Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-09-12
New Industry For Burlington.

Those progressive citizens of Burling-
ton who have been striving In vario
ways to promote It's growth and develop
ment will rejoice to learn that an oppor-
tunty to secure an important industry re-
curing skilled labor has presented itself,
and that with practically no cost to them
The Lumiere North American Company
Limited has had representatives, looking
over the situation for some time and the
company has purchased Howard Park
with the intention Of locating here, pro-
vided our citizens simply grant them ex-
emption from taxation for ten years.
The parent organization is Lumierc 81
Company OF Lyons France, famous
manufacturers of Photographic dry
plates and photographs papers whose
business has been established over a quar-
ter of century. At the present time the
firm employs about one thousand opera
tives, and some idea of the extent of its
operations can be gained from the state
ment made that it cuts up twenty thro e
acres of glass every working day in the
year on an average, and that it consumes
100 tons of ice per day. The fact that our
citizens are not asked to take stock in the
branch company may be accounted for by
the large profits of the company, which
has been paying forty per cent to it's
shareholders for the past seven or eiGht
years besides carrying large sum to the
surplus and Improvement accounts.
Having attained a foremost position In
its European business this concern deter
mined to enlarge its field. hut it was
thought best to form an Independent cor
poration for this purpose and according
ly the Lumiere North American Company
was formed with a Capitalization of 81,
100000 Of whi,h $4,000 has been paid
in. Mr. +. J. White, who Is to be general
manager of the industry in this country,
came to this country last June for the
purpose Of making n thorough investiga-
ton with reference to possible locations,
and the thoroughness of his work has
been in accordance with its Importance.
lie first mapped out different sections II
the country, and visited the t. S. weat n
er bureau at Washington for the pur-
pose of ascertaining the humidity, tenn
perature and other points about the vari-
Gus towns taken under consideration The
chief requirements of this industry arc a
clear atmosphere with freedom from
smoke and abundance Of pure water. al d
after investigating available location.
with reference to these requisites as
we'll as transportation facilities and
labor conditions the desirable
places were reduced to Ave in number of
which Burlington was fortunate enough
to be one. A leading city offered the com
pany twenty-five acres of land, exemption
for fifteen years and a cash bonus OF
s?5, 900 which offer Is still open and will he
accepted in the event of Burlington not
granting the exemption asked for.
Manager White and his brother Mr.. T.
L White manager of the company r
London With Offices at rs Queen Victoria
street, came to Burlington a few week.
since and made a thorough inquiry intt
every question that might affect their Sc
lection of a location here. Their plans
were announced and few OF our progress
sive citizens at once began negotiations
which resulted in the conditional purchas,
of a site as stated Mr.. White brough
detailed plans and specifications for tn,
buildings which the company is to cree
in this country, so that as soon as a SIT,
was chosen he could proceed at once will
the work of construction.
When the plant as at present outlined il
completed the buildings will occupy abou
three acres but these will not all be erect
ed at once The structures will be o
brick and will DO Of attractive appearance