Morning journal and courier., 1890-02-15

THEIR ANNUAL BANQUET.
Felieisous Remarks made as Bridge
ports hoard OF Trade Love Feast
Dridgspors's Growing Propensities
Talked About-SOme Just Remarks
About Nigh Taxation for Manufac-
suring oncerns-Briagspors' Moth
DDS.
At the Bridgeport board of trade banquet
Thursday night, Bridgeport's virtues were
duly and cleverly extolled, while it, manu-
featuring prosperity was occasionally alluded
to In terms of comfort and satisfaction. The
Farmer in Its account says:
Dr.Leonard Waldo of the Aluminium Brass
and Bronze company was introduced by
Major Read as . man who had "oome down
from the Naugatuck hills and valleys to cast
his lot with u.s." DR.. Waldo made one of the
best speeches of the evening. He said he
might compare himself and his company to
an unacclimated Londoner, who, after step
ping across minor sidewalk shadows on
clear night under the impression that they
were pools Of water, finally came to SEEM
inely large ditch produced by the shadow Of
o church tower. Then he Invested himself of
his clothing and said he would swim for 1t.
"That is the way We feel az regards Bridge
port" said DR.. Waldo. seriously speak,
ing I think no tribute paid to the
Bridgeport board of trade can be considered
% exaggerated. Their representatives told
us everything which was in favor of your city
and skilfully concealed everything that was
not. We came hero and are located at the
head of Pequonnook river navigation, very
much as Hartford IL located at the head Of
sloop navigation, on the Connecticut river.
The board of trade did not tell us-perhaps
they did not know-of the tendency that
some of our tract had of possessing no bot
tom. The last spile we drove to make a
suddenly slipped out of sight on what was
ter of the earth. We haven't
seen 1t yet, much less found it. However,
We are well satisfied with Bridgeport.
Before deciding on our present location We
examined every seemingly eligible point on
the coast from Philadelphia to New London.
and failed to find = place that could quite
equal your city. In Its advantages for the
manufacturer Bridgeport is certainly uniqe
and unapproachable. Aside from this
want to express sincere appreciation fol
the courtesy, kindness and good feeling
which have met us everywhere since we
came here. Some are impatient about what
they regard our slowness In getting into
full operation, but to this we can only
answer that our machinery is very heavy and
our plans very large. Furthermore, we are
working with q new material, but one that
has come to stay. Notwithstanding the talk
about our slowness, We have been exporting
to Italy and the south of Europe. No In
telligent observer can say that Bridgeport ie
second to any city In the state for the
manufacturer. In literary matters, scien-
tiic matters, and the general intellectual de-
velopment Of the city there was much to be
| desired. DR.. Waldo's remarks were loudly
applauded.
President Read then introduced James
| Staples o. man who had done more effec.
tive work for the Bridgeport board of trade
than any other individual member. Mr..
Staples said he was q working, rather than a
talking member. 81 believe" said he, "that
the new manufacturing concerns coming to
our city pay more taxes than they should.
This Is not right, because manufacturing
concern that ceases to make profit and
out Of existence means not only loss to the
proprietors, but to their employees, and cons
sequently to the owners of the houses which
the employees occupied and places where they
traded. The houses and the stores are sec
ondary confederation; 1t is the producing and
money bringing power of the manufacturing
concerns that we want. Now, think the
assessors have been rather hard upon some OF
our new concerns. I do not particularly
blame them because they were inexperienced
and were under strong pressure to Impair
TALLY equalize valuations, as the term ia
called. In one sense We have no right to
criticise their actions, but In another we have.
Now, President Read has q happy faculty of
Of manufacturing firms looking for locstion.
He tells them funny stories, mskes them
think that Bridgeport is the paradise of ere.
alton and leaves me to perform such prac
tical work as getting frc;n property owners
satisfactory terms about the sale of the
sought-for site,r and desiring concessions
from corporations o. to special privileges re-
quired for, the situation. We have done this
very successfully in the past. Let no one
along. Applicants with patients of uncer-
tain value, people with bankrupt interests
| who desire BridReportsrs to furnish unlimit'
cd capital to put them on their feet, and
| similar fake concerns are continually apply
ing to us. The concerns We are Instruments
In getting represent only small percentage
of those applying to rs. At the same time
We neglect our ordinary business to hunt ur
hopeful cases, and give consideration to al
cases, no matter how hopeless. The ide,
that we clutch everything which comes along
Is altogether wrong"
Mr.. Staples speech brought Major Read t.
his feet with an explanation. "We hav,
never promised, }" said he, ''to grant rebate
| of taxes to manufacturers locating here. w,
| may have been presumptous In giving them
certain other assurances of other sorts, bu
| not in that line. For example, agents of
concern contemplating locating here would
say everything was satisfactory, providing
they could get such q side track in for theil
proposed works, water supply, etc. It would
! be at the last moment and an immediate de
cision was necessary. Weinvariably said yes
relying on the public spirit of the corpora
tions and individuals with whom we hai
| to deal and We were never yet left. As Il
| to taxation the only assurances We ever CAV
were that they would be treated fairly
| Further than that We had no right to 60, bu
| must say that generally speaking We hav,
been backed up by the corporations and In
dividuals whose help We relied upon and
mortgagsd without special authority in
way that was delightful and satisfactory.
am not going back on anything said by Mr.
Staples, because he 10 one of our most efic
lent allies, and whatever he says will stiol
to, although his complimentary references 4
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