Cedar Rapids has passed beyond the experimental stage as a manufacturing city. It has been demonstrated that industries can be established and operated successfully here and that goods made in Cedar Rapids will find a ready and stable sale in all parts of the world. In fact, Cedar Rapids is but just beginning her epoch of industrial prosperity and growth and she extends to all the invitation to come, see how those here are prospering, and join in the march of events which will in the years to come make Cedar Rapids one of the best known manufacturing communities in the whole United States.
In this connection it is not amiss to speak of the excellent conditions which have always surrounded the labor situation in this city. The manufacturing industry must, of necessity, depend very largely on the element of labor and in many localities strikes and strife and misunderstanding and trouble generally have added to the difficulty of the local situation. There has been but little of this sort of thing in Cedar Rapids. Labor has always been well paid, well treated and well satisfied in this city, and the little differences which have come up between employer and employee have all been settled promptly and satisfactorily. There has been an absence of the grafting labor agitator and all have worked harmoniously together to build up the city and its best interests.
THE STREET RAILWAYS
BY E. A. SHERMAN, EDITOR SATURDAY RECORD
The Marion and Cedar Rapids Improvement Company was incorporated March 8, 1879, to construct street railways on the streets of Cedar Rapids and Marion, and the highway between, known as the "Boulevard."
The incorporators were Addison Daniels, J. L. Crawford, C. C. Cook, and John Meredith Davis.
The officers were John Meredith Davis, president; James L. Crawford, secretary; C. C. Cook, treasurer.
On March 13, 1879, the city council of Marion passed an ordinance authorizing construction of the line in the city of Marion. On May 16th, the city council of Cedar Rapids passed an ordinance granting the Marion and Cedar Rapids Improvement Company the right to construct and operate street railways on Iowa avenue, and also on alternate streets.
October 13, 1879, the name of the company was changed to the Cedar Rapids and Marion Street Railway Company. John Meredith Davis resigned as president and was succeeded by W. M. Hewitt.
November 8, 1879, the city of Cedar Rapids passed another ordinance granting a franchise to the Cedar Rapids and Marion Street Railway Company for lines on Iowa avenue and on alternate streets. Up to this last date the enterprise had been fathered by Milwaukee and Davenport parties, who then dropped out. Construction had already been begun and the work was continued by Marion parties, prominent among whom were Mr. E. Latham, J. L. Crawford, and J. C. Davis. Mr. Latham advanced the money necessary for construction.