- A third steamer Cape Girardeau was christened 100 years ago (3/26/24)
- Cape Girardeau christens its namesake (3/19/24)
- The humanist philosophy of Lester Mondale (3/12/24)1
- Cape Osteopathic Hospital opens its doors (3/5/24)
- 8 killed and a million dollars damage done in 1924 tornado (2/27/24)1
- Jackson's militant priest, county recorder at odds over marriage licenses (2/20/24)
- Streaking fad comes to Cape (2/13/24)2
Industrial Supplement, Part 8: The smelter and the boulevard
I'm frequently asked how different sections of Cape Girardeau got their names. Probably the most frequently asked question is: "Was there ever a smelter in Smelterville?" Well, yes and no. There were plans for a heck-of-a-large smelter south of what was Cape Girardeau in 1907. Some of its buildings for the operation were actually even constructed. But the smelter was never completed and never smelted one single smelt of ore.
What began as a grand idea in 1906 ended in disillusionment. The St. Louis interests who sold the idea of a smelter to the Cape Girardeau Commercial Club came up short on funding at about the time the plant here was nearing completion, the same time the "Industrial Supplement" was published. Eventually, the property was sold at public auction on the steps of the Common Pleas Courthouse. The only evidence of the smelter that remains, as far as I know, is the name of the community -- Smelterville -- which sprang up around it.
Tacked on to the bottom of that story is a hopeful little piece about a proposed boulevard that would encircle the city.
PLANT OF THE SOUTHERN METAL & MANUFACTURING CO. WILL HAVE 25 BUILDINGS
The two pictures here are views of the great Southern Metal and Manufacturing company plant that is nearing completion, and which is to be the largest of the kind in America. This concern occupies twenty acres of land in the southern part of the city on the river front. The grounds are entered by Frisco, and Thebes Bridge Terminal tracks, and a special steamboat landing has been provided, giving the plant shipping facilities probably enjoyed by no other on the Mississippi River.
The Southern Metal and Manufacturing concern will make all kinds of lead and alloy goods, brass goods and cast-iron goods, including castings up to ten tons in weight. The plant differs from all others in a way that assures great success. The crude material, lead, brass, and iron will be refined and before allowing it to become cold will be cast into the finished product. By this continuous process the enormous expense of reheating time and again and the cost of storage, shipping and handling will also be saved and for these reasons this concern will be able to undersell competition and still make large profits.
Six large buildings are practically complete and as rapidly as possible the balance of the twenty-five buildings will be erected and equipped. All the machinery is of the latest pattern and no expense whatever has been spared to make it as modern as possible. It will require over 200 skilled mechanics to begin with and when once started the fires will never be allowed to die.
The company is incorporated with a capital of $500,000. Stock has been sold to plumbers and large users of such materials, who, beside sharing in the general profits, will be able to buy their material at a reduced price. Cape Girardeau will in time be made a great lead center.
CAPE GIRARDEA BOULEVARD SHOULD BE A MODEL -- MANY STREETS IMPROVED
During the past year steps were taken to provide a 100-foot boulevard around the city and in due time the Commercial Club hopes to see it made a driveway that will be the pride of all Southeast Missouri. With a view of having it finished correctly Mr. John F. Brooks, the well-known civil engineer, prepared these drawings for The Daily Republican, showing how a model boulevard should be constructed.
All the necessary material for the making of such a driveway is to be had here and if the plan suggested in these drawings is carried out the beauty of the boulevard can easily be imagined.
As the street car tracks will traverse a section of the boulevard special trees are suggested to line the tracks so as not to interfere with the trolley wires, while the trees along the sidewalks are for shade purposes.
During 1906 forty blocks of streets were macadamized (paved), and this year thirty-five have already been provided for and fully as many more will be ordered macadamized during the summer.
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