The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-01

publican members Of the Council and told
them of the situation. 1t was a revelation
10 them all. and the possibility OF one OF
the largest manufacturing plants in the
State and perhaps the most widely known
saw factory in the country leaving the city
caused some CONSERVATION. The mayor
told them that the Board Of Public Works
would prepare new contract providing all
reasonable restrictions. particularly reQuir-
ing the switching of cars late at night, and
others intended to make the switch
thoroughly safe 10 the public and no i'm
pediment to traffic on South street, and he
recommended that the councimen support
it in the general interest of the whole pub
lie. The mayor said the situation was real
ly serious and that concession to an in
dustry of the size and value of the Atkins
saw works was justihabe.
The imperative necessity for a switch
comes in the constantly expanding charac-
ter Of the business. Atkins saws are in
the van of the commercial expansion Of
America. and they have been known in
many foreign countries and have stood the
test of competition with the best English
makes. The establishment here gives en-
ployment TO one thousand men. Its new
field of manufacturing Will require the
erection of a building and its equipment,
both approximating at least 100000 in
cost and this only a year after new
building costing s15O0OO has been put in
use. The business is so large that many
days the shipments include twelve and fif-
teen cars. 1t will be impossible for the
company. with increasing cost of fuel and
a growing business, to haul its freight to
the depots, or to truck its coal from side
tracks and remain in competition with
companies in the same business.
H. c. ATKINS TALKS.
H c. Atkins. president of the company,
admitted last night that the situation was
serious for the company but declined to
disclose where the offer of land and bonus
came from, saying that he was not at lib
erty TO discuss that phase. I'VE are merely
presenting to the city officials" said he.
"a purely business matter. With the city
Offering to new factories land and aid in
an effort to increase the earning opportu-
mites of the people we feel that it will
make no mistake in giving to an old estab-
lished business privileges that are absO-
lutely necessary. So far the company is
concerned, it has no desire TO leave Indian
ceives such treatment as it deserves
Mr. Atkins also said that many offers
from other cities had been received. but
that they had been rejected until it became
apparent that changed conditions would no
longer permit this
The switch asked for enters private prop
erty owned by the AtEins Company from
McNab street The only place where il will
affect the public is on South street, which
it will cross. There is a street-railway
track there On Eddy street, between South
and Garden streets. the property on both
sides is owned and used by the Atkins
Company, so that the public question prac-
tically is the crossing of South street. The
switch will be in the Eleventh ward. and
when the former ordinance was before the
Council it met with hos stility from Council
man Kelly, and he was supported by his
Democratic colleagues, and it was defeated
The Atkins Company has a capital stock
of $1,0O0000, and its investment here repre-
sents about 81, $50 600. 1t has five large
branches in various parts of the country
and its annual business exceeds 100000
At the present time it has about 500 men
on its pay roll and in the winter season this
number is increased by 200