The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-07-27
CHINAMEN OUTCLASSED.
A Steam Laundry the Newest
Project in Corvallis.

The newest thing in Corvallis business
circles is movement toward the establish
rent of steam laundry. A. j. Achison,
laundryman of ten years experience, was
! here this week consulting with our business
men regarding the scheme, which, he says,
met with general approval. MIR. Achison
has built and operated laundries in Danville
and Rockford, Illinois, and is now manag-
ing the one at Independence There " ill
be no contributions asked, but every house
will be canvassed in order to determine the
probable amount of work that could be got
ten in the event the plan succeeds. Mr.
Achlsaa believes that plaps costing from
$500 to $4,000 will be necessary to care for
the business in place of this size Such a
concern as he has in mind will furnish en-
ployment to ten or fifteen hands,. majority
of whom will be women.
In order to get the laundry started it will
be necessary to secure a guarantee for work
after the business is once established.
Every person i'll town will be asked to
promise a certain amount of patronage.
whatever they can aft ,rd from one dollar
upwards, and when the laundry is once
completed and in operation, to pay to the
company in cash, the amount subscribed or
guaranteed. This is only considered an ad.
vance payment for the work the ompany
are pledged to furnish in return. An &C.
count will be opened with each person upon
the payment of his or her subscription
That is, they will he credited with the
amount paid and as the laundry work is
furnished in return, its cost will he charged
against their account. The prices will be
about the same IS are Hov paid to the
Cinnamon for plain work, while starched
clothes will be trihe higher.
The cost of the plant will be determined
by the liberality of the subscriptions. For
instance: II $500 is guaranteed a plant
costine $1,000 will be built; but if $1,000 is
subscribed $4,000 will be invested in the
enterprise. The latter amount will be suf-
fcient with which to complete such a
plant will be required here, and would
have capacity of turning out $500 $4OO
worth of work per week. Should the en-
terprise receive the proper encouragement
work on the building will begin immedi.
ately. This will be 3Ox4O on the ground,
and two stories high. Only the most ex.
pensive and latest improved machinery will
be purchased, and when the plant is once in
operation it %'ill ba complete in all its de-
details. Already something like $4OO had
been guaranteed and when the public un.
derstand the matter thoroughly there is lit
tie doubt that the other $500 will be
promptly subscribed. Mr.. Dow, brother
in-law to Mr. Achisor, will he interested in
the enterprise, although it will be under the
personal sHpsrvision of the latter. From
the fact that there are so many advantages
to he derived from the establishment of
such an enterprise it is hardly probable that
it will be allowed to 60 by the board for the
want of encouragement on the part of our
citizens. When once in operation its pay
roll should aggregate not less than $500 per
month. This money will pass into the Or
dinary channels of business and do the
community some benefit, while under the
present laundry system only very small
portion of the cash paid each month fur
washing is dlshursed within the county.
Mr.. T. NJ. Hamilton of this city is per
sonally acquainted with Mr.. Achison and is
familiar with his work and says that he is
perfectly competent and thoroughly reliable
and any pledges he may make will be car
ried out to the letter. Let us have the
steam laundry. Mr.. Achisnn will call on
you next Monday and explain tn e matter
thoroughly.
A law suit that, for sm1llness of the
amount involved and cost and duration of
the litigation, beats the Oren .Jacobs rent
case, is reported from Iowa. 1t is known
as the Jones county calf case aud originally