y/¥: ^ r:^' m Si-^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS oooaam73bfi . . -.^J/,^*'^-^^ --w^'" /\ -.^p:-' *^"*^ °'W^'" /'■''^* ^ *?XT» /V <^ 'o..* G^ ^ *?^^T* VV These assessments are not probably more than three-fifths the actual value of property, and they are presented only for the purpose of show- ing the relative taxal)le values of the city and State. During the same years the total receii^ts by the State Treasury from taxes and licenses for State revenue and interest funds were as follows : 1877, $2,203,785,11, 1878, $2,632,557.55 Of these amounts, St. Louis city paid in 1877, $739,950.70, and in 1878, $929,092.80. Of course, the receipts for the two funds named consti- tute only a portion of the State revenue ; the aggregate receipts of the State treasury for the years 1877 and 187S from all sources was $(i,545,- 620.97. The comparative figures given, however, fairly indicate the financial relation of the city to the State. On the basis of the fig- ures for 1877, St. Louis represents more than two-fifths of the taxable wealth of the whole State -in fact not far from one-half — and for the same year it paid more than fifty per cent, of the entire amount of taxes and licenses collected from the 114 counties composing the State, The figures for 1878 afford nearly the same results when the assessment is corrected. A moderate estimate of the jjopulation of the cit}' places it between 500,000 and 600,000, or something over one-fourth the population of the State outside the city limits. 10 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES II is a point of much importance and of particular bearing on the agricultural and mineral development of the State, that St. Louis, either by river or rail, is easily accessible from nearl}' every county. This is one of the many inducements that Missouri offers to immigration. There is no portion of the State that is not within convenient distance of a commercial metro})()lis, and with available means of transportation for the products of the field, the mine, or the manufactory, to a ready market, and to a point where such product can be promptly forwarded to any place in the old or new world. The farmer in the State of Missouri is never beyond the influence of the steadiest maiket in the country for all kinds of farm products, and where he can be alwavs assured of the best current prices. A GLANCE AT CITY HISTORY AND GROWTH. A detailed review of the history and growth of St. Louis is not to be expected here. It is sufficient to present such facts as convey a clear view of the city's history and progress. The city was founded in the month of February, 1764, by an expe- dition headed by Laclede, and which was organized in New Orleans, for the purpose of establishing a trading post and promoting the exploration and settlement of the vast regions stretching northward and traversed by the Mississippi. The fur trade with the Indians was i)robably the prac- tical object of the proposed enterprise, but doubtless that love of adven- ture which has always exercised so large an influence in the development of new and unknown lands, was the feeling that inspired most of the members of the party. There had been some exploration of the interior of the continent by La Salle, Hennepin, Maniuette and others, and a few military posts had been established, but there was no general knowledge respecting it, and it was still invested Avith the romance of the unknown. The very ownership of the immense territory was vague and undefined, so for as European powers were concerned ; and it appears that Laclede, when he established his camp on the present site of St. Louis, named the end)yro town after a French monarch, when the territory west of the Mississippi had been really ceded to Spain. The voyage up the Missis- sippi in the rude roats of that day required nearly three months, and although file party left New Orleans early in August, they did not arrive at Ste. Genevieve until Octol)er. A brief delay took place at this settlement, and then Laclede proceeded to Fort de Chartres, and thence as far north as the junction of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers; and on his return, the selection of the jiresent site of St. Louis was made, as a i)lace for a permanent post. The first settlers were few in number, but they were or THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 11 men of energy and industry, and it appears from historical data that rapid progress Avas made in building houses and establishing a reoular and well protected post. When the Fort de Chartres was surrendered to the English, in accordance with the provisions of the treaty of Paris, the garrison, commanded by Louis St. Ange de Bellerive, was transferred to St. Louis, and the post acquired ncAv influence and impor- tance. Between the years 17()() and 1770 decided steps were taken by the Spanish government to assert its control over the vast provinces of Upper and Lower Louisiana. In 1771 St. Louis Avas taken possession f)f by Don Pedro Piernas, who brought to the post a small body of Spanish troops. At that time there were snuill settlements at Caron- delet, then called Vide Poche, and afterward Carondelet, in honor of a French nobleman of that name, and also at St. Charles and some other points within a radius of fifty or a hundred miles. Cruzat succeeded Piernas as governor, and he was followed in 1778 by Fernando de Leyba. During the administration of the latter the j^oung city was attacked ])y Indians, May 25th, 1780, the festival of Corpus Christi. The Avar of the revolution Avas then in progress, and the attack is supposed to have been instigated by English influence. The governor was suspected of com- plicit}^ in the aflair, and his barbarous conduct toAvards the inhabitants during the attack affords ground for the suspicion. About thirty of the citizens were killed, but the Indians were beaten ofl" and did not renew the attack. Leyba was soon after removed and Cruzat again placed in command. He strengthened the fortiflcations of the post by construct- ing a stockade, connecting stone forts, but the place was not again subjected to hostile operations. A period of tAventy years folloAved unmarked by any remarkable events. The Spanish governors in charge who succeeded Cruzat Avere Manuel Perez, Zenon Trudeau and Charles Dehault Delassus. In the latter part of 1803 the territory of Louisiana was ti-ansf erred back to France, in accordance Avith a treaty betAveen that i)ower and Spain ; but there was no general assertion of French control, owing to the Avar Avith Great Britain. The celebrated Louisiana purchase, by which the i)rovince became the property of the United States, was consummated the same year, and in the ensuing year Capt. Stoddard, acting for the French government, formally transferred it to the United States. In stating these events I have omitted all historical details, in order to secure brevity, conflning myself to such particulars as indicate the changes in governmental control. The spirit of the Spanish government was mild and liberal, but the progress of the young settlement Avas necessarily sIoav, as it was surrounded by a vast wilderness and a greater 12 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES body of population was necessary to open the country to the influences of civilization. True prosperity and advancement were the fruit of American institutions and the restless spirit of progress that sprung from the independence and organization of the American Union. Capt. Stoddard was appointed chief officer of the provisional government organized by Congress, and proved a judicious and gifted governor, and it is from his official proceedings and a treatise published by him on Louisiana that the most authentic historical information of the period is derived. St. Louis and the adjacent district then had an aggregate population of 2,280, and the total population of Upper Louisiana was about 9,000, including 1,300 blacks. There were not more than 200 substantial dwellings, strung along the two most important streets, which ran parallel to the river, and the land west of Fourth Street was still in a state of nature. Tliere were nothing that could be called public buildings ; mails were rare and infrequent. Many of the features now considered essential to civilized life were wholly wanting, and the fur trade continued to be the principal business. Such was St. Louis in the early years of the present century ; and it is only when we view it in its infancy, and contrast it with the metropolis of to-day, that an adequate idea is gained of the colossal growth accomplished within sixty or seventv years. During the following twenty years, various events occurred which indicated the commencement of a vigorous growth commercially and socially. A post-office was created, the Missouri Gazette, the tirst news- paper, was established in 1808 by Joseph Charless, and was subsequently merged in the present Missouri Republican. The town was incorporated in 1809, and a Board of Trustees elected to conduct the municipal gov- ernment. In 1S12 the Territory of Missouri was designated, and a legislative assembW authorized. The Missouri Fur Company was organ- ized, eml)racing among its members such well-known names as Chouteau, Labadie, Menard, Clark, and others. Energetic measures were adopted to explore the country north and west, for the purpose of settlement, and the extension of trade with the Indians. The judicial and educa- tional systems were adjusted on a permanent basis, and the trading post began to adajjt itself to the forms of civilization. The Missouri Bank was incorporated in 1817, its first president being Auguste Chouteau. The tirst steamboat arrived at the foot of Market Street in the year 1(S15, to be followed soon by others. In 1S1<) the tirst steamer ascended the Missouri, and the tirst throngh boat from New Orleans arrived, having consumed 27 days in the trip. From about this i)eriod there is no lack of historical details respectmg St. Louis, for newspapers had begun to multiply, and OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 13 in 1821 a City Directory Avas issued. The facts stated in this volume show that the town was then an important and thriving one. There were a number of substantial brick buildings ; the Catholic cathedral, commenced in 1818, was one of the finest church edifices in the country, and there were several other church buildings. There were ten common schools, three newspapers, a Masonic hall, a substantial stone jail, and the site had already been selected for a court house. Two steam ferries were operated between the Illinois and Missouri shores l)y Mr. Samuel Wiggins, and two fire companies with engines and other apparatus were in existence. The principal articles of trade were fur, peltries and lead, and quite a long list of agricultural productions, showing that the culti- vation of the soil was rapidly progressing. The annual imports were estimated to reach a sum of $2,000,000, and the steamboat l)usiness had assumed important proportions. The population of the city, as given in this publication, was 5,500, and of the town and county 9,732. At this time, however, the assessed value of taxable property was less than $1,000,000, and the total corporation tax less than $4,000. The town limits, as established by act of incorporation in 1809, were from Mill Creek (near site of gas works), thence westwardly to about Seventh Street, thence northwardly on Seventh Street to Green Street, thence eastwardly to the Mississippi River. There had been some progress made in paving the streets, but it was not extensive, and the streets were narrow, and the city was still confined to the streets in the vicinity of the river. During the succeeding ten years a not rapid but steady growth characterized the young city, which was becoming gradually known as a place with a promising future before it. Lafayette visited St. Louis in 1825 and was accorded an impressive public reception. A brick Court House was erected, which was destined to be succeeded by the present imposing structure. Several handsome Protestant Churches were erected, the United States Arsenal was estab- lished and Jeflerson Barracks 1)uilt. The names of the streets were revised and the old system of designating them by letters abandoned and measures were taken to construct Water Works. As illustrating how slowly the population changed, 1 may mention that in 1827 there were hardly more than a dozen German families in St. Louis. Nothing more forcibly illustrates the growth of the city than some of the items found in municipal records still in existence, and I may l^e pardoned a brief digression in order to present some of them. In 1811 the assessment of real and personal property, made by Wm. C. Carr and Auguste Chouteau, assessors, is contained on ate business of the city in leading articles, for the years stated. Several important branches of business and manufac- ture are omitted, as comparative figures were not obtainable : Business of St. Louis in leading articles for three years : ARTICLES. Flour, amount manufactured bbls •' " handled " Wheat, total receipts bush, Corn, '• " " Oats, " " " Rye, " " " Barley, " " " All grain (including flour reduced to wheat) " Cotton, receipts bales Hemp, " " Bagging, manufactured yards. Hay, receipts, bales of 400 lbs bales. Tobacco, receipts hhds. Lead, receipts in pigs 80 lbs. average pigs. Hog Product, total exports lbs . Cattle, receipts, head. Sheep, " " Hogs, " " Horses and Mules, receipts " Lumber, " feet. Shingles, " pes. Lath, " *' Wool, total receipts lbs. Hides. " " Sugar, received " Molasses , shipped galls. Coflee, received bags. Rice, receipts bbls. Coal, " hush. Nails, " kegs. Potatoes, receipts bush. Salt, " bbls. " '• sacks. " " bush, in bulk. Butter Ihs. 1871 1,517,921 2.9:38,328 8,274,151 11,847,771 S,124,721 472.909 1,. 326,490 30,885,700 217,734 7,930 7,000,000 322,344 28,064 790,028 176,434.708 411,909 200,502 896,319 22.652 163,304,150 64,919,000 15,973,200 15,521,975 20,001,031 93,642,.'^72 1,(!88,608 197,099 22,368 35.856,850 510,590 753,907 202,377 104,406 1878. 1,916,290 3,633,872 14,.325,431 9,009,723 3,882.276 845,932 1,517,292 36,107,334 338,340 5,087 7,500 .000 3;iO,9Sl 25,870 764,357 188,529 593 406.235 168,095 1,451,634 27,878 189,238,333 88,0.=>9,000 33,993,000 16,469,816 17,129,895 106,836,225 1,844,260 201,080 25.600 33,087.300 522,399 602.675 271.521 78,781 8,627,056 1879. 2,142,949 4,1.54.754 17,093,362 13,360,036 5,002,165 713,728 1,831,517 46,037,578 472,436 4,072 8,000.000 461,979 20,278 817,594 220,891.273 420,654 182,648 1,762,224 33,953 280,986,361 77,811,500 27,713,700 20,786,742 20,042,734 107,176,052 1,684,960 267,533 34,213 36,978,150 675. ,538 963,047 244,966 78,345 439,788 8,961.965 The foreign shipments on through bills of lading during the years 1878 and 1879 w^ere as follows tor the articles stated : Flour. Bbls. Cotton. Bales. Wheat. Bush. Tobacco. Hhds. Can. Beef. Lbs. Meats. Lbs. Hams. Lbs. Totals for 1879 619,103 214,35C 325,012 1,982 ■ 11.267,355 7,535,947 1,431,841 Totals for 1878 265,968 129,821 16,188 1 7,349 i 168,700 8,613,706 These tio-ures embrace only a few of the principal articles, and are presented simply to illustrate the extension of this department of trade. The o-rowth of trade is also forcibly illustrated by the following table, taken from the last official report, showing tonnage receipts by river and rail : OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 1^ 1879. Received by rail 4,663,078 i. (. river 088.970 Total tous 5,352,048 Shipped by rail 2,285,716 " " river 677,145 Total tons 2,962,861 1878. 1877. 1876. 1875. 3,785,307 3,464,388 3,431,220 3,232,77 714.700 644,485 688,755 663,525 4,500,007 1,880,559 614,675 4,108,873 1,652,850 597,670 4,119,975 1,659,950 600.225 3,896,295 1,301,450 639,095 2,495,234 2,250,520 2,260,175 1,940,545 Of the increase of receipts, the largest proportion was from the West and South, and the same is true of the increase of shipments. The secretary of the Exchange states that " in all the leading commodities, with scarcely an exception, the result of the last year's business shows a gratifying increase." The foreign value of commodities imported into St. Louis during 1879 was $1,751,840, and the duties paid $828,852.98. The amounts of the annual custom house collections during a period of nearly twenty years were as follows : Total col- ^^^^- lections. 1861 18,609.78 1862 31.019.04 1863 49,910.33 1864 94,7.59.92 1865 654.583.21 1866 834,935.78 ..„,_ Total col - ^^'^^- lections. 1867 1,297,2.55.88 1868 1,457,985.66 1869 1,764,112.31 1870 2.037,484.15 1871 1,905,309.55 1872 1,730.050.21 1873 1,406,646.30 . Total col- ^^^^' lections. 1874 1.703,591.78 1875 1,186,202.87 1876 1,777,369.05 1877 1,304,731.59 1878 1,619,375.10 1879 850,407.28 The tables given above are only j)artial illustrations of the business of St. Louis. There are numerous commodities belonging to our trade not embraced therein ; they do not include any showing of our various manufactures, nor of the business in iron, groceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, saddleiy, brewing, glass works, furniture making, carriage and wagon factories, and miscellaneous industries, nor the immense aggre- gate transactions of retail dealers. In the lastU. S. census, the value of the product of our manufactures was given at $158,761,013, and the in- vested capital, $60,357,001, and it is fair to presume that the increase during the decade just closed, has been in correspondence with the gen- nral growth of the city in population and wealth. In reference to miscel- laneous branches of city business and commerce not included in the tab- uhir exhibit given, a like increase may be predicated. It is in connection, however, with the great staple articles of human food and human use, that the trade and commerce of St. Louis is best exemplitied, and for greater distinctness I shall present such In'ief statement as I have to make under separate headings. 20 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES THE BANKING BUSINESS OF THE CITY. At the close of the year 1879 there were five national banks and twenty state l)anks doing business in the city. The aggregate assets, as officially returned, amounted to $41,821,1111. The clearings for the 3'ear were $1,119,368,256, against $957,268,852 for the year 1878, showing an increase of transactions of $162, 099, 374, which is at the rate of 17 per cent. Balances for the year 1879 aggregated $97,112,269, against $85,875,281 in 1878. The policy of our banks is at once prudent and liberal ; moncA' rarely rules at high rates in St. Louis, and the supply is seldom restricted. The enormous increase in the grain and cotton trade and other impor- tant staples is rapidly extending banking operations, and our bankers and business men fully understand the situation ; new facilities and increased capital are always ready to meet the demands of an expanding commerce. VALUES OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. There is no official data for estimating the municipal wealth except the assessment for taxes. This basis is not more satisfactory in St. Louis than in other large cities, because the real estate values are necessarily only approximations, and a large portion of the personal property either evades or is not subject to taxation. The aggregate assessment has been reduced the last few years owing to the exemption of church property and that held for charitable uses, under the new constitution, and to other causes. It Avas over $180,000,000, in 1877, and is stated at $163,813,- 920, for the year 1879. This, to a stranger, would indicate a falling off in wealth, Avhen of course the reverse is the case. Adding to the present assessment of real and personal property a rough estimate of the values not inchided therein, owing to exemption and otherwise, and the aggregate is over $300,000,000. The official assessments commencing with 1864, were as follows : YEAR. City of St. Louis iieal Estate. City of St. Louis Real & Personal. YEAR. City of St. Louis Real Estate. City of St. Louis Real & Personal. 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 iy(j9 $ 53,205.820 73.960,700 81,961,610 88.625,000 94.302,370 113,C.26,410 119,080,800 123,833,950 •t 63 059,078 87,025,534 105,245,210 112,907,060 116.582,140 138,523,480 147,909.060 ! 158,272,430 1872 1873 1874 1875 1870 1877 1878 1879 •1-129,235,180 149,144,400 141,041,480 131,141,020 i;;2 ,785,450 148,012,750 140,976,540 136,071,670 .f 162. 089,570 180,278,95(1 172.109.270 160,999,600 166,441,110 181.345,560 1870 1871 172,829.980 163,813,920 The total tax rate on city property last year was, $2.60 on the $100, which included state, citv and school taxes. OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 21 THE GRAIN TRADE. The vast extent of fertile agricultural territory tributary to St. Louis made it a fixed fact, even at an early period in its history, that the city was destined to control a laro-e o-i-ain trade. As the settlement and de- velopement of our own and adjoining states progressed, the possibilities of our grain trade became more apparent, but it is only within the last tAvo or three j^ears that our merchants have begun to realize the true proportions of the business. The removal of obstructions at the mouth of the Mis- sissippi by the completion of the jetties, has had an immense eftect in stimulating the trade. The markets of Europe demand the surplus grain products of the Great West, and now that St. Louis possesses, via New Orleans, a free, unobstructed water way to the sea, it is rapidly l)ecoming the central receiving and shipping point of these products. The transfer of grain from St. Louis to New Orleans in l)arges and thence to Europe and other countries is at present only in its incipiency . I am convinced that the growth of the trade during the next few years will assume an astonish- ing magnitude, and as the superior facilities of this route, not only in greater safety but reduced cost and reduced loss in handling are generally understood and appreciated, the receipts of grain at this city will im- mensely increase. The statistics given in the last otficial report of the Secretary of the Merchants' Exchange show how important the annual increase is at present. In 1878 the total receipts, including tiour reduced to wheat, which is the ordinary mode of computing, were 36,107,334 bushels ; and last year, 1879, the receipts were 46,037,578 bushels. In wheut alone the rate of increase in St. Louis was higher than at any other large receiving point in the west, being about IS) 1-.") })cr cent., against a rate of 14 78-100 for Chicago, loledo and Detroit being much less than cither. The wheat receipts here in 1879 were 17,093,862, against 14,325,431 for 1878. During the year the shipments of wheat were 7,302,076 bushels, of which 2,715,909 were exported direct to Europe, and 4,359,081 went East by rail and the balance to other points. There were 8,996,177 bushels ground into tiour by our mills, j-ielding 2,142,949 barrels of flour. The receipts of corn in this city last year were 13,360,- 636 bushels, against 9,009,723 in 1878, an increase of over 48 per cent, and greater than at any other western city, Chicago showing but a small increase and Toledo a loss of over three million bushels. The aggregate shipments for 1879 were 8,311,005 bushels, of which 4,206,995 were shipped direct to Europe, 2,388,369 to the East and 1,701,805 to the South for consumption. There were 1,932,612 bushels ground into corn meal and hominj^, and 2,229,787 consumed in the city for feed and other 22 HISTORY, (ajOWTII AND INDUSTRIES purposes. In other kinds of grain there was also a substantial ini3rease and a satisfactory business was done. The receipts of barley were 1,831,507 bushels, against 1,517,292 in l'S7S. The shipments were small, as our maltsters and brcAvcrs used the bulk of the receipts in their operations. The business of the leading Elevators is compactly shown in the foUomng table : Total 1S79 " 1878 " 1877 Bushels Grain Received. 23,717,612 20.048,429 14,297,467 Capacity for Bulk Grain. 4,950,000 bush. 4,025,000 " 3,963,000 " Additional Capacity for Packages. 3 0,000 sacks. 315,000 " 315,000 " There are other statistics in abundance bearinij on the orain trade of St. Louis that I might present, but the subject is too extensive to treat in detail in this paper. I have aimed only to state such facts as clearly show the growth, character and present extent of the trade, and suf- ficient have been presented for that purpose. THE ST. LOUIS BREWERIES. The ])eer made in St. Louis is among the best manufactui'ed in the country, and large shipments are now annually made to many points in the old and new world. The expansion of the business during late 3'ears has been steadj^ and rapid, ^and upon the most permaiiant basis. The production for the past three years, was as follows : 1877 471,232 barrels, or 14,608,192 gallons. 1878 521,684 '' 16,172,204 " 187^ 613,067 " 19,023,677 " Some of the most extensive and best arranged brcAveries in the country are in St. Louis, such as that of the Anheuser Brewing Associ- ation and of W. J. Lemp. FLOUR. The manufacture of tiour has for many years been an important branch of St. Louis industry, and is steadily increasing. The product of the twenty-four mills operated last 3^ear, was 2,142,949 bbls. against 1,916,290 bbls. for 1878, and 1,517,921 in 1877. Adding to this amount received and handled by jobbers, viz : 2,011,805 bbls ; we have a total amount handled by millers and jobl)ers during the year, of 4,154,754 bbls. against 3,633,872 bbls. in 1878, and 2,938,328 bbls. in 1877. The shipments aggregated 3,045,035 bbls. of which equal to OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 23 619,103 were shipped to Europe, principally in sacks, l.()4!»,504 bbls. to the south, and shipments east, 1,308,387 bbls. The growth of the Hour business is plainly illustrated by these figures, and it is almost (piite certain that the same causes that are so rapidly extending the grain trade of St, Louis, will operate to increase manufacture in the future. COTTON. The fact that St. Louis is situated north of' the cotton producing region and farther from the sea seemed some years ago as a natural obstacle to its becoming a great cotton market. The results achieved during the last few years, however, have shown that it is destined to become in the immediate future the largest market and the controlling inland cotton centre of the continent. The progress has been so rapid and so great as to constitute one of the most emphatic triumphs in our commercial history, as the whole development has been effected in a period less than ten years. The receipts during the cotton season of 1869 and '70 were less than for the year 1866 and '67, and the true growth only commenced in the season of 1870 and '71. From that date up to the present the receipts, as furnished to me by Mr. J. W. Paramorc, President of the St. Louis Cotton Compress Co., have been as follows : RECEIPTS. 1S70-71 20,270 bales. 1871-72 36,421 '' 1872-73 59,700 " 1873-74 .' 103,741 '' 1874-75 133,966 " 1875-76 245,209 " 1876-77 217,734 •' 1877-78 246,314 " 1878-79 335,799 " The cotton j^ear commences September 1st. Receipts from Sep- tember 1st, 1879, to February 27th, 1880, were 430,752 bales, or about 100,000 more than for whole last cotton year. Gross receipts this year are estimated by Mr. Paramore at 500,000 bales. This, at $65 per bale, represents $32,500,000. The value of 20,000 bales, which came to the city ten years ago, was about $1,300,000. This splendid progress has been largely caused by the extensive and complete facilities pro- vided in this city for the handling and shipping of cotton, and also to the wise and liberal spirit of the railroads connecting St. Louis with the cotton states west of the Mississippi river. The cotton compress of the St. Louis Compress Company is the largest ever constructed, having a capacity of compressing between 3,000 and 4,000 bales a day, ^vith 24 HISTORY, GKOWTH AND INDUSTRIES covered storage ropm for 150,000 bales. This is uudou])tedly a mag- nificent branch of our trade, and contributes largely to our commercial wealth and enterprise. The shipments for the last two 3'ears w^ere as follows : 1877-78. 1878-79. To the East 226 J29 317,26'J " South 10,194 ",208 " North 3,923 1,072 '• West....* 358 217 Total bales 240,604 325,766 Large as the cotton business of St. Louis now is, there is every prospect of an extensive increase within the next three or four years as cotton culture is extended in the South and Southwest. THE IRON TRADE. That the inexhaustible deposits of iron ore in the State of Missouri, the abundance of our coal supply should have led to extensive furnaces, rolling mills, foundries and iron and steel works of all kinds in the city of St. Louis, is not surprising. An immense industry has been devel- oped Avithin a period of ten or fifteen years, and notwithstanding the general depression of the iron trade during the last few years, it is to-day one of our most imi)ortant departments of manufacture. The iron busi- ness includes so many branches, viz. : the manufacture of pig iron and its conversion into l)ar iron, to steel, to castings and the making of arti- cles of iron such as engines, machinery, stoves, etc., all made from the original pig iron or bars, that it is difficult, in the absence of official statistics, to calculate the amount invested in the industry. The result of inquiries, instituted by myself into the operation of the trade, seems to show that the amount of capital at present invested in the business in this city is nearly $8,700,000, and the value of production, in view of the decent advance in prices, about $11, 74"), 000. This includes boiler mak- ing, furnaces, rolling mills, machine shops, mill machinery, nuts and bolts, wire and wire goods, etc., and I have no doubt the aggregate stated is below the real volume of the tracle. The present revival in iron manufacture and profitable prices will soon greatly increase the business in this city, OAving to our favorable situation for supplying all parts of the city and our boundless supplies of ore and coal. This one industry in itself possesses wonderful possibilities of development and of increas- ing our municipal wealth, because it is one that must expand with the increasing population and settlement of the country. It is a business OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 25 that rests upon the basis of a great staple article of human use, one that is absolutely necessary in every step of commercial progress, and this unquestioned truth renders its extension in this city a matter of cer- tainty. Within a distance of less than 100 miles and connected by rail- roads, exists abundance of the best kind of ore ; on all sides of us and within a radius of thirty miles are immeasurable coal deposits, and these facts, in connection with the capital and the manuf;.icturing and shipping facilities by river and rail available here, make it evident that the futui'e extension of the trade must be felt most immediately and powerfully at St. Louis. DRY GOODS. In the wholesale and retail branches of the dry goods trade St. Louis does a laro-e and increasing business. Accordino; to a careful estimate made by Mr. Joseph Franklin, of the Wm. Ban* Dry Goods Company, the amount of capital employed by the dry goods houses will reach 110,000,000 and the amount of business annually $85,000,000. During the last ten years the trade has doubled in the aggregate ; the jobbers report that the greatest increase in their business is from south west Texas and Arkansas. Within the past live years many new houses have been added to the trade, and several beautiful and substantial buildings have been erected for both the wholesale and retail business. During the pres- ent spring and the ensuing summer it is expected that the operations of the trade will be larger than in any previous season. PROVISIONS AND GROCERIES. The results of the packing season in St. Louis for 1878-79 shoAV (i29,261 hogs, against 509,540 for preceding season, and the receipts of product 107,821,150 lbs., against 76,070,805 lbs. for 1878. The exports last season were 220,891,273 lbs. against 188,529,593 in 1878. The shipments direct to Europe were 7,535,947 lbs. meats, and 1,431,841 lbs. of hams and ()48,877 lbs. lard. The balance of the shipments were to the south for consumption, and to eastern markets. There is only one other point in the United States that exceeds St. Louis in the packing business, and that is Chicago, and this excess will prol)abh' be only tem- porary. The aggregate amount of sales by the wholesale grocery trade of St. Louis, during 187!), is estimated at $22,000,000, embracing orders from nearl}^ all important })oints in the south and west. The year's operations 2H HISTORY, (JROWTH AND INDUSTRIES Were considerably in exec:;;* of the previous 3'eiirs and generally satisfac- tory in character. The receipts of coffee in St. Louis are rapidly increasinof, and our coffee market is now one of the laroest in the world. In 1879 there were received here 2r)7,533 bags of 130 pounds each, and about one-eighth of the entire last Rio crop. The sugar trade of St. Louis has for many 3^ears been of great im- portance, not only from the anionnt of the capital employed in it, but on account of the extent of the refining operations. The receipts of re- fined sugar from the ejist in 1879, were 89,993 ])bls. 300 lbs. each, and the product of the Belcher Refinery for 10 months, 193,000 bbls ; total trade in refined sugars 283,000 bl)ls. Amount of raw sugar received for the year, was 65,225 hhds., 1,100 lbs. each, and 1,224 boxes and 595 bags of West India sugar, the greater portion of which Avas used by the Belcher Refinery. These particulars are derived from the oflScial report of Greeley, Burnham & Co., and are entirely reliable. In the numerous other branches of the provision and grocery trade, St. Louis has an extensive and increasing trade, Init a statement of statistics Avould unduly lengthen this paper. OTHER BRANCHES OF TRADE. There are many other features in the trade of St. Louis that properly demand notice, but as some of them will l)e separately treated by other gentlemen, it is unnecessary for me to discuss them. In liA'c stock, the receipts for three years were as follows : Cattle. Sheei). Hogs. Horses & Mules. 1879 420,6r)4 182,6-48 1,702,724 33,289 1878 406,235 168,095 1,451,634 27,878 1877 411,969 200,502 896,319 22,()52 The business done in Lumber, during 1879, is indicated by the fol- lowing fio'iires : LUMBER SOLD IN 1879. Lumber, feet. Shingles, pes- Laths, pieces. Shipments (river and rail) 161,953,000 130,857,551 37,450,000 42,509,500 16,300,000 9,229,830 Local coDBumption Total 301,810,551 79,959,500 25,529,830 OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 27 The total receipts of Tobacco for 1879 were 20,27b hogsheads, in- cluding 3,850 hhds. received by manufacturers from other markets, and balance of previous year's crop. The following statement shows the manufacturing operations in St. Louis for three years : Tobacco lbs . Cigars M • Suuflf lbs. 1877. 5,448,522 33 ,920 35.595 1878. 5,954,747 36,560 36,180 1879. 8,642,688 35,042 41,180 The trade in Highwines and Whiskies is illustrated by the following figures : Bushels of grain mashed and distilled 614,514-59 Spirits produced— gals 2,228,088 Spirits rectified or compounded in 1st Dist. Mo. In 1879 — gals 2,946,871-20 Total number of gals- gauged in this dist- by U- S- gaugers in 1879 10,650,084-36 111 Lead, Wool and Hides, Hemp and Bagging, all kinds of Feed, and many other articles, a large and protital)le business was transacted. THE RAILROADS AND UNION DEPOT. The establishment of a grand railroad centre at the Union Depot was made a possibilit}^ by the building of the magnificent bridge over the Mississippi River at the foot of Washington Avenue. This structure and the Tunnel connecting it with the Depot forms one of the most remark- able engineering achievements in the world, and has given to our city unequaled facilities for the management of railroad traffic. It consoli- dates railroad business near the business centre of the city, and the trans- fer of passengers and freight is more convenient and expeditious and attended with less cost than in any other city of the country. All the roads enter the Union Depot through the Tunnel, except three or four, so that the great feature of a common railroad centre is obtained without any sacrifice of other interests. The railroad lines centering at the depot are as follows : West roads — Missouri Pacific ; St. Louis & San Francisco ; Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific ; Chicago, Alton & St. Louis ; Missouri, Kansas c^ Texas ; also a numljer of other roads, the starting point of which is west of St. Louis, but which may be said to connect with our Union Depot. South roads — St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern ; Missouri, Kansas & Texas ; Belleville & Southern Illinois ; Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis (St. Louis Division) ; Cairo & St. Louis. East roads — Ohio & Mississippi ; St. Louis, Alton & Chicago ; Indianapolis and St. Louis; St. Louis, Vandalia, Terre Haute &■ Indianapolis; 28 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific ; Illinois & St. Louis. North roads — Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific (Iowa Division) ; Chicago, Burlington and Quincy (St. Louis Division) ; St. Louis Keokuk & Northwestern. During the past two years our railroad system was considerably ex- tended, and to this fact must to a large extent be attributed the increased volurpe of business. The tonnage received by river and rail has been stated above ; St. Louis is now one of the greatest inland railroad centres in the world, and this fact, taken in connection with the pouring of popu- lation into Texas and the territory west of us, and the immense increase that may be expected in the agricultural and mineral production of this region, makes it certain that all branches of our trade must be greatly en- larged in the immediate future. THE CITY AND ITS GOVERNMENT. A summary of the growth, trade and wealth of St. Louis would be incomplete Avithout some particulars respecting the plan of the municipal government, the institutions established under it, and the improvements carried out for the purpose of increasing the attractions of the city as a place of residence, and the securing of social order and the best sanitary conditions. From the date of the first incorporation of the toAvn of St. Louis in 1809 up to three years ago, there had been many changes in char- ter provisions and frequent extensions of the city limits. In 1822, the limits, as extended and defined, might be said to be embraced between Rutger and Biddle Streets, and Seventh Street and the river, an area of less than one S((uare mile, having a length north and south of not much more than a mile and a half, and a Avidth of about half a mile. The last extension of the limits was made at the time of the adoption of the present charter, and the city now embraces a territor}^ of over (52 square miles in extent, or nearly 40,000 acres, with a length of 17 miles from north to south, and (Jf miles from east to west. The river front is bS-i miles, and the length of paved wharf 3|^ miles. Length of inqn-oved streets 315 miles, and of alleys 49 miles. It has nearly 120 miles of street railway'* in operation. There arc 195 miles of substantial sewers, forming an ad- mirable sewer system, and one that is constantly being extended. The cost of the sewers has been $6,093,302, of Avhich $1,209,634 has been expended for a single sewer, Mill Creek sewer, which runs through the old Mill Creek valle}'^ in the centre of the city. Incidental to the construc- tion of the sewers, it may be remarked that the death-rate has been OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 29 greatly reduced as the system was extended. The hist official mortality statistics are elsewhere presented. The present plan of the municipal government presents some new and interesting features. The existing charter was prepared under authority granted by the state constitution in a special provision relating to St. Louis. Formerly the city was embraced in the county of St. Louis, and a county and a city government were both administered within the municipal limits. The new constitution authorized a separa- tion of the municipal governments, which had been congenitally united, and the work of preparing the scheme of separation and a charter for the city was intrusted to a board of thirteen freeholders, elected by the people for that purpose. The scheme and charter, when completed, were submitted to the i)eople at a special election held in 1876, and Avere adopted and went into operation the ensuing year. The separa- tion of the governments was effected without serious trouble, and a re-organization took place under the new law. The city became wholly independent of county control, and is not included in any county of the state. It levies and collects its own revenue and the state revenue within its limits, and manages and conducts its own affairs, free from all out- side interference and control except so far as the constitution admits of action by the Legislature. The constant changes in the charter in past years exercised a detrimental effect on the welfare of the city, and it was to prevent this evil that the new plan was devised. The present charter can be amended at intervals of two years by proposals tlierefor submitted by the law-making authorities of the city to the qualified voters at a general or special election. The legislature may amend the charter, but onl}^ under the restrictions respecting special legislation, so that it is evident the municipal government rests upon a firm and permanent basis highly favorable to true prosperity. The legislative power of the city is vested in a Council and House of Delegates, styled the Municipal Assembly. The Council is composed of thirteen members chosen on a general ticket by the voters of the city, and the House of Delegates consists of one member from each of the twenty-eight wards, elected by the voters in said ward. The mayor and heads of departments, including the President of the Board of Public Improvements, are elected by the people for a term of four years, and the balance of the more important officers are appointed by the mayor with the approval of the council. The charter generally, although not free from mistakes, is much the best one the city has had, and under its operation a better execution of public work and a more economical system of expenditures have uudoulitedly been secured. 30 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES THE HEALTH OF THE CITY. The official mortality bills of St. Louis, when compared with other important cities of the country forcibly illustrate the salubrity of our climate and the excellent sanitary condition of the city. The following table is carefully compiled from recent official documents : CITIES. Estimated Population. New York 1,083,371 Philadel pbia 901 ,380 Brooklyn 504,488 Boston 375,100 Chicago 450,000 Baltimore , 36.5,000 New Orleans 210,0«0 Providence 100,675 Pittsburg 145,000 San Francisco 300,000 Washington 1 60,000 Cincinnati 280,000 Cleveland 162,000 St. Louis I 500,000 Total Deaths. 27,008 15,743 11,075 7,635 7,422 6,733 10.318 l,9lS9 1,446 4,740 4,2,54 4,823 2,710 6,002 Death Rate per 1000. 24.93 17.46 20.15 20.36 16.49 18.44 49.13 19.75 21.16 15.80 26.59 17.23 16.72 , 12.00 The result shown by this table indicates that St. Louis is the healthiest cit}^ in the country, and as the utmost strictness is enforced here in reference to the registration of deaths, and the estimate of the population is moderate, 1 do not see that the statement can be refuted. The favoral)le situation of the city for drainage and our superb sewer system are undoubtedly the principal factors in producing this favoral)le showing. ARCHITECTURAL GROWTH AND CHARACTERISTICS. The growth of St. Louis in building during the last five or ten years has been more steady and substantial than any city in the country. Even during the late period of commercial uncertainty and depression, there was no pause in l)uil(ling operations, investments in real estate continu- ing to be made on the l)asis of confidence in the future of the city. A large number of important buildings for business purposes have been erected recentljs and the residence districts have grown more beautiful and extended each year. The leading characteristics of the architectural growth of the city is the solid and [)ermanent nature of improvements. The cit_f may truly be said to be one of brick, stone, and iron, reflecting OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 31 in the substantial character of its buildings the prudent spirit and strong strong foundations of our commercial enterprise. It is a city built to last, and to fitly represent the wealth and industries of the Great West. The Merchants' Exchange is undoubtedly the finest edifice of the kind in the United States, and the business buildings on Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Streets, and on Washington Avenue and other intersecting thor- oughfares, Avill compare favorably with the lousiness architecture to be seen anywhere. The Court House, the Four Courts and Jail, the Insur- ance Building, Sixth and Locust, the Lindell Hotel, are structures of which any city might be justly proud. The Southern Hotel is rapidly arising from the ashes of the conflagration that swept awav the original edifice, and in a short time will add its completed beauty to the architec- tural attractions of the city. The new Custom House and Post Office is approaching completion, and will be a splendid municipal feature. The Tunnel, connecting the Bridge with the Union Depot, runs in front of the eastern basement wall of the great building, aflbrding new and pecu- liar facilities for the deliveiy of the mails to and from passing trains. Many of our most costly business and public buildings have been erected within the past decade, and various additional architectural enterprises are in progress of execution — among them the St. Louis Art Museum and the Academy and Training School in connection with the Washing- ton University. The former will be an important addition to the scien- tific and educational features of the city, and owes its origin to the liber- ality and public spirit of Mr. Way man Crow, a well-known citizen. St. Louis, I may here remark, owes much to the generosity of private citizens, and particularly to Mr. Henry Shaw, whose cultivated taste has created the beautiful and valuable ornamental feature of the Missouri Botanical Garden at Tower Grove, and whose gift of the land composing- Tower Grove Park made that exquisite driving park a possibility. The universities and public and private schools of St. Louis create an edu- cational system unsurpassed in any city in the world, and equaled by few. It embraces eveiy element necessary to meet the wants of all classes of population, whatever may be their peculiar views, religious or social, while our magnificent system of public schools afl'ord a sound educational course free of all expense. It has been often remarked that this is a city of churches, and certainl}^ we possess very excellent accom- modations in that line. Religious opinions of every shade are repre- sented in our religious edifices, and many of the buildings are of remark- able grace and beauty, and form an important feature in the ornamentation of the city. During the past five or six years a number of large stone churches, evincing the highest architectural taste in the design, have 32 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES been erected in Stoddard Addition, which is the central residence portion of the city. The St. Louis of to-da}^ will, I believe, be greatly surpassed by the St. Louis of the future, but as it stands now, it represents commercially, socially and educationally the best fruits and advancement of modern civilization. In elegance and beauty, some of our residence districts will contrast favorably with the best streets in the older cities of the countr}^ and around Lafayette Park and other parks and squares, the most taste- ful improvements are rapidly progressing. Most of our residence streets are liberidl}^ provided with shade trees, and numerous improved public squares and private gardens add the ornamentation of foliage and of flowers to the appearance of many localities. THE PUBLIC PARKS. The i)ul)lic parks and other ornamental features of a city are, to a considerable extent, a criterion of its prosperity and of the spirit of its government. In this department of public improvement St. Louis has not neglected the demands of its population and commercial position. The acreage devoted to parks and squai'es is large, and they are so dis- tributed throughout the territor}' embraced in the municipal limits as to exercise the most direct influence for the beneflt of property and the convenience of citizens. The extent of each park and the date of acqui- sition are shown in the followino- table : When Acres, Acquired. Benton Park 14.30 ISOfi Carondelet Park (old) ;!.17 1812 Carondelet Park (now) 180.00 1875 Carr Square 2.3G 1842 Exchange Square 12.86 1S16 Forest Park 1,371.94 1874 Gamble Place 1.15 1874 GravoisPark 8. 26 1812 Hyde Park 11.84 1854 Jackson Place 1.(52 1829 When Acre>i. Aciiuired. Laclede Park 3.17 1812 Lafayette Park 29.94 1844 Lyon Park lO.OJ 1872 Misisouri Park 3.92 1854 O'Fallon Park 158.32 1875 St. Louis Place 10.80 1850 Tower Grove Park 276.70 1869 Washington Square (i.CO 1840 2,107.03 The comi)letion of the larger parks has been effected within the last ten years, and has gi-oatly assisted the growth and attractiveness of the city. The following table shows an expenditure of nearly three million and a half of dollaiVs for the purchase and improvement of parks : OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 33 Total Cost of Purchase and Maintenance of all the Parks of the City of St. Louis, from their establishment to April, 1880. PARKS. Benton Park Oarondelet Park (old).. Carondelet Park (new). Carr Square Exchange Square Forest Park Gamble Place Gravois Park Hyde Park Jackson Place Laclede Park Lafayette Park Lyon Park Missouri Park O'Fallon Park St. Louis Place Tower Grove Park "Washington Square . . . . Purchase. 140,570 10 849,058 61 36,250 00 95.500 00 259,065 35 25,000 00 Maintenance. 46,864 51 3,011 86 101,736 87 36,. 349 64 14,578 49 581,685 65 5,182 19 18,644 79 68,840 71 19,788 97 11,240 17 322,485 25 13,.597 22 42,709 70 108,882 74 74,433 96 540,390 06 61,676 17 Total Present Cost. 46,864 51 ^5.011 86 242.306 97 36,349 64 14,578 49 1,430,744 26 5,182 19 18,644 79 105,090 71 19,788 97 11,240 17 322,485 25 13,. 597 22 138,209 70 367,948 09 74.433 96 540,390 06 86,676 17 $3,477,543 01 There are four large driving parks open to the public and visitors on horseback and in vehicles, viz : Tower Grove Park, with 8 miles of drives ; Forest Park, with 20 miles of drives ; O'Fallon Park, Avith 4 miles of drives , Carondelet Park, with 6 miles of drives. The following parks have ponds and lakes for boating and skating : Forest Park, Lafayette Park and Benton Park, and Carondelet Park for skating. The propagation of gold fish was begun in Benton Park by the Park Department, of German carp in St. Louis Place by the Park Depart- ment, of German carp in Forest Park by the State Fish Commission. An excellent band is engaged during the summer season at Lafayette Park every Thursday afternoon, aftd Tower Grove Park every Sunday afternoon. CITY INSTITUTIONS AND BUILDINGS. The city government has established a large number of charitable and correctional institutions, of the character and operation of which I present a brief sketch. The City Hospital. — This institution is situated almost in the heart of the city, on the corner of Lafayette and St. Ange avenues ; the grounds enclosed cover about five acres ; it was commenced and a portion of it was built in 1846. In 1848 the buildings were estimated to be worth $75,000. On the 15th of May, 1856, the hospital was destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt in 1857 at a cost of about $62,000. 34 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES During the years 1872, '3, '4 and '5 there was expended in putting up new Iniildings and improvements, $75,000. The total vahie of the buildings and improvements now is probably about $150,000. This hospital receives from 2,300 to 2,800 patients yearly, and has an average number daily in it of about 210 patients ; the institution has beds and capacity for about 400 patients. The annual cost to the city of maintaining the hospital is about $48,000. Female Hosptal. — This institution stands on the Old Manchester Road, about five miles from the Court House, and has connected with it about sixteen acres of ground. It Avas built in 1872 ; the cost of the ground and buildings was about $90,000. It was erected under what was known as "the Social Evil Law," and its cost was nearly all de- frayed by fines and fees arising from the operation of that law, which is now repealed. In 1874 by an act of the State Legislature the title to the property was vested in the city of St. Louis, and the name was changed to that of the " Female Hospital," and by ordinance of the city passed in the same year it was made a general Hospital for females. There are yearly sent to this institution about 1,200 persons. The number of women confined there yearly is about 185. The average number of patients daily in this hospital is about 180. The cost of main- taining this institution is about $35,000 annually. Insane Asylum. — This institution was built about fourteen years ago, under the direction of the County Court of St. Louis County; the exact cost of the building I have been unable to ascertain, but it is gene- rally understood to have been $1,000,000. It is located about five miles from the Court House, on Arsenal Street, and has connected with it about 35 acres of ground. It is the finest and best constructed building the city possesses ; it contains now about 310 insane patients, and is maintained at a cost of about $60,000 a year. Poor House. ^-This building was erected by direction of the County Court of St. Louis Count}^ about seven years ago. The cost was about $400,000. It is situated on the Arsenal road, about a quarter of a mile west of the Insane Asylum, and has connected with it about thirty-eight acres of ground. The Potter's Field of the city is connected and attached to the land of this institution. The numl)er of insane persons the city is called upon to provide for necessitated the converting of a large portion of this institution into wards for the care of the insane. The number of insane persons now in this institution is 330, and the number of paupers (old and decrepid persons) is about 300. OF THE CITY OF ST, LOUIS. 35 The cost of maintaining this institution is about $72,000 annually, which cost is partl}^ met by a profit realized by baking bread for the other institutions of the city — the profit being about $12,000 per annum. The amount of bread baked at the Poor House is about 850,000 pounds annually. Quarantine and Small Pox Hospital. — The grounds on which those two institutions are located was acquired l)y the city in 1854, for the purpose of establishing a quarantine station. There were sixty arpens acquired by the purchase at a cost of $5,000, and some $10,000 was afterwards spent in erecting buildings and in otherwise improving the place. In 1867 the Small Pox Hospital on Arsenal Island was removed to this point and other buildings were erected, and from time to time afterwards the buildings were increased and enlarged. The total amount expended there for buildings and improvements was about $70,000. It was continued as a general hospital and also as a small pox hospital until 1875, when it was partially abandoned, only a portion of it being maintained for the treatment of small pox patients. In 1878, the outbreak of the yellow fever in the south necessitated the re-opening of the institution as a quarantine station, and in the spring of 1879 the frame wards being in a dilapidated condition, and supposed to be badly infected with the germs of disease, weie burned down and new wards and other improvements made ; the cost of these improvements was a])out $11,000. As the institution stands to-day, it has large wards, furnished and equipped for the accommodation of about 80 small-pox patients, and in addition there are six large wards, with a capacity for accommodating 150 patients whenever it becomes necessary to use it as a quarantine station. In addition to what is mentioned above, there are large brick and stone buildings for the accommodation of ofiicers, store rooms, &c. The House of Refuge. — This institution has for its object the care of juvenile otfenders against the laws, and of homeless and abandoned children thrown upon the hands of the city authorities. The male and female departments are in separate buildings, and have connected with them about fifteen acres of ground, and are agreeably situated in the southern portion of the city. The cost of maintenance is about $35,000 per annum. The lalior of the boys in the shoe shop attached to the institution is profitable. The total amount refunded to the city treasury, in the fiscal year, by the institution, is about $'J,000. The buildings arc old, and form really the remains of an original structure which was par- tially destroyed by fire in 1865. The Legislature has provided means 36 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES for enlarging the buildings, as they are much too small, but the Munici- pal Assembly has not passed the necessary ordinance authorizing the work. There are generally between 250 and 300 children on the books. The Work Hoise. — This institution is situated on the Carondelet road, near the southern end of the city. It is a place of continement and hard labor for offenders brought before our police courts. Its cost of maintenance is about $40,000, and the number of prisoners received an- nually is l)etween 2,000 and 3,000. The able-bodied laborers are em- ployed in breaking stone for street purposes, and in grading streets. The value of the buildings is probably about $50,000. The Jail. — The jail is one of the largest and best arranged in the country, and is in the rear of the Four Courts building and immediately adjoining the Police Head-Quarters. It costs about $22,000 to maintain it — the greater portion, of which is refunded to the city by collections for the keeping of state prisoners, etc. It is wholly an iron building, so arranged that the watchman can see the doors of all the cells from his central station. The Four Courts, Cojirt House and City Hall constitute the more important public buildings owned by the city government, and taken together with the valuation of the institutions named, represent an ag- gregate not far from $5,000,000. If the value of Fire Engine Houses, Police Stations, Water Works property, etc., is added, of course the sum would be greatly extended. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. The city has organized a most complete Fire Department for the protection of property. The twenty engine houses represent a cost of $1H8,000, the twenty steam fire engines, hose carriages, etc., $137,000, and the value of 128 horses, harness, furniture, wagons, etc., is $34,000 ; total, $.339,000. All the engines and apparatus are of the best modern pattern, and the force of men is efficient and well disciplined, and commanded by a chief of experience and ability. There is no city in the country of approximate size with abetter equipped fire department. The best system of Fire Alarm Telegraph is in operation, by which immediate notice of fire can be sent to the engine houses from the most distant res- idence districts. The cost of supporting the department is about $270,000 per annum, including the alarm system. THE WATER WORKS. The water sujiply of a great and growing city is always a matter of pressing and paramount importance. In St. Louis an elaborate and OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 37 costly system of water-works has been constructed by which a plenti- ful supply of wholesome water has been secured in all quarters of the city. The water is taken from the Mississippi river, some distance from the shore, and pumped into settling basins at Bissell's point. It is allowed to stand in these basins until the sediment has settled, and it is then pumped into the main pipes leading to the city and the surplus to Compton hill reservoir, in the southwestern portion of the city. The distributing system of pipes is supplied from the stand-pipe on Grand avenue and from the Compton hill reservoir. According to the last official report the quantity of water pumped into the city averaged 24,350,000 U. S. gallons daily, and the cost of pump- ing one million gallons (both services) was $15.20, of which $4.5U was for pumping at low service into settling basins, and $10.61 for pumping at high service into city. The cost of these works was in the neigh])orhood of $6,000,000, and the operating expenses, as per last report, aggregated nearly $200,000 for the year. At the time the works were constructed it was supposed their capacity of supply would be equal to the wants of the city for a long term of years, but so rapid has been our municipal growth that already the necessity of extending them is becoming appa- rent. The water of the Mississippi is agreeable to drink, free from impurities, and under the conditions which it is distributed by the present S3^stem, entirely healthful in character. Careful analyses by competent chemists have demonstrated this fact, and it is further corroborated by the remarkable salul)rity of the city as shown by the mortality reports presented above. During the prevalence of cholera in 1866, the most severely afflicted localities were those where water taken from wells was used. It has also been frequently proved that Mississippi water when confined in casks will preserve its freshness and purity longer than any other known in the country, and owing to this fact is particularly desired for ship use. THE POLICE FORCE. The Police Force of the City numbers over 500 men, and requires for its maintenance about $550,000 per annum. There is a voluntary auxiliary organization, known as the "Police Reserves," numbering nearly 550 men, which was called into existence during the riots of 1877, and has been perpetuated in the interests of law and social order. The police force is well drilled and is in a high state of efficiency, but is hardly adequate for the patrol of the immense territory embraced in our city limits. It affords me pleasure to state, however, that the protec- tion of life and property in this city, as indicated by the official statistics 38 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES OF ST. LOUIS. of crime is in every respect excellent. The city is divided into six police districts, containing eleven station houses. The arrests for the last fiscal year were as follows : State cases, (these cases embrace all serious crimes), 1,460; City cases, (violations of ordinance), 12,576. Value of stolen and lost mone}' and other property returned to owners, through the instrumentality of the Police force during the year, $151,442.15. CONCLUDING REMARKS. The statements and statistics presented in this paper are mainly derived from official sources, and are entirely reliable. I have aimed only to present such matters as seemed to have immediate bearing on the subject allotted to me, and calculated to convc}' desiral)le and im- portant information respecting the growth and present condition of the city. The publication of the U. S. Census, now being taken, will supply much detailed information respecting our trade and industries that I could not conveniently procure, particularly in reference to our manu- factures ; but the exhibits I have presented are, I think, sufficient to show the prosperous and advancing condition of St. Louis In all im- portant elements of wealth, in population and in volume of business and commercial enterprises of all kinds, the city is rapidly and constantly in- creasing. This civic growth, as I have shown, does not spring from local or sectional causes — it is part of the great movement of our State, of the West and South, in the path of progress. The city is advancing, together with the boundless country of which it is the representative, and the future of both involves at no distant day, not only a commercial and political supremacy within the limits of the Union, but one whose influence must be felt throughout the world. 65 78^^ ,0-' v *--o' y- o *.,,. 0^ '\,"*'^'-;/^ "V^^V' \"'^*\/^ ^-o^'^^y'./'^ 0^ '^^ " » , *o o F2B 78 N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA o V ui) m m p<(' ^^u m ;» '^M \ ^ V.ik ^.^ > w« It^V t*?ii It ji V*, i/v M ' tt, ■>!'<' y?