The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-05-17
TOWN TALK.

In spite of the Trusts and unfortunate condi-
tion of affairs that have closed our three glass
actories, Quaker Mills and its accessory-the
Bissell cooper shop-Ravenna is fairly well off
for manufactures. That many of our citizens
became discouraged when such number of
valuable plants were shut down. was only natu- |
raj, and it followed quite as naturally that some
of the people should be disposed to question
the wisdom of their action in supporting the
The only way for such an individual to answer
his own query right, and ascertain his real mind
in the matter, is for him to ask himself the
question, :" Do 1 or do not wish Ravenna TO
continue manufacturing town. If he answer
yes. then he has acted consistently and properly
in supporting the measures, for it needs but a
moments reflection to see in what a condition.
industrially speaking. the town would be, had
it not been for the course adopted.
The legitimate results of the peoples will are
seen in the following list OF plants:
Rayenna Shoe Factory. employing from so
to IS hands.
The F. J. Loudin Shoe Factory, employing
go people.
The A. C. Williams Sad Iror. Works, that
will in few weeks be operating 100 people.
The Turner Dyeing Works, that are good for
so people.
The Globe Carbon Works, manned with a
force of about so hands.
The Ravenna Boiler Works, that keeps 10
men busy.
The Ravenna Brick and Tile Works. with go
hands.
These are the direct results of that policy,
for while three of the establishments are from
private funds it is certain that they would never
have been heard of had it not been for indus
trial awakening that came from bonding the
town.
There are other results that have been realized
from this same cause, quite as important if not
more so. Enterprise is contagious. and with
the advent of these new concerns came hand
some growth and healthy reaching out on the
part of others of our manufactures, that are
today making themselves felt as never before in
the world of trade. Our people are on the alert
to secure new establishments, and we have in
herited, so to speak, from the SO called boom
a perpetual awakening that will locate addition
al factories here, as sure as the country grows.
Then another thing should be borne IN mind.
The majority of these plants thus secured are
in their infancy and are bound TO grow and be
developed, no matter what possible history may
await them in the meantime.
Now turn to the picture Of Ravenna as she
wovld have been without the " boom: Quaker
Mills dead Diamond Glass Works dead;
Crown Flint Glass Works dead Eagle Glass
Works, which, however, were built at the time
of the boom, and were. properly speaking, one
of its products, idle for more than year last
past; Bissell Cooper Shop. dead; Geppinger's s
Tannery, dead. What would be left? The
Riddle Coach and Hearse Works. The John F.
Byers Co., Baldwin & Sons Planning Mill, the
old Hub Factory and Planning Mill, Work &
Yeend.s saw mill, the Ravenna Basket Factory
none of them employing more than 40 hands,
and from that down 10 a much smaller number.
Should Quaker Mills and one or more of the
glass factories ever resume operations, we shall
have made very handsome gain over ante
boom" condition.
But the only fair way to look at the matter is
the one pointed out above. OF course. if one
does not desire that manufacturing shall be
carried on in Ravenna, that individual acted
very unwisely if he voted yes to the bonus plan,
and he is not to be blamed if he did not know
for what he was voting. and now reverses his
position on discovering what his vote meant.
Whether or not the best results have been
secured with the 100000. is another matter,
not now under consideration. The point is,
that in spite of whatever mistakes may have
been made in handling the funds we have been
able, as result of the policy, to hold our own
as a manufacturing town, and to fill up the
houses made vacant by reason of the shutting
down of the plants named.