Leading Business Men of Fairfield County

has made them well acquainted with the value and location of tbe most desirable property in the city and surroundings. They understand insurance in all its branches and can give as many advantages to patrons in fire insurance as any agency in the city. Their promptness in adjusting all losses makes them quite popular with policy holders generally. They represent the following staunch and reliable companies: American, Continental, Germania, Hanoveiv Mechanic's and Niagara of New York. Ameri- can of N. J., Middlesex Mutual of Connecticut; American of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia; Imperial, London & Lancashire, Northern and. Royal of England, Northwestern of Wisconsin, and the Llo}rd's Plate Glass of New York. The foundation of this" business was laid twen- ty-eight years ago, being under the present man- agement for the past three years. The location of the elegant offices of this enterprise is one of the most central and convenient that could have been chosen. The individual members of the firm are Messrs. James Staples, P. L. Holzer and F. T. Staples; Mr. James Staples is a native of Maine, the others of Connecticut, and are all well and favorably known throughout this city and vicinity. It is with no small pleasure that we call the at- tention of our readers to enterprises of this char- acter knowing they will be pleased and profited by business relations with such. E. T. Doolittle, Dealer in Hydraulic Cement Sewer and Drain Pipe, Ornamental ChimneyTops, Well Curbs, Stench Traps, Connections, etc., also Contractor, 43 South Avenue, Corner Broad Street. — Unquestionably one of the triumphs achieved by science in modern times is proved by the immense reduction of the death rate in the large cities where men are hived together in large numbers. No one condition is of itself more un- favorable to health and long living than is this massing of humanity, and that the evils arising from this cause have been so thoroughly discov- ered and reduced to a minimum is due the high- er average of human life to-day. First and fore- most in these great cities comes the question of drainage, for unless that is skillfully and abund- antly provided for, health and comfort are un- attainable. Many materials have been proposed and used for sewer and drain pipe, but the severe test for years has undoubtedly pronounced in favor of hydraulic cement as it is strong, non- absorbent and comparatively cheap. A Bridge port house dealing very largely in this and kin- dred goods is that conducted by Mr. E. T. Doo little, at No. 43 South avenue, corner of Broad street. Established twenty-two years ago by Mr. S. E. Todd, the business has been in the hands of its present owner for the last ten years. A. store 20x50 feet is occupied; from twelve to twenty hands are employed, and a very large business is done in sewer and drain pipe. Orna- mental chimney tops, well curbs, traps, connec- tions, etc. A specialty is made of well pipe. Mr. Doolittle is also prepared to contract for the construction of sewers, laying drains, digging wells, cementing floors and general jobbing. He- is a native of this State and has bad a long ex- perience in the business. LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF BRIDGEPORT S. Loewith & Co., Notary Public, Real Estate, Insurance, European Steamship and General •Commission Agents, 33 Bank St. — As the manage- ment of a real estate or an insurance business re- quires the person in charge to be of keen per- ception, prompt in action, and of good sound judgment in regard to the property in question, we feel that we can commend no more capable person in whose care to entrust the management •or insurance of property than Mr. S. Loewith, whose office is located at 33 Bank street. He es tablished his business in this city in 1883, under the firm name of S. Loewith &Co., and in the four years of its existence Mr. Loewith, who is sole proprietor, has succeeded in establishing an exten- sive and lucrative business as Notary Public, Real Estate, Insurance and European steamship agent, also General Commission agent representing the following lines: North German Lloyd, Hamburg- American Packet, Hamburg Union, Red Star, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, Transatlantic Havre, Baltic Line, Inman Line. Drafts and bank money •orders issued on all parts of Europe at lowest rates. From its inception Mr. Loewith has character- ized all his transactions with such an upright policy, that the citizens of Bridgeport and sub- urban towns have every reason to feel that they can trust implicitly in his honesty and integrity. His charges are light, and his methods are ad- mirable for the management of important and responsible business entrusted to his judgment. Mr. S. Loewith is a native of Bohemia, but well and favorably known in this country and city. He converses in seven languages, and his services are in frequent demand as interpreter. Stegeman & Whetstine, Grocers and Wine Merchants, 390 Main Street. — The importance of an enterprise of this character in a large city like Bridgeport is too apparent to need comment. We have here a business devoted to the grocery and wine trade, an industry of great importance to the thrift of the city and serving an important Tpurpose in the community. The house of Stegeman & Whetstine, Grocers and Wine Merchants, was established by them in August, 1880. They occupy a nicely-arranged and well-stocked store, located at 390 Main street, covering an area of 20x75 feet, where they are prepared to offer to citizens of Bridgeport on advantageous terms a superior quality of staple and fancy groceries, including the best brands of flour, teas, coffees, spices, sugar, etc., comprising all goods carried by a first-class grocer, and in connection with the grocery business, Messrs. Stegeman & Whetstine are extensive wine mer- chants and deal largely in domestic and foreign productions. They are also bottlers of Rupert's extra beer, and agents for original Budweiser. The trade of this house is steadily increasing, and its resources are ample to meet all demands made upon it, and its policy entitles it to the consideration of the trade, who will find assured advantages in dealing here. They also have in connection with their grocery business a buffet, located at 296 Main street, which is one of the largest and finest places in the city or in the State, covering an area of 20x75, with basement, employing three assistants. They are agents for Joseph Schiltz's celebrated lager beer, which they are bottling for families and hotels, and also direct agents for Sherwood's pure malt whiskies, which they bottle to a great extent for families. Mr. H. C. Stegeman and David Whetstine are energetic men of business. Benjamin & Eames, Plumbing, Steam and Gas Fitting, Tin and Sheet Iron Work, Agents for Gold's Patent Steam Heaters, Knowles' Steam Pump, etc., No. 434 Water Street. — Among the prosperous business houses of Bridgeport, whose extensive operations and well established reputa- tion entitles them to our most favorable consid- eration, we note with pleasure the one above named, the character and extent of whose busi- ness furnishes a fitting example of that class of houses whose success is the best evidence we can offer of the claims of this thriving city to the consideration of the patronizing public. The enterprise whose business card heads this article was established in 1881 by its present pro- prietors, Messrs Benjamin & Eames, and from its inception has enjoyed a steadily increasing busi- ness, and is to-day ranked among our most com- plete plumbing and gas-fitting establishments. The premises utilized for the business are lo- cated at 434 Water street and are 30x70 feet in di- mensions. Here a large and complete stock of plumbing and gas-fitting materials maybe found. In connection with the plumbing, steam and gas- fitting business, Messrs. Benjamin & Eames do an extensive business in tin and sheet iron work. They are also agents for Gold's patent steam heater, Knowles' steam pumps, etc. The extent to which their business has reached requires the employment of from fifteen to twen- ty skilled workmen, and Messrs. Benjamin & Eames being practical men of business, all work entrusted to this house is guaranteed to be per- formed in the best manner possible and perfect satisfaction warranted. Mr. J. C. Benjamin is a native of Connecticut and C. S. Eames of Massachusetts. They are both well and favorably known in Bridgeport. 72 LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF BRIDGEPORT. Bridgeport Corset Co., Noble Avenue. — A leading house in the manufacture of corsets is that conducted under the above title by I. W. Birds- eye & Co. This business was originally started by Mr. Birdseye in 1865 and tbe first factory was located in Birmingham where it is still conducted. The business which started twenty-two years ago has grown rapidly and in 1879 the Bridgeport factory was opened, which is 200x40 feet in size and five stories in height. Here every facility that years of experience can suggest and ample capital procure is at hand. The machinery which is of improved design and workmanship is operated by a steam engine of fifty horse-power. Water power is used at the Birmingham factory, which is 125x40 feet and four stories. Some 450 skilled operators are given employment and the product of the facto- ries is shipped to every section of the United States, the selling agents being J. G. Fitzpatrick & Co., 89 Leonard street, New York. The corsets manufactured by this company are of a high grade of quality, finish, fit and durabil- ity. The richest and most expensive dress will not show to advantage unless a well-fitting pair of corsets is worn, and none will keep their shape better or wear longer than the popular makes turned out by the Bridgeport Corset Com- pany. Every care is taken in the purchase of the ma- terial and in the thorough inspection of the work through the different processes of manufacture. This has resulted in maintaining, unimpaired, the reputation of the house for quality and general excellence of goods manufactured, and to this fact is due the large trade of the firm which is now among the largest of the kind in the United States.