Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-23
OFFICIALS
ARE INTERESTED
Mr.. 6. E. Chamberlain Visits
City to Ascertain the Lo-
cal Situation
WILL REPORT FAvoRAsLy

Plant Until Changes Are Made in It
The $4,000 Not Considered When
Compared With Operation Of the
Plant at a Loss to the Company.
Whether the result looked for wiz
be forthcoming, as the effect of the
increase in valuation assessed on the
plant OF the Glucose Sugar Refining
company in this city, will be as ex-
jpected by the council. is not as yet
known. It is known, however, that
the officials at the head Of that cor
tporation have been aroused sufficiently
by the notice of the increase, to send
representative to this city to look
over the local conditions and feel the
pulse. as it were, Of the special com
mittee Of the council which has had
the matter in charge. For this purpose
superintendent Of the local plant, spent
Thursday in this city. comforting with
the committee. What the result of his
visit will be can not be foretold. but
1t is known he will carry a report
to Mr.. S. 7. Butler, general manager
of the United States Corn Products
Association. also other officials OF the
big trust. Mr.. Chamberlain said his
report could not be otherwise than IA
|yorable to the city.
While Mr.. Chamberlain is 40 longer
directly connected with the glucose
company, but is superintendent Of the
National Starch Company, he is never
theless closely in touch with the inter-
ests and oficials OF the glucose cor
poration.
Cause Of His Visit.
When seen Thursday night Mr..
Chamberlain stated hat he had
stopped here on his way from Nebraska
City to Chicago on the request Of Mr..
Butler, who wished him to investigate
the local conditions in this city relative
to the interest Of the plant located
here. He said his visit here was Of
an entirely unofiicial nature, and he
had been requested to stop, simply for
the reason that he was very we'll ac-
quainted with the local conditions, due
from his former residence here. Mr..
Chamberlain was superintendent Of the
works here at the time sewage dis
posal plant was commenced, and was
largely instrumental in the erection of
the plant.
Denies pismantIing of Plant.
When asked regarding the removal of
machinery from this plant and being
placed in the other factories, Mr..
Chamberlain, said it was not a fact
that any machinery was being removed
from here that would to any serious
extent cripple the works. He admitted
that one lathe from the machine shops
and one filter press had beer AXE out
and shipped to Davenport for use there,
but said these pieces were not essen
tial to operating the factory. He furth-
er stated. to show the good intent of
the company, that It had recently pur-
chased, at a cost OF $4,000, a new en-
CINE for the Chicago plant which was
exactly like the here. He said:
company has no intention of re-
moving machinery from this factory,
for had 1t any such an idea, 1t would
have removed the engine here to Chi
cago rather than purchase a new one"
Seems 20 Still Fear injunction.
Mr.. Chamberlain still seems to dread
Tama county and her injunction suits
for, while he admitted in part that the
new sewage disposal plant was ade-
duate. he said 1t would not be entirely
so until the remaining filter beds could
be completed, which las not been done
owing to a lack of cipders. Regardless
of this he said that still the company
would have trouble during certain times
OF the year, when the water in the river
was at a low stage. When told that
Tama county officials had inspected
the plant, and had pronounced 1t salts
factory. he intimated they did not know
what they We're talking about. He
stated that in its present condition the
sewage disposal plant was not quite
adequate to the, needs. of the factory.
He still chung to this statement. even
when told that the constructing engi-
neers had pronounced 1t in its present
almost entirely finished condition to be
sufficient for the needs Of the glucose
sewage.
Only One Hope for City.
Mr.. Chamberlain admitted there was
a faint hope that the factory here
might resume operation, but 1t was
hinged on, a 'proposi,ion." He refused
to disclose what was meant by this, but
;saidit was under consideration now and
in case 1t was carried thru the plant
would be opened. II it were not there
would be no hope for q change from
the present conditions. He intimated,
without saying what this proposition
was, that an expenditure of considera-
BILE money was contemplated to make
the plant such that besides glucose
syrup, starch. sugar and other BIZ
products could be manufactured here.
It is understood from what he said
that in case this was rot % the plant
would remain closed, as it is at the
present time.
Why the Factory Was Closed.
Mr.. Chamberlain said that the only
product turned out from the factory in
this city was glucose, and that the bulk
Of 1t was marketed in England and
Europe. This was done at a loss, and
during the past W years an import
duty on glucose a been placed in
England, so that the attempt to manu-
facture glucose in this city and market
it in England would be impossible. The
market in the west and middle west was
limited, and was not of sufficient vol
AAL n