Connecticut western news., 1908-05-07
CANAAN CONN. THURSDAY MAY T. 1908.
LIME ROCK HAS NO
 LABOR TROUBLES
UNIQUE HAMLET IN THIS RESPECT
The Fame of the Barnum, Richardson Plant has EncircIed the Globe. IA Few Words of History

TCW VUlNS Ol tliCkUi
 In descriptive article referring to Lime Rock, the New York Herald says: Tucked away in, but outreaching rock bound glen at the head of a triangular valley that spreads itself out in gentle undulations between the breaking spurs of the Taconic range, half hidden in the arboreal luxuriance clothing its quiet precincts and the encompassing cliffs, and commanding a prospect of soul ex- alting scenery on every hand this indust rial village of Lime Rock, which. with its great iron furnace and foundry and its happy population of half thousand d pendent thereon, has yet to see the slightest labor trouble of any kind, affords the country unique example and shines forth bright, fixed star of hope for that day wren employer and employe the land over will become partners in last ing and reconciing peace.
 Situated a mile west of Lime Rock sta- tion, the village of Lime Rock occupies both banks of Salmon Creek, to whose never failing water power it owes it's ex- istence. This stream rises on Mount Riga. The.Salmon emerges here through deep gash in the mountains, and doing the work which it has kept up unceas- ingly for nearly two hundred years, bends eastward in a wide curve and, following the basin of a supposed prehis- toric lake, flows to the Housatonic.
 Lime Rock is the handspring of the extensive works of the Barnum. Rich ardson Company, whose production of Salisbury charcoal pig iron, chilled car wheels and general casting has girdled the globe. The first forge for the smelting of Salisbury iron was built here by Thomas Lamb in 1734. and for nearly century Lime Rock had it's ups and,downs. In 1920 Milo Barnum, the founder of the present Barnum, Rich ardson Company, who was 8 native of Dover, Dutchess county, New York, crossed the Taconics and began business here as retail merchant, with fair deal ing and great capacity for work his prin- cipal asserts. Ten years later, when the first foundry for remelting pig iron was built here, MT. iBarnum acquired control thereof and made his son-in-law, Leonard Richardson, apartner. A few years later he took his son, William H. Barnum, in to partnership. Until 1840 the firm, which was then Barnum, Richardson & Co.,, made clock and sash weights, blow cast ings and many small articles. Then it took up railroad work and made chairs, frogs and heel blocks for the new line under construction between Springfield and Albany, now part of the Boston and Albany Railroad. Next the manu- facture of car wheels was begun, and the business assumed larger proportions Salisbury iron was soon establishing reputation as 8 most important factor in the safety of railway travel.
 Milo Barnum retired from active busi. ness in 1852 and the firm then became Richardson, Barnum & Go. In 1858 the Beckley furnace, at East Canaan, was ac- quired, and four years later the Forbes furnace, near by Another purchase was that of large foundry in Chicago, for the operation of which the Barnum 6 Richardson Manufacturing Company. was formed. In 1904 the present Barnum, Richardson Company was organized. In 1870 second foundry was erected here, in 1872 a third furnace at East Canaan and ill 1873 new wheel foundry in Chicago. It was not long before eight furnaces were running. full blast, con- verting the output from the old Hill. Davis X Chatfield mines into equipment for the great railroads then being thrown across the continent, William H. Bar mum and MT. Richardson, who married his sister. continued to be the active heads of the company for many years, and to-day their respective sons, State Senator Charles W. Barnum and Milo B. Richardson, are at the helm. The present officers of the company are:- President and Treasurer, Milo B. Rich ardson; Vice President, Charles w. Bar mum; Secretary, Richard N. Barnum, and Assistant Treasurer, Milo B. Rich ardson, Jr.