not in the West. The building is thoroughly fire proof. Such eligibility in the plan and beauty of details in an office building are most creditable to the architect and builder. THE BANK OF COMMERCE BUILDING. This elegant and attractive structure, north-east corner of Olive street and Broadway, was built and is owned by the bank, which occupies the first floor. The sixty office rooms — contained in the seven stories above — are conven- ient and tasteful. The building is of white marble, com- pletely fire proof, and finished in antique oak. It is supplied with Hale elevators, a,nd is a model building. Its cost was about a quarter million dollars. THE COMMERCIAL BUILDING. This grand and imposing structure, erected on the south- east corner of Sixth and Olive streets, by the "Commercial Building Company of Saint Louis," (a Chicago syndicate) is eight stories in height, exclusive of basement. It has a frontage on Olive street of 127 feet, and on Sixth of 116 feet. The construction of this building is of the very best character in design, workniansliip and materials, and is COMMERCIAL BUILDING. 141 suited especially for stores and ottic-es, in accordance with, the very hitest improvements and requirements of such occupancy. The exterior materials are polished and rock-face Mis- souri Syenite granite, and the tincst (juality of 8t. Louis. X ^'^ .1^ pl^ i^^ i^ ^""■^ !'^^ Tjffi €'2i IP" ^^11 ISw i». mil ? l^-f f- 1 R'l# ' -Wff ■"? f ' i(f f ff" 4^ ^:iM^'Srf'i^^ 4% "^ 'i • UMMKItciAI. IUII.DINM;. 142 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. pressed brick. The sills, string courses, cornices, coping, bases and capitals are of Portage brown-stone. Columns, (between each two piers), pilasters and lintels are of iron. This building, in its tire proof qualities, and in all other respects — lighting, heating and ventilation, and perfect arrangement for the convenience of occupants — is unex- celled by any other yet erected in the West. An inspec- tion of its admirable construction is a treat to the visitor. The building is equipped with four swift-moving hydraulic elevators, made of iron and bronze. There are three large store rooms and one smaller one on the first floor; and, on the remaining seven floors, there are 192 office rooms — of different sizes — and each furnished with a steel safe. The corriders of first, second and third stories are floored with Georgia marble, and wainscotting of same material. A broad, easy, iron staircase leads from the first to the top story. The ground was leased at an annual rent for 99 years, and the cost of the building, the agent stated, was $600,000.00. THE FAGIN BUILDING. This magnificent structure — located at Nos. 806, 808, ■810, 812 and 814 Olive street — wholly novel and unique in its style of architecture — attracts the general attention, being so unlike any other building in this city, whilst travelers, the world over, declare they do not remember to have seen any edifice resembling the Fagin Building ! The building is an advertisement m itself. Since, should a stranger, who had once seen it and being desirous to return to its locality — not knowing the way — might simply 'inquire of a citizen the route to that wonderful "structure of granite and glass .''^ and, doubtless, would be referred unerringly to the proper one. The facade — composed almost wholly of granite and .glass from pavement to top — has an altitude of 152 feet, THE FAGIN BUILDING. 143 I'oiiiprised in ten stories, the lower one being 21 1-2 feet in heioflit. The granite is in four st3'les of work : polished, rock-face, ten line cut and pointed. The facade displays thirty-eight highly polished circular columns, of different dimensions. Over the central colunnis, are granite globes. The base of the columns rest upon l)l()cks of pyramidal form, six feet in height and polished like a mirror. The glass is also varied in description : polished plate, discs and panes •of cathedral, ondoyant and diamond star glass, the three last in tinted colors and several thousand in number. The plate glass is of unusual size, some being 110x194 inches, and contain 149 square feet. The columns vary in diame- ter from 15 to 30 inches. They are found, in their com- posite positions, the full height of the facade. The tout ensemble of the front is picturesque and grand, whilst giving out the expression of great strength and beauty. Many blocks of rock-face granite in position, have a weight exceeding twelve tons. The foundations of the building are broad and deep, constructed of stone from the noted Grafton quarries. The bottom courses of [)iers, columns and walls are of sin- gle stones, eight feet in width. Their superstructure is in accordance with the massiveness of the base. All are laid in cement mortar. So broad and solid are these founda- tions and so unyielding the earth at their foot, that, not- withstanding the great weight of the mammoth super- structure, there has not been any settlement. This is proved by the mark at the pavement line. No expense was spared in the construction, to gain the greatest strength, solidity and security. The available space of the interior, is one million and fifty-two thousand feet, including the basement. The style of construction adopted bv the talented architect, has secured unlimited light, and is adapted to the highest demands of utility, whilst to the occupants it 144 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. will be a perpetual pleasure. The stairways are constructed of iron, steel and slate. The building is eqiupped with two "Crane' elevators, of the latest description and improve- ments, enabling a speed of 600 feet per minute. Heating is by steam. The floors are of the modern "slow-burn- ing" construction, walls stuccoed, and the entire building is denominated fire-proof. The work of completion of the interior has reached a stage of advancement, where the proprietor rests, briefly, in order to adapt each story to the wishes or needs of tenants, who would lease for a term of years. The adaptations for use of this great building are various. It would compass the requirements of one large establish- ment in dry goods, fancy wares, hats, or other lines of business. Or for oflice rooms and halls. The top stories especially are magnificently lighted from the four sides, these — arranged in suites of apartments — would make the most eligible of "club" quarters. The first, or lower floor, is a truly splendid store room, over twenty feet in height. The ceiling is in beautiful wood, elaborately carved, finished in oil, and, blending with the rest of the work of this elegant hall room — in har- mony of materials and details — it is most attractive. The location of the Fagin Building is among the most eligible and valuable of any on Olive street, directly oppo- site the grand structure of the National Government (Post- office, Custom House, etc.), which cost the sum of six million dollars, and occupies an entire city block. Adjoining on the west is the superb building of the "Independent Order of Odd Fellows," just now being completed. Olive street is in the heyday of prosperity, and the Fagin Building is another star in its decoration, but is a diadem in the crown of its enterprising o^vner, and the capstone of his monument! This costly building is a THE LIONBERGER BUILDING. 145 marked attestation of that public spirited push which dis- tinguished him for the many years of his useful and honor- a,ble career when engaged in the commerce and develop- ment of this city. THK LIONHKHGER STOHE lUILDING. This building is one of the new structures erected for stores. It is not excelled by any, and equaled hy but few. It is situated on the south-west corner of Washington ayenue THK I.IONHKRGKU Uni.DING. and Eighth street. In all appointments which combine strength, utility and elegance it is admirable in a marked degree. The architecture is " Komanescjue," and the material brown " Kibbe " Massachusetts stone, rock-face and carved, of the fronts respectively on Washington avenue and Ninth streets. The building occui)ies 140 feet on the former, and 150 feet on the latter street. The front on St. Charles street is largely of St. Louis pressed brick. The height of the building is 100 feet, in seven stories, 146 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. beside basement and sub-basement. The block is divided into two stores, one of 100x150 feet, and the other 40x150 feet. The building is of the description styled " mill-con- struction," and "slow-burning," and is denominated fire proof. There are iron column "supports" in the first three, and wood column supports in the remaining stories. The iron columns are incased with hollow tiles. The fioor is of three inch yellow pine, covered M'ith water-proof paper, and one inch of maple or hard pine. The first and second stories are plastered, and the remainder painted. The roof is of composition materials. The elevators and stairways are inclosed within brick walls, and the doors leading to them are fire proof. A water tank is located on the roof. "Fire" plugs are placed on each floor, besides a permanent wrought iron stand-pipe for ready attachment of hose, and a fire escape — conveni- ently placed, which are all valuable adjuncts. There are five freight and two passenger hydraulic elevators. The build- ing is heated by steam, and lighted by both gas and elec- tricity, or either separately. Lavatories are placed on each floor. The cost of this admirable and model building com- pleted was $350,000.00. THE LACLEDE BUILDING. This fine new building stands on the south-west corner of Olive and Fourth streets, has a frontage on the latter i^f 116 feet, and on the former street of 127 feet, and is eight stories in height. The materials are Missouri Syenite granite, (both rock-faced and polished), iron, and the finest brick. The interior construction is of wrought iron filled in with hollow blocks. The exterior walls are lined on the inside with hollow brick, as a protection against heat and cold. The hall walls are of polished Berdillo marble and TUK HARH lUlLDING. 147 148 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. plate glass. The halls are arranged with ventilating shafts for rarifying the air, and to maintain a regular current, l)ut modulated against draught. They are tiled with marble throughout. And the ceilings in the halls of the lower stories are of polished marble. Many of the offices have handsome, open fire places. •Convenient lavatories are fitted in marble and porcelain in each story. A telegraph station is on the first floor, and four elevators, three of which are improved hydraulic. The interior design and finish are replete in utility, taste ^nd elegance. In fine, the Laclede is one of the very best office buildings in the country. The Laclede Bank is located on the corner, ground floor, and its spacious offices are fitted up in the most eligible and superior manner. The Merchants' National Bank •occupies a portion of the Olive street front. This splendid structure is a very marked feature of Fourth street, and is a conspicuous adornment. THE liggp:tt-myeks building Covers an entire block of ground. It fronts 270 feet on Washington avenue, the same on St. Charles street, and 150 feet each on Tenth and Eleventh streets ; it is seven sto- ries in height above the basement, and so planned that one tenant may occupy the wdiole as a single great establishment, or that it ma}^ be divided into several stores, as occasion may require . It is advancing towards early completion , and its prestige is magnificent. It wdll be fire proof throughout. The first two stories are constructed of Missouri Syenite granite, and the remaining five of St. Louis pressed brick, including those of diverse forms. The floor beams are of steel, on wdiich a floor of yellow pine will be laid seven inches in thickness, and on top of that a covering of one inch dressed maple. The number of spikes required for this great floor is a quai-ter million of 7>^ inches in length. LIGGETT-MYERS BUILDING. U9 Miissivc cast iioii coliiiniis (ciicast'd witli'm hollow tile) support the interior. The .superior 8t. Louis-made plate er stories are provided on first tloor. There are four hvdraulie elevators, and on each story a lavatory. The corridors are tiled with white marble, and the wainscottiuij is of (ieoriri'J ^ray and white marble. 'i'lie buiidino- will be liuhte-d by electric jets, and heated by steam. It will l)e ready for occupancy May 1, 1889. The cost of this majrnificent biiildinir will be between $500,- .000.00 and $H00,()()0.00, exclusive of the ground, which is .amono- the mo>t \alual)le sites in the city. NKW LOCATION OF BHOWX, 1)AL(;HA1)AV .^ CO.MI'A.NV. This superior strur-ture, speeialJy designed for a whole- sale dry goods estal)Iishment, occupies the very eligible site on the south-east corner of Ninth and St. Charles streets. It is erected u[)(;n massive foundations, which were built, together with the elegant superstructure, and com[)letcd all within the short space of six months. The l»uilding occuijies an area of 112 feet of ground on Ninth, and 7(i feet on St. Charles street. It is seven stories in height above the pavement level, beh)W which is a tine basement salesroom. The building is admirably ar- ranged for liffht and convenience. Strenirth is a strikinjr feature. The plan and materials of the interior construc- tion is modern slow-burning — denominated tire proof. Two modern freight (devators are conveniently |)laced on the north side of the l)uil(ling, and one |)assenger (devator, on the east side, accommodates the current intercourse be- tween the first and seventh floors. The nniterial of the basement and first story is roi de- faced Missouri red granite. The additional six stories are i)f St. Louis j)ressed brick — including those of diverse and 154 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. BROWN, DAUGHADAY & CO. 155 ornamental forms. Tlic window caps and sills arc red sand- stone, carved and Hated. On the 8t. Charles street fronts iron columns are used in the second and third stories. This admirable buildinst»'m. \ai"ving in size from tlu* modest onc-i'oom school 158 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. to the schools which occupy stately and imposing three- story edifices — having from twelve to twenty-four com- modious school rooms — with all the modern improvements for furnishing light, heat and ventilation. The Public School system includes four free Polytechnic evening schools, three of which have preparatory departments for instruction in the more elementary branches. Nearly forty-nine thousand pupils were enrolled in these schools during the last scholastic year, and were instructed b}^ eleven hundred and sixty-nine teachers. These schools occupy in all, one hundred and six Iniild- ings, varying in size to suit their respective localities. The lots of ground occupied hy these buildings are estimated at $827,()13.00, and the liuiklings and furniture $2,617,641,00, at moderate valuations. In addition, the Board of Public Schools controls realty valued at one and a quarter million dollars, held exclusively for the pro- duction of a permanent revenue. The income of that por- tion of this property which is leased, amounts to about sixty thousand dollars annually. The total revenue for school purposes, including a four mill city tax and the state school fund, amounts to over one million dollars annually. The course of study is broad and comprehensive, including within its requirements nearl}" all that can rea- sonably be expected; and, the methods of instruction and modes of discipline are such as have been generally recog- nized throughout this country as being among the best. These schools aim not only to give the best possible intellectual, moral and physical education, but to furnish the information most needed for gpod and successful citi- zenship. That these schools are appreciated by all classes of citizens, is attested by the character of their patronage : the enrollment includes the names of children from famir EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 159 lies provided with aniple means, and from those in the- most moderate circumstanees. The school population June 1, 1885 (between the ages of six and twenty ), was 108,454, of which four and one-half per cent, were colored. The increase in three years, to June 1, 1888, is estimated to be 7,856, total 116,310.. ^Slost pupils leave after a school attendance of four j'ears,. and few attend who are over fifteen years of age. In the last scholastic year, there were 20,558 children in attend- ance at schools other than public district schools. FINANCIAL POSITION AND ENDOWMENT OF THE FUBLIC FREE SCHOOLS. The President of the Board of Public Free Schools published in November, 1888, the o4tli Annual Peport, from ^vhich the following information is gleaned : The estimated resources of the School Board for the current year, which will end flune 30, 1889, is ascertained to be the sum of $1,047,000.00, and is derived severally, from taxation $884,000.00; state school funds $95,000.00; rents $58,000.00; and, interest on deposits and funded securities $10,000.00. From the revenue, the Board provided for the nniinte- nance of the schools, (including 47 new school rooms opened October, 1888); and besides added the sum of $60,000.00 to the building fund. Further, the Board retrenched expenses for the school year nearly $75,000.00, • and "without in any wise impairing the etHeiency of the schools." The Board had under its control several valuable par- cels of real estate, (which were not derived from the state- or national government ) : they were eligibly located, ad- vaneiug in xahie. and yielding revenue. These the Board deemed it adxisabh- to transfer to the Permanent Fun^ interesting fact, that the School Board is the largest single real estate owner in the city. Aside from its proprietorship of school lots, build- ings and tixtures — which aggregate nearly five million dol- lars at the prime, or original cost, (but now of considera- bly larger value) — it is the owner of what is termed " rev- enue real estate," of an estimated value of $1,200,000.00. nearly all of which belongs to the Permanent Fund ; the revenue onh' of which can be used for school purposes, since the principal sum is required, under the law, to be maintained without impairment. In consecjuence of the movement of the resident popu- lation further Avestward, the Board is warranted in recom- mending the sale of several special pieces of property, which are near the east end of the city, and with the proceeds thereof to establish new schools in more conven lent locations. PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. A few of these are named, as follows : Acade- my of the Christian Brothers, Loretta Academy, St. •Joseph's Academy, St. Vincent's Academy, St. Louis University, Washington University, including Smith's Academy, Mary Institute, Henry Shaw School of Botany, -School of Fine Arts, Law School, Manual Training School, 'College and Polytechnic School. Concordia Seminary, American Medical College, Mis- souri Medical College, Missouri School of Midwiferv, St. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 161 Louis Medical College, St. Louis College of Plnsicians and Surgeons, St. Louis Post (Jraduate School of Medi- cine, St. Louis College of Phannac}', Homeopathic Medi- cal College of Missouri, Missouri Dental College, Mound City Commercial College, School of Short Hand and Tele- graphy, Institute of Architects, Missouri School for the Blind, Women's Training School, besides numerous other Educational and traininsf schools. CONCOHD'IA COLLEGE. 162 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY. 163 CHArXEK 11. SAINT LOIIS IXIVKHSnV. This noted institution — the most venerable of the Tedu- ■cational institutions of this city — was founded in 1H21>, and received its charter in 1(S34. The site of the university, prior to July, 1888, was on Ninth street and Washinofton avenue. The new site — two miles further west, following population — is grand for elevation and surroundings. It is upon a block of ground fronting on- Grand avenue 446 feet, by a dei)th, on Lindell and Baker avenues, of 8()() feet. The institution is under the management of the Jesuit Fathers. In the course of studies, the ancient classics hold a prominent place. Mental philosophy, physics, chemistry, astronomy and surveying, are a part of the regular course, which comprises seven years. Lectures on the sciences are illustrated with experiments. An am- ple laboratory is provided for the students in chemistry. A past-graduate department is connected with the in- stitution. The lectures of this course are delivered upon evenings. Al)out 400 students are in daily attendance. Classes open at 9 o'clock a. m., and continue, with slight inter- mission, till 2: 30 P.M. Since 1881, boarding students have not been received. The Library and ^Museum halls are mo(h'l apartments of their kind. The Library is 50 by 79 feet in length and breadth, and 67 feet in height. It comprises an open quadrangle, is covered by a glass roof ; and has three wide 164 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. galleries, which are reached by iron stairwa^ys. The Li- brary is accessible from two floors of the building. It contains 30,000 volumes, many of which are rare editions of Latin folios, of the earlier years succeeding the discov- ery of the art of printing. The Museum is a single hall. Its dimensions are 58 by 98 feet in length and breadth, and 52 feet in height. It is crowned by an elaborate roof, which affords suitable light. Costly paintings adorn its walls. The corner of the spacious site, on Lindell and Grand avenues, was reserved for a church — Saint Xavier's. This edifice has not been completed, but services have been held in the ample basement since November, 1884. The university buildings are admirably planned and constructed. Their appearance, on approaehing them, is most imposing. They cost, without the ground, the sum of about three hundred thousand dollars. S. W. CORNER ELEVENTH STREET AND WASHINGTON A^'E. WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY. 165 WASHINGTON UNIVHKSITY. This iu.stitutiou — proniiiieut ;uih)ii, lS7'.t. "4Iail to the skillful c-unniu history of the library has it been so pronounced. The Mercantile Library Association was formed — under its present name — April 9th, 184(). A few months later it was organized unilcr a constitution, and o[)ened with a 184 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. MEllCANTILE I.I15KAUY BUILDING. LIBRARIES AND THEIR LOCATIONS. 185 library of 1,()S() volumes, since when it hiis grown to seventy-one thousand I The Association possesses a num- ber of valuable works of art in paintings, statuary and basso relievos. In 1851, the Association purchased the present site, upon which they early* erected a building of large size and special utility for those times. It served its purposes until no longer suited to the rapidly growing needs for more space, and for the i)reservation of its treasures of litera- ture and art within the walls of a tire-proof structure. The Association is now in full occupancy of its new library ])uilding, erected upon the original site at a cost exceeding $350, 000. 00. That portion not occupied by the Library Halls, yields an annual rental of forty thousand dollars. The editice is six stories in height above the pavement, and the basement is protitabh' utilized. The architecture is -Romanesque; the exterior walls are of Missouri red granite, St. Louis fine pressed brick — plain and orna- mental — and presents a very handsome appearance. The building fronts 128 feet on Locust, and 114 feet on Sixth street. It is fire proof, and first-class in all materials and construction. The library halls are of a height of twenty feet. In appearance they are most inviting, and are both grand and beautiful. In plan, arrangements and furnish- ings they are adapted to convenience and eligibility in every particular; in ventilation and light they are ad- mirable, whilst at night they are illuminated with the most approved electro incandescent lights. The favored fortunes of this popular institution have followed it closely down to the present era of the inaugu- ration of its magnificent new home, which in size will ac- commodate the wants of another generation. The original site cost $25,500.00, about thirty-five j'cars since, and is Avorth to-day, without the improvements, fully three hun- dred thousand dollars. 186 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. OTHER LIBRARIES. The libraries of Washington University and St. Louis University are extensive and very vahiable ; besides, there are others of vahie belongino; to literary and other societies. The library of the "St. Louis Bar Association" con- tains 12,000 volumes of standard authors. Of private libraries belono-ino- to citizens of culture and literary tastes, it is estimated there are one hundred of note, some of which are extensive and very valuable.* LIST OF LIBRARIES AND THEIR LOCATION. The Mercantile Library Association, Sixth, corner of Locust street. Public, Polytechnic Building, Chestnut, corner of Sev- enth street. Law Association, south wing of the Court House. St. Louis Law School, 1417 Lucas Place. , St. Louis University, Grand avenue, opp. Pine street. St. Louis Diocesan, 1519 Chestnut street. St. Louis Turnverein, Turner's Hall, Tenth street, l)etween Market and Walnut streets. The Odd Fellows' Association, Chestnut, S. E. corner of Ninth street. The Young Men's Christian Association, Circulating, 2835 Pine street. The Young Men's Sodality, Washington avenue, corner of Ninth street. The Young Ladies' Sodality, Washington avenue, cor- ner of Ninth street. St. John's Circulating, Sixteenth, N. W. corner of Chest- nut street. National Library Association, 304 N. Eighth street. Slavansa Lipa (Bohemian), 1811 S. Eighth street. * Note.— The sense of appreciation of the eligibility of : t. Louis for holding national assemblies, is being constantly attested by the large number of conven- tions held at this city. And, now it is the "Annual Conference of the American Library Association," which embraces ail the Libraries of note in the United States And Canada, will be held here in May next, 1H89.— Author. LITERATURE, AUTHORSHIP, ART. 187 CHAPTER IV. LITERATURE, AUTHORSHIP AND ART AT ST. LOlIS. " Our echoes roll from soul to soul, And grow forever and forever." — Tenniisun. Ill St. Louis a vciT marked proclivity toward author- ship in literary work has obtained in later years, and the nuiuher of cultured writers is not iiic()nsideral)le in gen- eral literature, the sciences and tiction ; the larger num- ber are essayists and writers for magazines. A few of these are notable, but a small number have gained celebrity.* Within fifty years this city has developed as many as five hundred writers and authors, some of whom were, and are above mediocre ability. THE SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS Has a large patronage. Its yearly work developes an in- creasing taste for art culture among the people of this city and surrounding territory, and draws numerous delighted pupils. THE MEMORIAL ART BUILDING Was built by a numificent merchant, now deceased, who dedicated it, together with treasures in art, to the memory of a favorite son, who died earl3\ It contains a large number of rare works of art, in statuary and paint- ings, etc., selected from different schools and periods of art hi.story, many of which were obtained at a large cost. These attractive galleries are open daily to the public. On * Note. — In llction, the most noted autlior ii< Miss Murfree. — Author. 188 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. Saturdaj^s and Sundays, from one o'clock p. m., they are free. The memorial art building, is on the north-east cor- ner of Lucas Place and Nineteenth street. This handsome structure is of Missouri gray granite, fire proof,, and cost $135,000.00, including the site. ARTISTS, AND ART COLLECTIONS. St. Louis has given birth to, and been the adopted! home of a number of painters and sculptors of distin- guished merit,* some of whom survive and are still resi- dents. A few private collections — oAvned by citizens of taste and wealth — contain rare paintings of great value. NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS OF ST. LOUIS. " Beneath the rule of meu entirely g;reat, The pen is mightier than the sword, The arch enchanter's wand — " ■ — E. Lytton Bulwer. ENUMERATION OF NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS PUB- LISHED AT THE CITY OF SAINT LOUIS IN THE YEAR 1889. There are of daily publications, 11; of weekly, Q2; of semi-weekly, 3; of tri-weekly, 1; of semi-monthly, 4; of monthly, 42; and of semi-monthly, 2. Whole num- ber, 125.t * Note.— Miss Sarah M. Peale was a popular painter of portraits at St. Lonis from 1847 to 1878. Portraits of Daniel Webster and Thomas H. Benton, from her pencil, are in the collection of the Mercantile Library. And, Miss Harriet Hosmer may be claimed as belonging to the Art History of St. Louis, having been a student here when in her nineteenth year. Two beautiful works by her are to be found in this city : (Enone, and Beatrice Cenci, one of them owned by the Art Museum, and the other by the Mercantil ■ Library Association. Robert M. Bringhurst is yet a young man, but is of recognized ab lity in painting and modeling. His latest work is the statue of Gen. U. S. Grant, in this citj.— Author. t Note.— Several of the daily newspapers publish weekly, semi-weekly and tri- weekly editions of their paper, all which are counted as distinct publications.— Author. NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS. 189 Of these, 105 were in the English language; 18 in the German; 1 in the Spanish; and one in Bohemian. ^Nlanv of these pul)]ications are devoted to advertisings politics, home and general news, and some ex<-lusi\(dy to- literature. But, 21 were published in the interest of reli- gion, 1 in the interest of the colored race ; 7 were devoted to medicine, 1 to medicine and surgery, 1 to surgery, 1 to hom- eopathy, 1 to dentistry, 2 to law, 1 to music, 3 to education, 1 to photog- raphy, 1 to mining, 1 to iron products, 1 to lum- ber, 1 to shoes and leath- er, 2 to furniture, 1 to machinery, 1 to farm machinery, 3 to agricul- ture, 3 to flour milling, 1 to merchandise, 1 to groceries, 1 to drugs, 1 to tobacco, 1 to stoves and hardware, 1 to jew- elry, 1 to ti-ade and traffic, 1 trade record, 1 to building trades, 1 to building associations, 1 to insurance, 1 to rail- roads, 1 to sporting news, and 1 to poultry raising, Many of these journals hold a high rank in their re- spective spheres of work. The editorial ability eini)l()yed upon the journals published here, is e(]ual to that of other cities, which alone is sufficient commendation. But, the active enterprise of the conductors of several of the daily newspapers of this city, surpasses that of almost any other city of the United States, especially in the size of their daily editions and volume of distribution. 190 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. CHAPTER V. THE CHURCH DENOMINATIONS OF SAINT LOUIS.* Most of the denominations of Christians found in other American cities, are represented here. There are of the Baptist denomination, 22, three of which are German, and seven colored; Christian, 4; Con- IKMl'LE ISK.VEL. gregationalist, 13 ; Episcopalian, 15, one of which is colored ; •German Evangelical, 14; English Evangelical Lutheran, 1; German Evangelical Lutheran, 12; Methodist Episcopal, 17, of which 3 are German and 1 Sw^edish ; M. E. Church, South, 8 ; New Jerusalem, 3 ; Presbyterian, * NOTE.--In various portions of this book may be touiul plates of numerous -church editiaes.-- Author. CHURCH DENOMINATIONS. 191 23, of which 2 are (icnnaii ; C'mnhcrhuul Presbyterian, 3, of which 2 are German; Kefonned Pre.sbyterian, 1; United Presln'terian, 2; Roman Catholic, 47, of which 15 are German, 1 Hohemian, 1 Polish, 1 colored, and one German and Enj;lisii ; Unitarian, 3; Miscellaneous, 18, 3 of which are colored. TIio edifices devoted to the wor- ship of the Almighty number over two hundred and twenty, of which 8 are Hebrew. The rabbis are able teachers. The clergymen of St. Louis, without regard to sect or denomination, have from an early period been distinguished for piety and zeal, as well as for eloquence and marked ability. A few of them have spent a lengthened life in this city — devoted to the moral welfare of its people. The French Roman Uatholic missionaries were the earliest to bring the institutions of Christianit}'^ to the aborignees of the Mississippi Valley, and subsequently to the French colonists. The curates were distinguished for zeal. The earliest "tabernacle" in Laclede's time, was a tent of poles and boughs of trees. The Catholics built the first brick and stone church erected in St. Louis, about seventy 3'ears since. Man}' of the church edifices of this city are large and costly. For tastefulncss in archictecture they will bear comparison with the structures of other cities. Some are superb, and others grand. SOCIETIES FOR MOHAL AND RELIGIOUS Lnprovcment are numerous, and are found amongst all the denominations, Protestant, Roman Catholic and Hebrew. Some of them are prominently identified with works of special social improvement. The Young Men's Christian Association has several branches, including one for young colored men. Their German l)ranch is specially 192 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. active, and raised the full cost of a separate home, a hand- some new building recently completed. All these socie- ties have the active sympathy of community, and are- useful in their spheres. THE HOTKLS Of St. Louis are numerous and well appointed. Some, for size and elegance, are not inferior to the best of other cities, THE .SOUTIIEltX HOTEI>. and whilst in comfort and viands, are equal to such, their charges to guests are less. The hotels of this city have been found equal to the task of caring for the numerous great assemblies of people from the country at large, gathered here ^dthin a few BATHING FACILITIES. 193 3^ears past, notably unl()nir^^t which were the triennial con- ■clave of Knights Templar, annual assembly of the (Irand Army of the Republic, the convention to nominate a President of the United States, and the National Sivuirer- fest. The central position of this city, the hospitality of its citizens, agreeable climate, and the reasonableness of the prices of its hotels — all combine to make St. Louis a popular and favorite spot for the holding of conventions by organized bodies of men. But, each autumn, during the forty days of the annual Fair, Exposition, Musical Entertainments, Illuminations, etc., this city entertains daily, without crowding, many times ten thousand strangers. BATHS— NATATORIUM. A natatorium of ample area is maintained during the :sumnier season. It is liberally patronized by bathers and learners of the art of swimmino;. Bathing establishments are ^numerous throughout the city, some of which fur- nish Turkish baths. But, a city situated on the banks of a great river, might well afford baths at all seasons for the populace. Disease would l)e diminished, and health pro- moted. FKEE PUBLIC BATHS. The completion of the new water works, in 1893, is likely to l)e a fitting era for the adoption ))y municipal legislation of a general system of free bathing, or public baths at a merely nominal charge, yet equaling only the ■current expenses. The municipality will then be able to furnish fifty million gallons of water daily, and the authori- ties might well favor the establishment of a popular plan of free, or cheap bathing in each ward of the city. THE DRAMA AND OPERA. The people of St. Louis are liberal patrons of the drama and opera. They have ever been specially devoted 194 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY CLUBS, SOCIP]IES, LODGES, ETC. 195' to art iiuisie in vocalization, and this city has er paid all the attenilant expenses, ineluding rent of hall, etc.: the amount of wlii ; AVorkino- Women's Home ; Women's Christian Home ; House of the Guardian Angel ; St. Eliza- beth'»s Institute; Home of the Immaculate Conception; Home for Aged and Infirm Israelites ; Orphans' Home ; the Baptist, Episcopal, German Evangelical Lutheran, German General Protestant, German Protestant, Method- ist, Mullanphy, St. Louis Protestant, St. Bridget's (half- orphan), St. Philomena, St. Joseph's Male, St. ^Mary's Female, and St. Vincent's (German) Orphan Asylums and Homes. HOSPITALS AND INFIRMARIES. Alexian Brothers' Hospital and Insane Asylum; Augusta Free Hospital for the children of St. Louis; City's Free; Evangelical Lutheran; Female (Hospital and Industrial Home); German Evangelical Lutheran (Hos- pital and Asylum); Good Samaritan; Lying-in; United States' Marine; Missoui-i Pacific Kaihvay; Private Ilos- l)ital for Ladies; Pius; (Quarantine and Small Pox; St. John's; St. Louis, and Children's Hospital; St. Louis 200 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY Female (Infirmary); St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Eailway Employes' (Home); St. Louis Post Graduate; St. Louis Mullanphy ; St. Luke's Episcopalian; St. Mary's (Infirmar}-) ; and Protestant Hospital Associa- tion of St. Louis. GRAND TOWER liLOCK, X. E. CORNER EOIUITH AND MARKET STREETS. RAILWAYS ENTERING ST. LOUIS. 201 CHAPTER VI. THE HAILWAYS I<:NTEKING ST. LOUIS. THOSE FROM THE EAST ARE The Waba.sh, (Eastern); Vandalia and Terre Haute; St. Louis and Indianai)<)lis, (Bee Line); Ohio and Mis- sissippi; Chicago and Alton; St. Louis, Alton and Terre Haute; Terre Haute and Indianapolis, via Vandalia; Toledo, St. Louis and Kansas City; Illinois and St. Louis; Louisville and Nashville ; St. Louis, Arkansas and Texas ; Venice, Marine and P^astern ; St. Louis and Central Illi- nois; Mobile and Ohio, (via St. Louis and Cairo); St. Louis and Paducah ; Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; St Louis Bridge Company. AND, FKOM NORTH, SOUTH AND WEST. South Western System, of seven great railways — with the Missouri Pacitic at its head — comprising upward of seven thousand miles of road, but connected with, and operating upward of seventy-five branch roads ; St. Louis and San Francisco, (Frisco Line); AVal)ash "Western, in- cluding nine branches; Chicago, Burlington and (Quincy, including its northern and western connections of great extent of mileage. OFFICES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AT ST. LOUIS. The offices of the L'nited States civil service are the following: Assayer, Circuit Clerk, Custom House, Collector of Customs, Commissioners, District Attorney, P^ngineers, Internal Revenue, Inspector Post Office Department, Jury '202 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. Commissioner, Light House luspeetor, Light House En- gineer, Marine Hospital Service, Mississippi River Commis- sion, Masters in Chancery, Marslial, Post Office, Signal Service, Supervisor of Education, Secret Service, Railway Mail Service, Registers in Bankruptcy, Treasury Depart- ment, Examining Surgeon's Office, Special Examiner, Pension Bureau, Inspector of Steamboats. ARMY DEPARTMENTS. Cavalry Depot, Pay, Subsistence, Recruiting Office for Infantry, Recruiting Office for Cavalry, Clothing Depot, Medical Purveyor's Depot, Quartermaster's Department. JEFFERSON BARRACKS— ARSENAL. The department of Avar established a military station near St. Louis at the period of the cession of the territory of Louisana, in 1804, and has maintained it ever since. Jefferson Barracks was built upward of sixty years since, and the Arsenal soon afterwards. The original purpose was the maintenance here of a corps de . reserve of the army. Few other army posts have been found as pleasant to the army officers, in consequence of the agreeable cli- mate and social advantaofes of St. Louis. THE UNITED STATES COURTS, AND SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI. U. S. CIRCUIT COURT. The regular term beo:ins in Saint Louis annuallv on third Monday in March and September, held by Hon. Samuel F. Miller, Associate Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court, allotted to the Circuit (8th Judicial); or by the THF COURTS. 203 ■Circuit Judge residing in the circuit, or by the District Judge of the Eastern District of Missouri, acting as Cir- cuit Judge, or either of said Judges. U. S. DISTKKT COURT. The reguhir term l)egiiis on the first Monday in May and Noyember. Return term on first Monday of each montii. SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI. The rcguhir term begins on first Monday in April and November. FOREIGN CONSULS RESIDENT AT ST. LOUIS, For the countries following, to-wit: German Empire, France, Austro-Hungar}^ Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Bel- ^:ium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Brazil, and Mexico. EXroSITION IH'ILDINd 204 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. CHAPTER VII. ST. LOUIS A CENTRE OF MINING CAPITALISTS. St. Louis is headquarters for nearly all of the mines of Lead, Zinc, Copper, Iron and Coal in the State of Mis- souri, and of the coal output of south-western Illinois. It is headquarters for a number of the valuable mines in the precious metals of Old and New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, etc. Some fortunate investors of this city have, within a few years, added to their exchequer an amount of wealth rivalling the rich returns of the early days of the California finds. THE MINING STOCK EXCHANGE, NO. 312 NORTH THIRD STREET, Was organized November 10th, 1888. The officers chosen were as follows ; J. D. Abeles, President; Joe J. Mul- lally, Vice-President; Page McPherson, Treasurer ; Albert Singer, Secretary; S. A. Abeles, Ass't Secretary. The Constitution and By-Laws — carefully and rigidly prepared — were unanimously adopted. The organization provides for a membership of one hundred persons, divided equally between active and associate members. Each active member is entitled to a representative on the floor of the Exchange. Rates of commission on sales were established, together with initiation, monthly and annual fees of members. Rules were adopted, among which was one to prohibit "wash" trading.* Any violation of this rule by memliers, is followed by liability of expulsion. *NOTE. — A term given to unreal (false) sales, but reported as if they had actually occurred. — Author. SAMPLING AND TESTING WORKS. 205 Trading outside of the P^xclmnge is disallowed. A mine may be " listed " ui)()n the application in writing of the otlioers of an}' mining company, and the payment of a fee of tifty dollars. The Exchange holds two sessions daily: from 11 a. >i. to 1 o'clock r. M.; and from 3 to 4 o'clock p. m. A "call" is held at 11:30 a. m. daily. The hour of the delivery of stocks, is 2:30 p. m. on the day succeeding their sale. ST. LOUIS SAMPLING AND TESTINCx AVOHKS, (NEAR UNION DEPOT) UNDER THE CONTROL OF DEPART- MENT OF MINING AND MP^TALLURGY, AVASHINGTON UNIVERSITY. These works — most creditable to St. Louis, and con- venient and advantageous to miners and investors in mines — are available to citizens and strangers at all seasons of the year. "These works are supplied with a full line of machinery and appliances for crushing and sampling ores, etc., and testing ores by any process of milling or concentration, for ascertaining by practical working tests the average value of ore, the best method for its treatment, and the com- mercial results to be expected from such treatment. "To meet these re(iuirements the machinery employed is the same as that in actual practice, and is of the most improved pattern. It includes : One rock breaker, 10x4. Two sets of rolls, lOxKJ. Automatic sampler and feeders. One battery of three GoO lbs. stamps, with inside and out- side coppcrphitcs for gold milling. One battery of live (550 lbs. stamps, with amalgamating pans and settler for silver milling. One full-sized Frue vanner. One "(Jolden Gate concentrator." One reverbratory roasting and chlorodizing fmMacc. Leaching and precipitating tanks. 206 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. Four sizing screens. Six jigs, hydraulic separator, pointed boxes and Evans buddle. One coking oven. "The building is 60x139 feet, equipped with a 30 horse- power engine, and a 60 horse power boiler, thus affording ample space and power to carry on the work, and also make special trials of new machinery or appliances relating to mining or treatment of ores. "Well appointed assay and chemical laboratories are connected with the mill for the assay and analysis of ores, fuels, furnace products, etc." * * Note. — This descriptiou of the " Sampling: and Testing Works" is condensed from Catalogue of Washington University .--^»t//(0)-. OOUUT HOUSE. THE CITY OF ST LOUIS OF TO-DAY. PART SIXTH CHAPTER I. Commercial and Mamifactming' Growth. ?^I^IIP] large trad JlpS ■''i^'e and po] trade enjoyed by this city with the exten- )pulous territory of which it is the cen- ^f^ tre, continues to increase and its area to expand yearly in a volume corresponding with its gigantic surroundings. The active growth of commerce — repre- sented ])y the aggregate money value, as well as by the volume — and the large demand for manufactured produc- tions, is indicative of a healthy condition of trade, and of uninterrupted prosperity. The popularity of St. Louis as a trade centre is not at all likely to diminish, but continue to increase. This city has gained the good will of the traders and people of the Great Vallej'^ and countries beyond it, by fair dealing, liber- ality and enterprise — all which have entitled it to apprecia- tion and patronage. As a centre for the distribution of commodities, merchandise and inanufactunMl products, its geographical position was a ))riinaiy factor oidy, its active citizens developed and contirmed the advantages tlowing therefrom. But, of all the business men, of every large 207 208 ST, LOUIS OF TO-DAY. * and prosperous cit}^, the jobbing and wholesale merchants are the most influential — as they are the most conspicuous in trade — through their constant and intimate intercourse and contact with the dealers who come from every sec- tion, and to whom is imparted the spirit, and often the characteristics, of the men of the commercial metropolis. The merchants and manufacturers of St. Louis have cultivated with diligence and energy the great and fertile field lying around, and opened invitingly to them, that they might put their hand to the plow. But, a large measure of credit for the popularity of this city for fair and honorable dealing, is due to that large class of in- telligent and deserving men, the traveling salesmen "drummers" — and for spreading the reputation of St. Louis' business men. These men are the most powerful fac- tors in creatino; and maintainino; established trade and com- merce. Upon them, in a large measure, depends the ex- tension of the fame of this city as a most desirable market — deserving of the general favor.* THE SCOPE OF TERRITORY WHICH TRADES DIRECTLY WITH ST. LOUIS. " Let us, then, be up aud doing, Still achieving, still pursuiug." —Longfelloio. Adam Smith, the very able Scotch political economist, . in his talented work entitled "The Wealth of Nations," states it as a clear and practical necessity, that " the valua- ble trade of any spot is that commerce which is carried on between the inhabitants of the town and those of the * Note. — See Appendix : Commercial Traveling Jlen. — Author. WHOLESALE TRADE. 209 countrv." St. Louis trades directly, and tlir()nle 212 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. fire-clay, viz : silica, the Missouri clay is better provided than the English, and very much better than the German. The proof of the great value of the fire-clays of this vicinity is the A^ery large and growing demand for them for shipment to other })laces to be manufactured, and the extensive demand for the products of the several extensive works of this city. The earliest discover}^ of fire-clay, at Cheltenham, (4 mih'S from the Court House), was made in 1838; not until years thereafter wa.s it utilized, or it.s superior (luality un- derstood; its products have been found preferable in Can- ada to the famous Stonebridge products (England). St. Louis also supplies Pennsylvania, New York, New Jer- sey, and many other sections, and including entire districts. For a long period the New Jersey products held the market — until the St. Louis wares came to be appreciated at their full value — but our productions are now first in amount and value, and for (|uality as well, in the United States. The following are a part of the articles manufac- tured : ^ Sewer and drain pipe — from 4 to 24 inches, and up- ward in diameter — crucibles, chimneys, fire-brick, paving- brick, (stands to the heaviest hauling), the Livessy- Somerville Refrigerator Furnaces, silica fire-clay cement — extensively used where great heat is to be resisted — fur- nace linings, glasspots, gas retorts, and pots for corroding white lead. Terra Cotta Lumber is also made — a mixture of fire-clay and sawdust — and its properties are very remarkable : in- destructible by fire, Avater, frost, gases, acids or age, a poor conductor of heat, dampness, sound or electricitv, it neither expands nor shrinks under extraordinary or sud- den changes of temperature, and will resist the hottest flame ; its weight is half that of brick, t-vvo-thirds of granite or marble, and one-seventh iron, besides it is not costly. MANUFACTURES. 213 The sales of the fire-clay products of St. Louis are most extensively spread ; they find a market in Old Mexico, California, New Orleans, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and nearl}' every large city and manufacturing spot in th-e United States. Linings for blast furnaces are sold to Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Michigan ; and their Bessemer Tuyeres to Troy and Pittsburgh. The glass works and iron furnaces in all parts of our country use almost exclusively the heat resisting fire-clay products of the St. Louis manufacturers. The manufacture of fire-clay wares at St. Louis was begun in 185(5, in a moderate way, and gradually grew to the present great proportions. The capital employed in this A'aluable industry is not less than two and a half million dollars, and the annual products are e(jual to six million dollars in 1888. t r irmii»jri; f r • r ji I I I I '• • » ' '4 I.A( I.KDK IIOIKI- lillLlJlNG. 13 214 ST, LOUIS OF TO-DAY. DESCEIPTION OF A FEW OF THE LEADING MANUFACTURING PLANTS OF ST. LOUIS. MANUFACTURES IN GLASS. Neither Pittsburgh, Wheeling, or New Albany, have advantages equal to those of St. Louis and its suburbs, for the manufacture or sale of glass goods; not only on account of the cheapness of its fuel, and centrality of its position for distribution, but in the great abundance and rare quality of the chief constituent of glass — the sands. In this department of industrial production, St. Louis might Avell be proud of its factories, since they vie with all others in America or Europe in the excellence of their wares, especially in plate glass, which in strength; purity of tint, and general excellence, is not only equal, but even superior to the best of French production. The superior quality of the St. Louis plate glass is appreciated throughout all the territory of the Great Valley and at the East. It is util- ized in the finest residences and business buildings. Window glass, druggists' and bottlers' goods, rough and ribbed plate glass, rolled cathedral and undoyant glass, crown discs, etc., are also products of the nine plants of this city. One of the plate glass companies began in 1872, with a capital stock of $250,000 ; two years later it was doubled ; and in 1880 it was increased to one million dollars. Three years later the capital was raised to $1,500,000. The plant comprises 5 melting furnaces, 94 annealing kilns, 22 circular grinders, 50 smoothers, 36 polishers, and 20 MANUFACTURING PLANTS. 215 steam engines, together with all else to make up an estab- lishment complete as any in Europe. The capital invested in the ghiss industry aggregates six million dollars. The best and most desirable descriptions of sand for the manufacture of plate glass and glass ware, arc found in unlimited quantities near St. Louis. Superior glass sand is sold and sent from St. Louis to factories at Pittsl)urgh, Steubcnville and AVhecling in large (juantities. One tirm alone ships annually upward of a thousand tons. CHEMICAL WORKS. There are at St. Louis five or six chemical plants which are extensive and varied in their productions — one is con- fined to sal soda; another to ammonia for druggists' and chemists' use, and refrigerating purposes; another to pharmaceutical specialties exclusively for physicians; another for druggists' and distillers' fruit essences, and other specialties re(iuired by the trades. And yet another manufactures a full line of pure chemicals for medicinal and photographic purposes, embracing over three hundred articles. This extensive plant makes a number of tech- nical products, amongst the most important of which are aciua-ammonia and anhvdrous-ammonia, of which laro-e quantities are shipped to all parts of the country, for the cooling of breweries, the manufacture of artificial ice, etc. Some idea may be formed of the great establishment last mentioned (which covers two entire city blocks and employs two hundred workmen), when it is stated, that its products are made in tons' w'eight, numy of them high priced, but some of which cost several dollars per ounce. This company sells its goods in nearly every part of the I'^nited States, and exports them to foreign countries. The 216 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. superior quality of these o^oods gives them quick sale over a wide field of distribution. GRANITE IRON- WARES. St. Louis possesses one of the greatest manufacturing plants of this description of wares in any country. A be- ginning was made in a small way in 1859, until the build- ings now cover an area of two city blocks of ground. The body of granite iron-ware is made of sheet iron of superior quality, of a description which formerly was made only in England. But, by experience, it was found that the quality lacked uniformity of grade, and in order to obtain the required standard, the St. Louis manufacturers under- took to make it themselves, contrary to the opinion of sheet-iron manufacturers, who said such iron could not be made in this country. Notwithstanding, they purchased five acres of land within the city limits, built a rolling mill, and completed it in 1870. And, b}^ skill and energy, they were early rewarded by making the desired quality of sheet-iron. This mill is capable of producing twenty tons of sheet- iron daily. The process of the manufacture of granite iron-ware is briefly described as follows : The coating of sheet-iron is a highly vetritied glass, insoluble and imper- vious to vegetable acids, and approaches in this respect the properties of earthern, or porcelain wares. Granite iron- ware is preferable to eathern in all the (jualities of strength, durability, non-breakableness, lightness, and cheapness; besides, its appearance is not injured by heat. After various experiments, this enterprising Arm pro- duced their first perfect iron ware in 1874. Since then, their wares have been received with acceptance wherever they have been introduced in this country, or in foreign markets. The annual sales are very great, and the use of INTERNAL RF VENUE COLLECTIONS. 217 granite iron-ware is destined to become indispensable to many households. U. S. INTEKNAL KEVENUE COLLECTIONS— IN THE FIRST DISTRICT OF MISSOURI. (ST. LOUIS.) Freeman Baunim, Collectok. 1>ESI(;XATI(»X. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888.* Lists (chiefly banks) 5,955 04 l,:i45 25 5,702 98! 4,^24 74 3,700 20 Spirits Staiiips . . . 1,879,872 50 1,928.295 90 2,0(i8,721 10 l,847,(i(;5 HO 1..S35.410 10 Tolcioc-o " ... 1,S1S,5()2 27 2,2:U.705 7s 2.4S4,204 41 3.222,774 00 3,200,714 26 Citrar " ... 131,213 29 121,510 57 13(»,75iH)9 140,1 9S 93 141,ss;U6 Snuff '• ... 3,s(;3 00 3,322 2.s 3,.")S!» SO 3,777 50 4.045 16 KfiT " ... !t'.t5.(i!)4 13 975,222 SI l.ll(i,S17 34 1,293,945 51 1,379,425 75 Special tax Stamps tOleoniargarine stpsi 129,040 (JO, 124,891 42 118,932 3G> 123,184 05 42 18 Totals 4,963,700 83 5,.381,294 01 5,923,727 08!6,636,012 77 6,206,640 21 141,431 52 MANUFACTURED TOBACCO. St. Louis holds the first place — as the largest manufac- turer of tobacco in the world ! The amount on which tax was paid in the First Missouri District (of Avhich St. Louis produced 96 per cent) in l«S87,Avas 40,284,675 lbs., repre- senting a value of $15,000,000.00, against 32,448,936 lbs. in 1886, valued at $11,500,000.00. The total output of the United States for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, was 199,937,743 lbs., of which the First Missouri District produced 34,057,743 lbs., equal to 17 per cent. The increase over the year ending June 30, 1886, was 14,511,550 lbs., of which St. Louis produced about 30 per cent. * Note.— The falling' oflP in the revenue for 1888, was occasioned by llie reduc- tion in the oiitimt of liiu'hwineB and whiskies, as will be noticed. The receipts of revenue on spirits stamps was $r)\2,2'>^>.'0 less than for iss', otlierwise, the total re- ceipts, instead of being less, would have exceeded those for Ihh'.— Author. t Note. — No oleomargarine factories here; the collections made were on illicit goods seized at this point, and released under compromise. 218 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY, FIRST INTERNAL REVENUE COLLECTION DISTRICT, Of ^vhich 96 per cent belongs to St. Louis. Oalendak Year. Tobacco Manu- factured. Lbs. Amount Tax Paid. 1878 5,990,801 8,670,466 12,889,784 17,234,869 17,170,190 28,835,720 22,631,104 28,517,401 32,448,936 40,284,675 40,060,020 $1,440,716 84 1,477,899 00 2,063,549 45 1879 1880 1881 2,751,307 00 2,728,525 82 1882 1883 2,219,433 19 1,818,562 27 1884 1885 2,235,028 06 1886 2,484,204 41 1887 1888 3,222,774 00 3,200,774 26 FROM THE REVENUE OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D. C. INTERNAL REVENUE RECEIPTS ON MANUFACTURED TOBACCO, JANUARY, 1888 AND 1889. FOR Districts. First Missouri, (St. Louis) Fifth Kentucky First Michigan Fiftli Neiv Jersey First Ohio Second Virginia Sixth Virginia State of North Carolina .... 1888. 1889. $ 240,561 05$ 274,921 51 79,190 73 63,070 00 131,807 98! 70,989 861 130,702 00 101,407 64 128,274 43 89,543 78 86,415 48 17(;,075 83 83,055 84 123,640 42 120,073 77 147,011 73 From which it will be seen that St. Louis manufactures more tobacco as the three States of Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan coml)ined. The manufactures of tobacco for 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887 and 1888, are classified as follows: 1888. . Pounds. 1887. Pounds. 1886. Pounds. 1885. Pounds. 1884. Pounds. Plug Chewing.. Fine Cut Smoking Snuff 35,543,164 217,104 4,249,035 50,717 35,491,829 314,702 4,478,144 47,219 27,916,690 240,567 4,291,679 46,919 23,809,253 301,676 4,364,394 42,078 18,488,399 330,137 3,763,226 49,342 Totals 40,060,020 40,331,894 32,495,855 28,517,401 22,631,104 THE BREWING INDUSTRY 219 CIGARS. Calendar Tear. 1884. 1885. 188(5. 1887. 1888, Manufactured. 41,327,.")00 41,406,220 43,5H6,3»;3 40,732,973 47,294,380 Amount of tax Paid. $121,094 40 121, .510 57 130,759 09 140,198 93 141,883 10 THE BREWING INDUSTRY. There are twenty-tAvo breweries, whose great output is indicated by the revenue receipts, M'hich amounted, in 1887, to $1,293,945.51 (paid as revenue tax); and, the number of gallons produced exceeded forty-three million!* The capital emploA'cd in the brewing industry is several million dollars- The works give employment — inside and outside the establishments — to many thousands of opera- tives. Of all industries, the manufacture of beer affects more diversified interests than any other. Barley, hops, cooperage, bottles, coal, ice and water supply, men, horses, insurance, ships and railroads, are all necessary adjuncts. In 1887, 1,383,361 barrels were required for the output, jind the export trade of bottled beer was beyond twenty- five million bottle.s, THE ANHEUSER-BUSCH COMPANY. The export trade is chiefly enjoyed b}^ the Anheuser- Busch Company, which uses a process for the preservation of beer in all latitudes. The sales of this firm equaled a half million ])aiTels in 1887. Its annual product exceeds all of the great single breweries of Europe or the United * Note.— The numberol gallonB of 'beer produced in 1888, was 46,710,815.— ylue formed of the money value of the brewing industry from a reference to one brew- ery only. A noted man in London^ — over one hundred years ago — looking upon a single brewing establishment, was asked, "why he took so much interest in it — not being an owner?" He replied, "because, sir, I see in and around me the potentiality of great riches I" Of a truth, then, the golden environment of St. Louis' twenty-two breweries possesses a value almost incalculable. It is an interesting fact, that an English "syndicate " has purchased, at large figures, a number of brewing plants in different cities of the United States. Recently (Feb- ruary, 1889), its agents have made proposals to buy several of the great breweries of St. Louis, and, it is publicly stated, that all refused to sell, iuicluding the largest one of them all, wdiich declined an offer of seven millions of dollars ! THE BREWING INDUSTRY. 221 AMOUNT OF BEER M.ANUFACTUKED IN ST. LOUIS, ANNUALLY^ FOR T^VELVE YEARS. Year. Barrels. Gallons. 1877 471,232 521,684 613,667 828,072 959,236 1,069,715 1,100,000 1,122,265 1,086,032 1,280,091 l,3H3,3(;i 1,482,883 14, 60S, 192 1878 16,172,204 1879 19,023,677 1880 25,670,232 29,739,313 1881 1882 33,(i61,165 1883 34,100,000 1884 34,790,215 33,666,992 1885 1886 39,682,821 1887 43,575,872 1888 : 46,710,815 The exports direct to foreign countries during tlie year 1887, was equal to 1,924,108 (|uiirt bottles, of a value of 1887 S30(),000.00. WINES, THE PRODUCT OF MISSOURI VINEYARDS. THE AMERICAN WINE COMPANY, ST. LOUIS. This company — celebrated for its jjure wines of superior quality — was established in 1859, by Isaac Cook. It is still continued in vigor and prosperity through the able- management of its president, a son of the founder. This wine plant has become a leading one of the United States. It associates St. Louis with the celebrity of the products- of the American Wiue Company. Its " Imperial Spark- ling Champagne" is eeh'l)rated both in Europe and America. And, scarcely less noted is its " Bo(|uette"' brand. The wine vaults of this o()mi)Mny are 40 feet in 222 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. depth, and cover an area of 100 by 200 feet. They have a storage capacity of 150,000 gallons. Another, the Stone Hill Wine Company, makes wines of the purest and most generous quality, from grapes of the vineyards of Hermann, Missouri. Still another, the *'Sect Wine Company," makes all its wines from selected grapes. And, its champagne, "Koehler's Sect," and "still" wines, are widely known. The storage capac- ity of this company is 80,000 square feet, at their vaults, Nos. 2814 to 2824 South Seventh street. In addition to these there are several other wine companies. MANUFACTURE OF CIDER AND VINEGAR. There are six establishments engaged in the making of cider and vinegar; whose trade covers many States and Territories. Their cider especially has a very extensive «ale. A SUBURBAN RESIDENCE. ADVANTAGES FOR MANUFACTURING. 223 CHAPTER II. THE ADVANTAGES OF ST. LOUIS AS A MANUFACTURING SITE FOR COTTON AND WOOLEN TEXTILE FABRICS AND FINE POTTERY WARES, PAPER, ETC. In most of the productions of mechanical skill — known to other large manufacturing cities — St. Louis is found to be eminent, and in some pre-eminent, as a producer. It excels is tobacco, beer, fire-clay, white lead, shot, sad- dlery and harness products, and perhaps in a few others. But, in iron, lead, and other mineral productions, and in en- gines, boilers, water-pipe, fence and other wires; varied machinery, furniture, carriages, chemicals, and glass wares; besides, the results of many other valuable in- dustries, St. Louis is a stalwart rival of other manufactur- ing cities in all the lines mentioned. Nevertheless, in a few of the industries Avhich flourish elsewhere, this city is deficient, especially in manufactures of cotton and woolen textile fabrics, fine pottery and pa- per. These are wanting, not because they cannot be made here cheaply, and sold profitably ; but, in consequence of the need of the requisite skill and capital for employment in such valuable industries ; any or all of which might be incepted, developed and conducted under conditions the most favorable and profitable. The crude materials are to be had here at prime cost and in unlimited quantity; superadded is a great and growing trade venire^ which affords facilities for the sale and distribution of many millions of dollars in value annu- ally of such staple manufactures. In the Seventh Part of this treatise, statistical tables may be found of the (luantity of cotton and wool staples — raw materials — received annualh' at, and shipped through 224 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. * this city to more distant parts, including cotton to Canada and Europe, and wool to Philadelphia and Boston. These great staples are sent here to be handled, as to their pri- mary market, direct from the cotton fields and sheep ranges. It will suffice to state, that for the last cotton year, ending August 31st, 1888, two hundred and fifty million pounds of cotton were sold at, and shipped through St. Louis. Of wools for the calender year, ending December 31st, 1888, there were received here to be sold on commission, exceed- ing twenty million pounds, not including through ship- ments of the staple. But, since the sources of supply of cotton and wool are so near at hand, the quantity available may be in- creased to any degree demanded for the supply of manu- facturing plants, should they be established at St. Louis. This city is a large market for paper, both in its con- sumption and distribution. A vast quantity of paper stock is gathered in this city, and received from a wide range of territory outside, sent hitherto be marketed. Wood-pulp, which enters so largely into paper making, might be ob- tained — delivered at this city — much cheaper than at any other locality — East or AVest. It would be derived from the extensive forests South and West. In pottery clays and kaolin, the most vauable varieties and qualities — jjure and plastic — are found convenient to St. Louis. Competent judges consider these clays equal to the best European. Some descriptions, other than kaolin, are as white as wheaten flour I They are quite accessible, and in unlimited quantity. The supply of labor available for cotton and woolen mills is adequate. But, if once established, the supply would not be limited either to the city or suburbs ; it could be drawn from numerous surrounding villages and towns, and at justifiable "wage" rates. Ground for manufacturing plants, and homes for a large number of operatives could be ADVANTAGES FOR MANUFACTURING. 225 had at reasonable valuation.s. Such measure of iutelli- geiK'c in the operatives — as is required in cotton and woolen mills — could readily be obtained, and trained uj) to the re- (juired standard. Yet, when it is considered, how larae a i)art of the work done in a modern manufactory is performed by machinery, the nund)er of human hands and eyes to a thousand s])in- dles or a hundred looms, is inconsiderable. In a modern factory, human labor and skill is reduced to a minimum. Invention has given to machinery such ability as formerly was possessed only by trained minds and able bodies. At St. Louis, within easy reach of the ra^v materials and every other auxiliary for cheap production, to establish fac- tories of cotton and woolen textiles, and mills for making paper and pottery, all that remains to be supplied are, First : enterprise and skill ; Secondly : the requisite knowl- edge and capital. These, if suitably applied, and the exist- ing advantages be ably availed of, success is reasonably as- sured. The scale is weighted down on the side of St. Louis whenever any manufacturing enterprise is in contemplation re(juiring a convenient site and commanding home nuirket, or both at the same time; but, wdiere are also found, cheap fuel, abundant supplies of raw materials, and adecpuite labor in skill and volume. ST. LOUIS UNITES IN ITS SINGLE SITE, THE POSSESSION OF ALL THE KAW MATERIALS AT OIHGIXAL COST, THE ADVANTAGES OF THE FIVE GHEAT MANU- FACTURING SPOTS OF GHEAT IJHITAIN, NAMELY: MANCHESTER, ROCHDALE, BIRMINGHAM, SHEFFIELD AND STAFFORDSHIRE, ONLY IN A HIGHER DEGREE. It can be truthfully said, that nature, which has i)ro- vided a site so eligible, and furnished means and materials 226 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. of such magnitude, as are found at this city, for produc- tion and CONVERSION in so many departments of human skill and industry, including artificial facilities and adjuncts for their sale and distribution — all concentrated at a single point — is a very rare spot in any country. The natural gifts alluded to, joined to an extensive sys- tem of transportation, and inter-communication, have pro- vided such facilities for the exchange and distribution of products as to give this city most excelling advantages. But, to some it will appear a large and questionable statement to aver, that St. Louis unites in its site and sur- roundings most of the advantages in manufactures that are possessed by the five great manufacturing spots and places of Great Britain. Yet it is true! Man- chester, Kochdale, Birmingham, Shefiield and Stafford- shire are meant. But, in respect to accessibility to the raw materials, both Manchester and Staffordshire have inferior positions compared with this city. The first obtains its cotton staple from distant foreign countries, and the latter does not possess the number of varied and valuable clays that are found at St. Louis and vicinity, but obtains mate- rial from the continent (of Europe). Eochdale also draws its chief supply of wools from other countries. It is well known that these five cities and localities have been the great centres of the leading manufactures of Great Britain, if not of all Europe and the world, for many years past. Manchester chiefly in cotton, and Roch- dale in woolen textile fabrics ; Birmingham and Sheffield in cutlery, machinery, and in all the ])roductions of iron, brass, etc. ; and Staffordshire — an extensive area of facto- ries — in pottery productions. Only one of these cities exceeded in population the city of St. Louis, namely: Manchester, which by the last British census, 1881, contained a population of 517,649, including the inhabitants of its twin sister, the town of ADVANTAGES FOR MANUFACTURING. 227 Srtlford, situated on the opi)()sitc side of the river Irwell. According to the same census, Rochdale had a popuhition of (i8,866; Birniino-hani of 343,787; Sheffield of 284,508, and Staffordshire, in a number of manufacturing towns — much scattered — an aggregate manufacturing population of about one hundred thousand. St. Louis possesses within easy reach an unlimited sup- ply of the best varieties of iron, lead, zinc, and num- ganese ores, besides fuel in coal and fuel-gas. Cotton and wool are obtained at home, and not from foreign and dis- tant countries. Wherefore, what should hinder the establishment at St. Louis of factories for the making of cotton and woolen textile fabrics, cutlery and pottery wares? Might not these manufactured goods pay as well as others which flour- ish here? Hence, if the natural advantages found existing at St. Louis, are so freely offered, and the crude materials are^so abundant and cheap, no further invitation or incent- ive to outside manufacturers and capitalists is necessary. Investigation would lead to knowledge, thence to action, and the latter to results. The intelligent man of business needs just sufficient information to enable him to find the road, then, he himself will gain all the knowledge required to accomplish a safe and satisfactory journey. Ca[)able men, who shall be led to nudve in(|uiry into the inducements offered for the establishment of cotton, woolen and paper mills, and potteries at St. Louis, will — if resid- ing abroad — come and make thorough personal examination of the field. The field is most inviting, and worthy of the most careful investigation and complete consideration, by men of experience and skill in the manufacture of cotton and woolen textiles, pottery and paper. To citizens, capitalists and owners of the real estate of this city, a simple word need only be addressed : Is it not 228 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. a fact, that the rapid rise and progress of your city, as a great seat of commerce and manufactures, is to be attrib- uted, not too imicJi to its ffrand natural site and mao:niticeut surroundings of rich and populous territory, but chiefly to the foresight and energy of its active men, who founded, first the factories, and then built the raib'oads to carry, spread and distribute their manufactured products into all the country around, and to numerous distant points. We should not be willing simply — under the compul- sion of increased demand — to enlaro-e existino; manufac- turing plants, but to create new ones, and especially in those lines — made to our hand — in the industries named and advocated. Further, to the great variety of the manufactures and products of the mechanic arts, of this city, is to be attrib- uted that celebrity which it enjoys as a manufacturing cen- tre. In the days of the long range squirrel gun — suited as well for the red-skinned foe — the " Hawken" rifle, made at St. Louis, led all other arms in the ecjuipment of the early pioneers of the great West. But, since that period, a hun- dred other instrumentalities of hand-craft and machinery, have been potent factors in laying the foundations and building the superstructure of St. Louis' greatness. Now, at this favorable period, may not cotton, woolen and pajjer mills and potteries be added? They will help to hasten the full fruition of that period in the history of this city, spoken of in the inaugural of its first jNIayor, two generations since, as the era " of its might ij futuriti/ !'"* * Note. --Address of AVilliam Carr Laue to the "Aldermen," iu 1823. — Author. THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 229 CHAPTER III. THK MISSISSIPPI KIVP:H: ITS GREAT AND LASTING VALLE, IN CONNECTION WITH AN ISTHMUS KOUTE TO THE WEST COASTS OF NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA AND EASTERN ASIA. " Upon the threshold now we stand; What shall the record be? The futui'e stretches far beyond Our vision's wildest sea. ******* " Thus, when we meet the problems Of our city's Aveal or woe, We must meet them single handed — We must conquer as we go. ♦♦ Time waits for no man's hand to turn The furrow with the plow ; The future fades beyond our sight, In the • eternal now.' " —l^itsseU i?. Dorr. THE " INLAND SEA." ITS FORCES BRIDLED, ITS POWERS IMPROVED— AS EXPERIENCE AND SCIENCE DIRECT— THEN, ITS UTILITY AS A NAVIGABLE HIGHWAY WILL BE REGAINED. The averments of tlie caption are not novel, but refer to a practical work and its o^i-md results. They suirgest a theme, than which few could be as big with importance or money value. They recall the priceless utility of the Mis- sissippi prior to the building of railroads, and the falling away of its use sinoe the construction of those swift and direct means of transit — the railroads — which cany the freight and passengers of great districts of country many times the traveling population and tonnage of forty years ago. But, the river remains; the same mighty flood con- tinues to flow, and is still capable of carrying the com- merce of a continent! Shall this magnificent stream — the 14 230 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. match of which the globe does not furnish — traversing a country so rich in resources of- wealth, beauty, and ra- tional enjoyment as alone could make life worth living — lapse into a tcafer-shed, mainly? Or, shall it be utilized as the cheapest outlet for the farm products and the manu- factures of the great valley, seeking a European, or Span- ish American market? The answer loudly comes — "Use it ! Restore the prestige of the Mississippi ; bring back the former days of the river's ' glory,' only with brighter effulgence !" Not all the old boatmen, nor the thoughtful men, allow of despondency, but see that "the coming event casts its shadow before," when the King of Rivers shall resume his sceptre! It is asked by the doul)ting, "when will that great event come?" It will come Avhen the Mississippi River Commission — of able and scientific engineers — have finished their work from the Missouri's mouth toward the Gulf, or even sooner, when direct trade shall be opened with Spanish America. But, it will flow in a mighty stream when an Isthmus route for ships is accomplished. Then, from all Pacific Ocean countries — including Asia — will come that commerce which, before the Christian Era, enriched Tyre and Alexandria. And, centuries after its commencement, gave great opulence to Venice, Lisljon and Genoa; and, later, to Amsterdam and London. We, of St. Louis, can have the same priceless trade, only vastly enlarged, provided, we seek it. But, it will be found by a shorter and sioifter route: Not by toiling caravans of camels, or slow sailing ships requiring a year "in doubling the Cape" and returning, but, by steamships, each month, bring-ino; and takino; the commodities offered in exchange, of which the other has not, and desires to possess, instead of that of which either has too much. The trafiic of the globe demands a passage through the narrow neck joining the two continents, just as the Suez THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 231 Canal became a necessity when the long vo^-ajre, via Good Hope, could no longer ])e afforded ))y the world of commerce. It is not disputed, that there is sufficient enterprise and ready capital to construct both an Isthmus Canal and Kail- way, at an early day. The indications are encouraging that one or two through routes between the two great oceans will be opened prior to the commencement of the twentieth century, now only a decade distant. Did notColum))us sail westward, expecting to find (not a midway continent, but) a passage to Asia, and to realize the old legend of an open sea (via an equatorial line), and the wishful dream of P^uropeans, who sighed that thence they might reach the " Far Cathay." * Almost two hundred years had elapsed, after LaSalle planted a column at the Delta of the Mississippi, and pro- claimed possession of the country on behalf of Louis Quatorze, in 1682, but still the same shallow mouths of the Mississippi remained. The delay in the settlement of the great valley was due, in larger part, to the too earlv ike road" bill, advocated large appropriations for the hnprovenient of the Great Hiver, and branches. — Author. 236 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. * Therefore, marine ships may navigate it — as well as any other sea — provided, that their draught does not exceed the channel depths. A marine vessel, constructed to navigate the open sea and inland seas or rivers as well, Avill be a steamship, but mast rigged, as is customary. Yet, if built after the ordinary models of inland steamboats, it would not be adapted to marine navigation. Nevertheless, it is claimed by Andrew H. Lucas, of St. Louis, that he has by his invention of a double, or cloven hull, and an adjustable keel, accomplished the nec- essary conditions in the construction of a river-marine steamship — adapted at once to river and ocean service. He cries Eureka ! and promises Avith his ship to make round voyages between this city and Spanish America, and to calculate with certainty dates for regular departure and arrival. A company has been formed b}^ Mr. Lucas and his friends, who are actively btriving to build a trial steam- ship of one thousand tons carrying capacity. They wish to construct the vessel during the ensuing twelve months, that she may enter the trade in the spring of next year, 1890. The company has obtained the offer of a valuable subsidy in money from the Argentine Republic, together with the most encouraging inducements in special com- mercial privileges. And, not alone from that republic, but from Mexico and several other governments of Central and South America, offers of l)oth subsidies and privileges, most rare and valuable, have been received by the company, which has availed of direct and influential correspondence with those enterprising states. The question of direct trade — by water — between St. Louis and Spanish America is of such commanding im- portance to the manufacturers and merchants, as to be supremely worthy their attention, to the end that a thor- ough and complete investigation of the subject, in all its THE LUCAS STEAMSHIP. 237 bearings, be made. Wliat more engaging visions of wealth •could be presented to the tliouglitful investigator, and en- terprising man than through (livect trade with Spanish America — a country so rich in the rarest and most desiralde natural productions? These, St. Louis buys in immense •quantity, and i)ays the profits of two or three middle men. This city also loses the profit on its manufactures, which could be l)artered for the i)roductions of that coun- try, besides having the carrying both ways. There is more wealth to be accjuired in this trade than the Spanish invaders obtained from the accunmlated wealth of the Incas, which once ol)tained, ended forever ! While trade with Spanish America would flow toward us in an unceasing golden stream I THE LUCAS STEAMSHIP: IS THE COST OF AN EXPEKIMENTAL SHIP JUSTIFIED BY THE VALUE OF THE SPANISH- AMEKK'AN TRADE IT PROPOSES TO REACH? The Lucas invention is of St. Louis birth, and, as such it deserves friendly consideration. Its novelty and grand pretensions, have attracted the curious attention of citizens at large, including citizens of other states, and of foreign •countries. It has drawn the gratified attention and con- sideration of the Mexican, Central and South American Kepublics. But, few persons have undertaken to exi)ress any opinion of its adaptation to the peculiar field of navi- gation it proposes to enter — that of river-marine service, as a carrier of freight (and passengers, the latter at first incidentally) between this city and Spanish-American ports — assuming to occupy the place of the ^>/oucc>" in trade with our rich neighbor lands. No competent critic has yet been found to deny that it has merit, and no one has yet pronounced adversely upon its adaptation to accomplish the results it claims to be able .to secure. Therefore, both the public and private opinion 238 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. is in abeyance, but with a preponderance decidedly in favor* of the Lucas ship. Nevertheless, no person who is unacquainted with ship-^- building, or the special requirements of a steamship- — suited to the trade of those parts of Spanish-America with which St. Louis desires to trade — is able to sive- '•the LUCAS MODEL SHIP THE LUCAS STEAMSHIP. 23i> any reliable opinion relative to the merits of the St. Louis invention. And, such persons scarce dare venture to ask the (juestion : Is the I^ucas ship worthy, does it deserve encouragement and a trial? These, however, are perti- nent (juestions, just at the present time, when the mind of many persons is turned, not only in(]uiringly, hut solicitously toward Spanish-America, as a most [)r()mising Eldorado ! The prevalent opinion is that the Lucas steamship would be an experiment ! Let that opinion be admitted, in order to follow the iiKjuiry to a satisfactory conclusion. Then, on the other hand, it may be asked of a doubter, whether he has any other plan, or, has any other model of a steamship been offered for trial ? Has another man a differ- ent and better plan of a ship by which to secure the desider- atutn of a combined marine-river ship, and one capable of carrying an adequately pacing cargo to the tr()i)ics, and return from thence Avitk a corresponding load of paying freight volume? The answer is: "No nuin has any substitute for the Lucas model!" Then, in \ie\v of the })ossil)ilities and knf)\vn facts, the expenditure of a sum necessary to build a steamship on the Lucas model is both desirable and justi- fiable. It could not fail wholly of success, and if it succeeded in part only — it is most worthy a trial. And, if the money invested in a steamship on the Lucas model were to be a total loss, (which is impossible), still the investment would be a projx-r business adventure, in view of the great prol)iibility of its success. It would be a grand event if, through its instrumentalitv, a priceless trade should be gained, whose extent and value would yearly increase and continue during the lives of iit least the present generation, if not for all time I 240 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. CHAPTER IV. TRADE BETWEEN SAINT LOUIS AND SPANISH AMERICA BY STEAMSHIP. " Others, like mercliauts, venture trade abroad." — Shakespeare. "He set himself whollv to mind the P^ast India trade." — Burnet. The sailing ship, as a carrier of commerce, was em- ployed hundreds of years prior to the Christian Era, by nations eno^ag-ed in foreign trade. The "caravan" of laden camels, was admirably suited for inter-tratfic by land routes, as between Tyre and Persia and countries beyond. Also, between Carthage and the interior parts of Africa. Tyre, Carthage and Alexandria were the principal maritime cities of that early period. It is presumed, if not conclusively known, that the ships sent by Hiram, King of Tyre, and Solomon, King of Jerusalem, made their voy- ages to "Ophir," via the route of the present Suez Canal — reconstructed by the enterprise of DeLesseps — and, coastinfi the countries they visited, returned by the same route, after a " voyage of three years." At a later period, under conditions of improved construction, the Tyrean and Carthagenian ships were the "best sailors afloat." The admirable model of the Carthagenian ships, having been copied by the Romans, they were enabled to assail Carthage successfully, by utilizing their own sailing squad- rons. The fine model of the Roman vessels encouraged TRAFFIC WITH SPANISH-AMERICA. 241 Cuto to i)r()ii()unco his famous fulniination — presaging war — " Carthage must be destroyed I" The adventurous Phoenicians, with a ooninicndal)le zeal to extent! their connnerce and enrich themselves, sailed out of the Mediteranean Sea and into the Atlantic Ocean, " irltJiout a cot/)j)af l-,\ A.M. 1,1, It \[. l.l 1 lll,li,\.N niUKClI. (Tti;v. .M. UIIOUES, D.U.) THE COTTON EXCHANGE. 265 CHAPTER 11. THE SAINT LOUIS COTTON EXCHANGE. OI'VK'KKS KOU TIIK YKAU TO KND, OtTOHKK ISSV). (irsTAv Rosenberg, President. T. C. "Witherspoon, Vice President. C. W. Simmons, Secretary'. H. AV. Young, Assistant Secretary. DIRECTORS : J. N. Stegall, Wm. M. Senter, August Taussig, Jerome Hill, Thos. H. West. J. H. Cogswell. Vj. Baker. Saint Louis is the largest inland cotton market in the United States. The Sf. Louis Cotton Association was organized, October 17, 1873. During the following year, it was noticeal)le that the organization exerted a very practi- cal influence on the cotton trade of this city. On the 4th day of August, 1874, a new charter was adopted, and the name changed to "Cotton Exchange." At this period, the membership Nvas small ; but, it soon increased in num- bers and efficiency. Prior to 1872, the "fleecy" staple was received only in moderate quantity at St. Louis, but, in less than six years — from the organization of the Ex- change — the receipts reached, in the season of 1879-80, the number of 480, 000 bales. The membership, in less than eight years, had increased to ui)\vard of three hun- dred actiye and intluential men, engaged in the cotton trade, including some from the Eastern States, and Europe. The business had now grown to such proportions as to 266 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY demand more eligible accommodations for the transaction of the business. At this period the present handsome and capacious Exchange Building was erected. It was opened with special eclat, on the 4th day of Ma}^ 1882, and the occasion was accompanied with speeches and music. The Exchange Hall is of fine dimensions, tasteful in frescoes and embellishments, whilst the location is most eligible. The Cotton Exchange has continued to prosper, and is a most valuable adjunct to the commerce of this city. It has aided very powerfully to bring the cotton States in closer fellowship with, and to bu}^ from St. Louis a much larger part of their "supplies" — in merchandise and manu- COTTON 1\CUV^(.1 BLIIDINtr factures, machinery and utensils. Besides, the cotton trade has given profitable employment to the existing rail- roads, and demanded the building of more. These have greatly increased the direct trade with the southwest — in a constant and sw^elling volume. The cotton received, comes chiefly from the States of Arkansas, Texas, and from Indian Territory ; but, also in a moderate degree from Tennessee, Mississippi and Southeast Missouri. Great credit is due to the ofiicers and membership of the Cotton THE COTTON EXCHANGE. 267 Exchange for their enterprise ; and to the cotton factors for their liberality to consignors in drought years. Just weight and fair dealings — are marked characteristics of the factors who receive the cotton coming to this city. The cotton year closes annually the last day of August. The following figures show the business of the year, end- ing August 31, 1888: STATEMENT. TOTAL RECKII'TS COTTON, 1887-88. BALES* Gross Recoipts 527,900 Through " 271, OKI Net Receipts .- 25(J,80i> Shipmeuts 528,135 Stock ou hiiiul Septt'iiibcr 1, 1887 4,140 Receipts for year 527,900 582,040 Shipments for year 528,185 Stock on liand September 1, 1888 8,905- C. W. Simmons, AVc'//. COTTON COMPRESSES. There arc two compress companies: First — THE ST. LOUIS COTTON COMPRESS COMPANY. This great establishment covers an area of five entire city blocks, having a total frontage of 1,748 feet, and occupies fifteen acres of ground. Its two stories make thirty acres of floor surface. There are, in all, nine fire- proof l)uil(lings — having brick walls and iron doors. Throughout all the war('li()us(\s the best and most modern safeguar, 000. THE PEPER COTTON COMPRESS Is not so large as the other compress, but is furnished with two {)owerful hydraulic presses, and is amply i)r()\i(lcd '268 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY for a large business and safety against fire. The capital stock is a (juarter of a million dollars. The aggregate capacity of the two Compress com- panies is as follows: Tor Storage 310,000 bales of Cotton. For Compressing daily 7,r)00 " " COMMERCE IN COTTON AT ST. LOUIS TO THE END OF THE LAST "COTTON YEAR", AUGUST 31, 1888. The business of the last cotton year represents the trade in this great staple to Ije in a very satisfactory condition. The gross receipts were 527,600 bales, and the largest of any year since St. Louis became a cotton market. Although the increase over preceding years, was mostly in through cot- ton, and the increase in cotton handled only 12,738 bales greater than the previous year, still the fact remains, that there is an annual increase in the staple seeking an outlet through St. Louis, and illustrates the advantages of this city not only as a point of sale and distribution, but a direct through route to the seaboard. It seems to be settled, that this city shall become the principal interior point for storing, compressing and shipping cotton, destined both for home and foreign markets. The center- ing of numerous railways at St. Louis, makes it most ac- cessible to buyers from the east and Europe. To March 1, 1889, the receipts of cotton at St. Louis Avere about nine thousand bales in excess of those for the year 1888 ; and, it is estimated, that number will be in- creased to about twenty thousand bales. The shipments for the year reached 528,135 bales, of which 158,409 bales went to England, and 24,643 to Canada, being an increase over the previous year of 9,552 bales to the latter country. The stock on hand, August 31, 1888, was 3905 bales. Prices remained steady during the year; middling WOOL AND FUR LIVE STOCK. 269 ■cotton ranged from H H-4 and H o-.S in September, 1887, to 10 and 10 1-8 in August. 1888. The rates during the year were 9, 9 1-2 and 9 3-4 cents. ST. LOUS WOOL AND FUR ASSOCJATION. OFFICKBS: Moses Summekfield, l^resident. Albi-irt Schott, Vice-PreHident. Benjamin Harris, Secretary. The Association, although maintaining a separate organ- ization, holds its 'Change for the transaction of business at the Ilall of the Cotton P^xchange, South-West corner Main and Wahiut Streets, daily. LIVE STOCK exchangp:. The third Annual Convention and Election of the Exchange, met October 27, 1888, and the following ofti- cers were elected for the ensuing year, as follows : E. J. Senseney, President. R. H. Mann, Vice-President. DIRECTOUS: C. C. Daily, W. L. Cassidy, Samuel Scaling, C. M. Keys, J. G. Cash, W. D. Little, H. F. Parry, James Moody, T. J. Daniels. The St. Louis Live Stock Exchange was organized October 20, 1885, and is conducted at the National Stock Yaids. It aims to develop the general interests of the business in live stock, to secure uniform rules and just principles in all transactions in buying and selling. And, to protect the common interest of the shipper or producer* and the ])urchaser and utilizer of the {jroduelion, as well. 270 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. • The Exchange has accomplished valuable reforms in the model of stock cars and in the handling of live stock. It has been influential in the improvement of grades, and the introduction of valuable new breeds. The member- ship is made up of fair-dealing and liberal-minded men, whose influence extends to all shipping points and is exer- cised daily at the Exchange itself. The Live Stock trade is of very special interest and value to this city, and it receives the careful, active and in- telligent attention of the officers and members of the Ex- change. THE STOCK YAKDS. FOR CATTLE, HOGS, SHP^EP, HORSES AND MULES. There are two Avell appointed and extensive stock yards — the Union and the National — situated on opposite sides of the Mississippi river, but connected by transfer, steam boats. THE NATIONAL YARDS Are situated at East St. Louis, and cover one hundred acres of ground, of which between seventy-five and eighty acres are under roof. The land and improvements cost one million, seven hundred thousand dollars. Their daily capacity is equal to 8,000 cattle, 25,000 hogs, 7,500 sheep, and 750 hordes and mules. Cars are loaded and unloaded with dispatch. The pens are floored with timber and plank, and the avenues paved with stone. A perfect sys- tem of sewerage prevents mud. Each pen is provided with facilities for easy feeding and watering. There is a fine hotel on the grounds, a stock exchange, bank, tele- graph and telephone offices. The offices of stock merchants THE STOCK YARDS. 271 and asrents are (M)nvenient to the yards. These yards aie so situated as to receive and ship by all the railroads con- necting Avith St. Louis. THK UNION YARDS Are situated near the Mississippi river in the northern part of the city, and are reached by the Broadwarv' street rail- road. Twonty-Hve acres of irround are occupied by these yards, which have a daily capacity for 7,000 hogs, 2,500 cattle, 2,500 sheep, and 300 horses and mules. A hotel and exchange, besides telegraph and telephone otfices, and other conveniences for the dispatch of business, are near at hand. The facilities for handling stock are anijile and include all the late improvements. The pens are roofed and floored. Stock buyers and commission merchants have offices at the yards. The St. Louis, Kansas Citv and Northern (Wabash Western Division) railroad passes through the yards. Stock is taken from steam boats and ferry boats diicntly into the yards. 1UUI)',S-KYK \li;\\ IN(;. J. G. Smith, President. ^. H, CoNRADES, First Vice President. I. F. Mueller, Second Vice President. GusTAVE Wolf, Treasurer. James A. Reardon, Secretary. H. S. TuTTLE, Manager. ST. LOUIS MERCHANTS BRIDGE COMPANY. OFFICE, CIIAMBKU OF COMMKUCE. Seth W. Cobb, President. C. C. Rainwater, Vice-President. John D. Perry, Secretary and J'reasurer. TERMINAL RAILWAY BRUXJE COMPANY. OFFICE, LACLEDE Bl'ILDIXG. C. C. Rainwater, President. John R. Holmp^s, Vice President. John D. Perry, Treasurer. John H. Overall, Secretary. WESTERN COMMERCIAL TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION. OFFICE, LA('LEDK lUMLDING. OFFICERS FOR THE YKAR 1889: M. C. Wetmore, President, St. Louis, Mo. ; John W. Elwell, First Vice President, St. Louis, Mo. ; J. C. Mil- ler, Second Vice President, Chicago, 111. ; IL C. McNair, Third Vice President, St. Paul, Minn. ; II. ^I. Hidden, 276 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY, Fourth Vice President, Kansas City, Mo. ; Charles W.. Wells, Fifth Vice President, Indianapolis, Ind. ; Jonas. P. Johnson, Sixth Vice President, Omaha, Neb. ; and Thos. Ryan, Secretary and Treasurer, St. Louis, Mo. The board of Directors, Committees, Medical Director and Attorney are all citizens of St. Louis. SOUTHERN historical AND BENEVOLENT AID ASSOCIATION. J. BoYCE, President. Anthony Boyce, Treasurer. W. P. Barlow, Secretary. ST. LOUIS CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS. H. G. Isaacs, President. II. W. KiRCHNER, Secretary. ST. LOUIS INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS. T. W. Brady, President. J. F. Mitchell, Secretary. HOTEL RICHELIEU. BANKING INSTITUTIONS. 277 CHAPTER IV. THE BANKING INSTITUTIONS. The Banks of the City of St. Louis arc twenty-one in number, four of which are operated under the National banking laws, and seventeen under the laws of the State of ^Missouri. The capital employed was, together with surplus, on the 31st December 1888, fifteen and a half million dollars. The statement of the manager of the Clearing House is given below. These institutions are conducted in conformity with a policy, wdiich while liberal, is conservative. The capital of private bankers — legitimately used in discounts of business paper — should be added to tliat of the banking institutions. The limit of the legal rate of interest in Missouri is ten per cent per annum. The bank rate is nomiuallv eight, but six per cent is the common one charged by banks. Loans on real estate in the city are made at five and six per cent, but chiefly at the latter rate of interest. More banking capital could be emploA-ed and is required to meet the healthy growth of the manufacturing and mer- cantile lines of trade. BANK STATEMENT TO DECEMBER 31. Capital and Surplus. Deposits and Loans, Bonds land Exchange due Banks. { Maturing. 1887 1888 $14,824,115 $45,878, 58f! $ 44,o07,836 i 15,4(J0,8G(i 52,280,979 4G,852,313 Percentage of cash to Deposit. 34 37 BANK STATEMENT — CONTINUED. 1887 1888 Cash and De- posits to otherl banks. I Clearings. Balances. $ 14,913,121 $ 894,527,731 $ 138,59,8622 00 19,432,3611 900,474,8781 141,883,529 00 17 BANK STATISTICS. 279 BANK DIVIDENDS DECLAHKD PAYABLE JANUARY 1, 1889: Coniinereiiil Bank, 10 per cent, anniuil dividend. MulUinphy " 5 " " " And the dividends of the following banks were each for semi-annual periods, namely : American, Exchange, Bremen and Continental, each 4 per cent; German-American, Mechanics, and Merchants' National, each 3 per cent. STATEMENT OF THE CLEARING HOUSE. (FKOM E. CHASE, MANAGER.) AGGKEGATE STATEMENT OP^ THE ST. LOUIS CITY BANKS; FOUR NATIONAL, AND SKVKNTKEN STATE BANKS, ON TIIP: 31st DECEMBER, 1888, COMPARED WITH STATEMENT OF SAME ON 31st DECEMBER, 1887. Dec. 1888. Capital and Surplus... Deposits payable ou time f " " on de- mand to Banks Deposits payable on de- mand to others National Bank Circulation Dec. 1887. Liabilities. U. S. Bonds to secure Cir culation Good Loans and Bonds.. Cash, Checks and ¥,x- clianire Casii, Coin, " Currency i^ Real Estate, Furniture and Fixtures Assets $1 .-.,4(10,866 9,035,451 10,459,072 32 495,456 189,000 $67,939,845 $14,824,115 8,463,560 10,546,306 26,868,720 591,060 $61,293,761 Decrease, Increase, Increase, 450,000 2,344,477 2,982,860 199,306 1,337,074 232,367 1,445,171| 1,212,804 $67,9.39,845l$61,293,761i " |$ 6,646,084 210,000 660,000 46,852,313 44,507,836 9,.501,935 6,519,075 2,467,2.59' 2,267,953 7,4(;3,167 6,126,0!)3 i Differences. Increase, Decrease, Increase, Decrease, Increase, 636,751 571,891 87,234 5,926,736 402,060 $ 6,646,084 -280 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY ST. LOUIS POST OFFICE — LARGE GROWTH OF ITS BUSINESS. The remarkable growth in the mailable matter in let- ters, postal cards, papers, circulars, etc., delivered and collected at the post office of this city, is a very forcible proof of the enlargement of its trade and population. MAILABLE MATTER FOR THREE PERIODS, ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE GROWTH OF ST. LOUIS: DELIVERED. 1888. Registered letters 199,251 Mail letters 36,7()8,4:77 Mail postal cards 7,540,159 Drop letters. 13,200,197 Drop postal cards i (5,998,502 Papers, circulars, etc j 17,<)72,890 COLLLECTED. Letters I 31,950,495 Postal cards i 10,(;23,28« Papers, circulars, etc ! 7,85(),983 1886. 183,994 26,027,857 4,445,983 6,004,009 3,819,038 10,092,909 17,558,137 5,677,836 3,648,244 1880. 125,389 12,533,151 2,600,275 2,082,535 1,648,222 5,303,778 8,484,267 2,791,483 2,752,419 FIRE INSURANCE AND LOSSES FOR THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS : YEAR 1888- Amount of Insurance Premiums Paid. Loss to Insurance Companies. Percentage of Loss. $4,134,079.42 $752,887.12 18.21 THE INSURANCE LAWS OF MISSOURI. In no state are the laws relative to the reliability and •competency of insurance companies more complete or more strictly enforced, than in Missouri. They require more than mere solvency, and enforce a fixed and very ample capital, which shall remain intact against contingent risks and losses. But, whenever such capital shall become im- paired, notice is given by the state commissioner (whose office is at St. Louis) to "wind-up" or re-organize with ample resources — without delay. "Bogus " insurance is suppressed as soon as found. It is always attempted in some obscure neighborhood, and lias a short life. GRAIN AND FLOUR. 281 CHAPTER y. GRAIN AND FLOUR. GRAIN. The year 1888, was marked by fruitfulness in several of the cereal crops — notably of corn and oats — in the State of Missouri, and the adjoining states which ship to St. Louis, as their best market. In the quantity of wheat received, there was a moderate decline, whilst the receipts of the other cereals were largely increased over the preceding year. The table of receipts of grain now given — for iive years — shows a special deficiency in the receipts of wheat for several seasons, in consequence of poor harvests. But, the establishment of large flouring mills at points near this city — in the surrounding country — operated by St. Louis millers, take wheat for manufacturing, some of which would otherwise be marketed here and swell the volume of receipts. RECEIPTS P'OR FIVE YEARS WERE AS FOLLOWS: lUSIIKLS. 1888. 1887. 1886. 1885. 1884. Wlitat Corn Oats Rye Barley 1.3,010,105 20,269,499 10,456,760 421,514 3,044,961 14,510,315 16,576,386 9,768,545 236,726 2,932,192 12,309,364 16,387,071 7,426,915 447,842 2,529,731 39,100,923 10,690,677 26,114,7S2 7,383,529 726,799 3,017,362 16,368,809 19,607,325 7,036,951 585,218 2,625,S41 Total ..... 47,202,842 44,024,164 47,933,148 46,224,144 INCLUDING FLOUR REDUCED TO WHEAT THE RECEIPTS WOULD BE AS FOLLOWS: lusnKLs. 1888. ISH7. IHSC. 1885. 1884. Wheat and \ ., ,„. ,.,, Flour....} 51,19.,,l.'l 4H,74S,562 42,918,800 52,579,425 52,776,832 •282 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY u^wt f. SHIPMENTS OF GRAIN. 283 SHIPMENTS FOR TMK I'AST FIVK YKAKS: BUSHELS. 1888. 1887. 1886. 1885. 1884. Wheat C'oru Oats Rye 1 4,412,50(;| (1,238, 2(;8 15,i>04,750 13,,s41,172 5,414, 7(;4l 3,7S0,721t 275,233 175.352 2, 429, 462 11,S4S,<)!)5 2,764,922 337.018 2,332,609 20,491,416 3,(;80,829 63(),(;40 210,340 7,177,9S2 16,533,259 3,0S2,36(t 700,526 Barley 324,832 291,337 215,377 169,781 Total 2(i,332,085 24,326,858' 17,595,774 27,351,834 27,663,908 DIHKC'T SHIPMENTS OF BULK GRAIN FROM ST. LOL'IS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES IN TONS: TOXS. 1888. 1887. 1886. 1885, 1884. ' 1883. 1882. Hy Rail Eastward Uy River to New Orleans: . . . 121,657 128,522 30,853 201,072 H25,-»2 282, 52 52,18(5 231,552 147,202 141,904 175,126 301,629 107,528 176,538 Total 322,729 458,9r,4 263,205 28{,738 322,328 443,533 284,111 SHIPMENTS OF BULK GRAIN FROM ST. LOUIS BY RIVER TO NEW ORLEANS. YKAl:. Wheat Bushels 3,973,737 1,247,952 Corn. Bushels. Rye. Bushels. Oats. Bushels. Total. 18.S7 7,365,340 5,844,042 1 217,722 I 160,584 ll,55(i,799 1888 .. 7,252,578 The falling off in the h^hipraents of wheat in 1888, was caused by the decreased crop of that year, and the advanced price. Wheat could not be shipped to Europe except at a loss! The rise in price occurred suddenly, and, wheat sent to New Orleans for export was returned to St. Louis and resold at a profit ! The falling off of shipments of corn for export, was occasioned by the short •crop of 1887. CORN. The corn crop of the United State.s for 1887, a.s re- ported by the department of agriculture, was 1,456,161,- 000 bushels. This was the smaUesl crop harvested since 188 L The yield per acre wa.s 20.1 bushels against 22 284 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. bushels for the crop of 1886. The crop of 1888 is io marked contrast with preceding year, and is the largest ever grown, amounting to 1,987,790,000, and exceeds the crop of 1887 upwards of five hundred million bushels. CROPS OF THE GREAT CORN GROWING STATES FOR FIVE YEARS : Bushels. Bushels. Ri shels. Bushels. Bushels. STATES. 1888. 1887. 1886. 1885. 1884. ludiana. . 125,478,000 71,400,000 118 795,000 131,994,000 104,757,000 Illinois . . 278,000,000 141,080,000 200,818,000 268,998,000 244,544,000 Iowa 278,232,000 183,502,000 198,847,000 242,496,000 252,(i00,000 Missouri. 202,583,000 140,949,000 143,709,000 196,861,000 197,850,000 Kansas . . 158,18(:;,000 76,547,000 126 712,000 158,390,000 168,500,000 Nebraska 144,217,000 93,150,000 106 ,129,000 129,426,000 122,100,000 Total.. 706,628,000 904,010,000 l,128,165,00o'l,090,351,000 ST. LOUIS' ELEVATORS. Capacity (Additional for Capacity DE& IGNATION BY NAME. Bulk Grain. for Packages. Bushels. Sacks. St. Louis 2,000,000 ■ 700,000 200,000 Central A " B 900,000 " C 800,000 East St. ] Louis 1,000,000 165,666 Advance. 600,000 Valley 1,250,000 Union 1,500,000 1 600,000 1,100,000 750,000 Venice Merchant ^ Union IJe pot St. Louis (Salt) Warehouse 750,000 St. Louis Warehouse. . 200,000 Tot al Stored, Jan. 1888 12,150,000 365,000 " " 1887 12,150,000 365,600 " " 188(i 11,800,000 365,000 " " 1885 10,950,000 365,000 " " 1884 11,700,000 415,000 << '« 1883 10,700,000 415,000 '« '« 1882 9,650,000 1 415,000 " " 1881 5,650,000 I 415,000 " " 1880 1 4,950,000 415,000 GRAIN ELEVATOR. 285 SHIPMKNTS TO NKW ORLEANS DURING'18H«, OF FLOl'K AM) GRAIN: Wheat. lUishels. Corn. IJashels. Oats. Ilusliels. Klour. IJarrel.s I,250,7o2 (1,418,288 1,981,794 313,327 (.KAl.N KI.KVATOi:, ST. LOl.'lS. 286 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. * ST. LOUIS AND MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TRANSPOKTATION COMPANY, ("BARGE LINE.") Henry C. Haarstick, President. Austin B. Moore, Vice-President. This Company does a very large carrying trade between this city and New Orleans and Port Eads — at the Jetty passage of the Mississippi — and is of yery special value to the commerce of St. Louis, as a s^reat carrier of grain destined for Europe, The report of the National Bureau of Statistics, for the year ending June 30, 1888, states the quantity of maize — Indian corn — carried by this Company at 21 per cent of the exports to foreign countries. This Company was incorporated in August 1881, with a paid up capital of two million dollars, and is popularly known as the "Barge Line." THE carrying CAPACITY OF THE BARGE LINE Is to float, at any time, of grain in bulk, four million l)ushels, and to move to the European vessels — waiting its reception at tide water — two and one-half million l)ushels, monthly. The line employs eleven towing steamboats and eighty barges. ST. LOUIS flour MILLS: THE OUTPUT OF 1887 AND 1888 ("OMPARED. The number of l)arrels of Hour manufactured during the last two years was as follows: Flour manufactured in St. Louis for the year ending, Dec. 31, 1887, was 1,985,717 barrels; and in the same time of 1888, 2,01(5, 619, being an increase of 30,902 barrels. Flour manufactured by mills located outside, but owned and operated by citizens of St. Louis, for the year ending FLOUR STATISTICS. 287 December 31, 1887, was 842,373 barrels, and for the same time in 1888, was 1,020,440, beinji an increase of 187,073 barrels. Grand total output of 1887, 2,828,000 against 3,046,0(>5 barrels in ISXS, an increase over the preceding year of 217,975 barrels. The flour output of St. Louis is second only to all others in the United States — Minneapolis having the first place for (juantity, but all from spring wheat. The flour of this city, made from winter wheat, has always held the very highest reputation at the East and South, and in Europe, for its superior quality. It has always been in large demand for shipment to tropical countries. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FLOIK HANDLED BY MILLERS AND DEALERS FOR THREE YEARS: 1888. 1887. 1886. 1885. liecfivt'd '. 887,173 2,01(;,(il9 1,0(;9,303 1,049,8(;4 1,985,817 597,G10 848,417 1,807,950 542,010 l,032,.-)00 1,841,529 530,083 Manufactured Sold and SliippedDirect ( from Couutry Mills., j Total Barrels 3,973,155 3,033,191 3,198,383 3,410,1 IS AMOl NT OF FLOUR MANUFACTURED IN VARIOUS CITIES. Bbls. Miniieapoli.s 7,0.50,080 ^t. L(»uis 2,01(;,(il9 Baltimore | 50G,H70 ^t. Raul I 2.50,000 l'liiladeli)liia ;.... 240,000 Milwaukee 1 421 2.58 '''>ff!''<» l|500i000 Richmond ToU-ilo j 250,000 J>t't''0't 235,000 ^'hi^^'iii-'o I 435,000 Dnluth j Kansas City I 2fi,987 I't^oria I 90,000 Bbls. 0,379,204 1,9H5,717 490,244 310,000 1,214,048 037,885 30.5,000 253,000 514,870 105,000 105,000 Bbls. 0,10H,000 1,807,950 540,5()7 194,500 240,000 9(i0,000 700,384 204,712 310,000 290,500 494,789 40,000| 1885. Bbls 5,221,243 1,841, .529 520,992 225,000 901,152 752,802 412,000 255,.500 10,000 288 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. THE GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF ST. LOUIS RELATIVELY TO THE GREATEST FOOD PRODUCING FIELDS OF THE UNITED STATES. St. Louis' position, relatively to the greatest food pro- ducing field of the nation — surpassing that of any coun- try of the globe — is almost a central one. But, by reason of its great water facilities, and numerous extensive rail- way systems — penetrating all those fertile fields — it possesses superior advantages over some other western sites. This city occupies the center of the great winter wheat and Indian corn belt of the United States. A table is here given of the crops for the year 1888 of part of the states, but not including several in lesser commercial relations with this city : States. AVheat. Bushels. Corn. Bushels. Oat^!. Bushels. Missouri Illinois Iowa 18,496,000 33,556,000 24,196,000 15,960,000 14,508,000 202,583,000 278,060,000 278,232,000 158,186,000 144,217,000 34,909,000 137,400,000 67,090,000 Kansas Neln'aslia 42,654,000 26,177,000 Total 106,716,000 1,061,278,000 308,230,000 A total of one billion, four hundred and tweny-six million, two hundred and twenty-four thousand bushels wheat, corn and oats. The wheat crop of the United States for the year 1< was 414,868,000 bushels. And the five states named pro- duced 26 per cent of the whole quantity. The corn crop for the same year was 1,987,790,000 bushels. And, the five states yielded 53 1-2 per cent of that quantity. The oats crop was 701,735,000 bushels. And, the same states yielded 44 per cent of the whole quantity produced in the United States, and are those which are closely allied in business relations with this city. And, if these five states — whose resources are verv far VALUE OF EXPORTED WHEAT. 289 from being fully developed — have yielded so imuh of the whole production, then, when their entire area shall be brought under cultivation, the proportion will be yet greater, especially since most of the other states have reached their niaxinuini in the yield of cereal crops. THE AVERAGE \'ALL'E OF EXTORTED A\'11EAT FROM THE UNITED STATES DURING CS YEARS TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, JUNE 30, 188H.* The subjoined table gives the foreign exports of wheat, and average value per bushel since 1820. It will be seen, that the lowest average value touched in (j8 years was for the twelve months ending June 30, 1888. The average price of all Avheat exported during that year was only 81 cents a bushel, against 8G cents in 1885, the next lowest year. Prior to 1866, the average had never been as low as $1.10, with two exceptions — 1879 and 1884, when the price was $1.06. For the five 3"ears, ending June 30, 1870, the average was $1.43, a bushel, the high- est for any similar length of time since the United States first commenced exporting wheat. In 1876, the average was $1.24, dropping in 1877 to $1.1(5, and again rising in 1878 to $1.33. Since then, there have been some consid- erable fluctuations from year to year, with the tendency gradually downwards, until, as already said, the lowest point of 81 cents per bushel was reached last year. *NOTE.— These statistics of the wheat and Hour exports; and, tlie a<'ri'age, pro- duction and exports of grain, were obtained from a reliable seaboard autliorily.— Author, 290 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY WHEAT AND FLOUR EXPORTED SINCE 1820. EXPORTS OF WHEAT AND FLOUR FROM THE UNITED STATES. {Flour Reduced to Bushels in the Total.) EACH OF THE FIVE FISCAL YEARS ENDED AS GIVEN BELOW. Wheat. Bushels. Flour. Barrels. Total Bushels. Per ct. of Flour in Total. 1825 72,874 125,547 614,145 1,842, S41 2,946,861 10,184,645 16,446,955 38,808,573 138,306,907 81,808,364 224,019,376 4,451,384 4,651,940 5,241,964 4,092,932 6,274,697 12,284,828 13,149,518 15,778,268 19,757,733 11,454,785 16,797,684 18,878,410 23,385,247 2(i,823,9()5 22,307,501 34,320,346 99 61 1830 99 46 1885 97 2 1840 91 7 1845 £11 1 1850 71,608,785 85 77 1855 82,194,545 79.9 117,699,913 : (w. 237,095,572 ^ 42.09 139,082,289 41.2 308,007,796 ' 27.2 1860 1865 1870 1875 Total for 55 years. 515,177,088 113,935,733 1,081,404,369 52.6 .FISCAL TEAR. 1,S7(; 55,073,122 40,325,611 72,404,961 122,353,936 153,252,795 150,565,477 92,857,276 106,385,828 70,349,012 82,449,014 57,750,609 100,809,212 63,846,204 3,935,512 3,343,665 3,946,855 5,629,714 6,011,419 7,945,78(i 5,733,194 9,205,664 9,152,260 10,347,629 74,750,682 57,043,936 92,139,236 147,687,649 180,754,180 186,321,464 118,(;56,649 147,811,316 111,534,182 128.993..344 26.32 1^77 29.30 1878 21.42 1879 17.1 1880 1881 15.2 18.9 1882 21.7 1883 28.02 1884 36.9 1885 36. 1886 8,179,231 1 94,'557il49 11,328,872 151.789.136 37.1 1887 33.5 1888 11,746,028 116,703,330 45.2 Total for 13 years. Grand total since 1820 1,078,423,857 1,593,600,945 96,605,829 210,541,562 1,608,742,253 2,690,146,622 27.0 These figures show that the exports of flour for the last fiscal year were the largest on record, reaching 11,74(>,028 barrels — a gain of 400,000 barrels compared with the pre- ceding year, and of 2,500,000 barrels compared with the year ending June 30, 1886. Of wheat, however, the ship- ments were the smallest since 1878 with one exception. Since 1880 there has been a gradual upward movement in the percentage of flour to the total exports of wheat and flour combined, and while in that year the percentage was VALUE OF EXPORTS C»F FLOUR AND WHEAT. 291 only 15.2, in the year just closed it was 45.2. This is an exceedingly gratifvini; condition of affairs. Instead of ex- pt)rting so small a pr()i)()rti()n of Hour the increase is now steady, thus giving American millers the benefit of this ex- panding trade. Nearly one-half of all the wheat exports of the country goes now in the shape of flour. The gain has been remarkably ra})id. In thirteen years, or since 187H, we have exported from this country over 1, ()()(), 000, 000 bushels of wheat, and 96,600,000 barrels of flour; the aggregate value of the two being $1,797,267,367, while for the preceding 55 vears we exported 515,177,088 bushels wheat and 113,935,000 barrels of flour, the aggregate value being $1,412,000,000. THE VALUE OF EXPORTS OF FLOUR AND WHEAT SINCE 1820 TO JUNE 30, 1888, HAS BEEN AS FOLLOWS: WHEAT. FLOUR. WHEAT AND FLOUR. EACH OF FIVE FISCAL YEAKS ENDED JUNE 80. Value. Nalue. AfTjfrcgate value. til 1825, 1830. 1835, 1840 1845 1850, 1855, 1860 1865, 1870 1875 $ 68 112 737 1,817 2,900 12,801 21,864 53,343 178,470 117,.';27 296,540 $0.94 .89 1.20 .98 .98 1.25 1.39 1.37 1.29 1.43 1..32 $ 24, 34, 29, 27, 31. 69, 75, 104, 133. 92, 114, 334,999 708,0it0 347,649 231,952 0.56,1.56 375,741 775.220 .36M,446 356.875 071,717 ,401,066 Total for 55 years.. $ 686,184,6501 $1..33 1$ 726,027,911 $6.37 $5.46 5.31 5.59 6.05 4.94 5.64 5.76 6.61 6.74 8.03 6.86 $ 24, 24,1 30.( 29,( 33,! 82, 97, 157, 311, 20<),1 410,! 403,977 $1.29 820,844 1.06 0S5.014 1.13 049,019 1..30 956,941 .98 176,834 1.18 639,982 1.18 ,712,365 1.34 ,827 319 1.31 ,5i '^^ ^ ■^ .c ^ 1^ ;r .-^ -M -f -x X -ri r- -+• -ri 'M O ^ ,-^ CC -t. -t O 'X t- I— crt--^t- 1— ^ 2 tj 2 & e^ Xiooaoxaoxao«X'X»X)GCX|X'Xoc - — - — — - ^ H — *. ^ — — X Tit" — C n"~'*'~-1- — <~ — 'O — T ^ — ' ^' T 1 -1- -I- ^' cc' rt' -1^ ^r -4 n 3; 0^ -Y rt* ^t X — c^ X ^ "71 ^ ^ C 't -t X -+ iT t- P -jT x' 1 1' T F * I x' "7 r :c' x' '"{ c' '^' T i ' t' ^r 7r 3: ^ 't "f — — 71 c^ r— I— — — » 31 X rH~r-rr-"7fTr'rr'rr?r7r7r>rfrr'?rrf -rf 70~ 9 X ij ic t 5' 2 5 "^ >it r* — — X ^ X I— I'^t t"! ft 3t 3; ~ 0^ ^J= -(-~ -t- ¥ x'l-' x'~o'~3ro'"'M'~rt'~rjror^'~t-^i-r(M"^ x^ cT T-H rHT-Hf^rH T-H r^i— SlC Z H OOOSOOO713:Ot-C0'l — C' O' 3: cc 71 la !X' X 3: fH ■:3 — 3: i-H X i-: t- -^ X 3-. O' ic ic o o OQ ?^-s" X 71 C: 71 -t- 3: 71 ^ C -+• C X 1- -C 3-. H X -1- 3: 71 !_; ■-: 7+- -^ -+ = ^ .7 T7 .- X 0; as «:B -r i*'-+ 1- :^'— irf 3: -)-'s'3: x' 'Jl t^~y sT rt — rt r-< 71 71 71 rt 71 71 71 71 71 n 71 71 O O O — O O O 71 O O O' 71 — ■ — ' O — O H tf |3 t-' c:' 3; 1 - 71-' -^ x' — ' '-' r- 9' 1.1 '{' 3;' -t x' r~" 1^ Opq ^ C C: -+ C: --3 C7 1- 1- -^ X — 1 CO 3: 't C; 1-1 OS I- 1 - -^^ 1- 71 — = 1-^ ^ X t- X 71 71 iC H 71 71 71 C7 C7 -t -t -t -t -1- -f iC iS '^C ffl — t- H H — ^ — "^ sO CO t^ 71 — — — ■ 3-r -1-' x' 3f 1/ x' rrcC^S>~' -J ■/. •■£ — ' ~ s (i4 " H t- 71 — S X ■-; 71 ?. ^ r. ~ — '" — '+"",'';, s Miiiv.i?yit^-.9.'^.'2':^.'r. D 03; X K^71_C0_^CC^t-J-^i-i^-^^'-t, 1- 3-^ -_ -t 3:^ H T-H 1-H 1-H 1-H T-H T- li5§iii 11 S §§'§ = ? 5 § 3 c3 j: J= 3 g; I;?, 2 S ?i S tl S i* 7 1 it = 1^ ^ 71 5: X jz; ^M oT— 3: 7r3r -t crx~cr-ir,-H ■7'rt£i£:£"-f M H =Px — 3;x;3 7-i<0 3:xo73rHi2^i2'H (ri71C0 7171C0^^-^C0iO'*>nC0-f-+^ y P Q » Ai ►J < TV 0- ■* IT ^ > t- X 3- c r- x' r-t-it^t-t-t-t-t-xxx XXX X J^ JJ X X X X X X X X X X X X X ^ XXX; T-l r- >- '- >- ^ "" 1-H T^ r- ■^ COTTON STATISTICS. 293 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT. RKCElPTrf, SlIIPMEXTS, STOCK, AXD CONSUMPTION OF COTTOX FOU FIVE YEARS. Receipts Stock on liand Sept. 1st. . 1887 -'8 527,900 3,910 411,832 9,924 Total bales 531,810 421,756 474,756 292,574 301,710 472,682 1,009 1884-'8- 291,056 1,518 188 -'84. 297,122 4,588 Shipiiieuts 522,800 1,419 3,910 528,135 410, .344 1,302 4,140 458,208 4,000 9,924 2,099 286,402 1,009 4,503 295,008 City C'onsumptiou 5,124 lu Compress .\ii<^. 31 Uiiaccounted for 1,518 Total bales 421,756 474,291 292,574 301,710 T.\BLE SHOWING THE GROSS AND NET RECEIPTS OF COTTON AT ST. LOUIS. SEASON. Gross Receipts. Bales. Through Shipments. Bales. Net Receipts. Bales. 1887-'88 .527,900 271,028 411,K32 107,09.S 472, 0S2 I 240,017 291,050 1 103. 31''' 250,872 I880-'87 1885-'86 1884-'85 244,134 220,005 1H7,744 1883-'84 1882-'83 1881-'82 1880-'81 1879-'K0 1878-'79 297,122 450,858 309,579 398,939 490,570 335,799 248,H.50 217,734 244,598 133,909 103,741 59,709 30,421 20,270 18,518 16,090 80,599 160,098 129,000 97,580 172,286 117,083 01,501 09,25K 84,788 39,679 24,323 210,523 290,700 240,519 301,353 324, 2S4 2IK,7I0 1877-'7H 1876-77 1875-'70 1874-'75... . 187,295 14S,470 159,S10 94,290 1873-'74 1872-'73 79,41.S I871-'72 1870-'71 lH(;9-'70 180«-'09 The receipts* of cotton to March 13th, 1889, are thirteen thousand bales in I'.xcess of tho.se of the preceding vear. 18 2M ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. REPORT OF COTTON COMPRESSED AT ST. LOUIS. Year ending Ang. 31. Receipts. 1888 25(;,809 bales. 1887 |25K,234 188(j '240,183 1885 203,584 1884 |228,414 1883 304,300 1882 |259,151 1881 ,317,195 1880 |358,124 1879 237,437 1878 1205,861 Shipments. 257,044 bales. 264,110 " 231,8()8 " 203,493 " 231,484 " 301,451 " 2()5,(;37 " 316,537 " 351,818 " 237,101 '« 206,537 " Stock. 3,910 bale 4,140 9,924 1,609 1,518 4,588 1,739 8,225 7,467 1,161 officp:rs of the st. louis cotton compress COMPANY. William M. Senter, President. Jerome Hill, Vice-President. J. H. Reifsnyder, Sec'y and Treas. OFFICERS OF THE PEPER COTTON COMPRESS COMPANY. Christian Peper, President. R. B. Whittemore, Sec'ij and Treas. NATIONAL BOARD OF TRADE. COMMITTEE ON REPRESENTATION AND EXTENSION. J. A. Price, ------- Scranton. J. S. T. Stranahan, ----- Brooklyn. S. S. Guthrie, ------ Buffalo. J. A. Gang, -___--- Cincinnati. Wm. H. Parson, ------ New York. A. F. HiGGiNS, - - New York. 296 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. CHAPTER VI. THE ST. LOUIS WOOL MARKET. The improvement of the market for wools, during 1888, over that of 1887, was very marked, especially towards the close, both in the volume of receipts and prices. Although the receipts of wool, in 1887, were about 7 per cent less than for 1886, it did not indicate that St. Louis was losing so valuable a trade — gained by special and protracted effort. The receiptb at other large primary markets showed a much greater falling off — vary- ing from 8 to 25 per cent of the quantity of the preceding year. The general deficiency was to be attributed, in part, to wool being held at interior points for a higher price, but more to an actual deficiency in the clip of the United States, at large, in 1887 — estimated by the government statisticians at twenty million pounds. It is well known, that dealers in wools — throughout the entire country — did not find the business of 1887 profit- able. But, the experience of the dealers of this city, for the year 1888, is just the reverse. Whilst the middle men were the sufferers in 1887, the wool growers who sold with the market did exceedingly well, and manufacturers gen- erally enjoyed a prosperous year. Early in the year 1888, improvement set in. A very marked and encouraging change was realized, yet the slow *NOTE. — These details of the wool market were obtained from the firm of S. Bienenstok & Co., and from Frank & Hellendall, wool merchants, South Main street. — Autlior. ST. LOUIS WOOL MARKET. 297 and uncertain action of the Congress of the United States upon the question before it — of reduction of the duty on for- eign wools — led to hesitancy on the part of manufacturers. And, by July, the price of wools dropped to the lowest point of the year and were as low as in 1887. But, shortly after that date, wools began to advance, and confidence in the sta- bility of values was largely restored — after many months of hesitation and doubt — and sales were made on a hopeful market. Early in September, buyers conceded the opinion, that wools were too low in view of the favorable prospects. That opinion was confirmed by the current J)usiness down to the close of the year. During the intervening period wools sold freely at advanced prices — acceptable to both seller and buyer. The political contest having ended — stability of prices was soon established ; and the business in wools wore a most cheerful and encouraging aspect. The dealers and wool growers were well satisfied with the year's business. The latter are encouraged to increase and not diminish their flocks. The factors and dealers are likewise most cheerful — having made up their losses of last year by the large business of 1888. The prices obtained in excess of those of '87 averaged from 15 to 25 per cent. The receipts of this market have exceeded those of '87 by upwards of two million pounds, and the total to December 31, 1888, is iy,()2(),621) pounds, exclusive of receipts by wagon. From reliable data, the wool clip of the Ignited States for 1888, is largely less than the previous year, when the deficiency — as stated above — was twenty million j)ounds. Hence the last year's business is the more gratifying, and illustrates — by comparison — the large growth in the wool \viu\v. of St. Louis. Besides, the re- cei])ts at other primary wool markets show, that this city is the only one whose receipts have increased. 298 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY RECEIPTS AND SHIPMENTS OF WOOL TO AND FROM ST. LOUIS FOR FIVE YEARS: YEAR. WOOL. Receipts. Pounds. Shipments. Pounds. IS.SN 19,(;2(j,(329 17,347,186 18,o(!3,6l4 21,193,031 12,391,806 21,463,998 1S87 17,392,8o8 188(; 17,82.5,630 1885 25,145,81;") 1884 17,665,858 THE FUR MARKET OF ST. LOUIS. The market in peltne.s (of wild animals) and furs in 1888-'89, is noted for a large increase in the quantity. There has been no diminution in the proportionate volume of beaver, mink, coon and fox, but an increase in musk- rat. Oppossum and skunk are specially in request, and prices of all descriptions continue well maintained. No public record is kept by the sixteen dealers of the receipts and shipments; but, whilst it is well understood, that larger receipts than heretofore has been the rule, the number of bales, packs or pounds cannot be stated with any accuracy; and, therefore, the value in dollars is un- known. It must not be supposed, however, that the trade in furs and peltries — which, at a very earl}^ period of the business history of the village and town of St. Louis, con- .stituted almost its sole trade — has diminished. But, it will surprise some persons of intelligence and general in- formation to be informed, that with the exception of buffalo and wolf pelts (very few of the latter and none of the former), the receipts of furs and peltries — in number and pounds — are greater to-day than in the palmiest days of the "fur trade of St. Louis." Besides, although the market prices are less, the money value is ST. LOUIS HIDE MARKET. 299 greater than formerly. St. Louis is the hirgest original receiving and shipping market in furs in the United States. Europe, as formerly, takes the bulk — three- fourths of all — of the furs and peltries marketed in this city. They are purchased by agents for the account of the foreign dealers, and are in ready demand. The buffalo — the wild cattle of the North American ''pampas" — have disappeared ! The ruthless hunter or reckless sportsman may no more gratify his greed or pur- suit of "glory'' in the chase and slaughter of the noble bison I Now, the roseate hues of the setting sun fall not upon him, but upon Texas "long horns," and " short horns"* of European strain, which graze upon the grounds trodden by the former monarch of the plains ! HIDE MARKET OF ST. LOUIS FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1888.* The hide market of St. Louis has gained such increased proportions as to claim a position of great prominence in the trade of the city. Tanners of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin, find it to their interest to pur- chase their stocks at St. Louis. Pennsylvania and other Atlantic States, make large purchases from dealers here. Tanners from numerous points buy through hide brok- 5 3s(i 00 > 188i; 1885 1884 21,7tt7,724 PROVISIONS: HOGS PACKED AT ST. LOUIS. In provisions, during the past year (1888), the market St. Louis made very considerabe advances as a distributing market? The receipts and shipments of hog products — in smoked and salted meats, barreled pork and lard — for the last two years were as follows : YEAR. Received. Pounds. Shipped. Pounds. 1887 114, .5(18, 211 220,(J13,987 14It,'.»lt8,707 246,238,457 1888 PACKING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. WINTER AND SUMMKK KESl'LTS. Hogs. Hoys. 1888— Winter 369,7i)0{l887— Wiuter | 370,866 " —Summer 280,000 '« —Summer. 313,591 Totals ' 649,790 6«4,457 The partial failure of the corn crop of 1887, reduced the number of hogs i)acked for the seasons between November 1887, and same . 1.S77. 1878. 187tt. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. 188(1. 1887. 1888. Cars. 17,2(U 13,938 18,052 24,344 31,008 35,(i41 38,294 42,232 29,178 33,393 37,8(>(> 33,8(i4 28,542 29,838 30,150 Cattle. 234, 232, 234, 322, 317, 333, 34ti, 406, 356, 332, 390, 311, 307, 387, 453, 002 183 671 571 830 155 533 804 434 625 569 702 244 709 918 Hogs. 498, 181, 333, 426, 833, 1,163, 1,262, 1,308, 642, 843, 1,079, 1,145, 934, 772, 652, 840 708 560 109 446 748 234 514 871 672 827 546 995 171 127 Sheep. 41,407 46,316 84,034 119,174 82,549 99,951 129,611 226,124 303,753 272,852 277,697 245,793 212,101 315,546 368,848 Horses. 2,235 2,385 2,(il6 2,3(;4 2,534 4,338 5,963 8,377 14,284 17,054 14,703 12,176 16,398 29,286 27,713 THE SHIPMENTS FOR THE YEAR EXDING DECEMBER 31, 1888, FROM THE NATIONAL STOCK YARDS: ■ Cars. Cattle. Hogs. Sheep. Horses and Mules. 18,406 329,182 253,988 313,536 25,99.-. HORSES AND MULES. St. Louis is the most important market for horses and mules in the United States. It leads all other markets in HORSES AND MULES STATISTICS. 303 the number of marketable saddle, carriatre, and lieavv draught horses and serviceable mules. The war depart- ment of the United States obtains all its horses for cavalry service at this market. RECEIPTS AM) SHIPMENTS OF HORSES AM) MILES AT THE ENTIRE MARKET, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL AND UNION STOCK YARDS, FOR SIX YEARS: 1888. 1887 188(;. 1885. 1884. 1883. Receipts. 58,458 57,948 42,032 39,385 41,870 44,913 Shipments. 61,192 59,222 39,798 35,()10 39,544 44,543 To these figures should be added a large number of horses and mule.s — dnveii to the different stables of the commission dealers — from the country, and are not re- corded at the Stock Yards. The demand for horses and mules has grown with the increased supply, and all desirable stock found a ready sale. RECEIPTS AND SHIPMENTS OF CATTLE, SHEEP AND HOGS TO, AND FROM ST. LOUIS— AT THE ENTIRE MARKET, INCLUDING THE UNION AND NATIONAL STOCK YARDS, FOR SIX YEARS: YEARS. 1888. 1887. 188(;. 1885. 18H4. 1883. Receipts. Cattle. Sheep, i Hogs. 54(), 870 45(i, 4(19 924,239 Ki4,K2H 417,42o 1,052,240 377,55 ) 328,985 1,2(;4,471 38(1,32) 3(12, K5S 1,455,535 4.50,717 3S(I,822 1,474,475 405,()it') 39S,(;i2 1,351,785 Shipments. Cattle. Sheep. Hogs 33(1, 21(). 316, (;7(i 277,40(1 287,018 212,958 202,728 233,249 233,391 315,433 248,545 294,869 324,735 520,362 789,487 678,874 249,523 21 7, 370'(i09,388 LEAD IN I'KiS. WHITE LEADS, LINSEED OIL. l'I<; LEAD. St. Louis remains, as for many years pa.st, the largest market for lead and white lead |)aiiits in the United States. 304 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. The receipts of lead for year 1887, was 1,380,758 pigs, of eight}' pounds each. And, for 1888, 1,815,687 pigs, or one liundred and forty-five million, two hundred and liftj^-four thousand, nine hundred and sixty pounds! The shipments out, during same years, were for 1887, 759,892 pigs, and for 1888, 1,285,354 pigs, one hundred and two million, eight hundred and twenty-eight thousand, three hundred and twenty pounds, for the year 1888. The increase of receipts of lead were ST. LOUIS SHOT TOWER. 434,929 pigs, and of shipments in 1888, over the previous year, was 525,462 pigs, or forty-two million, thirty-six thousand, nine hundred and sixty pounds. WHITE LEADS, ETC. Saint Louis' pre-eminence as a market for lead is to be attributed almost wholly to its extensive manufacture of VARIOUS STATISTICS. 305 the products of that motal — in lead pipe, sheet lead, paints, etc. This city is the greatest manufacturer of white lead paints, and shot, of any other place. Three white lead cor- roding plants of this city have a capital of two million dol- lars invested in their business. LINSEED OIL. Two of the plants engaged in the manufacture of linseed oil, produced 1,050,000 gallons in 1888, as against 550,000 gallons for the previous year. They employ a capital of about a half million dollars in their ))usiness. BALING CLOTH FOK THE COTTON STAPLE. QUANTITY MANUFACTURED AND ON HAND AT, AND SHIPPED FUOM ST. LOUIS, FOR FIVE YEARS. YEAKS. Manufactured. On Hand December 31st. Shipped Out. 1888 1887 1886 1885 1884 12,000,000 Yards. 15,000,000 " 16,000,000 " 7,500,000 " 6,000,000 " 8,000,000 Yards. 1,500,000 " 1,500,000 " 350,000 " 8.50,000 " 181,104 360,609 325,609 280,996 190,9()5 Pieces. RECEIPTS OF BAGGING IN FIVE 1 fEARS. YEARS. YARDS. 188S. 50,806 Pieces 2,520,300 3,933,650 2,495,200 1887. 78,473 " 1886. 49,904 " . . 1885. 2,948,050 657,450 1884. RECEIPTS OF LUMBER AND LOGS, BY RIVER AND RAIL, AT ST. LOLTS, IN 1888. Lumber l)y River 108,478,966 " " Rail 485,748,000 Logs by River — about. 594,226,966 . 33,000,000 627,226,966 306 ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. HARDWOODS, ETC. The receipts of oak, ash, yellow pine and poplar in this market have continued very large. In hardwoods, St. Louis holds the supremacy over all other markets, and will continue to do so. After the white pine of the North is exhausted, the Southern States now supplying this market, will furnish an unlimited quantity of yellow pine, poplar and cypress: the latter two for doors, sash and blinds. Poplar is making rapid strides in public favor, and has now reached a stage of progress that promises it a more prominent recognition than ever before. E. JACCARD JEWELRY CO., S. E. COR. OLIVE AND SIXTH STS. BUSINESS TONNAGE. 307 CHAPTER VIL Tin-: BISIXHSS TUXXACiE IX LKA1)IX(; AirnCLKS, KHC'KIl'TS AXl) SHIl'MHXTS TO AXI) FROM ST. LOITS, FOR THE YEARS ltsS7 AXl) 18S,S. RECEIPTS : Articles. Flour, barrels mamifacturefl " " haudled buslii'ls Wheat, Com, " Oats, " Kye, " Barley, " All graiu received, (iucliidinii flour reduced to \ wiieat) / Hay, tons Tobacco, hogsheads " (packages leal) Wool, pounds C'ottou, bales Hides, pounds Butter and Ciieese, pounds Potatoes and Onions, barrels Cattle, head Sheep, " Hogs, '« Meats — hog products — pounds Horses and Mules, head Kice, packages Lumber and Logs, feet Coal, tons Coke, " Cement, barrels Railroad Iron, tons Iron and Steel, " Rig Iron, " Iron Ore, " Zinc " " Lead, in KO-pound pigs Nails, kegs Coffee,* bags Salt, barrels " sacks •* bushels in bulk Boots and .Shoes, cases Bagging, yards manufactured 1888. 2,01(j,019 1,983,717 3,973,155 3,(5.33 194 11,,(!f)9 417 425 929,230 1,0.52 240 220,(513,987 114,.5(i8 211 .58,458 57 048 74,181 79 (504 ()27,22(;,9(;(i (575,144 047 3,449,000 2,(549 000 1(58,939 191 t;87 393,989 3(1(5 10(5 39,789 138 312 99,890 1.53 479 149,370 178 7(10 91,375 180 878 43,2(59 45 904 1,853,781 1,432 054 69(1,579 70(5 472 192,940 184 312 330,110 394 (576 24,(549 32 0(50 2.54,700 320 490 488,514 362 446 12,000,000 15,000 000 •Note.— The receipts for the past four years averaged 241,834 bags; the decrease in 1887 and 1888 is owing to reduced consumption on account of increase in cost. e >, o v« -^j m 1— t T-H T-H t) CO O o t^ h:; -:Jh" CO ^ c^ (M t» H ^ ^^ ^^ B c» '^'^ '*" 3 H S •s <^ o H o 0) ^ <: C3 PS ^^ ^ a > 1— ( be ^ ^ tf :^ S <1 'o ^ **■ 1— ( Eh o E^ Ow Ch l-H C O! iO) -5l l-H cc -Jl yffl 02 rj ^ 1— 1 w o +H '* ^ W w Pi 1-H cx:) o T-H ^ H ^ oT ^ w G• T— 1 < C/3 C T-H G^ oo 00 GO H GO GO CONCLUSION. 309' THK lUSIXESS TONNAGE IX LEADING ARTICLES, RECEIPTS AND SHIPMENTS TO AND FROM ST. LOUIS, FOR THE YEARS LS87 AND 1888. SHIl'.MENTS. Articles. Wool, pounds Cottou, bales Hides, pouuds Wheat and Flour, in bushels Wheat. Flour, (alone) l)arrels Meats — hoi; product — pouuds Manufactured Tobacco, pouuds .\le and Beer, packages Nails, kegs Lumber, feet Pig Iron, tons Iron Ore, " Ziuc " " Lead, 8n-pouud pigs, each ZincTaud Spelter, slabs Barbed Wire, pounds White Lead, " Dried Fruit, sacks and barrels Bagging, rolls 1888. 21,4(13,998 r)l'H,185 4o,2:»(;,.-)8i l(i,4s8,723 2,(iS2,405 24(;,238,457 1887 2,310,2(;8 5 27,000,843 34,2(57,439 137,694 3(i0,(i09 CONCLUSION. A RESUME OF THE PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS OF TO-DAY. PROGRESS. The growth of tlie city of St. Louis in all its staple manufactures, and established industries continues steady and rapid. It supplies machinery and an infinite variety of its productions, as well as merchandise of every de- 19 310 ST, LOUIS OF TO-DAY. scription, to a wide district of surrounding territory, in- cluding some in wliich its merchants and manufacturers compete successfully with other cities in their own fields. The receipts of this market for the last year, ending December 31, 1888, in all the great staples of grain, cotton, wool, furs, hides, meats, butter, tobacco, lead, zinc, coal, cattle, sheep, hogs, horses, mules, etc. — were greater than its predecessor. The shipments during the same period of all the products of farm and forest, of mines and factories, in- cluding sales of merchandise and commodities, were in volume and value in excess of the preceding year. At the present date, March 15, 1889, the construction of dwelling houses and business blocks in activQ progress is larger than usual, outdoor work being facilitated by the present mild season. But, the opinion is justified — from what is now known — that the private, corporate and municipal buildings and improvements which will be con- structed within the city limits the present year will surpass in magnitude and value those of any previous year in its history. At no time hitherto, was the outlook so full of prom- ise of extensive and large results — in economic values — in all that relates to Production, Conversion and Exchange in its trade and industries. And, foremost of all in material wealth and values of the city — its Eeal Estate — there is not in it at the present time any inflation of prices, but a bouyancy which strikingly reflects its grand future ! And, whilst the realty of this city is largely dependent for its practical value upon the general prosperity, it j)ossesses an intrinsic value — throuo;h its rare advantages of site and surround- ings — which is potent in strength to help every other interest and give them lasting vitality. CONCLUSION. 311 PROSPECTS, u PRIVATE, COHPOKATE AND MTXICIPAL lU'ILDIXG AM) WOIIKS OF IMPROVEMENT PLANNED AND UNDERTAKEN. I'HIVATK AND COKP HATK. Briefly aivon, the following iiiuy he named as a few of the lai-ii'er works planned the present 3'ear, some of which are under construction. The Merchants' Railwa}^ Bridge Company, composed exclusively of St. Louis capitalists, have begun the erection of another steel railway bridire — a counterpart of the present magnificent structure span- ning the Mississippi. It is expected that the new bridge will be completed by 1H91. The needs of an enlarged and growing commerce loudly calls for its early construc- tion. And, as necessary adjuncts of the bridge, another ■company of St. Louis' wealth}' and enterprising men, will build surface and elevated railway tracks and depots at the East End — river front of the city. Also, the score of great railroad corporate lines which enter this city — ])()urino: their daily tides of human beings into the Union Passenger Depot, which for a long time past has been inadequate in its accommodations to the demands for space, and the convenience and comfort of the millions of railway travelers who each year come to St. Louis — have at length resolved to build a new depot. They will soon begin the work of erecting a new passenger union depot whose plan, dimensions and appointments will l)e in acordance with the best modern improvements in such structures and ample for the re(|uirements of another decade. The buildings and realty improvements commenced and contemplated by private citizens and syndicates of capitalists, are the construction of both private and public boulevards and pai'ks.; of business blocks for stores and 312 ST. LOUIS or to-day. offices; new manufacturing plants and the enlargement of existing ones. Also, of dwellings — residences suited to the means and wants of every class of citizens — built by capitalists, for sale and rent. They will be provided — and some replete — with modern conveniences, and built with suitable regard to taste and health. Some of the resi- dences — intended by their builders for their own family homes — will vie in cost, elegance and beauty with, if they do not surpass, any of the splendid dwellings heretofore erected in this city. MUNICIPAL. The municipality through its legislative bod}' and with the approval of the mayor has recently decided to build a new City Hall — upon the eligible site of Washington s(]uare, of six acres of ground. A large sum of money is now Ij^ing in the cit}^ treasury, being a special appropriation for the purpose. The cost will be not less than one million dollars. The site belongs to the city — by purchase many years since. The board of Public Works has under construction ad- ditions to the present grand system of sewerage, equaled in effective utility by only two other cities of the United States (Cincinnati and Nashville). Also, the opening, construction and paving of new streets, including further re-construction with granite blocks. The building of new Avater works of greater strength and capacity, is energetic- ally pressed. The plans include the construction of a conduit of seven miles length and a diameter of nine feet, and other radical improvements. These great works are to be completed within five j^ears. They will furnish daily fifty million gallons of wholesome water. The plant is adapted to supply double that quantity at a moderate additional outlay. The full cost has been provided for in cash appropriations and will be met, together with the CONCLUSION. 313 full sum of the "Water Bonds aiimially inatiiriiinr, out of the currcMit water re\enues by the yoav 1(SH3. Finally, the faeilities for rai)id transit within the city limits and extendinir into the suburbs, whieh now com- prise upwards of 1(50 miles in length, of street railways, nearly all of whieh are double tracked, will — durinjr the present year — be much increased. The motive power to be utilized will continue to be that of the cal)le sys- tem or electric motors on all the princi[)al street pas- senger railway lines. A sj'stem of elevated street raiheai/s of considerable magnitude and importance, is now under consideration in the city legislature. Fewer property owners now than formerly object to the elevated railway system, while man\- of the most cautious citizens earnestly approve it. Lastly, it can be said — cannot be controverted — that rarely has a city of this or any other country made, within the term of a short decade — such substantial progress in every element of solid growth as the citv of St. Louis. No city to-day possesses a founchition more substantial. Not a single drawback is in view, or can be adduced upon good judg!nent, that can prevent its steady development or mar its splendid i)ros[)ects. But, the conti-ary is the case, in numerous tangible evidences of greatness possessed by the present city, which presage a future of surpassing wealth and power I ?,u gT. LOUIS or TO-DAY BUILDING OF THE IXDEPENDKNT OUDEK OF ODD FELLOWS. APPKNDIX. TIIK ACTUAL SUMS OF THK ANNUAL ASSESSMKXT OF TAXES ON KEAL AND PERSONAL PKOrEHTV. The lioures oi the assessnieiits reported to tlie Mayor are made to the end of the llseal year, the Dth