Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-01-27
IOWA WANTS FACTORY GROWTH.

The Iowa State Manufacturers as
ISOLATION has started movement FOR
establishing q weekly manufacturers
day throughout the state. 1t is planned
to make the first Tuesday OF each
month Manufacturers Day." and on
this day the manufa cturers of each
'of The cities Will be asked to meet at
luncheon or in the evening and dis
euss questions pertaining to loWas
fndustrial expansion. Tuesday, May 4,
has been set as the date of the first
OF these meetings.
The State Manufacturers associa-
tfon has made,a thorough investigation
OF conditions with reference to factory
output in the state and is not at all
satisfied with the result of the inves-
tigation. In a statement recently Is
sued by the association comparison
was drawn that Is not at all to the
credit of this state.
There are," says this statement,
"'so0 factories In Iowa using over S1o.-
600 capital each. They employ $4,000
people and turn out annually products
worth $4,000, 00o."
"Ilhnois," the statement goes on,
with the same area as Iowa, has over
5000 factories which use over $4,000
capital each. They employed 100000
people and turned out over $1,S00000,-
900 worth of products in 1908"
The manufacturers of Iowa see in
this comparison some food for thought
by Iowans.
Is Illinois position on the lake, they
ask, sufficient reason for her leading
us 10 to 1 industrially?
- trln
tation easily made accessible to thirty
of our cities, Is iowa not as fortunately
situated as any industrial state?
Are we not as near to iron, timber
wool, leather, grain and meat animals
as Illinois is?
Are there any other conditions,
such as labor supply, national legisla-
ton or,state legislation, which prevent
us from holding production cost down
SO that we can save ourselves living,
progressing margin of profit in the
worlds market!
The manufacturers intend to awak-
en- an aggressive interest in Iowa fac
tories throughout the state and find an
answer TO these questions. They are
convinced that factory growth is what
Iowa needs. II they can touch the
spring that hides the secret, they point
out that Iowa capital will find paying
investment at home, that Iowa young
men will find opportunity and paying
employment at home, that Iowa mer-
chants will find more customers with
ready money, and Iowa farmers will
find a home market that will double
the value of their farms. The Manu- |
faoturers' association points out where
It Is the duty OF the state to help them
to give Iowa factory growth. The asso-
citation says:
"NO GOOD BUSINESS MAN ANY
WHERE WILL TRY TO RUN A FAC
TORY WHERE HIS OWN ENERGY
AND TFAT OF HIS PLANT ARE
IN OVERCOMING NEED
LESS OBSTACLES. WE MAY BE
SURE OF THIS -
WILL. NOT START OR /
STAY WHERE THE WAY IS NOT |
OPEN AND CLEAR FOR THEM TO
MAKE AND SEND THEIR PROD
UCTS, INRQ THE WORLDS MAR
KET AND COME OFF WITH A
MARGIN THAT MEANS LIFE,
STRENGTH AND GROWTH TO
CHElM.
trt is the great object Of this asso-
,iation- of the manufacturers of Iowa
70 clear the way for the expansion of
nome Factories and keep 1t clear. Let
he obstacles be transportation, labor
supply, legislation, monopoly, or what
hey will. we must meet them, solve
hem, remove them from our way,
or be content with a snaiIs pace and
he crumbs that fall from the banquet
If the great states.
ITO do this, certain problems of
great interest TO the whole state must
,e worked out 10 a right solution by
he people, so that our law makers
nay know what is the peoples will
When constructive legislation that
means real industrial progress is be-
ore them for action
Iowa should realize what factory
,rowth means to the state and it
hould help remove the obstacles that !
nay be found in the path OF the states
Industrial expansion. Iowa can greatly
Increase its standing as a factory state /
While still retaining its position as the
eading agricultural state. y
SENATOR CI ADDS ANM I