Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-03-21
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SID BUT TRUEs
Why Three Industrial Enterprises
bid sDL ncnln in kNiintingfnn.

Ibid @Ot Ocate i'm Wilmington.
Within very short lime Wilmington
has missed the opportunity for the estsb-
lishment OF three industrial enterprises
which would have brought hundreds OF
Thousands OF dollars in capital to this
city and given employment to several
hundred hands. One concern which was
on the point Of locating here was gobbled
up by neighboring city because OF the
couseryativeness of the local capitalists
Another failed TO locate because of ihe
greed Of the owners of the property from
whom the cite for the plant was TO have
been purchased, who raised the price as
soon as they asuertsined the object OF the
would.be purchasers. The third concern
went elsewhere because the prospective
investor did not like our dirty aud ill
paved streets.
The last mentioned case Is that of a
wholesale bakery engaged in the manu-
facture of the famous Litiz pretzels. This
gentleman had valuable patents on the
manufacture of these pretzsls and was
prospecting here with the purpose of
making Wilmington the wholesale and
general depot for their distribution.
When he arrived here he was met by q
real estate agent who escorted him to his
Office by way of Market street. That
was sufficient. When they arrived at the
Wilmingtonian's office the visitor had al
ready made mp his mind not to locate on
account of the unfsvorable impression OF
the city's enterprise which he received
from look at her principal thorough
fare. He has since located his business
in Lancaster. where he has large store.
Another case is that of concern en-
gagged In the manufacture of wire goods,
the managers Of which had become
favorably impressed with the facilities
for carrying on business here. The option
Of transportation in auy dtrertion by rail
or water, the proximity to the dig whole
eaie markets and other considerations,
induced them TO instruct o real estate
agent to purchase for them o sufficiently
large tract of land on the water front.
The object of the purchase leaked ont
and the land was raised to such high fig
ures that the real estate sgent replied
that he could not consoientiously recon-
mend the purchase Of any of the sites
at the figures at which they were offered.
As consequence, the firm located at
Nswburgh, N, Y, where they now en-.
ploy about GOO hands, although they were
only employing about $50 hands at the
time that they intended to locate here.
The third and most recent case is that
of the Bureau Manufacturing Company
which WAS recently chaftered by the Log
islature and which may probably estab-
lish plant here etill although 1t will re-
quire some time now. The projectors of
tnis company had valuable machine
which can make 90, 900 cans per dey by
new process. Local capitalists became
interested and the bargain FOR the sale of
the machine was almost closed when q
hitch arose as to whether the proprietor
OF the machine, in case q plant were es.
tablished here, should also place one in
Baltimore. While this point was being
argued Philadelphia capitalists heard OF
the machine. raised all tho capital neoes
sary in few days, bought the only ma.
chine now ready for the market and have
established themselves in PhilsdAlphis.
These three cases are sad commentaries
on the lack of public spirit and enter
prise in this city.