Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01

While there has been complied a careful
directory of all the interests represented
here in manufacturing there have as yet
been no definite reports received from the
managers of these plants about the exact
value of their investments or the SPECIFIC
value OF the products marketed annually.
The manufacturers are SLOW TO make such
reports even to the state as required by
law, as they fear that such
would be used tQ their detriment by others
in the same liuNo of trade. This makes it
impossible 10 give other than an approx
mate estimate of the amount of capital
thus invested or the value of the products.
The estimates secured from men III che
various lines of trade are said by them to
be fairly correct as an estimate OF the
situation. They show that more than 20
90 people are employed in the manufacture
ing establishments here and that more
than S25.oo0.oO0 is invested in the plants
that furnish the employment. These fig
ures are exclusive OF packing houses in
their varied lines of manufacture as they
have invested more than $J9.001.00. and
employ almost continually 1U.uVo people in
the operation OF the departments of their
establishments.
In this estimate there are scores Of small
plants that handle some line of manufac-
turing that are not considered as they do
not appear really as manufacturers. The
basis of s15 .o00.Ooo. invested in manufac-
turing witt 1900 people continually en-
ployed, many of them at prices paid skilled
labor. makes a broad basis for the work
OF the Manufacturers Association in the
development of that line of and
|. ahN AiAt IL = AAsAAAS - AAAt 4
ests of the city as an attractive location
for others.
The unexcelled railroad facilities, the
very wide field for the distribution of
goods. the low price of coal and The facili-
ties for all sorts of conveuiances SO ma
terial to commercial enterprises all tend
TO make Kansas City an ideal place for
manufacturing plants. There exists a
spirit OF hearty cooperation on the part
Of the public. and homemade goods are
SOLD here quite as readily as any others
when properly handled. Slack coal for
use Is furnished on the switches at
from 90 cents to $l.25 per ton, and maTufac-
turing coal at prices ranging from Sl.JJ TO
$50. according TO quality and quantity
taken. There is never any trouble here
about securing all OF the accommodations
from all sources that are required. and the
location has many advantages not to be
found elsewhere.
The portion Of the city known as the
West bottoms. extending from the west
bluffs to the state line, has been given over
TO wholesale houses. manufacturing plants
and railroad yards. while the East hot
toms out at the eastern portion of the
city has sites almost without limit for
every enterprise that requires railroad IA
cilities and quick handling of goods.
Switching charges are low and the trans
fer OF cars and the disposition of that line
OF trade furnishes no trouble for the ship
per or the manufacture. 1t is these varied
and valuable items that afford the asso-
citation such n splendid chance for Offering
Inducements 10 the men who are hunting
q location.
In the effort TO attract greater attention
to manufacturing here and to make the
plants already located here more remun-
eratIye the Manufacturers Association has
furnished to all employees of labor IN the
CITY q circular letter that mas been placed
in the hands of every person employed. Il
gives n long list of the articles manufac-
tured IN Kansas City. and sets forth the
advantages TO laboring people that are
10 accrue from their giving their preference
10. homemade goods whenever they can
90 so. as II stimulates home trade and en-
ables the cash thus spent TO be kept at
home and factories here to employ more
labor ana develop more rapidly. From that
circular Inc best results have already been
seen and goods made in Kansas CITY II
Is. A. are becoming more popular each dav.
The Following is a careful and ccnserva-
owe estimate OF the amount of capital in