Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-22
BIG FACTORY FOR THIS CITY
Omaha Practically Secures Location Of
Leather Manufacturing Plant.
ONLY A QUESTION OF PAYING FOR SITE
New Plant VIII occupy five Bis
Buildings and Employ About
Two Hundred People
at the Beginning.

The tannery, glove factory and wool
pulling establishment Of William Topp,
now situated at Jamestown, N. Y, and en-
ploying 175 hands, will be moved to Omaha
within the present year, provided a fund OF
SIS, 900 for the purchase Of a site can be
raised by subscription. Mr.. Topp, who has
been in the city for some days, has s~ignihed
his readiness to make the move IL a free
site is furnished for his factory in Omaha,
and a committee Of the Commercial club
has taken up the task Of raising the neces-
sary money.
For some time Mr.. Topp has realized that
the successful continuation of his business
could be best assured by a removal to the
west, the territory from which he has for
years drawn the raw material used in the
products OF his factory. 1t has been his
custom to make frequent trips to western
cities for the purpose Of purchasing raw
material, and on a recent visit to st. Joseph
he intimated to business, men Of that city
his contemplation OF the west as a suitable
place for his manufacturing plant. The St.
Joseph men seized the opportunity at once
and offered Mr.. Topp a free site and a cash
bonus IL he would locate in their city. The
manufacturer also received a liberal propo-
sition for the location of his plant at To-
peka, Kan.
Comes to Omaha.
While considering the st. Joseph and To-
peka propositions, Mr.. Topp came to Omaha
for the purpose Of buying pelts from the
packers, and to some Of them he suggested
his probable removal TO some western city.
The matter was Immediately brought to the
attention Of the Commercial club and a
committee Of that organization lost no time
in taking Mr.. Topp into it's confidence. The
advantages of Omaha as a place for the
/, manufacture of leather goods were quickly
and distinctly pointed out to the fastener.
1t was shown that Omaha was not only a
primary market for hides and pelts. but
that more iobbers in leather goods could be
reached from this point within a days ride
than from any other city.
Being convinced that Omaha was the best
place in the west for the location OF his
factory, Mr.. Topp told the local committee
that he would not ask a cash bonus as a
consideration for his removal to this point,
but, in view of the offers that had been
made to him by st. Joseph and Topeka, he
thought this city ought to furnish a site
free Of cost to him. In this the Omaha men
agreed with him and at a meeting OF the
Commercial club executive committee on
Thursday 1t was decided to undertake the
task Of raising by subscription a fun SUN
Client to purchase a suitable site for the
buildings proposed to be erected by Mr..
Topp.
Selects Suitable Site.
After looking about the city, Mr.. Topp
has selected a tract Of two acres Just south
of the Metz brewery as a suitable location.
This property belongs to p. e. Her and his
price for it is understood to be SIC, 900. Mr..
Her has already subscribed 81 900 for the
purchase Of the site for the new factory
and the subscription holds good even II
Mr.. Topp should finally decide not to take
the Her land.
Mr.. Topp says that as soon as the site Is
furnished he will begin work upon the
buildings and will first open the tannery,
removing the wool-puliing business later
and finally starting the manufacture of
gloves, as he does not desire to abandon
the Johnstown plant until the Omaha plant
is completely equipped for work. In addition
to making gloves he will prepare hides for
the manufacture Of fur garments and this
branch of the trade will be developed as
rapidly as possible. The experienced tan
ners and glove makers now In the employ
OF the house In New York will be brought
to Omaha, but employment will be given to
about $50 men and women OF the city as
soon as the business is we'll under way.