Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-25
GLUCOSE PLANT TO
BE GROCERY MILLS
Western Grocer Company Buys Property to
Enlarge Capacity Of the Spencer
Let's Coffee Company
Great Variety of Products.

The Western Grocer Company long
ago recognized the fact that In the
manufacturing business lay the hope
of the success of the Wholesalers and
that the more of its products it could
manufacture the simpler would become
its problem OF success In wholesaing.
This realization is what caused the or
ganization of the Spencer-Letts Cof-
fee Company, and is what caused its
growth and expansion into the manu-
facture and preparing for the trade
numerous staple articles that the pub
lie is more and more demanding be
put up in separate packages. The
roasting OF coffee and the putting Of
it in packages and the roasting OF pea
nuts was the first business of the COM
pany Later it has expanded until
now it buys and prepares for the trade
all of the coffee, tea and peanuts the
houses of the Western Grocer Company
and much other trade handle. In addi-
ton to this it does an immense busi-
ness in currants, raisins. rolled oats.
sugar, salt and rice. Many of these
staples are imported, and in the case
of currants they are cleaned and put in
packages. The raisnS are seeded by
machinery and packed in little con-
tainers. The oats is packed under
special labels; sugar is conformed into
icing and fruit sugar, and rice, of
which the company has bought ten
cars in the past two months. is cleaned
and packed in packages. All Of this
cleaning and packing is done by ma
chinery.
New Departments to Be Opened.
The plans of the company contem-
plate the opening of a number of new
departments. 1t is expected by April
/ to have flavoring extract manufact-
uring machinery in operation at its
present plant This will later be moved
to the new building. BY fall a spice
grinding department will be opened.
where all kinds of ground and whole
spices will be handled and packed. In
a like manner it will handle cocoanut,
tapioca, starch and all of the other
grocery sundries, which are now sold
in packages. and which the company
has not been able to deal in because
of the lack OF room. The various
branches Of the Western Grocer Com
pany, take a large part of the output.
but much of it is sold thru statesmen
to retailers. outside Of the territory
reached by the corporations branches.
Council Encourages Expansion.
BY its unanimous action the city
council, at it's adjourned meeting Mon
day night. approved the expansion of
the Letts-Spencer Company and en-
couraged the proposed purchase by an
equitable tax assessment and water
rate. The Western Grocer Company's
proposition, which had been made to
the Retail Merchants association, was
put before the council by officers of
the company. This proposition asked
that an assessment of $4,000 for tax
able purposes be put on the property
for the years 1907 to 1916 inclusive,
and that water be furnished at the
cost Of pumpage. and that fire hy-
drants, be located under the drec-
tion of the chief of the fire depart
ment.
In return, the Western Grocer Com
pany would buy the glucose property,
spend from 100000 to s25.000 on i'm
mediate improvements, would increase
the factory force as demands war
ranted, possibly to 100 employees, which
will include from ten to fifteen travel
ing men. 1t also predicted that it
would do business of from $10OO000
to s1,5OO.oOo within the next three
years No cash bonuses of any kind
were asked.
Resolution Adopted Unanimously.
The adoption of the resolution grant
ing what was asked in the foregoing
was moved by Herman, and seconded
by Psenicka. 1t passed without
dissenting vote. At the request of the
council President F. C. Let's, Ollie Ell
lis. second vice president, of the
Western Grocer Company: and Man
ager r. W. McCreery, of the Spencer
Let's Coffee Company, were asked to
speak. Mr.. Let's said Marshalltown
had always been his first love, and he
had opposed the establishment of the
mills at any other place than here.
Mr. McCreery told what the company
was doing. 1t is known that there
has been much opposition to the es-
of the mills here, and that
some Mississippi river point, which
had the advantage of cheaper freight
rates from the railroad centers, was
favored by members of the
executive committee of the corporation.
Mr.. McCreery has gone repeatedly to
other cities looking for locations, but
both he and Mr.. Let's have contended
and held out for Marshalltown.
The councils resolution carried with
If instructions to the city solicitor to
appear in the district court and secure
an order and modified decree estab-
fishing the tax assessment on the
property, and to secure the assessment
as fixed by the council during the
wears covered by the resolution. The
MAYOR and city attorney were also
to complete the negotia
tons.
CARklNS WAS MURDERED.