The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-03-23

ing a tsgreater Kenosha.' As manu-
.facturers, we can replace many of the
boarding mouse habitues with men of
families. This can be done gradually
as we get houses and the conditions
absolutely changed within two years.
We can and will do it as opportunity
! develops, but family men mast have
sreasonable rentals and modern conyen-
fences. They are entitled to them. Six
jty-five per cent of the employees of our
factories are ngle. This means that
we have approximately 5000 single peo-
I pie employed in our factories. This
number ought not to be greater than
5000, if we base our figures on the
same total number now employed.
When the 1000 are replaced by mar
ried men and basing our figures, as does
the census, on four to a family, there
viii result an increase of from 1000
to 5000 in population within two years.
Four or five would then have to be
clothed and shod and fed where now
there is only one.
The manufacturers of Kenosha pay
out from $4,000 to $115,O0O in cash
every week for labor alone. A very
| conservative estimate of that weekly
pay roll that is taken out Of Kenosha
by single employees is 10 per cent, or
more than $1,000, every week and
this amount ought to be spent right
: here in Kenosha in the legitimate chan
nels of trade. At least $4,000 annual
ly could in this way be added to the
circulation of money among our nler-
chants and dealers. Gentlemen, this is
a serious condition. It is a condition
that has not been given enough serious
consideration by the average citizen
and merchant. It should have more
general discussion and satisfactory
solution is then sure to follow. I be-
lieve that the response of our munich
pal government will be prompt when
the facts are generally known. Public
opinion will demand that we have a
truly Greater Kenosha.
There is not a single factory in the
city that would be directly benefited
by the new trunk sewer, but every fac
tory would be benefited indirectly
through such improvements. The well
| fare of our employees certainly con-
Germs us both directly and Indirectly.
Our factories surround this city in the
shape of horse shoe. Some of them
are the largest of their kind in the
world; others of them are nearing that
| position and all of them are progress
sive, yet sound physically and fnan-
cially. They have developed to their
present great proportions from small
beginnings. They grew and expanded,
not because of favorable manufacture
ing conditions, but because they were
backed by brains and enterprise and
sterling qualities and nerve, and I can
not now recall single business oppor-
tunity where brains could be capitaliz-
ed at SO high figure as they could be
if properly utilized in the expansion
OF Kenosha with especial reference to
it's real estate Improvement. The manu-
facturers of the city have created ideal
conditions for such an investor on a
large scale. When the citizens Of Ken
osha have the same confidence in the
ability of their manufacturers that the
manufacturers have in themselves, then
will Kenosha be as great as her fac
tories and never till then. This Asso-
citation, gentlemen, can be made pow
erful factor in bettering the labor CON
ditions of the employees of it's mem
bers.
1t is obviously not the function of
this Association to go outside of our
immediate interests. There is another
Association in the city organized for
the purpose of lettering the material
interests of Kenosha. L refer to the
new Industrial Association and they
ought to have, your hearty co-opera-
ton. Our interests are mutual and
must be cooperative if they are to be
successful. IF the Kenosha manufact-
urer is given the framework Of mod
ern up to date city, he will furnish the
inhabitants. A more detailed report
of work accomplished by your Associa-
ton is in the hands of your Secretary.
During the past two years, we have
felt with telling force the calling from
our councils of three men most promin-
emily connected with our manufacture
ing interests. To most communities
and to many industries, the taking
away of such forces and Influences and
broad-minded, far seeing business ex-
periences as those so typically repre-
scented in Mr.. Charles N. Frost, Mr..
Zalmon G.. Simmons and Mr.. Thomas
B. Jeffrey, would have been disastrous.
Fortunately for us and to their great
honor, each had a great son or sons to
take the place of a great father, and
III that, Kenosha is signally and pc