New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-02
FAMOUS WORKS MAY STOP.
MANUFACTURE OF ROGERS LoCoMo-
TIVES THREATENED WITH
EXTINCTION
EXTINCTION

The threatened dissolution of the Rogers Loco
motive Works. in Paterson, n. J., has met with
v-fsespread and emphatic expressions OF regret
that an industry which has made the American
craftsman known and respected nearly all over
the civilized world should be at last snuffed
ont in g manner which is almost pusillanirnous
The prime reason for the proposed abandonment
~ these famous works is the old age Of their
principal owner Jacob S. Rogers son Of the
founder, and HIS unwillingness to bear any
longer the burdens of business. This. of course
Is good enough reason for the retirement of
NJ Rogers. but # seems a wholly inadequate
one why the works themselves should be shut
down, throwing fifteen hundred men out of work
and disastrously affecting through them the
fortunes Of probably ten thousand persons
As another reason for winding up the industry
n addition 10 the Discrimination of Mr.. Rogers
to- further business cares, II is said that the
works have been allowed TO become old fash
toned and behind the times. The shops are not
high enough TO allow Of the convenient con-
struction Of the huge locomotives required to-
day and, moreover. these buildings are situated
50 far from the railway tracks that the engines
when completed have TO be hauled through the
streets OF Paterson by horses, and also that the
machinery IS behind the age when compared
with that used in the Baldwin works and
others in the East and West. which are leading
the trade to-day. Mr. Rogers is quoted as say
Ing that II would require probably 81. 100000 TO
put the works in q condition where they could
successfully compete with modern rivals for the
next thirty years, and he does not care 10 invest
that much money in new works, machinery
and new buildings, which might not be more
thar half erected before he was in his grave.
NJ Rogers is generally reported TO be wealthy
enough TO invest such a sum If he desired to do
50 but he IS chiIdless and in feeble health is
seven-y-seven years old, and he says he has
had enough Of It" Il seems altogether likely.
however. that the business men OF Paterson VIII
devise some method Of raising enough money TO
buy the property. rehabiIitate IL and bring IT
u 10 date and so continue an industry IN their
CITY which possesses q most valuable asset in
its name and reputation alone. and has paid out
wages estimated 81 S56,000.000 TO the worknen
Of Paterson since 1887, when II turned out its
first locomotive Since that time It is said that
more than i've thousand locomotives Of all styles
and descriptions have been constructed there.
This great business, Ike many another that
has achieved success, had small beginnings
Thomas Rogers, lis founder, was q 1ourneyTnan
carpenter il Paterson in lSl2 He formed
partnership with John RuI2n, sno their COM
bined capital was $50. They purchased the pat
en- right 10 make loom patterns for cotton duck
and il turned out TO be e good venture, though
E small one With his augmented capital Mr.
Rogers next formed e partnership with John
Clark. il. 10 manufacture machinery That was
n 1916. Abraham Goodwin, j., brought in more
csp!taI and the firm next became Goodwin
Rogers & Co IN 1881 Mr.. Rogers withdrew
from that firm and became the head OF Rogers
Ee-cF1grzl & CTr0svenor. This title remained IN
changed until M Rogers died in 1886
That firm IN 1887 built its first locomotive, the
Esrdusl-v for q railroad called the Mad River
and Lake Erie. The Sandusky weighed about
ten tons but Il gave great satisfaction Prior
70 that tine the locomotives USED IN this coUn-
nv had been imported from England Nj
Rogers changed al that. He continued TO build
locomotives, and hts works mad 10 De enIa 4!s.
Of buildings resenble6 village and covered two
acres q ground. Since the ten ton Sandusky
was constructed the weight Of locomotives
turned out Al the Rogers works has steadily in
creased until II is uncommon thing for
engines weighing eighCy-hve tons to be con-
Fr-leted there The works have record Of 24O
locomotives n a single year. Last year one Of