F 574 .G7 D5 Copy 1 I -^ r^ 1 'Ik\) q 1\ tt1>L(l^^ '■^ ') Grand Rapids BEAUTIFUL INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL The Grand Rapids Board of Trade COMPILED BY DICKINSON BROTHERS. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH ENTRANCE TO BOARD OF TRAIJF AHi -■- lai 1 Co tijf iflnntJtrfi of tl)c (^ranti i^apitis 93oarti of Cratie anti E^raticrs of tljis (Erecting;: The iHiblication of this illustnited souvenir "Book of Grantl Rajjids" was arranged ft)r l)y tiie Board of Directors through the undersigned committee. Its purposes are many, chief among them being the advertising of (irand Kajjids. The large general distribution of a publication of such excellence pictorially and in a literary way, ought to give the impression among non-residents that our city is a community of unusual attractions as a manufacturing and commercial center, as well as a delectable spot in which to really live. The requests from all |)oints of the compass for literature setting forth our characteristics are numerous, and with this book we expect to partially satisfy incpiiries. Not only that, but the appreciation by our own people of their ha])py and prosperous home city will be quickened, and they will be placed in a position to more easily detail our good points to those of other parts. In order that the reading matter might be authoritative in the facts stated, as well as varied in style, the following gentlemen have kindly taken care of the sut)jects following their respective names: 'Sir. Lewis G. Stuart, "Brief History of Grand Rapids." Mr. William H. Gilbert, "Industrial Statistics, and Reasons why we are an Ifleal Manufacturing Center." Mr. Louis A. Cornelius, "A City of Varied Industries." Mr. John Ihlder, "A City of Homes — Beautiful, Safe, Clean, Healthful." Mr. Robert W. Irwin, "Transportation." Mr. Walter K. Plumb, "As a Wholesale Market." Mr. Chas. W. Garfield, "A Great Horticultural Center.^ Mr. Henry Yinkemulder, "Market Gardening and Produce." Mr. Clay H. Hollister, "Banking." Expressing our appreciation of the unusual accomplishments of the administration of Nineteen-nine — ten, anticipating as full a measure of success for Nineteen-eleven — twelve, and with many thanks to those who participated in the preparation and [jublication of this volume, the same is respectively submitted. ALBERT B. MERRITT, Chairman ROY S. BARNHART, CHARLES TRANKLA, Special Committee. €>ffirrr5 of 0rantJ iAapitis ISoarti of Cratir j^incrccnsDunDrcD Ccn OFFICERS Heber A. Knott, President Charles M. Alden, Vice President Christian Galimeyer, Vice President Lavant Z. Caukin, Treasurer Clarence A. Cotton, Secretary DIRECTORS Anderson, William H. Briggs, George G . Musselman, Amos S. Perkins, Gaius \V. EX-PRESIDENTS Stevens, Sidney F. Stowe, Ernest A. Whitworth, (jeorge G LIFE Ball, Orson A. Conger, Eugene D. Covode, John A. Fisher, Ernest B. Foote, Elijah H, Gilbert, William H. Harvey, Cornelius L. Hollister, Clay H. Hughart, John H. Idema, Henry Lemon, Samuel M. Leonard, Charles H. Miller, Frederick C. Rindge, Lester J. Shelby, William R. Sligh, Charles R. Stuart, W'Uiam J. Withey, Lewis H. Wylie, James R. TERMS EXPIRE FEBRUAR Y, 1911 Alexander, James G. Barnhart, Roy S. Briggs, Fred M . Graham, Robert D. Hanchett, Benjamin S, Jewell, Harry D. Logic, William Martin John B. Merritt, Albert B. Morman, Samuel A. Palmer, W, Millard Sehler, John Tobey, Fred W. Trankla, Charles V'andenberg, Arthur H. Welton, Frank Wishart, Alfred W. Wilson, Charles M. Wilmarth, Lewis T. TERMS EXPIRE FEBRUAR Y. 1912 Baxter, Alfred Booth, Edmund W. Brown. Alvah W. Butterfield, Roger C. Clapperton, George Cornelius Louis A. Garfield, Charles W. Holdcn, Charles Irwin, Robert W. Lancaster, Charles O. McNabb, John May, Meyer S. Norris, Mark Plumb, Walter K, Sheppard, William C. Sinclair, George F. Strahan, Thomas W. Sweet, Edwin, F. Vinkemulder, Henry J White, Arthur S. Cl)airmcu of Committrrs CHARLES C. CARGILL CHARLES W. GARFIELD ERNEST A. STOWE JOHN UlLDER JOHN A. COVODE ORSON A. BALL JOSEPH A. SOLOMONS CHARLES TRANKLA \V. MILLARD PALMER WALTER K. PLUMB FRANK W ELT(JN Committers of tijr il3oarti of Cratie Orson A. Ball Christian Gallmever Clay H. Hollister Robert \V. Irwin John B. Martin Amos S. Musselman Ernest B. Fisher Elijah H. Foote Ralph H. Child Salathiel R. Fletcher John C. GulUford Colin P. Campbell Jesse B. Davis William H. Gay- Claude T. Hamilton John H. P. Hughart Henry L. Adxit Melville R. Bissell. Jr. Alvah W. Brown Comstock Konkle William E. Cox Gustav H. Behnke EXECUTI\'E ERNEST A. STOWE. Chairman. APPEALS mark: KOKKIS,, Chairman ARBITRATION" JOHN A. COVODE. Chairman AUDITING FRANK WELTON. Chairman BUILDING ORSON A. BALL. Chairman Walter K. Plumb Lester J. Rindge Sidney F. Stevens George G. Whitvvorth Charles M. Wilson William F. McKnight Harry D. Jewell Cornelius L. Harve N. Fred Avery George W. Bunker Charles J. Carpenter John DeKruif James R. Fitzpatrick Charles S. Hathaway Alba L. Holmes Charles H. Leonard Frank S. Robinson Benn M. Corwin CONVENTION ROV S. BARNHART. Chairman ANDREW FVFE. Via- Chairman James Lombard William F. McKnighi Guy W. Rouse Sidnev Steele Dudley E. Waters ENTERTAINMENT OF \'ISITORS CHARLES B. KELSEV. Chairman Dr. Silas E. D:)dson James T. McAllister William Aldrich Tateun Ben Wolf FLOUR AND GRAIN FRANK A. \'OIGT. Chairman Fred N. Rowe GRAND R1\'ER IMPRO\-EMENT AND NA\TGATION CHRISTIAN GALLMEYER. Chairman Charles McQuewan Gaius W. Perkins Henry A. Schuil John Sehler Charles R. Sligh Joseph W. Spooner Thomas W. Strahan William J. Stuart INDUSTRIAL WILLIAM H. GILBERT. Chairman Frank J. Cook Peter W. Decker Theodore Ensel James W. Hunter Karl Judson Meyer S. May Jesse B. Davis Charles Holden Roger C. Butterfield Carroll C. Follmer Henry T. Heald Edgar A. Maher Charles B. Hamilton Morris A. Heyman Charles M. Alden Arthur W. Bell Louis A. Cornelius Joseph Renihan Charles F. Rood Howard Thornton Charles A. Trankla Dudley E. Waters Charles G. Watkins Jl'NIOR BOARD OF TRADE WALTER K. VLV'MQ, Chairman H. Bruce Moore Herbert E. Sargent LEGISLATION GEORGE CLAPPERTON. Chairman Gaius W. Perkins Arthur H. \'andenberg Charles M. Wilson Roger I. WyKes LOCAL TRADE RECIPROCITY CHARLES TRANKLA. Chairman MEMBERSHIP FRED M. BRIGGS. Chairman J. Frank Quinn Carroll F. Sweet Cornelius L. Harvey S. Eugene Osgood Willard F. Stanton Cbairmtn of Committfcs CHARLES HOLDliN ,\I,HI-.RI H .MKKKlll llKl 1R( lli ( I.APPKUTdN JOHN B MARTIN KDWARD K PRK IIKTT WILLIAM H. GILBERT FRED M. BRIGGS ROV S. BARNIIART ANDREW FYFE MARK NORRIS FRANK A. VOIGT Committers of tljc Boarti of Cratic RETAIL DEALERS JOSEPH A. SOLOMONS. Chairman Alfred Baxter Howard C. Brink John Buvs Guy W. Chaffee Cornelius Dosker Glen E. Denise Adolph Friedman Julius A. J. Friedrich Ira C. Henry Joseph C. Herkner Henry B. Herpolsheimer Henry C. Houseman Philip J. Klinyman Henry J Krekel Charles O. Lancaster Meyer S. May Charles E. Norton Percy S. Peck Harry G. Robertson Hugo A. Schneider John J. Thomson Clarence R, V'anderpool Ben E. West William M. Wurzburg SOCIAL CHARLES HOLDEN. Chairman David M. Amberg Harry C. Angell George B. Caufield Rolland J. Cleland William E. Cox Charles E. Dregge H. Monroe Dunham Willard R. Griffiths Ferry K. Heath Charles McQuewan Patrick H. O'Brien Charles E. Phelps Frank D. Row Huntley Russell Charles H. Strawhecker Ralph P. Tietsort Clarence J. Van Etten Alfred W. Wishart Hugh E. Wilson TRANSPORTATION EDWARD K. PRICHETT. Chairman Arthur S. Ainsworth Ralph H. Apted Roy S. Barnhart Harold C. Cornelius Ernest L. Ewing Frank E. Jones William Logic John D. Raab William S. Rowe Carroll F. Sweet Henry J. Vinkemulder Clifford H. Walker WHOLESALE DEALERS ALBERT B. MERRITT, Chairman Wm. F. Blake Arthur C. Chapman John Dietrich Marshall D. Elgin William B. Holden Lee M. Hutchins Samuel Krause Frank E. Leonard William Logie Walter K. Plumb Richard J. Prendergast Guy W. Rouse lohn Sehler Arthur T. Slaght Daniel C. Steketee Ernest A. Stowe Henry J. Vinkemulder Frank A. Voigt Claude P. Wykes i^umcipal OTairsi Committees JOHN B. MARTIN. Chairman CHARLES W. GARFIELD. Vi(X Chairman BETTER GOVERNED CITY ROBERT W. IRWIN. Chairman Frank M. Byam Jesse B. Davis H. Monroe Dunham Claude T. Hamilton Tames E. Hardman Henry T. Heald Cornelius H. Jongejan William H. Kinsey Stuart E. Knappen John S. Ml Donald Harold A. McNitt Benjamin P. Merrick Mark Norris Forris D. A. Stevens Lewis G. Stuart Elvin Swarthout Philip H. Travis Ro^er 1. Wykes James R. Wylie CITVS NEIGHBORS ERNEST A. STOWE. Chairman deorgL- M. Ames William H. Anderson Orson A. Ball Colin P. Campbell E. Alfred Clements Eugene D. Conger Joseph E. Coulter Robert D.Graham Sam Kaat George T. Kendal John F. Xellist Charles N. Remington I. Preston Rice Henry Smith Lewis G. Stuart Daniel W Tower Marshall Uhl William Widdicomb Theodore O. Williams lO Cfjairmcu of Commtttrrs DK. CULLINS H. JOIIN'STON' CHARLES B. KELSKY WILLIAM C. SHEPPARD ROBERT W. IRWIX LOUIS A. CORNELIUS CHARLES O. LAN'CASTER REV. ALFRED W. WISIIART EDWIN F. SWEET CHARLES N. REMINGTON II iHunictpal Mairs Committees— Continueti CLEANER CITY WALTER K. PLUMB. Chairman James G. Alexander Albert E. Brooks James M. Crosby George A. Davis Charles L. Grinnell John G. Gronberg Ferry K. Heath Karl S. Judson Edward K. Pritchett Henry Ritzema Earle R. Stewart Charles E. Tarte Frederick K. Tinkham Arthur S. White Edward D. Winchester Percy E. Witherspoon HEALTHIER CITY COLLINS John W. Blodgett George S. Boltwood Samuel S. Corl Edward M. Deane John De K.ruif William DeLano Carroll C. Follmer Marcus B. Hall H. JOHNSTON. Chairman Spencer D. Hinman John N. McCormick Malcolm C. Sinclair Richard R. Smith Fred A. Twamley Alden H. Williams Gustave A. Wolf MORE BEAUTIFUL CITY CHARLES N. REMINGTON, Chair7nan John B. Barlow Frederic L. Baxter Henr>- P. Belknap Fred M. Briggs Charles C. Cargill George E. Fitch Charles H. Gleason Eugene Goebel Addison S. Goodman William A. Greeson Charles Holden William F. McKnight John Mowat J. Pomeroy Munson Park Robbins Fred N. Rowe George A. Rumsey Herbert E. Sargent Robert E. Shanahan Albert N. Spencer Joseph W. Spooner James S. Stiles Bruce O. Tippy PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS EDWIN F. SWEET. Chairman Charles M. Alden Louis W. Anderson Edward H. Barnes Arthur W. Bell John Buys Louis A. Cornelius Albert G. Dickinson Salathiel R. Fletcher Samuel A. Freshney Cornelius L. Harvey G. Adolph Krause Francis F. Letellier Fred C. Miller Ehlert A. Meves S. Eugene Osgood Samuel H. Ranck John P. Rusche John Sehler Clarence R. Vanderpool Charles M. Wilson SAFER CITY WILLIAM C. SHEPPARD. Chairman FRANCIS D. CAMPAU, Sub-Chair man Henry J. Brower George W. Bunker Leon T. Closterhouse Benn M. Corwin Charles E. Dregge Gerald Fitzgerald John W. Goodspeed William Judson John S. Lawrence W. Henry Le Moine John McNabb Samuel A. Morman W. Millard Palmer Lester J. Rindge \'an A, Wallin Otto H. L. Wernicke SOCIAL WELFARE ALFRED W. WISHART, Chairman Harr>- C. Angell Ralph H. Apted William D. Bishop Edmund W. Booth John T. Byrne RoUand J. Cleland William H. Gay Clay H. Hollister Harry D. Jewell Gerrit J. Johnson Herbert C. McConnell Meyer S. May Adrian Otte Willis B. Perkins John A. Schmitt Ralph H. Spencer Howard A. Thornton Ralph P. Tietsort Corwin S. Udell Van A. VS'aUin Charles G. Watkins Frank H. West Colin P. Campbell Lewis P. Cody MUNICIPAL TRADEMARK CHARLES C. CARGILL, Chairman F. Stuart Foote George H. Seymour 12 Committee of €>nt %m\t}xt^ \V. MILLARD PALMKR, Lhat. Dixisions of Trades and ProtVssions DRV GOODS AND MILLINERY: Paul F. Slekctce Ira. M. Smith Morris Friedman BOOTS AND SHOES: Jolm \V. (iootlspeed (i. Adolph Krausp Will, okiiiaii FOUNDERS AND NLXCHINISTS: William E. Elliott \'iitor M. Tuthill Henry J. Hartmanii HARDWARE. SPORTING GOODS. ETC: Charles F. Rood William B. Jarvis Herbert L. Paye IM.IMHING AND HEATING APPARATUS: Wiltiuin T. McGurrin I !:irold V. Cornelius Gleiuion A. Riehards DRUGS. MEDICINES AND CHEMICALS; Herand Sehrouder John D. Miiir Clarenie R. \"anderpool JEWELRY AND KINDRED LINES: Louis G. Russell W illiam D. Werner Joseph Sienel , CLOTHlN(;. HATS AND FURNISHINGS: Eugene W. Jones James Benjamin Bernard S. May B.VNKERS AND BROKERS: Dudley E. Waters Charles B. Kelsey Claude T. Hamilton . STATIONERY. OFFICE SITPPLIES AND S\STEMS: Isaac WaKfmaker Julius Tiseh Charles M. Bixby . GROCERIES AND KINDRED LINES: Richard U Pendergast Gi-ii E DeNise Norman Orlelt BAKERS AND CONFECTIONERS: Ri.hard R. Bean Charles S. landorf Albert B. Wilmink . TRAFFIC- LINES: Ivlmund C. Leavenworth Ihmh J. Gray Arthur C. Goodson , HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS: J. Boyd Pantlind John .\. Bauman Arvid B. Gardner . THEATRES AND AMUSEMENTS: Louis J. DeLamarler Austin McFadden .\lbert J. Gilliuham I. PIANOS AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS: John H. Brockmeler Clayton H. Hoffman Mendelssohn M. Marrin . PRINTERS. LITHOGRAPHERS. ENGRA\ERS. Etc. Albert (j. Dickinson Charles C. CarBiH Henry L. Adzit i. LUMBER: Fred I. Nichols Carroll F. Sweet Lawton L. Skillman FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS: F. Stuart Foote Addison S. Goodman Ralph P. Tietsort FURNITURE DEALERS: Frank B. Winegar Morris He\man William D. Bishop FURNITl'RE SUPPLIES: Miner S. Keeler Fred K. Tinkham Joseph S. Hart PUBLISHERS: Jolin W. Hunter John G. Gronberg Warren M. Fuller ELECTRIC CONCERNS: Lewis P. Cody Guy W. Lewis John S. Noel SEEDS. FRUITS AND PRODUCE: Alfred J. Brown H. Bruce Moore Alexander Miller REAL ESTATE AND INVESTMENTS: Emerson W. Bliss William H. Kinsey Salathiel R. Fletcher ARCHITECTS. CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS SUP- PLIES. S. Eugene Osgood Frank H. McDonald William C. Hoertz INSURANCE: James M. Crosby William H. Looniis Carroll H. Perkins PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS: Jose[ih B. Griswold Malcolm C. Sinclair Ralph H. Apted CIGARS AND TOBACCO Cliflford A. Mitts John Dietrich George H. Seymour FUEL: George C Schroeder Abram B. Knowlson John M. Himes ATTORNEYS; Colin P. Campbell Wilti:im F. McKnight Charles M. Owen WALL PAPER. PAINTS AND GLASS: David C. Scribner Fred C. Canfield MISCELLANEOUS: Bruce O. Tippv Melville R. Bissell Charles E. Tarte VEHICLES AND IMPLEMENTS: Sherwood Hall Charles E. Belknap .\lfred Schantz AUTOMOBILES; Walter S. Farrant James E. Austin Fred Z. Pantlind MEAT DEALERS: John J. Blickle Frank J. Dettenthaler Alfred C. Bertch 13 Articles ilabe in #ranb EapibS Anioii^- the products iiiaiuifactureil in (iraiid Rapids are the following; Adding Miudiini's Adding Mat-hiru- Tiililf Advertising Novelties Alabiistine Aluminum Castings Art Needle Work Art Leaded Glass Asbestos Table Covers Automobiles Automobile Parts Awnings Badges Baked Goods Band Instruments Bags Barrels Bath Heaters Beds Bed Springs Benches Bee Keepers' Supplies Belting Belt Lacers Biscuits Blacksmiths' Supplies Blank Books Blow Piping Blinds Boats Boilers Bookcases Boots Books Boxes Brass Goods BufTets Beer Bread Brick Bridges Bronze Goods Brooms Brushes Building Materials Button Fasteners Buttons Cakes Carbonated Drinks Canned Gooils Carpet Sweepers Carriages Casters Caskets Catsups Card Index Cabinets Catalogs Cement Bluck-i Cement Machines Cereal Foods Cigars Cigar Boxes Chairs Chamber Suits Chewing Gum Clocks Clothing Church Seats Cider Coal Bags Corsets Corset Accessories Coal Tar Coats Coffins Coke Confectionery Cornices Cotton Felt Couches Crackers Crating Coupon Books Cut Stone Dental Supplies Desks Dies Dining Room Fiirnilurr Doors Door Plates Draughting Room Furniture Drill Grinders Drugs Dust Arresters Electric Batteries Electric Dynamos Electric Fans Electric Motors Electric Signs Electrical Supplies Electrotypes Elevators Embalming Fluid Embalming Supplies Engines Engravings Engravers Wood Excelsior Exhaust Fans Fertilizers Filing Devices Films Filters Fire Brick Fire Clay Firele?s Cookers Flags Flavoring Extracts Floor Compound Flour Feed Fire Escapes Fluid Extract Fly Nets Fly Paper Furnaces Furniture Furniture Packing Pads Furniture Polish Furniture Supplies Furniture Trimmings Gas Engines Gasoline Engines Gold Finish Furniture Gas Garments Gas Machines Gas Fixtures Gypsum Products Gas Grates Ginger Ale Gloves Glue Glue Pots Grates Graining Machines Grill Work Grinding Machines Hair Tonic Handles Hardware Harness Hearses Heating Systems Hosiery Horse Collars Horse Shoes Ice Ice Cream Iron Work Iron Castings Interior Finish Jewelry Knit Goods L;.beU Launches Liiwn Furniturt- Lap Robes Leather Legal Blanks Letter Files Li me Lithographing Lockers Locomotive Headlights Loose Leaf Devices Lumber Machine Tools Machinerv MalK-ahle' Iron Manlih Medals Macaroni Mattresses Medicines Metal Polish Mill Supplies Millinery Mirrors Monuments Mops Moulding Musical Goods Music Cabinets Near Beer Novelties Office Fixtures Office Supplies Optical Goods Opera Seats Ornamental Iron Work Ornamental Stucco Work Overalls Paint Parlor Furniture Paper Paper Boxes Pedestals Paste Perfumes Photo Supplies Pianos Piano Cases Pickles Picture Frames Pillows Pies Pipe Covering Plaster Plaster Board Plumbers" Supplies Postal Cards Poultry Supplies Preserves Printing Printers' Supplies Propeller Wheels Prnjirietarv Medicines Punches Radiators Racks Railroad Cars Reed ware Refrigerators Road Building Machinery Roads Roller Bearing Axles Roll Paper Cutters Roofing Roofing Materials Rubber Stamps Rugs Saratoga Chips Sash Sash Pulleys Sample Cases School Seats Sausages Saws Saw Gauges Sewer Pipe Scales Sectional Bookcases School Supplies Screens Sheet Iron Steel Sanitary Furniture Steel Shelving Steel Opera Seats .Shingle Mill Machinery Shipping Packages Shirts Shoes Show Cases Sleighs Soap Souvenirs Souvenir Post Cards Sprinkler Systems Stationery Steam Heaters Steam Turbines Steel Ceilings Stencils Store Fixtures Straw Board Tallow Tables Tanks Tents Tile Tinware Tobacco Tools Toys Trucks Toilet Preparations Trunks Twine Holders Type. Typewriter Desks Typewriters Umbrellas Undertakers" Supplies Underwear Upholstery Goods Upholstered Furniture Vacuum Cleaners Varnishes Veneers Ventilating Svstems Vises Wagons Wardrobes Wall Coating Washing Machines Water ^lotors Weather Strips Whips Window Shade Adjusters Wood Carving Woodenware Wood Working Machinery Wooden Shoes Wrapper^ #ranb Eapib^ in a i5ut ^fjell 14 Po|)iilati()ii, city and suburbs _ . _ Area of city in square miles Area of city parks in acres Number of railroads entering city Miles of street railway — electric Interurban electric roads _ _ - Miles of improved streets _ . . Miles of asphalt streets . _ . Miles of water mains laid ... Number of fire hydrants _ _ . Gallons capacity of pumps per day Average daily consumption, in gallons Number of miles of public sewers Number of street lights Number of telephones used in city Number of public and private hospitals Newspapers _____ Public works, value . _ _ Schools . . _ _ _ Pu])ils . _ _ . Clearing house business, 1909 _ . _ Factories _ . _ . Number of hands employed in factories Daily pay roll _ _ _ , Ca])ital invested _ _ . . Products _ _ _ - Value of fruit marketed for season of 1910 Churches _ . .. Public library, volumes . _ . Volumes in law library _ _ _ Assessed valuation of Real Estate I'nblic buildings _ _ _ _ Number of residences _ . _ _ Banks . _ _ . Total capital and surplus _ _ _ Trust companies, 1; capital Death rate average per 1,000 Number of trains in and out of llie Inion Depot, Tickets sold at I'nion Station Number of street railway j)assengers carrieil Jobbing and wholesale firms, 1''24; sales 125,000 17.50 _ 218.08 5 63.13 a 184 - 6M 196 1,409 "28,000.000 . 15,'253,000 172 _ 545 _ 15,000 _ 10 3 daily, 27 weekly, 23 others $1,949,974.98 Public 38, Private 27 22,250 _ $123,786,904.07 _ 508 - 22,238 $35,576.00 $28,500,000 . $43,000,000 $2,500,000 _ 120 112.116 8.000 $85,324,200 . 41 _ 19,873 . 13 $5,600,000 $200,000 11 year 1910 . 30,037 . _ _ 563,385 . 15,141,898 $40,000,000 Compliments! from ©utsibe In order that the splendid showing made in this book for Grand Rapids may not appear entirely as self- encomiumed, we are publishing a few of the many "testimonials"' by men prominent elsewhere. All of those who are members of the Grand Rapids Board of Trade come in that class of "testimonialers" who have "taken Grand Rapids" and will "take no other." Following are a few of the comments by outsiders, thanks for which are hereby returned: "But the one thing I wish to mention here is the puhlic spirit — the Zeitgeist — of Grand Rapids. This is a thing that differentiates her from almost every other city in theUnited States. An efficient "machine" for expressing the Zeitgeist is absolutely necessary because an individual protest is pooh-hooed, shelved, pigeon-holed, or given the hoarse haw-haw. Id fact, "the gang" can direct its displeasure upon any particular citizen "who has too much to say" and destroy him utterly. In the way of an effectual and effective machine for expressing the public sentiment of the best minds, I know of nothing equal to the Grand Rapids Committee of One Hundred, save possibly the Canadian Club of Vancouver." ELBERT lUBBARD. D "Grand Rapids is a bad town for a man with a grouch. Every man in Grand Rapids is on his job. and most every man is on two jobs. The houses breathe an air of culture and prosperity and the stores are filled chockablock with up-to-date goods. Reliable and con- servative newspapers, fine churches, including a Polish edifice with a dome on it like the Massachusetts State House, an aristocratic and yet home-like club, and biggest and best of all, multitudes of factories filled with busy and contented workmen, conspire to answer the question: Why is Grand Rapids?" WORCESTER (MASS.) MAGAZINE. "To bring about this oneness was the work of several and persistent men. Heber A. Knott is President of the Board of Trade, and he is a type of the new kind of man — a man who never lets anything go by default. The Secretary is C. A. Cotton, another man of quite the same type. Millard Palmer is Chairman of the Committee of One Hundred, and Millard is a man who might be killed, hut who can not be bought, bribed or intimidated. You see it is a vigilance committee, organized in a time of peace, and working for beauty, truth and justice and the rights of even its most obscure citizen." THE FRA. D "Allow me to congratulate you and your Board on this re- port, and to say that my experience as President of our Board of Trade convinces me that your method is without a doubt the best now in vogue in any commercial organization in the country,'* F. C. BOWYER, President Tampa Board of Trade. n "The Directors of the Grand Rapids Boanl of Trade have arranged a Speakers' Bureau, for the purpose of supplying speakers on commercial and civic development topics to organizations de- siring the services of such speakers." ROCHESTER "COMMERCE." "I have looked over the "Inventory of Results" and cer- tainly must congratulate your organization and its Secretary upon its accomplishments for the past year He told us some- thing of your splendid organization, from which I infer that the city is to be congratulated upon the character and nature of the work which you are doing." ABNER E. LARNED, President Detroit Board of Commerce. n "Indifference has been made a disgrace, co-operation is a vogue." FUX ELBERTIS. D "Permit me to thank yon for the 1909 report of >'our or- ganization, which shows splendid effort on the part of the "cor- poration" as well as on the part of its Secretary. It is further evidence of what can be done by co-operation along the right lines.' GEORGE DIETRICH. President Rochester Chamber of Commerce. "I have carefully read the article written by Elbert Hubbard and have the paper on my table to read it over again. It is very good indeed, and I feel you ought to be proud of it." J. L. HUDSON. Detroit. D "We have received a copy of your annual report and ex- pect to say something about this in our March number, and would be glad, if you could do so without inconvenience, if you would send us in order that we may use it in connection with our reference to the splendid work of your organization." LEWIS D. SAMPSON, Editor Town Development Magazine, Chicago. D "I congratulate you on the active organization which you C. ALFRED BURHORN, Secretary Hoboken Board of Trade, Hoboken, (New Jersey). have.' "I am in receipt of your pamphlet recording the doings of the Grand Rapids Board of Trade for 1909, and I want to con- gratulate both the organization and yourself for the work ac- complished. It is really a wonderful record, and I am especially interested in one or two things which you succeeded in placing the 'Things Done" column." W. M. NIXDORF. Secretary Lancaster Board of Trad.- n "A yearly booklet issued for 1909 by your Board of Trade was loaned me by a business man here who was a recent visitor to your city, by which booklet your city shows a remarkably suc- cessful work, the inspiration from which might help our city." A. B. McCOLL, A. B. McColl & Co.. Toronto, Ontario. n "I can see at a glance that Grand Rapids has certainly been going some during the past year, and congratulate you upun your very great successes." CHARLES J. BROWN. President Brown Brothers Co.. Rochester. (New York). "It is credit to yourself, and, such. credit to your J. SOLEY COLE, Secretary Utica Chamber of Commerce Utica. (New York) D "I have already glanced through the very attractive printed statement of what is going on at the (Jrand Rapids Board of Trade. I will confess it stirred my old-tiuie pride in the Imperial City which is on Grand River." JAMES JAY SHERIDAN. Former President of the Hamilton Club, Chicago. o "I have had a copy of your annual report, telling what has been done during the current year by the Grand Rapids Board of Trade. If you have a few extra copies Mr. Filene would ap- preciate the favor if you would send them on." RAYMOND E. BELL. Secretary to President EDWARD A. FILENE of Boston— 1915. i6 CENTRA, SCHoot Ph.ito l.y Royul Photo (_ ... NKW POSTOFFICK 17 ^viti Historp of #ranb 3^apibs By MH. LEWIS G. STUART |||P^li|||UAND RAPIDS, the metropolis of Western Michigan, dates from Sunday, June iS. '^^Tjjj 1S33 when Joel (iuild, the first settler arrived with his family, coming from Ionia toJiP lI down the river in the liateaux which Louis Campau sent for them. SliiP'r ' Guild was a memlier of the Dexter colony of ();3 persons who left Herkimer County, N. Y. in the spring and came to Michigan by way of the Erie canal and across Lake Erie to Detroit, thence through the woods to Ionia where most of them located. Prior to the coming of the first settlers the Baptists had a mission here for the ^\ \ Indians, established in 18''25. Louis Campau had a trading station on the rapids, Wm. Marsac had a station at Lowell, Rix Robinson one at Ada and there were traders at Grand Haven. Following Guild's arrival settlers came in rapidly. In 1838 Grand Rapids was incorporated as a village and the boundaries were Fulton, Division and Hastings streets and the river. The population was less than 1000. The entire state then had only about 175,000 po])ulation. In 1850 the village became a city with a population of '2080 as shown Ijy the census. The first railroad, the Grand Trunk, reached here in 1858. Prior to that the stage coaches and river steamers were the only modes of travel. Grand Rapids sent its full quota to the war and in the year that followed it had its period of prosperity and its setbacks, its disaster and its progress just as other cities have, but through all the city grew steadily and rapidly, every year adding to its population and resources. In 1870, twenty years after its incorporation. Grand Rapids had a census i)opulation of 10,507; in 1890, twenty years later, this had grown to 64,147. The United States census of 1910 gives Grand Rapids a ])0])ulation of ll'-2,571. This does not include East Grand Rapids, Burton Heights and Wyoming Districts, North Park or the well settled suburb in Walker, all directly tributary to the city and as much a part of it socially, industrially and in a business way as though within the city lines. With its environs Grand Rajjids has 1'25,000 population, and 25,000 more may be added if the ])eople who are within half an hour's ride by interurlian or rail be counted. The city's area is 17.5 sciuare miles and so closely have the sulnirljs been built up that the ilividing line between city and country can scarcely be detected. The Grand Rapids of to-day is a modern city with beautiful homes as its ])ride and bu.sy industries as its boast. It owns its own water works, its own lighting ])lant, its own market |)lace for the farmers, has a city hall that cost $;?00,00(l. a county court house that cost $••250, ()()(• and the new i)Ost office which will be com])leted this summer at a cost of $500,000. It has a detention hospital, a contagious disease hospital and a tuberculosis sanatorium as public institutions, besides three hospitals, three homes and two orjjhanages conducted by private and church enterprise. When the new school year opens the city will have two complete high schools with man- ual training de))artments and the site ])Mrchased for a third high school to l)c built in the South end when needed. The school property represents an investment of $2,000,000. The public library, a gift to the city of his birth by Martin A. Ryerson, cost $300,000, contains 112,110 volumes and has seven branches in different parts of the city. i8 riiolo li.v Royal I'hoto Co. 19 The city nuiseum, rich in its natural history collections, cost for real estate alone $30,000. The park and playground system comprises 218 acres and in addition to the public parks are the popular resorts at Reeds Lake and North Park and resorts of Lake Michigan are only an hour away by interurban. The city has churches of every denomination with property valued at over $2,000,000.00. The Catholics have a seminary here for the education of young men for the priesthood, the churches of the Reformed denomination have their college in this city. Grand Rapids has 90 cent gas, the cheapest electric power of any city in the country, with the current brought here from the Muskegon river 80 miles away, and a street railway system of 60 miles. The ])ublic utilities are so well managed that the companies and the city are on freindly terms, the companies always willing to co-operate in whatever may be to the city's advantage. The Michigan State Telephone Co. and the Citizens' have between them upwards of 15,000 subscribers and long distance lines extend in every direction. The first industry established in Grand Rajjids by the pioneers after the saw mill was a planing mill. The manufacture of furniture began in 1848 and Grand Rapids to-day is the recog- nized center of the industry in this country for high grade goods. There are 46 furniture factories here (strictly speaking) with an annual product estimated in value at $10,000,000. The semi-annual season openings in July and January attract 1,000 to 1,400 buyers from^ every state in the union and from foreign lands. To bring their wares to the attention of the buyers, between 300 and 400 manufacturers, with plants in other cities, send their samples here. Five of the largest buildings in the city are used exclusively for furniture exhibition purposes. Though furniture manufacturing is the chief industry. Grand Rapids is not by any means an one-industry town. It has 88 metal working concerns, 33 machine shops, 32 clothing and shoe factories, 50 printing offices, several of them with l)ig })uildings of their own, 19 laundries with trade covering Western Michigan, one paper mill, 7 tanneries, 15 flour and feed mills and many minor industries. This city is the largest producing point in the world of gypsum products, with eight mills, and supi)lies the world with sticky fly paper and carpet sweepers. The city has four national banks, five state lianks and one trust company, with a com- bined capital of $3,475,000 and total deposits of $28,700,000. The deposits increased last year $1,600,000 which may be regarded as an index to the city's prosperity and thrift. In all the history of Grand Rapids covering three fourths of a century there never has been a bank failure here and in the panic of 1907 when the banks in other cities were resorting to clearing house certificates or demanding notices from depositors the Ijanks here met all demands with cash. The city's assessed valuation is $85,324,000. Its assets including parks, schools, public buildings, water works and other propertj^ inventorv at $6,298, 861. 20 KENT SCIE.VTIKIC MISEIM RVERSON PI BI.IC LIBRARY 21 Its bonded indebtedness is only $3,575,300 of which $1, '237,000 is on the water works, $528,000 for school purposes, $«43.'-20() special assessments and $000,000 for other purposes. As an ott'set the sinking fund contains over $300,000 to meet bonds when due. Grand Rapids is the jobbing center of western Michigan with nearly every line of trade represented by houses of am])]e resources. It is the retail center with the largest stores and best stocks in the state. It is the center of the famous Michigan fruit belt and the largest i)eacli market in the world. Grand Rapids has its fraternal organizations of all kinds; its Woman's clubs, four of them owning club houses of their own. its social organizations, its board of trade with 1400 members, and its committee of one hundred and municipal affairs committee. The city is in the best sense democratic, cordial to those who come here to live and hos])itable to the stranger. It has wealth but not snobbishness, it has no slum district, its strength is in the high average of the middle classes. The history of Grand Rapids from trading post to village, from village to city, from small town to metropolis is written in the lives of men and women who are still active in the world's affairs. A single life more than spans all that has been achieved. The city's growth has been steady anil sure with solid foundations laid for every advance. And this growth will continue and it will be growth not only in material things but in those things that make a city desirable as a dwelling place for men and their families. MICHIGAN SOLDIERS' HOME 22 3nbu£»trial (Opportunities! By MR. WILLIAM H. GILBERT 'NDUSTRIAL STATISTICS may show a part, hut they cannot show all that Grand Rapids offers for the manufacturer who is seeking a location. First and best, Grand Rapids will share with the manufacturer who locates here, the spirit of success. This spirit of success, intangible and indescribable, is a commixture of confidence, perseverance, and a willingness to win by any amount of hard work, but under no conditions of ease to fail. To manufacture in our City is to build up your industry ajiart from the spirit of failure, lack of confidence and faltering. Our industries here are soundly built, firmly propped by the financial resources of our City, and the spirit which such industries engender is the spirit which we offer, as we offer the air we breathe, to the manufacturer who seeks it and deserves it. Living conditions is a subject which always has been and always will be indigestible for the statistician. For Grand Rapids we can say that we have reason to believe that one can live as well for less money here than in any other city, or what is the same thing, can live better for the same money. As to essentials, real estate values are low, our five lines of railroads so radiate as to spread our industrial area over a large teriitory with a consequent freedom from congestion and excellent land values for the purchaser. This means large accessible areas at reasonable prices for factory sites and the homes of working men, and the large percentage (probably sixty per cent) of working men owning their homes, attest their appreciation of this opportunity. Food stuffs are low. Without resorting to tables we can point to the proximity (one hundred eight miles by water) of Chicago, the meat market of the country; to the rich farming country surrounding our City; and to the greatest potato shipping district in the United States just to the north of us, as evidence of the reasonable prices of our staples. The cost of living is reflected in wage cost. Our actual wage, that is. what the econo- mists call the purchasing power of a day's work, is large; while the cash wage is not so high in comparison with other points. Carfares but rarely enter into the workingmen's expenses; parks, free museums and libraries afford a considerable part of his entertainment, and these facts coupled with the low cost of food stuff's place within reach of the workingmen in our City a plane of living far beyond that of many of his fellow craftsmen in other cities who are receiving a higher cash wage. Labor troubles here are unknown. Our City is a manufacturing City; it lives and thrives upon the diligence and loyalty of its workingmen; and our manufacturers, many of them graduated themselves from the bench, are well aware of their obligation to the men in the shop. The reasonable desires of the men as to wages, shop conditions, homes, etc., have been met, even anticipated by these men who hold before all else the loyalty of their working force; with the result that, without walking delegates, business agents, strikes or boycotts. Grand Rapitls has for five years kej^t ()ace with the prominent industrial centers of the country in recognition of the American workingman's increasing requirements and rights. This has been brought about without antagonism or ill will — just an honest balancing of a day's work against an adequate compensation. The best proof of the possibilities of success here are the factories already established, uniformly prosperous and increasing. The last report of the Commissioner of Labor, 1910, showed in Grand Rapids for the year !!)()!), ,508 sho})s and factories employing '■2'-2, "238 hands, of which number 18,13^2 were male adults, 3,786 female adults, '213 boys and 107 girls. There has been maintained without difficulty a constant adequate supply of skilled factory hands, and we feel certain that our city will ])rove as resnurceful in this regard in the future as it has in the past. 24 ....--^^-^^"' n-oP.'« ONE OF SEVEN ENORMOUS FURNITURE EXHIBITION BUILDINGS Phol,.s hv Royal Pliolo Co. Transportation, and banking facilities are elsewhere discussed. The question of power, so important to all industries finds a ready answer here. The great Croton Dam of the Grand Rapids-Muskegon Power Company, coupled with their steam auxiliary plant for producing current, furnishes the City with this ideal motive force whicli has made Grand Rapids the largest per capita user of current for industrial purposes in the United States. Complete rate tables of this Company which cannot be here inserted are more convincing than any bare statement could ever be. For the benefit of those who prefer steam power we are able to state that the rate of freight on coal to Grand Rapids from the Ohio, West Vir- ginia and Pennsylvania coal fields is on a par with the rate to Chicago. This is true on both bituminous and anthracite coal. The price at the mine is standard and from this statement it will not be difScult for any manufacturer to reckon the price of his coal in Grand Rapids. We can say further that we are witliin one hundred and thirty-five miles, short mileage, of extensive coal fields in Bay City and Saginaw in Michigan. A large amount of coal from these fields is used in Grand Rapids, the freight rate being only sixty cents per ton. Ranking Bv MR. CL.\Y H. HOLLISTER HE BANKS of Grantl Ra])ids have always been able to take care of the needs of Tthe community and, not only that, they have served the Western part of Michigan in a very generous way. There never has been a failure of a Grand Rapids bank except a small private institution years ago. The character of the men in the business has always been of the best and great emphasis has been placed upon safe-guarding the moneys entrusted to them, and in caring for the needs of young and growing business. The development from pioneer banking in the community of little capital to the larger financiering when depositors and borrowers have more capital and their needs are more complicated, has been carefully followed and our bankers to-day are as well posted in the modern methods of handling accounts as any in the Country. Our banks are willing to assist generously in any undertakings that are safe and legiti- mate and to loan money to honest men who can by its use add to the profits of their active business. Oftentimes home customers have been served when it was more profitable to do business outside. The banking capital of the City at the last report was .$5,()(J(),(I()() and the deposits at the .same time $'28,700,000, a total of almost $35,000,000 available for l)uilding up the com- munity. There are four National Banks, five State and Savings Banks and one Trust Com- pany. Every legitimate borrowing need of merchant, manufacturer or investor is served and on the other hand every safeguard for the holding sacred of depositors' money is used. The offices used are modern and u])-to-date, attractive to both men and women, equipped with committee rooms, rest rooms, and all modern devices for expediting work. Several have lunch rooms for employees, insuring a quiet, warm meal for the clerk and better health and eflBciency in service. The banks are all Members of the Grand Rapids Clearing House Association. This Organization has been valuable in its way. It .serves the individual bank by making possible a simple exchange of vouchers against other banks. It affords opportunity for consultation on matters of common interest and in times of financial stress in the country at large, it has stood as a bulwark of strength for all legitinuite business. 26 A C^■^ OK IIOMKS 27 ^ Citp of llomcs By MR. JOHN IHLDER 'VERY eiiterprisingcity has a strong point upon which it prides itself. The point upon ^^ whicii (irand Rapids most prides itself is that it is a good place in which to live. Large enough to draw such metro])olitan attractions as the best plays and music, annual exhil)itions of the American Water Color Society, annual gatherings at its Lincoln Day banquet of the most prominent men in the country, it is still small enough to permit of home life. Even the workers in the factories own the houses in which they live, houses surrounded by little plots of grass and fronting on cool, tree shaded streets. Due to this is the general spirit of neighhorliness and good fellowship which makes the newcomer feel welcome, the old resident realize that no other town can ever be home to him. This home spirit permeates every pha.se of Grand Rapids life, institutions which make living here more full and satisfying are loyally supported. The Public Library and its branches send books into almost as many homes as call upon the gas company for enlightenment: the appeal for a park and playground .system which will serve every part of the city, putting whole- some recreation facilities within easy reach of evevy child, has met with a generous response, and in all parts of town, city and neighborhood playgrounds are being established, while well-to- do citizens are giving park lands as tokens of their affection for their community. The ])n)i)osal to sujjply pure water to the people was endorsed last spring by a great majority and work is now well under way. These are indications of the spirit which prevails. Grand Rapids is a place in which it is good to live, and so thoroughly do its people appreciate their advantages that they let slip no opportunity to increase them. Each Arbor Day the ]Muni(ii)al AflFairs Committee distributes at cost price to school children and factory workers thousands of trees and shrubs which adii to the attractiveness of the smaller homes. The wealthier citizens take pride in the wide lawns which surround their homes. Instead of having only one fine residenc'e street, within half a block of which on either side are shabby, unkemjjt areas. Grand Rapitis has whole districts where the visitor may wander in any direction without finding a single spot that strikes a discordant note in the general imjjression of space and comfort and peace. North, along (Jrand River, new suburbs arc springing up wliicii otter their people the pleasures of bathing and boating combined with the ])in-e air and wide views of the hills. In the east end. about Reed and Fisk lakes, an e\en finer residence district is rapidly being created. Here are some of the handsomest homes in the City, large, spacious houses set in the midst of acres of lawns and flower gardens, aflording vistas of the hill-encircled waters of the lakes. Two years ago the people of Grand Rai)ids awoke to a realization that the ra]iid growth of the City threatened to deprive them of many of these advantages unless that growth was wisely directed. So they appointed a City i)hni commission, which, with the aid of two of the most experienced City ])lanners in America. prei)ared a report showing how the town should be develojjed. This report deals first with the Tiecds of business, indicating how tho.se needs may best be met. but it also shows what lands should be reserved for parks .so that no matter how large the city may become its ])eoi)le will always have a space for health and jileasure. The wide stretches of level land, through whicli run the railroads, are the natural area for tlie com- mercial and industrial expansion of the future, the hills aft'ord wholesome and ])leasant sites for the homes of a constantly increasing jiopulation. the creek valleys, the lake shores and the hill- sides are the parks provided by nature for the recreation of an industrious and prosjierous people. 28 SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT TRAIN SlIEnS AT UNION STATION ENTRANCE TO UNION STATION transportation By MR. ROBERT W. IRWIX : IVE STEAM railroads, the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway Coni])any, the Pere Marquette Raih'oad Company, the Michigan Central Railroad Company, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway Company and the Grand Trunk Railway System, and two electric internrban lines, the Grand Ra])ids. Grand Haven & Mus- kegon Railway and the Grand Rapids, Holland & Chicago Railway, radiate from Grand Rapids. The two electric interurban lines mentioned operate in connection with Trans-Lake Michigan boat lines to Chicago, and other important ports on the west shore of the Lake. Grand Rapids is the division terminus of several branches of each of the steam roads mentioned. Through trains, on fast freight schedules, move each day on all lines between Grand Rapids and all important junction points of interchange, thus providing through fast freight service for carload shipments of every description in every direction. Many of these trains are maintained to handle enormous volume of perishable and other high class freight originating at Grand Rapids and are operated on passenger train schedules. The wholesale and manufacturing shipping interests of Grand Rapids are advantageously served by through merchandise cars that are operated on a daily schedule by all of the steam railroads, affording first and second morning delivery to all cities and important towns within a raduis of 500 miles. Daily through merchandise cars are also operated between Grand Rapids and New York City, Boston, and many other points. More than 150 scheduled merchandise cars are forwarded from Grand Rapids daily. Shipments to and from Chicago, via the Interurbans and Boat lines, are ready for de- livery the next morning, thus affording express service at regular freight rates. The Pere Marquette Railroad Company and the Grand Trunk Railway System oper- ate from Grand Rapids in connection with Trans-Lake Michigan Car Ferries to Milwaukee, Manitowoc, Wisconsin and other Lake Michigan ports, affording a connecting link with the Trunk Lines radiating throughout the West and Northwest via which routes carload ship- ments move without breaking bulk. Excellent service is maintained to the North and Northwest by the way of Mackinaw and the St. Paul and Minneapolis gateway, via the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway and the Soo Line. Each railroad comjiany maintains and operates its own terminals in Grand Rapids, thus affording an unlimited choice of factory and warehouse sites with low switching rates and dependable service. So called trap cars are operated between the factories in the outlying districts and the central freight houses. These cars are loaded at factory platforms to their capacity with less than carload shipments, and are then switched to the freight houses for distribution into the outgoing merchandise cars previously described. This service and the fact that the freight hou.ses of the various lines are well distributed throughout the wholesale and manufacturing districts, reduces cartage costs to the minimum and as the various freight houses are so operated as to insure the forwarding of merchandise shipments same day as received, less than carload shipments from Grand Rapids enjoy practically carload service. Excellent team track and platform facilities for the loading and unloading of carload shipments are maintained by all of the railroads in various portions of the manufacturing and wholesale district. There is in Grand Rapids no congestion of team tracks, yards or freight houses because of the excellent facilities provided by the railroads. Deliveries to team track, 30 SCENES IN VARIOUS PARKS 31 factory or ware house of carload shipments arriving at Grand Rapids and deHveries to out- bound trains and freight houses of shipments forwarded from Grand Rapids, are uniforndy made without dehiy. Passenger travel to and from Grand Rapids is luxuriously served by through chair, dining, parlor and sleeping oars operate2 TABLES SET FOR 2,400 C()l NTRV MERCHANTS G. R. WHOLESALE DEALERS I KSIS OK 33 ^s! a W\)IN(; BUTTERWORTH HOSPITAL 41 INTERIOR MASONIC BLUE LODGE MASONIC TEMPLE Photo by Royal Photo Co 42 SIGSBEE STREET SCHOOL 43 HOLLAND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST 44 LADIES' LITERARY CLUB HOUSE Pholo by Koyal I'lioto Co ST. CECILIA CLUB HOUSE 45 KENDALL HOME FOR NURSES BLODGETT HOME FOR CHILDREN Photos by Royal Photo Co. 46 NEW PL M PING STATION Photos by Royal Photo Co. I'OLICt 111 AIX.ll AKI IKS 47 FOUNTAIN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH 48 Photos by Koyal Photo Co IMMANUEL GERMAN LUTHERAN CHIRCH 49 A NEST OF FACTORIES 50 IN AND AROUND JOHN BALL PARK Photo by Royal Photo Co. 51 VIEWS OF BUSINESS SECTION DURING HOME COMING WEEK 52 LAKESIDK CIl B 53 CAMPAU PARK OTTAWA BEACH AND JENISON PARK 54 55 < O u U < U O H U O Q < o o u 12; o 56 iin nn ■■ hQiim^— mi^^— nQQii ■ iiii ■iiiiiii0ii— iin^— im ■ ■ i uii^-^iiii^^»iiin^^ini iib u ii^^iiQ WALLIN LEATHER COMPANY 1500 Sides Sole Leather Daily Wallin Tannery — Matamorous Mill Creek Tannery — Packer Slaughter Michigan Tannery — Union Qu^^— iiit^^— iiii^^»in*-^^mi ■■ mi^^— iiiii ■-IIII iiQi n ■! IIII I -- n0Oii^^— im^^^uQii^^— iiii^— iiii^^— nil— ^iiH^^— iiii^^^Mii^^— tiit^^^att 57 Gas Service and Appliances In Grand Rapids, practically every house is equipped with gas lighting and cooking appliances. This condition is due not only to the t-conomy, cleanliness, convenience and adaptability of gas, but to two other important causes: — These are — the very low price of gas — a recent reduction — made voluntarily as all reductions have been — placing the price on a sliding scale basis, in cjuanti- ties, as low as fifty cents per thousand feet and — the service rendered to consumers is second to none in the country. The Gas Company not only puts gas for fuel and light well within the reach of every city dweller but, what is more important still — it educates the people to a knowledge of what is cheapest and best in the line of gas appliances. To carry on this idea of education, a force of experts is maintained whose duty it is to call on every gas consumer free of expense to the customer, go care- fully over every gas appliance, make all adjustments necessary, explain to the user how properly and economically to operate his equipment, describe to him what is newest and best along gas lines, and advise with him should he be in the market for any equipment, to make sure he gets full value for the money he wishes to invest. A large and well appointed show room is fully equipped with gas lighting fixtures, lights, glassware, ranges, water-heaters, etc., where the company wel- comes the public, and well informed and courteous people are alw'ays ready to explain unfamiliar appliances and see that orders are promptly and jiroperly executed. A testing room is also made good use of in the selection of appliances handled by the company. Here the various manufacturers' samples are tried out and only those which prove to have real worth — such as the company can fully guarantee as it does every appliance sold — are purchased for sale to its consumers. A liberal credit policy is carried out making it possil)le for everyone to have the best gas appliances and enjoy the comforts and conveniences of gas — the modern fuel — for both cooking and lighting. GAS COMPANY Wilmarth Show Case Co. W. r. WINCHESTER, President O. R. WILMARTH, Vice President O. B. WILMARTH, Secretary and Treasurer L. T. WILMARTH, Director C. F. E. LUCE, Sales Manager ^ Organized twenty-one years ago as the Grand Rapids Fixtures Co., the Wihnarth Show Case Co. has grown from the employment of 10 workmen to the regular use of 200 people. ^ The new factory, corner Jefferson and Cottage Grove Avenues, has 100,000 square feet of space and is absolutely modern in all its appointments. ^ The output of show cases and ver> attractive store fixtures is widely distributed over the United States. 59 6o Muskegon Interurban and Goodrich Transit Company Fast Freight and Passenger Service between Grand Rapids and Chicago operating all the year giving shippers benefit of lower rates than all rail Freight for points beyond Chicago going into through merchandise cars leaving every night for all i)rincipal points in the southeast, south, southwest, west and northwest ::: ::: ::: ::: The G. R. G. H. & M. Ry. have added a large new freight house to their Grand Rapids terminals which assures prompt deliveries and receiving of freight. Freight houses located at Oak street and Ellsworth Avenue. Goodrich docks foot of Michigan Avenue, Chicago ::: ::: ::: Howarfl ' -v— O ^«„ /£iiiii^r« \ 61 u < Z < Of OJ^ B o !j^ z Oh o u »i a u z o z :i: o o r o 62 THK abu\e represents a cut of our new buildins; now in process of construc- tion, located at the corner of Commerce and Island streets. This building will be lOO \ 135. 7 stories and liasenienl hii;h. of reinforced concrete and steel construction and when finished will be one of the finest millinerx- buildings in the country. ^ We have been in our present location, 20-26 X. Ui\ision street. for 20 years. Our rapidly increasing business has driven us to larger quarters. The loyal jjatronage of our man\ luslomers has made this possible. CORL, KNOTT & CO., Ltd. N. Division St. - - GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 63 From Hide To Shoe Your Walk Through Life Made Easy By Wearing Rouge Rex Shoes HIRTH-KRAUSE COMPANY Tanners and Shoe Manufacturers, Grand Rapids, Michigan 64 Fox Typewriter Co. >, Carpets, Draperies. Coals, Suits, Milliner\, Chiklren's antl Lifanls' Wear Ladies' F"urnishings, Boys' ("Iciihing, Men's, \\"omen's and Cliildren's Shoes, China, Crocker\ . Glassware, Silverware, Housefiir- nishings. Art Goods, Pictures. Bas- kets. Men's Wear. Men's Hats, Stationery, Notions, Trunks, Suit Cases, Tra^■eling Bags, Leather Goods, Hair Goods, Toilet Goods, jiwelrv . Books, Sheet Music, Toys, Confectionerw Etc. THEN .fTTjp^P^^ NOW From the okl horse car to the Cable Road, and then to the splendid modern electric system of today's con- veniences as ex- emplified by the PAY- AS-YOU-ENTE R CAR IS s tht story of the de\'elop- men t of the Grand Rapids Railway Company, which is a part of Grand Rapids, and interested in its growth TEX YEARS ago we started the manufacture of Wood Working Machincr\-. The high quality and character of our j^roduct ha\e increased our business Steadl\' until today we are Main Plant— Corner Coldbrook and Clancy Streets known in every ci\ ilized country of this globe as one of the foremost manufacturers of iiigh grade wocjd working machinery. X'isit our ])!ant. Our injieni'jiis and original en- gineers, modern plant, efficient ftictnr>- manage- ment and cor- rect salesman- ship — all com- bined — will give \ou service and value second to none. Send for Catalog No. 16 Machine Floor — Main Buildini^ Erecting Floor — Main Buildini^ If you use any wood working machinery wiiatsoe\er give us a chance to machines — to give you the benefit of our experience. tel \ou ot our Rear of Main Plant Distinctly a 20th (\ntiir\ Enterprise. Began manufacturing Wood Trimmers in 1900 in the Rawland Factory on Canal St. under the name of .■\mcrican Machinery Co. 1903 — Moved to Comstock Bldg. on Mill St. north of Bridge. 1904 — .\(klcd more capital and began the development of new tools for pal tern making purposes. 1906 — Business expanded to such propor- I ions as to demand new and larger quarters. Purchased nearly 4 acres of the old "Settling IJasin" opposite what is nowCreston Parkand erected thereon buildings that give them over r>o,ooo square feet of floor space. 1907 — Jan. igo; incorporated forSiSo.ooo. 1909 — Increased capital stock to S650.000. Oliver Machinery Company, ^-"^^^p^^^ Mich., U.S.A. P.VIENT WOOD WORKING M.\CHINERY M.\NUF.\CTL RERS BR.\NCH OFF1CE.S .\ND .SHOW ROOMS NEVVVORK CITY CHIC.\GO. ILL. SE.\TTLE. W.\SH. ST. LOLIS, .M(J. LOS .^XGELES. C.AL. SO Church St. First Natl. Bank Bids. Pacific Building .\atl. Bank of Commerce Bids. 1 125 W. Temple St. .M.ANXHESTER. ENG. JO I -203 Deansgate 73 We have, without a doubt, the best equipped wholesale fruit and produce house in the country. Our facihties are unequaled. Our building has every modern convenience --private railroad track and driveway running through— centrally located in the center of the wholesale district. We handle all kinds of foreign and domestic fruits and produce. We make a specialty of onions, potatoes, apples and cabbage in carload lots. 31-35 Market St. - - - 46-50 Canipau St. 74 75 The Fourth National Bank Solicits the accounts of individuals, firms and corporations and offers them the advan- tages of its Convenient Location Conimodious Offices and Ample Facilities For transacting all classes of banking business THERE IS NOTHING IN SAFE BANK- ING THAT WE CANNOT PERFORM Peoples Savings Bank Close of Business Jan. 7, ii)ii RESOURCES Loans and Discounts % 60O.552.39 Bonds, Mortgages and Securities . . 1.100,148.84 Banking House 35.000 00 Other Real Estate i. 218. 70 Overdrafts 700,09 Items in Transit 52.000.48 Exchanges for Clearing House . . % 5.794-45 Cash in Vault and Banks . . 347.i23-o8 352.917.53 Other Cash Items 223.00 Total 52,157.761.03 LIABILITIES Capital Stock Surplus Fund Undivided Profits . Dividends Unpaid . Commercial Deposits Savings Deposits Savings Certificates Due to Banks and Bankers Cashier's Checks . Certified Checks Total Deposits Sioo.ooo.oo 100,000.00 8,105.60 $296,483.31 682.832.44 823. 184.80 145.437-17 1. 168. 35 294-30 Total r. 949.400.43 52.157.761 03 The Peoples Savings Bank of Grand Rapids, offers all the advantages of a safe, strong, conservative yet progressive in- stitution. Its resources are sound to the core and its con- nections unquestionably the best. In addition to savings accounts we solicit and are prepared to receive accounts of banks, bankers, corporations and firms on favorable terms, and will be pleased to meet or correspond \\ith those who contemplate opening new accounts. THOMAS HEFFERAN, President WM. ALDEN SMITH. Vice President. SAMUEL M. LEMON. Vice President. EUGENE D. CONGER. Cashier. T. WM. HEFFERAN, Assistant Cashier. ommercial West Side Office 40 West Bridge Street South End Branch Corner 6th Ave. and South Division Street North West Corner Canal and Lyon Streets We are fully equipped to gi\e complete service to commercial industries and also specialize in the courteous handling of savings accounts. Our aim is to make our friends and customers feel at home when banking with the COMMERCIAL. Capital $200,000 Deposits over $2,000,000 76 Q < > < o X i i Di ■? Q O ^ M w > CO — 0:^ -'- C^ '^ ^ ^ w < Dd _ Z O c/2 ii; iX — -^ - '-. I ~ o a u o > 77 Klingman's Sample Furniture Company The largest exclusive retailers of Fur- niture in America. We guarantee you a saving. Visitors always welcome. The most interesting show place in Grand Rapids. Corner Ionia, Fountain and Division Streets Mueller & Slack Company Manufactur- ers of Upholstered Furniture ESTABLISHED 1892 'r'.UEl.LER • r (f^i • iitlli <^ tOKXEK CANAL AND TKOWBRIDGE STREETS The "Bertsch" Shoe for Men Herold-Bertsch Shoe Co. MANUFACTURERS Grand Rapids, Michigan, U. S. A. MICHIGAN'S FOREMOST CHAIR FACTORY Michigan Chair Company Grand Rapids, Michigan 79 Iiiiiiii4. FACTORY AND OFFICES OF THE GRAND RAPIDS HARDWARE COMPANY THE LARGEST MAKERS OF ALL-STEEL SASH PULLEYS IN THE WORLD THE Cleaning Device for Every Home- BISSELL'S "Cyco" BALL BEARING Carpet Sweeper ahvays ready; no burden that is offered at a price Weighs but S\ pounds, operates by a mere touch, cleans thoroughly without injury to carpets or rugs; raises no dust, to carry from room to room; is the only efficient cleaning apparatus within the purchasing power of the masses. I BIS SELL'S BALL BEARING Carpet Sweeper excels all other cleaning // devices in the work it does in the sewing room, dining // room, or wherever there is a mis- ;athor up. The "Bisfcll" picks up cleaners cannot gather, such as lint, threads, ravelings, scraps of paper and "Bissell" gives the iiKixiiiiiim sweeping cost. cellaneous lot of litter to without effort what other large crumbs, matches, cloth, etc., etc. The ef/icifMcj' - tD individual at a price earning but one profit. The takinR advantage of our method will insure you with a fine, highest grade Hall Clock at about one-half its regular retail price. The great value of a Hall Clock is in the movement, which is hidden by the dial. Ever>- clock carries our full guar- antee. The line Is always on show at ourfactori.- sales room. If you cannot call and personally inspect them write for catalog i6. Grand Rapids Clock & Man- tel Company Grand Rapids. Mich. Electrotyping B>- all ilu- .Mi)>i MockTii Ak'ihotls LEAD MOULDED ELECTROS STEELTYPES NICKELTYPES "AD" PLATES PAPIER MACHE "MATS" Get our Prices. Grand Rapids Electrotype Co. H. L. ADZIT, Manager Foot of Lyon St. Grand Rapids, Michigan Our Printers Supply Department is fully stocked with everything for the Printery. Send for catalogue. LEMON & WHEELER COMPANY WHOLKSAI.P: grocers Established 1872 M ■'^■' a w|i^:i!iii ^n - '^'^^ rf^P Srirr Vrf' \^. KALAMAZOO GRAM) RAIMDS Warehouses— Petoskey, Traverse City, Manistee 91 Illustrating some of the Buildings recently completed by us. U. S. POST OFFICE. Ann Arbor, Mich. V. S. POST OFFICE & COURT HOUSE, Ocala. Fla. C. Hoertz & Son 58 Porter Block General Contractors We are the only builders ni this city that do this class of work 92 EASIER TO TALK DON'T WALK The Automatic Service is far the best whether for Local or Long Distance talking THE CITIZENS TELEPHONE CO. Furnishes this Superior Service and at extremely favorable rates. x'\ncl it has far more patrons than can be reached in any other way. ::: ::: ::: ::: Citizens Stock is a Good Investment Inquire about it. 93 Grand Rapids, Holland & Chicago Electric Railway Offers the Shipjx'rs of Grand Rapids Fast Service on all Freight to Chicago and all Points Beyond Over-Night Between Grand Rapids & Chicago Leave 6 P. M. Arrive 5 A. M. Connecting with Fast Merchandise Trains of the Illinois Central, St. Paul, Northwestern, R(,ck Island, Santa Fe, Wabash, Alton, Soo Line, Great Western, C.& E.I., Burlington and All Other Connections GRAND RAPIDS, HOLLAND Sc CHICAGO RAILWAY GRAHAM AND MORTON BOATS THE GRAND RAPIDS-CHICAGO SHORT LINE CHAS. A. FLOYD, General Freight AkoU E. S. ("RAW. C. I'. A. 94 llllllllllllllllilll! te IHIIIII!! illlllllllllllllllilllllli After the government (who have been oceupying our l)uil(Ung' as a temporary post office) have moved, we will install one of the most up-to-date ])rintin.y and en,i;raving i)lants. and will furnish a service that will be just a little ahead of the rest. :: :: :: :: Dickinson Brothers ENGRAVKRS - PRINTERS Grand Rapids, Michigan, U. S. A. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 016 099 511 7 •