' • ^A° . . <^^ • • ■ • ' V O.^^ ■^ v*^ ^-'. ' . . • •^o :^<^ *>. .4.'^ r-.'"r«» 1* ^. ^■fn^ , %•'• V^^ V ..v^ "•^^o^ ■^^ -A, ^'^' V^ i'* •• ''b. .0' .*^ ^^"-^,. t .■^'. • ''V ">- , *>. *>> ^^ ^ f*-^ ^^, ' • • ■ .^^ >^ y^^'. •. ^ o > ^ %. ■^-^^ -,"5 °o .*^ .0^ ■y, c-* •y .-^^ ^O .<^ o > .^^ ... "'^. .^^-V. .^^ cy ^ o >'oif ,.s ^^r % O > •^/■o^ O > . • • . '^ *>. V •^-^^ '<#. I > ... ■>> •A , • • •- ..O"^ c • ' • . O ■*h\^ \^^ci4r^^* ^°-^*, .,-^ '5. t^. ,0' c" " " . 'O ^ V^^ •1 o •Y V„v-^ ■■? V ^ '•r. "-., < o r. ■A \ V* -i A^ "^ .5 o' ' , -I xO-r.. o > ,«>^ '\ ...,S 4^ ,y/r^,- "^.^^ .0 ''^^ •• o . o ' .(O '\. ./ 1-. *> .V f'' .^-^ 0' % ''fU-o^ -y 0' •^o\: ^ -'/ '"'=>. 4 o *>* 1^ o V -*> "•n^o* 0^ c»:«- •'b V'"/. 0> .TV . K •■ ^^. Pablis>hed by oard-ofMpe ^E- ® (5RAN© RAPIBg © AS IT IS. i/ PUBLISHED BY THE BOARD OF TRADE, QUANT) RAPIDS, MICH. EATON,'. LYOy . GILBERT, HENRY SPRING, JULIUS HOUSEMAN, JNO. A. COVODE, WU. H. POWERS. GRAIN AND PRODUCE. O. K. BROWN. C. G .\. VOIGT, E. A. MOSELEY, .l.\ii. KuIVI.S. A. J. BROWN. W. N. ROWE, W. T. LA.MOREAUX. LUMBER. E. CROFTON FOX, ./. B. WHITE, A. G. HODENPYL. PROVISIONS. ALFRED BROAD, H. N. MOORE. JOHN MOHRHARD. TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS: In compiling the pamphlet which has been intrusted to your hands by the Board of Trade, it is the desire of that honorable body that you make use of such ma- terial as may be necessary to show to the uninformed person the City of "Grand Rapids as it is." It is their wish that no extravagant claims be put forth as to the magnitude of the mercantile, manufacturing and social advantages of the city; that no wild speculative prophecies as to the future greatness of Grand Rapids be indulged in, but that your work be characterized with facts moderately expressed and which will stand the fullest investigation. The Board of Trade calls your atten- tion to the fact that our fiscal institutions, jobbing and manufacturing trades are conducted on correct business principles; that there has never been an attempt to ■'boom" the interests of the city for purely speculative purposes; that it is a hive of industry, a city of homes, a center of culture; that its growth has been steady and solid from tlie day of its incorporation. These suggestions should indicate to you the character of the matter that is desired for publication under the above caption. There is no impropriety in stating this Board invites personal inquiry or correspondence from individuals, firms or cor- porations contemplating or desiring to make a cliange of location, and you are requested to give space in the work to the mention of such industries and trades as could be established with fair prospects of success in Grand Rapids. Yours sincerely, H. D. C. VAN ASMUS, Secretary of Board of Trade. fvli^'bigan and l[$ ^$o\\rQQ$. H'llIGAN derives ils nnme from the Imlian words .Uih/ii'Sopulation as dcduceil from Ihe State ami L'nileil Stales censuses since iSoo: avmiai;b ANNUAL INCKKASR. 1800 I81II liOO |H3I> IfitU vaa IMIO IMl IH70 lfl71 I88U IMHI ■, "M l,7«! .■'.MM ■M,es» ■SIH.KA riW,52i , 71»,1I3 tMs.uei l.l»t,282 [ 1,334,031 l,«S6.981 l,K>3,fSS8 4.-J1I 4.i:u 'ii,<43 lh«I.H> 1mS,3h7 I 1093W ■ I iii.sw r4,54^ 380.621 UV.H9 . 302,9f)6 218,721 1.211 764 24 421 10 4.134 )« hi 413.40 22,743 205 65 •2,274 30 1WJ.«2S 570 «0 18,(J62.S0 I'ts.ssr? N7.SS 1S.53S 70 27.62 47 60 27,466 75 351.459 40.265.33 7.28 tl3,6CT.OO 4sri,ie9 47.36 63,436 83 12 64 22.71 37.437.25 452,655 50.4M.S3 13.24 54,1W.25 * KxlIuuvc of Wayne couD(y, which w.-ift returned with Ohio. t Eicluttve of loldiers in the field. The whole nunilwr ol families in ihc Stale is relurncd at 403,779, anil the total number o( duellings at 364,737. The average number ol persons to each family is 4.59, and to each dwelling 4.9. The number ol families in cities IS relumed at 108,^57, and the number of dwellings in cities at 93,661. The niiml)cr of native inhabitants is returned at 1,357,639; loreign l>orn, 486,90s; n.ilivity unknown, 9,051. The increase of native population since 1880 is 109,110, .ind of loreign l)orn 98,460. The number of males of %'oling age in the Slate is 538,177, of whom 150,178 reside in the incorpor- ated cities. The nunilx;r of inhabitants of school ages is 596,893, or 32 per cent, of the total |K>pulalion. The number of persons of military age (l8 to 45)15419,583. The number of wage workers in Michigan June I, 1884, was returned .IS 69,027, of whom 64,390 are males and 4.637 are females. The number of males engaged in agriculture is 237,192; females, 1,000. The number of males engaged in agriculture is 32 per cent., in professional and personal service 15 percent., in trade and transportation 9 percent., and in manu- facturing, mechanical and mining industries 20 per cent, of the total male population 10 years old and over. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. Among the most imjKirlant factors in the development ol the Male is ii.s school system. The following table shows the growth of ihc system during the h.-ilf century Irom 1836 to 1886, inclusive: IKV. IHIII IKV) INIUI ih;i. IMI l>«« or SCHOOL. NO OP UlSTKICn. NO or TRACHBRS. :<• 55 » M> 1..VM 1,870 102 S.IW 4,aK; 124 4.0KJ 7.K1 IS» &.1U8 11,014 I5tt 6.!B2 ia.alance from preceding year Revenue from primary school interest fund., kevenue from one-mUl tax on township* Revenue from district taxes for all purposes. Revenue from all other sources Total revenue. 6U5.904 416.751 6.536 442 7.237 siLsaasTioo 7 2 S4S07 31.20 •l.SOl.451.67 762.402.78 640.217.02 2736.238.81 494,133 16 S5.634.44S 44 CHURCHES. The total number of church organizations in the .-^taic is reuimeii ai 2,864; church edifices, 2,581; and parsonages, 1,117. The following state- ment sho»vs the growth of church organizations from 1870 to 1884: No. ol church organixatioos . No. of parsonages Seating capacity Value of church property In the following summary is indicated Ihe school population, number of districts, value of pro|>erly, condition of revenue, etc., at the close of the year 1KK6. The sliouiiig is particularly gratifying, and is one in which every ciliicn may justly take pride: I870L 2.230 isa,. 2.864 1.117 447.476 $8,947,491 7ffi414 •IS. 296.151 STATE HNANCES. The financial condition of the State is excellent, as is shown by the lol- lowing statement issued by the State Treasurer. The 1-cgislature of 1887 passeil an act changing the close of the fiscal year from September 30 to June 30, hence the last report of the State Treasurer covers a period of nine months only, extending from Octotier I, 18S6, to June 30, 1887. It con- tains the following figures: Balance on hand Sept, aa 188S • 911.997.86 Thcreceipts were 2.118.334.42 The payments were . «s.caasn.aB 2.165. 543.75 llalance in Treasuo' --- • "W-'^ M The outstanding bonded debt of the State is as follows: Past due part paid five-million loan bonds. (191000, adjustable at $Si8.S7 per $1,000 (not tearing interest) • latSZ.SS War bounty loan Innds, 7 percent, due in IBBO 2SI.O0O 00 The trust fund debt, composed of balances upon which the State. :is trustee paj-s interest for educational purposes, now is: Agricultural College fund • »?%(»». 30 Normal School fund '" "HH 12 Primary School fund. 7 per cent *3.3»».9W.6K Primary School fuml. 5 per cent.... 37K713.92 (0.768.710 60 VTniversily fund rJB.II3S 80 Aggre^tate balance i'( irii^i liind. »».»!«.•.. «2I 72 The total assessed valuotion of property in the State, as equalized in 1886, was $945,450,000, of which $710,633,545.20 was on real estate, and 5138.287,518.38 was on personal estate. In 1881 the aggregate valuation ol real and personal estate was (810,000,000. INDL-STKIES OF THE STATE. Among the great industries of the Stale that of agriculture greatly exceeds every other, l>olh as regards value ol properly, value of product and number of men employed. The farm pnxluctions of Michigan are valued. MICHIGAN HND ITS RESOURCES. in the census of 1884, at SS5,Sgo,og4. Tl>c following table shows, in a condensed form, some of the more imporlaut facts relating to the extent and condition of this great industry ; MANUFACTURES. JUNE, I, 1884. No. of farms No. of farms cultivated by owner No. of acres No. of acres in each farm — average No. of acres improved land Value of farms, including land, fences, and buildings — dol- lars Value of farming implements and machinery — dollars Value of live stock — dollars No. of horses No. of mules and asses No. of sheep (exclusive of spring lambs) No. of fleeces of wool No. of pounds of wool sheared Average No. pounds per head Maple sugar — pounds Acres in apple orchards Acres in peach orchards Acres in vineyards Acres in nurseries Acres barley Acres buckwheat Acres Indian corn Acres oats Acres rye Acres winter wheat Acres spring wheat Acres pears Acres beans Acres potatoes Acres pasture, clover, timothy, etc 159,605 138,523 14,852,228 93.06 8,974,656 571,448,462 21,897,486 70,626,248 446,206 4,820 2,889,278 2,724,789 15,337,249 5.64 1,945,863 312,716 24,502 3,228 862 54,620 26,148 1,207,6M 891,022 51,881 1,684.679 33,074 58,147 48,731 191,408 1,812,385 JUNE, I, 1880. 154,008 138,597 13,807,240 90.00 8,296,862 499,103,181 19,419,360 55,720,113 378,778 5,038 2,189,389 2 189,389 11,858,497 5.42 .3,423,149 The following shows the total numlier of pcreons engaged in agriculture, and in each specified branch of agriculture, as returned in the State census of 1884, and the United States census of 1880: Apiarists Dair>'men and dairy women Farm overseers Farmers Farm laborers Florists Gardeners, nurserymen, and fruit growers. Stock drovers Stock herders Stock raisers Others in agriculture Total 1884. 149 141 85 178,551 55,347 122 2,489 2.34 31 35 8 237,192 57 80 89 167,141 70,845 84 1,836 172 42 20 3 240,319 It is worthy of note that much of the finest farming land in Southern and Central Michigan was regarded in the early pioneer days as worthless swamp land. These despised acres have now liccomc the garden-spot of the Slate. As the leading industries arc summarized separately the following gen- alization will be sufiAcient under this head: Total No. of manufacturing establishments Capital invested Average No. of males employed above 16 years.. Average No. of females employed above 15 years -Average No. of children and youth Wages paid during year ending June i 1880. 1884. 8,873 9,302 J92,9S0,959 8136,697,397 68,445 114,890 4,784 8,245 4,382 5,872 $25,313,682 *4J,213.739 The material used in 2,228 manufacturing establishments, or more than one-fourth of the whole number in the Slate, is taken directly from the forest tree. The capiLil invested in such establishments, as shown by the last census, was, in 1884, $62,303,000; average number of adult males employed, 50,044; adult females, 866; children and youth, 2,431. Wages paid during the year ending June 1st, 1884, $17,310,227. RAILROADS OF THE STATE. From the fifteenth annual report of the Commissioner of Railroads, it apjKars that there were in Michigan, on the ist of January, 1887, 5,577.63 miles of railroad, exclusive of 1,292.30 miles of siding, and 89 miles of sec- ond or double main track, which would bring the total mileage, computed as a single track, up to 6,958.93, or about one mile of track for each nine square miles of our territorial area, and four miles for each township of six miles square. From statistics on hand at the date of publication of his report (Nov. I, 1S77), the Commissioner estimated the tot.il mileage of the State on the ist of January, 1888, at 6,295.38, exclusive of sidings and double tracks. In addition should be mentioned about 500 miles of logging railroads. Much of this track is built in a substantial manner, and is util- ized for general trafl'ic. The capital stock of the incorporated railways of the State, as stated by the reports for 18S6, aggregated $276,843,554. The entire indebtedness oi the railroads, at the beginning of the year 1887, was as follows: Funded debt, 92.85 per cent $328,226,163.33 Floating debt, 7.13 per cent 25,170,.iM.35 Total $358,396,717.98 The total cost of our railroad proijerties, including equipments, at the Beginning of 1887, is reported at $579,945,425.48, representing an outlay of $51,946.23 per mile of road. The total o[>erating expenses, including taxes, for 1S86, were $54,216,624.19, and the total revenue of the 67 companies was $83,898,560.20 — an increase of receipts during the year of $5,807,312.67, or 7.436 per cent. LUMBER. The lumbering industry of Michigan is the most extensive, in productive value, of any in the Slate, with the exception of agriculture. It also exceeds in magnitude that of any other State in the Union. This gigantic industry has grown up, in a large degree, within the last quarter of a century. The lumbering region, proper, of the Lower Peninsula lies north of a line running through Sanilac, L.tpeer, Genesee, Shiawassee, Clinton, Ionia, Kent and Ottawa counties. In the Upiwr Peninsula, belts of limber abound on the principal streams. The number ol persons employed in the manufacture of lumber and shingles, in the Stale, during ihe List year, is estini.aied al 50,000, receiving, in the aggregate, about $15,000,000 in wages. The capital invested in the industry is about $60,000,000. The tola, product of the State, last year, was 4,162,317,778 feet of lumber, valued at $58,370,438; and of shingles, 2.677.855,750, valued at $6,673,387.50. Total value of product. $65,043,- 825.50. MICHIGHN AND ITS RESOURCES. The following companions show the increase in the lumber and shingle 1SS7. Lumber (feci) . Shingle* (piccc«j . I.182.S17.778 i677.8S5.750 3.984.117.175 2.W9,134.2S2 3.578.138.443 2.574.675.900 Thus, it will be seen, the increase of lumber production in 1886 over 1885 was 405,978,732 feet; of 1887 over 1886, 178,200,603 feet. The increase ol shingles in 1S86 over 1885 was 414,448,332; and the decrease of ■«U> .555.555.730 Michigan Central Railroad (Mackinaw Dirisioo) 124.392.261 Flint & Pcre .Marquette Railroad 91.441.220 Cheboj'Ran Manistee Ludinglon , Muskegon WhiteLakc Grand Haven and Spring Uike 52.00a000 Chicago .1 West Michigan Railroad 136.856.750 Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad ; 296.774.246 Detfoil. I.ansing & Northern Railroad 85.574.032 Miacellaneous Lower Michigan mdls 94.495.834 Green Bay (Michigan) mills 38L824.680 Mi!^cllaneout Upper Michigan milU 348.645.641 87.443.000 2S8.3S.476 137.250.380 665.449.921 84.323.440 Total The shingle product of Michigan (or the follows: Saginaw River mUls ... Huron Shore mill* Michigan Central Railroad (Mackinaw Diviiion) Flint and Pcre Marquette milU Cheboygan Mani»tee . . Ludtngtoii Muskegon White Lake... Grand Haven anil Spring I,.ike Chicago and West Michigan Railn>.-itl Grand Rapidi & Iniliana Railroad . . Detroit. l.ansing A Northern Railro.fl Mi*cellaneou« mill», I>ower Michigan Green Itay (Michigan) milts Miuellaneout rotlls. Upper Michigan Total.., 4,162.317.778 past year is, in detail, as PiBCRS. i96.SMS.ono 5.1.413.000 63.500.000 175.21 1.2:0 u.ooaooo 433.131.750 79.S57..VX) .520..'.3l.75O 52020.500 41.275.000 136.856.750 27.1.208.000 351.386.000 71. P.'.-. I "HI 11'' ;.'.ii ',|...IMII.II4I THE MIMNC: INDUSTRY. In the (ollowing table is s.iown the aggregate number of mines in the >iaic, the capital invested, Ih.- number ot h.imls employed, and the total amount of wages paid: AVKR \c.r AMilfN r PAIO Coal 4 Copper 2S Grindft|nn«« % (•ypftum, platier md »tur-- p Iron ''■-' Umc and huildinE vtonr ■> SUle 1 Total j 106 tAI"ITAL INVKSTCO, .-... . JT.SSO 363 2S.3I3.HS0 6.296 lOKono 161 Ml. 000 344 11.916. nn 5.808 25,300 223 *j 1 ■ 1 » , ' I'lO HI.44tV«rj 13.191 71.003 S. 164.548 55.100 91..ViO 28M.821 10.233 SUIOO «,M,1SS The copper mines of the State are located in the Upj>cr Peninsula, and are said to be the richest and most extensive copper mines in the world. The mines are situated in Houghton, Ontonagon, Keweenaw and Isle Royale counties. From the following table, it will be seen that the output has increased about twelve fold since 1855. The product is given in tons ol refined copper, fractions of tons being omitted: mss. ""*■ Previous to 1835 6,992 1855 2.904 1856 4.1(M 1857 4,765 1858 4,579 1858 4,463 1868 10,467 1860 6,034 ] 1869 13,312 1861 7,519! 1870 12,311 8 492 1872. 12 366 6,015 1 1878. 15,0».-. 7,197 '1874 17.166 8.875 1875 18.019 8.763 1878 19.1S."V ISn .19.513 1878. 50.845 1879 21,425] .27,271 .28,577 1881.... 1882... 1883.... 1S84 34,297 1885 36,093 1886 35.000 1N62. .6.7931 .13,373,1880 31,889 The average price of copper per pound is a trifle less than eleven cents, which would make the value of the copper product for the year 1S86 (the last year for which statistics are available) about seven and a half millions of dollars. The product for the past year is probably in the neighborhood of 40,000 tons. The iron mining interests of the State are among the most important industries. The output for 1887 was 4,393,853 tons, valued, in round num- bers, at $23,000,000. The following tabulated statement shows, more forcibly than words, the growth ol this great industry from the earliest times of which any record was kept until the present: TOKS. VBAIL Years unknown from the Jack- son. Marquette and abandon- ed mines 75.0R3 1854 3.000 1855 1.449 1856 8.790 1857 25.646 1858 22.876 1859. 68.832 TONS. VEAB. 186a... ... U4.401 1«81 49.909 1>^2 124.166 1*«S 203.055 IflM .... . .217.059 1S65 193,758 1886 196.713 1867 465.504 1868 510.522 18B9. ... 639.097 TONS. VBAS. 1870 SS0;5O7 1871 813.984 1872 S48.SSS 1878 1.195.234 1874 899.931 1875 8S1.166 1878 993.311 1877 1025.129 1878 tI27.5J3 1879 L430.745 133a 1.948,384 1881 2.125.728 1882. 2.656.923 1*«... 2.5ia048 1S>44 2.225.145 1S« 2205.190 1886 3.562.015 1887 4.393.858 34.84&ig7 The report of State Salt Inspector for the month of Fcbruar)-, 1888, shows the following quantities inspected in the counties named: rorsTiiw. Saginaw 72.882 Bay Manistee. Midbn.! M.isi>n St CI..11 Huron. . . ia787 10.816 3.070 LS41 1.088 49! Total 108,458 These figures show a marked falling off in point cl manufacture from the corresponding month in previous years, but this results from obctltence to the rei)uest of the Salt Association to limit the output during the winter, with a view to reducing the large surplus on hand. The price of salt has fincluated so widely during the p.-ist quarter of a century that it would be very difficult to estimate, wilh any approximation to accuracy, the toi.il v.ilue of the product. The following table shows the number of barrels pixnluced from lSf>o In 1S87, inclusive: v«*». 1 AE. CAIIIIU.-.. VKAa. RAIIIIKU. 1880 .... 4.008 1887 ...474.721 WJ4.... ...MIRfW ixil . zna.2u 1H61 125.000 1H68. ...555.890 1875... ....l.if-' 3.tW7.8l7 1862 243.000 lHf» . 561.288 1878. . . . .. .1.1'. 2.)«4.ff7S 1868 UVyXA ISTO 821.352 isn... i.Aeaav; IH84.. . 3.161.806 1884 . . 529.073 1871 ...928.175 1878.... ... L8S5.8W I'.VT, 3,300.000 1865 .477.300 1872..... ...734.481 im?.... ...2.066. out X50a000 1888 ....4cr7.on 1871..... ... 83.846 1880.... ....2(rr- ■ : XD Michigan w.-ui the first St.ite to engage in the -^. annual output is more than double that of any other State in the Union. i.llU'>lSI \11\\ lU'AI li,i,,l -ip"'i i.k. ilMi »;rani> KAi'ins pi.astku <<».s mu.us and <.>UARRit>;. 1. Logs piled up against D. G. II. & M. K. R. Hriil-c ; tlraiul R^ipi.ls Chair Cii. lailory iii ilic ai.-^ljiici:. 2. Log Drivers at work trying to prevent the destruction of the I\;iilroad Hridge. .■;. The Log Jam dt•^,troying the (.. R. & I. and I.. S. & M S. Railroad Bridges. llll 1.1 ii; J.Wl IN (IK.VNI) UIV|:k, .\r (JRANU K.MMDS. JUI.V 26. 1883. KKl.lJ > LAKl- SUHLKbS UK GRAMi RAlllJN (iKAM) kivKu ruitM p.KiiK.i: sTKir.T imii)(;F.. '3&i>s!mmmsmiiimmim«!mmmmsmmm^^ adM3sl(ffil(lMt!fllS)|]MlM),S(fgi:s>.Sa^^ :i1ie (^ilV of gFaiifl Rapids. Its Location, Early History, Surrouridirigs and the Attractive Features it Presents to those SeeKing to Settle in an Enterprising City. '^^y XCE upon a time a solitary horseman might have been" — tlie oKl fornuihi for beginning a story, required that a location, a place for a start, should be provided. In lelling tlie story of Grand Rapids it is hardly necessary, in the business circles of larger cities of the world, to give its sltirv a location — the fame of the town has gone aliroad in all tlie land. Hut, lest there may be some who may see this who have not yet a clear idea of its location, it may be well to say that it is in the western portion of the Lower Pennisula of the State of Michigan. It is the second city in population, wealth and business import- ance, and the first in energy and ambition in the State. It is the shire town of Kent county, which is in the fourth tier of Michigan counties from the south and in the second row east of Lake Michigan. It lies on both sides of the (Irand Kiver, at the head of navigation of tliat stream. At this point there is quite a fall in the river, its rapids, whence the name of the city, and to this fact is due one of the important early advan- tages of the city — a fine water power, tlio best in the Slate save that at Sault Sle. Marie. The city is, by rail, thirty-two miles from Grand Haven, the lake port at the mouth of Grand River; 147 from Detroit, 183 from Chicago, 304 from Cincinnati, and 226 from the Straits of Mackinac. As appears fiom the railroad map on the cover of this pulilicalion, it is at the center of the known earth -a point where the sky, equally distant in every direction, shuts down over the landscape like the half of an orange peel. THE CITY PROPER. The city proper is three and a half miles long and three miles wide; but its suburbs on every side are directly connected by street cars with the business center, and the city really is much larger in size and population than the municipality controlled by the City Charter. It is in the midst of as fine a section of country *' as the sun e'er shone ujion *' — a region especi- ally favorable to the husbandman or the horticulturist, where agriculture, stock raising, dairying and fruit growing are followed with most encouraging results and satisfactory profits. The soil, a sandy, gravelly loam — some of it heavy timbered land, o( beech, maple, oak and elm, other of it oak open- ings, still other pine lands with a plenlilul sprinkling of interspersed hard- wood timber — furnishes all needful varieties for all manner of vegetables, grains and roojs, for excellent pastures and meadows, for thrifty, productive orchards — in short a soil where an honest day's work wins a sure rew.ard in an honest day's returns. rilK I-KUIT BK1.T. In this same connection, or at this |)oinl, it may properly be mentionea&scd in tjualily. There U also a vast amount of hemlock, cedar and other evergreen timber wealth in Western Michigan. Grand Rapids is admirably located to secure the very choicest of this forest wealth. Its railroad connections, north, south, cast and west, elsewhere described, give it unrivaled facilities for reaching the forests, and at most advantageous rates of freight, cither for the logs or the lumlwr. Its factories, already using many million feet annually, could increase the quantity required almost indefinitely without seriously trenching on the supply or being compelled to go so far as to find it too expensive. THE RISE ANIJ GROWTH OP GRAND RAPIDS. In this ultitarian age the workaday, busy world cares very little for ancestry; what they can do in the present, or for posterity, is what chiefly concerns those who are considering their important interests in life, whether business, social, educational or moral. Yet there's a good deal in blood, in heredity, and this applies to communities as well as families or individuals. A brief resume ol the history of Grand Rapids, so admirably located in such an ailmirable region with reference to its agricultural and timber wealth, is of value ;us a suggestion of the inevitable future of the city. What it has achieved anil what it is doing give a sure guaranty of what it will be and do. The aborigines of Michigan held the site of the city in very high regard. It was one of their most important villages, where they had a corn- field and a cemetery. Hence it was very natural that the energetic early French traders— those first pioneers of civilization in so many portions ol our Northwest territory— came here to the heart of the Indian country to ply their business. The year 1827 found them at the rapids of the river, ready to barter for peltry, and almost immediately missionaries followed. So what is now the city was thus a trading post and missionary post several years before what was intended lor a permanent settlement ol whites was effected. That auspicious event occurred in June, 1833, some four years before the Slate became one of the sisters of the Union. These early settlers from new States had stout hearts and strong hands, coupled with rare good sense and intelligence and unl>ounded energy and ambition. While it is in a modified sense that cities grow naturally, where conditions are favorable, yet it is undeniably a fact that the character of the founders, of the early promoters of a community, has much, very much, to do with the growth and success of any city. li they be live, energetic, sagacious, enterprising men, who make the most of their natural advantages, who push their business rather than depend on good fortune and those advantages, their town will cert.iinly pass many others with equal natural opportunities in the race for position, for manufacturing or commercial supremacy. Such were the " Yankees " of fifty- five years ago who founded this city. The bi.is then given the com- munity has grown with passing years— its heredity dominates it, and this tendency, this sentiment ol energy, enterprise and thrift has become an essentia] part of the innermost feeling of the people. EARl.Y ENTERPRISES. Those early comers — industrious, frugal — were quick to seize and make the most of their advantages. They had the spirit of manufacture and of commerce. A sawmill was in actual operation here in 1833, and another within a year was quickly followed by several others, and by other mills, furniture and chair factories, flouring mills, lioring for salt and other indust- rial enterprises. And trading h.id l>een profitable here for several years lieforc the Indians ceded the whole of what is now Grand Rapids to the United States. In 1836 the first steamboat was built for navigation on Grand River, to supersede the canoes and pole boats that had afforded the only means of communication with the b.-ilance ol mankind, save long, tedious, overland journeys. This boat made its first trip down the river July 4, 1837. This same year another steamboat was built to navigate the upper river, between this city and Ionia, and as early as 1840 the energetic pioneers had begun upon the scheme of improving the navigation of the river; they proposed an important work, including a canal around the rapids of the river, and a portion of the present East Side water power is one of the legacies of that enterprise. As early as 1 837 the settlers had established a bank and several stores, as well as hotels and other nccessarv' requisites for a thriving frontier city in embryo. THE POPlL-VTIilN. Their town and the setllcments in the surrounding country grew apace. The precise population of the city in 1S40 cannot be staled. Kent County, according to the United States census, .-ilready contained 2.5S7 whites, a sur- prising growth in seven ytais; the population in 1837 was estimated at 1,200. In 1845 the cily conl.tined 1,510 of the county's total of 6,049 |x>pulation. During the following five years the population of the county nearly doubled--it was 12,016, and the city had 2,686 of these. These figures for the city grew steadily and rapidly, as may be seen from the fol- lowing statistics: In 1854 it was 4,278; 1860,8,090; 1864— during the war the city, which sent a very large nunlber of brave si)IJiers to the front, merely held its own — 8,772; 1870, 16,507; 1S74, 25,933; 18S0, 32,016; ■884, 42,732. At this writing the city population un(|ui-sliunably exceeds 70,000, for the ratio of growth since the State census of 1S84 has l>een greater than in any preceding four years since 1870-74. The foregoing figures tell their own tale; they reflect, in tangible form, the practical manifestations of the city's heredity — the spirit of its founders. There has been a steady and remarkably uniform growth, a growth that proves how well ordered and prosperous have been the business enterprises of the city; how finnly they arc founded; how broad and general are their ramifications, so that panics, periods of depression, local causes, do not affect them unfavorably to any appreciable extent. It will be seen that even through the rebellion decade, and the decade ol the great panic of 1873 and subsequent years, the population doubled each decaile. The present decade has not witnessed, as yet, anything approaching the depression ol those I>eriods, and thus far the growth, as has been said, has been even greater. The facts as to population should Iw mentioned in another as|>ect. Il is very largely composed ol native-bom |)eople. The United Slates census of both 1870 and 1880 showed that less than one-third of the city's total popuKition was foreign l)orn. While it is uni|uestionalily true that it has attracted a fair sh.-ire of the l>est immigration of the past eight years, as in former years, it is certain that the proportion of native- bom people resident here has increased. The general character of the people is well portrayed in the facts and statistics given in these pages, of their factories, their stores, their banks, their houses, their places of amusement, their educational, benevolent and religious institutions. These are all indices ol the history of the city for the past half century. Few other cities can show as rapid, as steady, as solid a progress during that h.nlf century. None has a belter impulntion, a more honorable career, or brighter prospects, as indicated by Its past. MANUFACTHREg The Greatest Factor in Building up and Making Renowned the City. RF.VIEW of the history of cities shows that those whicli vuiuain the greatest diversified business interests grow the most rapidly. The lives of New York and Charleston, S. C, began almost simultaneously. Koth had fine har- bore and great natural advantages for trade and com- merce when the sturdy Dutchman, the Celt and Anglo Saxon, settled on their beautiful bays. But when she had established banks, mercantile houses and exchanges for produce and commodities of various kinds; when her shipping interests were in a fair slate of developmonl; when her shippers in wooden walls ploughed the seas in search of goods for the home markets, New York gave her attention to manufactures and encouraged the founding of mills and factories for the production of articles of utility and convenience from the native materials which were found in abundance at her very doors. The city grew with wonderful rapidity under the inspiration of her business men, who not only extended their enterprise to every section of the globe, but fostered and developed her manufactures, which were to con- tribute so largely to the greatness of the city as a commercial center in the future. The people of Charleston confined their business enterprises to shipping and mercantile pursuits, paying no attention to manufactures, and in conse- quence they h.ive never made a showing in the extent of business carried on in any year, either antedating or since the war of the rebellion, which would make a respectable comparison with New York. New Orleans was an old and prosperous city long before the ground on which Chicago stands w;is purchased by the government. The former has no manufacturing enterprises worth mentioning and depends almost wholly on its trade in colt'.n and sugar for the support of its business houses. Chicago, filled with factories, is growing so rapiilly as to prove a perpetual surprise to people who give attention to the growth of cities. Other com- parisons might be given in this connection to subsLantiate the claim set up in the foregoing, that the cities which grow to greatness in the business world soonest are those which afford the people the widest variety of occupations (or their employment; but enough is shown the reader, who reflects for a moment on the condition of the manufacturing centers to-day, to convince him the point to which attention is directed is well sustained. A FACTORY CITY. The city of Grand Rapids is known far and wide for the number and character of its manufacturing establishments. Its three hundred and eighty- two factories produce goods which are sold in nearly every market of the worhl. 11 KM n KK MAKINi:. lis furniture factoiics are unequaled in size by those of any other manu- facturing center of the world, and the goods produced in them are the best in style and quality that can be found in the marts of trade. So well is this fact understood that Grand Rapids furniture commands higher prices than similar goods made at other points, while the government of the United States, acknowledging the superiority of the work made by the artisans of -Michigan's chief manufacturing city, has entered into a contract with one of the leading corporations for providing all furniture that is required in the Suvcrnment buildings at all jwinls east of the Rocky Mountains. The most skillful designers, men virhose services command wages larger than the sala- ries paid to members of Congress, are employed, anoralions which carry on manufactures of a miscellaneous char.-icter is 171. Their capital com- bined is $4,286,800 and the value of the goods produced during the year 1887 was $8,921,050. They give employment to 2,455 persons, 447 of whom were females. Six grist mills produced flour and feed valued at $1,360,000. They grind twenty car loads of grain per day. Hides were tanned and leather manufactured to the amount of $1,030,000. Two boot and shoe factories employed 109 men and 90 women during the year 1887, and the value of the footwear manufactured was $685,000. Other large interests are the plaster mills, the liclting factories, the brick and tile yards, j the manufacture of clothing, crackers, baking powders, spices and con- fections. Five plaster mills are located at or near the city, owned and operated by incorporated companies, which have an aggregation of capital to the amount of $750,000. The stucco and land plaster produced by these mills during 1887 sold for $200,000. The works of the Grand Rapids Barrel Company, in which a great variety of woodwork is produced, is the largest establishment of its kind in the world. A machine shop devoted to the manufacture of shingle-sawing machines is the largest factory of its class in the United States, and the same is true of an enormous establishment which is used in the production of tubs and pails. Four factories manufactured wall finishing compounds during 1S87 valued at $250,000. The amount of capital employed in the business was $200,000, while the labor attending the manufacture and sale of the goods was performed by fifty-one men, twenty-seven women and fourteen traveling salesmen. ADDITIONAI. FACTORIES NEEDED. A careful investigation made by the Committee on Statistics of the Board of Trade revealed the tact that many new factories, if started in Grand Rapids, could do a profitable business. They found, among other things, that malleable iron castings to the amount of 2,033,491 pounds were used during the year 1887, all of which were obtained from abroad. This fact fully justifies their claim that a foundry for producing malleable iron castings is greatly needed in Grand Rapids. Three thousand four hundred and sixty five barrels of varnishes, valued at $60 per barrel, and thousands of barrels of wood stains and fillers were used by the manufacturers of pianos, furniture, carriages, refrigerators and other wares of wchxI during the year, every gallon of which was made out- side of the city. Over $200,000 was paid for varnishes alone. This fact amply supports the claim of the committee that a varnish factory could be established u ith an assurance of success in the city. The woodworking shops also consumed 2,653 barrels of glue, only a small part of which was made in Grand Rapids. The committee is of the opinion that another factory for the production of glue could be profitably located in this field. OPENINC.S FOR MEN OF BRAINS. There are openings in Grand Rapids for men with brains, energy and capital to engage, profitably, in the manufacture of the articles mentioned as follows: Varnishes, stains and fillers, casket and cabinet hardware, harness and upper leather, brass castings, railroad iron, Uiok, print, letter and wrap- ping papers, polished marble, lievelcd and rilvercd mirrors, stoves, ranges and furnaces, railroad and street cars, wire ami iron fencing, malleable iron castings, builders' hardware, cane and wood seat chairs, children's cribs, what-nots, parlor furniture frames, woolen cloths and yams, points, oils and dyes, glue and fertilizers, handles for brooms and agricultural tools, organs and sewing machines, road carts, hacks, additional tanneries (us hemlock hark is cheap and abundant in quantity), watches and jewelry, radiators and plumlicrs' fixtures, office safes, lead pi|)e and sheet lead, optical goods, smoking and fine cut tobaccos, lithographs, knit goods and hosiery, fluid extracts, and sjiecific medical preparations, furniture tops from marble and gypsum, photographers' materials, wire goods of all kinds, a (.ictory for dis- tilling dry saw dust for wood tar and crude acid — the latter producing wood alcohol, turpentine, creosote oil; one ton of sawdust will produce S12 worth of merchantable product. \VKST( )X r.1,1 » K -CANAL S TRKi:'!" Kl.NDAl.l, ni.iK'K MoNRMi; SIRKF.T. .::^;^v^4 iri.l.r.K HLOl'K-CANAL AND liKIDGE STREliTS. IR pi'iiiiiiilllH^ It ' ■ ■ ' # Jl .iiiyLliiiii ll s « : \M 1 1 I W llil>l< 1 iMli II. k.M I I Kl t.ti. iijUKi'ii i\A I ii i.\Ai, i;aMv— I. AXAi. AM) i,vt iN siki;i:ts. Tilt: \VM. STEELE PACKING AND PROVISION CO.S WORKS AND CATTLE -YARDS. l;i;UKl.V a L.AV 1LKMI1.KL; Clj NliLSUN, MAI IKR & CU.S KL'kMILkK WAKlKi K)M>. HAWKINS lll.OCK. I.IIONAKI' lU 11, HIM. s I Mi'NKiiK SlKKKl; 2. I'Ul 1 1 >N AND sl'KiN(; SIS. BAkNiiAkT ni.ocK snnii IONIA ANP IdllS STRKKTS. i;i.iii)(,i;rr iiLotK ->tii i ii ioma >iki.i. lliirSKMAX I'.UILIMXC. LVON AND OTTAWA STRKKTS. THE LIVINGS l't).\—FUL ION AND SOUTH DIVISION STREETS. IIMNAkh r.l.iii K iilTAUA AM' Vl AlU -I KM UlliHK I >M1'. liLlLDlNi.Mi'NUdl, AM' UA IKKl.i >( i .sIKl-l.TS. THE CITY OF GRHND RflPIDS. ALPHABKTUAL LIST Ol" PRESENT FACTORIES. Q B < Animal Traps Asbestine Stone Asphaltum Stone Agricultural Implements .. Awnings and Tents Baking Powder, Spices, etc Blank Books Burial Caskets Brush Bent Wood Boat Brick and Tile Breweries Bottling (Soda, Pop, Beer, etc.) . Broom Belting Base Ball Bats Barrel and Keg Brass Founderies Bed Slat Fastener Boot and Shoe Boiler and Machinery Basket Coffee Extract C'nrtain Pole t^ar Shops Cracker Carriage and Wagon Cornice (metallic) Clothing Clothes Wringer Cider and Vinegar Cigar Carpet Weaving Carpet Sweeper Confectioneries Door Plates Electrotype Edge Tools Electric Motors Excelsior Embalming Fluid Engravers, etc Electric Light File Fishing Rod Flavoring Extracts Flour Mills Furniture Wood Trimmin):s Fire Grate Faucet..,^ Fly Paper Furniture Clamp Furniture Caimtal Em f LOVED. S 2.000 8.000 .">,liOO io.OOO 4,000 23,500 20,000 7M.0II0 100.00(1 xi.ooo 3,300 Kiri.ooo 1110.000 10.000 .'i.SOO 05,000 20.000 :i72,0OO 8,000 1,000 350,000 481,000 2.000 2,000 28.000 200,OK1 145,000 4S2,.500 21,000 100,000 7,000 !>,000 205,000 5,000 liiO.OOO 125.000 1,000 10,000 11,000 50,000 .57.000 20,000 1.1,000 250,000 4,000 10,000 45,0110 565,000 150,000 (io,oa) 2,500 2.000 2.50U I.7a3.000 Prodl'ct FOR 1887. J S 5,000 3 20,000 12 35.000 15 200,000 28 11.000 5 143.000 22 47.000 52 125,000 66 1 (XI. 01 10 11.5 iiO,0(;o 34 14,000 11 805,000 167 600,000 180 118,000 32 33.050 34 220,000 44 40.000 30 510,000 286 80.000 28 3.500 4 685.000 193 706.000 503 6.000 U 9.000 6 40.000 41 425,000 325 185.000 45 787.500 425 80.000 36 200.000 138 25.0C0 15 25.000 9 376.000 136 26.000 36 800,000 211 [ 432.000 175 3.000 3 20.000 S 16.000 17 75,000 7 110,000 58 40,000 7 37,000 28 250,000 35 7,000 8 15,000 IS 145,000 23 1,360,000 77 110.000 81 17,5.000 Si 6.000 3 5.000 6 4 5.000 .941.000 4.662 3 Glue Gas . Granite and Marble . Glove ', Hand Screw Harness Hat Hoop Skirt. Ink 1 37 1 2 2 8 2 ij 1 1 1 1 5 3 5 1 1 1 3 S 6 2 3 3 1 1 2 1 3 5 1 4 2 1 S 1 2 1 1 4 IS Knitting Ladder ... liUUiber and I'lanine Middling Purifier Mattresses Pickle Packing Boxes Paper Box Piano Portable House Portable Letter Press Patent Medicines Potteries IMaHter 31ills rump Pot Ash Refrigerator Shirt Stamp Stencil Sash, DfX)rs and Bliirds. Show Cases Saw Soap Spoon Hook Tub and Pail. ,. Trunk '. Truss 380 Tanneries Upholstering Veneer Wall Coating Compound Well and Cistern Brick Wire Nail Willow and Rattan Ware Wire Works Wooden Shoe Wheelbarrow Wood .Mantle Wood Bank and Store Furniture . Woodenware ^all kinds) Wood Carving Washing Machine. Capital Emploveu. S 25.000 250.000 40.000 1.000 2.000 26.000 1.000 2.000 1,000 15,000 600 .H.Kti 1.000 25,000 17.000 T.r,. in li'.I.OOll 7.000 85.000 5.000 IS.tXXl 16.01(1 6.(1(10 750.000 25.000 2.000 7.5.000 7.(;(iO ().U(«( 145.000 1,50(1 l(l.(Hl(l :i5.fKKJ 5.(ni(i 250.0(10 13,500 2,000 415,000 49,000 80,000 Product FOR 1887. $25,000 180.000 110,000 2,500 8.000 78.000 5,000 10.000 2.500 2.5.000 2.000 4..'J8e.000 ! 50,0(J0 ' I 75.000 1 21.000 113.000 ! 15.000 I 125.000 ' 20.000 15.000 j 31.000 IH.IKIO 200.000 6.500 8.000 100,000 41,000 26,000 . 21.5.000 I7..i00 I 21.000 1)3,000 15,000 .vio.ooo 4n..5oo 5,000 1,030,C(I« 161.000 35.000 10 30 4S 6 8 39 4 11 4 681 23 36 10 60 38 101 9 8 19 14 127 4 4 81 36 7 91 16 2S 17 6 263 19 5 316 54 :o 200.000 2M.00O 78 2.000 'i.:m 9 4.50(1 8.2.50 5 y.."i(io 80,000 34 3.000 8.000 S 1..500 4.000 5 17.000 2.5.000 79 2.000 4..500 4 11,000 75.000 ."« 20.000 .W.OOO 40 2.000 5.000 5 3.000 5.000 6 :15.216.400 S24,O4R.800 11.110 THE JIDBBINS TRA©E. R Brief History of its Growtli iq Grand Rapids— the MarKet of Western Michigan. IHE history of the jobbing trade of Grand Rapids is a recital of humble beginnings; of gradual growth ill diversity, vol- ume and territory; of enterprise which has kept pace with the advance of an undeveloped region; of aggressiveness which has encroached on the boundaries of other markets, compelling a readjustment of old limits; of a breadth and scope which has accorded the market the admiration of the commercial world. THE PIONEER JOBBERS. The earliest record of any jobbing transactions in this city dates baclv to 1847, when the late Hon. Wilder D. Foster is known to have sold consid- erable quantities of goods in bulk, to be disposed of in a retail way by the buyers. From that time until 1S64, when the jobbing trade of the place may be properly said to have begun, sever.al houses carried on a small jobbing trade in connection with their retail business; but no regular sales- men were sent out by these houses, and no special claims were put forth in tlieir behalf. To Hon. L. H. Rand.m.i. clearly belongs the honor of inaugurating the jobbing trade of this market. When he and Seth Hoi.comb engaged in the grocery business, in 1857, they advertised to do both a wholesale and retail trade; but it was not until 1864 (two years alter Mr. Rand.vll had purchased the interest of his partner) that the retail business was discon- tinued, and an exclusively wholesale trade begun. A year later, Wm. B. Remington came into the field with a wholesale notion business; and in 1S66 the jobbing trade of the town received an accession in the shape of the boot and shoe house of Whitley, Rindge & Co. From this time on, the growth and development of the jobbing trade was rapid, new houses coming into the field every year, while comparatively few retired. The system of selling goods by sample, while not so common as at present, seemed to be equally essential to the success of a jobbing business a quarter of a century ago. The difference between selling goods on the road now and in the dawn of the jobbing trade here furnishes a marked contrast. The only railroad which touched Grand Rapids at that time was the old '• D. & M.," so that nine tenths of the goods sold from the city were placed along the line of long drives in nearly every direction from the place. Tn addition to the comple- ment of sample cases, no salesman thought of starting out on a trip of any length without an axe and a rifle — the former to provide against obstructions in the shape of fallen trees and the latter for use in case a wolf or bear attempted to be too familiar. The goods were sold by sample, but instead of being started on their way to the merchant as soon as the order reached the house, they were held until the purchaser sent in his team for them, not infrequently a period of two or three weeks. The fartherest point to which Grand Rapids had access was Hersey, then a place of considerable impor- tance as the depot of extensive lumbering operations. Traverse City was known as a town of some size, but was too far away to have any attractions for the Grand Rapids jobbers. Working south of this market the farthest ]ioint touched was Singapore, now a deserted, sand-covered village a couple of miles from Saugatuck. THE JOBBERS OF THE PRESENT. Such being the beginning, what has been the harvest? A remarkable increase in the branches originally represented and the "addition of other and cognate blanches until the jobbing transactions of the market amount to millions where they then amounted to thousands. In no branch of business is this more thoroughly illustrated than in the gi'ocery trade, which is represented by seven strong houses, all vieing with each other for supremacy, and whose total sales eclipse those of the wholesale grocery trade of either Toledo or Detroit. That so young a market as Grand Rapids is able to make such a showing is the best possible tribute which can be paid to the sagacity and enterprise of those responsible for it. Nor is this spirit wholly confined to the representatives of the wholesale grocery trade. It is equally noticeable in other lines, contributing, in no small degree, to the wonderful strides the market has made as a jobbing center. JOBBING HOUSES. Boots. Shoes and Rubbers Hooks and Stationery Bronze Monuments Clothing Commission and Produce. Crockery Dry Goods (wholesale and retail) . I'rugs Grocers Hardware Hides, Pelts and Wool Hats, Caps and Furs Lime and Cement Liquor Notions , Packers Paper Paints, Oils, etc Photographic Supplies Rags and Peddlers Supplies Saddlery Hardware, etc Spices, etc Yeast Capital Employed. S200,000 lliO.UOO 75.000 118.0UO 165,000 585,000 165.000 675,000 300,000 50,000 25,000 25.000 150,000 35,000 73,000 112,000 50,000 10,000 10,000 100,000 25,000 3.1100 Total ' $3,051,000 Product FOR 1887. S325.000 300,000 aooo 135,000 1. 000.000 345,000 1,400,000 300,000 4.400.000 008,000 800,000 60,000 150,000 500,000 iso.ofo 375,000 350,000 150.0C0 22,500 .50.000 350.000 200.0(0 10.000 S12,289,500 Employes. Hale Female 46 33 6 2 102 63 127 39 30 19 140 150 20 2 96 6 105 16 4 5 16 27 6 35 21 1 24 2 8 11 21 2 IS 2 5 3 878 309 171 29.060 Number of barrels illuminating oil inspected at Grand Rapids during 1887 .. TERRITORY COVERED. Coincident with the advent of new houses, and the constant enlarge- ment of those already in the field, has come a gradual increase in the terri- tory covered, partially by encroachments on limits established by other mar- kets, but principally by the development of unsettled sections. Beginning with a territory 100 miles long by half as wide, the jobbing trade of the place THE CITY OF GRAND RHPIDS. 11 now practically controls the western half of the State, between the Straits of Mackinac and the Indiana line. Much trade is secured in the Upper Penin- sula and throughout Northern Indiana, but both fields are as yet disputc; butchers, 82; carpet cleaning shops, 3; electrical supply houses, 4; florists and nurserymen, 13; undertakers, 5; gold and silver platers, 2; gunsmiths, 2; hack and baggage lines, 2; horse-shoeing shops, 14; insurance agents, 31 : intelligence offices, 4; lapidairian, i; locksmiths, 2; attorneys at law, 94; manicure, i; manufacturers agents, 3; merchant tailoi-s, 19; millwrights, 3; oculists and aurists, 3; photographers, 15; physicians, 143; real estate deal- ers, 56; stair builders, 2; steamship agencies, 5; stenographers, 3; taxider- mists, 3; veterinary surgeons, 8; renovators (clothes), 7; bath (Turkish), i; junk dealers, 5; pawn brokers, 4; agents for office safes, 2. -®®®®- gank§ and ganking. Grand Rapids as a Financial Ceqter — Clearing House Statistics. RAND RAPIDS can point with a great deal of pride to her banking institulions. They consist of five National and two Savings Banks, all well managed and doing a very prosper- ous business. Grand Rapids is considered the financial and banking center for Northern and Western Michigan. .The rales of discount are very low, comparing favorably with much larger cities and monetary centers. The enormous increase in the banking business of the city already indi- cates the steadily increasing wealth of the people. In the spring of 1861, the city had no b.inking facilities whatever, and it was not until 1863 that there was an org.inized bank, and that with a capital of but $50,000. THE I'AST AND PRESENT. A comparison with the present banking capital and surplus of $2,854,- 000; deposits, $5,750,000, and a line of discounts amounting to $7,036,000, tells the story of permanent growth and strength, and needs no comment. SAVI.SGS BANKS. Tlic savings l)anks report that their deposits increased very materially during the winter months of 1887 and iSSS, which goes to show that the hilraring classes were well employed, and that they are industrious and saving. THE CLEARING HOUSE. The Grand Rapids (.'Icaring House Association was organized Decem- ber ;o, 1885. The reports are very encouraging, and show business is increasing rapidly, the second year of its operation showing an increase of 31 per cent. over the first. STOCK INSURANCE. A prosperous stock insurance company, organized in 1SS2, with a cash capital of $100,000, increased the same to $200,000 in 1SS6, and has had a continuous record of prosperity. Its assets January I, 1883. were $100,359; 'S**-*' *'°9'79j: 'S85, $115,670; 1886, $126,257; 1887, $239,501; 18S8, $275,595. SAFETY DEPOSIT COMPANIES. .\mple facilities for the storage of papers and valuables are furnished by t«o safe deposit companies, one conducted by a stock company, with $50,000, and the other a private enterprise. Each is equipped with all the modern safeguards against burglars and fire. BITI.DINO AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS. At present, there are in operation in Grand Rapids five building and loan associations, each having a large membership and enjoying prosperity. Ihe associations, in the order of organization and their capital stock, are as follows: CArn-Ai. The Gr.ind Rapids S 12."i.C«0 The V:,llcy Ciiy 2.au00u The \Vc5t Side i'ltHIUO Grand Kapids Miltil.-il .'i.nUO.OUO The Holland . 500,000 REAL ESTATE. The Present and Prospective Value of Property— Pointers as to Safe Investrrients. (HOSE who aie in search of homes, business locations, factory sites or of safe and prolitable investment, should visit Grand l-iapids and inspect the superior advantages this city pos- sesses in any and all of these particulars. Prices are low, terms are reasonable, values are steadily advancing, and the nieehaiiic, the merchant, the manufacturer, and the capitalist — the man with limited means and he who has an abundance — each can find in this city what they desire. The city includes about eight square miles of hill and valley, and the immediate suburl)S on every side are rapidly becoming thickly populated. The streets are substantially paved or graveled. The water system for fire protection or for use covers nearly Ihe entire corporation; gas mains and electric light wires extend in all the principal business and resident thorough- fares and avenues, and the street-car lines penetrate every section of the city. RESIDENCE PROPERTY. Residence property is especially cheap and available. Building lots of standard width and depth can be purchased, ranging in price anywhere from S250 to ten times that amount, and the price payable in any manner desired: for cash, in weekly, monthly, or in quarterly installments. For the lowest sum named a lot can be secured within the corporate limits, a few blocks, at the most, from the cars and in a section of the city that will quickly improve and develop. A very desirable lot can be pur- chased for from S600 to SSoo on a graded street, near pr on a street railroad, and in a good neighborhood, while for $1,000 to $I,2CX3 a lot can be bought which will have included sewers, water, gas, sidewalks and other improve- ments, and be within easy walking distance of business. The choicest resi- dence property can be had at prices ranging from $1,500 or $1,800 to $2,500. Those who would prefer to buy houses already built can find what they want from $1,000 upwaj-d, payable, a nominal sum to bind the bargain, from $150 to $500, and the balance in easy installments. From $1,000 to $1,500 will buy a cosy little home in the outskirts, easily reached by street car; $2,000 to $4,000 will buy a neat and commodi- ous residence finely situated in regard to schools, business and accessibility; $5,000 to $8,000 will buy something handsome; from $10,000 to $15,000 or $20,000 a mansion with all the modern improvements, and a palace for $25,000 to $35,000 and upward. At prevailing prices for material and labor, a cottage with five rooms, suitable for a small family, can be erected for $Soo. An attractive house of six or seven rooms can be constructed for from $1,200 to $1,500. A fine Queen Ann house, with good interior finisli and many modern improve- ments, can be built for from $2,000 to $5, coo. A brick residence, elegantly finished, will cost anywhere from ^8,000 upward. For renting purposes houses can be secured for from $8 to $50 per month, according to location, size and style. A very desirable house can be rented for froni $15 to $20 per month, conveniently situated and abundantly large for the ordinary family. BLSINESS PROPERTY. Transfers of the best business property have been so few within the past vear that it is difficult to form an estimate of values. The last Monroe-street property which changed hands commanded about $500 a front foot. On the side streets, immediately off the main thoroughfare, and in the center of the business portion of the city, recent transfers have been made at from S120 to $250 per foot frontage. The choicest parcels now on the market are quoted at from $300 to $350, and very desirable pieces, in locations that are bound to be valuable for business purposes, can be had at $100 or even less. Splendid business sites can be found away from the immediate trade circles, suitable for stores where families can get their household supplies, at very low figures — from $600 to $1,200 per lot of standard width, on the corner i( preferred, and in the centers of large, rapidly growing and prosperous neigh- borhoods. STORE RENTALS. Single store rentals, including basement, range from $700 to $2,000 in the best localities and from $400 to $900 in very desirable places. Double stores and larger accommodations can be secured a very reasonable rates. OFFICES. For office purposes a suite of four to six large front rooms, steam heated, with brick vaults for storage of papers and books, and elevators, can be had for from $500 to $700. Single rooms rent for from $50 to $250 a year. FACTORY SITES. Factory property can be purchased within the city limits and within call of the fire department, in case of danger, and on the line of two or more rail- roads, for $Soo to $1,500 an acre, and in the outskirts and just outside of the city at considerably less. These sites are easy of access by graded and graveled streets, and side tracks can be built from the railioads to any part of the premises, thus furnishing the best possible facilities for handling freight. Sites along the river and the canals are held high, but not unreasonably so — from $2,000 to $7,000 will buy the best that are offered. Factory room and power can be rented at .almost any price desired. COST OF MATERIAL AND LABOR. On the fii"st of March prevailing prices for labor and building material were as follows: Masons and bricklayei^, 45 cents an hour; carpenters and other artisans, $2 to $2. 50 a day; laborers, $1 to $1.50 a day. Connnon brick, S4.50 to S5 per 1,000; fire brick, S28 per 1,000; foun- dation stone, $5.50 to S6.50 per cord; Petoskey lime. Si; Marblehead and Ohio lime, 90 cents; Akron cement, $1.20 per barrel in sacks; Louisville cement. Si. 10; stucco, 40 cents per sack; plastering hair, 30 cents per bushel; mill cull boards, $8 per M; shipping cidls, sheathing or roof boards, S13; stock boards. No. i, $18; No. 2, S16; timber, joist and scantling, 12 to 16 feet, hemlock, Sio; pine, $13; pine flooring, dressed and matched, $13 to $20; bevel siding, S12 to SiS; ceiling pine, $12 to $25; Norway, $25; finishing lumber, pine, $20 to $35 for '/s inch, an< $40 to S50 for i 's and 2 inch; lath, $2. 50 per M; shingles at S3. 25 for 16-inch stars, $2. 25 for seconds. Other materials, nails, paints, oils, varnishes and fixtures can be bought here as cheaply as in Detroit or Chicago. ADVANTAGES PRESENTED FOR INVESTMENT. There is not a city in the country where real estate investment can be made that will be so, safe and so surely profitable as in Grand R.ipids. The RESIDENCE MAIOR AMASA B. WATSON— FULTON AND SHELDON STREETS. KKS1DENV1-; HON. TIIOS. D. t.ILI'.KKT LAKAVl.lTE STREET. KKSIDKNCl-; IIAKKV WIDI >1(:().\IB-EAST rLll'iN .\M> TKi )>l'l ( T STRKKT- KKSIHKNlK MKS. 1 1 Xll'iaUl ii'lll(.l WlMl \\Ii il!lKK\ ^IKKKI RKSIDKXCK CAR'S W. PKKKIXS FOUNTAIN AND I.AFAYKTTE STRKKTS. KlCslDlMl, Jii-llMl II. \Vi iNDI.KI.V 575 LlIKRKV MUFKr. RESIDENCE EDWIN V. UHL— 211 FOUNTAIN STREET. KKSIDEXCE MRS, SARAH A. MoRRlS lHKRKV SIKEET AND (, OLLEGE AVENUE. residp:nce d. a. blodgett— 276 ciikrry street. RESILIENCE W. R. SHELBY. L.\FAVETTE ST. Rh.slDhNCk. I, ho. W. (,.VV— j5u I.A.ST KULTON STREET. RESIDENCE COL. E. CROKTt)N KO.\ AXL) CHAS. FO.\, ClIERRV AXU COLLEGE AVENUE. o „ to I ^ ?< i^. Z ^ IIL \1UK1U\. THE DERBY HOTEL. THE CITY OF GRHND RHPIDS. 13 prices, to-day, for all kinds of property, business, residence and factory, in the center of tlie city and in the suburbs, are very low, compared with other cities, and the prices are steadily advancing. There is no boom or fictitious enhancement of value, but it is a healthy, vigorous growth, permanent, sub- stantial and fully warranted by the circumstances. On an average, all over the city, the prices to day are ten per cent, higher than a year ago, while in some sections the increase has been 30, 40 and even 50 per cent. As the city increases in population, as new street car lines are built and new manu- facturing institutions are established, the demand for property will grow stronger and prices will continue to go up, realizing a handsome profit to those who have their money invested in real estate. The demand for houses to rent is heavier than the supply, and from 10 to 12 percent, interest on investments of this kind can readily be realized. -=®=- Hotels. TIE hotels of Grand Rapids have assisted not a little in spreading the name and fame of the city. In number, size, appearance and general appointments they will compare fa\ orably with cities twice as large in population. By rea- son of the excellent character of her hotels Grand Rapids has become the recognized "convention city of Michigan," and thus she is frequently styled. The first-class houses are up with the age in everything that goes to make up the model caravansary. They are supplied with passenger elevators, heated by steam throughout, supplied with electrical bells, both call and fire, and every modern convenience. The Morton has accommodations for 350 guests; Sweet's, 400; Eagle, 250; Clarendon, 200; Bridge Street, 200, and The Derby, 250. These houses are all first-class, and it will thus be seen their accommodEtions are for 1,650 people. Of the second-class hotels the Michigan House has accommodations for 200 guests; the European, 100; New Rathbun, 150; Union Depot, 50, and thirty four others 700, making a total of i ,299. There are also a large number of first and second-class family hotels, and of the first mentioned the Vendome can care for 100 regular patrons; the Warwick, 100; the Livingstone, 325; Brunswick, 125; Irving, icx), and Park Place, 100. The city has estab- lished a national reputation for caring for great conventions and great crowds, and the traveling men skip many towns, that they may spend theii Sundays at one of the city's fine public houses. -®®®®- Vital gtati^tic^. Tl)e Conditioris -Wl:\icl^ Places Grand Rapids so Higl^ in tt^e List of Cities, as Sl\o\s;n by Mortality Reports. Htn\osp]-ieric Coriditioris. I MO\G the many natur.al advantages this city and surrounding country has, there are none which strike the intelligent investigator with more force than the peculiarity of its topography and climate. The surface of the country is rolling, sloping towards channels which lead all flood- waters quickly away to the river which rapidly flows through the heart of this city, thus providing for its complete and thorough drainage. The elevation of nearly all of the resident properly of the city secures an .ample supply of pure air. TEMPERATURE. The temperature of this region will compare favorably with any part of this or any other coun'ry. We quote from records published by the Slate Board of Health of Michigan. The average temperature (or twenty years, from 1864, by months is: r FOK \ Jan. 1KB. Mar.' April May JlVK (•.7 83 J.-..V Aug. Seit. Oct. Nov. Dec. 22.43 24.58 31.G1 45.71 58.27 71.6.'! 69.1.1 60.16 48.33 35.30 25.50 The average temperature for the 20 years is 46.68'^'. The liiLdicsi temperature for 12 years, from 1S73 lo 1884, was loi*^ August II, 1SS4; and the lowest 31'^ below zero, February 8, 1875. VVl.M) A.NI> STORM.S. Alllioui^h llio cily is not situated immediately upon the abrupt and ele- vated shores of Lake Michigan, yet this large body of water has a very marked influence, not only in modifying the teiiipcralurL\ but also as regards t'.ic forte- of tlie winds. Storms are, for the most part, broken up and their force destroyed by the waters of the lake. The oldest inhabitant cannof remember any wind storm that ever did any serious d.amage in this city. RAIXFALI.. Grand Rapids is remarkably favored by nature in regard to rainfall as compared with the most favored localities. Statistics show that droughts and excess are exceptional, and that the average rainfall for twenty years is about thirty- two inches, and that the deep-snow line in this part of the State is about one degree of latitude north of the city. HEALTH. Grand Rapids is naturally favored in the fact that the seasons of heat and cold are not long enough to give any disease that is most likely to pre- vail in those seasons a chance before there is a change which usually checks them, either by frost or warmth. Conclusive proof of the natural advantages that this locality has in relation to health can be found in the latest statistics of the mortality of the leading cities of the country for the p.ast year, .as furnished to tlie world by the Boards of Health of those cities. In this city the average for the past five years was 9.24 per 1,000, being lower than cities of those localities whose climates are celebrated the world over .IS health resorts, Colorado and California. By a careful inspection of causes of death it is found there is no excess of deaths from causes that can properly be charged to this climate or can be claimed to be natural to the country. The principal diseases are hereditary, imported by the influx of population, or caused by excesses in their various forms. There is no region of the country where there are more natural ad- vantages in all respects in regaril to liealth and length of life, and nothing short of negligence or excesses, unless they are already broken down bcfure they .arrive, will prevent immigrants from enjoying the lull ti;-.ic: alloted ii-.aa. RAILRCDA© FACILITIES. Tine Valley City tlie Greatest Railroad Center iq the State— The Roads Centering Here and the Points Reached by Thern- \XD RAPIDS is pre-eminently the railroad center of Mich- iijan; no other city has so many actual avenues of entrance l>y rail now, or the prospect of so large and important additions to its present rail facilities in the near future. Tliere are now ten actual arteries ot entrance or travel completed, another will be finished before midsummer of iS88, while two others are projected by organized companies with fair prospects of ultimate realization, and the year iSSS will almost certainly see such extensions of two of the existing systeins as will make of them, in practical effect, two more routes into popiilous, thriving, and hence important territory. These railroad facilities, as may be seen from even a hasty glance at the railroad map on the back cover, place our manufacturers and merchants in communi- cation with all the rest of the world, under exceedingly favorable circum- stances. No other inland city offers superior advantages for freights, while the volume of traffic, rapidly growing, in and out of the city, secures for ship- pers not only excellent and improving rates, but superior attention and service. Railro.id officials feel that the business of the city is richly worth striving for, worth cultivating and retaining if possible. THE FIRST RAILROAD. The first railroad to enter the city, in point of time, was what is now known as the Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee, one of the most important links in the Grand Trunk system in the United States and Canada, on the great route from Milwaukee to the seaboard. It offers four passenger trains each way, daily, and the number of freights is only limited by its business. THE GRAND RAPIDS AND INDIAN.\ RAILROAD. The next in point of seniority, and the most important in its influence on the business of the city, the character and relation of its traffic to the city, is the Grand Rapids and Indiana, which has its headquarters, general offices and chief shops in Grand Rapids, was originated here, and is vitally interested in the well-being and growth of the city. This road is one of the most important north and south lines in the country. Built north from here twenty miles as early as the winter of 1866, and a completed through line from Richmond, Indiana, to the Straits of Mackinaw, 460 miles, in 1880, it handles a vast and growing business, and is of the first importance to the jobbing trade as well as the manufacturers of the city. The line has, at the present, through car service to Cincinnati over the Cincinnati, Hamil- ton and Dayton, from Richmond, Indiana, almost as favorable as over its own tracks; but, in connection with other roads of the great Pennsylvania Railroad system, of which it is a recognized and important link, it will doubtless build its own line into that gateway of the South, Cincinnati. This road has been the chief factor in the development of Northern Michigan. It has promoted the building of important commercial and in- dustrial centers where but twenty years ago was a wilderness unbroken save by the lumberman's axe, and those towns with their rural population have vital interest in and dependence upon Grand Rapids. This company at the Straits of Mackinac has direct connection with the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic system, both to St. Paul and Minneapolis and the great Northwest, and to the Sault and the Canadian Pacific and other systems in Omaha. Ii's Northern connections are thus almost as important as its Southern; and it crosses between Grand Rapids and its southern terminus pretty much every great east and west trunk line in the United States, and gives the resulting advantages. From and north of Grand Rapids it has built many branches from eight to forty miles long, feeders which greatly increase its facilities and the commerce of Grand Rapids. This road enters the timber land, decidious and hardwood, north of the city, and is one of the chief routes for that supply. The most important of its present feeders is the one to Muskegon, forty miles, where it reaches Lake Michigan and the traffic of that port. Another branch, twenty-six miles in length, reaches Traverse City. It is contemplated to build still another to Manistee in 1888, to reach another of the most important of La:ke Michigan's ports. SUMMER RESORTS. Through the able management of this road, the great value of Northern Michigan as a summer resort region, as a paradise for hunters and fishermen, has become known throughout North America. This interest, already vast, is rapidly growing, and contributes in a marked degree to the volume of busi- ness of Grand Rapids. PERMANENT INVESTMENTS. The Grand Rapids and Indiana Company has its construction and repair shops in Grand Rapids, within the corporate limits. These now employ about 500 mechanics, and use a large amount of material. In the near future they will probably make all the rolling stock of the company, and will grow to three or four times their present size and importance. This com- pany owns what is known as the Union Depot in Grand Rapids, which is used by all its own trains, and also now by trains on the various divisions of the Chicago and West Michigan, the Michigan Central, and the Detroit, Lansing and Northern. It is probable that in the near future the passenger trains on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern and the Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee roads will also use this depot. There are now forty-five passenger trains in and out of this depot every twenty-four hours, and the coming twelve months will probably see this increased to between sixty and seventy. The company is preparing plans for a first-class passenger station to be completed in 1888. To make it con- sistent with the city and its business, it is proposed to spend between $250,- 000 and $300,000 on the structure and track facilities. THE LAKE SHORE .\ND MICHIGAN SOUTHERN RAILROAD. Next in point of time of construction is the Kalamazoo Division of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern system. This division is ninety-four miles long, south from Grand Rapids, and at its southern terminus. White Pigeon, connects with the main line of that system. So it, too, furnishes competition as well as facilities for both Eastern and Western business. It is now running four passenger trains daily, two each way, with through car facilities. THE CHICAGO AND WEST MICHIGAN RAILROAD. Next in order of time is what is now known as the Chicago and West Michigan system, which is second on the list in the importance of iis con- nections and business relations to Grand Rapids. Two of its chief divisions terminate here, and a part of its general offices, including the general freight and passenger offices, are located here. THE CITY OF GRHND RfiPIDS. 15 The most important of its divisions, ending here, is the main line, from The following are the aggregate figures of the business done by the five Grand Rapids to LaCrosse, Ind., 153 miles in length. Reaching that city it railroads and one steamship line centering in the city during the year 1887: crosses all the great east and west lines of the country north of the Ohio „ . , , r reight forwarded, tons 397, UGl River, with the resultant advantages. At New Buffalo, iii; miles from c- ■ u. • j . ' == ' -^ Freight received, tons 58.'). 624 (irand Rapids, the road makes direct connection with the Michigan Central, Passengers outward 297 Vii and at present has such intimate relations with that company it runs through Passenger inward . 323 614 cars and solid trains into Chicago, si,\ty-eight miles further. This line also I'relgtit Trains, daily 28in,3lout connects with the great southern systems of the country, and also with the Passenger Trains, daily 34 each way bituminous coal fields of Western Indiana, STRliHr RAILWAY SKRVICE. Another of its divisions, the Newaygo, runs north from Grand Rapids Next in importance to its facilities for speedy and cheap communication to Baldwin, seventy-four miles, there connecting with the Flint and Tcre with the balance of the world, in every large and growing city— especially in Marquette system, and thence to Ludington and Manistee. On the route every manufacturing center, where cheap houses, quickly, easily and cheaply are important lumber interests, and at White Cloud, forty seven miles from accessible to or from all points of the municipality are a necessity— are ample Grand Rapids, is the junction with the Big Rapids and Muskegon division, street railway facilities. In this department the city offers great advantages tifty-five miles long, a very important lumber road. This division is quite already secured, with the certain prospect of their great extension in the certain to be extended in 188S, probably in two directions, the main line very near future. continuing through north to Traverse Citv, the other branch through north- „, . .... , ° Ihere are two companies operating distinct systems here, which will west to Manistee witli its large local and lake port business. . , i , r 1 .... insure healthhil competition in the matter of providing new lines quite as This system has also another division known as the Northern, running soon as they are likely to be needed or prove profitable. from Allegan, 103 miles, to Pentwater, through Holland City, where it One of these companies, the Street Railway Company of Grand Rapids, crosses the main line, twenty six miles from Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, now has nearly fifteen miles of track in its system. All these lines pass .Muskegon and other important points. It also furnishes connection over the directly through the very heart of the city, through the main business streets. Jackson and Mackinaw system, Michigan division, via Allegan, between One of the lines, a little more than four miles long, extends from the extreme Grand Rapids and Toledo. This company runs thirteen passenger trains in „orth of the city to and along the extreme south boundary. This line, part and out of the city daily. of the way parallel with the river, connects one of the most important rail- THE Micillc.AX CKNTRAi. RAILROAD. way Systems and a great manufacturing and residence district with the , . , , center of town, thence passes south through a mile and a half of business Next in the order of its general completion, though not of its entrance streets devoted to stores, to a superior residence district and the fair grounds to the city, is the Michigan Central svstem — the fourth of Grand Rapids and race track. A second line crosses the city, from the west side to the connections with the seaboard. east side, uniting the portions separated by the river, and also running from the This is the Grand Rapids division from Grand Rapids to Jackson, a extreme north nearly to the south. This route also is nearly four miles long distance of ninety-four miles. At the latter city direct connection with the and passes through the very heart of the city. Two branches of this route, main Hue is reached, with its more than 1,200 miles of track aside from this in effect, one from the extreme west, almost at the center of the city, the division. This company is now running eight passenger trains in and out of other from the extreme northwest, run to the heart of the city only. The this city daily, and will probably add two more — one e.ach way — soon. third route of this company extends from the extreme southwest to the extreme east. This line is about three miles long and also runs through the THE DETROIT, LANSING AND NORTHERN RAILROAD. ° business center. These pass by or near the chief churches, school houses The Detroit, Lansing and Northern Company is now running four solid „„ 1 ,i,„ „,,Kr„ k,.i.i- „ „ aii .1 r . • j - 1 ' ° ft s .-ind the pubnc buildings, as well as the manufacturing and commercial trains (two e.ach way) daily between Grand Rapids and East Saginaw, a j:o.,;„.„ „„a t\,.-^.,„\, tu^ „„,.„ „„„..i„.,„ „,;^„„„« „„ .■ „ n .u ^ J ' J I a ) districts, and ti^rougn the more populous residence portions. On the east distance 01 1 15 mi es. jli^^ ^j- ^j^^ ^^y^ t^^.^ routes connect with each other, making a circuit or loop .A.t Edmore, on this system, connection is made with the Stanton line, and also with a steam line a little more ttian two miles long leading to branch, from Ionia to Big Rapids, 63 miles long. the lakes — two bodies of water east of the city, one of them a mile and a „, . , , . . , ,„,„., half long and over half a mile wide; the other nearly half a mile in diameter. This company, through a new organization known as the Grand Rapids, ,,.._.,,„ .,.,,. , .,, , , These lakes furnish the chief local pleasure resorts. Lansing and Detroit Railroad Company, is liuilding, and will complete early in May, 1888, a line not quite 50 miles long, from Grand Rapids east to The second company, the Valley City Cable and Street Railway Company, Grand Ledge. This line shortens the distance to Detroit and the East a made its first investment in Grand Rapids in 1887, and its fii-st projects are dozen miles and nearly an hour in time, and gives direct connection with the not yet entirely completed, though portions of them are already in popular State Capital, aiu! will prove a most important addition to the facilities of and successful operation. The main stem of this system is a cable line from this citv and Western Michigan. At least eight through trains daily will run the east bank of the river directly e.ast and up a hill the top of which is over the line. about 140 feet higher than the river level, something more than a mile, on a rRojKCTED RAILROADS. Street which is almost at the precise center of the city north and south. This line, passing from the business heart of the city, crossing the north and The foregoing brief sketch gives but a glance at the actual rail advan- ,,.,,, , , , , ,. south lines of the other system at almost the center of town, passes the City tages. Among the proiects for which companies are .already organized, ,,,,,„«- , , , ,. , , , Hall, the Postofhce and other prominent public structures, and reaches the which have merit, and, hence, arc likely to develop into facts, are these: , , .,, , ,, . . , , , . ~, . top ot a hill on a route wholly impracticable to horse-car service. I his The Grand Rapids and Chicago Air Line, surmised to be a Grand Trunk . . , . ■ , . r mam stem is connected with, or rather connects, an importaant system of scheme, and the Grand Rapids, Rockford and Greenville Road, now partly ^ ,. , , , , ., ^ , , ,, horse-car lines. One of these, already built, passes on top of the hill, to graded between Rockford (fourteen miles north of Gr.ind Rapids, on the , ,,,.,., , , . , , , the north end of the city, through a very desirable and populous residence Grand Rapids and Indiana) and Greenville, and intended, eventually, to ... . .,, ,, , , , , , . , , , , ,. district; its cars will all reach the heart of the city t)y the cable line, cross the State diagonally through a most important lumber district to . , ,. , , , ,,.,,. Another line of horee cars penetrates to the southern line of the city, a mile Alpena, a distance approximating too miles. , , ,, r , , ,- , , . , • • • .... and a half from the west end of the cable, and is in operation. A third These facts show how great are the present and prospective advantages line runs through the heart of the city, thence crosses thi river on a third of Grand Rapids business men in that most important matter, transportation. bridge, to the west, and reaches the West Side a mile and a half distant :6 THE CITY OF GRAND RflPTDS. ironi ihe cable system. This company already has a franchise for at least seven miles more of its cable system, forming a belt line which takes in substantially the whole city. It also has a franchise for and will construct a ilummy line to the lakes already mentioned. In this connection, not distinctly as a street railway facility, yet such in practical results, should be mentioned the Reed's Lake branch of the Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit Railroad. This company, from a point on its main line a little south of the city, has built a branch about a mile and a half long to the lakes and proposes to ran frequent and regular passenger trains for pleasure resorters and suburban passengers, to the Union Depot. It is aiding in the development of quite a large suburban settlement, and probably will provide train service for the entire year. All the railways entering the city have suburban stations, and they are already preparing for special suburb.an train service in addition to the stops of all their many regular trains now entering and leaving the city. From this outline it will be seen that capitalists have unbounded failh in the future of the city and in this branch of business, and propose to greatly increase the present facilities at once, so that any who may so desire can secure homes "well out of the city" in any direction and still be ex- ceedingly near all other parts, because of the cheap street-car service. -®®=®®- (Jaritabk ^omQ$ ,0- Hospital^. X the matter of public and religious charities Grand Rapids is not surpassed by any city of its size in the country, and this fact describes to the thoughtful a population of the highest and most prosperous type. The charitable homes and hospitals in and about the city are constructed upon a large and generous scale. UNION BENEVOLENT ASSOCI.\TION. The Union Benevolent Association, organized nearly' forty years, owns and maintains a home and hospital that is one of the handsomest properties of this class in the State. It is located at the corner of College avenue and Lyon street. The building is large, handsome and is fitted throughout with all the more modern conveniences for the care and treatment of the unfortu- nate. In connection with the home is a training school for nurses, and the society also maintains an outside relief committee, to supplement its great work for humanity. Its home and grounds cost upwards of $40,000. ST. mark's home and hospital. St. Mark's Home and Hospital, which is maintained under the auspices of St. Mark's Episcopal parish, is at present located upon Island street. Its object is similstr to that of the Union Benevolent Association — to provide a home, and care for the aged, sick, poor and infirm. The work of the society has so far outgrown its present quarters that a new, large and com- modious hospital building is to be at once erected at the northeast corner of E.TSt Bridge and Bostwick streets. The site, costing $11,500, has been secured and plans perfected for a §50,000 structure to be completed dur- ing 18S8. LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR. The Catholic churches of the city maintain, under the immediate super- vision of the Little Sisters of the Poor, a home for the aged poor. But one wing of the large and elegant new building projected has been built and is now in use. The building is a model in plain architectural beauty and its appointments. It is located on South Lafayette street, just south of Cherry street. The property has cost $40,000 thus far, and when completed will have cost nearly Sioo,ooo. HOME FOR FALLEN WOMEN. The Womans' Christian Temperance Union maintains a home and hos- pital for unfortunate and fallen women upon East Fulton street. The doors of the institution are also thrown open to women of all classes who need temporary aid and assistance. CATHOLIC ORPHAN ASYLUM. The Catholic Orphan Asylum is an institution of the near future. The plans are prepared for a handsome structure, to be of the best materials and to possess all the modern improvements, which shall cost about Sioo,ooo. The Catholic societies of the diocese have already secured the site for the building, the ten acre tract lying between East Leonard and Carrier streets. North avenue and North College avenue. Work upon the structure will be pushed the present year. C;TY HOSPITAL. The city maintains a hospital for the proper care and treatment of city charges suffering from contagious diseases. It is located upon East street, near the southeast corner of the city; it is a brick structure and cost S7,ooo. Besides these there are a number of similar homes and hospitals pro- jected, and there are a number of private homes and hospitals that are well regulated and maintained. MICHIGAN SOLDIERS' HOME. Just north of the city and upon high and beautiful grounds, sloping to the Grand River, is located the Michigan Soldiei-s' Home, an institution established and maintained by the State for the care of her soldier wards. The institution is one of the leading places of attraction in the State, and is constructed upon a broad and liberal plan. The main structure is of brick and red sandstone and has a total frontage of 250 feet, its greatest depth being 120 feet. The central portion of the building is four stories high, 82 feet to the apex of the roof, and the t\^'o wings are three stories high, 48 feet to the eaves. A tower rises over the center of the structure 136 feet. The interior of the building is similar to other structures of this class and there are accomodations for 450 inmates. There are storage buildings surrounding and the grounds, comprising 144 acres, afford ample room for the pleasure and profit of the veterans. The grounds cost $16,500 and were donated by the city; the main building cost $100,000 and the surrounding buildings, with the water works, cost $50,000 more. The Soldiers' Home is one of the prided institutions of the State, and the citizens of Grand Rapids take great interest in it. The grounds are reached by a beautiful drive along the river and over one of the finest boulevards in the Northwest. MASONIC HOME. The Masonic Home, to be erected by the members of the order in Michigan, is designed to afford relief to worthy Master Masons, their wid- ows and orphans. The association has located this institution near Grand Rapids upon high and rolling land overlooking Reed's Lake. Plans have been adopted for the building and its erection is to be accomplished the present year. The home will be a solid, substantial and handsome structure of red brick and stone, and will cost $5o,ooo. It will be two stories high, with a lofty attic; of the Romanesque style of architecture, with a tower to extend 100 feet above the ground; will have two fronts, both similar in design, one facing toward the north and the lake and the other facing west and toward the popular driveway,, each front being 130 feet long. Along these fronts are porches and balconies and the building will be one the Masons of the State can take just pride in. A hospital building, detached from the home, boiler house, also detached, and other buildings will be erected upon the handsome property. The street railway, the cable railway and a branch of the new Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit Railroad gives easy access to the home and grounds from the city. x. y. IXION r.KXF.VULF.NT ASSOCIATION IIOMF. LVON STREET AND COLLEGE AVENUE. LADII.S- I.ITKKARV CLIT: HOUSE. O-WASH-TANDNC, lioAT CLin? HOUSK— REED'S LAKE. SUBURBS OF GRAND RAPIDS. PENINSULAR CLUB HOUSE. VALHATI^N .# TAXATKDN. R Point frorr) wliicli Grand Rapids Milst Prove Attractive to Investors. iOOD schools are expensive, that is, it requires money to maintain them, and as tliere are no better public schools in the world than those at Grand Rapids, it must be ex- pected that the school tax will be an important factor in the tax rolls. It is the largest item in the municipal budget, , is paid without protest or grumbling by all, even speculators appar- intly recognizing the fact that it is a good investment, because excellent acililies for educating the growing generations greatly enhance the value of )roperty of all kinds. For the fiscal year 18S7-8 the total rate of city tax- ition on the assessed valuation was .0214, of which .00S3, or a little more han three eighths, was school tax. This reckoning includes what is known :s the mill tax — I mill on each dollar of valuation -with the budget pre- ented by the Board of Education. This was a lillle higher than the aver- Lge for the past five years, as will be seen by examining the statement given lelow: YEAR. ASSF.SSF.D VALL-ATION. CITV TAX. R.ATE CITV TAX. SCHOOL TAX. RATE CITV TAX. TOTAL RATE PER CENT. SS3 a9.a*4.oi2 S227.526 .0111 S120.510 .1)01)6 1.77-100 sm 19.7l:'..G40 229.369 .0115 131,810 .00665 1.71-10 &85 19.9t«.81l 307,335 .015 120,000 .006 2.1-100 fe88 20.328.113 228,111 .0112 143,100 .007 1.82-100 687 20.G80.177 283,030 .0134 171.110 .008 2.11-1000 The extraordinarily high rate of taxation (or 18S5 w-as due to the fact he bu-— i^^PIOOD streets to drive over, good sewerage to carry off the W /i^^^^\^ drainage of the city, and facilities for water supply are "\ A^^^SJl \ great desiderata in the eyes of the intending settlers. In "^ <^iy\j^] •■>'! these respects. Grand Rapids makes an excellent show- -'^ "'^ I ing- STREETS. The total mileage of streets in the city is 143.012, of which there were on January I, 18SS: itlLKS. Gr.tded and paved with wood and stone 6.114 Graded and paved with wood 1.388 Graded and paved with stone 1.178 Graded, graveled and gutters paved i3.367 Graded and graveled 32.10.'i Graded 3.000 Unimproved 55 770 Total 1J3.012 The al)Ove statement shows that 69 per cent, of all the streets in the city have been improved in some manner. The following talile shows the amount and cost of work done since the year ending April 30, iZ'iz, for each year to date January I, 1888: VFAR Al'Kli- 30 MII.KS OK srM::KT IMI'KUVl^U, 1SS3 1.710 I l.it .'..875 1 -S) i 4.783 COST OP I.MPKOVEMENTS. VKAR IiM>lNO AI'KIL 30. 422.870 73 61.748 86 72,603 00 1886 1887 JANUAKY J. 188S MILKS OP STKtKT l.MI'KOVEU. 3.701 7.230 7.8S1 COST OF IMPROVEMENTS. i 40.020 00 112.230 00 99.574 00 Tlie total length of streets impioved during this period is 30.952 miles, :.\ a cost of 5409,046.59. WAiER Works. In llie public water works system, there are 28 miles of mains now laid. which, with the 296 fire hydrants, gives protection to property over an area of more than two square miles, or nearly one-fourth the area of the city. Tliis includes the entire business and manufacturing interests, and covers also, much of the more valuable of the residence portion of the corporation. PRIVATE WATER. CORPORATION. The Grand Rapids Hydraulic Company's supply, at present, is from springs. Steps have been taken looking to a supply of water from a point three-quarters of a mile north of the city, where a well has been dug. The company's system consists of eight miles of pump logs and six miles of cast iron pipe, the latter laid last season. SEWERS. There are 42.669 miles of sewers in the city, as follows: Miles. Brick sewers 17^88 Glazed pipe sewers 22 690 Cement pipe sewers ion Wood sewers 1.8.i3 Iron pipe in river jgQ Total 42.869 The length of sewers constructed each year since the fiscal year, endin" .\pril 30, 1SS2, and the cost thereof, is as follows: YEAR NO. OF MILES 1 YEAR NO. OF MILES KNULNG CONSTRtrcTF.n COST OK SAME. ' E.MJING CONSTRirCTED COST OF SAME. AI'RIL 30. EACH YEAR. 1 APRIL 30. EACH YEAR. 1883 1.790 S 9.929 70 1 1887 2,8.>t S17.B40 00 1884 3.229 28.226 31 jani;arv I. 1S85 6.114 87,376 80 1888 3.16.1 12.463 80 The tot.-il cost for the work in the five years above noted is $155,63661 for a length of 17.152 miles of sewers. LIGHTING THE CITY- Gas and Electric Lights Filrnisiied by Cornpeting Corripariies. HE Grand Rapids Gas Light Company was organized in the year 1857, and began operations with one "bench" of three retorts, and a storage capacity of 25,000 cubic feet — which was much more than was then needed. Additions to the plant were made from time to time as the city grew. The company some years since purchased six acres of land at the comer of Wealthy and Oakland avenues, on which has recently been erected complete new works. Nothing in the city better illustrates its substantial growth than the fact that such large works had become a necessity. From three retorts and a storage capacity of 25, 000 feet in 1857, to one hundred retorts and a storage capacity of half a million feet in thirty years, tells the story of the growth of the city. The company's plant now comprises thirty-five miles of street mains, and the amount of coal used annually is 10,000 tons. ELECTRIC LIGHTIXG. The Grand Rapids Electric Light and Power Company was organized March 22, iSSo, with a capital stock of $100,000. The company purchased its first dynamo (a si.\teen- light Brush) and the requisite lamps and lines in July, 1880, placing the dynamo in the basement of the Wolverine Chair and Furniture Company's factory, the company renting power to propel it. The lights were first exhibited in July, 1S80. At the present time the plant consists of water and steam power com- bined, to the extent of 525 horse power, and twenty-three dynamos, suffici- ent to supply 450 arc lamps of 2,000 candle power each, and 1,000 incan- descent lamps of sixteen candle power each. At the present time the com- pany is furnishing to its patrons upward of 250 arc and 500 incandescenl lights, besides a number of motors furnishing power during the daytime. About forty-five miles of line wire is in use, covering a distance of ovei fifteen miles of streets. The company is now furnishing for the city i ic street lights, the greater number of which are suspended over the centers of the streets. The Edison Electric Light Company was organized in 1887, with a capital of $200,000. Eleven miles of line have already been constructed. The company has now placed under ground 30,000 feet of copper feeders, weighing two pounds to the foot. The present plant starts up with four boilers, each of no horse power capacity, three engines with 15x18 cylin- ders, and six dynamos, capable of feeding 4,000 incandescent lamps simul- taneously. The company already have stores, dwellings, hotels, etc., wired to the amount of over 3,000 lamps, and accessions to this number are con- stantly being made. This is an incandescent plant only, for the supplying of interior lighting and power. The Sprague electric motor will be used, and power will be furnished, from the same w-ires that supply light, in any amount up to fifty horse power. ®<§S®®- Police and pire protection. Hovs^ tl\e Lives and Property of Citizens are Guarded — Tlrie Cost of Maintaining tl^e Police and Fire Departnqents ■T' )TH Police and Fire Departments of the city of Grand Rap- 5y / ills are under the control and guidance of a Board of Police and Fire Commissionei-s, composed of five members, appointed by the Mayor, with and by the consent of the Common Council — one every five years. The commis- sioners hold weekly meetings, at which the affairs of the departments are considered. THE POLICE DEP.IRTMENT. The police department numbers seventy-one officers, men and employes, as follows: One superintendent, two sergeants, two detectives, two court officers, one truant officer, fifty-one patrolmen, two patrol-wagon men, three drivers, two clerks, three operators, one janitor and one matron. There are twenty-seven beats in the city, nine of which are constantly patrolled. The remaining eighteen beats are patrolled from four o'clock P. M. until four o'clock A. M. The patrolmen are divided into three squads, or watches. The day watch patrols from eight A. M. until four P. M. ; the dog watch from four to eight P. M., and from four to eight A. M.; and the night watch from eight P. M. to four A. M. In connection with beats is the patrol box system, one of the finest fea- tures of the department. There are thirty-sLx of these boxes, twenty-eight of which have telephones. The remaining eight are used to call for helii from remote districts not patrolled. The boxes are connected with police headquarters. Twenty-five miles of wire are used in the system. Each patrolman reports to headquarters at each end of his beat, and the exact hour is there recorded by an operator. These reports are carefully saved and bound so that in after years a person can tell, by refeiTing to the records, where an officer was at a certain hour on a given date. If a patrolman wishes help or the wagon, or instructions, he asks for it, and many times receives instructions from the sergeant in charge of the station through the same channel. If a patrolman fails to report in a reasonable length of time after he should do so, another officer is detailed to look him up and'ascertain the cause of the difficulty. In connection with the system is a two-horse wagon, with a man constantly in charge. The wagon attends all alarms from the patrol boxes and many calls by private telephone. It also attends all fires, in order to give necessary police protection. There is also a one- horse wagon, on duty during the day only. It is used in carrying prisoners to and from the jail, sending after witnesses for Police Court, and for persons for whom warrants have been issued, returning lost children to their homes, taking sick and disabled persons to the different homes and hospitals, and other like work. THE CITY OF GRAND RflPIDS. 23 One oft'icer devotes liis entire time to seeing that llie truant law is enfoiceii, and that the factories do not employ help imder the proper age. The officers are all well drilled in the use of the revolver and club, and aie requireil to spenil a jiortion of their time daily in practice. The entire force is as well drilled as most military companies in the State. The advan- tage of having a well-drilled, well disciplined force can readily be seen. From May i, lS86, to May i, 1887, there were 1,472 arrests made by the officers. Of the number, 1,393 were males and 79 were females, and only nine of the entire number could neither read nor write. A comparative statement for the ten months ending March I, 1S88, shows the number of arrests to have been 1,493 — ^ ^'"^'T respectable showing, when it is considered how rapidly the population of the city is increasing; that new State laws and amended city ordinances made many more arrests necessary. It costs in round nun^bers 55,000 per month to maintain this branch of the city's business. In connection with the lorce, and under the supcr\ isi(.)n of the commis- sioners, is the Grand Kapids Police Relief and Benefit Association, which assists and relieves jiatrolmen when injured in service or who are disabled by sickness. THi; I'lRF nEP.\RTMENT. This department has eight line brick engine houses, valued at S6o,ooo; seven four-wlicele^ mills on the dollar assessed valuation, which is half the actual cash valuation. Average number of pupils to teacher in 1886-7, 34; number of men te.achers, 8; women teachers, 204; average cost per pupil for whole school. y. u •/■. y. ■y; THE CITY OF GRHND RHPIDS. 27 $19.93; number non-resident pupils in 1887, 153; studying Latin, 22g; Greek, 10; German, 62; French, 32. The Superintendent of Schools, liis clerk, the teachers, superintendent of construction, librarian and assistants are all employed for one year only: the contracts are, however, usually renewed year after year. Since the con- solidation of the city schools under the present system, in 187 1, there have been only three school superintendents. PRIVATE SCHOOLS. The estimated number of pupils in the schools not public, as given by the public school authorities, is 1,788. These schools are: One Holland Refoniied Church Theological Seminary, one Holland Protestant School, three English Catholic Schools, one of high grade; one German Catholic, one Polish Catholic, two German Protestant schools and one Kindergarten. There are also three Business colleges, one school for mechanical drawing, one for free-hand and artistic drawing, modeling in clay, casting and wood- carving, two for oil and water-color painting, two vocal music schools, one for elocution, and one dancing school, besides private teachers of German, French, Spanish and other branches. These private schools are generally good, some being of high merit. PUBLIC LIBRARY. The "Public School Library of the City of t.irand Rapids," more popu- larly spoken of and commonly known as "The Grand Rapids Public Library," is under the control of the r5oar^]^anufacturer8 of (^arpet gupcepers (t)nl\^4 *i TYxe Bissell Brands of S'Weepers are Kno"^ri i^nd sold in every civilized coiiritry in ti^e -world. Reeo^Rizesl keadcr^ ii2 tl^i^ Isine of Qls^nuf achiPe. Oiir goods are standard and made under thirty difPerent brands in styles and at jsrices to meet the wants of any purchaser. Tt)e Largest and Only Exclusive rnan^facttirers of Carpet S-Weepers in ti|e ■world. Of>epaUn^ [JoGlep mope tijan Fifty cPatcrst^. AVe own and control the celebrated Broom Action used in our Sweeper, without which no sweeper can be made to adjust itself to any carpet ; also numerous other valuable devices on Carpet Sweepers. GENERAL OFFICE AND FACTORY 22 MILL STREET, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. 7 EASTERN BRANCH and EXPORT OFFICE! 103 CHAMBERS STREET, NEW YORK. J. H. WONDERLY, President J. P. CREQUE, Vice pres l manageh. R. N. WOLCOTT, Sec. i treas. Kent Furniture H^anufacturing (Co. IMOS. 674 TO 700 NORTH FRONT STREET. ,iiiiiiiiii|'lli™illllillllilllllllil|l|lilllllilllll!!1lfll!li!ltlllli:!!l^ SyiiWiiiiit'iiiiillliliiia'iiilinlHIilll^^^^^^^^ ' ■"■|'''^!ii:'''!iilliiiliiiii!iliiilillllllllllil WHOLF.S.M.E U\- iTRERS OF Low and medium priced Chamber Suites, Wardrobes, Chiffoniers, Side- boards, Bookcases and Tables. Write for Catalogue. M CLiSeR. MATTER & G2. -1- » l©0 9®®a®®?'®®@fflmatBS)® ■^^pp' ®®©®S9®® 0^anufactiui'E['^ of ^urqitoe * * * * * RAND RAPIBS. niGH. Chicaoo Office, 267 WHBflSH flVE. J. W. WHEELOgK, Manager. New V()rl< Office, 5 E. 19th street KNAPP & STODDARD, Managers. Uri^i^^erseil Tripod Company MAN'UFACTURERS OV THE UNIVERSAL•^TRIPOD•^COAT•^RACK f^ Useful in Parlor, Bedroorri aqd Hall. Not only useful but graces then-^ ^ ^ all. We also manufacture iq additioq to tfie above a fiqe liqe of ^"^ III Wood Top Tables, Plush Top Tables, Shaving Stands, Dressing Cases. Hi UNIVERSAL TRI POD CO AT RACK. III Fancy Beds, Child's Beds, Towel Racks, Easels, Etc. Ill PATENTED 1888. UNIVERSAL TRIPOD CO., 168 to ir4 @nai $^t. ^Q,mM Rapifls, Mi'^l?- H. C. RUSSELL, President. L. H. HITSTIN, Sec. 5 Treas. grand ^V^^^'^^s ^„^^^* 31 S 33 HURON ST '*5u/; ^"'""--s «5J WljoUsak BcaUrs ^9 «^^ ^^''' ,As A Mattresses anb Bed Springs CURLED HAIR, WOOL. HUSKS, FEATHERS, EXCELSIOR, ETC. Ours is the only mattress Uciory in the l.ind using only new sattinet clips shoddy in our wool mattresses, and consequently they may be depended upon to be clean and sweet We make a ^pcLioJty of furnishing hotels and boats with hair auJ OLhcr mattresses ^ * The above cut represents our DAIHY SPltrXG, which combines the principles of the spiral and the t^-OX'en \rire springs. This combination leaves it without an objection, which can be said of no other bed spring yet invented. The spiral spring is admitted to be the correct principle for a bed spring, hut is objectionable in that it does not furnish a proper surface for the support of the mattress, causing it, of whatever material, to bunch up. The woven wire fabric with which we cover the I>A1KV overi-omcs this ol-jiMtinn, increases the el.isticity of the spring and, in fact, makes it perfect in every particular. It has only to be seen to be appreciated by the intelligent pubhc, and wherever it is shown proves to be a good seller, ships three to the loo lbs. and is scheduled second class. We would like very much to receive your order for a sample lot, if for only one, feeling confident that it will result iu opening up a trade which will be of mutual benefit. MARTIN MIDDLINGS PURIFIER CO, -SOLE MANUFACTUEEES OF J. B. KABTIN'S PATZNT- \1/ 7\\ Middlings Purifier and Eliminating Flour Dresser. III Martin's Middlings Purifier WILL PURIFY AVithout waste in tlio dust room, the tinest soft middlings from the tails of centrifugals. Sharp returns from bolts. Stock which can not be handled on any other make of I'uriliers without waste. It is a perfect Grader and rurili(>r of Mid- dlings, from the liuest soft middlings to the coarsest germ, which it thoroughly aspirates. Eliminating Flour Dressing Machine THE SIMPLEST AND MOST PERFECT FLOUR DRESSER IN TriE WORLD. UTILIZES ITS ENTIRE CLOTH SURFACE WITH- OUT DEFLECTION O.^ STOCK SEND FOR TESTIMONIALS AND CATALOGUE. Ill (ira^d f^apids, /Tlielj. M ICHIGAN IRON WORKS Vn. T. POWERS r^ ^ S.S0N RAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. i^ M.iNrF.\CTL'Rr.KS Ol- DENSMORE'S PATENT ROTARY VENEER CUTTING MACHINE For Culling Vciieers frcmi .imiiiul llie lug, for Furnilure, l-'ruit rack.iges. Cheese ISoxcs, Ilarrel Sl.ivcs, Hoops, Orange Boxes, ele., etc. Machines are very heavy, ami made in various sizes to cut logs from i-nv to /<■« feet long. All kinds of Machine and Foundry Work to order. Steam Engines, Boilers, Shafting, Pulleys, Gearing and Saw Mill M.ichinery. Office and Work:«, Koot of I^oiiis; Street grand i Rapids i Refrigerator i (^o.. SOLE MflNUFfiCTURERS OF The ail- Leonard Gleanable -=® =^ BEST GN EARTH. ®^ MADE IN HARD WOOD ONLY. RICH ANTIQUE FINISH. Elegantly Carved and Orr|an\erited REAL BRONZE TRIMMINGS. TI}e Leonard Air Tigl]t Locks. Tlje Leonard Mova ble Flties. TY\e Leonard Solid Iror] Slielves. Five Walls to Preserve t l-|e Ice. WARRANTED NOT TO S WEAT KEEP ICE LON GER A N D FOO D BETTER THAN ANY OTHER DrfiJ Air< Refrigerator m 111= ^ PRICES L0W. ®= Great Variety Manufactured. Porcelain Lined Water Coolers. XXX TIN MILK COOLERS. Our Special Features can riot be Obtained in any otiier Refrigerator. For Sale by tlie Trade Generally. CONSUMERS SUPPLIED WHERE WE HAVE NO AGENTS. SEND FOR CATALOGUE. ADDRESS AS ABOVE. Grand P^apids, Michigan. Grrand F^apids Scl^ool FuirnituLre Compar^y MANUFACTURERS OF ^chool, Ctiui^ch, Banl^ and Opei^a Houge Furini^hingg. Chairs have Hat, Coat or Shawl, Umbrella Racks, Foot Rests and Book Holders. OVER THIRTY STYLES, PLAIN. OR UPHOLSTERED, rjcl for our rjew illu:;tratod Catalogues of Opera House rqd Hall Seatings, She "^bi^pbgt Puvomatig" Sghool Desi^'' TH- 0NL7 PEACTICAL SELF FOL^INS SEAT DESE IM THE T70SLI). i^K •-♦h GLOBES and APPARATUS, CHURCH PEWS, BANK COUNTERS, COURT HOUSE FURNITURE, RAILROAD SETTEES C. G. A. VOIG7^ ^ CO., PROPRIETORS ->gtar I Roller* Mi'ls.-^ C^PACITV, :}oO BA.HKE1.B. ® l§l— -® JVIanufacturers of the following Brands of piour < OUR PATENT. CflLLA LILY, "STAR GOLDEN SHEAF. OUR FANCY, WHITE PRINCE. GRAHAM. DEALERS IN RYE FLOUR, BUCKWHEAT FLOUR, GRANULATED MEAL, BOLTED MEAL, BRAN, SHIP, MIDDLINGS, SCREENINGS. -® -«*- TEbEPHONE N9. 337. Grand Rapids, Mich. t t ® Bi^iss Machii^e 'yiTorkis ® s^ BRANCH SALESROOM, 48 S. CANAL ST., CHICAGO. /mx i^ M. L. SWEET, WHOLKS^LE: manufacturer of medium and LOW-PRICED * * BEDSTEADS * * HOTEL SUITES, COMMODES, ETC. FAETORY AND SALESROOMS. Cor. of Prescott aud Ionia Its. OFFICES AT FAETORY acd 23 Pearl Street (Sweet's Hotel Block). GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. tme: leading manufactuf^ers OK pine ,0 Medium Jurniture FROM THE LATEST DESIGNS, IN ALL WOODS. 'PH0CRIX> Grand • Rapibs, • Aighisan. Chamber Suits, Dining Room Suits, Book Cases, Wardrobes, Hall Stands, Parlor Secretaries, Etc, Etc. 't^e FLir^ni^!7in^ of Vp\A^ '^\i^ou^m\. a Specialty SOLE OWNERS HND MHNUFflCTURERS OF THE "PHCZNIX FOLDING BED." Per\ir\sialar Ktirnittire Company iiiiiiuiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiniuiiniiiiiiiuiiiiiiuiiii oooooooooooo BEDROOM SETS BEDSTEADS BUREAUS LOUNGES FOLDING TABLES oooooooooooo miiunuuumuiminniiniimnnmmniinuimimn iiniiiiuuittiiiiuiiuiuuiiiuiiniiniiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiuui oooooooooooo FHCTORY Comer Canal and Fairbanks Streets. WAREHOUSE Comer Kent and Newberry Sts. OFFICE S SALESROOM Cor. Ottawa and Fairbanks Sts. ERAND RAPIDS, HIEH. oooooooooooo iimiuiiiiiiinuiiiiMiiniHitiiiiiimiiiiitiiiuiiiiiimui H. RABEnAKER S. SONS, WHOLESALE MANUFACTURERS Ba^e Ball Bal;^, Croquet ^et^, Indiai] Glub^, Etc., Etc., GRANB • RAPIBS, • MICHIGAN. ®~ -o M. C. BURCH, Pkes't. B. DeGRAFF. Jr.. Vice Pres't. J. P. FIXEGAX. Sec. am. Treas. Make a Specialty of Fine and Medium Carved and T^uisl-worl; Genter< Tabled and ^tand^ OAK, MAHOGANY, CHERRY AND WAL.NfT FINISH. Catalogues, etc., to the Trade only. OFFICE AND FACTORY 286 & 288 CANAL ST. Grand Rapids, Mich. grand Rapid^ ^ Indiana Railroad. * « « » » f: * (MRCKINflC AND CINCINNATI SHORT LINE.) * TO THE DELiGHTFUL ^SafflfflER ReseRTs eF Northern Aighigan> AND THE CELEBRATED GRAYLING AND TROUT STREAMS, BEAUTIFUL LAKES, AND «HyNriNG © sReyNDs* Of tl^is Farrioiis Coiiritry. No rriore p leasant sp ots to spend one's siininiei" or* vacation can be found ttian TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, MACKINAC, and oth[er resorts in t^i eir irninediate vicinity. Tiie Scenery of tlie Nortt) Woods and ]!.al\es is very beautiful. Tt|e air is pure, dry and bracing. Tt^e clirqate is peculiarly beneficial to tlriose suffering "Witl^ Hay Fever and fistlirnatic affections, Ne-W Hotels "Wit?) all rnodern inq- proveinents lr\ave been erected, and extensive additions inade to otl^ers, guaranteeing ainple acconnrnoda- tions for all. The (Jraqd I^apid^ \ Indiaqa \ \ with its mar|y corjqectioris forir|s a direct route betweer^ all poiiits iq the Soutl^, South|- east and Southwest, aqd poiqts iq the West- erq aqd Northern portions and Upper Peqinsula of Michiqan. Woodruff Sleepiqg Car s aqd Parlor Chaif Cars oq all througf) traiqs. For descriptive matter and full informa- tion, address O. Xj. XjOCir"^77-OOX), W. O. HUGHART, Ses. Fass. i Tiiket Agi, Fres. It Sea. llanager. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. THE ALDINE FIRE PbAGEJ' A SANITARY SAFESUARD— AN EKONOMIML HEATER. The AIjI>UIIK in ronNtructed on Mcieiitilic prinripIeN; It «(|"i^l- ixeti the teuii»eratar<> and produeeH warm Moors. Unlike any other grate, it has a rclurn draught. This insures sUiw and perfect combus'.ioii of fuel, economy, perfect ventdalii-.i and distrilnuion of heat. The ALDINE is the only grate that can be piped to common chimneys wilh as gcHid results as if aspeciul chimney was provided. It can be set and operated with less than one-half the expense and fuel re quired by any other grate. Send for Illustrated Circular Caving Full luformation. Address, ^Idiiic JvI^iiiui'cK-tiinno (^o., GRHND RHPIDS, MICH. (^rand j^ipids e • Purniture (^o, MA\Ti\ciri',i: i\i'i,i' ivn,v J^edstcacls *. J. C. MORE, L. C. STOW, Scc'y and Tres- >t' ALABASTINE CO SOLE BANUFACTCREES OF ^labastine. Also iVLariiifactures of Laud and felcined Plastar and ^krcb's Bug Firasb Alabastine is a permanent wall coating that hardens on the wall with age, and every coat added from time to time im- proves the wall instead of softening and scaling off, as all Kal- somine mixtures (inert powders held with glue) do. There is no article similar to Alabastine except Anti-Kalsomine, which is licensed tinder our patents but is not the same. This ex- planation is made, as some compounds not even similar claim to be the same as Alabastine. Alabastine is not an experiment, but has been on the market for the ])ast nine years to test its merits, in addition to some years of previous trial by the inventor to perfect it before placing it on sale. It is of that nature that time only would test the utility of each experiment, to arrive at the exact pro- portions, etc., to produce a wall coating that would harden with age and admit of recoating from time to time without scaling or softening, as all Kalsomine mixtures do. ALABASTINE GO. Si:\ti-£cil^oii\ii\e do. Me Manufacturers of flNTI-KflLSOMlNE AND © E:. Q. varnish PRESBI'lVER © Anti-Kalsomine is a permanent coating for walls and ceilings that ai WW. B REMINGTON, PRESIDENT. A. JUDD DAVIDSON, 6EC'y AND TREA5. Wi«- A- W^'M PuFiiitui-e MANUFACTURERS T.\BLt:S giiK^ i (^abiiicl t\^aFC. © © ® ® ® ^ WM. A. BERKEY, W. H. JONES, rresuUiit. Vice Fresideju. LEWIS T. PECK, Setretiny tuiii Trcasttrer, w iFst-class in all its Appointment^-^ $2.50 to $4 00 Per Day. • * • • ♦ ♦ ♦ • • • • • • iQrancl J^apids, KTicl]. T HE ONLY MANUFACTURERS OF -i~ • • • • ABSOLyTELY •• PORTABLE •:• ByiLDINGS, -^^ RESIDENCES, ;: :: :: SUMMER COTTAGES, HUNTERS' CABINS, CHILDREN'S PLAYHOUSES jMW GRAND RAPIDS, MIGH.U,S.A. CAMP MEETING COTTAGES, ® ® ® ® BATHING HOUSES, PHOTOGRAPH GALLERIES, CANDY STANDS, ETC. ® ® ® © ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Its durability and utility commends it to all, while its light weight reduces cost of transportation. Set up and taken dmvn in from three to four hours anywhere. For descriptive matter, address with stamp, • • •• •• GRAND RAPIDS PORTABLE HOUSE CO., - GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. •• •• •• w. elc]r[ Koldit^^ Bed Co, . T//£ ONLY EXCLUSIVE FOLDING BED MANUFACTURERS IN THE UNITED STATES "iwiJE^^^^S^^^^^ L. W. WELCH. W. S. EARLE. Grand Rapid s, MicHo • • • Mercantile Collectior\ Agency, H. D. G. VAN AS/nyS, Manager 13 Canal Street, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. I i\ave for tl^e past ttiree years l:\aridled tl^e Collectioris of rqariy of tlr^e Graqd Rapids Mantlfacturers, arid anq prepared to do a General CoUectiori Business. g@" I collect Past Due Accounts, Matured Notes, Accepted Drafts, Etc., in any town in the United States and Canada, at a very SMALL COST, viz : from 3 to 10 per cent, commission, accord- ing to the case. My Collection facilities are the most effective. Not too hard upon the debtor. ' I act Promptly. Make Low Charges. Prompt Keturns. NO CH AKG-E Unless Claim is Collected (except suit has been ordered, and then only the costs.) Whenever a claim cannot be collected by first demands, it is at once placed in the hands of active, responsible attorneys, and is FOLLOWED UP with "PUSH" and PEOMPT work. SEND your Collections to above address. It will save you many accounts that by delay may become worthless. (Formerly Clark & Hodges.) JVLanUfactiirers of Fine Carved and T-a;ist il Gei^t'CF Tables, Eedestals = = = = = = and ©ffiee Desl5S grand Rapids '^k\. SEND FOR CATALOGUE. 53 A. 55 S. FRONT ST. VENEERS Bl/AENSieN AND BeiRL # STOCK. /" \\\ 1)1 "N Jig ASH, BIRD'S EYE MAPLE. OAK, CHERRY, BIRCH, Ig^^ BASSWOOD AND BLACK WALNUT i^' *" ALWAYS IN STOCK SOME VERY CHOICE BURLS. SEND FOR SAMPLES AXD PRICES. Grand I^ajDi^^ Ver\eer ai^cl Parcel Company A. B. WATSON. Presipent. NORTM FROXT STREET. CHAS. B. JL'DD, Sec'v and Treas. Z. C. THWING, Gen'l Manager. CHASE-.-BROTHERS-.-PIANOS. ®= =® Tt\e rerrioval of tl^e CHHSE BROTHERS' PIHNO FHCTORY to Grand Rapids in dtlly, 1884, gives evidence of tl:\e superior facilities offered by ttiis city, botl:\ as a rqanUfacturing and sl:|ipping point. Ttie reputation of tl:ie CHHSE PIHNO ^4^as estab" lisfied over t-wenty years ago and to-day is one of tY\e best and rqcst favorably Kno'Wn Pianos in tl^e United States. Hrtists -were attracted to tl|ern by t]\eiY fine repeating action and tl:\e brilliant and resonant quality of tone, -wliile Musical Colleges Use tlierq for tl\eir fine singing quality and durability. Tl\ese Pianos are constructed on purely scientific principles, covered by ii\any Valuable patents, ttie Sounding Board being one of tl|e n\ost prorninerit features. Tl|e trade of ti\e Cl\ase Brotl)ers extends fronq Maine to California and tl^eir facilities for sl|ipping and tl^e rqanufacture of a first-class Piano are Undoubtedly better tl^an tl\ose of any Eastern nqanufacturer. The tone is clear, penetrating and expanding ; it comes out firm, prompt, decided and sonorous throughout. — Cincinnati Enquirer. Hnotl^er Triunqpl] for tlie Musical West. The Chase Pianos, so fast becoming popular in the musical world, have been introduced and are now used by the College of Music. Theo- dore Thomas will have none but the best in his college. The Chase Pianos combine sweetness with volume of tone, and are remarkable for their quality of durability — making them well adapted for college work. — Brainard's Musical World. These Pianos have a splendid reputation, and at the Ohio Slate Fair at Columbus took the first premium over the best Eastern manufactures. They undoubtedly occupy the front rank. — Maysvilli Republican. Of all the parts of a Chase Piano, none is treated with more atten- tion than the Sounding Board, which may be called the lungs of the Piano. Mr. Chase has given to this important member a vast amount of though' and skilllul experiment. The peculiar construction of the Chase Sounding Board has excited the admiration of all experts who have examined it critically. — The Musical People. GHASt BR0S. PIANO G2. OFFICE AND SALESROOM, No. 92 Monroe St. FACTORY, Nos. 61, 63, 65, 67, 69 and 71 South Front St. GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. , — « » ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES SENT FREE UPON APPLICATION. TO ANY ADDRESS. » » — H 55- 78 "' \/ -c^'^^-/ X/^^^\/ %''^*/ ^^/*^"'\*^' ^./ /'**^'v \/ :M^. %,^ :^. \/ ■ O A* ^^o^ .^r-- o-^ ^^^*^-\/ %'^^*/ '^^,*^-\/ %.'-^*/ ^^,''-,.-'y'-^ • - \/'' "V^'Vo"' \/^V^ "V^*V°'' \/^\/^ "V^'V°'' • f>' <^*^■ ■> O o : ■y >^ A 1 ^^- ^<^' K.^^' %..^'' /i \/ ■^^ Nj^ .\ I • • - - ^°-n^. ■1 o^ .V q. 'o . . ' A .^ ... .0^ o_ 4 » . * • .-%'' r_ . r. >. > ' •<>- *-., ,» * v.- •)>, .0* ^- .*>;fe% ^^^^^^* oV'^S'- ►#^ J., ^r^'^ \ .^^°-*> •^0 1 c 4' '.^"""^' ■«-'^ 'vi ' ; ^^-n^ .s-^ ^o. %<^" '• .o' 'J.'^ j.V^^ A-^ ^•;4^;*-\ C°\' EC" * H HWCWS T tB, ' g.. INDIAN* ^, .^ / LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 016 099 490 3