The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-04-23
A DREAM
OF WEALTH
How a Plate Glass Factory
Was Operated at Crystal
City, Mo, by Spirits.

South of ST. Louis lie the counties of
Jefferson. Washington. s.. Francois and
Ste. Genevieve; the names of the towns
therein are a strang min-ling OF English,
French. German and Dutch. as Victoria,
Bonnie Terre. Bismarck and TenbFoeck.
The extreme southern limit of this sec
tion is no more than sixty miles from ST.
Louis.
The country rises from the great Faith
{: OF Waters 10 the west in gentle undula-
lions Of field. verdant PASTORAL reaches and
wooded valleys and hills. and holds in its
bosom riches of iron and lead. Its prod
ucts find the markets over the Iron Noun
tain and Frisco railway systems. Its fu-
ture development. from the present out
look. is sure to be rapid and extensive
and must add largely to the wealth Of the
State.
Leaving St. Louis over the iron Noun
tain Railroad. one passes the southwest
limits Of the city and its growing sub
urbs, by historic Jefferson Barracks;
thence along the Mississippi River TO
Her%culaReun, Crystal CITY, bonne TerTe
and Mine LaM0tse. and ON and on until
ycI look upon the sparkling waters OF
ire Gun OF Mexico. Few stop to recall
IN this active present that this region was
Tie EidoracD that gave birth 10 one OF
the most extensive sHindie Of the world
and sotsiy punished man tor his creIu.ity
and his greed. and aiIiluSI at the time
b3nkruptyG a nation.
Ii was the lead mines at Mine LaMctte
tine Oldest III American that was TO FUR
n!sn golden abundance to john Law IN
the scheme known as the Mississippi
Bubble during the reign of Louis M,
under the regency OF the Duke of Or
leans In France. IN the year lis. This Is
T. historic episode and not tradition only.
1t remained for generations after to en-
tract wealth from lead. not gold, in this
fertile section OF Missouri.
Not less interesting are the facts sur
rounding the establishment Of the great
plate-g!ass factory at Crystal City. about
thirty miles south OF 81. Louis. near the in
Ierre Railroad, On q beautiful tabie-iand
lying between the Mississippi River on the
east and the Plattin Creek on the south, 4
most beautiful. picturesque and hsaithful
region.
SOM thirty-fve years ago an enterpris-
Ing citizen OF another State. whose beau
and afterward the wife of Gypsy Count
RiSo. found here a deposit Of sand emf
nently suited to glass making, and built
the first factory. Afterwards were brought
from England @ manager and workrnen.
1t was told Of the founder Of the works
that bis religion was Of the primitive kline
that found the spirits of the departed in
the whispering leaves Of the trees; and
when the glass went wrong. with incanta-
ton to his fayorita tree. he begged the
heip OF the spirits. Whether II affected
the quality Of the glass no one now will
say
He has gone the way hat many millions
have gone. and the Pittsburgh Plate Glass
Company is its owner and has made the
factory one OF the best in the country,
not by appeals to spirits in the whisper
Ing trees. but appeals to science for its
manifold Successes, giving employment to
many hundreds Of sturdy and intelligent
woTkmen.
Since its existence, the hamlet surround
Ing the factory has been a closed town to
the public. The town of Ford City. Penn
s%ylvania, was some years ago q like her
NIT town. The company made the eX-
pertinent OF opening it 10 tbs public, and
II proved to them the wisdom OF the
move. Many Of their contented employees
now own their W homes. by the liberal
has erected here a beautiful modern town.
A like plan has been adopted for Crystal
City. and 1t will be opened to the public
at u noon. Thursday. April IS. 1904.
Additional ground has been carefully
laid out Into streets and lots and will be
Improved in a modern way with reference
to convenience, comfort and sanitation.
and all who wish. will have on the ground.
that day and after the opportunity OF
buying property upon easy terms. for cash
or on partial payments, running ten years
or less.
AS Crystal City, with It's nearness to ST.
Louis, two Zines Of railroad and the Mis-
sisstpp! River, offers prime advantages for
manufacturing. suitable sites have been
reserved for the same and are offered at
most favorable terms to the proper per-
cons,
For further particulars address
NJ. ]. ALEXANDER, Manager.
In care of Pittsburgh Pate-Glass Co,
Pittsburgh. Pa.