The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-11-20
KRoDER BRASS WORKS
TO BE IN OPERATION BY SPRING.

NnOOEW DNA0S We VESssss
TO BE IN OPERATION BY SPRING.
Manufacturing at Staunton REQUIRING Many
Skilled Workmen-1c0 Employees at the
Beginning-A Prosperous Con-
cern-Headquarters Here.
The VIRGINIAN's announcement last
Thursday of a completed contract for
locating brass works in this city was a
convincing manifestation OF Stauntons'
new life. In view of the substantial and
permanent benefits to be derived by the
city from this new establishment, the
following detailed information regarding
it has been obtained.
The established business concern by
which this plant is to be located in
Staunton is owned and conducted by
Mr.. John Kroder. of New York city He
has at present two factor les. one at 90-96
Clinton street, New York, and the other
at Rockland. Sullivan county. n. y. His
offices and warerooms> are in New York
city at 255 Canal street. He manufactures
curtain poles with their brass attach
ments, and variety of brass goods for
house furnishing and decoration. His
present force of employees, in both fac
tories, varies between 1876 and IT'S men.
His gross business amounts up toward
$1,000, 900 per year, and extends through
all portions of theTUnited States and
Canada.
The new factory in Staunton is to be
at first branch establishment for sup
plying and increasing Mr.. Kroder's'
southern trade, and is to employ 100 men.
His business through this section has
recently begun to assume large popor-
tions, partly because he has made efforts
to increase it, but principally because
the mass of the southern people are be-
ginning to use many articles of home
comfort and decoration that a few years
ago were seldom seen south of Pennsyl-
vania or Maryland. After lime, how
ever, as learned from letter written last
week by Mr.. Kroder himself, Stanton
is to be manufacturing and shipping
headquarters for the entire business.
Salesrooms will be maintained in New
York city, where nearly all extensive CON
Germs have offices and warerooms, but
Mr.. Kroder will then manufacture moth
ing there except few specialties requir-
ed for his city trade. Hi manufacturing
will be transferred gradually from New
York to Staunton. Eventually the pay
roll of the Staunton factory will prob
ably contain the names of more than
$50 regular employees.
To the Staunton Development Com
pany belongs the credit for securing the
establishment of Mr.. Kroder's works at
this city. Mr.. j. G. Covington, the lat
ter's general southern agent, after MAX
ing few months ago a close examine
ton of the comparative advantages Of
fered for this business by the principal
towns in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee
and Alabama, decided in favor of locat-
ing at Big Stone Gap, Va. Six weeks
ago Mr.. Kroder and Mr. Covington to-
gether made a trip to that place, and
while on the way spent some time here
In Staunton. The favorable opinions
previously held by them regarding Staun-
ton were strengthened by personal ex-
animation of the place, and by the in
ducements offered them by the Staunton
Development Company. Negotiations
between this company and Mr.. Kroder
were continued until the time of Presi-
dent M. Erskine Millers recent New York
trip, from which he returned home on
Wednesday of last week. He then sue
ceeded in closing the contract with Mr.
Kroder, though the latter had almost
closed contract to locate at Big Stone
Gap. Since this settlement of the ques-
ton of location, Mr.. Kroder has become
enthusiastic over the superiority of
Stauntop's advantages, and has instruct
ed Mr.. Covington to have the factory
building erected in the least possible
time. Thus it has come about that
Staunton is to have by spring perma-
nent establishment bound by contract to
employ from the start not less than 100
persons.
A site comprising something more than
one acre of land has been donated for
Mr.. Kroder's factory by the Staunton
Development Company. 1t lies on the
north bank of Lewis creek, in or near the
tract of land formerly known as the old
fair grounds. 1t win be reached by the
Development Company's own private
side track connecting with both the Bal
timore & Ohio and the Chesapeake s.
Ohio railroads.
The factory building will be 50x950 feet
in size, with two stories. Bids for it's
construction were advertised for by Mr.
Kroder last week, and a contract for
the work will be awarded as soon as bids
can be received. The engine and boiler
department are to be built of brick, and
brick will be used for the entire building
if their cost compares favorably with the
cost of the requisite lumber The ma
chinery and general equipment will be
of the most approved and effective kind.
The processes of the business belong to
the higher and more difficult grade of
manufacturing, involving chemical treat
ment of copper and brass, fine ornamen-
tai wood work, and a good degree of
skill in employees. At the furthest, the es-
tablishment is to be ready for operation
by the beginning Of NEXT March. There
is no doubt of its success and perma-
hence. Mr. Kroder knows his business,
and has come here to stay.
: Mr. Coyington left Staunton last Sat
urday for New York, intending to return
in about ten days. During the construc
ton of the factory he will be here fire.
quently, and after its completion he will
settle here permanently as it's resident
manager. At some time in the winter
he will make an extended tour through
the south to buy timber, of which 5000
feet per day are now used by the two
factories in New York The greater por-
ton of it consists of poplar and oak from
the south, though many other varieties
are used to some s4tent.
Personally those at the head of the new
brass works will be desirable acquisi-
ton to Staunton's business community
Mr.. Covington is very agreeable Young