HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY - 313

CHAPTER XX.

MANUFACTURES.

STATISTICS AND FACTS BEARING ON THE PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRIES OF CINCINNATI-ELIGIBLE LOCATION FOR MANUFACTURING-MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVESTED AND THOUSANDS OF HANDS EMPLOYED--ENORMOUS EXTENT OF THE BREWING BUSINESS-CAPITAL EMPLOYED.

OWING to her peculiarly eligible location, Cincinnati has always been a manufacturing centre, and her industries are destined to increase as the years roll on. Her advantages for transportation by rail and water are exceptionally good. It bas been shown that twenty railroads, either by direct lines of their own, or traffic arrangements, converge within her borders. The Ohio and other rivers afford the means for the movement of certain kinds of heavy freights at cheap rates, and in supplying the manufacturers with abundance of bituminous coal from the mines of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and eastern Ohio, they can not be surpassed as vehicles of communication. The Board of Trade and Transportation has taken special pains to gather facts and statistics bearing on the subject of manufactures, and these facts have been admirably grouped by W. J. Shaw, assistant secretary, for the quick comprehension of those who may be interested in this matter. Great industries are the true sources of trade, commerce and wealth; they build up cities and develop population. Cincinnati and Hamilton county possess some of the largest, most costly and valuable manufacturing plants on the continent. Nearly one-third of the population consists of producers. Commercially speaking, Cincinnati had a population of about 450,000 in 1890, notwithstanding the census of that year gave her but 296,908. This arose from the fact that she did not receive credit for her numerous suburban villages. Sixty-three suburban towns connected by electric and other rail lines at commuter's rates, aggregating from directory estimates 55,630 population, and numbers of other villages and thickly settled neighborhoods estimated at 20,000, were omitted, which would have swollen the number to 372,538 north of the Ohio. Then on the south side of the river are Covington, 37,371; Newport, 24,918; and Bellevue, Dayton, West Covington, Ludlow and other villages with street car and railroad commuter rate connection, aggregating a closely estimated population of 20,000. This gives a population south of the river of 82,289, and a total legitimate population for the city of 449, 827, in 1890. These Kentucky corporations are practically a part of Cincinnati, because their inhabitants largely do business in the city, but as they are located in another State, she never can have credit for them. Her contiguous suburban villages on the north side of the river, however, will be annexed in a short time, and the census of 1900 will show her population vastly increased.

314 - HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

The number of industrial establishments given as within the limits of Cincinnati by the 'United States census of 1890, is 7,664. A local report by the Board of Trade gives 1,202 in the suburbs north of the river, making a total, to which the city is practically entitled, of 8,956. The true number at the present time will not fall much below 10,000. Those on the Kentucky side can not be included, although Cincinnati is the distributing center. The report made by the census department is not only very incomplete but misleading, and can not be depended on as a correct exhibit of the industries, and capital employed, by the manufacturers of Cincinnati.

The Board of Trade local report gives $106,599,037, as capital invested, while the United States report is only $89,886,796. To further show the unreliability of the United States report, among the classified industries given, it may be mentioned that under the head of "liquors distilled and malt," Cincinnati is credited with twenty-five establishments, having an invested capital of $8,747,282, and a total product of $16.796,890. " Au actual count," says Mr. Shaw, " of the concerns gave, ill 1890, of liquors distilled, nine, and malt thirty-nine concerns, a total of forty-eight, with a capital of $17,609,090 invested, and a product of $18,774,648. That the showing for Cincinnati in this industrial line may appear small, the rectifying houses are excluded entirely, and these numbered fifty-eight, with a product of $9,427,480 more, making $28,202,128 represented by this interest." In a word, the whiskey trade of Cincinnati is immense; in fact she is the only great market for standard brands on the continent. There are sixty-seven firms engaged in distilling, rectifying and wholesaling, and the product for 1890 was $18,852,241. The product of the Kentucky distilleries for 1802-93 was 34,843,362 gallons. The withdrawals from bond during the year were 30,266,869 gallons, and the quantity remaining in bond was 90,171,068 gallons. It is apparent that the conditions are permanent and peculiar, and that Cincinnati must continue to hold her dominant status as a whiskey market; and therefore remain the great whiskey mart of the continent.

Reference, with like results, may be made to another important industry, that of soaps and candles. The census "allows" Cincinnati 16 establishments with an employed capital of $1,938,000, employing 727 hands, and a product of $3,826,480. The facts, according to the Board of Trade, are that there were, in 1890, 36 establishments, with an invested capital of $8,195,000, and a product of $10,616,000. "And," adds Mr. Shaw, "everybody knows that on a reorganization lately, one concern was capitalized at more than the whole capital `allowed' to Cincinnati for that industry."

In the manufacture of clothing the census credited Cincinnati with 459 establishments, with an invested capital of $14,841,040, a product of $17,982,123, and hands employed, males, 2,197; females, 2,772; children, 30, and piece makers, 10,234; making 15,233 all told. The facts are the city had at that time 502 establishments, a capital invested of $19,815,764, a product of $23,713.000, and 22,325 hands employed. A material difference indeed.

Many more glaring inaccuracies might be cited. In fact hardly a leading industry is an exception. But it is useless to expatiate further on these industrial topics. The fact has been frequently referred to, that in no city in the world does so large a portion of employees occupy their own homes; and in no city in the world are so many building associations or peoples' banks-360 in number-the chief medium through which the money has been saved and those homes built. These results are directly traceable to low rents and a cheap provision market. Cincinnati, in the cost of labor, therefore, has an advantage over other western cities. Manufactured products of equal grades are produced and sold cheaper here than in any other competing city.

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY. - 315

As a great iron market, Cincinnati stands at the head of the list. Along the southern slopes of the Cumberland lies the great iron-producing section of the country, and in close proximity, along the northern slopes, are unlimited supplies of coal. The supply of pig iron, therefore, is only limited to demand and practically inexhaustible. Coupled with cheap water transportation, her advantage in this line of trade is apparent.

Another of the exceptional and exclusive resources of the Queen City, in a manufacturing and commercial line, is White Burley tobacco. This is a superior quality that is raised only in the counties of Kentucky and Ohio immediately surrounding the city, which is its exclusive market, and from which the manufacturers everywhere are supplied. In 1891-92 the shipments amounted to 130,861 hogsheads of leaf; 21,068 cases and bales, and 247,905 manufactured packages. There are eight great warehouse companies, six of which are incorporated. Here the tobacco is received in hogsheads from the producers, inspected and sold at public sale. It is often very lively on the market. Sometimes, when the bidding is spirited, the auctioneers average the sale of a hogshead a minute. According to the report of Tabb & Blades, inspectors, the sales in 1892 amounted to 83,073 hogsheads, for which $9,954,350.92 was received. The sales for 1893 amounted to 57,703 hogsheads, which footed up the handsome sum of $8,235,880.31. These figures will give the reader a clear idea of the immensity of the business.

It is a notable fact the water and water-power of the Miami valley have peculiarly adapted it to the manufacture of paper, and by its mills are produced the great bulk of the paper of all kinds used in the West. A hundred years sago the manufacture of paper was commenced on the Little Miami. And while Cincinnati is not the exclusive market for all these paper manufacturers, yet they are directly tributary to her. The value of the paper product is seen in the large number of papers and magazines that have existed here during the last century. Its cheapness was an inducement for their appearance. And to-day the city continues to lead in the paper traffic, and is recognized as the lowest paper market in the West.

In the manufacture of cigar boxes Cincinnati takes the lead, poplar being most extensively used. It was here, too, that originated the great wood-working machinery plants, whose product now exceeds probably that of all other such concerns in the United States, and finds a market in all quarters of the civilized world. Her wood-working machines are used in arsenals, fortifications and factories in all parts of the globe; and one firm alone ships more wood-working machines to Europe than all the rest. of the United States. In the manufacture of machine tools she is also a leaden; city, and among her establishments of that kind is one of the largest on the continent. And this country as well as Europe has been largely indebted to the genius of her mechanics for the invention and supply of laundry machinery, and her cigar-making machines supply the government factories of Spain, Italy and other countries of Europe.

SOME LEADING MANUFACTORIES.

Within the scope of a work of this kind it is impossible to notice in detail the ten thousand industrial establishments found in Cincinnati and Hamilton county; we therefore close the chapter on manufactures by referring individually to a few firms representing the various lines of goods manufactured:

George Striebley, head of the firm of Striebley & Co., is the pioneer in the manufacture of boots and shoes by the aid of machinery. As early as 1849 he began the manufacture of shoes in quantities by cutting out and distributing them among shoemakers to be made by hand. He introduced the machine for cutting uppers in 1852 and 1853, which greatly facilitated the work. In 1862 or 1863 he introduced the first McKay machine for sewing soles, which revolutionized the business. The trade Dow amounts to about ten millions of dollars per annum in volume, and is

316 - HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

constantly growing. There are more than thirty firms, and the average number of hands employed will reach four thousand.

Printers' Supplies.-The Cincinnati Type Foundry is one of the industries of the city deserving of special notice. It was established in 1817, and was the first type foundry west of the Alleghanies. Its growth was slow at first, as it had to await the development of the printing business in the West and South. To-day everything used in a printing office, except wood type, is produced by the foundry. The company make all their machines for casting type, and manufacture presses. They made the famous press for the Russell-Morgan Printing Company, which prints 72 entire decks of cards in four colors in one minute, feeding two hundred feet of paper in the same time. As a complete piece of mechanism it is in reality a wonder. In this establishment was made the first cylinder press west of the Alleghany Mountains. By an automatic type-casting machine the letters drop in a box finished and ready to be put up in packages. In a word, the liquid metal comes out finished type.

Books, Music, etc.-The oldest, most extensive and best-known publishing house in the West is that of Robert Clarke & Company, West Fourth street, Cincinnati. It was originally founded in 1857. The business of the firm is that of publishers, booksellers, stationers, importers, printers and binders. Their immense stock of books embraces both home and foreign literature. All new American books, periodicals, pamphlets, etc., are promptly received on the day of publication. The Americana department is exceedingly rich in rare publications relating to the history of this country, and attracts the attention of historians and literary people from all parts of the country. Mr. Clarke is a ripe scholar, and as he has given many years to the study of early history in the Ohio Valley, he stands at the head of the list of local historians. Much of his time has been given to editing the works of others and preparing them for publication. He has republished many local works which had gone out of print, and therefore could not be obtained; notably among them may be mentioned "The Olden Time," in two volumes, first published by Neville B. Craig, of Pittsburgh, as a monthly, in 1846 and 1847. Recently the house published a " Bibliotheca America," prepared by Mr. Clarke, which covers 274 pages, giving 7,488 titles of American books arranged by States, with an appendix of 56 pages of publications issued by Robert Clarke & Company. It is an exceedingly valuable catalogue, and indispensable to all librarians, historians and collectors of rare American books pertaining to history, biography, science and literature. Connected with the house is a law book publishing department, which is very extensive, upward of two hundred law books having been issued. The most costly law books ever published by the house were six volumes of the celebrated Fisher's Patent Cases, at twenty-five dollars a volume!

The firm is constituted as follows: Robert Clarke, Roderick D. Barney, John W. Dale, Howard Barney, and Alexander Hill. The firm also maintains a London office.

In the manufacture of schoolbooks, Cincinnati has one of the largest schoolbook publishing houses in the United States, where a finished book is turned out, to use the emphatic phrase of a local writer, "with every swing of the pendulum of a clock." The American Book Company, incorporated, own the large schoolbook publishing business lately the property of Van Antwerp, Bragg & Company, which was established in 1832 by Truman & Smith, afterward, successively, W. B. Smith & Company; Sargent, Wilson & Hinkle; Wilson, Hinkle & Company, and Van Antwerp, Bragg & Company. The original schoolbook list of the Cincinnati house of the American Book Company was the Eclectic Educational Series, comprising McGuffey's Readers and Spellers, Ray's Arithmetic, Pinneo's Grammars, and a few others prepared by well-known western educators. These books attained a widespread popularity, and other texts were from time to time added to the list, until in 1890, when the transfer was made to the American Book Company. At the time of the transfer the house of Van Antwerp, Bragg & Company was the largest schoolbook

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY - 317

publishing concern in the world. Since the dissolution of the old firm the manufacturing facilities of the company at Cincinnati have been greatly increased, perhaps. one-third, making the total manufacture of schoolbooks, in the printing offices and binderies here, about seven million volumes per annum, or nearly twenty-five thousand for each working day in the year. The business is conducted in four large buildings,, ranging in height from five to eight stories. The plant is admirably equipped with the best machinery and appliances for turning out work well and rapidly. The presses, twenty-eight in number, are of the best manufacture. This busy hive of industry gives employment to 500 hands. Before the dissolution of the old firm of Van Antwerp, Bragg & Company, Mr. L. Van Antwerp had retired; the other members of the firm, C. S. Bragg, H. H. Vail, A. H. Hinkle, and H. T. Ambrose, are members of the board of directors of the American Book Company. Mr. Ambrose is treasurer, W. B. Thalheimer manager, with S. H. Dustin, Frank R. Ellis and George A. Howard, as assistant managers.

The John Church Company, publishers of music, is one of the largest concerns of the kind in the city. The business was established thirty-four years ago. Recently it was incorporated under the laws of Ohio with a capital stock of one million and a quarter dollars. Branch houses are maintained in New York and Chicago. The great bulk of their business consists in disposing of the product of two piano factories that rank as high as any in the market-the Everett and the Harvard-the publication of music and music books, the importation of band instruments, and also the manufacture of violins, guitars, mandolins, banjos, drums, and other instruments. The firm occupies a magnificent seven-story building fronting on Fourth street, which gives them 58,000 square feet of warehouse room. In addition to their own music they keep a stock of all other popular music and music books published throughout the world. The firm employs 840 hands in their own establishment and that of the piano factories in which they hold controlling interests. The corporation is officered as follows: W. Hooper, president; Edwin hanson, vice-president; A. Howard Hinkle, treasurer, and Frank A. Lee, general manager.

The Strobridge Lithographing Company has built up an immense business in this line of work. Its beginning, which dates back to 1854, was very modest, hut its progress was always continuous and upward, until it now stands at the head of all similar establishments of this kind in the country. At first its business did not amount to $75,000 annually, but the yearly income now makes this sum appear insignificant. The company had its fine building destroyed by fire in the winter of 1887, but it immediately rebuilt the elegant structure which it now occupies on Canal street. A large number of skilled workmen are constantly employed, and the finest grade of lithographic work is turned out.

Wood working machinery.-The J. A. Fay Company was established in 1835. The Egan Company was established in 1873. On March 1,1893, these two concerns were consolidated under the firm name of J. A. Fay & Egan Company, of which Thomas P. Egan is president; Frederick Danner, vice-president; Albert N. Spencer, second vice-president; Edwin Ruthven, secretary; L. W. Anderson, treasurer, and S. P. Egan, superintendent. About 1832 Mr. Fay, then in Keene, N. H., invented the first wood working machine, rather crude, but it was the beginning of wood working machinery. The J. A. Fay & Egan Company is recognized as standing at the very front of enterprise in its respective line, and its machinery is to be found in every State and Territory in the United States, and all the civilized nations in the world. The capital invested amounts to millions of dollars, and several hundred men are employed.

Charles Davis is president of the Lodge-Davis Machine & Tool Company, one of the largest concerns of the kind in the United States. It was organized in 1880, and became a stock company in 1888. At first it was small, employing only about fifty hands, and its output was about sixty-five thousand dollars annually; now 550 men are employed, and the annual output reaches seven hundred thousand dollars.

318 - HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Billiard Tables and Organs.-The manufacture of billiard tables is one of the great industries of Cincinnati. The capital invested is given at about twenty-five million dollars, but there are those who think it is a great deal more. The Brunswick-Balke Collender Manufacturing Company, organized in 1842, makes billiard and pool tables on a large scale. The home factory and business centre of the company, located in Cincinnati, employs about one thousand men. The company has branch factories in Chicago, St. Louis, New York and San Francisco. No figures showing the value of the output are available. Charles W. Huss is president of the Huss Brothers' Company, which manufactures bar, store and bank fixtures. About two hundred thousand dollars is invested in the plant and business.

D. H. Baldwin & Company take high rank among organ and piano manufacturers. Their house has been in the business for fully one-third of a century. In addition to their own productions, they sell for other houses. Their great success is due largely to the fact that their instruments give universal satisfaction wherever they are introduced. Agencies are maintained in fully ten States of the Union, and the demand for their instruments is constantly on the increase.

Great Tool Company.-Another great manufacturing industry is the Lodge & Davis Machine Tool Company. It was first incorporated in 1880, and again in July, 1888, under a reorganization. Everything in the way of tools used in the manufacture of iron is manufactured, as well as steam engines, locomotives, traction machinery, railroad and street cars, dynamos, electric motors, sewing machines, typewriters, and all metal articles that in their manufacture have to be handled by machinery. The company also makes machinery used by the government in the manufacture of fire-arms, cannon and ordnance of all kinds, as well as projectiles and shells. Nearly all the government arsenals have been furnished with machinery manufactured by this company. Their trade extends throughout Europe and Asia and South America. Half a million of capital is employed, about six hundred men are on the payroll, and the output reaches about two million dollars annually. The company is officered as follows: Charles Davis, president; William H. Burtner, vice-president; Henry Luers, secretary and treasurer.

Headquarters for Safes.-In the manufacture of safes and vaults Cincinnati distances all competitors. The Herring-Hall-Marvin Company is the largest concern in the world. The Hall Safe and Lock Company was established by James L. Hall in Pittsburgh in 1845, but soon afterward moved to Cincinnati. There are fourteen large buildings in use here, and about 800 men are employed. They also have branches in New York and Philadelphia, which, combined, are as large as the home works. By the consolidation of the various companies named in the title of the corporation the concern grew into its present mighty proportions. The machinery used is of the finest kind, and the factory floors cover 1,200,000 square feet. The output is about ten thousand safes annually, and the capital employed is $3,300,000, all paid up. They have over twenty branch stores in the United States, with branches in London and Berlin, In all their shops over two thousand skilled workmen are constantly employed. The Central office is in Cincinnati, and the corporation is officered as follows: Edward C. Hall, president; Richard F. Pullen, secretary, and William H. Hall, treasurer.

Rookwood Pottery.-The Rookwood Pottery, a high art institution of Cincinnati, was founded in 1880 by Mrs. Maria LongwortH Storer, daughter of Joseph Longworth. Her father was the founder of the Art School, and chief patron of the Art Museum, In 1.883 W. W. Taylor became associated with the enterprise as manager. When Mrs. Storer retired from the business in 1890, the present company was organized by Mr. Taylor, and the buildings and manufactory erected on the commanding position overlooking the city. The conception of the idea by Mrs. Storer was the result of beholding the ceramic display of Japan at the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia in 1876. Being an enthusiast in this line of art, a

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY. - 319

school for pottery painting formed part of the scheme at first, and from the beginning the commercial side of the enterprise was subordinated to the artistic. It attracted the attention of those possessing a cultivated taste, and steadily grew in popularity. The ware "is a true faience," made of clays found in deposits in the Ohio Valley. The decorators, with the exception of one native Japanese, and including the founder, are graduates from the Art School of Cincinnati. The artists are encouraged to give each piece an individual character, and, as no painting process is in use, duplications in design seldom occur. Mr. Denny, in his interesting description of the pottery, says that " these conditions, aided by the native inventive faculty and the ample capital at command, have developed an American pottery which possesses marked originality. The coloring in both grounds and decorations is entirely underglaze, and a distinguishing mark of Rookwood faience is the decorative quality of the color grounds. Their harmonious blending is carefully studied with reference to the decoration, and to fine examples, especially of the darker-toned glazes, their softness, depth and lustre impart a rare beauty." Clarence Cook, an art writer of high distinction, declares that outside of Japan and China he does not " know where any colors and glazes are to be found finer than those which come from the Rookwood Pottery." Other writers speak in the same high terms, and affirm that " this is the only pottery in this country in which the instinct of beauty is paramount to the desire of profit." As a result of such care in the production of pieces, and the consequent development of genius, awards of gold medals have been received at exhibitions all over the world ; and high hopes are entertained that future achievements in the line of decoration will excel those of the past.

Extensive Bakery.-The Langdon Bakery of the United States Baking Company, originally established in Cincinnati in 1865 under the firm name of G. R. Worthington & Company, has met with marked success during its career. At first the business was small. In 1874 the firm became Solomon Langdon & Son, and in 1885 it was incorporated. In 1890 thirty or forty of the large cake and cracker bakeries in the Central States, including several in Boston and elsewhere, were consolidated into one immense company, known as the United States Baking Company, and the Langdon Bakery became the chief Cincinnati branch of that great combination. The capital is between five and six millions of dollars. The Cincinnati branch is of great size, and specially supplied with the best modern machinery. A large force is constantly employed in turning out over 150 varieties of cakes and crackers. Everything about the establishment is kept scrupulously clean, and the productions are packed with great care.

Bells of All Kinds.-The bell manufactory of The Van Duzen & Tift Company is one of the oldest and best-known manufactories in Cincinnati, having been established in 1837. All kinds of bells for churches, academies, farms, courthouses, steamboats, machine shops, etc., are made. Bells weighing as high as 2,000 pounds are cast. Steam jet pumps, and chimes, are among their specialties.

Engine Builders and Steam Fitters. -The William Powell Company manufacture every description of engine builders,' steam fitters,' and plumbers' brass goods. In their new factory, recently completed, they have abundance of room. The original firm was established in 1846, and incorporated as a company in 1886. Their plant is one of the largest of its kind in the city, and employs 200 operatives. The works are run by a 125-horse power Corliss engine, supplying not only the motive power for the machinery, but operating an 80-horse power electric generator to supply 300 incandescent and ten are lights, besides furnishing 35-horse power to four electric motors for running the more distant departments of the factory, thus dispensing with long lines of shafting. Their business consists largely of specialties in globe valves, gate valves, guard, steam and water cocks, steam whistle chimes, patent lubricators for stationary and traction engines, locomotive and air brake lubricators, and

320 - HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

a multitude of other articles in this line. Their specialties have a world-wide reputation for excellence, and they are shipped to all parts of the United States and Canada. The corporation is officered as follows : James Powell, president of the William Powell Company, proprietors of the Union Brass Works, and Theodore Albert, secretary.

Pump Manufacturing--The John H. McGowan' Company had its inception in 1862, the firm being John H. and T. J. McGowan. Their plant for manufacturing steam-power pumping machinery was located in a small three-story building on Pleasant court, between Elm and Race, and Fourth and Fifth streets, adjoining the old Fire Engine Works where John H. McGowan had served as superintendent, and where in 1855 he built the compound pumping engines for pumping out the excavations, and sawing timber for the foundations of Fort Proctorville below New Orleans, now known as Fort Jackson. The engineers in charge who tested and accepted this machinery were G. T. Beauregard, then brevet major of Engineers, and Lieut. Wetzel, later an officer in the Federal army, and subsequently an engineer-in-chief of government works west of the Alleghany Mountains.

In March, 1863, the McGowans removed their factory to Nos. 94 and 96 Elm street, where they remained until their dissolution in 1870. In 1869 they erected large buildings for the several departments of their business, in Fulton (Cincinnati) along the river bank, and removed their stock and machinery therein. After T. J. McGowan withdrew, the firm of John H. McGowan was established at Nos. 134 and 136 West Second street, and continued there until 1881 when the present company was incorporated. It soon became necessary to secure new quarters to accommodate their rapidly increasing trade, and accordingly their present factory and warehouses were located at Nos. 42, 44 and 46 Central avenue, Nos. 6, 8, 10 and 12 Phoebe street, and Nos. 7, 9 and 11 Commerce street. The floor space of the manufacturing plant covers 50,000 square feet.

This, however, does not include the blacksmithing or iron foundry department, which are necessarily large to turn out the forgings and castings. The company is again looking for additional space to permit a large increase in the manufacture. This is required to meet the rapidly-growing demand for their special goods, and particularly for those made under John H. McGowan's patents issued during the years 1888 to 1894 inclusive, orders for which come over from foreign countries. The capital stock is now over $200,000, besides the real estate on which the plant is located, valued at $45,000.

The company has an office in Richmond, Va., located on one of the principal streets, with a full line of the output of the concern, and in charge of a resident manager to look after instructions from the home office. The company is officered as follows : John H. McGowan, president ; Robert B. McGowan, vice-president ; John W. Neil, secretary and treasurer.

Among Mr. McGowan's recent inventions are the McGowan Patent Pump Valve Seat, which is universally recognized by experts as being the most perfect device for maintaining the capacity of pumps without increasing its speed, and also insures a longer life of valves used in connection with it ; Twin Lever Valve Gear, for use in connection with Duplex Steam Pumps, which dispenses with all pins and knuckle joints and the shafts operating on a common center, governs the stroke of pistons uniformly ; McGowan's Artesian Air Jets, for elevating water from tube wells, mines, and other excavations by means of compressed air, and it having a surface adjustment gives it precedence over other devices in this class ; his patent covers two distinct devices for the purpose, each adapted to special conditions of water supply ; The McGowan Noiseless Back Pressure and Condensing Valves, which have no metallic straps, and is provided with piston valves having graduated ports to regulate the escape of steam ; Improved Sand Screen for use in deep wells ; number of patents covering the regulation of pumping appliances by means of elec-

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY. - 321

tricity, together with an automatic pump governor and pressure relief valve. The first patent was issued in 1854, and he has added a number each year since.

Pumps, Tobacco Machinery, etc.-The Laidlaw-Dunn-Gordon Company is also one of the most widely known in the manufacturing line. They manufacture pinups. tobacco machinery, iron pipes and fittings, and deal largely in railroad and general mill and factory supplies. Among their notable manufactures is the Cincinnati Standard Duplex steam pinup. which is of great capacity and substantially built; and, all the parts being interchangeable, a broken piece can be quickly removed and duplicated. The firm of Laidlaw & Dunn was formed in 1887. Cope & ;Maxwell removed to Hamilton from Cincinnati many years ago, and the company became Gordon & Maxwell, and after some years Mr. Maxwell retired, when the company became the Gordon Steam Pump Company, with the largest water works plant in the \Vest. Recently the Gordon Steam Pump Company's business was consolidated with the Laidlaw-Dunn, under the title as given above. They employ about 400 hands in their factory at Hamilton. Their products are shipped to Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and Canada. The officers of the company are: Robert Laidlaw, president ; Walter Laidlaw, vice-president and general manager, and J. W. Dunn, secretary and treasurer. The main office of the company is in Cincinnati.

Manufacture of Furniture,-In the manufacture of furniture, Cincinnati was "only allowed," to use the language of Mr. Shaw. of the Board of Trade, sixty establishments in the census report of 1890, with an invested capital of $4,376,278, and a product of $4,055,924. The capital includes real estate, machinery, etc. The fact is, that all told, there were, in 1800, 134 household furniture establishments, exclusive of other cabinet lines, with an invested capital of $5,213,850, and a product of $7,3-9.000. The number of hands employed was 3,213, instead of 2,082 "allowed." The business has been greatly increased since 1890, both in the number of hands employed, and in the value of the output.

Cincinnati, at an early day, led all other cities of the West-that is for purposes of general trade. Before any other city, east or west, essayed to supply more than local demands, site was making and shipping furniture by large quantities down the Ohio and Mississippi to supply the demand of the South and West. She was thugs early the only considerable manufacturing city of the West, and to-day she is the: leading producer of high household furniture.' Not only was furniture first, manufactured here to supply distant demands, but in comparatively recent times bank and bar fixtures were first made for general trade. In this department of cabinet product she excels every other city of the Union in both quality and quantity. In common with high grade and specially designed household furniture, her hank and bar fixtures go to every quarter of the continent between the Atlantic and Pacific, where solid, highly artistic and finished work is required. Other branches of cabinet product, represented by numbers of large firms, are picture frames and mouldings, and wood mantels, in the manufacture of which she is also a leading city. And her combined cabinet product exceeds in quantity and excels in grade that of any other city. Her bar and bank fixtures are for the most parts works of high art, and are among the evidences that art as applied to manufactured product, has here its highest development. This speaks volumes in praise of her mechanics and artizans.

It is a fact that Cincinnati is the greatest market on the continent for cabinet and other hard woods, and poplar, for which other cities are largely dependent upon her. The receipts of lumber for the year ending August, 1892, were 39,500 car loads. The product of her own mills is immense, and from all the eastern tributaries of the Ohio, poplar is rafted to her levees. Those woods, of which as a market and for purposes of manufacture, she has practically a monopoly, and of which that monopoly will become more exclusive as the years roll by, are cherry, hickory, walnut, yells w pine and poplar, while no city has a better or cheaper supply of ash, elias, maple,

322 - HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

gum, oak and sycamore. It is among the remarkable facts, illustrating the exceptional advantages of the city in the way of manufacturing resources, that the only territory on the continent producing first-class, second growth hickory, is immediately tributary to Cincinnati. It grows in Southern Indiana and Ohio, and to the southward in the Cumberlands and their foot hills. Cincinnati, therefore, has immediately and exclusively tributary to her, the only practically inexhaustible supply of cabinet, carriage and other woods east of the Rocky Mountains. These three commodities, coal, iron and wood, are alone a sufficient foundation for well nigh unlimited industrial development.'

Ivory Soap.-The Procter & Gamble Company, manufacturers of the celebrated Ivory soap, deserve more than a passing notice for the great energy they have displayed, and the beautiful village they have built up. The plant, now grown into such enormous proportions, was founded as early as 1837. At first only soap was manufactured, but candles was soon afterward added, together with glycerine, oils and other residuary products from the stock used. As the business gradually developed it soon became apparent that more enlarged quarters for manufacturing purposes were required. In 1885, therefore, the firm determined to build new works in a suburb where there was abundant room and railroad facilities for shipping their products, and where the whole plant could be designed and so laid out as to meet future as well as present wants. A spot seven miles west of the city, situated on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton; Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern, and Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis railroads, was selected and named Ivorydale, after the famous brand of soap. The grounds were properly laid out, and the foundations not only laid for an immense manufactory, but a beautiful village besides. The surroundings are picturesque; there are lawns, flowers and shrubbery in abundance to please the eye and regale the senses; many of the dwellings are stately and graceful, and convey an impression of good cheer and comfort not only to the visitor, but practically to those whose good fortune it may be to occupy them. The manufactory is a mammoth concern. Marvelous and costly machinery of new design and novel construction fill the buildings. There are storage tanks for material of three millions of pounds capacity; systems of powerful steam and hydraulic engines; monster kettles, each of one hundred tons capacity; crutching machines, as they are termed, for stirring or mixing one-thousand-pound lots; copper stills and cloth and charcoal filters and condensers in endless variety; batteries of twelve Galloway boilers, and six special high-pressure batteries of boilers, and water storage tanks of 530,000 gallons capacity. Over a million gallons of filtered water is used daily. There are miles of tunnels and underground steam, water and other pipes; an immense elevated 85-foot stand-pipe, ten feet in diameter; reservoirs, some of the capacity of four million gallons; dozens of great and small pumping engines; nine 6,000-pound hydraulic elevators, and artesian wells 1,635 feet deep. Locomotives and tracks belonging to the company run from building to building, with sidings from all roads passing through the town, on which 150 freight cars can stand, and there is a system of automatic carriers for everything. An electric plant supplies the buildings and yards with incandescent lights, and there is a system of drainage which is perfection itself; there are coal bins for countless tons of coal; resin sheds and sheds for oil barrels, lye, lime, etc., machine shop, cooper shop, millwright shop, paint shop, carpenter shop, perfumery shop, blacksmith shop, tub makers' shop and other shops without number, and a box factory, where six million feet of lumber is consumed annually, and where there are employed all kinds of machines required in the manufacture of boxes. There are fire engines as well as every other appliance requisite for the quick extinguishment of fire, a corps of regularly drilled firemen, and a bucket brigade. Telephone wires from the main office communicate with every building on the grounds. The factory covers sixty-five acres. A greenhouse, heated by steam, to supply plants and flowers for lawn decoration, is kept up in winter time;

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY - 323

and over all these numerous buildings towers a smokestack 230 feet high, ten feet internal diameter at the top, with a concrete base 42 feet square, and deeply planted in the ground. This immense stack or chimney contains 200,000 bricks, and cost $12,000. The entire plant represents a cost of over three million dollars, and hundreds of skilled workmen are employed. A cake of Ivory soap can be purchased anywhere for five cents. Such, in brief, is an outline of Ivorydale, the largest manufacturing plant not only adjacent to Cincinnati, but in the world. Soap goes hand in hand with civilization, and in proportion to its uses are the refining influences of the latter increased.

This vast establishment has been conducted on the profit-sharing plan since 1887. The sales of soap, etc., bring in an annual revenue of about ten millions of dollars. The company is officered as follows: President, William A. Procter; vice-president, James N. Gamble; second vice-president, H. T. Procter; general manager, William Cooper Procter; secretary and treasurer, D. B. Gamble; manager sales department, H. L. French; assistant manager, H. W. Brown; cashier, J. H. French; assistant superintendent, J. W. Donnelly.

Wheeled Vehicles.-Another notable fact should not be omitted in this connection. It was in Cincinnati that the manufacture of vehicles was first systematized and produced at a cost that puts them within the reach of the masses. To-day her yearly output of vehicles is about one hundred and fifty thousand in number, representing a value of about ten million two hundred and sixty thousand dollars, exceeding both in quantity and value that of any four cities in this country. From the cruder product of twenty years ago, the trade buggy has risen to a high grade, so that nowhere in the world can as good and cheap a vehicle be bought for the money as in Cincinnati.

A committee at the recent Carriage Makers' Convention reported eighty shops. There are now eighty-six, and the annual output is about 150,000 vehicles. These, estimated at an average of $75 each, would give a total of $11,250,000. Mr. Lowe Emerson, president of the Emerson & Fisher Company, claims that the city stands to-day as the great carriage mart of the world. The census returns show that out of the 300,502 vehicles built during the year, Cincinnati produced 115,672. G. H. Burrows, president of the Standard Carriage Company, and the Davis Carriage Company, and connected with other concerns, says: "At the convention of October, 1891 [over which he presided], a committee fixed the output at 115,672-value of product $8,669,613, but I think the committee's work was incomplete; 150,000 carriages would be more correct."

Manufacture of Harness.-Where there are so many vehicles there must be harness. This business. therefore, is one of the leading productive industries of the city. There are some eighty factories, and their yearly output reaches about three million five hundred thousand dollars. There are firms that turn out as many as from 20,000 to 52,000 sets of harness, from 10,000 to 30,000 riding saddles, and from 100,000 to 180,000 horse collars yearly. Some of the factories are mammoth in proportions, and their facilities are great. The firm of Graf, Morsbach & Company turns out annually from 25,000 to 30,000 riding saddles, 40,000 sets of harness, and from 15,000 to 20,000 dozens of collars.

THE BREWING INDUSTRY.

Cincinnati is one of the great brewing centers of the continent. Its peculiarly eligible location makes it possible to successfully meet the competition of other brewing centers, and as a distributing point it is unexcelled. To Mr. Shaw, of the Board of Trade, and industrial articles published in the Commercial Gazette, we are indebted for a vast array of " facts and figures " relating to this colossal industry, the material portions of which are condensed and given herewith. The thirty-two breweries in and about Cincinnati pay the United States revenue department for

324 - HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

stamps yearly nearly a million and a half of dollars. The local brewers are thoroughly up to date in all the improvements in the line of their business, and as a result. their products find a market not. alone in every State of the Union, but in Canada, Mexico, South America, China, Japan and far away Australia. The export beer of Cincinnati has achieved a high-class reputation all over the world, and has made serious inroads into the export trade of Germany.

The Cincinnati brewers fear no competition, because the excellence and fame of their brows create a demand for them even in cities whose brewers have a greater aggregate capital invested. The trade has increased steadily, and all plants been enlarged and improved to meet the demand. There is not a brewery in this city and vicinity to-day whose plant is adequate to the demand for its product. Twenty years ago the aggregate output of the breweries here scarcely amounted to a half million barrels. In 1891A02 the aggregate output was 1,350,865 barrels, which record will this year be greatly increased. In 1872-73 the shipments of beer front Cincinnati breweries aggregated only 123,625 barrels; in 1891- 92,600,000 barrels were shipped. This shows the enormous growth of the brewing industry of Cincinnati, a growth which is being maintained despite the competition from all sides.

The local consumption of beer and ale is big enough to consume the product of many breweries, being last year some 815,000 barrels, representing 22,265,000 gallons, or an average of fifty gallons per capita for a population of 500,000. The amount paid by local consumers was approximately $10,000,000, or $20 per capita. The consumption of malt was about 2,200,000 bushels, and of hops 1,525, 000 pounds. The breweries of Cincinnati employ a vast number of men. Wages are good, from that of the brewmaster at from $15,000 a year to $7,500, down to the common laborer, who gets $1.50 a day and all the beer he can drink. This industry of the city is one of its most progressive and valuable. Its wage rolls are immense, and this money finds its way into the various channels of trade. To notice all the brewing industries in detail would be impossible in the scope of this chapter, but a few of the firms will be described in brief for the purpose of showing more clearly the magnitude of the business.

The Windisch-Muhlhauser Brewing Company was incorporated in 1881, with a capital stock of $100,000 paid in. Before this the firm was known as C. Windisch lace biographical sketch. Muhlhauser & Bros., the original business haying been established in 18117. The success these gentlemen have met, with is astonishing but, nevertheless, deserving. Strict attention to business, and the placing on the market of beer of the very best quality, soon gained for the firm an enviable reputation.

The Windisch and Muhlhauser boys are well known over the entire country and State. Being young men, always ready to help a friend in distress, it did not take long to build up for them a lucrative trade. To-day the brewery is one of the largest in the country, manufacturing no less than live brands of beer: The Lager, the Pilsener, the Standard, the Lion Brew and the Lion Export. the latter being bottled beer only.

The brewery, the product of which is shipped into ten different States, is situated on Liberty, Wade and Fifteenth streets, having a frontage of 1,100 feet on both sides of the canal. In the first year 20,000 barrels were brewed, in 1868, 30,000 barrels, in 1880. 100,000 barrels, and in 1892, 175,000 barrels.

Gottlieb Muhlhauser is president of the company; Henry Muhlhauser, vicepresident; Henry Muhlhauser, Jr., treasurer; Charles F. Windisch, secretary; William A. Windisch, assistant secretary, and Edward Muhlhauser, brewmaster.

The Herman. Lackman. Brewing Company.-No property is more familiar to the student of Cincinnati's prosperity and of the factors thereof than that of the Hero man Lackman Brewing Company. With a frontage on Sixth street, extending from No. 503, corner Stone street, 300 feet, to No. 525, it runs back 200 feet to Carlisle avenue, and on the latter rises a monument, indeed, to the founder of the business,

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY - 325

a model mill-house, brew-house, engine and boiler-house, whose cap-stone was laid three years after the founder's death [see biographical sketch], and just that long after he had superintended the building of the foundations. In this building, except one small house, there is not an inch of wood. Stone, iron. steel and brass are its components. It is fireproof, and enduring, like the memory of the good man who planned it, whose four sons carried out his designs.

One of them, Edward H. Lackman, has since followed his father to his long rest. He was the youngest son, an athlete and an enthusiast, like his brothers, in physical sports, but died early-not, however, before he had contributed his portion of loving labor to the enterprise with which the family name is identified.

In the new building all modern methods of brewing are perfected. The company does its own milling. Its malt is made from the cream of the barley market. No steam arises from the brow kettle. The great engines move without noise or smoke. The vast ice machines are silently at work. Everything is as neat as the parlor of a painstaking house-wife, from floor to ceiling. Stone floors are clean and ceilings shine. Brasses are burnished and steel glitters.

The father of the Lackman boys believed in beer as an agent of good-as a promoter of temperance. He held, however, that to accomplish this good it must be pure-made of the pure malt of barley and hops alone. His principles became known and became part of his capital. In 1855, as one of the firm of Landman & Lackman, he leased the Schneider Brewery. At this site he remained until 1860, when the present location was chosen for enlargement of capacity, by Landman Lackman. In 1868 the title became Herman Lackman, and in 1890 the present company, with $600,000 capital stock, was incorporated.

In 1855 the sales were 2,000 barrels, in 1870, 10,000 barrels, in 1880, 30,000 barrels, in 1890, 45,000 barrels, and in 1893, with the increased facilities described, the output was 60,000 barrels, or 240,000 kegs-the results of the merits of the goods alone and as rapid an increase as the company desire, being what is considered legitimate or about ten per cent. increase per annum. The founder's methods and principle of business have been religiously followed. There has been nothing but pure barley malted at the brewery, and hops used-all, with commendable patriotism, purchased in the United States. Well water from five wells nn the premises is used in the process of manufacture. With no rice, no corn-in fact, no substitutes or adulterations whatever, the goods have marketed themselves. The consequences have been no drummers, no spending account, no chattel mortgages from the retail dealers or leases carried for them. And all this purity of method the government records will show. The model character of the brewery plant is carried into the discipline and administration of the business. No immoderate use even of the pure product of the brewery is permitted, and though it is not measured to the men, all seem to understand the rule, and the example of the officers-abuse of privilege means "quit." The "tone" of the establishment is throughout good.

J. H. Landman, having retired from the business in 1868, died in 1872, with the respect of all who knew him. Herman Lackman conducted the business alone, and, as said, became the real founder of the present company. His first brewery work was with Foss & Schneider, where his wonderful energy and strength, backed by giant-like stature and unfailing good nature, made itself felt, and, as shown, he was soon a proprietor himself. He became prominent in city affairs, and served with honor in the school board, as president of the German Orphan's Asylum, as president of the Third German Reformed Church, as trustee of the Bodmann's Widows' Home, director of the Sun Mutual Insurance Company, major in the militia, and president of the Cincinnati Brewers' Association-which position his son Albert now so worthily fills. Open-hearted and charitable, thoroughly believing that his life work was one of real practical temperance reform. His death, just as he was beginning extensive improvements to his business, was a public bereavement. He left four sons to take up is work where he left it off, one of them since deceased, as mentioned.

326 - HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Albert Lackman, president of the company, and also of the Brewers' Association; of Cincinnati, Covington and Newport (which has a membership of twenty-six without the Aurora, and an output in 1893 of about a million and a half of barrels), was born in this city in 1855, and is therefore just as old as the brewery business of which he is the head. Tall and commanding in stature, he does not run to adipose, perhaps because beer does not agree with him, and he has preferred other stimulants in moderation for the last fifteen years. He is one of the few of the big brewers who are frequently on Change, and takes a keen interest in public affairs. After a business education he entered the iron architectural iron works of M. Clements, and in the office of that concern received a sound financial education. In 1884 he joined his father in business, and has since been there a controlling influence. He is a man of affairs, being a director of the Atlas National Bank, and has served in the town^, council of Glendale, where he makes his home, and active in other enterprises than that which commands his immediate attention.

The Moerlein Brewing Company.-The Cincinnati brewery covering the largest area of ground is owned and operated by the Christian Moerlein Brewing Company. The office of the company is situated on Elm street, while right opposite is the immense plant where the beer is manufactured.

The success of the firm is due to the indefatigable efforts of Christian Moerlein, who was born in Germany in 1818. Believing that he could better his condition in this country he crossed the ocean, landing in Ohio in 1841, with very little money. A year later he became a resident of the Queen City. He established a blacksmith. shop on the west side of Elm street, near McMicken avenue, and upon the ground, where many a hard stroke was made, is the malt-house of the well-known brewery. Fortune smiled upon him. In a few years he had established a large and lucrative business, and in 1853 he concluded to go into the business at which he has accumulated such a deserving fortune.

Very few people then thought that Mr. Moerlein, who was brewing about three barrels a day, would at this time be at the head of one of the biggest breweries in the country. It required hard work to accomplish the object in view. He was a business man in every sense of the word. Being a man of good judgment, and farseeing, he took advantage of every opportunity that afforded itself, and it was not long before he had acquired the reputation of being one of the shrewdest men in his line of business. He is often sought after for advice, and is always ready and willing to lend a helping hand. He is charitably inclined, but never cares to tell of his many kindly acts.

Mr. Moerlein's first partner [see biographical sketch] was Mr. Dillman. At his death, in 1854, Mr. Windisch became associated with him, and remained a member of the firm until 1866, when his interests were purchased by Mr. Moerlein.

In 1881 the Christian Moerlein Brewing Company was formed with a capital stock of $1,000,000 paid in. In 1853 common beer was brewed; in 1856 lager beer was introduced, and in 1864 common beer was discontinued. The output in 1853 was 1,000 barrels; in 1860, 20,000 barrels; in 1870, 60.000 barrels; in 1880, 100,000 barrels, and the steady increase since has placed this brewery as the largest one in the State of Ohio, and one of the largest in the United States. During all these years of competition, and during the panics of 1857 and 1873, the reputation of this house, as far as the finances are concerned, was never questioned. It is now on as solid a basis as it ever has been.

When first reorganized under the articles of incorporation, in 1881, the officers were as follows: Christian Moerlein, president; George Moerlein, vice-president,^;John Goetz, Jr., secretary; Jacob Moerlein, treasurer; John Moerlein, general superintendent. After the death of George Moerlein, August 31, 1891, the following officers were elected September 15, 1891: Christian Moerlein, president; John Moerlein, first vice-president and general manager; John Goetz, Jr., second vice-president; Jacob Moerlein, treasurer; William Moerlein, secretary.

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY. - 327

They are all well known as efficient officers and business men. The capacity of their immense establishment is 500,000 barrels a year. The machinery is of the modern pattern. In the last twelve years a great many changes have been made in the way of erecting buildings and cellars, and the second largest refrigerating machine plant in the United States can be seen here.

In a recent interview with a representative of the Commercial Gazette, on the subject of beer and its manufacture, Mr. Moerlein said: "I believe Cincinnati, through producing lager beer is destined to play a still more important part as a temperance factor. Why," said the gentleman, with great emphasis, "hero are 23 lager beer breweries, and the output for the fiscal year ending May 1, 1891, is 1,254,848, the increase over that of 1890 baying been 1311,795 barrels. By these figures Cincinnati ranks seventh in the United States as a beer-brewing center. The population of Cincinnati is 296,309. Baltimore numbers in inhabitants 433,547, and brews 540,951 barrels ; Boston has a population of 448,477, and its output is 865,416 barrels. San Francisco numbers 297,990 inhabitants, and has an output of 509,234 barrels. Chicago with a population of 1,099,576, brews 2,034,696 barrels. New York City, with 1,513,501 inhabitants, has an output of 4,488,314 barrels; Philadelphia, whose inhabitants number 1,044,891, manufactures 1,705,915 barrels. All these figures are favorable to Cincinnati as a brewing center. Why," ejaculated Mr. Moerlein, "look at New York, with a population of more than five times that of Cincinnati, and having more Germans in it than any other city in the world, save Berlin and Vienna, brewing but 3 3/4 barrels more than the Queen City."

The Fuss-Schneider Brewing Company is one of the oldest enterprises in its line in Cincinnati, having been started in 1849, on Augusta street, between John and Smith, and removed to the present site in 1863. Since then there have been four firm titles, namely: The Louis Schneider Brewing Company, Foss, Schneider & Brenner, Foss & Schneider, and the present one, the Foss-Schneider Brewing Company, which was taken in 1884, when the company was incorporated with a capital stock of $600,000, all of which has been paid up. The growth of the business has been sure and steady.

The plant is located on Freeman avenue, and is about 250 feet square with a frontage of 250 feet. The structure is an imposing one, and never fails to arrest the attention of the passer-by. The front is of pressed brick, trimmed with decorations of cut stone and terra cotta. Three hundred and fifty barrels per day is about the average production, though no lees than 40,000 barrels can always be found on the premises in various stages. The bottling department was added to the brewery in 1879, and the building is located on Fillmore street, or just north of the main building, and has proved a complete success, since the innovation was started.

In 1883 the output was but 5,000 barrels a year. In 1870, 20,000 barrels were manufactured ; in 1880 this had increased to 40,000, and in 1890 it had reached 80,000. Since then the increase in the output bas been remarkable, and it is now estimated to be no less than 130, 000 barrels per year. Since the reorganization in 1884 all the latest and most modern devices that ingenuity could construct have been placed in the brewery, and to-day it stands forth second to none in the country. Of the five directors of the concern, John H. Foss is president, A. Foss, vice-president, and P. W. Schneider, secretary and treasurer.

The Gerke Brewing Company.-This company is also one of the oldest in the State. It has been in operation now for nearly forty years, during which it has been well and favorably known to the residents of the Queen City. The very excellent brands of beer that it produces are due in no small degree to the substantial management which has existed since the plant was first erected in 1854. The Gerke Brewing Company is located at the corner of Plum and South Canal, and when first erected was thought to be on the outskirts of the city. Great changes have, however, taken place in this locality since the brewery was erected, and it is now in the very heart of the city.

328 - HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

The annual capacity of the plant is in the neighborhood of 140,000 barrels, and :5.000 barrels can always be found on the premises. Since the structure was built many important changes have been made. The cellar capacity has been increased, and Arctic ice machines have replaced the older process of cooling beer. These various improvements have cost considerable money, but the benefit derived has repaid the extra outlay. In 1890 the vacuum process was added, and in the fall of the same year the bottling department was also started, which to the present (lay has proven a complete success.

The first title of the firm was Schaller & Schiff; the second Schaller R Gerke, and the third the Gerke Brewing Company, which was adopted in 1881, when a corporation was formed with $600,000 capital. Joseph Schaller, John Schiff and John Gerke [see biographical sketch] died in 1888, 1878 and 1876, respectively.

The following figures showing the sure and steady growth of the concerti are interesting: In 1800 the output was but 3,000 barrels a year: in 1870 it was 15,000; in 1880, 40.000; in 1890, 80,000; and last year's report showed that the figures had jumped to 140,000. The present officers of the firm are: Robert M. Kuerze, president; E. Kuerze, vice-president; J. Herman Grueter, secretary and treasurer; directors, Jacob Dorse, Jacob Walter, J. G. Closterman, and attorney Louis Kramer.

The John Hauck Brewing Company.-This great company was incorporated in 1870. Previous to that, for fifteen years, it was known as the Hauck & Windisch Brewery. John Hauck, the founder and president of the business which bears his name, was born in Rhenish Bavaria. Germany, in 1826, coming to this country at an early age. Shortly after his arrival he secured employment in the brewery with his uncle, Mr. Herancourt. There he learned the rudiments of the brewing business. A few years after this he made a trip to Europe, sojourning there for over two years, and when next he came to America he landed at Philadelphia, obtaining employment there with his father-in-law, Mr. Billiod, as a foreman in the brewery.

With thrift and assiduity he soon accumulated a small fortune. With this be made his first venture in 1864, forming a partnership with Mr. Windisch. This partnership lasted until 1879. Mr. Hauck bought his former partner's share, and has since continued the business under his name.

The present vast establishment at the corner of Central avenue and Dayton street, covering nearly five acres, occupies the site of the original plant, which covered only about one and a half acres. The site of the old Protestant graveyard is also now occupied by the brewery. In 1882 a stock company was formed, with a capital of $1,000,000. The brewery has a capacity of 300,000 barrels per annum, which will compare favorably with the most extensive plants of this kind. It is supplied with two 150-ton ice machines, which are, perhaps, the second largest in the country. At, this time the following officers, who still retain their offices, were elected: John Hauck, president; Lewis J. Hauck, vice-president; F. J. Werner, secretary and treasurer. John Hauck has figured very little in political life. He is president of the Western German National Bank of this city, which position he has been holding for several years.

The Jung Brewing Company.-To this company belongs the distinction of turning out a grade of beer not excelled anywhere in the United States. Since 1885 the business has almost doubled, and between 1891 and 1892 the increase in sales was 12,000 barrels.

The plant, which is located on Freeman street, has a frontage of 200 feet by 290 deep. The structure is one of the most imposing along the avenue, and never fails to arrest the attention of passers-by and visitors to the Queen City. Important additions have been made from time to time, one building erected in 1890 costing $75,000. Everything in and about the place is modern, newest ideas have been adopted, and not a single improvement or invention in any way applicable to the requirements of the building has been left untested. The old methods of cooling

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY. - 329

beer by ice have given way to three handsome sixty-ton ice machines, The capacity of the plant, is about 175,000 barrels a year. Three hundred barrels a day are the average production. The bottling department, which is situated in the rear of the building, was an important addition, made in 1887. It has proved an indispensable adjunct to the brewery.

Since the plant was started in 1862 there have been three titles to the brewery Weyand & Jung, Weyand, Jung & Hell man and the present title, the Jung Brewing Company, which was taken in 1885, when the plant was incorporated with a capital stock of 500,000, which has since been increased to $1,000,000, all of which has been paid up. Peter Weyand and Daniel Jung are dead. They were estimable citizens, who always had the interests of the Queen City at heart, and the regret at their death was universal. The concern is to-day managed by a board of directors, of which M. Butz is president, and Alvin Carl vice-president and general manager.

John Kauffman Brewing Company.-This company was incorporated under its present title in 18`2, with a paid-in capital stock of $700,000. John Kauffman, the founder is a native of Lorraine, France, where he was born February 10, 1830, He carne to this city when not yet fifteen years of age, and immediately obtained employment, with his uncle. John Kauffman, who owned the Ohio Brewery at that time. By close application to business, and with economical management, ho had amassed a fortune in a few years. When his uncle died in 1856, young John bought the Ohio Brewery, and remodeled it to suit the growing demands. Soon after this transaction he married, becoming the son-in-law of G. T. Eichenlaub, on Walnut Hills. In 1858 Mr. Kauffman, together with G. T. Eichenlaub and Rudolph Rheinboldt, purchased the Deer Creek Brewery. This firm in 1859 built the establishment situated on Vine street, where the business is still in successful operation.

Mr. Kauffman was three times a member of the board of city equalization. He was a member of the city council in 1859 and 1870. He was always an active worker for liberal revenue laws. He generally carried his point with that indomitable pertinacity for which he is truly remarkable. He soon retired from political life, as he found it required more of his time than be could afford to lend to it. Mr. Eichenlaub retired from the business in 1865, and Mr. Rheinboldt retired ten years later. Mr. Kauffman conducted the business from 1875 to 1882, at which latter period it was incorporated as The John Kauffman Brewing Company. The first year Mr. Kauffman began business the output was about one thousand barrels annually. To-day it reaches the enormous aggregate of seventy thousand barrels.

The company have a malt house with a capacity of 150,000 bushels, and their plant covers nearly five acres of ground. The business is conducted by M. A. Kauffman. president; M. L. Schmitt, vice-president and treasurer; Charles Rheinboldt, secretary: Charles J. Kauffman, superintendent; John R. Kauffman, brewmaster.

The Buckeye Brewing Company.-About, nine years ago Louis Hudepohl and George Kotte formed a partnership to engage in the brewery business, and established a plant on the site years ago occupied by the Koehler Brewery, Buckeye street, now called Clifton avenue. When they first went into business the building was a comparatively small one, but the sale of their beer increased so rapidly that in a few years they were compelled to erect a much larger one, and to-day it is the handsomest building in that vicinity. It is a pressed brick building, and has frontage of 240 feet and a depth of 120 feet. The capacity of the brewery is 100,000 barrels per year. In 1886 the output was 25,000 barrels; in 1890, 40,000 barrels, and during the last three years the sales have been increased to such an extent that to-day it, ranks as one of the largest breweries in the State,

Cincinnati's Oldest Brewery -The Herancourt Brewing Company is the oldest brewery in Cincinnati, having been established in 1840. The plant is located on Harrison avenue, near Brighton Station, having a frontage of 640 feet on Harrison avenue, and an average depth of 350 feet, comprising about six acres in all, and cov-

330 - HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Bring the original site. The business was originally carried on under the firm name of The G, M. Herancourt Brewery, but assumed its present title in 1881 on the incorporation of the company with a capital of $500,000. The output for the first year was 600 barrels; last year it exceeded 35,000. The executives at present are R. Lutterby, president and treasurer; Casimer Work, vice-president; Robert H. Herancourt, secretary; Louis A. Herancourt, superintendent, the remaining directors being B. Herancourt, F. Egner, M. Egner, John Hauck and M. Schwartz.

Germania Brewing Company.-This company, whose plant is on Central avenue, was established in 1885. The first year the output was 10,000 barrels ; in 1893 it reached 40,000. The company have supplied their brewery with the latest and best machinery that has yet been devised for the manufacture of beer, and a great demand has been the result of their liberality. The nucleus of the plant was first laid by John Wetterer in 1863, by the establishment of the Queen City Malt House, which be successfully carried on for twenty years, when be turned it into the present brewery. The firm consists of John Wetterer, president ; F. J. Wetterer, secretary and treasurer, and Charles Wetterer, collector.

In 1873 Mr. Wetterer was elected a member of the city council from the Twenty-fourth Ward, which office he held two years, after which he retired from politics wholly. F. J. Wetterer was born in the same house as his father. He graduated with high honors from St. Xavier's College in 1879, and shortly thereafter entered his father's employ. It did not take him long to master all the details of the brewing business, and to-day he is considered one of the city's most expert maltsters. In 1885, when the brewery began its existence, be was elected to the position which he holds at present. Charles Wetterer graduated from St. Xavier's College in 1891, since which time he has been in his father's employ.

Schmidt Brothers Brewing Company. The firm of Schmidt Brothers was started in 1870, when they purchased of H. Frohmeyer the old Herancourt Brewery, on Denman street, for $1,500. Here they brewed the so-called common beer, which was at that time the most popular beer. In 1875 .Henry Schmidt withdrew from the firm, thus throwing all responsibilities on to Fred Schmidt, who continued with brilliant results. In April, 1875, Fred Schmidt associated himself with Henry Adam, and purchased the entire Bitch Brewery on McMicken avenue. In the fall of the same year Mr. Adam disposed of his share in the concern to Louis Prell, and the firm was changed to Schmidt & Prell, until 1876, when Prell died, and his interest was purchased by Fred Schmidt. In October, one month after the decease of Prell, Fred took his brother, Henry, with him as partner, running under the name of Schmidt & Brother until April 1, 1891, when the present stock company was formed under the name of the Schmidt Brothers Brewing Company.

Fred Schmidt was chosen by his associates as president, which office he has held until the present day, serving with utmost integrity and ability. Fred Schmidt purchased all the shares of his brothers in August, 1891, and is running the business with himself at the bead of it with great success. Mr. Schmidt is at present one of the best-known German citizens in Cincinnati, being a member of most all leading German societies, and a liberal contributor to all just causes which may bring about good results, either to the public at large or the city. The Schmidt Brothers Brewing Company, of which Fred Schmidt is president and manager, Aug. Forn, vice-president, and Jacob Frey, secretary and treasurer, is one of the most prominent in Cincinnati, having all the latest devices and improvements, and, in fact, is a model plant in every respect, and the product (Crown beer) has reached a reputation second to none in the city.

The Banner Brewing Company.-Although founded in 1885, this company has built up a reputation second to none in Cincinnati for the excellence of its product. Its plant was built at a cost of half a million dollars, from designs by Frederick Wolf, architect, and has every modern facility for turning out a perfect beer--as.

HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY. - 331

may be surmised from the fact that the output for the very first year was nearly twenty thousand barrels, from which rather large send-off there has been a steady and healthful increase year by year, until the brewery is up among the dozen leaders.

Henry Varwig is the president, Conrad Burckhauser, the vice-president, Alexis Darusmout. treasurer and secretary, the remaining directors being William Darusmont and J. N. Feurstein. These officers need no introduction in Cincinnati. Mr. Varwig became one of the original stockholders in 1885, and was elected president in 1888. He was already widely known to the brewing interests of the country, being the inventor, in 1870, of the self-ventilating beer-faucet, seen everywhere, and known as " Varwig's patent."

The Henry Adam's Brewery.-The Adam Brewery, Camp Washington, occupies about two acres of ground covered with malt, machinery and brew-houses. Henry Adam erected the present plant in 1881, and has so successfully coped with his more pretentious neighbors as to enable him to enlarge his business to almost double its original capacity. Last year a new brew and machine house were erected at a cost of about $75,000. The brewery turns out about fifteen thousand barrels a year, and supplies the majority of the malt for other brewers in the city, aggregating twenty thousand bushels a year. Mr. Adam and his son Fred manage the business themselves, with about twenty brew hands, washers, maltsters and drivers.

The J. Walker Brewing Company.-This plant is also one of the oldest in the city. It was established on the present site-Sycamore street, north of the canal in 1825, and has remained there to the present time. Improvements have been made each decade, until the capacity is now 60,000 barrels per year. The concern was incorporated May 1, 1885, with a capital of $200,000. J. Walker, the founder, died in 1860. That the present management have manifested great push and enterprise is shown by the rapid advance in sales each year, the output of 1885 having been 18,600 barrels, Conrad Schultz, the vice-president of the company, has had great experience in the business, is a representative man, and has served in the council and held other city offices. The superintendent and general manager, F. Bartels, has been connected with the brewing business from his youth, and has learned every part of it thoroughly,

The Backman Brewery,-The Cumminsville, or J. C. Bruekman Brewery, began its existence in 1865. The founder, Mr. Bruckman, was born in Thieringen. Germany, in 1829, and came to America in 1845. He secured a position with his brother, learned the brewing business, and after a few years formed a partnership with his brother, since which time the business bas been conducted under the present firm name.

J. C. Bruckman died in 1887, at the age of fifty-eight, After his estate was settled, about three years ago, a brother and sister, who had an interest in the business, retired, after which a partnership was formed, consisting of William M. Bruckman, Henry A. Bruckman, and Henry Dreman. The first year the brewery was in operation the output was 1,200 barrels; to-day it is 25,000 barrels. There are 17 2/3 acres of ground belonging to the J. C, Bruckman Brewery plant, and its equipment is first-class in every respect.

The Becker Brewing Company. -This is the youngest brewing company in the city, having been established in March, 1892. The Adam Schultz Company plant was purchased at that time, and the present firm, of which Casper Becker is the head, founded. The success of the firm has been remarkable on account of the superior article of beer manufactured. Valentine Becker, son of the head of the firm, is bookkeeper, and Conrad Werner brewmaster.

There are several other breweries contiguous to the city, but they are located outside the limits of Hamilton county, and therefore do not come within the scope of this chapter. Covington, Newport, and other Kentucky towns, have a number also. The foregoing, however, will give the reader a clear idea of the magnitude of the beer industry of Cincinnati and the millions of dollars invested in its manufacture.

332 - HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Manufacture of Barrels.--Where so many millions of barrels and kegs of beer are produced annually, this review would not be complete without some reference to the manufacture of these vessels to contain it. In the village of Riverside, just outside the city limits, is found the vast plant of the Cincinnati Cooperage Company. Its buildings and extensive yards adjoin that of the Fleischmann distillery, anal on the south is the broad sweep of the Ohio river and the Kentucky hills. It is a just claim made without boasting that the Cincinnati Cooperage Company is the largest concern of its kind in the world, as statistics will tell.

So great, is its business that it owns vast tracts of timber land in a dozen States, from which is derived the stave and heading supply. About one thousand men are kept constantly at work in the lumber camps getting out material ready for shipment to the Riverside factory. As the company uses none but thoroughly seasoned wood, an enormous stock is kept year by year in the yards. So enormous is it that at the present time fully fifteen million pieces of staves and headings are stacked up in the Riverside yards, Averaging the length of these pieces at thirty inches each, they would, if placed end to end, reach a distance of over six thousand miles, or a quarter of the earth's circumference.

The company owns its own barges and steamboat for the transportation of material from the timber districts, which are accessible by water, though a great deal of the wood supply comes by rail. There are eight stave and heading mills located in the various forest districts owned or operated by the Cincinnati Cooperage Company. At the Riverside shops five hundred men are employed, making a total of about fourteen hundred altogether who derive wages from this great company. The, full manufacturing capacity of the plant averages six thousand packages a day, an indication of the immense business done by the concern.

Brass and Copper Works.-Another great manufactory, a market for whose wares has been created by the beer industry, is the copper and brass works of F. C. Deckenbach Sons' Company. These works are the oldest as well as largest in this city engaged in this line of work for distilleries and breweries. Sixty men are employed. The firm is constantly increasing its facilities and introducing new machinery. Its specialty is the manufacture of brass and copper work for breweries. and nearly all the great breweries of Cincinnati have received their outfits from this establishment, as well as many others in adjoining States. But the product of the company is not alone confined to the city and a few adjoining States, but finds a market throughout the United States. The head of the firm admits that there are larger factories than in Cincinnati, but comparatively few, since it is claimed that there is more copper consumed here than in any other city on the continent.