The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-08
URGED TO MOVE
CAR PLANT HERE
Crawford Company Has One Big
Cash and Land Offer From
indianapolis.
PRESIDENT LIKES RICHMOND
Mr.. Crawford, Once Of Locomo-
PRESIDENT LIKES RICHMOND
Mr.. Crawford, Once Of Locomo-
tive Works, Tells of His Sue
cess as Manufacturer.


r. W. Crawford. president Of the
Crawford Locomotive and Car Com
pany Of Strca ton, Ill. came to tho city
Yesterday and Is stopping with his
wife and daughter at the Jefferson
Hotel. Mr.. Crawford began his ca
reer hero as an employe OF the Rich
mond Locomotive Works. and by an
invention Of his own has built up at
htreaton factory which Is valued at
100000, and which employs about L.
try that he built up in the West, a
number of his friends here have urged
Nun TO move his factory to this city
though the proposition was sudden.
ne rs looking upon 1t with great favor,
ai, VIII VIII give i consideration II the
sasd rem nov of the plant. He has az
81 loo acres OF land and a bonus Of
$4,000 but frankly admits that he
would locate in this city and enlarge
people for a smaller inducemeut. be-
cause he and members Of his family
prefer to live here.
Once Worked in Local Plant.
AIR: Crawford was with the Locomo-
eve Works here In 1900. and remained
with that plant for FIVE years, when
the Went to Montreal 70 take charge
Works. which failed. and was pur
Works: soon after shis s eRange IL
alanagement he went to Strea ton, a
on his own hook =
Ever since steel cars were nut In
X n ,na TsSIays said Mr.
cent. of the wooden cars would not not
stand the jar and Jam between steel
cars on a mixed train. I designed and
perfected Pc 's;aeas the steel draft channel TO
wooden freight cars of all descrip-
ions. so that they would stand the
same wear and tear a S steel cars. and
patty from 5000 TO 10000 pounds at q
total cost Of one third the original
pfice OF the cars. putting them in con-
e sn TO give from eight TO ten years
good service. This means the build
ing; ing and installing of the steel UNDER
frame and making general repairs TO
ears at the same time
Give big Contract.
The Atchison Topeka and Santa
Fe realized that it was a good thing
and gave me the contract to equip
e e.9Ge ears. cars; They have given perfec,
done any, locomotive work. as it In
tended when first organized, owing to
II 1ne large orders for freight car work
The name. however. was left in the
decide to do this class OF work
since the Santa Fe work was COM
from different railway companies to
equip cars, as my design OF under
franc is considered By superintendent
or motive power. master car-buildere
and railway equipment experts, TO be
one OF the best methods Of strengthen
ing wooden freight cars that is on the
market to-day. The company through
this special design was able to run
It's shops at almost full force during
the last two or three years OF busi.
ness depression: We are also fully
wood. composite and Steel"
covers Thtrty-TwO Acres.
This company, in which Mr.. Craw-
ford owns controlling stock, has a
capital OF 100000, and the plant is
said 10 be worth s1,500ooo 1t covers
about thirty two acres, or about twice
as much space as the Locomotive
Works here. Personally. Mr. Crawford
would prefer moving to this city, but
he said last night that 1t would be
out OF the question II the company
had TO stand the expense Though no
definite proposition has been made 10
him, 1t is understood that some OF the
most prominent business men OF the
city have become interested in the
plan, and that he probably will be
made a Gathering offer in the next
week or two
In addition TO other inducements 1t
VIII be necessary to guarantee the
concern as good part of the work
this city Mr.. Crawford has been
away from home for ten days, and la st
night showed letters and kilograms
closing general car contracts for the
year amounting to approximately ST.
100000