The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-10

Factories You Say You Want Them.
DO You?

makes that statement really in
earnest? Does he mean it? Is he
willing to Fay the cost? Is he will
ling first Of ail to take off his coat
and help push up the city so as to
make 1t inviting for factories? Is
he willing to help pay the taxes for
street improvements. for pavements.
for sidewalks. for better fire protec-
ton and generally to help pay for
those necessary improvements that
will bring factories. invite capital,
entertain visitors and commercial
men and properly house and care for
the Labor that these factories will
employ. Nothing. is worth while hav-
ing but that will cost you something.
A man stood on the observation car
Of PeIlnsylvania railroad flyer on
his way 10 Chicago passing over the
mountains In Pennsylvania and was
heard to utter the sentiment that he
would like TO have been the engineer
who built that road. He little thought
Of the years Of study that the con-
struction Of such road had meant.
He little dreamed Of the lives that
had been lost IN the building of that
road. Of the days Of toll and hard
ship and labor. The man on the
street wants factories but is he will
ling to make the effort that is need
ed to secure them. He sees fne.
prosperous factory in some city that
may emplDy hundreds Of hands and
he wishes that ne had that factory in
his home town. II he would dig
down deep into the story Of that fac
tory. he would find one man or
group Of men who were willing to
take some chances and who were
willing in invest their savings in that
undertaking. He would find years Of
hard labor and effort and worry on
the part Of the men who built up
that factory.
Some mem imagine that all
Chamber Of Commerce has to do is
to issue an ingraved invitation to such
factory to move to their town and
the factory viii move at once. As
fact. with but few exceptions, fac
tories rarely move unless they have
been failures in theoir original loca-
tions. These few exceptions Of the
successful moving factory are rare
and there must he some very serious
reason OF such removal. When hey
DO move Il Ia with the most careful
Investigation of the locality in which
they may decide to locate and when
that .ocality demonstI ates that IL will
subscribe to at least portion Of he
capital or aid In other Substantial
ways.
Internationally the best plan for
the establishment of local factories is
to build and develop with local cap
iral such factories as reason and in
vestgation demonstrate will pay and
which the local needs and the sur
rounding trade territory demand.
Factories established in this manner
rarely move away. They grow with
their territory and are usually solid
and conservative. They secure strong
local support. These are the sort of
factories that have built cities. It is
not necessary that the management
be obtained from local sources. The
proper skill often needed to manage
such a factory must be obtained else
where. There are plenty of men
throughout the land who have been
successful managers who have no
financial interest In the factories in
which they are now employed and
which they are helping to build who
are willing to invest their savings in
such factory. provided they are
given the opportunity of securing a
substantial interest therein and a
greater interest as the factory grows.
but the organization and financing
OF such factories demands local in
vestment. The business men must
be willing to sacrifice few present
pleasures and sometimes to strain
MS credit IL such factories are to be
started In Sumter. He must have the
sort OF vision OF the future that has
built. our great west. 1t was the vision
OF the forefathers. The shoe may
pinch today but the walking will be
good tomorrow. You say you want
factories. are you willing to aid in Sc
curing them?
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