Industrial Supplement, Part 2

In last week's blog, I introduced you to a special section published by this newspaper in 1907. The "Industrial Supplement" delves into the progress made the previous year in Cape Girardeau, emphasizing business and industrial activities.

A long, rather tedious article by L.J. Albert, president of the Cape Girardeau Commercial Club, gave an overview of the business health of the community. I had intended to run the whole article in this space, but I doubt readers would care to sift through the whole thing. Instead, here are the highlights. I've added emphasis to items I though most interesting.

Looking north on Main Street.

CAPE GIRARDEAU'S SOCIAL AND COMMERCIAL INTERESTS MAKE FINE SHOWING

The foothills of the Ozarks are beautifully adorned, just where they touch the broad Mississippi, with a wonderful little city. A view from the river should create the impression of old Spanish courts, musty dungeons and romantic wooings. The mind could hardly associate the ancient picturesque buildings with the real, live hustling, bustling Cape Girardeau. One could not realize, from this array of antiquities, that a few blocks west would be found the metropolis of Southeast Missouri, the most important city in the garden spot of the world...

Cape Girardeau is 140 years old. Among her people may be found Colonial Dames, Sons and Daughters of the Revolution, descendants from Mexican war veterans, and scions of families whose names have passed through ages untarnished and whose founders and their successors have lead their countrymen in the never-ending battle for right. Her society is her pride. This state of affairs is due to those who have "builded for themselves" as well. No man in this wonderful city was ever denied social recognition whose own merit would justify it...

Cape Girardeau is known in Southeast Missouri as the city of wealth. This appellation is probably well given. She possesses greater riches, in proportion to her inhabitants, than any other city in the Southeast. Unfortunately, among her wealthiest citizens may be numbered some who are without municipal pride, and yet development is the chief order of the day. Young men -- men of ability, men without means but with the capacity to inspire confidence from the moneyed individuals -- have built up Cape Girardeau...

A resume of her financial affairs for 1906 tells us that four banks with an average capital of $47,500, held deposits of $1,500,000. The trust company, with paid up capital of $500,000 and deposits of $200,000, is not included in this estimate. This institution has just begun business and cannot be considered an important element in last year's commercial successes. It will, however, in 1907 prove a boon not only to Cape Girardeau but to all Southeast Missouri. The banking situation is the index to a municipality's business condition. What better evidence, therefore, can be required of her advancement.

The approximate amount invested in stocks of merchandise is $500,000. This sum divided equally among the merchants would give us 104 stores, each carrying a stock worth $4,800. The sales for last year were $1,000,000. Using 10 percent as a reasonable profit basis, we find that these merchants have a net profit of $100,000, or 20 percent upon the investment. It is impossible to handle this question except upon averages. Some stores have $50,000 invested, others less than $1,000, but the average shows the volume of business done and answers our purpose.

Her 32 manufacturing plants are, with a few exceptions, successful. Their payrolls approximate $85,000 per month. There are about 1,500 laborers employed, receiving from $30 to $175 per month. There is no data of sales from factories, but using a few successful ones as a basis, a conservative estimate would be $2,040,000 for the year. Weigh carefully the purport of these figures and the reader must admit that Cape Girardeau is destined to be a power in the Mississippi Valley.

A city unsurpassed in school and church facilities, she is the ideal residence for the laboring man. Rich in natural resources, she is the safe investment for the capitalist. With abundant transportation facilities, she is the logical place for manufacturing. With the Mississippi River at her door and the terminal of five railroads within her limits, no better factory location can be conceived. With the deep waterways project in operation, she will be a seaport, and as sure as the Mississippi Valley possesses the wealth of the United States, just so sure will the lakes-to-the gulf deep waterway be constructed. With an ideal social standard she is the proper home for professional men and all others who desire the necessary environments for the education and edification of their families.