The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1895-05-30
HOW II CAME ABOUT.
THE WORK OF GETTING THE
NEW BICYCLE FACTORY.
THE WORK BEING HARD PUSHED
A History of the Enterprise From the
Start to Finish Those Who Are
Responsible for This
Good Deed.

Kenosha is rejoicing, quietly to be
sure, but nevertheless jubilantly. The
occasion for this is the feeling which
everywhere seems to prevail that we
have at last walked UP from i Rip Van
Wrinkle lethargy. Almost every man in
the city feels that We are in the spring
time Of better things, and the quiet,
earnest enthusiasm one may note every
where may be taken as an earnest of
our determination to move along in the
line of progress from now on. And
there is reason for all this. We have
advantages and resources second to no
other section, but unfortunately here
tofore we nave not been alive to them.
The lively discussions we have been set
at over this securing of the Sterling
| Bicycle works have beer the entering
wedge, and it may be profitable to give
q short resume Of the manner of its
! getting.
The First Step.
The head man and chief stakeholder
in the Sterling Bicycle company is Geo.
S. Lord. He is the senior partner of
the wholesale drug firm of Lord, Owen
q Co., Of Chicago, and in q business
way he and E. FL. HolliSter have been
brought together. Very friendly rela-
/ lions have arisen and when the Sterling
| people begakto talk Of leaving their
present Chicago quarters and going to
some other locality, Mr. Lord asked
Mr.. HOLSTER if Kenosha was offering
any advantages to new factories. True
! to his desire to see Kenosha so ahead,
instead Of throwing the letter in the
waste basket, Mr.. Hollister began to
| bestir himself to see if the proper
movement could not be set afoot to Sc
! cure this desirable prize. He laid the
matter before the Kenosha Business
| Mems association and he was at once
! appointed a committee OF one to 90 to
| Chicago and interview the people to see
| what they might want as an induce
ment to come here. Mr.. HolliSter went
| to Chicago and held the interview and
induced the Sterling people to send
representatives up here to see what the
! place looked like. The representatives.
were met here by G. G. Brown and Mr..
Hollister. They were driven about the
city and shown the Lane plant as q
possible location. Plans were drawn
of this building and !; plat Of the
ground given them. These they took
to Chicago, and in a Gay or two eight
Of the factory people and representa-
tiyes came up. They investigated the
plant and city and when they returned
to Chicago they made up their minds
Z, that the Lane plant would not do.
| All this time they were considering
the proposition made by Elgin, Ill
c. G. Brown had by this time taken
q very deep interest in the movements
made and as presidents Of the Business
Mems association he was compelled to
Ike more or less Of Il leading part.
lie was called to Evanston two or
three times and put through severe
/ cross examination concerning KenoSha,
/ her people, her city Improvements, the
desirabIity Of this city as a factory
town and thousand and one things
this article cannot mention for lack Of
/ space. Mr.. Simmons had been arguing
with the company some time, but not
Withstanding it all the Elgin PROPOSE
! ton seemed to be the sticker and last
| Saturday Mr.. Lord came UP here Us he
stated to say good bye. He thought
they would have to decide against lle-
nosha.
People who best understand Mr..
| Brown and Mr.. Simmons know that
tiiey could not accept any such fare
/ we'll. While there was life in the adj
vantages Of Kenosha there was hope in
j these men that one more effort was at
least due the city. And they made it.
! Mr.. Lord was not allowed to say good
bye and depart. He was placed III a
buggy and driven about the city. He
was taken to the sites offered. He Wis
tied other manufacturers here. lie was
| requested to write down all he Wantet.
and it would be granted, if within tie
bounds OF reason. When these had
been done Mr.. Lord was allowed to re-
! turn home, but he had not said good
i bye Instead he said he would he back
/ again. Mr.. Simmons took the requests
he made and prepared to see that every
one of them was granted. 1t was
almost a herculean task, but the work
j was accomplished.
! Mr. Balm was seen about his land
! He has q large tract out where tile fac
tory would be most desirably located,
and he generously offered six acres Of
it at any point selected. The point
selected was just north of the knitting
works. But there were things for the
ci.y to look after The matter of water
Werks. sewers, etc, had come up Here
i the Business Mems association was
called together and the proceedings Of
that body have been reported.
The Men who Did tt.
Too much praise can hardly be be-
slowed upon Messrs. Brown, Simmons,
lIoliister and Balm. Mr. Brown worked
especially hard He is enthusiastic on
kenosha's advantages and there is not
Il man in the city who feels more deep
~ than he the greatest desires and
needs Of the place. He has worked I'M
tiringly and well. 1t would be impos-
sible for any one to give anything of an
adequate idea efthe amount of trouble
this affair put him TO, and when tile
Business Mems association voted him