Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-17
MAKE WIRE ROPE
FOR OIL FIELDS
IN LOS ANGELES
PACIFIC WIRE ROPE FACTORY
is ESTABLISHED
STEALS A MARCH ON TRUST
CONCERN
Owners of $5,ooo,ooo Factory In Oak
land Dispose of Business to
Competitors and Find
Location Here

In a secluded section of Los Angeles
at Fifteenth and Alameda streets,
surrounded by a high board fence,
factory has been established which
promises to become a great factor in
the business Of the oil fields, and has
already aroused the jealousy and OPP
position of at least one powerful rival.
The concern is known as the Pacific
Wire Rope company, and it is already
engaged in the manufacture of the
wire ropes which are used in the drill
ing of oil wells, entering a field in OPP
position to the American Steel and
Wire company (steel trust) and the
John A. Roebellings Sons to contest
for a share of a business amounting
to 100000 yearly. The men at the
head of the company are not novices
in the business, their connection with
which dates back many years and
makes interesting reading.
Lewis E. Speer, president and gen
eral manager, was the organizer OF
the Pacific Steel and Wire company,
a $5,0O0,000 concern, with an immense
factory on the water front In Oak
land. The Pacific did not use the
product of the steel trust, preferring
the English make of steel for wire
purposes because of it's superiority,
and for that reason its demise was
brought about by the purchase last
February of the Oakland plant by the
American, a subsidiary organization
of the trust. Most of the machinery
was removed and installed in the
Americans plant and the factory
buildings were abandoned.
Speer Re-enters Field
Mr.. Speer, being without engage
ments and not fanCying life of Idle
ness, cast about for another opening.
He was Joined by e. j. Bowen, who
built both the American and Pacific
plants in Oakland, and the two, to-
gether with e. e. Hulett of Los An
geles. organized the new company
which is doing business at the place
mentioned.
Care was taken to avoid attracting
the attention of the An. rican to the
new venture, and to be sure of inn
munity from annoyances or obstruc,
tions to their plans it was arranged
to bring over the first lot of steel,
comprising 10000 pounds, by round
about way The route chosen was by
steamer from Manchester, England, to
Mexico, where the cargo was landed
and conveyed by the Tehuantepec Ma
tionaI railway to Santa Cruz, thence
to San Diego on the American Ha-
waiian steamship line, and then to Los
Angeles by way of the Santa Fe.
Rival Discovers Factory
By the time the plant was ready for
operation. however, the big rival had
discovered the factory and Immediate
lv made overtures, 1t is said, for It's
purchase. It is said that Bowen re-
fused to consider the offers made, and
that threats were then used, also
without avail. However that may be,
the company is manufacturing steel
rope and has selling agents in the
field. With the record of the old Pa
cific company behind it, it is safe to
assume that the concern, which now
has a modest capitalization of $25,OOO,
will soon become one of the big man
ufacturing companies of Los Angeles,
and that with it's superior location,
close to the oil fields, it will be able to
do its share of the business
Third Plant for Bowen
The Los Angeles plant is the third
one which Mr.. Bowen has built, he
having had charge of the installation
of the machinery in the American
nIant and the Pacific in Oakland, and
the experience which he has gained
has enabled him to equip the Los An
geles factory with the best of ma
chinery which is made for that pur-
pose.
The steel wire used by the Pacific is
manufactured by Richards, Johnson
&, Nephew, Manchester, England, a
firm which has been engaged in the
business for forty years, and which
turns out superior steel wire for
that purpose. The duty is one and
three-fourths cents per pound, which
puts the Pacific under slight disad-
vantage as to the cost of the raw
product, but which the company, it is
claimed, will be able to overcome in
other ways.
First Girl want to give my hance a sur
prise for birthday present Can't you sug-
Eest something?
Second Grl-WelI, you might tell him
your age.