BUSINESS HOUSES.

A brief reference to the bisiness interests of Ames, will, we trust, be deemed of sufficient importance to warrant insertion here. Only two dry goods stores are at present operating in this town, Messrs. Bigelow, Huntington & Tilden, and Alexander & Maxwell. Each of these houses does a large, and no doubt profitable business. The assortment of goods found is full, embracing every known article in the line, from a cambric needle to a suit of boardcloth. We are not advised as to the amount of capital invested by either of these houses, or of the amount of sales per year. They buy mostly for cash, and for the last two years Messrs. Bigelow, Huntington & Tilden have paid Government license as wholesale dealers, and Messrs. Alexander & Maxwell are thriving, if the rubicund and pleasant face of “Max” can be taken as an index of satisfied desires.

In the hardware line are the old established house of Boyd Brothers, (late McLain & Boyd), and the firm of Lucas &, Foster. The stock of hardware kept by either of these houses is full and complete, and several members of each firm are young men of good business capacity, whose interests are fully identified with those of our town and county. Boyd Bros., in addition to their hardware trade, deal largely in wagons and agricultural implements. Messrs. Lucas & Foster also keep for sale all kinds of the most approved implements for farmers' use.

In the line of lumber, we have a branch of the house of Lamb & Son, of Clinton, one of the largest manufacturers of Lumber in the west. There branch here is in charge of C. D. Norman, a young man of fine business capacity. He understands the advantage of the “nimble sixpence” and sells cheap. At the old lumber yard of Giles Cook, late Cook & Stewart, now W. A. Markham, is always found a full assortment in this line of trade. Mr. Markham has inherited from Mr. Cook his system of fair dealing and his gentlemanly and accommodating manners. At either of these houses full bills of building lumber, including sash, doors, lath, finishing lumber, and blinds can always be had at an hour's notice.

As dealers in grain and all kinds of farm produce, Evans & Co. are outdone by few western firms. Fair dealing is their motto, by a constant adherence to which, they have built up an enviable business reputation. “Milt's” honesty has passed into a proverb, and is not “Walt.” his brother? They do a large, and we trust, a profitable business. They are at present engaged in the erection of a fine brick business block, adjoining their old warehouse.

The Banking House of Wm. D. Lucas occupies the lower story of Cook's brick block, and is fitted up in a very tasty manner. Mr. Lucas is a first class business man, and in every way reliable. He does the usual business of a western banker, and is also engaged quite extensively in the loaning of money. His card will be found in another part of this work,

B. Read & Co. supply our citizens with meat, both fresh and salt, of the finest quality. Ben knows a fat steer from a “scalawag”—and his customers know when they buy of him they get meat and nothing else.

In this line we also find Heizer & Bro. The competition raised by Mat's. advent, as a butcher, has had a tendency to reduce prices and ensure daily supply. Mat. also knows good from evil, as his fine juicy sirloins daily testify.

Two drug stores grace our quiet town, dispensing the many “balms of Gilead” to poor suffering humanity. Starr & Breneman, in addition to drugs, keep all the standard books used in our schools, together with the leading magazines and newspapers of our country. Bousquet & Co. are accommodating and reliable dealers and keep a fine stock of goods in their line.

Several milliners and dress-makers, attend to the personal adornment of our good wives and daughters. The old established house of the Sweeney sisters is very reliable. They know their business and attend to it, thus gaining the approbation of their patrons, and peace of mind. The same remark applies with equal truth to Mrs. Lloyd, Mrs. Bacon, and Mrs. Wood, though newly established here, exhibit fine taste, and have had much experience, particularly in the dress-making line.

In the grocery line, Granger & Clark are hard to beat. Their stock includes every article known to the trade, both staple and fancy. They are straightforward, honorable men to deal with and understand their business.

Elliott & Bain are enterprising business men, also in the grocery trade. They, too, know the value of a good business reputation. They deal fairly and sell cheap.

Woriek Co., also in this line, keep a fine stock of staple and fancy groceries. The three houses here spoken of are newly established, and their stocks new, and fresh.

Do you play Billiards? Beecher, who is an oft quoted authority, says the game is innocent. Palmatier's rooms are well kept; and are very quiet. Brad is also an adept in the tonsorial art, besides being a Clever fellow generally.

As professors of the healing art, we have Doctors Bradley & Richmond, and Dr. S. J. Starr, of the firm of Starr & Breneman. If the good health of our community is to be attributed to their skill, it cannot be too highly commended.

The insurance interest is well represented here. D. W. Gage, N. H. Granger, N. A. Rainbolt, Robt. Marshall and R. B. Taylor, all, represent reliable insurance companies. Mr. Taylor is agent for the Underwriter's Agency,and the Security Life of N.Y.

Of Attorneys we have a full supply,—C. E. Turner, Dan McCarthy, D. W. Gage, N. A. Rainbolt, and J. L. Luckey, each and all well qualified to dispense legal advice. No town in the west of equal size or pretensions, has a more reliable class of attorneys than Ames.

In the furniture line, Wheeler & Lamb are the only dealers here. They have always on hand a full supply of goods which they sell at fair prices.

The “West House”—Wm. West, proprietor, needs no word of commendation here. Since the burning of the Ames Hotel, some weeks since, this is the only hotel in the place. Our friend West has read and given heed to the wise saying, “—by their works shall ye know them.” His house is literally a “home” to those who tarry with him.

We have also Blacksmiths, Wagon Makers, Shoemakers and Jewelers. Messrs. Wright & Child may be mentioned as the only concern in Ames, uniting the two trades of wagon making and blacksmithing. They are young men of integrity, and understand their business. As a shoemaker, L. DeLorme needs fear no competition for he is perfect in his art. O. Johnson also understands caring for the "soles" of our people.

THE PRESS.

Little need, or may be said of the press, of Ames. We have here the Weekly Imtelligencer, a paper of which any locality might well be proud. It is edited and published by A. McFadden, a man who has had years of experience as a newspaper publisher and editor. No paper in our State is more ably conducted, and what is of great importance to its readers, its teachings are all pure, both in polities and morals. The paper is now in its third year. Though at the first an experiment merely, it has grown to be, not only a success to itself, but a necessity to our citizens. It is now one of the institutions of Ames and Story County.