The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-14
An Immense Plant
in Worcester.
IN WORLD.
Wall Paper Printing Enter
prise to Settle Here.

committee on new enterprises on the
part of the Board OF Trade are not re-
Taxed, and from present indications
| they are going to leave no stone I'M
turned until the plant of the new con.
Germ is a reality. This new concern is
/ no ordinary venture, but one that has
been in existence for gears, and is
looking to this city as the best place
in the country to relocate its plant and
enlarge its facilities. 1t is nothing
less than the largest wallpaper print
ing concern in the country, and its
coming to this city VIII mean many
thousands of dollars added to the tax
able valuation and the employment o.
hundreds of skilled laborers.
The committee, on new enterprises,
consisting of William Hart chairman,
Lyman A. Ely, George F. Blake, Jr.,
NJ. P. Higgins, George L Brownell,
Alfred Thomas and Harrison S. Prem
tice, held a secret meeting in the d.
rectors' room at the Board of Trade
yesterday afternoon, and listened at
tentively to the plans of a Mr.. Allen
OF New York, who has been in Wor-
cester recently looking over the avail
able sites for building purposes suited
to his needs. He was closeted with the
committee for several hours, and at its
close so well satisfied were the COM
mittee that they pronounced the scheme
of getting the concern to Worcester
one of the best that had ever been
called to their attention.
The concern in question employs the
highest class of skilled labor, and it
is their intention. if a suitable parcel
land ha 70 70,
this city, where every facility is avail
able for adequate freight transporta-
ton. In his outline to tho committee
Mr.. Allen is understood to have stated
that he had selected the vacant lot of
land on Millbrook street adjoining the
Fitehburg Railroad, between Milton
and Byron streets. This land is owned
by Stephen Salisbury and can be Sc
cured on reasonable terms. 1t is Mr.
Aliens purpose to erect thereon an i'm
mense factory so by 100 feet and three
stories in height Coupled with his
desire to locate in Worcester is his
wish to sell l6rge block OF the stock
and bonds of the concern, so that it
Will be possible for Worcester capital
to have a share IN the new industry
Members of the committee seen by The
Spy reporter after the meeting We're
very reticent in regard to what trans
pired at the meeting, but the facts and
plans as outlined above were Vouched
for by one of the members of the COM
mittee last evening. AS in the case of
other similar matters brought to the
attention of this committee, they de-
sire first to thoroughly discuss the mat
ter and report their findings to the
board of directors before giving it pub
hcity.
If the plant is established in this city,
which seems most probable, it will
mean one more addition TO the long
list of varied manufactures for which
Worcester is famed. The printing of
wall paper is a most interesting oper-
alton, and one that within recent years
has been much perfected. 1t was
about $50 years ago that wall paper
was first offered for sale in this coun-
try. At that time it was only used
in the homes of the very wealthy. Its
manufacture was first begun in 1853.
and so rapidly did the use of this wall
decoration become, that in 1887 there
were several factories in Pennsylvania,
New Jersey and Boston. Some years
later with the Introduction of the
Fourdrinier machine, great improve
men was made in its manufacture, so
that it was possible to produce rolls
OF paper of great length, usually 1900
yards. and from 20 to 40 inches in
width. In 1860 there were in this coun-
try rs factories producing a value of
over $4,000 900.
II Is an interesting fact in connection
with the coming of the new concern,
that years ago this same business was
successfully run on Foster street in
the shop formerly occupied by the Rice.
Barton & Fales Manufacturing Com
pany. and that A. H. Newton. the auc-
tioneer, was for some time engaged in
rnlnPiT1ur de- r,~tY,
the paper was printed from wooden
plates on hand presses. Today the
process Of manufacture has been vast
~ improved, and instead of printing
several colors at separate operations.
the roll is run over a series of cyIin-
ders. The patterns are engraved ilnon
these cylinders, as in ordinary calico
printing, and the series of cylinders are
driven By steam. At first the naner
was prepared with successive coatings
OF glue, followed by linseed oil and siI-
gar. sun later, an outline was print
ed from wooden blocks, and afterwards
colored by hand. Stencil-printing was
also employed, and subsequently wood
en- blocks for each color. Today some
OF the wall paper turned out by this
concern vies with the best tapestries.
enc SO intricate are the designs, that
IL is sometimes difficult to distinguish
them. The patterns have been iataIv
much improved, and some of the best
decorative artists in England and
France have been employed to design
them
The remark of several members of
the committee that this is the most
promising industry that has ever been
brought to the attention of the Board
OF Trade, is significant and it may be
taken as an assured fact that unless
something unforeseen transpires, a new
industry will be added to Worcester's