Re: Chicago Consolidated bottle & Morels
Several years ago, an onliner reported:
A page from the Chicago City Directory of 1881 was on exhibit at the Washington Library in Chicago in 1995. It showed a picture of the J. A. Lomax Bottling Establishment, a quite large four story building labeled "The Largest Bottling House in the U.S." Additional information given was "Soda, Ginger Ale and all kinds of Mineral Waters," and dealer in "Bottled Ale, Porter, Cider, Lager Beer, syrups and extracts of all kinds." The address was 14 to 18 Charles Place between Harrison and Van Buren Streets, Chicago, IL.
You might find this interesting; some history (written in 1897):
After the great conflagration of October 9-11, 1871, which laid Chicago in ruins and destroyed their
new plant, Lomax at once began rebuilding, and now occupy with their business a four-story brick structure three hundred by one hundred and twenty-five feet, which is the largest exclusive bottling-house in the world.
On the 7th of March the stock was capitalized under the name of the Chicago Consolidated Bottling Company, for six hundred thousand dollars, with John A. Lomax as president and George Lomax as manager. In their plant every device and improvement known to the business is used.They employ three hundred men, use two hundred horses and eighty double and single wagons to deliver their goods to their customers. They manufacture one million boxes of two dozen bottles each per annum; and out of seven thousand saloons in Chicago they have the patronage of more than five thousand of them, furnishing soda-waters, ginger ale, mineral and spring waters and other
light drinks. This is an indication of the volume of the business which is carried on at the extensive establishment of the Chicago Consolidated Bottling Company, which now controls one of the leading industries of the city.
The quality of their products is unsurpassed, for only the best materials are selected for their manufacture and every precaution is taken to secure cleanliness and purity. The laboratory is under the supervision of a skilled chemist, and all the different departments are superintended by men of the utmost reliability, thoroughly
understanding the duties entrusted to their care.
Don.......
Source (on page 153):
http://libsysdigi.library.uiuc.edu/...iumoffree2warv/compendiumoffree2warv_djvu.txt
