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Washington Post and News, Washington, IL, December 9, 1915:
A Prosperous Year for Washington’s Various Business Interests
The Washington Post and News this week prints its annual special edition. We take pride in showing some of the fine new residences which have been erected during the past year. Few cities in this broad land with much larger populations can make as good a showing. Washington is unquestionably a little city of fine homes and pleasant surroundings, with public improvements in keepink [sic]. In our last annual edition, we published the figures to show that in three years our city had expended $1,000,000 in new homes, buildings and public improvements. While the past two years has been a little slow in a financial way all over the country, still Washington has done remarkably well, and the onward wave of upbuilding and improvement has continued remarkably well.
It is the high class of residences which our city points to with pride which have been erected during the past few years. In large cities we see these expensive residences erected, but it is seldom that in the smaller cities they venture into the expensive kind which have been built in Washington. A residence costing $10,000 is now a common occurrence in our city and each year sees quite a number of this kind built. These more expensive residences are built of brick with hard wood finishings throughout and with all the most modern improvements.
Public Improvements.
While no extensive public improvements have been made this year still several of our streets have been improved with cement curbings and oiled roadway. We now have all our main streets paved. To the city limits in the four directions the streets are paved, besides the streets to the depots and where the traffic demands these kinds of streets. It is only necessary now to curb and oil the side streets to make fine and substantial improvements and allow -?- parkings along the streets -?-roved. It won’t be long -?- important side streets will be thus improved.
We have cement walks now practically all over the city. A number of long stretches of walks were completed this summer. This permitted the yards along these streets to be improved and quite a number have put in ornamental cement retaining walls.
Our water works system, owned by the city, is now in fine condition. We have two complete wells and pumping plants and are able to cope with any emergency. Our electric lighting and power system furnished by the big Central Illinois Light Company with their immense plant at Peoria furnishes us with splendid service and puts us right on a par with Peoria. It makes Washington an ideal little city for the location of manufacturing plants and there is no reason why in time we should not be able to get a lot of new factories.
The public roadways into Washington the past year have been improved with oiling and a good start made for more extensive work next year. The Washington Township Good roads Association has been organized and they propose to push the work all along the line this coming year. Our people demand good roads and we are going to have them. This in itself is bound to build up our city and make it a good trade center.
Our Manufactories.
Our different manufacturers have all done a flourishing business the past year. Each one is branching out and getting more business and the fame of their products is becoming known better and better. They people of Washington and vicinity should take pride in boosting the home products and doing all they can to use their products and get others to do so.
The Camp Bros. factory is every year getting to be a bigger business for old Washington and getting in better shape for business and soldier on its feet—in short learning better how.
Manager Nafziger says there is one thing he would like to lay emphasis on and that is that Washington and every friend of Washington helps them all they can and in every way they can—in short all pull together and that is what counts.
Mr. Nafziger says that no one man or concern knows it all and they do not pretend to know it all by any means, but Washington ought to help them all they can. The Camp does not expect to do all the business by any means, but the fact that they can go 500 miles from home and do more business than they can right here at home is not right.
All that the Camp asks is that any of the Washington people in the market for any of their kinds of goods come and see them and see what they have; then if they cannot sell them, let them go to Chicago or any other place. Is not this fair?
Any Washingtonian, it seems to us, ought to subscribe to this kind of doctrine and this is the kind of business that is going to build up Washington and increase our business.
Mr. Nafziger is right about this, is he not Mr. or Mrs. Washingtonian or everybody Washingtonian? We believe he is.
The Camp Company has done a great business the past year. The celebrated Camp dump is increasing its territory and getting farther abroad. The hydraulic Camp is the dump that fits every need of the farmer. It’s the pioneer that does the business and is honest all through. One Camp dump leads to another one and that is what does the business.
The Heider tractor had a big run with the Camp factory last year and will have a bigger [one] this year. It is the tractor for the farmers that does the plowing and does it deeper and cheaper, puts the silage in and runs all the power of the farm. It is farm economy and 1916 is going to see a great increased business for the Heider tractor.
And now comes the Camp with their new washing machine which is certainly a winner. You press the button and the washing is done. Mr. Nafziger was out at the state convention at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, last week and he says they were more than pleased with the rest of their line and is a winner.
Canning Factory.
The Dickinson & Co. canning factory had a very successful run this year and put up a splendid pack of peas and sweet corn. The pea crop was canned from 21o acres and made in round numbers 10,000 cases of 24 cans to the case of peas. The corn crop was from a planting of 1,500 acres, and the total number of cases packed was 125,000, making 3,000,000 cans. The company employed some 200 to 300 hands and they employ quite a force the year around. The Dickinson & Co. product is gaining fame each year and is now one of the standard and best corn and pea products on the market.
Flour and Feed Mill.
The Washington Mill and Elevator Co. has installed one of the most modern and up-to-date flouring mills on the market today, supplanting their old flour machinery which has been doing duty for a good many years. The new mills turn out both pastry and bread flour and the product is absolutely A No. 1 standard. The firm is just getting started nicely with their new machinery and the coming year will see them branching out and selling their flour to the trade in central Illinois. Messrs. Andrews & Roehm have built up a good business in all their departments and it has been growing nicely as it deserves to grow. Few cities the size of Washington are furnished such a splendid feeds of all kinds, doing custom grinding and furnishing a splendid market for the farmers of the community. The efforts of this firm should certainly be appreciated by the people of Washington.
Cement Works.
The Wm. Smith cement block works has done a thriving business the past year. Mr. Smith has a fine plant located in the central part of the city on the T., P. & W. railroad switch.
He handles all his cement, sand and gravel direct from the cars into his plant which enables him to furnish his product at a minimum of cost. Mr. Smith makes all kinds of cement blocks, slabs, pillars, etc., and his work is conceded to be the finest on the market.
Planing Mill.
The Wm. Rinkenberger planing mill and wood factory has had a successful year and is growing in the confidence of our people. Mr. Rinkenberger turns out a fine line of woodwork of all kinds in both hard and soft woods. He manufactures mouldings, doors, sash, etc., and makes a specialty of furnishing the interior finishings for residences of all kinds from the most costly to the modern priced kind. Mr. Rinkenberger employs a number of men in his business the year round.
Swing Factory.
L. E. Rudy, manufacturer of porch swings, is working up a nice little business which is growing each year. Mr. Rudy puts out a very fine comfortable swing which sells at a reasonable price. Mr. Rudy’s business should be encouraged by our people for in time it can be made to grow into a big business and furnish swings for sale in all parts of the country. It is often that small factories started in this way grow into big things. Mr. Rudy is honest and trustworthy and is entitled to succeed.
Stock Food Co.
The Dunnington Stock Food Co. manufactures a very high grade of stock food which is growing in favor each year. They also handle a line of remedies for stock and poultry which has stood the test of time and are as good as can be found anywhere on the market. Mr. Dunnington has spent his life in this line of work and is probably as well a posted man in preparing remedies as can be found anywhere in this country.
Cement Contractors.
Smith Bros., our well known cement contractors, have had a very successful season. They have been able to keep a good force of men at steady work during the whole season. They have put in some fine improvements in the way of permanent cement work, which is a lasting monument to their efficiency. They have also beautified the city by their artistic grading and terracing of many residence grounds. The Smith Bros. are good workmen and it is always satisfactory for them to do your work.
Auto Supply Co.
The Washington Auto Supply Co., Geo. Rinkenberger, manager, has done a successful year’s business. They are jobbers of all kinds of automobile supplies. They buy large quantities of goods in car load lots and sell at wholesale only to the trade. They employ a number of people in their business and have been growing nicely each year until the volume of their business the past year runs into pretty large figures.
Cigar Factory.
Fred Gehres, our well know cigar manufacturer, still continues to do a pretty good steady business in supplying the people of this vicinity with a high-grade class of 5 and 10 cent cigars. Mr. Gehres brought out a new brand recently which is also proving quite popular. Our people should take pleasure in boosting for the home-made cigars—and smoking them.
Plumbing and Heating.
Carl Minch reports a prosperous business the past year. He has had quite a number of bit heating and plumbing contracts for the fine new homes which have been erected and has also been kept pretty busy on his regular work. Mr. Minch employs a number of assistants. He is a consciencious [sic] workman and is getting to the front.
Contractor and Builder.
August Theilbar, the contractor and builder, has done his share in building new homes in Washington this year. He built a fine house for himself and one for Roehm and Goddard. The latter house has received many very favorable comments. He is now building a new home for E. Garber. Besides this Mr. Thielbar has done considerable work out of town as well as general repair work. He keeps quite a number of men employed most of the time. Everyone who has had work done by Mr. Thielbar speaks highly of his ability to do good work.
Telephone Company.
Washington can well be proud of its adequate telephone system. The Washington Home Telephone Co., owners of the local exchange, have been making some substantial improvements the past year and are fast getting the system in fine condition and it will compare favorably with any similar system in a city of this size. E. S. Sterrett, the general manager, is a most competent telephone man and looks after the wants of our exchange very closely. He is ably assisted by the local superintendent, John Atwater, and they also have an efficient corps of young ladies in the central office.
Daniel Chaffer (Independent) won a second term as Mayor, defeating Emmanuel Garber. The Independent ticket swept all races on the ticket that they were involved in.
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