The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-19
DICKSON COMPANY PLANS
President Zehnder in an Interview
Outlines the COmpany's Purpose.
BIG CHANGE IN EQUIPMENT
Boilers of Extreme Pressure to Bs Built.
Foundry to BE Divided lpto Two Do.
partments-Frogs and Switches
Will Be Manufactured.

1t is quite plain why any move made
by the Dickson Manufacturing COM
pany should be observed with interest
by people of this city. The chief rea-
son is that :he concern IL one of the
most extensive In this region. but an
added interes. Is just now attached to
the plans of the company because of the
recent sweeping change in its Organi2a-
ton and the belief that as radical u
change will be made in the business
policy. In view OF this condition q Trib-
une reporter sought and obtained an in
terview yesterday with Charles II.
Zehnder, the new president OF the COM
paEy.
Mr.. Zehnder alone Is an interesting
study. in that he Is one OF the young
and self-made successful buGiness men
whose energy and ability accounts for
the success and progress made through
out the great manufacturing state of
Pennsylvania. Immediately preceding
his engagement by the company few
weeks ago he was the president of the
Jackson 4 Woodin Manufacturing conf
pany. OF Berwick. Pa. In that position
he did not represent more than nomi-
nal direct financial interest in the
Jackson 4 WoOdin company, he having
held the office solely through his abil-
ity to fill the position, To which he had
been gradually promoted from a clerk
ship. He is a pla in-spOken individual
without any frills. and has no peculiar
ity or hobby. his mind and bent being
confined to business channels. He has
Il. peculiar. faculty for meeting uneX
pected emergencies and grasping them
without ponderous study Ii might he
imagined that Il summons TO New York
or to one of the Scranton shops OF the
company would be- received by him with
equal equanimitS.
Changes That Have Bccn Made.
Mr.. Zehnder was aveIse to discussing
in detail his plans for changing the
shop systems Of the company. neither
would he talk at length on the changes
that would be made in the working
force Of office and shops. What he said
was in a general way concerning the
company's business plans. From the
reporters interview with him the fol-
lowing facts Were CLEANED:
Since the resignation OF Sidney
BrOadbent the general superintendent.
the position has been filled by Frank
W. Gerecke, the company'S chief engi-
neer. 1t Is not now known that the Of
flee of general superintendent will be
continued, but Mr.. Gerecke will tenn
porarily attend to the duties of the Of
flee and will be indefinitely retained as
an employe. No changes will he made
in the office force until the arrival here.
Of Mr.. Bower. the new secretary and
treasurer. who succeeds w. II. Par
kins The affairs Of the Office will be
entirely relegated to Mr.. Bower. who
will be given absolute pern,issiOn to or
ganiZe his clerical force and will have
entire supervision of the Offices and ac-
counts. After March / the office of pur-
chasing agent will be abolished. 1t Is
now occupied by r.. r.. Chase. who will
be retained in some other capacity, all
these matters to be left to the discre-
ton of the new secretary and treasurer
Forcnen win he Il cid Responsible.
About the shops and sub-departments
Of the works it is Mr.. Zehnder's inten-
tion to abolish the intricate system of
numerous, foremen. 1t is the intention
to appoint Il foreman head over each
general shop. like the machine. boiler
and forging shops and to hold such
foreman strictly accountable for the
success or failure of the management of
his department. This means. practical
ly. that each foreman will hire or dis
charge his own subordnates and man
age the details of his department as he
sees fit. Heretofore such matters have
been controlled from the general office.
Several radical changes are to be
made at once in enlarging and strength
ening several buildings and equpping
them with improved and heavy ma
chinery This will be done at the boil
er house. which il now equipped for
the manufacture of no heavier than l6O-
pound pressure boilers. while the mar
ket demands boilers of as high as 2tO-
pound pressure. TO properly do this
work there will have to be built in the
shop heavy travelling cranes and rivet-
ting machines capable of welding the
rivets necessary to these later-day boil
erS
improvements at Cliff Works.
The foundry is to he renovated to per-
nit the manufacture of light and heavy
castings In separate parts Of the build
ing. At present this department con-
tains two cupolas. only one of which is
being used. The interior will be re-
arranged so that the heavy castings
may be made In one end Of the building
and the light work In the other end,
one cupOla to be used for each class OF
work.
Elaborate and extensive improve
ments are contemplated at the Cliff
works, where heavy and complete forg-
ing equipment will he introduced. 1t is
intended to make specially of frogs
and switches.
The cOmpany's plans in the matter of
locomotive manufacturing have not
been definitely decided upon, but for the
present this class of work will proceed
as formerly.
President Iehnder is now devoting all
his time and attention to so equipping
the shops and organizing the working
forces of the departments that the COM
pany will soon be ready for extensive
contracts. This will be possible within
few weeks. although the equipment
will not be completed until possibly the
end of summer. An effort will be made
to increase the company's business
four fold by the end of the year.