Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-15
1.-THE Man Of Mystery"
Read Hires Old Armory Hall
To Start 1O0-Machine, u.s.
Hands Manufacturing Plant
He Later Processes to Be Wanted
To Locate In Bangor.

And now it is Skowhegan that has
received a visit from the enterprising
but plainly mysterious Henry Read.
whose project for booming the placid
prosperity of d quiet industrial COM
munity by the establishment of rae
tory for the manufacture Of canton
flannel gloves and similar products has
thrown three Boards of Trade into a
tremor of anticipation. but whose gilt
tering word pictures have thus far
failed to materialize in tangible form.
His career in Skowhegan is almost a
duplicate of Hallowell's experience.
Read came here the middle of last
week, and almost Immediately nego-
tiated for a two-year lease of the old
ArmOry hall in the NJ b. Heseton
block, with an option of a renewal,
closing the trade promptly. He also in
tercsted the officers of the Board OF
Trade. consulted attorneys with ref
erence t" the organizing of a corpora
ton, to have a capital stock of $500 900
secured an option on electric power
from the Skowhegan Electric Light 60.
sufficient to run 100 machines, and
made himself generally active in ad-
vertising his project.
Read announced his intention of in
stalling at once 100 machines for the
manufacture of cloth gloves. necessi-
tating the employment of 125 hands
from the start, with the ultimate in
tention Of greatly increasing his plant
and output and erecting a building of
his own. He claimed to have been in
the business in Norfolk, Virginia, for
.he past four years. in which time he
hat no
out there because of a preference for
Maine, and a relief that conditions
were more favorable for a profit in the
industry located in this section.
Apparently no effort has been made
to secure stock subscription and the
meaning of Reads activity is not quite
clear. He has made an effort to secure
a local man as treasurer, but does not
insist on his taking any large amount
of stock, claiming that the business is
so profitable he has no desire to dis
pose of much of the stock. The man
he selects as treasurer. he says. can
take as little stock as he pleises. The
par value of the shares, as in Halo
well, is placed at s. per share.
Friday Read professed himself not
quite satisfied with the way his pro,
to be sought for by the Bangor Board
of Trade. and to be considering that
location, although ne seemed to pre-
fer Skowhegan. He made overtures to-
ward canc' ling the lease he had en-
tered into, and otherwise began to
take hack water, but on Saturday was
still in town apparently bent on his
project. although his plans had shrunk.
~
chimes.
Before Reed had been IN town "a
hours warnings began to come from
various sources and a quiet invcstiga-
tion into his past began. with The re-
suit that his history in Hallowell and
the history of the w r. Jordan, who
descended on Sanford and who has
been declared to be identical with
Read, were ascertaincd, \ sight draft
on w. j. Jordan was Forwarded for
presentation to him through local
bank. but he denied his identity with
that individual, or any knowledge of
the transaction.
The writer Mas shown a printed es-
innate OF the returns from the bust
ness used by Read in Hallowell, on a
letter head of the New England Man
nfacturing Co, Makers of Cotton
Gloves. Overalls, Flags. Tents. Avn
ings Hammocks, Etc in which is
elaborated in detail the cost of ma
terial, selling price per dozen, weekly
capacity. and minutely itemized ex-
pense account. closing with ii mpu-
tation of net yearly profits amounting
to $56o,52S. This on an equipment of
456 machines Accompanying it was a
blank for subscription to preferred
stock, at s. per share. STIMULATING that
on failure to pay interest at an agreed
rate, left blank. the holder might take
possession Of all company property
Miss Lola b. Goodwin entertained
the Ladies' Afternoon Whist Club Fri
day afternoon at her home on High
street. Mrs G. F.. Durrell and Mrs. J.
p. Oak were the prize winners.
Mark and Webster Savage are on a
brief hunting trip to the Deadwater
region
An engagement of interest to Show
hogan society has just been made pub
lie. that of Bin w Page. only son
of the late f. +. Page. and who sue
ceeded him AS cashier of the First Ma
tional Bank. and Miss Mary Nay
youngest daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
George l.. Nay. Miss Nay has been
for several months past in charge of
the money order department of the