Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-02-13
STEAM ROLLER PROJECT
Committee Appointed to Investi-
gate the Proposition.
Believed That Lang 81 Goodhue Plant
10 a Good Place to Manufacture the
Machines and That . Good Profit
Can be Made.

IN response to an invitation from Mayor
Hawley. about 30 representative business
men gathered Monday evening at the city
court room to discuss the formation of II
company in this city for the manufacture
of steam road rollers. Tho subject pro-
vcked considerable enthusiasm and II COM
n ittee was appointed &c make investiga-
items and report at a later meeting.
The gathering was called to order by
Mayor Hawlcy. who presided. Ira w.
Drew was appointed secretary. In OPEN
ing Mayor Hawlcy said: New England
has offered a good field for the sale of
rollers but Of the four companies manu-
featuring them in the United States not
one is in New England.
"'rhe inventor has retired from active
business but he has recently been perfect
ing new steam roller, which is claimed
to be FAR superior to any machine now ON
the market. Tho patents have been taken
cut in his name, but he has "a signed them
tn his son. consequently they are not tied
up or controlled in any way.
The son recently visited this city and
has looked over the Lang & Goodhua prOp =
crtv and finds that the shops will answer
all the purposes fer the manufacture Of
his machine. lie made a careful estimate
| OF the cost Of repairs to the machine shop.
and also the cost of new machines which
iii be required in order to properly per-
form the work ana compete with other
similar concerns. The cost of repairs will
rot exceed $4,000. and 5000 will purchase
| the cessary machinery in addition t.
what is now in the plant, making 4 total
cost of $1,000 to put the plant in running
| OF der He made Inquiries as to freight
yates, and found that we get Boston rates
by rail. and by water from ana to New
ork during tho season of navigation i
rate OF 81 per ton is made.
! THE cost of manUfa curing the road
| roller is from five to six cents Per poun /,
| and they sell from ten to twelve cents.
which would seem to irdicate that there
was u very large profit on the machine.
| There are three sizes. twenty. twenty five
and thirty ihors and pounds. 1t is elaine.
! that there are 70 bad dc hts, owing tn the
I fact that nearly all Of the machines are
sold to cities = I'd towns.
/ AS to the az cunt of mt ncy to bc raise
IN order to carry on the business success
fully, II is thought bost to organize CON-
lany with n capital of one hundred thou.
Sand dollars. with a raid up capital N
sovc1ty-tivc thousand. A working 'apit II
of at least forty thousand will be rc1uir I'd
in order to properly carry on the bltsineS,
aud not be Handicapped for lack OF funds
ii company is organized at once and tllc
above named plant purchased. ten q
twelve mac.ir.os can be built and placed
rrnn the market this coming season
The mate" was disct scd at consider.
"hle length and faith in the enterprise was
oppressed by Elias Lyman. George f.
Wright, Willard Creme. f. Il. Houston ani
others.
Joseph Aud made a motion that cam.
riitiee II two he appointed to visit H.
gentlemen who wish to locate the manu-.
factory here and to investigate the prop.
i'Silion. Tho chair appointed Wilaro
Crane and Prot. J. w. Notey az such 2
'":Hmit'ec and they will leave BurlinctcI
shortly TO cany out the M:shcc Of the
II Getting.