168 



CITIES, AMERICAN. (MONTPELIER, MUNCIE, NEW OBLEAXS.) 



ing mills, brick-yards, carriage and wagon, 

 ice, candy, soap, fertilizer, cigar, paper-box, 

 vinegar, cracker, and sausage factories, a plant 

 for distilling alcohol from smoke, and an oil- 

 refinery. The Capitol building was erected in 

 1851, on a site reserved by the founder in 

 1817 for the anticipated purpose. The United 

 States Post-Office (which cost $130,000) and 

 city buildings are handsome. 



Montpclier, Indiana, 38 miles south of Fort 

 Wayne, on the main line of the Fort Wayne, 

 Cincinnati, and Louisville Railway; population 

 estimated at 1,000. The town is on an ele- 

 vated plateau, by the Salamonie river. Three 

 gas-well? are in operation, flowing millions of 

 cubic feet a day. The town is thoroughly 

 piped, and by means of pipe-lines could easily 

 furnish gas to many other towns and cities of 

 northern Indiana. Petroleum exists also in a 

 field 20 miles in length. A well within the cor- 

 porate limits flows 100 barrels in twenty-four 

 hours, with double capacity by pumping. Build- 

 ing-stone and limestone abound. There is a 

 large quarry, with latest improvements in staam 

 machinery, electric blasting, etc., where 25 cars 

 can be loaded daily. The timber-supply is 

 very large. Glass-sand of superior quality is 

 found in close proximity. The drainage is ex- 

 cellent, and the water-supply abundant. There 

 are 4 churches, a Citizens' Bank, with assets of 

 $297,000, two hotels, and good schools. A 

 large bending-works has been erected. Free 

 gas and free land are offered as inducements 

 to manufacturers. Rail connection with the 

 great trunk lines is made. 



Monde, a city of Indiana, the county-seat of 

 Delaware County, on an elevated plateau above 

 White river, east of the center of the State. 

 The population in 1880 was 5,263 ; in 1888 it 

 was estimated at 14,000. It is surrounded by 

 a thriving farming community. Natural gas 

 was discovered in 1886, and twenty wells are 

 in operation, averaging 915 feet in depth, with a 

 total capacity of 90,000,000 cubic feet in twenty- 

 four hours. The gas is of excellent quality, dry, 

 and free from sulphur. The Trenton rock, 

 which here reaches its highest point, with a 

 downward trend to east and west, is struck at 

 75 feet above sea-level, and is drilled to a 

 depth of 30 feet. Muncie has three competing 

 trunk lines of railroad, affording access to 

 markets in all directions. The electric lights, 

 in addition to gas, are of two systems. There 

 are 12 churches, 3 daily newspapers, a li- 

 brary, 4 banks (one of which is National), 4 

 brick school - buildings, valued at $100,000, 

 with a regular attendance of 1,300 pupils. 

 The water-works have a pumping capacity of 

 2,500,000 gallons a day. Water for manufact- 

 uring is supplied by the river and Buck creek, 

 and is offered free, as are gas and land, to in- 

 duce location. There are five miles of sewers, 

 telegraph and telephone facilities, and a paid 

 fire department, with electric alarm. Muncie 

 has a board of trade. Establishments located 

 or contracted for are: A bending-works; a 



jute-bagging factory, with capacity of 20,000 

 yards a day, employing 200 hands ; machine- 

 shops; a saw-mill; bridge and wood-carving 

 companies; a straw-pulp, a paper, 3 glass, and 

 a rubber works; skewer, duster, handle, wheel- 

 furnishing and heading factories; flour-mills; 

 elevators ; and minor industries. About 2,000 

 hands are employed. The court-house, recent- 

 ly completed, is a handsome structure, costing 

 $250,000. There is an opera-house and a free 

 mail-delivery. 



Xew Orleans, a city and port of entry of Lou- 

 isiana, on Mississippi river, 105 miles from its 

 mouth. During the winter there is an influx 

 of from 20,000 to 40,000 visitors. The popu- 

 lation in 1870 was 191,413, of whom 142,293 

 were whites ; in 1880, 21 6,090 (whites, 158,367); 

 in 1887, 246,950 (whites, 202,800). The debt 

 of the city, Sept. 1, 1888, was $17,491,546.58. 

 This amount does not include the Gaines judg- 

 ment, on appeal, for $1,925,667.82. New 

 Orleans is the largest cotton-receiving market 

 in America, and the largest in the world, with 

 the exception of Liverpool. But the percentage 

 of the total crop received has fallen behind, 

 owing to the large overland movement from 

 the interior. Its cotton exchange was estab- 

 lished in 1870. The receipts for the year 

 1887-'88 were 1,912,228 bales, averaging $46.25 

 a bale, out of a total crop of 6,928,245 bales. 

 The largest receipts were in 1861, viz., 2,255,448 

 bales. The largest since the war were in 

 1882-'83, viz., 1,999,598 bales. The exports for 

 the year 1887-'88 were 1,550,994 bales, valued 

 at $71,844,280. In 1880 there were nineteen 

 establishments for cotton-compressing. Prior 

 to 1880 there were but two through railroads. 

 At present there are six trunk lines, constructed 

 in consequence of the completion of the jetties 

 in Mississippi river in 1879, assuring deep 

 water and an ocean terminus at New Orleans. 

 The freight of these for the year ending Aug. 

 31, 1888, was 2,568,624,551 pounds forwarded, 

 and 2,992,532,335 pounds received. The ton- 

 nage of two canals for the year, of 5,978 ves- 

 sels, was 105,441 tons. There are numerous 

 canals for drainage. The height of ante-bellum 

 prosperity was reached by New Orleans in 

 1860. Only produce of the lower Mississippi 

 valley was exported. At present the tonnage 

 of the port is greater than ever, and the amount 

 of commerce is much larger. The character of 

 the imports and exports is completely changed. 

 The greatest advance of late years, and the 

 most promising field of the future, lies in coal 

 and iron from Southern districts in course of 

 development ; in lumber from Southern forests ; 

 in the wool and hide trade of Texas and Mexico ; 

 in various Mexican produce ; and in wool, 

 fruits, and other products of California and 

 the Pacific coast. The foreign imports include 

 tea, silk, Japan ware, kari gum, Alaskan furs, 

 whale-oil, spermaceti, walrus ivory, cochineal, 

 balsam, orchilla, rubber, jalap, sponges, mohair, 

 etc. The ocean traffic with New York has 

 been extended, and vast additions are made to 



