BOATING BUSINESS

The first steamboat came up the Missouri to Sioux City in the Spring of 1856. The river route was then the only one open for the bringing in of heavy freight; and the material for a number of residences and business houses, and several stocks of goods came in on this first boat. With the settlement of the country around the city, came a demand from the military posts and mining camps further up the river, for any surplus produce marketed in the city, and orders for goods began to be sent down to Sioux City. The up-river business of the city grew steadily, and new boats were added every year to the carrying trade. The opening of the rich mines in the Black Hills greatly increased this business, and there has been a steady increase in the amount of grain, pork and merchandise sent from the city to points further up the Missouri.

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Sioux City is the headquarters of the Peck line of boats, which line comprises the steamers C.K. Peck, Nellie Peck, Terry, Peninah, Meade, and Far West. The Benton line, Coulson line and Kountz line of boats also find much profitable freight at this city. Costly experience has proved to the satisfaction of river men that the winter harbor here is the safest on the upper river, and numbers of the river steamers are put on the ways at this city for repair every winter.

Many of Sioux City's business men are interested in stock raising, mining, the fur trade, and other up-river enterprises, and their connection with the "up-country" forms a bond of union of great help to the trade of the city. Several hundred thousand bushels of corn and oats are sent every summer to points further up the Missouri, and more than half the immense out-put of the pork packing establishment finds a market in the same quarter, while the growth of the wholesale trade of our merchants in these parts has kept steady pace with the growth of this newest portion of the new Northwest.

During the winter of 1878, Congress made an appropriation for the improvement of the river, and the protection of the levee at Sioux City, and has, each subsequent winter, made further appropriations for carrying on the work. The first systematic attempt to prevent the encroachment of the river on our levee was made during the Summer of 1879, by Major Yonge, of the United States Engineer Corps. The work has been carried on every season since with results, on the whole, satisfactory. The banks on either side now appears to be permanently fixed, and much valuable data has been obtained that will be of use when the improvement of the entire river below Sioux City is attempted, by government, as it evidently will be in the near future.

THE NEWSPAPERS

The press of Sioux City has been an important factor in the upbuilding of the city, and no other single agency has contributed more to make the city what it is. It has ever been said, that a town may be judged by the character of its newspapers. If this be true, Sioux City can make an excellent showing, as no city in the State of its size has as many or as good newspapers as are published here. To-day, it has one morning, two evening and three weekly journals, all well supported.

The pioneer newspaper of Sioux City, as well as of Woodbury County, was called the Sioux City Eagle, and the first number was issued July 4th, 1857, with S.W. Swiggett as editor and proprietor. It was independent in politics, and for those days, a sprightly, well conducted sheet. Its publication was continued for nearly three years, when it passed out of existence.

The next newspaper venture was made by F.M. Ziebach. The August previous, he, in conjunction with J.N. Cummings,

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under the firm name of Cummings & Ziebach, began the publication of the Western Independent—independent in politics—at Sergeant's Bluffs, eight miles south of Sioux City. It was regularly published until the following July, when Mr. Ziebach purchased his partner's interest in the paper, and removed the material to Sioux City, which, even then, gave promise of being the metropolis of the Northwest; and on July 22d, 1858, gave to Sioux City its second weekly newspaper, the Sioux City Register. With the change of name also came a change in politics, the Register being the first to champion Democracy in Northwestern Iowa.

In 1859 William Freney purchased an interest in the paper, and the year following it was consolidated with the Eagle. The Register was continued under the management of Ziebach & Freney until 1862, when Mr. Ziebach withdrew, leaving Mr. Freney to continue it alone, which he did until 1871, when its publication was suspended.

Shortly after the consolidation of the Register and Eagle, in 1860, Pendleton & Swiggett started the Sioux City Times—Republican in politics. It survived only a few months.

Three years later, another attempt was made, by J.C. Stillman, to establish a Republican paper, The Sioux City Journal but it ceased to exist before the publication of a dozen numbers. August 29th, 1864, it was resuscitated, under the editorial management of J.V. Baugh, and its publication has been continued uninterruptedly ever since, though it has passed through many trying ordeals, with several changes in its management.

In October of the same year, S.T. Davis, the Register of the Land Office, succeed Mr. Baugh as editor, but only remained in charge until the close of the Presidential campaign in 1864, when the paper passed into the hands of Mahlon Gore, a brilliant writer and an accomplished journalist. In 1868, B.L. Northrup purchased an interest in the paper, but retired in a short time, leaving Mr. Gore to continue it alone, which he did until May 1st, 1869, when he disposed of it to George D. Perkins, who has been its editor ever since.

The following January, H.A. Perkins bought an interest in the paper, and the firm of Perkins Brothers was formed, and continued until July, 1875, when H.A. Perkins retired; but after an absence of nearly two years, he returned; the firm name of Perkins Brothers was restored, and continues to the present time.

In 1870 a morning edition was issued from the office, and has appeared regularly ever since. The Daily Journal has grown and strengthened with its years, until to-day it ranks with the foremost papers of the State. It is a handsome, nine-column folio, printed on a press of the latest pattern, and has a large and increasing circulation. The mechanical execution is in the highest style of the art. Its editor, George D. Perkins, is a polished, conscientious and able writer, and a gentleman who has a high ideal of journalism.

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The Journal building is a fine establishment, and the whole enterprise is an illustration of what may be accomplished by talent and energy, directed by sound financial ability and good management. Few papers have achieved a more decided and permanent success, than The Sioux City Journal, in the hands of its present proprietors, and, it may be added, none are more deserving of the grand success they have won, as they have built up an institution of which Sioux City may well feel proud.

In may, 1869, a stock company began the publication of the Daily and Weekly Times, a journal neutral in politics, with Charles Collins as the editor. In a short time Mr. Collins became sole proprietor, changing the publication from a morning to an evening paper. In 1872, the daily edition was discontinued, but the weekly was maintained until 1874, when it was purchased by Warner & made Democratic in politics, and the name changed to the Sioux City Tribune, under which name it has been continued until the present time, though many changes have occurred in its management. At the close of the Presidential campaign, in 1876, Mr. Warner retired, being succeeded by C.R. Smead, the style of the firm becoming Gore & Smead. August, 1877, Mr. Gore left the paper, because of ill health, Mr. Smead continuing its publication until December 6th of the same year, when Albert Watkins continued the publication until December 6th of the same year, when Albert Watkins purchased an interest, and assumed editorial management. May 1st, 1879, Mr. Watkins bought his partner's interest, and continued the publication of the paper alone until July 1st, 1880, when he disposed of it to John C. Kelley, its present editor and proprietor. The Tribune is a six-column quarto, well printed, ably edited, and is on a solid financial footing, with a rapidly increasing business. It is an unfaltering advocate of Democracy, and the recognized organ of the party in the Northwest.

There is also issued from the Tribune office the Anpao, a monthly journal, in the Sioux dialect, in the interests of the Niobrara Mission. It is edited by Rev. Joseph W. Cook, and Rev. J.W. Cleveland, and published under the management of James R. Fraser.

The only German paper ever published here is the Sioux City Weekly Courier, which made its first appearance in 1870, under the management of Wetter & Danquard. After a short time, Mr. Wetter purchased his partner's interest and continued it alone for a few months, when he disposed of it to Dr. C.J. Krejci. Subsequently the paper passed into the hands of Chas. F. Schroeder, who, however, sold it to Herman Schorning. Mr. Schorning continued it until it became the property of its present publisher, Frederick Barth, in November, 1877. The Courier is Democratic in politics, under its present management, is well conducted, the only German paper in this section,a nd has a wide circulation.

The Cosmopolite, a sixteen-page monthly, was established by D.H. Talbot July 1st, 1879, and continued for two years. It was

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It was issued mainly in the interest of private enterprises, but contained much matter of general interest.

In August, 1881, Charles Collins commenced the Sioux City Daily Times, an evening sheet, independent in politics. The Times is a sprightly six-column folio, devoted to local news, and rapidly establishing itself on a firm footing. Its editor and proprietor, Mr. Charles Collins, is a veteran journalist and a ready and forcible writer.

Two weeks after the first issue of the Daily Times, another candidate for public favor made its appearance, the Sioux City Daily News, published by Watkins & Jay. Like its contemporary, The Times, it is a six-column folio, independent in politics, but with Democratic tendencies.

The Sioux City Grocer, established in 1881, is a handsome monthly, published by E.C. Palmer & Co., and issued in the interest of the grocery trade.

In August, 1877, Alex. Macready began the publication of the Industrial Press, a weekly newspaper, advocating the Greenback doctrine. It was continued about a year, when it ceased to exist.

The Sioux City Gazette was commenced by R. Goldie & Son., December 1st, 1877, but after a few issues suspended publication.

PORK PACKING.

Pork packing was begun, in a small way, in Sioux City, in the winter of 1872-3. The building occupied was a small wooden affair on Water street above Fifth. That season H.D. Booge & Co. killed 5,000 hogs. The experiment was a success, and the following summer a large brick building was put up on the site of the frame one, where the business first started. Additions to this building were made from year to year, until its capacity was increased to 500 hogs per day, and there was no room for further extensions. In the spring of 1881, work was begun on the pork house now occupied in the east part of the city. The site is all that could be wished. The Floyd furnishes drainage, and the nearness to railroads allows the cars of the different lines centering at the city to deliver hogs directly into the yards beside the packing house, and to load the manufactured product directly from the storage rooms into the cars. There is plenty of ground, some fourteen acres of city lots having been bought. The new building cost over $100,000, and more than a million and a half of brick were used in its building. It is pronounced by competent judges the most complete structure of the kind in the State. The ice is run directly from the Floyd River into the great 6,000 ton ice house. For summer packing this ice in skidded from the ice house into the refrigerator that occupies an entire story of the main building. A stream elevator connects the different floors. In the fertilizer room, the parts that would otherwise go to waste, are worked over into an odorless powder that is in demand for

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enriching the worn-out fields of the east. Every part of the defunct porker is utilized, from the tough terminus of the snout, to the brush of bristles that beautifies the tip of the tail. The house has a capacity of 1,000 hogs per day, the capacity being measured by the hanging capacity. This has been found insufficient for the hogs offered, and the coming season an addition will be built that will increase the capacity about 50 per cent.

The firm conducting the business of Jas. E. Booge & Co., consists of Jas. E. Booge, of Sioux City, and John L. Merriam, A.H. Wilder and Wm. R. Merriam, of St. Paul. The first named gentleman has been connected with the business from the first, and the three others for several years. As appears from the report made to the Board of Trade, the pork house had, during the two months ending January 1st, 1882, killed 37,000 hogs, and paid for thes $580,000. The labor bills during this time footed up $14,000 and the pay roll showed 188 men employed.

No other business in Sioux City does so much to advertise the name of the town. The hams made can be found on hotel tables from Chicago to San Francisco. The side meat goes mostly to the south, Memphis, New Orleans and Mobile being the principal points of sale. The lard goes to Chicago and the bacon finds a ready market all over the west, the heaviest demand coming from the mining camps and military posts of the Upper Missouri. The Sioux City Pork house has a practical monopoly of supplying hog products to the military posts in the northwest, having, during the past year, secured more than eight per cent. of the contracts let. The position of the town as a railroad center, in the midst of one of the best corn growing sections of the Union, makes the steady supply of swine certain, and the exceptional advantages for the distribution of the product, allows prices to be paid that while renumerative to the hog grower, leaves a fair margin of profit to the packer.

THE CITY LIBRARY

There is nothing perhaps that speaks higher for the culture and enterprise of the city, than its valuable Public Library and Reading Room. Both are well patronized and supported. About two thousand well selected volumes are on the shelves, and mostly all the popular magazines and leading newspapers of the country, religious and secular, are kept on file. The Library is a large and pleasant room, situated in the City Hall, on one of the leading business streets. Miss Helen Smith is at present, and has been for some years past, the librarian.

FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOPS

The Sioux City Foundry and Machine Shop, is the pioneer manufacturing establishment of the city. Started in 1871, in a small way, and doing work only of the simplest kind, it has grown

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with the city, until now its buildings extend over several acres of ground, and its manufactures embrace everything in the different branches of the business, from the plain castings in iron and brass, to the building of heavy machinery for steamboats, saw mills, quartz mills, planing mills, etc. As the growth of the city and the wants of the trade demanded, new buildings with the required machinery, have been added, from time to time, until the works are now undoubtedly the largest and most complete of the kind in the West. THe main building is of brick, two stories high, with a frontage of 120 feet. There is also an extensive boiler shop, detached from the main building, 70 to 80 feet. The works give employment to 40 men, and their trade extends throughout the Northwest, even reaching the Black Hills. The establishment is in every way creditable to Sioux City, as well as to the country tributary.

Plow Works—The broad and liberal policy of the citizens of Sioux City towards manufacturing enterprises of merit, is in striking contrast with narrow, selfish curse of many western cities. At all times they have been ready and willing to extend a helping hand to any enterprise that would add to the material wealth and advance the interests of the city, and the many manufacturing industries that have located here of late demonstrate, beyond question, that the policy which has been pursued is the only true one, and one that will ultimately place Sioux City in the front rank of the manufacturing towns of the State.

The Board of Trade, of which appropriate mention is made elsewhere, has performed an important part in attracting many desirable manufacturers hither, and among the first brought here, through its influence, was the Sioux City Plow Company, an institution of which the city feels justly proud. In May, 1880, a stock company of practical mechanics was organized under the above name, and commenced the erection of a suitable building for the manufacture of plows, and in the following September the first plow was turned out. The next season, their goods were placed upon the market and immediately sprang into public favor; and though the works have a capacity of fifty finished plows per day, so great has become the demand that the company has not been able to fully meet the requirements of its trade, and an increase in the building capacity of the works has become an imperative necessity. The Sioux City Plow is made with special reference to its adaptability to the peculiar soil of this section, and possesses many points of superiority over those of Eastern manufacture. The works of the company, situated in the southeastern part of the city, are substantial, two story brick buildings, supplied with all the necessary machinery for the turning out of first class work.

THE GAS WORKS

Long before Sioux City had a population of five thousand souls her streets were lighted with gas. Through the untiring energy

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and public spirit of a few of her leading citizens, in February, 1872, the Sioux City Gas Ligt Company was incorporated, with an authorized capital of $100,000. D.T. Heges was President, George Weare, Treasurer, and John P. Allison, Secretary. A substantial brick building was erected, and on the evening of March 17th, 1873, the city was illuminated by gas, the event being duly celebrated. It was not expected by the projectors of the enterprise, that the works in a town like Sioux City then was, would be self-sustaining; but they had an abiding faith in its future. Time has demonstrated that their confidence was not misplaced. The hazardous venture of ten years ago, is now a paying investment. The city has always lent the company a helping hand, and encouraged and fostered it with its patronage, oftentimes when its finances would hardly justify the outlay. The works are now operated by private parties, under a lease from the incorporators of the company. About three million feet of gas is made annually, of which the city is a large consumer, all the leading thoroughfares being lighted by gas.

SIOUX CITY BOARD OF TRADE.

During the autumn of 1872, the first Citizens' Association, for the general advancement of the business and manufacturing interests of the city was formed. The first meeting for the formation of this association was held November 21st, 1872, at the court room, which was at that time in the Hubbard block, on Fourth street. It was called by the Mayor, G.W. Kingsworth, Hon. A.W. Hubbard introduced the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted:
"Resolved, That this meeting is in favor of organizing an association, the object of which shall be to induce manufactures to come to this place."

A provisional board was appointed; also committees to draft a constitution, by-laws, and for procuring members.

December 9th the committee reported a constitution, which was adopted; and that they had secured 221 names for membership. The name this association adopted was "The Sioux City Chamber of Commerce."

January 13th, 1873, the following officers were elected for the year: President, J.C. Flint, First Vice-President, A.W. Hubbard, Second Vice-President, S.T. Davis; Directors, J.H. Swan, M.C. Bogue, J.J. Saville, L.C. Sanborn, C.E. Hedges, A. Groninger, J.P. Dennis, E.W. Skinner, A.R. Wright, H.L. Warner. Board of Arbitration, J.C.C. Hoskins, W.L. Joy, L. Wynn, J.E. Booge, L. McCarty; Secretary, F.C. Thompson. Treasurer, J.M. Pinckney.

During the year the organization secured the location of Joseph Trudell's wagon shop; entertained the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce on its visit to Sioux City, September 10th; published a

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twenty-four page pamphlet, containing statistics and description of the city, and did a good deal of miscellaneous work toward securing railroads, Government improvement of river, etc.

In January, 1874, the following officers were elected for the year; President, J.C.C. Hoskins; First Vice-President, J.H. Swan; Second Vice-President, L.C. Sanborn, Directors, James E. Booge, Thomas J. Stone, William R. Smith, Joseph Schulien, L. McCarty, James M. Bacon, E.B. Crawford, George W. Kingsnorth, E.E. Lewis, C.J. Kathrens. Committee on Arbitration, W.S. Joy, H.L. Warner, D.T. Hedges, J.C. Flint, A.W. Hubbard. F.C. Thompson was re-elected Secretary, and J.M. Pinckney, Treasurer.

This organization—The Chamber of Commerce—was quite active during the year in working up the material interests of the city; but a quorum of members did not respond to the call for the annual meeting of 1875, and the officers previously elected held over.

In October, 1877, the merchants of Sioux City ment and formed the Merchants Exchange, and the following officers were elected for the year: President, J.M. Bacon; Vice President, L.C. Sanborn; Secretary, E.H. Bucknam; Tresurer, A.C. Davies; Directors, H.L. Warner, H.A. Jandt, E.W. Rice, F.L. Goewey.

During the year, the subject of cheap ferriage to Covington, the adjusting of railroad freights and the commercial interests of Sioux City in general, had the attention of the Exchange with marked success. They raised by voluntary subscriptions $1,929.60 during the year, and paid to secure cheap ferriage, $1,500.

In October, 1878, the following officers were elected for the year: President, J.M. Bacon; Vice President, E.C. Tompkins; Secretary, E. W. Bucknam; Directors, H.L. Warner, H.A. Handt, M.W. Murphy, S. Schulein, F.L. Goewey.

In October, 1879, the following officers were elected: President, H.A. Jandt; Vice President, M.W. Murphy, Secretary, E.G. Burkam, Jr., Treasurer, A.C. Davis; Directors, J.M. Bacon, William Tackaberry, F.L. Goewey, W.H. Livingston, G.H. Howell.

During the year, the Exchange, in addition to other important work, raised quite a boom for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad towards the purchase of depot grounds.

The officers elected October, 1879, held over until July, 1881, when the exchange was reorganized, the name changed tot he Sioux City Board of Trade, its scope extended so as to include as eligible to membership all citizens of Sioux City and to embrace in its work the securing of manufactories. The following officers were elected for the balance of the year: President, H.A. Jandt; Vice President, John Hornick; Treasurer, A.S. Garretson; Secretary, E.W. Skinner; Directors, F.H. Peavey, H.A. Perkins, W.H. Beck, F.L. Goewey, E.C. Palmer, Geo. H. Howell, J.P. Dennis.

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In November, 1881, the following officers were elected: President, F.H. Peavey; Vice President, John Hornick; Treasurer, A.S. Garretson; Secretary, E.W. Skinner; Directors, H.A. Jandt, F.L. Goewey, E.C. Palmer, W.H. Livingston, W.H. Beck, H.A. Perkins, R.S. Van Keuren.

During the first six months of the new organization, the Board of Trade has aided in securing for the city several important additions to its industrial and mercantile institutions, among which may be mentioned, a button factory, a chemical paint and color works, a branch of R.G. Dun & Co's Commercial agency, Cummings, Smith & Co.'s large wholesale boot and shoe house, a branch of the Consolidated Oil Tank Line Company; a United States Express Company's office, an iron pump factory, chemical works, increased telegraph facilities, and has in prospect a paper mill, a flax, twine and bagging mill, and several other industries.

The subject of railroad extensions, and increased rail facilities, and the improvement of the Missouri River by the Government, have also had consideration.

Business Transacted

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