The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-17
FACTORY AIDS TOWN
North BrOOkield Owes Much
to Linen Mill.
WAKES UP LATENT ENERGY
Oxford Plant VIII Be Enlarged to
Twice Present Capacity Mer-
chants. Hotel Keepers, and Bush
ness Of All Kinds Thrive On
Needs OF the WOrLmen.

North BrOokheld. Jan. f5.-Large add
tons are 10 be built for the Oxford linen
mills within a few weeks which viii more
than double the output capacity Of the
establishment
North Brookfeld has aked Up to a re-
under the industrial influence Of the Ok
ford linen mills When that company
opened its mill. less than q year ago, the
town was a sort OF a sleepy hollow. There
was little doing in a business way, and
a conspicuous feature was the number o.
vacant houses and abandoned shops Of
fered for rent.
The untenanted hotel told story be
hind closed doors and broken windows OF
activity gone. and there was evidence OF
a further decline o. what had al one
time been a prosperous community with
goodly prospects Of substantial develop
ment
Was Not Very Welcome.
The townspeople did not AZ first look
with special favor on the advent OF the
new industry. not believing X could make
good IN It's extraordinary claims They
did not think OF the possibilities Of the
new firm, and rather expected 20 see It
peter out. as one skeptic expressed the
general sentiment
As business began TO rush in on the
mill and the number Of operatives in
creased the town realized the importance
Of the new enterprise that has made the
-
throughout the United States
The landlord Of neglected houses set
about getting the property into condition
for rental 20 the incomers. and now there
are few awaiting the occupants they are
sure 20 have very soon, and rents are
going I'D. Even the town officials have
raised their rent on the occupants Of the
town house block. which took effect
January l.
The Oxford linen mills are steadily in
creasing the number OF their employees
Property owners are preparing 10 build
cottages and houses TO accommodate the
growing demand, one OF the most positive
signs OF reawakening; the large hotel IS
20 be opened February ! by J. E Ryan,
for the past five years proprietor OF the
Shrewsbury Inn
EnIIvens Dead Town
The termination Of North BroOkfeId IS
the more interesting because OF the fact
too well known. that when towns begin 10
run down they seldom recover lost
ground. and now the people OF the ledge
town feel and show a lively gratitude
10 the directors Of this company for hay
ing set in motion in their midst an in
dustry that bids fair 10 make North
Brookfeld known industrially as an in
pOrtant manufacturing point in the Coun-
try. as there is practically no limit to the
development OF this new linen enterprise
L was piece Of luck that gave North
BrOOkield this commercial plum. for the
firm came very near making Gardner the
home Of its first mill
Their plans for locating there fell
through because the people there did not
appreciate the opportunity 70 secure a
productive industry. and the company
gave attention to the offer Of a site at
Bellows Falls. Vt But after the com
pany had already begun 70 put in ma
chinery al Bellows Falls It was discov-
cred that the property was held under a
shcrt-terrn lease from a railroad com
pany and could not be transferred for
the term Of years for which the Oxford
linen mills had stipulated. Fortunately.
this came Just at the time when the In
dian Orchard mill al North Brookfeld
was offered for sale.
Prosperity Has New Start
The directors Of the Oxford mills
promptly made the deal. bought the shop,
and a month later had the mill in opera
ton. Since that time the mill has been
equipped for the new process msnufac-
tUre. the business has been put on
profit-working basis. and the demand for
goods has increased at such rate that
the company has planned for extensive
additions to its plant in the spring All
this prosperity has been achieved in less
than years time.
The company. which is now suppling
''Oxbrook'' towels to the trade all over
the United States. expects 10 have its
all-linen products on the market in an
other two months
These two outputs. in addition 10 the
new all-linen absorbent known SIS "Oxo-
lint" which the medical profession has
so strongly indorsed. bids fair TO make
this concern one Of the big industries of
the United States within 8 very few
years. The company Is expected TO pay
its first quarterly dividend in April.