The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-02-20
DETERIORATION
Of CANAL DRIVES
BIG FACTORY AWAY
LicOrice Works, Unable TO Use
Waterway, Moves Plant
TO Camden.
100000 WAGES PAID
TO EMPLOYEES YEARLY
Morris Canal Company Refused
to Furnish Facilities for Ship
ments of Coal and Supplies.

Inability TO get supplies of any kind
MacAndrews & Forbes Company,
manufacturers of l~icorice, in North
Third street, from this city, and to
Camden, where they are not hampered
by such Inconvenience. The plant is
practically closed and $50 men, to whom
$500, 900 in wages was paid yearly, with
families dependent on them, have been
thrown out of employment.
Many of the employees owned their
own houses, while other people, by
reason of the employment of so many
men in the factory, opened grocery,
meat and other kinds of stores. The
owners of these places feel the blow
severely.
When the company tried TO get goods
by canal boats 1t was found impossible
as the boat accommodations were in
sufficient, and were constantly made
worse by the Lehigh Valley Railroad
people, who control the Morris Canal
and Banking Company that operates
the canal.
Found Better Location.
The railroad station nearest to the
idCluIS 10 diiilOSA lfV lllliNo AioAdllis olld
the cost of carting goods from the rail-
road entered so largely into the eX-
pense of manufacturing the licorice that
it was decided some time g to move
to a better location, and after looking
around Camden was selected and there
the company has built a larger and
more modern plant.
1t was said at the factory today thai
until about a year ago the firm was
able to get its supply of coal by the
Morris Canal, but since then for some
reason that could not be learned. the
accommodation by water was stopped
and course had to be had to the Wat
chung branch of the Erie Railroad.
The increase OF cost for freight by
raj, and the expense of carting good
to the factory made the total burden
too great to think of continuing bust
ness in this city.
Again, almost all the ~licorice root
which comes from Southern Russia
Turkey and Asia Minor had to be car,
ried to the Watsessing station by raj
and then carted by wagon to tht
factory.
The licorice arrives in this COUNT,
in ships that generally dock III Jerse.
City. There ii has to be transferre,
to railroad cars to get to Watsessine
If the company could have the licoris
transshipped to canal boats from tt
vessels on their arrival in Jersey Cit
and then brought to this city via II
Morris Canal, direct to the factory. tn
additional expense of transportation b,
rail, of unloading from ears and o
earting by wagon would have be.s
saved, and the industry might have
been saved to the city. The company
probably would have stayed also in
this city if the Passaic River were
deep enough to carry the ocean vessels
that bring the ~licorice to Newark
Thus the lack of depth of water is Iii
rectly shown to interfere with tae
progress of the city.
Another heavy item of expense neces-
sary by reason of the lack of shipping
convenience either by rail or BOAT was
in the handling of the product, whict.
had to be carted by wagon to the rail-
roads.
The local plant was started thirt, :.
seven years ago., and the majority OF
the men employed at the factory went
there as boys and grew up with the
business, and generally acquired their
own homes. They have been asked :
nov to Camden. to continue with tire
company, but do not care to, or can
not dispose of their homes, and there
fore cannot accept the invitation.
though in the case of some of the ere
ployees nothing else is left for them
to do.
Built Camden Factory First.
n7h1 xloak ~ C,r.I1D -ro. -A-.faJ
before the Newark factory, and it II
located neal the banks of the Delaware
River, which gives It the advantage Of
being able to get supplies of all kinds
by boat, and ship the manufactured
article the Same way or by rail. The
original plant has been enlarged to ac-
conmodate the equipment taken from
this city.
1t has not yet been decided what
will be done with the local plant, but
1t Will be closed up entirely in "A cew
weeks and left to the care of watch
men.
Some unpleasant features attended
the operation of the plant. The prin-
one of these was the sickenirg
odor that ANIMATED from the factory,
and which the wind carried through
the neighborhood. Victims of this Will
be gratifed at the removal, but never
the material advancement OF
the city is affected.
Changes in the help were few ana
generally occurred through death. and
then the son or grandson of the oiG
employee filled the vacancy.
One resident of that section of the
city said today:
What is the use of having such a
waterway as the Morris Canal when
you cannot use it?"
Another person suggested hal ne
State condemn the canal If it could not
seize it by revocation of charter, ard
develop 1t so as to make 1t of some
value in an industrial way.
CHARM THE FAT AVIAN