RIVER RAISIN PAPER COMPANY

The River Raisin Paper Company was organized June 20, 1910, with a capital stock of $150,000, although at the present time about $300,000 is invested in the business. There are employed steadily, one hundred and twenty-five people and there is paid out, annually, $80,000 for labor. The business comprises the manufacture of fibre shipping cases, which are used for shipping merchandise of all kinds, either by freight or by express, largely taking the place of wooden shipping cases. On account of the high price of lumber, it became necessary to find some substitute, and the fibre shipping case seems to fit in here to good advantage; the demand for this product is far in excess of what was anticipated. The market is practically unlimited. These cases are shipped all over the United States and Canada.

The material used in making these cases is largely paper stock that is gathered up in the various cities all over the country, although the outside lining, which necessarily must be of tougher material is imported from Sweden.

The officers and directors are as follows: president, Mr. D. C. Jenkins, Kokomo, Indiana; vice president, treasurer and general manager, G. II. Wood, Monroe; secretary, A. W. Stitt, Monroe; directors, F. P. Walter, Monroe and J. Frank Gray, Chicago, Ill.

The plant occupies a floor space of 125,000 square feet.

The mill is located on the site of the historic River Raisin battle ground, where the bloody engagement was fought between the British and Indians, and the Kentucky troops, who had come to the rescue of the imperiled settlers and where the frightful massacre occurred, in January, 1813.

In the course of excavating for foundations and cellars for the mill, a large quantity of relics were exhumed, consisting of well preserved skeletons, tomahawks, hunting knives, military buttons, articles of pottery, rosaries and a few coins, also a few cannon balls six pound calibre. One of the skeletons evidently was that of an Indian chief of very large proportions with whom were buried his implements of war. The collection of relics has been carefully preserved by the mill proprietors and is exhibited to visitors.

THE ELKHART MANUFACTURING COMPANY

This is one of the new manufacturing plants added to the industries of Monroe during the year 1912. It was formerly located at Elkhart, Indiana, where they were engaged in the manufacture of alternating current magnetos for stationary and marine gas engines. They removed to Monroe and reorganized the company November 1, 1911, the stock $60,000 being largely subscribed here; the following comprise the officers of the company: H. S. Hubbard, president; E. C. Rauch, vice. president; E. L. Kerstetter, secretary and manager; B. Freidinburg, treasurer; F. P. Becker, general superintendent; Walter Brown, sales manager. The present output of the factory is about 100 machines daily with a capacity of 250. Since the establishment of the company in Monroe, the capital stock has been increased seventy-five per cent, to $110,000, all being subscribed for by present stockholders. Their output is sold to manufacturers of gas and gasoline engines furnishing a better machine for much less money than their competitors are doing.

THE MONROE GLASS COMPANY

has been among the active enterprises of Monroe for several years, increasing its plant twice, and enlarging the scope of its business of manu

Vol. I-26

facturing specialties in glassware, jars, etc. The plant is located on First street, one block east of the Michigan Central Railroad, the business being under the management of A. L. Parker.

THE MONROE WOOLEN MILL

For more than fifty years, this name has been a familiar one in Monroe. Their original line of manufacture was woolen cloths, flannels, blankets and yarns. The Norman brothers, Thomas and John owned the mill for many years, also Noble and Redfield, and others have operated it. Some years ago it passed into the ownership of Plewes, who invented and manufactured a sanitary all-wool bed comforter, substituting a specially prepared wool bat in place of cotton, as ordinarily made, which has been successful. In 1812 Ed. G. J. Lauer and Capt. I. S. Harrington bought the property and continued the business with Mr. Plewes as superintendent. The plant is located on the River Raisin in the suburb known as Waterloo, and is operated by wire drive from the Waterloo mills, adjacent.

THE MONROE FOUNDRY AND FURNACE COMPANY

The present large and flourishing institution, located in the block at the corner of Monroe and Fifth streets succeeded the firm of Smith & McLaren, foundrymen.

When the manufacture of the Floral City warm air furnaces began, a company was incorporated in 1900 under the name of the Monroe Foundry and Furnace Company, and the business greatly increased by the addition of local capital. The product of the factory is marketed in Michigan and the Middle West. The death of the president of the company, Mr. Andrew Baier, in 1908, was a severe blow to the business, for it was by his energetic efforts that the large business was built up and maintained. His son, Walter P. Baier takes his place with A. Goetler as principal traveling salesmen. Another son, Francis, is also connected with the company. The officers at the present time are: Andrew Wagner, president; Mathew F. Sieb, vice-president; W. P. Cook, secretary and treasurer; Geo. G. Goetler, superintendent; A. Wagner, assistant superintendent.

The above, with Jas. Eisenman, Walter P. Baier, W. C. Sterling, Benj. Sturn, George Gassel, constitute the board of directors.

CHAPTER XXXI

THE NEWSPAPER PRESS

"MICHIGAN SENTINEL," BY EDWARD D. ELLIS-MONROE "JOURNAL AND COMMERCIAL’—WHG ORGANS—THE "MONROE COMMERCIAL" AGAIN MONROE "DEMOCRAT’-UNSUCCESSFUL VENTURES-MONROE "REC

ORD-COMMERCIAL-OUTSIDE OF MONROE

In Monroe was founded the second newspaper in Michigan.

It is a singular fact that between 1806 and 1820, no provision had been made for publishing the territorial laws, and some of them had been lost and were never found. In 1816, a meager volume was published in Detroit, printed so poorly that the matter was scarcely legible, containing the titles of some laws, and abstracts of others; but very few were completed; this was caused by the want of adequate means. In 1820, Congress appropriated $1,200 for the publication of existing laws, when the legislative board compiled and revised their legislation, putting it in good form to supply the place of a code. This was probably the first effort made in the territory to acquaint the people with the proceedings of the government's formulating laws for the regulation of matters of public and private concern.

"MICHIGAN SENTINEL" BY EDWARD D. ELLIS

In 1825, but two newspapers existed in the territory, and one of these, the Michigan Sentinel, was established in Monroe, the other being the Gazette published in Detroit. The first published in Detroit was "The Michigan Essay" by Father Gabriel Richard in 1809.

Monroe was very fortunate indeed, in having attracted hither, as its first journalist, a most enterprising and capable young man, Mr. Edward D. Ellis, who arrived in June, 1825, and prepared to locate permanently in the active, rapidly growing and pleasant village on the Raisin. He was the man preeminently fitted for the opportunity, and the people received him in the most cordial spirit, realizing that the principal factor in the development of the new territory and in furtherance of the relation of Monroe with the outside world, and the lively politics of the times, as well as the potentiality of the commercial greatness of the town would now be supplied. Mr. Ellis brought with him from Buffalo, the press and other equipment for the newspaper; a convenient printing office was secured for him by the business men of the village, and the Sentinel was in due time launched, receiving the liberal support of the townspeople, in advertising and subscriptions. I have three consecutive numbers of this old paper, kindly loaned by D. R. Crampton, of the Monroe Democrat. Its local news department is full of information in regard to the events and enterprises of the day. The following extract will afford an excellent view of the active business doing in real estate, shipping and merchandizing:

MAP OF SOUTHEASTERN PORTION OF MICHIGAN (1835) Published by Chas. Farmer, showing old boundary line between Ohio and Michigan, Toledo and Maumee Bay, being then in Monroe County

"SALE OF VILLAGE LOTS"

"The sale of property in our village continues unabated, and sales thus far obtain the same high prices of the preceding two weeks; and we may truly say lots have risen considerably within the last week, inasmuch as none can be purchased at former prices. Many landholders in town have refused one hundred per cent advance on last week's purchases. Farms a little below the village, and bordering on the river, have risen about eighty per cent. The Stuart farm, originally containing one hundred and fifty acres, has been sold (or a considerable part of it). Sixteenths (of an acre) were bought a few days ago at $566; they are now selling readily for $1,000 and $1,200. Lots near the landing have been selling at $30 per front foot, and these lots are one mile below the village. We know of one individual making a purchase of a village lot at $2,000, less than two weeks ago, which now is worth $6,000, or an advance of three hundred per cent. Another who paid $9,000 for a block of village lots, about the same time, for which he has been offered $17,000 and refused. The amount of the sales for this week is about $55,000. It has been thought that the cheering intelligence relative to the passage of our ship canal bill in Congress had caused this rise in property in our village, what speaks loudly for our place is the great amount of general business doing here at present. We noticed, the other day, the erection of 20 to 30 new buildings in Monroe; and this in the heart of winter. Monroe has a population now of about three thousand, and supports twenty-eight dry goods stores, fourteen groceries, two hardware shops, three cabinet shops, five hotels, etc., etc." [The "dry goods stores" were probably general stores. Ed.]

There was certainly "something doing" in Monroe in the old '36 days! The map of the city published about the time noted, shows the growing village of three thousand, expanding eastward until it included most of the marsh lands, to the borders of Lake Erie, an area sufficient to provide for a population of three hundred thousand people! The map shows that in the surveys for the ship canal a huge "basin was included, which would accommodate a fleet of vessels of no insignificant proportions. Warehouses were projected to take care of the expected commerce on the lake, and it was no doubt the intention to construct an auxiliary town or suburb on the site of this paper city near the marsh, when afterwards only a part of these dreams of opulence were realized. There are probably three hundred thousand population, but they are naturalized “Musquash." Ship-building was a factor in the great wave of prosperity, and several boats were built in the neighborhood of the old docks. An item in the Sentinel of January 24, 1836, shows very plainly the interest that prevailed in marine matters:

"STEAMBOAT 'MONROE

"We are glad to see a disposition manifested by our worthy citizens to retain the stock of this boat among them. It was supposed, a short time ago, that it would be sold out to Buffalo and Detroit parties. Nothing gives us greater satisfaction than to learn that Monroe is determined to own something that shall benefit our flourishing village. We know that this steamboat has, without the question of a doubt, been the cause of the rise in the price of some of the property in our village. We can give the names of many who took passage at Buffalo on board of the 'Monroe,' with the intention of going farther west, but who, on arriv