The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-27
Locomotive Works al Paterson
10 Be Shut Down Forever.
BOND Or 100000 DEMANDED
UntII This Is Given Mr.. Rogers, the Aged
Owner, VIII Not Consent TO Negotiate
for SAILS Of The Plant.

Patterson. Nov. 27.-There was gloom la
Paterson Yesterday. The great Rogers
Locomotive Works. Paterson's oldest IN
dustrv. on which 10000 persons have de-
pended for their daily bread, practically
closed down forever with the discharge Oh
1s0 men I'm the boiler department.
Two hundred foundrymen had already
been sent away. Only the erecting force
remains completing work contracted Tor
before Jacob g. Rogers. the septuagena-
rian bachelor who owns the works, an
nounced:
81 want 10 get out OF the business"
Mass meetings have been held by the
citizens OF Paterson. and nearly sSo'w"
subscribed foe the. purpose of purchasing
stock I'm the locomotive works TO keep
them IN Paterson for the sake of the nj
teen hundred laborers employed.
overtures have been made by New
York capitalists and wealthy syndicates
I'm ether pats of the country to buy
out the concern But all these move
ments have signally failed.
WHY THE PLAN FAILED.
"rhe reason we have failed,' said Jas.
A. Morrissc chairman OF the Paterson
citizens committee toia reporter rs just
this: Jacob S. Rogers has put condi-
t,or I'm his offer TO sell out that nobody
has seemed willing TO accept Mr'
Rogers wants the price OF the great
factory fixed by arbitration. the decision
of the arbitrators 10 be binding, but he
requires the prospective purchaser To put
up 100000 as a guarantee OF good faith'
Capitalists are not. as rule. willing
70 stand a risk OF losing $4,000 prior TO
tne naming of a price Such PROPOSE
tion as this IL an extraordinary require
nent.
while I myself, believe that MIR.
Rogers does not intend To he exacting by
this and while l am sure he. would rest
by the decision Of the appraises and
arbltrators, this one thing has been the
stumbling block
Mr.. Rogers was seen at the quaint ola
residence in which he lives alone at Park
and Madison avenues, Patterson.
We'll. what do. you want ne asked
reporter rang you want 10 ask me
about the Rogers Locomotive Works,
eh? Well, what about them?'
MIR. ROGERS DETERMINED,
lis It true that you ara. going to shut
them DOWN. WAS asked.
Yes" was the very emphatic reply.
why did the citizens movement 10
ployes al work fail?"
Mr.. Rogers affected ignorance OF any
citizens movement
Are you in earnest about Offering TO
sell the works. was asked.
''Why do YOU ask me that? Did You
come 10 buy the Rogers Locomotive
Works. ] don't see you carrying a car
pet bag full of gold with YOU and II
will take one TO buy that plant. I sup
pose you want TO know my price. Wen,
] will take S25. 600 900 for the plant. Yes,
and good deal less than that. Are
you ready to talk business?r
Along this humorous vein Mr.. Rogers
was willing to talk AT length. but he
evaded all questions concerning the real
issues involved IN Paterson's serious
Mr.. Rogers rarely goes to the shops
nowadays. but divides his time between
his residence, where he has a large col
lection ~ curios. and New YORK, where
II - said he stobs NJ the t'nion club
He declined positively TO discuss
requirlm meut ~ bond ior 100000 before
n viii submit the appraisement OF the
shops 20 arhitrators with view TO sell
fng the works. hut he repeated that he
was willing TO sell out II anybody wants
To- bay the plant.
Meanwhile groups OF discharged labor
crs were gathered on nearly every street
corner in Paterson discussing the crisis
golcmnly and sorrowfplly Among the
FIVE hundred who have already been
put out there are many who have spent
their lives in the Rogers works