Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-05-14

Riding up Western avenue one sees on his
left huge wooden building, with the yellow
paint fast wearing off, hearing in immense
black letters the inscription, ''Augusta Shoe
Factory For years it has stood there, nm
occupied. 1t is fitted up with machinery and
is supplied with an engine and boiler capable
Of running and heating it. A stranger visit
ing the city would be liable to ask whv. with
the great demand for boots and shoes, the
building is not running night and dav You
would blush. if you were a patriotic citizen
/ Of Augusta, to tell him that it was because
! our business men lacked the necessary enter
prise to subscribe the few thousand dollars
needed to set it in operation.
A BOsToN FIRMS OFFER.
Every business man in Maine has heard of
the firm of L. Shaw & Brothers of Boston.
the great tanners, who represent capital of
millions of dollars. They are rated by all
mercantile agencies at the highest notch,
with unlimited credit. The extent of their
tanning operations in this State is too well
known to need enlargement upon. In Bos-
ton the house has reputation second to none
in the city. Their remarkable success is due
in no small measure. to the low prices which
their early established reputation for prompt
payment has enabled them to command.
Their push and enterprise are well llustrat-
ed by the growth of the shoe manufacturing
business in Boston, of which they took charge
as trustees last July. Though the Boston
factory had been running for years,
and for eighteen months had been backed
| by a wealthy house, yet in the nine
months in which the Shaw Brothers have had
it under their control. the volume of its bus
mess has not only doubled but more than
quadrupled. Mr.. c. w. Clement of Boston,
one of the smartest lawyers in the Hub"
has had entire charge of their manufacturing
business for some time past. He has accept
ed the presidency of the Augusta Shoe Com
pany. and has agreed TO take the rhoie pro-
duction Of the factory. lie wiH gfre thus
factory the preference in the line Of goods
rhich ii manufactures, and rU pay cash
to, the product the spcceeding reek from
rhich II is shipped!
Purely Local ENTERPRISE.
1t is intended that this shall be an Augusta
enterprise solely. and all the capital must be
furnished by the public spirited men of this
city. Because of the prompt payment for the
goods made. the factory can be run on a COM
paratively small capital. We have no doubt that
a very lucrative business could be built up
in a few months. In order to insure its sue
cess it is necessary that onr people take
stock in the new enterprise
ArGusrA's LAST CHANCE.
II seems to us that the factory cannot help
paying a high rate of interest on the money
invested The plant is already made, and
we believe that tine bank and the parties who
have liens upon the property will dispose OF
their claims AT very reasonable rates in order
that they may resp some return from their
, investment. If the necessary capital is sub
scribcd. the shoe factory will become one OF
Aupusta's great industries: if not. Shaw 4
Brothers will make their offer to manufact-
urers in other places. If Augusta neglects
this opportunity she may never have
another chance to start this factory. When
in full operation the factory will employ from
300 10 go male and female operatives, with
monthly paw roll ranging from $4,000 to sl2'-
600. |. there business house on Water
street that would not feel the advantage
of Tho enterprise: The operatives
are of a class that earn good wages and spend
their money freely. We fear that unless our
business men take hold of Shaw 4 Brothers
offer in earnest Augusta will be seriously
d;stanced by other towns and cities IN the
State. The Maine Central railroad shops
will not be brought here, There is no I'M
mediate prospect of another cotton mill be-
inc built, There will be no session OF the
Legislature next winter. Will not some OF
our capitalists look into this matter, and II
they think there is prospect Of building up
tho citv and at the same time benehting
themselves. put few thousand dollars into
tho Augusta Shoe Factory?