Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-07-04
INTERVIEW WITH
SUPT. THOMAS
Some Facts Relative to the Rebuilding of
the Reading Iron Works.

An interview was had Tuesday with
| David Thomas, snperintendent Of the
Reading Iron works. this city, relative
to the proposed rebuilding Of the plant.
Mr.. Thomas stated that but little addi-
| tonal remains to be said. He re-
| iterated the statement that moth
ing will be done until the terms on
which the company proposes to rebuild
| have been submitted to council and that
| body has taken action. Then, assum-
ing that the action of council has been
| favorable, force of men will be immedi-
ateIy put to work clearing away the de-
/ bris and mechanics employed TO make
the necessary repairs to the machinery
Whether the new structure will be of
| wood or steel, Mr.. Thomas stated, is
| question which il is rather too early to
discuss. As to machinery, also, he
stated it is difficult to tell just what i'm
provements may be adopted. The in
tention is to continue in the manu-
i'StuiC VI tIC odlIc pIUuuCl dS lOTLl-
erly
The more modern methods employed
will enable the plant to do better work
| and with the same number of men in
crease the product Including the i'm
provements contemplated before the
fire the full cost of the new plant, Mr..
fota IA,
100000.
Mr.. Smink is quite favorably impress
ed with the spirit shown by our citizens
and especially by the men employed at
the plant At the meeting Monday
night he warmly commended the set of
resolutions presented TO the company by
the committee of citizens which visited
Reading a few days after the fire 1t
was, he said, an attestation of esteem
and appreciation that the company
values highly.
As business proposition, every thing
favored the removal of the plant to
Reading. Thus, said Mr. Smink, would
big item be saved in freight, as the pig
iron used in the Montour Rolling Mills
department is all manufactured by the
company at Reading, while the product
of our plant here also goes back to that
city
There is, however, Mr.. Smink explain
ed, matter of sentiment involved. The
Montour Rolling Mills are identical with
the history of the town, while a>long
those employed at the plant are some
800 men who have their homes in this
city. To effect the removal of the plant,
therefore, was a step that the company
would regret to make so long as the
citizens of the towL show the proper
disposition toward the company. All
that is asked, therefore, is treatment
that is fair and just and the plant will
remain. {
Our citizens Tuesday were in the
best of spirits over the good news that
the Reading Iron Company contemplate
es rebuilding. Ever since the fire there
was grave anxiety in all circles as to
what the company might decide to do.
This feeling weighed upon none more
heavily than the wage-earners, them
selves, many of whom were fearful that
they would have to leave town and were
actually casting about for employment
at other places. They now all look to
council, hoping that it will rise to the
full req uirements of the situation and
do nothing that will hinder or discourage
the rebuilding of the works. The pub
lie seems ready to sanction almost any
measure that council may see proper to
enact. One of the leading merchants
on Mill street probably struck the key
note of sentiment yesterday when he de-
clared; "Why,I would not object to the
doubling of my tax, if it was necessary
in order to retain the Reading Iron
Works"