Daily Republican., 1883-06-06
A THRIVING PLACE.
WHAT INDUSTRY AND ENTEE-S
PRISE CAN ACCOM-.
pLISH.

|
Tacony, small station on the Penn
sylvania Railroad, nine miles above
Philadelphia, is now one of the prettisse
little places on the road between here
and New York. Three years ago the
place was almost exclusively given up
to farming, but to-day the largest saw
manufactory in this country, and
probably in the world is located there.
Some time ago the firm of Henry
Disston's Sons conceived the idea OF re-
moving their extensive saw and file fac
tories from Philadelphia and locating at
this point and purchased $50 acres Of
land. They have erected extensive
works, and now furnish employment to
over / 900 hands, whose weekly payroll
exceeds $500 Since the establish.
ment of these worksat Tacony the popu-
lation has increased from 1000 to 3, 500,
and last year over two hundred vessels
loaded and discharged cargoes at the
wharves built by the firm. In addi-.
tion to the Improvements of Messrs.
Disston, the firm of Gillender Il Son,
glass manufacturers, has purchased
forty acres of ground near the saw
works, and will erect large glass fac
tory, and dwellings for their men.
| DisStonS now intend to erect dwell
ing houses for their employees, and
have had the plans prepared. These
houses will be built in pairs, in cottage
style, with front and side yards, and
will vary in size from five to twelve
rooms. A school house is being built
that will cost when completed $50, 600,
which it is intended to have ready for
occupancy Immediately after vacation.
The plans for public hall, capable
of seating 1000 persons have been sub
mtted to the Messrs DiSston, the esti.
Methodist church costing $4,000 will
shortly be dedicated, and n lot of
ground has been given to, and accepted
by the Baptists, on condition that they
also erect handsome place Of worship.
The houses to be erected by the
Disstons will all be supplied with water
and gas and other modern improve.
ments. They will be rented to the em-
ployees at reasonable rents, and the
firm confidently expects that by fur
nshing houses of this description, COM
bined with excellent churches and
schools, to do much toward elevating
their employees in the social scale.
The business of the Disstons is rapidly
increasing, and the popularity of their
saws and files is world wide. Five
years ago they considered one hundred
dozen files per week large production,
but now they can scarcely supply the
demand with 4 800 week. Three years
ago they manufactured $1,000 cross-cut
saws per year; at the present time
1000 are made every month.
Last year they manufactured $500
circular saws over five feet in diamater,
which was an average of over one hun
dred per month greater than any previ-
GUS year.
This firm are demonstrating by a.
wise expenditure of their means what
can be done for the benefit of the work
ing classes, and with the impetus given
to Tacony by the Messrs Disstons there
are few places that show such an i'm
provement or growth within the past two
years. In consideration of what they
have done for the place, the residents
have sent petition to tfe Postmaster
General asking that the name of the
postal station at TacOny shal be chang
ed to Disston, which will leave them at
liberty to change the name of the town.