Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-08-06
BETHEL BOOMING.
A Big Shoe Factory Assured.
THE CAPITAL ALL SUBSCRIBED AND
WORK WILL BEGIN AT ONCE.

An enthusiastic meeting was held at
Wilson House hall last Wednesday even
ing to consider plans for starting a shoe
factory here. The meeting was organized
by the election of j. j. Wilson chairman
and r. M. Chase secretary. Walter H..
Creamer of Boston made few remarks to
the meeting saying that he had looked ov-
er the site, the facilities for manufactur-
ing and the labor market and he found it
much better than he had expected. He
thought that a coarse grade of shoes
could be successfully made with patience
and hard work. The best way was to start
it in a small way and see il it paid. He
thought that capital of 900 would be
large enough until success was proved. A.
bout 10 or 20 horse power would be need
ed. Steam power would be advisable un-
less water power could be obtained at a
very low cost. Mr.. Creamer thought that
the Arnold meadow was the only one that
he could recommend with clear con-
science. There is a regular accepted plan
for such manufactures OF such capacity
as this would be, namely about 100 or 125
by 80 feet with two stories and no cellar.
In such building seventy-five to eighty
hands should be employed. 1t is quite
problem to make successful shoe work.
er. Out of so hands first employed, prob
ably % would turn out good shoe workers.
MIR. Creamer is the Supt. OF a shoe factory
at So. Berwick. Me-, where 225 hands are
employed. The men are paid by the piece
and the girls earn from 50 TO <12 week
and the men from S6 to SIS week. Good
men even in country factory ought to
earn from sl2 to S15 week. The cost of
the proposed machinery was estimated at
5000 and the building at $500 to $4,000
In regard to r. r. rates, the rates from
So. Berwick to Boston, seventy-two miles,
were from 13 to Is cts. according to the
class of goods. 1t was stated by some one
in the meeting that the rate from So. Roy
alton was % cts. 1t was estimated that a.
bout 800 lbs. would be CARED daily There
would be no trouble in getting market
for the shoes il good shoe was made.
Country labor was deemed preferable
when educated. The matter of freight
would not be so important as in shoe
that was sold at wholesale for Fl, the labor
would be perhaps 35 cts. and the freight
ct. On such pair oil shoes a profit of
from to cents must be figured on. At
the close of Mr.. Creamer's remarks vote
of thanks was extended to him and a
committee OF five was appointed to solic-
it subscriptions for capital stock. The
committee consisted of q. w. Berry, r.
NJ. Chase, j. G.. Sargent, c. ID. Cushing,
and s. M. Washburne.
So much enthusiasm seemed to be a
reused at the meeting that the Committee
went to work with a will and with start
of two thousand each by A.. A. Brooks and
George w. Berry and later on Of the same
amount by Edwin Harrington and one
thousand by c. ID. Cushing, it looked
more promising than ever. People took
hold with a vim and each gave something
and by Tuesday the whole OF the twenty
thousand called for was taken besides the
thousand promised by the Supt making a
paid up capital of twenty-one thousand
dollars. A meeting will be called at once
of the stockholders and legal corpora
tion will be formed and the necessary Of
ficers elected and the work pushed at
once The question OF site for the new
building is the main question left TO be
settled now so that all may be satisfied.
Mr. Hartwell, Hon. J. J. Wilson, ID. L.
Child, c. ID. Cushing and Fred Arnold
have each offered to furnish land for the
necessary buildings. And it is truly re-
viving to see the new life that actually
seems to be infused and the wonderfully
surprising unanimity with which all wish
to pull together 60 make this village more
than ever before.