Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-04-27
Some Of the Advantages Of Manu-
factures.

The following article from s. s. West.
over or the advantages Of manufac lures.
and showing what Aurora H., was with
out and what il IS with these institutions,
illustrates so definitely what Plymouth
might become, that we publish it with the
suggestion that our citizens make a move
in this direction.
EDITOR MoSrToR:-Take for instance
the city Of Aurora, Illinois, on the C.. b.
& Q. r. r. In 1866, Aurora had about
1000 inhabitants. II then employed
about one hundred men in its Wagon
shops, twenty in q Sash, Door and Blind
factory, and twenty in IFS Wooden Mills,
and the town had come to q stand still.
Work ard trade were dull, although the
town was surrounded by well settled
country with first rate soil. In the fall
previous, the Railroad Co., proposed to
erect their shops at this point, il the citi-
Zcns would furnish the grounds free of
cost A vote was taken and S75, 900 was
voted for that purpose. and work was
commenced early IN 81. Immediately,
real estate doubled in value: new and
good business and dwelling houses were
erected; mechanics had employment at iu
creased wages; rents went up and money
became plenty, as q matter d course.
The shops were completed in the sum-
mer OF ~, and il was announced, in
January, '5S, that the Railroad Company
had paid the employers the sum OF S25,-
600 for the last months wages. Since
that time, the Railroad Company has in
creased its works, and about three years
ago il became evident that more room
must be had for their works and yards.
Then parties in Chicago offered the
grounds necessary for shops, and yards
Tree of charge, if the shops should be re-
moved near the Union stock yards. AT
this the Railroad Company offered to re-
main and build additional shops, II The
CITY Of Aurora would furnish twenty
acres of additional ground, and as the
ground was mostly built on, 1t required
$4,000 10 get the lands, without the
buildings, they being removed TO other
parts of the city. A vote for tie $751;
600 was almost unanimous.
The city has also voted 800, 900 to the
Fox River Valley railroad; Likewise So
600 10 the Iowa and Chicago railroad,
both of which are controlled by the G.. b.
& Q. r. r.. thus securing the car and
engine building, and repairing to Aurora.
In 1853, the assessment was made for
city purposes of its cash valuation, and
the assessors books show The valuation to
valuation for city purposes is SS,2l6, 762,
which was probably % per cent too low,
each year, and its population has in
creased to near 1000 souls. Now the
Railroad Company rays at Aurora over
100 are shop and yard hands, and
the monthly payments are over $780,
600 per month; and as nearly all the men
reside there, most of the money is cx-
pended in the city 10 making improve
ments and for the expense OF living,
making about 81, O00, 800 disbursed by one
Company alone in maintaining cars
&C
That Sash, Door and Blind factory has
increased 10 three factories, and the
twenty hands 10 oyer one hundred, as
one shop employs sixty hands. The
woolen Mills employ seventy. five, and
the Silver platery thirty, "a new branch
Of business) and they are now doubling
their capacity. These, with lis Fouu
dries and Machine Shops, have beer
erected since, make Aurora liy,, healthy
business town.
Take The manufacturing indr stry from
Aurora and she would sink to an insig.
n.ficant dead town of perhaps two thous
and five hundred inhabitants.
In vo.in1 taxes the citizens OF Aurors
have had an eye to the interest Of the
town She has four splendid schoo
houses, costing about 100000.
The figures in the foregoing statemen
are correct, and are taken from oficia
sources.
Twas a resident Of Aurora for nearly
seventeen years and saw the effect de
ecribcd. y b MISSIONER.